Meekins runs into Edgeworth leaving his office right after he leaves the note. Edgeworth tries to hurry on but Meekins BLARES his bullhorn asking "ARE YOU ALRIGHT SIR?" Edgeworth grabs him by the communicator and yanks him in.

"Are you even capable of being quiet?! You empty headed man!"

Edgeworth's hands are shaking where they dig into his uniform. There is so little behind Meekin's eyes. If he had been around the day they passed out brains or luck he wouldn't be here.

But he wasn't. So he is.

"I can be! Sir!"

Edgeworth is pulled in close. Trembling form around him. Head bowed. "Be quiet." Their is a wobble to his voice. A brighter man would think him a moment from crying. "Or I will make you be."

Down the hall creaks as he goes to salute. "Yes Sir!" He starts.

Does not get to finish as Edgeworth kisses him. Silencing his words. Presses him against the wall and doesn't let him go.

He finally pulls away. Face flush and breathing heavy. There are tears rolling down his cheeks. Meekins does not understand. "Sir?"

"Go home Meekins."

Flees down the stairs.

He does not think to check the unlocked prosecutors office for an explanation. Goes home as ordered.

No one thinks to ask him and his empty eyes, even though by all accounts he would be the last person to see Edgeworth alive.

It's good they don't ask. That Gumshoe does not ask him how did he seem when you saw him? Please. Pal. (Tell me he was all right)

Psh. Childs play. Literally. They meet again after the trial at a live action show. Powers doesn't usually do these but it's always so nice to see the kids excited first hand! In the crowd is Miles. (maybe he really is a fan.) He signs Miles card and asks if he'd has plans after this. He says he doesn't.

Goes and changes. Comes back to a shocked Edgeworth. "I didn't... I didn't realize if was you." There is something to the defensive curl of his shoulder. To the way he looks around for other people like one might if they expect to be yelled at and hope social norm will avoid it. Or perhaps like they fear a mob.

"I wanted to thank you. For helping me. I really thought I was dead in there but you and Mr. Wright," He missed the flash of agony. "You saved me."

"You don't need to thank me. I was..." Only doing my job he might have said. The words stuck in his throat. What was his Job? Why was he-

Power's stomach rumbled. He flushed red. "I uh..."

"... Would you like to get lunch?"

"Well I..." He stumbled in the same way Gumshoe did when he didn't have enough.

"My treat."

Lunch is a stilted affair. Edgeworth is not skilled at conversation normally, much less when the man across from him is big and handsome and kind and innocent. Innocent in a way no defendant has ever been allowed to be.

Power could not tell you why he followed him home like a well fed abandoned puppy. Or maybe that was exactly why. Maybe it was that simple. Had nothing to do with the way Miles stared at him like he was beautiful, without fear or revulsion. Nothing to do with how Edgeworth flinched from praise but soaked up touch like a man starved.

And he knew how it felt to be starved.

He wasn't sure who got more out of it. Out of the gentle reverence Edgeworth kissed into his skin and traced over his scars. Whispered praise into his skin as if he hoped it would not reach his ears. Shied away from every touch as if expecting something different but then burrowed into every brush.

No. No he knows who got more out of it. Edgeworth did not even let him touch.

But as he began to drift off in the bed more luxurious than anything he'd ever owned Miles tucked himself into his side. Head pillowed against his chest. Listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. He stroked up and down his naked back and somehow it felt that this was more than enough for Miles Edgeworth.

Just to be held. Warm and loved. That that alone was more than enough.

Lang helps get everyone home after the ENDLESS night that was the aai embassy. Drives Edgeworth home himself after fighting the car keys out of Edgeworth's exhausted hands. Pulls up to Edgeworth's apartment and has to nudge him awake.

"... Thank you agent Lang."

Edgeworth moves achingly slowly to unbuckle his seat. There is a lifetime of watching the muscles under his white dress shirt move, his jacket abandoned over his knees.

"Yeah... Anything for my pack."

Edgeworth slowly raises his eyes to him. Exhaustion slowing those brilliant silver eyes. The only prosecutor he'd trust. Understanding dripping like the rain down the windshield.

You're family now.

"Lang I..." A hand settles on the console between them.

He kissed him before he could raise any stupid objections.

They raced inside. Shedding layers and laughing with delirious exhaustion. Giddy with it. Kissing and touching and biting - oh wasn't that fun. The prosecutor had Teeth.

His phone rang. He ripped it open with a "What?!"

He couldn't not answer. One of his men was calling. That didn't mean he appreciated it.

"Sir. I brought that girl, Kay, to the address she gave me but-"

"Huh?"

"... Sir there's nothing here."

Their night of fun unravels there. Disappears on the worried wind as he coordinates Kay's delivery here. As Miles fusses over the guest room and works himself into an untouchable state that does not calm until his wayward pup accepts her tongue lashing, ice cream, and warm bed.

This the first time. It is by no means the last.

Every time he gets close- every time he makes it to the buckle of Miles Edgeworth's pants Something happens.

One of Edgeworth's countless wayward children across the globe (I don't have children. Yes you do.) lands themselves in trouble. A friend calls to report another having almost died.

An unshaved man in a unwashed sweater with a hand knit beanie that says 'papa' steps into the room just as he's got Miles straddled on the couch. And suddenly Miles has him shoved to the floor and is fixing his shirt like he wasn't gagging for it a second before.

He gives up. Clearly the universe has decided they're never meant to be. It's not worth the fates endless mockery.

Edgeworth sits quiet at the table. Stare down at his laptop in shock. Chief Prosecutor. It's what he always wanted. Maybe. He wonders if perhaps this life - if interpol - if he could have been enough.

"Lang I..." Hands press together. "I would like to have you once."

I would like to have you for a lifetime.

But he will settle for once.

He will press into Edgeworth. Learn every nerve and fiber he can. Memorize and savor.

You could come with me. Edgeworth will not say. Because he will not abandon his kingdom, his pack, his home with Interpol for Miles.

You could stay with me. He will not reply. Because Miles will no more abandon his homeland than he would. He will leave it, for a time, but never abandon it. His eyes always turn towards that section of sky.

They could have loved each other. Maybe they did. But never enough. It would never have been enough.

Miles cried out. He willed his aging body for one more round. One more. Give me one more. One more moment.

Perhaps that distance was the worlds way of being kind.

Or maybe the fates just liked to fuck with him.