Work Text:
Miles sat in his office, squinting at the document on his desk as his vision progressively grew more blurry. The clock on his desk slowly ticked away the seconds as the hands neared 10 pm. Still, he couldn’t go home. Not until he had finished his preparations for the next morning’s case.
Long gone was his winning streak, and his famed title as a demon prosecutor who never once lost a case began to slowly crumble. Even so, he had a reputation to uphold and a name to live up to. He couldn’t very well call it quits just because it was getting a little late.
In the quiet of his office, he could hear himself beginning to sniffle and pointedly ignored it. There was simply no time for such a frivolous issue when he had so much to prepare.
As another ten minutes passed, the words on the page grew to meaningless smudges of ink. Every swallow began to feel like shards of glass against his irritated throat, and annoyingly enough, he could feel his nose begin to drip.
How undignified.
Miles couldn’t decide what was more important. On one hand, it was unsanitary not to tend to his needs, but on the other hand, sniffling pathetically into a handkerchief wasn’t exactly something he wanted anyone to witness.
He looked around his office, taking in the silence of the atmosphere. No one around to disturb him anyway.
With a long-suffering sigh, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose. Disgusting.
It was exceptionally rare that Miles found himself sick. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had something as simple as a cold. He took pride in taking care of himself wherever he could, and that included keeping his immune system in impeccable condition. Unlike Phoenix, who seemed to catch every cough, sniffle, and sneeze that came through, it was an uncommon sight to see Miles in anything less than top form.
Even ‘demons’ weren’t invincible.
A knock at his door caused him to bristle slightly as he shoved the handkerchief back into his pocket. There was only one man who would dare disturb him at this hour. Honestly, it was if even daring to think the man's name would summon him out of thin air. Miles quickly crossed the room and opened the door just a crack.
“Wright.”
Phoenix grinned and stuck his foot through the crack in the door. “Let me in, I brought takeout.”
Edgeworth sighed and opened the door the rest of the way. Phoenix was quick to make himself at home, laying out containers on Edgeworth’s desk and settling into the chair opposite him.
Miles took a seat at his desk and eyed the greasy boxes with a look of hesitance.
“Oh, come on! Anything is better than skipping a meal. Besides, I thought you liked this place.” Phoenix grinned and opened a container of egg rolls.
Miles reluctantly opened one of the containers of rice and dished some onto one of the paper plates Phenoix had brought with him. “Did you at least grab some vegetables?”
Phoenix pointed to one of the containers before popping an egg roll into his mouth. “Should be in there. Make sure to have some protein or something too, though.”
“I’m not a child, I know how to take care of myself,” Edgeworth grumbled as he continued to serve himself. He leaned back in his chair and took a bite of rice, only to wince at the sensation against his throat. He was quick to steel himself, but not quick enough. Phoenix tilted his head.
“You good? Wrong pipe?”
“I’m fine.” He grumbled, pushing the food around his plate. Suddenly, a cough pushed past his lips.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow and looked his friend up and down. “That didn’t sound fine.”
Edgeworth grumbled and tried to conceal the flush that was rising on his cheeks by turning away. Phoenix leaned over and clicked on his desk lamp to see the other man better.
As soon as the light hit his face, Phoenix could immediately tell something was the matter. Edgeworth had always been pale, but he was practically white as a sheet. His cheeks were slightly pink and splotchy, and even the skin under his nose was turning slightly red.
“Miles…” Phoenix softened. Edgeworth gritted his teeth.
“Don’t.”
Phoenix ran a hand through his hair. “You should have told me you were sick! I’d have opted for soup or something.”
“I’m not sick.”
Phoenix paused and blinked before narrowing his eyes. Really now?
“Not sick?”
Edgeworth’s expression was firm, but Phenoix found it exceedingly difficult to take the man seriously. For god’s sake, he was sniffling.
“Miles,” he gestured to the other man's face. ‘I’m going to put this as nicely as I can…you look horrible.”
“You’re too kind,” The prosecutor grumbled before turning his back to Phoenix so he could blow his nose again with some semblance of privacy.
Phoenix shook his head and crossed his arms. “We’re not doing this. Not today.”
“Doing what?”
‘This!” Phoenix gestured vaguely to the sniffling man. “The whole tough guy prosecutor act. C’mon, Miles, we’ve known each other for how long now? The least you can do is admit you have a cold.”
Edgeworth’s scowl deepened. “You can’t be serious.”
“Try me.” Phoenix crossed his arms. “You’ve chewed me out for showing up to court sick before. What makes this any different?”
“For starters, we’re not in court.” Edgeworth tried to take another bite of food, but made a face. Phoenix looked unimpressed.
“Am I supposed to believe you’re implying you aren’t currently preparing for tomorrow's case? One that you, oh, I don’t know, seem to be planning to attend while obviously sick?”
Edgeworth grits his teeth, but doesn’t deny it.
“Stubborn as always,” Phoenix sighs. He leans across the desk and presses a hand to the other man’s forehead. “You’re a little warm…maybe you should call it a night, yeah?”
“I-” He started to protest, but pitched forward to sneeze instead. Phoenix chuckles softly and pats his shoulder.
“Bless you.”
A small groan ripples through Edgeworth’s chest, barely muffled by the handkerchief. Phoenix began to pack the leftover food into the small plastic bag it came in.
“Yeah, you’re going home. Can’t have you sneezing all over your important documents, can we?”
“Wright…” he sighs and massages his temples. It's just a cold, nothing serious. He’s worked through far worse than this before. He doesn’t have to rest. He has no time to rest…
…but something in the way Pheonix looks at him makes him falter, if even just slightly. Not that he could ever admit that to himself. He grunts and stands from his desk, gathering the documents under his arm.
“I’m still going to that trial tomorrow.”
“Sure you are.”
Edgeworth turns off his desk lamp before following Phoenix out of his office, letting the latch click shut behind them.
“Come on,” Phoenix nods towards the door. “I’ll walk you home.”
For once, Edgeworth doesn’t argue.