Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"Hiii Uncle Miiiiiles!"
Trucy bounded in to his office without knocking and Edgeworth placed down the documents he was reading to greet her with a smile.

"Lovely to see you, Trucy. You seem well today? Would you like some tea?"

"Nah, I'm okay, thank you though! I'm off to see Klav soon, just wanted to say hi."

"Well, in that case, hello. Are you on your own today or is your father trailing somewhere behind?"

"He got stuck talking to someone, like hell I was staying there for that. He could be hours, Uncle Miles, actual literal hours. I've got places to be and people to see!"

"Well, I am glad you made time for me in your busy schedule. Will we be seeing you at home tonight? I am aware of some sort of gathering occurring later, which I have been adamantly assured is not a party, despite it obviously being one."

"We have literally called it a Not-Party. You can't get any less party than that. I will probably end up staying over with someone though, and yes I will let you know with who, and yes I will update you so you know I'm alright. It's just Thena, Pollo, and Klav going anyways."

"Is it for any particular occasion?"

"Not really, just wanna hang out and play games probably. Whole night is just going to be will-they-won't-they part eight trillion for you know who, which is what me and Thena are there for, let's be real."

"Ah, I see. Still no progress made then?"

"No! None! It's driving us nuts! How much slow-burn do two people need, seriously."

"Give them time. If it is going to happen, then it will happen. It cannot be rushed."

"Ohhhh, forgot I was talking to Mr. Slow-burn #2. Of course you'd say that. If theirs lasts over a decade I'm gonna do something drastic."

"I am going to pretend I did not hear what you just said for both of our sakes, I think."

Trucy started laughing and busied herself with nothing, flopped on the sofa. Phoenix joined them a few minutes later, holding something behind his back, also walking in without knocking.
She has to have got it from somewhere, I suppose.

"Here he is, Mr. Slow-burn #1, finally."

"Huh? The hell were you two talking about? I was only gone for, like, five minutes."

"Hello, Phoenix. Trucy was filling me in about the 'not-party-will-they-wont-they' extravaganza tonight."

"Oooooohhh, Mr. Slow-burn #3 and #4. I get it now."

"Why am I #2? Why am I not number #1?"

"You didn't change your entire career path for me, that's why. I've earned that crown, thank you very much."
Miles rolled his eyes and Phoenix placed his bag down, Trucy now sitting up on the sofa and kicking her feet over the edge.

"Go on, give them to him then! I wanna see his face!"

"Alright alright, kiddo. Stopped by the florist. The last ones I got you have seen better days, they're looking a bit crispy."
Phoenix handed over the frankly huge bouquet of flowers. It was mostly made up of purple aster flowers and pink peonies, using baby's-breath as gap filler around what is undeniably the centrepiece stems, the sunflowers.
"I hope you like them, I switched a few things up this time. Um, I did some reading on uh, flower language. I hope I did okay?"

Miles Edgeworth was going to burst if he was not careful. He stared at the flowers and ignored the feeling in his stomach.
"You researched floriography? To give me better flowers? Just… to give me better flowers? Nothing else?"

"Yeah! You've got books on it at home. I wanted to make them more special. Who the hell else knows anything about flowers other than you? Better question, who else am I giving flowers to? Is there someone I should be giving flowers to?"

"I'd take flowers!"

"Truce, you'd use the petals as confetti for a trick. The flowers don't deserve that treatment."

"You know what? Fair. I would do that."

Miles couldn't stop staring at the arrangement. They were so pretty, he would've appreciated even a single dandelion stem in all honesty, but this was something else entirely. He had no idea where Phoenix had found the time to read his books, he didn't even realise Phoenix had noticed he had an interest in floriography, and yet here he was, holding a bouquet specifically crafted for him,

"I didn't accidentally get any that mean like, chaos and despair right?"

"Are there even flowers that mean that? I still find it weird that there are ones that mean, like, 'I hate you'. Imagine telling someone that through flowers. Mixed messages central."

Miles was still fixed on the bouquet, not really knowing what to do.
I am the luckiest man on earth. He saw the few books I had on flower language and decided that was enough for him to also spend time learning it? So he could get me ones that meant more?
I am so in love with him I do not really know how to handle this.

"Miles, listen, if I've got something wrong here you gotta blame your books and also the lady behind the counter. I checked with her so many times that none of these meant something awful."

"They are wonderful, Phoenix. No chaos and despair, I assure you. I am just…..overwhelmed."

"Oh. Good overwhelmed?"

"Entirely. I love you so much that I am not quite sure where to put it or what to do with it. I truly adore you. Thank you for my flowers."
Miles stood from his desk and walked round to where Phoenix stood, holding the flowers carefully in one arm and using his free hand to cradle the side of Phoenix's face. He kissed his cheek as Wright leaned over, squinting one eye and laughing as Miles headed over to the vase.

"Gross, I am still here, you know. Well, actually, not anymore. I'm heading to see Klav, so you two enjoy being super-duper in love and stuff. See you later! Have fun! Not too much though! I'll text you later!"

Trucy waved as she made her way down the hall, accompanied by 'See ya, Truce.' 'Farewell, Ms. Trucy.' from the other two, closing the door behind her as she left.
Miles fiddled with the previous bunch of flowers, taking a few clippings of the buds to press and dry at home as usual. The dead stems were put in the bin next to his office door as he muddled with the arrangement of the new bouquet.

"You really like 'em? You aren't just saying that?"
Phoenix came up behind Edgeworth and placed his hands on Miles' waist, head resting on his shoulder as Miles tried to manoeuvre certain stems to better positions.

"Don't be silly. Of course I do. I would like anything you got me, but you know how partial I am to flowers. It means a lot that you took it upon yourself to research into their meanings for me. I do not think anyone has ever shown such care for me in such a way."

"It's kinda my whole job to do that. I wanted them to be special, and I thought that was a good way of doing it. Trucy helped too, I had like, a list of about ten I was considering. This colour scheme looked the best."

"They were always special, now just even more so. I feel that I am quite lacklustre at showing you the same kind of affection, however. For that I apologise."

"You aren't. You just show it differently than I do."

"You think so?"
Miles finished messing with the flowers and leaned into Phoenix, chest warm against his back.
It is perhaps slightly worrying how long I could stand here like this for.

"Yeah. You do the dishes even if it's my day to do them just because I look a bit tired or whatever. You've stocked both mine and Trucy's favourite drinks in your office and at home without us ever asking. You write me notes if you leave for work before I'm awake because you know I like to keep them. You know my coffee order off by heart. You sit with me when I'm a bit wobbly and wait for however long I need before we talk it through. All of those are your versions or learning flower language, I think."

"I suppose so. I did not think of it like that. I get concerned that sometimes you perhaps do not know how much I love you, so it is nice to hear that is seemingly not the case."

"Never. I mean, we are quite literally stood in your office canoodling right now. You don't even really like physical contact and I think if we got any closer you would literally be in my skin. It's pretty damn obvious you like me."

Miles laughed and rolled his eyes again, pulling away as Phoenix dropped his arms. He spun round to talk face to face.
"'Like' sounds so juvenile. We are not kids on the playground."

"But you liiiiiiike me. I'm not wrong. You can love someone and not like them, you do both."

"Against my better judgement. Come on, let us sit. I would like to admire the flowers from afar and see if any of them need moving again."

"This is serious business, huh? Didn't realise how finicky putting some plants in a jar would be."

"It is not a jar, Phoenix. It is a very expensive vase, I will have you know."

Phoenix turned and spoke directly to the vase as Miles walked over to the settee.
"My most sincere apologies, Vase. it will not happen again. I hope you can forgive me."

"You are a grown man talking to a vase. You should consider what this means for you."

"It means that I'm fun and probably the best."
Phoenix joined Miles on the couch, back up against the arm-rest as he draped his legs over Miles, ensuring his shoes weren't touching the fabric.
"So. Flower verdict? You happy with them?"

"For now. I could hardly move even if I wasn't considering you are using me as your own personal footrest."

"You and I both know damn well if you didn't want me to do this you wouldn't let me, Mr. Slow-burn #2."

"I sincerely hope that does not catch on. I am unsure how Mr. Justice and Prosecutor Gavin would feel if they knew they were number three and four, either."

"Then maybe they should get on with it. If they don't want the slow-burn title they could, I don't know, do something. Anything. It's killing me, Miles."

"We were no better. If they are following our example this is going to be a very long decade I'm afraid."

"I don't think Apollo has it in him to wait that long. I can feeeeeel it, something's gonna happen at the Not-Party. My gay senses are tingling."

"No matter what I assume we will end up hearing all about it. Should we get the usual snacks and drinks in for them all tomorrow?"

"For sure. They're probably gonna be hungover and pretending that they're not hungover, so we can order them in some food later in the day. It's what I would've wanted at their age. God, we're so old."

"We could have our own Not-Party. Prove that we still have it in us."

"Miles, we would be in bed by 9pm and you would be complaining of a headache all of tomorrow if you had even three glasses of wine. We don't have it in us. It's okay to admit it."

"It pains me to say it but I fear you are most likely correct. I suppose our entertainment will be checking the group-chat for any texts they did not mean to send. That was quite amusing last time."

"Has Apollo even looked at you since? I think the embarrassment nearly killed him."

"I do not think so, not properly anyway. He is a character. I sometimes find myself wanting to shake him, however."

"You're telling me. At least he has the other kids. I'm glad Trucy has a group of people too, you know? It's nice that she can go have fun away from us. I was real worried she'd struggle to make some good friends."
That sounds familiar. Perhaps it is a 'Dad Thing'?

"She is somewhat of a social butterfly these days. I struggle to keep up. I think it is a good testament to you that she always still finds time for us both, though. She's very thoughtful in that regard."

"It's for my sake, probably. I get all weird if I go too long without spending time with her. That's my girl. She's kinda my best friend, apart from you, obviously."

"If I am losing out the top spot to anyone, I am glad it is Trucy. I really hope she does not drink excessively tonight, I am unsure my bathroom can survive another repeat of the last ordeal."

 "She'll be fiiiiiine. She's gonna be too preoccupied with Apollo and Klavier getting real gay with it anyway."

"I wish her the best. If anyone can meddle enough to make something happen, it will be her."

Phoenix hummed in agreement as he rested his head on the back of the sofa. Miles gently stroked across Phoenix's leg with his fingers, appreciating the lull in the conversation to get his thoughts in order. The silence was far from uncomfortable, more calming and freeing than oppressive or tense.
Out the corner of his eye Miles could see the flowers, standing tall on his shelf next to some trophies and accolades that paled in comparison. There was something about the moment that really made Miles feel something. He never expected to be so comfortable with his job, with Phoenix, with himself.

I cannot quite believe this is my life. I have worked so damn hard to get here. It really could have gone so very wrong and admittedly very nearly did multiple times.
I am sat in my own office that has a Chief Prosecutor plaque on the door with the man I love lounging on my sofa, talking about how our kids are absolutely having a party tonight and two of them are seemingly very taken with one-another. I will likely have a full house tomorrow as they all will no doubt want to debrief both me and Phoenix on the night's events. All I can smell are flowers and cologne.
I wish I knew back then that this is where it was all leading.
Perhaps I would've been kinder, more patient. More willing to take a chance and believe.
I wish my father knew me now. I hope he would be proud of how far I have come.

"You okay? You've got your 'I'm Thinking So Fucking Much Right Now' face on."
Phoenix spoke softly, ensuring the silence was broken delicately and carefully.

"I'm quite alright. I am thinking though, you are right with that."

"What about? Wanna talk about it?"

"It's good thinking at least, perhaps a little overly-sentimental. Are you not needed elsewhere? I do not want to keep you if you have things to do."

"I've always got time for you. Even if I was busy, which I am certainly not, I'd make it work. I'm all ears."

"Very well. Hmm. It is just…"
Miles tapped his fingers on Phoenix's legs until Phoenix placed his hand on top, keeping them steady.
"I wish my father could see this. I think he would be overjoyed. I wish I could tell him how it all worked out. How we worked out."

"Oh, I'm sure he knew. Like, I'm super positive. On the 'us' thing, at least. If he was a betting man he would've put his life savings on it kind of positive."

"How can you be so confident in that? I myself didn't even know it then. It took us a very long time to get here."

"Yeah, you might not have, but I did. I kinda told him I wanted to marry you, like, the first time I came over."

"You were nine years old, Phoenix. How on earth did you already arrive at that conclusion?"

"Hey, he brought it up! That's why I'm telling you he already knew!"

"He…he did? How so?"

"You know the stupid long bedtime routine you had as a kid that took six years to complete each night? Well, it meant I had time to talk to Gregory without you around. I was so nervous, I had no idea how to speak to adults, kinda still don't. But he asked me how my day was and how school was, and it just felt really easy. Like he was genuinely listening and cared what I had to say. Anyway, we got onto the topic of the school trial and the first day we spent together."

Miles turned himself more on the couch to face Phoenix. It had been a very long time since someone shared a new memory about his dad, he had begun to worry that there weren't any others to share. He could picture exactly what Phoenix was describing, the dim lamps in his old living room casting shadows on the fort they built that night, his dad holding a snack bowl that was meant to be for him and Phoenix but he had got through most of himself.

"He thanked me for trusting you that day and I was so confused. In my head it wasn't even a choice I had to make, you just seemed so smart and kind for doing that for me. He ended up telling me how happy you were after school and how you mentioned me. I think he said you described me as having pointy hair, bad at history, and my nose scrunched when I laughed. I remember suddenly getting so shy and your dad laughed as he messed with my hair. Like, the proper warm, hearty laugh he had."

Somewhere in the very back of Miles' brain, he heard it. It was faint but there. It had been a very long time since he had thought about it, and he was surprised he still could.
I am so glad I have not forgotten that sound. I was so scared of forgetting.

"He knelt down after that and placed a hand on my shoulder and said something along the lines of 'I think my son really likes you', and I so vividly remember feeling, like, fuzzy. I obviously didn't have a clue why, I was fucking nine, but it was the first time I had ever felt that specific thing before. But there was just something about how soft his face was when he looked at me that made me feel so safe and…normal? I guess? I told him I really liked you too, and asked him if he thinks we'd be friends forever. Kinda crazy looking back as this was… what, like, a week or so after first properly meeting you?"

"Yes, it wouldn't have been long. What did he say in response?"

"'Of course', I think. He may have said something else after but I can't remember it all that well, I was too busy cheesing to pay attention probably. Next thing I properly remember is him asking if I'm excited for the sleepover, which, duh, and I said that in the future I wanted to live with you so we could have sleepovers everyday, watching Steel Samurai and drawing and stuff. He said that it sounded like the ideal life, and that he was sure you'd agree. He said I was always welcome at your guys' place until then."

"That sounds like him. He really did love having you over."

"I loved being there. It was so much better than my house."

"You said he brought up the marriage topic. How?"

"I got a bit quiet after the last thing he said and he sat next to me to check if I was alright. I was probably a little overwhelmed by it all, new situation and people and all that. I got a bit nervous that he wouldn't be okay if we were friends forever, because again, nine years old with the level of logic to match, so I just kinda asked him. Like, 'hey, are you sure it's okay if I'm Miles' friend forever? You won't be disappointed?' and if I really think about it I swear I can still feel the pressure on my arms with how tight he hugged me. He told me to not be silly, that I could never disappoint him. That he was rooting for us and our endless sleepovers and cartoon marathon nights, and then he made an offhand joke, like 'It sounds better than most marriages I know of. Maybe you should just marry Miles and set an example?' looking back I think it was his way of kinda showing he was okay with it, or telling me something I certainly didn't understand then."

"I had no idea you two spoke at all, or at least not to such length. I cannot believe he was able to pick up on it so easily. He really was the most amazing man."

"He made it feel so easy to just…..talk. I started proper pestering him about if I could actually marry you when we got older, and I remember him having the biggest smile on his face as he reached back into the snack bowl. His response was something like 'of course' or 'hopefully', and he made me promise that if it happened we'd let him help pick the flowers. Until recently I only knew like, three fucking types, so even back then I thought that was probably for the best. You came back in shortly after we had finished talking. You remember when we all sat on the sofa? I was on the end, you in the middle, Gregory on your other side?"

"Yes, I do. It was a bit of a squeeze as we had so many pillows."

"He put them all there. When he asked you to scoot over to give him more room, meaning you were like, leaning on me, he winked at me. He was wing-manning me from day one. There's no way he didn't know. He'd be so proud of you, Miles."

"I think that is one of the nicest stories about him I have ever heard. I could see him and you so vividly in my head. I cannot believe he was acting wing-man to a nine year old. No, actually, I can. That feels like something he would do."

"I mean, considering how well it's worked out for us, I've gotta say he was a darn good one. Thank you, Gregory! I owe you!"
Phoenix shouted the last little bit of what he said to the ceiling and Miles laughed as he shook his head.
"But, uh, seriously, I hope it was okay to talk so much about him. I can imagine it is really hard some days to hear even good things."

"Thank you, Phoenix, Truly. It is more than okay. You treat memories of him with such care and grace, it gives him so much life again. I need that sometimes. You've always had a certain way with words that just makes immediate sense to me. It is like everyone else needs to be translated and summarised for me to understand them, but not you. Never you."

"God, you're a sap. That's so sweet. I'd move to kiss you but I'm honestly really comfy right now, sorry."

"It is nice to know where your priorities lie. Would be a shame if I had to stand up and go about my day now, wouldn't it?"
Miles pushed Phoenix's legs off him and his feet hit the floor with a thud, Wright making an 'oof' sound on impact. Edgeworth really did have things to do, it was just an extra perk that he could be so dramatic about it.
Phoenix sat himself up and grabbed Miles' hand as he tried to walk back over towards his desk, yanking gently back towards the sofa and sat him right back down again. Phoenix wrapped his arms around Miles so he couldn't go anywhere as Edgeworth dramatically rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time, which was rich considering there was no where else he would rather be.

"I love you. I love our weird gaggle of kids. I love our stupidly stressful jobs. I love our life together. There's potential I'm the luckiest guy on earth."
Wright kissed Miles' cheek and then his jaw, and then the small slither of neck that wasn't covered by that god-forsaken frilly fabric.

"I would not attribute it all to luck. I would call it constant hard work and a lot of trial and error. Thinking it 'luck' diminishes the effort we put in to make it work, in my opinion at least."
Get off my neck you insatiable man. You are doing this on purpose.

"Okay, true. Still think there was some kinda cosmic thing at play though. Universe shoved us together so often it was almost funny. Reminds me of when we used to play with your Steel Samurai figures and always find ways for the Steel Samurai and Evil Magistrate to end up, like, fucking locked in a room together or something. You so made them kiss when I left."

"I did nothing of the sort."
The blush dusting Miles' face indicated otherwise, and Phoenix laughed as he planted a few more kisses before loosening his grip, dragging his hands across Miles' body before fully letting go.
Hmm. Handsy. More so than normal. Interesting.

"How busy are you today?"

"The usual amount. I have a fair amount of quite remedial tasks to do in between meetings, nothing overly taxing."

"Okaaaay, so what I'm hearing is you've got time?"
Phoenix moved closer so their legs were pressed against each other and placed a delicate hand on Edgeworth's thigh. Miles knew where this was going, he was no stranger to this particular song and dance of theirs, but he could recall very few times it was done so brazenly in his damn office. He tried to study Phoenix's face, just to ensure he was not reading this entire thing very wrong, and he may as well have been batting his eyelashes.
I am allowed to have a little fun. It takes two, after all.

"What has got into you today? You cannot keep your hands off of me."
Miles didn't miss the way Phoenix's hand tensed on his thigh.
"I am not complaining, of course, just wondering why."

"You. You do something to me, always have. Can't help it."

Miles leaned in and was met in the middle enthusiastically, there was a hunger to how Phoenix kissed back that was absolutely not appropriate for where they currently were. Miles tucked his hand underneath Phoenix's blazer and round to his back, Wright keeping the one hand steady on his thigh whilst the other grabbed at Edgeworth's waist.
Every time they did this Miles felt like his blood was on fire. There was something about how Phoenix loved him so carefully and intricately day-to-day that made this feel more akin to a primal urge. He felt like both a virtue and a vice, a need not a want, and it spun him out.
Phoenix made a needy noise into Miles' mouth and it suddenly became a lot more difficult for him to think rationally.
Christ. This is my office. We need to have at least some level of decorum. I hope the door is properly closed and that if anyone decides to come to my office they at least knock. Good god.

They broke apart to breathe and Miles considered doing the smart thing of stopping this before it became even more difficult to do so. The consideration was very quickly stopped in its tracks as Phoenix grabbed the lapels of Miles' blazer with one hand and shuffled back, pulling him on top of him, bodies pressed together. They kissed again as he slid his other hand down from Miles' side to his ass and squeezed, earning a mix of a gasp and a yelp.
We shouldn't. I shouldn't. Could we? No. Well…. No. I have a full day of work to do. It should not be this difficult to not have sex in my office, for crying out loud.

"We can't. Not here, Phoenix. Anyone could walk in. It is unprofessional and I would quite like to keep my job."

Miles wasn't wrong. It would be hard to argue a case that it was in fact proper conduct to be doing what they are currently doing, however that has not stopped them from, in Phoenix's words, canoodling on the couch countless times. Or kissing each other drunk against various walls in the office. Or sending texts they absolutely should not have in the middle of a work-day.
Nevertheless, Wright laughed as he brought his hand back to Miles' waist, kissing his cheek and giving them as much space as possible considering he was still very much underneath the other man. Miles sat up slightly, steadying himself with a hand on the back of the sofa, purposefully still not moving off completely, though.

"Boooo. Fine. You didn't used to have a problem with it, you're old and boring now."

"We are near enough the same age. And what is that supposed to mean? "

"It means that you're old and boring. If this was ten years ago you'd have me on my knees by now."
The second half of the sentence was hushed and a lot lower compared to the first. Phoenix had craned upwards to whisper it as directly into Edgeworth's ear as he could.

The speed at which Miles went red was maybe a medical concern.
"I did not think you still remembered that."

"You have to be joking? I have thought about it like, 4 times a week since it happened. Still do. It was kinda the best day of my life despite how it ended."

"We, err, have never really talked about that day. It haunts me, even still. What I did was really quite awful."

Phoenix stroked his thumb across Miles' side.
"I understood why, though. It was a lot even for me, and I was nooooowhere near as emotionally repressed as you were. I can't imagine how you must've felt. You needed to get away and think about it all, then we just kinda never brought it back up. It sucked, but I stopped being angry at you for it a very long time ago. Genuinely, you leaving is, like, not even in the top twenty things I think about from that day, let alone thing number one."

"Do I dare ask what thing number one is?"

"That way you said my name as you ca-"
Phoenix was unable to finish his sentence as Miles covered his mouth with his palm. They both shook as Phoenix laughed, very proud of himself for being such a little shit.

"You cannot just say these things to me and expect me to function like a normal human being after. I still have work to do today."
Edgeworth removed his hand, Phoenix kissing it and his wrist before it was fully pulled away.

"Eh, you love it. The offer is still open, by the way. You'd have to sit though. I'm too old."
Miles groaned and pushed himself back up, now sitting on Wright's legs, his own either side. He felt his face heat more as he remembered how Phoenix's hair felt between his fingers and how much he seemed to enjoy being on his knees for him.
This man is such a problem. How can he say such a thing so casually? It has to be on purpose. It really was quite…..well. We have not done anything like that since. I would not run away this time, either….
"Oh my god you're considering it!"

"No! No I am not! I am just…… reminiscing."

"Uhuh. Suuuuure you are. Reminiscing on what, exactly? Me on my knees? Calling you pretty?"
Phoenix delighted in the pained sound that Miles made and grabbed his hand, interlocking their fingers.
"Sorry, sorry. Do you actually want me to stop? Just wanna check."

"…..No. For some unbeknownst reason I am fine with you being so bothersome."

"I think you're fine with it because you like it when I rile you up. Your face is kinda matching your suit right now."

"And who's fault is that?"

"What are you going to do about it, Chief Prosecutor?"
I think he likes the title more than I do. I quite enjoy hearing him say it.
Why am I finding it physically impossible to leave this awful man alone?

Edgeworth leaned down to kiss Phoenix again, arching into Phoenix's hand now resting on the small of his back. Wright would crane upwards to chase the kiss, pulling Miles forward as he shuffled upwards to be sat more upright. Miles' hand was resting on Phoenix's chest, stroking down to his side as Phoenix lifted his hips into Edgeworth reflexively. If they didn't stop now it was likely they never would, so Miles used the last shred of self-control he had to break the kiss and still both of their movements.

"As much as I perhaps want to, we really cannot. Not in my office. I have actual important business that takes place in here that I have to focus on. I do not think I can afford that distraction."

"Oh, but my office was fine? Double standards. Mine wasn't even soundproof!"
Miles flicked Phoenix on the head.
"Hey! I'm kidding, I get it. I'm personally counting making out on your couch as a win anyway. Could probably do it forever, actually."

"Unfortunately, due to the meeting that is rapidly approaching, I think forever will have to wait. We should give ourselves time to, err, calm down, let's say, and I have a mountain of paperwork to organise in the meantime."
In Miles' defence, there is nothing less sexy than paperwork. If that didn't kill the mood, nothing could.

"Makes sense. Want any help?"

"If you could."
Miles sat back onto the sofa and brushed himself off as Phoenix ran his hands across his face.
"Take as long as you need. I need to locate the folders anyway."

"Okeydokey. I'll get up in like, five. Probably. Maybe."
How unfathomably gone do I have to be to get so turned on by a man who says 'okeydokey'?

Miles stood and began the mental preparation it would take to pretend he didn't want his bones jumped and instead get back into Serious Work Mode. He didn't get very far from the couch until Phoenix piped up again.

"Final thing and then I will shut up and be normal, I swear. I just gotta get it out of my system."
Phoenix took hold of Miles' hand lightly, thumb stroking across his knuckles
"You're even prettier now, by the way."
The door does have a lock. I could find a way to empty my calendar for the next hour.

It took inhumane strength for Miles to convince himself to tear his hand away, but he did, walking back over to his desk as he prayed to every higher power to make stop thinking about what Phoenix had just said.
"You are terrible. I take back every kind thing I have said about you today."

"Maybe if you weren't so pretty I wouldn't call you pretty. But you are, so I do. Not my fault that you're a freak about it."

"I will be keeping this attitude in mind later, I hope you know."
Miles messed with the set of keys he used to unlock the draws in his desk as Phoenix sat himself at the edge of the settee.

"Huh? Later? Why?"

"We have a free house, do we not?"

"Yeah?…. Oh. Ohhhhh. Okay. Cool. Good. That's fine. So excited to go about my day now you have put that in my head. Will not be at all torturous and also the worst thing to ever happen to me."

"Then I think we are even."

"Are you sure you can't, like, leave early? Like, right now kind of early?"

"If I could, I would, but as I cannot, I really do need to get organised."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll put a pin in 'The Couch Incident' for later. Tell me what I need to look for?"

Miles grabbed the neat list on his desk and passed it over to Phoenix, now standing in front of the countless shelves lining the office wall.
"If you could return some order to these folders, that would be a great help. There is potential that I will not need anything from them, but it makes my life significantly easier if everything is in its rightful place on the off chance that I do."

"Got it. Operation 'Move Files Around'. What's your plan?"

"I have all of these to go through."
Miles gestured by his feet, four blue folders sitting on the floor.
"It is going to be a search through all the documents for specific pieces of information. My eyes already hurt from just imagining how much text I am going to have to scan through."

"Even if I could offer to help, I just wouldn't. Sorry Miles. Good luck and godspeed."

The room fell into silence as Phoenix busied himself organising the requested files, but Miles could not focus. He re-read the same folder's name multiple times, looked through each piece of paper and still couldn't find what he needed. Now the atmosphere had become significantly less hot and heavy, he was back to feeling overly sentimental, maybe even more than he was before 'The Couch Incident'.
I feel like we perhaps graced over the fact that even my father knew there was something between us. We have rarely, if at all, broached marriage. I have no idea if Phoenix still thinks about it or wants to. But what if he is and does? Is he expecting it? Waiting on it? I do not want him to feel like it is just up to me. That won't do at all.

His thoughts were interrupted by Wright approaching the desk, leaning on it slightly as he spoke.
"You're thinking again. Still okay? Need anything?"

"How did you even tell that from over there?"

"You're tapping your leg and your face is tense. What's up?"

"I am still stuck on our earlier conversation. We have not really talked about marriage seriously. Is that something you are hoping to do?"

"I mean, it would be nice. I didn't think it was really your thing, honestly, which I'm fine with too. I don't think we need a piece of paper to confirm we're in love or whatever. Nothing would really change, which is basically the story of our lives."

"That is true, but also not exactly an answer. Do you want to get married?"

"It kinda sounds like you're proposing to me. Are you proposing to me?"

"No! Not right now! It would be a significantly nicer affair than a random weekday in my office, I can assure you that much."

"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. It's less for the legal aspect and more for, like, getting everyone together, I guess. Just a big party with everyone we know and give a shit about? Plus, you look great in a suit. That helps."

"I see."

"Do you wanna get married?"

Miles took a second.
Oh. I really do. That is not something I ever thought I would think.
"I cannot say it has ever been a priority of mine, or really even a consideration. Until you, of course."

"What the fuck? Really?"
Phoenix swivelled himself round so he was now almost properly sitting on the desk, looking at Edgeworth.

"I never saw it for myself, it was not something that really appealed in the past. It has constantly been advertised, almost, as the 'right' way to live. The customary thing to do. I suppose I never thought that I could make it work in a way I am comfortable with."

"I get that. It's very, uh, meet a girl, marry her, have kids, work 9-5 until you die, follow the light at the end of the tunnel. I assumed you thought this way from the way you reacted in any of the frankly stupid amount of times marriage is brought up in our trials."

"I think there was always an element of knowing that it would never be, well, a woman I would marry, so even still it would not be the 'quintessential' life. Perhaps made it feel more difficult to ever gel with the idea, but, err…."
Edgeworth leaned back a little, preparing himself for how much of an insufferable emotionalist he was about to sound like.
"I understand it now, though, likely because it no longer feels like something I would have to do out of obligation. It is like you said. Nothing much would change, and we do not need it as validation or proof, but I find myself thinking about it more and more. It would take a lot of planning but that is nothing we cannot handle."

"Holy shit. The Chief Prosecutor wants to marry me."

"We are going to have to research into how this would impact our respective careers. I am afraid it will be yet more paperwork and naturally attract a fair amount of attention."

"Dooooon't care. You wanna marry me. Let's just say fuck it and go to the court house right now and elope to that place we went with the good ice-cream. We said we'd retire together anyway."

"Unfortunately both of us are needed in this court system no matter how tempting that proposition is."

"Fine. But I'm holding you to it, I hope you know. Maybe we honeymoon there?"

"I have not even bought the rings yet, Phoenix. Weddings are no small affair to organise, I feel like honeymoons are the last thing to be finalised?"

"Okay, fair, but when have we ever done anything the normal way? I also have no clue what my ring size is, so we should probably get that checked before we, like, what the fuck. Before we buy engagement rings. How is that something I can say? I think I'm gonna die."

"Please do not die in my office. I also know your ring size already, so that is no issue."

"What? How?"

"After you got your badge back we had to get you measured for your suit, remember? I thought it best to be extensive in the information we gathered. It was when we selected your cuff-links, so you should not have deviated much in the short time it has been."

"Are you suuuuuure you've not always wanted to get married? Because that's kinda really marriage-y. Why else would you need my ring size if not to give me a damn ring?"

"Perhaps it has been on my mind longer than I thought."

"Maybe since you were, I don't know, nine?"

"I would not go that far. I think you have me well and truly beat in that regard."

"Fine by me, it's worked out anyway. You gonna do a red suit? Black? Go completely rogue and go green?"

"I am not sure yet. It has only been a matter of minutes since we began this conversation, I have not had much chance to think about it."

"So what I'm hearing is it could be green."

"It will not be green."

"You'd look good in green. Like, a dark, mossy green? Tight waistcoat with embellishments? Helllloooo sailor."

Miles snorted and his desk shook as Phoenix laughed.
"You are biased. Are you going to continue your organisation or just sit on my desk thinking about me in a suit?"

"Oh, I was done in like five minutes. I just didn't wanna leave."

"It baffles me how capable you are at things and yet it seems you consciously choose not to be most of the time."

"Hey, I'll un-organise your documents. Don't test me."

"Unfortunately I truly believe that is something you would do."
Miles checked his watch and the meeting was far closer than he thought it would be. Time always had a way of slipping by when they were together.
"As much as it pains me to do so, I'm afraid I am going to have to kick you out of my office. I need time to get my head straight before tackling the day ahead."

"Makes sense, I should maybe, I don't know, actually go do my job that I quite enjoy. What a horrid fate."
Phoenix pushed himself off the desk as Miles stood to walk him out, a completely unneeded gesture considering the door was only a handful of steps away, but one Wright had grown very fond of.

"Shall I pick up dinner on the way back home as usual?"

"Yeah, if you can. Text me when you've got a min so we can collude on food plans?"

"Of course. I'll see you at home. Enjoy whatever it is you have on the itinerary today."

Phoenix was out the door after a quick peck, waving solemnly as he dragged his feet across the carpet of the hallway. Miles laughed and closed his door after enduring a few seconds of the dramatics, now alone in his almost-too-quiet office.

Now able to focus, it did not take him long to find the information he needed, organising them in neat piles on his desk. The folders were returned to their rightful place and he went about returning some order to the somewhat inevitable chaos that occurred each time Phoenix was in here for more than ten minutes.
I do not remember him even touching these pens, let alone spending enough time fiddling with them to completely rearrange them and loosen at least four of the caps.
I wish my sofa did not crease so easily. Considering how the morning could have gone, perhaps it having a few wrinkles is the preferred outcome.
I cannot believe I considering doing such a thing.
Actually, no, I can. Before him? Categorically not. Now, however?
It really is his fault.

With the office now looking more suitable for that of Chief Prosecutor, Edgeworth sat down again at his desk and tried to find ways to pass the 20 or so minutes he had before the scheduled start time. He was mostly in work-mode again, doing his best to stop his mind wandering whenever it tried to, having less and less success as the seconds ticked on by.

It cannot be normal to think about someone this much. If I was not extremely aware of the fact I am very much in love with him, I would probably assume he had cast some sort of curse upon me to taunt me for the rest of time.
I do not think I would even mind.
What a sappy thing to think.
I have to stop this lovey-dovey nonsense immediately. I cannot be fantasising about my potential wedding whilst discussing wrongful convictions.

Miles reached for the bottom draw in his desk, rummaging around carefully until he grabbed a notebook from the very bottom. He unhooked the elastic and flipped to the next empty page. The notebook hadn't been used much, not often finding need to write during his workday, but if suddenly realising you do really in fact want to get married and nearly having sex with your partner on the office couch didn't constitute a need, Miles wasn't sure what could.

He uncapped his favourite pen and began to write.

Dear diary,

What a day. It is only a handful of hours into it, but I think that is still a fair statement to make.

I have to marry that man. I would do it tomorrow if I could.
I was going to say that I had no clue my mind changed on the matter, or when it did, or why it did, but in hindsight it is extremely obvious.
How could I not want to marry him? How could I not want our family to see us married?

On that note, the first step will be telling Trucy. I do not expect her to object, but I think it is only right that she knows what is on the horizon. She may have some good insight into how to make the proposal perfect for her father, too.

Rings after that. I fear I will end up very fussy about how they look. I will potentially need them custom-made. The only thing I am sure of is that his will have some garnet stones, and mine sapphire. There is nothing else that makes sense.

We can decide on a venue together, naturally. I know of some wonderful places that will likely suit both of our tastes. It will have to be big enough for everyone to attend, so that shortens the list, but I have a few good options in mind.

Then it is the wedding party, attire, theme if we are having one, caterers, photographers and videographers.

He is sorting the flowers. I will see to that.

It is a lot to do. Phoenix is worth the effort.

I love him more than I ever thought was possible.
How daunting. How exciting.

Here's to another beginning.

Yours in the pursuit of truth,
-Miles Edg…..

Hold on. What on earth are we going to do about our last names?

Miles tapped his pen against his mouth as he pondered, eventually pulling out his phone and bringing up his chat with Phoenix.

>Are you wanting to take each other's names?
I would like to keep mine, and I think yours suits you well.
If you would like to, perhaps we double-barrel.

>i have literally just left
>i am barely even out the door to ur building and ur already texting me
>get a ring on my finger first and we can think abt it then <3

>I suppose I am perhaps jumping the gun.
I love you. Have a good rest of the day at work.

>i love u too!!!!!
>see u later ;)


Miles struggled to wipe the smile off his face before there was a knock at his door.
The meeting, and honestly the entire day, went painstakingly slowly.

On the up-side, by lunchtime Miles already had a consultation with a jewellers pencilled in for the next week.

By the time Edgeworth was on his way home there was two bottles of expensive Pinot Noir and Phoenix's favourite take-out on the backseats of his car.

It would be a miracle if either of them got to eat it before it went cold.

Perhaps it was something of a Not-Party after all.