Work Text:
"Do you love him?"
The question caught Edgeworth off guard. He stared at Iris, the girl close to Wright who he had promised to defend.
"That… isn't important." He knew in his heart what the answer was. He hated that she had caught on to him so quickly. Still, he supposed it was fairly obvious, considering how he was risking losing his job to help Wright. His job was more important to him than anything. But he had found someone he loved more than his job.
If he tried, he could lose the trial on purpose, and she'd be sent to jail. Then she'd never see Wright again. So what if she was innocent? It'd be just one more innocent person he sent to jail.
But he couldn't do that. Wright would never forgive him. And if she really was innocent, he couldn't forgive himself. He cared about Wright's happiness more than his own. And he deserved better than him, anyway. He was kind-hearted, always trying to help others and see the best in others… like him. And Edgeworth was cold and closed off, even after his Demon Prosecutor days. He still rarely showed emotion or let people get close to him, despite being kinder than before. No one except for Wright. He was the only person he had truly loved since his father. And even then, he never showed it.
But he had to defend her. Wright would hate him if he didn't. He wanted him to be happy, even if it wasn't with him. Not that there was any chance of them being together even if she did go to jail. If only Wright knew how he loved him…