Chapter Text
"Wright"
The word hung in the night air outside the courthouse. Phoenix stopped moving but did not turn to face the prosecutor again. He was not sure he could handle it, but if this was going to be the last time he was with Miles for over a year he could at least listen to his justifications. They did not come, rather silence said everything he needed to hear. If it had not been broken before, Phoenix would have sworn his heart was breaking for the first time.
"Here it is again" The defense attorney spoke, turning partly to look the other man. The tears in his eyes were the only thing that betrayed the bitter anger in his voice. A choked laugh escaped his lips. "I can't believe it still hurts. I guess it never stopped."
"Wright" The prosecution tried again as if maybe this time he would get the rest of the words out, but he was not given another chance.
"No, /Edgeworth/ no more 'Wright'. It's the least you can do to call me by my first name. I thought you loved me. I thought we were at least friends." The man wiped his eyes on his blue suit, and turned the rest of the way to face the other, steeling himself, "But I guess it depends who you ask. I love you. I've always loved you, but every time it seems like I'm just left here with a hole in my chest."
The defense attorney, knew he was not prepared to see Miles' ever stoic face while the tears fell freely on his own. The man did not even open his mouth to defend himself, Phoenix was not sure he would be able to listen to it anyway.
"I get it, you know. You have so much going on. I've seen what it's done to you, everything that has happened. DL-6, Van Karma, your father, and all the other skeletons in your closet, but it's not enough. It can't excuse you running away all the time." Sympathy was present under the anger lacing Phoenix's voice. He fists clanched in an attempt not to reach out for Miles. "Where did you go, anyway? More than just 'Germany' and 'Soul searching.'" Give me something!"
Emotions dictated the defense attorneys voice. It was like talking to a brick wall. Miles' expression gave away nothing. The closest to a response that he gave was grabbing his arm in a half hug, almost as if he could protect himself from Phoenix's words.
"You almost gave us all a heart attack with your damn letter" The curse was spit out and held even more venom coming from a man who never used such harsh language. "'Miles Edgeworth chooses death' how could you do that!? Every time something happens you just sneak off and leave me broken. And to tell you the truth, I've lost my faith in you. So maybe you can do your disappearing act one more time. That's what you're planning anyway, right!"
Phoenix fell to his knees unable to support himself as he ended his outburst and buried his head in his hands, missing the look that crossed the prosecutors face at the end of his speech and the way his grip tightened on his magenta sleeve, leaving his knuckles white. Rather than lash out back at the defense attorney, he made up his mind to grant his wish and turned and walked away.
When the prosecutor was out of sight, Phoenix knew he was not getting him back again. The realization that he had destroyed all hope of seeing the man again hurt more than anything Miles had done to him. He could not even bring himself to get up from the sidewalk let along return home. It was not until long after the prosecutor left that Maya found the broken man on the ground and began to work to the put the pieces of her friend back together.