Chapter 2.

Phoenix was hovering on the edge of sleep, half-aware that he probably should have woken up some time ago, but for some reason he more tired then usual. Also, something was off about where exactly he was sleeping. It was uncomfortable and his toes were mashed up against something hard. And he was wearing his bathrobe. Why was he-

"WRIGHT!"

Phoenix sat up so quickly his back cracked. Taking stock as quickly as he could given his state of mind, he noted that he was on the couch, covered in a spare sheet, and Miles Edgeworth was standing in the doorway of his bedroom.

The man looked awful. His hair and his clothes were equally rumpled, and his eyes were so red he looked like a member of the undead. The murderous glare on his face didn't help that impression.

"What…the hell am I doing here?" Miles demanded. He sounded like he was in pain.

"You don't remember?" Phoenix asked, more then a little relieved.

"I remember…" he leaned against the doorframe and rubbed his face. "I couldn't sleep. I was going through old case files. I…got out the brandy. Oh shit."

Phoenix tossed off the sheet and stood up, crossing the small room. "Are you okay?"

"No I am not okay! I…" The color drained from his already-pale face as he seemed to realize something. "Wright. Please tell me I did not drive here."

Five minutes later they were standing in the small parking lot next to Phoenix's apartment building. Miles' red hot car was parked at an awkward angle between two spaces, the passenger-side mirror snapped off and the body covered in dents and scrapes.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Miles announced.

"There's a trash can over there," Phoenix pointed.

He politely ignored Miles for the next several minutes, and pretended to be interested in the damage to the car. It looked pretty bad, the paint job was ruined, but there didn't seem to be any body damage. The bumpers were miraculously fine.

Miles joined him after a while, not saying a word. He made a cursory examination, then went to get in the front seat.

"Hey," Phoenix grabbed his sleeve. "What are you doing?"

"Leaving," Miles snapped. "This is embarrassing enough as it is."

Phoenix shook his head. "Not yet. You can barely walk. Come back upstairs. I'll make some coffee and, uhm, I have an extra toothbrush…"

Miles winced, then nodded. "That would be…nice."

Miles wound up brushing his teeth for a full six minutes, Phoenix was keeping track, then joined the other man at the kitchen bar. He took the offered coffee without a word, and chugged half the cup.

"I think your car is going to all right," Phoenix said brightly.

Miles grunted.

"Up, you can probably tell your insurance company you were just tired… That whole asleep-at-the-wheel thing is getting a lot of press lately."

"God knows why," Miles muttered. He drained the rest of the cup.

Phoenix took it from him without waiting to be asked (knowing Miles he wouldn't have asked anyway) and went to refill it.

"What is wrong with me?" Miles exploded suddenly. "What was I thinking? I could have killed myself trying to drive in that condition, not to mention coming here of all places!"

"I, uh, I think you had a reason. Or you thought you did."

"What? What reason could I possibly have had?"

Phoenix bit the inside of his lip and looked resolutely at the coffee machine.

"Wright," Miles said. He leaned against the counter, supporting his forehead with one hand. "What… what happened last night?" He glared at Phoenix through his disheveled bangs. "And tell me the truth. It's better that I know."

Phoenix busied himself with pouring coffee, stalling. "Well, uh, you just sort of showed up here…at three-thirty in the morning." He glanced back at Miles, checking his reaction, and saw no change. "Um, you yelled a lot. Rambling really."

"What did I say?"

"A lot of things…"

"Summarize it," he growled.

Phoenix considered this for a long moment. On the one hand, maybe it was better if Miles knew. He wouldn't have to pretend any more, and maybe they could even…

On the other hand, it would embarrass him. It was obvious he didn't want Phoenix to know the things he'd said last night. He probably didn't want anyone to know. Phoenix had his share of secrets, very…similar secrets, and if it were him…

If it were him, he would want to know.

"You said you were depressed," Phoenix said. "You said you were questioning yourself a lot, and you said it was my fault. You said…" He paused, and glanced back and Miles one last time. "You said you loved me, and you pinned me to the couch and tried to kiss me."

He heard Miles' forehead hit the counter, and something between a groan and a sob.

"Sorry," he said softly. "It's just… You did ask me to tell you the truth."

"I did," Miles agreed after a long pause. He took a deep shuddering breath. "Well. That's that then." Phoenix turned to see him getting to his feet. "I apologize, Wright. My actions were inexcusable. I must have made you…very uncomfortable."

"Well, actually-"

"I'll leave now. Thank you for… Thank you." He pushed away from the counter and started across the room.

"Edgeworth-"

He stopped just before the door. "I would consider it a personal favor if you would not tell anyone about this. Any of this. I assure you…it will never happen again. I intend to remove every drop of alcohol from my home and…" His head turned, just enough for Phoenix to see a bit of his profile. His lips were trembling. "I have no intention of pursuing any kind of…non-professional relationship with you. I will make an effort of avoiding you from now on. You do not need to be concerned."

"I'm not concerned, Edgeworth. I-"

"Goodbye, Wright." He twisted the doorknob firmly and opened the door.

Maya Fay was standing in front of him, her fist poised to knock. She was carrying a newspaper and a bag from a nearby deli, and her face looked ready to smile.

She stared up at Edgeworth.

He stared back, horrified.

Her gaze shifted, and she saw Phoenix halfway across the living room, caught in the act of trying to catch Miles.

She looked back at Miles.

Then Maya squealed and clasped her hands together, a smile as bright as the sun on her face.

Miles slammed the door shut and threw his back against it, as though trying to keep out some horrible monster from beyond the stars.

Phoenix was laughing helplessly. It was too perfect!

"Knock if off, Wright," Miles snapped. "I am trying to make this as- as little awkward as possible, and it seems like the universe is conspiring against me."

Maya was pounding on the door behind him. "Nick! Nick! Phoenix Wright you open this door right now!"

"Relax, Edgeworth," Phoenix said, still smiling. "You can trust Maya. She's helped you out before, remember?"

"I don't want to have to trust her. I don't want-"

"I won't tell anyone, Nick!" Maya shouted.

"See?" Phoenix said.

"I just want to hear all the sweaty details!"

Miles groaned and buried his face in his hands.

"Don't worry," Phoenix repeated. He was right in front of Miles now, close enough to touch him. "I'll tell her what really happened."

Miles shot him a glare.

"I'll tell her most of what really happened."

"I suppose…I don't really have a choice," Miles muttered. He straightened up and started to turn.

"Oh, and Miles?"

Phoenix pressed his hands against the door on either side of the other man, effectively trapping him between his arms. Miles automatically leaned back, away from him, until he bumped into the door. Phoenix leaned even closer, breaking all the personal space rules, until his face was close enough to feel the trembling of Miles' breath.

"What you said last night? It didn't make me uncomfortable. It didn't make me uncomfortable at all…"

Then he reached down and yanked open the door, pushing Miles in front of him into the hallway.

"Well, you'd better get home and get some rest!"

Miles stumbled into the hallway in wild-eyed confusion, recovering enough to shoot another poisonous glare at the smiling Phoenix. Who simply waved at him, ignoring Maya's questions and Miles' anger, took hold of the girl's arm and pulled her into the apartment.

The door clicked shut, and Phoenix quickly hushed her. He stood on his toes and looked out the peephole, watching as Miles stared at the door, shook his head, and finally headed off down the hallway.

Then he sank to the floor and laughed.

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AN

Don't drink and drive, kids!