Hi, it's been quite a while since I've updated and this is definitely a shorter chapter than usual. I've been feeling stuck, but felt the push to write this week. Comments and suggestions are most appreciated!

Chapter 8: Concession

Silence filled the room like a heady perfume, interrupted only by murmurs of the wind and occasional sips of tea. The men sat several inches apart, avoiding passing looks and physical contact. I know I proposed that we discuss this, but both of us seem to be faltering… Does he feel ashamed? Even though it was inevitable? Perhaps a gesture of good faith is in order… Edgeworth hesitated before gingerly scooting closer to his companion on the sofa, his deft, graceful fingers wrapping around Phoenix's left hand, maintaining a serious expression nonetheless. He heard a sharp intake of breath accompanied by the hand clutching his own tightly, warmth radiating between them like they were parts of an electrical cable miraculously rejoined and repaired.

The former attorney finally met his eyes, eyebrows drawn in unease and lips parting in hesitation before shattering the silence. "Um, the stairwell…we both wanted that, right?"

"Wright, I thought my consent was relatively clear, but if you prefer a verbal 'yes' or 'no' the next time—"

"No, no, it's fine I… I just wanted to be sure."

Edgeworth's eyes searched Phoenix's, smirking at his almost-boyish fumbling for words, not so unlike their conversations when they were younger…or his inconsistent defense, for that matter.

The former attorney glumly muttered, "I'm not sure either of us have a lot of experience with these kinds of relationships…"

How dare he suggest…Edgeworth shook his head and dissented, "I will have you know that I have been approached and pursued numerous times—"

Phoenix cut him off with a dry chuckle. "But you didn't go through with it! Which is what makes this kind of special, right?"

Before Edgeworth could rebuff him, the former attorney turned slightly, his head resting against his rival-friend's shoulder, his other hand gently enveloping the prosecutor's arm. As clumsy and unrefined as you can be, your charm is undeniable. Almost instinctually, Edgeworth's lips gently brushed his companion's forehead, feeling the heat of his flushed skin against his mouth and quickly retreating.

"You should be careful with what you start with me. You know I'll make you keep going until the end, finding the truth, just like everything else." Phoenix squeezed the prosecutor's arm as a grin laced his words, lending them an ardent edge the latter simply could not ignore.

Edgeworth stiffened, remarking drily, "Oh so that's what your plan was in the stairwell…exchanging truths? You intended to continue?"

The former attorney issued a quiet laugh, his warm breath dancing against the prosecutor's neck before his lips pressed against the latter's clean-shaven jaw. Edgeworth felt his eyes become soft-lidded before regaining composure, pushing away thoughts of the myriad ways Phoenix might have sought their shared carnal truth.

"Miles, if you hadn't called for a recess, you definitely would have lost…or won? I'm not sure…"

So, this is breadth, the range, of Wright's flirtation, is it?

Edgeworth cleared his throat reflexively, reining in his meandering consciousness from considering how many steps it would be to the nearest bedroom, how quickly he could undress this vexing rival-friend…He swiftly withdrew his hand and scooted over to his left, glowering as he retorted, "Wright! I said we needed to talk before we can even consider…"

His companion pouted before positing, "Hasn't it been long enough? What is there to worry about now? I won't be the defense attorney in any of your cases for a while…maybe never again."

Brushing his hair away from his forehead in frustration, Edgeworth redirected, "I don't know how to feel about pursuing a relationship with someone who's so reckless with their career, their own life."

"You don't mean…this again?"

Leaning away, the prosecutor glowered as he bit back, "You volunteered to play against Corbeau undercover…without any thought to how I might react to such a situation…this man is no mafia pawn, not like Furio Tigre nor any of those hoodlums at Borscht Bowl Club..."

"Miles…"

Idiot…how could you possibly understand the severity of the situation? How do you expect me to give into someone so impulsive and insensitive?

However, before the silver-haired man could respond, his companion descended to his knees in front of him. Instead of pleading, those blue eyes darkened in determination…that look in court that almost always foreshadowed a losing case for the prosecutor. While Edgeworth clenched his jaw and remained silent, he felt serpentine unease stirring in his stomach.

Phoenix's gaze remained direct while he bit his lip. "Wow, Miles…when you worry about me, you're even more irresistible."

Edgeworth scoffed, "Worrying about an impetuous imbecile like you… always winning by some mindless stroke of luck anyway."

"Oh, I don't know, Edgeworth… I haven't been in court for a while now, but I think I still have a few tricks to draw out your truth…I think I want all of it right now…" While the former attorney's eyes blazed confidently, his cheeks flushed, giving that self-assured smile of a well-landed bluff.

Don't tell me that was your attempt at innuendo…

Suddenly, the spiky-haired companion continued by forcefully parting the prosecutor's legs with his hands.

"Wr-Wright!"

Phoenix's smile deepened as his hands firmly slid upwards along Edgeworth's inner thighs, causing the prosecutor's brow to furrow and his jaw to slacken in shock. Please, not like this, not now…Edgeworth's hands clenched his companion's wrists, knuckles white, but his grasp was not quite tight enough to disguise his trembling.

"You know me by now, Miles…if I need the truth, if I need to prove my case, I'll do anything…anything to get there."

How could I forget…Edgeworth felt himself throbbing and dug his nails into Phoenix's wrists to maintain his composure while the latter maintained his grasp.

Eyes glazed with hunger, the former attorney's voice lowered almost dangerously, "It's over, Edgeworth…what happened to working together to find the truth? Why are you stopping me?"

The prosecutor drew in his breath violently before swallowing, failing to retrieve a dry or cutting remark to abort Phoenix's mission. Distracted in that moment, his face contorted when Phoenix's firm hand ascended his thigh completely and the throbbing exacerbated. Edgeworth's hips involuntarily thrust forward, his long fingers pressed into the back of his companion's hand.

"That's it, Miles…that's the 'in' I was looking for…" Phoenix focus shifted to a place between Edgeworth's thighs, his hand massaging slowly, probing and coaxing for a response he would most certainly achieve. The silver-haired man whimpered as he began to twitch.

"Wright, you don't have to...have you even done—"

"No, but I've pictured you doing this to me many, many times…you won't let me go astray anyway, will you?" Dear god. As Edgeworth sighed weakly, shuddering breaths betrayed, his companion easily unbuttoned the trousers, one-handed, before slowly pulling down the slider of the zipper, exposing the source of twitching shrouded in black boxer-briefs which sat low on the prosecutor's hips. Phoenix's eyes returned upward, heavy-lidded and now practically starving in Edgeworth's estimation.

"This is one of my finer suits, Wright," Edgeworth protested quietly, his resolve contradicted by his shaking thighs.

A mischievous grin lit up his companion's face, his sapphire eyes glittering in anticipation. "I won't make a mess." Phoenix's body extended as he raised himself to balance on his knees, one hand remaining between Edgeworth's thighs, the other pulling him by the neck for a kiss. The prosecutor let out a groan as he felt their tongues gently massaging and seeking each other out passionately. The prosecutor could not restrain himself from anticipating how his companion would use his mouth to draw him out. Eyes shut, the images he had pushed away numerous times played vividly behind his eyelids, the rival-friend on his knees, in his car, sprawled across his bed with that insatiable look…

Long fingers entwined in the spikes as he fell into the kiss, his thighs instinctually spread further. The prosecutor barely noted the hand undoing his cravat and dress shirt before the former attorney pulled away, sitting on his knees again as his ravenous gaze roamed over the exposed pale, lithe, and hewn torso, akin to marble. Phoenix bit his lips as he paused on the V-lines disappearing beneath the black fabric. The former attorney leaned in, hooking his fingers into the underwear's elastic beneath the trousers, apparently prepared to pull it all down in one fell swoop. However, his hands tensely lingered as his eyes sought out the prosecutor's.

The voice challenged raspily, "What's the matter, Wright? Are you not done devouring me with your eyes?" Edgeworth felt irritated and self-conscious at this sudden intimacy, as well as afraid that his rival-friend, the one he had begrudgingly fantasized about and pined for, would suddenly cease this frighteningly pleasurable inquisition.

Phoenix blushed as he chuckled lightly, "I guess I wasn't so off when I imagined you like this…um…do you object to this inquiry?" His lips curved sheepishly as his fingers ran along the elastic.

Edgeworth winced before relaxing, his hand cupping his companion's cheek and responding in an almost-whisper, "I'll allow it."

The former attorney slowly nodded as the prosecutor raised his hips, capitalizing on the opportunity to continue his pursuit, partially disrobing his companion. Edgeworth's face contorted severely, his eyes falling to the side, both anticipating and dreading Phoenix's reaction. His gaze slowly returning to the man between his knees, he absorbed the latter's eyes trained on his cock, now glistening and twitching with greater frequency.

Phoenix, you don't have to—

His companion's deft fingers wrapped gently around his shaft, dark blue eyes glazing over as he gasped. As he began to stroke upward, Edgeworth's head fell back, eyes unfocused as he fought back a prolonged groan, his hands clutching Phoenix's hair, tempted to pull his companion's lips closer, but maintaining his self-control by a thread. Instead, the giver leaned forward, his warm breath slowly coating the tip without committing further.

With ragged breath, Edgeworth protested, "Ph-phoenix…what are you…don't…"

Phoenix smiled slightly, his eyes narrowing as his hand paused at the base, "Do you want me to stop, Miles?" He broke into a seductive low laugh as his companion grimaced.

"I'll keep going, but before I let you release your…truth…" Phoenix broke into a lopsided grin at his continued use of the metaphor, "I want to hear why you're worried…and that you won't interfere with my role in the sting operation."

How dare you, Wright?! Using this first time as a bartering chip!

Edgeworth scoffed, "Phoenix—"

But his utterance devolved into a lewd moan he barely recognized, ripples of shock and pleasure radiating through his body, the long-craved warmth and moisture of the former attorney's mouth slowly grazing over the tip, his tongue running like a current underneath and around his skin. He twitched again as their gaze reconnected, forced to acknowledge the lust in his rival-friend's eyes as that soft, encouraging mouth sophomorically yet tantalizingly explored his weaknesses. Phoenix's fingers trailed upwards, grazing his companion's pert nipples, as he sucked deeply, earning another desperate groan. The spiky-haired companion paused, slowly drawing his mouth off with a gentle pop.

"What was our agreement, Miles? I can't keep going unless—"

This was a terrible idea, I cannot believe I flew you in just to…

Edgeworth clutched the raven hair, hips nearly bucking. "Phoenix…of c-course I care…and I was worried…p-please…"

"Why?" The former attorney teased.

A mix of a gasp and low growl escaped before he powered through, "You're finally back in my life…I don't want to lose this…I don't want you to…"

"What else?" Mischievous grin.

His eyebrows drew together as he nearly whispered, "Ph-phoenix…be reasonable…"

Phoenix blinked a couple of times, his low voice skirting in, "Hmmm, I bet Trucy will be heading home soon and you won't be able to…"

You manipulative…

Edgeworth clenched his eyes shut before acquiescing, "Wright, participate in the sting…I'll call Lang myself to confirm, just please…"

Impishness fell away from Phoenix's face as his mouth eagerly returned, hollowing his cheeks as he took in his companion deeper, breathing heavily as if this was the main course he waited to savor after the appetizer that was Edgeworth's coerced agreement. The prosecutor held the dark hair in a vice grip, biting his inner cheek hard enough that he may have tasted blood, relishing the aching expression on his rival-friend's face.

Perhaps I'm learning some of your truths now, Wright…

The thoughts and words in his mind devolved into nothing as waves of sensation washed over him in quick succession, nearly drowning as if Phoenix held him underwater without a chance to recover, to reclaim any control.

"Wr-wright, stop, I'm…I can't—"

Phoenix stubbornly responded with a hum, his mouth advancing further such that Edgeworth nearly felt him gag. The prosecutor smiled slightly, wondering if he would have attempted to penetrate the former attorney this way during frustrating court recesses, so overwhelmed with the thought of ruining those blue suits that his hips automatically thrusted forward. Phoenix winced, holding Edgeworth's hips down, before issuing an encouraging, low moan. Edgeworth's eyes clenched shut as everything went white, unable to rein in his response and reaction any longer. He relished the dull ache, his eyes finally returning to Phoenix on the floor…Phoenix who had finally stopped drinking him in, his face still flushed as he rose from the floor shaking.

Edgeworth, catching his breath, gently grasped his rival-friend's wrist. "Please…let me…"

Phoenix handed him the phone instead with an exhausted smile.

"Make the call. Reward me when we get the evidence."