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Miles clicked his car fob and his lights flashed. The prosecutor's car park was lit lowly so they were a welcome guide. There were still a surprising amount of cars left given the late hour.
"You really don't have to drive us, Edgeworth," Wright scrubbed at the back of his neck, "my apartment really isn't far."
"We're already here, you may just as well." What he didn't say was that he couldn't bear to be alone after what had just transpired. Company could pull him back even just temporarily from gazing over the edge into the spiral and he at least owed Wright this. Him, and Miss Fey. They had fought so hard to save him despite how he had treated them, why?
He pulled stiffly on the car door handle.
"Shotgun!" Maya cried out enthusiastically as Miles ducked into the car.
Phoenix clapped a hand on her shoulder "Not a chance in hell," and then clambered in beside Miles. He smiled brightly over at him. He could hear Maya protesting in the background.
Miles' lips twitched slightly, tight on his face. "Apologies Miss Fey you'll have to take the backseat." The door snapped shut as she shuffled to the center. Knees up against the console, she leaned her upper body into the front half of the car and flapped a hand about in dismissal. "You're lucky I'm small, the ceiling here is lower than Gumshoe's paycheque."
Edgeworth felt a jolt and tensed up. Another person he owed. Maybe he was a little harsh on him. Gumshoe really had gone out of his way for him this time despite it conflicting with his job description.
"Hey Edgeworth, you still with us?" Wright had leaned over slightly, head cocked and crooked brows drawn together. "Are you sure you're okay to drive?"
"Uhhh I- yes." Very convincing, he was sure. "That is to say, I am fine." Phoenix didn't look very convinced but he sat back and clicked in his seatbelt all the same. Edgeworth grasped the steering wheel tightly and pulled out of the space, focusing on the methodical motions of driving. Just the right amount of pressure on the peddles, sliding the gearstick smoothly into place. They slowly rolled up the ramp out of the car park.
"Nick!" Edgeworth jerked the steering wheel slightly and he could practically hear Maya shrinking in her seat. "Oh crap sorry."
He resisted the urge to close his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose. Keeping both hands firmly on the wheel he settled for tightening his grip and sighing deeply as he straightened up the car again and slid the car onto the road. "Miss Fey if you would please refrain"
Phoenix shared in his sigh before twisting around in his seat. "Jesus Maya, I'm right here."
Miles heard the slap of her palms hitting her legs "Please tell me you have food at your apartment."
"Ah, well..." Phoenix trailed off, scratching at his shoulder. This was followed shortly by a thump and a groan from the backseat. Miles held back a chuckle. "Hey, in case you haven't noticed, I've been a bit preoccupied these past few days."
Of course. Phoenix had been off scrambling to find evidence. For him. No way he would have had time to grab groceries. Edgeworth wondered if he had been eating properly. He felt even worse now.
He shot a quick look at Wright before casting his gaze back to the road. Not much could be seen inside the car anyway. The interior was only briefly lit up as they sped past sporadic street lamps. "I could uh perhaps" He gulped, feeling eyes on him, he glanced up at the mirror making fleeting eye contact with Maya. "I could treat you to something." Phoenix was already stumbling out with excuses that were drowned out by Maya's enthusiastic agreement.
He wondered how she could remain so steadfastly cheerful after all she had gone through. A good chunk of it was his fault, losing her mother, and being prosecuted for murder. Although he now knew the first wasn't directly his fault he couldn't help feeling responsible and the second he still had yet to apologise for. Oh god, he hadn't apologised. "Where would you like to go?"
"Okay so-" Maya leaned her body between the two front seats again before Phoenix pushed her back. "Road safety, Maya" 'And personal space', Edgeworth thought but didn't voice. Miles glanced up at the mirror just in time to catch Maya sticking her tongue out in defiance.
She continued to direct (firmly in the back seat) until they pulled up outside of a concerningly grimy-looking diner. It was exactly the opposite of the kind of places Edgeworth frequented. Maya was already scrambling out of the car before Edgeworth had even removed his seatbelt. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet by the time he and Wright joined her. "Come on guys. I'm digesting my stomach over here."
"You head in and grab a table, give us a sec." Wright shooed her in and Maya was only too happy to oblige. Now it was just the two of them. Lit up by the flickering neon signs advertising god knows what.
"Edg- Miles." Phoenix turned towards him, they were barely inches apart. "I just want you to know" he paused briefly again, chewing on the words.
"Spit it out, Wright." Edgeworth crossed his arms tightly.
"You don't owe me anything. I defended you because It was the right thing to do." Phoenix stared at him unflinchingly.
Edgeworth averted his eyes and dug his fingers into the flesh of his arm. How could he not feel indebted to the man who saved him? His whole world had been turned upside down, he had little else to cling onto but the sense of somehow paying him back. He started and aborted many attempts to speak before deciding on the cop-out answer: "We shouldn't keep Miss Fey waiting." Phoenix squinted at him slightly, as if he was another case to unravel before jamming his hands into his pockets and walking into the restaurant (?).
Edgeworth followed tightly, feeling very out of place. Maya was settled in a booth already munching on a burger somehow. Phoenix must have sensed his confusion as he quickly supplied "We come here a LOT."
Maya barely looked up as they slid into the booth across from her. Wright was on the inside while Miles sat on the outside of the booth, leaving a few good inches between them. He flattened his hands on the cracked leather while Phoenix leaned forwards with his elbows on the table. It looked sticky. Edgeworth shuddered.
Phoenix had already discarded his jacket, draping it across his lap instead, and pushed his shirt sleeves up to his elbows. Edgeworth opted to keep his jacket on, the familiar weight was comforting. He crossed one leg over the other and settled back in his seat.
Wright cocked a brow, "So, you get anything for us?" Maya didn't even pause in inhaling her food simply jerking her head toward the counter. "Of course." He rolled his eyes. "Okay wait here I'll grab us something." The refusal died in his throat as Phoenix tried to sidle past him. "Shit." He stumbled in the small space, their legs knocking together. Phoenix threw his momentum sideways, out of the booth, doing a little hop skip and windmilling his arms in an attempt to maintain balance. "Ahaha sorry about that," He had ended up probably a solid meter away from their table and quickly made the rest of the way over to the counter.
And now it was just the two of them but in an entirely different way. This was worse. Edgeworth crossed his arms again and then re-crossed his legs. Tying himself up in knots externally as well as internally. He cleared his throat. "Ah, Miss Fey." He shifted in his seat and against his better judgment rested his elbows on the table. "I er I wanted to apologise" She cocked her head but didn't interrupt. He swallowed, his mouth felt incredibly dry. "For prosecuting you," his tongue kept sticking to the roof of his mouth, "for murder."
"Oh, that," Maya slurped from her milkshake, "we're cool."
Miles spluttered, drawing back, oh yeah that table was VERY sticky. "uh- wha.. what?!"
"Mn," Maya nodded sagely and punctuated her points with a rather long fry, "Nick seems to like you and you're buying me burgers so you can't be that bad." She grinned, which would have been charming if her mouth weren't full.
"Ew Maya, see-food much?" Phoenix finally reappeared with a tray of food cradled in his arms.
She quickly swiped a second straw off of his tray, "you wanna see how fast I can chug this milkshake?" Phoenix looked at her the same way you do a cat about to knock a full glass off the table. She was not getting back in his car after this.