One of Every Color
Chapter 7
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without permission. This fic is rated
NC-17 for adult male/male content and some violent material.
Chapter 7
September 19th, 2019
Miles sighed.
awake. With the day off he had intended
to sleep in for once, and rekindle his energy from the exhaustion of the past
day's events. But the air in his bedroom
was thick, warm, and uncomfortable, and whenever he closed his eyes for too
long he felt as if it were crowding in on him.
Suffocating, even. Kicking the
sheets to the foot of the bed hadn't helped.
Not even Pess' subtle weight at his side was comfort enough to push back
the anxieties circling his mind.
He had learned a long time
ago that anticipation of the nightmare was often as effective as the dream
itself.
Miles lay awake for several
minutes after accepting this fact, idly stroking Pess' back as he slept, until finally
glancing at the clock. He had spent
several hours working after
left the night before, and found his way to bed much later than usual.
The angular red display
showed
for just over ninety minutes.
"It's enough,"
Miles concluded. He gave his dog one
last pat and climbed out of bed.
A cool morning shower was
just what Miles needed to wake him fully and clear the thin layer of sweat from
his body. He took his time in what was
usually a quick morning routine, which kept him from worrying about the myriad
of problems facing him. But as soon as
he was downstairs, preparing what was sure to be the first of many cups of
coffee that day, all his concerns came rushing back.
to be signed, cases and their evidence to be reviewed, not to mention the
particular issue of
been forced to handle, but this case was different, even without taking into
account
He remembered Chassie
Gander. After the confusion of the SL-9
case only a few months previous, public opinion of the police was still rather
low, and both departments were eager to solve a large case.
had been a perfect opportunity for everyone, and especially for the advancement
of Miles' own career. It had even helped
stall the rumors of his unethical practices, since none of the viable evidence
in the case could have reasonably been forged.
And now
his old friend for it. But the mixing of
business with his personal life was not a problem he had often faced before,
considering his almost total lack of relationships until more recently.
his breakfast. He was only telling the truth.
He sank into a chair at the kitchen table.
could have said something sooner. He was
here drinking with you, and didn’t say a word!
He could have given some warning.
Miles abruptly lost interest
in the orange and set it aside, though he kept a piece of the skin to worry
between his fingers.
He had to admit to himself that
returning home after so much time overseas.
He trusted him as a friend, and respected him as a lawyer, two
compliments he couldn't give many other people.
He had Gumshoe, of course, but their relationship had always been more
professional than anything, especially given their respective positions.
But
meant more to him than he could have imagined.
More than that, just being around
learn how to be himself.
in his hand. But now, we're going back to court.
I can't let him down. His
fingers tensed, gradually shredding the fruit skin in two.
fight, just like I told him to.
our purpose.
Miles forced himself to
finish peeling the orange and eat it. He
was aware of his tendency to brood, and if he didn't get some food into him now
he would certainly forget later and be worse off for it.
effort to consume. By
abandoned only a few hours ago.
At
would be setting up a temporary office in the police force banquet hall while their
own building was renovated. He was not
expected to return to work until Monday for recovery purposes, or even later,
if he required it. Miles assured him
this would not be the case.
At nine he received a call
from Ema, who was anxious to check up on his well being. He bypassed her
concern by asking about her latest case, but unfortunately she didn't have any
new information for him. Whoever had set
fire to the Prosecutor's Office had not left any clues behind.
on him again that evening.
At
sound sleep. After brief apologies he
called in a favor his comrade was more than willing to fulfill: to get him all
the evidence relating to Chassie Gander's case.
Gumshoe was a good man who didn't ask many questions.
Just after
Prosecutor called him back to inform him that The People versus Chassie Gander
had been appealed, and would appear on the court docket in twenty-four hours.
*****
of the police station. By now he was familiar
with many members of the city's law enforcement, and it hadn't been difficult
learning from them where he could find the Chief Prosecutor and his temporary
office. Despite the chaos the city was
in, Chassie's execution was so close, and
couldn't be denied. He had filed and
would appear in court as early as the next day.
He thought he should have
felt some kind of anxiety, now that he had his appeal and a date was set.
that left him feeling offset with the bustling city around him.
was occupied.
after received a call from Lotta to tell him she'd finished the pictures.
and payment. Once she'd left
over the contents. As he'd suspected,
most of April's photographs he couldn't look at without blushing let alone
consider submitting to court. But there
was one that had benefited from Lotta's enlargement: it was April posing with
her drink, and just over her left shoulder a figure was visible through an open
window. Once
easy to make out Chassie Gander in a phone booth just outside the duplex.
recalled, tucking the photos back into their envelope.
corroborates her account. Just after
this, she left for the clinic…
irate April May. Her manner quickly
improved upon seeing the white bank envelope he had to offer her.
returned to glaring. "This is only
half."
"You get the rest
pocket. "I'm counting on you to
tell only the truth."
April waved a hand
dismissively. "Yeah, yeah.
say." She took the money out of its
envelope and tucked it into her bra, for no reason that
"Not a bad wad for a few pictures and testimony I'd be subpoenaed
for anyway. I hope it's worth it to you,
Wright."
April's comment had been deliberate.
"If it saves her life," he said, more seriously than he'd
intended, "almost anything's worth it."
"Hmph!
like that." April rolled her eyes
and turned back to her desk. "Seeya
in court, Feeny."
for a few minutes as he tried to decide what to do next.
errands to run. He was starting to
consider an early lunch when his phone rang.
The number that flashed
across his screen was Miles'.
answer. Am I up to another fight? I can't
just ignore him. As his ring tone
started over, he finally answered.
"Yes…?"
"Where are you
now?" Miles asked first, skipping all supposed pleasantries.
the phone.
"Downtown,"
"I was about to head home.
Why?"
Miles was silent a
moment. "I'll meet you there.
"Um…all right."
Miles hung up, but
be sure. He's going to my apartment? His
brow furrowed as he slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued on to
the bus stop. What does he want to talk about anyway?
If yelling at me makes him feel better I guess I owe him that much.
rest of the way home.
Miles was easy to spot.
had sat with Ayame, hands braced on the ledge and shoulders hunched
forward. He was tapping out some intermitted
beat with his heel. He didn't notice
reading of his expression. Miles
looked…anxious, but not angry. It was
the most
Miles finally spotted
wall as if embarrassed to have been seen on it.
He was dressed casually, in a peacock-blue turtleneck and faded
jeans.
wearing such every-day clothing. He
slowed, and finally they were face to face.
"Sorry about the short
notice," Miles said evenly. Each
word sounded stiff, as if he'd been rehearsing them.
"It's okay."
immediately. "Let's go inside.
*****
Miles followed
them speaking a word. He had only seen
the interior of the place once before, and as he stepped inside he wasn't
surprised to see it hadn't changed. It
wasn't cluttered -
not unlike an old chair that only became more comfortable as time passed.
where the best place for the conversation he had in mind was.
"Can I get you
something?"
"No, I'm fine,"
Miles assured as he paused in the main room.
"I can't stay that long. I
have to prepare for court tomorrow."
"Yeah…." After a moment
of deliberation he continued.
"Listen, Edgeworth, I'm sorry about that.
Miles waved a hand at
him. "It's all right," he said
before
"You're just doing your job, and me, mine."
night."
"No, I…I probably
deserved it."
eyebrows wilt and his eyes gleam like a guilty schoolboy.
with. Miles lowered his chin.
said."
"You shouldn't," he said quickly.
it."
Miles' lip twitched.
"But I--"
"Wright."
"But it wasn't entirely
your fault, either,"
continued to try and object. "You
were just--"
As much as Miles appreciated
that support, it wasn't helping to get his point across.
without
important."
arguing. "What is it?"
attentive, uncertainty showed behind his wide blue eyes.
wary of being thrown against another wall.
But the stability helped Miles in his resolve, and he wasn't about to
let go.
"I wanted to tell
you…you were right," Miles said slowly.
He couldn't remember now how many times he had played this conversation
over in his head, how to word it to best convey his meaning.
imagine
now. All he wanted was to expose his
full honesty before they went to court and possibly forgot it all.
"I made mistakes,"
he went on, his fingers twisting slightly against
"Probably more than I even remember now.
who showed me that."
"I was just doing what I thought was right," he replied
quietly.
"Yes…I know."
all sympathy and confusion and maybe even optimism.
know. If not for you…."
wasn't ready to let him. If he didn't
finish now what he'd come to say, he was afraid he might never have another
chance. He pulled
blue eyes on him.
suspended, in the air next to them.
"Edgeworth…?"
"I'll never be able to
repay you for what you did for me," Miles told him firmly.
me…you saved me from something worse than execution."
that's like or what it means to me. But
I want you to know I won't ever forget it.
And that's why…."
hands--he let them rest against Miles' ribs, curled faintly against his
back. And though Miles was fairly sure
pressed so awkwardly together, he was struck momentarily by the intimacy of the
gesture. Reciprocation turned what Miles
had intended as a position of hiding into an embrace.
Miles licked his lips and
forced himself to continue, now that he couldn't pull away.
he said with a bit more confidence.
"You said you're doing this for me, but it's just as much the
opposite. Because I'm the only one who
can beat you, if you've made a mistake. I
can't let you win a case you weren't meant to any more than you can me."
more. "Then we'll just have to
settle it in court."
"Yes.
know I won't forget. Do you
understand?" A subtle tremor ran
the length of his body. "Too much
has come between us already for something like this to make us stop being
friends."
*****
Those words were just what
them that the block in his stomach finally dissipated.
tenuous he had feared their fight the night before might have shattered any
chances of reconciliation. But now,
Miles had come to him with
reassurances, confirming the tiny hope he'd held on to all long: their work
didn't have to come between them.
arms tightened around him. Miles tensed,
probably confused by his friend's intensity, but he didn't care.
close companions were a precious few, and the thought that he had just been
saved from losing one brought him almost more relief than he could bear.
thought, the grip of his fingers almost desperate as he rested his chin against
Miles' shoulder. He finally came back, and I almost ruined it.
Miles made a quiet, awkward
noise at the back of his throat, and just when
relaxed. He stretched his arms to circle
Neither of them were used to this close contact--they were each, in
their own way, accustomed to keeping people at a comfortable distance.
way. He had always been drawn to the
bold, those friends that would stay beside him and allow him to take as little personal
initiative as possible. In this way he
had many arms-length acquaintances.
Had Miles surpassed him?
before now, and listening to him divulge his feelings when they were already
pressed so close made his chest clench with an unfamiliar sensation.
placed all his trust in his childhood friend.
Miles sighed and at last
began to pull away. As he did,
let him go completely. But as he did
Miles abruptly fell still again, and
and spine contract beneath them. When
Miles let out a shaky breath the air hissed past his ear.
caress had caused the halted movement.
His body understood better than his mind that some part of Miles' taut
frame misinterpreted his retreat as an advance.
But he did know, all too consciously, that whatever made Miles tense in
that way it had sent a pulse of heat into his gut he hadn't felt in a long
time. There was another person in his
arms, warm and unexpectedly inviting.
Though he was confused, and downright raw from all the deception and confrontation
of the past several days, he couldn't give that up.
and suddenly all he could think was that he couldn't let him go.
Miles turned his head,
probably intending to ease him back, but it was just enough to be construed as
invitation--
Miles' hands flinched against
Miles'. But Miles did the unexpected,
dipping his head enough for them to properly meet.
the kiss. As soon as
he saw first that Miles was just as surprised.
trouble-causing hands away.
Miles watched him, and his
cool gray eyes, for those few seconds, seemed to fill the entire world.
"I-I didn't do it,"
"Didn't…."
actually worked? But then he shook his
head. "I didn't know you were…like
that."
"I'm not.
"What are we talking about?"
Miles looked baffled.
wasn't already painfully awkward. He
slid his hands back to
"I'm not sure."
what? He lowered his eyes, feeling
guilty and embarrassed.
"Sorry. I don't know what
came over me."
"It's all
right."
Miles voice sounded strange
just then, or at least, more contemplative than it ought to.
the hand at his shoulder slithered up to cup his chin.
leaned in and kissed him again.
Miles was clearly the more
experienced. His lips were wide and
firm, and the tiny, coaxing movements they made against
much pressure to keep at
jaw to guide them together. His
confidence was overwhelming and his tenderness even more so.
of his senses. He couldn't explain his
own actions, but Miles' were definitely deliberate; his mind began to spin with
questions, half-remembered exchanges, old jokes he and Larry had made at their
friend's expense--they didn't seem quite so funny now, with his heart
fluttering in his chest and moisture drying off his lips.
shifted slightly, and without thinking
another kiss. This can't be why I wanted to see him again, all those years.
together once more, when the clench of
rational thoughts slipped away. It no
longer mattered that it was a man's frame he was clinging to.
him to consider they weren't the soft offerings of a woman that he was used
to. Instead of supple breasts
he didn't care.
He felt amazing.
warm body wrapped around him, let alone one so confident and unyielding.
in doing the same, and moaned softly beneath the attentions of his eager
tongue.
Their breath ran out too
quickly. Even after Miles pulled back
a murmur of pleasure. Every muscle in
his body was taut and every nerve bright and aware, but just when he tried to
pull Miles back he was halted by a hand on his chest.
"We…can't do this
now," Miles said breathlessly. A
conflict of reason and lust played out all too clearly on his face as he urged
his thighs bumped against his sofa. He
leaned heavily against it--his limbs were acting ahead of him, and he wasn't
sure he could trust them with Miles still in range.
Miles straightened, smoothing
his shirt and pushing his hair back in an effort to regain his composure.
continued. "We have to go to court
tomorrow, and…" He paused, watching
"What an understatement."
Miles' expression reflected
sympathy, making
him. He couldn't consider for long,
though, because then Miles was stepping towards him again.
the kiss touched his lips. Fearful of
being caught up again
until Miles pulled away.
"We'll talk about this
later," Miles assured. His smile
was young and even charming. "Sorry,
for barging in like I did. I'll see you
tomorrow."
"Yeah,"
"Tomorrow."
Miles turned and headed for
the door. As soon as it closed behind
him
long sigh. "What the hell just
happened?" he wondered aloud. He
stared down at his hands, which had caused the bizarre exchange.
means…."
still feel the imprints of Miles' hands on him; his stiff lips, kissing him
with such intensity; the short, hot pant of his breath.
imagination too much of a breeding ground, and soon his mind was filled with
echoes of stimulation, wondering what it would have been like if they'd gone
further, if those rough hands were given more freedom, if clothing weren’t in
the way--
own fingers were creeping over the front of his pants.
been a long time since I've been with someone, he thought, rubbing his
suddenly throbbing groin.
think about myself, or having a relationship.
Let alone with someone like--
frightened by how deeply he was being affected by the encounter.
his return, but not like this. They were
friends. He shouldn't have been so
filled with…the desire he felt now.
shirt and tie as he made an escape towards the bathroom.
to calm down. Maybe then…