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Walking down the main avenue in town, the wind was so bitter it cut Phoenix through to the bone. Making him shiver and wish yet again he’d worn a thicker coat. Or that he actually owned a thicker coat. Looks like I’ll be off to the shops tomorrow for a new one, he promised himself. Until then though, I guess I’ll just think warm thoughts.
But even so, his body still shivered. Brrr! Seriously, I really need a thicker winter coat!
“Wright?”
“Y-Yes?” he replied, just a little jumpy. Okay, very jumpy.
“Are you alright?”
Phoenix already had his mouth open and an answer in his throat-
“And don’t you dare make that joke I know you were about to make about being ‘Wright’.”
-and promptly closed it again. Damn. Guess he can read me like a book, huh?
He sighed, trying not to shiver too much and failing. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little cold. I need a new winter coat.”
Miles’ attention was now firmly trained on him, and a small part of him hoped the man wouldn’t judge him too harshly for his lack of preparedness.
“Oh,” Miles said, “Well, why didn’t you say so? Here.”
“Huh?”
Miles took the scarf from around his neck and wrapped it around Phoenix’s, “Here, you can have this to keep warm.”
Phoenix couldn’t help but blush as he immediately felt Miles’ warmth in the soft wool of the deep red scarf. It was an intimate thing, wearing someone’s clothes, at least Phoenix thought so. And he was glad Miles trusted him with this.
“Thanks, Miles,” he said, smiling, “I feel much better already!”
Miles smiled and nodded his approval. “Hm, good. Now, I believe the next step for us is a nice, warm drink. My treat, of course.”
“I like the sound of that plan,” Phoenix grinned.
Miles chuckled, “I thought you would. Come on, if we hurry we might be able to beat the lunchtime rush.”
They made their way through the street and the crowds of people, Miles leading the way to their favourite coffee shop, his hand in Wright’s. “So as not to get separated by the crowd,” in Edgeworth’s words. Phoenix wasn’t buying the excuse, but he knew better than to say anything. So he walked beside him, his free hand still clutching the soft wool of the scarf. Still unable to believe what Miles had given him.
Well, let him borrow, at least. He knew he’d have to give it back eventually, but for now he’d just enjoy feeling that much closer to Miles.
. . .
The weeks went by, and fortunately for Phoenix the weather turned a little milder. Though the air was still chilly with frost in the early mornings. As he’d promised himself, he’d even brought a thicker winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat. All in blue, his favourite colour. He really didn’t do well with the cold. But he still wore Miles’ scarf instead of his own.
Stepping inside his office on one such morning, he shut the door against the cold wind.
“Man, spring really needs to come soon, I hate how grey it is out.”
Shrugging off his coat and hanging it up, he reached for his scarf and paused when he felt the soft wool against his fingers. Heartbeat quickening and heat rushing to his cheeks as he thought of the man who lent it to him.
“Miles…” he sighed heavily, “I should give this back soon. I really don’t want to though. It’s soft and warm and reminds me of him.”
He let his fingers caress the soft cashmere yarn, even more reluctant to part with it. “Eh, I’ll just hang on to it for a little longer. I’m sure he won’t mind. It’s still a little cold out after all.”
. . .
Phoenix wore that scarf every day until spring made the weather mild enough to not need it anymore. But still he kept it. Making excuses to himself for why he needed to hang onto it.
What if there’s still frost in the morning?
What if there’s a cold snap?
What if I give it back just in time for my boiler to die and I have no heating?
He was folding his laundry for the following week and picked up the scarf from the pile. The wool still nice and soft against his skin after very careful washing and drying.
I mean, it’s just one scarf, right? Surely Miles won’t miss it. He must have several on hand… right?
He sighed and buried his face in the wool, inhaling deeply. It’d lost Miles’ scent long ago, but the softness was comforting nonetheless.
God I really wish I could keep this forever. I don’t wanna give it back.
Maybe I’ll keep hold of it for a few more weeks. Just in case it gets cold again.
Yeah. just a few more weeks. And then I’ll give it back.
. . .
A few more weeks came and went, and Phoenix did not, in fact, give it back. Spring was almost upon them now, and Phoenix was really running out of excuses to keep it. Each more feeble than the last.
What if I still need it?
I want to feel close to Miles.
Maybe I can buy him a replacement?
He sighed tiredly. It’s no good. I have to give it back. Otherwise it’ll be winter again and it’ll be too embarrassing to give it back.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the buzzing of his phone in his pocket. Retrieving it, he saw it was from Miles.
'If you want to investigate the crime scene today, you’d better hurry. The detective is getting antsy waiting.'
That brought Phoenix back to reality quite quick, “Ah shit! That was today?!” A glance at the clock on the wall and he was already cursing and rushing for the door. “Dammit, I’m gonna be late!”
. . .
Later, almost out of breath and cursing his fitness level, Phoenix parked his bike and ran for the scene. Finding Miles already investigating, wasting no time.
“Ah, Wright,” Miles smiled in greeting, politely ignoring how hard his colleague was breathing, “You made it. I was getting worried.”
Phoenix was still panting heavily, so his attempt at a laugh was more of a wheeze, “Hah… wouldn’t miss this for… the world…”
“Take a minute to catch your breath, Wright,” Edgeworth told him gently, “The crime scene will still be here in five minutes.”
“Oh… okay…” Phoenix wheezed, and took the time to slowly regain his normal breathing pattern. Miles even handed him a bottle of water from his briefcase, which Phoenix gratefully drank.
“Thanks,” he said, when he wasn’t too breathless to speak normally.
“You’re welcome. Now, shall we investigate? It’s been a while, and I daresay I’ve missed working a case with you.”
“Yeah, likewise,” Phoenix smiled broadly.
“And you’re wearing the scarf, I see,” Miles added.
“Oh, yeah, I am,” Phoenix said, just now realising he’d grabbed it with his coat as he’d run out the door. And then proceeded to run all the way here after parking his bike. “I’ve had it for a while huh?”
“You have indeed,” Miles agreed, and despite his best efforts not to, Phoenix blushed.
“Yeah. I should really give it back, but it’s just so warm and soft.”
Miles’ face betrayed his confusion, but it was gone in the blink of an eye, and was replaced by a friendly smile. After all, Miles Edgeworth didn’t become the renowned prosecutor he is today by letting anything shake him.
Except for earthquakes, but that was a different matter entirely.
“Well, that is why I gave it to you,” Miles said, simply stating a fact, “To keep you warm. So it is serving its purpose.”
“Oh, for sure,” Phoenix nodded, “Anyway, we better get on this crime scene before they get wind of you helping out the defence... again.”
Miles chuckles. “We probably should, yes. It’s just over here.”
And with that, Phoenix followed Miles to the scene of the crime, relieved the smile seemed to be back on Miles’ face. Because he hadn’t liked that earlier look one bit.
Damn it all, I shouldn’t have brought up not wanting to give it back. I’m such an idiot. I hope he doesn’t hate me now.
Fortunately though, and much to Phoenix’s great relief, he and Miles slid effortlessly back into their familiar partnership as they began their investigation. Trading easy banter as they always had while piecing together the truth of what happened, and why the victim died. By the time they were done, night was drawing in and the cold wind was back, and Phoenix was even more grateful for the warmth of Miles’ scarf as he cycled home.
. . .
More weeks flew by after that, and still Phoenix kept the scarf. By now spring had well and truly come, and the weather was warm enough to not need it anymore. If he was going to return it, now was the time. It was going to take some working up to, though. The scarf was Edgeworth’s, and Phoenix had had it in his possession for weeks. Wearing it every day when he went out.
And wearing it feels like an embrace from him, his mind chimed in unhelpfully. Making it that much harder to part with it.
Phoenix had to shake both his head and those thoughts away. No. It’s not mine and I should give it back.
Ugh, why is doing the right thing so hard?
He released a heavy sigh of frustration. Sometimes it really did suck having such a strong sense of justice and this was one of those times.
“Stupid brain,” he muttered to himself, “Why can’t we just keep the scarf and be happy?”
He huffed another angry sigh and ran the soft wool through his fingers. Deciding he should at least wash it before he returned it. Loathe though he was to part with it, he ought to do the right thing by Miles and give it back.
. . .
The next time he met up with Miles, it was for a morning coffee in town. With a morning tea for Miles because coffee was not to his taste. Phoenix suggested it and Miles agreed. And as always, Phoenix was running late. But that was fine; he knew Miles would wait for him. They’d known each other long enough to understand each other's idiosyncrasies.
He pushed open the café door and found Miles already seated at their usual table enjoying a cup of tea. Phoenix quickly made his way over and took off his coat, draping it over the back of the empty chair opposite Miles.
“Hey, thanks for waiting,” he said as he sat.
Miles returned the smile and nodded as his companion sat. “Of course. You would wait for me, after all. Oh, I’ve taken the liberty of ordering you your usual drink. Just let them know you’re here and they’ll make it for you.”
A bright smile spread across Phoenix’s face at that. “Ah, sweet, thanks Miles.”
“Anytime, Phoenix. Now go and order before a queue starts to form.”
“Gotcha, I’ll be right back!”
Left alone at the table, Miles watched him go. Quietly enjoying his tea as he waited for Phoenix to return. Indeed, it was good to see him again. It had only been a few weeks, but still, those few weeks were busy, and he was glad for a chance to relax with Phoenix again.
He sighed contentedly and sipped his tea until Phoenix reappeared, drink in hand.
“Thanks, Miles, that line was getting long,” Phoenix sighed as he retook his seat.
“One of the perks of being early,” Miles grinned, “And knowing your usual drink.”
Phoenix gave him a sheepish laugh, “Am I really that obvious and predictable?”
“Only to me,” Miles told him, “With a handful of exceptions in court,” he added. “Anyway, it’s been a while. How’ve you been?”
“Busy,” Phoenix sighed tiredly, “You?”
“Likewise,” Miles shook his head slowly, “Unfortunately. No rest for the wicked, I suppose.”
“Or attorneys,” Phoenix amended, “I’m so tired.”
“Again, likewise,” Miles told him, “Speaking of being tired, is that why you’ve forgotten your scarf today?”
“Huh?”
“It seems strange to see you without it after so long,” Miled said, “Even if the weather is warmer now.”
“Oh, right, about that…”
“Hm?”
He watched as Phoenix rummaged around in his bag and produced said scarf. “Here you go.”
“Oh, you do still have it,” Miles smiled brightly.
“Yeah,” Phoenix smiled, sheepish again, holding the neatly folded scarf in his hands, “Though I figure I should give it back. I’ve kept it long enough, a-and I don’t want to rob you of your clothes, so… here.”
Miles was very much confused by all of this. Oh… I gave it to him to keep. Doesn’t he want it? Does he not like it? Or does he just not like me ?
He swallowed the large lump that’d formed in his throat at the thought, and fought to keep his voice even. “Oh? Is there something wrong with it? Is it in need of repairs?”
“Huh? Oh, no… nothing like that,” Phoenix protested, “It’s just… I’ve kept it for a while now, and since it’s borrowed, I thought you might like it back?”
Miles just looked at him for a moment, the pieces finally slotting into place. “Wright,” he began, gently, “It was a gift. You’re not supposed to give gifts back. Unless, of course, you really don’t like it, in which case I completely understand. I mean blue has always been your colour. If you want a different colour I can always-”
“No!” Phoenix objected, a little too loudly for such a quiet little coffee shop. Silencing both Edgeworth and everyone around them.
Embarrassed, Phoenix cleared his throat and switched to a more indoor-friendly non-courtroom voice. “No,” he repeated, “N-No, it’s fine. It’s just… I didn’t realise it was a…”
“Didn’t realise it was a gift,” Miles finished the sentence for him. Phoenix just nodded, embarrassed.
“Oh, Phoenix, you sweet idiot,” Miles sighed, though there was a smile on his face, “Of course it was a gift.”
“Well, I sure do feel stupid now,” Phoenix laughed, not sure whether to mention the last few weeks spent agonising over whether or not to give back the ‘scarf on loan’. Man, he really was an idiot. But fortunately, Miles Edgeworth liked idiots. Or at least the one idiot known as Phoenix Wright.
“Was I not clear about that?” Miles asked him.
“No!” Phoenix said, mildly exasperated, “That’s why I thought it was a loan.”
Miles just shook his head. “Wright, if it were a loan - which it wasn’t - don’t you think I’d have asked for it back by now?”
“Uhhhh… fair point,” Phoenix conceded, having no other answer for that one.
“Exactly,” Miles smiled, “So now you know it is, in fact, a gift, do you still wish to return it?”
Phoenix answered with no hesitation. “No, of course not!” he blurted out, hands on the table as if it were the defence’s courtroom bench, “I’m going to keep it forever!”
To further illustrate his declaration, he unfolded the scarf in question and wrapped it around his own neck. “You’re never getting this back, I hope you know,” he smirked.
Miles couldn’t help but chuckle at Phoenix’s dramatics. But then again, Wright had always been the theatre kid of their little friendship group. And that clearly hadn’t changed.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” Miles said with a broad smile, watching the man across from him bury his nose into his scarf, “I hope it will continue to get much use.”
Phoenix merely smiled at him with all the warmth of the firebird for which he was named, “Oh it will,” he said, leaning across the table to capture Miles’ lips in a soft kiss, “I promise.”