July 2023 Drabble #1 (Patreon)

Phoenix/Edgeworth – blackmail; misunderstandings – Edgeworth just naturally thinks everybody is against him.

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Edgeworth’s hand slams down on his desk much in the same annoyed fashion that it does in the courtroom.

Only here in his office it feels that much louder.

Phoenix flinches. He had honestly not anticipated a reaction other than anger from Edgeworth but that cold rage in his eyes as he squints at Phoenix is certainly something. He can understand why Gumshoe rolls on his back and shows his belly in capitulation as soon as Edgeworth enters his general vicinity.

Those trembling lips are something else.

“You are blackmailing me, Wright?! You?! I would have expected it from… no. Nevermind.” Edgeworth stands up straight and smooths down the front of his jacket. He tries to project calm but Phoenix can tell that he is rattled. “What do you want?”

“I am not… listen. Edgeworth. I’m not here to blackmail you. I simply thought in this instance it would be wise to share my findings with you so you don’t get into trouble.

It’s a knife. From your car’s trunk. Found stabbed in the victim’s chest.”

Edgeworth’s lips look a little more blue… or is that just Phoenix’s imagination? He watches as the other reaches up to make sure his hair is still sitting perfectly.

“You think I manipulate evidence. Who told you about that disgusting rumor?”

Phoenix lifts his hands to his shoulders and laughs nervously. “I… what? No, no! I just… well I thought it would be good if we don’t give anybody any… ammunition…”

He trails off under Edgeworth’s icy glare.

Suddenly there’s movement in the other. He circles around his desk so fast that Phoenix takes a nervous step back. He doesn’t really see Edgeworth as the kind of man to throw fists but… well. He looks a little unhinged as he gets into Phoenix’s face and stabs his finger into his chest.

“What. Do. You. Want, Wright? You want something in return for not ending my career? Is that it? Do not think that you would be the first one to take advantage of me and a precarious situation. Do not think for a second that I am not prepared to do whatever is necessary.”

Phoenix is at a loss for words. For one, he is pretty sure that there’s gonna be a huge bruise where Edgeworth keeps digging his finger in.

“I… I… I have no idea what you’re talking about, Edgeworth,” he says helplessly, unsure how to get his point across. And then he mutters the fateful question: “Whatever is… necessary?”

Edgeworth narrows his eyes again. His cheeks are flushed, his mouth trembling with agitation – before he suddenly seems to calm himself down, inhaling deeply through his nose.

“Very well. If you want to play dumb to keep your clear conscience… so be it. I would not have thought that you would steep so low. You. Of all people.”

And then Edgeworth vanishes… because he suddenly is on his knees and angrily working on Phoenix’s pants.

…What?!