Chapter Text
Hold Me Too Tight
“You ready?” Maya asked gently
“No.”
“That's ok, we have time.”
Edgeworth nodded, trying to steady his breathing, desperate not to hyperventilate as he stared at the metal box he was about to get into. His fear of elevators was irrational, it wasn't even something reasonable he could pass of as claustrophobia, it was a full on gut-wrenching fear of elevators and elevators alone. Every time he even thought of one he went right back to being that scared young boy in the elevator hearing the shot that killed his father, his ragged last breath in the air as he prayed that death would take him too and release him from that hell. He hadn't been in one in over 20 years and was physically trembling at the prospect of doing so; dam his insanely talented boyfriend! Phoenix, his partner of over 3 years was playing piano at a very swanky bar in the fancy part of the city. The defence attorney had been playing on a semi-professional basis for the last year or so, mostly small gigs and playing for local bands and singers. Phoenix had played the same gig as an old college friend who had made a name for herself as a relatively successful jazz singer and she’d invited him to play a set with her. Dedicated and determined, Phoenix had been working on the set for weeks and if it went well, could open a lot of doors for him. Phoenix had mentioned causally that he would like to get back into music, ultimately full time, not any time soon but anyone who knew him understood he would be restless with the grind of law after another decade or so. Eventually Phoenix wanted to move to the suburbs, play the piano and raise some kids. Whilst Edgeworth agreed they couldn't live in the city forever and would happily support a career change, he hadn't quite settled on the he idea of kids. Although as Pearl and Maya basically lived with them his mind was gradually swaying as the girls were like his family, as dear Maya was proving at that very second. Regardless of their future, right now Phoenix’s very important gig was about to start and unfortunately was about to start at the top of a very swanky hotel. Whilst there were stairs they were strictly for emergencies only and neither Maya nor Edgeworth thought they had the stamina to climb them anyway!
“You sure we're not holding anyone up?” Edgeworth asked nervously.
“No,” Maya replied calmly, “I've cleared it with the manger, this left hand elevator is just for our use for a while so take your time.” Her voice was soothing and she felt horribly out of place trying to calm Edgeworth who was the most collected person in her life. She had basically been raised by Phoenix and when Edgeworth came into the picture in a vey weird way it was like her and Pearl had a family again. Phoenix was amazing but it was Edgeworth’s advice she would ask, the two men just worked together, she sometimes wonder how they coped without each other! It may be unconventional but it was her family, and she would do anything for them, even get Miles in that elevator. Although she tried not to show it, it was unnerving seeing him so upset and she was doing her best to keep it together, despite not really knowing how to help him through this difficult situation. Edgeworth never got worked up and he certainly never shared his fears and Maya really had no clue how to help, but she would try.
“Ok let's go.” Edgeworth’s voice was a tremble.
The elevator door opened and Edgeworth took a deep breath, finally ready to go in and face his fears. As he stepped forward, his heart hammered and the world started to spin as terror consumed him and all be could do was watch as the doors closed again with a mocking ping.
“Sorry,” he muttered, flushing with shame. He was eternally thankful Maya had managed to get the elevator to themselves for a while she really was an angel.
“It's fine Miles don't worry,” she said gently patting his arm reassuringly.
“You sure we have this to ourselves?” he asked for the thousandth time.
“Yep, you can do pretty much anything with this.”
She flashed a badge at Edgeworth who was shocked to see it was a police badge, something she was not authorised to have let alone show people!
“Maya how have you got that?” He asked incredulously.
“Gumshoe leant it to me,” she replied coolly as if it was the most normal thing in the world to carry a police badge illegally.
“You could be arrested!” He hissed.
“Yes but I live with a defence attorney and state prosecutor I think I will be fine.”
“Good point.” he tried to smile but couldn't quite mange it. He eyed the elevator, his heart hammering, desperately trying to pluck up the courage to get in.
“Tell me about that Gladstone case.” Maya’s voice was quiet, almost hypnotic as she asked abut the high profiled case he had just prosecuted and won.
“What so you want to know?”
“Talk me through it from the start.”
Bemused, Edgeworth did as she asked, no idea why she was suddenly so interested in the case. However when the elevator door opened, he clocked on to her plan, which was actually quite cunning even if he did see straight through it. Very slowly she walked towards the door and held out her hand, calmly gesturing him to follow as he stopped mid sentence.
“What happened when you found the monocle? She asked encouragingly, picking up from where Edgeworth left up, her heart hammering as her plan was either going to work or backfire spectacularly.
“I-I found, erm I found,” Edgeworth stammered as Maya slowly got into the metal box he so feared, feeling sicker by the second unable to focus on anything but the overwhelming terror.
“Miles, who found the monocle?” she tried again, cringing as Edgeworth’s face drained of what little colour it had as his hands visibly trembled.
“Gumshoe.” He stammered.
“So what happens then? Carry on talking to me Miles.”
Maya was in the elevator, not far from the door and she held out her hand looking into his eyes encouragingly. Like a small child, he snatched out for her hand and let her pull him in gently but firmly. Although he tried to carry on talking, no words came out as he entered the elevator.
“It's going to move,” Maya whispered, “it will only take a second, keep onto my hand, it will be ok.”
The elevator shook as it registered its destination and Edgeworth whimpered and half collapsed and was half pulled into Maya's arms. Firmly wrapping her arms around him, Maya let him bury his head into her shoulder, shaking uncontrollably as tears spilled out of his eyes. Maya had given up trying to get him to talk, trying to keep him conscious was enough of a challenge and the only thing she could to was whisper encouraging words as she stroked his hair softly.
“We're nearly there, you're doing great, keep breathing, you're doing so well, just a few more seconds. “
The ride was less than a minute but felt like an eternity and when the doors finally opened Maya felt like crying with relief. A charming butler greeted them at the entrance but before he could say anything, Edgeworth bolted to the left, following the signs to the restroom. Maya sighed and wiped her eyes, knowing he was either going to throw up or have a panic attack, she just prayed he would stay on his feet.
“Sir could you do me a favour please? “She asked the butler sweetly, “my friend is not so well, he struggles with small spaces. Please could you check on him in the restroom in a few minutes, make sure he's ok?”
“Of course madam,” the butler said kindly having seen far worse than a case of claustrophobia, “please, let me show you to the bar then I will check on your friend.”
Edgeworth barely made it into a restroom stall before dropping to his knees and throwing up, as he retched for what seemed like the hundredth time he gingerly pulled himself up to sit on the lid. Desperate to steady his breathing, he could feel a panic attack coming on. Tears were still streaming down his face and he was shaking uncontrollably and wondered if he was going to pass out, he felt so lightheaded he wouldn't be surprised. Despite feeling like he was about to die, he focused on Phoenix and Maya in an attempt to calm down. The latter had worked so hard to actually get him up here, he couldn't pass out on her and poor Phoenix would screw up his gig if he caught wind of his lover in trouble.
“Mr Edgeworth sir, are you ok?”
The voice snapped him out of his self-pity and although he didn't recognise it, he but presumed it was a staff member that Maya had tipped off. Of course he wasn't all right but at least he had an incentive to leave the stall, which he would probably have stayed in all night otherwise. Taking a steadying breath, Edgeworth stumbled out the stall and was grateful when a pair of hands steadied him, directing him to the basin.
“Thanks,” he replied weakly doing his best to stand, “did Maya send you?”
“She's a good friend to you, Sir,” the butler replied. He handed Edgeworth a cold washcloth, who dabbed his face gratefully, almost drowning himself in cold water from the tap the butler had knowingly turned on.
“Here you go Sir,” without another word the butler handed him a small towel, comb and glass of water, nodded kindly and left the bathroom. Although he felt like death and was still shaking like a leaf, Edgeworth slowly cleaned himself up and staggered to the bar giving a friendly nod to the kindly butler on his way.
“Here,” Maya said quietly, handing him a shot and glass of water.
“Thanks,” without hesitating he shot the liquid down, which tasted like an expensive vodka and sipped the water gratefully. He was eternally thankful that Maya was so calm and supportive, she could have mocked him, even in a friendly way or made him get in the elevator whether he was ready or not. But she didn't, she had done nothing but support him and gone out of her way to make the traumatic experience easier and he realized it must have been unnerving for her to see him like that.
“He's amazing isn't he,” she breathed, gesturing at Phoenix who was playing beautifully, completely at one with the music.
“He is and Maya,” he placed his hand on hers softly, “so are you. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” She squeezed his hand back as they drifted into comfortable silence as they turned their attention to Phoenix.
The song finished and they clapped loudly, smiling when Phoenix spotted them and waved a little, trying to remain professional. However they both knew him well enough to know he had clearly welled up at the sight of Maya and Edgeworth watching, especially given their location in the rooftop bar.
The singer went to the microphone and said in a sultry tone, “ladies and gentleman, please welcome my good friend and very talented piano player, Mr Phoenix Wright.”
“Thank you and please give it up for the wonderful Betty May who so kindly invited me here tonight,” Phoenix said softly. The applause died down as the friends exchanged a hug and Phoenix took the microphone again and said, “thank you ladies and gentleman. If I may, I'd like to dedicate our next number to two very special people whose presence not just here tonight but in my life means more than words can express.”
Maya and Edgeworth smiled and took a sip of their drink, both a little overwhelmed, both a little shaky but as Phoenix played the most beautiful song that brought them both to tears, none of that seemed to matter.