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Miles for years hated the summer. He and his sister weren’t allowed to go to the beach, both because going to the beach was for plebeians and they should be studying, but also because he had no real friends to go with. Oh sure he was good looking enough.
He could show up and get attention. Certainly not drink on the beach or do anything that might spill something filthy on him. But sunbathing might be allowed. That was easy enough. But he didn’t really want people ogling his half-naked body most days. And it just felt hot and itchy sitting there by himself.
The best he settled for was going to the shore line and staring at the ocean, after his adopted father was imprisoned, letting his thoughts wander as he gazed off of a pier with the smell of fish everywhere. No one noticed him, not really, especially if he wore a t-shirt and jeans rather than a suit. It was nice to not be noticed and hear the ocean.
“Edgeworth?” came the sound of an all too familiar voice to his left. He turned and there was that man, Phoenix Wright himself in bright blue trunks with giant orange hibiscus on them and a bright blue striped button down shirt.
“Wright,” he replied with a courteous nod of his head, “I see you look as ridiculous as ever.”
“Ridiculous? I’m not the one wearing jeans when it’s 90 out.” Phoenix laughed, “You waiting for someone?”
Edgeworth shook his head, silver hair flying slightly in the ever-present wind. “No. Not today.”
“You want to join me then? Got extra room on the towel.” He motioned to a giant monstrosity with the Steel Samurai on it, “Maya gave it to me specifically so that I could share it with someone special and then left.”
“Mmm,” Miles gave an indeterminate sound, “I should probably get back to work anyway. I’m sure Maya would want that spot on your towel.”
Phoenix looked confused, “She’s gone for the whole summer. Won’t be back til fall at the earliest. No one else to use it with really.” That man sidled up to him, nudging him with his elbow, “Come on, a little break won’t kill you.”
“Maybe they won’t kill you, Wright, but I take more than one case every few months.”
“Suit yourself then.” Phoenix shrugged and began to walk away.
He was getting away. No, wait, was he actually feeling disappointed that Wright was walking away? Before he could get too far Miles called out, “Actually Wright—“
That man, that awful man. He turned around with the biggest grin on his face, “Knew you couldn’t resist! Must be my charming personality.”
For a moment Miles was taken aback by how suddenly he was happy, “Don’t flatter yourself, Wright. It’s just that studies have said that you work better after you have taken a break.”
Phoenix nodded, not bothering to correct him but there was still a sly grin on his face. Together they walked forward on to the crunching sand that burned both of their feet. Both abandoned their sandals and let their toes comb through the sand.
This was ridiculous of course. What would dear Manfred say if he saw his son, adopted as he loved to point out, traipsing through the sand? Probably something like “Disgusting. You should know better than to be caught with the enemy. This is behavior thoroughly unbefitting of someone of your stature.” The voice, deep and resonant, sounded off in his ears though he was miles away in prison.
Miles blinked and found Phoenix looking back at him with concerned blue eyes, once more under the bright sun. “Where’d you end up going?”
“Huh?”
“You were staring for a while, not really looking at anything. Where’d you end up going?”
Miles looked to the side, “Somewhere I’d rather not be. Let’s leave it at that.”
Phoenix gave him a thumbs up and put down the beach towel for them to sit on. “So you gonna go in the water in your jeans then?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I have no intention of going in the water. It is filled with people and screaming children.” Miles looked at the water all the same, wondering if he could allow himself that. These jeans would dry after all and it was a hot day. Likely have to take the shirt off, which might be weird for Wright.
His grey eyes wandered to the side and saw Phoenix already slipping out of his button down. And damn, the man looked far better than he had any right to without even trying. All toned muscle, which shouldn’t be surprising considering how he once kicked in a door and fought off assassins. In fact the dork was currently trying to catch a small crab that was skittering on the side of the towel rather than paying Miles any attention.
Catching the crab Phoenix held it up victoriously over his head, “Check this out-“
The crab escaped his clutches, falling on to the defense attorney’s head. “Oh come on!” he cried out as it pinched his ear. With one hand he tried to pull it off, but the blue claws held tight.
“Wright, hold still.” Miles leaned in close and placed his hand on the side of the other man’s head, gently flipping the crab upside down. The crab quickly fell unconscious and the claw was easily plucked off. With a gentle toss, he returned it to the sand.
When he looked up again at Phoenix, there was a light blush across his nose, “I had that! But, uh, thanks. That was nice.”
Miles softly chuckled. Oh this was going to be a good day after all if he was already that easily embarrassed. After all it was no shame to lose control of a crab.
The day went on and they lay next to each other. Blue sky flowed over head with the sound of Frisbees being thrown nearby. The sun beat down upon them, feeling like a small laser in the sky and making their skin feel fiery.
Phoenix sat up first, “Alright. I’m going in the water before I spontaneously combust.”
Miles sat up, feeling uncomfortably hot himself, especially with his shirt still on, “Wouldn’t be the strangest thing that has happened to either of us if you did.”
“Come on.” Wright climbed to his feet and extended his hand down to Miles, “Let’s get in there before low tide.”
Normally he would argue but today the sun made the decision for him. Off came the shirt, the cellphone, the pager, all of it piled under the towel to prevent it from being stolen. What fool would steal from two of the best lawyers and expect to get away with it though?
Phoenix grabbed his arm and ran with him down the beach. It was silly, absolutely ridiculous the sight of the two of them running. And yet it was also kind of fun? Yeah, the wind was nice, pleasant on his sweat and it was comforting to hold his hand. Not that the great Miles Edgeworth was at all worried about being pulled into the ocean or anything.
The waves hit them both with a hard, cold shock. Phoenix cried out and clung just a little tighter to Miles’ hand. Then it was like he realized what he was doing. “Sorry. Forgot how cold it is.” Their hands let go.
“It’s, uh, quite alright. I don’t mind. That is- I don’t think it’s that cold.” Smooth as always, Miles.
They stood there for a few moments. The world turned around them and somewhere someone was excitedly smashing open a water melon, but for the two of them they simply stood and looked at each other. Both suddenly aware of just how close they both were, how very shirtless, and the fact that they were just holding hands.
“Maybe we should keep holding on to each other. The waves look quite strong and I would hate to see either of us pulled out.” Miles opened, feeling the touch of blush brush across his own cheeks as he extended out his hand.
“Yeah, sounds reasonable to me.” Phoenix grabbed back on a bit too eagerly and his pulse was racing already. That was far better than expected.
“You afraid, Wright?” Miles leaned in close, feeding off the bright red that was around Phoenix’s ears and creeping forward, “Your pulse is going awful fast.”
“Fine! I’m fine!” Phoenix rushed to get out, “Just the heat is a bit much, that’s all.”
Miles chuckled, losing his self-consciousness in the face of another, more pronounced self-consciousness. This could be a little game that they played. Maybe that man actually did like him the way he liked that man.