"I know it's stuffy, but you need to stay there if you want to stay hidden. The courtroom is just about the worst place to expose yourself." Mia whispers to herself as she tugs a little at her scarf. A passerby gives her an aside glance at that, turning away and muttering to himself about exposing oneself in the courtroom as he shakes his head.
"I know, I know, Chief, but... it's a little... sweaty..." Phoenix whispers back, soft enough that only she can hear it.
"You're just nervous. Besides, do you have a better idea? I don't exactly think I can pull off one of those Dracula capes that go all the way to here." Mia says with a chuckle in her voice, raising her hand halfway up her head. The movement of her shoulder jostles Phoenix's hiding place just a little bit.
"Is this 'Dracula' fellow some kind of human fashion icon I should know about?"
Mia lets out a sensible chuckle at that.
"Yes, exactly. A paragon of gothic aesthetic. Now, I don't want to hear any more complaints out of you. You're the one who insisted on coming into court with me."
"I had to! It's my fault you're stuck defending this guy..."
"Right, right. Him. I must say... I wasn't sure at first why you would have been borrowing in my office when you had a human friend, but after meeting him..."
They both stop at a wailing sound coming from the defendants' lobby.
"Now you understand my struggle." Phoenix sighs. "When something smells..."
"NIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!!" Larry comes running up to Mia, who immediately turns him around, grips his wrists together, and throws a hand over his mouth.
"You will address me directly. You will not say his name. No one knows he's here. Understood?" Mia whispers directly in Larry's ear. He nods with the slightest hint of a whimper. Mia lets him go.
"Whew, that was, uh, kinda, heh heh. I wouldn't mind getting arrested so much if all the coppers looked like you." Larry smiles at her.
"...I've changed my mind. I don't think I want to help you defend this man." Mia glances down at her own shoulder with the least amused expression she's ever made in her life.
"He's just like that. It's best to ignore him." Phoenix whispers back. "I sort of, arguably, owe him one. Besides, I really want to see you in court up close."
Mia reluctantly agrees, and soon the three of them shuffle into the courtroom.
"Take a look at the court record." She whispers down to herself as she flips through the evidence she has on hand. "Find a contradiction, and raise an objection."
"Ah, um... O-Objection?" Winston Payne calls out to the judge. "The defense seems to be, er... coaching? Herself?"
"Hmm..." The judge closes his eyes and thinks, absently rubbing his hand over his gavel. "Is that... illegal?"
"Well, it's unusual!" Payne yells.
"It's... It's simply a new tactic I'm trying out! Reminding myself never to forget the basics, your honor." Mia smiles up at him. She looks down at the floor and nods a little before looking directly at the witness stand. "Exactly my thoughts. Now, Mr. Sahwit, was it? So, you say you found the body at 1:00 P.M.?"
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Ratattorney Fic! Woo! I have so many drafts of pre DL-6 incident Ratattorney, so here one featuring Larry. Sidenote, still not sure if Larry is human or borrower officially in this AU but I wrote this assuming he’s human. Enjoy!
Ratattorney belongs to @spirit-small
In retrospect, Phoenix really didn’t think this through. He just wanted to see this “school” Miles would always disappear to. Maybe even learn something new and impress his bean friend with some cool facts of his own.
First sign this wasn’t the smartest plan, Miles’ backpack. It was an easy place to stowaway… in theory. Phoenix attempts to make a well hidden and comfortable space for himself were quickly shattered with the giant and hard books Miles kept in his bag. As a borrower, Phoenix had grown accustomed to claustrophobic spaces but this was still very unpleasant. Even if he wasn’t comfortable he was safe, as proven when Gregory stopped Miles before he left and place an envelope in the bag. It was the most tense Phoenix felt since… well since he was first spotted by a human. The moment quickly passed and nobody noticed a thing. Good.
In addition to the tight space Phoenix quickly had to adjust himself to how much the whole bag shook with Miles steps. Phoenix had to brace himself against one of the textbooks doing his best to keep it from crushing his foot any time it would bounce. Eventually there was stillness, and Phoenix felt peace for moment. Did this mean he was in a… what did Miles call it?A bust? Something like that. His peace was interrupted by the second sign this wasn’t the smartest plan, all the voices he heard. Voices he could only conclude were other beans. But this wasn’t like back at home where the most voices he would hear at any time was two, possibly three. No here there was more, he guessed at least a dozen, no two dozen… A HUNDRED DOZEN.
How much is a hundred dozen? Phoenix assumed it was a lot.
Phoenix thought about sneaking a peak outside but decided against it, he wasn’t going to risk being seen. He decided instead to spend the next twenty or so minutes reinforcing his hiding spot with whatever he could find so his ride wouldn’t be so bumpy going forward. His new renovations were put to the test when he felt the bag being lifted in the air. Miles must be on the move again, and sure enough the bag tremors began again. While not perfect, Phoenix’s reinforced nook was stable enough to keep him mostly in place.
“Morning Miles!”
“Good Morning!”
“Did you do the homework?”
“Don’t tell me we have a test today?”
“Oh I think I forgot my water bottle for gym!”
Oh great, there were more beans here. Miles said school was place to learn stuff, he never said anything about it being full of people! Too late to back out now. There was a ringing sound and then silence again.
Miles gently put his bag down (Something Phoenix was eternally grateful for) and took his seat. The teacher had her clipboard pulled out and started calling attendance.
“Diane Acosta?”
“Present!”
“Stewart Berry?”
“Gift!”
Some students stifled their giggles before the teacher continued, “Larry Butz?”
There were a few murmurs among the kids as the looked to Larry’s normal seat, empty. Miles sighed, “He’s not here today.”
“I see, thank you Miles.”
Attendance continued as normal until the bell rang once more. Today’s first period was P.E, not Miles’ favorite class but at least it’d be over and done with soon. As part of P.E. class he needed to wear the appropriate attire, his normal suit and tie had to be packed in a ziplock bag to change into later. He reached into his bag to to grab his change of clothes when his hand brushed against… something. He quickly looked in to see what exactly it was but only saw his books, his clothes, and the envelope with this month’s lunch money. Miles did want to investigate further but everyone had already left to the gym and he didn’t want to be late, less he be forced to run extra laps. Miles grabbed his clothes and ran to catch up with the rest of the class.
That was way too close. Phoenix really didn’t want Miles to know about this expedition of his. If Miles found out he be sure scold Phoenix later, something Phoenix really didn’t want to endure. He wanted to prove that his time spent with Miles didn’t dampen his borrower skills. This was just a normal borrowing as far as he was concerned, except he was going borrow bean knowledge instead of sugar cubes or bread crumbs. Miles will be so impressed when Phoenix tells him exactly how much a hundred dozen was.
Phoenix didn’t recognize the voice, certainly wasn’t Miles which made it that much scarier when head steps approach. He felt the rustling of the bag as sunlight pierced the shadows he hid in. His spot behind the books still hid Phoenix from who ever it was began rummaging through the contents. But this mystery bean was search with such disorder, everything was being tossed around, it was worse then the shaking Phoenix endured this morning. This definitely wasn’t Miles. Phoenix looked around for something to hide behind or under in case his spot was compromised but suddenly the shaking stopped.
“Cha-Ching!”
His curiosity go the best of him and Phoenix dared to peer up at the bean. He was some kid, maybe one of Miles’ schoolmates? He had spikey hair not unlike Phoenix’s own, just parted up rather than back. He eyes focused straight down with a huge smirk. Phoenix saw him reach for the envelope Miles had received from his father this morning.
“Jackpot! Pauline is going to be so impressed!”
But that’s Miles’ envelope! He wasn’t exactly sure why, but Gregory emphasized how important it was. This kid was- he was stealing! HE WAS STEALING FROM MILES!
“That’s not yours!” Phoenix immediately froze when he realized he caught the kid’s attention. He did not mean to say that out loud.
“The heck?” The kid put the envelope down and reached out for Phoenix. Phoenix’s instincts kicked in and he attempted to hide behind the textbooks but that could only protect him for so long. Unfortunately humans have an acute sense of object permanence and the kid quickly pulled everything out of the bag until he got a hold of Phoenix. Borrower rules typically encourage borrowers in this situation to stay still and pretend to be a doll or something but it was a little late for that. He did everything in his power to free himself from the kids grip. He only succeeded in getting the kid to tighten his grip instead.
“What are you? Some sort of lunch money protector?”
Lunch money? Is that what was in the envelope? “Y-you’re stealing from Miles! T-that’s a crime and you could be taken to court!”
The kid just laughed, “Oh man, you really do belong to Edgey. You talk just like him!”
That comment really set Phoenix off, he’d never be this confrontational, but this kid is really pushing his buttons, “I don’t belong to anyone! Miles is my friend and I’m not going to let you take something from him.”
“Sorry little dude,” The kid picked up the envelope with his free hand and waved it around as he spoke, “I really need this, sides Edgey won’t mind too much, his dad’s a lawyer and my mom said lawyers are loaded.”
Phoenix wasn’t sure what being loaded meant, but whatever it was it was no excuse, “But stealing is still stealing!“
“Look little dude, I need to meet with Pauline soon so I’m just gonna put you down and head out, ok?”
“But-“
“Larry?”
The two looked to the doorway to see Miles Edgeworth standing there. During P.E. one of Miles’ classmates tripped and scraped their knee pretty badly. Miles had volunteered to go back to the classroom to grab bandages. He wasn’t expecting to find anyone in class, but he did. There was Larry, who Miles was sure was marked absent, standing over his book bag, something… no, someone wringling in his hand.
“Phoenix!?”
Miles dashed over to try to get Phoenix back when Larry, out of pure instinct, raised Phoenix above his head.
“Larry put him down, now!”
“Relax Edgey, I was just about to,” Larry slowly lowered his hand to the desk and let Phoenix go, “See?”
Miles picked up on Phoenix’s gasps for air and brought himself down to his eye level, “Are you ok?”
“Y-yeah… I’m fine. He… He took your envelope.”
“What?” Miles turned around to see Larry attempting to sneak out while Miles was distracted with Phoenix, “Larry, did you take something from my bag?”
Larry turned around with one of his hands behind his back, “Nooooooooo.”
Miles only sighed, he wished this wasn’t typical Larry behavior, but alas here we are, “What’s behind your back?”
“Nothing!”
“Obejection,” Phoenix shouted from the table, “I witnessed you take Miles’ envelope. That’s what’s behind your back!”
“That’s not true! Edgey don’t listen to him.”
“I’m telling the truth!’
“Enough,” Miles put out a hand towards Larry, “May I please have my lunch money back.”
“Yeah! Give it back!”
Larry looked Miles in the eye, he wasn’t playing around. He briefly glanced at the little dude on the desk who had the same serious look in his eye, “Fine.”
Larry begrudgingly slammed the envelope into Miles’ open hand, “Thank you,” He quickly tucked the envelope back into his backpack. Now that that was settled he could focus on the elephant in the room. Miles held out his hand to Phoenix and he stepped on, hitching a ride up to Miles shoulder where he sat to be at eye level with Miles and Larry.
“Now,” Miles began again, “Apologize to Phoenix.”
“What?! But I didn’t do anything to the little dude!”
“You were holding him way too tightly as evidenced by his gasps for air when you let him go.”
“I didn’t ask to be grabbed either.”
Larry did look at least a little guilty with the points the two of them brought up, “Y-yeah, I did,” He looked up to look Phoenix in the eye, “Sorry little dude, I didn’t really think about that.”
When do you think about anything? Miles had half a mind to say that out loud, but he wasn’t about to start something.
“Larry, promise us you won’t tell anyone about Phoenix.”
“I promise.”
“Larry…” Miles repeated with a bit of ire. Larry Butz was probably the last person he’d want to know about Phoenix. Now that he has Miles had to make sure Larry took this promise seriously, a huge feat to be sure.
“I promise! Here, I’ll even shake on it,” Larry wiped his had against his shorts before extending it out to Miles. Miles eyed his hand with some suspicion but figured that this was Larry’s was of expressing his sincerity and firmly shook his hand. He was a bit surprised when Larry then extended his hand to his shoulder, to Phoenix. Phoenix was also taken a back, he didn’t realize that Larry wanted to shake hands with him too, even after telling on him. Phoenix leaned to the side to try to get a read on Larry’s face, who seemed to greet his gaze with a cheeky smile. He looked to Miles who gave a nod of reassurance. After a moment Phoenix extended both of his hands to shake Larry’s index finger.
“Great! We’re officially friends now, and friends keep secrets, right Edgey?”
“If you’re insinuating I don’t tell anyone you tried skipping school and stealing my money then,” Miles paused for a second. He wasn’t sure he wanted to give Larry a pass, but on the other hand Larry just promised to keep Phoenix a secret, “Fine. I’ll turn a blind eye, but just this once!”
“Ahh thank you Edgey!”
“What? But he-“
Miles cut Phoenix off, “I know, but good friends help each other. Like how Larry is going to help me take the first aid kit to the gym.”
“But Edgey! I was gonna hit the arcade with Pauline!”
“You mean the 6th grader?”
“Yeah, I told her I would pay for as many arcade tokens and pizza slices we wanted. Besides, you just promised you weren’t gonna tell!”
That explained his motive.
“I said I wouldn’t tell anyone you tried skipping, but you are going to tell Coach Irving that you ran late to school today.”
“Aww man!”
With Larry rummaging through the supply closet for the first aid kit, Miles turned his attention to Phoenix. He placed Phoenix back on the desk and once again met his eye level.
“What are you doing here? Were you in my bag this whole time?”
Phoenix looked away sheepishly, “Y-yeah. I just… I just wanted to see what school was like! And maybe learn something! Something I could tell you that you maybe didn’t know. I just..I wanted to impress you.”
“But you do impress me. You’re much more athletic and agile than I am. You have such creative solutions to any problem, you always think outside the box. And you’re always willing to listen… even if I do tend to ramble on.”
“I like it when you ramble, I love it when you teach me something new. I just wish that I could do the same for you.”
“Well… you told me about Larry. I didn’t notice when I fist came in, so thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Phoenix blushed just slightly, proud of his small victory. “About him… is he always like that?”
Miles looked to Larry, who had thrown a bunch of supplies on the ground in search for the first aid kit, then back to Phoenix, “Unfortunately. If it smells, it’s usually the Butz.”
“What?”
“It’s a saying we have in class. I’ll explain later. Right now, I have a mess to clean.”
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From a young age, borrowers are encouraged to do as much for themselves as they can. They're social creatures by nature, and thrive in larger community settings, but their continued existence depends on not being detected. This means that small family groups and, often, solo individuals, are the norm. Not by nature, but by necessity. To that end, borrower children are taught the necessary skills for survival as early as they're able. It's not to get them out on their own quickly, but more because of how fragile and volatile a borrower's life can be. Orphans are remarkably common. They're taught to fend for themselves, because soon enough they may have to.
This is Phoenix Wright's first solo borrowing.
He is 9 years old.
The risk is low. Only two beans live here, and they're both rather preoccupied at the moment. All he has to do is get a couple of things. It'll be over before he knows it.
He silently makes his way across a countertop, and climbs into a cupboard. He knows where his target is. This borrowing stuff is easy, he didn't even SEE a bean.
Too bad he didn't hear one either.
The cupboard he's in is opened and light floods his eyes. He squints and finds himself face to face with the younger bean, caught red handed, quite literally, on account of the Cheeto dust. Flamin' Hot, naturally.
They stare at each other for a minute.
And another.
And another.
It almost seems like the bean is having trouble processing what he's seeing, as if he can't figure out what the appropriate response is.
"Um, hello. My name is Miles Edgeworth. What's yours?" He finally settles on.
"Uh.. Ph-Phoenix... Wright?"
The bean- the Miles- laughs. "I'm not sure, you tell me. Is it Phoenix or not?"
Phoenix is baffled. "Y-yes. That's right, Phoenix."
"Right." Miles nods.
"Yes."
"What?"
"That's right. I'm Wright."
"You're right? Then we're both right. Right?"
"I thought you were Edgeworth? Am I wrong?"
"No, you're right."
"That's right."
The two of them just look at each other for a moment, and simultaneously laugh. Laughing! With a bean! Phoenix is starting to suspect everything about his worldview might be a lie. Either that, or he found a rare One Of The Good Ones.
"So, um... May I ask what you're doing in my cupboard?" Miles asks. Phoenix has to think for a moment. What if he only gets mad when he realizes he's being borrowed from? Beans don't tend to take kindly to learning that.
But then again. What other explanation could there be?
"I... I was inspecting them. See, sometimes little bugs can get into these things, through even the tiniest of cracks in the wall. How would you feel if you started putting on the Ritz, only to find your crackers crawling with ants? I'm really doing you beans a service, here." Phoenix lies through his little teeth.
"...Ah... yes. Of... of course. That... makes sense. You know, if you're hungry, you can just help yourself. I don't mind. I'm sure you don't eat much. You can even take a little extra for later, if you want."
Phoenix bites into a Cheeto. He doesn't even hesitate.
"Mmmrf... Shank you... Mrrnff..."
Miles laughs, not necessarily at Phoenix's shameless display of his lack of table manners, but just... At the absurdity of the whole situation. Phoenix double checks the contents of his bag, and prepares to leave.
"W-wait! Are you... Leaving?" Miles looks at him like a sad, lost puppy.
"I have to. If I don't return soon, I'll never hear the end of it. I mean it, though... Thank you. For letting me take that stuff, and... For keeping me a secret."
"I don't recall promising to keep you a secret." Miles raises an eyebrow.
"Well, you did now." Phoenix winks. Miles gets a determined look on his face and nods.
"I understand..." He watches him as he disappears through a crack in the wall he'd never even put a second thought into. "Wait! Will I... Ever see you again...?"
Phoenix steps back out into the light for a moment. He looks down, thinking hard, considering all of the angles. Turning his thinking around- If beans are so dangerous, then the best way to survive a world full of them is to have one on your side, right? He looks up at Miles, and smiles.
