Chapter Text
February 8, 12:26 AM
Stuttgart, Germany
Miles Edgeworth was awoken in the dead of night by his cell phone ringing. He hadn’t ever been much of a heavy sleeper, or someone who slept all that much, regardless, but the sudden ringing made him irate.
The one night I don’t get a single dream! He thought.
He unplugged his phone from the charger and took a moment to clear his throat in an attempt to ward away the sleep from his voice. Begrudgingly, he pressed the answer button.
Stifling his yawn, he answered, “...Yes? Edgeworth speaking…”
“Edgey! Get up! It’s an emergency!” The voice on the other end practically screamed, causing the prosecutor to pull his phone away from his ear, all without missing a single word.
“Huh…? Larry?!” Miles tried to contain his anger, his friend must not have known the nine hour time difference in their locations. “Don’t you know what time it is?!”
Larry started to scream something about a ‘Laurice’, but Miles was simply too tired to care about his friend’s latest antics.
This is nothing but a terrible nightmare, the prosecutor reasoned, I’ll just roll over and ignore it all…
Even if he knew that he wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep.
“W-Wait! Don’t fall back asleep, Edgey!” Larry begged. “It really is an emergency…!”
“Larry, please take a deep breath,” Miles pinched the bridge of his nose. “What’s going on…?
“It’s Nicky! He… he took a really nasty spill…!”
Miles was certainly wide awake now. He clutched his pillow and cleared his throat.
A nasty spill…? Miles wondered. How would Larry define that…? Maybe… maybe he’s just being hyperbolic…?
Miles thought of certain key moments in his childhood, Phoenix often tripped over himself, it wasn’t necessarily out of character for him. Days spent running as far as they could through their city. Three Signal Samurai gallantly protecting everyone, like the heroes they were. Occasionally they all took their spills, whether it was from a sudden tree root or an untied shoelace, it just happened that it would happen to Phoenix more than Miles or even Larry. Deep down, Miles hoped that was all that had happened.
“W-Well… it wouldn’t be the first time so…” Miles mused.
Please be hyperbolic, please be hyperbolic…!
“I’m not joking! His life is in danger!”
Miles’ heart dropped in that instant. Phoenix Wright, his rival and friend, was in danger?! Everything around him started to spin and his heart started to race.
Not Phoenix, of all people, not Phoenix!, raced in his head, Please not Phoenix!
He managed to find his voice after making an undignified squeaking noise, “Wh-What…?!” His voice was strained and his chest hurt. “What happened?! Tell me!”
“It’s awful, Edgey! I… I couldn’t stop him!” Larry tried to explain. “He… he just ran across it anyway! Talk about a guy with bad luck…!”
Phoenix Wright, what on Earth did you do?! The prosecutor wondered.
“... You’ve got to come back! You’re the only one who can help!...”
Miles half listened to his friend as he processed his shock. Phoenix Wright, his best friend, risked his life and was in danger. Phoenix Wright, one of his closest friends was in danger.
Phoenix Wright, the one man who makes his heart palpitate with that damned confident and bright grin of his. Phoenix Wright, the one man who could reduce Miles Edgeworth into an uneasy, uncertain, trembling mess. Phoenix Wright, the man who saved the prosecutor from himself.
Oh… Oh… Miles realized.
Despite his better judgement, and all logical reasoning. Despite arguing with him more often than not, and standing on opposite ends of the courtroom. Despite knowing that those feelings were unnecessary, Miles Edgeworth realized what was happening to him when it came to Phoenix Wright.
And yet, he found himself not wanting to nip it in the bud. He didn’t want to hide it, or stop them it happening: It was happening and Miles knew that there was no way to stop it now.
He simply knew that there was one thing he needed to do now.
“Alright. I don’t know what’s going on, but…” Miles said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Miles quickly ended the phone call and started to get dressed into something suitable for a twelve hour flight. He stuffed his belongings into his suitcase, folding be damned, he was on a mission!
Once he was able to stuff his suitcase closed and with his passport in hand, he marched to Franziska’s room and pounded his fist on the door. The younger prosecutor cursed loudly and opened the door. The sleep in her eyes didn’t dull the sharp glare she was equipped with. She was so furious that she didn’t even care to appear imperfect in her presentation in front of someone else.
“What are you doing, Miles Edgeworth?!” She hissed. “I am trying to sleep! Don’t you know what time it is?!”
“Franziska, I have to go and I have to go immediately…!” He explained. “Something terrible has happened to Wright and I have to go!
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take a leave on this project, please forgive me,” Miles apologized. “But this is of extreme and utmost imp—”
“Okay, I get it, Miles Edgeworth!” She interrupted. “Give me a moment to gather my belongings…!”
“... What?!”
Franziska rolled her eyes. “Goodness, Little Brother, of course I’m going with you!” She stated. “I know that Phoenix Wright is going to ask you to do some foolhardy act of foolish heroism, and you, like the foolish fool you are, will foolishly agree to it! And somehow you’re going to loop me in on this mad plan of his!
“And I’m going to foolishly agree to help you, because that’s what big sisters do!” She added before slamming the door. “Go downstairs and wait for me, Miles Edgeworth, there is someone who you can call to get a private jet at this hour…!”
“What?! Who?!”
“A foolish up and coming rookie who for god knows what reason is foolishly trying to balance a music career and a prosecuting attorney’s career all at once!” Franziska replied. “He owes me a favor, tell him that I am cashing in on it!” She solidified that point with a whip crack.
Miles quickly did what she ordered him to and conversed with the confused young kid who answered. When he realized that he was talking to the Miles Edgeworth, the kid on the other line could barely contain his excitement.
In any other circumstances, Miles wouldn’t have minded answering all of the hopeful prosecutor’s questions, but he really needed to go.
“Thank you, Mr. Gavin, but I really must go,” Miles interrupted the excitable hopeful. “But, I will say that you do have great potential, and yes I will put in a good word for you at the Los Angeles prosecutor’s office as soon as I can.”
When Franziska finally returned, the prosecutors immediately started into the garage, where Miles’ sportscar was waiting. They put their suitcases in the trunk and sped to the airport where the private jet was waiting for them. Admittedly, it was slightly gaudy, especially with, ‘Gavinners’, painted on the side, but Miles paid it no mind.
When they boarded the jet, Miles prepared himself for the upcoming turbulence.
Breathe easy, Edgeworth, just take a deep breath, Miles thought to himself.
He prepared for the longest twelve hours of his life.