Side Quests #9: Bravery

[madimpossibledreamer]

Happy Easter if you celebrate it, and if you don't I hope you had a great day anyway!

Main Points:
Ace Attorney AU (where they all play innocent sin online) iso//sq
1, 2, 3, and 5 are v1 (jjba). 4 is v2 (Bleach).  6 and 7 are also in this line (AA).
Summary: After the worst (best) day of his life, Edgeworth allows himself to indulge for once.
Word Count: 780
Rating: Gen
Pairing: Edgeworth/Wright

         After the police let Edgeworth go, part of him simply wants to go back to his own apartment and sleep for a long while. Part of him simply realizes there’s nothing holding him back. He joins the slightly inebriated party, Gumshoe attempting to sing karaoke despite the lack of equipment and the waitress trying to convince him to stop despite Larry and Miss Hart’s encouragement. He announces his presence by a direct question, quietly so as not to draw attention. “Wright, are you the unimaginatively named Firebird, by any chance?”
         Miss Fey realizes much quicker than Wright does, tugging on his sleeve and whispering “Innocent Sin Online,” in delighted tones, and it’s clear why he continues to ask such a young person with no formal law education to aid him.
         Phoenix, meanwhile, is gaping in a mirror to Edgeworth’s when the other man had gone on a rant about Edgeworth to his face, in a manner of speaking. “What? How do you know that?”
         “Wright.” He should have thought that would be obvious, though he supposes Miss Fey is the one with the good taste in television and Wright might not know the meaning of the choice of Tonosaman for a username.
         “I’m serious. Have we met in game?” It’s incredible he’d managed to dispel the shadow hanging over Edgeworth since he was a child.
         He actually rolls his eyes, despite holding his arm in anxiety. “I cannot believe you didn’t put the pieces together.”
         Despite his continuing confusion and worry, Phoenix smiles goofily, running a hand nervously through the hair spikes. “You know me, I bluff my way though things.”
         Miles smiles, genuine, noting with interest that such only puts Wright even further in a defensive stance. “I suppose that is true. A certain Demon’s Touch Cavalier Nekomata. Who had a hatred for defense attorneys. Who expresses an interest in Steel Samurai, is a workaholic, barely relaxes, and confessed to you that he may have committed a crime as a child.”
         It’s clear the moment Phoenix puts it all together. To his credit, the dawning realization starts the moment he starts with the Master Class. He can be a little creative and out of the box with his thinking, but he’s certainly not unintelligent. “…Oh. Oh no.”
         “It’s not as bad as you believe,” Miles tries to tell his rival, but the man isn’t listening as he rambles.
         He might be panicking a little. “I told you all about you. God, I told you you were unfairly handsome. Can we please forget me making a fool of myself?”
         Perhaps he needs to swallow his pride and be the straightforward one in this circumstance. “I don’t wish to. In fact, I am aware you have not finished Tartarus, and would like to help you accomplish it and preferably get non-poisonous food somewhere during that time frame.”
         “What?” Phoenix is still staring blankly.
         Miles sighs fondly. “You are lucky I like my men somewhat dense. I don’t want to think tonight. I am inviting myself over to your apartment, Wri—Phoenix.”
         Fortunately, it seems like despite his disbelief Phoenix has begun to understand. “For a date?”
         “Yes.” He takes a deep breath, unable to meet the man’s eyes, anxiety gripping him as tightly as he’s gripping his elbow. “I realize—I may be in shock, and this is a horrible time, but I don’t want to do much more than play, for a while.” Forget his own problems for a while.
         Phoenix is strangely serious as he responds. “I didn’t save you for this.”
         Edgeworth forces himself to look back up. “If you had, I wouldn’t have considered it. But, to put it simply, you are not Larry.”
         Phoenix tries not to laugh at that, but doesn’t quite manage it, giggling softly, cheeks a little flushed—he’s probably slightly tipsy. “I guess ditching him would serve him right. Maya?”
         “Go. Have fun,” she responds, still amused, and Miles turns to her and bows, formal in his thanks.
         “Without your interruption during the trial, I would not have been found innocent, so thank you.” He fears it’s still inadequate, especially when she tears up—he’s said something wrong, but what—
         And then Phoenix, sobering up a little, adds a voice of agreement. “He’s right. And you got the decisive evidence of the bullet.”
         She smiles through the tears and flings herself at them in a crushing hug, which he attempts to return awkwardly. Perhaps these are what are termed ‘happy tears’? “I’ll cover your escape. Go, go, go!” She shoos them away, and fortunately they manage to escape before Gumshoe or the others notice his presence or the fact that they’re leaving.