Work Text:
"Sir?" Miles looks up at the waiter by his table. He wrings his hands. "If the rest of your company don't arrive in 15 minutes we're gonna have to ask you to give up the table."
Miles clenches his fists. This was supposed to be a date. His first date since his break-up with Shi-Long Lang. Kay had been on him for years to get back out there, even helped him set up a dating profile. He had match with someone, and the two had agreed on a dinner at the new seafood place. It had been hell getting a reservation, but Miles' pulled some strings and managed to get them a table. The date in question should've arrived an hour ago.
"I'll wait for 15 more minutes then," he says, sipping his water. The waiter nods and leaves.
All the text Miles had sent his date over the app had been left unanswered, but he decides to try one last time. He takes out his phone and pulls up the app.
The match is gone.
Miles stares down at his phone, brain barely comprehending what he's seeing—or not seeing.
Kay had mentioned something about unmatching and blocking, and how people disappeared from your messages then.
Miles feels his eyes sting. This is what he gets for putting himself out there. For taking a chance. He never should've listened to Kay. He should've stayed a recluse and died alone with his dog as his only companion.
And now he's gonna have to leave. He's gonna have to stand up and leave, and the entire restaurant will know he's been stood up.
Humiliation burns through his chest.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Miles startles and looks up. A man, very much not the man from the app, sits down. His hair is dark and spiky and he is dressed nicely in a dark blue suit. Miles stares, dumbfounded.
The man takes a seat across from him and smooths his hands down his chest.
"Traffic!" He says, making a grand gesture with his hands. "You wouldn't believe the asshole I got stuck behind!"
The waiter from before approaches their table again. Miles is in a bit of a daze as he and the stranger orders. When the waiter makes himself scarce again, Miles leans forward.
"Who are you?" He whispers. The man puts out a hand.
"Phoenix Wright. You can tell me to leave, but I saw you sit here alone, then heard you were about to lose your table. I know how humiliating being stood up is, so I thought I'd save you."
Miles blinks. Had he been anyone else he probably would have been grateful—touched, even. As it stands he sneers.
"I don't need your pity!"
Phoenix gives him a crooked little smile.
"It's not pity. You're hot. I'm doing this for me just as much as I'm doing it for you." Miles brain screeches to a halt. "But if you want me to leave—"
Phoenix goes to stand up. Miles' hand shoots out before he can think better of it.
"Wait."
Phoenix looks at him, then slowly sits back down.
"You got a name?" Phoenix asks, grabbing a piece of bread from the basket and tearing it in half.
Miles swallows. "Edgeworth. Miles Edgeworth."
Phoenix washes the bread down with some water. "Well, Edgeworth. Whoever stood you up, it's their loss. Their loss, my win." Phoenix shoots him a wink and Miles feels himself flush.
"Do you make a habit out of saving strangers who have just been stood up?" He asks with a raise of an eyebrow.
Phoenix smiles, all teeth and shark-like. "Only the really handsome ones."
Miles scoffs. "So I'm handsome now too? You really know how to flatter a man."
"Just telling it like it is," Phoenix says with a shrug.
Their food arrives, along with some wine to go with it. Miles ordered some salmon on rice, and Phoenix had gone for for the scallops. He ordered a glass of white with his food, Miles a glass of red.
"I feel like I know you from somewhere," Miles comments as they dig into their food.
Phoenix hums. "Been to see Hamlet at our local theater lately? Cause that would be why."
Miles nearly drops his fork. "Y—you're Hamlet?"
Phoenix puts his spoon in his mouth and leaves it there as he takes a bow. He takes it out to speak. "In the flesh."
Miles almost feels starstruck. "I've seen the production three times already. You're amazing."
Finally it's Phoenix's turn to blush, and Miles feels a satisfactory tingle climb down his spine at the sight of it.
"I mean it's Shakespeare. It's already an amazing play. I'm a mere conduit."
Miles hums. "Maybe. But you have a certain—" he waves his hand around, looking for the word. "Stage presence."
Phoenix snorts. "Thanks. What do you do?"
Miles very suddenly feels self-conscious. "I'm an attorney. A defense attorney. I work at a firm with my dad and a few of his friends."
Phoenix to his credit looks impressed. "That must set you up to meet some interesting people?"
Miles nods and sips on his wine. "It does, absolutely."
He goes on to tell Phoenix all about the strange and bizarre cases he has taken over the years. Phoenix listens rapidly, eyes wide and nodding along as he oh's and ah's in all the right places. In return, Phoenix tells him all about his strangest productions—from weirdly obsessive directors, to loud-mouthed hecklers. Miles laughs until his stomach cramps and wine shoots out of his nose.
When it comes time to pay and take their leave Phoenix puts a hand out to stop Miles from getting his card out.
"You can take the next one," he says with a wink. Miles heart flutters in his chest at the promise of a next time.
Phoenix pays and they head outside. The sun has already set and it's dark out. Phoenix rubs his hands together to warm them up.
Miles looks at him.
There is no denying that he is handsome. And they had clicked. He had had more fun tonight than he could remember ever having. And he was sweet.
"Give me your phone," he says, holding out a hand. Phoenix doesn't hesitate or question him, just gives it.
"What if I had robbed you?" Miles grumbles as he takes it. Phoenix just treats him to a sheepish little grin and laughs. Miles shakes his head fondly and saves his number on the phone before giving it back.
"Call me," he says. "I'm taking you up on that second date."
Phoenix beams. "I like the sound of that."
Miles snorts. Then he leans in and presses a kiss to Phoenix's cheek. "Night, Wright."
"Night, Edgeworth."
As he heads home his phone buzzes. He takes it out to see a message from Kay.
how was the date?
Miles presses his lips together.
a perfect disaster, he replies.
what does that mean!?!?
Miles laughs. Another message comes through then.
thx 4 2nite//phoenix.
Miles smiles. A perfect disaster indeed.