literature

Misery

Deviation Actions

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World: Ace Attorney
Featuring: Mia Fey x Diego Armando                                                                       

                                                               Misery

The judge's gavel was brought down, thus validating his final verdict and adjourning court.

This was it. Everything was over. Justice had prevailed, once again, but the price to pay...

Phoenix Wright stared at the empty mug in his hand. And to think the same item had been flung at his head mere moments earlier...

He had lied. He didn't like coffee, and had certainly not enjoyed Godot's #102 blend.

Armando, he reminded himself as he raised his eyes to watch Misty Fey's killer. Diego Armando. What has the world done to you?

The white-haired man had his hands on the wooden surface in front of him and, although Phoenix couldn't see his eyes behind the visor, seemed to be staring at something on the floor. As if sensing the young attorney's eyes on him, the prosecutor looked up and offered a smile. The weakest, most exhausted smile Phoenix had ever witnessed on a face, and that frightened him.

A lawyer always smiles, no matter how bad it gets.

Well, it certainly couldn't get worse for Armando. At best, he would spend the rest of his life in jail. At worse...

He was crying again. Thick blood was rolling down Armando's cheeks, soiling his white tie and gathering on his hands. The man was crying and smiling at the same time. Phoenix was at a loss.

A lawyer doesn't cry until it's all over.

Armando was applying his two favorite rules at once, which was quite a disturbing sight.

People were exiting the room, excited loud voices echoing in Phoenix's mind. They were happy the young attorney had once again proved his worth. They were amazed at this new turnabout. They were glad the murderer would get what he deserved.

Phoenix wasn't.

Armando was moving; the tall man walked to the door, his fingers following the wooden guardrail on his right. Upon reaching the great mahogany door, the former attorney turned around and gave the courtroom a last look. Wordless farewell. He'd probably come back for his sentencing, if there even was a trial, but would only watch as others played with the rest of his life from the defendant box.

Unless...

Phoenix dumped his files in his backpack and hurried out of the courtroom, hoping to catch Godot before the police got their hands on him. If only he could defend him, he would do anything in his power to get the judge to be a bit more lenient. Hell, he would even claim Armando had been driven to madness by too much coffee, as far as he was concerned!

Luckily, he spotted the tanned man in the defendant lobby. Armando was walking with his head held high, as per usual, and his shoulders straight. His hands were shoved deep inside his pockets, looking for all the world like he was going for a walk outside, and not facing life imprisonment or death.

Phoenix opened his mouth to call out to him, but before any sound could spill out, Diego's legs betrayed him and he teetered to the side, hitting the wall with his right shoulder. He looked like he was about to collapse on the spot.

"Mr. Armando!" Wright cried out as he ran to the older man's side. "Are you all right?"

"Ha...! I have not been all right for years... I never expected this run-down body to hold on this long, either..." The smile never left his face.

Phoenix wriggled his way under Godot's arm to support some of his weight; to his utmost surprise, the man was even lighter than Maya. When Wright felt ribs poke his side through his blue suit, he remembered. Coma. Five years.

"We need to get you to a hospital, you need medical attention! Your wound-"

"Oh, save it, Trite," Diego laughed. "Whether I die here, at the hospital or in jail really doesn't make any difference."

This reminded Phoenix of the reason he had run after the prosecutor. "I can help you. I can be your lawyer, I'm sure I can convince the judge to be on my side."

This time, the smile vanished from Diego's face. His jaw settled and he steeled himself.

He became Godot once again.

He snatched his arm away from Phoenix and stumbled forward. "I don't need your help," he growled under his breath.

Phoenix wasn't sure if he was talking about the trial, his wound, or both. "Please, at least think about it," the attorney pleaded.

"Oh I'll think about it all right, as soon as I reach the other world." Diego untied his blood-dotted tie and loosened the collar of his shirt, clearly uncomfortable. Was that sweat on his neck? Phoenix prayed it wasn't.

The door burst open and Gumshoe walked in, followed by two policemen and two paramedics.

"Five men, just for me? Now I feel special," Armando smirked as the men walked up to him. He nodded to Phoenix. "I suppose this is farewell, Mr. Wright. I suggest you go find your friends and share a good cup of dark sweetness over this victory. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend, so drink another cup in my name, but be assured that my thoughts are with you."

And the fallen attorney walked off to meet his fate with yet another smile, leaving Phoenix standing there with his jaw open.

He had no clue what he was supposed to say; "have a nice day" would be downright cruel, and "farewell" wasn't even an option. This was not farewell, it couldn't be, as long as Phoenix had a say in the matter.

"Sorry pal, I wish I didn't have to do this, but y'know... orders and all," Wright heard Gumshoe say, and the detective's voice was laced with sadness. Although Godot had given him a rough time, the scruffy man had respected the prosecutor a lot, admired him even. And even if it was just proved the man was a murderer, it was taking a lot out of Gumshoe's big heart to arrest him. "We're gonna take you to the hospital and keep watch over you so you don't try to... escape, or anythin'."

Godot smiled again. Phoenix thought he was going to point out that if he really wanted to escape, he wouldn't have waited for them to show up in the defendant lobby. And he would certainly have succeeded, since they had taken their sweet time. He could even have poured himself an espresso.

"You know, detective," the ex-attorney began, and Phoenix saw Gumshoe readying himself for yet another blow to his ego, "I've never completely appreciated your abilities. Up until now, that is."
And Diego Armando collapsed forward, right into Gumshoe's arms.

"Mr. Godot!" the detective gasped, barely catching the white-haired man before he hit the ground.

There was no response as Armando hung limply, small droplets of blood hitting the floor next to Gumshoe's feet. His visor fell off his face when Gumshoe shook him a little, and clattered on the previously spotless white tiles; Phoenix's stomach churched. Godot's face was a mess of blood, tears and sweat, stretching from forehead to chin. The visor had acted as a floodgate, and now that it was gone, blood was running freely down the tanned face from a gruesome wound under his eyes and over his nose.

Phoenix knew that sight would be burned into his memory forever.

"Mr. Godot, can you hear me?" Gumshoe tried, to no avail. "Dang it, unconscious! You!" he roared at a policeman next to him. "Pick up the mask. You, call the hospital, and you two get the ambulance ready! There's no time to lose!"

"But sir, weren't we supposed to-"

"I said: there's no time to lose! Do as I say or I swear you're never ever putting that uniform on again!" Gumshoe's booming voice made even the thick walls of the lobby shake, and the four man scrambled away to do what they were ordered to. Phoenix had never seen Gumshoe so pissed; and it didn't even involve his salary.

The muscular detective effortlessly picked Armando up, as if the man weighed nothing – the man actually didn't weigh anything, Phoenix himself would have been able to carry him – and he jogged to the door, followed by the policeman who was carrying Godot's mask.

Phoenix snapped out of his trance and shook his head to clear it of the morbid sight he had witnessed. He made to follow Gumshoe out of the room but someone grabbed his arm and tugged him back.

To his surprise, his eyes fell on Miles Edgeworth. The young prosecutor was frowning, as per usual, but there was a different glint in his usually cold dark eyes. Was it pity? Compassion? Or an illusion?

"Leave him be, Wright," he said calmly, his hand still holding Phoenix's forearm and preventing him from running after Gumshoe. "There's nothing you can do."

"It can't end like this! He was protecting Maya, he thought it was right! He doesn't deserve this, he's-"

"A murderer, Wright. And if we set free every murderer who thought they were doing the right thing, our prisons would be empty." Edgeworth let go of his arm and gave it a pat. "You have to let this go. It's all over now, Armando said it himself."

It's all over now... The way everything ended... Was justice really served? Phoenix ran a hand through his spiky hair with a sigh of defeat. The man who risked his like to save Maya is being sent to prison by my own hand...

"Of course justice was served."

The new voice startled the two men who whirled around. Enclosed in Maya's small clothes, Mia – or rather, Mia's spirit – was smiling at them, her arms crossed.

"M-Mia!" Phoenix stammered. Even though he had somewhat gotten used to his dead mentor coming back once in a while, he couldn't quite get over the initial shock. And from the looks of it, neither could Edgeworth.

Mia's eyes were soft. "... I'm proud of you, Phoenix," she said. "Your defense was... truly brilliant."

Phoenix did a double take; wasn't she supposed to be mad at him for sending Godot to prison? "B-But I couldn't save Mr. Armando! The man who cared so deeply for you..."

Mia's features hardened and she frowned; he knew that look well. It usually meant he was missing an important detail and she was annoyed at him. "You're wrong, Phoenix. You did save Diego." Her eyes fell to the ground and sadness filled her eyes. "You saved him in the only way possible."

"You mean... with that verdict?"

Mia didn't answer right away. She kept her focus on the ground for a few seconds, as if debating over something. But when she looked up, she was smiling again. "I think one day, you'll understand too. Phoenix, I want you to remember one thing..."

Wright was all ears; he almost expected another Godot-style rule, about never giving up until the truth is out, or something like that.

"You were as good out there as any defense lawyer could ever hope to be." When Phoenix's jaw dropped, Mia smiled even more. "There's nothing more you can learn from me."

The young attorney blinked. Surely, she wasn't implying... "M-Mia...!" he gasped.

"You've accomplished something I wasn't able to," she added before he could protest. "I owe you a great deal... thank you."

Phoenix felt a tug at his heart; this was it, then. She wouldn't come back. She would be dead for real. It hurt him even more than when he had found her body in the office.

"Mia..." he begged. He knew he sounded pathetic, but he couldn't help it.

"I'm sure we'll meet again... someday... Phoenix."

And with those final words, Mia's spirit left Maya's body, maybe for the last time.

Edgeworth caught the young medium before she hit the ground.

Phoenix was numb; he was dimly aware of Edgeworth speaking to him, and other people gathering around them. He recognized a voice, or two, but he didn't give a damn. Mia might have said that he had been "brilliant", this had been his worst case.

He may have won, but he felt as though he had lost.

Well, Mr. Armando. I don't know if everything is really over or not, but I don't care.

And Phoenix Wright cried.

                                                                 XXXXXXX

The next two days were spent filling out and signing paperwork, mostly court records.

Phoenix was sitting at his desk, reading. Maya and Pearl were overly silent. Things hadn't quite been the same since Armando... well since that trial. The two girls had spent their waking time watching TV or, God forbid, crying.

Phoenix didn't know what to do when they cried. He just sat on the couch with one arm around each girl, their heads on his shoulders as his blue suit was soaked by tears. At those times, he felt useless.

The attorney sighed and put his pen down to run both hands through his black hair. He was useless. There was nothing he could do to ease their suffering. His eyes fell on the newspaper he had bought in the morning and was stuck under his elbow.

                                                  Diego Armando: the lawyer who killed
                    Prosecutor Godot, a brilliant lawyer whose past and origins were unknown,
                          was revealed to actually be Diego Armando, 34 year old ex-attorney at the
               Grossberg Law Office, poisoned in 2012 by a young woman named Dahlia Hawthorne.
                    Thus, Armando disappeared from the face of the world for five years, laying on a
                 hospital bed in comatose state. But his comeback was just as surprising; as his way
                   to celebrate his return to the living world, Armando killed in cold blood Misty Fey-


Phoenix frowned and pushed the article away. Trust journalists to leave out important details such as Maya's rescue. He was about to crumple the paper and throw it in the trashcan when the last line caught his eye.

-staying at Sunrise Clinic until his trial is held.

Phoenix stared at the paper. There was something he could do.

"Maya, Pearl, grab your coats," the attorney spoke gently so he wouldn't startle them. "There's someone we need to see."

                                                                 XXXXXXX

"I'm sorry, pal, but you can't go in there."

Gumshoe really looked like he was sorry, but his huge frame wouldn't budge. Phoenix could barely see the number 404 on the door above the detective's shoulder.

"Please, Mr. Scruffy!" Pearl pleaded, grabbing the man's sleeve. "We want to see Mr. Diego, he needs someone to talk to!"

"I can't let you do that, little pal. Only doctors are allowed in there."

"Mr. Armando is my client, I'll be his attorney for the upcoming trial," Phoenix blurted out. Lying to Gumshoe felt... cheap. "I need to speak to him."

Gumshoe scratched the back of his head. His resolve was obviously wavering. "He's kinda tired, I don't think you'll get him to talk much. Are you sure you want to see him?"

"Yes, we are!" the trio shouted, attracting surprised glances from nurses and doctors in the busy corridor. But Phoenix was past caring.

"Okay, okay, no need to shout!" Gumshoe looked around suspiciously, as if one of his superiors was going to pop out from behind a stretcher and scold him. "Look, you can talk to him but don't be too long, all right?" When they nodded, Gumshoe checked the corridor one last time and opened the door for them.

Soft beeping sounds greeted them as they walked in. The room was white, bare and smelt like they had washed the floor with antiseptic. The only window was open, white curtain swaying with the slight breeze.

Diego Armando was spread out on the bed, on his back, white sheet drawn up to his waist. Gone were his regular clothes, replaced by a standard white hospital garb. His left hand was resting on his stomach, while his right arm was lying next to his body, two intravenous tubes disappearing into his exposed forearm. Small healed scars ran along his arm, testimony of five years spent living off plastic pouches to survive. His eyes were closed and his white hair spread out on his pillow; he looked peaceful. Too peaceful in fact...

Phoenix walked closer, Maya and Pearl in tow. The clean wound was forming a red line, standing out on Diego's tanned skin like a wolf among sheep; it apparently hadn't needed any stitching. Messy stubble indicated that he hadn't had a chance to shave for the past two days. His mouth was closed; and his stillness disturbing...

"He's not dead if that's what you're thinking."

Phoenix whirled around at the voice, and the two girls gasped. They had been so focused on Diego they hadn't even seen the two policemen sitting next to the door. They were both young men, and they didn't look like they were happy to watch over the wounded prosecutor/attorney.

"See that?" the policeman spoke again, pointing a finger at the heart monitor above Diego's bed. "Heart's still beating. Beep. Beep. Beep. He's not dead... yet."

Wright frowned; that last remark didn't settle well with him. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked quietly so he wouldn't wake Diego.

"Doctors said he doesn't have much time left. I wish he would hurry up and just die already."  

Pearl gasped, clinging to Maya's coat. She had never heard someone say such a cruel thing, and the fact that it was directed at Diego was even worse.

When Phoenix saw Pearl's eyes tear up, he growled and shot the two younger men a nasty look. "Listen, I don't know who you think you are, but I won't let you speak about Mr. Armando like that."

"Oh, stuff it, that guy's a murderer and he's gonna be executed as soon as he gets out of here. Serves the bastard right for messing around with us while playing prosecutor."

Now Phoenix remembered where he had seen the two cops; they had worked under Godot, and it was common knowledge that Godot wasn't a nice boss. But still, wishing he was dead... "You don't have the whole story," the young attorney hissed.

"They don't need the whole story."

The voice was so weak Phoenix thought for a moment that he had dreamed it. But Diego's faded white eyes were looking up at the ceiling; he was awake.

"Mr. Diego!" Pearl exclaimed as she dashed forward, grabbing the older man's left hand between hers. "You're awake!"

Diego smiled weakly, but otherwise didn't move. "Well, look what the cat dragged in..." he rasped out, his thumb stroking Pearl's little hands. "Pearl, Wright... am I to assume Maya is with you as well?"

"Yeah." Maya walked on the other side of the bed and lightly touched his right forearm, a small smile on her lips. "I'm here too."

"Ha...! I'm afraid I'm in no shape to have a proper conversation but... with a cup of coffee..."

"Right here, old man." One of the cops got up from his chair, snatching the steaming mug that was sitting on table in front of him. He walked up to the bed and deposited the mug on the nightstand. "Here you go, don't burn yourself though, it's hot."

Phoenix thought it was a kind gesture, coming from someone who wanted Diego dead, and he didn't understand the malevolent glint in the young man's eyes as Armando reached for the cup. It soon became clear what the policeman was up to; as Diego's hand was about to close around the cup, he pulled it a bit further, thus making the ex-attorney miss his target. "Crap, just a bit further." When Diego tried again, the cop pulled the cup away once more, now giggling. "C'mon, man, you're nearly there! Just-"

"Stop that!" Maya shouted, and everyone froze. Phoenix couldn't remember Maya ever being so loud, even that one time when the Steel Samurai lost. "You have no right to be that cruel! Get out of here!"

The policeman frowned. "You can't tell me what to-"

"Get out!"

"What's all that shouting for, pal?" Gumshoe grunted as he walked in. "This is a hospital, you can't just..." His booming voice trailed off as he took in what was happening; the cop holding the cup of coffee out of Diego's reach, the latter's arm outstretched, and Maya looking like she was on the verge of tears.

Even a mind as simple as Gumshoe's could put two and two together.

"Johnson! Marti!" the detective yelled. "I warned you what would happen if either of you pulled any kind of stunt on Mr. Armando again! Get the hell outta here!"

The cop holding the cup – Johnson, or Marti, Phoenix didn't care – turned pale. "B-But chief, I wasn't-"

"Listen, I won't chew you out because there's a kid in the room, so don't make me kick you out of here! And that's an order!" Gumshoe waited until the bullies were out before he gave Phoenix an apologetic look. "Sorry, pal. I never thought they'd do things like this to Mr. Armando. After I'm through with them, I'll watch over him myself."

Phoenix politely thanked Gumshoe and the detective closed the door. The room was silent once again.

Diego's hand groped around until he found the edge of the nightstand. With a pain-filled grunt and probably half the strength he had left, the wounded man pulled himself in a sitting position, allowing Maya to help him. Once they were sure he wasn't going to fall back down, Pearl snatched the mug of coffee and gently pushed it into his hands.

"Thanks," Diego muttered as he fumbled around for the handle.

Phoenix felt like his heart was being crushed; Armando wasn't meant to look this weak, this vulnerable. He ought to be free, not dead nor dying. This reminded Phoenix of the reason why he had come here...

"The answer's still no," Diego said once his mug was empty.

Damn. He can read minds, too. "How did you know?"

"What else would you come for? Just to see me? Ha...! I'm sick, you know, not stupid."

"Well... Maya and Pearl wanted to see you," Phoenix said, and that was the truth.

Pearl nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mr. Diego! Ever since Mr. Nick told us you weren't feeling well after the trial, we were worried!" She grabbed his hand as soon as he set the mug aside. "Are you feeling all better now?"

"I... have seen better days." Diego stayed silent for a while, and a weak smile stretched his lips. "Will you do me a favor, little kitten?"

Pearl's eyes lit up. "Anything, Mr. Diego!" she said, always eager to be useful.

"Could you please find Scruffy and ask for another cup of coffee? I'm feeling thirsty..."

"I won't be long!" Pearl promised as she ran out of the room.

As soon as the door closed behind the young girl, Diego's smile vanished. He frowned, which put pressure on his wound and twisted it a little.

"I don't want you as my lawyer," he said calmly.

Phoenix sighed and sat on the spot Pearl had vacated, on the edge of the bed. It wasn't going to be easy. "I know the whole story, it'll be easier if you let me defend you. I could lighten your sentence."

"Oh, I'm sure you would. That's exactly why I don't want you as my lawyer. That... and I already have an attorney in mind."

Phoenix had to fight not to gag. What the... How the hell did he contact someone? He has been stuck here for two days! And more importantly... "Who?"

Diego grinned a pale excuse of his trademark grin. "Well, I think it wouldn't be too foolhardy of me to assume that you're staring at him right now."

There was a heavy pause as the words sank in.

Heavy, but short-lived.

"Are you kidding?! You can't be your own attorney! They'll never let you do that!" Phoenix said. Maya was too shocked to answer.

Diego frowned. "They won't, says you? Do I need to remind you that I became a prosecutor even though I refused to give any more information than a first name, and a fake one at that? Have you forgotten already that they allowed a feverish, crazy, coffee-addicted dying man to take drastic decisions concerning people's lives?" Armando stopped before he got carried away, and sighed. "Everything that happens in that courtroom is messed up. I'm just... turning it to my advantage."

There was another uncomfortable silence, and Maya was the one to break it. "Did you say... dying?" she asked, her voice hardly more than a meek whisper.

Diego nodded. "I may have woken up from that coma, but the poison never completely left me. My hair turned white, true, and I went blind, but that's only what you can see. My entire body was damaged." He went silent, but at Maya's hand on his forearm, he spoke again. "My immune system went crazy trying to get rid of the poison; I don't think I spent a single week without some fever-inducing infection settling in somewhere. My stomach wasn't spared; once or twice a week, I throw up blood in alarming quantities. Well, alarming if your name isn't Diego Armando." His humorless grin was heartbreaking. "I have to rely on at least four different drugs to stand, and about seven to go through a trial. Of course, the coffee helped, but only if consumed in large amounts. Nonetheless... I could have put up with it."

Phoenix's eyes rose from their downcast position, and he waited patiently for Diego's next words.

"I could have put up with it... if I had something to wake up for in the morning. After I woke up from my coma, and learned that Mia was dead, I asked the doctors to send me back to sleep. I was so weak, I felt empty and hollow. But when the doctor brought me that newspaper, and I saw that article about you, Wright... I found a purpose again. I decided you were the one to blame for Mia's death and I swore I would get my revenge; a foolish thought, now that I think of it, but it gave me strength. I had a goal. And now... I don't know why I wake up in the morning; I don't know why I'm alive, when the only woman I would give my life for is waiting for me in the other world."

It looked like sadness had been melted and molded into the two glassy orbs that were in the middle of Armando's face. But while his eyes held more pain than a human being could afford to feel, there was a fleeting, almost apologetic smile on his mouth, begging the young attorney and his assistant to understand.

To Phoenix, the older man was the perfect picture of misery, in its basic, purest form.

Maya awkwardly shifted her weight on her legs. "You... really loved my sister, didn't you?" she asked, biting her lip.

Diego's smile got even more bitter. "And I still love her more than words can describe."

This seemed to be Maya's undoing. She flung her arms around the tanned man's neck and violently buried her face into his chest, startling him and almost making him fall backward. Hard sobs shook her small frame as she cried into Diego's white shirt, clutching the fabric at his back.

"P-Please don't d-die," the young spirit medium begged in-between sobs. "Y-You can fight! And Nick c-can save you! He c-can save anyone!"

Diego gently patted her head. "He already saved me."

Maya only cried harder. Phoenix was still having a hard time trying to figure out why she was so protective of Armando, even after the man killed her mother. Then he understood; Maya had lost her sister, her aunt, her mother, a member of her family she didn't even know before the trial had been sent to prison... and now she was losing Diego, her protector and Mia's lover. She had forgiven him... and she was about to lose him.

"Don't cry, little kitten, it's not over yet," he said softly. "Here." His left hand came up to his ear and, after some fumbling, he managed to take his earrings off. "Take those. So you have something to remember me by." He found Maya's hand and pushed the two small silver loops into her palm. "I don't need them where I'm going. You can give one to Pearl."

His smile was strained; he had given up on fighting and was embracing his fate.

Maya closed her fist around the earrings and brought them over her heart, nodding. She was fighting back another stream of tears, and losing. Unable to stop herself, she hugged Diego once again and cried into his shoulder, not out of denial but because she realized she was never going to get another occasion to hold him.

"Here you go, Mr. Diego! Mr. Scruffy said it is exactly the way you like your coffee, strong and... Mystic Maya?" Pearl stopped in her tracks, steaming mug in hand, at the sight of her cousin and Armando. Mystic Maya was always strong, she had never seen her shed a single tear. And here she was now, crying so openly and hugging Mr. Diego. Little Pearl bit her lip; something was terribly wrong. "W-What is going on?" she asked, fearing the answer but unable to keep quiet.

Diego turned his head in the general direction Pearl's voice had come from and smiled softly. "You know, little kitten, I'll miss you when I'm gone. You always made me smile."

Pearl trembled and she almost dropped the mug of coffee. "Gone"? He was leaving? No! They had just gotten him back! Pearl couldn't remember, of course, but she had seen numerous pictures of that tall handsome man with Mystic Mia, and even a some pictures where he was playing with herself and a much younger Mystic Maya. The man who always laughed. The man who always made Mystic Mia laugh. The man whose name had been impossible to decipher in her early years, and that she had thus dubbed...

"Godo!" Pearl cried, tears prickling at her eyes. "I... you are Godo!"

Phoenix frowned. "Pearls, what are you talking about? You know as well as I that it's not his real name, he-"

"Hush," Armando said with a fond smile. "She remembers."

Memories flooded Pearl's mind; being carried under the rain, the familiar scent of coffee, a beard tickling her forehead, a roaring laugh. Before she knew what she was doing, she put the mug down on the floor and ran at Diego, climbing on the bed and hugging him for all she was worth, big salty tears rolling down her face.

"Don't cry over me, kittens, you were born to smile," the wounded man said, stroking both Pearl's and Maya's hair. He looked up, and Phoenix had a feeling his next words would be directed at him. He wasn't mistaken. "Take care of them, Wright. Whatever you do, never hurt them the way I did."

Phoenix gulped. "I-I'll do my best," he promised nervously.

"You are a fine attorney, Wright, maybe one of the best I have ever seen. But... I expected no less from my lovely kitten's pupil." Diego smirked. "You've got her claws. Use them wisely... Phoenix."

                                                                  XXXXXXX

Gumshoe had soon asked them to go. His chief was soon going to come and ask Armando a few questions, and it was best if they didn't see this. So, with a promise that they would drop by again, they parted from Diego.

Phoenix was leading the two girls through the clinic's busy corridors. Pearl was clutching at his suit with her left hand, squeezing Diego's earring in her tiny right fist, looking down at the floor. Maya was doing her best to keep up, but her mind was elsewhere. They promised they would visit him again... but there was no telling when he would pass away. She wanted to do something special for him, but this might be her only chance...

When Phoenix stopped to look around, she made up her mind.

"I... I forgot my magatama in Mr. Armando's room," she mumbled. "Could you two... wait for me? I'll go back and get it, I won't be long."

Phoenix turned to her and frowned a little, but eventually nodded. "We'll wait for you downstairs."

He watched as Maya nodded and turned around, disappearing in the moving mass of medical staff. Silly girl. She thought she could fool him, but she had too much on her mind.

She even forgot her magatama was around her neck, in plain sight.

Maya made her way through the corridor until she reached Diego's room, a plan forming itself in her head. She wasn't sure she wasn't going to cause more harm than good but she had to do it.

Gumshoe was still guarding the door; she gave him the same excuse she had given Phoenix, and the man let her through, albeit not without voicing his concern first. Maya hurriedly walked in before she changed her mind, closing the door quickly and leaning her back against it, staring at the floor.

Diego's ears twitched at the sound of his door slamming close. Were the detectives here already? He thought he had time to take a nap... "Hello," he said quietly. No use being rude. When he heard the lock slide into place, however, he frowned. "You know, you ought to lock the window instead, a five story dive sounds kinda good to me."

"I'd like to see you try, Diego."

The white-haired man's eyes widened to an extend he thought was impossible until now. That voice... It couldn't be. "Mia..." he rasped out, painfully pushing his body into a sitting position. "How..."

"I thought I told Maya not to call again but... she can be so stubborn." Mia sat on the edge of the bed, taking Diego's hand in hers.

Oh, that was right. Kurain Channeling Technique. For a fleeting, ridiculous second, Diego had hoped that, maybe...

"You look like crap."

At this, Diego chuckled bitterly. No beating around the bush with his kitten. "Well, I guess I had no reason to take care of myself," he said, tightening his fingers around hers. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Mia brought Diego's hand to her lips to kiss its tanned back.

He smiled. A few seconds unrolled without either of them saying anything, and yet their silence spoke volumes. Joy. Forgiveness. Love. They didn't need words.

"Soon, we will be reunited. For real."

This made Mia's frown. "What do you mean?" She didn't like how it sounded.

Diego's lopsided smirk held no playfulness. "My body is getting weaker and weaker each day. I can't walk without downing less than five pills. Soon, it's going to get worse. I won't be able to sit. Won't be able to talk. Won't be able to breathe. I don't want this." His hand squeezed hers gently. "I won't accept these conditions to stay in a world where I'm not even able to see your face anymore."  

Mia was frozen, at a loss for words. He was... giving up? He, who had always told her everything was possible, as long as she fought? She slipped her hand from his and his smile dissipated. "Please tell me you are joking," she said.

Diego sighed, his eyes and shoulders dropping. "There's nothing left for me here. I've done terrible things here, kitten. Your mother, I..."

"I know," Mia interrupted him, not wishing to have that particular memory brought up. "I... Phoenix told me." She thought it was best if she left out that she had been in the courtroom at the end of the trial. She didn't know how Diego would feel if he knew that she had seen him break down.

Diego nodded absentmindedly. "As soon as I get out of here, I will be sentenced to death. I deserve no less. And they'll be doing me a favor, too, since my body won't last much longer. Doctors said I have a year left, maybe two."

"Doctors also said you would never wake up."

"This time they can't be wrong, my body is deteriorating way too quickly."

"Well, maybe they... Damn it Diego, look at me!" she hissed when the man's eyes dropped once more to his white sheets. "You're not supposed to look this weak, you have to fight! The man I fell in love with never ran away from his problems, so look at me!"

"Weren't you listening?" Diego's eyes rose and Mia got a good look at them; instead of deep brown, they were pale and faded. Unfocused. "In this world, I'm not even able to see your face."

Mia's eyes widened; she had no idea Diego had gone blind. Sure, she had noticed the visor in the courtroom, but she had decided it was a mask that was meant to hide his face.

"I'm trying to cope with the fact that after seven long years, the woman I've always loved is finally in front of me again, and I can't even see her face. I'm sorry if I look the least bit defeated." Diego's face scrunched up as he snarled the last part, jostling his wound.

He hadn't raised his voice, but his words felt like a slap to Mia.

"Diego..." On impulse, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged his head to her chest, burying her face into his soft white hair. She didn't care if he couldn't see, or if he was dying; he still smelt the same.

His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin. "Don't tell me you are going to cry too, kitten."

"I'm not crying," Mia said weakly, though moisture was quickly gathering in her eyes.

"Good. I'm not sure my heart could stand it." His arms came around her waist and they hugged one another, Diego's cheek against Mia's chest, and her chin on top of his head. "I love you. I never stopped."

"Neither did I." Mia smiled a bit through her unshed tears and pulled away a little to lay a kiss on Diego's forehead. "I'll be waiting for you."

The older man grinned and snuggled up to her chest; he nearly jumped out of his tanned skin when there was a loud bang, followed by angry voices. Apparently, Gumshoe's chief had arrived and found the locked door; and didn't sound happy about it.

"They're here for me," Diego mumbled, squeezing Mia's waist softly before releasing her. "You should go. Nobody is supposed to be in here."

"I've waited seven years for this. They can wait a few minutes."

Mia leaned in and captured Diego's lips for a passionate kiss, holding his stubbly cheeks between her hands. Pleasantly surprised, the male ex-attorney kissed back, looping his arms around her slender waist as her hands fell to his shoulders. He poured every feeling he ever had for her in that kiss, seven years of wasted time coming undone in that hospital room.

Someone was pounding on the door. Neither cared, lost as they were in one another.

Mia pulled away after a while, leaning her forehead against Diego's as she caught her breath. "I'd gladly stay some more," she said softly. "But I know where we usually go from here. And this is my sister's body we're talking about."

Diego chuckled and gave her lips a tender peck, nuzzling his nose into hers the way he used to. "We'll have plenty of time for that later. Wright and Pearl must be waiting for Maya. Come on," he said, giving her a short kiss. "Off you go."

Squeezing his hands for the last time, Mia walked to the door and leaned her back against the wall. As soon as she slid the lock out of its resting place, the door burst open, effectively shielding her from sight. Two set of footsteps made their way into the room, one heavy – probably Gumshoe – and the other one lighter.

"What the hell, pal? You can't lock yourself in your room like that!"

Mia heard Diego snort. "I can't take a piss by myself, but I somehow managed to unlock the door and come back to bed before you two could come in? Didn't know I had that kind of power."

"Armando, you're in no position to back talk. I'll have you know that you're up to your neck in trouble, boy. We're here to see what we can do." That irritating voice must be the chief's.

"Of course, but before we start, there is something I would like to ask."

Mia carefully slipped out from behind the door; luckily, the two detectives had their backs to her, so she was able to sneak out of the room undetected, though not after a last look at the love of her life. Diego was grinning at the policemen, that famous grin of his that had her legs turn to jelly when they were younger, and she wished she could hold him again.

Later, she promised herself. Later, he'll join me, so we can watch over Maya, Pearl and Phoenix together. And she fled.

"So, detective... how do you like your coffee?"

                                                                 XXXXXXX

Maya found Phoenix and Pearl near the main door. The attorney was holding the little girl's hand and he visibly relaxed when his eyes fell on his assistant.

"What took you so long?" he asked when Maya came to stand in front of him.

She shrugged. "I... said goodbye. Properly."

Phoenix stared at her, but when it became obvious she wasn't going to add anything, he sighed and wrapped his free arm around her shoulders. "Let's go home."

Maya nodded and let the attorney lead her away. She had regained control over her body in the middle of the corridor after Mia's spirit left, and Diego's door had been closed. She had no idea whether her plan had worked or not.

But if the heavy taste of coffee in her mouth was any indication, everything had gone smoothly.
Well life isn't all about butterflies and roses, and kittens, and coffee... I know this fic is a bit sad, but you can't truly appreciate a happy fic if you haven't read sad ones before.

At least, that's what I tell myself every time I come across a heartbreaking Miego fic.

Picture borrowed from Sienna, a nice Phoenix Wright doujinshi.
© 2010 - 2024 TrueRed
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Vegetassj4fangirl's avatar
its so good i cant imangie how hard to write this and my phone was playing a song while i was reading that made me cry harder and
btw
take my feels you bastard :iconthrowplz: