Chapter 3: Cravings of the Subconscious

April 25th, 2019

Phoenix took in the temperate Southern California morning weather while waiting for the train for Kurain Village. Before his mind could spiral into the details of that case, he felt the pressure of Trucy's hand squeezing his. She smiled warmly up at him, coaxing out his most natural grin.

What would I have done without you this past week? I mean, I know I'm not your dad, but it feels like -

"Daddy, is it snowing in Ku-kur-?"

"Kurain Village. And no, Maya said the snow only lasts in the mountains through early February."

His eyes widened as he anticipated the train's arrival any minute. Maya, you may cause a bunch of little problems, but you always help me with the big ones.

"You're nervous, Daddy. Aren't we seeing your friends?"

"I know, Trucy," he squeezed her hand, "There's some work I have to do with Maya and I hope I can figure some things out."

"Do you think Pearls will like me?"

Phoenix laughed lightly, "Well, I think you have a lot in common and you're about the same age. I'd be careful about some of your magic tricks though, Pearls is easily surprised by modern conveniences...like cell phones and computers. You might have to teach her about the things you show her."

"Of course, Daddy! Back when I was in school, I used to have the most exciting show-and-tell!"

Phoenix smirked, "I can imagine...how long have you been homeschooling?"

"Well, Other Daddy…" it stung Phoenix to hear Gramarye referred to this way, "I had to go with him to a lot of performances because we had competition with Berry Big Circus, so I did all my homework by mail. I liked it a lot because I could focus more on becoming a better magician and learning from Other Daddy."

Phoenix nodded and wondered if he would have felt the same way had his father or mother been an attorney...or an artist. Will Trucy stick with magic if she stays with me too long? Damn, Phoenix, you act like you'll never solve the case and exonerate your client...if you solve it, you can reunite them, can't you?

"You're worried you won't be as good of a Daddy as Other Daddy, aren't you?"

Phoenix scratched his neck and laughed, which devolved into that silly grin he gave when he pressed the wrong statement. "Trucy, I think it's tough to compare, but I'll do my best."

"Well, Daddy, all I really want is your help with my magic tri-"

Phoenix shuddered at the thought, suddenly interjecting, "Look, Trucy, the train's coming!"

As they boarded with their sparse luggage, Trucy chose their seats, opting to sit next to Phoenix even though the two seats facing them were empty. Phoenix smiled, struggling to put Trucy's blue magician's trunk, covered in Gramarye and Max Galactica stickers, into the overhead bin. After he finally squeezed it in, he collapsed into the seat next to Trucy.

"You packed more than me, Truce!"

"Daddy, how can I get our talent agency off the ground if I can't practice magic during our trip?"

Phoenix shook his head, grinning, "As long as you're finishing your homework in time, you can practice all the magic you want." This garnered a playful punch on the arm from the young girl.

Trucy quickly fell asleep against Phoenix's arm as he looked wistfully out the window, the city areas fading into foliage and the sun-kissed, green mountains in the distance. He had purposefully kept much hidden from Maya as he didn't want her to take the next train down with Pearls and inconvenience herself...or worse, feel sorry for him.

The warmth from the window soothed Phoenix's skin and his eyelids began to droop. Good, I haven't had a good night's sleep in…

Edgeworth was sitting on the couch in Phoenix's office. The defense attorney wore his surprisingly unwrinkled blue suit embellished with a polished attorney badge, hair spiked impeccably. Edgeworth, instead of his traditional maroon/cravat ensemble, wore a black, well-tailored suit with a matching black button-down dress shirt, the first two buttons undone to expose his pale porcelain throat and a prominent Adam's apple. Phoenix's jaw slackened at the sight, unable to conceal his dark blue eyes roaming over the minimalist yet classic elegance his old friend possessed. The prosecutor smirked as he looked up at Phoenix gaping, his grey eyes piercing despite being obscured by his silver bangs.

"You're cannibalizing me with your gaze, Wright. I'm not accustomed to it"

Phoenix cleared his throat, "Well if you dressed like that every day, you'd have to get used to it."

The defense attorney sat purposefully close on the couch to his friend, his rival...his conquest? "In fact, if you dressed like that for court, I'd probably lose every time."

Edgeworth's low chuckle reverberated so that Phoenix could almost feel the vibration on his skin. "Wright, perhaps I would lose. You staring at me like this...I would spend the trial guessing what was on your mind."

Phoenix barely stifled back a moan. For Miles, this is the most direct flirting he could imagine.

"Your logic has always been sound, Miles," the attorney responded in a near-whisper, "I'm sure you could figure it out."

"Wright, I have ample experience preparing witness testimonies, questioning them on the stand…" Miles leaned in kissed Phoenix along the line of his jaw, "Do you honestly think I cannot make you talk instead?"

Phoenix's breath caught in his chest before could utter anything. "F-fuck, Miles…"

Edgeworth's eyes narrowed as his lips curled into a more mischievous smirk than Phoenix had ever seen. "Is that all? That's insufficient for testimony in court, Wright...you have to elaborate…" The prosecutor began loosening his rival's tie, pulling him less than an inch from his face, watching the lustful attorney struggle forward to meet his lips. Edgeworth teasingly leaned away, the smirk deepening.

"M-miles… please, your lips, I…." and Phoenix's hunger overpowered him as his arms engulfed Miles' lithe body, his warmth radiating and scent intoxicating...running his fingers through his soft, silver hair, almost clenching it tightly as he pulled Miles in for a first kiss. Their lips soft on each others', mouths parting far too slowly, Phoenix nearly fell apart as Miles' warm soft tongue gently leaned in and pressed against his. The prosecutor's fingers dug into the attorney's back and pulled at the spikes in his hair, which only caused the latter to arch his back in ecstacy. At this point, between Phoenix's weak utterances and Miles' low pitched groans, neither could tell who wanted or needed this more. Fingers tangled in his now messy black hair, Miles broke away to deliver the final blow as a whisper in Phoenix's ear…

"I always wanted you, Phoenix. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I kept..." Miles paused to kiss Phoenix's cheek, "Every…"

His lips trailed down to his jaw... "Single…"

His teeth gently grazed his neck, tongue gently savoring the saltiness of Phoenix's skin, before releasing the warmth of his whisper- against his neck...

"Letter."

Phoenix gasped, his eyes wide open and his hand clutching to his chest, heart palpitations threatening to shatter the wall of his chest. Edgeworth?! Really, Phoenix? Like he would ever say...do those things… His face flushed crimson as he looked down at his jeans and felt a familiar ache and throb, obviously much more pronounced given that he hadn't had such an intense dream in recent memory. His eyes drifted to Trucy, who thankfully was still asleep and faced in the opposite direction now, leaning onto the outer armrest.

Phoenix clutched his backpack to his lap, trying to lessen the sensation, but finally resorted to a more reliable method: running through the "Cold Shower" list. Okay, Phoenix….first, Wendy Oldbag...then, Damon Gant...Manfred Von Karma...Marvin Grossberg...Redd White...Morgan Fey...Shelley De Killer…

He paused, almost shuddering before the last name…Dahlia Hawthorne. He sighed in relief, knowing that her name always made his blood run cold and feel shame for ever desiring her, physically or otherwise.

Phoenix felt a tug on his sleeve, "Daddy! You look like you've seen a ghost!...or a very deadly magic trick! Did you have a nightmare?"

"Uh, not quite Trucy, maybe I'm just a little...er, trainsick?" He scratched his neck and grinned.

"You're the worst liar, Daddy."

After catching a short bus ride, in which Phoenix attempted to name the flowers they passed for Trucy's benefit (in truth, he only knew two to four kinds with confidence), they arrived at Kurain Village's sole bus stop in the early afternoon, situated conveniently in front of Fey Manor. Phoenix managed his small suitcase and Trucy's comically appropriate trunk as they ascended the stairs. They were greeted by that familiar little girl in pink robes and twin hair loops.

"Pearls!" Phoenix beamed, dropping the luggage on the top stair and kneeling down for a hug, quickly reciprocated by the young spirit medium.

"Mr. Nick! I've missed you so much, but not as much as your "Special Someone"..." Pearls' blush evident despite her attempt to peek through her parted fingers slyly at Phoenix.

"You've got a "special someone", Daddy?"

"Pearls, meet Trucy, she's a magician. Trucy, Pearls is a spirit me-"

Sharp punch on his bicep "Mr. Nick! How could you have a child with another woman behind Mystic Maya's back?! And to bring her here without any regard for her feelings?!"

"Ouch, Pearls! She's ado-"

Punch. "You're still making excuses?!"

"Pearly, that's no way to treat our guests! And I'm sure Nick will explain the story to us ALL over dinner...right, Nick?"

Relief spread throughout Phoenix's body as Maya Fey entered into view, her hands pressed together in excitement, beaming with her eyebrows slightly lifted. Phoenix bowled her over, hugging her closely and more tightly than he could remember, faintly hearing Pearls squeal in delight. Maya's smile fell and her eyes widened as she hugged him back, "Nick? You okay?"

Phoenix sheepishly pulled away and looking away, stated, "I just feel like things are going to get much clearer now that we're here. I really needed a change of scene after everything that's…" his words trailed off as his eyes became distant.

Maya nodded, a gentler smile curving her lips, "Yeah, I get it, Nick. We've got time to talk. We made burgers from scratch...I figured I could treat you finally as my guest!"

Phoenix laughed, "About time, Maya! Though I do prefer-"

Maya groaned, "Yes, Nick, we'll do chicken sandwiches tomorrow."

Phoenix wrapped an arm around Maya's shoulder, the closest thing he ever had to a sister, a sibling, a confidant, "Maya...Thanks. You don't know what you've done for us."

"Okay, okay, Nick! Let me pour some tea so we can catch up. C'mon Pearly, help me get everything set up!"

While Pearl and Trucy played outside in the Winding Way, Maya's face remained solemn throughout Phoenix's telling of the unfortunate events while they sat in the Meditation Room, her hand occasionally creeping to her mouth in shock and her eyes at times tearing, yet often giving way to surprise or anger. Phoenix sighed as he finished his tale, unable to look at Maya.

"Nick…" Her hand reached out and touched his. Phoenix flinched slightly in surprise.

"It's pretty bad, Maya...I hate to ask you, but...would you be willing to channel a few people for me, to help me piece things together?"

Maya eyed her friend incredulously, "Why are you even asking, Nick?! Of course I can! I mean...I've only started training intensively since I left so I'll still need breaks for multiple channelings, but...I think I can manage."

"Oh Maya…" Phoenix beamed at her, "what would I-"

Maya groaned, "Stop acting like this, Nick! You're giving Pearly way too much ammunition for this "Special Someone" theory." They both gazed out to the Winding Way overhearing Pearl declare, "Mr. Nick and Maya have been through so many hard times and have survived because of their love!" to which Trucy responded, "You know, I think Daddy could really use company, and I'd like a new Mommy…"

Maya cleared her throat, though she and Phoenix were now beet red and ready to protest. Phoenix's throat became dry, "They're already colluding?!"

"Pearly, come here for a sec! You too, Trucy."

Both girls walked in slowly giving each other mischievous grins and giggling. Maya's face became slightly stern, briefly looking sideways to make sure she had Phoenix for backup as needed. The future master's gaze returned to the two impish girls, stating, "Look, Nick and I do love each other as friends and like family, okay? And we're always going to be that way." Phoenix gulped, never having heard such a declaration from his good friend. Maya continued, "But Nick and I don't see each other in a romantic way, and I doubt either of us will be ready to marry for a long, long..." She paused to look at Phoenix again, "LONG time from now. So, be happy we're family and know that we'll always support each other and eat burgers and blah blah, okay I'm hungry, let's go eat!" The girls must have shared Maya's hunger, because they exclaimed and shrieked in joy, jumping up and down and following the Kurain Master to the kitchen, Phoenix trailing behind.

Jeez, Maya, I don't know if I need to wait a long, long, LONG time.

Phoenix felt grateful that Maya had arranged a separate room for himself with Pearl and Trucy sharing a room across the manor, likely playing games and trying magic tricks. Maya stated she would be at the waterfall throughout the night as part of her training, so Phoenix surmised he would be largely alone. He lay awake on the makeshift bed in the side room once occupied by that Miney woman, his thoughts drifting to his dream of Edgeworth. I haven't felt like that in...I wonder how things would have been if we were alone that day he came to visit…

His hand trailed down his stomach and into his boxers, unable to resist after having to deny himself earlier that day. He stiffened more quickly than usual, giving into long, slow, measured strokes, imagining Edgeworth's long fingers teasing him to the brink, his grey eyes peering through silver hair cascading on his face, wanton and insatiable. Phoenix's need growing so much...Edgeworth's head finally bent down with the attorney's fingers running through silver hair desperately, eager to push or move his hips to feel the warm invitation of his friend and rival's mouth... a mouth that was far quicker to shut him down, issue a caustic or cynical remark, clench its jaw into hard line while he looked away...but now this mouth abandoned all defenses and sought to relieve Phoenix of his pining and suffering, and the attorney could only begin to buck his hips and tense, unable to hold back weak moans and whispered approximations of "Miles." Phoenix's eyes clenched shut, feeling his body urge toward imminent release, finally triggered, earth-shattering, by Every...Single...Letter. His thighs tensed as he panted, his heart finally returning to a normal rhythm…

He grabbed the towel he prepared from the side to clean up before falling into the depths of slumber. His face remained flushed as he laid on his side, blissful and yet bewildered by this manifestation of his desires. I mean, you could just lock it away and pretend it isn't there…But that's not you, Phoenix. You always worked to uncover the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it might be for anyone involved. How is this different? Unable to sustain trains of thought, Phoenix drifted to sleep almost instantaneously.