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“Miles Edgeworth?” the security guard calls from the hallway door.
Miles slides his phone into his back pocket and stands, crossing from the waiting area to follow the security guard to the prisoners held in solitary confinement.
Neither of them choose to speak as their footsteps echo through the empty hallway. Miles is almost thankful for the lack of unnecessary conversation. His mind is too preoccupied with remembering why he’s here.
Phoenix had confined him to help with proving that he had been innocent those years ago, and that someone who claimed to be his friend was the one that set him up.
The plan went along swimmingly, with Phoenix’s innocence proven and the elder of the Gavin brothers thrown in prison for a much harsher sentence than what he was originally imprisoned for.
Among his sentences were two accounts of first degree murder, one account of attempted murder, theft, blackmail, forgery, usage of forged evidence in a court of law, and lying under oath.
‘Breaking Phoenix’s trust should be the biggest offence,’ Miles thinks after recounting the man’s seemingly endless crimes, absentmindedly rubbing his thumb over the silver band adorning his left ring finger.
It feels like ages ago, when Phoenix asked to visit Miles after hearing that he was back in Los Angeles. Miles had heard of his disbarment, but seeing how much it really broke his childhood friend nearly split his heart in two.
----------
Five years after the Gramarye case, Wright’s name appeared on the caller ID, almost causing Miles to drop his phone as it rang. He managed to reset into his normally calm demeanor as he hit answer.
“Wright. It’s been some time since we’ve last spoken… How are you doing?”
Only silence met his question. After almost a minute, Miles could have sworn he heard Wright release a shuddering breath.
“Wright?” Miles was getting nervous. “If you don’t intend to speak then why did you call-”
“Edgeworth…” Wright’s voice was weak, almost as if he had just finished crying. “Is it true? Are you really back?”
Miles’ heart sank. He wasn’t expecting Wright to sound this distraught. He swallowed the lump in his throat before confirming that yes, he was back in LA. He was home.
“Do you think… that maybe I could come over? Trucy’s staying at a friend’s tonight… and I don’t want to be alone. I’d like to talk to you about some things.” Wright’s voice gradually grew quieter as his request continued. Miles almost missed the last phrase entirely, but context clues told him exactly what he was being asked.
“Of course. Do you still need my address? It’s the same one that I was using before I left the country.” Miles was already prepared to let him stay. He just needed the opportunity.
Wright quietly chuckled before replying, “No. It’s fine. I still have it in my favorites.”
Miles’ breath caught at that. He was certain that Wright would have deleted his address from the notes in his phone after he began working in Germany. Not only had Wright kept it all these years, it was in his favorites?
“Very well. I’ll see you soon,” Miles said before Wright hung up after confirming.
After about twenty minutes, Miles heard a light knock to his front door. As expected, Wright stood on the other side, and he looked… tired.
Heavy bags hung under his eyes and it had clearly been at least a week since he had last shaved. That ridiculous beanie was stuffed in the back pocket of his jeans, revealing droopy, greasy spikes. His hoodie smelled like cigarettes.
“Wright…” There were a hundred things Miles had wanted to tell him, but instead he just settled on, “Won’t you come in?”
Wright didn’t say anything to that. He just trudged through the doorway, an overnight bag hanging off his shoulder and a thick binder tucked under his other arm.
“Where do you want me to put this?” Wright held his bag out as he looked around the living room.
“I’ll take it. Have a seat.” Miles held his hand out for Wright’s bag. Wright slowly blinked at him a few times before handing it over. Miles watched him sit down on the sofa before quickly tossing the bag into his bedroom.
By the time Miles returned to the living room, Wright had put the binder onto the coffee table and begun worrying the rim of his beanie in between his thumb and index finger.
Miles took a second to just observe. He was much worse than he thought.
“Would you like some water? Or maybe tea?” Miles asked from the foyer entrance.
“I’m good, thanks. I’d rather just talk.” Wright’s eyes were red rimmed and unfocused.
Miles nodded before crossing to the sofa and sitting down next to Wright. It only took a few seconds before Wright turned to face him and leaned forward, resting his head on Miles’ shoulder.
Miles knew immediately what he was silently asking for. He drew one of his arms over Wright’s back as the other held the back of his head, lightly running his fingers through those once prominent spikes.
Wright released a quiet sob, forcing Miles’ heart to clench as he held him tighter. He eventually felt Wright weakly return the hug.
“Sorry…” Wright tried to start.
“Don’t be. You’d be doing the same thing in my time of need. When you’re ready, I need you to tell me everything.” Miles kept his voice firm, despite how much he wanted to cry.
After a few minutes, Wright revealed everything, including the truth about the forged evidence that would incriminate the man behind his disbarment during the official jury test trial.
Wright’s words had slowly turned confident, and some light returned to his eyes by the time the full plan hidden in the documents of the binder was revealed. By then, Miles had noticed something.
“Hmm. That’s odd…” Miles remarked once Wright’s explanation came to a close.
“What?” Wright asked with a curious tilt of the head.
“I’ve never noticed this before, but one of your eyes is bluer than the other.”
Without thinking, Miles reached out and turned Wright’s head to face him properly so he could really look into his eyes. He silently cheered in his head when Wright didn’t immediately jerk away at the touch.
Sure enough, Wright’s left eye was a clear ocean blue, while the right eye was a dark, stormy gray. Miles had to wonder why he had never noticed that in all the years that they’ve known each other.
Wright let out a nervous chuckle before awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.
‘Like how he used to do in court.’ Miles’ impulsive thoughts spoke before he had a chance to stop himself. He could only thank every deity above him that he hadn’t said that out loud.
“Yeah. Trucy said they’ve been looking dull lately, and that my heterochromia was becoming harder to notice. I think that was her way of saying that I need to get out more.”
“Wright…” Miles wanted to say something, anything about his true feelings. Looking into those gorgeous eyes made Miles want to be selfish. He wanted to give Wright something to hope for in the future that wasn’t just the return of his attorney’s badge.
Above all else, he wanted to give Wright the love he deserved.
Miles realized that this wasn’t the time for some love confession. They had work to do. He started to retract his hand, but Wright suddenly held his wrist, quite literally taking his breath away.
Miles slowly moved his hand to cup Wright’s jaw, now seeing an intense emotion swimming in his different colored eyes. He didn’t even realize they were leaning in at the same time until Wright’s lips met his own.
The kiss barely lasted four seconds, but by the time they separated, Miles was absolutely certain of one thing.
He needed to save Phoenix Wright.
He owed him that much for literally changing his life for the better all those years ago. It was about time he returned the favor.
“Thank you. For letting me come here tonight. I won’t be able to do this without you.” Wright murmured barely an inch away from Miles.
“Wright. There’s still something I don’t know,” Miles stated as his free hand rested over Wright’s chest, where his badge used to sit.
“There’s one thing you’ve been omitting from this plan of yours. I need to know the name of the person who requested the forgery so I can begin tracing the evidence back. Please, give me their name.”
Wright looked hesitant, almost as if he was afraid that Miles would ask for the name of the culprit. It made no difference to him. He needed to know the truth.
Wright lowered their connected hands and laced their fingers together. He steeled his resolve, releasing a deep breath before uttering two simple words. The name of the person who ruined his life.
“Kristoph Gavin.”
----------
The door to the cell opens, and Miles has to hold back a sneer as he observes the supposed “solitary confinement.”
A decent sized bookshelf filled with different types of law books and other decorations overlays the back wall. A ridiculous reading chair sits in the middle of the cell next to a small table, that which houses a small vase holding a single flower and a photograph of a dog. The man he has come to see is currently browsing the bookshelf, looking for something to pass the time.
“Let us know immediately if something happens,” the guard says to Miles. He nods before the guard exits the room, leaving them alone.
“I’m not normally allowed visitors,” the former defense attorney states without looking away from the bookshelf.
“I’m a special exception,” Miles says as his fists clench at his sides.
This forces the man to freeze, slowly turning to greet his guest.
Kristoph Gavin looks nothing like he did during his second arrest. The unique twist of hair over his left shoulder is sleek and proper; not a single hair out of place. His suit has been properly pressed, no wrinkles in sight. The only thing the same as that fateful day are his eyes, visibly tense behind his glasses.
“Miles Edgeworth. What a pleasant surprise,” Gavin says in a charming way that can only exist within him or his brother. Unlike Klavier, his accent isn’t as prominent. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I assume you’re here to tell me about Mr. Wright passing the bar exam once again?” Miles doesn’t trust Gavin’s expression as he folds his arms over his chest, cleverly pulling up the polite facade.
“And how did you know about that?” Miles’ fists clench tighter, and he has to stop himself from visibly shaking.
“People talk, Mr. Edgeworth. Especially about the legendary attorney Phoenix Wright.” Gavin’s expression changes, morphing into a more bone-chilling smirk as his chin slightly juts forward.
“A legend you took down. I know all about the forged paper, as well as how you manipulated your brother to make note of it and cause Phoenix to lose everything he fought for.” Miles forces his voice not to shake.
“Hmh. Everything he fought for?” Gavin stops to condescendingly shake his head. “What would you know about that? You weren’t the one he confided in when all hope seemed lost.”
Miles knows he makes some kind of distressed reaction, but he doesn’t care. “I was out of the country when all of that happened, for your information. If I had known what had happened, I would have dropped everything just to be at his side. I have now devoted my life to ensure his happiness, something you couldn’t even begin to understand.”
Something dangerous flashes in Gavin’s eyes. His doesn’t-quite-reach-the-eyes smile is back, albeit much more sinister than before as he briefly glances downwards to Miles’ left hand.
“It seems marriage does odd things to a person’s credibility, Mr. Edgeworth.” Gavin almost seems like he’s boasting.
“My ‘credibility’ has nothing to do with the fact that you didn’t just break his trust or his heart. You broke him.” Miles glares at Gavin, who in turn only smirks right back.
“Do you really know the full extent of his heartbreak? Surely you must realize that you played a hand in allowing him to feel such a way. He came to me because he felt like he had no one else. I was only giving him the love he sought so hard to have.”
“Well, the difference between you and me, Mr. Gavin, is that my love for him is sincere, while yours was nothing more than basic manipulation. Anyone can see that.” Miles crosses his arms and taps his finger, giving him something else to do with his hands.
Gavin lets out a crazed laugh, one he quickly recovers from to jeer almost confidently at Miles.
“Manipulation? Mr. Edgeworth? Do you know what I’ve done for him? I stood by his side when the only other person who would was that foolish little magician.”
“Don’t you dare speak ill of Trucy. She’s just as much of a victim as Phoenix is. After all, you told her to give him that fake note and then killed her biological father. Did you know that she trusted me enough to tell me that she still blamed herself for his disbarment? Even after years of Phoenix telling her that she was just doing what she thought was a good deed. You tricked an eight year old child who only wanted to help her father be proven innocent, only for her to be left all alone and then taken in by the very man who’s life was all but stolen away because of your jealousy.” Miles uncrosses his arms to point an accusing finger in Gavin’s direction. “That girl is braver than you’ll ever be, and that is due to her sincere heart and the fact that she knows how to take responsibility for her actions.” His hands are now back at his sides.
Gavin pushes up his glasses, hiding his gradually angering eyes behind the glare from the overhead light. “The misconducts performed by a naive minded child can only pale in comparison to giving blind faith to a stranger based on pure luck.”
Miles doesn’t miss the slight twitch of Gavin’s nose. He’s starting to lose his temper. The more Gavin speaks, the more his voice seems to rise.
“Zak Enigmar knew he had no chance of winning, so he chose the fool’s way out, by relying on Wright’s ridiculous bluffs to try to procure a verdict that wasn’t even to be earned. How do you think Wright would have felt knowing that he won a wrongfully earned Not Guilty verdict? I’d like to think that disgrace of an attorney would have questioned his own methods and possibly willingly gave up his badge. Knowing how dependent he is, I think that Phoenix Wright would hav-”
Miles doesn’t let him finish. Before he even realizes it, his fist that holds his wedding ring makes contact with Gavin’s face, forcing an oddly satisfying expression to appear behind disheveled hair and crooked glasses. He punches Gavin in the stomach and causes him to hunch over as the air is knocked out of him. This gives Miles the opportunity to elbow him hard in the back, forcing him onto the ground. Before he has a chance to stand, Miles kneels next to him, grabs him by the hair and slams his head into the ground. He does this a few more times, breaking Gavin’s nose and glasses in the process.
By the time the guards outside hear the commotion, Miles has stood and adjusted his suit jacket. He takes the time to dust his hands off before mockingly pushing up his glasses and glaring at Gavin to speak to him once again.
“If you so much as utter that man’s name again, I will be back. And I will not be alone. Is that clear, Mr. Gavin?”
Gavin raises his head and meets Miles’ eyes. He sneers for a few seconds before spitting out a large glob of blood.
“Crystal,” he forces out through gritted teeth.
“Good. I’ll be taking my leave, then. I’ll make sure to tell Klavier how you’re holding up.”
Gavin lets out a few short pained laughs as Miles exits the solitary cell. By the time he reaches the end of the hallway, he is able to hear Gavin’s crazed laughter echoing through the hallway. It’s a sound so horrible that it's sure to haunt him for the rest of his life.
He manages to keep his expression neutral until he sits down in his car and fastens his seatbelt. He releases a shuddering breath and is about to slam his fist down onto the console, but his cell phone ringing stops him in his tracks.
The familiar Steel Samurai ringtone calms the burning rage still coursing through Miles’ veins. He takes a deep breath before hitting answer, his husband’s voice filling his ear.
“Miles, you said you’d be back by now. What’s the hold up?”
“My apologies. I just had a little business to take care of. I’m on my way to the courthouse right now.”
“We’re gonna be late for Trucy’s show at this point.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll get us there with plenty of time to spare. Haven’t I in the past?”
“...”
“I thought so. I’ll be there shortly.”
“… Miles?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too. I’ll see you soon.”
Miles hangs up and starts the car. The music station from earlier is still playing, so Miles doesn’t waste any more time before pulling out of the prison parking lot.
As he reaches a stoplight, he glances down to the little blue and silver gems on his ring, and couldn’t be more than grateful that in the end, he was the one who managed to win Phoenix Wright’s heart, and not the devil that sits behind bars.