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“Miles! Look out!!”
A shove. A gunshot. A scream.
Miles doesn’t register that the scream comes from him until he feels the raw burning in his throat.
“PHOENIX!!”
———
Miles Edgeworth wouldn’t consider himself to be a fragile man. In fact, growing up within the von Karma household only proved the opposite to be true. He was taught in the very same household to keep his emotions in check, never letting his guard down and keeping his walls built up high.
But when it comes to Phoenix Wright, the man who saved his life and carved a path for Miles to grow and evolve as a person, the man who — despite all of the pain Miles put him through — waited for him to return with open arms, the man who never gave up on him even when Miles had given up on himself, everything he learned from Manfred von Karma fell apart.
Phoenix taught him how to allow himself to feel emotions. Phoenix taught him how to slowly learn to trust others. Phoenix fucking Wright taught him how to love someone wholeheartedly and unconditionally.
Without Phoenix, Miles would forever be lost. Those were Miles’ exact words when exchanging their wedding vows.
So when Miles watches Phoenix collapse to the ground, his ears still ringing from the single gunshot, he feels himself shatter into millions of pieces.
Through the haze of his mind, the prosecutor tries to piece together what happened before everything went down. Together, the two were invited to a fundraiser event held by the police department. It was fairly calm before the storm, Phoenix and Miles standing side by side while engaging in a casual conversation with Gumshoe.
Miles didn’t see it coming, but Phoenix knew. He must’ve seen something from the corner of his eye, that was the only explanation Miles could come up with. But one second they were conversing easily with friends, the next Phoenix had shoved Miles out of the way, taking a bullet to the shoulder.
The scream ripped itself from deep within Miles before he could even process what had happened, why it had happened.
Immediately he was by his husband’s side, tears stinging his eyes and his voice choked and panicked.
“Phoenix!! Phoenix, please hold on!!”
He grips Phoenix’s hand before turning to the crowd starting to gather. “Someone call an ambulance!!”
Miles hears someone run off to in what he hopes is the telephone while he holds Phoenix in his arms. He’s trembling and his eyes are glazed over; Miles guesses it’s a cruel combination of shock, pain, and blood loss.
“M-Miles...”
“I’m right here, Phoenix. Stay with me, love. I’m not going anywhere, my love.”
Phoenix lets out a shaky breath and falls deeper into Miles’ hold. “I-It hurts so much, Miles.”
“Phoenix,” Miles starts, swallowing around the lump in his throat, “I know, Phoenix, I know. You’re going to be all right, help is on the way. You’re going to be okay, I promise.”
He just hopes it's a promise he can keep.
———
Miles hates this. He hates hospitals and the sharp smell of disinfectants. He hates having to wait for things that are beyond his control. He hates not knowing whether or not his husband will survive. The doctor said with how fast they arrived he would most likely be fine, but as with all gunshot injuries, there’s no one hundred percent guarantee to ease Miles’ anxieties.
And most of all, Miles hates how familiar the scenario is to another past trauma of his. Except, unfortunately, he wasn’t as lucky that time. There wasn’t even a chance to get his father to the hospital to save his life. But it too was from a gunshot wound and that’s enough to bring Miles back to that time.
He remembers the grief. The weight of losing his father heavy on his shoulders, almost enough to crush him. He remembers the fury. The anger of his father’s murderer walking away a free man with no consequences. But most of all, the guilt. The unrelenting guilt when he thought he was the one that pulled the trigger, the one that put the bullet in his own father and took his life.
But the guilt returns tenfold when he recalls what happened right before the present incident took place.
Phoenix shoved him out of the way.
The bullet was meant for Miles.
Phoenix took the bullet to save Miles.
Phoenix had a bullet in his shoulder because he wanted to save Miles.
“Fuck,” Miles grits out through clenched teeth. It’s all he could do to keep himself together. To not lash out, to not scream and cry and demand why.
Why did this have to happen to him? Why did this have to happen to them?
He comes to the conclusion that fate must have it out for him. Fate took away his father, and now fate was trying to take away his husband in a similar fashion.
But Miles wouldn’t let that happen. Not without a damn fight.
“You cannot have him,” Miles growls quietly, “You cannot take him from me.”
———
Miles loses track of time lost in his worrying thoughts, but after what feels like centuries the doctor approaches him with the news of Phoenix’s situation.
“The surgery went smoothly. The bullet has been extracted and there were no vital injuries. All that’s left is for the wound to heal and he should be good to go. The hospital would like to keep him for the next week or so to make sure he has a nice steady recovery.”
Miles releases a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding in.
Phoenix was safe. He was going to be okay.
“Thank you so much for everything. Can I see him?”
“Of course. I’ll take you to his room.”
The doctor leads the way to Phoenix’s room, letting Miles know to call a nurse if he needs anything or has any questions before departing. Miles takes a deep breath, a weak attempt to calm his nerves before opening the door.
The first thing he sees is the love of his life, laying down in the bed but propped up enough to look out the window. His eyes appear distant like he’s lost in his thoughts, but the second he looks over and sees Miles standing in the doorway Phoenix’s whole face lights up.
Miles immediately rushes to his side, so many words and questions at the tip of his tongue but all caught in his throat. Nothing comes out.
Phoenix decides to break the ice. “We gotta stop meeting like this,” he jokes with that goofy grin of his to lighten up the mood, but when Miles just stares at him in confusion he continues, “Y’know, me waking up in the hospital. First the burning bridge, now this.”
Once the poor attempt at a joke processes through Miles’ worried filled mind, his look of confusion quickly turns to one of anger and Phoenix gulps.
“M-Miles-“
“Don’t you dare try to laugh your way out of this one, Phoenix Wright,” Miles practically growls, “What the hell were you possibly thinking?!”
“I-“
“You had me worried sick! How could you handle your life with such little care that you would willingly throw yourself at a bullet?! Did you even stop to think about the consequences?!” By this point, Miles is shouting, gray eyes hard and cold, similar to when they’re facing off in the courthouse.
But Phoenix could still see the fear deep down regardless of how hard Miles tries to hide it. As their relationship grew and bloomed and Phoenix learned more about Miles — if that was even possible considering how long they’ve known each other prior to making their relationship offical — he also learned how to read Miles’ emotions in any situation.
And in this situation, he could see through Miles like glass. He was angry, furious even. That was to be expected, of course. But then he saw the pure, overwhelming fear and maybe even a little guilt.
Phoenix remembers seeing a similar look before. It was after the discovery of Gregory Edgeworth’s true murderer, Manfred von Karma.
It’s at this moment he realizes Miles is shaking.
“M-Miles, I’m so sorry..”
“Do you ever think before throwing yourself into reckless decisions that can very well cost you your life?!” Miles spits venom, clenching his fists at his side to keep them from doing something reckless himself.
“Of course I was thinking, Miles!” Phoenix cries, “I wanted to save you!”
“You-“ Miles cuts himself off before his voice can crack. He feels the familiar sting of tears in his eyes and he closes them to hide the evidence, “Why can’t you just think about taking care of yourself for once, Phoenix.”
Despite Miles’ hard efforts to keep his emotions contained, he feels the first tear roll down his cheek and it’s enough for him to break. He sinks to his knees in defeat, taking Phoenix’s hand in both of his and sobbing loudly.
“I-I could’ve lost you, Phoenix!” Miles shouts, “I can’t lose you. You mean too much to me to be risking your life so recklessly.”
Phoenix pulls Miles’ hands up to press a soft kiss to them and when Miles looks up he sees Phoenix too is crying.
“I’m sorry, Miles,” He says softly, “But I can’t lose you either. I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. Not after seeing the gun taking aim right at you. And I don’t regret my decision either.”
Miles whispers so softly his words almost go unheard, “That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Come here, my love.”
Phoenix tugs at Miles with his uninjured side until they’re pressed together, close enough to be touching but not hard enough to put pressure on Phoenix’s wound. He cups Miles’ cheek with one hand, thumb gently wiping away any leftover tears.
“I love you. So so much,” Phoenix says, “I would do anything to keep you safe.”
Miles smiles sadly, “I love you too, Phoenix. With all of my heart. And I know you would. I would do the same for you in a heartbeat. Just please, please try to be more careful. For my sake. That’s all I ask.”
Phoenix nods, “No guarantees,” Miles is about to protest but he continues quickly, “but I will do my best.”
Satisfied with the answer, Miles leans forward to press his forehead to his husband’s, “Thank you. And thank you for looking out for me.”
“Always, Miles,” Phoenix whispers against his lips, “Always.”
Miles closes the small gap between their lips and they’re kissing softly. With it, he pours in all of his love for the man named Phoenix Wright.
Phoenix breaks the kiss with a teasing grin, “Why don’t you join me up here, Miles? This bed is big enough for both of us.”
The second the words are out he immediately regrets them after seeing the anger flooding back to Miles’ face.
“Absolutely not, Phoenix!” Miles barks, “You need to be getting all of the rest your body needs after that whole ordeal! You have to take it easy for once in your life!”
“I’m not the only one that has to take it easy,” Phoenix reminds him. Miles gives him another confused look before he continues, “The target is still out there. And that bullet was meant for you. Someone is out there to get you, Miles.”
When Miles feels Phoenix’s grip on him tighten he smiles softly to himself. Even when he’s in the hospital with a bullet wound in his shoulder, Phoenix is still looking out for him.
“Don’t worry, my love,” Miles presses a reassuring kiss to Phoenix’s cheek, “I’ve already talked to Detective Gumshoe at great length. The situation is already being taken care of.”
Phoenix sags with relief, “Good. I’m so glad.”
Miles squeezes their joined hands in response and hums softly.
He knows there’s plenty of work to be done with apprehending whoever is behind this mess, the one that put a bullet in his husband’s shoulder. He won’t rest until justice is served.
But at this moment, all that matters is that Phoenix is safe. And all Miles wants is to stay by his side, to make sure it stays that way.