[RL 55: In the dog house; Edgeworth, Phoenix, Trucy]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Sigi heralds his arrival, getting to his feet and trotting to the door before there's any sound out in the hall. the dog's a little slower than he used to be, but still just as excited to have his master home.]

[Edgeworth comes in without a word, discards his coat at the hall tree, his briefcase on the sofa table, his keys in the decorative bowl that's received them as long as he's been in this apartment. He meets Phoenix's gaze for a moment while he stands behind the sofa and pets the dog.] Has Sigi been fed yet?

Comments

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix nods slowly, going quiet for a moment. Eventually, he meets Edgeworth's gaze with uncertainty.]

What if she doesn't understand? I mean... What if she-- What if she can't?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Phoenix's worry is reflected in Edgeworth's eyes, but he tries to mask it with a halfhearted smirk.] She's a clever child, Wright. Too clever for her own good, half the time. I doubt she'll have much trouble grasping this.

[attorneyatlol]

No, I mean... What if she doesn't take it well?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[This time he does a better job of hiding the fact that he's concerned over the same thing. His partner doesn't need to see hesitation or uncertainty now.]

Why wouldn't she? She's open-minded. She's already been exposed to the concept several times, so it shouldn't be a great shock to her. Our...lifestyle isn't exactly discreet. From a practical standpoint, very little will change for her.

[attorneyatlol]

I know, but... [...but what? There really isn't anything he can argue. Miles is right, Phoenix knows it, and he knows it's his own hang-ups that are keeping him from telling his daughter what he should have told her ages ago.]

[He sighs and drops his gaze again, running a hand through his hair.]

...I know. I know, I know... I should've explained it in the beginning.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[dryly] You should have.

[He gives Phoenix a shrug; the gesture's deceptively casual, as always the perfect cover.] But you've still got the opportunity to rectify the error. If your luck holds, we may even manage to avoid any substantial damage altogether.

[attorneyatlol]

[nods] I guess we can tell her tomorrow...

[samuraiprosecutor]

[He doesn't catch himself in time.] We?

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix turns to look at him.] Well, yeah... What, you don't want to be there?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Suddenly his sandwich seems to be stealing his attention.] No, I... I only thought it would be easier for you to address the subject without outside interference.

[He quickly realizes how bad that sounds and hurries to amend it.] I wouldn't want to make her feel awkward or...as if she has to censor herself.

[attorneyatlol]

Miles... [turns to face him fully] She's yours, too, you know. I mean... She might as well be.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[It's a long time before he can tear his fear-and-awe-laden gaze away from Phoenix and force a thin, uncertain smile onto his lips.]

...We'll tell her tomorrow.

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix is silent for a moment, studying Edgeworth thoughtfully, before he leans forward and wraps his arm around the other man's shoulders, pulling him into a hug.]

It'll be fine. [He presses a kiss against Miles' temple and stays there.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Miles releases a breath and lets himself be drawn in to a warmth that makes it too easy to believe it's true. Dinner temporarily forgotten, he gently places his palms on Phoenix's arms and leans back, content to dwell in this, if only for a little while.]

[magicalhalfpint]

[A sleepy voice can be heard just outside the kitchen.] Daddy? Daddy... [And in comes Trucy, rubbing at her eyes.] There you are!

[attorneyatlol]

[Having been caught up in the moment, Phoenix jumps at the sound of Trucy's voice. When she walks in, he tenses slightly but doesn't pull away from Miles.]

Hey, sweetie. [He smiles awkwardly.] Sorry, I didn't want to wake you.

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Edgeworth would have pulled away himself, but Phoenix's grip makes that difficult. He has to settle for dropping his hands to the island and sitting up straight as his partner will let him.]

[a little awkwardly] Good evening, Trucy.

[magicalhalfpint]

Hi, Mr. Edgeworth. [She drops her arm to her side and stares at them blearily for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes brighten, and all traces of sleepiness vanish.]

Are you guys cuddling!?

[attorneyatlol]

Wh-- uh. [Phoenix immediately freezes at that, just barely quashing a reflexive denial from coming out of his mouth. He then glances down at Edgeworth, silently asking what he should say.] Are we, uh... cuddling?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Unfortunately, all Edgeworth can offer him is a horror-struck expression. He's barely had the chance to begin to prepare for this conversation yet. Expecting him to improvise at a second's notice is simply ludicrous.]

[magicalhalfpint]

[Fortunately, Trucy seems to have decided for them.]

You are! So that means you're dating, right!? That's what Pearls said!

[attorneyatlol]

P-Pearls... [Phoenix wasn't much better off than Miles. After directing a horror-struck expression of his own at Trucy, he finally manages to clear his throat and slowly pulls away from Edgeworth.]

Trucy, um... Why don't you sit down for a second, huh? We should probably... talk about something... [At that he turns to Miles and looks at him as if to say, 'Now's as good a time as any, right? ...Right?']

[samuraiprosecutor]

[The loss of contact leaves him feeling uncharacteristically vulnerable. They're frightened of a child, for God's sake! There was absolutely no reason for them to behave in this manner.]

[Edgeworth shoves his momentary weakness aside and gives a confident nod (solely to reassure Wright, of course).] I think this conversation would be better suited to the living room.

[magicalhalfpint]

[Trucy's expression fell slightly.]

Is something the matter?

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix shook his head as he stepped from behind the island and herded her into the living room. He glanced over his shoulder at Edgeworth as he spoke.]

No, we just... There's something we probably should've told you a while ago. It's about that promise I made you...