An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: future - Relationship, Ban Gouzou | Bobby Fulbright/Yuugami Jin | Simon Blackquill Characters: Yuugami Jin | Simon Blackquill, Mitsurugi Reiji | Miles Edgeworth, Ban Gouzou | Bobby Fulbright, The Phantom (Gyakuten Saiban) Additional Tags: Fictober 2024, Post-Gyakuten Saiban 5 | Dual Destinies, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Torture Series: Part 18 of Karen's Fictober 2024, Part 17 of Karen's Ace Attorney AU Summary:
Just after being set free for a crime he never committed, Simon Blackquill is left with one question. What happened to Bobby Fulbright? . . . . . Part of Fictober 2024. Prompt list is from @fictober-event on Tumblr!
Contains Dual Destinies spoilers!!! This turned out way longer than I expected but I didn't feel right leaving it at a cliff hanger so I had to push on for my own sake.
This fic mentions things that happen in my other fics "don't listen to me, listen to them" and "well, that worked out great/did you hear that?" So it may make sense to read them first.
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Simon Blackquill woke up today expecting to be executed for the murder of Metis Cykes. But fortunately or unfortunately for him, today kept throwing different twists and turns his way. From his own sister taking captives to Athena being accused of the crime he was trying to keep her safe from to the fact The Phantom was found to be Metis’s murderer. But somehow, something that stuck in his head was the fact that he may never have known the one person who he had begun to trust in the past few months was a complete lie. Had he even met the real Bobby Fulbright? Had it all been a lie? Had he really allowed himself to become attached to a fake? He had never felt more betrayed.
Simon was currently standing in the same courtroom he’d spent the entire day in. He wasn’t sure why he decided to stick around. He was a free man now. He could go wherever he wanted. But for some reason he was stuck standing right where The Phantom had been shot down, staring at the blood that stained the floor. The amount of it made him question how The Phantom made it out alive. Simon wasn’t sure if he would prefer that he was dead or alive, as morbid as it sounded. Yes, it was better that he was alive from an information gathering stand point. But, the sick part of him wished that he’d never need to see the man’s face again(if it was even his own). The Phantom was currently in the prison’s emergency room getting simultaneously questioned and given time to heal. Simon had become accustomed to the fact that anytime in the infirmary was also time for interrogation. He didn’t envy The Phantom but he also didn’t feel too bad. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t even notice he wasn’t alone until he heard someone clear their throat behind him.
“Prosecutor Blackquill, I feel congratulations are in order if you’ll accept them.” Simon turned around to see Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth approaching him. The man always had a skill of looking nonchalant in any situation. It had been a long stressful day. The least he could do is at least try to look tired. Simon turned and bowed to him.
“Edgeworth-dono, thank you. It’s because of you that I was even given a chance to prosecute again. Though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I recognize I wouldn’t even be alive if it weren’t for it.” Simon couldn’t explain why he had become more forthcoming with the older prosecutor. Maybe when he had his manacles removed he also lost the wall he put up. There was no use hiding now. What was there to hide? His entire existence was practically revealed on the witness stand.
“No thanks is needed. To be perfectly honest, you were just the tool we needed to finally capture The Phantom.” Edgeworth said, but the moment he finished speaking he seemed to be a bit shocked. “My apologies. That made it sound like we only brought you back to get The Phantom. I truly did believe you were innocent. So did Detective Fulbright I must add.”
“If it was ever even him…” Simon said as he rubbed his wrists where his cuffs once were. It was an alien feeling to not have anything on them. He was still unsure of the fact he even met Fulbright.
“What do you mean?” Edgeworth looked perplexed. Almost as if Simon had said the most illogical thing. “Prosecutor Blackquill, I can assure you that you met the real Detective Fulbright. Though The Phantom may have been a convincing copy to the untrained eye, as someone with years of knowing the man, I knew there was something wrong with him immediately. It makes me regret being absent for the past couple of months. His charade may not have lasted nearly as long.”
“How could you tell? I honestly can’t tell you where Fool Bright ended and The Phantom began.” Simon had always been proud of his observational skills but they must have been dulled by his time in prison. He genuinely could not tell a difference between the two. He also couldn’t think of how Edgeworth could do it so easily. “How were you so confident that he was a fake? They were identical.”
“When you’ve known Detective Fulbright for the better part of a decade, you pick up on his, well, let’s call them quirks.” Simon looked at Edgeworth expectantly. From his point of view, not much stood out about the detective. He was loud and obnoxious but Simon had come to expect that from most detectives. He was always going on about justice but that was par for the course with cops. There was nothing about him that seemed that impressive, except his emotions, that was. It was rare that he’d go a day without seeing the detective cry. Though Edgeworth seemed willing to explain what he meant when he chuckled and continued to speak. “I wouldn’t expect someone who only knew him for a short while to pick up on all of these but I’m sure you noticed these. The biggest one I noticed is how he walks. When he isn’t feeling any strong emotions he walks normally but the moment he gets excited or tired, he stops like he’s in a parade.”
Simon hadn’t put much consideration into that when he knew the detective but now that Edgeworth brought it up, it seemed obvious. The Phantom seemed to always have an awkward march as if his shoes were just a size too large but when he first met Fulbright the man practically skipped into the room.
“The next thing about him was how he spoke about justice. The first time I met him I could swear he was a child masquerading in a man’s body. He would talk about good guys and bad guys like we were in some cartoon. I initially thought such black and white thinking would hinder him as a detective but it worked in his favor more often than not. When The Phantom took the stand he had a level of nuance to his justice that I know Fulbright would not use.” Edgeworth seemed to be digging back into his memory as he spoke. He kept averting his gaze from the younger prosecutor, never quite holding eye contact. Simon initially thought he was just uncomfortable but it was seeming like he was hiding something. But, he couldn’t guess what. “The other big thing about him is that he always managed to have good intentions. He never seemed to act in his own interest, unlike a certain spy we know. He was willing to put his own life on the line when it mattered. The only time I saw him act in his own interest was if he truly feared for his own life. It was comedic that he would burst into a room with an active shooter to save people but if it was just one on one he’d rather run away with his tail between his legs and feel nothing but guilt if he really needed to use force.”
Oh. That’s it. That’s what brought on the sudden change in Fulbright’s emotions that day. Admittedly he had responded far more violently than necessary. In his attempt to keep him off Athena’s trail, he was hurting himself in the process. He knew Fulbright had many opportunities to use the electric shocks before but he had never thought he would use it. But, then again, he doesn’t blame him for it. He honestly deserved it. What he didn’t expect was how liberally he’d use the shocks after that. Simon always believed he deserved it but it was strange that he was so quick to press that button out of nowhere. Wait a minute.
“Edgeworth-dono, I have an idea!” Simon went from being uncharacteristically quiet to unexpectedly energized, grabbing onto his superior’s arms and gripping them harshly in his hands. “Is there any way we can access prison security footage from April eighth of this year?”
“I don’t think I follow but I believe so. What are you getting at?” Edgeworth looked perplexed and stunned, as if he grew a second head.
“I think I might know when Fool Bright and The Phantom switched and the earliest point it would be is that evening at the detention center!” Simon was practically shaking. “There was one day where he seemed to change! I thought it was weird he never apologized! He always apologized, even when it was over something absurd! He wouldn’t be cruel enough to use the shocks so often! It had to be then-”
“Prosecutor Blackquill, you need to stop! This is getting ridiculous!” Edgeworth quickly turned from confused to frustrated, throwing the other prosecutor’s hands off of himself. “I may have been right about the fact that he wasn't Fulbright but that doesn’t change one fact about this that we cannot change!”
“And what is that? Because I believe that-”
“Because Fulbright is most definitely dead!” Edgeworth yelled this and Simon could hear his heart beating in his ears. He knew he was being over optimistic. But The Phantom only mentioned tricking the detective, nothing more. How could he know he was dead? Edgeworth sighed before he continued. “Unfortunately, when digging through some records last night I found a file on an unidentified body found in front of the precinct. There were no prints or head on it but multiple of us at the precinct have come to the conclusion that this must be the detective. As if it were some sick hint from The Phantom. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I just thought that you had already been through enough today.”
Simon was speechless. Something he rarely was. He didn’t think he had been attached to the detective. But it was like he owed him some kind of karmic debt. He needed to bring him to justice, it was the least he could do. After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke to Edgeworth.
“Even if you are correct, I still wish to see if there is anything that can be gathered from his final moments. If you don’t mind, I would like to go to the detention center and view security footage.” Simon Blackquill didn’t expect Edgeworth to laugh in response. The man rarely laughed as is. Now he was seemingly making fun of him. Just before Simon was about to interject, Edgeworth put a hand up and spoke.
“I do respect your stubbornness, Prosecutor.” Edgeworth seemed to think for a moment. “Well then, Though I don’t understand your desire to return to the place you were trapped for so many years, I am willing to help you in your endeavor. ...........................................………………………………………………………………………………………………………............................................................ Miles Edgeworth did not expect his subordinate to be so correct based on a simple theory. Just a quick look at security footage showed the detective sprinting out of the building and being met by a man who was nearly identical to him. What he also didn’t expect was for the two to drive out of the parking lot in tandem.
“Edgeworth-dono, is there any way we can access street camera footage?” Blackquill asked, eyes never leaving the screen as he replayed the short clip again and again. This was the lead he needed. He wouldn’t rest until he could bring the man to justice. He felt like he owed it to him.
“Let’s go to the precinct. I know exactly where we can find the footage.” ...........................................………………………………………………………………………………………………………............................................................ After using traffic camera footage to track the pair of cars, they saw them go just out of view on a sloped road. They thought this would be the end of their lead until they looked at a map.
“There’s only one place they could have gone.” Edgeworth said, pointing to the screen that showed directions to an old mental hospital.
“An old asylum on a hill.” Simon said with a chuckle. “It seems a bit too cliche.”
“That’s exactly what The Phantom planned.” Edgeworth said as he stood up. “Let’s go, I think we can find out what happened to him.”
The pair made their way to the asylum in Edgeworth’s car. For being such a strict man, he was a surprisingly unsafe driver, cutting corners and speeding. Simon wasn’t sure if he was always like this or if it was just from stress but this didn’t seem like the time to ask. It was long past midnight at this point. They parked the car and got out. One thing Simon did not expect was for Edgeworth to march up to the door and slam his fist against it to knock.
“Open this door at once! This is at the order of the Los Angeles Prosecutor’s Office!” Edgeworth shouted, but they got no response. He tried to open the door and surprisingly it was unlocked. The two men entered the building, not caring to be quiet after Edgeworth announcing their presence. To their surprise, it looked like the building had been abandoned in a hurry that day. There was still a half eaten meal at the front desk and none of the computers were shut off. It was as if the workers left in a hurry earlier that day. They peaked into each room and noticed something weird.
“For being a hospital, it’s weird that there are no patients.” Simon said as he looked into another empty room. “Most of these rooms look like they haven’t been used in years but the entryway is clean.”
“I’m going to call to get some police crews here. This place is more suspicious than I originally thought.” Edgeworth said as he approached the front door to get a better signal. Simon took this as an opportunity to search the rooms even quicker. He was practically running down the hallway. All of the rooms were empty. No signs of life. No signs of struggle. Just dust on the ground. That was until he opened a door at the end of the hallway that had stairs leading down into darkness. He really should let Edgeworth know where he’s going but he has a feeling that this is what he needed.
Simon sprinted down the stairs, frantically putting his hands on the walls to try and find a light switch. He knew he was making a lot of noise but he didn’t expect to hear something or someone move within a few feet of him. Shit. He knew he should have told Edgeworth. He may just die down here. Blind and killed by a stranger. That was his thought just as he was tackled to the ground by a thin figure.
“Who are you? What are you doing down here?” A familiar voice yelled to him, just a few inches from him. He felt sparse facial hair against his face, something he never connected to this voice.
“Fool Bright it’s me!” Simon yelled as the man was reaching for his neck. His hands stopped and the pair sat in silence for a moment. Simon thought he was wrong until he felt a drop hit his face, a tear.
“I’m so sorry!” Fulbright said through sobs. Before Simon could even respond, the body above him went limp. He practically weighed nothing. It was obvious he hadn’t shaved or brushed his hair. He smelled similar to a corpse. But Simon could ignore these things. The most important thing was that they were both alive, something neither of them could have expected.
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I wanted to put in the Bobby Fulbright Lives tag but I also didn't want to spoil it. I hope I could do a plot twist good.