Dreamless

January 16th, 2026
Los Angeles, California

Ema sighed deeply and leaned her forehead against the cold window of the taxi that was taking her to Borscht Bowl. She had been living in Los Angeles for a month in an apartment that Lana set her up with. Lana stayed with Ema until an hour ago, when Ema saw her off at the airport. She missed her sister already and wondered how she was going to survive without anyone close to talk to, or lean on. She also missed Paris; forgetting how glitzy and plastic Los Angeles was, she missed the beautiful spring days that would lead into warm summer nights staying up late chatting with Corvin… She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold the tears back to no avail. Ema didn’t think it was possible for one human to cry so much. Of course, she never thought that love would hurt so deeply. She wiped the tears away as she thought about the last couple years in Paris.

Corvin was lucky and came away from the fall with only a few broken bones and a coma. Ema tried to bury herself in her studies and part-time job to keep her mind off of Corvin. It was hard seeing him laying oh so still on the bed, machines beeping, tubes sending various medications and sustenance to keep his brain and body alive. Ema could only imagine what was going on inside his mind, if anything. She moved back in with Sola so they could console each other. However, Ema wasn’t as strong as Sola. Having lost her parents at a young age and having lost her sister to a cold scandal, she took her grief and anger out on anyone and anything that would take it from her.

“Hey, lady!” The cab driver interrupted her thoughts. “That’s $15.60 for the ride.”

Ema rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh as she got out of the cab and gave the driver a twenty and told him to keep the change. ‘What a rip off.’ She thought as she turned to gaze at the jumble of cheap white Christmas lights and a purple neon sign that screamed the name of the lounge. Ema shivered and wondered what exactly brought Phoenix to this dump.

The cold hit her like a Mac truck as she opened the door. Ema’s eye’s widened in shock as she looked around at the small piles of snow and gaudy furnishings. A tall stocky gentle man with dark hair was talking in perfect Russian to a small blond girl who was dressed in fur and held a tray in her hand. She was timid and she looked like she was afraid of the overbearing man. Ema’s memory of what little Russian Corvin taught her came rushing back to her. She caught snippets of what sounded like the man barking orders to the girl to keep the poker star well stocked with Grape Juice. His voice was soothing, yet it had a frightening edge to it that Ema couldn’t place. She also noticed that the timid girl kept glancing in her direction.

“Oh!” The older gentleman barked as he turned towards Ema. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as the clear blue eyes of the gentleman seemed to pierce her soul…clear…blue…eyes…same shape as Corvin’s…

“I am so sorry!” His loud voice, thick with a Russian accent, brought Ema out of her reverie. “Olga and I discuss business, and business walks in! Please, come sit, we make Borscht for you! Olga!”

“Ah, no thank you,” Ema pulled her peacoat closer to herself. Did she refill her pepper spray? “I am looking for Phoenix Wright?”

“Oh, ho hoho!! This be classic!” He ran a hand through his short black hair. “A woman wishes to challenge our famous Phoe-”

“Oh, ha, no,” Ema chuckled nervously. “I am an old friend of his. I was told I could find him here on Tuesday evenings.”

The old man blinked at the young brunette, stunned at being interrupted. Olga, who was standing nearby and hanging on all their words, shrunk more into herself, as if waiting for something really bad to happen.

“Hmph!” The dark-haired man grunted loudly as he played with the lapels on his cheap gray wool suit. “You can wait here, maya devochka. Phoenix Wright will be done with his hand-”

“Now.” A voice startled all of them, as Ema whipped her head in Phoenix’s direction, or what looked like Phoenix. “I am done now, Konstantin. I can take care of her.”

‘Konstantin,’ Ema thought to herself as the older gentle man mumbled something to Phoenix. ‘Where have I heard that name before…’ She shook her head and gazed at the figure that stood a few feet in front of her. She could tell by the voice and the large dark blue eyes that it was Phoenix Wright. But the ratty sweatshirt and jeans and bright blue beanie did everything to hide whatever court room charisma that Phoenix ever had.

“Ah, well, you two sit, chat, bring up good old days, da?”

“Yes, thank you Konstantin, we will be fine,” Phoenix said shortly, as he sat on the piano bench and gestured Ema to sit in the chair nearby.

“You need vodka and Borscht, I’ll make…”

“We are fine.” Phoenix gave the older man a terse look, when another voice came from their right.

“Actually, I’ll have a vodka rocks,” Ema’s eyes went wide as she looked up at a tall, clean-cut version of Klavier. She racked her brain as to where she had seen this man before. “Make it three, this is going to be an interesting conversation. Ema, it’s nice to see you again.” Kristoph extended his hand to her as he sat in the chair he brought to close in their circle. Konstantin grumbled and left the room with Olga in tow.

“I-I…yes it’s nice to see you again…” Ema stuttered, shaking his hand. “I’m sorry, I recognize your face, but I can’t remember your name.”

“Heh, I imagine you would recognize him if he was all glitzed up and in purple.” Phoenix chuckled and adjusted his beanie. Ema frowned in concentration.

“Kristoph Gavin.” He stated simply.

“Oh my!” Ema gasped. “Yes, I remember now! I met you at Sola’s New Years Eve party. Wow, that seems so long ago.” She adjusted her peacoat.

“Oh, so you two have met.” Phoenix paused as Konstantin returned with their drinks and three bowls of Borscht.

“Nastrovya!”* The dark haired man exclaimed as he raised his glass.

“Prost!”**

“Cheers,” Phoenix and Ema clinked their glasses with everyone and Ema closed her eyes briefly. She thought coming to the states would help her forget Corvin. So far, it wasn’t working. The clear liquid went down smooth and warmed her tummy.

“Ema it’s good to see you again, but I’m sorry you had to return to this,” Phoenix gestured at himself.

“I…Miles had told me what happened, and I’m sorry Phoenix.” She saw Phoenix flinch when she mentioned the prosecutors name.

“Speaking of Miles Edgeworth,” Kristoph ran his finger around the rim of his glass. Phoenix ducked his head. “I hear he was involved in a shooting a couple years ago, but that’s all I heard about it. How is he doing?”

“Ah…er…he’s doing alright. He’s healed nicely and my sister takes good care of him.” Ema shifted in her seat as Konstantin came in and refilled their glasses.

“And how is the boy, Corvin Mourir, I heard he had a nasty fall. “ Kristoph slowly took a drink of his vodka as he peered over his glass at Ema’s reaction. She had tensed, and her brow furrowed. “I also heard that you two were in a relationship. It must’ve been tough when you found out he was pushed by the BlackBird killer.” Konstantin had taken his time leaving the room when he heard Kristoph mention Corvin’s name.

“Kristoph!” Phoenix cried, pounding his fist against the table. They looked at him, incredulously. “Why are you torturing the poor girl with those questions? I’m sure Ema doesn’t need the third degree on that subject.”

“Hhmm…”Kristoph adjusted his glasses and crossed his arms. “I don’t mean to torture anyone. I’m just curious about the Ema Skye that my little brother developed a crush on while he was in Europe, and now that I have her here, I want to know as much about her-”

“Klavier and I have nothing to do with each other!” Ema interrupted as she stood up. “You and Klavier only think of yourselves. You don’t think about anyone else’s feelings but your own, do you Kristoph? You are as unfeeling as that glimmerous fop that stole Phoenix’s badge! I can’t be here any more, it was good to see you again Phoenix.” Almost running Konstantin over, she ran out of the room before she started crying. Phoenix ran after her.

“Wait, Ema!” He caught up with her across the street, as he grabbed her arm. Being the stubborn person that she was, she yanked her arm out of Phoenix’s grasp, but he caught it again and whipped her around to face him. The action threw her off balance, but Phoenix caught her before she fell on her bad shoulder. She looked up at him through teary eyes and collapsed against him, her body heaving with sobs. Unsure of himself, Phoenix wrapped his arms around the young woman and made comforting noises and rubbed her back. When she contained herself, she leaned back and wiped her eyes.

“I’m sorry Phoenix,” She apologized, her voice husky from crying. “I shouldn’t have yelled at him like that. But he was being so…mean.”

“Heh, Kristoph has a marvelous way of not being subtle.” Phoenix remarked, sarcastically as he brushed stray hairs from Ema’s face. “He seemed to be a little more biting than he usually is. And I’m not sure why…” His voice faded as he looked back at the lounge thoughtfully.

“I should go, Phoenix.” Ema sniffled and hugged him again. “I’m sorry for this and thank you! We need to get together. I feel like I’ve been away for sooo long that I hardly know anyone here in the states anymore.”

“If you like Ema, I live nearby, you can stay with me tonight, we can get caught up.” He said when they separated again.

“I…ah…” Ema blinked at him. “Oh, I couldn’t do that. I’ll just grab a cab and…”

“No, I insist,” Phoenix gave her a brusque look. “Besides, you look exhausted and you probably don’t want to be alone tonight. Wait here, I’ll grab my stuff and tell Konstantin that I’m leaving for the evening.”

Ema sighed and watched Phoenix as he trotted across the street and disappeared into the club.

In the meantime, Konstantin had excused himself and made a phone call.

“Nikita, listen to me very carefully.” He said in quiet Russian. “Now that Corvin has awaken from his coma, I need you to get him out of that hospital as soon as you can.”

“Yes sir,” Nikita answered calmly.

“Ema is here in the states and I know she knows where Miles Edgeworth is hiding. Corvin is the only one that can get that information from her to me. This needs to be done quickly and quietly Nikita. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir, I understand perfectly.” She said then hung up the phone. Nikita then turned to her brother, who was sleeping restlessly on the hospital bed. She knelt close so she was close to his ear and repeated Konstantin’s words to him. Then she ran a hand through his hair.

“I have other plans for you little brother. After you get the information from that little twit, you will eliminate yourself and her as well. Then I will be uncles favorite little assassin.” She laid her head beside his on the pillow and played with his hair. “You were always everyone’s favorite, always the handsome one, always the strong one, always the famous one. Well, not anymore. I am going to carry on the BlackBird killer name and you and Ema will be my first victims.”