trace (vestiges)
He had not thought that not being able to watch Phoenix in court would be the hardest thing about their separation, and yet, as he listens to Phoenix rant and whine about a supposed impersonator here and a mishandled art thief there, all he can do is sit and provide an audience for the bitter man. Phoenix is full of bitterness with Miles on these angry calls, he finds. He is angry and frustrated, the man's combined worries that he'll never be enough in a courtroom that only looks at, as Phoenix puts it, "the evidence and not the people," alongside his constant fears for Maya and Pearl amidst their constant meddling causing Phoenix to push himself to nearly the brink of tears some nights. The attorney hates this ambiguous powerlessness, he finds; he hates being strung along, being forced to dance in a culprit's hand whilst praying that he can land upon some new piece of evidence. Apparently the new prosecutor from the Prosecutor's Office is no slouch, either, providing a fight so fierce yet asinine that Phoenix mumbles more than once how he'd like to face off against Franziska again.
And that, really, is all Phoenix needs to say about that to paint the perfect picture for Miles.
Life would be so much easier if evidence wasn't so black and white. He laughs to himself the night he first thinks this to himself; it is a foolish thought, thought by a foolish man missing his foolish lover. If the Miles Edgeworth from three years ago had heard that claim, that evidence was not all that mattered in a court of law, then he would have combusted. It goes against everything the von Karma creed stands for, after all. One must always have the perfect evidence to maintain the perfect trial and earn the perfect win to add to one's perfect record.
Miles is far from perfect. He is happier that way. Maybe that is why Phoenix's situation doesn't sit right with him like this.
As Miles listens to Phoenix groan and complain and berate himself on his own perceived inability, though, Miles cannot help but believe in this new idea even more. Maybe evidence really is the biggest evil here. It is paradoxical, yes- evidence is the foundation of any good case- but the undivided weight placed upon it is something else entirely. He knows that Phoenix's faith is well-placed in his clients; he has learned after the case with Matt Engarde, after all. Phoenix treats his clients the way they deserve to be treated, while understanding the risks of putting his faith into them and the truth they bear anyways. If he is willing to defend his clients, then Miles shall believe in their innocence, too.
But the evidence speaks of a different story, and that story breaks Miles' heart. He just wants Phoenix to believe in himself, the way Phoenix has always believed in Miles.
He mentions these worries to Frederik. Half of him thinks the other man shall dismiss his woes, telling him bluntly that America's system is, indeed, flawed; there is a reason that Germany uses a mix of the juror system and evidence, after all. The difference between the two systems had certainly taken a while to get used to, but Miles personally struggles to imagine a world now in which he must prosecute a case with only evidence and witness testimony and not an audience of human hearts.
Thankfully, Frederik has always provided support, even when Miles thinks he deserves none. "You've got a fair point," he replies, surprisingly brusquer than Miles usually sees from the man. "It sounds like Phoenix is missing conclusive evidence because the real culprit has covered their tracks well. If they had a jury, I doubt they'd let that stop them from listening to a compelling argument from the defense." His eyes turn downwards, an edge of weary disgust bubbling up, so out of place upon his usually teasing face. "I do not envy your job, Miles. Nor do I envy his. A terrible place to work in law, America."
It is a strangely somber thought from the man. Perhaps that is why Miles does not brush it off, or merely commit the lesson to memory as he usually does when Frederik shares an insight; instead, Miles stores away that interaction. Something about it bothers him, beyond the fact that he wishes he could make Phoenix's life easier in a system designed to make the defense attorney suffer.
But this is a systematic issue, and Miles is merely a prosecutor. That is all.
This does not make listening to Phoenix ramble any easier, however. He wishes he could go to the other man's aid. He wishes he could ease the attorney's burdens; even getting the chance to take Maya and Pearl off his hands for week during a trial would probably do Phoenix's heart wonders.
Soon, Wright, Miles tells himself firmly as he looks at the calendar. His time abroad shall not be forever. I'll be back to help soon.
And then, they can sort out all of these messes together. Case files with Frederik are fun, but nothing has ever calmed him in the workplace as much as Phoenix's warmth by his side as they pore over evidence. He cannot wait for their first trial together after his return.