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Sometimes, when they were children, Phoenix and Miles would play the piano, at the Edgeworth’s house. Or well, Miles would play, and Phoenix would hum.
–
Phoenix was sitting on his piano bench.
“And so you want to try to become an piano player.”
“Yeah. Or, I mean, I wouldn’t really, you know what I’d actually be doing… But you get it.”
“You do understand you’ll have to be able to play at least one, or two tunes, so your cover will be believable, right?”
“Oh, damn. You’re right.”
“And yet you are usually the Wright one…”
The attorney - ex-attorney - burst out laughing. It was a sad laugh. It was not the laugh Miles was used to hear. He hated how this laughter didn’t reach Phoenix’s eyes. It made his chest tighten. He couldn’t breathe.
“How on Earth could you laugh at this pun? It was terrible.”
“It was good !”
Miles frowned.
“You don’t make puns often. Two is more than zero, you see my point ?”
“Yes.” Miles sighed. “Let’s get back to the subject. Which was you needing to know one or two tunes to play on a piano. I suppose… You don’t know any ?”
“Nope.”
This man. This insufferable man.
“Why would you even think of using pianist as your fake profession, then?”
“Dunno. Felt like it.”
“You are getting piano lessons.”
“Those cost money, Edgeworth.”
Miles knew that.
“I know how to play the piano. I can teach you how to play a song or two.”
“Okay, what ? First question : when did you learn how to play ? Second question: what can you play ? Because I am not playing the Steel Samurai's opening.”
“I learned a while ago. I will not teach you how to play the Samurai’s Awakening. It’s a complicated song, one you could not learn as a beginner.” Miles smirked. Sometimes, he just liked to be smug. Phoenix glared. He ignored it.
“I’m not a beginner. I know the basics, I know keys and can read a partition… I just don’t remember songs.”
“Yes. That is what a beginner is, Wright.”
“You’re mean.”
“No, only realistic. Now, please move a bit so I can sit next to you.”
That seemed to bother Phoenix.
“I- Are you sure ? I mean, the bench is a bit small for two grown men, and - why’d you sit here anyway , Edgeworth ?”
“So I can teach you how to position your hands correctly. The bench is big enough for the both of us, but if it bothers you that much to be sitting next to me, we could- I could find another chair.”
“No ! I- I …., yeah, just ...Just sit here.”
Wright moved on the bench, and Miles sat next to him. He almost shuddered, as Phoenix was warm, while he felt rather cold. He bit his lip. This might have been a bad, very bad idea.
Phoenix quietly placed his hands on the keys, and he noticed several mistakes, both in his posture and fingers’ positioning.
“Oh, that won’t do. To play appropriately, you mustn’t be so tense. You should be...” He placed his hands on Phoenix’ shoulders, and lifted them, straightening the other’s back. “You need to be able to move. One does not play the piano with their fingers only. You have to move your whole body with it.”
He also took Phoenix’ hands in his, and replaced them correctly.
“Your fingers can’t be straight, however.. You must keep them… Like this. Exactly.”
In his explanation of how one should position themselves in front of a piano, Miles didn’t notice the absolutely lovestruck look the other sent him. He didn’t notice the blush on his cheek, and the way Phoenix was actually struggling to stay focused.
“Did you understand all that, Wright ?”
“Oh, yeah, of course, Edgeworth ! I rogered everything, don’t worry.”
“Then we can try your hand at this song. It goes…” Miles put his hands on Phoenix’s. “like this.”
–
Months passed, and Phoenix kept getting piano lessons from Miles. Each time, he’d be mesmerized by the prosecutor’s broad, and firm hands, forgetting to breathe as he stared, often for too long, at the other man.
Yet he was making progress ! Muscle memory allowed him to play , and he played rather well. Even if he tried not to show it to Miles ; as overwhelming the lessons could be, he didn’t want to stop having them ; he didn’t want to stop being able to sit next to Miles and feel his hands over his for a while.
–
The Borscht Bowl Club was loud, and Miles was not a fan of it. It smelled of alcohol and sweat, it was way too warm for him to feel comfortable (why did he choose to wear a turtleneck on a summer night ?) and the lights were too dim for him to see clearly. Luckily, the one he came to see would sit right under one of the cheap light bulbs, which made it way easier to see him.
Silence settled, chatter stopped, as one man emerged from the shadows , and sat down on the piano bench. It seemed like Wright’s playing had gotten popular enough for people to start being quiet specifically for him. He could be proud of himself.
Wright placed his fingers on the keys, and started playing.
What Miles hadn’t been expecting was that Phoenix started singing, too.
Wright’s voice was clear, loud, but not overwhelming. When he focused on the lyrics, Miles realized he was singing the same song his mother sang before him. Oh, he could remember Mrs Ryoko holding her young boy in her arms, as she sang softly , rocking back and forth…
"Slipping through my fingers". When he thought about it, it was only normal that it was one of Phoenix’ favorite.
The smile on the player’s face was soft, (and … Were his eyes watering ? ), he had the same expression he always had when he looked at Trucy.
Dear, dear Trucy… Did she know she was what kept her father alive ? Did she pressure herself into a smile, because she knew ? Or was she unaware of how precious she was , and lived innocent and happy ? Miles hoped it was the latter. Trucy didn’t deserve to pretend she was happy so her father was okay. Nobody did.
He closed his eyes and listened to Phoenix play and sing, and did the man sing well… Miles liked it. It had been a while since he’d heard that man’s voice, loud and clear in the silence.
He missed the man in blue who screamed “Objection” a bit too dramatically to be taken seriously.
When Phoenix was finished, he thought maybe it was over, but after the applause, Phoenix started another song, and another. Then, he started playing without singing, and people went back to chatter, and laughter.
Phoenix played with his whole body. He wasn’t tense , or standing straight , he moved his entire body as he pressed the keys.
Just like everything he’d ever done, he did it fully. And even if it wasn’t where he felt like Phoenix should be -maybe Phoenix should be at home, resting. Maybe he should be an art student, maybe he should be with him - , seeing him grinning, smiling or crying depending on the type of the tune he played, it made him feel like the man he knew was still in there, somewhere. Kristoph hadn’t stopped the flame. It was hidden, yes… But Phoenix Wright would rise again.
–
Miles had his hands , not on top of Phoenix's , but this time next to them. Today, they’d play a duo.
Just like they always did, it felt like they were made to play together.
–
And now, it wasn’t even just the two of them anymore.
Choosing to put a piano in the Wright Anything Agency was not the best idea, but well, they’ve had worse.
Phoenix and him were sitting, but he was facing the piano ,while Phoenix was doing vocal exercises with Mr. Justice.
Kay had tried jazz, and now her and Trucy had a trombone and saxophone , and where did they get it from ?
He should blame Gavin. This was all his idea. He was the one who had burst in the office, and said “Atchung, Herr Edgeworth ! Let’s make music !” because he was bored, and now here they were.
His ring glinted through the sunlight. He smiled at it.