Chapter Text
Kristoph Gavin had it all. Power, money, influence… and a talent for spell working. Granted, there were safer ways to blackmail people. Death threats or torture, that would only put him in jail. Sorcery, on the other hand, was a death sentence. Fortunately for him, those worms he held under his thumb were all far too terrified of what Kristoph could do to them to ever pose a serious threat to him. Everyone buckled before him sooner or later, no one ever dared to stand in his way. His powers had paved him a way to greatness and glory. He had enough handymen obliged to him to have successfully corrupted the kingdoms legal system without a single soul suspecting him to be the culprit behind this so called ‘dark age of the law’. Until Phoenix Wright stepped into the scene.
‘The truth. I’ll fight for it with all I have. It’s that simple.’
The truth, huh? Yes, they had always valued the truth above everything else, Miles and him. They had made it their duty to identify and annihilate any corruption and falsification within the rows of the legal world, so that nothing may stand between an accused and a just verdict. To think that someone like Phoenix Wright would ever have been convicted for fabrication of evidence was simply ridiculous. And still, that was how everything had taken place. He wasn’t a lawyer anymore.
Even with his badge still in his possession, this would have been culpable. Probing through someone’s residence in their absence, to worsen everything without permission of the responsible authorities, was a misdeed. Phoenix scoffed. ‘Leastways they now have a real crime to put me on trial for’, he thought.
When did he start believing the end was to justify the means anyway?
Miles had been right, that disbarment and the everlasting emptiness and cold it had brought with it really had changed him. Maybe things would be better again, should he find something of value here.
He had to find something.
Click.
Phoenix froze on the spot, closed his eyes and prayed to his lucky star.
It was of no avail.
The door behind him was pushed open, and after a brief moment of silence, that ghastly laughter ripped through the air.
“My dear Mr. Wright. Is breaking in on their property really a way to treat a frie-“.
Kristoph Gavin. The man of the house. The only attorney to not have turned his back on Phoenix after tragedy struck. Phoenix prime suspect.
And judging by Gavin’s reaction to seeing Phoenix hunched over the books, notes and letters the later had pulled out of a secret drawer of Kristoph’s, Phoenix intuition hadn’t let him down.
Blackmail letters and magic books, papers and notations on rituals and curses.
That person wasn’t just a corrupt lawyer. He was a master of the dark arts.
With a shake of his head and a low chuckle, the attorney approached Phoenix.
“Sticking your nose into other people’s affairs like that…It’s no good look for an honourable man you know? Makes you seem more like some filthy ratbag dog if you ask me.”
Phoenix felt a hand on his shoulder. Kristoph’s palm emitted a strange, tingling warmth.
By the time he realized what this warmth was, it was too late already.
The last things he heard before darkness swallowed him were a grim chortle, and a bloodcurdling, inhuman scream.
How many years had it been since that day? Phoenix couldn’t remember. He had given up on counting the passing full moons after only a few months, and his human sense of time was supressed anyway. He had also stopped making use of the short time frame after every full moon that granted him the opportunity to reclaim the form of the man he once was after he had stopped counting. The whole human concept of time bewildered him by now.
He scraped the floor with one of his claws. They had grown so long again, Phoenix desperately needed outlet. But most of the time, Kristoph would only let him out with the approach of a full moon. Because in those times, Phoenix’ instincts were too strong for him to win over, especially when Gavin would refuse to feed him properly the days before.
And then he would hunt prey in the most repellent manner. Calling his behaviour ‘animalistic’ would be an understatement, it was...
‘…only appropriate for a monster.’
His muzzle dropped onto cold stone. Phoenix sighed.
He didn’t need Kristoph to remember what he was, he was well aware of it anyway.
Thinking about it always made his fur stand on end, which disgusted him even more.
With that being the case, why hadn’t he changed back in such a long time?
Because he was cursed to transform into a monster again with the rise of every new full moon, and that transformation process was the worst part of his curse. In addition to the physical pain it brought upon him, it caused his instincts to rage, and he would lose even more of what little control he had over himself in such nights.
He had submitted himself to that life for a few months, then he hadn’t been able to take it any longer. In the morning hours after a full moon’s night, he always had the choice between remaining a furred, canine beast, or turning back into a miserable shadow of a man.
So he had just chosen not to become human again one day.
By now the mere thought of transforming back aroused such a conspicuous terror in him, actually going through with it would probably turn out to be impossible.
Prior to this…mess, he never had to go through anxiety attacks alone. Ever since their reunion, Miles had always been there for him, to guide him through everything.
But God forbit Miles would ever see him like this. Even if there would ever be a chance of getting out of here, Miles was out of the question. Phoenix flattened his ears against his head.
“What’s the deal with that long face, Wright?”
Just great. Phoenix peered over to the staircase leading into his lonely prison cell, one of Gavin’s basement chambers. The moment he spotted his visitor, he quickly turned away.
Kristoph scoffed. “Fine, ignore me. I’ll take this back upstairs with me then.”
He had something to eat, Phoenix could smell it. Boy, was he hungry.
But he didn’t have an appetite.
After a couple of sheer endless moments, Gavin finally left him alone again.
Alone in the dark.
The collar around his neck itched.
Sometimes he could still curse Phoenix for his lousy style of keeping track of his work. Those files he had left him had long been his only clue to Wright’s whereabouts. To think that he had wasted four years alone on figuring out just who Phoenix had been investigating, and three more to collect enough evidence to finally obtain a search warrant for Kristoph Gavin’s residence.
Officially, they were only looking for decisive evidence to prove Gavin guilty for witchcraft and corruption. Unofficially, Miles Edgeworth hoped that, above anything, he’d find Phoenix again.
Which was why he had to be extra careful. Gavin very likely was a sorcerer, and if, oh how Miles prayed this wasn’t the case, he held Phoenix under some kind of spell, it was essential that his subordinates would not be the ones find him. In the worst possible scenario, Phoenix would be classified a danger for being exposed to dark magic for too long, and that would mean a death sentence for him.
Edgeworth swallowed hard. He was overthinking things. Wright was all right. He certainly was.
He gave Gumshoe a nod. Gumshoe, as well as his other subordinates, looked contrite. “You sure this will work, Sir?”
Edgeworth squinted his eyes. “If you follow your instructions properly, it will.”
One last sigh, one last reassurance Gumshoe held the iron gloves prepared, then he prompted one of his men to kick the door open. Knocking was to always be avoided in a situation like this, anything that could warn the criminal could result in a broken neck…or worse.
It didn’t take them too long to find who they were, officially, looking for.
“Kristoph Gavin, you’re under arrest for blackmail and practice of the dark forces. You have the right to remain silent and-“ “LOOK OUT, SIR!”
Even with the power of surprise on their side, Mr. Gavin had been quick-witted enough to try and attack Edgeworth with a blast of magic. Mercifully, one of his subordinates was blessed with a quick response time himself, and dodged both of them out of the way, just in time. He made sure he would receive Edgeworth’s deepest gratitude later.
Before Gavin could execute a second attack, Gumshoe had locked his hands into the iron gloves, a special item that made it impossible for any witch or sorcerer to use their magic.
If only things were always this uncomplicated.
“Good work, all of you.” The gratitude in Edgeworth’s voice was real, but he had to get the other parties to leave the building as soon as possible. There was someone else he had to look for, after all.
“I must ask you leave here at once. Bring this traitor before the king, preparations for his trial shall begin this very day.” No one asked any questions, they all carried out his commands without a second thought, as they always did. Edgeworth couldn’t ask for better subordinates.
His heart pounded like the ocean’s roars in his chest while he searched the remaining rooms. No luck, wherever his steps carried him. No sight of the man that once had been his.
Edgeworth passed by a trapdoor, presumably the entrance to the basement. Later, he would explain this as the only logical thing to do, he was looking for a captive, and a basement was always a good way to search in such a case.
In reality, the real reason he went down that poor excuse for a staircase that day, had been another one. Something, some feeling he couldn’t ever place, called him from down there.
The room he entered was dark, reeking, and narrow. He approached the middle of the chamber anyway, but even by looking around, he couldn’t make out anything of interest.
Until he caught sight of a pile of…were those bones over there in the darkest corner of this room? They didn’t look like human bones, more like the leftovers of pig or chicken pieces, some of them were already covered by mould. The nauseating scents must have been originating from here. Curious, and certainly worth a more detailed look.
But just when Edgeworth stepped closer to the dark corner, a deep and perilous sounding growling rang out of it.
Every sane person would have backed away that very moment. For some reason, Edgeworth did not.
He just remained in the same spot, until something jumped at him.
The sudden impact knocked him onto his back, and for a brief second, he could have sworn his heart had stopped.
The…thing that had attacked him and was now pinning him against the ground with one paw directly at Miles’ throat, the rest of its bodyweight burdening his upper body, was a huge, black dog.
…No, wait, this was no ordinary dog, this was…
“H-hey…”
…a wolf.
And yet, the moment Miles looked into the beast’s eyes, the majority of his fear exited his body as quickly as it had come. They displayed a familiar sparkle, something Edgeworth thought he had seen before, long ago. Something that calmed him.
“Easy, boy.”
To his surprise, the wolf…appeared to feel somewhat similar about Miles.
Once he had taken in the man’s face, the rage in its face disappeared, only to make room for a new expression- fear.
It was quick to withdraw its left forepaw from Miles’ throat, and even quicker to bolt down from his torso, hunching into an almost ball-like position, tail stuck between its legs, ears flattened, still growling, but far less intimidating than before.
Hadn’t Edgeworth known any better, he would have suspected that wolf was the one who was afraid of him now.
What had just happened?
With a grunt, Miles pushed himself up into a sitting position, careful to keep a certain distance between the animal and himself. That poor thing was frightened, better not push it any further than necessary.
The wolf was eyeing him cautiously. However, the moment Miles looked back at it, it closed its eyes and turned its head away, almost as if it was in pain.
It was then that Edgeworth realized the poor condition said animal was in. Rugged fur, a slightly too slim body, claws so long that they were probably hurting it by now. The most painful thing to look at however were the muzzle and the collar.
Both things were a far too tight fit.
“…Did Mr. Gavin do this to you?”, Miles asked carefully. He wasn’t sure if he would be understood, but first of all, everything pointed to this wolf being Kristoph’s, and magicians’ pets were often capable of far more than one might suspect, and second of all, he wanted to at least try and calm the beast down a little.
It still wouldn’t open its eyes, but the fur on its back rose at the mention of Gavin’s name, and that was all Miles needed as an answer.
He sighed. “What else did I expect from someone of his kind…people who fall for black magic are always weak in character, you know?” No reaction.
“Yes you…probably knew that already. Please excuse me, that was…an unnecessary attack, considering you’re assumingly in a very weak physical and mental state because of…that person. I’m terribly sorry.”
This time, the wolf peeked up. The way it squinted its eyebrows almost made it look like it was in disbelief at Miles’ apology.
“What, don’t I look like the type of man that knows when to apologize for indecorous behaviour to you?”, Edgeworth chuckled. The wolf huffed.
“…Got it, thank you for your honesty”, he added in a quieter tone.
“Oh, for your information…My name is Edgeworth, but you may refer to me as Miles.”
With that, his dialogue partner had seemingly lost interest in the conversation. It pushed itself up onto all fours and trotted further back into the corner, where it dropped itself back onto the cold stone in a sapless motion.
At least it didn’t look as frightened anymore.
Just incredibly despondent and sorrowful.
Edgeworth let some time pass by, thinking. Every once in a while, the wolf wheezed under the tightness of that collar. Every time it did so broke Miles’ heart a little more, until he finally dared to speak up.
“I don’t wish to disturb you, but…you have trouble breathing, haven’t you?”
When he received no reply, he carefully pushed himself up from the floor, leisurely approaching the suffering creature.
His actions were met with the wolf growling at him again, the sound grew more alarming the closer Miles came.
Once there only were a few last steps left separating them however, the man paused.
He kneeled down, cautious not to make any jerky movements.
Then he stretched out his right arm, offering the wolf a hand.
Some sides of his past boyfriend had always been an enigma to Phoenix. The way Miles would stiffen up with people around him but let loose completely when he was alone with a dog had always amused him.
Only that Phoenix was neither a person nor a…dog. And Miles was a fool for treating him like one. Offering a growling wolf a hand for them to snuffle, only moments after having been attacked by said beast, an act so stupid it was almost charming. As far as Phoenix was aware, only few people knew this side of Miles. At least it had been that way, back when…but things were different now. Phoenix had become a threat to everyone he had ever loved, and Miles had, hopefully, moved on.
Just as he had. He had long bid it all farewell.
And still, for a reason unbeknownst to him, the urge to give in was strong.
It was Miles’ smell.
The sweet smell of warm summer evenings and cold walks in the winter, the smell of long breakfasts on Sundays, and even longer nights in each other’s embrace.
He smelled like home.
Patience was the most important aspect of trying to win someone’s trust, applying to both humans and animals. Especially when they were startled and frightened. Receiving a lost creature’s reliance was an honour.
Therefore, Miles couldn’t help but smile, barely noticeable but genuine, when his offer was finally accepted.
“No need for you to be afraid. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”
When had he last been this gentle with someone?
No, he was in no place to reminisce about times long gone and likely gone forever.
If he wouldn’t find Phoenix here, his last hope would be questioning Kristoph until, with a little luck, that snake’s tongue would slip and-
…if he…couldn’t find…him here…
His gaze fell back onto the wolf. Something about those eyes really seemed familiar.
Maybe, just maybe…
Before either of them knew it, Edgeworth moved his hand again, this time further up the creature’s head. Once it had his intentions figured out, it pulled away, but Miles had his mind set on it now.
“I won’t hurt you.” His voice still was gentle and warm, and on top of that, effective.
The growling had stopped.
“Not so bad after all, is it?”
A couple of scratches behind the wolf’s ears later, only for a moment but still, all fear had left its eyes.
In that very moment, Edgeworth recognized him.
He was going to say something but was interrupted in the most improper way possible.
“Mr. Edgeworth, sir? You down here?”
Hadn’t he ordered his men to leave, for heaven’s sake? Gumshoe’s salary needed another reconsideration.
“Detective, do me one favour and stay-“
The wolf was snarling again, Miles couldn’t blame him.
“…back”, he sighed.
“WATCH OUT PAL, THERE’S-“, the detective fell into a panic, as did the wolf. It was ready to jump right at Gumshoe, that much was clear.
But before the two could have done any more damage to each other, Edgeworth placed a hand on the animal’s chest, and the snarling died immediately.
“…there’s something behind you.” Gumshoe stared at his superior with wide eyes.
“…wow.”
“Indeed”, Miles groaned inaudibly. “I found him down here. Had me pinned against the floor for a second, but-“, he cut himself off, his words had brought the sadness back into its eyes. “But I do not believe him to be a danger”, Miles added quickly. His words were sincere, and the wolf could tell so. “He’s just…”
Another sigh, this time everyone heard it.
“…I assume he’s just lonely. Lonely and frightened, that is all. He has a good heart.”
To prove his point, Miles withdrew the hand from the wolf’s chest and placed it on its shoulder, patting it gently.
“I had no idea you were this good with dogs, sir”, Gumshoe mumbled.
“Don’t call him a dog, wolves are proud creatures, you know?”, Edgeworth warned him, although he kept on a light smile. “They have every right to be, if you ask me.”
The wolf’s ears twitched at Miles’ words. It looked up at him with heavy and meaningful eyes. Miles just gave him a reassuring blink.
They had always been good at communicating with each other through their actions.
“Ahem…sorry to disturb you sir, but…what are we gonna do with him?”
Edgeworth’s smile grew a slight bit wider.
“If he wants to…he’ll be coming with me.”
#
He had wanted to come, and it went against every single one of his principles. Monsters didn’t deserve something such as affection, it was too dangerous. He was too dangerous.
And Miles? Intelligent, painstaking Miles had nothing better to do than to pet him and offer him shelter.
Phoenix could do naught but shake his head over his former lover at times. That man still had a weak spot for lost dogs.
And this particular lost dog still had a weak spot for that man, it appeared.
He yawned, placing his forepaws under his head. Miles had removed that wretched muzzle Kristoph had so often forced him into earlier, Phoenix had almost licked his hand as a thank-you gesture for it. Sometimes his curse was extraordinarily cruel on him.
This place hadn’t changed at all in the time he had been out. He still had no idea how long it had been, but the rooms they had shared back then still looked the same. They also still held that soothing atmosphere Phoenix had always appreciated so much. And the smell, ugh. The same smell Miles had brought with him when he had found Phoenix earlier.
It was ludicrous, really. Out of everything he had loved about him ever since they were children, his smell was what had lured him in this time.
His smell and his actions.
And his gentle, careful, caring words.
Yeah, so much for the “proud creatures” part, maybe Gumshoe had been right after all.
He could make out steps in the hallway. Miles made an effort not to make too much noise. Bold of him to assume his new wolf friend wouldn’t hear him anyway.
Now he was standing behind him, in the doorframe. Watching him.
Usually Phoenix despised the feeling of two eyes piercing into his back, Kristoph’s had done that many times.
But for some reason, things were different with Miles. His eyes didn’t sting. His eyes were…acceptable.
“You look hungry.”
Oh yes, he was hungry. But accepting anything more of what Miles had to offer, no matter it’s origin, wasn’t going to happen. It would mean that he trusted Miles, which he did, but Miles wasn’t supposed to think that he did, because the second he’d let Phoenix any deeper into his heart, Miles would put himself in serious danger, and if he didn’t think matters through to that point, Phoenix would have to be the one taking care of any unnecessary feelings.
Why had he even agreed to come here in the first place? They should have locked him up in that basement again, he’d have been dead in a few weeks, never to pose a threat to anyone ever again.
“Lost in thoughts, are we?”, Miles chuckled lightly, with a voice so warm, Phoenix knew only few had ever heard him talk like this. “If I may give you an advice…”, he placed a bowl on the floor, “try not to overthink things. I’m aware of how impossible it sounds, but…it’ll only drive you insane.” He looked at Phoenix with tired but affectionate eyes. “The past cannot be altered, but the future…the future is yours to change.”
He glanced at the bowl. It contained fine meat, far too fine for something like him if you asked Phoenix.
“You should eat something, you’re weakened.” Miles squinted his eyes. “And…someone should free you from this.” He reached for his trustworthy hunting knife, the one he always carried on him when investigating possibly dangerous suspects. Phoenix drew away from him habitually, causing Miles to pause.
“…Excuse me.” He carefully passed the knife to Phoenix so he could take a closer look. Phoenix crawled back into his direction, and after a moment he stretched himself towards Miles, who reached for his knife again, and before long the collar was severed and cut in two. It thudded to the floor, Phoenix shook himself.
“I promise you, you will never have to wear such a thing against your will ever again.”
Nobody had ever talked to him like that since his…change. To be fair, up until today there had only been one person in this chapter of his life that could have done so, but still. Kristoph had taught and shown him how despicable werewolves were, and Phoenix had believed him. Of course he had believed him, he was a monster, he was loathsome, heinous and…according to Miles, somewhat likeable.
Miles had freed him from chains, muzzle and collar, even allowed him into his private rooms.
Miles trusted him, for whatever goddamn reason, Miles trusted him.
Phoenix didn’t just think so, Phoenix could feel it. The feeling levitated him, carried him far away from his worries and sorrows. Perhaps he could try something…
It was thoughtless but…those scratches earlier had been calming.
An inner voice he had never heard before begged for more.
The curious part was that Phoenix didn’t even have to think about his upcoming actions. They came from within. He pushed his thoughts aside and listened to the yearning in his chest. A few pawsteps later, and Phoenix found himself nuzzling at Miles’ hand.
His plan worked, Miles did grant him more scratches, followed by gentle strokes down his spine. He wanted to whine. For the very first time, he felt comfortable in his wolf skin.
Miles looked at him tiredly but with honest elation.
“Welcome home, Phoenix.”
#
The sounds of a warm fire crackling in the fireplace and freshly brewed tea being poured into a cup filled the air. Miles had taken a seat in one of the living room’s homely armchairs, Phoenix rolled himself up at the man’s feet. A sordid notebook laid on the coffee table, opened.
It belonged to Kristoph and had been found during a second investigation, Gumshoe had brought it over earlier.
“To think you endured so much for seven years…”, Edgeworth shook his head.
When Gumshoe had handed him Gavin’s notes earlier, he had noticed it made Phoenix tense, so he conducted there likely was a connection between them. Maybe it would even give him answers as to why his partner who had been missing for years had undergone certain changes that had left him with four paws and an inability to speak.
Due to that minor inconvenience, the notebook did come in handy. Phoenix had given him permission with a nod of his head to read in it, and while they were missing the time to properly take in all the texts, Edgeworth know possessed an overview of Phoenix misery.
The ‘curse of the moon-children’, a powerful spell that lasts for a lifetime and can never be broken.
Not that it mattered to Miles, he didn’t care if Phoenix was a werewolf, a vampire or the grim reaper himself, he would always love him, regardless their situation.
“Yet, there is something I do not quite comprehend. You don’t have to answer any of my questions, I hope you are aware of that, I don’t wish to push you all too far.” Phoenix was laying on his flank now, eyeing Miles, while the man took a moment to collect his words.
“You do not have to keep this form, yet you have not changed back in many years. I can’t help but wonder why that is, and, if you allow me, would like to find out.”
Phoenix gaze lingered on Miles face for a long while. The drifts of time had robbed it of youth and harshness likewise. He could still look rather frightening with his even deeper set eyes and ever so prominent cheekbones, but there were features to his face Phoenix hadn’t known yet. A set of wrinkles around his eyelids for example, which gave his smiles an incredibly soft touch. The wolf exhaled audibly, in a mixture of contentment, nostalgia and slight exhaustion. Miles was still one to chase the truth, huh?
“Should I ask anything you would rather not talk about, you have a way to intervene I assume?” Phoenix answered with a soft, almost playful growl, causing Miles to chuckle lightly. Wright was still the same silly idiot deep within after all.
“All right then”, Miles straightened up in his seat, placing the tea cup he had drunken from back on the coffee table.
“Let’s begin with a brief review of the facts at hand. You possess the ability to shapeshift during certain timeframes, but according to both Gavin’s notes and judging by your current condition, you are not making use of that and haven’t done so in quite some time. You must have a reason for that other than the amount of physical pain involved in the transformation, because that would not be like you. There has to be something else…something that runs far deeper.” He inspected Phoenix closely once more. There was something in his posture as well as in his eyes that still resembled fear. “You are afraid of something.” Phoenix ears perked up at that statement, then he lowered his gaze. Miles nodded. He played around with a couple of thoughts, then reached for the notebook once more.
“…It was Gavin, wasn’t it?”, Edgeworth mumbled after having reconsidered things once more. “He is the reason why…but he can’t hurt you anymore and still, you remain scared.
Scared of something that is still present, and I don’t think it’s only about the aftermaths…-“
Edgeworth squinted his eyes. The way Wright looked at him right then- he knew that look. From first hand experience.
“You’re afraid of yourself, aren’t you?”
Yes, he got him. Wright’s body language said it all.
‘Oh, Phoenix’, Edgeworth thought to himself, exhaled audibly, and got up from his seat in order to kneel down beside Phoenix.
Phoenix however didn’t seem to appreciate his partners - (was he still in any position to call Miles his partner?) - actions. He shrunk back into a stooped position, tail between his legs.
“Please Phoenix, everything will be fine.” Miles was whispering again. He knew that dogs preferred being talked to in low voices, it worked wonders sometimes. And as much as he hated to admit it, perhaps it really was for the best to play out all the trump cards he had up his sleeve on the topic of how to properly interact with…dogs.
“You will be fine, I promise.” Just as he had predicted, calm voices could have miraculous effects. Phoenix relaxed a bit, Edgeworth would have to take this chance.
Wright was going to reproach him for this for the rest of their lives, that much was guaranteed, but it didn’t matter now.
Miles offered the wolf a hand again.
To his own surprise, Phoenix did approach Miles once more. He pressed his head against Miles’ palm, leaning into the touch while sitting down on his haunches. His tail started wagging, and although he had been a wolf for so many years, it felt somewhat alien, yet so natural at the same time. Miles chuckled, of course he chuckled, and before he knew what was going on, Miles’ other hand was twiddling with the fur on his chest.
Oh Lord, this was too much for Phoenix to handle. He slumped over and rolled onto his back, no thoughts, head empty, only yearning for more of this…
…until realization struck all of a sudden. Promptly back on his paws, Phoenix glared at the floor, grateful that wolves couldn’t blush. Miles studied the situation attentively.
“…Your problem is quite obvious if you ask me. You are rejecting the man, but you won't accept the wolf either. You think you are too worthless to be the one, but you are too afraid to really become the other.”
Oh yes, he just hit the nail on the head.
“Look, Phoenix. I can only imagine how you must feel. But if you won’t accept things as they are, that won’t change. Yes, I know it’s frightening. But it’s the only way and I know you are as aware of that as I am. If you fear your wolf side will take over and hurt someone, then you mustn’t give it a reason to take control. Repression will only cause suffering, believe me.”
He took a deep breath before continuing.
“You are no monster. So don’t let fear turn you into one.”
Silence. The minutes passed and there was nothing but silence.
The two of them had locked eyes with each other. An intensity burned between the prosecutor and the werewolf, it almost made Edgeworth sweat.
Something had to be done about this.
“…In the end, all I can offer you are suggestions. I won’t tell you what to do, you’ve had enough of that for the past couple of years I believe. I want you to be able to choose, Phoenix. You are free, you understand me? All I ask of you is that you decide for yourself how things are supposed to be from now on.”
With that, Edgeworth intended to get up from the floor, carry the dishes into the kitchen and wish Phoenix a good night, but when he turned to push himself up, he was interrupted. Miles could feel a cold and wet nose pushing against the back of his hand.
About to face the owner of said nose, Edgeworth found himself staring into the mere definition of ‘puppy eyes’.
Heck, the wolf really was a good look on Wright.
“What is it?”
It took Phoenix a few more moments to answer, but what an answer he gave Miles once he was ready.
He lunged out, directly into Miles arms, causing the man to fall over for the second time this day. Phoenix had him pinned against the floor in the same manner as earlier, minus the paw at Miles’ throat. And he also wasn’t growling this time.
Instead, he was licking his love’s face with all his affection, Miles could tell he put his whole heart into it.
Edgeworth swore to God, Phoenix was lucky that he had, first, mellowed out a bit with age, and second, missed him a lot, otherwise this behaviour would have never been tolerated.
But with things being the way they were, he couldn’t help but laugh from the bottom of his heart.
“I love you too, you idiot.”