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A gasp ripped itself from Miles Edgeworth's lungs as he sat up suddenly from his sleeping state. He grasped desperately at his chest, pulling the loose, thin fabric of his t-shirt away from his skin in an attempt to give himself more room to breathe. He thought his nightmares had stopped a long time ago, but after a recent earthquake, they seemed to have started up again as mercilessly as ever.
Usually, he can calm himself down after a nightmare. He'd begrudgingly follow the '5 things' method that Gumshoe had taught him after a nasty elevator ride at a crime scene. He'd simply name 5 things he can see, four things he can touch, three things he can hear, two things he can smell and one thing he can taste. He recognised that he could see his bed, his hands, his hair, the door and the window. Good. Next, he can feel his bedsheets, his clothes-
He choked back a sob as all of the air was forced out of his lungs again. Usually, he was at least beginning to calm down by now. No big deal, it's fine, let's just try again.
See. Bed, hands, hair, door, window. Touch. Bedsheets, clothes-
He curled his knees up to his chest and squeezed his eyes shut as he felt hot tears run down his cheeks and splash onto his legs. He wanted to scream. Why was he still feeling like this? He should be okay by now. He felt like the room was closing in on him, like something horrible was going to happen and all he could do was sit and wait for it. He couldn't breathe, he felt like he was going to die.
He reached out blindly with trembling hands for his phone. When he found it, he closed both hands tightly around it to keep it as still as possible, and dialled the first number that came to mind.
"Edgeworth? It's 2am.." came a familiar voice from the other side of the call. Miles took a deep breath to attempt to steady his voice as much as possible.
"Wright... I-.. I'm sorry- I- I don't mean to bother you at this hour.."
Clearly, his attempts at sounding composed didn't work, as Phoenix's tone switched from tired and annoyed, to worried and soft.
"Are you alright? Your voice is shaking.."
"....."
"Nightmare?"
"...yes.."
"Do you need me over there?"
".....please...."
"Okay. Give me 20 minutes"
Miles could only manage a pathetic 'Mhm' before hanging up the call.
***
Miles sat curled up on his bed and weeped until he heard the front door open. He scrambled to make himself at least somewhat presentable. He wiped the hot tears from his cheeks and neck, and threw on a red, silk robe on top of his pajamas. He sat back on his bed and began forcing himself to breathe. After just a moment there was a gentle knock on his bedroom door.
"Edgeworth? Uh- can I come in?"
He called back a simple "Yes", and flinched hard as he heard the door creak open.
Phoenix stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, careful not to push into Miles' space until he knew it was absolutely okay. The prosecutor was fully aware of how the raven-haired attorney could read him like a book. At first he found it unsettling, and slightly annoying, but now, he was ever grateful for it. So when his shoulders relaxed slightly, and he took a deep breath, Phoenix knew it was his cue.
The mattress dipped beside Miles as Phoenix sat with him.
"Are you.. y'know; here? Or do you need us to do some grounding?"
Phoenix knew that Miles often dissociated after episodes like this. He also knew that physical touch is the quickest and safest way of grounding Miles, and to ask first. Miles thanked the universe for the attorney, and nodded. Phoenix shuffled up the bed until he was up against the prosecutor, their shoulders and knees together. Nothing too affectionate, but enough to ground him.
Miles took a deep breath and focussed on the man next to him. Physically, the weight of Phoenix leaning against him forced his brain to realise where he was, that he wasn't in that god-forsaken elevator, that he was in his own room on his own bed. But also, Phoenix made him feel safe. As much as he hated to admit it, the bumbling fool next to him was, analytically, his favourite person. He was kind and generous, always willing to put others before himself, but not in a way that was too annoying or irrational (most of the time). He was gentle and sweet and made Miles feel warm. Whenever Phoenix would place a reassuring hand on Miles' shoulder, or when he'd flash that awkward, shy grin, Miles felt as if he could melt. And now, in moments like this, when Phoenix had cycled all the way to Miles' apartment in the middle of the night because Miles was upset and needed him, moments like this made Miles think stupid things. Stupid, unneccessary things. Like, if he could just turn his head slightly, he could bury his face in the crook of Phoenix's neck. And, if Phoenix tilted his down slightly, he could kiss him.
Miles sighed.
This wasn't the first time he had calmed himself down from an episode with thoughts of kissing Phoenix. He couldn't help it. He was convinced that pressing his lips to the attorneys, even for a second, would make all his problems disappear. He usually was not one to indulge in such thoughts, he had no time for such unnecessary feelings as love. He had no capacity in him for a romantic relationship, and for all his years, he was content with that. But now, with Phoenix, all his rules seemed to go awry, and all his walls seemed to come tumbling down.
"Edgeworth??"
Phoenix's voice pulled Miles back to reality as he glanced up at the attorney. Those gorgeous heterochromatic eyes stared back at him with worry.
"Ah- yes. Yes, I... sorry"
"You okay?"
Phoenix tilted his head slightly, the one stubborn strand of hair that didn't quite reach his spikes swinging with the movement.
"Yes"
Phoenix brought his hand up beside Miles' face, hesitant, barely a centimetre away. Miles held his breath.
"You went all zoned out.. do you need me to-"
"I'm okay, Wright."
He glanced down at Phoenix's lips, then shut his eyes tight.
"Are you sure?-"
The second he felt a hand press against his cheek, his body seemed to react all on its own, and he swatted it away, shoving the attorney away from him.
"𝘑𝘢, Wright, that's enough!"
The prosecutor winced at the harshness of his own voice. Miles had never had any negative feelings towards the attorney. Every single small thought and feeling Phoenix gave Miles was warm and pure and precious. It was only Miles' hatred for that warmth that made him act cold and uncaring. And he prayed to any god there may be that Phoenix would see through it like he sees through every other one of Miles' walls.
And, seemingly, Miles' prayers were answered. Phoenix wasn't upset or angry. There was a sort of soft worry in his eyes, and he seemed to melt with it. 2 warm arms reached out towards him, and Phoenix pulled the prosecutor into his arms. Miles couldn't help but tense at the contact.
"I-...I'm sorry- I-"
"No, it's alright. I should've asked before touching you. My bad."
Miles felt his body ease in Phoenix's embrace.
"I mean it. I- I'm okay. Thank you, Wright. For this."
"You're welcome, Miles."
Miles froze at the sound of his name. He hadn't heard his first name in Phoenix's voice since they were young. One simple word, but it struck him right in the chest like Cupid's arrow.
"W- you..."
"Yes?"
Suddenly, all the tension drained from Miles' body. He could barely remember the nightmare. His head was clouded, and his body felt heavy. He felt his breathing grow fast and erratic once again, until a voice pierced through the fog. A sweet, gentle whisper.
"Miles, Miles, Miles.."
He reached out for anything to hold onto. His hand found Phoenix's shoulder.
"You need to lay down..."
The prosecutor nodded, one hand gripping the bedsheets under him in an attempt to steady himself. He had no objections when he felt Phoenix's hands run so gently across his torso, from his abdomen up to his chest, the sweet, sweet pressure pushing him gently to lay on his back. The sheets were cool and welcoming. He let his eyes flutter closed.
Phoenix chuckled, and his heart fluttered too.
"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?"
𝘕𝘰. 𝘕𝘰, 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘹. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦. 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦. 𝘕𝘰, 𝘯𝘰 𝘯𝘰.
"Yes"
The attorney led next to Miles, pulling the soft covers up over him. He let his hand rest against Miles' arm. Miles let out a breath. He could no longer hold up his walls. There was no point, anyway, all of them were glass to the attorney. Completely transparent, and so, so easy to tip over and smash to pieces.
The idea of someone seeing through his facade had always been terrifying to Miles. Yet now, here, with Phoenix, somehow, he only felt one thing.
Safe.
So entirely and undeniably safe.