[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

[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...

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Edgeworth hurriedly cleared off the island, putting the rest of his sandwich in the fridge before he followed them into the living room and took a seat in the armchair. He stayed silent as Wright began the conversation: he may have been a part of this, but said promise was between Phoenix and his daughter. He had no intention of claiming any responsibility for breaking it or speaking out of turn.]

...whoops, we went into past tense there...

[magicalhalfpint]

[Trucy sits on the couch, looking at her daddy expectantly, her expression neutral.]

About getting a Mommy?

[attorneyatlol]

Um, yeah... About that...

[With a sigh, he sits down next to her and drums his fingers on his knees, trying to think of the best way to go about this.] When I said that, I didn't think that... Well, I didn't think. I mean, I meant that I'd promise to do my best to try, but... Er...

[After a moment, he trails off, knowing that he's likely failing at this. He looks to Edgeworth for help.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[The look he got in return says clearly that he doesn't appreciate being put on the spot. It's a while before Edgeworth turns hesitantly to Trucy.] What your father means is he should never have promised something over which he'd have no control. Relationships...can't be forced.

[magicalhalfpint]

[Trucy bows her head and nods.] Sorry...

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix wraps an arm around her, pulling her towards him.]

Hey, hey... It's not your fault. Miles is right; I never should've made you a promise like that in the first place. Especially when... [He pauses to take a breath, swallowing around the nervous lump that's been forming in his throat. He continues, quieter:] Especially when there's already someone who's that important to me.

[At that, he looks at Miles again, this time apologetically; he never should have kept this from Trucy, and he's feeling the full force of that regret as he speaks.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Miles feels awkward, completely out of his depth. It's a feeling he can't stand; he always does his best to either be over-prepared for any situation or avoid altogether scenarios that might lead to anything like it, but in this case neither would have been an option. He holds Phoenix's gaze as long as he can then lowers his.] The apology applies to both of us, Trucy. I never intended to...keep you from something you want.

[magicalhalfpint]

[Trucy looks up at Mr. Edgeworth, then turns to look at her daddy, who's frowning at Miles. She isn't quite sure what Mr. Edgeworth means, but she can sense that he's sad in the way that he holds himself.

Without a word, she stands, closes the distance between them, then and wraps her arms around his waist, resting her head on his stomach.]

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix watches the scene, unable to keep a smile from his face. There's still a hint of concern in his expression as he looks at Miles, however. Is that how he feels? Like he's keeping Trucy from having a mom...?]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[That...isn't the reaction he was expecting. Edgeworth leans back, lifts his arms as if he's afraid to touch the girl, and gives Wright a look that's somewhere between bewilderment and pleading.]

[After a few seconds of hesitation he tentatively lowers his arms and wraps them (very loosely) around her tiny shoulders.]

[magicalhalfpint]

[Trucy's little arms squeeze tighter when he wraps his arms around her.]

Crona said I could have a grown up friend that's like a mommy.

[attorneyatlol]

[Phoenix remains silent and observes, feeling that this moment between Miles and Trucy is important and should go uninterrupted. He makes a mental note to find this Crona person and thank them for giving good advice.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Something in his chest clenches in response to that squeeze, but it's subtle, easily ignored. He leans back a bit, keeping his hands on her shoulders. The hint of a smile quirks his lips.] It's possible. Relationships can't be forced, but they have a tendency to...develop where they're needed.

[The look he shoots Phoenix is brief and bright with implications.]

[magicalhalfpint]

Then if I need a mommy, I'm sure one will come to me somehow! [She crawls up into his lap without warning and tucks her head under his chin.] I'm happy with my daddies.

[attorneyatlol]

[Something in Phoenix's chest clenches, as well, and the lump that was in his throat returns. He stands and makes his way to the armchair where he kneels down, at eye level with Trucy.]

So... do you understand, then? The kind of relationship me and Miles have...?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Miles falls back against the cushions when he suddenly finds his lap full of child. He shoots Phoenix a comically wide-eyed stare before hesitantly enfolding Trucy in his arms again and awkwardly averting his eyes. He's still not used to this sort of display. Even if Wright's the only witness, it feels strange to participate in it.]

[Strange...though not necessarily in a negative way.]

[magicalhalfpint]

[Trucy's head bobs in reply.]

Mr. Edgeworth isn't like another daddy; he is another daddy! Right, Mr. Edgeworth? [She pulls back and looks up at him brightly.]