The Ties That Bind

Chapter Four: Phoenix Wright, Love Guru

LAX Airport, Departures Lounge – March 23, 9:30 PM

Ever the perceptive attorney, Phoenix noted the unusual angst in his friend's normally composed tone.

"Edgeworth, is everything alright?" He asked kindly. "You sound like you just lost your best friend."

Miles blindly felt behind him for the back of a lounge chair and sank into it gratefully, gripping the phone to his ear. After the unexpected emotional scene with Franziska, having Phoenix the Psychic be on the phone right after was a bit too much, even for him.

"I don't know," he replied frankly, surprisingly himself. "I just...don't know if alright would be an apropos word for my current disposition, Wright."

"OK..." Phoenix's tone went from sympathetic to uncertain. "Um...do you want to talk about it, Edgeworth?"

"Not unless you have any suggestions for sealing a 9200 mile gap between here and Germany."

"Sorry, my port key is currently on loan to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Phoenix joked. "Hold it! Is this about Franziska leaving? Are you feeling blue because you're going to miss your sister?"

Miles recoiled at the words. "Objection! She's not my sister, Wright!"

"Easy, buddy! Don't bite my head off!" Phoenix chuckled for a moment, then sobered when he was met with dead silence on the phone. "Oh...my...GOD..."he breathed, an understanding note replacing his amused one. "You're in love with her."

The continued silence on the line was his answer.

"Edgeworth, hey, are you still there?" Phoenix began punching the keys of his telephone, creating irritating loud beeping noises over the line.

"Yes, Wright, you fool! Stop that at once!" Miles commanded, taking the phone away from his poor, abused ear.

"Sor-ry! Next time say something! Or hum so I know you're still there!"

He must in be in love, Miles realized disgustedly. How else could he possibly justify his moment of temporary insanity that had made him want to confide in Phoenix Wright, of all people? The anti-ladies' man whose romantic history entailed dating serial-killer sociopaths and risking losing his morals and ethics in the name of still undeclared love for his teenage office assistant?

"Wright, please!" Miles began rubbing his temple with his free hand. "I implore of you, please stop talking! And button punching!"

"I said I was sorry! But just tell me if I'm right or wrong with my conclusion?"

"You're not wrong," Miles confessed. "I do love Franziska, Wright. Not the way a brother loves a sister. But the way a man loves a woman."

"So then why so glum, chum? Does she not feel the same way about you?"

"No..." Miles said slowly, trying to correctly put things into proper words. "I have reason to believe my devotions are not unrequited. But there is that pesky little problem I just mentioned, if you have already forgotten, of that whole 9200 miles apart I am now from the object of my affection."

"I don't know if I'm just exhausted from today's trial and subsequent after-party so I'm not too quick on the draw right now," Phoenix sounded puzzled. "But I'm still not seeing what the issue here is. Did you not ask her to stay?"

"I did. She left anyway, for various reasons that had naught to do with me."

"But she's only a plane ride away!" Phoenix exclaimed. "It's not like she moved to Mars, or something! You're Mr. Moneybags Prosecutor...surely you can afford a ticket to go visit her, right?"