Work Text:
It had to have been a month or so since Phoenix had broken it off with Iris. There was just nothing there anymore, the spark had gone almost too quickly, and showed no signs of making a reappearance. If Phoenix hadn’t done something, they’d both have ended up resenting one another, only causing each other more pain when the end inevitably arrived. While it stung for about a week or so, both Phoenix and Iris were able to stay friends, realising all of this was for the best and they were able to move on with their lives.
This led Phoenix to the situation he was in now, reading the same ad in the paper over and over. Why he was even reading the lonely hearts column was a mystery, but here he was, leaning back into his desk chair, eyes scanning the text repeatedly. This ad wasn’t like the others, no details, no name or number, just a small list of requirements that fit Phoenix’s bill to a T.
"If you like piña coladas
And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the cape
Then I'm the love that you've looked for
Write to me, and escape.”
Yes, Phoenix loved piña coladas, and he wasn’t against the feeling of the rain soaking him through after a long day. He’d never gotten the fad with yoga, and he liked to think he was at least somewhat intelligent. Time was irrelevant to his desires, and honestly, with how long it had been, location may no longer factor into it either. It was after reading through the ad, for what might have been the fifteenth time, that his hand twitched desperate to respond.
Alas, Phoenix thought better of it, opting to toss the paper on his desk and leaning further into his chair, large hands covering his face as he groaned. He couldn’t be that lonely, surely. He considered his options, before deciding to text Maya. If it was the right thing to do, she’d be the one to give him that push.
[Phoenix: Is it a terrible idea to respond to a lonely hearts ad?]
He returned to his anguished groaning while he awaited an answer from the older of the two Feys he had grown closer to in recent years. His eyes are torn away from his palms as he looks at the ad again, the red pen he’d circled it with, (just when had he circled it?), glaring back at him. His distant gaze was broken when his phone pinged, and he scrambled back into an upright position to grab his phone.
[Maya: depends on the ad, show me!!!]
Phoenix obliges her curiosity, and she responds almost instantly.
[Maya: ohhhh, cryptic…]
[Maya: you totally should, but meet in public just to be safe]
Sometimes Maya was wise beyond her years, and for that, Phoenix wasn’t sure what he would do without her. He typed out a thanks, before he turned to work on his response, typing away in his phone notes, drafting it again and again until it was perfect. Why was he so excited? He had no idea who was on the other end of the ad, and he had no guarantee it’d even be worth his while. Maybe that was it, the mystery. The anonymity of it. He could fantasize about who would be at their meeting place. He could fantasize about where it could take them. The unknown normally frustrated him, given the implications of not knowing in his field of work, but this? This could be enjoyable, even if it were to be short lived.
After hours at the office had left him alone with his thoughts, redrafting his response until he blinked, screen going blurry as the day draws to a close and his body reminds him of his natural functions, to eat and sleep. It was nearing 10pm and Phoenix wasn’t even home yet. With a reluctant huff, he packed his stuff, newspaper included, before heading home. The journey was short. As was his dinner preparations of instant noodles while his eyes scanned his screen again. Only when he’d settled on the perfect response did the defense lawyer finally put himself to bed, with the intention of contacting the paper with his response. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Phoenix slipped into a blissful sleep, dreaming of the perfect outcome to his adventure in romance.
"Yes, I like piña coladas
And getting caught in the rain
I'm not much into health food
I am into champagne
I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon
And cut through all this red tape
At a bar called O’Malley’s
Where we'll plan our escape"
***
Phoenix entered the bar, as he had done so a hundred times before with Larry, Gumshoe, even Miles. A shiver of anticipation ran down his spine as he approached the bar, ordering an apt piña colada, before sitting in a booth at the back, waiting. He sat facing the entrance, piña colada on display as a sign as he scrolled through his phone, head down.
Somehow his date had known to look for the tropical beverage, as he made his way over, tapping the table to alert Phoenix of his presence. A soft gasp left Phoenix's lips as he looked up at the mystery man from the paper. "I didn't think it'd be you…" The figure breathes, not even bothering to sit opposite Phoenix, instead gesturing for the defense attorney to shuffle up before he slides in next to him. "But I'm so glad it is." Phoenix's cheeks were on fire as the mystery man spoke to him in a sultry tone, as his breath could be felt on his neck.
The defense finally turns to his anonymous date, finally able to put a name to the face. "Miles…" He sighs, before any gap between them is forced shut by desperate kisses, making up for lost time.
The pair suddenly arrived inside Phoenix's apartment, as they stumbled through the threshold together, lips only parting for short bursts of air before they crashed together again. Needy hands explored every nook and cranny, clothes torn away, long since forgotten by the time they're in bed together and they laid touching, grinding, feeling.
But it was over all too soon, just as Phoenix felt he was about to burst, his alarm broke through the dream, tearing him from Miles' imaginary embrace and back to reality. His body clearly enjoyed the dream, evident in his morning arousal as the lawyer grabs a pillow, covering his face and groaning into it loudly. If only the dream had let him finish.
It wasn't the first time he'd dreamt of his best-friend, and his rival in such a way and he'd long since come to terms with his feelings toward said best-friend/rival, and the fact that they would likely only be reciprocated when hell had finally frozen over. Phoenix had become accustomed to their friendship, and bothersome dreams be damned, he was content with what they had. Miles as a friend, was better than no Miles at all, as he had learned the hard way in recent years.
Begrudgingly, the defense trudged from his bedroom, to the bathroom, then finally to the kitchen, where he brewed a pot of coffee, and then decided to call the newspaper. It was finalised that his response would be published in the following day's issue, so that gave him two days to mentally and physically prepare for the meeting of a lifetime. He'd need to go clothes shopping.
***
"So, I did it." Nick informed his colleague as he walked into the office, jacket slung over his shoulder as he'd decided to take it off in the summer heat. "Did what?" She answered, voice muffled by the food in her mouth as she looked up to meet his gaze. "Oh! The ad! Right!" Maya blurted, swallowing her mouthful and standing. "Lemme see?" Phoenix declined, waving her off. "Check the paper tomorrow, I have to go clothes shopping, can you watch the office and call me if we get a client?" Maya had a glare that could only be described as offended. "Nope. I'm coming with you." She scoffed as it was an obvious advancement.
Phoenix couldn't counter her with anything that he couldn't see her rebutting with equal force, so she ended up tagging along. Nick had left his jacket back at the office, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and his tie loosened, the definition of casual and as he caught a glimpse of himself in shop windows, he couldn't help but think he looked alright.
"Can't I just go in something casual? Like what I'm wearing?" Phoenix huffed, shoulders slacking as he grimaced at the awfully Edgeworth style outfits she was thrusting into his arms before shoving him into the nearest dressing room cubicle. "Nick! You have to wow them! You never know!" She shouted over the curtain as he looked at the suit on the hanger. "Red isn't my colour Maya, you know this…" He huffed, but begrudgingly pulled the ensemble on anyway.
He stepped out into the hall, and Maya immediately pushed him back in. "You were right, red isn't your colour." She gave a faux gag before pulling the curtain shut again. He turned, admiring himself in the mirror. In blue, this 3 piece suit combo would be perfect on him, but it still wasn't suitable for a bar date with a total stranger.
Maya soon handed him a navy blue button down, and black slacks that were a little too tight, but in places that only accentuated his more favourable features. When he stepped out from the curtain, Maya gawked, jaw dropping to the floor. "Nick! You look incredible!" The truth was he felt it too, having spent a few extra moments to admire himself in the mirror. "I think a black jacket would go with it, just in case I'm out late, but I think this is what I'll go for." Phoenix beamed, giving Maya a twirl to which she gave a low whistle in response. "Go get'em Nick! Woo!" She whooped in support for her best friend. He answers with a laugh, before changing back into his work clothes before they leave, purchasing the desired outfit and heading back to the office.
***
Miles paced, racking his brain. Why on earth did he post that ad? One glass of wine, on an empty stomach no less, had clearly destroyed his inhibitions and he'd written the most cryptic, out of character lonely hearts ad and sent it to be published the following day. Though his embarrassment was fierce, it didn't stop him flicking through the paper every morning after to see if he'd gotten a response.
3 days passed.
Then his wildest dreams had come true. Someone had responded. He scanned the answer, letting the words sink in. Miles couldn't believe he'd gotten a response, let alone one that included at date, time and place to meet this mysterious romantic.
"I've got to meet you by tomorrow noon,"
"At a bar called O'Malley's."
He knew where O'Malley's was, it wasn't far at all, a few minutes walk from Wright & Co Law Offices. Before he could thoroughly think it through, Miles' schedule was clear for the day, and the following one and Miles had no reason to back out now. He wasn't about to go rushing around for something to wear, he supposed he could stick to his usual, but forgo the jabot that frequented his neck on a day to day basis, and maybe the waist coat. It was the middle of summer after all. Maybe he'd just wear the waistcoat, leave the blazer behind. Yes, that would suffice. He nodded to himself, silently agreeing upon his outfit choices.
Now all Miles' had to do was quell his excitement so that he could at least get a decent night sleep. The prosecutor opted to fix himself a cup of tea and to settle on the sofa, watching a Steel Samurai episode or two, before he eventually felt sleepy enough to drag himself to bed.
His plan worked for the most part, as he crashed into the plush sheets and curled into a ball, falling into a content sleep in record time. What he didn't account for was the dream that would follow.
His dream was almost identical to Phoenix's, except he was first to arrive, not Wright, and they ended up at his apartment. He didn't get to finish either, before his alarm rudely interrupted him, resulting in a scowl at the luminous numbering as he tapped the button to cease the incessant beeping.
The noise stopped, silence befalling the prosecutor's bedroom and he was disappointed to wake up alone again, despite the fact it had been normal for almost his entire life.
Then it hit him.
Today was the day. The day he would meet the mystery man from the paper.
***
Meanwhile, Phoenix slicked his hair back, again. He straightened out his shirt, slipping his jacket on over broad shoulders, before adjusting his belt perfectly. Damn he looked divine. He smirked to his reflection, before shooting embarrassing finger guns at the man in the mirror, laughing to himself before he grabbed the necessities; keys, wallet, phone, before he finally headed out.
He walked, not daring to let the sweat of a bike ride ruin his shirt. His jacket hung over his forearm, folded over his chest as he nervously played with the sleeve, humming to a song in his head as he walked. It was only a little further than the walk to his office, and it was a walk he did every single day, so it was muscle memory at this point.
It was over before Phoenix could truly register that the walk had even happened, as there he was, staring at the door to O'Malley's, biting at his lip before he took a deep breath, exhaling through his nose and pushed the door open.
The noise of the bar consumed him, the outside long forgotten as the smell of food and alcohol engulfed his senses. Phoenix grinned, taking strides to the bar, perching on a stool after hanging his jacket over it and ordering the fabled piña colada from his dream. It was then that the nerves began to set in again, as his gaze bore into the drink, nails tapping the curved glass before he decided on fiddling with the umbrella instead. With a flick of his wrist, he checked his watch, on display with his bare forearms, as the navy shirt rested, neatly rolled sleeves to his elbow. 12 on the dot.
Then the door opened.
Miles Edgeworth stood in the doorway, looking somewhat disheveled in expression but not in appearance. Phoenix gulped, but he tried not to stare. He doubted that Miles was here for him, but Miles was making his way to the bar, he had to act casual. "Wright?" The prosecutor questions, raising a slim grey brow. "I didn't know you liked piña coladas." He teased, and Phoenix's head snapped up to look at Miles. "Yeah, I like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain." He joked. If Miles didn't get it, then Phoenix would have his suspicions confirmed that he was still waiting on the mystery paper person. Miles sat on the stool next to him, ordering a drink while Phoenix was speaking, and he choked.
"It's… you?" Miles turned to him, ignoring the drink that slid in front of him. Phoenix only grinned in response. "Are you okay with that?" He asked, expectantly. Miles was nodding before Phoenix could even finish speaking. "This… is far better than I imagined." Miles' tone was softer, genuine and Phoenix melts.
***
They spent all day in O'Malley's, drinking non-alcoholic beverages, besides the initial piña coladas, and just enjoying each other's company. The day is wasted in their own personal bubble, until it's burst by Phoenix's phone, pinging continuously and ringing three times before the defense groans, pulling it from his pocket. "It's Maya, can I tell her or should I just tell her I'm alive?" Phoenix asked, showing Miles the screen with a sheepish shrug. "Tell her, but can we keep it on the low for the time being? Just close friends." Phoenix nods, appreciating the honesty and the fact Miles' was even considering this to be more than a one day whirlwind romance over coca-cola and soda water.
The phone rang out again and Phoenix answered, holding the phone away from his ear as feminine yelling blasted in crackles through the speaker. He cringed. "Can I talk now?" Phoenix grumbled back, after having his ass handed to him about safety and his promise to check in with Maya. She continued, only to be interrupted by the smooth voice of one Miles Edgeworth. "Miss Fey, I do apologise for keeping Phoenix so preoccupied, I don't know where the time went, but I assure you, we're safe, still at O'Malley's actually." The way he addressed her had shut the medium up quick enough as she stammered over her response. "Mr Edgeworth is the mystery paper person?!" She exclaimed, and Phoenix could imagine the exact face she was pulling. He could only laugh in response. "Yes, if that's the way you'd like to put it." Edgeworth shook his head with a soft laugh. "I'll tell you all about it when I'm next in." Phoenix assured her, before the men bid her their goodbyes and returned to conversing.
***
Phoenix was overjoyed by his date with Miles, but his stomach rumbled at the wrong moment and he came crashing back down to the reality he'd lost while in his presence. "Want to, uh, grab dinner with me?" Nick decided to shoot his shot. Miles only hummed in thought as a response. There was a brief moment of silence before he gave his verbal answer. "This may seem forward but I suppose we've known each other long enough, but would you like to come back to my apartment for dinner? I'd… I'd like to cook for you." Miles gave Phoenix a shy smile, and unknowingly turned the defense into putty in his hands.
Phoenix agreed, more than happy to spend his evening in Miles' apartment. "I'd really like that Miles." He beamed in response, boldy taking the prosecutor's hand in his own. "Allow me to lead the way. Did you ride your bike here?" Miles enquired, but Phoenix shakes his head. "Didn't want to sweat through the new suit." The defense shrugged and Miles only raised a brow in response.
With that, Phoenix stood, and Miles finally allowed himself to drink in the view of Phoenix Wright in his new suit and all of its glory. "I must say… You look fantastic Phoenix." Miles complimented before the words thoroughly processed through his brain. Both men's cheeks darken a few shades as Phoenix squeezes Miles' hand. "So do you… This casual Miles looks very handsome." He grinned, somewhat shy as his eyes trace Miles and his jacketless, cravatless splendour. Without another word, Miles tugged on Phoenix's hand, pulling him out of O'Malley's.
Phoenix couldn't help but laugh, causing Miles to turn and throw a scowl in his partner's direction. A hand was thrown up in surrender. "I'm just… Really happy right now." He justified, chuckling again, as they reached Miles' car. "I've wanted to be with you since… I don't know when, but it's been a long ass time." The attorney confessed, pulling Miles closer. The prosecutor's hands found their way to his waist, resting there as he searched his eyes for any hint of a lie or deceit. None could be found, as the defense had been telling the truth. Instead, Miles leaned in, not even really registering that Phoenix was doing the same until their lips met almost unexpectedly, just a little sooner than Miles had predicted, but it was bliss all the same. A hand moved to cup the prosecutor's cheek, as their lips moved together.
While it wasn't all sparks and clichés, it was almost dizzying to think that he was kissing Phoenix Wright and that said man was kissing him back with equal passion, as if they were pouring every ounce of unspoken emotion into the kiss. He didn't know how long it had been, but any length of time would have felt too short as he finally pulled away, his forehead resting against Phoenix's as he exhaled. Their cheeks were dusted pink, as they searched each other's faces, both trained in finding false information, both experienced with manipulation. All Phoenix did in response was press a chaste kiss to Miles' cheek, confirming any suspicions to Miles. "Back to mine then?" He asked, fishing in his pockets for his car keys. "Kiss me like that again and we won't make it to yours." The defense teased, and it only served to darken the blush on his partner's cheeks. "Get in the car Phoenix." Miles scolded playfully. Phoenix obliged.