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Chapter Text

If you had told Miles that he would fly his friend to Germany to help him with legal papers, would go out drinking with said friend, dress up in hideous outfits and embarrass each other in public, get drunk again, have an emotional sentimental moment in a public park, and then perhaps confess your feelings to said friend, Miles would never have believed you in a million years. Now, if you tried to tell Miles this was actually reality and not an alternate universe, he would look at you crazy and question if you were in the right mental state.

But only the story will tell if this ever became a reality for Miles Edgeworth. So, without any more delays, let the story commence.

Miles had called Wright down to Germany to aid with some of the more complicated cases he was working on. Of course, he did not require the man's help, but his absurd way of thinking could hopefully benefit him greatly. That was the only reason. Yup, nothing else except the fact he could provide aid. That is all! Nothing else at all…

All right, fine, that was not the only reason. He did also miss having Wright in his company. It gets lonesome in Germany and boring when your life is the same routine every day. Waking up, getting ready for the day, going to work, then coming home from work and starting the day all over again. Life may be stable and kind to him now, but it is incredibly bleak and melodramatic. What he wouldn't do for some chaos in his life.

Wright had informed him that his daughter, Trucy Wright, would not be joining him this time because she was spending time with the Feys, Maya and Pearl Fey respectively. Wright failed to mention why or for what purpose, but it did not seem like something Miles needed to be informed about. He did not want to intrude or overstep any boundaries.

He had set off to the airport to collect Wright and his belongings. Even after going to the airport several times to pick up Wright, the anxiety he felt seeing the man has never ceased. Flying Wright out to help with cases started as helping him find his passion for Law again and perhaps assisting the man with his self-confidence and mental health. It did seem to work, and in return, Miles got to see the man he admired go back to his same old self. But he always feared that the long months apart and his busy schedule would keep him from keeping updated with Wright's life. Of course, Wright's life is his alone, and he had no reason to share his experiences with Miles, but he wanted to be kept in the loop to make sure Wright was safe and healthy.

They tried their best to keep in contact with one another. But, time was never in their favour.

Miles does recall a phone call he had with Wright years back. He cannot properly recall what they were talking about, but he remembers it was very humouring to the two men. Funny enough, it left them in hysterics and unable to calm down for a few minutes.

Their laughter had died down and was met with pure silence. They knew the other person was still on the phone because they could hear one another's breath, but no words were being spoken.

"I miss you."

This caught him off guard. He did not get what Wright meant.

"I am right here Wright."

"Yeah, but you aren't really. We haven’t seen each other in a long time. I don't think I've been here in a while."

"What are you talking about...? Your wording is confusing me."

"I haven't been me in so long. What I am trying to say is that I've missed the person I was when I was around you. I wish I could always feel the happiness I feel when you are around. Like right now, we are giggling, and everything feels good in the world again, but the moment we hang up this phone I am going to go back to feeling terrible and alone."

Silence.

Miles was not sure how to respond to that.

“Wright. Are you alright? Do you need someone to talk to? You know I am here for you. I will gladly listen to any problems you are having.”

“No, it’s fine. I really don’t wanna bother you with my personal life. I know you’re a very busy person who has a lot more important things to worry about. Sorry, I totally ruined our happy moment, didn’t I, heh.”

He sounded so different from 5 minutes ago. Miles can’t help but feel as though his dear friend is keeping up a facade to hide his sorrows and sentiments.

“It really is no bother, I promise you. Please rely on me whenever you need me. You aren’t troubling me by venting any sort of problem you are having. I care about you, Wright. You always listen to me, so I will more than happily attend to you.”

“Thank you, Edgeworth. It is getting late, however, maybe another time?”

Miles can’t help but feel like Wright is pulling away on purpose to avoid this conversation. But, he is unaware of how to handle this situation from such a distance.

“Alright, Wright. Please take care of yourself and again talk to me if you need anything at all.”

“I will. Thank you again. Talk to you soon, Edgeworth,” Wright spoke.

“Talk to you soon. Goodbye, Wright.”

Following this phone call, Miles made it his duty to message Wright more often.

Another instance that he can recall was when he came back to visit Japanifornia for winter break.

Young Trucy Wright had called Miles, telling him how her father would go days without eating and pretend that he was keeping a consistent eating schedule. It frightened the young girl to the point that she felt the need to involve someone else in the situation. She was scared her father would faint somewhere unsafe or lose a lot of weight in an unhealthy manner. There were so many situations circulating through her mind, and she did not like the outcome of any of them. He was aware of what the little girl was implying, and it made his heart feel heavy and begin to hurt.

After Trucy had informed him about the circumstances and situation, Miles got to the Wright residence as fast as he could and talked to Phoenix Wright. Phoenix’s appearance never failed to leave a sort of uneasy feeling in Miles' heart. There was nothing inherently wrong with his appearance, but he was no longer the man he used to know. Someone who used to be so proud. He was more of a ghost now, not keeping in contact with people he used to call friends and going off the grid. But, it never changed how Miles felt about Phoenix and only fueled his determination. A lot of the time they spent together that night was used to talk about anything and everything that would help Phoenix feel ‘normal’ again.

“I can’t help but feel like a failure when it comes to anything these days. I stay awake at night because I feel like I no longer have a purpose. I feel like I am waiting for something that just is not going to happen, and it feels so … excruciating,” Wright expressed with a sorrowful look on his face. The expressions Wright showed these days were so brutal. Miles waited for the man to take some deep breaths because it still seemed like he had more to say. A minute went by and, then another. Time spent with the dark-haired man always moved fast, sometimes way too fast. He wishes he could stay beside the man for longer. Take away all his worries and despondency, and make sure every moment for the rest of his life is filled with nothing except happiness.

This field of thought was interrupted when Wright finally spoke. “I know I have been distant, and I want to apologize for that. I want you to know everything that is going on with my life because you are my friend, but I … do not want to tell you. That sounds dumb doesn’t it, haha. It feels so difficult to get the words out of my mouth. I wish I could let you see into my life without having to tell you about it.”

Tears started to trickle down the man’s face. “How did I go from a defence attorney to an absolute nobody?”

Miles wanted to hold Wright so close and tell him that none of what he just said was true. That no part of that sentence was factual. But something always seemed to hold him back from what he really wanted to do. So instead, he settled for a firm hand on the man's shoulder.

“You are far from a nobody, Wright. You are someone I hold in high regard. I always have and always will. Struggle is not something that will go away instantly and dealing with it for longer periods does not make you a failure in any way.”

“How can you hold someone like me in high regard when all I do is let everyone around me down including myself? I get disbarred, I can’t even take care of my child because she's repeatedly worrying about me, and I keep shutting everyone out. All those things have one variable in common, and it is me. I am the problem. I feel unsalvageable and frightened. Everything I was scared of happening, happened.”

Wright let out a breathy cry, it sounded like utter defeat.

How do you encourage someone who seems to have hit rock bottom? Miles knew that the man was far from entirely giving up or maybe he was just trying to convince himself that Wright would be able to bounce back. He wanted to believe there was still hope for the kind dark-haired individual.

Miles contemplated for a little about how to validate Wright's feelings and guarantee him that he was there for him. He had done this on multiple occasions for Wright, but this time, it felt like the man was only holding on by a string.

“Wright… I am someone who struggles often with reaching out to others, so I understand that part of what you are going through. It is difficult to admit sometimes that you want people to be close to you, and it's hard to reach out for support. You should not feel ashamed or enraged at yourself,” Miles voiced while he continued to keep a firm grasp on the other man’s shoulder. Wright did not look up. He had his eyes closed and was listening attentively to the words coming out of the silver-haired gentleman’s mouth.

Miles took note of the man’s state and continued, “Even when I gave up and believed I was unable to change and better myself, you had faith in me. For that, I am forever appreciative and full of gratitude towards you. Right now, it may seem as though your whole life is over, and you have nothing else to look forward to, but trust me when I say that better days will come.”

“How can you be so sure? How can you make such a claim?”

“I will be here to make sure of it. I will promise you better days and be here every step of the way. Whether you want me here or not.”

This comment made Wright chuckle softly and wipe his tears off his face. “That is something a child would do. ‘I am going to be here whether you like it or not!’ That's quite charming, you know. It reminds me of something Trucy would say.

Miles turned a little red at the idea that he was similar to a small child. He is not sure if he is red because he is embarrassed that the man found a resemblance between Miles and his daughter or the fact that Wright called him charming.

“Knock it off, Wright! I am trying to show you that I will make sure that you are mentally well and comfortable.”

“So, does this mean that you’re going to be more present in my life?”

“That is exactly what I am trying to insinuate, Wright. I am glad you can pick up such clear and in-your-face kind of context clues,” Miles stated while eye-rolling away from Wright’s line of vision. He slumped downwards onto the wall, and this caused Wright to laugh a little louder this time around. He must truly look like a child now.

The two sat in silence for a few moments. It was quite pleasant. Miles found himself longing for Wright’s presence, craving the moments when they could share a meal or simply sit in companionable silence, side by side. Miles had missed the moments when the two men would just be in one another's presence. No words needed to be exchanged, but the two knew that these were the moments they would cherish in the coming time.

“Thanks, Edgeworth. For everything. You did not need to come here, but you did, and instead of leaving when you saw me, you stayed and talked to me. If I were you, I would have run away as fast as I could to be spared from a grown man crying up a storm.”

“Well, yes, I too now wish I had run away from my dearest friend. Oh, how terrible this time has been for me. I am so annoyed and full of rage because I had to listen to someone I care about explain their emotions and tell me about their feelings. How horrible it is. It is inhumane what you put me through Wright,” Miles declared sarcastically, acting out the cruelty and over-exaggerating.

“Oh, shut it, you bastard. I was only making a joke. You are terrible, you know that?”

“Wow, Wright, calling me terrible. The call must come from inside the house.”

“Hey there! Are you insinuating that I am also terrible?!”

“If the shoe fits, wear it, Wright.”

The two men began laughing, and for once in a long time, Phoenix Wright was happy. He can't remember the last time he laughed this much and enjoyed someone's company. Wright was smiling, and suddenly everything felt right in the world again. Miles could not help but stare at the beanie-wearing man after the two’s laughter died down. God, he has missed those heterochromatic eyes and slight stubble.

The pair had not noticed how close they’d gotten to one another due to their laughing. Their faces were practically inches apart. Everything around them seemed to quiet down. Any sounds coming from outside were silenced, cars, people taking out their garbage, even the loud neighbours' television, it all seemed to disappear in the moment. They had interlocked eyes now, and all that was left was for one of them to lean in a little closer to the other…

“Daddy!” The two men heard a voice coming nearby, and they more or less jumped away from one another. The small child opened the door cautiously as though she was afraid she was intruding and walked towards the pair sitting on the floor.

“Hi, baby girl,” Wright spoke with a soft expression and eyes that were red from crying, “Is everything alright?”

Trucy nodded and seemed to have something hiding behind her back.

“What is that you got hiding behind you, my moonflower?”

The little girl seemed hesitant at first, but her father's smile seemed to tell her that it was fine and that she could show him anything.

She showed her father a drawing she made and handed it to him for both the men to view. Miles could not make out what the drawing was because of the position he was now sitting in due to jumping away quickly from Wright. But, he could make out that it must be something for her father. She was a little teary-eyed, evidently not familiar with what her new father was going through.

She seemed to have put a lot of work into the picture. She was nervous when her father showed no signs of expression on his face, but that was quickly changed when she saw some tears drip down the dark-haired man’s face. She began to light up a little more when her father burst into tears and had a soft smile on his face because of the drawing. The crying was giving Trucy mixed signals of whether or not her father was truly fine, but the smile showed her that he would be all right.

She must have felt a little relief seeing her father express emotions outwardly to her. He drew her in for a hug and kept repeating the words, 'I promise, I will become stronger for us. Trust me.' Over and over again. When Wright pulled the girl into the hug, the drawing fell to the ground.

While the two were having their moment, Miles picked up the drawing, and his eyes lit up. It was a picture of what seemed to be her and Wright, with the words 'My Daddy,' written in bold letters at the top. It was very heartwarming, to say the least. Even though Miles has not been around as much as he would like, it feels good to know that Wright has an incredible daughter by his side. Miles could feel a smile coming onto his face, but he stopped himself from showing it. Instead, he watched as the family embraced one another and talked about what their future would await.

He knew immediately following the incident that he wanted to support Wright. Miles would have used the word needed, but he did not want to belittle Wright or make him feel as though he, a grown man, could not take care of himself. Instead, Miles only wanted to push Wright in the right direction so that he could live his life to the fullest. He wanted Wright to see what the world could offer a man such as himself.

While he stood at the airport awaiting Wright's arrival, he kept thinking in his mind about what he wanted to say to the man. He closed his eyes and imagined what he would say. 'It's a pleasure to see you, Wright,' or 'You look exquisite as always, Wright.'

Hmm...

Wait
WAIT.
WHAT?!

How could I even say that to him!? These cases have been keeping him up for way too long to the brink of exhaustion. Ah, yes! Blame it on the lack of sleep for the idea of wanting to confess to his closest and dearest friend that he thinks he is captivating. That is most certainly why he was thinking these thoughts, the lack of sleep.

Of course, it makes total sense. His eyes were still closed when he heard the sound of a pair of feet approaching him. When Miles opened his eyes and looked in front of him, it was Wright, in all his glory. Miles' heart skips a beat whenever the pair interlock eyes. ‘He is so exquisite…,’ Miles thought.

"Hey there, Edgeworth! It has been a while, hasn’t it?" The man beamed with that brilliant unwavering smile he always had. All Miles could do was offer him a smile back because even though Wright was smiling, his eyes had a language of their own. It was unmistakable that he was not doing any better, but Miles did not want to pressure him to open up to him. Particularly not in a German airport.

Miles had not noticed, but it seemed he had been staring at Wright through this whole inner monologue.

“Hello there, Earth to Edgeworth. Hmm, E2E, I feel like that could be a super cool movie. A story of how Miles Edgeworth brings Earth back to its natural state after aliens overran it! I should trademark that,” Wright chuckled to himself and that broke Miles out of his blank expression.

"Ah. I apologize for staring at Wright. It has been a long time since I last saw you. It's great to see you as always,” Miles remarked, the two men shared a firm handshake, “Let us hurry to my car so we can get past the rush hour," Miles communicated while he glanced at his watch to get the time.

Wright simply smiled, "Always one for time and business, huh, Edgeworth?"

"Of course, Wright, at least one of us has to be, or nothing would get done, would it?" He sarcastically mentioned, and it was only harmless banter. He meant no malevolence or ill intent behind his words. He was thankful that Wright just laughed along with it. It was more of an unfeeling laugh than he had anticipated, but a laugh, nevertheless. It meant something. They walked to Miles's car, and the other man positioned his belongings in the trunk and then took his regular seat in the front, beside Miles.

"I guess that is true," Wright groggily sighed, and he sounded more exhausted than usual, "Do you mind if I just take a nap while we get to your place? I did not enjoy that plane ride at all. There were so many screaming children near me, and the old man next to me kept snoring."

He could only imagine what the plane ride must have been like without dear Trucy keeping Wright company. Trucy did have an extraordinary charm to her where she could cheer almost anyone up. He would know because he was prey to this charisma. "Of course, Wright, go right ahead. I will wake you up when we get there." He was met with speechlessness after his remark. He turned his head towards Wright and saw that he was already fast asleep. Miles chuckled softly and drove to his apartment.

He had awoken Wright when they reached his complex, and they went inside. Most of their duration was spent together, either catching up or looking over legal documents. It was beautifully peaceful, and Miles would not have it any other way. Until this moment happened.

“Could you pass me that paper with the bolded title on your left, Wright?”

“On my left or right?”

“Your left, Wright.”

“What the heck is a left-right?”

“Your left, Wright!”

“Is this some weird German thing that I do not seem to understand?!”

“Oh, for God’s sake!” Miles exclaimed before grabbing the paper himself.

It took the dark-haired man a few moments to connect the dots, but he finally comprehended what had happened. “Ohh, your left, Wright. As in me. As in, I am Wright, and you are telling me that it is on my left.”

“Thank you for that incredible deduction Herlock Sholmes. What could we ever do without you.”

“Hey! This is a lot of attitude from a man who looks like he could be someone’s grandfather!”

“You take that back, this instance, Wright!”

They continued to bicker until they completely forgot what they were originally fighting over. After that long and unnecessary bantering, they got back to work. This time trying to avoid any directional challenges.

Before the pair knew it, It was nightfall. And Miles was not prepared for what was going to happen after that.

The two men went out for dinner at Miles's request because he wanted to expose Wright to more German cuisine. It was a marvellous time to bond and chat about anything they wanted to. It was all going smoothly until the waiter asked if either man wanted any sort of alcoholic beverage. Miles was not one to partake in alcohol that often. It was usually exclusively for social events he had to take part in or a glass of wine on rare occasions.

But, before he could refuse the notion, Wright was already ordering the two men two glasses of vodka. Again, before Miles could oppose, the waiter had already departed.

"You do comprehend that I have to drive us home, correct? And how would you even know if I would enjoy vodka?" Miles voiced with more bark than he meant. Wright did not falter, however, and just grinned at him.

"Oh, do not be like that Edgeworth, it will be alright," He said with that same nonchalant tone he usually had, "Besides, when was the last time you and I had a drink jointly? I thought it would be pleasant to share one or two drinks with an old friend."

"One. Only one drink the both of us will be having. I do not know about you, but I rather not wake up with a raging headache," Miles scoffed, and Wright chuckled.

"Sure, sure. Just one drink," Wright said. The waiter came back with the beverages, and one drink became two drinks, which became three drinks, which may have diverted into four drinks. He cannot remember for the life of him.

Miles hiccupped, and Wright became a laughing mess, "Aw, you hiccup like a small kitten," The man with the beanie jested, and Miles did not take too hospitably to the hazing.

"Hush up, Wright. If you hadn't noticed, I am way too drunk to be taking us home, and I refuse to drink and drive. Be drunk and driven? I am drunk and cannot drive. Yeah, I think that’s the one. My apartment also is quite far away so we will have to bus it or walk there. I will pick up my car in the morning when I feel better," Miles stated, and it seemed like the most logical thing he could think of in his current state.

The two men decided to just walk to Miles's apartment while looking around Germany. It was going lovely, and Miles was enjoying every moment of it. To Miles, it seemed like Wright was also enjoying his company and the scenery. The two men were laughing like fools over nothing. It seemed the alcohol had taken effect on them. Wright would make a one-off comment about the things around them, and for some reason, it would lead the two men into hysterics. But, as always it seemed Wright wanted to do things in his outlandish way while dragging Miles into his shenanigans.

"No, Wright," Miles stated sternly with no evident expression of faltering, "You are acting incredibly childish, and the two of us are too drunk to be doing such things at our age!"

"Our age?! We are not ancient yet, Edgeworth! I will not have you throw pins at my age, and besides, who cares if we are a little drunk? It will make it so much more fun!" Wright exclaimed with a childlike grin and enthusiasm. Miles wanted to say no because as Franziska would put it, it is a foolishly foolish plan that would put his foolish dignity at risk.

"Wright, you are acting like a small child, you can barely walk properly, and I'm slurring my words. I think. I cannot really tell," Miles remarked, and Wright was not having any of his very reasonable objections. He took Miles's words for garbage and continued to beg Miles to go inside.

"But I can walk properly! See!" Wright ran a bit away from Miles and slowly walked to him. He was walking and running like a drunken fool, but it was sort of endearing to Miles how hard he was trying to prove a point.

"See how impressive I am at walking!" He exclaimed, and Miles could not help but give him a soft smile. The lengths he goes going to prove he is not drunk is very charming. He truly was beauty in its purest and loveliest form...

Wait.

WAIT.

WAIT!

Augh! Brain, stop having such intense thoughts. I swear to God! He was aware he was scrunching his eyes and thinking in his head, and if Wright had not snapped him out of it. He might have just wallowed so hard that he would have been in a black hole of despair.

“Hey Edgeworth, are you all right?” Wright questioned and seemed concerned. Miles kept trying to think of an appropriate excuse, and all he could come up with was, “I have no clue what you are talking about Wright. I think you may be hallucinating, furthering my point that we are far too drunk,” Miles voiced and, was particularly proud he could add a mental point to his scoreboard.

Yes. The grey-haired man was keeping track of points on an imaginary scoreboard. Do not judge him.

“Okay… whatever you say, Smiley Miley,” Wright giggled like a child, and Miles winched. Smiley? What kind of absurd nickname is Smiley?

“Do not call me that Wright. It is very unbecoming and honestly a bit weird,” Miles declared, and Phoenix just continued calling him Smiley Miley while Miles kept arguing against the name. Miles realized his resentment for the nickname only added fuel to the flame, and Wright would have not assumably said that silly nickname again if he had not piqued his interest. Unfortunately for Miles, he saw the mental lightbulb click in Wright's head, and he was extremely worried about what was to come.

“If you come with me to the thrift store to buy each other dumb outfits and roam Germany with me in said outfits, I will stop calling you that,” Wright said excitedly, as he had won, but Miles was not about to give up like a pathetic loser, so he marched on.

“Wright, I am not a child who can be coerced with the promise of forgetting a silly name. Besides, it does not even bother me that much," Miles said in a huff as he crossed his arms. He was lying. A few minutes ago, he was begging Wright to stop calling him that, but now he is suddenly fine. But Miles hoped that because the two men were completely drunk, Wright would let it go.

He was wrong. Wright did not let it go.

"Well, that is a true shame, Edgeworth. If it does not bother you that much, I guess I will simply have to make it your official nickname now! Maybe I will tell your peers and colleagues. But, I would not be that welcomed to the prosecutor's office. Which is sort of a predicament, hmm. So I should probably pass the nickname off to KAY," Wright giggled sinisterly. The name echoed in Miles's brain.

Oh no.

OH NO.

OH NO!

Kay could not get a hold of this nonsensical nickname. It would spread faster than a wildfire, and he could not have that. Officers and detectives dubbed him that behind his back. It would make him come off as...likable. And, people in his headquarters would not fear. This would mean they will start having… CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM! Miles enjoyed his peace and quiet and not being interrupted every 5 minutes to talk about how cute someone’s child was. He did not care about some lady named Linda’s children. And he certainly did not have time to spare to chat about it.

He did not want to come off as a heartless monster with no sentiments, but he did not want to come off as someone who could easily become close acquaintances with either. Augh! He was far too drunk to think of anything to rebuke Wright. Whoever said drinking was fun is a massive liar. Miles is in pain and agony.

He sighed in defeat. He had to give in to the proposal.

"Fine, Wright. You win. But, please for the love of Lady Justice and everything good, do not tell Kay about that dumb nickname," Miles explained, and Wright looked over the moon. He could see the outline of stars in his eyes while the beanie-wearing man jumped in glee.

"You will not regret this, Miles! It will be so much fun!" Wright voiced excitedly as he grabbed Miles's arm and ran inside the thrift store. Miles was caught off guard by the use of his first name, but he just let himself get dragged in. He was too tired to argue or care anymore. What’s the worst that could happen anyway? Miles was about to find out.

"All right, let us commence with ground rules. The maximum we can spend is thirty-five euros, and we must buy the other person the most atrocious outfit. Nothing is off limits in the store, except maybe toys. But, if you want to style a toy into the outfit, go ham! We both have forty minutes, and we will meet in front of the changing rooms. Anything unclear?" Wright asked the other drunk man who sat in front of him like an infant who was ready to hear storytime from their teacher.

"I am not sure I even heard everything that spilled out of your mouth in that minute. How are you able to speak so fast? It’s quite impressive. That aside, I do not think there is anything left unclear except for your motive for such a ludicrous game?" Miles questioned the man standing in front of him, and Wright just shrugged slightly with a bright grin.

"Because one, it will be super fun and a great way to get closer. Second, because it will be fun and you are my friend. So, indulge me in dumb things, pretty please," Wright stated with pleading eyes, and Miles rolled his eyes.

Did he already not indulge Wright enough with things? Such as when he asked him if he could come over and watch all the Mission Impossible movies with him. But it was because Wright was having a meltdown over whether or not he was an adequate father, and Miles wanted to be there for him. Hmm, I guess that was not a silly thing. He was happy he could be there for him. But what about the time he took Trucy and Wright to a carnival, and Wright begged the man and his daughter to stand behind those silly cutouts of characters where your face goes in a spot of the character's face. Now that he thinks about it, that was quite fun as well. Miles enjoys looking back on those photos and seeing the good moments.

It seems that whatever Wright makes him partake in turns into a fond memory. Miles is not sure if that's because he particularly enjoys what they are doing or that he just enjoys spending time with the Wright family.

Miles sighs and nods, “Fine, I will indulge you. Meet you in the changing rooms in 40 minutes.”

Wright looked like a child who just saw presents under the Christmas tree, the way his eyes were sparkly and full of childish excitement. It was very endearing and even adorable.

…

God Miles, stop being gay in a thrift store, it is embarrassing.

Then the two drunk men were off. They were running around the store looking like complete lunatics. Running around drunk probably was not the best idea, but it seems that both men underestimated how short 40 minutes truly was. Miles felt like he was going to throw up because of how dizzy he was feeling. They both had started slow, but when the 20-minute mark hit, they were up and at it. Who knew time flew when you were having fun? Certainly not Miles. But, he had to admit, this was the most fun he had had in a while. Life is very boring in Germany, sure processing and looking over files and going to trials can be fun in its own accord, but it does not mean that is all Miles wants to do for fun. He is sort of enjoying this more childish side of him. It’s very, for lack of better words, nice. Miles could feel a small smile creep onto his face while he looked for an ugly pair of shoes for Wright.

The two men finished their shopping and met up next to the changing rooms. Since it was so late out there were not many people in the store at the time, so the two men had full range to humiliate each other.

Phoenix went into the changing rooms first. The outfits seemed to be taking a long time to put on, perhaps he was confused about where certain articles of clothing went. But it was all worth it when he came out looking like a lunatic.

Phoenix wore a pink feathered boa with duck slippers, a kiss the chef apron, wide-opened orange pants which were covered in yellow stars, with heavy chains on the side of one of the pockets, big neon green star glasses, several gaudy brightly coloured bracelets on each arm that went just close enough to his forearm, as well as bright pink socks, and the piece de resistance was two large hoop earrings on his ears.

Wright seemed to not feel embarrassed at all and honestly looked like he was on top of the world. He posed for several minutes in front of the mirror before remembering Miles's presence. He asked what Miles thought, and Miles gave him two thumbs up, which in his language meant 'You look outstanding.'

Phoenix had a bright smile on his face, which seemed more genuine than the last few smiles he had given Miles today. Before he could truly saviour the moment, Wright was already rushing him into the changing room and handing him the 'outfit' he had picked out.

Miles walked out feeling like an embarrassment. He was wearing a pink frilly crop top with puffy sleeves, he had on a pair of green high-waisted pants to hide the stomach area the crop top was showing off, and it was nicely paired with run-down suspenders. He was rocking some brightly coloured neon yellow open-toed sandals, but have no fear it was matched with some Christmas socks with Santa drinking a beer while saying ‘Party on Motherfuckers.’ He wore one of those fake brown moustaches that you stick onto your face and was honestly kind of rocking it if he does say so himself. Lastly, it was all tied together with a tiny top hat. Pièce de résistance.

Wright could not help but laugh immensely at the expense of the man in front of him. He took a photo of Miles before sending it to his daughter without any sort of context. Wright was still laughing during all of this, which caused him to lose balance and fall off his chair, but this did not hush down the laughing at all. Miles would have told him to stop his howling because he was making a fool out of himself, but he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He saw Wright's horrid outfit and then looked at the monstrosity he was wearing and could not help but smile. This may be the most humiliating thing he had ever done in public and probably the last, but he could not deny how happy he was alongside Wright.

"We look like complete messes!" Wright says and Miles could only silent nod as a smile slowly crept onto his face. They truly did, didn't they? But, it was sort of an admirable kind of mess.

"Miles, can we please, please, PLEASE, go outside wearing these outfits," Wright pleaded, and Miles looked horrified.

“Have we not humiliated ourselves enough yet?”

“Oh no. Most definitely have not embarrassed ourselves enough. I think there is a lot of potential here Miles. Perhaps we could get recruited for a circus or something. We could be a clown duo!”

“You have seen how we look right? We look like complete morons. We look like children who are dressing themselves for the first time without their parents' help.”

“You have been bringing up children and acting childish a lot tonight, you know that,” Wright huffed and frowned. He was upset or anything but seemed more annoyed.

“Have I? I cannot truly recall much that has happened tonight… Where did I park my car?” Miles was very puzzled and kept looking around in the thrift store like it would give him some sort of answer.

“How should I know?”

“Because we both came in that car. Shouldn’t you have some sort of clue?”

“Says the man who has no clue where HIS car is.”

“You are being very discourteous right now. Are you aware of that?”

“Yeah, but I am going to blame the alcohol and hope you forgive me tomorrow. Because between the both of us, I think you are going to remember more than I will,” The dark-haired man giggled, and Miles couldn’t help but join in.

“So, can we please go out in these outfits?” Wright begged and pleaded. Miles stared at the man wearing the pink feathered boa and could not help but feel very in love.

…
…
…..
………

He did not want to delve into whatever that thought just now was. So, he is going to agree with Wright’s shenanigans and hope that thought never occurs again. (Note from the future, it did happen again. Happened many more times.)

The two men took off the outfits and went up to pay for them. The old woman ringing them up was smiling a lot for someone who was working a night shift at a thrift store on a Thursday.

“Did you two boys find everything you needed,” The old woman with a name tag that read ‘Denise’ asked them. She was speaking German, so Wright was not able to understand her. Wright turned to Miles for help, and Miles nodded to the older presence.

“Yes, ma’am, we were able to find everything. Thank you for asking,” Miles kept it brief and quick. Hoping she would not ask him anything else while she was ringing them up. But, of course, this is Miles’ life. Nothing is that simple and easy.

“So, are you two boys together?” She asked innocently with a big grin on her face.

Miles choked on air and started coughing in great quantities as he hunched over. And this scared Wright shitless. The dark-haired man jumped back in horror while Denise continued to smile and scan the items.

“Edgeworth, are you alright?!” Wright voiced in terror while he crouched down a little to see what had happened to Miles.

“I am fine, Wright, do not worry about me. Something just got stuck in my throat,” The man remarked as he cleared his throat. A few subtle coughs followed after that, but nothing too serious.

“Your companion there is very handsome. You are very lucky,” Denise offered him a soft chuckle after almost killing him from all that coughing.

Miles turned a soft shade of pink as he looked over at Wright, who seemed to be trying to decipher what Denise had said to make Miles have such an out-of-body reaction. Wright had noticed that the conversation suddenly went silent, so he went to look over at Miles, and to his surprise, the man looked embarrassed.

“Hey, is everything alright? What’s going on? What is she saying right now? I knew I should have practised some German before coming here,” Wright spoke groggily to himself, upset that he could not decipher simple German words.

“Yes, Wright, everything is fine. Do not worry,” Miles explained to him before turning back to Denise, “He is very handsome, isn’t he.”

“Yes, he is. I hope you two stay together for a long time and have a splendid life with one another,” Denise grinned before finishing the last of the items. Boy, did they buy a lot of unnecessary things they are only going to wear once.

“Thank you, ma’am. I hope the two of us stay together as well,” Miles offered her a warm smile before handing her the money for the outfits. Denise and Miles seemed to be in their own world because Wright was extremely confused about what they were so happy about. He kept looking back and forth between the old woman and the grey-haired man for some sort of explanation of the situation.

“What is even going on right now? I can’t tell if I am super drunk or super confused.”

“You are probably both Wright. Let us put these outfits back on and humiliate ourselves publicly.”

“Hooray!” Wright threw his arms up excitedly and ran to the changing room with his clothes. He was so fast it was as though he had those gusts of air behind him like cartoons.

Miles giggled softly as he watched the man speed away from the cash register area. This reminds him of their early childhood. When Wright extended his friendship to Miles and changed his life forever. Who knew that the child he defended in school would become someone whom he cherishes and treasures greatly? Sadly, these sentimental thoughts came to a pause when Denise was calling out to Miles to get his attention.

“Your receipt,” Denise says before handing the receipt to Miles, “You must make any sort of refund by the next 30 days.” Miles nodded to her.

“Thank you, ma’am. May I have two bags? So that we can put our other clothes in after we change?”

“Of course, young man,” Denise smiles and looks around some large bags for the men’s current clothing. She handed the bags over to Miles, and he thanked her again.

“You both take care now, okay, son. The world is hard enough as it is. It is wonderful the two of you have one another. Make sure you appreciate every moment with each other,” The old woman said as she offered advice to the grey-haired gentlemen.

Miles would take this advice to heart, of course. Many years of wisdom is nothing to scoff at, and he was genuinely grateful that this elderly woman cared enough about the pair to offer such kind words.

Wright’s friendship with Miles was very unstable, but that was mostly due to life circumstances. They never seemed to be at the right place at the right time when it came to each other. Timing never seemed to be on their side no matter what they tried.

When Wright was waiting for Miles' arms open and full of acceptance, Miles felt a deep hatred towards himself and started to run away like a coward. Faking his death and leaving so many people who cared for her in pain and agony. Seeing the anguish that he had left Wright in broke his heart. He had ruined everything the dark-haired man had tried so hard to fix. And the worst part was that it was all his own fault. Miles had no one and nothing to blame but himself. He never meant to hurt the people around him, and he really was trying to become a better person, but every time he hit some sort of stump, it felt like everything was going to come crashing down.

Wright had forgiven him for that stunt after healing and taking into account the fact he still wanted to be a part of Miles' life. He remembers the exact words the man with heterochromia eyes said to him. ‘I know it will probably be best for me if I said goodbye to you. But for some odd reason, my heart really wants to hold on and hope that you better yourself. I want to help you, but I know there is only so much I can do as an outsider. So, please, Edgeworth, work with me. I am looking forward to the progress and improvements you make in your personal and work life.’ He was so thankful to have such a kind companion, and he did work on making positive changes in his life. He can confidently say that without Wright he would not be the person he is today. But, sadly, to this day Miles still holds a running stream of anger towards himself for that situation.

“Thank you for the advice, Ma’am. It is very appreciated. I finally got him back after a long time apart, so this time around, I will make sure we stay alongside one another for good,” Miles affirmed, and Denise was beaming with happiness.

Miles picked up his very lovely outfit and headed to the changing rooms to put the star of the show on. He had left the extra bag for Wright’s current clothes outside his stall. Both of the men finished putting their clothes on, Wright had finished way before Miles and spent the majority of the time just taking one hell of a power nap before Miles woke him up. The pair said goodbye to Denise, and Denise gave a wink to Miles before the men left. Miles smiled and waved goodbye. Wright looked very confused and disorientated.

“Is this another Oldbag situation? Are you flirting with older women now?” Wright mocked and giggled. This comment made Miles jump back in disgust, and he bonked the man wearing neon green glasses on the head.

“How dare you even suggest such a thing. You are very dirty-minded and quite foul if I might add,” Miles remarked, and this caused Wright to pout.

“Hey, man! I was merely inferring or whatever. Using context clues to make a final guess! I have been kept completely out of the loop of what you two were talking about! I wish I had listened to Trucy and taken some German lessons on Duolingo or something,” Wright rubbed his head where he had been whacked by Miles.

“Yes, you should have taken those lessons. As a punishment for not learning even basic German, you do not get to know what the conversation was about.”

“Hey, that is not fair at all!”

“It is incredibly fair. Do not pout like a child, Wright. It is quite unattractive on you.”

“Aww, so you think my usual face is attractive?” Wright smirked, and Miles turned a soft shade of pink.

“Oh, hush up, Wright. Let us get more drinks. I think the sober version of you is getting on my nerves.”

“I am still a little drunk right now! But, I will not say no to free drinks,” Wright giggled, and Miles could not help but raise his eyebrow at him.

“Who said free drinks?”

“Oh, come on, Miles! Don’t be like that! Who could 'no' to my beautiful face and this stunning outfit?”

The two foolish-looking men went into a convenience store to buy some alcohol and were given many disgusted and questionable looks. The men truly looked like a circus act. While Miles felt immense amounts of shame, Wright seemed to be having the time of his life. He took a picture with some children that came up to him and said he looked funny. Miles had respectfully declined to be in the photo and was happy the children left him alone.

Wright and Miles had gotten even more drinks as if the drinks they had hours previously were not enough for the two of them.

They somehow ended up near a park with a grass field. Neither of them could tell you how. The two men were laughing in the park and grinning like two young schoolboys. It was so peaceful, and the pair seemed so relaxed in each other's company. They had never done anything very out in the open like this before, but Miles was sort of glad that Wright pushed his buttons today. When Miles said that he would do whatever he could for the dark-haired man since he was his guest, Wright took this comment and went completely ham.

The laughter did begin to die down, and the two men began to lie on the grass in silence. A few minutes of silence went by when Miles was going to speak up, but Wright beat him to it.

"There is a reason I did not bring Trucy along," The beanie-wearing man communicated to the silver-haired man. Oh, right, Trucy had not accompanied Wright this time. Miles had wondered why that was, but it was never disclosed to him, so he did not pry further.

"I have been immensely lonely in Japanifornia, you know. When I'm not wallowing in my puddle of pity, I don't talk to a lot of people. I have not been in contact with a lot of our friends, and I feel like I should let them in instead of pushing them away. But I am so tired, Miles. I am so very tired and drained. I have no clue how to deal with it. I have even shut out Maya and I feel so incredibly wretched about it."

Wright was avoiding eye contact with Miles, but he could not blame him or ask him to look at him. He merely took in everything the man had just disclosed to him and was trying his best to make up a logical response to the best of his drunken abilities. Miles took a deep breath before he decided to respond.

"There is so much I want to say to you that I never dared to. Like how I know you are lying to me when you say that you are all right and how I wish you told me the honest truth. I know how difficult it must be to be clear about your emotions, and I should bring it up more in conversation. But I have realized I am not the best at communication. I also wish to be more involved in your life because I am aware you are struggling, and it pains me to know you are completely alone with no one to talk to," Miles expressed and took a moment to collect his thoughts in the few seconds of silence. But, the silence was filled in by Wright speaking up.

"I'm not completely alone," Wright spoke sadly as well as softly. He looked quite offended by this comment. The feathered boa-wearing man started rubbing his arm in an attempt to soothe himself. He seemed to be comforting himself more than Miles, "I have..."

"Before you finish that sentence, I want you to know that Trucy does not count in this scenario," Miles stated, and the comment came off way more snappy than he ever intended, "I meant how you just told me how it is difficult to open up to your friends. You are alone from other adults who will understand your emotions and feelings of struggle."

Wright did not seem to take too kindly to that last comment Miles made. "Miles."

The use of his first name made the drunken feelings go away for a second and made him receive goosebumps.

"You do not know fully what happened at 'that time,' but someone who does know the full extent of what happened was my daughter. Even though you are right about talking to other adults, it does not mean that the little girl has not supported me. I... just don't like talking to anyone who is not her. I always feel like people around me are judging me. Even subtle comments about my appearance make me want to curl up and cry. Mothers at Trucy’s school are so mean whenever they spot me. ‘Oh Mr. Wright, are you trying to grow out a beard or are you just lazy?’ or ‘You should care more about your appearance.’ The worst part of this is that they don’t even say it away from anyone. They say it in front of everyone. They say it in front of my dear daughter. How do you think that makes me feel? It makes me feel like a disappointment because I am an embarrassment to my daughter just because I exist,” Wright’s voice was faltering and he seemed to be quivering, holding back tears.

Miles was stunned and kept watching Wright. He could not believe what he was hearing. Do people no longer feel shame or empathy? Those women should be disappointed in themselves. Wright should not be feeling any sort of disappointment in himself.

It was excruciating to see someone who you cared about so dearly, speak so incredibly negatively about themself.

Miles is not able to see what Wright sees. Because to him, even the flaws the other man has are perfect and wonderful. He is sometimes too selfless, but even then, it's a trait that is admirable.

And Disappointment? That word does not describe him at all.

Nothing about Phoenix Wright says the word 'disappointment.’ All he can see is a man who is working so hard every day to give an adequate life to his daughter. He sees a fighter and a hero. To Miles, the word disappointment is not a word that should ever describe Wright.

He heard a faint noise of droplets. Was it beginning to rain?

Oh no. It was much worse than that.

Wright had begun to cry into his hands.

Miles' heart completely shattered, and he swiftly pulled Wright into a warm embrace. He put one hand behind Wright’s head and the other around his waist. He started gently caressing the dark-haired man’s head. Trying to do whatever he could to soothe and take away the man’s pain. He wanted to reassure him that everything would turn out fine and that he was always going to be there for him.

“I really... I don't like who I am as a person. I don't like me," Wright said the last part quietly, crying into Miles' chest. Miles moved closer to him, holding him as close as he could. Gently patting his head and allowing the ex-beanie-wearing man to let out all his repressed emotions.

Miles wishes he had pressed Wright more about the phone call they had years ago. He wishes that every time he saw signs that his friend was unwell, he would actually try and do something instead of just asking if he was alright.

God, Miles. Now is not the time to self-loathe over past actions. He needed to be present for his dear friend. (Yeah sure. Dear Friend.)

He began by wiping Wright’s tears and smiling at the spiky-haired man softly as he collected himself and sniffled.

“I can understand that. It’s very difficult to think kindly of yourself after such a major life event,” Miles remarked as he thought back to his past, “And I apologize for the blunt phrasing of my answer. You are right that I do not know what you are going through, and I do not know what is happening in your life. But I do know I want to be a part of your present and future. I want to continue to stay by your side and try my best to help.”

Wright started to calm down a little bit by this time. Miles continued to hold him close and rub his head. It took Wright a moment to collect himself, but he looked at Miles as though he had something to tell him. So, Miles held off his comments for now to allow Wright the ‘stage.’

"I feel so broken and lost," He elaborated.

"I know."

"And, I loathe everything that is around me. I loathe those whom I should love and care about. My thoughts are destroying me, and I feel like I can't escape my mind palace."

"I know."

"And I worry every day that it will never get better and that it will only gradually get worse. I feel as though it will get to a point where it will impact my daughter and me... I can't let that happen. I can't allow that to occur because I will never forgive myself," Throughout this entire talk, Wright had tried his best to keep the tears away, but remembering that he had someone back home who needed his support made him instantly start sobbing. His daughter needed a strong father who could protect her, but Wright felt like the total opposite of that.

He softly sobbed into the other man’s outfit. He thought he had finally collected and composed himself back up, but instead, he was still crying like a small child. Wright could not help but feel extremely pathetic.

“You have every right to be angry right now. You have every right to be upset. I won't sit here and tell you that it’s all going to be alright because life is tough and cruel. Shit goes down, and sometimes we can’t do anything about it. And it is difficult to navigate it alone. I do not expect you to have a different outlook in one day, but I do hope you will continue to heal every day. You may not like who you are right now. But you, Phoenix Wright, can never and will never be unloved by me. Do you understand?”

Miles took a big breath of air and was panting a bit due to how fast he felt like he was talking. Wright looked at him for a while, not knowing how to respond to all of that. Miles doubted he heard everything he had said.

“I understand,” The dark-haired man spoke, “Thank you for everything you do for me. It means so much to me, and I really cannot express in words currently how near and dear you are to me. But, thank you so much Miles. Also, I can’t take you seriously with that ugly moustache on. The reason I was staring at you was because you were wearing such an ugly outfit while telling me such kind and valuable information.”

Wright snickered at Miles, which turned into full-blown laughter. Miles was not impressed by this in the least and scoffed at the man who had fallen back into the grass in laughter.

“Ugly? I think I pulled this off quite nicely. How dare you insult my moustache, Wright. Do you have any idea how long it took for me to grow this out? Three whole seconds of me putting it on. You need to show me and my moustache some respect,” Miles stated in a monotone voice which was obvious satire.

“Stop! Stop making me laugh! I am going to piss out of laughter!” Wright praised and laughed. Miles could not help but laugh along while he watched the man in front of him make a fool out of himself.

Miles laid down beside Wright, who was still cackling up a storm. Wright was so beautiful. Only he could pull off such a gaudy outfit. Even in the darkness of the night, Phoenix shined so brightly. Truly living up to the name ‘Phoenix.’

The moment was so lovely and peaceful. It felt so much better to see Wright wipe away tears from laughter than from sadness.

"You know, a part of me thought I was doing this because I did not want that nickname getting out," Miles interrupted the man's laughter and spoke, "But, I think I realized I went along with this roller coaster of a night because I care about you. I know you are not doing well and I did not know how to reach out to you. I thought doing this dumb adventure with you would make you happy or at least happier than you were. I cannot tell if I succeeded, but all I know is if you ever ask me to do this in the future, no matter how many times you ask ... the final answer would always be, yes." Miles expressed, staring at the sky, his eyesight not faltering. He did want Wright's face, and he did not want a response.

Wright made no sudden movements, and Miles could not hear him turn or change positions. It seemed that the dark-haired man was also looking up at the darkness. There was silence. It was not an awkward kind of silence, more so a type of silence filled with words that wanted to be said but could not. It was clear the two men struggled with emotions whether that be understanding the emotions of the other or theirs. Even years of therapy could not make him fully understand his feelings for Wright and why he felt so strongly about the man. Why would he do such ludicrous things just so he could make Wright happy for a night?

He can’t tell if his head hurts from all of this nonsensical thinking or the amount of alcohol he has consumed that night.

He realized most of his thoughts were occupied by the spiky-haired man. Wright was never not on his mind. It did not mean that Miles got no work done, he did, and he did it incredibly well. But Wright was always in the back of his mind. He always worried whether Wright was eating well, if he was feeling alright, feeling sick, or any small detail he could think of that would pop up in his head. Why was he feeling like this? He had never felt these emotions in his life until Wright became a part of it. What could this-

Wright held Miles's hand, and that snapped Miles out of his trance. Wright did not look at him but looked off into the distance while rubbing soft circles into his palm. It felt incredible. He wanted to hold the other man's hand forever if he could…

Oh.

OH.

OH.

OHH.

OHH!

It was so obvious what he was feeling. It was so clear to him now what emotions he felt for Wright. How could he be so blind and idiotic? It is a miracle he has made it this far in life honestly. Miles took a deep breath in and spoke.

"I love you," Miles said to him softly. Not knowing whether he wanted Wright to hear him or not. He said nothing else while he took hold of the other man's hand in his.

Wright said something that he was not truly expecting, "What made you come to that conclusion?" He gently caressed Miles's hand. He didn’t even seem surprised going off voice alone. Did he feel the same way Miles did or was he just waiting to let him down lightly?

"I think I knew for a while. I just never made the connection that these feelings I felt for you were love. I always assumed it was a type of mutual respect I felt for you,” Miles took a deep breath before continuing, “But, time and time again, you made me slowly fall head over heels for you. How you were so persistent in being in my life and being close to me made me realize I do not want to live without you. I do not think I would be able to live without you. Just being near you and seeing you heals me. Loving you has been the best thing I have ever done."

Miles spilled out his feelings faster than he was producing words in his mind. He felt like he could go on and on about how positively Wright had impacted his life. But, he soon realized Wright was radio silent, and that terrified the prosecutor. It felt like the booze had just left his body completely. The silence was so loud that the two men could hear one another's breath. Miles could hear the wind blowing in the trees, he could feel the grass on his body, and he finally noticed how itchy the moustache he was wearing truly was.

Miles did not like this feeling of silence at all.

He felt unwavering nervousness, but he did not want to back down. He does love Wright, but losing him is not something he wants at all. He would rather hide away his feelings forever before he lets the dark-haired man leave.

Miles began speaking.

"You have no obligation to reciprocate these feelings. I am aware that I have let you down on multiple occasions. And I cannot guarantee I won't let you down in the future. But, the emotions I feel for you are true. Everything I have said tonight I meant. I want to tell you before it is too late. And you can storm off and hate me forever if you want. I'll book you a plane out of here, and we can pretend this never happened. I simply hope we can remain friends."

Miles took a deep breath in. He felt like a true pathetic wimp. Running away from his feelings and problems instead of facing them head-on. He can’t even look Wright in the eyes while saying this confession. He was exhausted. Not from all the talking, but now he realized how much weight his words carried. He just told Wright that he could hate him forever, but he also wanted to remain friends. What kind of request is that? You just told your best friend that you are in love with them, and now you are asking them to forget all about it? God, Miles Edgeworth, you're such a coward.

Before Miles could drown himself in negative thoughts, it was all interrupted by Wright hitting the other man's arm. He had gotten up and was beating up the man who was still lying down. The punch was not strong enough to send him flying back or hurt him, but enough to make an impression.

"Augh! Wright, what was that fo--"

"That was for thinking I would leave even though I fought so many battles so I could stay by your side. You even mentioned it but failed to comprehend your words," Wright spoke with sadness as well as clear anger behind his words.

Miles sat up properly and looked completely stunned and taken aback. Miles wanted to plead his case and apologize for the words he said, but Wright beat him to it.

"Do you believe I do not cherish you?”

"That is not what I think at all!”

"Do you believe that I do not want to jump into your arms and hold you to forget all my sorrows?"

"Phoenix! Please just listen to me for a second. I was just trying to be considerate of your feelings!”

“You are so difficult, Miles Edgeworth. So many years of yearning, and this the way you confess to me! We are both drunk and might forget this by tomorrow!” Wright kept trying to flail his arms around in an attempt to hit Miles, but his drunken state made him look like a fool. Miles found it incredibly endearing and giggled a little while he watched the man.

Wright heard the giggle and did not take too kindly to it.

“Oh, so now you’re laughing at me?”

“No! I mean, yes, kind of. But I am not laughing at your feelings. You have every right to be mad at me, and I apologize for being so difficult throughout our friendship. I have loved you for a while now, I think. I cannot recall when I first started falling in love with you, but whenever you aren’t around I yearn for you, and when you are around I just want to make sure you never leave my side. I have never felt that way with anyone before,” The grey-haired man spoke before gently stroking the other man's cheeks. Wright’s face cuddled inwardly towards Miles' hand as he closed his eyes and listened to what the man had to say.

“I have felt myself lean in to try and kiss you many times. I always think ‘What if I just leaned in and sealed the deal.’ And every time I can’t get the thought out of my head. But I still manage to chicken out and not do anything. You mean the world to me. Yet, you treat the man I love so much so unkindly. You know it breaks my heart when you are mean-spirited to yourself. You truly need to cut yourself some slack because the man you believe you are is far from the man you actually are. You are a man who is extraordinary, captivating, phenomenal, and breathtaking. I, Miles Edgeworth, am madly in love with you, Phoenix Wright.”

Wright slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the man, “You are a silly man, you know that.”

“Is that all you have to say to me?” He said more nervously than he wanted to show. He did not sense any awkwardness in their conversation, but he was still afraid because he had not heard a response yet. But, perhaps Wright’s angry yelling a few minutes ago was proof enough of an acceptance.

The dark-haired man giggled and took off Mile’s fake moustache before kissing him. He held Mile’s face gently with both hands. Mile’s eyes lit up, and he held Wright closer. Both of Miles' hands were around the other man’s waist. They continued to kiss, and neither of the men seemed to want to stop. So much emotion was put into this singular kiss. Years of yearning, painful memories, and many moments where they wanted to reach out to one another but couldn’t. Everything came rushing back to them at this moment. They could hear the beating of one another's heart while they held each other close. Their hearts were so full of love for the other person.

Wright felt a tear fall onto his hand from Miles’ eyes. He broke away from the kiss to see what was wrong.

“What’s wrong? Was it a bad kiss? Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Wright questioned earnestly. So many questions fell out of his mouth before he could even properly assess the situation.

Miles smiled softly at the man and kissed him again quickly. “No. It was the best kiss I have ever experienced. It brought me to tears, that's how amazing it was.”

Wright couldn’t help but smile brightly. It seemed to boost his ego to hear that come from the man he loved.

“So does this mean you love me too?” The grey-haired man asked while he stared at the beauty in front of him.

“Did the kiss not answer that, Miles?”

“I need to hear you say it. After so many years of loving you, I want to hear you tell me you feel the same way. I am terrified I am going to wake up to find that this was all a dream. So, please, tell me.”

Wright tucked a piece of hair that was in Mile's eyes behind his ear. “I love you, Miles Edgeworth. I love you so much that it is taking everything inside of me not to jump at you right now and smother you with love.”

He could not help but smile. They kissed again in excitement. They fell backwards onto the grass. Wright was on top of Miles. He had put his hands behind the other man’s head so that he wouldn’t get hurt if they hit the grass too hard.

“This definitely is not a dream by the way,” Wright remarked after the kiss, “Those punches given to you were real, and the kisses you are feeling are also real.”

This caused Miles' eyes to widen which made both the men start breaking out in laughter. Who knew how easy it could have been for the two of them to get together if they had not been such nervous cowards afraid of ruining the friendship they had? Loving each other came so easily. Miles knows he’s made many mistakes in his life, and he has had many moments in his life he cannot take back, but if all of those instances had to happen to make sure that he was right here in this moment with Wright, then he can forgive himself for all of it.

Miles' train of thought was interrupted when Wright rolled off of Miles and laid by his side. He held on tightly to the man’s arm and cuddled inwardly into his arm. “I am ever so grateful for the legal papers for bringing me to Germany to be with you.”

“Wow, you are thanking the legal papers but not the man who brought you here?”

“Miles Edgeworth, are you jealous of pieces of paper?” Wright gasped sarcastically and dramatically.

“I am. I am so jealous that I might just storm off into the night and never see you again,” He fake scoffed and pretended to be sorrowful.

“Oh my! Are we having our first fight as a couple?!”

Miles could not help but get very pink and smiley at the fact he called them a couple. God, was he a high school boy getting into his first relationship? Just the word coming out of Wright’s mouth turned him into a puddle of love.

“I suppose it is. Not even 10 minutes into our relationship, and we are already arguing with Wright. Perhaps we rushed into this.”

“Nuh-uh, do not pull the crap with me. You are stuck with me now, and you are not going to get rid of me that easily. I will not allow you to replace me. Get used to this Miles, this is your past, present and future,” The dark-haired man giggled and stuck out his tongue.

Miles chuckled and kissed the man’s head. It caused Wright to start blushing a crimson colour and hide his face in the crook of Miles’s neck. God, he could get used to a beautiful man cuddling close to him.

“Bold of you to assume that I will ever let you go, Wright. You may think I am stuck with you. But it is you who is stuck with me.”

“What will I ever do? Oh nooo! I am stuck with the most handsome man on earth for the rest of my life. Oh my goodness, how could you do this to me? He is so stunning and too good for this world. How will I ever go on?! Please tell my daughter that I love her,” Wright dramatically pretended to die in Mile’s arms. Miles at this point was crying with laughter, but then a part of Wright’s dramatic play stuck out to him.

He had to ask for Trucy’s blessing. Oh no.

“I forgot about Trucy! I should have asked her if she is okay with us being together,” Miles shot up instantly, leaving his new lover in the dust. Not really in the dust, but his face fell onto the ground, and he looked exceptionally confused.

“Of course, she would say yes. She absolutely adores you. She is your biggest fan honestly. Well, she is the second biggest fan. I would be first. Wait, now that I think about it, that would be Oldbag. So, the order would be Oldbag, me, and then Truc–”

“You have mentioned Wendy Oldbag enough for one night, don't you think Wright?” He had cut the man off in a haste. Miles frowned at the spiky-haired man, who could not help but smile at his partner's face. He got up off the ground to get on the same level Miles was. He kissed the grey-haired man on the cheek which instantly turned that frown upside down.

“I do not think I mention her enough honestly. But, seriously, do not worry about Trucy. She is going to be more than excited to find out we are together. She has been asking for another parent for a while now. She keeps saying I am not doing my fatherly duties by taking away her right to have another parent. She’s a mean one, I’ll tell you,” Wright smiled earnestly. He was definitely joking about the young girl being mean. He adored his daughter more than anything.

“If you say so. I really do not want to upset her at all. It might be a very sudden change for her and might confuse her.”

“She would never get upset at you. Don’t worry about it, Miles! Don’t take any stress. She is old enough to understand relationships. I promise when we tell her, she will be over the moon,” Wright reassured the other man and hugged him. His partner’s relaxed aura really helped Miles calm down and get a better grip on the situation.

“I trust you. I think we should tell her as soon as possible though. She should be the first to know,” Miles stated, and Wright nodded in agreement.

“Oh my god, what about Maya and Franziska? Maya will be happy I am pretty sure, but Franziska is probably going to kill me. She already hates me!”

Now Wright is freaking out.

It is so funny to see how easily their stress gets passed around like a game of hot potato. The pair of stressed men thought it would be best to discuss their worries and other fears back at Miles’ apartment. The pair had sobered up, but Miles felt uncomfortable driving them home, so they opted to just walk back to his apartment. They were carrying their original clothes in their bags still and it was quite a hassle, but this whole night was very worth it.

They reached Miles' apartment in around twenty to thirty minutes, and Wright instantly did a v-line to the couch.

“Home at last!” He expressed excitedly, cuddling into the nicely set pillows.

“Do you not want to at least change out of these outfits before we start talking? I do not know about you, but grassy clothes that reeked of alcohol aren’t the most comfortable.”

“God, after the night we have had, I just want to fall asleep on this couch and have me in the future worry about it. It is tomorrow me’s problem if I have a migraine and feel like death,” He smiled sweetly at the other man who was grabbing them water.

“I am going to say this again, but it is a miracle you have survived this long.”

“You haven’t said that to me? Unless I have forgotten, I can’t really tell. I was very drunk for an extensive majority of tonight.”

“Oh. Well, maybe I was thinking of it and just never voiced it. But, my point still stands,” Miles stated before handing the man laying down the glass of water, “You are truly a work of art.”

“Aww, you think that I am beautiful?”

“You are, but I meant a work of art in a negative context.”

“You are so mean! I am starting to doubt that you truly meant any of the words you said in your confession,” Wright pouted and chugged his water down.

Miles shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of his water. “I promise you every word I said was the absolute truth, but us being together now does not mean I will not make fun of every chance I get. It is my God-given right to bully you.”

Wright took a big deep breath after downing all the water without stopping. He set the glass down on the glass table Miles had in between the couch and the television. He stared at Miles as he continued to pout and had the look of a dog that had been kicked in the rain. Miles could not help but smile at his lover’s cute antics.

He kissed the tan-skinned man’s face and stroked his spikes. This made the man light up in happiness. He instantly started smiling and forgot all about what they were arguing about. He started cuddling into Miles' neck and wrapping his arms around the man’s waist. Miles put his glass of water down next to the dark-haired man and began wrapping his arms around the man's shoulder and neck area.
They started falling backwards onto the couch and refused to let go of one another. Wright was holding onto Miles' side while the grey-haired man laid down flat on his back excluding the pair of arms around him, keeping him from being completely flat.

It was quiet and pleasant. Living in this moment was so very pulchritudinous. This is exactly everything that Miles had waited for. Before meeting Phoenix, Miles never thought he would be able to look at someone and just feel so hopelessly in love. This was definitely his new favourite feeling.

Miles had realized they did not have the talk they wanted to have. But before he could ask Wright about it, he heard soft snoring coming from the man beside him. Miles looked at the time on the clock to his left and saw that it was 3:00 AM. Damn, they had lost track of time. He did not notice how exhausted he was before he saw his partner blissfully sleeping. He was telling the truth when he said he would sleep in that outfit and blame his future self for it. He truly does seem to live up to his word.

Miles picked up the sleeping man and took him to the designated guest room where he was staying. He put him down and gave him a light kiss on his forehead. Before closing his door and going off to his room to change and go to bed. Because, unlike Wright, he would definitely not be able to sleep in this costume.

Fast forward to the next morning with Wright complaining about his back.

“Miles! I am in so much pain! My headaches and my body is in pain,” The man sobbed as he was still wearing the outfit from yesterday.

“I thought you said that was tomorrow you’s problem? But I do share your sentiment about the headache, my head is still not doing well from all the drinking yesterday.”

“I am tomorrow me! Why do I always make tomorrow me suffer so much?” He sighed, “Anyways, what were we going to talk about yesterday? I thought we said we would talk about something, but I cannot for the life of me recall if we ever got around to doing that. I think this is a sign that we should watch how much alcohol we consume.”

Miles giggled and nodded, “I agree with that statement, but what is done is done. Also, no, we did not get around to the talk, but we can talk about it now if you would like.” The grey-haired man slid over a coffee for Wright and began pouring a cup of tea for himself.

Wright took a satisfactory swig of the coffee before smiling at his partner, “Yeah, we can talk about it now.” He began playing with his cup and fidgeting.

The atmosphere got very silent all of a sudden.

“Are we going to have a long-distance relationship?” The ex-lawyer asked, and suddenly everything was not as cheerful as it previously was.

“I am afraid so. Well, only for the time being hopefully. Due to this unexpected change in my life plans, I will probably try my best to move back to Japanifornia. It was already difficult for me to be so far away from you, but now it will be much more challenging to not take any opportunity I can to see you,” Miles explained to the other man as he drank his tea.

“You like meeeee,” The dark-haired man teased and laughed. Miles smiled at him, and they both exchanged a quick kiss.

“I do. I like you a lot. That is why I am willing to do whatever I can to make this work. I know long distance might be difficult, but we have overcome many challenges thrown our way. So, I am confident we can also get through this together. You can give me any suggestions or concerns you have, and I will gladly listen with open ears.”

“Thank you for everything you do. You are always one step ahead of me already preparing for my anxiety-ridden brain, which I am incredibly thankful for. When you come back to Japanifornia, I think you should have a proper meeting with Trucy. We can of course tell her on the phone, but I want you to live with us. Maybe not my apartment because it barely fits Trucy and me, but I think it would be appropriate for us as a family to be together,” Wright explained while holding onto the other man’s hand gently.

A family. His family. Wright wanted Miles to be a part of his family. He would have something he could call family again.

“That would be magnificent, Phoenix. I look forward to that immensely. I am still nervous about Trucy, I won't lie to you.”

“Don’t worry about it! I told you not to take any stress about it. She is going to be so excited! She loves you very much, trust me, okay?”

“If you say so,” Miles was still not convinced, but Wright’s calm and reassuring attitude made him feel better about the situation.

“You know exactly what to say to comfort me, don't you Mr. Wright?” Miles smiled as he kissed his partner's hand.

“I suppose I do, Mr. Prosecutor!”

They were laughing, and the upsetting atmosphere was gone in an instant. They continued to talk about how they would deal with long-distance, things they expect from each other, boundaries, and other important details you should discuss with your partner before taking a bigger leap in the relationship.

They spent the rest of Wright’s visit as they originally intended to, which was filling out legal papers and discussing cases together. Even though they had gotten together, not much had changed in their relationship besides kissing and being more affectionate. They still argued like they did before and spared no feelings in the process. Still bantered and had back-and-forth conversations that seemed to have no end. Their relationship seemed pretty much the same. How weird is that!
Time went by so very quickly for the two men and before they knew it, it was time for Wright to return home. This was definitely not an easy process for the two men. There was a lot of crying on Wright’s part and a lot of reassurance and comfort from Miles’ end. Okay, Miles also cried a little, but he will not admit to it because he wants to save face in front of his lover.

While packing his stuff back up the dark-haired man realized he had forgotten to give the gift he had brought for Miles. He handed the silly mug to his partner and could not help but burst into laughter after seeing the stoic and blank-faced man holding a mug that read out, "And here we fucking go again… I mean good morning!" Before the next sentence started there was a little sun image with a smiley face which just made the mug more ironic.

“Thank you, Phoenix. I will cherish this mug greatly,” Miles thanked the man before he went off to put the mug away in a cupboard. Wright followed behind him, and when he saw that Miles was finished with putting away the mug, he embraced him in a backhug. The grey-haired man flinched a little before melting into the man's arms and applying a soft kiss to his temple.

“You are making saying goodbye so difficult, you know that?”

The tan-skinned man giggled and repeatedly kissed the other man’s cheeks, “Yeah that is the point silly goose. I can’t have you falling out of love with me while I am far far away in a place you cannot reach!”

“Falling out of love? Do you think that lowly of me, Wright? That hurts me. I am hurt. You have offended me so greatly. What will I ever do with myself now? How can I ever continue to live my life knowing that the love of my life, who is finally mine, thinks I could ever fall out of love with such a breathtaking and stupendous man.”

“Stop that Miles. Now you are making this goodbye very frustrating!” The man whined and held the other man closer, “I love you so much.”

“I love you as well Phoenix. I love you very much,” Miles turned around after Wright had loosened his arms and kissed the beanie-wearing man on the lips, “Now, let’s get you to the airport before you miss your flight.”

Miles began to walk off, leaving his flustered and blushing partner behind. It seems that Wright was not expecting the kiss at all but was definitely not complaining.

“Hey! You can’t randomly kiss me like that and then walk off like it was nothing! Also, my flight leaves at 8 PM (20:00), it’s only 5:00 (17:00)?!” Wright exclaimed before he began running after the man who was already picking up the suitcases and taking them to his car.

Two years have now passed since this moment. The couple began doing long-distance, and they were natural at it. There were of course times when it was quite hard to make time for one another, but they always communicated and made things work.

As expected, Trucy was incredibly joyous at the news her Uncle Miles was now her Father Miles. She could not contain her excitement and was sorrowful that she could not give her new father the biggest hug in the world. Miles shared the same sentiments that his new daughter did but promised to give her a big hug when they meet again. Trucy then began questioning them about all the details of how they got together, who confessed first, who said ‘I love you’ first, who was it romantic, etc. The two men looked incredibly flustered and answered the questions to the best of their abilities, but they kept the part of how they got together private. Because in all honesty, telling their daughter how they got drunk and made utter fools out of themselves in public, had a sorrowful moment with one another before Miles finally had the courage to confess his feelings was not the most, for lack of better words, ‘the most romantic thing possible.’

“Oh, you know, he just told me at the restaurant we were at. He just held my hands in his and outwardly expressed his undying love for me. He just couldn’t contain himself anymore, he needed to have me,” Wright chuckled nervously while he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Daddy, I can tell when you are lying to me, you know that right?” Trucy furrowed her eyebrows and pouted.

“I’m not lying though. You have to believe me, my moonflower! I promise! Ask your father if you think I am lying!”

Trucy stared at her father for a little bit before turning back to the laptop showcasing her other father’s face.

“Is that really what happened, Papa Miles?” Trucy questioned the grey-haired man. Miles was taken aback by the fact she called him ‘Papa Miles,’ but he was already feeling over the moon. He’s her Papa now. Wow, that sounded amazing. He cannot believe that this is really happening to someone like him.

“Yes, Trucy. I was so head over heels for your father that I could no longer hide the feelings that I felt for him. After so many years of pining for him, I finally gave him and confessed my everlasting love for him,” Miles spoke in the most monotone voice ever.

The whole room was very silent. The ex-attorney was silent, as was the young magician. Not a single sound was made. Miles was confused about what had happened and thought that he might have lost signal due to how still the Wrights were standing.

“Papa, if you are going to lie, at least make it believable,” the young girl giggled.

“Yeah, Miles! You expressed all of that like I was forcing you to lie about being in love with me,” The tan-skinned man frowned, and Trucy gave him a big hug to soothe away his pain.

“I apologize for being quite dull with my expressions. I could not tell if your father was truly telling me to lie to you or not.”

“Ah-ha! I knew you were lying! My instincts are never wrong!”

“Oh, well, your instincts may be never wrong, but you also know who is never wrong?”

“No, Daddy! Please don’t say it!” Trucy complained and had the look of fear in her eyes.

Miles was concerned and bamboozled, “What are you talking about Wright? You are scaring her.”

“Here comes the … tickle monster!” Wright scooped up the little girl in his arms and began tickling her.

“No! Stop! HAHA! Please, Daddy!” Trucy couldn’t stop herself from laughing up a storm. The other two men also began laughing alongside her. Miles could not wait until he could be there in person with his new family. If every moment from now on was going to be this joyous and full of life, then he would be looking forward to every day that came.

Everything was going well in Miles' life. His work request was approved not too long ago, and he was finally able to move back to Japanifornia to be with his family. When he called Trucy and Wright to inform them about how he would be coming to see them in about a month, the pair were over the moon and could not stop screaming over the phone. Miles thinks he lost a bit of his hearing that day, but he was so grateful that they were so excited to see him.

All his things were packed up and his home was no longer his home. But he was fine with that because he was going to finally be able to see his loved ones. And it will be the first time they are officially a family. He was overjoyed with excitement. (This was thought with the most stern and cold expression you could imagine)

Miles and Phoenix had been texting nonstop ever since the day when Miles was going to board his plane. Up until Miles entered his plane, he had continued to text the dark-haired man. They weren’t talking about anything particularly important after a few hours. The conversation steered in the direction of discussing their favourite weather and whether or not they enjoyed winter. It was very wholesome.

Miles arrived at the Wright’s residence while his luggage was being taken to the new apartment he had bought to surprise the Wright family. He couldn’t wait to share the news about their new home with his family. He knocked on the door, and the door swung open instantly. Miles could not even react to what had happened before he was thrown onto the ground by a young girl.

“Papa Miles! You’re here!” The magician gleefully announced and hugged him tightly. Miles's back was already terrible, and it was now one hundred percent ruined. But, he will gladly take a broken back if it means he can be near his loved ones.

“Trucy! Be careful, my moonflower! You knocked him right off his feet,” Wright laughed as he watched the pair on the floor cuddling one another.

“It is fine Phoenix, do not worry. She seems to be very delighted to see me, which I am honoured by,” Miles gave the little girl a smile before she got off of him and was helped up by Wright. Miles began dusting himself off and then realized he had not mentioned the new house to the family. He looked back up from his dusting to see his partner opening his arms and bringing Miles into a warm embrace.

“I missed you so much! It has been way too long,” Wright explained as he applied a soft kiss to Miles' head. The grey-haired man instantly turned a bright shade of tomato red. Trucy couldn’t help but smile at how happy her father was. Normally children would make crude comments or say something like ‘gross’ or ‘disgusting!’ But not Trucy, she seemed to be in utter bliss.

“I missed you as well, Phoenix,” Miles cuddled up into the other man’s neck as he embraced him closer. The mention of the new house could wait. He just really needed to be in the present tense with his family.

Trucy hugged both her parent’s legs so she could also be a part of the moment, and when the two men looked down to see the small magician looking up at them with pleading eyes, they could not help but laugh. Wright picked Trucy up and held her with one arm as he hugged Miles with his other arm. This truly was life's greatest blessing.

After some time went by, the father and daughter duo invited Miles inside because they had some serious catching up to do. Miles smiled and gladly accepted their invitation. Knowing that these two individuals were going to be in his life for a long time brought the man a lot of comfort and happiness. He cannot wait to see what the future holds for them.

Miles and Phoenix were partners, in every sense of the word. They shared a bond that extended far beyond the courtroom. Their love for each other was a quiet, powerful force, like a hidden testimony waiting to be revealed. Phoenix admired Miles's unwavering resolve and his commitment to making the world a better place. Miles, in turn, respected Phoenix's indomitable spirit and his ability to find hope even in the darkest of times.

Even when Miles found out that the man he cared so deeply about had been disbarred, he knew he had to be there for him. Their love had endured the darkest of trials, it was a love that refused to waver even in the face of adversity and a love that only grew stronger as they faced the challenges of a world that seemed determined to tear them apart.

Miles Edgeworth and Phoenix Wright have been in love for years, and there is no denying it. They are deeply in love with each other, and their relationship is the envy of many. They are always there for each other, no matter what, and their love is true and pure. This is a fact that is not up for debate. The two of them are head-over-heels for each other, and there is no denying it. They may not show it in the most traditional of ways, but the love between them is very real.

It took the two men many years to finally accept the love they felt for one another. It may have been because of their hectic lives, their busy schedules, the mutual pinning that was never answered, or the feeling of yelling into a dark hole and getting no response back, but they both learned to accept it because, at that point in our lives, they finally decided that they were capable of being loved and capable of loving.