Back from the Dead

Calm Before the Storm

When Miles and Gregory returned, they found the apartment more lively than ever. Franziska and Sebastian were in the kitchen, the young von Karma attempting to teach him how to cook 'the perfect dinner', despite herself also barely knowing how to cook. In the living room he could see Phoenix, who was surprisingly out of the hospital, lounging on the couch and Kay sitting on one of the armchairs talking to him.

"Wh- What are you all doing here?" asked Miles. Gregory, completely unbothered, shrugged of his trench coat and going to check up on Phoenix.

"Miles Edgeworth, finally you showed your foolish self." said Franziska as she pointed a wooden spoon at him threateningly.

"Hello Mr. Edgeworth, sorry for coming in uninvited, but Kay wanted to visit Mr. Wright in the hospital and  then they told us he was being discharged early so we decided to come with him." said Sebastian.

"That is alright Sebastian, I don't mind you coming here. What are you two making?" said Miles.

"We're making 'the perfect dinner', obviously." said Franziska confidently.

"We're trying to make lasagna. It's not going so well..." said Sebastian as he looked at their last attempt in the trash can, somehow looking both uncooked and burned.

"Rubbish! It's going splendid and it shall be delicious!" said Franziska.

Miles sighed tiredly before leaving to check on Phoenix in the living room, luckily for his kitchen, his father heard the conversation and decided to help them in the elaborate endeavour that is lasagna. He stopped by the couch and brushed the damp hair strands from his fiancé's sweaty forehead.

"Hi." said Miles fondly.

"Hey Miles...How are you? Did you find Pearls?" said Phoenix.

"No, I'm afraid not...but the search party is still looking and the bridge is being repaired. We should be able to find her tomorrow at the latest."

"Ah...I see. How was the investigation, did you enjoy being a defense attorney?"

"It was- Hmm...It was certainly an experience. Whether a good one or not I haven't decided yet..."

"Ah...I see."

Miles sighed and bent down to kiss Phoenix on the nose. "Go to sleep Phoenix, you're still a bit feverish. I'll wake you up when dinner is ready."

"Yeah, alright..." and with that he turned his back to them and buried his face in the couch backrest.

"Aww... That's so sweet of you Mr. Edgeworth." said Kay, having witnessed the whole affair.

"Hello to you too, Kay." said Edgeworth as he took a seat on the other armchair.

"Don't be like that. I heard you were defending someone tomorrow in court."

"Yes, you heard correctly. Although it will only be until Phoenix recuperates."

"So how was it?"

"How was what?"

Kay rolled her eyes. "Investigating as a defense attorney."

Miles glanced at Phoenix before answering. "Exhausting."

...

It's been a few hours since dinner, the house was quiet as everyone retired to their rooms. Right now it was just Miles and Phoenix in their bedroom. Miles was at his desk, putting together the last things for the trial tomorrow while Phoenix was in bed, watching him from a distance. As he finished the final paperwork, he got up and walked towards the bed. It was now when he was all alone that the exhaustion caught up with him. He never got the chance to process that Phoenix was not in fact dying, as he got rushed from the hospital to the apartment and then the Detention Center. Now that there were no more crime scenes and no more people to witness, he broke down as hot tears escaped his eyes.

"M-Miles? Are you-" Phoenix got interrupted as Miles kneeled on the bed and pulled him close. He was shaking as he buried his head in the defense attorney's shoulder. 

"Miles? Are you ok?" he tried again. His only answer was more sniffling. Phoenix ran his fingers through silver hair as he drew circles on the prosecutor's back. He was shaking really badly and his arms were fisted in Phoenix's black t-shirt. Like he was afraid he would just disappear if he let go.

"I was so scared you know...When Larry called, he told me you were dying. And I- I didn't know what to do. Hundreds of scenarios passed through my mind, I thought I was going to visit you in the hospital, only to be taken to the morgue for identification. I...I already imagined having to plan your funeral and god- You can't keep doing this to me Flamebird..." His shaking got worse and Phoenix tightened his arms around the other man.

"But I'm grateful you know...I'm so grateful Larry was wrong. I'm so relieved that you're alive and ok, I'd rather go through this whole stressful ordeal several times again if...if it means I get to see you again. Because if you're gone I don't...I don't know what I'd do with myself Phoenix. You mean way too much to me you know."

"Oh Miles...I- I'm so sorry darling. I never meant to hurt you... I wasn't really thinking back then but well- When am I ever?" This earned him a snort from the prosecutor. "I can't promise you I won't ever do something as stupid ever again, but. What I can promise you is that I'll always fight my way to get back to you. I'll never leave you. I swear it."

The couple stood there embraced until Miles' tears stopped. Once he was sure his fiancé has calmed down, Phoenix lowered them both on the bed and pulled the duvet over. He circled his arms around Miles and pulled him close to his chest before kissing his forehead. In response Miles buried his head in the defense attorney's chest and put an arm around his waist. They didn't untangle themselves until morning.

(A\N: I didn't really like what I did for the hospital scene, so this is a continuation of that. Sort of.)