I'll Wait - A Wrightworth Story

How Could You

In case you didn't read the description:
I wrote this after finishing the first game (including Rise From The Ashes which was added later)
*technically* an AU since it's what could have happened if Edgeworth's resignation hadn't been so damn ominous (and because the second game obviously doesn't make sense after this)

Phoenix took a deep breath. The air was cool and refreshing on this mild day in late February. He felt good. He'd won a seemingly impossible case. And weirdly, knowing that Edgeworth had helped him made it even better. Maybe because Phoenix was slowly starting to recognize him as the boy he'd known back in school. He was more himself now.

Phoenix felt his heart beat faster and his fingers tighten around the bottle of wine as the elevator went up towards the floor Edgeworth's office was on. He didn't know why. He was just going to congratulate him on solving the case together. And make sure Edgeworth didn't take it personally that he lost again. Man, that guy really didn't have it easy lately.

When Phoenix put his hand on the doorknob, something felt off. He knocked.
No answer.
"Edgeworth?"
Nothing.
He slowly turned the doorknob, fearing the worst.
But the only thing that awaited him behind the door was an empty office with an envelope on the desk. He didn't even have to look inside. He knew what it was.

"That son of a bitch."

His first instinct was to storm out of the building, but he collected his thoughts and dialled a number he knew by heart.

"What is it, pal?" Gumshoe greeted him.

"Hey, uh, do you know where Edgeworth lives?" Phoenix asked sheepishly.

"Yeah, I brought him my mom's homemade chicken noodle soup once when he was sick. Why?"

Phoenix couldn't imagine Edgeworth being sick. Or eating chicken noodle soup. Though the images that were starting to form in his head were kinda adorable. Too adorable to be realistic, so he shook them off.

"I was going to congratulate him on solving the case together. And make sure he's not too bummed about losing. And, uh, everything else that's happened. You know, with the manipulated evidence and-"

"Yeah, poor guy. I wish I could go check on him myself, pal, but I'm up to my neck in paperwork. Got some stuff to sort out myself." Gumshoe sounded a bit stressed and Phoenix could hear the rustling of paper and the clacking of a keyboard.

Gumshoe gave Phoenix the address and hung up before Phoenix could properly thank him.

Phoenix felt kind of bad. It was like he was the only one who wasn't in trouble now. Hoping he could at least make Edgeworth feel better, he rushed over to his house.

He rang the doorbell.
Nothing.
"Come on..."
He rang again.
The door opened and a slightly disheveled Edgeworth stared at him with empty eyes for a split second before saying "Nope" and slamming the door shut again.

"Son of a...", Phoenix grumbled again.
"Miles!", he called out.

After a few seconds, the door opened a few inches, but no further. All he could see was a very dark eye that was almost hidden in the shadow cast by dark gray hair. It was staring at him.
"Since when are we on first name basis, Wright?", a raspy voice asked. It sounded almost challenging.

Phoenix scratched the back of his head.
"Come on, we've known each other since we were kids. And we're not in court right now. Don't make this weird."

A small sigh escaped Miles' lips, barely more than a breath. Phoenix almost didn't catch it.

"Fine. What do you want, Phoenix?"
Despite using his first name, he didn't sound any more friendly than before.