[fic] Hello Again

[kiyala.livejournal.com]

Title: Hello Again
Original Thread: here
Author: kiyala
Word Count: 3962
Fandom: Phoenix Wright
Pairing: Phoenix Wright / Miles Edgeworth
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: gay lawyers, mansex, swearing
Disclaimer: CAPCOM own Phoenix Wright
Prompt: Hobohodo x Edgeworth.
Miles seeing Phoenix for the first time in years; smut or angst. Post-disbarment. Bonus points for a Trucy cameo.

x-posted to narumitsu, igiari and gyakuten_saiban

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It was late afternoon; not even night yet. The poker players didn’t show up until after dark, and they were most probably still at work… or on their way home, at best.

Phoenix rubbed his chin absently, sitting at the piano of the restaurant. There was a half-drunk bottle of grape juice standing on top of it and he reached over, taking a sip before putting it back.

He didn’t enjoy playing the piano, but that was obvious enough when he’d been playing at the same piano for seven years and had not learned a single new piece. He sighed, glancing around at the bored faces of the few customers sitting at tables and then turned his attention back to the piano. He started his oversimplified rendition of The Entertainer, missing notes here and there. He could hear the collective groan from the people around him, but it might have just been in his own mind, as none of them even looked up when he began to play. These people were regulars; they came often enough to be able to filter out his playing. He envied them, wishing he could do the same.

He reached the more complicated section in the middle of the piece and frowned before giving up. The sheet music was in his room somewhere. He’d have to dig it up and figure out the rest later. He took another long sip of grape juice, weighing the bottle in his hand to figure out how much was left. He shrugged and downed the rest. He could always get another.

The song he played next was one he couldn’t even remember the name of. It was bouncy and cheerful, but Phoenix hardly felt that way when he played it. He was staring at the ivory keys when the door opened, and he saw someone enter out of the corner of his eye. They were wearing a long brown coat and this time Phoenix looked up, wondering if it was his first poker buddy for the night.

The keys made a terrible crashing sound as Phoenix saw who it was.

Under the coat, the magenta suit was still there (only he could pull off magenta in his thirties, Phoenix mused), as was the jabot. He looked tired, and the look in his eyes was even more severe than ever, but Phoenix had recognised him the second he’d looked properly.

Miles Edgeworth.

He was looking in the direction of the piano with a look of distaste; probably at the unpleasant jumble of notes that had greeted him upon entry. He then glanced at the pianist, letting his gaze travel past until he stopped and did a retake.

Phoenix stared back, expressionless as the other man hesitantly walked towards him.

“Good evening,” he greeted, covering up his uncertainty with formality. “I was just wondering… Rather, I was hoping…”

Phoenix watched in silence, and Miles finally looked him directly in the eyes. “Please, don’t tell me that you are—”

“Long time no see, Miles.”

“Phoenix Wright.” He stared in disbelief. Finally, he managed to make his voice work again, “What the fuck happened to you?”

“Lots of things,” Phoenix replied casually. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here?”

Edgeworth didn’t respond, still scrutinising the Phoenix’s face, trying to look past the stubble and beanie and overly casual clothes, to find the man he once knew.

“We’ll get a table,” Phoenix said, sighing. He signalled for a waiter as he stood. Another bottle of grape juice. And… I don’t know. The best tea we’ve got.”

He reached towards Edgeworth, careful not to touch him as he led him towards a table. He waited for the other man to slowly sit in his chair before sitting across from him. They sat in silence until their drinks were served. Phoenix took a long sip of his juice as he watched Edgeworth drink his tea.

“I arrived home yesterday,” the fair-haired man said simply.

Phoenix nodded, silently wondering if it still counted as ‘home’ after spending so much time away. But then the temptation became too much for him to resist and he raised an eyebrow, “Germany wasn’t home enough for Mr. Miles Edgeworth?”

“It never was,” Edgeworth snapped, but forced himself to stop and take a breath, calming himself down. “You’re focusing on insignificant details, as always. Regardless, I returned yesterday morning.”

The dark-haired man nodded silently, and Edgeworth continued speaking. “I called your office. A girl told me that you would be here, and that is why I’m here. What are you doing, leaving your secretary to work while you—”

“She isn’t my secretary,” Phoenix replied softly. “And that isn’t my office any more.”

Edgeworth looked up, brows furrowed, silently demanding an explanation.

“It wasn’t long after you left to Germany…again. There was a case I took… that I shouldn’t have taken. They disbarred me for fabricating evidence—”

“What?”

“—I was just about to say. I didn’t do it. I was set up, and I know it, but I don’t have the proof. By the looks of it, I’ll probably never—”

“I know you didn’t do it. I don’t need to be told,” Edgeworth cut in, sounding insulted. “What the hell were you thinking, Phoenix Wright? To allow yourself to be taken down so easily when you were the one who caused me all kinds of trouble in court…!”

He trailed off when he realised that the majority of restaurant’s patrons were looking in their direction. Clearing his throat, he drank the rest of his tea and stared at the table. Phoenix told him what had happened. The poker game that he had won against the defendant in order to become his lawyer. The evidence he had been given. The way it had been falsified in court, and the subsequent trials he had gone through until he was disbarred and ended up at the restaurant.

“…So you work here? Playing the piano? Can you even play?”

“I don’t really play the piano. It’s just a cover. I actually play poker. It’s a competition – people come here to try and beat me. They never do.”

“Poker?”

“It’s just a game. There’s no gambling, just a prize if they win. In return, the manager lets me stay here."

Edgeworth looked at his surroundings incredulously. “Here? You live here?”

“I had trouble paying the rent when I was an attorney, Miles. I had no hope when I was disbarred. They evicted me, but then I started playing poker here. They watched me win the first ten games, and then decided I could stay here if I was willing to sit and play every day. They’ve got a pretty decent place upstairs. Good enough for me and Trucy.”

Edgeworth’s face fell. “…Trucy…?”

Phoenix put his bottle of grape juice down on the table so he could laugh. Edgeworth looked uncomfortable and after a few gasping breaths, Phoenix stopped laughing and looked at the other man with a grin.

“My daughter, Miles. She’s my adopted daughter. It was her grandfather’s case that got me disbarred. She was seven, and someone had to take care of her. If I think about it, it’s probably because of her that I didn’t end up worse off than now. I had to make sure things were still decent enough for her.”

“You call this decent?” Edgeworth snapped. “Look at yourself. You’re a disgrace.”

Phoenix closed his eyes and turned away with a sardonic grin. The same grin, in fact, that Edgeworth used to give him all those years ago…

“Don’t smile like that, Phoenix. It’s irritating.”

Again, Phoenix began to laugh.

“I know, Miles. I know.”

The prosecutor stood, glaring down at the dark-haired man. “Come with me.”

The Phoenix he was used to would have stood, bewildered and unsure of himself. The Phoenix before him simply leaned back in his chair and tilted his head up to hold Edgeworth’s gaze. “Why?”

Edgeworth frowned, not used to being questioned. He leaned across the table, “Because I have things to say to you that should not be said in public.”

The dark-haired man stood, but instead of following Edgeworth, he walked in the opposite direction.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to call Trucy and tell her I won’t be home. You can wait a couple of minutes, can’t you?”

Edgeworth scowled, but didn’t protest. He waited near the table until Phoenix returned, and then led the way out of the restaurant and to his car.

Phoenix stopped walking. “This is…”

“My old car, yes,” Edgeworth finished for him, unlocking it and opening the door driver’s side door. “And I’m taking you to my house. I did plan on eventually returning, and I thought it would be best to keep what I already had. It wouldn’t have done to struggle finding a hotel that Pess could stay in.”

Not knowing what to say in response, Phoenix simply sat in the passenger seat. He stared out of the window as Edgeworth drove, thinking of the last time he’d seen the man sitting beside him.


It was seven years ago and they were in Edgeworth’s lounge room, arguing. Phoenix couldn’t even remember what the argument was about any more, but he knew that they had both been extremely stubborn and had refused to make any kind of compromise. They’d been fighting for a while; it was 10pm when Phoenix finally threw his hands up in frustration.

“I’ve had enough of this. I’m going home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He had to walk to the station and catch a train home so that he’d get home at a halfway decent time, so that he would be able to get enough sleep. Though he doubted that he’d be getting very much after the argument had stirred him up so much. He turned to the couch to pick up his jacket, which had been draped over the back, when Edgeworth’s words made him freeze.

“I think I’ve had enough of it all.”

Phoenix looked up, wide-eyed. Edgeworth frowned, but looked directly at him as he spoke.

“I’ve been considering it for a while, Phoenix. I’m moving to Germany.”

“But… I—”

“You will stay here,” Edgeworth cut in. “And you will not make any attempts to find me. Understood?”

“Miles—”

“I’m done, Wright. I’ve tried to find a way to make this still work. I can’t.”

“Miles!” Phoenix cried, unable to keep the fear from his voice or eyes. He had picked up his jacket and Edgeworth was backing him out of the door. “Just listen to me.”

Edgeworth responded by slamming the door shut. Phoenix flinched, staggering a few steps backwards before regaining his balance. He lifted a hand to knock on the door and demand to be let back in so that they could talk properly. He sighed, unable to bring himself to do it. Edgeworth had looked unsettingly decided while he had spoken. Germany. Away from his office, away from the court they clashed in. Away from Phoenix.

He looked up hesitantly at the door and sighed. Dropping his gaze back to the ground, he turned away and began walking home.


The car slowed to a stop in front of the same house. Phoenix’s shoulders slumped and he didn’t look at Edgeworth as he stepped out of the car. He kept some distance from Edgeworth as they walked to the door and he was quickly jolted back to reality as an overexcited dog jumped on him, greeting him.

Pess was bigger than he remembered, and she looked happy to see him. He smiled, running his hands through the long coat and realising how much he’d missed her.

“Hello, you,” he murmured, scratching behind her ears until she was satisfied and dropped back down to the ground and circling around his legs and leading him into the house.

Edgeworth had already taken off the coat and his suit’s jacket as Phoenix walked inside and took his shoes off. The severe look in his dark eyes had gone, replaced by something softer.

Phoenix stood where he was, looking at the other man. Edgeworth looked away before speaking.

“Since that night, I’ve been wanting to apologise to you,” he said, his hand holding onto his other arm, the way he always stood when he was troubled. “I didn’t mean half the things I’d said. I was angry, I was an idiot. I’m sorry.”

Tilting his head a little, Phoenix weighed the words in his mind. He used to be bitter, when it came to Edgeworth. But he’d grown out of it. He was older and arguably wiser. He knew better than to let the bitterness of what had happened years ago keep him from enjoying a simple conversation with an old friend. Because of course, his mind told him, that was all this was. Simple conversation. He ignored the part of his mind that reminded him that Miles Edgeworth didn’t do small talk.

“…Phoenix?”

Phoenix sat on the three-seater. Pess happily climbed onto his knees again, asking to be patted again. Grinning at the dog, he combed his fingers through her fur as he replied. “Don’t worry about it. What’s gone is gone. I’ve learned not to dwell on what I… used to have.”

“Your career,” Edgeworth said softly, sitting down beside Phoenix.

“You know…” Phoenix murmured with a small smile, “Being with you like this makes it feel like things are back to how they were before.”

The fair-haired man looked at him, unable to agree when he could see all the glaring differences between the Phoenix beside him and the one that he used to know.

“How the hell could you let this happen?” he asked, and Phoenix frowned at the pain he heard in the other’s voice. “Why didn’t you find me and tell me what had happened? Why, of all times, did you have to pick then to start listening to what I say? I could have done something. You know I wouldn’t have stopped until they realised…”

“Miles,” Phoenix said softly. “You’re a prosecutor, not a defense attorney. This isn’t your fault. It’s my own gullibility.”

“This is why you need me,” Edgeworth said, his voice tight with frustration. “You need me with you. To stop you from doing things. If I had been the prosecutor—”

The sardonic grin returned to Phoenix’s face. “You’re the one who left, Miles. It’s probably the only reason you weren’t the prosecutor. I’ve already told you, there isn’t any point in dwelling on the past. I’ve had seven years to come to terms with this. You… get used to it, after a while.”

“Do you?”

Phoenix looked away. “…Not really. I know this wasn’t my fault, and it’s hard to deal with the fact that I’m being punished for something I didn’t do. I think I know who was behind it, but… I have no evidence. I can’t do anything about it.”

Edgeworth frowned. “If you do find that evidence… I’ll bring them down. I promise.”

A small smile spread across the dark-haired man’s lips. “I’d like to see you in court again.”

The other man returned the smile and before Phoenix could stop himself, he was leaning over, pressing his lips to Edgeworth’s.

Edgeworth quickly jerked away. Phoenix’s eyes widened and the prosecutor quickly spoke before the other man could get the wrong idea.

“Stubble,” he said, by the way of an explanation. “It feels strange.”

Grinning, Phoenix kissed him again.

“I’m serious, Phoenix,” Edgeworth pushed him away by the shoulders, but held him close enough to reassure him that he was not being pushed away entirely. “I’m not going to kiss you until you’ve shaved. I bought a new razor – you can use that.”

“You are serious,” Phoenix wasn’t sure whether to laugh or groan.

“Go,” Edgeworth said with a hint of a smile. “I’ll let Pess out while I wait.”

Phoenix emerged from the bathroom a while later, clean shaven and rubbing his chin in amusement. Edgeworth looked at him without a word, and Phoenix pulled his beanie off.

“You know, Trucy made this for me,” he said, holding it close to him before putting it down on the table near him. “Because I couldn’t get out of the habit of spiking my hair, but at the same time, I hated looking at it because it reminded me of everything I didn’t have.”

Edgeworth walked closer, carefully bringing his hands to the sides of Phoenix’s face. “Now you look right. The way you should be. Like…”

He trailed off, and Phoenix looked into his eyes, finishing his sentence for him. “…Like your Phoenix?”

Edgeworth looked away. “You can still read me.”

“It isn’t as hard as you make it sound,” the dark-haired man murmured with a smile, his hands spread out against the Edgeworth’s back. “Not after I get my head around the way you think.”

“Phoenix—”

He placed his fingers on Edgeworth’s lips, quietening him. “The deal was that if I shaved, I’d get to kiss you again. Isn’t that right?”

Edgeworth was still in the other man’s arms, and after a moment’s hesitation, leaned forward. Their kiss was intense this time as they fought for dominance. Phoenix ran his tongue across Edgeworth’s lower lip and the prosecutor relinquished control of the kiss with a deep groan.

“I wanted to do this all night,” Phoenix murmured between kisses, “Since you left, really.”

Anything Edgeworth was going to say in response was muffled as he was kissed again. It didn’t take long for their hands to start wandering, and Phoenix slipped his hand beneath the other man’s vest, untucking his shirt and trailing his fingers up Edgeworth’s spine. Shuddering, Edgeworth arched and pressed himself closer against Phoenix.

“It’s barely been an hour since we’ve met again,” he murmured against the other man’s lips. “And you’re already trying to get into my pants?”

“I hear no objections, prosecutor,” Phoenix replied, grinning.

The kissed again, pulling each other closer. Phoenix gasped as their groins came in contact, and then smirked.

“Enjoying yourself, Miles?” he asked, one of his hands carefully undoing the buckle of the fair-haired man’s belt.

“Phoenix,” Edgeworth hissed, scrunching the material of Phoenix’s hoodie beneath his hands. As if only then realising the clothes the other man wore were different to what he was used to, he reached for the zipper, pulling it down, pulling it off and dropping it on the floor. His hands were on Phoenix’s back, ready to pull his shirt off next, when the dark-haired man stilled him.

“How about we move to the bed?” Phoenix suggested, kissing along Edgeworth’s jaw.

Edgeworth all but dragged him to the bedroom in response. Phoenix was pushed against the wall, unable to move as he was kissed. Holding onto his shoulders, Edgeworth began grinding against him, taking what he wanted from Phoenix just as easily as he always did.

But then Phoenix pushed him onto the bed, crawling onto him and kissing him roughly. The shift in control threw Edgeworth off for a moment, but then Phoenix bit his neck, spurring him into action. They kissed as they undressed each other, moving on instinct and their previous experience together. Edgeworth pressed his head back into the pillow beneath his head, moaning as Phoenix pulled his underwear down and stroked his already fully-erect penis.

“Condoms and lube,” Edgeworth panted, “First drawer of the bedside table. I was being optimistic, for once.”

Chuckling, Phoenix retrieved them and placed them on the bed beside them. He leaned over, pressing his lips to Edgeworth’s. “I’m guessing that I’m not the only one who’s been thinking about this for a few years?”

“I’m afraid you’re the only pervert here, Phoenix Wright.”

“You’re no good at lying,” Phoenix murmured, grinning as he picked up the lubricant. “I say this is pretty conclusive evidence, don’t you?”

Edgeworth looked amused. He reached over to pull the other man into a kiss. “Shut up, Phoenix.”

Phoenix happily surrendered to the kiss, trailing his lips down Edgeworth’s neck before kneeling over him. They watched each other as the dark-haired man opened the bottle of lube and spread it onto his hands.

“Would it be egotistical of me to assume that you haven’t done this since you left?” he asked, spreading Edgeworth’s legs with his hands.

“What do you think?” Edgeworth asked, turning his face away to hide his frown of discomfort as Phoenix’s fingers entered him.

“I think that no one else would be brave enough to have sex with you. I wouldn’t have either, if you hadn’t come onto me first.” Phoenix grinned at the memory, moving his fingers a little. “Does this hurt?”

“No,” Edgeworth gasped in a voice that he hoped sounded more pleasured than pained. “Don’t stop.”

Phoenix nodded, slowly stretching the other man before withdrawing his fingers. “…But I want to know. Anyone when you were in Germany?”

“No one,” the prosecutor murmured, watching Phoenix slide a condom on and slick it with the lubricant. “Unless you want to be jealous of my hand.”

Laughing softly, the dark-haired man wiped his hand on the bed sheets before it found Edgeworth’s. “Not unless you’re going to be jealous of mine.”

“I see that you haven’t lost your skill for pointless conversation,” Edgeworth commented dryly.

“You’re sarcastic as ever,” Phoenix murmured, and held the other man’s shoulder. “Tell me to stop if it hurts.”

Edgeworth shut his eyes, his head falling back as Phoenix entered him.

“Mmm, feels better than I remember.”

Grunting, the fair-haired man thrust back. They both panted loudly, close enough to kiss, thrusting and pulling each other closer until they fell into a rhythm. Phoenix leaned over him, trying to find a position that he could balance in. Edgeworth surprised him by placing his hands on Phoenix’s back and shifting slightly.

“Better?” the prosecutor asked. Phoenix responded by thrusting harder, one of his hands stroking Edgeworth’s cock.

“Fuck, Phoenix.”

“Miles…” the dark-haired man growled in response, stroking harder.

They both clenched their teeth, holding back their moans so the only sounds that escaped their lips were the quiet grunts they couldn’t stop. Phoenix thrust harder and Edgeworth cried out loudly as his prostate was hit. This encouraged Phoenix and a few thrusts later, Edgeworth was releasing with a low moan of the other man’s name. Phoenix moaned in response, releasing soon after.

They pulled away from each other, looking sated. Phoenix got rid of the condom before collapsing on the bed beside Edgeworth and giving him a long kiss.

“Welcome home, Miles.”

“Hmm,” Edgeworth sounded amused. “It’s good to be back. Even if I won’t see you in court.”

“Not unless I’m on the witness stand,” Phoenix murmured, chuckling. “Or the defendant’s.”

“Not funny, Wright,” Edgeworth growled, rolling over so that he was on top of Phoenix. He sighed as he saw the look in the other’s blue eyes. “It’s already happened, hasn’t it?”

“I’m not in prison, am I?” Phoenix asked, smiling.

“You were the defendant,” Edgeworth said, groaning. “I turn my back on your for a minute—”

“Seven years, Miles.”

“…Seven years. I’m sorry.”

Phoenix smiled casually, folding his arms behind his head. “Like you said, I didn’t give chase. It’s as much my fault as it was yours. I should’ve known better than to actually listen to you.”

“But still—”

“If you hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t have Trucy. And besides, you’re back now. Oh, speaking of Trucy… I’ll introduce you tomorrow.”

“You’re introducing me to your daughter?” Edgeworth asked, “And how do you plan on doing that? This is my lover, Mr. Miles Edgeworth. You can call him Dad, too.”

Grinning, Phoenix pulled Edgeworth down for a kiss. “Better than telling her that she can call you Mum.”


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