[RL 4: Chicken Soup for the Prosecutor's Soul - Phoenix, Edgeworth, Zelos]

[samuraiprosecutor]

He had given in, eventually; perhaps easier than he would have done under normal circumstances. It had been obvious none of the parties were about to yield and, more and more, his body seemed to be protesting the very thought of moving. So, as the ache sang through him and mingled with the pounding in his head to reach a crescendo, he accepted his fate.

Almost four in the morning and he was waiting for a fool of an attorney to bring him chicken noodle soup. He would laugh at the thought, but he knew even that simple act would prove painful.

Sigi had been closed up in the back bathroom, temporarily, though the dog had given him a look that would have been reproachful on a human face. Miles had also made a valiant effort to change into something suitable, but had been forced to settle for a long robe tied tightly over his pajamas. A quick once-over of the living room (he didn't plan on letting Wright get any further than that) before he unlocked the door, then retreated to his office to continue his work.

Within fifteen minutes he was asleep on his keyboard.

Comments

[attorneyatlol]

Phoenix instinctively backed up a step when Edgeworth stood (the prosecutor simply had an air that demanded more room) and rolled his eyes as he leaned over to grab the paper bag. “At least eat your soup first. Maraich cooked it up for you, home-made.” He opened the bag and pulled out a pill bottle and an opened box of Tylenol Flu, offering them both to Edgeworth. “And take some medicine, will you? You look like crap.”

[notwhatyouget.livejournal.com]

"Well~," Zelos started, "that was the plan originally, but Maraich was very insistent that his soup get to you, so how could we say no~?" He crossed his arms and grinned at Miles. "Besides, what difference does it make? He promised to bring you soup, and so he did. I'm just along for the ride~."

His eyes may have narrowed every so slightly at Edgeworth's comment about continuing his work. If they did, it was just barely noticeable. "I don't believe that was quite our reason for waking you up, you know. If you were as up for work as you seem to think, you wouldn't have fallen asleep on your keyboard, would you~?"

[samuraiprosecutor]

"Maraich takes too many liberties. But then, so does everyone else in that place. Present company included."

Edgeworth turned away, bending slightly over his computer, reminded of- The document he'd had open was filled with lines of 'n's. He cursed almost inaudibly under his breath, leaning over his chair to grab the mouse, clicking on the window, and cursing again when the 'encountered an error and needs to close' message popped up. He couldn't remember the last time he'd saved...

He turned on Zelos with a scowl. "Well I am wide awake now, whatever your reason, and apparently with even more work to do."

Giving the offered medicines only a cursory glance, Edgeworth snatched the paper bag from Wright's hand and stalked out of the room. He allowed five seconds of silence to pass before calling back over his shoulder, "Out of the office." When he reached the living room he paused to make sure the order was obeyed.

[notwhatyouget.livejournal.com]

"And just think, said present company is taking all these liberties just for you~," Zelos couldn't help but point out, his voice once again laced with amusement.

As soon as Miles was out of the room, Zelos quickly made his way over to the computer. He hadn't missed the look of agitation that had passed over Miles' face and the accompanying message window that had popped up on the computer screen, and he had taken the liberty of assuming that Miles' comment about having more work to do was related, so he figured that something must have happened to whatever it was he had deemed more important than sleep.

Looking through the list of recent documents easily showed that Miles' word processor of choice was apparently a program called Microsoft Word. He opened the program, hands flying over the keyboard. Distantly, he heard Miles demand they leave the office, and realized he wasn't sure if Phoenix was still in the office or not, but he was intent on finishing his task.

Finally sat back and admired his handiwork, grinning as he exited the room. He picked up the abandoned Omega Shield on his way out, and made his way back to the living room. They still needed to make sure he took some of that medicine that Phoenix had gotten, and partook of Maraich's soup, after all.

The computer screen was left, the document that Miles had been working on open and saved (on his desktop, where it would be easy to find).

And at the end of the document was a small heart.

[attorneyatlol]

As if the response had been expected, Phoenix didn’t even flinch when Edgeworth snatched the bag away. He watched Edgeworth leave the room, and took a few steps with the intention of following, but was distracted when Zelos crossed the room and stopped at the computer. Phoenix was surprised… and somewhat alarmed.

“What are you doing,” he demanded under his breath, but Zelos either ignored him or didn’t hear him, and Phoenix was not about to be privy to the details of what was sure to be some type of conspiracy, so he quickly fled the office, medicine still in hand.

He caught up with Edgeworth in the living room, took note of the unusual slouch in the other man’s stance, the beginnings of gray circles under his eyes, and sighed. He shook the pill bottle—filled with Phoenix’s cold medicine of choice, Coldkiller X—with a reprimanding gesture in Edgeworth’s direction. “We didn’t come all this way to have you work more—we came here to deliver your soup and make sure you get the rest that you obviously need.” Not breaking eye contact, he thrust the bottle and the box toward Edgeworth’s hand, glaring as if he dared Edgeworth not to take them.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth bristled at Wright's obvious challenge, his eyes narrowing perceptibly as he glanced down at the medicines the attorney had rudely shoved at him.

"You came here to play delivery boy, as far as I'm concerned." He grabbed the bottle and the box awkwardly, one-handed. "Now you've done so. Don't let me take up any more of your precious time."

He realized suddenly that Wilder was still in his office, just as the man himself appeared in the hall, wearing a self-satisfied grin that set off all of Edgeworth's internal alarms and...carrying what appeared to be a large shield.

Covering his confusion with a glare, Edgeworth said, "What were you doing in there? And...what is that?"

[notwhatyouget.livejournal.com]

From what Zelos was able to overhear from the office, Miles wasn't all that thrilled with the medicine Phoenix had brought for him. The look on the prosecutor's face as he came down the hallway and into the living room seemed to confirm this. His attention was called away from Miles' mood, however, as he was now speaking to him...and of course, accompanied by a glare. Why wasn't he surprised?

"Nothing, nothing," Zelos responded, grin never leaving his face. "And this? Is for you. It's an Omega Shield. It's supposed to have restorative properties. I don't really know if it'd do anything for the flu, but it's always worth a try, right?" He grin softened a little, into more of a smile, almost barely noticeable.

He would have handed it to Miles, had the man not already been holding the medicine that Phoenix had given him. Instead, he settled on setting the shield gently down on the nearby couch.

[attorneyatlol]

“We came here to make sure you were all right,” Phoenix grumbled, even as the other man took the proffered items from him. “And we’re not leaving until you take some medicine.”

When Edgeworth’s attention turned back to the office (and Phoenix did well to notice the moment of perplexity on his face), the defense attorney followed his gaze, and the amusement of the situation—however unwarranted it was at this point—suddenly struck him: they must have looked quite the pair walking into the apartment complex, one wearing a surgical mask and the other carrying a large shield. One could only hope no one had seen them, or Edgeworth would likely have some explaining to do.

[samuraiprosecutor]

Edgeworth watched as Zelos set the shield down; from his expression one might almost think Zelos had just sat down on the couch and propped his mud-covered boots up on the leather ottoman.

The shield contained a gold omega symbol on a bright green field, and silvery metal glinted on its edge. It would clash horribly with his decor, except perhaps in the kitchen. But who would hang a shield in their kitchen? "I would guess this soup has more 'restorative properties' than that thing could ever claim."

Turning his attention back to Wright, Edgeworth said, "And if that's the requirement for your exit, you'll be here for a while yet. I'm not taking that on an empty stomach." He eyed the surgical mask again, contempt clear in his eyes.

"Why are you wearing that ridiculous thing? I thought your vaunted vaccine was supposed to protect you. No one saw you coming in, did they?"

[notwhatyouget.livejournal.com]

As Zelos turned back around after setting the shield down, he caught sight of Miles' indignant look. He rolled his eyes playfully in response. "That shield is perfectly clean, and no harm is coming to your couch." He had bought the shield new from Trupelos, and had taken extra care to make sure it was spotless, given everything he knew about Miles' disposition.

Zelos raised an eyebrow at the following comment. "It's hard telling what will happen with the shield here, since you guys don't have mana. However, I've used an Omega Shield before, and when you're battling? You can definitely feel its effects." He cocked his head to the side, grinning again. "Can't say I've ever tried it with soup, though."

He watched as Miles addressed Phoenix, and chose to jump in to the conversation. "I'm sure Phoenix would love to stay to make sure you take it. And I've got nothing better to do~." That was inviting trouble, he was almost sure, but hey, at least it would make things interesting.

...judging by the look Miles gave Phoenix's surgical mask, Zelos guessed that their feelings regarding it were about the same. Good to know. This was confirmed by the comment that followed. Unlike Zelos, however, Miles was concerned with what people might think about it. "I don't recall seeing or hearing anyone around. So no, I don't think anyone saw us."