my first aa fic! local franziska von karma betaed this for me so shout out love to them

{Originally posted to AO3 on 2022-02-11 for Febuwhump 2022}

The sound of a calloused hand slamming against polished wood rang out through the courtroom. The attention of all its current inhabitants snapped towards the sound and the blue-suited attorney who made it. His eyes lifted as a glare full of fire stabbed through the witness. The heat from such a gaze caused her to sweat. The pressure was too much.

This was it. Phoenix thought to himself. He threw out his hand, index finger pointed out like the barrel of a gun ready to fire. He quickly called the witness out on the clear fabrication in her tale.

The day's trial was like any. A poor bastard's corpse found and fingerprints of all kind lay across the scene. Phoenix's client was suspect number one, as their prints were found and no alibi was set in stone. But, if his client was telling the truth, then there was a snake in the grass to look out for.

Phoenix had spent the day before investigating the scene front to back. Lifting every rock and searching every corner. From what he could find, it definitely seemed like things were pointing off into a different direction. Now all he had to do was lead the court down that same road.

It was his life's work. He was used to it all by now. Including all the pain that came with it.

Of course, Phoenix found himself to be quite accident prone, and where those injuries did become nothing more than a mild annoyance, it wasn't the only pain that cursed his routine. Over the years, Phoenix had found that his back was in constant torment. Though, he could never really recall why. Maybe too many days spent as a child watching Signal Samurai. Maybe the years hunched over law books in college. Whatever it may be, the pain was near constant.

Where the pain itself never left, its intensity did fluctuate. Some days felt more like a dull ache that was easily forgettable as long as he kept moving or didn't let himself slouch too much. However, moments like these were the ones that really caused him agony.

As he stood in the courtroom, going through the motions, the pain in his back ignited to an almost unbearable degree. The feeling continued into his sides and stomach, his chest and neck also feeling the repercussions. All he could do was breathe and push through the suffering. Especially with the eyes that currently laid upon him.

Across the floor, standing as prosecution, was Miles Edgeworth. Miles was very observant. Keeping things from him was near impossible. He was also a worry-er. He wouldn't show it on his face or be very vocal about it, but it was the truth. He very easily fretted over those he cared for when they were in any sort of pain or trouble. Even if he wasn't always sure how to help.

Phoenix knew he couldn't clue Miles in on his current aches or the prosecutor would force him to be benched. How he'd do it was unknown but Miles could be pretty scary when he was determined about something. Phoenix had been on the end of that a few times. Both out of a sense of anger from an argument and a moment of concern for his well being.

Despite his attempts to hide it, he could tell Miles was looking at him like a puzzle. Phoenix couldn't help the slight stiffness of his form. The heavy breathing that interlaced with his words as he attempted to will the pain away. Miles had to have noticed at some point. Still, Phoenix had a trial to win. And so he kept on standing and presenting his case.

When the 'Not Guilty' was declared Phoenix let out a sigh of relief as he slumped against the wall behind him. He smiled tiredly as his client cried and rejoiced out of the corner of his eye.

Another bolt of agony shot through his spine and the surrounding muscles. He stifled a groan and stood back straight. Phoenix looked around to quickly check if the action was caught by his courthouse rival, only to find the man was gone.

Phoenix counted himself lucky, for once, and decided to start for his own exit. Once all his papers and things were piled into his arms he made his way to the door. His client took the moment to thank him eagerly and promised to pay him as soon as he could. Phoenix thanked him but wasn't the most hopeful of that last remark. It didn't matter too much, he supposed. An innocent man was free and all Phoenix wanted to do now was go home and take a much needed shower.

As he stepped down the court steps towards his bike, he noticed Miles walking towards him. He straightened his back and gave a smile. "Prosecutor Edgeworth," he greeted with a humor pulling at his features.

"Wright," Miles responded as he stopped before the attorney and crossed his arms. "What are you hiding from me?"

Phoenix paused, taken aback by the sudden question. "Hiding? What do you-"

"You're injured," Miles stated. As if the question was only for formality. "Did something happen during your investigation? What is it that's injured?"

"Wh-what?" Phoenix sputtered out. "No! I'm fine."

Miles' eyes thinned in distrust.

"I'm fine, Miles. I swear," Phoenix sighed out, his hand going to rub at the back of his neck. "It's just some back pain. It's nothing really."

"Nothing?" Miles hissed out, almost offended by the play of ignorance. "Do you think I'm blind or stupid? You could hardly stand properly in court today. It sounded like you had fractured a damn rib."

Did he really sound that bad? Phoenix really hadn't noticed he'd been so obvious. He frowned and let his hand fall from his neck. "It's just my back, seriously," he said again. His hands rose in surender. "Sometimes my back just hurts. It's fine, really."

Miles spent another solid minute glaring at him. As if looking him over for any evidence of wounds or a lie. Finally, he gave a sigh. "Fine. Either way, I'm driving you home."

"Actually, I rode my bike here," Phoenix explained, ponting his thumb back towards where the racks sat.

"I've already requested for Gumshoe to take it back to your place."

Phoenix did a double take at that. "You wha- Wait, what?" He shook his head. "It's pad locked how did-"

Miles looked at him as if Phoenix was attempting to insult the prosecutor's intelligence. His arms uncrossed with a huff. "The code is your birthday." Miles shook his head and held up a hand to stop whatever Phoenix had hanging from the tip of his tongue. "Nevertheless, as dramatic as you can be; your pain tolerance is exceptionally high. Whatever state your back is currently in clearly is no state to be riding a bike all the way home if it can draw such reactions."

Phoenix couldn't tell if there was an insult or a compliment hidden in all of that. Or possibly both. It was clear Miles wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. Especially since he's forced Phoenix into a position with no other real way home. With a groan and a mumble of "fine", Phoenix was ushered into the fancy red car by the other.

The drive home was quiet, but not a comfortable one. Phoenix wondered if the car had heated seats as hot as his felt under the judgemental side glances he was getting from Miles.

Phoenix couldn't help the pained sigh that left him as he tried his best to flatten his form against the back of his seat. The pain in his back flaring up extensively as he sat still. At least some pressure was taken off it but it still wasn't much.

"With the way you're acting, I'm unsure if I should turn towards the nearest hospital or not," Miles grumbled.

Phoenix snapped to look over at him, instantly regretting the sharp turn of his form. "It's fine. I probably just slept on it wrong," he tried. It wasn't really a lie. It was actually very possible his sleeping position did have something to do with the heightened pain he currently was dealing with. However, he also knew that was not the only factor. He knew his back was just, unfortunately, like that.

"You said it 'hurts sometimes'," Miles pointed out.

Phoenix could tell his court voice was slipping in a bit at the edges. He could also tell he'd slipped up. Not that Phoenix didn't catch himself doing similar things in social situations. He supposed the thing about taking the wild out of animals could be said the same of court and lawyers to its own extent.

"Does it usually hurt to this extent?"

"Miles."

"Wright."

A pause snaked around them.

"Fine," Phoenix finally huffed out and leaned back again. He shifted again to try and get his back pressed as flat as possible against the seat. "Sometimes I have problems with my back. A few pills and a hot bath and I'm right as rain. Happy? Gonna make some jab about being an old man?" He mumbled out the last part. In retrospect, he actually doubted Miles to make such a comment. Maya, however, would have jumped at the opportunity with little hesitation.

"No," Miles responded with a glance to the other from the corner of his eye. "I will, however, mention that constant pain to this extent is something you really should get checked with a professional."

Phoenix gave a humored huff. He leaned his arm against the door and looked at the other. "Why, if I didn't know any better I'd think the big bad Demon Prosecutor was worried about me."

"Surprising to everyone, I'm sure."

Phoenix only responded with a quiet chuckle.

"I'm serious," Miles began again. "You looked in agony today."

I felt it. Phoenix thought to himself. Not that he would say that outloud. "It wasn't that bad. Just," he paused. He gave a shrug. Lying wouldn't be in his favor. For one, Phoenix was pretty fifty-fifty on his ability to weave a convincing tall tale. Not only that, but lying to Miles had an even lower success rate. Whether he commented on it or not depended on the situation; though, with how he was acting at the moment Phoenix would surely be called out if he tried.

"I believe your inexplicably high pain tolerance might be hindering your ability to accurately assess your injured state."

Phoenix blinked at him for a moment. "I think I can tell the difference between a bad back and getting knocked unconscious by your whip-happy sister."

Miles shook his head, keeping his eyes to the road while still tilting his face slightly towards the other. "That's not what I mean," he explained. "If you're used to the pain- or any pain for that matter- it can be much harder to tell when something is seriously wrong. Like I said before, you would benefit from having a professional look into the matter."

Phoenix gave a hum of acknowledgment to that; not really sure how else to respond. Honestly, Miles had a good point. Maybe he should get it looked at. But then there were the other factors in play. Getting the time off to do it and the money too. Plus the possibility that something was actually wrong and he'd have to get it fixed or treated only made the thought less desirable. Not that he enjoyed feeling like his muscles were on fire, more that the whole ordeal of going through so much hassle felt like too much work for what was just a bit of pain here and there.

Thankfully, he was saved from continuing the conversation when the sight of his apartment building neared. Miles stopped the car right out front, letting Phoenix grab his things and move for the door.

Before he could fully climb out of the car, Miles took the other's hand in his own. Phoenix paused and looked back at him.

"I'm serious, Phoenix," he said. His tone felt softer and much more personal than normal. Not that Phoenix would be able to expand on those thoughts if asked. "I… would rather you not be in pain. Whether you believe it is something you can 'handle' or not."

Phoenix tried to meet his gaze, however, Miles pointedly kept it to the side as he spoke. The faintest hint of color dusted his cheeks and Phoenix couldn't help but give a small smile in return. "Thanks," he finally responded. "And for the ride home too." Phoenix ran his thumb across Miles' knuckles before pulling his hand away completely. The action didn't go unnoticed by the prosecutor in the slightest. "See you in court," he chuckled in parting.

"Good day, Wright," Miles replied, still keeping his gaze elsewhere.

Once the car door was shut, Miles took no pause before speeding off and out of sight. As Phoenix walked to his door, it was no longer just his back that felt a warm ache pass through it. As tended to be the usual in regards to Miles Edgeworth.

thank u for reading pls leave comments if youd like ! n come find me on tumblr n twitter HeroicToonz