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The smell of alcohol and bleach, the scent of any well kept hospital. The blinding lights shone brightly against the white walls. Hospitals made Edgeworth nervous, he remembers waking up in one, being told the horrible news about his father, and he still, to this day, could feel the tightness in his chest when being in one.
Wright, however, sat in a bed beside him, looking out the window with a very peaceful expression.
Honestly, Edgeworth found himself flying back to America to see the man after receiving a call about Wright's recent incident.
He wasn't sure what it was, still, the nursing staff just mentioned a fall, but the entire time he has been by Wright's side, the man hasn't said anything about it, acting as if everything was normal.
The man, despite whatever fall he may have had, wasn't injured horribly, like always, the man only had a minor injury, a twisted ankle and a few bruised ribs.
“Wright, how on earth do you always end up in this place?” Edgeworth scoffed. Wright looked over and chuckled softly to the others dismay.
“What can I say? I'm a clumsy man.” Wright responded, but Edgeworth felt uneasy.
The entire time during this visit, Edgeworth has felt as if Wright was hiding something. He knew the man wasn't in a good position as of late. Phoenix Wright, less than a month ago, had lost his attorney's badge, and you can tell the man hasn't been sleeping well.
Edgeworth had a terrible feeling settle in his gut, a Boulder that weighed down in this pit and he hated it. Wright..would never.
“Wright, are you feeling alright?” Edgeworth took a soft tone. He watched the man in front of him sigh softly.
“It's really fine, i..messed up, but I'm doing okay.” Wright smiled once more, but it felt…wrong.
“You can tell me anything, Wright.”
And Wright's smile faltered, only slightly.
“Can I?”
Edgeworth recoiled slightly. “Excuse me?..” He gripped his elbow tightly, as the other man still held a smile on his face, but it didn't reach his eyes.
“Edgeworth, what are you doing here?” Wright looked off to the window, his smile fading as he looked out.
No- no, this is wrong. Wright would never…this isn't right.
“Tsk-” he scoffed. “What am I doing here?” Edgeworth started. “You fell and got injured and you think I wouldn't come to see you?”
“Is that what they told you?” Wright snapped back.
Edgeworth looked away from the man.
“Well it's not like you're telling me-”
“I didn't fall.”
Edgeworth stood, his chest tightened and his fist clenched. The other man was staring daggers at him. Their eyes met, and Edgeworth could see the tiredness in the other man's eyes.
“Wright-” he begged. His voice was soft as he held back the emotions.
“I jumped.”
“No- no, you-” Edgeworth pleaded. His head started to spin, the walls crumbled around him.
“Wright- why? Why would-” Edgeworth sat back down.
There was no answer, only silence filled the room. The weight suffocating the man. Edgeworth slowly looked back over to the man lying in the bed. He felt his heart ache as Wright looked…empty, tired eyes stare at the ceiling above them, so many thoughts in that man's head…and not one, could Edgeworth guess.
“Why?” It was quiet, maybe Wright could have missed it. Edgeworth's voice sounded so small, his teeth gritting against one another to avoid any further emotion to bubble out.
“Imagine what the press would say..” Wright ignored his question, or maybe it was only the start to respond to it.
“What does the press have to do with any of it?” Edgeworth scoffed.
“If they find out you visited me.” Wright finally looked back, and Edgeworth saw it.
The pain, he saw the pain in the others eyes.
“You're working so hard to fix your reputation, trying hard to fix the law right now- if..if you got caught seeing me? Leaving the country just to visit me in the hospital-” and that's when Wright's voice caught in his throat.
This is the real him, the real Phoenix Wright peeking through the broken shell in front of Edgeworth.
“Maya- god..think of her?” The man choked back a sob. “It would be her mother all over again- what if she gets tied into it and the public thinks less of her?” Wright's sigh is shaky, tears filling up his eyes.
“God, look at me Miles-!” Edgeworth watched as the once standing tall man folded under it all. Wright hung his head into his hands, sobbing quietly.
“Look what they are saying about my past clients- already looking at your old case- i-” Wright's hands dropped, gripping the blanket that covered him, wet droplets falling softly onto the soft fabric.
“You shouldn't be here-”
Edgeworth stood, walking over and placing a hand onto the man's hand that clutched the blanket in its grip. Wright looked up, wide eyes and, oh so pained…
The sight, it- it broke something inside Edgeworth.
“You think killing yourself is the answer?” Edgeworth's grip tightened on the hand.
“Will this fix it?” Edgeworth asked, and Wright's eyes filled once more, tears threatening to fall.
“It won't, Wright. All you'll do is hurt already scared people. You're not alone, and you're not allowed to push us away for our benefit, or whatever wrong justification you made for this idea.” Edgeworth, despite his words, spoke softly, and sat on the bed's edge.
“Ms. Fey, Me-” Edgeworth sighed. “Even Larry, we are all here for you.”
There was silence, a painfully long silence.
“I..I'm sorry.” Wright hung his head.
“I…I regretted it as soon as I woke up here, I knew it was a mistake.” Wright leaned against the pillows, once again looking up at the ceiling.
But their hands remained together. Wright's grip was soft on the hand given to him, rubbing softly at the fingers.
Edgeworth would be more embarrassed of the intimacy, but right now, all he could concern himself with was Wright's health.
“Wright..i-”
“I know you have to go back, but could you stay tonight? Just until I fall asleep?” Edgeworth felt his face flush.
The look in the other man's eyes was begging, a silent plea that the other would take his offer.
“...Of course, Wright.” Edgeworth sighed, but his heart warmed at the soft smile the other man held.
“I have one request.” Edgeworth demanded, and Wright focused more on the man he was gaming towards.
“You need therapy, Wright.” Edgeworth shook his head as the man groaned in annoyance.
“I will not take no for an answer. I will pay for it.” Wright shot up, wincing and taking his free hand to hold his ribs. “Are you insane?! I'm not letting you do that!”
Edgeworth scoffed. “As if, you just lost your job, and I don't feel comfortable knowing your mental state and leaving you alone by yourself.”
Wright and Edgeworth stared at one another, annoyance on both their faces. Of course, Wright was the first to falter.
“Ugh..fine, but that's it, and if I feel ready, I will cancel it anytime.” Wright demanded. Edgeworth sighed, but nodded none the less.
“Of course, Wright, I shall agree to these terms.”
Wright's smile was soft, tired, annoyed, and even broken, but it was pure. They didn't dare let their hands go, Edgeworth wasn't going to let go first, either. If the simple action of holding onto the man was comforting, he was going to allow the man to have it, just before nightfall, just before he had to leave again.
Wright was going to be okay, they were going to be okay.
It was all going to be okay.