He just came right into my head last night while I tried to get to bed, demanding this. It's not the epic WTF Phoenix/Edgeworth fic that my brain is demanding... or the Franziska/Adrian one I want to write... but it's rather interesting nevertheless.

Title: Almost Perfect
Author: Spinny Roses
Fandom: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Gant. Seriously, he's a warning all to himself
Spoilers: Through case 1-5
Disclaimer: Don't own.

Almost Perfect
By Spinny Roses

The guards laughed the first time Manfred von Karma beat him in a game of chess. That was the Demon God Persecutor, didn't he know? Perfection in everything, they told him, and there was no way he would even hope to win.

The second time, it was von Karma that laughed at him. He should have known better, the former prosecutor taunted. There was no way he would lose something as simple as a chess game.

Now, the guards were rather bemused. If one asked them, the two of them had formed a strange friendship of sorts. Everyday, playing a bitter game of chess. Though, Gant mused as his knight knocked over a bishop, that was far from the truth. Just as, from what the Miles Edgeworth trial proved, perfection was a lie.

Almost bored, von Karma moved his other bishop into position. "Checkmate," he said, not even bothering with his trademark winning grin. "Why do you bother to come here, day after day, Damon Gant? You know you cannot win against me."

Gant watched the man, fixing him with a stare that would cause the more hardened men to squirm. A handy tool, his ability to go still and silent. It was one he and Skye had used mercilessly, drawing confessions out while he stared at the suspect as if he was wondering if he would go well with a nice Chianti. von Karma stared back at him, coolly, locking away any possible hint of discomfort that Gant may have arisen in him. That caused Gant to tilt his head back, laughing. "Of course I can't win, Karmy," he said cheerfully, sliding on his second persona with little worries. "But it's still fun to try."

von Karma scoffed, carefully placing away the pieces. They laid on the bare box, lined perfectly up as if they were true soldiers, not just pieces molded from dull plastic to represent the medieval forces. Even perfect when packing up a game - that was a von Karma. "Perhaps for you, feeble minded as you may be."

The smile on Gant's face was only one of practiced friendliness, one easily seen through by the sharp glare of the almost perfect human in front of him. The urge to break down this being in front of him, to show just how imperfect he truly was... it was overwhelming. It was exhilarating.

It would leave the legend of a perfect man in complete shambles. Life after death was more than a body still stomping around the earth... it was how those spoke about him after. The almost perfect man... von Karma would live longer than Gant, no questions asked. After all, he only blackmailed the Chief Prosecutor for nearly two years over a murder he himself had committed. Manfred von Karma had gone through with nearly the perfect murder - if it wasn't for the brat of a defense attorney, no one would have thought twice about the second bullet. The young Edgeworth's confession would have stood, and von Karma would have gotten away with it all.

Indeed, von Karma would live longer this way. That is, if he continued to prove he was perfect. Time was running out, he mused, locking the case shut. The execution had finally been set (though trials had managed to come down to three days, the red tape to actually approve the methods of execution were ridiculous. Why did the injection cost so much, anyway?), and the man knew he only had a few more weeks to finish his plan before von Karma was awarded immortality.

Yes, only a few more weeks to prove the man was less than almost perfect, and to secure his role as the man that beat von Karma for the last time. After all... it wouldn't do to allow Phoenix Wright that honor. Damon Gant would live on... whispered amongst the guards as the man that broke Manfred von Karma's perfect facade.

And that type of immortality suited Gant just fine.

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Yeah, it's Gant--he deserves a warning all for himself, he has that honor! Take that, Manny!

Granted that Gant's uh... crimes weren't as perfectly planned as von Karma's, but at least he went out with a LOT more dignity.
*Roots for Gant* He can have my chess strategies book while I'm at it.

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This is great Spinny. That's Gant for you. The ruler of all in his eyes, with power, corruption, etc. Very cool that you used a Chess analogy to describe them and what's going on around them. Very, very cool indeed. Great fic.

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Hee. Thank you, both of you, for your comments.

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BRAVO! that is some fine fanfic you have going there spinny.

I stamp your fic with my seal of approval! HoboGodot Approves

Can't wait to read the next chapter of this fic.

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New... chapter? *tilts head, looks at fic* ... I... honestly cannot see making a new chapter for that.

But thank you so much. I'm glad you liked it!

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I honestly can I figured youd go on and tell how Gant slowly withers down Manfred to reach his goals, and overall describe Gants thoughts as a chess game. Where Manfed is the opposing King and he slowly breaks down his defenses and so on until he is bare and shows manfred he isn't absolute perfect.

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You're not allowed near the plot bunnies anymore. You bring them carrots, and they're already breeding like crazy without your encouragement.

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Ok... I'll leave them be.... for now >_> If you are gonna write more to this fic then I cant wait to read more!

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