Chapter Text
The first time Phoenix learned about metahumans, he was eight years old and had asked his mother why his father didn’t live with them.
The question had hurt his mother, he could see the pain in her eyes the second he’d asked, but she told him before he could take it back. She’d told him that before he was born, his father had had to leave them, because he was different.
She never told him what his father could do, but she’d explained what a metahuman was: someone with extraordinary powers, who could do things that most people couldn’t, and there were a lot of people who hated metahumans. His dad didn’t want them to get hurt, so...
Phoenix never brought it up again.
He never brought it up again, but that night, he made a decision. He decided that he would fight against hateful people like the people who’d driven his father away.
Maybe then, no other kids would have to lose their dads.
Phoenix cursed under his breath as he ran out of the elevator, glancing at his watch as he shifted his briefcase under his arm and tried not to spill his coffee.
Okay, fifteen minutes late, no big deal. Just gotta get to my desk without anyone noticing, and nobody will be the wiser-!
“Morning... Wright.”
Phoenix yelped, almost spilling some of his coffee on his desk just as he was about to sit down.
“D-Detective Badd, good morning!”
Badd quirked an eyebrow, then took out that hand mirror he always carried around as he leaned against the divider wall.
“Y’know, kid... most detectives don’t call each other detective...”
Phoenix laughed sheepishly as he took off his jacket.
“Sorry, uh, old habits...”
“Mm. So, what excuse you got for Skye this time?”
Phoenix flinched, giving Badd a shit-eating grin.
“Wh-Why would I need an excuse? I-I mean, I’m here at my desk like I’m supposed to be, right?”
“Witness testimony would show that you weren’t there fifteen minutes ago when your shift started.”
“Aw, come on!” Phoenix protested. “I’m here now, and really, what could have happened in fifteen minutes?”
“Bombing, hostage situation, kidnapping, homicide using any number of weapons-!”
“Okay! Okay, okay, I get it, I... look, if I buy you another bag of lollipops, will you cover for me with Captain Skye again?”
Badd chuckled, shaking his head and pulling a lollipop out of his pocket.
“Sorry, kid, I’m good for a while.” He put it in his mouth. “Besides... you really shouldn’t try to bribe... a cop... in front of the captain...”
“Stop pausing for dramatic-!” Phoenix blinked, then paled. “... The captain’s right behind me, isn’t she.”
“Yep.”
“Detective Wright.”
Phoenix plastered the most charming smile he could muster on his face as he turned to face Skye.
“G-Good morning, Captain! Y-You, uh, you look very... stern but fair today.”
Badd chuckled behind him, and Phoenix resisted the urge to turn around and inform him he was the worst partner ever.
“What was it today, Detective Wright? I remind you, your last excuse was car trouble.” Skye quirked an eyebrow. “Can you tell me why that was particularly memorable?”
“B... Because I do not own a car, ma’am.”
“Mm-hm.” She crossed her arms. “You’ve been a detective for two weeks now, Wright, and you’ve been late for work five times. Now, when you were a uniform officer, you were late five times in the span of two months.”
“I-I know, I know, I...” Phoenix sighed, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly. “Look, Apollo’s having some trouble adjusting, and... and I feel bad about leaving him when he’s upset. And yeah, I’m pretty sure his teacher thinks I’m one of those parents who think their kid can do no wrong, but after what happened to his mom, and with Magnifi still trying to butt in...”
Skye’s expression immediately softened, and he heard Badd sigh sympathetically behind him.
“Wright...” Skye sighed, shaking her head as sternness gave way to empathy. “Fine, just... try to keep it to a minimum, please. We’re short-handed as it is.”
Phoenix nodded, thanking her before sitting down at his desk and turning on his computer.
“Magnifi’s still... gunning for visitation?”
“Unfortunately. He insists that it’s unnecessary to keep the kids from him, and we all know it doesn’t end there. I’m not Apollo’s bio dad, and...” He bit his lip, trying not to be too suspicious. “Well, he’d probably figure something out with Trucy. But Thalassa’s wishes are clear, she didn’t want him near her kids.”
“True... you found an attorney yet?”
He sighed, shaking his head.
“Still can’t find one in my price range. Can’t exactly keep custody of the kids if I can’t afford to feed them and pay my rent.”
Badd shrugged, taking the lollipop stick out of his mouth and flicking it into the trashcan.
“Sure you’ll figure something out... come on.”
“Huh?”
Badd jerked his head toward the elevators.
“Interviewing Price’s boss... remember?”
Phoenix blinked, then groaned, leaning back in his chair.
“Come on, can’t you do that without me? I’ve still got evidence to examine from the Ferris case.”
“You’re the only cop I know... who would prefer to do paperwork.” Badd mused as he sauntered over to Phoenix and put a hand on his shoulder. “Fraid I can’t let you... off the hook this time, though. Gonna need you for this one.”
Phoenix quirked an eyebrow, frowning.
“What good am I gonna be? I mean, unless you plan on making the guy cry or something.”
Badd shrugged.
“You’ll see when we get there. Come on, you’re already on... thin ice with the captain.”
Phoenix resisted the urge to whine like a petulant child, then sighed as he got up, grabbing his now-tepid cup of coffee.
“Fine, but if you make him cry I’m not covering for you with the captain.”
By the time the elevator made it to the top floor, Phoenix was pretty sure he was going to vomit all over his only good pair of shoes.
“Wh-Who... who has a glass elevator in a building like this...?” He managed, leaning on the one solid wall next to the elevator. “A-And why are all the walls windows? We’re like twenty stories up...”
Badd chuckled, shaking his head.
“You’ll see soon enough. Come on... boss’ office is this way.”
Phoenix swallowed, trying to push down another wave of nausea as he stood up straight. Badd clapped him on the shoulder, gently guiding him towards the reception desk.
“Excuse me... miss?”
The woman- Maggey, according to the little name badge on her desk- looked up, blinking in surprise before a charming, almost boilerplate smile appeared.
“Y-Yes? How can I help you?”
Badd took his badge out, then elbowed Phoenix so that he’d do the same.
“Angel City PD, ma’am. We’re here to speak to Derek Price’s boss about his murder.”
“Oh!” Maggey adjusted her glasses, glancing at her computer and typing something in. “Yes, I see he put in a note about that...”
“Yeah, so can we... head on in?”
Maggey shook her head.
“I’m very sorry, but Mr. Edgeworth’s a bit late today... well, he’s late almost everyday, so I guess today isn't all that special...”
“Huh.” Badd chuckled, pulling out the lollipop stick in his mouth. “Looks like everyone’s running late today, huh, kid?”
“Haha, very funny.” Phoenix muttered. “Do you know when he’ll be here, Miss...?”
“Byrde! Maggey Byrde, I mean. Richard told me they’d be here in about twenty minutes, and that was about ten minutes ago.”
“Richard?”
Maggey blinked, then blushed.
“E-Er, um, I mean Mr. Gumshoe... he’s, uh, he’s Mr. Edgeworth’s bodyguard and driver.”
Phoenix was pretty sure he would have been able to figure that one out even if he wasn’t a detective.
“A-Anyway, um, feel free to take a seat and wait for him.”
Both Phoenix and Badd nodded, walking over to the small waiting area and sitting in plush chairs that were far nicer than anything in Phoenix’s office.
“So... I’m guessing you don’t know anything... about the guy we’re about to meet?”
Well, I’m gonna go ahead and guess that he’s probably not the biggest fan of how you pause every few seconds to suck on a lollipop.
“His name is Miles Edgeworth, he’s been the CEO of Global Technologies for about six months now, and he’s pretty reclusive.” Phoenix quirked an eyebrow. “Why? Is there something else I should know?”
Before Badd could say anything, the elevator dinged.
“Well, you’ll see in a minute.” Badd said with a sigh as he got out of his chair. “Don’t get up yet.”
“Eh? Why-?”
The doors slid open, cutting Phoenix off.
“A-Again, Mr. Edgeworth, I’m really, really sorry about your tea.”
“Mr. Gumshoe, enough. I know what I pay you, I’ll pay to have the stain removed from the upholstery.”
“Oh, thank god.” He heard someone make a strangled noise. “I-I mean, that’s not what-!”
“Mr. Gumshoe.”
“Yessir, shutting up now, sir!”
“Good morning, Mr. Edgeworth!” Maggey greeted cheerfully.
“Good morning, Miss Byrde. Are the detectives here yet?”
“Yes, they’ve been waiting for you.”
Badd sighed again, moving in front of the elevator.
“Hey, kid.”
Phoenix heard someone squeak in pain, and he frowned, standing up and walking up behind Badd. There were two men standing in front of the elevator. The one on the left was a good couple of inches taller than the other, with a bandage on his chin that told Phoenix he’d been unlucky while shaving this morning. The man on the right...
Phoenix couldn’t help how his heart sped up and his cheeks started to warm when he saw the other man in front of the elevator. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses, but the rest of his face... it was almost like he was sculpted out of marble. A defined jaw, soft-looking lips, he even had nice nostrils.
“Detective Badd. I didn’t realize that this was your case.”
Oh, deep, smooth voice too, great. Phoenix was so very screwed.
“Yeah, well... I wasn’t exactly fighting for it, but... here we are... you’re gonna break your guard’s arm at this rate.”
The man in glasses- Edgeworth, he was pretty sure- scoffed, but let go of the taller man’s arm. The taller man- Gumshoe, probably- all but gasped in relief, rubbing his upper arm tenderly.
“Fine, whatever. Mr. Gumshoe, I’m fine from here.”
“Of course, sir.” Gumshoe replied as he pulled something out of his coat and handed it to Edgeworth. He grinned at Maggey, his cheeks reddening a bit. “G-Good morning, Maggey.”
“Good morning, Richard.” Maggey replied, brushing some hair behind her ear and smiling at him.
Least I’m not the only one here with a big dumb crush.
Something started tapping against the ground, and Phoenix blinked, looking back at Edgeworth. He’d taken a few steps toward the office across from Maggey’s desk, holding a white cane out in front of him as he stared straight ahead.
Realization struck Phoenix like a ton of bricks.
“Oh.” The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it. Edgeworth paused, turning in Phoenix’s direction.
“Is someone else here?”
“A-Ah, um, sorry, I... I probably should have, uh...” Phoenix swallowed, taking a step towards Edgeworth and holding out his hand. “I-I’m Phoenix. Ph-Phoenix Wright, er, Detective Wright, I’m Detective Badd’s partner.”
Edgeworth didn’t respond immediately, and another wave of guilt passed over him.
“Shoot, um, sorry, I’m... I’m holding out my hand. Do... do you shake hands?”
Edgeworth arched an eyebrow, then switched his cane to his left hand and shook Phoenix’s hand with his right.
“I’ve been known to.”
Phoenix laughed nervously, mentally kicking himself. He could hear Badd chuckling behind him, turning to shoot him a look before turning back to Edgeworth.
Way to make a first impression, Wright.
“S-Sorry, I, uh... I didn’t realize that you were, um...”
“... Blind?” Edgeworth supplied after a moment, his voice careful and even. There was still a hint of tiredness to his voice, though, as if he had this exact conversation all the time.
Which, to be fair, he probably did.
“N-No, no, I, uh... I mean, I didn’t realize that... that we’re the same age!”
Both of Edgeworth’s eyebrows rose this time.
“You’re... surprised that we’re the same age.”
Phoenix briefly wondered when he became the kind of person to lie to a blind guy to save face.
“Y-Yeah, um, cause you’re the CEO of this company, s-so I just assumed you’d be... older than me. Yeah.”
Really, it was probably for the best that Phoenix didn’t get that scholarship to Ivy University, he wasn’t nearly a good enough actor to keep it longer than a semester.
“All... right.” Edgeworth said after a moment, clearly not believing him for a second. “It’s nice to meet you, Detective Wright.”
Phoenix laughed nervously, then startled when Badd put a hand on his shoulder.
“Should hope so... since he’s the one who’ll be asking you questions.”
“I am?”
“He is? Why?”
“Cause you don’t like me.”
Edgeworth paused, probably blinking, then shrugged.
“Fair point. Well, come on, then.”
Edgeworth walked into his office, and Phoenix sighed, rubbing the back of his neck tiredly.
“Well, I just totally made an ass out of myself, didn’t I?”
“Eh, it wasn’t that bad. Should probably wait til the case is closed... to ask him out, though.”
Phoenix felt himself turn beet red, a thoroughly embarrassing squawk escaping his lips.
“Wh-What?! Why would I- heh, wh-why would I ask him out?”
Badd gave him a look.
“Kid, I don’t think that would even fool the guy who can’t see.”
Phoenix gave his partner a look, then frowned.
“Wait... why doesn’t he like you? Come to think of it, how do you know the CEO of a major tech company?”
Badd sighed, taking the lollipop stick out of his mouth and glancing at Edgeworth.
“... Cause I’m the one who put his father in prison.”
Phoenix blinked, his jaw dropping slightly after a second. Before he could ask for clarification on that particular bombshell, though, Badd went inside the office, leaving Phoenix gaping like a fish.
Before he was nine, Miles had never thought much about metahumans. He knew they existed; he knew that one of his parents’ friends was one. Other than that, though, it hadn’t ever really mattered to him, because he’d been a child and it hadn’t directly affected him.
Then that awful December night happened. He could still hear his mother’s scream, could remember the look in that man’s eyes just before that flash of light...
His father hadn’t been there when he woke up the hospital, screaming that he couldn’t see and that everything was too loud, too warm, too much, too much. It had taken Raymond an hour to calm him down, to get him to stop crying long enough to tell him what had happened and why his father wasn’t there.
Miles hated the prison they’d put his father in. He hated that courtroom, the prosecutor that wouldn’t let him testify, the jury that put his father in prison for the rest of his life.
He hated that his father couldn’t go to his mother’s funeral.
And he hated that his senses had become so sharp once his sight was gone, even more when he realized what it meant.
He hated being a metahuman as much as he hated being alone.
But more than that, he hated the man that had taken his mother away from him, had framed his father and put him in prison.
So he decided to do something about it. If the police wouldn’t do their job, then Miles would just have to do it for them.
After fifteen years of being blind, Miles had come to the conclusion that there were three ways in which people reacted to it.
The first category, the smallest, was his family, though only one relationship involved blood ties. They didn’t change much, and Miles was grateful for that. Raymond had become his caretaker, but never once acted as if Miles was now made of glass because of his eyes; he remained “Uncle Ray,” as he always had been. Misty and Mia, on the other hand, became his advocates and protectors; Misty would fight the school administration when it came to accommodations, and Mia would fight particularly insensitive classmates, often with her words, occassionally with her fists if the situation demanded it.
Miles was completely unsurprised when she became a defense attorney.
Maya was a bit of an odd addition to the category; being only eleven, she’d never known Miles when he could see, so he had no idea how she would have acted. But she was family, and so this was her category.
And then there was his father. His kind, gentle father, who was always proud of him, always on his side even when he couldn’t be with him.
His father, who the system had failed, because Miles knew he never would have done that, he’d never hurt anyone, much less...
In any case, his father too remained the same, just farther away, in a place where Miles had to sit on the other side of a glass window to speak with him.
The second category consisted of those who thought his disability made him an invalid; they tended to treat him like a child, or worse, like some sort of pet project, an accessory to be paraded around to show just what a wonderful person they were, taking the poor blind boy under their wing like that.
Suffice to say, they were Miles’ least favorite kind of people.
The final category was the people who tried way too hard, the people who overcompensated or felt guilty about how uncomfortable his blindness made them. They tended to walk on eggshells around him, as if one false move would be enough to break him. They meant well, he knew they did, but they could be a bit... much.
Detective Wright seemed to belong to the third category.
“So, when was the last time you saw-! Er... I mean, uh...”
He was trying though.
Trying Miles’ patience, mostly, but trying.
“I last spoke with Mr. Price yesterday morning. There was a board meeting, he proposed some new cost cutting measures, and I told him that we’d consider it.” He smirked, unable to help himself. “Although, to answer your question more accurately, I last saw Mr. Price when I was nine years old.”
Badd snorted, and Wright laughed, actually sounding more amused than sheepish.
Wright smelled like strawberries and baby powder, which was an odd combination, but Miles found he liked it for whatever reason.
A reason that he refused to think about. Because this wasn’t the time.
“So, you knew Mr. Price when you were a child?”
“He’s been the head of accounting since 1994, and was one of my mother’s closest friends back when she still ran the company.” Miles sighed, shaking his head. “He and I were not as close.”
“I see... so, you wouldn’t know why someone would want to murder him, then?”
“Well, he was the head of accounting for this company, so I’d guess it had to do with money, but other than that...” Miles hesitated, thinking over his words carefully. “Actually, there is one other thing.”
“One other thing?”
“Yes... Mr. Price was a metahuman.”
The room fell silent, and nerves started to bubble up in Miles’ gut. It was always so nerve wracking, waiting for someone to react to the news that someone was a metahuman.
Mainly because they didn’t know another meta was in the room with them.
Badd cursed under his breath, too quiet for anyone without Miles’ hearing to notice, and Wright’s heartbeat had sped up once again, though the heat that had risen in his form was absent this time.
“How, uh... how do you know that?”
“When I was four, Mr. Price watched me for a short period of time while my parents were dealing with a legal issue.” Miles smiled fondly. “It was a sudden thing, and I was rather upset. I wouldn’t stop crying, so Mr. Price made me a small ice sculpture of a horse. Out of thin air.”
“Shit.” Badd muttered a little louder this time.
Wright’s heartbeat was even faster now, and Miles heard him swallow a lump in his throat.
“What?”
“I’m- I’m sorry, Mr. Edgeworth, we can’t-!”
“Price was found in a freezer with an ice pick through his chest.” Badd informed him, sounding tired.
Miles’ blood, for lack of a better phrase, turned cold.
“Why did you tell him that?!” Wright hissed.
“Price was his employee, he’d find out eventually.”
“How. How would he find out, this is a potential serial killer we have here-!”
“A serial killer?”
Even without Miles’ hearing, one could have heard the choked sound that Wright made.
“Er... um, well, uh...” Wright sighed. “Yeah, potentially. Last week there was a similar case- meta with, uh, plant-based powers? Something like that, she... she was found buried alive with a garden spade in her stomach.”
Wright’s stomach was churning just as turbulently as Miles’ was, which he assumed was from the violent nature of the crimes, although part of him hoped it was because Wright felt for the victims.
It was a longshot, but maybe...
“I-I see... so there may be a serial killer targeting metahumans, then?”
“Maybe. Same MO... victims found in their... element...” Badd mused. “And thanks to some of those upstart politicians in the Senate... we might be looking at some kinda anti-meta extremist.”
Miles grit his teeth, trying to hold back the bile burning at the back of his throat. He heard Wright mumble something about wondering if the police in X-Men felt like this, and he had to bite his lip to keep from laughing and revealing himself.
“Well, uh, thank you, Mr. Edgeworth. This was very... helpful.”
“Ah, um, Detective?”
Wright stalled while Badd kept moving, which to be fair was what Miles had intended, but it seemed to surprise Wright.
“I’d ask that you not share what I’ve told you with the press. Mr. Price didn’t want anyone to know that he was a metahuman, and well, I believe this proves he had good reason to be concerned.”
“Oh. Oh, uh, don’t...” Wright waved his hands dismissively. “I just waved my hands, um... don’t worry, we won’t be telling the press any details on this case at this time.”
“While I appreciate that, I was hoping that you’d refrain from publishing his name when it comes time to report on the potential serial killer.”
Wright paused.
“Why, exactly, do you care about that?” Wright sounded suspicious, almost defensive. “I know there’s stigma against metas, but your company’s reputation-!”
Miles snorted, shaking his head.
“It has nothing to do with this company’s reputation, Detective. We might take a hit if it became known a meta was working as the head of accounting, yes, but I can’t say I’d be too sad to lose the business of bigots. Price has an eight-year-old son.”
Wright’s heartbeat did something odd, and there was an upward shift of heat in the red blob that Miles had been assuming was Wright. He was blushing, clearly embarrassed.
“... Ah.”
“Indeed. The active metahuman gene is highly heritable, meaning Price’s son is likely to be a metahuman as well. If there really is a serial killer targeting metahumans, it would be extremely irresponsible to put that information out there.” Miles sighed. “And even if there is no serial killer, there are still plenty of people out there that might jump at the opportunity to harass a meta.”
Wright’s laugh was sheepish, although he was clearly trying to mask how ashamed he was. Before he could say anything else, however, what sounded like an 8-bit version of the funeral march started playing, making Miles wince.
“S-Sorry, sorry... shit.” Wright’s tone had turned irritated. “Gotta take this... thanks again, Mr. Edgeworth.”
Miles nodded, saying nothing as Wright followed Badd out and picked up the call.
“Look, Mr. Hammond, whatever Magnifi’s offering, I don’t care...”
Miles blinked.
Magnifi... I wouldn’t want to assume, but that’s not exactly a common name. What business could a homicide detective have with the head of the Gramarye crime family?
His stomach churned again, and Miles narrowed his eyes, grabbing his cane and gripping the handle tightly.
Generally, nothing good, but... he doesn’t seem like the type to be dirty.
The memory of how Wright’s heart sped up when Badd teased him about asking Miles out played in his head, and he tried not to blush.
You think he’s sweet, don’t you?
Miles decided he didn’t like how much that voice sounded like Mia.
Although, speaking of Mia...
“Mr. Gumshoe, I need you to drive me somewhere.”
Gumshoe startled, which made Byrde let out a surprised laugh.
“H-How did you know I was still here?”
Because you always stick around the office to flirt with Ms. Byrde after you drop me off.
“Call it a hunch. If I have any appointments, Ms. Byrde, please tell them something came up.”
“Boo!”
Gumshoe yelped as the doors to the elevator opened, and Miles bit back a snicker.
“Hello, Maya.”
“Aw, come on!” Maya whined as Miles and Gumshoe stepped out of the elevator. “How’d you even know it was me?”
“Because you’ve been trying to scare me since you were four. Shouldn’t you be in school right now?”
Maya shrugged.
“I just shrugged. It’s a teacher work day today, which means we kids can’t be at school.”
“Ah, I see. And you’re here instead of at home because...?”
“Because our mother had to work, and Maya’s not allowed to be home alone anymore.” Mia explained as she approached them, her tone one of fond exasperation. “Not after what happened last time.”
“In my defense, the laundry detergent bottle and the dish soap bottle look exactly the same.” Maya protested.
“Uh-huh. So what can I do for you, Miles? I mean, you insisted on meeting me right now, despite the fact that I told you I’ve got court tomorrow and need to prepare.”
“Ah, right.” Miles let got of Gumshoe’s arm, letting his cane slide out of his jacket sleeve. “May I speak with you in private, Mia?”
“Uh, sure... Maya, you’re in charge, okay?”
“Yes!”
“Aw, come on!” Gumshoe whined.
Miles chuckled as Mia led him into her office, closing the door behind her.
“Okay, what is it, and how much trouble are you in?”
“When have I ever gotten in trouble, Mia?”
“Am I allowed to use examples from elementary school?”
Miles chuckled, taking a seat in the plush chair across from her desk.
“I need a favor.”
Mia sat down in her chair, the sound of cloth brushing against cloth telling Miles that she’d crossed her arms.
“What kind of favor? Because if it has anything to do with your, ah, nocturnal activities, then I remain out.”
“You didn’t use to be so stringent about these things, you know.”
“I’m glaring at you.” She informed him. “And yeah, I wasn’t, but I’ve learned my lesson about all of that. I’m really, really hoping you don’t have to learn the same one before you stop.”
The concern in her voice made Miles’ chest hurt, but all he could do was shake his head.
“We’ve had this conversation before, Mia. The outcome is not going to change. Now, are you going to help me?”
After a moment, Mia sighed.
“What is it?”
“I need your expertise as a lawyer, actually. Have you ever meet a detective named Phoenix Wright?”
“Well, that’s certainly a name. No, I can’t say I have. Have you?”
Miles sighed.
“Derek Price was murdered yesterday.”
“Oh my god.”
“Yes, that was my reaction as well. Detective Badd and his new partner, Detective Wright, came by my office this morning to ask about it.”
He heard Mia groan.
“God, tell me you weren’t a complete dick to Detective Badd again.”
Miles clenched his jaw, gripping the handle of his cane tightly and biting back a remark about how it was hardly fair for her to expect him to be kind to the man who put his father in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
“I was perfectly cordial, but I didn’t speak with Detective Badd much, as he felt it would be better if Detective Wright conducted the interview.”
“Please tell me you’re not gonna interfere in a police investigation again.”
Miles shrugged.
“Alright, I won’t tell you. In any case, that’s not what I came to speak with you about. While Detective Wright was leaving, he picked up a phone call from someone named Grossberg about an offer from Magnifi.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, while I’d hate to assume, Magnifi isn’t exactly a common name in California.”
“You think he’s involved with the mob?”
“I don’t know for sure, but it’s worth looking into. And you’re better at getting this kind of information than I am for, well...” He gestured at his eyes. “Obvious reasons.”
“You know, when I said I was done with the whole superhero thing, I didn’t mean you could make me into your personal hacker.”
“And you know that I wouldn’t ask you unless it was important. And I know that taking down Gramarye’s empire is important to you.” He hesitated, a wave of guilt passing over him before pressing on. “It was important to him, too.”
Mia’s heartbeat stuttered, and he could almost feel her anger.
“That’s- that’s a low blow, Miles.”
“I know it is, Mia, but you know I’m right. Please, I... I need your help.”
Mia didn’t react for a moment, and Miles was sure that she was about to kick him out of her office.
Then she sighed.
“Fine, Ducky, I’ll look into it. But one of these days, I’m gonna stop helping you.”
Miles bristled at the nickname.
“Don’t call me Ducky.”
“Nope, sorry, I’m gonna call you Ducky. You’re being a petulant little shit, so you’re getting the Ducky treatment.”
His cheeks burned, but he decided that it was in his best interest not to bring up how she’d been saying she wasn’t going to protect him anymore since elementary school, and yet she was still here.
He paused, then chuckled.
“What?”
“Oh, Maya just beat Mr. Gumshoe at cards again.”
“Are you ever gonna let her tell him that she can read minds?”
Miles chuckled as he got out of the chair.
“If I thought he could keep a secret, I’d have told him I’m a meta long ago.”
Mia snorted, the hinges of her chair squeaking almost inaudibly as she turned toward her computer.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
Miles smirked.
“Just a bit of reconnaissance. Call me if you find anything.”
Phoenix was panting by the time he got to the front of the school, glancing at his watch again and cursing under his breath.
“Today is just not my day to be on time...” He muttered, craning his neck to try and see over the crowd of parents and kids. He waved, jumping up and down a little. “Apollo!”
Apollo didn’t seem to hear him from the steps, gripping the straps of his backpack tightly as he looked around. Phoenix groaned a little, trying to push through so that Apollo could see him.
“Buddy!” He called, startling the woman next to him. “Uh, sorry, sorry... Apollo! Apollo, bud, over here!”
Apollo finally heard him, perking up instantly when he saw him.
“Nick!” He shouted, a huge grin on his face as he bounded down the steps. Phoenix laughed, then groaned when Apollo all but barrelled into him, his arms wrapped around Phoenix’s torso tightly.
“Oof! Heh, geez, kiddo, did you miss me?”
“You’re late.” Apollo replied, his voice muffled by Phoenix’s shirt.
“Yeah, but only like, five minutes late. That’s not so bad, right?”
Apollo looked up at him with a pout.
“I don’t have a watch, it felt like forever!”
“Well, that’s cause you’re six, bud. Come on, you didn’t think I wasn’t gonna show up, did you?”
Apollo didn’t respond, instead pulling away and staring at his shoes. Phoenix’s heart sank a bit, and he sighed, kneeling down and cupping Apollo’s cheek.
“Apollo, I promise, I’m not going anywhere, not as long as you and Trucy still need me.”
“That’s what Mom said, too-!” Apollo flinched, bunching up his pants in his fists.
“Oh, kiddo...” Phoenix murmured, brushing some hair out of Apollo’s eyes. The two cowlick-y stalks of hair popped up again, and Phoenix’s heart ached at how much Apollo reminded him of Jove. “Honey, I know it hurts. I know that you miss her a lot, so do I, but she wouldn’t want you to be so scared all the time.”
“She doesn’t.” Apollo murmured.
“Huh?”
“Mom’s alive, right? So saying she wouldn’t want me to be scared isn’t right.”
Phoenix resisted the urge to flinch, forcing a smile.
“Y-Yeah, you’re right. So you gotta keep going, right? She’d want to see that smile of yours when she gets back.” He ruffled Apollo’s hair. “And you know what, I wouldn’t mind seeing it either.”
After a moment, Apollo smiled at him, then went in for another hug.
“Love you, Nicky.”
Phoenix grinned, pressing a kiss into Apollo’s hair.
“Love you too, bud. C’mon, we’ve got a peanut waiting for us at home, and then I’ve gotta get back to the precinct.”
“Aw, Nick...” Apollo whined as Phoenix stood up and took his hand. “Do you really gotta go back to work?”
“Yep. Sorry, Apollo, them’s the breaks when you’re a detective.”
“Do you have a case?”
“In fact I do. Just got it this morning.”
Apollo tugged on his sleeve, looking up at Phoenix with big expectant eyes.
“Ah, uh-uh, no way, bugaboo. You know the rules.”
Apollo pouted.
“Nope, rules are rules. You remember what the rules are, huh?”
Apollo let out a big, melodramatic sigh.
“No sharing the details of an ongoing investigation.” He recited dutifully.
“That’s right, not even with adorable little boys named Apollo.”
And to be honest, you’re already upset about your mom, telling you about a possible serial killer who might be targeting metas might just make it worse.
“If I were a cop, you’d have to tell me.”
“Ah, well, there are some rules there too, but you, my friend, you don’t want to be a cop.” Phoenix started as he tugged Apollo out of the way of a stroller. “See, you have long hours, you have to navigate a culture of- of mean people, and sometimes you get shot at. Plus, there’s paperwork.”
“Oh.” Apollo seemed to think this over. “Well... then I’ll just be a prosecutor! Like Kay’s dad!”
Phoenix decided he did not want to think about the cost of law school.
“O-Oh, uh, a prosecutor, huh?”
“Yeah! You’ll catch the bad guys, and I’ll make sure they go to jail!”
He sounded so excited, Phoenix didn’t have the heart to tell him he probably wouldn’t be allowed to prosecute anyone Phoenix arrested. Instead, he chuckled and ruffled Apollo’s hair.
“Sounds like a plan... bud...”
The hair on the back of Phoenix’s neck suddenly stood up, his stomach clenching when he saw a familiar figure standing near the entrance to the train station. He cursed under his breath, clenching Apollo’s hand and tugging him back.
“H-Hey, uh, how about we take a different way home today, huh?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just, uh, just cause-!”
The last person Phoenix wanted to talk to saw them. He started walking towards them, determination in his eyes.
“Shit.” He tugged on Apollo’s arm a little harder as he turned away. “C’mon, this way.”
“Nick, what’s going on?” Apollo asked as Phoenix pulled him along, looking worried.
“Nothing, bud, just-! Don’t look back, okay? Just try to keep up with me, we’ll be fine-!”
“Wright!”
Phoenix grimaced, and he heard Apollo whimper when he realized why they were going the other way.
“Nick...”
“I know, honey, I know, just keep walking, he can’t keep following us forever-!”
It was at that moment that Phoenix ran headfirst into someone.
“S-Sorry, I-!” Phoenix blinked, then groaned. “Hey, Valant.”
“Officer Wright.”
“Detective now, actually.”
“That’s nice.” Valant replied, not sounding at all impressed or interested. He turned to look at Apollo, plastering a grin that made Phoenix’s insides churn as he kneeled down. “Hey, munchkin! You missing your old Uncle Val yet?”
“You’re not my uncle, you-!” Apollo bit his lip, looking up at Phoenix with frustration in his eyes. “Nick, I know it’s not nice, but can I...?”
Phoenix bit back a laugh, doing his best to look put-upon and sigh heavily.
“Oh, alright, but just this once, okay?”
Apollo beamed, then went back to glaring at Valant.
“You’re a weiner!”
Valant looked absolutely, genuinely scandalized, and Phoenix couldn’t help but laugh.
Nor, apparently, could the man who came up behind them.
“He’s got you pinned, huh, Valant?”
“Stuff it, Zak.”
Phoenix grit his teeth, squeezing Apollo’s hand both for his benefit and to remind himself not to do anything stupid.
“Something I can do for you boys? I’ve only got so much time on my lunch hour, and I’d like to see my other kid before I get back to work.”
“This won’t take long.” Zak told him, clapping him on the shoulder and digging his fingers in. “We just wanna have a chat with you, courtesy of our boss.”
“Like I told Hammond, I’m not interested in a deal. Thalassa’s will was clear, she doesn’t want her father anywhere near either of the kids.”
Zak’s grip on his shoulder got tighter, and suddenly Phoenix found himself being yanked down a nearby alleyway, Apollo crying out before his voice was muffled.
“Hey! What the fuck do you-!” Phoenix grunted when Zak slammed him against the wall and grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket. “G-Geez, buy a guy dinner first, why don’t you?”
“Look, pal, this doesn’t have to be complicated. All you have to do is stop refusing to let an old man see his grandchildren, yeah?”
Phoenix snorted.
“Right, cause Magnifi’s gonna be satisfied with just seeing them on the weekends or whatever. You and I both know he’s not gonna stop until both of them are under his thumb, and we both know that’s not what’s best for either of them.”
Zak snorted.
“All I know is that my boss wants to see his grandkids, and it’s my job to make that happen for him. Now, what I gotta do to make that happen, well... that’s up to you now, isn’t it?”
Phoenix narrowed his eyes.
“Y’know, Zak, I’d think you’d be a little more concerned about what happens to the kids. Or at least what happens to Trucy.”
Zak’s grip shifted almost imperceptibly.
“Sure I do.” Zak started, his voice far too level to be natural. “She’s my boss’ precious little granddaughter, who knows what he’d do if something happened to the brat?”
“A brat. Not exactly the nicest way to refer to your own daughter, Enigmar.”
Fear flashed in Zak’s eyes, and he moved to pin Phoenix with just one hand, his other moving dangerously close to the gun on his hip.
“Don’t tell me you forgot your promise, Wright. All three of us swore we’d never tell, you gonna go back on your word and lose what little chance you’ve got here?”
“If I tell, you’ve got as much to lose as I do. Maybe more, considering that I’m sure Magnifi would be none too pleased to find out who Thalassa really turned to for comfort after what happened to Jove, especially considering that instead of her best friend, it was really his own right hand man.”
“You wouldn’t. You wouldn’t dare, you know Thalassa would never forgive you if you told Magnifi the truth.”
“Yeah?” Phoenix smirked. “Well, good thing she’s not here, then. Besides, if she could see what you and Valant have been doing to stay in Magnifi’s good graces, I’m sure she’d have no qualms about cutting you lose. She knew you were the scum of the earth from the beginning, Zak. Only reason she protected you was that she didn’t want to see her kid’s dad die again.”
“You...” Zak looked like he was about to start foaming at the mouth, and in a flash there was a gun aimed right between Phoenix’s eyes.
Shit.
Phoenix grit his teeth, trying to inch his hand towards his holster without Zak noticing.
“You know, Wright, I’ve had just about enough of you. And I’m guessing that after all the shit you’ve put him through, Magnifi wouldn’t miss you too much if you were found in this alley with a hole through your head.”
“Y-You know threatening a cop can get you about a year in jail, right?” Phoenix managed, inches from being able to wrap his hand around the grip. “Plus I’m willing to bet that piece you’re holding up to my forehead isn’t registered-!”
“Shut it.” Zak snarled, pressing the muzzle against Phoenix’s skin. “Like you said, Wright, Thalassa’s gone, which means that you and I are the only ones left who know the truth. So if I get rid of you, not only does Magnifi get what he wants, but I’m free as a bird, too.”
“W-Well, yeah, but...”
“So tell me, Nicky. Give me one good reason, just one reason why I shouldn’t pull the trigger and blow your brains out?”
“I-!”
“Here’s one for you.”
Before either Phoenix or Zak could really react, there was a sickening crunch, and Phoenix found himself sitting on his butt and blinking in confusion. Zak was on his back and groaning, his gun closer to the entrance of the alley than to his hand.
“You really should listen to the detective, Mr. Enigmar.”
Phoenix startled, reaching for his gun as he turned toward the source of the voice. The newcomer- a man in a black costume with red armor, the upper half of his face hidden by a truly hideous mask- smirked, crossing his arms.
“Relax, Detective, we’re on the same side.”
“Y... You’re that guy. Gargoyle.”
Gargoyle shrugged.
“The media seems insistent on that name.”
“Y-Yeah, I think it’s the mask-!”
Zak groaned again as he staggered to his feet, taking a wobbly step forward.
“Y-You sonuvabitch, I’ll-!”
Gargoyle sighed heavily, unclipping something from his belt and tossing it at Zak. It exploded in a cloud of smoke, and Zak crumpled to his knees, falling face first onto the dirty pavement.
“What did you just-?!”
“Knockout gas. He’ll come around in a few hours.” Gargoyle turned away. “I’ll leave the rest to you, I’m sure you’ve got your handcuffs-!”
“W-Wait!” Phoenix called, scrambling to his feet. “Wait, there-! There was another one, he’s got my kid-!”
Gargoyle didn’t look at him as he started scaling the wall of the nearest building.
“Hey! Hey, come on, don’t... climb onto the fire escape?”
The vigilante’s footsteps echoed against the rusty steel, and for the first time Phoenix realized that he could hear tiny, terrified little whimpers above him.
“It’s alright.” Gargoyle murmured, his voice soft and soothing. “It’s alright, you’re safe. Do you want to come down now?”
A sniffle, then a sob and cloth rustling, something soft hitting kevlar.
“O-Oh, uh... well, alright...”
A moment later, Gargoyle dropped back down, holding something close and making a shushing noise.
“I believe this is what you’re looking for, Detective.”
Phoenix was pretty sure he was about cry when he saw what Gargoyle was holding.
“Oh, Apollo, thank god.”
“Nick!” Apollo wailed, turning around and reaching out for him. Phoenix all but scooped him up into his arms, hugging him tight.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so so sorry... I’m so sorry, Apollo, I’m sorry...”
“I-I was really, really scared...” Apollo sobbed into Phoenix’s jacket. “I don’t wanna go live with Grandaddy, Nick...”
“I know, bugaboo, I know. You aren’t gonna have to, I promise.” He pressed a kiss into Apollo’s hair. “I’m gonna keep you safe, I promise.”
Apollo’s only answer was a heartbreaking little whimper, and Phoenix shushed him, rubbing his back as he turned back towards Gargoyle.
Who was no longer in the alley with them.
“So this is how Commissioner Gordon feels...” Phoenix murmured.
Apollo let out a watery giggle, then hiccuped.
Phoenix had long since decided that the most baffling thing about babies was how easily they got sick.
“How did you even get a cold, I ask.” He murmured, wiping Trucy’s nose for what felt like the hundredth time that night. “You’re eight months old, you don’t even go anywhere. What germs are you getting exposed to?”
Trucy’s only response was a pathetic little whimper, followed by her touching her tummy.
“Aw, you feel yucky, huh? Poor peanut.” Phoenix hummed softly, pulling her into his arms and rubbing her back gently. Trucy sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. “It’s no fun being sick, is it?”
Another whimper.
“No, it’s not fun. Your head’s all stuffy, and now your tummy hurts too.” He bounced her gently as he walked into the kitchen. “Well, I think you’ll start feeling a little better once we get some of those nasty boogers out of your nose.”
“Do you always constantly narrate to your baby?”
Phoenix’s gun was out of his holster before he knew it, aimed at the shadowy figure in his living room.
“Magnifi doesn’t know when to quit, does he?”
The figure chuckled, holding his hands up.
“Turn on the lights and put the gun down, Detective. Or at least put the baby down, holding both seems like a recipe for disaster.”
Phoenix narrowed his eyes, then flipped the switch with the barrel of his gun, rolling his eyes when he saw who was in his living room.
“Great, so that’s a B & E in addition to obstruction of justice, aggravated assault, trespassing, and you know what, I’m pretty sure that mask of yours is a crime against good taste.”
Gargoyle frowned.
“What’s wrong with my mask?”
“It’s ugly as sin, that’s what’s wrong with it.”
“It’s supposed to be ugly, it’s meant to scare people.”
“Yeah, well, it’s pretty stupid-looking in this light.” Phoenix replied as he put his gun back in his holster. Trucy made a noise, and he shushed her absently. “How’d you even get in here, this is the third floor.”
“Climbed in through the window. You shouldn’t leave it unlocked.”
“It wasn’t unlocked, I checked, and...” Phoenix blinked. “Wait, that window locks from the inside, how’d you even pick the lock?”
Gargoyle smirked, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
“Trade secret.”
Phoenix scoffed, shifting Trucy around in his arms.
“You know you’re committing a crime right now, right? You really don’t seem to get how serious this is.”
“You’re not going to arrest me.” Gargoyle countered lightly. “I saved both you and your son this afternoon, your handcuffs are in the other room, and you’ve already put your gun away. Besides, that would necessitate putting your daughter down, and she’s unhappy enough at the moment.”
Phoenix grimaced, then sighed, quietly admitting to himself that the costumed vigilante in his living room had a point.
He then questioned when his life had turned into a comic book.
“So, what, are you here for a thank you? Wouldn’t expect a guy like you to thrive on gratitude.”
“I’m not here for a thank you, Detective.”
“Good, cause I’m not interested in waking up my six year old so he can gush at his new favorite person. And you aren’t getting a thank you from me, cause I was his favorite til you showed up, and I’m bitter.”
Gargoyle actually laughed at that.
“I’m serious, you’re his new hero. Now I can’t ever arrest you or else Apollo will never talk to me again.”
“I don’t think you really have to worry about that, Detective.”
“Oh? What makes you so sure about that?”
“Your son was quite insistent when I rescued him from his captor. I had to save his father, his father needed my help.”
Phoenix’s heart skipped a beat when he heard that, his grip on Trucy shifting slightly.
“He, uh... he said that? Those exact words?”
“Well, no, he said that ‘Nick’ needed my help. Why?”
“N-No reason.” Phoenix lied, trying not to look too obvious.
Is it wrong that I’m kind of relieved he didn’t call me his dad for the first time in front of some costumed weirdo?
Gargoyle frowned, but didn’t press him on it.
“I assume that you have some questions for me.”
Phoenix sighed, walking over to the cabinet and grabbing one of the nose bulb things.
“You don’t generally do your whole Batman schtick in the middle of the day, right? I mean, that costume of yours doesn’t exactly scream stealth.”
“You’re wondering why I was there to save you.” Gargoyle concluded, leaning on the wall by the window. “I was following you.”
“So we’ll just add stalking to the rap sheet, then. Any particular reason you were following me while I took my kid home from school?”
“I have some connections, Detective. There are some whispers about you, and your connection to one Magnifi Gramarye. There are far fewer good cops in this city than you might think, and I thought I should look into you.”
Phoenix didn’t respond immediately, trying to swallow down the anger bubbling up in his gut as he helped Trucy clear her nose.
“You thought I was dirty.”
“Again, it’s not uncommon.”
“I grew up in Windy Heights, pal, I know there’s more than a few bad apples out there. I have to work with some of them.” He pulled the bulb out, and Trucy sighed, looking much happier. “So? What’s your verdict?”
“I’m willing to admit that I was wrong, Detective Wright. I think that you’re a dedicated father, if a bit prone to lapses in self preservation.”
“Hey, you only interacted with Zak for like half a minute, and you punched him in the face. And threw a gas bomb at him.”
“He didn’t kill you, did he? And his partner didn’t manage to kidnap your son.”
“Yeah, thanks. Although, next time, keep in mind that it’s kinda hard to take in two people with one pair of handcuffs. Even if they are knocked out.”
“Duly noted. Although, I’m curious. Why would you claim paternity to cover for a mobster?”
Phoenix sighed.
“Because her mother was my best friend. We’d been friends since we were six. She, me, this guy Larry, and Apollo’s dad, Jove. He died in an accident about a year and a half ago. Zak was there, and well... if Magnifi found out that his right hand man slept with his only daughter, it wouldn’t be pretty. Thalassa didn’t want anyone else to die, so... so I covered for him. We told Magnifi the baby was mine, and Magnifi still liked me back then, so it worked out fine.”
“Was that the end of it? Magnifi Gramarye doesn’t exactly seem like the type who’s fine with having a grandchild born out of wedlock.”
“You’d be right on that front. He wanted us to get married, and I would have, but...”
“But...?” Gargoyle prompted.
“... There was a... a girl. It sounds stupid now, but... I was smitten, and Thalassa wanted me to go for it, so she told her dad that it didn’t work out and...”
Phoenix trailed off, and Trucy sighed sleepily, curling into his chest.
“I’m guessing things didn’t exactly work out with this girl?”
He snorted, shaking his head.
“That’s an understatement. But I still signed the birth certificate, so as far as anyone knows, I’m Trucy’s biological father.”
“I see... what happened to Thalassa?”
“She was a physicist at Silver Labs. She was working there when the, uh... the accident happened in August. Like everyone else there, she’s M.I.A.”
“And she left her children to you?”
“As I’m sure you know, her dad’s kind of a mob boss.” Phoenix deadpanned. “She didn’t want her kids living that kind of life, so she asked me to be their legal guardian in case anything happened to her.”
“Magnifi’s not happy about that, I’m guessing.”
“You’re a real master of understatement. I’d already fallen out of his good graces when he figured out I was one cop that couldn’t be bought, then Thalassa and I didn’t get married. I’m basically walking around with a target on my back here.”
Gargoyle hummed, crossing his arms.
“I might be able to help you with that.”
Phoenix quirked an eyebrow, shifting a sleeping Trucy around again.
“Yeah, not sure if I should be accepting the help of a costumed vigilante here.”
“I meant legal help, Detective.”
“Oh, so you’re a lawyer in addition to being a superhero?”
“No, but I do know a few. A friend of mine is as interested in taking down Gramarye as you are, Detective, and she happens to be a very talented lawyer.”
Phoenix narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t get it. Why me? I know I’m not the only good cop in this city, and I’m sure there’s one without a mob boss breathing down his neck. Why go to all this trouble for some guy you just met?”
Gargoyle didn’t answer for a moment. Phoenix didn’t break eye contact, studying the ugly mask covering the top half of his face. Now that he was looking at him from a closer distance, he realized that while what he’d thought were horns were in fact horns, what he’d thought were ears looked more like some kind of weird headphones, like a comm unit or something. The eyes of the mask were also reflective; Phoenix couldn’t see the man’s eyes.
“Let’s just say that you... you remind me of someone. A good man, trustworthy. And I can’t do this on my own. It’s a big city, and I’m just one man.”
“You used to have a partner, right? Diamond Girl, or something like that?”
“I did. She’s no longer protecting this town.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened as his stomach dropped.
“She’s... she’s dead?”
Gargoyle paused, probably blinking, then shook his head.
“No, she’s just... retired. It’s just me now, but I can’t do this alone. And like I said, Detective, there are fewer good cops in this city than you think. Can I count on you?”
Phoenix hesitated, shushing Trucy when she babbled something in her sleep.
“I... look, I don’t know anything about you. For all I know, you’re an actual gargoyle running around fighting crime.”
Despite the mask, Phoenix just knew the way his mouth fell open had a pair of raised eyebrows to match.
“I’m... I’m not a gargoyle, I assure you. Where did you even get that idea?’
“I don’t know, there was a show like that when I was a kid!”
“I’m fairly sure that was a cartoon. You know that cartoons aren’t real, right?”
Phoenix gestured around as best he could with just one arm.
“If you haven’t noticed, we’re kind of living in a comic book.”
Gargoyle scoffed, putting his hands on his hips.
“Well, while I’m questioning my decision now, the offer still stands.” He started walking toward the window. “I’ll give you some time to think it over. In the meantime, you should expect my friend sometime tomorrow.”
Before Phoenix could say anything else, Gargoyle had climbed out of the window and was off backflipping into the night.
“Christ.” He muttered, turning back towards Trucy’s nursery. “Shoulda been a lawyer. Lawyers don’t have to deal with vigilantes in their living rooms, and they get to live in nice big houses.”
Trucy simply snored in response.