Chapter Text
December 12 - Prosector’s Building: Room 1202 - 1:37 A.M.
Only light at the very top of the office building was lit at this hour, the office belonging to the Chief Prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth.
The man was sitting behind his large polished desk, papers building a sort of wall around him. His glasses sat perched dangerously low on his nose as he reread the same paper over and over again.
Phoenix leaned back in the chair that had become his, “Miles?”
“Yes, my love?”
The dark haired man gestured towards the paper, “You’ve read that page about 14 times. You need to come home, you’ve been working nights for a week.”
Edgeworth sighed, “As much as your company brings me pleasure, you are not trapped here with me. You can go home and go to bed as you please.”
Phoenix pouted, “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.”
The defense attorney walked slowly over to his husband, “And besides, the bed gets so cold without you there.”
Edgeworth reached up and kissed Phoenix's temple, “I hate that I can’t be home either. It’s just…there’s so much I need to do and so little time. The crime rate is Japanifornia is rising steadily and that means more work for us.”
Phoenix smiled, “But you can’t do your work right now as well as you could if you came home and took some time off.”
“You’re a shameless schemer, Mr. Phoenix Wright.”
He sat down across from Edgeworth, “Okay, I know you’re not gonna want to hear what I’m about to say. But just listen to me, please?”
“I already don’t like this.”
“I think you could really benefit with some extra help around here.” Phoenix proposed, “Some kind of intern or assistant. You could find someone promising, train them a little bit, and give them a chance.”
Edgeworth shook his head, “No.”
“You were a rookie once too,” Phoenix countered, “And you can delegate some of your work. Or have them do your errands. And then you can have more time to do more of the stuff that people actually need you for.”
“But I will have to train them, supervise them. And supervision needs time, and I am currently lacking.”
Phoenix nodded, “Okay, okay. That’s fair.”
Edgeworth tilted his head, “You usually argue for considerably longer.”
“Miles, this isn't a court. I don’t have to win this argument with you. I just have to show you that maybe something has to change.”
Edgeworth was silent, setting down his pen as he gave up trying to do paperwork.
Phoenix sighed, “Look at this place, Miles, look at you.”
Edgeworth didn’t need to. He knew what Phoenix saw.
Files were stacked high across every available surface. Reports waiting for his signature. Case notes sat unfinished. Correspondences meant to be answered days ago sat untouched.
“This is only temporary.” Edgeworth responded.
Phoenix sighed, “It’s been like this for a week.”
“A particularly busy week, mind you.”
Phoenix raised his voice ever so slightly, “And what's your excuse when next week is just as busy!?” He breathed out, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to lose my temper. I just…hate watching you do this to yourself.”
He leaned forward in his chair, holding his head in his hands, “You’ve gotten so used to being the person everyone relies on that you forget that I’m also relying on you, Miles. And that’s not me saying that I’m angry or upset, I just want you to come home.”
Edgeworth looked down at his desk, the tension behind his eyes finally making itself known, “Very well.”
“What?”
“I will come home.” Edgeworth said, “And tomorrow, I will think about the internship.”
Phoenix’s face lit up, “Really?”
Edgeworth sighed, “Don’t look so pleased with yourself, Mr. Wright.”
Phoenix grinned, “I can’t help it.”
Edgeworth laughed quietly, “Ridiculous.”
Phoenix grabbed the dark pink coat from the hanger and put it around Edgeworth's shoulders, “After you, Chief Prosecutor.”
Edgeworth looked over his shoulder, the light catching his face, “Thank you, my love.”
Phoenix leaned in and kissed Edgeworth’s forehead, “One day, you’re gonna admit that I was right.”
Edgeworth rolled his eyes, “Don’t push your luck, Wright. I am already exhausted enough as is.”
“Then let’s get you home.”