Chapter 2

Edgeworth wanted to say something, but his mouth refused to open. He stared at Phoenix, keeping himself completely composed. He was in turmoil though. He couldn't quite place why he was affected by the last scene that played in front of him and why he was having so much trouble keeping unwanted tears in. Shouldn't he be glad Phoenix found someone? But yet, he felt a little betrayed. Or maybe this was another feeling. Although Pess was barking, his ears had went deaf and the only thing in his sight was

Phoenix. Finally he was able to get himself to talk.

"Hello Wright," he said nearly cringing at himself. He didn't intend it, but it sounded more cold than it should have been.

Phoenix just looked back at Miles, his shocked expression now covered with a scowl. When Miles left the way he did, Phoenix felt abandoned and betrayed. Even if a small part of him felt extremely relieved that nothing bad had happened to him, he didn't know if he could bring himself to forgive Miles for what he put him through so quickly, especially now if he didn't even seem to feel sorry for it. Miles's tone seemed enough evidence of that to him.

Phoenix narrowed his eyes slightly and replied curtly, "Edgeworth."

For a split second, a wave of pain and guilt washed over his eyes that even Edgeworth did not notice, before replaced with his usual cold expression. His mind was having trouble keeping up with the sudden situation. It was odd to have Phoenix give him such an expression he was near speechless. However, he was not going to let this slide.

"I see you're still doing fine," his tone seemed a lot softer suddenly. Why was it when he wanted it to be forceful that it fails at him? "Well I believe both of us must have something to do, so I really must be going." He picked up the leash that was attached to Pess' collar. However, Pess had other plans. As he straightened himself, Pess started running around them, the leash wrapping around both their legs. It was as though he had sensed his owner's feelings and was trying to fix it.

Before Phoenix even realized what was happening, he felt the leash around his legs, and his knees were buckling due to the unexpected force of the pull. Suddenly he'd fallen on Miles, and since Miles's legs were also wrapped in the leash, he couldn't hold them both up. Phoenix found himself lying on top of Miles on the floor in front of the police department, causing himself to flush the reddest color human skin could get.

Edgeworth didn't know what was more painful, the fall or having someone on top of you. It was that same someone who made him forget about all the sudden rush of pain and he suddenly felt extremely hot in the face. Having pale skin seemed to make it all the worse since his face was probably even redder than Phoenix's was because of it. He couldn't quite place it, but he kinda liked the closeness. Of course he'd never say that out loud. But that didn't mean it wasn't painful, that fall had knocked the wind out of him and Phoenix was a lot heavier than he actually anticipated.

"Wright...as much fun as this is. I'd really like if you could try to remove yourself from on top of me." He couldn't help but sound embarrassed. Although there was enough room to think of how Pess had gotten like this. He's smarter than I thought he was...This was true, he hadn't expected Pess to be the source of this whole ordeal.

Phoenix quickly untangled himself from the leash and got off of Miles, still blushing from all of that. He could see that he wasn't the only one that was thoroughly embarrassed. Deep down, he had to say though, the sudden physical contact with Miles felt a lot nicer than he had expected it to, but he still would stand his ground about how wrong it was of Miles to leave everything and everyone the way he did...leave him the way that he did, especially. Phoenix felt much too hurt to let him come back and act as though nothing had happened, and before he realized it, words he would have liked to keep to himself slipped out of his mouth.

With the blush finally leaving his cheeks, he said, his voice sounding bitter and cold, "Why did you leave like that, Edgeworth? Letting everyone think you might have died...after all that, it would have been best if you didn't come back."

Still holding the leash, Edgeworth slowly started getting back up. He froze as those last words came out of Phoenix's mouth. He knew his leave was abrupt and that it was unexpected. But he needed time to think by himself to sort out all his thoughts and feelings. He didn't know he would react this way. It felt as though something inside him had shattered into millions of pieces, leaving him broken and alone. He kept his head low as he straightened himself, not wanting to make eye contact. There was no way he could counter words like those, his whole being had been shaken by them.

"Is that how you really feel Wright?" Edgeworth said, keeping his voice as strong as he could, but it was feeling weaker and weaker by the second. "If that's what you think, then so be it. Hopefully we won't see each other in court ever again."

Although Phoenix didn't seem to want to see him anymore, he still wanted to see Phoenix. Those battles in courts were truly what made his job as a prosecutor worth while. His grip on Pess' leash grew tighter subconsciously.

"I think I'll go now. I have nothing else to say to you." Edgeworth said, knowing that was a complete lie since there were so many things he wanted to say, but if Phoenix was so intent on throwing away his existence, these words were useless. He didn't wait for a reply and it seemed Pess knew too, because Pess obeyed without a fight.

Suddenly Phoenix realized that he had said too much when he heard how hurt Miles sounded when he replied to him. Yes, he was hurt with the way Miles left, but if he talked to him this way, he'd never find out why, and that was what troubled him more than anything. But what got to him was how Miles didn't even say sorry or anything like it.

Phoenix grabbed Miles's shoulder to prevent him from escaping and said with determination, "No. You're not going anywhere until you tell me why."

Edgeworth couldn't tell Phoenix yet, he was still trying to figure out the nature of this feeling he's had since the trial Phoenix defended him in. This feeling had to do with Phoenix himself, but it was certainly foreign to him. That whole trial had been too stressful and emotional for him. If he didn't leave he wouldn't have been able to sort out most of what was on his mind and how he was feeling. He knew he owed an explanation, but he didn't feel he was ready to say anything.

"I can't tell you. Not yet. So you'll just have to accept an apology for now."

He didn't turn to face Phoenix. He hoped that Phoenix would at least accept his apology if nothing else.

I'm truly sorry I caused him pain for my selfish reasons and actions...Edgeworth thought, now feeling very guilty.

Phoenix looked at Miles in disbelief.

"...Just an 'I'm sorry'? After all that? After you let everyone think you committed suicide?!" Phoenix said, hearing his voice getting progressively more angry, but he just couldn't make himself get it in check, all of these emotions now boiling over, out of control.

He makes everything sound less complicated...Miles thought as he guessed that an apology alone wasn't going to cut it.

Sighing in defeat, Miles said, "Fine, but can we discuss this somewhere more private?"

All this arguing was getting nowhere and that fall from earlier had given him a slight headache. Phoenix's anger was starting to get a lot of stares, and it was starting to feel uncomfortable to have so many people walking by giving them weird glances.

Phoenix almost said 'no', but he realized that would be a really juvenile way to deal with this situation, and that they wouldn't be able to clear up what had happened that way.

Phoenix let out a sigh and said, "Alright. My office isn't too far from here."

The sound of going somewhere else that wasn't home got Pess excited again. He barked loudly, wagging his tail fervently. Edgeworth smiled softly, although it didn't reach his eyes, which still expressed an unwanted sadness.

At least I'll always have Pess...Edgeworth thought sadly to himself.

"I guess we should head over now." Edgeworth said, hoping Phoenix keeped a box of tissues handy. He knew he wasn't going to get through the whole explanation without breaking down.