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/Sunflower, my eyes want you more than a melody
Phoenix thought that Miles was the brightest star in the entire night sky.
He was dazzling. He was just so clever, so determined, so bright. He had his little quirks, like how he always wore that bowtie, like how he liked a show Phoenix thought was too kiddy for teenagers like them to be watching.
Miles had proven him wrong after many nights of impassioned speech and many episodes they watched together. Even if Phoenix didn't feel as strongly about Steel Samurai as Miles did, he could feel it from the way Miles talked about it.
He knew what he liked, and though he was shy about it in front of most people, he would always find a way to wax lyrical about the things he liked in such an intellectually and emotionally stimulating way. Miles was a genius, thought Phoenix, and he was so lucky to have the trust of this wonderful boy to see this side of him.
Miles thought that Phoenix was the brightest star in the whole universe.
He was just so... magical. So cheerful and lively. He was a little clumsy but took it in stride, and he had the most melodious giggle. When he laughed, he lit up the whole room.
His positivity was a beacon that made anyone flock to him. His smile always made his stomach flip and turn in the most wonderful ways.
Not to mention, the boy could draw so well. He was so skilled at what he did, painting and sketching and fussing over the colours and mediums. He always claimed that his art wasn't all that, but Miles thought he was one of the most talented artists ever. Even the awards Phoenix was nominated for agreed with him.
Unknown to many, Phoenix also had a secret sassy side which always made him laugh. Phoenix was never slow in pointing out the most incomprehensible things in the funniest of ways. Miles felt blessed that he trusted him enough to let him see this side of him.
It was Miles who fell first. Miles, who had always been quite the serious boy, who dressed the best and got the most love letters out of all the boys in his year, found himself pining for the romantic affection of the boy who was the furthest possibility away - his best friend, Phoenix Wright. And when he realised, he started seeing it everywhere; in roses, in matching shirts, in their keychains.
Phoenix, who had always been popular but for a different reason, that being that they found him the most approachable and the easiest to tease, took a while longer. He had more distractions, of course, letting himself be surrounded by girls and boys at a hormonal age. But when he sat down next to Miles and really looked at things, he realised, there was nothing that could calm his raging heart more than holding his best friend in his arms.
They were too busy stumbling over their own love that they didn't see each other's.
Even when Larry started to tease Phoenix about him and his little crush, even when Larry would nudge at Miles every so often to make a move...
They loved each other too much to risk it.
The three of them were in Miles' room that day. Specifically, they were on his bed, sitting in a row while they, very intensely, played Mario Kart together - or rather, against each other.
"I won!" Larry cheered, jumping off the bed to do a weird celebratory dance.
"Damn it," Phoenix cursed. He looked at Miles, who seemed at least content with getting second place.
"Phew... oh, hell, it's already nine? Crap, my mom wants me back earlier today too... Well, see you guys! It was fun!"
"Woah, Larry, you're leaving already?"
"Yeap. You two have fun without me. Bye!"
They barely had enough time to see him out as he rushed back home.
Phoenix and Miles looked at each other at the same time, suddenly aware that they were pretty much alone together.
"Um, still wanna play Mario Kart?" asked Phoenix.
"We've been playing that for a while now, so... Hm... since there's two players, let's play a fighter game."
"Oh yeah!" Phoenix seemed excited about it, but really, he'd be happy with pretty much anything Miles chose.
"Yes! I won!"
"Hmph. You won't get so lucky next time! Rematch!"
"Hey Phoenix," said Miles, while putting away the games and consoles. "What are you planning to do in college?"
"Hm? Ah, I'm not too sure. I want to do art, but I'm not sure if they'll accept me..."
Miles sat up and looked so intently at Phoenix it might have been mistaken for a glare. "Phoenix Wright, if you don't get accepted into art school then I don't know who can."
"Aw, there you go again." Phoenix chuckled.
Miles folded his arms. "I'm serious! You'd better apply once you get the chance. I want to see the portfolio you're going to submit. Anyway, it doesn't matter how good you are, what matters is that you're serious about art, right?"
Phoenix looked at him sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess so. And how about you? I'm guessing lawyer, still."
Miles smiled softly. "Yes. I haven't given up on that dream yet." His facial expression turned serious. "That's why you can't give up on your dreams either!"
Phoenix looked surprised at first, before he nodded. "Let's chase our dreams together then."
"I... in retrospect, that sounds really cheesy."
"Hahaha!"
They watched Steel Samurai episodes on Miles' laptop until they both fell asleep in each other's arms.
When Gregory Edgeworth saw his son and his best friend cuddling each other, he smiled and covered them both with the blanket.
Then, he couldn't help but sigh and reminisce about young love.
They woke up at the same time, more or less. Phoenix tended to move about right before waking up, which roused Miles from his sleep. When Miles opened his eyes, he saw Phoenix opening his.
They stared at each other, both heads on the same pillow, barely apart.
They tried to ignore their racing hearts, hoping the other didn't notice. They smiled at each other, one at a time, and then laughed.
"Nick. Are you saying that I gave you that perfect chance to make a move on Edgey and you CUDDLED HIM AND DIDN'T EVEN CONFESS?!"
"I'm sorry, Larry! It just didn't feel right yet."
"Sigh, what would you guys be without me..."
"Oh, Ivy College offers both art and law! We can be in the same college then. Wouldn't that be awesome, Miles? That we can still see each other super often."
Miles huffed. "Are you sure you want to keep seeing my face even throughout college? Haven't all these years been enough?"
Phoenix smiled, leaning forward cheekily. "Of course it's not enough, you know how much I love that face of yours."
It took a lot of mental fortitude for Miles to prevent his face from contorting. "Why... are you like this... what an idiot."
As Phoenix stuck his tongue out, Miles turned away and started walking towards the vending machine, hoping his reddening face would cool off soon enough.
/I've been trying hard not to act a fool
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK!!"
"Woah!"
It had been Larry who suggested the surprise party between the three of them. For an unreliable guy, he had his moments. It was actually Miles who arranged everything, though.
At least Larry was there to supply the loudness.
"Oh my god, guys." Phoenix was smiling from ear to ear, his eyes watery. "You guys are the best. Thank you so much."
"Aw, don't thank me. Thank Edgey here! He did all the work."
Phoenix gave him his brightest smile.
"Thank you, Miles."
At that moment, Miles really felt that the hours of pain and preparation were completely worth it.
"Don't mention it. Larry's paying, anyway."
"Wait, WHAT?!"
They burst out into laughter.
While they enjoyed the food and cake, Miles suddenly brought out a decorated gift box.
"Happy birthday, Phoenix," said Miles, shyly almost, as he handed the carefully wrapped gift to him.
"Wow, I wonder what it is... Ack, it's heavier than I thought." Phoenix weighed it in his hands and shook it a little. "What is it?"
"Open it and see," said Miles, who was beginning to smile in excitement.
"Wait, hold on," said Larry. "Open my gift first. I feel like it wouldn't compare to what Miles gives you. I don't wanna be the anti-climax!"
Phoenix giggled. "Okay then. Show me what you've got."
Larry presented a small but rather heavy box.
"Careful, it's fragile."
"Damn, okay." Phoenix was suddenly holding it very carefully, slowly opening the box.
"It's the present that's fragile, not the box!"
Phoenix gasped. It was a mug, which would have been an average gift at best, but it was a handmade mug, with a carving of a majestic-looking bird on the surface.
"It's a phoenix," Larry supplied proudly.
"I love it!" Phoenix gave his friend a tight hug - after putting down the mug.
Miles grabbed his arm, feeling nervous. His gift couldn't really compare to a handmade gift, he thought.
"Okay, time for Miles' gift." Phoenix honestly didn't care what Miles had given him - it could be a textbook for all he cared - but the fact that it was from Miles, his best friend Miles Edgeworth who planned this small birthday party for him? Anything he did was brilliant in his eyes.
Miles watched with his breath held while Phoenix tore open the wrapping.
"No way." Phoenix gasped when he saw what the wrapping had previously hidden. Just to confirm it further, he tore away the rest of the wrapping, revealing it in its entirety - a box of acrylic paint tubes.
"Miles!" he was practically screaming, "you didn't have to get this for me!"
"But I did," said Miles, smiling softly. Inside, he was still panicking. Did Phoenix like it or not?
"Eh? What's this? You got him paint, Edgey?"
Phoenix looked genuinely aghast. "It's not just paint, Larry! Look at the brand. I've been wanting to get this acrylic paint for myself, I've tried it maybe once or twice and I really liked the texture, but damn if it doesn't burn a hole in my wallet. Miles, I can't believe you got me this."
"Oh, so he got you expensive paint!"
Miles couldn't hide his embarrassment.
"I, um. You were talking about how you really wanted to use this paint but wouldn't get it for yourself, so... I got it for you."
Phoenix set down the box of paints even more delicately than the mug. Then, he crashed into Miles and gave him the biggest hug ever.
A part of Phoenix still couldn't believe that Miles had actually remembered that, committed the brand to memory and gifted it to him. It was so sweet and thoughtful. Then again, this was his Miles he was talking about.
Meanwhile, Miles buried his face into Phoenix's shoulder, wishing this moment could last forever.
Phoenix was a bright, bright star. He was practically indestructible, rising from the ashes whenever he fell.
But sometimes, when he fell, a familiar darkness kept him pinned down. And as Phoenix does, he puts on a smile and bluffs his way through the week. He couldn't stand the thought of worrying his friends over something like this.
At least he had his canvas, and his best friends. Larry was oblivious to it all, but still tried to make Phoenix smile like always. On the other hand, Miles had quickly noticed something.
With a gentle gaze, he asked, "Phoenix, is anything wrong?"
"Huh? Nothing's wrong."
"Did something happen?"
"No, nothing happened. It's just me being..." He didn't complete his sentence.
Miles regarded him in silence, and then gave him a hug.
"It's tough, but bad times will pass. I'll be here for you."
Phoenix hugged him back and nearly burst into tears.
Miles continued to watch over Phoenix like this, giving him soft reassuring touches when he felt his best friend tense up. It didn't matter how it looked - Phoenix needed comfort - besides, they'd even cuddled before, so what was this compared to that?
One day, though, Phoenix didn't turn up for school.
Fine, the guy was prone to oversleeping, but he was never this late. Knowing that Phoenix hadn't been in the best of spirits either rang some very alarming sirens in Miles' head.
He was distracted the whole morning. He kept up at the clock, sending texts and calling him a few times. No answer.
Even his teacher noticed the strange behaviour. Miles was usually a model student, so when he was this distracted, it couldn't be a good thing. In the latter half of class when he assigned everyone a worksheet to complete in class, Miles had directly approached him.
"I'm sorry, I have to leave early. I think I have to skip the next class as well," he said, much to the teacher's quickly increasing worry.
"What happened?"
After hearing his explanation, he quickly understood and nodded. "I see. I'll follow you to the main gate and I'll let the guards know."
"Thank you very much sir." Miles bowed his head very low, went to grab a few things from his desk and rushed out of school.
The rest of the class watched as he left, confused about his visible anxiety.
One of his classmates leaned into her seat partner's ear and said, "I saw him texting someone called Phoenix. I think he didn't come to school today."
"Huh? How's that a reason to skip school?"
The table next to hers caught their conversation.
"Wait, did you just say Phoenix?"
"Yeap, the guy from the next class. A friend of his, right?"
"Uh, haven't you heard? He's his boyfriend?"
The class slowly started an uproar.
Miles wasn't aware of the conversation, though in any other time he would have definitely blushed while vehemently denying it. Now, though, was an emergency.
The whole morning, he was fraught with anxiety and denial. Maybe I'm just overthinking things, he thought. But he couldn't ignore the worst case scenario. Phoenix couldn't have had a cold, right? If he was, he would have replied his texts.
The bus ride felt so long, even longer than usual. When he got to Phoenix's apartment, he still hadn't realised he was holding his breath the entire time.
Phoenix lived alone so that he stay closer to school, but Miles knew that wasn't the only reason. His family... was a nebulous subject that couldn't be easily explained.
It was why Miles, and Larry, liked to hang out at his home. Larry, in particular, always complained about how small and boring it was, but never missed a chance to hang out there and add new things to it. Miles knew that he did it so he could inject life and home into the otherwise empty flat for his best friend. He was secretly sweet like that.
Yesterday, Phoenix declined their invitation to hang out and went back early. Miles had called him that night, and he sounded tired, but still there and alright.
Reaching the door, Miles pulled out his Signal Samurai keychain. Attached to it was a spare key for the apartment, one out of two spares, the other being with Larry. He opened the door without hesitation and searched the apartment.
He found Phoenix curled up in his bed, covered his blanket.
'Okay, he's fine,' thought Miles, letting out a huge sigh of relief. Feeling a little silly for getting so worked up, he went over to him and gently shook him awake.
He felt Phoenix wake and immediately tense up.
"Phoenix, it's me."
"Ah." He huddled in his blankets even more. "Miles... "
"Are you alright?"
"Hnrgh? Why wouldn't I be..."
"You overslept. You overslept big time."
"Eh?"
"It's almost noon."
Phoenix's eyes snapped open, but he didn't move. "Fuck."
"I kept calling you, but you didn't answer... it got me really worried, you know."
"Ah... I'm sorry."
"It's alright. What made you oversleep this badly?"
He didn't respond. Despite everything, Miles quickly reached for his hand and held it tightly. It felt... clammy.
"Do you have a fever?" Miles did a quick check on his forehead. It was warm, but not burning at least. "I'll get a thermometer."
While he started to head out, Phoenix suddenly spoke.
"I'm sorry, I heard your calls. I just... couldn't..." He turned away from Miles and grabbed his head.
Miles sat next to him, unsure except for one thing - he was here for him.
"I couldn't get up. I'm sorry. I overslept on purpose..."
"Phoenix." Miles held his hand again. "It's okay."
"It's... it's not. I feel so weak and helpless."
"It's okay," Miles repeated. "You'll be okay. It's tough but I'm here for you."
He felt the grip around his hand tighten.
"Thank you..."
Phoenix started to sob, and Miles held him.
Miles helped him to at least sit upright. He also brought him a cup of warm water, which Phoenix gratefully sipped on.
"Is there anything else I can help with?" asked Miles. To that, Phoenix shook his head.
"You've helped me so much already."
"Nonsense." His voice sounded stern but he looked pleased. "It's nothing much."
"Heh. It's quite a lot, I promise." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Eh... I would go to school, but I probably shouldn't turn up right before it ends."
"That's up to you, but you don't have to."
"Hey, wait a minute, don't YOU have school?"
It was Miles' turn to be embarrassed. "They let me leave on emergency terms."
"Emergency- Miles, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"Hold it, I'm here now so it doesn't matter."
"We should head to school then-"
"No, we'll be fine for a day." He smiled. "I've already told a teacher. He understood."
Phoenix blinked, pausing to answer for a moment because the way Miles smiled at him... it made his stomach flip onto itself. Then, he deflated. "It was a really bad night. I usually don't have it that bad."
Miles frowned. "I wish I could have helped. It must have been rough."
"Yeah..." Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck.
They sat in silence for a while.
"Are you hungry?" asked Miles.
"Now that you mention it... how about you? You... didn't have lunch, did you."
Miles shook his head. "It's okay. Let's go get some right now. I could order take-out if you want."
"I'd prefer the second option..." said Phoenix quietly.
"Then it's settled. What are you craving?"
/Sunflower just died, plant new seeds in the melody
One day, while over at Phoenix's apartment, Larry and Miles stumbled on a painting that was covered with a trash bag. His living room did have a lot of canvases, but that one wasn't there before. Miles did think it was weird that it was covered, but it was Larry who pointed it out.
"Oh, that." Phoenix looked away. "Um... it's quite a depressing piece, so I thought it'll be better to cover it."
"Ah, okay." Larry sat on the couch, letting the matter slide. Miles felt like he shouldn't probe, but he was curious.
"I want to look at it," he said. "Of- of course, only if you're okay with that."
"Well..." Phoenix smiled. "Actually, I'm quite proud of it. I also used those paints you gave me! I almost didn't want to use it, but hey, I did."
His hands were on the trash bag, but he hesitated for a bit. Then, he breathed in, and removed it.
At first, Miles didn't know what he was looking at. It was more abstract than most of his pieces. It didn't matter, though, because he felt what he was looking at.
It was not a smooth canvas. If anything, it was chaotic. There was a vague shape of a humanoid that was blended into the noise around it. He could make out sharp edges of silvery grey, but the rest was blended out, blues and greens and pinks and oranges. It almost looked bright, but it filled Miles with a sense of dread.
With everything that was happening, it felt so... empty.
It wasn't that he didn't know what Phoenix was going through, or that he couldn't feel even a little bit of it at all. But when come face to face with such a raw expression of Phoenix's hurt, it hit him all at once.
Miles started to cry.
"Hey, are you- Miles! Crap, I'm so sorry, maybe it really was a waste of your paints-"
"Shut it." Miles wiped away a stream of tears. "It's beautiful. I can't believe you nearly hid this from me. I told you, you're amazing at this."
"Yeah," Larry cut in. "Edgey is right!"
"No, I'm Wright."
Larry looked like he was going to fall over. Miles, on the other hand...
...threw a hug onto Phoenix.
Phoenix was shocked, but he hugged back just as tightly.
Larry folded his arms and closed his eyes for extra privacy. They didn't do anything else other than hug, but it was the gesture that mattered, right?
It soon became an established fact that Phoenix and Miles were dating, even though they weren't. It didn't help that Larry was very happy to play the role of the lamenting third wheel, telling others about how lonely they made him feel and how he needed a girlfriend himself.
So when Phoenix's friends suddenly asked about his boyfriend, Phoenix nearly jumped in shock.
"H-he's not..."
"Don't be shy, Feenie. We already know!" His friend clapped him on the back.
Phoenix couldn't stop his face from flushing. "B-but Miles is just a friend..."
A shared smirk among the group made him break out into a cold sweat.
"Did we say that it was Miles?"
"I don't think we mentioned his name, you know."
If it wasn't for his scarf, everyone would have seen his neck turn red as well.
"Yeah, you don't have to hide it anymore, it was super obvious anyway."
"Eh...hehe..."
Phoenix figured his secret crush on his best friend had been found out. In his defense, it wasn't entirely wrong to think of it that way.
Miles, on the other hand, looked almost angry when he found out. Then again, his shocked face always looked a little angry.
"Was it Larry who said that?!"
"I didn't say anything!" Larry protested. "They were the one asking me questions!"
His classmate tutted at the invader who was casually lounging about their classroom. "Butz, you should know better than to out your friends like that!"
"Yeah, I'd be angry too!"
It was Larry's turn to feel accosted.
Miles hmphed and turned to the side, hugging himself with one arm. "Well, it's simply preposterous." His blush, though, betrayed him.
And that was the story of how the two lovebirds who weren't even dating managed to personally add fuel to the fire.
/I couldn't want you any more tonight
A school day had faded into late evening. The two of them waited at the bus stop, and because they happened to be the only ones there, they could now sit on the bench, side by side.
They were... close. And alone.
"So," said Miles, after disguising his nervous gulp with a sip of water. "Apparently everyone thinks we're dating."
Phoenix gulped less subtly. "Oh," he said.
A silence.
"Miles, I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, I can try to get them to stop-"
"It's okay, they can say what they want. I just... thought you should know. In case you were uncomfortable."
They looked at each other a little longer than normal.
"I mean, it doesn't matter what they think," said Miles with a nervous smile. "What matters is what we think, right?"
"Yeah."
Miles sighed and went back to sipping his water.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Phoenix was giving him a long look. He turned back to him, confused.
"Phoenix?"
Said boy took a deep breath and spoke.
"Miles, I think... I love you."
He thought he had misheard, or that his brain was short-circuiting and that he had completely misunderstood.
He turned away, crossing his arms. "You can't say things like that so casually."
"I'm... I'm not." Much to Miles' surprise, Phoenix reached out for his hands and grabbed them. "I like you. I'm sorry, I've liked you for a long time now." He looked away, seeming sad.
For a good moment, Miles was convinced he was dreaming. Then it hit him that this was real, that Phoenix was holding his hands and had just confessed to him.
He moved his hands to hold Phoenix back. It made him look up.
"I like you." Miles paused, just to process his own words. "I really like you. For a long time now. God, I feel like an idiot."
The realisation that had hit Miles first was now beginning to hit Phoenix.
"You do realise," said Miles, half-laughing in his speech, "that this means that we've both liked each other for a long time?"
Phoenix's face slowly broke into a smile.
"We're both idiots," he said, grinning.
"Somehow, everyone's figured it out before us."
"Hey, they have the advantage of being a neutral third party."
"We also have the disadvantage of being complete fools."
They spent the next long moment smiling at each other. Then, when Miles turned away, he rested his head on Phoenix's shoulder.
This time, it was different.
This time, Phoenix leaned forward, and while Miles was trying not to fall off his shoulder, Phoenix caught him and kissed him in the middle of an empty bus stop.
(They turned up to prom, hand in hand, with matching blue and red suits. They won best dressed couple.)