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He doesn’t love her, not the way he loved Dahlia. The fiery passion, the inability to see flaws…he just doesn’t feel it. He cares for her, that much is certain, but there’s not the blind adoration he knows. He sees her flaws, her faults, and knows she’s just as immature and human as the rest.
Perhaps, that’s why he doesn’t realize it is love for so long. Perhaps that’s why it’s so easy to sputter indignities when someone mistakes them for a couple or to snark back at her when she says something strange, or silly. They’re close, yes, but it is just how they are.
He knows what love is. He knows how it is supposed to feel, how he’s supposed to act. This isn’t love, so it’s safe. Safe to sit on the couch together at 2am, huddling for warmth and comfort while watching a movie. Safe to wake up the next morning, still on the couch together, wrapped around each other like vines. It’s safe to spend Friday night after a long work week eating fast food at their favorite restaurant, and to reach over to wipe a crumb off her face, brushing her lips in the process.
Phoenix knows what love is, and this isn’t it.
That’s his mindset as he’s sitting in Edgeworth’s office, after the events at the Hazakura Temple, giving his friend the full story of what had happened before he’d flown in to save the day.
His friend, the ever unflappable Miles Edgeworth, raised an eyebrow as Phoenix admitted to crossing the burning bridge. “Does Ms. Fey know you did that?”
Phoenix stammered and shook his head rather violently. “No…No! She does not know, and I’d like to keep it that way, thank you!”
Miles frowned. “Why not? “
“Because she’d probably get the wrong idea about the whole thing. She’s been through enough, and the last thing she needs is Pearls going on yet again…”
“What wrong idea would that be?”
“That I’m in love with her or something…” the defense attorney rolled his eyes dramatically, allowing himself to shift his gaze away from the prosecutor.
“Ah, my mistake, then, since I thought the same thing.”
Phoenix sputtered. “What? No no no! Really, you of all people should know I’m not in love!”
Miles hid a smirk behind his teacup, before putting it back on its saucer. “Oh? Then why did you cross a burning bridge for her?”
“Because I care for her and was worried she could have gotten hurt!”
“You could have called the fire department and let them handle it. That would have been more sensible…”
“I know, I know… I just… care for her a lot, and worried something would happen to her…”
“You know, Wright, a lot of people would call that love…”
Phoenix grumbled. “Look, I know what love is, ok? C’mon, Edgeworth, I know you read the case file about my first case in court. You should know how I act when I’m in love, and this is not it; far from it, really. That’s not the case here. She’s just a good friend.”
Miles nodded. “Yes, you certainly had different behavior around Ms. Hawthorne, back then, I must admit. But, not to belabor the point, Wright… you’re a very different person from that time, as well. My father always said that you never feel love the same way twice. You certainly do tend to be irrationally overprotective of her, even when she’s not in danger of her life.”
Phoenix leaned on his fist, glaring at his friend across the desk, before letting out a snort of defeat. “This isn’t a battle I’m going to win, is it?”
Miles smirked openly this time. “For once in your life, Wright, I don’t think so. You’re honest to a fault.”
“Maybe you’re right. But what does it matter, anyways? The last thing Maya needs right now is the unrequited attentions of an older gentleman. The headache Pearls gives her alone on the subject….”
“Perhaps. But I wonder… where did the younger Ms. Fey get those ideas in the first place?”
Phoenix shrugged. “Who knows? Maya just told her what had happened when she was in the city…” He blinked. “…Are you trying to say Maya gave her the idea? She was just as embarrassed as I was!”
Miles just sipped his tea as he let the defense attorney work out what he just said.
“Oooh, I get what you’re saying.” Phoenix sighed, looking at the floor again. “Still… She’s been through so much. Perhaps it’s for the best I don’t make this anymore awkward than it already is.”
“That’s up to you, Wright. I’d hate to see Ms. Fey hurt anymore. She’s been through a lot these past few years.”
Phoenix nodded, before looking at his watch. “Ah, damn. I better get going. The hospital is letting Maya out of observation soon, and I offered to pick her up. But…” He turned from slinging his jacket back on his shoulders, “Thanks for knocking some sense into me.”
The prosecutor leaned against his hand. “Honestly, if a plummet off a burning bridge didn’t knock some sense into you, nothing would. Give Ms. Fey my best.”
Phoenix laughed, and waved goodbye.
The hospital wasn’t far from the court house, so he was there just in time to meet up with Maya as she was discharged. She was still groggy and rather disoriented from her time channeling, trapped in Hazakura and being so badgered in the court room. She said very little as they boarded the bus back to the office, instead curling against him in their seats, dozing. An older woman across the aisle sighed wistfully at them, whispering to her companion about ‘young love’. Phoenix blushed as he scratched his head, but didn’t correct them.
He didn’t love her the way he’d loved Dahlia.
And he was glad for that.