ACE ATTORNEY AU

[enigmaster]

Comments

[enigmaster]

...It made more sense at the time.

[agoodname]

"Yeah, things do sometimes." [yeah that's not a worry. But Butch keeps his tone understanding--and he'll usher Edward out of the car and upstairs once they get there, and start by getting something cold on that eye]

[enigmaster]

[Yeah, Edward just... kind of follows and does whatever Butch guides him to do. Autopilot's very much kicked in. Although...] Oh... I was supposed to call Oswald when I was done. I forgot...

[agoodname]

"...oh boy." [Butch glances at the clock] "What time does he usually get home again?"

[enigmaster]

Um... Around six, if things don't run late... [Let's be real here, though, Edward calling in this state is going to ease no one's mind.]

[agoodname]

".....ah. Well, in that case, you might want to be--"

[whiiiich is about the time that there's a key in the lock and the sound of a bit of scrabbling, before it swings open, bouncing a bit agains the wall with the force of the shove Oswald gives it] Edward! Edward, are you here?!

[enigmaster]

[Edward looks up at the door. Uh-oh...] Um... Y-Yeah... I'm here... [And. Well. Oswald probably will feel better at seeing Edward there! But... maybe less so about the fact that he looks... pretty beat up.]

[agoodname]

[First--relief. He's there. He's not gone or dead in a ditch somewhere or-- --ah. He doesn't look good. In fact he looks...bad. Pretty bad. Oswald stops for a moment, staring, expression going from relief to immediate worry and definite distress--and he's moving forward again, instinctively reaching for him, to take a look at his injuries] What happened--you're hurt! Did a ghost do this to you? Did you go to the hospital to get it checked out--it looks like you might need stitches--

[enigmaster]

Ah... [And... that's a little fast for Edward right now. His head's not... great, at the moment?] No, it was... [...] Um... I haven't gone to the hospital, no...

[agoodname]

[And Oswald is already there, gently cradling his face with the tips of his fingers, bending a bit to inspect his injuries] We should at least get this clean--I know I have a first-aid kit in the bathroom--[he glances over his shoulder]--Butch, could you--? "Yeah, I'm on it." [and Butch pushes to his feet, moving to retrieve it, and Oswald swallows, turning back to look at Edward again. There might be a bit of a tremble in his fingertips, very much still worried] I was worried when you didn't answer your phone, I wasn't sure--[he cuts himself off, pressing his lips together, reaching up to tuck some hair back away from Edward's forehead] ....well. It doesn't matter. All it matters is that you're alright.

[enigmaster]

[Edward just... stays there, as Oswald inspects his injuries. He swallows, maybe a little... anxious, now.] Oh... I hadn't realized you'd called. [oops...] ...I know I was supposed to call when I was done. I... kind of forgot. Sorry... [Usually he doesn't forget stuff, but, well. Circumstances.]

[agoodname]

It's okay. [And impulsively he just, tugs Edward into a hug, half curling around him, arms tight around his shoulders] I'm just--[and his breath hitches tellingly, voice going a bit wobbly.] I'm glad you're okay.

[enigmaster]

[Edward blinks a little as he's tugged into... a hug. And his eyes are a little wide, then, because oh. Oh.] Ah... [He's... not sure what he's supposed to do. But Oswald's holding on so tight that it's easy enough to just stay still instead.] Y-Yeah... I'm fine. Sorry...

[agoodname]

[and Oswald is just going to hold him for a moment, just...trying to calm himself down a bit. It's fine. Edward's alright. He's hurt, but he's alright. Butch is here, which means something must have happened, but right now all that's important is that he's alive which is far better than anything Oswald's mind tried to conjure up] ...can I ask what happened?

[enigmaster]

Um. [The question he really... didn't want to deal with right now.] I just... ran into some trouble.

[agoodname]

[Oswald laughs, once, at that, but it's strained] Yes, I did surmise that, at least. [his voice is still wobbly, but he's trying] I am a lawyer, you know.

[enigmaster]

Oh, well, of course. Silly me... [He's... going for light. Misses the mark. He suppresses a wince at his own dumb comment.] I, um... I was just... I was trying to retrieve something that was stolen. And the people that had it weren't very happy with me.

[agoodname]

And you couldn't...you didn't ask for help? Or wait until later? Was the ghost very insistent for some reason?

[enigmaster]

...Actually, she, um... she didn't really want me to go... [....Yyyyeaaaaah.]

[agoodname]

[.....what. And Oswald's expression morphs into a frown] ...I don't understand. If it was dangerous and even the ghost didn't want you to go...why did you?

[enigmaster]

I... [He's not... hesitating, so much, as genuinely kind of at a loss for what to say.] I don't know, I thought... It was there and everything, so... I just went. [...Edward doesn't sound particularly sure of himself, though.]

[agoodname]

You just...went. [he can't help but repeat it because it just...it doesn't make any sense. Why would he do that? Just walk into danger like that, knowing exactly how bad it could possibly (and would possibly) be? He can't understand or logic it or follow the behavioral pattern that it might just be freaking him out a bit. He swallows, hard] ...I see.

[enigmaster]

[Edward doesn't have anything else to say about it. What can he say, really? He doesn't know why he went in there. There wasn't a reason, it just... happened.] ...I'm sorry for worrying you.

[agoodname]

[he doesn't respond for a long moment. He just....holds him. And tries not to panic.] I...I don't know...[Oswald trails off after a moment] ...I don't know what to do. That doesn't make sense because you knew better. [his stomach is tying itself into knots, and his arms tighten around Edward a bit] How can I--what can I do? What if it'd been an even worse situation? [he's really trying not to freak out right now, and it's not really working] Will this happen again?

[enigmaster]

... [He's... quiet, at that. Oswald's... much more than just worried. And he doesn't know what to even do with that.] I... [...] No... No, it won't happen again.