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24 March 2018
“I am Franziska von Karma… Don’t think I’m going to walk in your shadow forever… Our battle… begins now… so you had better prepare yourself, Miles Edgeworth!”
The tears in her eyes were not only the tears of defeat, but those of sheer determination. After this moment, Franziska would become a true rival. Miles knew he was ready to take her on, no matter what she threw at him, but he wished she wouldn’t view him as another hurdle to jump. Her father neglected her in favour of Miles, he knew that; however, he didn’t want Franziska to live in his shadow either. He wanted her to be her own person, to live for herself. Maybe one day she’d learn to—
The whistling of the teakettle brought Miles out of his thoughts. Rubbing his eyes, he wondered why his thoughts had drifted back to Franziska for the third time since they parted ways at the airport. The conversation had ended as he’d expected, albeit a little more tearfully, but something felt… off. He felt as if there was something unfinished about the previous evening.
He stopped moving mid-pour. “Wright.” Of course.
The missing piece was that man, that insufferable defense attorney who would go to the ends of the earth for both friend and foe, it seemed. Was their partnership in the court yesterday, their working together to put Matt Engarde behind bars, enough to reconcile their friendship? Miles understood the resentment Phoenix felt towards him; after all, he left for an entire year without a single word to anyone but Gumshoe, and he’d been pronounced dead. Regardless, Phoenix had presented Franziska’s whip, a gift by which Miles was able to convince Franziska to keep prosecuting, to keep following her path. Miles knew he needed to thank him.
“Edgeworth?” Wright’s eyes matched his startled tone. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in the area and figured I’d stop in for a moment.”
Wright’s expression changed to one of disbelief. “To Wright & Co. Law Offices. On the other side of town.”
Miles huffed. “I did have a few things I wanted to say.” Wright’s eyes bored into him as he waited, and Miles averted his gaze to his loafers. “I… Thank you, Wright. I was able to intercept Franziska at the airport.” He risked a look at the attorney, who wore a soft, knowing smile. “She had been prepared to give up prosecuting forever, but your generosity and my encouragement were enough to change her mind.” He paused to take in a breath. “I am indebted to you even more deeply than before.”
Wright chuckled, an action Miles wasn’t sure was appropriate. “You don’t owe me anything, Edgeworth.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was an act of kindness for a friend and his sister. I’d do it again and again, but I don’t need anything in return.”
Miles felt the tips of his ears grow warm, which confused him, but he brushed the feeling away. “Can I at least make last night up to you?”
Wright’s left eyebrow rose. “What do you have to make up for?”
“For leaving during dinner.” Wright opened his mouth to speak, but Miles continued before he could. “I’d like to take you out to an establishment as upscale as Gatewater—my treat, of course, since I’m the one who walked out last night.”
“Edgeworth… It’s really okay. I don’t think I can accept that.”
“That’s fine. It’s an offer you’re unable to refuse.”
Wright gave him a condescending look. “Fine, but I’m finishing the report for Engarde’s case at the moment. Can I meet you there?”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
The dinner was lovely. Though the meal wasn’t nearly as fancy as the Gatewater feast the previous evening, Miles preferred the quiet atmosphere of the quaint Italian place he’d chosen. It matched his and Wright’s relationship better: soft, comfortable, constant. As if they’d stayed friends since they were children, conversation flowed between them as easily as tea from Miles’ favorite red pot.
Then, in a lull between finishing their meal and waiting for the check—one Wright would not be allowed to see, Miles couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you help my sister and I, Wright?”
Wright swallowed his water too quickly, coughing before staring at him, wide-eyed. “What do you mean? I was aiding a friend and his sister; I told you that earlier.”
“Yes, well.” Suddenly, the golden accents on the napkin in Miles’ lap were more interesting than anything else in the restaurant. “I am still under the impression that you hate me.”
Phoenix bristled at that, his shoulders tensing visibly under his suit jacket. “Edgeworth…” He sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t think I could ever hate you. The main reason I became a defense attorney was to save you, to bring the boy I knew in 2001 back. When we met again in 2016, I knew he was still in there, the kid I became friends with and would request songs on the radio for throughout high school.” The intensity in Wright’s mismatched eyes was like a fire, burning brighter than anything Miles had ever seen. It was too much, far too much, but Miles couldn’t tear his gaze from Wright’s. “After you were acquitted of a crime even you thought you committed, I thought I was finally breaking through. I thought the walls von Karma erected were finally going to fall, and then you—“ He paused, the fire being doused in an instant by tears that threatened to spill over. His breath shook as he inhaled. “Then, you killed yourself. Or, at least, you convinced everyone on this side of the Atlantic that you did. I was so close to getting the Edgeworth I knew back, and then… I was too late. I thought I’d failed you.”
Miles sighed, the hint of a smile ghosting his lips. “Always so sentimental.” Wright huffed, ready to defend himself—as usual, but Miles held up a hand. “I apologize, Wright. My actions may have been too spontaneous, ill-thought-out, and brash,” Wright glared at him, muttering to himself, as he continued, “but I do not regret them. I needed time away from prosecution in the States in order to refocus myself. The few months between our reunion and my departure brought an onslaught of emotions upon me stronger than anything I had felt in my twenty-four years. You, the system, and the verdict gave me many things to meditate upon. I needed to take action, alone, but I didn’t feel as if I could here. I needed to leave.”
Wright made a strained noise, as if Miles’ words were strangling him. “Could you, at least, not feign suicide next time?” A pause as Wright chewed on his lip, obviously unsure of his next words. “Um, if there even is a next time?”
Miles smiled fully this time, soft and small, and Wright turned his attention to his wine glass, topping it off with fresh pinot grigio. He topped Miles’ off as well as he said, “Of course, Wright. Again, I apologize for not thinking about the repercussions of my actions.”
The wine bottle landed on the table with a harsh thunk, and Wright winced. “Thank you, Edgeworth.”
The conversation lightened then, and they carried it out to Miles’ car. Though the ride to Wright’s was long, there wasn’t another lull in conversation until Miles had parked outside of the apartment building. Wright’s hand was resting on the door handle, and he was looking out the window, but he’d made no motion to leave. Though Miles couldn’t see his face, he knew the other man was chewing at his lip, debating on what he wanted to say. He’d seen the expression enough times in court to recall it clearly in his mind’s eye.
“What is it?” The question cut through the casual air in the car, leaving thick apprehension in its wake. “We both know you’ll regret it if you don’t say anything now.”
In the silence, he heard Wright swallow. “I just…” He sighed, turning to face Miles, that intensity from earlier back in his eyes. So caught up in the fire, the lightning, Miles didn’t realize Wright had moved further until he felt Wright’s hand on top of his on the gearshift. “I just want to thank you for everything. For… for bearing my erratic behavior, for all of your help, for…” His gaze shifted away from Miles for a moment, but was back before Miles could catch a breath. “For coming back.”
Miles’ heart felt like it was in his throat, and he felt heat blossom across his cheekbones. What is this feeling? “I… Of course, Wright.”
A smile broke across Wright’s face, the fire softening to candlelight that warmed Miles’ skin as if he were basking in sunlight. “After this, no more of this ‘indebted’ business, okay? We’re allowed to do nice things for each other.”
Miles nodded, biting back a smile of his own. “Of course,” he said again, unable to think of any other words.
Wright nodded, moving his hand back to the door handle. So soon? “I should get going, now. We both need sleep, right?” He smiled again, content. “I’ll see you in court, Edgeworth.”
“Yes. See you in court, Wright.”
As Edgeworth drove back to his own apartment, he was sure that his and Wright’s relationship had changed in the past few hours. He wasn’t sure of where they stood with one another, but the thought of the change made his heart swell in his chest. Alone, he let himself smile—really smile—for what felt like the first time since his father was killed.
8 February 2019
At eight o’clock in the morning, Miles received the most terrifying phone call of his entire life.
He was just beginning to make his morning tea, preparing for a long day of filing papers, when Larry’s contact name flashed across his phone screen. Since they’d been friends, Larry had only ever called when there was an emergency.
“Edgey, there’s been an accident.”
Miles felt his blood run cold as Larry went through the details of the accident, Wright falling from a burning bridge in an attempt to reach Maya. Before he was even off the phone with Larry, he was making plans with his private pilot to transport him to the States as quickly as possible. The time difference was large enough that he probably wouldn’t miss much of visiting hours. He pushed away the voice that asked him whether or not he’d even be able to visit Wright once he got to the hospital.
The doctors said it was a miracle that none of his bones were broken. While he had no physical injuries, the hospital was keeping him until the results of several tests came back. He was in extremely poor condition, and he definitely had pneumonia, but he was going to be okay once his fever went down. The reassurance didn’t stop Miles from rushing to Wright’s room as quickly as acceptable within a hospital.
“Wright,” he greeted, crossing the threshold into Wright’s room.
“Edgeworth?” Surprise was evident in his voice.
Miles was across the room in an instant, his tone softening as he repeated the other man’s name. Hooked up to an oxygen mask, an IV, and a plethora of monitors, Wright had, honestly, never looked worse. His eyes were swollen and red around the edges, as if he’d been rubbing at them for the last several hours. His eyelashes were clumped together, and his face wash flushed. The droopy eyelids and purple bags under Wright’s eyes told Miles that he hadn’t slept much, if at all.
“Edgeworth,” Wright said again, louder this time, loud enough for Miles to hear how his voice scraped painfully against his vocal chords.
Miles winced. “Please, don’t speak if it hurts.”
“It honestly sounds a lot worse than it is.” Wright paused to cough. “Why are you here?”
“Larry informed me that you may be on the verge of death, and I happened to be in the area, so I came to see you.”
“Since when is Germany ‘in the area,’ Edgeworth?”
Miles cleared his throat. “I was not—”
“You look like you’ve already been up for half a day. I know you have.” Wright rolled his eyes. “And, be honest with me, would you not have come here earlier than now had you been on this side of the Atlantic?”
Though his tone was teasing, the look in Wright’s eyes was soft, and Miles heard himself say, “You know I would have.”
Wright turned his arm over, exposing both his IV insertions and his palm. Holding his breath, Miles took Wright’s hand in his.
“Thank you.”
Miles squeezed Wright’s hand. “Of course. I don’t know what I would have done had I lost you.”
“Oh, come on, Edgeworth!” The corner of Wright’s mouth turned upwards in a smirk. “You’re gonna have to try harder than that to get rid of me.”
“Wright, this isn’t something to joke about.”
The other man laughed, which quickly turned into a brief coughing fit. “I’m fine, Edgeworth.”
“Sure you are. What are you going to do about the case?”
“The case?”
“You’re required to stay here until tomorrow afternoon. Isn’t your client’s first appearance in court tomorrow morning?”
Wright hummed in thought before his eyes widened, displaying near terror. “Iris!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I just…” Wright’s voice was strained. “She’s someone from my past, and I… she…” He sighed, struggling to find the words he wanted to say. “I know she’s innocent, but I’m afraid she’ll hide the truth to keep others safe.”
“I see. And you have no subordinates to take over your case.”
Wright shook his head, sighing in defeat. “I don’t. They’ll assign her a public attorney, won’t they? Oh, she’ll think I’ve given up on her.”
“I highly doubt that, Wright. If she knows you in any capacity, she should know for fact that you’d never give up on anyone, especially those important to you.”
Wright looked away for a moment before meeting Miles’ eyes with the calming warmth of a hearth. “Do you always know the right things to say, or is that something special you only do for me?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Miles tried to ignore the heat he could feel on the tips of his ears.
Suddenly, the hearth was ablaze like a forest fire. “Edgeworth, do you trust me?”
“Of course, Wright.”
Wright released Miles’ hand to reach for something on his side table. After a moment of blindly patting the weathered wood, he found what he was looking for. He dropped the items into Miles’ still-extended hand. He looked down to see Wright’s defense attorney’s badge and some sort of green crystalline charm.
“Defend Iris in my place tomorrow.”
Miles balked, mouth agape. “Wright, I—I can’t! I’m a prosecutor!”
“You are,” Wright agreed. “And you’re a damn good one.”
“But I… Wright, I’ve never defended anyone before.”
“We both know that’s not true.”
Miles huffed. “I’ve never defended anyone in court.”
Wright rolled his eyes yet again. “Sure, but you know how. I trust you.”
Miles felt his eyes widen. “You trust me enough to defend someone this…close to you?”
Wright’s face softened, his eyes dimming again to homey and welcoming. “Of course I trust you, Edgeworth. I’d trust you with my life if given the circumstances.”
“You are being sentimental.”
“I am. You bring it out of me.”
Miles suddenly felt the fire in Wright’s eyes to be stifling, too much to keep the eye contact. “There’s no need for statements like that.”
“Weren’t you the one being sentimental earlier? Bringing up Christmas in 2016?”
“I never said—”
“But we both knew what you were talking about.” A silence stretched between them, the flames of the defense attorney’s stare singing Miles’ coat. “Look at me, Edgeworth.” With a shaky breath, Miles turned to face Wright again. He continued, “You have the heart to be a defense attorney. If things had been different, you’d be the best attorney in the entire world; I know you would. Two years ago, you trusted me enough to defend you in the most terrifying case of either of our lives. Of course I’d trust you with this.”
Miles straightened, nodding his head. “Fine, Wright. I will defend Iris in your place, but only until you’re out of the hospital.”
Wright laughed, a beautiful sound despite his throat. “That’s fine. You know I won’t be able to stay away from the case once they let me go.”
“Yes, I know.”
After the day’s investigations, Miles still couldn’t shake the feeling that Wright had given him at the hospital. It was the same feeling he’d gotten the previous March, but more pronounced. A year ago, it had felt as if they had dipped their toes into uncharted waters, but, now, he was sure they’d clasped hands and jumped in together. This was the start of something, a whole new level for their relationship, and Miles couldn’t help the absolute joy he felt in his heart from the idea.
The next morning, Miles handed the case back to Wright. “I leave the rest in your capable hands, partner.”
Wright’s smile was the brightest Miles had ever seen, even though it was clear that Wright was far from well. Miles couldn’t help but return a soft smile of his own. “Thank you, Edgeworth. For everything.”
Miles left the courthouse knowing that they were on the same page. Whether to call them lovers just yet, Miles wasn’t sure, but the colours seemed brighter as he returned to Hanazuka to continue the investigation.
13 March 2019
Ever since boarding the plane back to LA, Miles’ life had been a whirlwind of cases. He’d simply wanted to surprise his boyfriend with a dinner out before being sucked into the case the Chief had assigned him. Is this what coming home a day early would always have in store for him, or did he just get unlucky? He hoped he was just unlucky; the witnesses he’d dealt with so far were unbelievable.
‘Unbelievable’ might even be too kind a descriptor for Lauren Paups, the girl currently describing her relationship with Lance Amano. She was in love with him, but he didn’t know? Or, they were together but not really? Nothing she said made sense, but Miles did his best to keep his face stoic, to encourage her to keep talking. Maybe, eventually, her talking would circle into something useful.
Kay, on the other hand, seemed to have other plans. “So, which is it? Have you guys not decided if you’re going out, or is it just one-sided?”
That didn’t make any sense. “‘Decided’…? Shouldn’t the two parties involved naturally just know…?”
“Mr. Edgeworth, now that the case is over, I have a question.”
“Yes, Kay?”
“You said earlier that two people are supposed to ‘just know’ they’re going out?” Miles nodded. “Okay, but how? The two people decide together that they like each other enough to go out, so they do.”
Miles shrugged. “That is not how my current relationship was.”
“You’re in a relationship, Mr. Edgeworth?” Kay’s voice rang out in his office.
Miles shushed her, earning a sheepish grin. “Yes, but we are not public about it. Please, use your indoor voice.”
“Sorry, sorry!” She bounced on her toes. “But how did you know you were together if you didn’t talk about it?”
“Well,” Miles’ tone was matter-of-fact, “he saved me, and then I saved him. Over the past two years, we’ve made each other better people. I made my feelings known to him, and he made his known to me. We never specifically said that we were initiating a serious relationship, but, given the circumstances, it was obvious to both of us.”
Kay nodded, humming in thought. “Yeah, I guess so! It makes sense, even if it’s a funny way of thinking!”
Miles huffed. “You’ll understand the sentiment when you’re older.”
“If you say so, Mr. Edgeworth!”
8 April 2022
For about a week, Wright and Trucy had been in Germany. It was Trucy’s spring break, and Miles needed aid on an Interpol case, so Miles had invited the pair out to the Estate. Though Franziska wasn’t all that experienced with children, Trucy’s magic tricks were enough to entertain her while Miles and Wright were working. When Franziska was away, or when they needed her help as well, Trucy spent her time colouring or researching new magic tricks. Miles would never admit it to Wright, but he was genuinely surprised at her growth, given the poor state her father was in.
It deeply pained Miles to see Wright so distraught, but Interpol was in the midst of stopping crimes that rivaled the Zheng Fa Case from 2019. He couldn’t just uproot himself and leave; he could only offer Wright lavish trips to Europe under the guise of aiding with cases. While they did, in fact, work most of the time Wright visited, Miles took it upon himself to treat him to all sorts of extravagant gifts. Actually taking him out was far easier when Trucy came with Wright—that way, he could offer days out to the park or a trip for ice cream without selfishly taking Wright to himself. Even after these three long years, Miles was afraid of overstepping where he wasn’t wanted.
This trip, however, was different. Their third anniversary had just passed, and Miles had never had the opportunity to spoil him proper. Before Wright had even arrived in Europe, Miles had revealed his entire plan to Franziska, made all the necessary reservations, and ordered a bouquet of sunflowers, set to arrive the day before Wright’s departure.
Now, the day had finally come, and Miles was anxiously waiting for Wright to open his door. He had knocked once already; had Wright heard him? The night before, Miles had said that they were going out for a fancy dinner (he’d even bought Wright a new suit for the occasion). Had he asked too late? Was he busy with something else? Did he no longer want to go? Had he—
“Edgeworth, is this really necessary?” he heard Wright call from the other side of the door.
“What do you mean?”
Suddenly, the door was opened to reveal Wright, clad in his brand new, snappy, classy black English-style suit. “This! Isn’t it a little… much?”
Miles, having forgotten to breathe for a few moments, blinked several times before answering. Wright had styled his hair for the first time in months; Wright had shaved. “Yes, Wright. It was time to get you a new suit anyway.” Miles took in a deep breath; he hadn’t expected the tailor to make the suit so… fitted. He extended the flowers in lieu of saying anything else.
“Are these…for me?”
“Of course.” The statement sounded more like a question.
Wright’s face softened into a smile that reminded Miles starkly of morning time sunshine. “Thank you, Edgeworth. They’re beautiful. But… why flowers?”
Heat rose in Miles’ cheeks as he answered, “Oh, I picked them up when I was out earlier. I know you like sunflowers.”
Wright laughed. “One of the few flowers I actually bother to remember the name of!”
“Yes, that.” Miles rolled his eyes. “Shall we put them in water before we leave?”
“Oh, of course!”
Wright didn’t bother hiding how out of place he felt at the upscale restaurant Miles had chosen. Ornate décor covered the walls in tasteful, shimmering gold. At their table, covered in a black velvet tablecloth, there awaited a bottle of champagne and two beautiful crystalline flutes. Wright, chewing on his bottom lip, tried to look more at the silverware and the maroon silk napkins adorned with lace as the waiter filled their glasses. It was too much, far too much, Miles knew, but he considered this to be making up for everything he’d missed in the last three years. He owed Wright so much more than what one dinner would give, but he figured he should at least start there.
Miles ordered for the pair of them, boasting his fluent German. Though he was well aware of the time Miles had spent in Germany, Wright had never heard Miles use much of the language, and Miles reveled in the way the other man’s eyes widened at his words and his accent. Here, in Germany, Miles could be in his linguistic element and impress his lover—all at the same time.
“Miles,” Wright started the moment after their meal arrived, staring wide-eyed. “Why are you doing all this?”
“What do you mean?”
Wright gestured vaguely at their surroundings. “This. The flowers, the suit, this dinner…” He gave an exaggerated shudder. “This has to cost an astronomical amount of money, and there’s no need for it.”
“It’s a thank you.” Miles dropped his eyes from Wright to the pink roses in the middle of the table. “For, well, everything.”
Wright brushed away the statement with a wave of his hand. “Please. You know I’d change the earth’s orbit for you if you needed me to.”
Heat filled Miles like boiling water in a teacup. “I know.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
“So.” The hearth in Wright’s eyes was lit full blast, kindling the fire Miles felt in his cheeks. “You know you don’t need to do this.”
“Yes.” Miles couldn’t meet Wright’s eyes. “But I wanted to treat you all the same.”
Wright was silent for a moment, and Miles dared to glance at the other man. As the pink on his face darkened towards red, he reached for his champagne and took a long sip from the glass. “Okay. I won’t argue. Just know that you don’t have to try to impress me. I’ve been impressed for years.”
“You say that as if you aren’t impressive yourself, Wright.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t want to argue. Eat your dinner you paid so much for, why don’t you?”
The drive home was wonderful, Miles feeling as if he’d been curled up next to a fireplace all evening. The streetlights reflected more in Wright’ blue eye than his brown, giving the illusion of flickering flames. Over dinner, Wright’s eyes had softened to candlelight again, and Miles wasn’t sure he’d ever felt warmth like that of his partner. Regardless, he couldn’t help but feel nervous about arriving at home. He’d been planning this evening for months, and he could feel the nerves threatening to ruin the most important part.
Tonight, Miles was going to kiss Wright goodnight for the first time, and Miles was beyond afraid.
While they removed their shoes at the door in the darkness, Miles decided to gauge how Wright had felt about the evening. He didn’t want to catch the other man entirely off guard, after all. If he said something out of the ordinary, maybe Wright would realize that something special was going on. At least, that’s what Miles hoped.
The pair stopped at Wright’s room. “Before I leave to bed, I just wanted to thank you for obliging me this evening, Phoenix. I had a wonderful time.”
Wright balked, blinking wildly at him. “I, uh, what?”
Miles cleared his throat. Had he spoken too quietly? “I said, I had a wonderful evening. Thank you for obliging me, Phoenix.”
Wright took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Okay, I did hear you right.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You called me ‘Phoenix.’”
Miles could barely swallow around the lump that formed in his throat. “Is that not alright?”
Wright put his hands up in a defensive position. “No! I, no, it’s absolutely fine. I just didn’t expect it is all.”
“Oh. I apologize.”
“No! Please don’t apologize.” Wright—Phoenix—shook his head as if unscrambling his thoughts. “It really is okay. You just haven’t called me that since we were children.”
“I understand.” This is it. “I just felt as if our relationship had become comfortable enough for given names again.”
At this, Phoenix smiled brightly, the fire in his eyes giving way to shimmering sunshine, blinding Miles for a moment. “Oh! In that case, I also had a wonderful evening, Miles. Thank you for taking me out on such a lovely outing.”
Every vein in Miles’ body felt as if it had been set on fire. For nearly twenty years, he hadn’t heard his name spoken with such happiness, such love. Had he not been so nervous, he would have grabbed Phoenix by the lapels right then and kiss him with all his might, but anxiety crashed over him like a wave. Phoenix was ready for first names, but was he ready for physical touch?
Miles took a deep breath. Now or never. “Will you close your eyes for a moment, Phoenix?”
The other man shuddered at the sound of his own name, face flushing. “Do you have another surprise for me, Edge—Miles?”
“Something like that.”
Phoenix shrugged, his eyes shuttering closed. With the utmost care, as if Phoenix were made of the thinnest sheet of glass, Miles rested the palm of his hand against Phoenix’s jaw. He felt the other man tense; he didn’t move until he felt the muscles in Phoenix’s face relax again. Exhaling slowly, he steadied himself, closing most of the distance between their faces. Phoenix’s breath ghosted across Miles’ lips; that alone would have been intoxicating enough, but Miles had come too far to back away now.
Phoenix’s lips didn’t feel like fire, like Miles thought they would have. Instead, kissing Phoenix felt like wrapping himself in a Sherpa and sipping afternoon tea and smelling roses and jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool—all at once. Warm and comfortable, yet uncharted and mesmerizing. Though the kiss was chaste, only lasting for a moment, Miles felt as if an eternity had passed between them—an eternity that he could relive over and over again.
Phoenix’s eyes opened in slow motion, staying half-lidded as he asked, “Miles?”
“Hm?” He rubbed his thumb across Phoenix’s cheek, still wrapped in bliss.
“Why did you kiss me just now?” The candlelight in Phoenix’s eyes was the only light in the entire room, and Miles had never understood moths better than in that moment.
“I thought it would be the perfect way to end our date, of course.”
Phoenix’s eyes widened fully then, even wider than their usual. “Our… our date?”
“Yes.” Miles’ tone was matter-of-fact. “That’s what you call it when you take your partner for an outing, is it not?”
Phoenix shook his head, backing away from Miles. “Okay, hold on. Your partner?”
Miles’ mouth suddenly felt like it was filled with sand; had he said something wrong? “Would you rather me call you my lover? I could call you my boyfriend, but that feels a little childish.”
“Wait, wait a second.” Phoenix rested a hand on the wall to support himself. “According to you, are we in a committed relationship?”
“Of course.” Miles felt his face contort into confusion. “Are we not to you?”
“Um, well…” Phoenix’s eyes fell to the floor. “I’m just having trouble remembering the conversation during which we decided we were dating.”
“Oh, we’ve never explicitly stated the fact; it was very obvious how we felt about each other, so it seemed natural to begin a serious relationship.”
“Obvious?” When Miles nodded, Phoenix rose his left eyebrow, still unsure. “Okay… If that’s true, how long have we been dating?”
“A little over three years.”
“Three years?” Phoenix coughed, choking on the breath he took too quickly. “What happened three years ago that made you sure that we were together?”
“That’s simple, Phoenix,” Miles began, his voice taking on a wistful tone. “Back in March of 2018, if you recall, we worked together on a case for the first time. The prosecution and the defense, working together to put a man behind bars who deserved to stay there forever. And, in so doing, we were able to save Maya’s life and Franziska’s career. It is a week I will not soon forget.”
“Okay, but that was four years ago.”
“Yes, well.” Miles looked down, unable to maintain eye contact. “We had…very emotionally charged conversations that weekend, if you recall.” A quick glance back up told Miles that the fires of nostalgia had been lit in Phoenix’s eyes. “I knew that something was…different, after that, but I wasn’t sure what exactly it was. Then, the incident at Hazakura Temple occurred.”
Phoenix flushed at the memory. “That sure was a wild few days.”
Miles nodded. “During that case, you trusted me to defend a woman you had been in love with for a significant portion of your life.”
“I didn’t know it’d been her then, though!”
“You had a feeling. I could tell that the pair of you were…drawn to each other.” The taste of the phrase was bitter in Miles’ mouth. He had nothing against Iris, but jealousy was a flaw he’d combatted with since meeting her.
“I guess so.” Phoenix shrugged. “Yeah, I trusted you. I knew you could do it. And I was right.”
Miles shook his head. “You wouldn’t trust just anyone with that, Phoenix. I took your gesture as you returning my feelings.”
“Returning them?”
“Yes, returning. When I came to visit you in the hospital, I made my feelings for you obvious. In return, you made yours obvious to me as well. You even reacted positively when I referred to you as my partner.”
“You never said that.”
“I left the case in your hands, partner.”
The flames in Phoenix’s eyes were ablaze with embarrassment as his face burned bright red. “That’s what you meant when you said partner?”
Miles blinked at him. “What else would I have meant?”
“I don’t know… Legal partner? Partner on the case? In the courtroom? Edgeworth—Miles—I, I really don’t know.”
“Legal partner?” Miles scoffed. “What a ridiculous phrase.”
Phoenix gestured wildly, arms flailing. “Look, I’m sorry; I just had gotten used to finding platonic explanations for the things you did, so it didn’t occur to me that you could have changed your mind!”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that’s what I always did, growing up.” Phoenix shrugged. “None of the people I was around were gay, so I just kept any feelings I had to myself. I made up reasons why the things that felt gay, weren’t, and then I’d go about my business, forgetting I had feelings for my friends. It worked for the most part, and I got over most of the silly crushes I had in high school and college.”
“Crushes?”
“Yeah, I mean. There were a few people, both boys and girls, I was into in high school, but I never really did anything about the feelings I had. The only serious relationship I had at Ivy was Dahlia—or, Iris, I guess—and then pretty much straight out of college, I fell in love with you, so—wait, nope, I did not just say that.”
Miles felt heat that rivaled Phoenix’s fire bloom across his face. “Oh.”
“Oh?”
“I didn’t expect you to say that; I’m sorry.”
“No, I mean, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to babble like that.”
“No, Phoenix, I’d already decided that I wanted to say it first. I figured that first names and first kisses was a lofty starting point, so I was going to wait until the summer to tell you that I love you.”
Emotions flickered across Phoenix’s face like lights of a flame: confusion, realization, elation. “You do?”
“Of course, Phoenix.” Miles looked back at the ground. “I have for a while.”
“Oh, Edgeworth, oh, Miles, I really, truly think I’m going to die.”
Miles started to answer, but he was met with Phoenix’s lips instead. The kiss was soft, but far surer than their first, as Phoenix led this time. All at once, Miles was drowning in the deepest ocean and soaring above the clouds and lying in the softest patch of grass he’d ever felt in his life. Phoenix’s spikes were softer than he’d imagined it would be as he carded his fingers through his hair. As Phoenix wrapped his arms around his waist, Miles realized that Phoenix was far stronger than he’d realized; if he wanted to, the other man could absolutely lift him off the ground and sling him over his shoulder. The tenderness of Phoenix’s hands against Miles’ back, however, made him feel like he was nothing but safe in his arms.
When they broke, Phoenix spoke again, close enough for Miles to feel his breath on his lips and for that heterochromatic fire to consume his vision. “I love you. I love you so much, I’ve loved you for nearly six years, I loved you when we were kids.” They kissed again, briefly. “This is the best day of my life. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He sighed. “But. I think I need to lie down. My heart rate has been going a mile a minute for the last ten. I truly think I’m going to pass out.”
Miles felt his eyes widen. “Do you need anything? Water, ice, medication?”
Phoenix laughed, shaking his head, grabbing Miles’ face in his hands and kissing him again. “No. But I will need a doctor if I wake up in the morning and find out this was all a dream.”
Miles woke up the next morning feeling giddy and refreshed. At the memory of his date with Phoenix the night before, he flushed, hiding his face in his pillow. Of all the ways that night could have gone, the outcome he got was surely the best.
***
14 February 2028
Even after Phoenix regained his attorney’s badge, the pair decided to keep their relationship a secret. The press over their scandalous relationship was something neither man was interested in. Plus, Trucy’s high school career would run far more smoothly without the public knowing she called the Chief Prosecutor “Papa”. Once Blackquill was cleared of his charges, however, Miles decided that their status as a couple had spent long enough in the shadows—or so it appeared.
Phoenix entered his office on a chilly Monday morning to find his subordinates gushing about a delivery that had come just before he’d arrived. “Hey, kids. What’s going on?”
Athena spun on her heel, holding up a bouquet of gorgeous sunflowers, arranged in a sapphire blue vase. “Got some explaining you’d like to do, Mr. Wright?”
He raised his eyebrow in innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Apollo grabbed the card from between the sunflowers and read, “My dearest Phoenix, I know we already celebrated Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t resist leaving you a surprise at work as well. Thank you again, for everything. Signed, Miles. Sir, if I’m not mistaken, this is a love note.”
“That it is.” Phoenix coughed. Thanks, Miles. A little warning would have been nice.
“So you and Mr. Edgeworth are…together?”
Phoenix nodded. “That we are.”
“Finally! This has been ridiculous!” Apollo threw the card at Phoenix.
“What are you talking about?”
Athena threw her hands up in the air. “You two are obviously in love with each other! It’s been so hard to watch your mutual pining for each other. I’ve wanted to scream at you both since the first time I saw you interact with each other!”
Phoenix couldn’t help but laugh. He felt tears prick in his eyes as he clutched his stomach. Groaning, Apollo asked, “What’s so funny, Mr. Wright?”
“We’ve been in a serious relationship since 2019. Just before Valentine’s Day, we celebrated our nine-year anniversary.”
“You what?”