2018
Phoenix came back to himself with a start, surprised to realize that his face was wet with tears. He touched his cheek with a sense of distracted wonder, his fingers trembling as he did so.
That was the crux of it all, he thought, quickly wiping his eyes and rubbing his sleeve against his cheek. Miles hadn't come back to me, after all, and, the one time that I had tried to reach out to him, I'd been coldly rebuffed.
Phoenix couldn't understand why and it was this unanswered question that had eaten at him all these years. He loved him, damn it, but it appeared that Miles didn't love him in return; after one failed phone call some years after they had lost touch-they had both long since graduated and began their respective law careers-they hadn't spoken since.
That had been seven years ago and, as he looked at the complete bracelet of golden links that completely encircled his wrist, he couldn't help but wonder why this thing was still holding him prisoner to a ghost. He couldn't deny that he missed Miles-god knew he did, more than he cared to admit to anyone-but he didn't know when these series of links had been completed and why they still seemed to be the same warm, glowing gold that they always were.
You would think that they would be tarnished after all these years but they're not. I don't know how but it's clear that they've never changed.
He was surprised to see Miles here when he'd arrived at the courthouse to wait for his client earlier that day and somewhat comforted to see the same golden links wrapped around Miles' wrist in turn. Perhaps there was hope for them after all.
Miles had been just as surprised to see him there as Phoenix was. He found out that Miles was there in conjunction with the prosecuting attorney-although he wouldn't be prosecuting the case himself-and it wouldn't be out of line for them to talk.
There really wasn't too much time at the present to enter into a conversation so Phoenix hurriedly invited him to meet him here after court in order to talk. Miles had coldly rebuffed him and had tried to push past him but Phoenix grabbed his arm before he could get away, forcing him to turn and look at him.
That Miles wasn't happy to see him was pretty plain. He could see it in the stiff way he held his body; in the cold gaze that he turned on him and his clipped, and curt, tone. They'd exchanged angry words before Miles had yanked his arm away with an oath, turning to stalk away before he was stopped short and he turned to face Phoenix, his face expressing puzzlement.
Phoenix couldn't imagine what it could have been that had stopped him until he looked down and saw the long golden chain that had appeared between them.
Miles' eyes widened in surprise as he saw this and even Phoenix was stunned into silence. Neither of them had remembered when this had appeared but it was clear that it was meant as a clear signal: they were connected, whether they liked it or not, and memories of those long ago days came flooding back into their minds as they stood there, white to the lips and shaking with emotion.
Phoenix repeated his invitation before he turned and began to walk away and he hadn't gone very far when he stopped, hearing Miles say, in a voice as cold as ice, "It's too late for this, Wright. So much has come between us in the interim that I don't think it would be wise for us to try to rekindle a love that died long ago."
Phoenix's back had stiffened at the pitiless words and he fought hard not to cry out, his eyes dropping down to the links that encircled him and bound him to Miles. He could see, with equal amounts of trepidation and hope, that the links around their wrists still glowed brightly and he knew that there must be a reason for this rather than just plain hubris on the part of something unknowable.
He sincerely doubted that they would have stuck around if he really meant that there was no hope for them. He also noticed that the long chain was also still there and, again, hope rose within him.
Maybe there is a chance for us after all...
He could cling to that and hope for the best. He could hear Miles shuffling uncertainly somewhere behind him and wondered why he didn't push past him and leave. Maybe the reason was not that he couldn't but that he didn't want to. Somehow, maybe it meant that Miles didn't want to leave him or everything that they meant to each other. Perhaps he even still loved him. He could hope, at least.
He clenched his hand into a fist as he slowly turned to see Miles standing there, arms hanging loosely at his sides, warring expressions flitting across his face. He looked unhappy and uncertain and Phoenix wondered anew what thoughts were going through his mind.
"I don't know what's wrong or why either of us are this angry," he said slowly, looking at him straight in the eye, trying to control the tremor in his voice, "but these links are still here, binding us together. They've always been here, even when we lost touch."
He paused, taking a deep breath, continuing before h lost his courage. "I...still love you, Miles, despite everything and I want nothing more than to give us another chance since it seems that we're fated to be together." He held up his wrist, the glowing links shining like a beacon. "I'll wait for you here after court is through for the day; then we can talk."
Once he'd finished speaking, he'd turned to leave and once again Miles' icy, clipped tones stopped him. His back stiffened and he gritted his teeth, feeling the fingers of his right hand curled into a fist, clenching so hard that his knuckles turned white.
"Too much has come between us for me to want to pick up the pieces of our relationship again, Wright. There is no hope for us and its... best if we part as... friends."
Phoenix looked down at his wrist to see the links glowing brightly, his eyes flickering over to Miles' wrist to see that his links burned brightly, too..
He's lying. He wants this just as much as I do although I don't know why he's trying so hard to dissuade me.
"I'll be waiting," was all he said in reply before spun on his heel and he strode up the steps, opening the door and walking inside before Miles had a chance to say a word.
I hope to God I don't end up regretting this...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I'll be waiting.
Phoenix reflected on the words he'd said before he'd walked into the courthouse and wondered what had possessed him to say such a thing.
I'll be waiting.
He looked up at the grey sky, swallowing hard as he closed his eyes. It was clear that Miles wanted nothing to do with him so why was he still standing here like a fool, waiting for a man who had plainly told him that he didn't want him back in his life?
Why am I even here? The thought came, unbidden, to the forefront of his mind and he wiped his eyes with shaking fingers, trying to push down the despair that he could feel welling up inside him, threatening to overwhelm him.
He had hoped, after all these years, that the man he loved would come back to him but that seemed like a forlorn hope at best now since he had made it very clear what his feelings on the matter were.
He looked again at the golden links that encircled him and they were beginning to feel more and more like shackles binding him to the past.
He thought again of that long ago night and he wondered for what seemed to be the millionth time that day what had happened to the two boys who were once inseparable; he found it rather ironic that they had grown up to be men who had been separated by circumstance and life choices.
He looked at his watch again. 6 P.M. He'd give him ten more minutes and then he would leave the courthouse, and Miles, behind. For good.
He knew that he should feel better now that he had made his decision but why didn't it feel that way? No matter how many times he told himself this, why did it feel less honest every time he said it?
He felt something wet splash on the back of his hand and he looked up, surprised to see fat little raindrops dropping from the sky. They fell gently at first and then picked up until it was pouring, thunder rumbling across the blackened sky.
He shivered, pulling the corners of the collar of his coat together, the cold wind and rain cutting him to the core. He sighed, wondering again why he was still here when it was clear that Miles wasn't going to come and it was clear that there would be no last second comeback, no last minute miracle and no turnabout this time.
Why can't I let you go?
He stood there a few minutes more before he looked down at his watch again. 6:10. He sighed brokenly as he turned and began to walk slowly away across the veranda, his fingertips touching the wet railing. He had really been hoping that he wasn't wrong, that Miles would come back to him but now that seemed like a fool's dream. His heart ached as he slowly started to walk down the steps, his heart becoming heavier with every step he took.
Why did I even come here?
The plain truth was that he was hoping that Miles had come around; that he had solved whatever it had been that had split them apart. Obviously, he'd been wrong.
He'd almost reached the bottom step when a loud shout from somewhere behind him startled him and he'd whipped around, tears and rain falling down his face, to see Miles racing across the veranda toward him.
His eyes widened as he saw him but, before he had a chance to say a word, Miles was there, his hands reaching up to cup his face in his hands, to bring his lips to his in a passionate kiss, his eyes fluttering with amazement.
What-?!
There was no time to think and, as he stood there frozen to the spot, he couldn't imagine for the life of him what had just had made it clear to him earlier that he wasn't interested in getting back together or even repairing their relationship; his cutting words had been proof of that but now, here he was, kissing him as they had all those years ago.
What... just... happened here?! What's... going on?!
He was trembling with emotion when they parted, Miles' hands still cupping his face so tenderly, his fingers softly caressing his cheek. He leaned forward until their foreheads touched, Phoenix standing there mutely, confusion plain in the poleaxed expression on his face.
When he at last found his voice, he couldn't help blurting out, "What... just happened here?" He was confused and heart sore; he didn't know what had happened in the past three hours that changed things but he couldn't quite comprehend the sudden turnabout. It mystified him and even more so when Miles pushed their lips together again, his tongue softly feathering over them in plain invitation.
He didn't stop to think about the repercussions but his lips slowly opened underneath and Miles's tongue slipped softly inside, exploring his partner's mouth with equal tenderness and passion while Phoenix's arms had slowly lifted and had wrapped around him, holding him close as they deepened the kiss.
They were both wet as the rain continued to fall but neither noticed as they stood there, muffled moans escaping form their conjoined mouths.
I have no idea what's going on but I'm not going to complain at the moment. I've wanted this, and him, for so long and I'm not about to spoil it but objecting. If this is only a dream, I intend to enjoy it as long as I can...
When they at last parted some time later, they were soaked to the skin and shivering but both were smiling; Phoenix giggled as Miles rubbed the tip of his nose against his, delighting in his partner's smile.
I've wanted this for so long, he thought, staring into Miles' grey eyes, and, at last, he's come back...
Silence reigned between them for a few moments more before Phoenix finally broke it.
"Why did you come back?" he asked, his cerulean blue eyes looking him square in the face, his voice reflecting his confusion and pain. "When you left earlier, you made it very clear that you didn't want anything to do with me. Why did you come back?"
Miles took a deep breath, his eyes closing, his fingertips tracing patterns on his wet skin as they stood there.
"I...had every intention of leaving and not coming back but I... I... couldn't." He looked embarrassed. "There was something nagging at me and I couldn't ignore it no matter how much I tried to." He took another deep breath. "I... tried leaving once court was done for the day but I found that I couldn't."
"You mean that you were unable to leave on your own?" Phoenix was puzzled. "Why?"
Miles shook his head. "You don't understand, Phoenix. When I said that I was unable to, I meant just that. I couldn't leave since something prevented me from leaving."
"What?"
"I couldn't leave, Phoenix," he repeated patiently, "because something prevented me from leaving." He lifted his wrist slightly and Phoenix could see the golden links burning brightly, undimmed by the rain. "I...wanted to run from you as far as I could but something obviously had other ideas." He chuckled as he opened his eyes once again. "I didn't want to come back but it seems that something didn't really care about my wishes but wanted to remind me of what we once had."
His smile faded and Phoenix could see the same pain reflected in his own.
"I... couldn't face you, not after all of this and I wanted nothing more than to disappear again, this time for good." He sighed. "As I said, something prevented me from leaving and I began to think, really think, about what, and who, it was that I was planning to leave."
His voice caught and Phoenix's arms tightened around him protectively, his hands slowly making comforting circles on his soaked jacket.
"In the end, I couldn't leave and then I started thinking about what happened the night that these links appeared. I've often wondered exactly what they meant and I think that I have an answer at long last and that was clear to me but moments ago: you and I are bound together by the Chain of Fate. We always have been and we always will be."
He stopped again, taking a deep breath. "I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life," he continued, his voice soft, "and, while we were apart, I had no interest in anyone else... except you. I tried moving on with my life after we lost contact but I found I couldn't and, more often than not, my thoughts were always coming back to you. I tried to convince myself that I was better off without you but I couldn't make myself believe that, not really, at least although I found out why Professor von Karma had been pressuring me to change schools."
"What was it?" Phoenix asked quietly although he had a feeling that he already knew the answer.
"He...had feared for some time that I was gay and wanted me to transfer schools so he could keep an eye on me, as it were." He sighed. "He knew that we were lovers, Phoenix, but he didn't care about that. He'd had grand plans for me and you were not part of them so he... arranged to have me transfer over to where he taught in an effort to force me to be someone I wasn't."
Phoenix remained silent, waiting for Miles to continue speaking. It was clear to him that these memories were unhappy ones, if the trembling he could feel in his body was any indication. He held him closer.
I suspected as much. I knew there was something else going on at the time although I didn't exactly know what.
"He damned near succeeded in doing just that," he went on, "and he was furious with me when I told him that I wanted nothing to do with his grandiose schemes. I didn't know exactly what his plans were but they weren't what I was interested in doing and I told him so." He stopped, taking a deep breath. "That was when he played his trump card: he threatened to ruin you and have you kicked out of school on some made up charges. I was aghast; being on the Board of Trustees as he is at both schools, he could do just that and I knew very well that he would do as he threatened if I didn't go along with it."
He lifted his head to look at him and the lost look in his eyes was nearly enough to make him weep and he held him even closer to him, his left hand reaching up to stroke his head, his fingers tangling in his hair.
"What could I do, Phoenix? I knew that he was a man of his word and would do exactly as he threatened to do and I...I...couldn't allow him to ruin your life so I...did as he asked." The last words came out in a rush. "I did what he wanted in order to keep you safe from harm until after you had graduated and begun your career." He sighed brokenly. "I wanted so much to contact you but it never seemed the right time and I began to fear that you hated me so I stayed away."
"Hate you?" Phoenix couldn't keep the stunned surprise out of his voice. "Why would I hate you, Miles? You did nothing wrong."
He closed his eyes and took another deep breath. "I know but I felt like I had... betrayed you in some way by doing what he wanted, even if the reason I went along with it was to protect you."
Silly Miles, Phoenix thought with affection, you should have known better than that. I could never hate you. You did what you did out of love for me; how can I fault you for that? I probably would have done the same.
"I'm sorry that I stayed away so long and I'm sorry for the cruel things I said." His voice caught and Phoenix crooned soft words of comfort. "I...didn't mean any of it and I wanted nothing more than to come back to you and pick up the pieces of our lives here we left off. Is there any chance that we...?"
Phoenix felt a sob emerge from tightly pressed lips and he crushed his mouth against his in response, moving hard against his own. He could feel Miles stiffen for a moment before he, too, moved with him, his hands sliding from his face to wrap around his neck, his fingers tightening around his shoulders.
Whatever had happened all that time ago, Phoenix forgave him. He now knew the reason behind Miles' inexplicable disappearance and he bristled with anger against Professor von Karma, the one who had been determined to force Miles into a life he wasn't suited for just to please him.
He banished these thoughts to the furthest corner of his mind as he and Miles continued the passionate embrace. That was all in the past and he was with him now. They could pick up the pieces of their lives and move on and he eagerly wondered where they would go and what they would do. All of that was in the future and, as he and Miles stood there in the pouring rain, he couldn't help but to murmur a silent prayer of thanks to whatever had joined them together in such a tangible way all those years ago.
The dim meaning was now made clear and he had the only man he loved back again in is life and in his arms.
They parted brieflyand Miles asked, his voice heavy with trepidation, "Can I...come home, Phoenix?"
Phoenix chuckled as he kissed him, doing a long and thorough job of it. "I've wanted nothing more for the past seven years." He rubbed the tip of his nose against Miles, his eyes misting'. "I missed you, Miles."
"I missed you, too, Phoenix." Miles kissed him. "So very much. I thought about you every day and I couldn't help but yearn for you."
"Me, too." Phoenix held him closer. "There was never a moment when I wouldn't think of you even though I tried to convince myself that it would be better for me if I could. I couldn't...give up on you, Miles Edgeworth, and I'm so glad that I didn't because we wouldn't be here together now."
"Nor I." He kissed him again, harder this time and Phoenix responded with equal passion. "I couldn't give up on you, either, Phoenix Wright." He grinned wryly and Phoenix couldn't help but chuckle before his his expression turned serious once again.
"I used to ask myself why I couldn't," Phoenix went on, putting a stray, wet lock of Miles' hair behind his ear, "and I finally realized why tonight."
"And that was...?"
He looked at Miles, a tender, loving smile on his face.
"I couldn't give up on you because I love you. I've always loved you and never stopped loving you even when it seemed that you wanted nothing to do with me."
Miles nodded.
"I love you, too, Phoenix. I've never stopped and never was there a day that went by when you weren't on my mind or in my heart." He sighed brokenly. "I'm... sorry for all the cruel things I said."
"It's all right, Miles," Phoenix assured as he pulled him in tighter, Miles' head lying on his shoulder, stroking his wet hair tenderly, feeling Miles' body trembling with pent-up emotion. "I've forgiven you and all that is in the past. Now we have to make firm plans for the future for there is no way that I'm going to let you get away from me again."
He chuckled, winking mischievously and Miles couldn't help but laugh. "I never want to be without you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you?"
A beaming smile appeared on Miles' face, so brilliant that Phoenix was all but dazzled by it.
"Yes," he whispered as he leaned in to possess his lips in another passionate kiss. "I'd like nothing more."
They continued the kiss for some time before they hurried to Miles' car, holding hands and laughing as they got quickly inside. Phoenix couldn't help but wonder if that their clothes were soaking wet would ruin the leather seats in his car but that didn't really seem to matter that much right now to either of them.
All was well once again. They were back together and Phoenix couldn't help but to look at the glowing links around his wrist once more, noting that there was a glowing heart joining the two sets of links together.
Phoenix smiled as he leaned over to kiss Miles again, his hand reaching up to cup the left side of his face tenderly with Miles lifting up his head eagerly to meet him halfway.
Two hearts joined together as one. It's so fitting... We're truly Fated to be together and I couldn't be happier. At long, long last, I have him back... and I'm never going to let him go again.
It was with this firm thought in mind that they began to make plans for their future together, talking and laughing long into the night. The links around their wrists seemed to glow even more brilliantly than they had before, sealing their love for one another.
"I love you, Miles," Phoenix murmured softly, his voice imbued with wonder as he looked at them before his gaze wandered back to his partner and he smiled..
"I love you, too, Phoenix," he replied as their lips met once again in a tender kiss before Miles started the car and they drove to his hotel room where they spent the rest of that magical night talking, laughing together about a hundred different things as they caught up on the past seven years and then they made love until the sun rose before they fell asleep, exhausted, in each other's arms, holding each other tightly.
All was well, the two lovers who had been separated by circumstance were brought back together by the Golden Chains of Fate.
All as now as it should be.
.:FIN:.