Keep It Cool | Ace Attorney (Kristoph x reader)

[5] Roommate

[9:25 AM - District Court - Defendant Lobby No. 3]

It's the second day of the trial, and [Y/N] is really nervous about today. Is this okay for them to proceed with? No, this isn't right. They can't do this.

However, there is no other choice.

Kristoph notices this and assures them, "it's going to be okay, Mx. [L/N]. I will make sure we win this trial today and get you declared innocent."

Oh, he definitely will.

One of the bailiffs guarding the door announces, "the trial will start very shortly, please see your way to the courtroom."

It's now or never.

-----

[9:30 AM - District Court - Courtroom No. 3]

The gallery again murmurs in predictions and questions. Everyone is back at their designated places and the judge begins the trial with a hit using the gavel, "Court is now in session for the continuation of the trial for [F/N]. Are the defense and prosecution ready?"

Prosecutor Edgeworth with his layered off-white cravat and red overcoat nods with his arms crossed, "the prosecution is ready, Your Honor."

"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Kristoph repeats.

The judge acknowledges both of them, "well then, Prosecutor Edgeworth, you may call in your witness."

A few minutes later a person takes the witness stand. As expected, they look androgynous to Kristoph but he confirms the identity with the tattoo located on their neck.

The prosecution begins by ordering the witness to state their name and occupation.

"My name is Noddac Hiller and I am a student at Ivy's University in the course of fine arts," they speak.

"... I am male going by he/him if you're wondering that as well," he continues. Sounds like this happens a lot to him.

Noddac is sporting a dark blue shirt with a white overcoat, matching his white tech-wear skirt. He also wears black leather gloves. His hair is short but messy, covering his eyebrows completely.

"Thank you, Mr. Hiller. Now, we need you to testify on your whereabouts when the murder happened and whether or not you moved the bucket beside the defendant's workspace from the crime scene," Edgeworth demands.

Noddac seems reluctant at first but agrees, he doesn't have much choice here.

[WITNESS TESTIMONY]

"I think it was around 8:00 AM when I went outside my room because I heard an alarm clock coming from the studio somehow," he starts.

"It stopped, though. I don't know why at the time so I went to check anyway, the door was unlocked as expected."

He continues, "when I turned on the lights there was nothing out of the ordinary, to be honest, so I was gonna go back to my room until I heard a plank falling from across the room."

"When I went there, I noticed the freezer was turned on. We don't use the freezer so I was wondering why it was activated so I took a peek into it."

"That was when I witnessed the body of Amy," he rubs his neck with his left hand. "That's when I panicked and called the authorities and woke [Y/N] up."

"I moved the bucket because I knew it had bleach in it and I was worried maybe it had something to do with the death and [Y/N] might get framed for it."

Noddac changes the topic to his location at the time, "so about where I was at the time..."

"I was panicked and angry, mixed emotions took over me so I left the building and nearly went out of town," he says.

"I didn't tell [Y/N] about this since it sounded like I was abandoning them so I just told them I was only gonna call the police and stuff."

"I was too worried for them so I decided to stay at a motel considering the apartment was completely closed off," he ends.

Prosecutor Edgeworth presents a yellow alarm, "this is the alarm the witness is speaking about, we confiscated it from the defendant's table. It contains the fingerprints of the victim" he says before the judge accepts it as evidence.

"Thank you, prosecutor Edgeworth. Defense, you may begin your cross-examination," the judge says.

After a quick thank you from Kristoph, he begins his interrogation.

He begins by asking about the witness and the victim, "Mr. Hiller, may I ask what is your relationship between Ms. Stake and yourself?"

It's but a simple thought, really. However, this can really affect their case.

"W-well, um, we're just roommates..." He stutters.

As expected, there's definitely more than meets the eye.

"Just roommates? That's weird, I thought there were more between you two-"

Before he can finish his sentence, the prosecution intervenes with an objection.

"Objection! Your Honor, the defense is asking private questions to the witness irrelevant to our case," he points out.

"Objection overruled. Defense, is this really important to the current case?" the judge asks.

Kristoph smiles softly, "why, yes. I would never waste the court's precious time."

His eyes look towards Edgeworth, targeting him.

The man in a dark red overcoat immediately dismisses it and lets the opposing side continue.

"As I was saying, the victim seems more than 'just roommates' to me. Do you mind explaining that? Or is it something you can't reveal because it might affect you? I wonder," Kristoph attempts to persuade him.

Noddac is visibly disturbed by this but still refuses to tell, "as I said... We're just roommates on the same course. That's all." His eyes are shifting downwards, darting from place to place.

"Interesting, I have something that says otherwise," the attorney pushes his glasses with a smile on his face.

Noddac is tensed by his words. Did he find any proof...?

I picture frame is slid out onto the defense bench, "I discovered this picture frame at the victim's table."

"W-what!?" Edgeworth slams his table. "How did you get a hold of this?"

"Let's just say the friendly detective let me view the scene for a brief minute," he smiles.

The prosecution murmurs something about salary payment, for whatever reason.

"Continuing, as you can see..."

"... This is an image of the victim and witness at an amusement park."

---

[E/N]

revised. Damn this case was horrendously written plot-wise...