Summary: Larry, Phoenix and Miles decide to start a tradition for just the three of them to do together as friends. What starts as a silly tradition turns into something much greater that could bond the three of them together.

Young Phoenix and his two best friends Larry and Miles decided that they wanted their own hangout that would only be for them. They decided to meet up at the corner of the playground during recess. Once there, they sat on the ground and began thinking ideas.

"Maybe we can make a clubhouse or something. Edgey, you got a tree in the backyard to make a tree house?" Larry asked.

"My father and I live in an apartment, you dimwit," Miles replied.

"Sorry, I didn't know. I thought at least one of us had a house and a backyard. I've always wanted to play in a backyard, but my sister is all like 'we can't afford a house, idiot brother,'" Larry grumbled.

"The orphanage has a backyard, but it's full of play sets and we're not allowed to build things like that on the trees," Phoenix said sadly.

"This is a waste of time. We meet each other at school. Why do we need a hangout?" Miles asked, arms crossed.

"It's called tradition, man. Once you get yourself a group of three or more friends, you're supposed to set a tradition to hang out every weekend," Larry smirked.

"You just made that up!"

"Nah uh! I see it happen all the time!"

"When?"

"It's on Nickelodeon."

"..... Nick, please restrain me before I choke this guy to death."

Larry shook up, then started crying alligator tears as he whined, "Edgey~ I thought we were friends~"

"Guys, calm down!" Phoenix said as the two friends turned to look at him. "I kinda agree with Larry. It would be nice to find someplace to meet each other, aside from school. We have 3 until 9 of free time with only 10 minutes of recess and lunchtime during school. Don't you want us to hang out a little longer, Miles?"

".... I... suppose it wouldn't hurt. Recess is such a short time... and lunch," Miles muttered, turning his head to the side.

"As I said, we should start a tradition!" Larry smirked, putting his hands to his hips.

"Well, the clubhouse is out of the question, so what other ideas do you have in store oh great Larry Butz?" Miles asked, crossing his arms with his nose in the air.

"Let me think.... hm...."

"At this point, recess will end and we will leave with no hangout in mind."

"Well, it doesn't have to be a tree house. It can be a fort. Maybe we can make one in one of our houses," Phoenix thought.

"Great idea, except you live in an orphanage full of savage little kids that will destroy everything they touch, my father is highly strict and Larry will probably destroy it at his place," Miles said.

"I WOULD NOT!" Larry shouted offendedly.

Phoenix sighed, "it's hopeless."

"Hey! I'm not giving up... I mean in the cartoons, the three best friends usually hang out at a pizza or burger place."

"Larry, we are in the real world. Come back to planet earth," Miles argued.

"HEY! Just because it happens in the cartoons, doesn't mean it can't happen in real life. I mean people in the cartoons eat and sleep and so do we."

"Because, it's common sense."

"Wait, maybe Larry's idea could work. I mean not a pizza or burger place, but there's this noodle stand called Eldoon that sells the most delicious noodles known to man. They say he salts the bowls before pouring the noodles and it makes it taste delicious!" Phoenix said, licking his lips.

"Eldoon?" Miles asked, looking deadpan.

"I've heard of that too. Let's hangout there after school! I'd like to try some of that Eldoon," Larry grinned.

"I still think this is stupid. The only money I get from Father is lunch money," Miles muttered sadly.

"We'll split. Eldoon sells this big bowl of soup that's bigger than my head called the Jumbo Noodle Bowl  for only $6 a bowl. I can't finish it on my own, but maybe we can gather the change leftover from lunch and share it together," Phoenix said.

"That's a great idea! We usually have leftover change like 50 cents from lunch everyday. By the end, we should have at least..." Larry agreed, counting with his fingers. "$2.50 worth of change. Together, we should have..." Larry counted with his fingers again. "$7.50. That can take care of the tax money and the rest can be tip."

"Share it? Nick, that's back-washing! Father says we shouldn't share germs!" Miles said, freaking out.

"It's okay. It will be our little secret for just the three of us. No one will have to know about it. It will be our BFF secret tradition," Larry grinned.

"Is this going to be one of those things were you get us into trouble?" Miles asked with a glare.

"NO! I'm telling ya, it's full proof!"

"The last time you said that, it earned us detention and a scolding from Father," Miles said, his eyes full of guilt for making his father disappointed in him.

"This will be different! It won't be in school, so we won't get detention. Besides, it will only be for an hour or two and you go to the Library all the time to study anyways."

"Eldoon is right in front of the Library actually," Phoenix pointed out.

"There you go! We can have our hangout there every weekend when school is out and have lunch there. If your father asks, just tell him you're studying at the Library. He will never know the difference and he won't know about your back-washing whatever. What do ya say?" Larry asked, hanging that tempting offer over Miles' head.

Miles didn't like lying to his father. Not that he never lied before, but it was usually when he was embarrassed about something or didn't want to reveal his true feelings. To lie about where he was at and doing, for Miles, was a bold face lie. Then again, it wasn't a complete lie. He was going to be at the library and if he studied after eating, then it wouldn't be a lie, right? Hm... maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"Alright, I'll do it, but this better not get me in trouble or I'll kill you, Butzface!" Miles agreed, pointing at Larry.

"Dudes, I got this, you've got nothing to worry about," Larry smirked as Miles groaned. That's what he always said before they got in trouble.

That weekend, the three boys gathered their change and bought the big $6 Jumbo Noodle Bowl. They each got their spoons and started digging in. Usually, Phoenix and Larry would use their change to buy a soda, candy or small toys from the store, but this was worth the sacrifice. Not only did they get the best meal in the world every weekend, but they shared it together. This was the best hangout tradition the three friends had come up with.

Miles felt hesitant at first, but then he began trying his first bite and it felt like something sacred and wonderful. He was sharing a bowl with his two friends. Back-washing might've been a risk for germs, but it was worth the sacrifice. These were his friends and friends share everything together, even germs. Besides, his father wouldn't know, so it was okay, right? Right.

"See, what did I tell ya? I told ya this was the best plan!" Larry grinned, a noodle hanging on the corner of his mouth.

"I suppose. I still feel bad for lying to Father," Miles said sadly.

"It's no biggie. It's just a little white lie. It won't hurt anything!"

"But... don't little white lies grow to bigger lies? That's what Father told me. He says, in court, even the smallest of lies pile on top of other lies. Lawyers can unthread a single testimony from one single thread of a single lie."

"Relax buddy, we're not committing a crime. We're just hanging out and having noodles."

"I suppose."

"Hey, it's okay, Miles. It's as Larry says. We're just having noodles together," Phoenix assured, one hand around Miles.

"You're right. I don't know why I'm so worried. This is the best hangout I've ever been to, even if it's ridiculous," Miles finally agreed, showing a smile on his face. "Anyways, let's eat some more. I'm starving!"

The three friends felt closer than ever before from the small tradition they started every weekend. They'd gather up their change and meet at the Eldoon stand to order the Jumbo Noodle Bowl. Of course, neither Larry or Miles had to explain what they used their leftover change for and the staff at the orphanage didn't pay attention to what Phoenix used his change for. As for where they went, they all claimed to be going to the library where they'd meet up, and order the Noodle Jumbo Bowl before going inside to study together. This way, neither of them had to lie. It was Miles' idea.

It wasn't long, however, before Miles caught himself a really bad flu. Larry caught a cold about a month after the first hangout and didn't know he could spread it if someone ate from him. Thus, he never bothered telling his friends about his cold. Phoenix caught a sniffling cold, but Miles was much worse off. He had to stay home from school that coming Monday. Phoenix and Larry grew worried once they saw their friend was absent from school.

Both having the sniffles, they went to the teacher for Miles' homework, promising to drop it off at his house. The teacher explained Miles' sickness and Larry felt guilty for getting his friend sick. They both followed the address to Miles'apartment with Larry staring at the ground. Phoenix tried cheering him up, but it was no use.

"It's not your fault, Larry," Phoenix tried.

"But, it is! I started this stupid tradition and now, because of it, I got Edgey sick... maybe we should just forget it and stick to hanging out every recess," Larry muttered.

"Don't say tha- ACHOO!" Phoenix said, sneezing before sniffing. "It's not a bad idea. We just need to not eat the same bowl when one of us is sick. We can get a smaller bowl or something for the sick person. I'm sure Mr. Eldoon has a small bowl he can offe- ACHOO!"

"This sucks," Larry said before feeling snot running down his nostril, then began plugging his nose as Phoenix knocked on the door. He began asking in a funny sound from his plugged nose,"Think you can ask for a tissue?"

The door opened and there before the boys was an older man in a pair of slacks and a white collared shirt with glasses. He stared at the boys with a raised eyebrow.

"Hello sir. Are you Miles' father?" Phoenix asked politely.

"Also, you got a tissue? The snot train is making its way as we speak like for reals!"  Larry asked.

"Yes and here," the father replied, getting out a piece of tissue, then covering Larry's nose before it got blown on.

"Thanks, man," Larry thanked. "ACHOO!"

"I think I might need a couple myself,"  Phoenix said in a strange voice, plugging his nose. The father gave him a tissue right away. "Thanks." Phoenix blew on the tissue.

"Seems like you boys are sick too. Why did you come here? Are you Miles' friends?" The father asked, showing a small smile.

"Best friends! Gotta get it right. We're like the Three Caballeros, man. We play together, hangout together..." Larry bragged.

"And, apparently, get sick together," Phoenix said grimly, which made the father laugh.

"I can see that," the father replied, finding the conversation humorous.

"We came to bring Miles' homework. We saw he was absent today," Phoenix said.

"Yeah, I mean you can't call us the Three Caballeros if there's only two. I even had the grand master plan in the works, but I can't do it without Miles nagging at me about getting Detention, as if it ever happens," Larry said, scrunching his lips.

"It did happen, Larry."

"THAT WAS ONLY ONE TIME!"

"So, you're the ones who participated in pouring spaghetti on one of the student's head?" the father asked with widened eyes. He did hear two other students were involved, but...

"THAT SNOT-NOSE RILEY STARTED IT! HE CALLED EDGEY A BOOKWORM LONER AND MADE HIM CRY! WE MADE SURE HE PAID FOR IT!" Larry yelled defensively.

"S-Sorry- ACHOO!" Phoenix admitted, rubbing the back of his head.

"I'm not. Riley got what was coming to him and he sure ain't messing with us no more. Hehehehe."

"I suppose, but Miles still got in trouble," Phoenix said guiltily. "Neither of us got grounded... at least you didn't. I had to clean the kitchen for a week after that."

"No, but we still mailed each other and we helped you out in the kitchen. It's like prison man. Real friends stay in prison together," Larry bragged.

The father seemed to show a small smile, while shaking his head. He said, "why don't you two come in and I'll make some tea for you? Miles is in his room. I'll let him know you two are here and until then, I'll take the homework. Thank you." Phoenix handed him Miles' homework.

"You're welcome!" Larry grinned with his hands behind his head, while walking in with Phoenix, who was sneezing into his elbow.

"Son, you've got some visitors here!" The father called to the hallway with three doors at the end of it.

One of the doors opened and a sick Miles came out with his PJ's on of a cartoon Samurai. He had a box of tissue with him. He dragged his feet before meeting his friends, then raised his eyebrows.

"Hey, Edgey, are you feeling alright? You look like you got hit by a tsunami," Larry said, his voice feeling guilty.

"ACHOO! Larry gave us a cold last Saturday. You know, when we were at the Library," Phoenix said, not noticing the father raising an eyebrow.

"HOW WAS I SUPPOSE TO KNOW YOU CAN TRANSFER COLDS BY... um..." Larry said, not wanting to give away or get Miles in trouble, who was now giving him that cold, hard scary glare. He gulped.

"So... IT WAS YOU!?!" Miles yelled angrily, his face turning a mix of green and red.

"EEEK!" Larry responded fearfully.

"I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE FOLLOWED ALONG! ALL YOUR PLANS GET US INTO TROUBLE, YOU IDIOT!" Miles yelled angrily, leaping out at Larry, about to choke him before Phoenix held him from behind.

"I'm sorry!" Larry cried with crocodile tears, backing up towards the end of the couch, while Miles fought against Phoenix's hold.

"Nick, let go of me, while I kill this jerk and send him straight to heck and back!" Miles cried angrily.

"Miles, stop! He says he's sorry!" Phoenix pleaded.

"Miles, boys, calm down! Now, what exactly is going on?" The father asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

The boys paused as Miles went limp, his eyes feeling hurt and guilty before replying, "nothing. Just a stupid idea I should have never followed that got me sick like this. I don't even know why I'm friends with them."

"Edgey~" Larry whined, crying more crocodile tears.

"Miles, you don't mean it, do you?" Phoenix asked hurtfully.

"Miles, listen to me," Miles'father said, walking to his son. "I don't know exactly what's going on, but this is the first time I've ever seen or heard of you having friends. Honestly, I wish you could've told me. I would've set up some sleepovers. Anyways, from what I'm hearing, that time you got detention, is it true you three poured spaghetti over that kid's head, because he was bullying you and made you cry?"

"... yes," Miles muttered.

"And, is it true after I grounded you that they also sent you letters and that you and that Larry kid helped out Phoenix in the kitchen of the orphanage he lives at?"

"Yes."

"Then, you've got some loyal friends there. They seem quite a handful, especially that Larry kid. Though, friends like that are a dime a dozen. You will regret it, if you let them go."

"I guess. I'm still mad at Larry and I really want to choke him right now," Miles said, folding his arms.

"That's fine. But, if you do that, wait until you get better and take it outside."

"Yes, Father," Miles said.

"Also, how did you get sick and don't lie to me," the father said, showing a tiny smirk at the last few words.

Miles paused, then asked, "will you get mad at me?"

".... I'll try not to. Now, what's this that's got you sick?"

"... we... Larry had this idea of us meeting at Eldoon's noodle stand as our hangout. We gather our change from our lunch money at the end of the week to buy a Jumbo Noodle Bowl for $6 and share it. Afterwards, we go to the library to study. Larry had a cold and apparently didn't know viruses can spread, if you share your dinner with other people."

"Ah, I see. Why'd you think you'd get in trouble for that?"

"I was back-washing. You always tell me I shouldn't backwash; eat or drink off of someone else. I didn't want you to get upset."

"Well..." the father said, looking as if he was trying not to laugh. "yes, but only because I'm teaching you to respect other people. Most people consider that offensive, but if it's just your friends and they're alright with it, then it's okay. Just don't do it in my house, alright."

"Are you sure? But... I thought..."Miles asked, looking very shocked before his father patted him on the head.

"Son, do you really see me as a stickler to the rules or something?"

"N-No, of course not! I know you love me and that's why the rules exist, but... I don't want to disappoint you like you always do when I break the rules."

"Son," his father said, hugging Miles, who hugged his father back, sniffing from the flu. "I love you too and I do expect you to follow the house rules, but they are house rules, meaning they don't apply outside the house. Take roughhousing for instance."

"Oh."

"With that said, I do expect you to behave around others outside the house and in school. It doesn't mean that certain rules you follow in the house need to be followed, if it's allowed, like snorting, spitting, getting dirty, playing rough or back-washing. If you and your friends want to start a tradition that includes back-washing, then by all means back-wash to your heart's content. Just make sure neither of you are sick or else... well... I think you already know."

"ACHOO!" Phoenix sneezed, sniffing. "Yeah, getting sick isn't fun. The last time I got sick, I was accused of stealing lunch money."

"I blame the teacher's incompetence. Honestly, had she waited until the administrator of the orphanage returned the call, non of that would've happened. The class trial was a waste of time," Miles said, folding his arms.

"I'll cook you boys some soup. No back-washing in my house, though. Save that for outside the house," the father said with a smile.

"Yes sir!" the two boys replied.

"Yes Father," Miles said, sighing in relief before plopping onto the couch.

"We're totally going to continue this tradition!" Larry grinned. "I told ya my plan was the best."

"Shut it! I'm sick because of you," Miles complained.

"I said I was sorry~"

"We can make a rule, so this doesn't happen anymore. From now on, if one of us gets sick, we'll warn each other and ask Mr. Eldoon to give us a small to-go bowl for the sick person," Phoenix decided.

"Sounds good," Miles agreed.

"Okay. This is going to be the best tradition ever! I just know it!" Larry laughed victoriously.

******** 16 YEARS LATER********

Miles had just been released from the Detention Center after being proven Not Guilty for the murder of Robert Hammond and his father's murder 15 years ago. It seemed such a short time ago and now he was finally free. Phoenix waited for him before leading him out of the Detention Center. Miles owed this man for saving him and sticking with him, even when trying to push him away so many times.

"Wright, I owe you a thanks for everything," Edgeworth said.

"Hey, you're my friend. That's what friends do," Phoenix said.

"Hm... I wouldn't consider myself a good friend. Friends also are supposed to be in prison together and yet, here you are defending me after I tried pushing you away. Even Larry is willing to defend me, after avoiding him for all these years."

"Hahaha, I wouldn't go that far. Larry also got himself inside the Detention Center under suspicion of murdering his lover. I don't think friendship has rules like that. What you see is what you get. I think even Larry has learned that not all friendships follow what cartoons or Nickelodeon teaches."

"I suppose. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, please tell me. I don't think there's any amount of money I have to repay you for everything you've done."

"Edgeworth, you're over-dramatizing this.... though, there is one thing you can do."

"Tell me!" Edgeworth said with his bold seriousness.

"Eldoon. Mr. Eldoon's son took over, but his noodles are still great. Now, that you're back, I think we can restart our tradition. They still have the Jumbo Noodle Bowl for $6."

"Hm... I suppose we could order three Jumbo Bowls, though I don't know if I can finish it."

"Nope. We are doing it like when we were kids. One bowl for the three of us," Phoenix grinned.

"Wh-Wha- Phoenix Wright, you can't be serious! That's disgusting and we're not children anymore that have to gather up loose change from our lunch money to buy a bowl of noodles!"

"Co'mon Miles! Now, you're being stingy to the rules! Remember what your father said? House rules only apply inside the house. It's okay to break a few of them, if it's allowed. Besides... it's not the same without you. After you left, we stopped going to Eldoon, because it was too depressing. We missed you. We want our Miles back. Why do you think I became a lawyer?" Phoenix pleaded sadly as Miles rose his eyebrows,eyes feeling guilty.

"Wright."

"I even miss you calling me Nick. I know it's childish, but you're not the only one effected by DL-6. Larry and I were too, because it took away our best friend, our Caballero. We want our Miles, our Edgey back. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase~"

Miles sighed, "I suppose I can make this an exception. Though, it can't be every weekend. I work, as you know, and I'm sure Larry is busy with whatever he has going on. Let's make it every month and, if I or any one of us has to travel out of the country for whatever reason, we will make it a year."

"That sounds like a plan."

"Hm," Edgeworth hummed, not being sure why he agreed to this, but perhaps it was worth it.

Miles walked with Phoenix to Eldoon where Larry was there waiting for his two best friends. He shouted, "HEY! WHAT TOOK YOU GUYS SO LONG!?! The bowl's gonna get cold, if we don't hurry!"

"Larry, you truly are ridiculous, but I owe you and Wright for saving me," Miles sighed, showing a small smile.

"Oh no! We're not eating this bowl, until you start calling our Nicky boy here Nick. You've been gone for 15 years, man! I mean we even tried calling you and you just ignored us! You made Nick give up on his dreams as a Playwright! You will drop the informality and start being our Edgey again, you hear?" Larry said seriously.

"My apologies. Compared to my father, Von Karma really was a stingy man. Compared to how I'm acting, I really did miss you both, Larry and... Nick. I'll do my best to drop some informality, while I'm here," Miles promised, smiling at his two friends.

"That's better."

"You called me Nick again!" Phoenix cried happily, hugging Miles. "I missed you too, Miles! How can you leave us like this!?"

"Ugh... um... my apologies," Miles muttered, awkwardly patting Phoenix on the back. "I never knew you took it this strongly."

"Then, don't leave us hanging for this long again!" Larry cried.

"Fine. At the very least, I'll be sure to visit monthly, yearly if I'm traveling abroad."

"Fair enough. Anyways, let's eat up!" Larry grinned happily as they each ate from the Jumbo Noodle Bowl.

Miles ate from the same bowl and felt the same warmth he felt as a child. All three of them were back-washing, no doubt, but it felt natural and it connected them. Miles had learned throughout the years that each connections with his loved ones were different. For the Von Karma's, it was the cravat, and for Wright and Co. Law Offices, it was burger joint hangouts. Each relationships were different, but Miles' relationship with these two was timeless.

A/N: I wanted to write something cute and silly. I like writing about the three friends. It seems like a good formula for a cute slice-of-life school drama. I'm hoping to write more about these three and their shenanigans during their elementary school days.