AN;

So this is my first Phoenix Wright fic, xP. Just finished PW: JFA, and haven't placed the first one, so there may be some inconsistencies in Edgeworth's character, but I tried to write him as faithfully as possible.

I'm not quite sure if I want to do another chapter to this; I might do. I appreciate that Phoenix and Edgeworth is slightly overdone (At least, by what I've seen by the fics here) but I love Edgeworth, xP. He is fantastic. No joke. Not even sure if I'll pair them up, in the end.

Comments are very much appreciated, and I do try to reply to each comment. Feedback on my writing style and overall adherence to Phoenix Wright cannon would be very much appreciated. As would general 'OMG UR AWESOME!!1!one' xD. I'm easily amused, kay?

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Wright stormed into his apartment, slamming the door behind him. He almost growled as he ripped his jacket off and flung it onto the back of his chair before throwing himself into it. He almost ripped his tie from his throat and unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt, before flinging the tie away from him, where it snagged itself on the light fixture above. Today, he thought as he rested his forehead on his hand, has been a bad day. One could say that was rather an understatement. As the phone began to ring, he glowered at the device and seriously contemplated kicking it out of his window. It was a tempting thought, but… no. He probably didn't have the money to replace it. Which was a pity, because the shrill ringing was really getting on his nerves.

He stretched out one hand to grab the receiver and, after staring at it for a few moments, sighed and placed the plastic device to his ear. "Yes?" he asked in a rather exasperated tone, indicating that somehow, the World had wronged him.

"Nick?" the chirpy voice on the other end blurted out. Who else would it be? Who else could just hammer the final nail in his coffin of frustration? Oh, Maya of course. "Nick, I was just calling to see if you're OK and –"

"I'm fine," he barked, shaking his head and staring at the ground. Fantastic.

"Nick…" the voice remonstrated, "You don't sound fine. After that case today, you stormed out of the offices. I'm – "

He cut her off shortly, "I'm fine, I said." He almost shouted down the phone then immediately regretted it. Why would he snap at Maya? She had done nothing wrong – it was all his fault. All his fault… his thoughts trailed off, swirling into a self-deprecating miasma. And Edgeworth certainly hadn't helped! Oh, time to apologise, he supposed, "I – I 'm sorry, Maya," he began slowly, regretting his earlier outburst. "It's just – it went badly today and …" he broke off.

"No, no Nick!" the disembodied voice burst out, chirpy and bright, "It's alright, I completely understand!" A giggle floated down the line, and she continued; "Anyways, I'll come over soon. Pearly has come to visit, and we made some dinner!"

"Oh… Great!" Phoenix said, false enthusiasm buoying his voice. He made a few pleasantries, then set the phone down with a thud. He really could not put up with Maya right now – although seeing Pearls would be nice, he supposed. The little girl was cute after all!

It seemed he had barely put down the phone, when all of a sudden there came a knocking at the door. Frowning, Phoenix rose to his feet and padded to the door, peering through the little peephole. What on earth…? A flash of crimson, and cascading linen alerted to him to his visitor and he swore abruptly. Edgeworth! What on earth was he doing here?!

Phoenix opened his door quickly, eyes narrowing as he stared at his visitor. "Edgeworth," he started abruptly, throwing his hand up as Edgeworth tried to speak, "If you've come here to gloat…" he warned Edgeworth, head tilting to the side.

"I'm not here to gloat," Edgeworth interjected quickly, pushing past Phoenix brusquely. He paused in the living room stroke kitchen and looked around, fists on his hips. His wrinkled nose and demeanour told Phoenix his thoughts; what a dump!, he was clearly thinking. He turned around, and his eyes took in the jacket thrown over the back of a chair, and a tie somewhat improbably hanging from a light fixture. He almost laughed, but restrained himself. "I came to – " here he paused, a slight smirk crossing his face. Was he really going to say this? "To apologise." He spoke hurriedly,

A range of emotions crossed Phoenix's face – most prominently, extreme surprise. He tried to school his face and placed his hands in his pockets, looking up at Edgeworth. He made a few false starts at talking and merely succeeded in spluttering, such was his surprise. "No need," he replied firmly, with a snort. "I am rather used to your asinine comments and harsh name calling."

Edgeworth almost smiled at that – almost. The best he could muster up was his typical, sardonic smirk. "Still," he started, regarding Phoenix steadily. "I feel I do owe you some sort of an apology, Wright." He glanced around the apartment again and sighed, before seating himself in what had previously been Phoenix's chair.

Phoenix watched him for a long, awkward moment. "I suppose I accept your apology," he finally said, then snorted as Edgeworth seated himself. Did he want something else? After all, he had barged in rudely, and was looking rather … smug with himself. And also, there was a certain air of expectancy about him. "Did…" he paused a moment, to consider, "Did you want a drink?" At Edgeworth's nod, he head off towards the kitchen part of the dingy apartment he called 'open plan' and 'cosy'.

"Scotch would be nice," the prosecutor murmured, looking around him. He really hadn't expected that Phoenix received such low pay – it was abysmal! He got up from the chair and walked towards the window – where he opened it and leant out, breathing in the fresh air. He could see little from here, save a busy street below, and a tree on the street corner. How depressing. Some pot plants would really cheer this place up.

"Scotch?" Phoenix almost laughed – he was not regularly in the practice of drinking. Alcohol was expensive, after all! With a shrug, he leant further into his cupboards and rummaged around. He emerged, somewhat dustier and cobwebbed, with a bottle of clear liquid. He peered at the label, then poked at the bow that ringed the neck of the vodka bottle. Must have been a present, or something. He shrugged and wiped the dust from the bottle, and set to opening it. Now what? "No scotch!" he called out, taken somewhat aback at his behaviour – why on earth were he and Edgeworth acting so convivial? He did welcome the change – anything was an improvement on the usual banter they shared. Although, there had been lapses, recently… He smiled and filled two short glasses with ice, pouring the vodka over it. Mm, he supposed this would do.

Edgeworth turned as Phoenix approached him, a glass in each hand. One eyebrow arched as he took the glass from Phoenix, that almost but not quite a smile gracing his face. As he eyed it curiously – inspecting it? who knows, a prosecutors job is never over – he glanced at Phoenix. "Trying to get me drunk, Wright?" he demanded, then finally smiled and took a sip. With a somewhat appreciative noise, he knocked back the glass and set it down on the coffee table. "Of course," he paused to smirk that wonderful smirk of his, "Alcohol was not the reason I came here." An odd glint came into his eyes – his expression was similar to his 'I'm right, I'm wonderful, and I won' face. Of course, not that Wright knew it well…

Phoenix paused, mid-sip. He let the liquid wash over his lips and tongue, savouring the rarely tasted liquid. He sighed and removed the glass from his lips, arching one thin 'brow. "Well…" he trailed off, pausing as he saw the tie, snagged on a light. That could be a fire hazard – although the insurance money he could get… shook his head and turned back to Edgeworth, looking somewhat confused. "What?"

Edgeworth laughed a sardonic laugh and turned his back, returning to looking out of the window. What a depressing sight – he could never get used to something like this. Building after grey building, with very little greenery in sight. Although the constant sunshine did help, very little of it fell through the window in question. "Come on, Wright," his voice oozed towards Phoenix, and Edgeworth turned his head slightly, to regard the attorney out of the corner of his eye. "Use a little of that 'attorney' intelligence. You've got some clues. Now where's the motive?"

Phoenix sighed, and stared at the glass in his hand. Now alcohol – see, that was uncomplicated. He could understand vodka – he could understand if he drank too much of it, he would get quite drunk. And he enjoyed this clear comprehension, it was one less puzzle in his life that needed working out. And damn, his life was full of puzzles; murder charges, constant appearances in court, working with an inept judge… "You see, Edgeworth," he began as he took the necessary steps towards a chair. He sat in it, with a comfortable sigh, "I can never understand what you are talking about. A motive… clues?! Clues to what?"

Edgeworth laughed once more and turned, to gather his class and pace to the counter. He filled his glass again and returned to his vantage point at the window. He took a slow sip and bit at his lower lip, clearly out of Phoenix's sight. God, the man was slow at times! Although he did make a fantastic lawyer, with a little… nudging. He smirked at that and shot a glance over his shoulder at Phoenix, watching the lawyer for a long moment. His eyes were appreciative as he merely watched his 'rival' for a few moments, then shook his head and sighed. "Come on, Phoenix!" he murmured, letting all trace of emotion slide from his face. "You're an attorney. Work things out."

Phoenix was utterly confused by now, and merely flung his arm out along the back of the chair. For a few moments, the glass was the most fascinating thing in the room – he was positively fascinated with it. A few long moments of contemplation, he became aware of the scarlet figure mirrored in the liquid, and sighed. What ridiculous game was Edgeworth up to? Of course, one of Edgeworth's comments had not escaped him – the use of his first name. What? He shook his head and placed the glass on his coffee table and got to his feet, padding to the window at which Edgeworth was standing. "Edgeworth," he began, thinking about his next statement. "If this is about a case, then will you just say it?! Stop with your silly mind games and just say whatever it is aloud!"

Edgeworth almost laughed at Phoenix's comments; did he really know what he was asking? Obviously not. With his head bowed, he watched the people below scurry around, in their meaningless little lives. How cynical. Phoenix stood there for quite some time before Edgeworth suddenly smirked that self-righteous smirk and turned, to face Phoenix. He stared at him for a long time, his expression positively unreadable and very cryptic. Suddenly, he lunged for Phoenix, his glass dropping in the process. The glass dropped on the floor and shattered, scintillating pieces of glass flying everywhere. Edgeworth had Phoenix pinned up against the wall, holding him there by brute force. He was very close to him, and an odd expression crossed his face – victory, it seemed. He would claim his prize. Suddenly, his mouth was on Phoenix's, and he was pressed up against the defence attorney. His tongue was probing Phoenix's lips and suddenly gained entrance, exploring the defence attorney. He kissed him furiously, ignoring the leaner man's struggles and noises of protest. He clung onto Phoenix for dear life, tongue battling with Phoenix's as he kissed him. Oh, how wonderful.

The door creaked open and a voice called out, "Nick! It's Pearly and me, we brought some dinner – " and the medium was standing in the doorway, a pizza box in her hands. She stood there for what seemed eternity, her eyes taking in every detail of the scene; jacket over the back of the chair, a tie flung onto a light in what could have been a moment of passion, a partially unbuttoned shirt, and the shattered glass covering the floor with its sparkle. But most importantly – the two figures of law caught in an act that was so out of character, she could hardly believe it. One hand was out flung to prevent Pearly from entering as she stood there, mouth open. Her eyes welled up with tears and she fled, dragging Pearly and the pizza box with her.

Phoenix almost snarled and promptly bit Edgeworth's lip, causing the larger man to stagger back with a muffled oath. He glared at Edgeworth and darted to the door, calling out "Maya! Maya!" as he went, but to no avail. He stopped at the corridor, suddenly hyperconscious of the partially undone shirt, and… the taste of Edgeworth's blood on his lips. He grimaced and turned to walk into his apartment, slamming the door behind him and very unaware of the glass littering the ground. He almost collapsed onto his couch, leaning forwards and cradling his forehead in his hand. "Goddamnit, Edgeworth," he began, not even deigning to look at the man. "Why are you still here?"