[RL 8: Zero-Sum - Quatre, Edgeworth][Futuredated]

[samuraiprosecutor]

((OOC: Starting this early. Futuredating to 12-20-07. Event planned in this entry.))

He set the silver-grey teapot on the stove, turned the fire up, and went back into the living room. It was spotless, as usual; he'd had the maid service over just that morning...one of several preparations he'd made in anticipation of the visit.

He'd planned what he wanted to ask, though he knew the subjects would most likely lead to others and was ready for a difficult interrogation. The morning had been spent on the mental exercises he practiced before every trial, honing his thoughts. He and Sigi had returned from a walk not long ago, so there shouldn't be any interruptions of that nature.

The pot now whistling on the stove had been the final preparation; he realized he must have been standing in the doorway and staring at the living room for several minutes, and chastised himself for the lapse. This battle was going to be difficult enough, he couldn't afford such a distracted state of mind. He returned to the kitchen to finish the tea, listening carefully for a knocking at the door.

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[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth paused, poured himself a cup of tea knowing full well that it would likely be forgotten in a matter of minutes.

If he could finish it quickly, give the facts and remain detached from what lurked behind them...handle it like he would read a court record... Perhaps it would be easier this time, when he had prepared. (Though was he really prepared? Would he ever be?)

"I was nine when my father was murdered." His eyes slid shut as he said it, his brows furrowing, and inwardly he cursed the pain flaring up in his chest. When he opened his eyes again they remained trained on the floor. "I was adopted by a prosecutor, a legend. My mentor. He raised me, taught me everything I knew about law, courtroom manner...ethics.

"Two years ago I was accused of a murder. Von Karma was the prosecutor, Wright, the defense. Halfway through, the trial turned toward my father's murder." His chest felt constricted, his face warm. He forced himself to breathe deeply before continuing.

"I believed I'd killed my father. Wright didn't. It was the closest thing to a miracle I'd ever witnessed, but he managed to prove me innocent of both killings. My father's...von Karma was my father's murderer. He orchestrated the Hammond murder. He planned for fifteen years to put me away for-" the words died in his throat.

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

As Edgeworth spoke, shared his secret, displayed his melancholy, Quatre’s chest clenched, his heart beat painfully, his soul suffered with him. He couldn't even imagine what it had been like to be in such a situation, but he understood the sorrow, understood as well why Edgeworth was the way he was and wanted to do nothing more than to comfort him, help him.

Despite the trembles in his hand, the blond reached across the space between them, placing a hand on his and squeezing gently. An apology, barely above a whisper, passed his lips, and he cut himself off before saying anything else.

There was nothing appropriate to say, and anything he would have normally said to encourage, support, reassure was unnecessary. The path of zero-sum would decide if he continued now or later.

[samuraiprosecutor]

The warmth suddenly pressing on his skin made Edgeworth jump, his gaze flying to the hand laying gently on his. Quatre was speaking but he couldn't make out the words; they were too soft, the boy's voice barely audible, and too much of his focus was drawn by the gentle pressure on his skin.

Too quickly Edgeworth pulled back, freeing his hand. He let the silence linger for several moments, the point clear, then reached steadily for his tea, needing the grounding heat.

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Watching Edgeworth from the corner of his eye, Quatre gave the balcony a sidelong look. The silence stretched for a few moments, and when the pain dulled to an extent, he cleared his throat. "I apologize. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Over the course of two years, he had become accustomed to such a reaction. His friends, while sometimes thrown by it, had grown use to the culture detail, his compulsion of touching others. Except Wufei, who always drew away. He supposed Wufei was right: he should remember that not everyone enjoyed their personal space being violated.

...They were alike, Edgeworth and Wufei. Arrogant and abrasive though otherwise, reserved. Dedicated to their work, almost to a point of flaw. Most likely to keep others away, to make their lives simple, to keep control where they were afraid to lose it. They were destined to walk an endless staircase, and Quatre frowned at the thought.

He wished they were no longer in their current situation; he wanted to know more, not through the force of zero-sum but through trust and friendship. Though that, he knew, was unreasonable to ask of a person like Edgeworth, that is was a wishful thought.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth nodded at the apology - his point had obviously been made, and he was sure there wouldn't be a repeat. Not if Quatre wanted them to continue.

Taking stock of the situation, Edgeworth was satisfied with the events thus far. Two battles, a win on either side, sacrifices made by both parties. And while his sacrifice had been great, the discussion had strayed away from Wright. If his chest still hurt, well...they weren't through yet, and interrogation of this nature was a definite distraction.

With advantages like that, pressing was his only option.

"So, now you know about my father." He let the statement hang in the air, waiting to see if his opponent would rise to the challenge.

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

His gaze stayed trained on the balcony, and when his throat constricted, he swallowed. "And what do you want to know about mine, Mr. Edgeworth?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

Challenge accepted. Edgeworth might have smirked, if not for the fading pain in his chest. "What kind of man was he?"

It was relatively small, to start, but the skill in interrogation lay in knowing which questions to ask for optimum effect.

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Quatre shut his eyes momentarily, inhaling and exhaling deeply. It was never easy to speak of his father, even when he chose to. When he opened his eyes, his gaze didn't tear from the balcony. How long had he been staring at it? He felt a corner of his mouth twitch, fighting the down curl into a frown. He shouldn't have let his thoughts wander; he should have prepared for this.

"Staunch in his faith and principles, strict in his discipline, reserved in his love," he replied. He paused and looked at the older man. "Foolishly stubborn."

[samuraiprosecutor]

The look didn't escape Edgeworth's notice. The boy had been staring out the balcony far too long for it to have been an idle movement, but he chose to ignore it in favor of the statements. The descriptions were bringing up memories best left ignored, and he focused again on Quatre's father. "I'm familiar with the type. They're sometimes...difficult."

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Quatre paused briefly, debated momentarily. He looked down to his hands, realizing he had been holding his cup of tea the entire time; he sipped what bit of his tea was left, making a decision.

"Your father or your mentor?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

The question was rewarded with a glare. Things had turned back too quickly for Edgeworth's tastes. "My father was a gentle man, firm in his principles and reserved in nothing." Even those words stung, and he decided that was enough of an answer for both halves of the boy's question.

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Even faced with Edgeworth's glare, Quatre smiled, albeit sadly. "I envy you then."

[samuraiprosecutor]

"You shouldn't," he replied, too quickly, too sharp. It gave too much away, and he hurried to turn the attention back again.

"Your father...The war was a source of contention between you." It was a guess, based mostly on instinct and the snippets of information he'd already gleaned, but he stated it as if it were a fact.

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Another brief pause, more out of wonder than hesitation. He knew very well Edgeworth was still thinking in terms of opponents and tactics, but he wondered why he himself was slowly thinking less in such terms. Was it because he had become willing to let go of everything, despite the difficulty? Or because he couldn't carry on emotionally detached like the older man? Or both?

"For the most part," Quatre replied. "He was a total pacifist and believed violence only begets more violence...that diplomacy can always work."

But it doesn't, he thought bitterly. If it did, his father would still be with him; he wouldn't have run, wouldn't have sacrificed himself, wouldn't have been murdered by the people he was trying to protect.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Guessing right was only a minor victory, a single step. The real question hadn't been fully answered yet, but now that the way had been laid out for him Edgeworth knew the truth wasn't far ahead. "A difficult belief to hold on to. Or at least, to practice. Wouldn't you agree?"

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Quatre met Edgeworth's gaze, preparing for what he was setting himself up for. "If diplomacy has failed, yes," he replied. "That's why total pacifism is not a wise political philosophy. There are times you must fight."

[samuraiprosecutor]

A smirk played over Edgeworth's lips, humorless. "And he disagreed."

[ttly-an-arab.livejournal.com]

Another twitch of the corner of his mouth. "He wouldn't have disowned me if he didn't."

[samuraiprosecutor]

That caused Edgeworth to pause, studying the boy's face intently. He had known early on that discussion of Quatre's father would be sensitive, but such a revelation was unexpected.

Still, being disowned was not the only truth Quatre hid. Edgeworth didn't need his years of experience in interrogation to sense that. And uncovering the truth was what they were there to do. Weighing his words carefully, he finally replied, "And you never reconciled."