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Phoenix is soaked to the bone and his teeth are chattering when he pulls himself on to the rocks on the bank, away from the rushing current.
He's freezing and sore and hardly able to keep his eyes open.
He faintly hears Larry yelling his name and sees ash falling like grey snow into the river.
He tries to look to the other side of the bridge, but there's nothing to see but the sheer side of the cliff.
He lets his eyes fall closed with a sigh.
Maya.
She's still trapped, and there's nothing he can do about it.
XXX
He's vaguely aware of some shouting before he's being moved and undressed and being placed on a gurney under a blessedly warm blanket.
XXX
He hears the mechanical beep of machines and feels the needle of an IV in his arm. His eyes flutter, but he's too tired to even look around.
Everything hurts, and he can barely concentrate. Everything feels hazy.
But Maya.
Maya is still out there.
He fidgets in a barely contained panic enough that a nurse comes to check on him.
She assures him, while checking his vitals, that the police know Maya is out there and that they're trying to arrange a rescue for Maya.
It's not good enough, but it's enough that he settles down.
At least they know Maya's out there.
Then she says they arrested that girl anyway.
That girl.
She must mean Iris.
His insides twist.
As much as he's perplexed by Iris, he wants to trust her. He wants to believe she's not the one that did this.
He wants to put his faith in her like she's his client even though the circumstances make that impossible.
He still tries to pull up the case file on his laptop but only manages to get it open before sleep pulls him back under.
XXX
The next time he opens his eyes, he thinks he's witnessing a mirage because surely Miles Edgeworth isn't at his bedside.
"Wright, that was a damnably foolish thing to do," he says, and maybe it's not a mirage. "You're lucky you made it to the bank. Most bodies are never recovered from that river because of the strength of the current."
Edgeworth may be scolding him, but there's a soft edge to the words, and Phoenix knows he's simply worried.
He'd tell him not to be.
But well.
He'd regretted stepping on that bridge practically the moment that he had.
And now he's tired, bruised, and feverish.
"Edgeworth, I thought you were in Europe," Phoenix says because, truly, what is he doing here? Surely he didn't come all this way just for him?
"Larry called. He may have suggested you were at death's door, and, while that's clearly not the case, I'm frankly surprised it isn't," Edgeworth says. "You need to take better care of yourself, Wright."
"But Maya," Phoenix says before going into a coughing fit that won't seem to end.
Edgeworth rubs at his back until it stops. "You went on the bridge for Maya?"
He nods as Edgeworth pours him a cup of water from a pitcher on the bed tray and hands it to him.
He sips at it gratefully before struggling through an explanation of the murder, Maya, and the bridge. He only coughs a lot.
"You're telling me that you knowingly stepped onto the bridge fully aware that it was on fire?" Edgeworth asks.
"Uh," Phoenix says because truly there is no logical explanation for what he did. It was beyond idiotic.
He'd only been thinking of Maya. Certainly not himself or the consequences of a 40 foot drop.
"Maya is lucky to have you as a friend," Edgeworth says softly.
"You know I'd do the same for you," Phoenix says before he can stop himself.
"I'm rather afraid that's the truth," Edgeworth says. "You care too much about others, Wright, and not enough about yourself."
Phoenix thinks that what he's about to ask is only going to further prove the point. But it's not going to stop him.
He motions for Edgeworth to hand him his suit jacket. Then he fishes the magatama out of the pocket before slowly unfastening his badge from the lapel. He takes Edgeworth's hand and places both in his palm.
"Wright, what on earth are you giving me these for?" Edgeworth asks.
"You can do it," Phoenix says, because he knows even if Edgeworth doubts himself, he's the only one he trusts to take his place at the bench. He knows he's placing his trust in more than capable hands. "You can defend Iris."
"Defend?" Edgeworth sputters. "You can't be serious. Wright, I'm a prosecutor."
"I have faith in you," Phoenix says.
"It's not a matter of faith," Edgeworth says.
"Yes, in fact, it is," Phoenix says with enough conviction that Edgeworth looks down at the badge in his hand and simply stares at it.
It's at this point that he seems to notice he also has the magatama. He picks it up and inspects it. "Isn't this something to do with spirit channeling? I always see the Feys wearing these."
"It's a magatama. It's a symbol of their tradition, but you can use it too. It'll let you see the truth in people's hearts."
"Just how high is your fever exactly?" Edgeworth asks as he leans over and brushes his hand across his forehead. "That sounds like utter nonsense."
Phoenix grabs ahold of his wrist. "I know you don't believe in this stuff, but it's the truth. You'll see."
Edgeworth still looks skeptical, but he still places the badge and magatama into the pocket of his own suit jacket, and Phoenix knows he's going to do it even before he says, sounding put upon, "I will look into this "Iris," then, I suppose."
Phoenix outlines everything he knows, which is essentially nothing. He doesn't even know why they arrested Iris at this point.
He tells Edgeworth he can come back to discuss when he's done investigating.
"Wright, it has been a true pleasure to see you, and a comfort to know you are not more badly hurt. However, I do not want to keep you from what is undoubtedly much needed rest."
Phoenix is disappointed but not exactly surprised by the dismissal. More than anything, he was hoping to see Edgeworth again.
The disappointment must show on his face. "I may stop by for another personal visit, if you'd like."
"I would like that," Phoenix says.