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Phoenix wasn’t quite sure when it had happened.
He laid on the fancy maroon couch in Edgeworth’s ornate office. A few feet away from him, Edgeworth himself sat at his desk, reading through one file or another.
This particular situation had started happening at some point after Phoenix had been reinstated- when the office of the Wright Anything Agency felt too loud, and he couldn’t focus on his work, he began coming here to take a break. Edgeworth had always let him, no matter how busy the Chief Prosecutor was. Even the secretary at the Prosecutor’s building knew to let Phoenix in, no matter what Edgeworth had told her- for some reason, he was the exception to all of the rules that the severe man had set in place.
Phoenix stared blankly at the ceiling. On this occasion, he hadn’t come here because his office was too loud- rather, he came because it was too quiet. Trucy was at school, Athena and Apollo were off investigating their own cases, and Phoenix’s last case had just ended. He had nothing to do, which made him antsy, so he had biked over to Edgeworth’s office to see if he needed help. He hadn’t, but Phoenix kicked off his shoes and laid down on his couch anyways. He felt so at ease here, around Edgeworth- which, now that he considered it, related to that thing that had happened at some point.
He cast a glance at the man. His face was neutral- and by neutral, he meant a rather imposing scowl. He’d long since figured out that was just sort of how Edgeworth looked while he was thinking about anything- from the culprit of a murder, to what to make for dinner, to which Steel Samurai movie he wanted to rewatch next. He had seen a lot of Edgeworth’s face by now, and he liked to think he could read him better than anyone. Likewise, Edgeworth could read Phoenix like a book,and he frequently did. Somehow, he always knew what Phoenix needed, oftentimes before he himself did.
He remembered the first time that Miles had flown him and Trucy to Europe. It had taken a lot of pestering from Miles- Phoenix would’ve been more than happy to allow Edgeworth never speak to him again, not to let him burden himself with worries over a disgrace such as himself. But Miles had insisted, and Trucy had begged him to take her, so he gave in. For all his reluctance, he quickly realized that watching his beloved friend dote on his beloved daughter made him the happiest he had felt in a long while. The two got along like a house on fire, which was unsurprising given Trucy’s ability to endear anyone to her. One of her little hands in Miles’, and the other in Phoenix’s, she smiled up at him: “Daddy, we’re gonna come visit Mr. Edgeworth all the time after this, right?” Phoenix had hesitated. “Sweetie, I don’t think Mr. Ed-“
But Miles had interrupted. “As often as you two would like, you can come see me. After all, I’m sure I’ll be needing your father’s help, not infrequently.” Phoenix’s mouth gaped, surprised, but at Trucy’s joyous giggles, and Miles' fond smile at both of them, he didn’t dare protest. Nor did he ask what exactly Miles needed his help with, not until later that night when he was presented with an exceptionally thick case file.
Phoenix frowned deeply. “Edgeworth, I’m not a lawyer anymore.”
The other man sighed, raking a hand through his silver locks. “I know that, Wright, but you still have one of the most brilliant minds I’ve ever encountered. No one else would be able to solve this case.” Phoenix opened his mouth to protest, but- “And don’t tell me that I should have asked Franziska, or one of the defense attorneys here. They’re not the same as you are.”
His frown deepened. “That’s completely ridiculous.”
Miles reached out, touching his hand gently. “Phoenix. Please. I don’t care what stupid hat you choose to wear, you’re still Phoenix Wright. You don’t need to spend very long on it if you don’t want to, but please, just do me this one favor.”
”My beanie isn’t stupid,” he grumbled, but he opened the case file and began reading anyway.
Phoenix left that trip feeling like a person again. Trucy had been so happy, and whether he liked it or not, solving a case made him feel better. Not better enough to shave, but… better.
As they parted ways in the airport, Miles hugged him tightly, Trucy hanging onto his sleeve. “Will you come back sometime?” he murmured into Phoenix’s ear.
“Yeah,” he mumbled in return. “Thank you so much, Miles. For everything.”
Miles pulled away, softly smiling. “Anytime you need me, I’ll be here.”
Phoenix’s breath caught in his throat. He’d never seen Edgeworth so affectionate before. All he could do was smile back.
And Edgeworth hadn’t been lying. Every time Phoenix felt utterly lost and hopeless, on the verge of giving up, feeling like a failure of a man and a father, Miles had been there. With almost telepathic timing, he would call, asking for a visit and help on his current case, sending plane tickets. He always boarded the return plane with just enough hope to keep going. Just enough fuel to continue living on, to continue his long-running plan to one day clear his name and rejoin the forces of the law. How could he not push forwards, when he had a handsome man giving him goodbye hugs, and a wonderful daughter that was either happily waving goodbye to Edgeworth beside him, or waiting for him back home in Japanifornia with Maya taking care of her?
Trucy, Edgeworth, and Maya. They would always be the three people that he owed his life to. His daughter, his dearest friend, and his… Maya. (Other best friend? Little sister? Secret third thing? He wasn’t quite sure which box she fit into. What mattered was that she was there.) In his darkest hour, they were his light, and when he crawled out of his hole (brandishing his new juror system, no less!), they had been there with stacks upon stacks of law books and practice bar exams.
All that had led him to where he was now, laying on Miles’ couch, staring at the light illuminating the handsome profile of his best friend, his court rival, his confidant, and, as of around five minutes ago when he had realized it, the man he had been madly in love with for quite some time now.
So, he wasn’t quite sure when that had happened. If it started during that first trip to Europe, or the moment he saw his face in a newspaper clipping and decided to go to law school to hunt him down, or when Miles had defended him in classroom court at the ripe age of nine years old- it didn’t really matter. He was definitely, without a doubt, hopelessly in love with Miles Edgeworth, and that was the important part. This would probably explain all the teasing he got from everyone at the office about how “you and the Chief Prosecutor are just like an old married couple!”. It would also probably explain all the times that he had thought about kissing him, and all the times he sat dumbstruck at how well the man's suit fit his exceedingly nice figure. In hindsight, Phoenix being in love with him cleared a lot of incidents up.
No one had ever been there like Miles had. No matter how rocky their friendship had been after their first battle in court, or the year where Phoenix thought he was dead, or the year when Phoenix had been so consumed by self-loathing and the responsibilities of fatherhood being hoisted upon him that he refused to answer a single one of Edgeworth’s calls, they always ended up finding a way back to each other. The roads they took had been long, winding, and difficult, but they had reached this very moment, where Phoenix laid in his office with no reason to be there other than simply wanting to be there, and Miles let him stay, in comfortable silence.
Miles turned a page in his file, the late afternoon sun bouncing off of his glasses. Phoenix looked back at the ceiling. Before he could stop himself, running off of pure adrenaline, he blurted out-
“Hey, Edgeworth, you’ll never guess what I just realized.”
The man in question hummed idly, not looking up from his paper. “I’m sure I won’t.”
”No, really. Never in a million years.”
”What exactly is it that you have realized?”
”I’m in love with you.”
Some sounds that he assumed were Miles setting down his paper and adjusting his glasses came from his desk- he couldn’t be sure though, as he was busy having a very intense staring contest with the ceiling fan.
”I’m sorry, Wright. I’ve had a long day, and I don’t think I heard you quite right. Could you repeat that?”
”I’m in love with you,” repeated Phoenix.
Suddenly, a stern-looking face appeared in his vision, interrupting his winning streak against the fan.
”Phoenix.”
”Miles.”
”You are not in love with me.”
”Hey,” said Phoenix, “I don’t think you’re the one in charge of that verdict.”
Miles’s scowl deepened. To anyone else, he would look absolutely enraged. But Phoenix knew him better, he’d like to think, than anyone else on earth. Mixed into that frown there was fear, and anxiety and… he reached back in his memories to the last time he had seen a similar emotion enter his stunning gray eyes.
He thinks it was a month or two ago, when Phoenix had hosted dinner at his apartment. After the meal, he, Miles, Maya, Trucy, and Pearls had all huddled together on the couch, the opening notes of the newest Steel Samurai movie’s theme playing out. It was a streaming-only release, so none of them had seen it yet. He knew both Miles and Maya had worked tirelessly to avoid spoilers online. Maya was practically shaking in excitement, with Miles looking similarly jazzed. Phoenix knew that this centered around Miles’ favorite character, and he looked hopeful as he looked at his depiction in the film for the first time.
Although notably different circumstances, a similar look of hope was in Miles’ eyes.
“Why,” the prosecutor breathed out, “would you ever be in love with me?”
Phoenix grinned goofily at him. “You’re so stupid sometimes. Why on earth wouldn’t I be? Who else on earth has done what you have for me? Who have I been chasing for years on end?”
”Everything I’ve done for you has been paying off the debt I owe you for saving me,” he said. “You changed my life, Phoenix. You saved me from rotting in prison, from living life under Von Karma’s grasp. Any decent man would act the same in my position. I owe you something that can never be repaid”
”I object. You can’t be indebted to me, I’m indebted to you.” Without you, I wouldn’t be an attorney. Trucy would probably have had to have found a third father.”
At the shock on Miles’ face, Phoenix let out a sad laugh and sat up. “It’s true. You saved me more times than you realized back then. You kept me going, Miles. You chased my fears away just by being there for me. And even now, you let me into your office with no questions, you eat dinner with me whenever I ask, you come to Trucy’s shows- she’s called you Dad by accident more times than any of the three of us have acknowledged.”
Miles let out a shaky breath. “So, we’ve saved each other's lives; that doesn’t mean you have to be in love with me.”
Phoenix looked at his feet, ashamed. “I’m really sorry,” he whispered. “I don’t want to ruin what we have, so if you’re uncomfortable… just tell me, OK? We can both pretend this conversation didn’t happen, or that I’m drunk right now, or… I don’t know, anything you want. I shouldn’t have said anything on a whim, I’m sorry-“ Miles cut off his rambling.
”I’m not upset about this turn of events, it’s just…” His death grip of the sleeve of his maroon suit jacket tightened further. “I don’t know how to believe it. That you’re really…” He trailed off as Phoenix slowly stood up to meet the other man, cupping a gentle, calloused hand on his jaw.
”Do you need some decisive evidence?” asked Phoenix, leaning in slightly.
Miles jaw went slack, but he quickly closed it. “Yes. That would be n-“
Phoenix surged forwards, gripping Miles’ shoulders and rather unceremoniously crashing his lips into his. It took only a moment for Miles to wrap his arms around the other man’s back, gripping the blue fabric of his suit, and kissing him back, passionate. Phoenix felt his anxiety fade away, and went along with Miles’ cues, tangling his hands into short silver strands instead of grasping his shoulders as if Miles might float away if he wasn’t held down. The kiss was deep and steady, filled with years of unspoken, unrecognized longing. Miles held him close, causing Phoenix to lean back with the force of it, but their lips didn’t part for another long, blissful minute.
When they finally did, Miles’ hold on his back didn’t release. “Phoenix Wright,” he said.
”Miles Edgeworth,” he responded.
“I have been very, very in love with you for a long time.”
”How long?” Phoenix asked gently.
Miles looked away, embarrassed. “At least… nine or so years now. I realized it, I think, maybe six ago.”
Phoenix’s jaw dropped. “Miles!”
His pale face flushed deeper.
“You didn’t say anything for six years?”
Silence.
“You waited more than half a decade? Miles, I realized this about fifteen minutes ago and it took me six minutes to tell you.”
”You’re far more impulsive than I am. We both already knew this.”
“Did you plan on waiting until we were both fifty to say anything?!”
”There was never a right time,” Miles grumbled. “And besides, I didn’t want anything to change between us.”
Phoenix shook his shoulders slightly. “Edgeworth. You are insane.”
Miles looked at him cautiously, but with the hint of a sly smirk spreading across his face. “Am I too insane for you to continue loving me?”
Phoenix shook his head intensely. “Absolutely not. We have so much lost time to make up for. The courthouse is a ten minute walk from here, six if we really book it. Let’s get married right now.”
Miles laughed. “I can’t say I’ve never… fantasized about marrying you, Wright, but I don’t think now is the appropriate time.”
Phoenix frowned. “I’m not waiting another six years. Are we dating right now? Is that what’s happening?”
”The prosecution has no objections.”
”Then the defense demands that the prosecution doesn’t take more than a year and a half to propose to me!”
Miles gently cupped his jaw. “If everything works out with you as my boyfriend, I swear I won’t wait too long to make you my fiancé. After all, like you said, we have a lot of lost time to make up for.” With that, he kissed him again.
When they pulled away for a second time, Phoenix grinned. “Everything is going to turn out perfect, just you wait.”
When Trucy got home from her after-school magic club (that she founded), she quickly noticed her father sitting on the couch with his arm around Edgeworth, watching the news together. Phoenix turned to look at her and grinned. “Hey, welcome back, sweetie.”
”Hi Daddy! Hi Dad! What’s for dinner?” It took a moment for her to turn red as she realized what she had just called Edgeworth. However, to her surprise, the man in question simply smiled at her. “Hello, Trucy. Your father and I were planning on cooking up some pasta with chicken, does that sound alright?”
“Sounds great to me,” she said, still flushing. However, neither of the two men seemed to notice her mistake, with her Daddy instead pulling Edgeworth even closer to him. She watched as her father gave the other man a kiss on the cheek before standing up and heading into the kitchen. She supposed that meant it was ok for her to call Edgeworth that, then.
Not that she was complaining at all- she had always wanted a new mommy, and a new second daddy was just as good- but she did sort of wonder when it had happened.