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Phoenix leaned against his window, watching the Gatewater Hotel because there wasn't anything else to watch out of the window, really. The sound of exploding firecrackers would reach him frequently, and he wondered if he should be down there, celebrating the new year like everyone else was doing. The truth was that he'd begun to lose interest in celebrating things after a dreary three days of Maya's departure. Ideally his new year celebration plans would be to spend some time with Edgeworth, but that was scary even to consider. It had been only three months since they'd met in person again, after all, and even though Phoenix was eager to talk to his old friend one more time, it was almost painful to start conversations when they were actually together.
Of course, Phoenix would be a lot less lonely if he could just find the person with the other half of his Song, but that topic was depressing and Phoenix didn't want to think about it when it was supposed to be a time of happiness and celebration and whatnot.
The sound of the office doorbell resounded through the room, jerking Phoenix from his half-stupor. His hand automatically went up to smooth back his hair, and he strode across the room, wondering who it could be at this late hour.
Standing outside the door was the biggest surprise that Phoenix would probably ever receive in his life.
"Woah, Edgeworth?"
He wanted to ask him if he was lost or something. Why else would Miles Edgeworth be here, visiting Phoenix at midnight on New Year's Day when he could hang out in his probably fancy office, drinking expensive wine and watching the firecrackers explode in the sky through his windows?
"Hello, Wright. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Phoenix couldn't stop himself from snorting. He had nothing to do except mooch around and occasionally talk to Larry, and Edgeworth knew that.
"Not at all. Come in."
Edgeworth sat down on the only couch in the room. It occurred to Phoenix that Edgeworth was way too grand for his dingy little office.
"Ah, the Steel Samurai. I didn't think you were a fan of the show, too." Edgeworth said, pointing to something on the wall.
"The Steel Samurai?" Phoenix's eyes found the poster that Maya hung up on the wall before she left, the one that he couldn't bring himself to take down. "Oh, that. Eh, it's a long story..." It wasn't, but Phoenix didn't know what exactly to say to Edgeworth. "What's that in your hands?"
Edgeworth looked down at the flask as if he'd forgotten he even had it. "Oh, yes. I brought hot cocoa. You wouldn't have any mugs, would you?"
A minute or so later, Phoenix cupped his cold hands around his mug of hot chocolate, warming them up. Edgeworth's mug was a little chipped, but he didn't seem to care. Phoenix watched as Edgeworth sipped his drink, looking out of the window.
"So, uh, what's wrong?" Phoenix asked after around a minute of complete silence, punctured only by the distant bangs of sparklers.
"Hm?" Edgeworth looked around.
"I mean, why are you here?" The second the words left Phoenix's mouth, he regretted it. "Sorry, that came out wrong. I just thought you'd have better things to do than hang out with me in a small office."
Edgeworth raised an eyebrow. "But this is one of my 'better things to do', Wright." He snapped his mouth shut as soon as he heard the words leave his mouth, closing his eyes to think about why exactly he'd said that, but Phoenix didn't seem to have noticed. Edgeworth quickly changed tack. "I haven't seen Maya around. Where is she?"
Phoenix's eyes found the floor. "She went back to the mountain for her training."
"Training?"
"Yeah, she's a spirit medium, don't you remember?"
"Oh, yes."
Another minute went by in silence. Phoenix took a sip of his hot chocolate before it cooled and let it run its warm fingers through his body.
"So what are your plans for today?"
"Hm? Well, I'm going to be working, naturally."
"No, I meant like, what are you doing to celebrate the arrival of the new year or whatever."
Edgeworth looked at him as if he was dumb. "Like I said, I'm going to be working." He thought for a second. "Maybe drop in to wish Gumshoe. I don't think I have been very nice to him lately."
Phoenix grinned. So Edgeworth had thought about what Maya said. It was almost unfair, really; how did women of the Fey family get people to do things they wouldn't normally do?
"Sounds cool." He took another sip of his cocoa. A thought occurred to him. "Um, Edgeworth. I hope it's okay for me to ask, but have you met the person with the other half of your Song yet?"
Edgeworth sighed into his mug. "No, of course not. I don't have much time for that, really. I would rather work than waste time thinking about mundane matters like my Song."
Sounded like a very Edgeworth thing to do, but the tone of his voice said contrary.
"What about you, Wright?"
"Me?" Phoenix fixed his gaze on Charlie the potted plant. "No." Dahlia was the only girlfriend he'd ever had, and look at what a trainwreck their relationship had been. "I've given up. She could be anyone, but she isn't coming to me anytime soon."
If Phoenix had supersonic ears, he would've heard Edgeworth's heart drop into his stomach out of sheer disappointment. He'd said "she". Edgeworth always tried to stop himself from thinking about Phoenix, but nothing could take away the fact that, yes, Edgeworth liked Phoenix. Very much so.
Phoenix wondered if he could ask Edgeworth about what his Song was, but he wasn't really sure if he should. What if Edgeworth got offended, or if he wasn't comfortable with telling Phoenix about it?
"Hey, Edgeworth, can I ask you something?"
"Yes?" Edgeworth traced the rim of his mug with his finger.
"What's your Song?"
Edgeworth's hands tightened around his mug, and Phoenix noticed. He immediately backtracked. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked you. You don't have to tell me."
"No, it's fine." Edgeworth sighed again.
Phoenix waited for him to begin, and so Edgeworth did after much hesitation and throat-clearing, in a melancholy voice that made Phoenix feel both chilled and warm inside. What he didn't know was that he was going to have the second biggest surprise of his life that day.
You're headed for heaven,
The sweet old hereafter,
And I've got one foot in the door.
Only three lines, but something about the tune sent chills up Phoenix's spine.
But before I can fly up,
I've loose ends to tie up,
Right here in
The old therebefore.
It sounded familiar. The words sounded familiar. He wasn't sure why, but Phoenix felt the hair on his neck rise up. And the line with the word therebefore...
I'll be along
When I've finished my song,
When I've shut down the band,
When I've played out my hand,
Why did it sound so unnervingly like his own Song?
When I've paid all my debts,
When I have no regrets,
Right here in
The old therebefore,
When nothing
Is left anymore.
He knew. There was no doubting it now. This was the other half of his Song. Almost without knowing it, he joined in, singing in a whisper before gradually making his voice louder.
I'll catch you up
When I've emptied my cup,
When I've worn out my friends,
Edgeworth looked at Phoenix in disbelief, but he didn't stop.
When I've burned out both ends,
When I've cried all my tears,
When I've conquered my fears,
Words couldn't describe the emotions running through Phoenix.
Right here in
The old therebefore,
When nothing
Is left anymore.
The words, which previously had felt so empty and mocking when Phoenix sung them to himself on sad nights, now felt finally...complete.
I'll bring the news
When I've danced off my shoes,
When my body's closed down,
When my boat's run aground,
When I've tallied the score,
And I'm flat on the floor,
Right here in
The old therebefore,
When nothing
Is left anymore.
Phoenix wanted to stop, to hug Edgeworth and cry until he couldn't anymore, but he felt like he was required by law to finish the entire song before he did anything. Edgeworth seemed to feel the same.
When I'm pure like a dove,
When I've learned how to love,
Right here in
The old therebefore,
When nothing
Is left anymore.
Edgeworth moved before Phoenix could, and all of a sudden he found himself looking over Edgeworth's shoulder at the wall, encased in his warm arms. Phoenix hugged him back, his grin so wide it felt like his face would split in half, giddy with happiness.
"Why did it have to be you, Wright?" Edgeworth said in a barely controlled whisper as he pulled back, his eyes shining with tears, his smile almost insane. "Why?"
Phoenix laughed, and then they were kissing, locked in an embrace so tight it was painful, both heedless of the hot tears running down their cheeks. Phoenix didn't mind that Edgeworth's arms were cutting off his blood circulation. He'd never thought he would live to see this day, where not only he found the other half of his Song, but the other half turned out to be Edgeworth. The only thing he could think about was how lucky he was to be here, trapped in Miles's arms, kissing him like there was no tomorrow while they listened to the muted bangs of fireworks exploding in the night sky as if they were a tribute to the fact that Phoenix Wright had finally found his soulmate.
"I love you, Phoenix Wright." Miles would later say to him, and Phoenix would feel his grin get impossibly wider.
"I love you too, Miles."