(no subject)

[take_that]

Edgeworth had been in Europe for months, but had come back as soon as he was able.

Trucy peeked out from behind Phoenix, staring at the man in the doorway to the office.

"This is Miles Edgeworth, Trucy. He's an old friend." Phoenix turned slightly to let her see.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Edgeworth had knelt down, holding his hand out (formal as ever). 

Trucy grabbed his hand, shaking it. "Nice to meet you too!"

She pulled away, leaving Edgeworth holding a silken scarf.

"Whoa, how'd that get there?" Trucy held up her sleeve, where the other end of the scarf was peaking out. She grabbed it, pulling out several more scarves tied together, all with a huge smile on her face.

Phoenix smiled up at Edgeworth. "That's just how she says hello."

—-

Miles stayed until Trucy had been put to bed. Phoenix came back into the living room, stretching.
"So, do you want to take some food with you, or -"
"Wright."
Edgeworth was sitting on the couch, his gaze stern.
Phoenix stared back, and let out a long sigh.
He came over to sit on the other end of the sofa, sinking down heavily.
Edgeworth's gaze softened.
"Tell me what happened."
——
Edgeworth was silent when Phoenix finished. His lips were pursed, his eyes closed. Calculating.
"And he isn't coming back?"
Phoenix shook his head. "It's been three months."
Edgeworth grit his teeth, but said nothing. He glanced up. "What are you going to do?"
"About Trucy?"
"About everything." Edgeworth leaned forward a little. "What happened to you was unjust. You didn't deserve it."
Phoenix shook his head. "The defense is in charge of the evidence it presents."
"But you didn't know-"
"I didn't think. It was handed to me before the trial, the perfect evidence to win. I  don’t blame Trucy, not a bit, but -I should have known better.”
Edgeworth nodded, thoughtfully.
“Then we go to the one who gave it to her. Find out their motives -“
“Edgeworth, stop.”
“If they can infiltrate the courts like that, then-“
“Edgeworth.” Phoenix’s tone was sharper now.
“It needs to be investigated. We can-“
“Enough.” He was gripping Edgeworth’s hands now, harder than he intended. ”I messed up, okay? I messed up, and people suffered because of it. And I’m paying the price for it.”
Edgeworth stared. 
"But…it wasn’t your fault.”
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Phoenix shook his head. "It was my fault, alright? I was in charge of the evidence, and I had no way of knowing whether it was legitimate, and I presented it anyway. It's on me. All of it."
Edgeworth opened his mouth, but then shut it. He stared down at his hands, which were balling into fists.
“What about me?” He asked.
Phoenix blinked. “What?” 
“SL-9, remember? I unknowingly presented false evidence. And who was the one who told me, again and again, that it wasn’t my fault?”
"I-" Phoenix gaped, looking away. "Shit, I'd forgotten about that -"
"What about Trucy? She couldn't've known what she was giving you, do you blame her?"
"No, of course not," Phoenix shot back, immediately
"Then why are you blaming yourself for the same circumstances? Is it just easier for you to blame yourself because you can't practice law anymore?"
Phoenix felt his throat tighten. Edgeworth must have seen, because he drew back, lowering his voice.
"Why would someone do this?” He asked softly.
Phoenix shook his head. “I don’t know.” 
He glanced back up at Edgeworth, as his vision began to blur.
"I don't know."
Unable to contain himself any more, Phoenix leaned forward, burying his face in Edgeworth's shoulder. He thought to pull away, knowing how Edgeworth was with physical contact, but Edgeworth slowly wrapped his arms around the other man, a bit stiffly, as if he wasn't quite sure how.
"I'm so tired," Phoenix whispered as tears fell down his cheeks.
After a while, Edgeworth finally pulled away, taking a moment before he met Phoenix's eyes again.
"If you won't do anything for yourself," Edgeworth began slowly, "Then do it for the courts."
"The courts?" Phoenix echoed.
“Whoever is responsible for this must have access to the court system directly. If the system isn’t helping people the way it should…if it’s broken from the inside…” Edgeworth's shoulders straightened.  “It needs to be fixed. Or else other people will suffer as well.”
Phoenix nodded, pursing his lips. "But if that's the case, bringing them to justice would be hard. It might mean revamping the entire system. That could take years."
"I think it's worth doing." Edgeworth glanced over at Phoenix, entreatingly.
Phoenix let out a breath, and gave a small smile.
"Yeah. Me too."
Edgeworth nodded. "Will you let me help you?"
Phoenix frowned. "This is my problem.You don't need to get involved."
"Didn't you hear me? This is corruption within the system. That makes it everyone's problem, myself included."
"Right, yeah." Phoenix's smile was back. 
He put his hand on Edgeworth's.
"Thanks."