Hello there, readers. This would be my story (obviously) focused on our darling couple Miles Edgeworth and Phoenix Wright because UGH They are just adorable and make my heart want to explode with the tension and all that jazz. Title comes from the song 'Little Lion Man' because if you listen to it with the verses as the subconscious speaking to the man and the chorus to their lover/etc, I immediately thought of all of Edgeworth's drama. Rated T for language. Enjoy! Reviews & Faves are fabulous, but not required.
I own no rights to the ACE ATTORNEY series nor the characters in this story. Those belong to CAPCOM. Oh yeah, and Title credits goes to the Mumford and Sons song 'Little Lion Man' I don't own that either.
~LITTLE LION MAN~
It had been a week now, since Maya had been saved and Edgeworth had returned. And in that seven days time, Phoenix had had plenty of time to let his pain, betrayal, and anger fester and grow.
Who did he think he was, running away merely months after we reunited? What compelled him to think he could leave a suicide note and I'd not be upset? And most of all, how did he suspect that after being 'dead' for a year and putting me through all that, that he could simply waltz back into my life and nothing would change?
There was no way in hell Phoenix was having any of that. Had it not been for the dire circumstances at the time of Edgeworth's return, the demon prosecutor would have received a must needed slap in the face and more than a few harsh words.
"Nick!"
The attorney was forced from his thoughts by his assistant's cry. He wandered out of his bedroom, expecting his dilapidated stove to be on fire and Maya's latest culinary attempt reduced to ashes. Instead he was face to face with, somehow, the first and last person he wanted to see. Miles Edgeworth was standing in his doorway, nose upturned at his rival's unsanitary living space.
"Hey pal!" Gumshoe waved from behind the prosecutor.
"H-hey Detective. Hello, Edgeworth." The latter greeting was hissed and laced with ice.
"Hi guys!" Maya waved from the kitchen, "I just finished up some Super-Samurai Maya burgers! Want one?"
"No thanks, pal, I just ate."
"No, thank you. I'm not all that hungry." Though, Edgeworth's expression more likely conveyed that he was far above such pedestrian food.
"Want one Nick?"
"They're delicious!" Pearl cried from her place one the worn sofa, put there by her cousin to experience the wonder of Steel Samurai.
Phoenix turned to his assistant. "Maya, could you grab Pearl and leave us alone for a moment."
The medium looked slightly confused, but complied nonetheless. "C'mon Pearly, we'll finish the SamurMarathon later. I just remembered that I need some more stuff to make more Super-Samurai Maya Burgers."
Pearl took her cousins hand in her empty one and waved to the men as they left. "Bye bye! We'll see you later Mr. Nick! I'll make sure Mystic Maya buys something special for her special someone!"
"Pearls!" Maya scolded, dragging her out of the apartment.
As soon as the two girls had closed the door behind them, Phoenix let the fake smile fall away to unadulterated anger. "Why are you here, Edgeworth? Are you going to apologise or are you going to give me an advanced warning for your next feigned suicide?"
"I had detective Gumshoe drive me here to speak to you... about what happened."
"Then leave because I don't want to talk."
"Wright..."
"Don't 'Wright' me! You made me think you were dead! Get out of my apartment!"
"I need to talk to you, Wright!"
"No! Leave before I have you arrested for trespassing!"
"Wright!"
Phoenix flung a finger toward the exit. "Get the hell out!"
"Listen to me!"
"No. Just because you helped me with the trial doesn't mean I've forgiven you. I'm still pretty livid about your stupid stunt. I'd really prefer not to see your face. This is the last time I'm asking. Get out."
"You're being a stubborn idiot, as always, Wright," Miles sighed, shaking his head.
"Gumshoe!"
The detective perked up. "What?"
"I'd like to file a complaint against a Mister Miles Edgeworth for trespassing in my home. I made it clear the last time I saw him that he should not try to contact me. I never expressed permission for him to enter and expressed immediate discontent when I saw him enter. I have repeatedly asked him to leave and he has refused to comply."
"Buddy... are you-"
The defense attorney narrowed his eyes. "Arrest him, detective!"
Gumshoe cast a nervous glance at Edgeworth. The silver haired prosecutor gave him a nod. "It's fine Gumshoe. Mr. Wright has every...right," he paused, realizing the pun, "To be angry with me. I am now legally trespassing. Take me to the precinct, Detective."
Gumshoe sighed reluctantly. "Miles Edgeworth, you're under arrest for trespassing. Everything you say can and will be-"
"Used against me in a court of law. I have a right to an attorney," he cast a glance at Phoenix. "And if I cannot afford one, one will be provided for me. Yes, yes, I know detective. I haven't been gone for that long."
Phoenix stood stoic. He watched as his childhood friend was begrudging lead off into Gumshoe's cramped squad car, thinking it somewhat served the prosecutor right for what he had done to him.
Not long after, Maya and Pearl came bolting through the door. "Nick! Nick! What happened! I just saw Detective Gumshoe putting Mr. Edgeworth into his car, saying "Im real sorry 'bout this, pal. It's just my job." And not that Edgey is the friendliest person around, but he looked really upset. What happened up here?"
Phoenix sighed. "Nothing, Maya."
Nick!" she huffed. "I don't need my magatama to know that you're hiding something. Tell me!"
"No Maya, I'm not!" He tried to keep his voice quiet and even to avoid upsetting the younger medium who had grabbed another burger from the platter Maya left sitting precariously on the kitchen counter.
"Pearly, can you restart the Samurai marathon while Nick and I talk about something?"
Pearl smiled delightfully. "Of course I'll leave you two special someones alone to talk!"
"Pearl..."
"Oh no, don't thank me! I'll go watch Steel Samurai!"
The law duo rolled their eyes and adjourned to the attorney's room. Maya shut the door to minimize the chance of her naive cousin hearing their argument. "Nick, what happened with Edgeworth? I thought after all this time you'd be glad to see him. I mean, you were so upset about him being gone I thought it'd make you happy to see him..."
"You thought wrong. I don't want to see him right now. Or ever again for that matter. He can go back to Europe for good." Phoenix knew that not a word of the last two sentences were true. If Edgeworth was out of his life forever, he couldn't take it. He was angry with his friend and rival, but certainly not that angry.
"Nick... what went on while I was gone?"
"I had him arrested," he gave in.
"What? You had him arrested? I know you're mad, and I'm just a lawyer's assistant, but I don't think running away for a year is a crime..."
"I filed trespassing charges. I repeatedly told him to get out and he didn't. Arresting him was the only way to make him leave."
"Nick, you're an idiot, y'know."
He sighed. "Yeah, I kinda figured that out ten minutes ago."
Edgeworth sat in the holding cell thinking of so many ways the earlier confrontation could have gone better. Granted, he wasn't expecting a grand, warm, open armed welcome. He was expecting Wright to be mad after what had happened and especially now that he had the chance to let it sink in. But, when he had gone over to his... 'friend's' apartment, he certainly didn't think the night would end in arrest. He had never been in trouble with the law, save that painful memory from the year prior, and he never would have thought it would be for something as trivial as this. Never in his life would he expect Wright, the one person who had ever really given a damn about him, save his father and possibly his whip-wielding adoptive sister Franziska, to be the one to have him arrested.
Then again, he probably would react the same way had he been in the attorney's shoes. Well, he probably would have reacted with cold silence and slammed the door in the others face, but still. Drawing away from his unpleasant train of thought, Edgeworth looked up to see Gumshoe heading his way, smiling as always.
"Hey, pal. Mr. Wright called a few minutes ago and asked that we drop the charges and scratch them from the record. So, I guess that means you're free to go," he beamed, unlocking the cell to let the prosecutor out.
Edgeworth stood up and stretched his tensed muscles. "Thank you, detective."
"So, uh, Mr. Wright sure was upset tonight, huh?" Gumshoe said, scratching the back of his head.
The prosecutor shrugged. "I expected nothing less. He has a right mind to be upset with me. He thought I was dead and lived that way for a year. It's not an easy pill to swallow."
"I see... well, if you need a ride back to your hotel..."
"I'll be fine. I'll call a cab. Thank you for the offer."
"Not a problem, sir. I hope you can work everything out with Mr. Wright!" he called as the silver-haired prosecutor strolled out of the police station.
As soon as he was clear of the scrutiny of the police force he had worked hard to control, Edgeworth let his shoulders slump. His stride became less high and mighty and more tired and upset. After weighing his less than appealing choices, the prosecutor decided against a cab for now. He wandered down the street to a nearby bar, preferably to drink himself into oblivion.
Deciding once again against hailing a taxi, Edgeworth found himself walking, occasionally stumbling, back to his hotel. The entire time he tried to vanquish the utterly useless and annoying thoughts swarming his mind.
Who does he think he is? Having me of all people arrested? Did he forget who I am?
Then again, I did just vanish into thin air one day and left him without saying anything.
Still. It was a completely irrational and brash decision.
Wait… am I talking about myself or Wright?
Wright. It's always Wright. Stupid spiked hair and stupid blue suit and stupid grin and… argh!
Edgeworth stopped, almost to his hotel. He didn't know how he hadn't realized it earlier. But as he looked across the street he remembered everything located near the hotel. One window sat in the center of his vision. He knew what was behind the half closed curtains.
Of all the damn hotels in the damn area he had to pick the one right next to Wright's damn office.
Way to fucking go, Miles.
He shook his head and sighed.
I need something else to drink…