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For now this story is marked as complete. Eventually that might change, but so far I have nothing planned. So! enjoy the -probably, maybe, potentially - last chapter.

Chapter 2

Everything to Save

Something was very wrong.

Miles was sitting at his desk going over his regular paper work, busy preparing for another case. Which would make his fourth this week and it was only Wednesday. After the event two weeks ago, he had submersed himself in work, taking on as many cases as he possibly could. They served two purposes; as a distraction, and outlet for his anger. He always felt satisfied getting another criminal locked up. Of course thanks to Phoenix he took better precautions to ensure they were guilty, if they weren't, that was fine too. Somehow that man had taught him how to make the truth come out in court.

but today something was off.

He hadn't spoken much to the defence attorney since that had happened. A couple times, including today, he had run into him at the precinct office. They exchanged brief greetings, but Miles still couldn't meet the man's eyes.

Miles sighed when he realized he had been reading the same sentence over again. He was beyond tired to the point of almost delusional, but felt it was almost a necessity that he stay awake. Nightmares aside, he felt like he owed society to work harder, so criminals like Gant were put away. People like that should never be allowed to rise to such powerful positions.

Maybe that was all it was. Maybe he was just overworked, but still, something was nagging at him. It felt like he had forgotten something important

He let his eyes fall closed, but they were almost instantly startled open by a myoclonic twitch, making him aware of how much he needed sleep.

He had to figure out what was causing his uneasiness. When had it begun? Clearly there was uneasiness regarding the entire situation he had recently been put through, but this felt different. Felt more recent.

He had seen Phoenix today. His mind perked at the thought. Yes that was it, something about that. Of course it had something to do with Phoenix Wright. For some reason it seemed everything gravitated toward him. … and always had.

He shook his head to clear the thought, and tried to focus on what he had seen today. He had walked into the precinct and ran into that man. There was something else… something the man had done that had -!

It all came back to him with frightening clarity. He had greeted the man with a sharp, "Wright" and a nod of the head, all while keeping his eyes looking somewhere past his shoulder. But what struck him as odd was he didn't get the usually, "Edgeworth" reply back. He hadn't said anything. At first Miles thought he didn't hear him, causing him to glance back.

He felt something squeeze painfully in his chest, as he remembered the look the defence attorney had on his face. He hadn't moved, it was as if the man was frozen to the spot. His head had dropped to gaze at the floor. Miles could only see his profile, but it was enough. His face contorted in anguish… but his eyes, his eyes were different.

Like something had died inside of him.

Miles felt that painful stir in his chest again. He bit his lip, and ran his fingers through his hair. It was probably nothing, but something about that look reminded him of himself that day he left that note. He realized there was no use fighting the feeling down. And found himself already standing to reach for his long overcoat. A glance at the clock told him it was way too late to be doing this at half past ten. But, there was no stopping that feeling, if he could just see that he was ok, that would be enough.

Decided, he left his office in a rush. For the first time ever, completely forgetting to lock the door.

He had only been to Phoenix's apartment once before, during a case, but was relieved to remember that his room had an outside entrance. Also it was a few flights up, high enough to make what Miles was currently doing hidden from the street.

During his cases he had experience with breaking and entering. He didn't like to call it that though, as there was nothing breaking about the way the unfolded paperclips caused the lock to fall back into place with a quiet click.

Satisfied with his work, he slowly opened the door. It was dark, which was fortunate because he was depending on the man being asleep. He would just slip in, check that he was safely in bed, then leave. He had a vague idea as to the layout from his last visit. He remembered that the entrance opened up to a living room, beyond that was a kitchen and dining area. And dividing the two was a hallway leading to two bedrooms, (one used as an office) and a bathroom.

He slipped off his shoes, and proceeded down the hall. His stomach tightened when he noticed that there was a faint light coming in that direction. Walking toward it, he found the door to Phoenix's bedroom to be open. His bedroom was dark, but there was still the faint light coming somewhere in the room to the left. He gingerly stepped inside and took a cursory glance around. To his right was a bed, a quick sweep of his eyes concluded it to be empty, much to his disappointment. To the left was a large alcove, like a doorless walk in closet. Most of it hidden from his view at his current angle, but he suspected that just off that there was an en-suite bathroom. He felt himself relax visibly at the thought that the darker haired man was just getting ready for bed. He nodded and turned to leave. But something stopped him.

It wasn't good enough, he had to see him.

Turning back, he proceeded a few steps further so he could look properly around the corner of the alcove. Something caught his visions accent to the door.

He sucked in a sharp breath.

The dim light was coming from the bathroom just beyond, door cracked just enough to let in a small amount of light. But it was enough.

Phoenix was there, on the floor. His dress shirt rumbled, and tie hanging loosely undone around his neck. It only took a second for Miles to recognize that same expression on his face he had displayed earlier. Anguish washed over his face, eyes glazed over and staring blindly at the floor.

Miles took a step forward, his breath catching in his throat, and instantly those eyes snapped up to meet his for the first time in weeks. Miles felt a clamp around his heart but fought past it, and pressed forward. The defence attorney was silent, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide and shocked like a deer caught in headlights.

Miles tried to swallow past the lump in his throat, but suddenly found his mouth too dry for such an action to be possible. A question floated between them. Wordlessly, but that look gave the message clearly; what are you doing here?

Miles lowered himself to a kneeling position a few feet before the other man, and had to break eye contact before he was able to answer. "I… I had to come give you some paperwork" Miles lied, the most reasonable explanation presenting itself.

His eyes slid back up to meet the defence but the man had already turned away from him again. Once more focusing on a spot somewhere in front of him.

Oh. So that's it. Phoenix thought bitterly, hating himself more than he had hated anyone in the entire world. Gant included. Edgeworth being there didn't change anything. The man would be gone soon enough, and then he would be alone again. The thought was reassuring, more so was the weight his hand.

"Leave it there then." Phoenix monotoned, his voice sounding foreign and strangely emotionless to his own ears. Out of his peripheral vision he saw the prosecutor flinch slightly. But other than that, the man made no other movements. Phoenix sighed exasperatedly, but didn't make an attempt to look at the man again. That look on his face when he had looked up to meet Miles' eyes for the first time in weeks had been like that of a wounded animal. He had hurt the man so unforgivably. Only this could fix it.

Why isn't he leaving? Phoenix's mind screamed at him. He tightened his grip on the solid weight in his hand, and felt reassurance flood him, cold and icy.

There was more silence, and then, "Wright… what happened that night was…"

Phoenix shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut, "No" he commanded sharply. He couldn't hear this, whatever the prosecutor wanted to say, it wouldn't be good. Either he would feed him a lie, that he was fine, it wasn't his fault. And attempt to reassure him with falsities, even though the other man was dying inside. Or maybe Miles would just give him the truth, how destroyed he was, humiliated, how he could never stand to look at, or be near, him again.

After everything they had been through together, how unfair was it that it would come to this? How had everything in his life he had fought for, the man he had saved, the truth they had set upon to find together. How could all of that come crashing down in one night?

This time he felt hands on his shoulders, and gasped lightly when his body was turned more fully to his adversary. Miles' almost immediately gave a sharp jerk back like he had been electrocuted, and took a sharp intake of breath

Phoenix grit his teeth. He had seen it. A quick glance up confirmed his suspicion. An absolute look of horror had crossed the silver haired man's face, his eyes fixed resolutely on the dangerous object clutched in Phoenix's hand.

"Where did you get that?" Miles demanded in a sharp, quiet whisper.

Phoenix didn't answer his question, "Please leave" he commanded in the most authoritative voice he could. Still it came out more monotone than anything.

"That's… a…" was Miles' eloquent reply.

"Yes." Phoenix replied, while flicking the safety off and loading a bullet into the chamber. The silver metallic surface glinted as he raised it slowly to his head, "Now please leave," he whispered the rest as a half warning-half plea, "you don't want to be around for this."

A tense silence followed as Miles thought of something to say. The sickening feeling was rising and his chest was constricting painfully, "Don't… Phoenix… please…" his tongue darted out to lick his dry lips, "put it down…. please, just put it down." Following DL-6 Miles had never begged anyone in his life. Nothing had warranted that kind of grovelling reaction from him. Not even that night two weeks ago. He'd didn't think he'd be able to ever admit this to Phoenix but that wasn't the first time Gant had done something like that with him.

He could handle that, all off it. It all paled drastically in comparison to this moment. This moment when Phoenix had that look on his face, like nothing mattered any more. A look that signified he had given up completely, an incredibly unstable Phoenix that had a .40 cal glock pressed tightly to his temple. The silver glowing like white fire even in the dim light.

Miles never thought he would see such a distressed Phoenix in his life. It was so uncharacteristic, that it made the entire situation that much more serious.

Phoenix wasn't looking at him again, and Miles stayed as still as he could so nothing surprised the ebony haired man. Miles had training in this, but he had never had to use it out in the field. It was an important thing to know in case a key witness needed to be talked off a ledge. But this wasn't a key witness. This was Phoenix. Phoenix. And the canned textbook phrases he learned felt like ash on his tongue, "You don't want to do this" he heard himself mumbling.

Phoenix gave no response to that. Which made sense because it was a blatant lie. He did want to do it. If he didn't he wouldn't be. Miles was feeling extreme panic sink in. If he lost him, if he lost this man….

"Phoenix." Miles shifted slightly forward, "Phoenix, look at me." For a few painful moments nothing happened, but then slowly dead blue eyes found his. As much as he wanted to, Miles didn't look away. He only had one chance at this, and he would have to be as careful as he would be disarming a bomb. No mistakes.

He took a steadying breath and tried again, "I know what you're trying to do. I know what you think this will accomplish," Miles slowly shook his head without breaking eye contact, "but you're wrong. Doing this is only going to make a lot of people very upset."

Phoenix flicked his gaze to the floor, the blue of his eyes disappearing beneath his dark eyelashes. His breathing so shallow black spots were dancing in front of his eyes. His brows pressed together gently. "I can't…" he mumbled and closed his eyes fully, his long eyelashes almost brushing his cheek, "… after that… what I did…" he gave a sharp shake of his head. Miles took in a sharp breath, not liking how careless Phoenix was being with the firearm.

Phoenix was quiet for a few moments before lowering his voice till it was almost impossible to hear, "and you mean… so much to me."

Miles bit his lip at that and watched the way Phoenix's hand tightened around the handle. "So you're going to abandon me then?" Miles questioned harshly in a quiet tone. He was suddenly feeling overwhelmingly betrayed.

The attorney's eyes flickered up to his once again, widening slightly in shock.

Miles moved slightly forward, and moved his hand slowly to Phoenix's empty hand that was clutched tightly at his side. "How can you say I matter to you, when you know this will hurt me?" The darker haired man shifted his weight faintly when the prosecutor reached his hand. "You may not realize this, but you are the only friend I have." Miles whispered next, trying to convey his full feelings.

"Don't say something you can't mean." Phoenix said quietly.

"I do mean it." Miles slid his hand slowly up Phoenix's sleeved arm.

Phoenix took in a pained breath, "Please, just let me go" he begged, small shudders starting to overtake his body.

"I can't do that." Miles grasped his shoulder, "you want a punishment for what you did to me?" Miles eyes hardened when he caught Phoenix's gaze just then, the man was staring back into his eyes, brows furrowed slightly, waiting quietly for his sentence to be handed. Miles briefly clenched his jaw, he knew his next words could possibly have the opposite effect that he intended, but he was down to two red wires and time was running out.

"Dying is an easy thing to do. If you want to solve the problem you have to accept what you did…" Miles took a shaky breath, "and live with it."

Tense silence followed. Miles' heart pulsed pain through his body with every beat. In this situation Phoenix could be attempting suicide for only two possible reasons. The first was he thought by removing himself from the picture Miles' could live in peace. Not worrying about running into him again. Not having to be reminded of those terrible moments every time he saw his face. The second was that Phoenix didn't want to suffer with the memory of what he did, and even though Miles would still be there suffering when he was gone, at least Phoenix didn't have to see it. The former Miles was counting on as not applying to him, considering the inhumanely selflessness he had displayed through his whole life.

…but if it did, Miles just pushed him off the edge.

Miles kept an intense watch on his friend, he knew of course that he had no chance of stopping Phoenix should he decide to press the trigger, but that wouldn't stop him from trying. Phoenix's eyes slowly fell away from his, and his face relaxed into an unreadable mask. Miles let the hand that was settled on Phoenix's shoulder slip around it into sort of a half embrace, and used it to pull his shaking form slightly closer to his own body. Phoenix didn't offer any resistance, but he didn't move either, the gun was still pressed against his head, being held by a shaking hand. Miles brought his other hand up and lightly touched the material of the loose tie around his neck. Watching his features, Phoenix stayed paralyzed except for wetness that started to languidly trail down his cheeks. Keeping his hand against the other man's skin the entire time to reassure him of where he was, Miles slowly moved his hand to trail up the man's neck and face until he was able to brush away some tears with his thumb. It didn't do much, save for an attempt at a comforting gesture, as more replaced them immediately.

"This doesn't have to be the end." Miles whispered soothingly, tentatively moving the hand against Phoenix's face and moving it upward slightly to brush some stray hairs out of the way. When he got no response he held his breath and dared to go a bit further. Moving his other hand in soft reassuring circles against Phoenix's back, he let his other hand move to the hand holding the gun. His skin was cold, and probably numb, with how long he had been holding it up. Miles wasn't even sure if the attorney was aware he was there.

Once Miles was touching the heated metal he let his breath go between clenched teeth. He let his lungs empty as far as they could, and held it, more on instinct than purpose. The first thing Miles did when he grasped the shaft of the gun was turn it away from the defence attorney. The only direction that left was towards him, but even that had him breathing in a breath of semi relief.

His reflexes kicking into over drive Miles eased the gun from Phoenix's hand, the other man's eyes snapping up to his at that moment. A look of panic washed over his face when, in a fluid movement, Miles' took the weapon and swiftly disarmed it, letting the bullets drop from the chamber to the floor.

Mere seconds later, after setting the weapon down as far away as possible from them, he had Phoenix shaking in his arms. The attorney's hand still held out in midair, not quite ready to accept that it had been taken from him. Miles could feel him taking quick shuddering breaths against him.

Closing his eyes, in relief Miles wrapped his arms around the defence's trembling body. "Shhh…it's okay, you're ok." He poured forth in words of comfort, half directed at himself as well. He had so closely witnessed something nightmarish again.

Phoenix didn't move from his arms, but over the course of so many moments his hand slowly lowered from his head. His eyes opened wide in an unseeing glaze, looking somewhere passed Miles' shoulder. Hot pain welled up in his chest and he felt more of it silently gather in his eyes to pour over his cheeks. Miles continued whispering soothing words in his ear, rocking him like he was six again and had just had a bad nightmare. His body felt numb, mind frozen, his breath coming in rapid inhales and shaky exhales, too quick that he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

But Miles didn't leave. After staying like that for long silent moments, Miles eventually coaxed him into standing and lead him to his bed. Phoenix didn't offer any resistance when he felt a hand pushing him to lay down. Miles, shedding his coats, followed him into the bed, protectively securing the shaking man against himself once more. Phoenix's blue eyes took on a sudden questioning aspect, which Miles retorted with his own look that clearly said you even have to ask why I'm staying? A small unexpected smile accompanied that, even if it didn't reach the darker haired man's eyes, it was a small enough reassurance that the Phoenix he knew was still in there. And he knew right then that he would do whatever it took to bring him out again.

Miles had done terrible things in his life too, and the hardest part had been not following the letter he had left on his desk, which he had fully intended to. He had contemplated suicide more times than he'd care to admit. But he had come to a realization while he was away that time, he could never change the past, he would never be able to correct all the mistakes he made. But he could use the rest of his life to absolve everything he had done wrong.

Watching Phoenix fall into sleep, the heavy burden he was carrying noticeably lifting, Miles saw how beautiful Phoenix really was. He had recognized the man's attractiveness before, but not like this. This fragile and unguarded expression he was showing right now was so trusting and relaxed that it felt like a privilege for Miles to even see it. Something he knew very few people had ever seen. He briefly wondered if he was at such peace when he was asleep. The first smile he had allowed to grace his face appeared suddenly at his next thought;

Maybe someday he would be able to ask Phoenix.