Work Text:
The sky was unnaturally dark, the distant sound of thunder rumbling as gray looming clouds began to roll in. Phoenix couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but oppression seemed to arrive with those clouds. Better not linger around for too long, I might get drenched.
With that motivation, he found his way to his bike and made his way out of there, hoping he could beat the storm, but feeling with every passing moment he wasn’t going to get that lucky. Edgeworth lives closer… he wouldn’t mind me dropping in to get out of the rain, right? He considers his options quietly, the rolling thunder only becoming louder. Oh boy… this is gonna be a downpour.
With the decision all but already made in his mind, he peels off in the direction of Edgeworth’s place, fancying his chances of not drowning at the hopefully wise decision. There’s a crack of lightning in the distance that nearly causes Phoenix to skid off track. “Damn…” He mutters as the soft sound of rain hitting the pavement begins taking over his eardrums. Of course it had started raining before he’d gotten indoors. Oh come on…
Of course the rain couldn’t begin gently, as one might hope. Oh no, it came down in an absolute maelstrom of fury and might, pelting Phoenix with a ferocity that could only be reserved for mother nature and her cruel displays of superiority.
With his destination within sight, he pushed himself the rest of the way, wet spikes falling into his face, making him shake them away to clear his vision. I really hope you’re home, Edgeworth. Pulling his bike aside and locking it up as best as he can, he runs for the building, ducking inside only to shake himself off again.
Attempting to at least partially put himself together as he heads up to Edgeworth’s door, he realizes that really there’s no fixing his current state. His suit and hair were drenched, making him appear more like that of a drowned rat than that of a defense attorney. I really do know how to make a good impression, huh? He sighs to himself.
Stopping just short of Edgeworth’s door, he takes a deep breath before knocking, tucking both hands behind his back momentarily before coming to let them rest at his sides. He listens intently for any noise, but hears nothing. Edgeworth always did have a light step, but that also left him worried that he may not even be home.
What would he do then? Just brave the rain and go back to his own apartment, he supposed. Even if that sounded utterly dreadful…. And very wet. It’s only when he’s really starting to think that might be his only choice that he hears the deadbolt unlock and the door swings open.
“Wright… I would ask, to what I owe this pleasure but judging by your current state, I think I might not need the answer.”
Phoenix lowered his head. A hand rubbing at the damp messy spikes. “Sorry for showing up unannounced… You lived closer and that rain was just…” He shivers. “It was a lot.”
“So I can see. Your suit is going to be wrinkled.” Edgeworth notes, backing away from the door to let the man in. “Best to get you dried off. I’d rather not have you getting sick from a bit of rain.”
Phoenix sighs in relief, stepping inside, immediately removing his soggy shoes, leaving them by the door. “Thanks, Edgeworth… As I said, I didn’t want to intrude or anything.” I also didn’t wanna drown on my way home either. He smiles apologetically, seeing Edgeworth fold his arms across his chest in response.
If Phoenix didn’t know Miles better than almost anyone else, he might have assumed the man to be annoyed or irked. But his eyes lacked that anger. Walking over to him, Miles begins gently pulling at the suit jacket, tugging it off of Phoenix. “You need dry clothes. I’m sure I have something that would fit you.” It seemed he was talking more to himself.
He can’t help but smile fondly at the gray haired man. To see how deeply he cared despite the nonchalant and indifferent attitude he so often displayed. “I’ll owe you one for all of this.”
“Nonsense.” Edgeworth combats, draping the soaked blue suit jacket over his arm before turning and disappearing into his room.
Phoenix laughs softly. Always gotta have the last word, don’t you? He thinks as he untucks his white shirt and begins to unbutton it. Wet clothes always felt so uncomfortable. Cold and sticking to the skin, making peeling it off that much more of an unpleasant chore.
The sound of drawers opening and shutting came from Edgeworth’s room, a quiet murmuring accompanying the noise. After a few more soft thuds he finally reappears, minus Phoenix’s suit jacket, with a pair of sweatpants and a simple black shirt in his hand.
“Never would have taken you as the kinda guy to have sweats, Edgeworth.” Phoenix teases. “I figured you always just wore dress suits and that cravat. I’m almost amazed you don’t wear them to bed.”
Edgeworth scoffs. “I may not get to stay at home often, but I do need clothes for when I do.” He pushes the articles of clothing into Phoenix’s arms, taking a moment to admire the bit of chest that happened to be poking out from where Phoenix had begun to unbutton the shirt. “Now, go get changed.”
“Yessir.” Phoenix does his best to salute, disappearing into the bathroom to peel off any remaining layers of wet clothing he had left. Pulling the warm sweats on, he’s grateful to find they actually fit him pretty well, then picking up the shirt, gently working the fabric between his fingers. Edgeworth’s scent permeated the fabric, it was nearly intoxicating. He lifts the shirt to his face, inhaling the scent. Pleasant, and very much Edgeworth.
Realizing Edgeworth was probably out waiting for him, he throws the shirt on and smooths it out. Gathering the heap of wet clothes from where he’d tossed them to the floor, he heads back out, only to realize Edgeworth wasn’t anywhere in sight.
He couldn’t push past an involuntary shiver, despite his wardrobe change. It was still raining outside, a rather heavy rain no less. The sound beating mercilessly against the windows. It sounded like he might be there for a little while. Just as it also sounded like he was very lucky to be out of it.
“Where do you want me to put these?” Phoenix calls out, as Edgeworth had disappeared to another room.
“One moment.” He hears from the kitchen. “You know your suit jacket may need dry cleaning to work out those wrinkles.” He continues.
Since when have I ever used dry cleaning? Phoenix thought. Just when he’s starting to wonder if Edgeworth had been lost to the void, he reappears with a teacup in one hand, a coffee mug in the other. He sits them both on the coffee table before motioning at the sofa with his head. “Sit down, are you averse to having your clothes dried?”
“No, I think I’d prefer it if they were.” A toothy grin follows as Edgeworth takes the heap out of his hands, whisking them down out of sight, the only indicator of what he’s doing being the sound of a dryer starting.
“Sit, warm up.” Miles urges again, this time a bit more curt as he comes back down the hallway. “You have goosebumps.”
“Huh?” Phoenix glances down at his arm, his smile turning to that of embarrassment. “Oh yeah, I guess I do, huh?” This time he listens to the request, mostly only because Edgeworth was following him.
“Thanks again for all this, Edgeworth…” Phoenix says, seeming determined to thank Edgeworth enough times that it might cover any hypothetical times in the future he was likely to need Edgeworth’s help. “It’s really coming down out there, isn’t it?” He glances to the window, the only thing he could even see was the gray blackness of the sky and streaks of rain that slid down the windowpane.
“It certainly seems so.” Miles agrees, pushing the coffee mug closer to Phoenix’s reach. “That should help warm you up a little.” He offers.
It was almost silly just how much such a simple act of affection made his heart flutter. Edgeworth wasn’t a man who was painfully outward with his feelings, so to see those pieces of him that showed he did care underneath everything… it gave him butterflies.
Leaning over, Phoenix presses a kiss to Edgeworth’s lips, garnering him a surprised hum. Funny how Miles still seemed to be occasionally caught off guard by those. “What would I do without you?” Phoenix laments, fondly.
“Get pneumonia most likely.” Miles says seriously, only for facade to drop mere moments later, the smallest ghost of a smile pulling at his lips.
“Alright, alright.” He waves the words off, unable to actually deny them, picking up the mug and holding it between his hands. It felt pleasantly warm, unlike the rest of him. “You know I hate when I can’t disagree with you. It makes you get that… look. ”
“It doesn’t make me get any look .” Miles disagrees. “Have you ever seen your face when you start to bluff, Wright?”
Phoenix laughs. “No, but I’ve heard a lot about it from a certain someone.” Miles was always so quick to point out his pension for bluffing. Not that he was wrong, of course. But he could tell it had been something that had irked Edgeworth in the past. “I can’t just let you go winning that easy, Edgeworth. You know that.”
Phoenix takes a drink, feeling the warmth travel down his body, warming his cold bones. That alone made him feel quite a bit better than he’d felt mere moments before. Phoenix mutters, sitting the mug back on the table.
This causes Miles to hum thoughtfully. “Of course not.” Lifting a hand to Phoenix’s cheek, he turns the man’s face toward him, pressing a long, lingering kiss to his lips that immediately made Phoenix melt. All of his feigned complaints disappearing with the warmth of lips on his own.
“ Objection …. Prosecution is distracting the defense.” Phoenix says softly against the other’s lips.
“Overruled.” Came the response as Miles gently pushes Phoenix onto his back.
Pulling Miles down onto him, he leans up into his kiss, fingers tangling in gray hair as he takes the man’s scent in. Things like this still almost didn’t feel real to him, as if he were just stuck in some pleasant dream he’d eventually wake up from.
To want someone so desperately, to yearn for any semblance of friendship or closeness... He’d given up quite a few things in his life in pursuit of the elusive Miles Edgeworth, and now, more than ever, it felt truly worthwhile.
There was no rushing, no haste in their kiss. Both of them simply melting into one another. Phoenix could never have imagined just how gently Edgeworth could touch him, how warm his fingertips could feel against his face and neck.
Do you have any idea what you do to me, Miles? Would you stop if you Did know? He quietly ponders, fingers unhooking from gray hair to slide down the man’s back and underneath his shirt.
A soft rumbling and small shiver comes from Miles in response. “Your hands are freezing. ” He murmurs against the other’s lips, but makes no attempt to move away.
“Sorry.” Phoenix says, making no effort to remove them, instead beginning to trace small shapes into Miles’ back. “You’re nice and warm…” He hums pleasantly, burrowing his face into the crook of Edgeworth’s neck, wet hair be damned.
“You’re an absolute menace.” Miles sighs, fingers running through damp spikes, shivering at every small movement of fingers and palms against his back. Despite the cold however, his touch was pleasant, as it always was really. Gentle and lingering, enough to put Miles to sleep if said touch wasn’t also frigid.
Phoenix smiles at the comment, listening absently to the rain and rolling thunder outside. A pleasant backdrop despite how malicious it had seemed when he was trying to get away from it. Though it did give him the excuse to go directly to Miles as opposed to heading home like he’d intended. So maybe all in all, this unforeseen storm had been a blessing in disguise.
A comfortable silence overtakes them, only the soft sounds of their breathing and the continuing storm outside their auditory company. Miles liked it, the ease at which they could simply enjoy one another’s company. To not desperately cling on to any form of conversation in fear of the other losing interest.
That silence also affords Edgeworth time to think on what he’s planning to say next. “I think it might be beneficial of me to give you a spare key.” Miles says after having mulled it over in his mind, twirling a few locks of black hair between his fingertips. “In case you are nearly wiped away by another unforeseen storm.”
Edgeworth was so calm about his offer, yet it made Phoenix’s heart thud hard against his chest. Something like that wasn’t done on bad faith, and he knew it. “I--- you’re offering me a key?” Phoenix asked, sounding equally as shocked as he felt.
“If you’d like it, yes.” Miles lifts his gaze, watching at Phoenix with interest. “I might not be home the next time you encounter trouble. And I know how prone to trouble you are, Wright.”
Phoenix meanwhile, had lost his words, grasping for them in an attempt to not seem as thrown off as he was. “I--- yeah, sounds good.” We both know that’s not your only reason, Edgeworth. He thinks dubiously. He knew Miles, and knew his ways of skirting past what he really wanted to say.
Miles nods, arching his back into Phoenix’s finally warming hands. “Consider it done.” His calm tone felt nearly maddening if it weren’t so reassuring to Phoenix.
Just like that? Phoenix wonders, hoping Miles wasn’t able to feel just how quickly his heart was beating. If he did, he didn’t seem keen on bringing it up. “I… thank you, Edgeworth.”
“You really have to stop thanking me. You’re at risk of sounding like a broken record.” A small smile pulls at Edgeworth’s lips however, quite the contradiction from his words, Phoenix notes.
“You’ve just… done a lot for me today.” More than I ever would have expected, honestly.. “I’m… well I’m grateful.”
“You act as if I would have just left you outside to get drenched.”
To be fair, a few years ago you probably Would have. Phoenix thinks. “I know, I know, ye of little faith and all that…” He sighs, admittedly feeling a bit foolish for being worried so terribly about intruding despite their spending a lot of time in one another’s company.
But he and Edgeworth hadn’t really put a title on what they were, at least not yet. Phoenix spent more time with Miles than he did alone these days, any free moment they both had to spare was often with each other. He knew what he himself considered them, but Edgeworth… he was, as usual, tougher to figure out.
Burying his face into Miles’ hair, Phoenix sighs softly. He always picked the worst times to get curious. To be left yearning for an answer to a question he still held a certain fear as to the answer. “Hey, Edgeworth?”
“Yes, Wright?”
“I know this might be a stupid question… but I’ve gotta ask it. What… what do you consider us?”
Edgeworth goes momentarily rigid, but relaxes again almost immediately, making Phoenix wonder if he’d only imagined how tense Miles became for that brief moment. “I feel as if we’ve had this conversation once before.” Edgeworth finally says carefully.
"Yeah, kind of. But that was a while ago...” And you were vague back when I first asked too. Phoenix thought, exasperated. “You know I care about you, Miles. And I don’t want anything you don’t want…” At least I hope I don’t...
Miles went silent, seeming lost in his own thoughts. Despite having so much to reassure him, Phoenix couldn’t help but feel anxious. “You know I’m not good at placing words on things like… this, Wright.” Edgeworth concedes after a longer silence than Phoenix would have liked.
He did know that, which was exactly why he waited this long to bring it up again. He presses a kiss into the man’s hair, not seeming deterred, despite how careful Miles was with his words and how genuinely it worried him deep down. “Do you want me to stay?”
“Of course I do.” There is no hesitation in this admission, Phoenix smiling at just how quickly he’d reacted. “We----” Miles falters, brows furrowing as he grips the shirt Phoenix wore with his free hand. “We missed out on far more years than I’d like to think about. I’m not keen on losing any more.”
That was all Phoenix had needed, every word hitting him at his core, making what little doubt he’d still held on to absolutely melt away. “Me either.” If it were at all possible to pull Miles closer to him, he would have. But he could lift the man’s head to capture his lips in a kiss. I don’t think you realize just how deep this goes for me, Miles. Just how much you mean to me.
Miles seemed to finally fully relax, melting into the kiss entirely, tangling legs around Phoenix’s as he leans into the affection. “You are quite the interesting man, Phoenix Wright.”
“Am I?” Phoenix responds between more gentle pecks to the man’s lips, a smile playing at his lips all the while. “That’s what you like about me, right?” He teases, a large toothy grin tugging at his lips.
“ Is that what I like about you?” Miles returns, gently brushing his nose against Phoenix’s. “Or am I simply astounded by your exhausting persistence?”
Another peck against his lips. “You know you love that about me. I do live to keep the Miles Edgeworth on his toes.” He could hear Miles laugh softly at the comment, such a warm and genuine sound. Phoenix wished he could hear it more often, commit it to memory.
“Sometimes you talk a bit too much for my liking.” Miles mutters, closing the miniscule distance between their lips once more.
Phoenix liked when Miles kissed him, to know that closeness wasn’t just something that he alone craved. He hummed softly into Edgeworth’s mouth, fingers pressing more firmly against the bare skin of the man’s back. Hands aren’t so cold anymore, are they Edgeworth? He mused.
They were completely tangled in one another, fingers grasping at whatever could be reached, Miles’ hands firmly against Wright’s shoulders, thumbs stroking absently at his collarbone. Meanwhile Phoenix’s hands still remained fully buried under Miles’ shirt, though travelling higher up along his shoulder blades
“I love you, Miles… You know that, right?” Phoenix breathed only just above a whisper, his gaze unusually serious as he pulled far enough away to meet Edgeworth’s stare.
Miles’ breath hitches loudly, Phoenix feeling the man’s chest tighten as the breath was roughly sucked in.” Wright.” Edgeworth says, not even realizing he’d said it. “ You are trying to kill me.” Edgeworth finally forces out, his own heart thundering almost as loudly as the actual thunder outside.
“You know I’m not trying to do anything like that.” Phoenix disagrees, His voice oddly calm, despite his earlier admission. Even if internally he feared he had said far too much far too soon.
The expression that came to Edgeworth’s face was difficult to discern. A desperate look in his eyes that said that, if he were able, he would have escaped the reality of Wright’s words. Or at the very least deny them, just as he’d denied so many other feelings he’d felt in his life up to this point.
“Miles…” Phoenix says the name so sweetly that it brings Edgeworth out of his deep thought. “You don’t have to say it back or anything. I just… wanted you to know that I’m not going anywhere. Not if you’ll have me, I mean.” Such an earnest look in his eyes, one that even Edgeworth couldn’t ignore the sincerity of.
He believed Phoenix, he had no reason not to. And it terrified him. He’d never allowed someone to care for him so deeply, nor had he ever allowed himself to feel so strongly for another. “Wright, I---”
“It’s okay, Miles.” Phoenix reassures again, feeling a bit guilty for bringing it up to begin with, even if it was true. Finally sliding his hands out from beneath Edgeworth’s shirt, he moves to place them on either side of the man’s face, thumbs gently tracing along his cheeks.
“I mean it. I’ve known how I felt for you for… a long time.” He felt like he was digging his hole deeper, but if he’d already said this much, he might as well just come clean. “It’s embarrassing, honestly.”
Miles focused on Wright’s voice, how gentle and calm it was. To hear him admitting all these things out loud. For him to be saying what had to be a long kept secret, it put a lot of his own feelings into perspective. Feelings he’d done his best to push down over the course of most of his life.
Every attempt Phoenix had made to reach out, every call he’d made that Edgeworth had ignored, they’d all been an act of love. So much of what Phoenix had done for and because of him had been out of love for him. It had all been put into perspective in a way he’d not even fully considered before. Yet it was the only conclusion that made sense now.
“You have ways of tearing me apart I had never realized were possible.” Miles says, moving a hand to rest against Wright’s. “I’ve never met a man who was so thoroughly and effortlessly capable of making me rethink so many of the ideals I took as unshakable.”
Phoenix listened, feeling a smile pull at his lips. “Must be that persistence of mine that you’re always talking about.”
“I’ve no doubt that’s exactly what it is.” Miles responds curtly, before his expression seems to soften. “You force me to think about things I’ve done my best to push away. You’re troublesome in a way that I can’t even fully understand.”
Leaning his head up, he gently presses his forehead to Edgeworth’s, But this time he doesn’t interrupt, letting the man continue.
Miles gently squeezes Phoenix’s hand, closing his eyes, finding comfort in the warmth of the man’s skin. “I love you, Phoenix Wright.”
Phoenix’s eyes widen, immediately welling up as if he were about to cry before he buries his face into Miles’ neck, arms wrapping tightly around the man in a hug. “Miles… I--- you---” He lets out a shaky laugh, realizing he’s at a loss for words.
Wrapping his arms around Phoenix’s neck, Miles feels warmth wash over him, as if some unseen weight had been lifted off of his soul. “Phoenix…” A kiss is pressed gently to the side of the man’s head, a smile pulling to his lips as he does so.
I love you, I love you So much. Phoenix thinks, unable to say so aloud for fear of his voice cracking.
“Please, stay with me tonight.”
“ Absolutely. ”