[Har har. He should've known better than to leave that opening for Phoenix to take.
Apollo catches Phoenix's gaze again, this time without wavering, the slightest smile pulling at his lips.]
Thanks. [He pauses.] Mr. Wright? I don't really know what it's like to have parents.
[His words are straightforward enough on the surface, but the underlying meaning--"I don't know what it's like to have a dad." It might be too soon to call Phoenix "dad" or any variation of that, but maybe some day.]
I know. [He smile grows warmer. He can't really imagine for himself what it's like, having come from a relatively ordinary family background. But he feels like he has a pretty good secondhand impression, with all the people he's met over the years from families that were splintered or non-existent in some shape or form. Including Apollo himself.
He claps a hand on the younger man's shoulder.]
And I know firsthand how great you've turned out despite that.
Apollo... You can figure out how much you want to learn about that for yourself. As for me? I don't see any reason to hold you to any obligations. I mean, it's a little late for me to actually raise you, you know?
[Unconsciously, Apollo straightens his back, actually wanting to deserve that praise. It's just another sign of how much things change in the blink of an eye. In his teens, he would have been thrilled just to be talking to Phoenix Wright, only to punch the man out of anger when they finally did meet. And now...well, annoying as Phoenix could be--tries to be?--no other man fought harder for justice and truth in the courts.
There's a wry twist to his smile this time.]
I don't know about that. Mr. Gavin [he still can't say the name without a grimace] was my boss first, but I learned a lot more working for you.
[Like how to not be cruel and manipulative, for starters.]
Well, you were the only one suited for the job. It was definitely a rough start, but you rose to it admirably. I... guess you just might be the closest thing I have to a successor, Apollo.
[He shakes his head, and his smile goes wry.]
Except for one thing, but maybe one day you actually will learn how to really throw a punch.
[Apollo actually flinches a little, a denial already at his lips. Then, he pauses, remembering the spiritually-powered magatama his boss holds. There's almost no point in trying to keep a secret when the office is full of lie-detecters.
He looks away, fiddling with his bracelet with a sigh.]
Not...a lot, but I know more than I would have liked.
[Apollo looks like he's about to pull a face at him.]
I've thrown a few punches before, but most of the stuff I know's just to help me get away if I'm caught in a bad place.
[Apollo shrugs, looking away. There's a reason he doesn't like talking about this.] The group home I grew up in wasn't bad, but we were right next to some of the rougher areas in the city. You pick up that kind of knowledge pretty quickly, learn not to stay out of the fights if you can.
I see. [He says with a thoughtful frown, and he nods.] Sorry... They don't sound like memories you like to revisit.
[Here I thought that Apollo was a lover, not a fighter.
And it's easy to draw the connection between that and the original topic of conversation. This is what Apollo was left with without his parents. But Phoenix feels that doesn't need to be pressed aloud. Rather, he just makes a light smile.]
Just try not to show me those skills anytime soon, alright?
It's fine. [It's uncomfortable talking about it, if only because he doesn't want his coworkers to judge him on his background. He's worked hard to get where he is today, and there's no shame in that.
Apollo returns the smile, though it's slightly strained around the edges.]
As long as you don't give me forged evidence again, I think that's one promise I can keep.
[He knows Phoenix's reasoning for everything that happened then, but forged evidence is still forged evidence, and not something Apollo would stand for. He thinks Phoenix understands that, too.]
[Now Phoenix looks down, a little ashamed. Now that he's come so far and redeemed himself, he can't turn away from the fact that he sullied his hands to do so. It was like an eye for an eye. He knows he'll never do it again, but he'll never forget it, either.]
I won't give myself forged evidence again. Please, trust me on that much.
[Not even a twitch from his bracelet. Apollo's smile turns a shade warmer than before.]
I think I can.
[This is more like it. He might have been a little rough around the edges when Apollo first met him, but Apollo thinks he can see the man that he'd idolized so much in his childhood now. It's a nice change.]
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no subject
Apollo catches Phoenix's gaze again, this time without wavering, the slightest smile pulling at his lips.]
Thanks. [He pauses.] Mr. Wright? I don't really know what it's like to have parents.
[His words are straightforward enough on the surface, but the underlying meaning--"I don't know what it's like to have a dad." It might be too soon to call Phoenix "dad" or any variation of that, but maybe some day.]
no subject
He claps a hand on the younger man's shoulder.]
And I know firsthand how great you've turned out despite that.
Apollo... You can figure out how much you want to learn about that for yourself. As for me? I don't see any reason to hold you to any obligations. I mean, it's a little late for me to actually raise you, you know?
no subject
There's a wry twist to his smile this time.]
I don't know about that. Mr. Gavin [he still can't say the name without a grimace] was my boss first, but I learned a lot more working for you.
no subject
Well, you were the only one suited for the job. It was definitely a rough start, but you rose to it admirably. I... guess you just might be the closest thing I have to a successor, Apollo.
[He shakes his head, and his smile goes wry.]
Except for one thing, but maybe one day you actually will learn how to really throw a punch.
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Can you blame me for doing that? You were being a huge jerk. [Crossing his arms with a scowl.] And my punch was fine.
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Oh no, I don't blame you. Even I would have punched me in those circumstances.
But it did feel like an amateur punch. Like I told you back then, just saying 'Take that!' would have added a lot.
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[He's not thinking when he says it, but the one little phrase probably gives away more than he would've liked.]
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[Aren't they like courtroom fights just with actual hitting thrown in?
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He looks away, fiddling with his bracelet with a sigh.]
Not...a lot, but I know more than I would have liked.
[Finally, he answers truthfully.]
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Phoenix leans forward slightly, looking onwards curiously.]
It sounds like firsthand experience. Way to go, Apollo! You have some more experience than I give you credit for.
But is it experience in dishing out the punches, or receiving them?
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I've thrown a few punches before, but most of the stuff I know's just to help me get away if I'm caught in a bad place.
[Apollo shrugs, looking away. There's a reason he doesn't like talking about this.] The group home I grew up in wasn't bad, but we were right next to some of the rougher areas in the city. You pick up that kind of knowledge pretty quickly, learn not to stay out of the fights if you can.
no subject
[Here I thought that Apollo was a lover, not a fighter.
And it's easy to draw the connection between that and the original topic of conversation. This is what Apollo was left with without his parents. But Phoenix feels that doesn't need to be pressed aloud. Rather, he just makes a light smile.]
Just try not to show me those skills anytime soon, alright?
no subject
Apollo returns the smile, though it's slightly strained around the edges.]
As long as you don't give me forged evidence again, I think that's one promise I can keep.
[He knows Phoenix's reasoning for everything that happened then, but forged evidence is still forged evidence, and not something Apollo would stand for. He thinks Phoenix understands that, too.]
no subject
[Now Phoenix looks down, a little ashamed. Now that he's come so far and redeemed himself, he can't turn away from the fact that he sullied his hands to do so. It was like an eye for an eye. He knows he'll never do it again, but he'll never forget it, either.]
I won't give myself forged evidence again. Please, trust me on that much.
no subject
I think I can.
[This is more like it. He might have been a little rough around the edges when Apollo first met him, but Apollo thinks he can see the man that he'd idolized so much in his childhood now. It's a nice change.]