[RL 16: My Funny Valentine; Edgeworth, Maraich]

[samuraiprosecutor]

((OOC: Taking place 2-15-08 comm time, early evening.))

The knocking called him away from his office, and a glare was firmly fixed on his face as he made his way to the foyer. He had been in the office all morning (and afternoon, and the early part of the evening) and would probably have (eventually) been leaving his work anyway, to satisfy his less important but extremely persistent need for sustenance. But having to leave work unfinished, without even reaching a convenient stopping point, irked him. Where he would have internalized the frustration if his body had been the cause, he instead had a target on which to blame the interruption.

Sigi was already waiting by the door, and looked up as his master came into the room. Edgeworth opened the front door and scowled into the hall, but froze when he saw his visitor.

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[maraich]

Maraich was pretty good at hunting down things like directions. Having been at Edgeworth's place before only made it easier. He'd packed up the bare essentials - mostly things he might need for Matthias - and gone for a stroll over to Edgeworth's place.

The stroll itself was quite nice and relaxing. He got to take a look around their world and get a better idea of what it was like, and being out of the house studio apartment wasn't so bad.

The nervousness didn't get him until he was actually at the front door. What he wanted to say wasn't coming to him. He couldn't decide how to word it or what to say first.

So, with a cheery smile, he started off simply, "Hi, Edgeworth!"

[samuraiprosecutor]

Maraich was carrying less baggage but the stroller was again present, his son sitting quietly in it. Edgeworth's eyebrows raised a fraction, and his glare was tainted with an uncertain furrowing of his brow when he looked back up to Maraich's face.

"You're still here?" A pause before he continued, "On our world, I mean. I thought you'd have been eager to get home."

[maraich]

"It seems a bunch of my stuff got moved into Phoenix' apartment, and I didn't really want to move it all back right after I got out of the hospital," he said smoothly. Words came easier when he knew what he wanted to say.

He bent down a bit and pulled his not-so-little Valentine out from the stroller. It had become his project after he left the hospital.
First he'd started with a simple heart-shaped box. All around the edge he'd careully glued little pink flowers on, and decorated in the middle with sparkles, hearts and flowers. To make sure they were fresh he hadn't baked the cookies until that day, and then tied it up with some ribbons. It was all done by hand so it took awhile, but he'd had plenty of time the past few days.

He held it out to Edgeworth, "I made this for you."

[samuraiprosecutor]

The sense of foreboding that had crept up on Edgeworth since seeing Maraich at the door was confirmed as more than simple paranoia. When Wright had revealed Maraich's intentions during the trial it had fallen neatly into place, giving meaning to behavior that he'd taken as idiosyncratic until that point. But the events of the next few days had given him little time to dwell on the knowledge, and he'd since been debating how best to handle the subject.

He hadn't yet come to an answer. For a long time he stared at the heart-shaped box, (painstakingly decorated and tied with ribbons and he hoped against hope that it wasn't all done by hand). Finally he looked back up, not making any move toward the package. His brows were furrowed deeply, his voice guarded when he asked, "Why?"

[maraich]

That was a question he hadn't expected. He thought it would be obvious. But it was Edgeworth, and Edgeworth was a social retard.

"Because I wanted to," he kept it simple like most of his answers.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"You...wanted to." It was less a question than a statement, his tone bordering on accusatory. Edgeworth turned his head to the side, frowning at a spot on the wall near the floor.

[maraich]

"That's what I said," he answered, with an unintentional hint of snark at Edgeworth's reaction. He didn't see why it had to be so dramatic.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth glanced back at the tone, glaring at Maraich from the corner of his eye. The expression faded quickly into another uncertain frown.

He had told Mikaela what he would do when he found out his 'secret admirer's identity. The fact that it was someone he hadn't expected really didn't matter, in the end. Letting the interest continue unchecked would only make things worse later.

Decision made, he returned his full gaze to Maraich. "I...can't accept this.

[maraich]

Maraich raised an eyebrow as he drew the heart back a little bit - mostly because it was tiring holding it out. He only had one simple question on his mind, "Why not?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

His response was temporarily cut off as Sigi leaned heavily against his legs, and he looked down to find the dog was staring warily up at Maraich and back down at Matthias. "Sigi, nein," he scolded sharply. Sigi's ears swiveled back as he looked up as his master. "Sitz." Sigi sat gracefully beside him, still watching the scene.

The distraction allowed Edgeworth some extra time. He returned his attention to Maraich finally, his gaze more certain. "Why did you not tell me?"

[maraich]

Well, that could be about a billion things. And he didn't like the serious look Edgeworth had.

"Tell you about what?" he continued speaking somewhat airily.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"About your intentions." His gaze was steady as his tone at first, but he turned his head again as he continued, "Your...feelings."

[maraich]

He stared a bit. Just like anyone else, it wasn't always easy for him to talk about his feelings. Especially when it came to sensitive feelings that would make one feel vulnerable.

Instead of trying to explain it in his own words, he thought a bit, finally responding with, "Why don't you talk to people about your feelings?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

Confusion was written clearly on his face when he looked back, but it segued quickly into a scowl. "There are no feelings to speak of, except those I make plainly known."

[maraich]

Maraich smirked a bit, "I hope you don't expect me to believe that. Because I'm not going to."

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth set his jaw determinedly. "You were willing to speak to at least two others about it."

[maraich]

Maraich raised his eyebrow a bit. He really honestly didn't understand this sort of thing?

"Maybe, but there's no chance of being rejected by them," he answered.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"There's little point in being coy about such things. Refusing to make yourself known produces no results, positive or negative."

He frowned, then nodded at the lovingly decorated box. "You expected rejection, yet you did this?"

[maraich]

He sighed. He hadn't really come over to explain the birds and the bees.

He placed a hand on his hip, "How can you 'scold' me when you're beating around the bush right now? I did what I wanted to do."

[samuraiprosecutor]

His frown became a scowl, his gaze darkening and his lips becoming a tight line. "Beating around the bush? I thought I'd already made myself clear."

[maraich]

"You haven't answered my question. Why not?" he repeated it.

[samuraiprosecutor]

His scowl didn't soften but his voice did, slightly. "Because of the intentions behind it."

[maraich]

"You make it sound like someone's out to get you," he wasn't taking Edgeworth too seriously. He thought he was over-reacting.

[samuraiprosecutor]

"Aren't you?" He tilted his chin up, suppressing the useless urge to cross his arms.

[maraich]

"Not in a bad way."

[samuraiprosecutor]

"That is entirely a matter of opinion."

[maraich]

"So you think it's a bad thing?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

"For me, yes, it is."

At his side Sigi whined quietly, and he absently petted the dog's head, his gaze dropping to the side. "I've said in the past I have no desire for...emotional entanglements."

[maraich]

"Right," he answered very monotone. He stood quietly in place for awhile. For the moment he was doing his best to keep his expression from wavering. This was the sort of risk anyone had to take with love.

He held out the box again, "Take it anyway."

[samuraiprosecutor]

As the silence stretched on Edgeworth looked back at Maraich - standing in the doorway with an indecipherable expression on his perfect face - and his brows furrowed, uncertainty flashing across his features. Despite the advances he'd spurned over the years (from those few co-workers who'd been brave enough to not be put off entirely by his unapproachable demeanor) he'd never had to turn down anyone whose company he actually enjoyed; never rejected anyone he wished to keep contact with after.

But letting the man labor under false hope would serve no purpose. Being anything less than stern with him would only delay the inevitable.

Maraich suddenly offered the box to him again, and in spite of his conviction he couldn't do anything more than stare at it for several long moments. "Why? I can't accept it in the way you wish."

[maraich]

"Knock it off. It's because I made it for you," he retorted, still holding it out. He had no intention of leaving there with that box. And, at this point, he didn't want to stick around any longer than he had to.

[samuraiprosecutor]

After a long pause he reached out and took the box awkwardly in his left hand. Upon closer inspection he could better see the skill with which it had been decorated. A sweet, easily recognizable scent drifted up from the box and he shut his eyes, breathing deeply. When he opened them he noticed Sigi lifting his head and sniffing curiously at the box as well.

Finally he returned his gaze to Maraich's. "I'm sorry you..." He paused, averted his eyes but forced himself to look back. "I'm...sorry."

[maraich]

Maraich was still holding himself together. He didn't know how to respond to Edgeworth, so he stayed silent for a bit after that.

Then, shifting gears, he stepped back and wrapped his hands around the handles of the stroller, "Well, that's all we came here for. We need to get going before it's too dark."

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth was grateful when the awkward silence was finally broken, but unsure of what to say in response. Eventually he settled on a somber nod.

[maraich]

"Well then," he gave a half-hearted wave and started heading back down the hallway to the elevator.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Miles watched him go, knowing something should be said but unsure of what. When Maraich rolled the stroller into the elevator he finally stepped back into his apartment, shutting the door (after some fumbling and shifting of balance) with his foot.

He carried the box to the living room, setting it gently on the ottoman before sitting on the couch. When he opened the box he was immediately enveloped by the comforting, sweet scent of the freshly baked sugar cookies inside.

It was a long time before he could bring himself to eat one.