Chapter Text
Miles Edgeworth, the newly appointed Chief Prosecutor of Japanifornia, was dressed in his usual mulberry-cravat combination and sat on a mildly uncomfortable chair in the Wright Anything Agency. Phoenix Wright, dressed in his Papa hat, was sprawled out on the couch next to him. Despite exchanging letters and phone calls, this was the first time they'd actually seen each other in person for about 3 years.
"Same stuffy getup as always. Seems like you haven't changed a bit," Phoenix teased. But it felt nothing like the man Edgeworth had faced off in court dozens of times. There was a deep fog of depression around him, and his eyes always held some form of sadness instead of the brightness he knew so well.
"I have indeed changed Wright," Edgeworth continued, deeply serious. He mentally chastised himself for not insisting that they meet in person sooner. He'd actually had to insist on this visit rather heavily, and suspected that Phoenix only accepted it because he'd made up an excuse about his case load getting busier soon.
“And here I thought I was the defense lawyer, yet you're the one acting defensive,” Phoenix replied in an almost cold tone. Had Edgeworth not known him well enough, he would've taken the man's glance at his fingernails as a slight instead of a taunt.
“Elaborate.”
"Welllll, as usual you're awful good at talking the talk but not walking the walk."
Where in Goddess's name did he get all these colloquialisms from? Is this some sort of side effect from fatherhood?
"Says the man who bought a book of dad jokes and wise father sayings." Edgeworth quipped back, fully prepared to scour the apartment to prove his bluff.
Phoenix laughed brightly, for a brief moment the smile even went to his eyes. Edgeworth focused on retaining control as his heart pulled ever so slightly.
He shouldn't be able to still affect me like this, after all this time.
"I have to set a good example right? It's not like my dad ever gave me anything worthy of passing on." Phoenix's face returned to it's previous fine on the outside, tortured on the inside expression. Edgeworth sighed mentally, sad about how severe depression had taken hold of his once obnoxiously optimistic friend.
"Point is, at least i’m giving it a shot" Phoenix flipped over onto his back and put his hands behind his head. Despite trying to maintain eye contact, Edgeworth couldn't help but glance at his slightly exposed stomach where the sweatshirt had ridden up just a tad. After mentally berating himself, he refocused hoping that the apathetic man hadn't noticed.
A glint in his eyes suggested otherwise. The devilish smile returned, tone darkening slightly. "My eyes are up here, Edgeworth."
The prosecutor could feel his ears and face reddening. He tried to change the topic but only managed to sputter: "i...um...that's not what..." Like some sort of teenager his eyes refused to follow his command and strayed from Phoenix's face again, watching as he unzipped his sweatshirt and purposefully exposed more skin by pulling his t-shirt up to his waist. His stomach was slightly chubby, likely due to his new tendency to eat the same snacks as his daughter.
Alarm bells of panic began going off in Edgeworth's head.
He is not in his right mind, he is severely depressed and to be anything more than his friend despite how much you want to be would be taking advantage of that.
He gulped, his mouth suddenly dry, and tried to look at anything other than Phoenix. His eyes landed on the houseplant in the corner.
"Why... Do you have a plant?" Edgeworth felt the heat from his face lessening in confusion.
He heard a disappointed sigh from Phoenix, but couldn't figure out why he was so upset. "that's Charlie. He was Mia's. Couldn't bear to get rid of him, I've always made sure someone would be there to water him if I couldn't be. Kinda like my first adopted kid, if you don't count Maya and Pearls." He changed his demeanor, he sounded more like his old self.
No, rather someone watching their old self in a home video .
There was a layer of pain in his voice, and again Edgeworth chided himself for even thinking about making this about his thoughts and his feelings.
He needs me to be his best friend right now.
I owe him the world, I should at least be able to push aside these persistent feelings until an appropriate time.
"But quit changing the subject," Edgeworth jumped as Phoenix laid his hand on his shoulder and on instinct his face pivoted to discover Phoenix's own a mere 5 inches away from his. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears again and he prayed that Phoenix couldn't hear it as well.
"Prove it." Edgeworth snapped his head forward, but Phoenix simply moved his own closer without hesitation until he was practically whispering into his ear. He had to know how this was affecting him, especially after that stunt with the shirt.
But perhaps I'm reading into things, trying to justify my desires to act on things without regard for others. i just need to get out of my own head.
"You say you're less uptight? Then play me."
For a split second Edgeworth misheard and thought he'd said 'play with me', and he had to push a flood of obscene imagery out of his mind before cautiously turning his head and noting with a sigh of mixed relief and disappointment that Phoenix had pulled a deck of playing cards out of his pocket. He was shuffling them as he sat upright, skin no longer exposed.
His mind replayed the image of his exposed skin, without prompting, and because of it he missed what the man had said. But his tone sounded casual so he simply nodded, not wanting to encourage more teasing that could test him. Phoenix grinned cheekily, saying nothing more as he began shuffling complicated patterns without looking at the cards. Edgeworth was truly spellbound as he watched them bend rapidly and as if by magic, not fly out of his hands like Larry's favorite childhood game of 52 card pickup.
"Name your game." He said in a tone that sounded rehearsed, as though his gambling days were a persona he'd put on for a one man stage show.
"Go fish" Edgeworth replied, deadpan.
Phoenix gave him an annoyed look, as if he didn't know he was joking.
"Well surely you don't expect me to play poker with a notorious cardshark."
Phoenix brought his hand to his chest and make a cheesy expression. "I'm flattered. But we both know the reason I'll win is because you have a terrible poker face."
"Ha. I recall countless times that you've fallen into my traps in court without the slightest suspicion. " Perhaps it was the alcohol, or their history of banter that was full of just under the surface flirting, but somehow Edgeworth was feeling confident.
In their time apart he had gotten a better handle on his feelings, especially the romantic ones he held for the frustrating ex-defense attorney. He no longer regarded those feelings as annoying pop-up ads, but rather as a background of sunflowers one sees in the distance as they're driving on the highway. As embarrassed as he still was at times for not being able to completely control them, finally getting out if the closet in his mind had done wonders for his psyche. He didn't feel shame or fear or other ugly punishable emotions because of his sexuality, instead it felt ...nice. It was like being in the warmth of the sun, something you didn't have to run towards but could simply stay back and enjoy the heat and glow at your leisure.
Although at times he did feel more like a moth to the flame, unable to control his wandering eyes or heart rate. His therapist had assured this was “normal” considering the history of abuse from Von Karma, a sort of rebirth into one's true self to make up for the teenage years he never had. However, those facts didn't make it any less exhilarating or frustrating.
"Poker it is" Phoenix smirked. Edgeworth knew that smirk well, his about-to-win-the-case smirk.
"Now hold on a minute," Edgeworth responded, matching with his own case winning smirk. Phoenix stopped mid-shuffle in confusion and met his eyes.
"A compromise," Edgeworth gestured with his hands outwards, unconsciously mimicking the stance his sister made before she'd bow, and continued.
"We alternate between a round of cards and a round of two truths and a lie, about our lives." Phoenix nodded in agreement before adding his own input.
"I'd like to know what you've been up to, however, it's gotta be personal. I don't want you trying to make me guess which steel samurai franchise is your new favorite based on obscure trivia."
"It is still the original, obviously. I'm shocked you know me so poorly to suggest otherwise.” Edgeworth responded aghast, more serious than joking.
Phoenix cracked up at this, as a couple cards flew from the deck and across the room.
"I'll get them, I'm assuming you have a table we can use to play?"
"Yep." Phoenix pulled a collapsible card table from under the couch and it popped up almost magically.
Edgeworth quickly gathered the cards from across the room, despite having to push aside some of the stuff on the messy floor in order to kneel down and get one that had flown under the piano bench. He ears warmed slightly as he felt Phoenix's eyes on him, and he tried not to think about where his own would be gravitating had the situation been reversed.
He stood and cleared his throat, slightly relieved that Phoenix had gotten up from the sofa and onto a cheap wooden chair he'd placed on the other side of the card table.
"Would you like to cut the deck?" Phoenix gestured grandiosly at the cards. He flicked his wrist and two jokers flew out of his sleeve and into his hand with a flourish. Edgeworth glared and in response the other man looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"Really Vana White? I'm already worried about you cheating."
"That was rhetorical. And I promise there will be no magic, no cheating, no underhanded dealings of any kind."
"Do you seriously expect me to believe that sentiment just moments after you conjured a pair of jokers from your sweatshirt."
"Hey, my very talented Trucy taught me that trick! But fine, I can guarantee that there will be nothing up my sleeves." He locked eyes with edgeworth as he unzipped his sweatshirt, and the poor prosecutor had to look away out of fear that his face would reveal too much. He focused on the dusty piano in the corner of the room, greatful for the respit that it's frustration provided. He knew that Phoenix's job was just a front, and yet something about his refusal to even put on the act simultaneously annoyed and saddened him.
"I don't need any tricks to best you. The deck, if you wouldn't mind," Phoenix sang, now just in a Heather grey t-shirt. Edgeworth took the lower 5 cards of the deck and placed them on top. They met eyes challengingly, as though they were facing off in court. But with a bit more of a playful smile.
"Blackjack, five-card-draw, or Bullshit?"
"So we're not limiting it just to poker? Interesting. Bullshit is the same as cheat, right?"
"Exactly. But we can't call it cheat because then I would've lied earlier, and I think it's funny when you swear."
Edgeworth was tempted to object, to proclaim how swearing was no longer something he shied away from as much, but the goading look from Phoenix made him reconsider.
Walk the walk eh?
"Let's play fucking bullshit." Edgeworth said in what he hoped was a cool and collected voice. Phoenix snorted in laughter before rapidly dividing the deck between the two of them.
"Since there are multiple ways to play, I want to suggest that we play the version with ranks above and below. Any objections?"
"None. I've actually played fairly recently with Franziska so I'm very comfortable with the rules.”
Phoenix gave him a look of concern for a moment, combined with slight shock.
"She's actually quite harmless without her whip, which is banned from any games we play."
"How'd you manage to make her part with it?" Phoenix asked incredulously, determined to make eye contact.
He sighed. "She still is rather immature, so in exchange I'm not allowed to wear my cravat."
"Well that's no fair. I had to take off my sweatshirt to prove I wouldn't cheat. You should have to sacrifice something too, since you're so concerned with fairness." Phoenix's voice had dipped into a lower tone again, and while he wasn't sure, he could've sworn the man had winked at him as well. His heart began to pound in his chest again, and he felt like he was under a spotlight with Phoenix's eyes directly on him.
Thank goddess I had a drink, otherwise I'd be trembling right now. This is probably all part of his game, just like the sweatshirt move earlier. He's just trying to psyche me out so he can win the first game.
Edgeworth smiled with his most confident pokerface and in one swift motion removed his cravat, before gently folding it and placing it in his jacket pocket.
"Satisfied?" He replied, matching Phoenix's flirtatious tone.
"Absolutely." Phoenix replied, his tone much darker, almost seductive. Unprepared, Edgeworth's eyes widened and caught the slight deepening of Phoenix's blush. Not wanting his mind to get carried away, he quickly began dividing his cards in his hand into numbered groups. He thought he was speedy, until Phoenix chirped.
"Whenever you're ready."
***
"Two Kings" Edgeworth said dutifully. And play began. About 20 cards had amassed into a small pile before Edgeworth unintentionally made a mistake.
The previous card had been a four, and he'd laid down a three, but somewhere in his mind there was a disconnect and he called out five instead, realizing his mistake a moment later. He saved himself quickly, after all five was still a valid play, and was sure he'd done a good job convincing until Phoenix boomed Objection.
He swore mentally, wondering if he could save face since the card he had played was still technically valid. He watched Phoenix flip the card over and perfectly mock Edgeworth's finger waggle.
"Tsk tsk. The man so concerned about cheating is the first to lie." He shook his head in mock disappointment, grinning afterwards. Despite his frustration Edgeworth was happy to see the smile reach his eyes. He was having fun, and he was glad Phoenix was as well.
"I simply said the wrong card aloud, three is still a perfectly valid card."
"Yes, three would be a valid card, but you lied about which card you laid down. All that matters is that the card you discarded wasn't a five."
Worth a shot. Edgeworth half glared at Phoenix in jest and added the discard pile to his hand.
The rest of the game went surprisingly well for Edgeworth, he'd lied three times and only been caught once more, while he'd called phoenix on his cheating twice, although one of those might've been intentional considering he'd tried to lay down four cards while claiming it was only two.
And then Edgeworth was down to three cards, while Phoenix had five. He'd been called on his bullshit and was then forced to take the entire deck. Thanks to Phoenix's stupid luck, he made it though his last cards with only two bullshits and very small pick up piles.
“Such an easy victory. Clearly you haven't changed if I can still beat you with ease.” He said cockily, and began swirling freshly poured wine around in his glass in an attempt to mock the other man.
Edgeworth glared, slightly grumpy at his loss. “Need i remind you that I still vastly outrank you in chess and other board games? Besides,” he scoffed unconvincingly, “it's just the first round. At least one of us knows how to act like a gentleman.” He smiled with competitive hatred in his eyes.
“You lost the bet and by our agreement you now have to sacrifice a piece of clothing.” He grinned like a sore winner, but Edgeworth was too busy being taken aback to glare or continue the banter.”
“I don't know where your drunk head has gone, but I am not like the patrons at your place of employment. I think I'd remember that daft of an agreement.” Edgeworth scoffed to cover up his fear and the blush that was threatening to spill onto his face. I know he's addicted to bluffing, but this is ridiculous.
“Firstly, I'm not drunk.” Phoenix stated surprisingly soberly. Edgeworth rolled his eyes.
“Secondly, I distinctly remember you nodding in agreement to my rules, but if you're not comfortable, or you were only able to bluff and take risks because you didn't think you'd have anything to lose, I understand." He beamed, his voice low and encouraging Edgeworth to take the bait.
If I decline, he proves that I haven't changed. But if I accept...
Edgeworth did in fact recall a conversation earlier where he hadn't been paying attention. Which mean the scheming man across from him was telling the truth.
That certainly puts some of his earlier actions into...context . He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.
Does that mean he was flirting with me? He felt a blush grow from the tips of his ears, and again pushed aside some of the thoughts that one does not have about ones friends. Mentally he fought a storm of concerns, but the alcohol helped him push past most of them.
Surely this is just another bluff, I'm just trying to make this situation into what I want. It's a test: how can I get out of this without proving that I haven't changed?
“That’s not the issue, I'm actually thinking about your ...apprentice? Associate?”
Edgeworth searched for the right words, but the glass of wine he'd just finished persuaded him not to care too much.
“The one who always screams about being fine and has an apostrophe for a hairstyle.” Edgeworth made a throw-away gesture as Phoenix cracked up.
“What if he comes in? I'm not interested in explaining why we're in varying states of…” He blushed and continued. “Undress, and i doubt you are either.” Smooth, he mocked himself as Phoenix filled up their glasses again. Surprisingly he didn't spill, despite the fact that they were both clearly inebriated. Not drunk, simply tipsy.
“Nah. He's spending the night at his boyfriend- er friends house. His name is... potterys omething.” Phoenix started nonchalant, and then began to whisper, or rather what someone lacking a mental volume limiter thinks is a whisper.
“Don't tell him I told you. He doesn't think I know that he's gay but I knooooow. ” He winked, trying to convey some obscure message that missed Edgeworth by a mile.
“Are you sure? That seems like a rather large assumption to make.” Edgeworth replied with concern, sounding more like a parent than the actual parent before him, especially since the other man had leaned back in his chair in a way which would be unstable for most people.
“I'd like to say it was my own deduction skills from my terrible attempts at hiding in the closet,” They shared a knowing smile about their common history.
“but really I just heard him gushing on the phone with him when he thought I was asleep in the hospital. It's really cute actually,” he continued, head in the clouds as if reflecting on a dream. “They're in love and everything. I've seen Apollo buy him flowers a bunch, and even when he's busy he calls him to say goodnight. Didn't know that kind of love existed anymore…”
Edgeworth rolled his eyes, in many ways he hasn't changed. Still the same hopeless romantic.
"Wait, are you out out now?" Edgeworth asked politely, thinking back to elementary school when they'd shared a very chaste and innocent first kiss. They hadn't spoken about it since, but after the DL-6 incident they'd had a couple deep conversations about their lives, and at the time they were both still pretty heavily closeted. Since then they'd talked about it a handful of other times, and while Edgeworth knew the man was bi, he had no idea if anyone else, aside from his also bisexual mentor Mia, knew.
"I guess? I still date women, so I've had to remind people sometimes. Well by people i really mean Larry: he kept trying to set me up with guys and then I'd explain and he'd try to set me up with women and it would flip back and forth. It was like reverse queer eye for the straight guy.” His tone was light but his eyes were tired.
“Shit. I'm sorry, I know you can't stand that word.” Phoenix put his head in his hands.
"Actually, I'm on...better terms with it. I still don't care for it but it doesn't cause the same kind of reaction it did the last time we spoke.” Without thinking, Edgeworth gently pulled Phoenix's hand off of his head and was relieved to see him relax a bit. He returned his hand to his glass.
“But Larry setting up dates? That sounds like my worst nightmare.” Edgeworth grimaced, determined to keep the conversation going. It felt like they were back to their old selves.
"It wasn't so bad actually. I made a few friends and I'm not ashamed of it like I used to be. I had this really messy relationship around the time the you went and did that 'choose death' bullshit," Phoenix looked away, as if trying to convince himself that he was fascinated by the ceiling.
Edgeworth flinched guiltily. He still felt bad for acting the way he had, even though at the time he didn't know about Phoenix's issues with suicide. Phoenix trailed off, not really talking to Edgeworth, just rambling in his direction.
"'Cause it made me think about my mom's suicide, and you know how emotional vulnerability leads to strange bedfellows." He finished, sitting up straight again, looking across the table as if Edgeworth was under a microscope.
"Do you know? About bedfellows?" Phoenix asked candidly. The alcohol had already destroyed any filters.
Edgeworth felt a bit awkwardly ruffled, like a bird going through molting season. He hated talking about sex in general, but Phoenix was the exception because he was the only person he'd ever really reliably talked about even being in the closet with.
It's healthy to take about it. Edgeworth convinced himself with a breath, remembering his therapist’s words.
"It's okay if you don't, Miles. It's not a bad thing to be-"
"I know it's not a bad thing to be!" He yelled and slammed his hands on the card table, before calming himself back down. He didn't know if the man was going to say gay or asexual, but he felt frustrated regardless. Both were true in some respect anyways.
I wonder if it would be easier if I didn't have a crush on him. On a purely logical level, he knew Phoenix was just trying to help counteract all the years of shame and trauma, but some gut reactions are hard to change.
"Woah, we don't have to talk about it man. Sorry." Phoenix said sincerely, looking just a bit sad, or maybe it was worry.
Well that answers the question of if i’m still closeted. No surprise there.
"No it's," he breathed. "There was this... Interpol agent.” Phoenix stared and tried to repress a huge smile, his love of gossip taking over. He poured Edgeworth another glass of wine from the nearby bottle. He took a long drink for courage, and then Edgeworth just let the relaxation of alcohol take him away.
“While working together on this huge case we grew close and it became a relationship. It didn't last long though, we were both so busy that it ended up lasting a year and a half with a good chunk of it long distance. Neither of us were out of the closet either, which meant making excuses to see each other was really difficult," He smiled sadly, his heart ached but only for a moment. He'd been over Shi Long Lang for awhile now, but he had loved him.
"And you were right: love is wonderful, blinding, terrible, and unforgettable.” Edgeworth smiled sadly, knowing some part of him would always love that ridiculous man. He wasn't surprised to see Phoenix tearing up like the sap that he was.
“And i...learned what it's like to be attracted like that to someone else.” He blushed deeply, returning an explicit memory to a corner of his mind. “But I still don't think I'm... normal? He's the only person I've ever felt anything but romantic attraction to. And even that's few and far between for me.” Edgeworth looked away, unable to look at the man that always had given him such romantic feelings. He took another drink of wine just to distract himself.
“I almost gave up important cases that I was working on because of it. I tried to make excuses to visit Zheng Fa even when it meant I wasn't pursuing all the cases that I should be. Franziska and I had a huge fight at one point because she saw us share and kiss and was beyond upset with me for 'hiding that part of me from her'.” He used angry air quotes, his face contorting slightly in memory.
“How was I supposed to know she'd be supportive?” Edgeworth asked with conviction, finally able to look Phoenix in the eyes again.
"Just a stab in the dark but, probably because she's a massive lesbian.”
"WHY DOES EVERYONE ELSE ALREADY KNOW THIS?” He threw his hands up like he was cursing at the Goddess of Law herself. He'd had a much less emotionally charged conversation about this with Gumshoe, Kay, and Courtney. In part because all three of them had noticed him acting strange, and Courtney had actually taken it upon herself to come out as bisexual with the motivation to tell him to just 'go and kiss him already'. It had been an embarrassing week, but at least they agreed to keep his gayness a secret.
“She never said anything to me so I didn't know! Manfred raised us with these strict guidelines of how to act, feel, and what to do. I found out years later that my first boyfriend broke up with me not because he didn't like me, but because Manfred had somehow found out and had threatened to tell his family unless he never spoke to me again.” he finished with a twinge of sadness, and yet freedom at telling someone who wasn't Franziska or paid to help him work through some of the brutality that man had done.
"Holy shit. Wait, I thought I was your first boyfriend?" Phoenix said with embarrassment and confusion. Unlike his previous flirtations, this was humble and almost timid.
"You remember?" Every emotion but softness evaporated from Edgeworth's soul in that moment. He let himself indulge, and get lost in the other man's kind eyes, eyes that looked so much like the little boy who’d kissed him who wore his heart on his sleeve.
"The kiss? Absolutely. I think that's part of the reason I chased you in law school once I found out you'd turned into the biggest asshat ever." Phoenix teased, but the bite in his voice and in his eyes that had been present had been replaced with something else that Edgeworth didn't dare let himself hope to name.
“Is that what you meant when you said I was why you became a lawyer?” He felt guilt in the pit of his stomach, reflecting on the sacrifices he'd been willing to make for love.
Not that he loves me or anything. LovED. loved. He resumed control of his emotions, now was not the time to dream.
“No! well mostly not...” Phoenix blushed with embarrassment for the first time that evening.
He's endearing and somehow looks just like his old self.
Edgeworth shook his head, refocusing and resisting the urge to grab his hand or do something else entirely too stupid.
“How you defended me in elementary school was what motivated me. I wanted to help people and make them feel safe, and your dad would talk about stuff like that too when we'd be over at your house playing computer games.” Edgeworth smiled warmly at the happy memories, his heart no longer hurt in the same way it used to when thinking of his father.
“And then when you left and time moved on I just...forgot about it at some point. Not entirely but a little bit you know? Like a TV you leave on while you're asleep.”
Edgeworth nodded, encouraging him to continue.
“When I was in college, I saw a newspaper circling about how your were going to be the youngest prosecutor in history when you passed your exam and it reminded me of everything. So I dropped art, and by some divine coincidence ended up getting Mia as my mentor after the whole Dahlia/Iris mess. You weren't the boy who’d saved me y'know? And it wasn't okay that you weren't in the world like that anymore.” A dark emotion passed Phoenix's face and lingered just long enough to twist Edgeworth's gut with guilt again.
“I'm glad you're back, helping to take care of the world and all that." He smiled genuinely, with a hint of a blush that was just a bit darker than the one from the wine.
And that look of kindness, admiration, and almost painful idealism is what always got to Edgeworth. It was part of the reason he'd chosen death so long ago, when he'd had scarier, stronger feelings that at the time he'd feared were love. Combine that with new threads of mental trauma and accepting Manfred's abuse as, well abuse, he couldn't handle anything. But it was nice to see this look now, it didn't hurt or terrify him like it used to. He might not be able to talk about it but he could exist with it and not judge it as evil. He could enjoy the feeling of warm sunshine that this man had always radiated.
"I'm not saving the world, I'm just trying to reform the general justice system.” He was able to control his blush this time, out of practice for others who'd said similar things to him.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow. “For multiple countries. By taking out corruption with your own hands. That kind of humility hasn't changed since I saw you last either.” Phoenix shook his head with a look of laughter and endearment.
“Isn't humility a good thing? And by no means does that prove I haven't changed. I'm talking to you about things i... Well, never talk about.”
“That's not new, after all, I've always gotten you to open up to me more than most.” He gave an egotistical grin.
If only you knew, Wright.
“And besides, you haven't picked an article of clothing to take off yet anyways." Phoenix said smugly.
Edgeworth went from slightly red faced to the shade of a burning tomato on a brick wall in an instant
"I beg your pardon?" Edgeworth asked incredulously.
I thought he was joking earlier! Was he not joking?! He felt a flood of nerves and a rainbow of butterflies took up lodging in his stomach.
"Damn. Deflowered and yet still so thick-skulled. You lost, therefore you gotta strip.”
This is most bizarre dream I have ever had. And maybe the alcohol was helping, but it truly did feel like he wasn't in the real world.
“Or was your concern for my subordinate entering the room a bluff to distract from how you were planning on chickening out? If you'd prefer we can decide on something less 'scandalous’," Phoenix made the air quotes with sarcasm and a hint of disappointment. It was clear that he expected Edgeworth to revert back to his old ways, to run from anything and everything outside his comfort zone. But with everything they’d talked about: the wine, and the inextinguishable hope that Edgeworth always felt around him, he decided not to retreat. He convinced himself that he was doing it to prove to the smug and depressed man how much he'd changed, not for the thicker than usual tension in the air. And certainly not because he wanted something more than friendship with him.
Edgeworth stood, purposefully dropping the veil he'd been trying to use to hide his flirtatious side, locked eyes with Phoenix and with a slight grin took his suit jacket off in one swift and graceful motion. He was undeservingly proud of himself when he noticed that Phoenix's mouth had changed from tight lipped to a small expression of surprise.
Not quite a jaw to the floor, but I'll take it.
He let the expression fuel him, and for the third time in his life truly enjoyed the dance the butterflies played in his stomach. He hung it elegantly on the coat hanger near the door, walking seductively and precisely. He locked eyes with him again in the way back, almost like they were playing chicken and daring the other to look away.
Less than graceful, Edgeworth dropped back onto the couch, and in an effort to look relaxed he grabbed his glass of wine and took a decent drink. But he didn't need the wine to feel drunk on the power and the look Phoenix gave him with a much redder blush than before. He felt 20 feet tall, and thanks to the alcohol and attention he didn't feel the self conscious sting he would've normally. He let the wave of emotions wash over him like he was bathing in sunshine. He silenced the warning in the back of his mind with another drink of wine, and watched with a grin as Phoenix adjusted the collar of his shirt.
"Well I'll be damned. Maybe you did change a bit…” Phoenix replied as though he were slightly out of breath, and for the first time that night he looked a bit nervous. He paused like he was going to say something, looking directly into Edgeworth's eyes, and then looked away quickly, almost in fear, and took a large drink.
“Did you decide which three phrases you're going to use?” Edgeworth said in a lower tone, no longer holding up the facade of disinterest that he'd perfected over years. His words were slurring slightly but he didn't care. He wanted Phoenix Wright to know he was flirting with him, even if it was only in tone.
Phoenix grinned genuinely, confidence restored, and Edgeworth enjoyed the feeling of his heart swooning. "Hang on to your..." He looked at Edgeworth's head, grasped his own hat and in his tipsy state forgot to let go of it.
His eyes tracked down his torso and he pointed. "Vest! Because you're going to loooooose."
"I'd repeat the same to you, but it appears you're already treasuring your last minutes with your hat.”
“Hey! Your trash talk doesn't count if it's just copying mine."
"If that's one of your three statements, i found the lie." Edgeworth grinned smoothly, trying not to let his mind wander about Phoenix losing anything besides his hat.
Phoenix's brows wrinkled in deep thought, and for that moment Edgeworth let himself go mentally. He let himself think about everything he'd been trying to dampen down since he'd flown back to the States in fear that his best friend was going to die from running on a burning bridge. Or rather from the feelings he couldn't quite place when he could detect a romantic connection between Phoenix the girl named after a flower. He'd felt jealousy he'd never known before, and to escape those feelings he left again. But it hadn't worked. In one form or another, those feelings always had remained in one form or another since elementary school.
He let their warmth into his heart, it felt different now that he'd stopped denying this part of himself. Once horrifying and heartbreaking in their existence, now felt bubbly and sweet. He looked intently at how the ceiling light played on his nose and eyebrows, how the light glint of red on his lips from the wine plucked at his heart strings as his pulse set the tempo.
He's moving, look somewhere else! His brain yelled, but it was too late, thanks to the delayed reflexes. Phoenix's grin spread in the now corner of his eyes.
At least I have my blush under control. Granted, it was more because the level of alcohol meant that his blush was already spread across his face.
"You've got some wine on your lip, Wright. I see you still can't handle your alcohol." Edgeworth teased, recalling a couple post-case celebrations with Larry and others where drunk Phoenix had made a fool of himself, usually with Karaoke.
"Ah. So that's why you were starting." He goaded, but the prosecutor had been prepared. Plus the adrenaline of stripping had mixed with the alcohol and he felt like nothing could stop him.
"Indeed. Why else would I be?" Edgeworth replied with an inflection that intentionally showed he knew exactly what Phoenix was, or what he half-hoped he was, insinuating.
In response, Phoenix simply exhaled cheerily, and set the notepad he'd scribbled on down on the table, face down.
"Hiding something?"
"Nice try. Half the game is about the delivery. Unless you think you can't do it without the cheat sheet."
Edgeworth rolled his eyes. "Two truths, one lie. The floor is yours" he gestured, arms outstretched to the tiny apartment.
"Are you putting me on trial? I'll have you know I'm a terrible witness."
"Please," Edgeworth tossed his head to the ceiling in annoyance, remembering the case. Unfortunately his mind wandered to Iris as well, and a shadow fell on his confidence. “Mia Fey truly had a heart of gold to not only put up with you, but chose to mentor you after that whole ordeal.”
"Yeah, she did,” he smiled without sadness before emotionally pulling a 180. “I wonder what she saw in me. Don't worry, I won't have you cross examine me ex-defense attorney," Phoenix teased with a dark humor. "Besides, that makes two of us." He raised his glass, gesturing for a toast. Edgeworth's face turned somber, and when Phoenix realized he wasn't going to match his depression toast he made a your-loss face and downed the remaining half glass.
He smiled at his own accomplishment before continuing. "Alright so. Please hold your applause until the end." Edgeworth intentionally maintained a perfectly stoic face.
I don't know what she saw, but I know what I saw. And he's still in there.
"One: I can actually play some average level piano pieces. Two: Trucy desperately wants a bird and I don't. Three: I want to get my badge back someday."
He said all three in a calculated, deadpan tone. And with only a moment of hesitation, Edgeworth knew. He would've know with his eyes closed. He responded in a softer voice.
"The lie is that you want to get your badge back someday. You don't. Wright..." He trailed off sadly.
"How did you know?" Phoenix asked, matching his tone but with more surprise. Thankfully he sounded more alive than a moment ago.
"When I thought I'd tampered with evidence, well... You know what I do. I ran." Edgeworth said with pure shame, looked down at the table, still feeling guilt for his letter of choosing death not too long ago.
"I know how you feel." Edgeworth looked up, into the eyes which were looking a little less dead inside then they were when he'd said the lie.
"Not to say I know exactly, per say, but I know the shame and the pain. The excruciating self doubt and lack of self trust. All the people talking about you behind your back." He said kindly, breaking eye contact to finish the remaining half glass of his wine. Whether it was to avoid the pain in his friend's eyes or to distract his mind from Manfred's haunting form he wasn't sure.
"Except I actually did it. I presented false evidence and used it. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame little Trucy," he said with softness.
He clearly cares for his daughter, much more than his letters even conveyed.
"But I got disbarred Edgeworth. I can't just go practice law in another country and leave everyone and my problems behind." He said in a tone with alarming calmness and an intentional pettiness. He didn't break eye contact.
"Wright, how many times do I have to apologize before you believe me?!" He sounded like he was on the brink of tears. Edgeworth's volume and tone grew as he set both hands onto the flimsy table with a slam. Some part of his mind said he was overreacting, that this was Phoenix dealing with his own issues but the alcohol had pushed it firmly into the background.
"My entire worldview was shifted, I was dealing with the fact that my step-father killed my actual father. That my understanding of the law and even my memories were built on lies and years of abuse." He took a deep and shaky breath. Phoenix adjusted in his seat, clearly feeling guilty. Despite himself, he wanted to cry. But he repressed it, rebuking himself for letting his emotions get in the way of helping his friend who was going through so much in the present moment.
"Miles, hey." Phoenix's apologetic voice continued to calm the man down.
Why does my first name always sound so special when he says it?
He laid his hands on the table now, embarrassed at how he'd reacted.
"For the record, I didn't mean that time. I mean this last time." He said somewhat apologetically.
Edgeworth's lips made a slight oh shape.
"You were all over the place with that D- Iris case.” a wave of pain washed over his face.
Guess he still has his own demons too.
“I couldn't read you, and I usually can. I was really worried. And when I needed you, well..." He held his hands out and let them drop softly. Edgeworth knew he wasn't talking about somehow swaying the board to let him keep his badge, he knew he'd tried. He was talking about being a good friend, being there in person or over the phone.
"I'm sorry I..." He mentally censored himself from admitting his jealousy and realization that he had feelings for him. "Had a lot of things going on. I'll give you more details later but I actually considered giving up my prosecutor's badge for a defense attorney's badge. Permanently."
Phoenix raised his eyebrows.
"I ran into an my dad's mentee, did a lot of soul searching, and ultimately decided to stay with my prosecutor's badge. I know I can find the truth in this office, and there's so many issues with how the prosecution carries out the law. The only way I can change that is if I change that myself. You helped me start that change, and i will always be grateful to you for it." He said with a little bit of pride that he hoped didn't sound conceited. Phoenix gave him that look, the one full of admiration and support. He felt it in his heart.
"And I do hope that someday you'll change your mind about being a defense attorney again." Phoenix met his eyes with confusion.
"Why?" Phoenix replied so quietly, sounding just like little Kay when he'd found her with severe amnesia.
"Perhaps for the same reason that you changed majors to help me return to my path." He smiled, with a glint of flirtation. He quickly shoved thoughts away about Phoenix pursuing him due to some complicated more-than-platonic-attachment.
No more wishful thinking, just reality.
In response, phoenix just smiled. "I clearly made the right choice. Your skills of logic and deduction know no bounds." He teased, internally laughing at the face of disgust Edgeworth made when he'd said 'logic'. They'd had many a chat about how irritating Edgeworth found certain prosecutors and members of the police department fawning over him about the most 'primitive and simplistic ideas' that they themselves should've been capable of.
"But because you made the right choice, I lose." Phoenix's voice intention darkened, and Edgeworth already felt his blush deepening.
It's just his hat, calm down .
"Since you removed a fairly substantial piece of clothing It's only fair that I do the same."
Edgeworth didn't bother to try to control his thoughts as he watched the man stand and slowly take off his white t-shirt. He hated himself just a little bit for lingering below it, at the cluster of hair right above his pants. With a loud thwump, the shirt dropped onto the nearby floor.
I'm so incredibly gay, Steel Samurai help me.
A couple of years ago Larry had dragged everyone to the beach. At the time he was still strongly suppressing the gay in a mental closet, but he had noticed how he'd looked. And now, well after everything that had happened he didn't expect Phoenix to have such strong shoulders, or collarbones, or…
Oh no, I've been staring too long. Abort!
Startled, he dragged his eyes back to Phoenix's face. His blush had deepened as well. He hadn't been able to understand the look Phoenix was giving him until he'd lost his virginity, but Phoenix's eyes were definitely filled with lust. His heart skipped a beat, and almost by a routine reaction, he felt warmth below his belt. Suddenly the butterflies weren't fun anymore.
This is too much, i need some air.
"I'm going to get more wine. You want more wine? I think I should go and get more wine," Edgeworth paused only for a second before quickly hopping up and only banging one of his knees in the process. In some ways, he was grateful for the pain because it helped him concentrate enough to go and get another bottle from the kitchen.
His brain flooded with mixed feelings of excitement and doubt, and much like he'd needed an excuse to get away from the tension of Phoenix's half-naked body he now needed to get back into of his own head before it started taking things too far. He pushed away mental images of becoming involved with that man and intentionally made himself look confident when he turned around.
This is just a little flirting, a little fun. Nothing more. Just because he's gay and you're definitely gay doesn't mean anything.
Phoenix had put his arms around you the back of the pull up chair and had unapologetically been staring at him with a smug grin. Edgeworth gulped and pivoted back to face the kitchen cabinets, fully aware that the liquid confidence was wearing off, and did his best to down the nearby mini bottle of vodka quickly without knocking his head back. While it likely didn't look as smooth as he hoped, and it would probably taste terrible with the wine, the placebo effect of alcohol + Miles Edgeworth = confidence started instantly, and he felt his nerves subside much like they had the night when he'd kissed Shi-Long Lang for the first time.
He turned around, once again projecting confidence and walked back to the couch. He pulled the cork out and poured more wine in both their glasses. It left a decent dent in their third bottle.
Phoenix held the stems of the glasses so they wouldn't shift as Edgeworth sat on the couch. Feeling stupidly bold, and honestly because he was too warm, Edgeworth began to unbutton his vest purposefully looking up at the ceiling in an attempt to portray the act as simply innocent.
"Already predicting your loss at cards?" Phoenix teased, his tone somehow deeper than it was a moment ago. There was a hint of nervousness in it too.
"You wish." Edgeworth teased back, matching the sensual tone. Something about the look in his eyes was giving him even more adrenaline. Although he wouldn't mentally admit it, he was long past the point of steering himself away from Phoenix's advances.
"I was just overheating a bit. The wine and all." He added, trying to cover up any other implications, because as much as he liked seeing lust in that man's eyes it also terrified the Neo Olde Tokyo out of him. And, it was the truth: mostly.
"I see." Phoenix responded, and Edgeworth could see his brain working as he narrowed his eyes in doubt.
"Besides, I realized that I initially started out with an extra article of clothing, So I had to lose another piece as well... for fairness." Edgeworth bluffed, and in comparison to Phoenix's skills he was afraid it was obvious. At this point he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince more.
"Want to up the ante?" Phoenix asked suspiciously nonchalantly as he pulled out the deck of cards again.
Edgeworth took a gulp of wine in an effort to calm the butterflies in his stomach. Thankfully the more inebriated he got, the more confident he became.
"What did you have in mind?" He responded, intentionally matching his tone.
"If I win, you have to kiss me."
Edgeworth almost spilled his wine glass. His pulse raced and he felt both like he could fly and could puke. Without thinking he responded.
"And if I win?"
"What do you want?" Phoenix's eyebrows raised slightly, as if he'd expected some sort of resistance.
"We could um, just continue with the normal bet for me, well for you I mean, if I win. But doubled." His confidence evaporated. He'd managed to avoid blurting out something ridiculous like 'you' but just barely. All his mental energy was focusing on how to throw the game. The voice in the back of his mind that he'd listened to earlier was drowned out by adrenaline and wine. He just wanted to kiss him, and he didn't have the mind at the moment to think of the implications or what it truly would mean for Phoenix or himself.
It's not like you haven't kissed before, anyway.
"Deal." Phoenix said with a grin that truly met his eyes, not that Edgeworth could see as he was purposely avoiding eye contact. He shuffled the cards well, proving that his focus was unaffected by the bet.
Time to bluff better than I ever have, Edgeworth nearly said aloud by accident, fully prepared to do his best to lose.