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“Have you ever kissed someone before?”
It was probably meant to be an innocent question from the teenager, but Edgeworth couldn't help but choked on his tea as he heard the question, shocked by the suddenness behind the rather personal question. The other occupant in the room jumped as he heard the coughing fit from the older man, shifting closer quickly to gently rub on the back covered by the black waistcoat.
It was one of those days where Edgeworth had come by his apartment to help with his studying for the midterm tests, with Phoenix having troubles with his mathematics and science subjects as usual.
Phoenix, as per most of the time when Edgeworth visited, had prepared one of the older man’s favourite tea when he arrived, which then the study session proceeded with some hiccups as Phoenix was having a hard time understanding and remembering all his mathematics formulas and science theories.
And since there was a need to help Phoenix understand his notes better, the prosecutor shifted closer to the teenager, trying to explain in great details on how the formulas worked by writing in his notebook, making sure Phoenix was able to see everything he had written and explained.
However, unbeknownst to him, Phoenix was actually having a hard time concentrating on anything, other than the older man's close presence and the way he moved his lips. Phoenix had been blushing throughout the whole session while his eyes panned to Edgeworth's lips without moving his head, silently wishing that the grey-haired man did not catch him staring like a creep.
And despite knowing that he really shouldn't be staring and letting his mind wander off, Phoenix couldn't help it.
For he had his first wet dream just last month, finally realising the possible identity behind his true feelings for Miles Edgeworth.
And now with the actual man in reality sitting so close beside him, he couldn't help but started feeling more conscious of every movement from Edgeworth, his mind beginning to imagine how those hands and lips would feel like if they were to land on any parts of his body.
And knowing Edgeworth’s most likely vast experiences with touching someone intimately given his good looks and popularity did not help quell his dirty thoughts at all.
Hence it was probably why the question came out suddenly from his mouth without any consideration of the consequences.
“P-Phoenix,” Edgeworth said as he tried to slowly breathe to recover from the attack on his windpipe. “W-What is with t-t-that question out of nowhere?”
“Just curious I guess,” Phoenix replied as he turned to pick up some tissues on the table and pass them to Edgeworth to wipe his mouth leaked with the black tea. “Since I know Mr. Edgeworth is really popular.”
“…What gave you that idea?”
“Um, the flowers in your office the other day?”
“Ngoh! That’s-!” Edgeworth recoiled and flustered, remembering what Phoenix had witnessed the other day when the teenager came by his office, spotting the bouquet of flowers with a small Steel Samurai plushie arranged in the middle of the red roses on his desk. “T-T-That was just a gift, from someone I would rather not see again if possible.”
“So that wasn't from your lover?”
“…What even gave you the idea that I have a lover in the first place?”
“Just a hunch?” Phoenix shrugged as he turned back to his homework, trying his best to hide his blushing face and also to ignore the confusion stare from Edgeworth so as not to reveal too much on how he was actually feeling.
“Am I to correctly assume that you were not concentrating on my explanation at all since you were able to ask that question in the midst of our study session?”
And the teenager froze, realising the trap hole he had dug himself and fallen into, eyes panning towards the prosecutor who as expected, was having a disapproving scowl on his face as he crossed his arms and tapped on his upper arms.
“I-I, um, well, you see, I just,” and Phoenix panicked, trying to form coherent sentences to explain himself, but failing miserably, unable to look back at the older man in shame and guilt.
“…Shall we take a break then?” Edgeworth sighed as he took off his glasses and pinched the area between his eyes. “I guess we're both too tired to continue this, after all.”
“Huh?” Phoenix turned his head in confusion to look at Edgeworth's tired expression, finally willing to make any eye contact. “What do you mean by that? Are you alright, Mr. Edgeworth? That doesn't sound like you.”
“I was merely going through an urgent case last night and I lost track of time.”
And Phoenix felt even more guilty upon hearing those words, realising that he probably had been wasting the older man's time and efforts to go though his study notes with him, but he couldn't even concentrate most of the time.
“I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Edgeworth, I…” Phoenix thought he should explain himself, but then realised that he couldn't find a way to do it, not without Edgeworth finding out his hidden feelings and secrets.
And the prosecutor, who seemed to have noticed Phoenix's troubled expression, sighed again before moving his hand to pick up his teacup.
“There is no need to explain yourself if you're not comfortable with it, Phoenix,” Edgeworth assured as he handed his cup over to the raven-haired man. “But I'll be grateful if you can assist me in brewing another cup of tea for me?”
“Ah, yes! Of course!” Phoenix exclaimed as he received the teacup before standing up and striding towards the kitchen, placing the teacup into the sink and filling the kettle to boil more water. Once Phoenix had finished brewing a fresh cup of tea for the older man, he took the teacup and then strolled towards the living room, pumped with new determination to clear his mind off from those naughty thoughts and set it back to his studies. This time, he was determined not to be rude to Edgeworth who had taken his precious time off to painstakingly tutor him today.
Only to freeze in his steps upon crossing the kitchen threshold.
Because his eyes were definitely not deceiving him when he saw a head of grey hair on the table, with a pair of arms surrounding it and the upper body slouched down. As he heard the soft breathing from the older man, clearly indicating that Edgeworth had fallen asleep on the dining table, Phoenix widened his eyes in surprise at such a rare sight.
It was the first time Phoenix saw Edgeworth's sleeping form after all, with them mostly meeting up for study sessions and the rest of the time meeting up at the courthouse with the boy watching Prosecutor Edgeworth on his job. There were also rare times where they met just for small talks and simple meals, but of course the older man would be awaked all the time; his mind honed to be able to work efficiently despite sleeping less due to his fulfilling but heavy workload.
Trying not to wake the prosecutor up, knowing how exhausted he could be from his work the previous night, Phoenix gently placed the teacup down on the dining table as quietly as possible, before stepping over with an intention to take a closer look at Edgeworth's sleeping face; he was very curious about it after all. He knew Edgeworth was a handsome man and attractive to many ladies (including someone whose age might potentially be at least decades older than him), so he was starting to wonder if he was just as handsome or even more when he's asleep.
And so, giving in to his curiosity despite knowing he shouldn't do it, he raised a hand nearer to the prosecutor's face, gently brushing away the stray grey bangs to get a clearer view of his crush's sleeping face.
Only to hold his breath upon seeing it.
Now that his face was eased with sleep, the teenager suddenly felt that Edgeworth's face had turned delicate, with those eyebrows relaxed, in contrast to the tightened ones that the prosecutor showed most of the time either with his signature scowl or smirk. Phoenix had to fight the urge to run his hand over those cheeks, whose cheekbones seemed to have lowered, free of the usual dimples when he smiled.
And with those soft breathing sound coming from those smooth lips of his, Phoenix had to fight the urge to touch those lips, wondering how they would feel like on his own.
And it was those thoughts that made Phoenix widen his eyes again, recoiling back as he covered his mouth, cursing internally at himself for having such wrongful thoughts in his head.
No! How can I?! Not to someone's sleeping! That's basically a crime! I need to stop this!
However, as he continued to stare at the prosecutor's sleeping face, he was beginning to plunge back into his lustful thoughts, remembering his sinful dreams that started months ago and it had all led back to the same man who was currently sleeping unwarily in front of him.
And that's where he knew he couldn't resist all temptations.
But then again…just one kiss wouldn't hurt…right?
And with that thought in mind, Phoenix stepped closer to the older man again, but this time with his face instead of his hand as he aimed his own lips closer to the other.
And as he got closer, he could hear and feel his own thundering heartbeat even though he was holding his breath, hammering on to his chest so fast that he swore he could have thought his heart would literally jumped out.
Please! Be calm, my heart. It's just one kiss–!
And although he shouldn't be closing his eyes just in case Edgeworth woke up suddenly and ruined everything, he couldn't help but close his eyes in nerve.
I'm sorry, Mr. Edgeworth! But just one kiss…!
And the next thing he knew, Phoenix finally felt something soft tipped on his own lips, causing a small stir from the sleeping man which then made the younger one flinched back immediately, watching with his heart in his throat at Edgeworth who was slightly scrunching his face before it relaxed with sleep again. The teenager only dared to breathe and move his hand to cover the lower half of his volcanic face after a while, beginning to feel the lingering touch from Edgeworth's lips.
And now that he was unable to withstand the shame from watching Edgeworth's sleeping face any longer, Phoenix turned and dashed towards his room, closing the door behind him as quickly but quietly as possible once he entered before slumping down and hugging his knees, realising the meaning behind those actions he just did.
I knew it…
And tears began falling from his eyes as he finally faced the inadvertent truth.
I am in love with Mr. Edgeworth.