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Breathing Is A Necessity	By : BringtheHawt Category: +M through R > Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Views: 8424 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Author's Notes: This chapter was an emotional struggle for me and far harder to write than 7. I hope you all enjoy. Thank you to everyone who have left kind words! I truly love and appreciate reviews; it makes me want to write more fics after this one.
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March 29, 1:59 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
The infuriated prosecutor struggled viciously against the beast named Damon. He launched punches, attempted kicks toward Gant's exposed genitals, squirmed wildly. There was an impressive urgency in the silver-haired man's movements, an urgency he hadn't even seen in the younger man when he was being raped earlier.
And yet, with a couple of movements and a lung-squeezing bear-hug, the modern-day barbarian subdued him.
"Easy Worthy ... "
"Let, go!" as Edgeworth made a praise-worthy attempt to wiggle out of Gant's hold.
"You're fighting twice as hard for Gumshoe as you did for yourself," the police chief bellowed before shoving his troublesome infatuation into the wall. Within seconds, Edgeworth was pinned. Gant's naked form pressed into his backside was a harsh reminder of his fruitless plan to spare Gumshoe from this nightmare.
In this position, all the defeated prosecutor could do was shift his gaze. Silver eyes turned toward the fallen detective ... Gumshoe had managed to keep from collapsing on the floor entirely by leaning heavily into the door frame, those honest eyes widened in shock. In this quiet moment he could hear the detective's awkward breathing pattern.
"You shot him ... "
"Twice," Gant corrected.
Edgeworth's hand clenched into a fist. If his body wasn't trapped against the wall, he would have attempted another punch at his cruel captor.
"You soulless ... -"
"Had you been honest and told me it would be our mutual friend arriving today, things might have gone differently."
" ... friend?" Edgeworth snorted, "I know the rules in the Land of Fucked-up-ia are a little different than the social norms of reality, but shooting a 'friend' twice is rep-"
"Quiet, whore," a menacing whisper, "I seem to remember you being far more interested in bucking your hips against mine, rather than making that phone call, not even a full hour ago. Was our little bargain just a ploy? Did you merely want an excuse to fuck me while pretending to keep your precious dignity? Or perhaps, in your excitement to bounce guilt-free on my cock, did you simply forget about the poor little detective here?"
This quieted the prosecutor. Edgeworth's chest felt heavy with dread. Somewhere along the line, during all the abuse, it had become acceptable not to struggle. Of course, he still capitalized on opportunities to verbally spit at Gant, but to physically resist the significantly stronger man had just become ... exhausting. Was cooperation with Gant's filthy desires simply the next step downward?
How much further could he fall?
I need to focus ... I need to get Gumshoe out of here ...
"Now, behave, so I may check on our guest."
Edgeworth nodded.
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March 29, 2:13 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
When it was finished, the curtain was closed, and Edgeworth's left wrist was cuffed to the curtain rod. It had left the prosecutor in a kind of odd position, with one arm stretched upward as he kneeled upon the two foot tall-bookshelf he had in front of the window.
Gumshoe, still leaning against the door frame, had been watching them. The detective eyed Gant as he placed that gun on the center of Edgeworth's desk, before approaching him. There was a serious, perhaps sympathetic expression on the older man's face. The detective was struggling to calm his heartbeat, wanting to keep as much blood inside his body as possible, but pain and, worse, Edgeworth's imprisonment were driving up his anxiety level.
"Hello, Gumshoe," The police chief greeted humorlessly, before kneeling to examine the other, "Seems your vagus nerve is giving you a hard time. Don't think you've experienced enough blood loss to pass out from that, yet ... " His estimation and accuracy were flawless, the bullets had hit the detective in his lower left thigh and upper right shoulders. Nonfatal wounds, so long as Gumshoe didn't bleed to death.
"Why are you doing this ... ? This is ... wrong ... " Gumshoe was having trouble articulating the depths of betrayal he felt over this. Gant was a government official who pledged an oath to uphold the law. People trusted this man, believed in this man ... celebrated this man's accomplishments ... "T-turn yourself in ... and I'll .. "
Gant looked at the detective, pondering quietly. He pointedly glanced at the spilled drinks and to-go container on the floor.
"You're a nice guy, Gumshoe," Gant acknowledged, before turning his gaze back to the detective. "I have a secret, for you. The legal system in this area is extremely corrupt. I've numerous lawyers, detectives and cops under my thumb using various techniques, largely through surveillance and blackmail," he paused, tilting his head to the side as he watched the detective, "There are, a few, individuals ... who've escaped my control. A few squeaky clean individuals. A few .. Nice guys ... "
Gumshoe's expression soured at the revelation. He briefly wondered how many of his coworkers, his friends, were loyal to the despicable police chief.
"Well, this nice guy ... is tired of being on his knees," as he gripped the door frame and started to move.
"Easy there, Gumshoe," as Damon moved next to the detective to help hoist him upward. Gant directed the wounded man to the large pink sofa. "Again, I apologize. I sincerely wish it hadn't been you."
"Nope, pal ... not accepting your apology," as he grimaced from the pain of moving his wounded leg. Gant helped him ease downward onto the sofa, smirking at the detective's response. Gumshoe spared a temporary glance to the abused prosecutor before turning back toward Damon, "Why are you ... hurting him?"
"Behind that pretty, dignified face is a nasty, cold-hearted, cock-loving whore ... begging to be broken."
"I ... feel like, the real story behind this, is Edgeworth dumped you and your big fat ego can't handle it."
Gant froze, staring down the other man until the wounded detective was forced to look away. Gumshoe had a history of being unable to look at the police chief when he adopted this expression of quiet malevolence.
That ridiculous smile returned before he quipped in a mockingly sweet tone: "Excellent detective work, Gumshoe. You make the department so proud."
Satisfied with Gumshoe's obvious discomfort, he observed the other for a moment. That blood, the breathing ... He decided Gumshoe wasn't a threat in this condition.
"Where's your cellphone, detective?" He asked finally.
"I ... didn't bring it."
Gant leaned downward to gaze into those soft brown eyes.
"I'm going to search you. If you are lying, you will deeply regret it."
"Go-ahead. Don't-have-it." The struggling detective muttered back, perhaps with a suspicious quickness. Damon started patting down that body to find Gumshoe's badge, a wallet, a pen, a pack of gum, and a brass knuckle.
The brass knuckle caught his interest.
"Ah ... these," Gant swirled the weapon about using his ring finger, amused, "Didn't you have some sort of ridiculous name for this?"
"Fihsawjusis," Gumshoe murmured quietly.
"What was that?"
"It's the Fist of Justice, pal! ... Don't forget it ... "
"My apologies," Gant chuckled, flipping the weapon back onto the sofa, cockily leaving it beside Gumshoe. He stood upward, abandoning the detective and returning his vulgar attentions back to his despairing captive.
"You know Worthy-"
"-He needs medical treatment, Damon ... " Edgeworth urged, finding Gant's seemingly sincere treatment toward the detective giving him hope that Gumshoe might be spared ...
"-It irks me that no one else seems to realize what a randy little whore you are-," as he stalked closer to his prey.
"Please, Damon ... !"
This made Gant's movements pause, before a harsh, throaty laugh escaped his lips. Obnoxiously loud. Damon clapped as those howls continued to escape him.
"Oh goodness ... So funny. Is that the first time you've said the word please to me? ... Certainly the first time you've used it sincerely. Perhaps in your entire life. Did it hurt, forcing that word pass those slutty little lips of yours ..."
Damon even rubbed his eyes, perhaps laughing to the point of tears. Edgeworth's eyes looked sickened by the ridiculous display.
"We really should have invited the detective here sooner. This ménage à trois has certainly made the game more exciting, yes?" Gant sneered, resuming his walk toward the defeated prosecutor. "Now, what was I saying? Ah. It agonizes me that no one seems to realize what a filthy whore you are. "
As Gant narrowed the distance between them, Edgeworth shifted his gaze away despondently. He had a suspicion of what Gant was about to ask of him and subsequently couldn't stomach looking in the direction of neither him nor Gumshoe.
"Show him, Worthy," as that muscular arm snaked about Edgeworth, drawing him into the older man's body, "show him what a whore you are."
When Edgeworth failed to respond immediately, Gant leaned to whisper a warning in his ear: "I'll start by breaking each of his fingers ... then I'll progress to cutting each of them off."
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March 29, 2:15 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
I need to buy one-hundred lottery tickets after this is all over ... Thought the man who had just been shot twice.
It truly had been lucky; Gant had missed a pocket hidden in the inner part of his trench coat.
When the police chief's foul attentions were refocused on Edgeworth, Gumshoe nervously reached into this very pocket for his phone.
I gotta save Miles ... He mused, as he listened to Gant's heartless laughter and repulsive taunts.
Such an asshole ... You won't get away with this, Gant ...
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March 29, 2:18 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
"So depraved ... " Edgeworth voiced his accusation dismally.
This prompted Gant to clear his throat. Impatient.
Without truly looking at Damon, the distressed captive leaned to the other's mouth, placing a tepid kiss upon them. Gant leaned into him, attempting to intensify the union.
It's not the same ...
As Gant's frustration increased, he found himself tugging at those silver strands, kissing aggressively. Edgeworth's response was cooperative but without that needy fever Gant had remembered earlier. He thought of their previous kiss: Edgeworth's mouth had been hungry, delicious, needy ... It had driven the boorish police chief wild. This attempt at passion was submissive, listless. Gant recalled all the lustfulness of their earlier bout, Miles' eager hip motions, the tussle of their tongues, those undeniably sexy mannerisms ...
There was none of it, now. None of it.
"You're denying me!" Gant growled furiously, pulling back from the useless kiss.
"Denying you?" Confused by the sudden anger.
"You're not ... "
A moment of silence as Edgeworth examined those accusing eyes, musing over this odd scenario.
And it was Miles' turn to laugh. He looked away as he did so. The laughter was soft, muffled, lacking the garishly offensive tone of Gant's earlier howls. The affronted police chief was about to slap the prosecutor but lost the steel to do so when Edgeworth gently planted his free hand on that chest.
"All that talk about breaking me and here we are ... both ruined." He gave Damon a moment to ponder those words, before casting a playful look at the older man, "What's wrong, Damon? You've raped my unwilling body all morning without any issue ... " His free hand traveling down that Herculean chest before gently caressing the other man's soft penis.
Gant stared at the prosecutor as he silently mulled over these unexpected turn of events. Firstly, something in Miles had certainly snapped. His once fiery captive now seemed unflappable and, well, amused by their situation. As though he had given up resisting and decided the little drama was actually quite entertaining. Damon felt both irked and concerned, simultaneously...
Then there was the other issue. The fact that not even a full hour ago just touching Edgeworth would give him an erection and now he wasn't responding at all.
"Are your sadistic perversions failing you, Damon? Does assaulting your ... equal, no longer excite you?"
No words. Just that heavy green-eyed gaze. Edgeworth found his free hand creeping back up to rest on Damon's chest, again. Miles' touch had seemed to ... calm him, earlier. It was certainly an odd picture: the frustrated rapist holding his suddenly-whimsical victim close; the victim's one free hand on that manly chest, the other hand restrained.
"It's a good thing, Damon. I was beginning to think you weren't human."
More silence. Edgeworth cocked his head to the side, examining Damon, attempting to see through that quiet stare.
"If I'm no longer aroused by you, Edgeworth ... All that's left is to hurt you," Gant finally responded.
"Don't be so unimaginative, Damon," patting that chest lightly.
"Be clear," Gant barked impatiently.
"Was it everything you had imagined ... " almost shyly, "being with me? Was it not ... perfect?"
Of course, Damon knew exactly what Edgeworth had been referring to ... Their explosive, passionate union earlier. None of the sexual torture or their previous erotic sessions even rivaled it.
"It was," Gant agreed solemnly.
"What if we could have it again?"
Gant's enthusiasm was dampened by suspicion. Was the prosecutor attempting to make another bargain?
"Go on."
"As much as I'd like to pretend that you're simply a monster and I'm your victim, I certainly ... hurt you. Purposely and contentedly," he looked away as though ashamed, "You were to fulfill my sexual desires, nothing more. When your heart softened towards me, I spat on it ... snubbed and humiliated you. There won't ever be prison sentences for emotional cruelty, no matter how deep the wounds such callousness may cause."
Gant found himself squeezing the other man's body tightly into his, desperately trying to gauge the sincerity of this confession.
"You've gone too far, today, however ... " Edgeworth said quietly, fingers tapping Damon's shoulders, still unable to look at him, "Don't you wish it'd all go away?"
"Go away?"
"Yes, the abuse, insults, pain ... the frustrations, the fear, the guilt. What if the crimes we've committed went away. What if ... we were all that remained?"
"You mean start over?" Gant questioned skeptically, unsure of how he felt about such a notion, "This contradicts your earlier testimony, Mr. Prosecutor."
"You've certainly not made this easy on me, Gant," with a bit of a tone, "At times you horrify me, hurt me, at other moments you tempt me, infatuate me ... Consider me curious. I wonder how it would have been had we acted human toward each other-
"- I haven't been effective today if-"
"- I wonder if we had missed something ... something incredible. Something inexplicable ... something divine. Ever since earlier, ever since I gave into you and felt that maddening pleasure ... " Edgeworth's free arm slid about Damon's neck, pulling him close. "What if we could have it, what if it were at our fingertips ... - "
"-You've no idea what you're doing to me," Gant whispered, looking lost.
"I want it. I want the fantasy I've imagined. Let's live it ... please," Edgeworth leaned forward, about to punctuate the plea with a kiss.
But a brave intervention stopped them.
"That's enough!"
Gant's face turned at the boisterous interruption, and Miles' kiss brushed against the older man's cheek rather than his lips. There was Gumshoe, standing in the center of the room, with his brass knuckle equipped on his right hand.
"Damon," Miles whispered urgently, but it was a futile attempt at reclaiming Gant's attention. There was a sinister smirk as the police chief eyed the suddenly energetic detective. Gant certainly loved a challenge. He pat Edgeworth's back as though to say: "I haven't forgotten about you" ... but, really, Gumshoe's little rebellion was far too amusing to ignore.
"I'm still here and I can't listen to any more of this insanity! You're not whisking Edgeworth to ... Brazil, or something, to make him your sex slave!"
"Gumshoe, stop this!" The prosecutor insisted furiously. He had been so close ...
"Oh Gumshoe ... You silly, silly man," Gant murmured with a wicked grin.
"Now, ya sick bastard, Prepare yourself ... " as he raised his hands in the air, clenching them into fists, "for the Fist of Justice!"
Gant laughed heartily, before returning his attention back to the stunned prosecutor.
"Beautiful performance, Worthy," he whispered darkly, mockingly kissing that pale cheek, "You almost had me."
Then he left the embrace to confront the foolish detective.
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March 29, 2:22 PM
Phoenix Wright's Apartment
The phone rang.
Phoenix was disappointed when it wasn't Edgeworth's name that flashed on his phone.
Mm. Gumshoe? The detective didn't really call him very often.
Must be important.
"Hello?" as he answered the phone.
He heard sounds of shuffling fabric, perhaps some voices in the background.
"Gumshoe?" Did the detective just ass-dial him?
"That's enough!"
Phoenix heard Gumshoe's voice loud and clear.
"What the hell ... ?"
"I'm still here and I can't listen to any more of this insanity! You're not whisking Edgeworth to ... Brazil, or something, to make him your sex slave!"
Phoenix blinked.
"What the hell?!" He asked again, now somewhat irritated. What was this, some sort of sick prank call? Why on earth would Gumshoe accuse him of wanting to take Edgeworth to Brazil to make him a sex slave? A relationship with Miles here in Japan would do just fine ...
"Listen, I don't know who spiced your brownies, Gumshoe, but-"
"Gumshoe, stop this!"
Huh? Edgeworth's voice?
Phoenix was pretty certain that if Gumshoe had been making some sort of ridiculous, embarrassing prank call about Edgeworth in the same room with Edgeworth that said Edgeworth would literally kill him.
"Now, ya sick bastard, Prepare yourself ... for the Fist of Justice!"
It was at this point Phoenix realized that something was very, very wrong.
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March 29, 2:24 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
Don't fuck this up, Gumshoe warned himself. He tried to focus on his words.
"So you've got a gun ... and the entire police force on your side. I'm not afraid of you, Damon Gant! And I'm not gonna let you hurt Edgeworth anymore!" Speaking loudly, clearly.
"Such bravado, detective!" folding his arms across that chest.
"You think two bullets ... can stop me?!"
"No, of course not!" as though egging the detective on.
"Justice ... is like a bulletproof vest!"
"Stop this, both of you!" Miles insisted desperately, "Gant you shot him twice, isn't that enough? This needs to stop!"
"Now now, Worthy, don't interrupt this chivalrous challenge."
"It's ok!" Gumshoe stated, eyes locking with the prosecutor's, "Remember what I told you last Thursday ... !"
This made the prosecutor pause. What the hell did they speak about Thursday that had any relevance to this... situation?
"What did he tell you last Thursday?" Gant asked, shifting a quick glance at Edgeworth.
"I .. I honestly have no idea."
The police chief snorted disdainfully.
"Whatever! There's no time to reminisce about Thursdays. Today is Sunday and that's all that matters! Prepare yourself, Gant!"
Damon briefly mused over the oddness of Gumshoe's last two comments but dismissed it.
" ... I'm feeling pretty prepared," he responded. Even at full strength the brute wouldn't consider the out-of-shape detective a threat.
"We c-can't" Gumshoe stammered, "Ok, listen," he paused, flustered, "It's ... " he was sweating a little now, "You have to get dressed. I can't focus at all with you all naked and your ... thing, swinging around!"
Gant blinked.
"Seriously! Naked men are disqualified from chivalrous combat. So ... put your damn clothes on!"
" ... Fine."
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March 29, 2:24 PM
Phoenix Wright's Apartment
"So you've got a gun ... and the entire police force on your side. I'm not afraid of you, Damon Gant! And I'm not gonna let you hurt Edgeworth anymore!"
Phoenix's apprehension skyrocketed. It was clear this wasn't an accidental call - Gumshoe had purposely dialed Phoenix and made it clear not-so-subtly via his conversation with Gant and Edgeworth that help was needed. There were many revelations in this particular piece of information. Firstly, Gumshoe had managed to identify Damon. Secondly, he made it clear calling the police department wouldn't help them. Thirdly ... Miles ... had been hurt ...
Lastly ... Damon had a gun.
Miles and Gumshoe were ... in very real danger.
"Such bravado, detective!"
Was Damon Gant the one who had threatened Edgeworth and forced him into hiding at Gumshoe's home? No wonder Miles didn't report it ...
Phoenix felt sick to his stomach as he remembered their dramatic exchange back at the police department.
"You think two bullets ... can stop me?!"
Either Gumshoe had been shot or Gant had two bullets left in his gun ...
"No, of course not!"
"I need a weapon!" Phoenix decided, running to his bedroom closet to grab his metal baseball bat, right hand clenching onto the phone ...
He wished he could do better than a metal baseball bat. Who brings a metal baseball bat to a gun fight? Still ... he had to try something.
"Justice ... is like a bulletproof vest!"
Ok, Phoenix now had a weapon. He started running out of his tiny apartment before he realized he had no idea where this little drama was taking place.
"Stop this, both of you! Gant you shot him twice, isn't that enough? This needs to stop! "
His heart sunk. Looks like Gumshoe was already hurt ... Should he call for an ambulance? He briefly imagined Gant heartlessly shooting the two innocent paramedics who would show up to try to save Gumshoe ...
The weight of the situation suddenly felt crushing. Was this ... Gumshoe's last stand? Was he making one final attempt to save himself ... ?
Or ... for Edgeworth?
"I need the location, give me the location!" He hissed, listening intently. Where could they be? Miles' house? Gumshoe's house? Outdoors somewhere? They could be anywhere!
"It's ok! ... Remember what I told you last Thursday ... !"
...
... Phoenix thought back to Thursday. That was the day he had met Damon at the police department ...
He mentally scrolled through their conversation. Gumshoe had said ... Edgeworth was staying at his house? Was that where they were?
He dashed toward his car, fishing in his pocket for his keys.
In the back of his mind, he realized to go to the wrong location may very well mean death for both Gumshoe and Miles ...
Think, think! Phoenix urged himself. Did they say anything about any other location?
He heard Miles' and Gant's voices but couldn't make out the words.
... "Come on Gumshoe, don't fail me now ... "
"Whatever! There's no time to reminisce about Thursdays. Today is Sunday and that's all that matters! Prepare yourself, Gant!"
Odd comment. It must be a secret message. Sunday is all that matters?
His eyes widened. Gumshoe had said Edgeworth was returning to work on Sunday!
...
"We c-can't ... Ok, listen ... It's ... You have to get dressed. I can't focus at all with you all naked and your ... thing, swinging around! It's very inappropriate!"
"What the hell?! God damn it!" Phoenix cursed as he got into his car. Damon was naked ... had he been, abusing Edgeworth?
"Seriously! Naked men are disqualified from chivalrous combat. So... put your damn clothes on!"
The realization hit him like a hammer.
It was Gant.
Gant was Mr. Sex-god.
He thought back to the police department ... mulling over Gant's height and imposing frame, and his words. The flamboyant police chief had intentionally used the subject of Edgeworth to provoke him ...
Gant knows ... Gant knows who I am ... Gant is the one who threatened Edgeworth. He has Edgeworth, he just shot Gumshoe ...
"What were you fucking thinking, Edgeworth?"
He felt angry.
He felt afraid.
Phoenix buckled up the baseball bat in the passenger seat, started the car and doubled the speed limit on his way to the prosecution's office.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
March 29, 2:30 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
It had been a miracle Gant had missed the inner pocket of his trench coat where that cellphone had been hidden. Gumshoe, sneakily, slipped his hand back into his pocket to turn off his cell, when Gant had turned around to get dressed.
Phoenix had enough information, hopefully ... Gumshoe decided leaving the phone on longer than necessary simply increased his risk of getting caught.
The detective hobbled in the direction of Edgeworth. His heart died a little as he looked at the prosecutor. The evidence of abuse was there ... a bruise with small bits of dried blood in the upper right corner of Miles' forehead, another large bruise above his hip, pink wrists with the right one having some breaks in the skin. He assumed there would be signs of abuse in Edgeworth's lower regions ... but he politely refused to look down there.
There was also, of course, an agonized despair in those eyes; Gumshoe found his resolve to look into them begin to waver.
Gant smirked as he was getting dressed, observing Gumshoe limping toward his pet. He decided to let them have their moment as he slid his pants on.
The detective removed his long trench coat when he finally reached Miles, "All this inappropriate nakedness ... " he muttered, before gently wrapping his coat about those pale shoulders.
"Gumshoe ... I could have saved you. I had him. I would have forced him to spare you," Edgeworth explained miserably.
"He wouldn't have let me go, Edgeworth."
Miles, frustrated, reached out to grab the detective's shirt, squeezing the fabric.
"He's going to kill you," Miles promised, "He's going to kill you if you don't let me stop him."
"Listen, Edgeworth, I gotta tell you something, just in case I don't get a chance to later."
This quieted the prosecutor; his grip on Gumshoe's shirt relaxed slightly.
Gumshoe tried to think about how he wanted to say this. He wasn't exactly as eloquent as his lawyer friends, but ...
"When you were ... at my place. I kinda, peeked at you sleeping. I peeked, through the doorway, I did it every night to check on you, and make sure nothing happened, but one time I peeked and thought, 'this guy is scared. This guy I've admired since his professional career in Japan began. Not everyone understands this guy like I do. And of everyone he knows, he came to me, when he was scared. ' - "
"-Gumshoe ... -"
"- And that's when I made my promise to you. I didn't say it aloud, it was a brain-promise, but I promised I would protect you. "
Edgeworth's resolve was further weakened by the admission. A thousand regrets and fears seemed to pummel him at once. He had been watching Damon as the detective spoke. The bear was now fully dressed, sitting on the pink sofa, twirling the glass dildo that had been used on Edgeworth earlier in one hand idly, patiently waiting for them to finish. Gant smiled, when he caught the lawyer looking toward him.
Miles vaguely remembered Gant snarling about Gumshoe staking out his home ... The prosecutor hadn't realized the detective had honor-bound himself to protect him.
"Anyway, I obviously haven't been doing a good job so far ... -"
"-You've done more than enough ... " Edgeworth responded, using the detective's large frame to block the view of Damon's taunting smile.
Now his view was of Gumshoe's bloodied shirt.
"I told Gant ... You'd be here today. I'm sorry, I didn't think he was the one who threatened you."
Edgeworth looked up to Gumshoe's soft gaze as Gant chuckled on the other side of the room.
"That's not the entire truth, now is it, Gumshoe? Mr. Wright-o certainly had a hand in me finding my little Worthy this day ... "
"Don't listen to him, Edgeworth. Phoenix didn't know you were in trouble, I did, it's my fault."
It's my fault ... I should have told both of you who I was afraid of ... Edgeworth continued to gaze into those soft eyes. He could see it: Gumshoe's pain. Of course the detective was in pain, he had just been shot twice at relatively close proximity. He was struggling to conceal it, but ...
"I'm scared," Miles admitted, too quietly for Gant to hear, and found tears forming in his eyes against his will. Gumshoe did what felt natural at the moment: he wrapped his arms around Edgeworth's shoulders, hugging him. The trembling prosecutor buried his face against the left side of the detective's chest, desperately trying to ignore the scent of Gumshoe's blood, "Every time I ... I think I can reason with him, or control him, or mitigate his aggression, he ... I don't know what to do, I've been trying to maintain my wits, but" he squeezed the detective's shirt fiercely, "You have to let me try again ... I can, I can get you out of this ... I have to stop him, I ... "
"Shh, shh," Gumshoe noticed the increasing level of panic in Edgeworth's words, "Not a chance, pal. I'm about to go kick his ass," suddenly his voice became hushed, "Listen, I have a plan ... you play a part in it. Are you listening?"
Miles' silent tears were spilling onto that chest. He nodded. Gumshoe pulled back a little, thumb wiping at the tears on Edgeworth's cheek.
"First, and this is important, my plan has a strict no-crying policy, ok?"
Another nod.
"Second, we need to reschedule lunch ... "
"Ok," he said weakly, playing along with the sweet little lie that everything was going to be alright, "Tuesday?"
"Tuesday's great," with a big smile, "And lastly," Gumshoe's smile faded and his voice became quiet as possible as he looked into somber eyes, "I need you to make me a promise."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
March 29, 2:40 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
"Let's play a little game, Gumshoe."
... They were in a boxing ring, surrounded by thousands.
"You get one free shot ... with your little justice fist."
They sided with Gumshoe, of course. The crowds were peppered with various supportive signs ... 'We love you Gumshoe' and 'Have my babies, Gumshoe.' They had cheered when he entered the arena, and booed when Gant had appeared.
The 'game' had increased his anxiety level. One shot? Could he take Gant out with one punch using his brass knuckle? It'd be a lot easier if he hadn't been shot in his right shoulder ... The gunshot wounds were still burning him ...
Gant looked dangerous, strong. His boxing gloves were black, his trunks were blood red. Gumshoe, remarkably, was looking pretty good himself, with his blue boxing trunks and white gloves. Almost as muscular as Gant ... but a strong fighting spirit could overcome the minimal difference in strength.
Gant even leaned forward, waiting for Gumshoe to take his free hit. The detective pulled his fist back, hoping the brass knuckles and his remaining strength would be enough to smash Gant's cheekbone to pieces.
Their fists were raised. The starting bell chimed.
He launched his fist with all his might, but the pain in his shoulder prevented a smooth follow-through and threw off his accuracy.
Both men moved to punch simultaneously. Gant aiming for his body, Gumshoe aiming for the face. Gant was fast, but Gumshoe was faster ... He landed the perfect strike on Gant's cheek and could heard something break ...
The brass knuckle landed at the corner of Gant's lip. The ogre nearly lost his balance...
It had hurt Gumshoe like hell, when the punch landed. The burning pain exploded viciously throughout his arm and shoulder.
There had been a small victory: Gumshoe spied a droplet of blood on the edge of Gant's mouth.
Gant's eyes went blank as he fell over.
"Incredible!" the announcer screamed, "A one-punch knock-out by Richard "Justice Fist' Gumshoe!"
Gumshoe was wincing. Throwing the punch likely hurt himself more than it had managed to hurt Damon.
"Not bad, detective," Gant praised, chuckling, touching the spot of blood on his mouth, "My turn."
He lurched forward, driving his shoulder into the detective. It shouldn't be so easy to knock over a two-hundred pound man ...
The crowd roared, happy faces everywhere. They were cheering his name: "Gumshoe, Gumshoe!"
Gumshoe fell on the ground, trying to land on his left side.
Gant allowed no time for recovery. He started slamming his heel into the gunshot wound of his left leg. Gumshoe cried out.
"Gumshoe, Gumshoe!"
Gumshoe, with all his strength, kicked at the one leg Gant was balancing his weight on. Damon hadn't been anticipating it, and had actually lost his balance and fell on his tailbone.
"Ouch," Gant verbalized comically, just to be condescending. It hadn't hurt the brute enough to produce an actual cry of pain.
Gumshoe lifted his arms in the air, V-for-victory. The crowd was going wild. This small-town nobody had just beat the reigning champion.
Gant laughed, clapping, still sitting where he fell, as Gumshoe slowly struggled to get on his feet.
The pain in the detective's leg was exploding but ... he wasn't going down without a fight. He had to buy time, after all ... for Edgeworth's sake.
One hobble to the left and he was within reach of Miles' small but heavy chess table. He hoisted it upward, the chess pieces all smacking and rolling against the hardwood floor. Gumshoe tried to ignore the screaming pain in his arm, and turned toward Damon.
Damon stopped laughing.
A pretty blonde in a bikini entered the ring, holding the championship belt that used to belong to the villainous Gant. She handed him the belt, winked, and started whispering in his ear.
Turns out she's Gant's wife, but she's filing for a divorce because Gant's a loser now. She hinted she wanted to stop by his dressing room later ...
Gumshoe smiled. He was very charismatic.
Damon had leapt onto his feet before Gumshoe could reach him. The detective swung the desk mightily, but Gant managed to snatch the leg of it. With a small grunt, he twisted the desk out from Gumshoe's hands and threw it into Edgeworth's tall bookshelf.
The announcer appeared for a ring-side interview.
"How does it feel, to be a hero?!" and held the microphone upward for Gumshoe.
The beast grabbed Gumshoe's shoulders before he could even react to being disarmed. Gumshoe's body was roughly thrown into the desk. Before he could even twist around, Gant's hand was on the back of skull and smacked the detective's face into the desk.
Then again, and again, and again.
He was grateful for the adoring fans who roared and cheered. He leapt out of the ring and ran to them.
Gumshoe was in rough shape. His nose was broken and bloodied, there was a wide cut above his left eye ...
Gant decided to give the detective a moment to recover; There was still more fun to be had.
"What's the matter, Worthy? You had fought so hard for Gumshoe earlier ... " The dark-hearted man was really starting to enjoy this, but found himself a little curious by the prosecutor's silence, "What made you turn so cold-hearted? You won't beg or plea for his life? After his charming attempt to save you from, what was it, Brazilian sex-slavery?"
"Would you stop if I asked you to? Would you stop if I begged you to?" Miles murmured quietly, still unable to watch. There was no preventing tears at this point.
"Mm. No," Damon admitted, before smashing Gumshoe's face into the desk for the fifth time.
The fans smiled and reached out for him. He shook some of their hands, thanked them for their support ...
With his cheek pressed against Edgeworth's desk, Gumshoe's nostrils flared to get rid of the blood in his nasal passage. He felt dizzy again, but struggled to regain control of his body. Had he even lasted two minutes? What a poor performance he was putting on ... but the pain was everywhere and his head throbbed horribly.
So many fans ... A mother handed him her baby, who he kissed on the forehead before promptly returning him. A flirty young lady asked him to autograph her cleavage. He did so with a smile, and was polite enough not to stare at her boobs.
He tried to stand upward but Damon's left hand was pressed into his back, keeping the dazed detective pinned against the desk.
"Oh, there's still some fight left in you. You've made me so proud, Gummy-bear. We need to arrange for a medal when we return to the station."
He patted the head of a young kid that was wearing a matching "Gumshoe is my hero!" t-shirt and baseball cap ...
"Work hard in school, kid!" Heroes always stressed this kind of thing.
Gumshoes eyes widened when he realized Damon's gun was laying on the desk next to his head.
Gant had noticed the expression, and smiled.
"Go for it, detective. It's your only chance."
Gumshoe snatched the gun, managing to get his fingers on the trigger. Gant instantly grabbed at his arm. He unintentionally shot the gun twice as they struggled, both bullets forming two holes in the wall approximately a foot away from Miles.
"Idiot," Gant snarled. With one hand on Gumshoe's wrist he twisted the gun-wielding hand before viciously slamming his elbow into the crook of the detective's arm, effectively snapping the bones of that forearm.
The detective choked out a terrible scream.
He was surrounded by fans now, high-fiving them, laughing happily. He saw Miles and Phoenix were amongst them ... He found himself running toward them: his best friends.
"Who would have thought our Gummy-bear was capable of such a sound," Damon smirked, watching Gumshoe writhe on the desk. "Try not to shoot wildly in the future, Gumshoe." He patted the detective on the back, "We're lucky you didn't damage my property."
"Amazing fight, Richard!" Miles congratulated.
"I think that knock-out earned you a kiss," Phoenix declared, winking at Edgeworth.
The legendary everyman-turned-champion nice-guy hero blinked.
"I'm not ... done with you ... !" Gumshoe hissed through painful gasps. Slowly, taking care to move his fractured arm as little as possible, his body moved upward.
Gant took a step back, clapping loudly. It was an impressive performance. Anyone weaker would certainly be unconscious or dead by now ... Anyone smarter would stay down.
"Oh no, you got the wrong idea about us! We're just childhood friends. He's all yours. And besides!" Phoenix hit Gumshoe lightly on the shoulder, "You earned it!"
Gumshoe smiled shyly at Miles.
"You're ...a monster. You ... get a ... sick pleasure from ... hurting people. Who'd think ... the male half of the legendary duo ... would be such... a hypocritical ... piece of shit ... ?" as he stood tall. He tried to ignore the frightening parts of this situation ... such as his blood on the desk, the electric shocks of pain that rattled his body with each movement, each breath ...
"Ouch. My soul hurts," sarcastically. After three months of verbal abuse from Edgeworth, the Dark Lord of Insults, attacks from simpler beings felt so easy to deflect.
"There's a lot of responsibilities that accompany being a hero, Richard ... " Miles smirked playfully, "Think you can handle it?"
"Easily."
"I do regret you're being forced to suffer for another man's sins, detective. You've certainly made a noble sacrifice this day."
Gumshoe knew Gant was behind him, and that'd he'd have to turn around to attempt to fight, but his vision was blurry and bloody, he was dizzy, nauseous. Turning, or moving at all for that matter, seemed like a downright terrible idea at the moment.
"We'll consider you another victim of Edgeworth's narcissistic whims. Selfish little slut couldn't even be bothered to try to save your life."
"Leave him ... alone," Gumshoe huffed, "I made him ... promise."
He leaned forward, to Edgeworth...
He felt soft, welcoming lips tenderly touch his own ...
"Promise what, detective? Promise to be a cold-hearted whore?"
"Can you ... come over here ... so I can punch you? ... Feelin' dizzy ... "
Gant smirked a little, moving to lean against Edgeworth's desk before the staggering detective. The sight of Gumshoe was rather... sad. The gash on his brow was causing blood to pool in his left eye, that nose very clearly broken and bloody, his fully fractured arm dangled at an odd angle ... The flesh of his face was pink and sweaty in the areas that weren't saturated with blood. He tried to imagine how Gumshoe would look tomorrow should he live to see it, swollen and bruised everywhere ...
Gant noted a miracle: Gumshoe had never lost his grip on the Fist of Justice.
"The world needs you ... "
Since it seemed like Gumshoe couldn't focus, the brute went ahead and announced: "I'm right here, per your request."
Gumshoe clenched his right fist and slowly raised it, trembling but determined to punch Damon. The foul police chief watched Gumshoe's ridiculously slow movements with equal amounts of pity and amusement.
"I need you ... "
"This is starting to feel mean, even by my standards," Gant mused aloud, before snapping forward, fiercely jamming his fist into Gumshoe's jaw.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
March 29, 2:48 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
Gumshoe ...
My promise to you produced a torture worse than anything Damon had inflicted upon me.
You forbade intervention.
You said you had a plan.
Why did I listen to you? Fear? Desperation?
What was this master plan of yours? To die for me?
I would have given Damon anything he asked to make him stop ...
But he never asked.
So I did nothing, leaving you to your fate ... as promised.
I'm rotting inside myself. For a second I swore it had been my own bones splitting when I heard that hideous scream of yours.
I couldn't watch a moment of your vain sacrifice. You wanted to protect me, but I think this promise destroyed me.
You gave everything as I did nothing.
I did nothing.
...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
March 29, 2:50 PM
Prosecutor Edgeworth's Office
"Honestly … Gumshoe needed you to fight for him. I'm so very disappointed by your apathy, Edgeworth," as he approached his devastated pet.
The prosecutor felt numb, no longer possessing the willpower to deal with those harsh taunts. Miles refused to look at Gant or Gumshoe's fallen body.
The police chief certainly enjoyed the sight of Edgeworth bundled up in Gumshoe's over-sized trench coat, complete with tear stains and a passive, gloomy look …
But he did not enjoy it as much as he expected he would.
The plan had been to unkindly remark on how beautiful those tears were. In the past he had considered expressions of guilt, heartbreak and humiliation to be the supreme reward of his sexual exploits. Here, he could only think of how gorgeous Edgeworth had been during the throes of pleasure they had provided each other earlier.
Mm. Odd. Perhaps that whore-body truly had stifled Gant's sadism.
Damon whistled, tapped Edgeworth's cheek, waved his hand in front of those silent eyes ... All useless, Edgeworth refused to respond.
"Now now, Miles, you're overreacting. Stop ignoring me."
Nothing.
Gant sighed. Handling Gumshoe's adorable display of courage had been so rousing, but his excitement had been quickly crippled by Edgeworth's spiritless response. It might have been fun to see if sexual stimulation could coax Miles back to reality … but Gant dismissed the idea. It was time to dangle hope in front of Miles' eyes again.
Maybe this time he'd even let the prosecutor grasp it.
"He's alive. You can still redeem yourself and save him," Gant promised, using one arm to pull Edgeworth into an embrace.
The crushed beauty remained still and silent. Damon reached out to gently grip the prosecutor's chin, guiding the silver line-of-sight toward the center of the room.
"He's breathing," Gant reiterated.
After giving the prosecutor a moment to absorb the image of the battered detective's body, he pointedly reached into his shirt pocket and removed his cellphone from it and held it in Edgeworth's view.
"You certainly earned your phone call earlier."
Damon watched a small amount of life return to those eyes.
Miles reached for the phone with his one free hand … and grimaced when Gant maintained a tight grip on it. The bastard refused to relinquish it just yet. It must be another game. Edgeworth wasn't sure he had the heart for any more games.
"Kiss me, first," Damon insisted.
Edgeworth looked at the older man, managing to convey some of his spite.
"Don't bother trying if it's going to be as worthless as our last attempt. You need to make this really, really good for me," Gant elaborated.
"I've never wished death upon another before. Are you proud?" Miles inquired, baneful, before pressing his lips into Damon's. He slid his tongue into the older man's eager mouth, breathing audibly.
Gant decided he very much preferred Miles' fire over his misery; He had never been so pleased by a death threat.
Their hands were still entwined about the cellphone.
"Give me the cell ... Damon," Miles' hissed between their throaty kisses. That irrational, sinful side of him that found Damon incredibly attractive was struggling to climb to the surface. It was sickening; Miles felt he'd never deserve forgiveness for his disgusting body's betrayal.
Damon had gripped onto Edgeworth's odd-colored hair, feeling his hunger stir as he fought for those pale lips. Distantly, Gant could hear movement coming from the hallway. He briefly wondered if the intruder would realize it would be a crime to end this moment.
Apparently not. In the span of a single second, his face turned from Edgeworth to spy the intruder charging into the room, wielding some kind of weapon which the invader had aimed high. Gant knew to attempt to dodge the weapon would mean it'd likely slam into his gorgeous little prosecutor.
Gant wouldn't allow that.
He protectively, firmly wrapped up Edgeworth in his arms, hunching over the smaller man's body, as the metal bat slammed into his body...
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Author's note: I was very worried about this chapter ... in particular the idea of combining the humor with the angst, as my less-broody characters(IE Phoenix and Gumshoe) had larger roles. Gumshoe's Final Stand, in particular, worried me ... as I thought it had the potential to be either very endearing or totally distracting.
Big big thanks again to Kurenai Tenka of the livejournal community for test-reading this chapter. She really, really pushed me to write this chapter intelligently. I'd recommend her to anyone who needs a solid critique of their writing and I'm totally tempted to send chapter 9 her way for a preliminary read as well. XD
No sex in this chapter ... Heh heh. Didn't think I had it in me.
The next chapter will likely be the final one, and it's gonna be a tough for me to write for multiple reasons. Honestly there's a lot of directions I could go, with the fates of two characters in particular being up in the air at the moment. Any guesses as to whether Gant lives or dies? ;D I've literally spent weeks pondering possible finales.
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Breathing Is A Necessity