Author's Note: WARNING; this chapter contains some PG-13-level intimacy. There's also a surprise appearance from a beloved character! There's also angst….and classical music! This chapter has everything!
Chapter Seventeen: The Minute Waltz, Part Two
Miles Edgeworth's Home
October 22, 2029
Phoenix woke up, fully clothed and very rumpled, to the sound of his watch alarm going off. It was 7:30 AM, the time when he would normally have started getting ready to go to the office.
Edgeworth was already awake, washed up and dressed in fresh clothes, seated at his desk with his files and papers.
As Phoenix climbed out of bed, rubbing at his eyes, Edgeworth glanced over at him and, quite genuinely, smiled. It was a very endearing, uncensored little smile. Phoenix could count on both hands the number of times he'd seen one of those from Miles Edgeworth.
Phoenix blinked. "Good morning," he mumbled. "What's with that look?"
"It's your hair," Edgeworth choked off a laugh and tried to disguise it with a cough. "Erm, it's quite remarkable."
Phoenix felt his head. His hair was doing its usual spectacular morning arial routine, sticking up in all directions and out at all angles. He tried helplessly to pat it back down for a moment, then gave up and sighed.
"Were you able to sleep?" Edgeworth asked.
Phoenix nodded. "Yeah…yeah I was. Thanks. How about you? Feeling any better?"
Edgeworth flushed very slightly. "Much better. It was kind of you to have thought of me last night."
Isn't it obvious? I think of you literally all the time, thought Phoenix ruefully. It's turning into kind of a problem.
"Wright," began Edgeworth, clearing his throat, "I'd like to ask you something, if I may. You said something last night that has been…troubling me."
Uh oh, thought Phoenix.
Phoenix shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "Listen, I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. We were both tired, tensions were high, and I just-!"
"You asked me," Edgeworth interrupted him, "what I thought 'this' was. You demanded to know whether I thought that 'this' was…a question of mutual use. I presume that by 'this,' you were referring to…to us, to this complex emotional situation in which we find ourselves."
You can spell personality and Myers-Briggs, thought Phoenix glumly, but you can't seem to say the word 'relationship.' One r, one n, one p. It's not hard.
"I found it startlingly painful when you asked me that," murmured Edgeworth, no longer meeting Phoenix's eyes. "I…I do hope that answers your question, Wright. I'm not certain of how else to put it into words."
Phoenix was relieved to hear that, but there was a kind of anxious lump in his throat at the same time. He wished Edgeworth would just come out and say it, or that he'd even make some dramatic, over-the-top confession of his feelings, whatever those were.
Still, Phoenix knew that he couldn't expect that from Edgeworth, a man who spent an incredible amount of effort devotedly pretending to be immune to emotion, even if everyone around him knew better.
The nervous, complicated feeling inside Phoenix was more than confusing enough for 7:00 in the morning. He wondered about going back to sleep and starting the day over.
"I…I think I get it, yeah," he mumbled. "Thanks, Edgeworth."
"Ah,' said Edgeworth, smiling sadly. "So, I am 'Edgeworth' this morning."
"Well, hey," countered Phoenix, "you just called me 'Wright. You always call me by my last name. I figured you wanted to keep it…normal between u, the same as it's always been. Isn't that what you want?"
That's not what I want, he thought. I think I've made that pretty clear. Just say the word, Miles. Any time, now.
They looked at each other for a long moment, feeling the tension stretched between them. Then, abruptly, Edgeworth stood up and crossed to the windowsill where his cellphone was charging.
"I'd like to show you something," he explained. "Listen."
Edgeworth pushed a few buttons on his phone, and a bright, friendly, classical piano melody began to play. Phoenix was certain he had heard it somewhere before, maybe in the lobby at a hotel, or in an elevator at some attorney's conference.
"If you're suggesting that I learn to play that," said Phoenix, smiling ruefully, "I don't think that's in the cards any time soon. That sounds…tricky, to say the least."
Edgeworth shook his head. "Yes, no doubt it's a bit advanced for you. This is Chopin's 'The Minute Waltz,' for piano. This recording is meant to be an instructional track, so the song repeats several times."
Edgeworth elegantly held out a hand. Phoenix stared at it.
"I…uh," began Phoenix. "What exactly is happening right now?"
"You mentioned that you wanted to learn to waltz," Edgeworth reminded him. "As it happens, you're correct; I am familiar with the steps, although my institution was a European 'etiquette programme' not, as you so glibly referred to it the other day, a 'finishing school.'"
"Wha…WHAT?" managed Phoenix.
Edgeworth sighed. "I'm asking you to dance, Wright," he clarified. "Well? Will you?"
Startled but delighted, Phoenix accepted Edgeworth's hand. Edgeworth adjusted Phoenix's arms, then placed one hand at Phoenix's waist.
"I'll lead," established Edgeworth. "At least, until you've some idea of what you're doing. Now, I will step forward with my let foot, and you will step back with your right. Ready? One, two three, let's begin now."
With Edgeworth somewhat impatiently instructing, Phoenix tried to navigate his way through the steps.
I'm a little better at feats of athletic prowess when I've been awake for longer than ten minutes, thought Phoenix desperately. I mean…oh jeez, who am I kidding, I'll never be a dancer.
After they'd gone through it several times in succession, Phoenix stopped and shook his head.
"This song is really fast,' he wheezed. "Are waltzes normally this fast? Mercy!"
Edgeworth shrugged. "It's an efficient piece of music."
"What?" Phoenix stared at him. "No, 'efficient' isn't a word you use for music. Art isn't supposed to be 'efficient.'"
"Again," commanded Edgeworth. "One, two, three, one, two, three…."
Phoenix stepped forward when he should have stepped back, colliding with Edgeworth for perhaps the sixth or seventh time. Defeated, he sank his head against Edgeworth's shoulder, feeling Edgeworth's body tense around him.
"I'm hopeless," laughed Phoenix. "But it was sweet of you to make the effort, Miles, really. I appreciate what you're trying to do."
He looked up into Edgeworth's eyes and smiled, and Edgeworth swallowed hard. Delicately, Edgeworth reached up and brushed some poky strands of awkward hair off of Phoenix's cheek.
When Edgeworth kissed Phoenix, it was a deep, slow, ardent kiss that went right to Phoenix's head like a fourth glass of red wine. He reached his hands up Edgeworth's shirt, pressed his palms against the muscles of Edgeworth's chest, and laughed a little as his cold hands made Edgeworth shiver. Instead of angrily pushing him away, however, Edgeworth pulled him closer. Phoenix's lips went to Edgeworth's throat, then to caress the tip of Edgeworth's ear. He pushed his fingers into Edgeworth's hair, stroking them through the hair at the base of Edgeworth's scalp until Edgeworth gasped and shivered again, this time with pleasure.
"Phoenix," he groaned, his voice hoarse, his hands fumbling for Phoenix's belt. Phoenix's heart was doing some kind of insane double-time polka in his chest. That hungry, almost pleading look in Edgeworth's eyes was mesmerizing.
Suddenly, there was an enthusiastic knock at the door followed instantly by the whirlwind arrival of Trucy and Athena, who burst in mid-shout.
"Daddy!" Trucy exclaimed, "Look who's back!"
"Mr. Wright, Mr. Wright, I'm so glad you're safe," Athena was saying. "I-! O-oh! Um. S-Sorry, boss. Were you, um…busy?"
Edgeworth released Phoenix all at once and backed up aggressively, flushing crimson and glaring mortified daggers at the newcomers.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, all righteous, dignified anger and the deepest of embarrassment. "Have none of you manners? This is my bedroom!"
Yeah, thought Phoenix, aware of just how compromising this must look. Something tells me that isn't helping, Edgeworth. Despite himself, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
Then, stepping out from behind Athena and Trucy, Apollo Justice cleared his throat.
"U-um, hey, Mr. Wright," he began uncertainly. "It's, uh, good to see you safe."
"Apollo? Apollo!" Surprised enough to almost forget how embarrassed he was, Phoenix hurried forward to warmly clasp his protégé's arm. "When did you get back?"
"Just now," replied Apollo. "Trucy called me and told what was going on here, and I got on the first plane I could. Athena picked me up at the airport and drove me here. I…I was sorry to hear about Detective Gumshoe." Apollo looked grim. "It's really terrible. He' a good guy."
"Thank you," said Edgeworth, with somewhat less ire this time. "I'm sure he would appreciate your kind words."
"Heeeeey, what's the noise all about?" Maya wandered into the room, looking sleepy, mussed, and irritated. "Is it breakfast already? What are we having? Oh, morning, Nick, Mr. Edgeworth, Trucy, Athena, and Apollo. W-wait, APOLLO?" She did a double-take. "Aren't you in Khura'in?"
Edgeworth sighed.
"Perhaps," he suggested, "breakfast is a good idea."
Sure, thought Phoenix wistfully. But first, I need a cold shower…
Twenty minutes later, they were all seated around the dining room table, enjoying a selection of healthy, fibrous cereals and skim milk while they took turns filling Apollo in on the details of the murders.
Maya wrinkled her nose at her breakfast. "Is this really what you eat all the time, Mr. Edgeworth? Wow, that's…impressive, and kind of sad."
Edgeworth gave her a wry smile. "I haven't always been quite this healthy. I am…attempting to improve my habits, shall we say."
"Poor Mr. Edgeworth," sighed Trucy. "That sounds hard."
Phoenix pointed a finger at her. "You could try eating some healthy food now and then."
"Aw, Nick." Maya shrugged. "Leave Trucy alone, she's doing great. She's active all the time, right? I mean, in her magic shows, so she needs all the sugar and calories to keep going!"
Trucy beamed at Maya. Phoenix just shook his head.
You are a terrible influence, Maya, he thought. Then again, I guess that's what aunts are for? I'm not sure, I don't have any. Maybe that's why I survived childhood.
"So…what's the plan? Apollo didn't seem terribly interested in breakfast. "Have the police made any progress on finding Parker?"
Trucy, who had absolutely refused to leave Apollo's side since he'd arrived, looked hopeful. "Maybe they have! I mean, it's been a whole day, so they have to have made some progress by now, right? Mr. Edgeworth, have you heard anything? Athena, how about you?"
Athena and Edgeworth exchanged a look.
"Nothing from Simon yet," admitted Athena. "I know he's investigating this morning. He said he'd call."
Edgeworth frowned. "It's early yet," he told them. "I'm expecting a progress report of some kind within the hour."
Trucy looked a bit nervous, but Apollo squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.
"Hear that, Trucy?" he said. "We'll probably get word any minute now. It's gonna be fine, okay?"
Trucy's eyes lit up. "Yeah," she agreed, that's right. It'll be FINE!"
Trucy and Apollo grinned at each other.
Athena sniffled loudly. "Oh, Apollo," she mumbled tearfully around a bite of cereal. "I'm so glad you're home!"
The atmosphere was much lighter in the dining room that morning, even if the situation was still dire. Apollo and Athena were in the habit of lively banter, and Trucy was so happy to have her favorite big brother back that she absolutely sparkled.
Well, thought Phoenix, looking over at Edgeworth, it looks like we're not all feeling better. Edgeworth looks even gloomier than ever this morning.
Edgeworth was quietly watching the interactions between Trucy, Athena, and Apollo, completely ignoring an untouched bowl of cereal with chopped up banana in it.
"You're not hungry, Mr. Edgeworth?" Trucy frowned. "You should eat. A healthy breakfast is the key to a successful day!"
"Trucy." Phoenix raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm not sure you've ever eaten a healthy breakfast in your life."
"Let Mr. Edgeworth be, Trucy," suggested Apollo. "He's doing all of us a huge favor, but it's probably pretty stressful to have all these people in his home. Thank you very much for all you've done, sir."
"It's no trouble," muttered Edgeworth, clearly lying. Then he stood up from the table, pushed in his chair, and sighed. "I plan to go visit Detective Gumshoe today. I'll inform you all of any progress…or regress."
"Great." Phoenix stood up, too. "I'll go with you."
"Very well." Edgeworth nodded. "Mr. Justice, you're in charge while Wright and I are away. Please call us if anything suspicious or concerning occurs."
"Yeah," agreed Phoenix, "sure, that's reasonable."
"O-okay, got it." Apollo straightened himself up in his chair. "No worries, Mr. Wright. Everything will be fine!"
Maya glared. "Hey, what do you mean, 'in charge?' We're not children."
Edgeworth continued to brood in the car on the way to the hospital. Phoenix couldn't tell exactly what he was thinking, but he made the reasonable assumption that it had everything to do with Detective Gumshoe's precarious position. No doubt their little party this morning had only made Edgeworth think harder about the person who was missing from the table. Phoenix could hardly blame him for that.
"Thanks again for the dance lesson this morning," remarked Phoenix, grinning at Edgeworth, hoping to take his mind off the tragedy.
Edgeworth coughed, and his ears went pink.
Mission accomplished, thought Phoenix, laughing a little under his breath.
Edgeworth was driving with one hand, but the other hand was doing something sort of strange on the seat beside him. It kept twitching, moving very slightly closer to Phoenix, then stopping and retreating back to Edgeworth's side.
Phoenix watched this performance in amusement for a moment, before trapping Edgeworth's hand with his own. He twined his fingers through Edgeworth's, squeezing gently. Edgeworth kept his eyes firmly on the road. His hand was warm beneath Phoenix's, and Phoenix held it tightly until they pulled up outside the hospital.
When they went in, they found the waiting room bustling, full of crying children clinging to parents, elderly patients wheezing in their wheelchairs, and nurses bustling in and out with clipboards, having polite but curt conversations with patients and doctors as they wheeled people through the double doors, and into, presumably, the emergency room beyond.
Phoenix watched a pair of nurses loading a young man into a wheelchair. The man was nearly crying, obviously in terrible pain, but he squeezed the hand of the young woman next to him and winked at her.
"Everything's going to be okay, Jenny," he told her his voice quavering a little. "Just you wait, I'll be back before you know it, okay?"
The nurses carted him off, leaving Jenny beside herself with tears.
I wonder, thought Phoenix grimly, if that poor kid will come back? What state will he be in when he does? Look at how upset she is. She knows it's not going to be okay.
Phoenix thought of Detective Gumshoe, probably lying in his hospital bed with Maggey watching anxiously over him, just waiting desperately for him to wake up. A lump formed in Phoenix's throat, and suddenly he missed the warmth of Edgeworth's hand.
"Hey, um…Miles," he said, turning to Edgeworth, who was waiting impatiently beside him, examining something on his cellphone screen. "Promise me something, okay?"
"Hmm? What is it?" Edgeworth frowned at him.
"Just…promise me you're gonna be careful." Phoenix sighed. "Look, I know we go through life-or-death situations on a disturbingly regular basis in our line of work, but…the idea of something happening to you scares me, okay? This was so close for poor Dick. Promise me it's not going to be you, next. I'm not sure what I'd do if you got hurt. I'm not sure I could handle it, haha." Phoenix laughed self-consciously, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Sorry, I guess that came out of nowhere, huh?"
Phoenix had assumed that Edgeworth would either be embarrassed by his awkward sentimentality, or that Edgeworth would scowl at him and assure Phoenix that he was being going ridiculous and that there was nothing to worry about. Phoenix was surprised, therefore, when Edgeworth froze, went pale, and then turned away from him, muttering something under his breath.
"What?" asked Phoenix. "Wait, what did you-?"
"I said," replied Edgeworth coldly, "that I understand. You have nothing to worry about. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that you are never subjected to such a situation."
Phoenix wasn't sure how to interpret that. Something about the way Edgeworth had phrased it hadn't sounded quite right.
"Miles," Phoenix tried again, "I'm just trying to tell you that I-!"
"Mr. Edgeworth? Mr. Wright?" A nurse called their names from the front of the room. "Good news! Detective Gumshoe is awake. We can give you ten minutes before his 9 o'clock injection. Follow me, please."