Work Text:
Miles' heart practically burst out of his chest as he was startled awake by the violent buzzing of his phone. He fumbled around rather frantically in a state of nauseous panic, barely managing to turn on the lamp that sat on his beside-table and answer the call.
He didn't even have to speak before another voice rang out over the line.
"Miles! Good morning! Trucy and I were making pancakes and she said we should give you a call- Truce, say hi!"
"Howdy, uncle Edgeworth!"
By this time, the panic had died down and Edgeworth found he could breathe again, a heavy grog settling over him as his heart rate finally began to drop.
"Mor- Wha- Wright? It's three am, what are you doing?" He let out a sigh, shuffling around to lean against the smooth oak headboard of his king-sized bed. His voice was thick with sleep and quite audibly strained.
"What are talking about? It's, like, ten o'clo- oh! Oh."
He shook his head as realisation dawned on the defence attorney on the other end.
"Yes, for you, perhaps, but here it's-" he glanced at the clock standing in the corner of his room and groaned "not even three, apparently."
"Miles, I'm so sorry, I-" Phoenix's rambling was cut short by a soft chuckle from Edgeworth, a gentle smile lifting his lips in return. The expression quickly fell as the silence dragged on. "We miss you, Miles," he lowered his voice, the words barely making it through the line, "I miss you."
Edgeworth hummed in reply, closing his eyes briefly before releasing a heavy sigh. "Me too, Phoenix."
There was quiet again, nothing but the sounds of Phoenix's gentle breaths through his cell phone. It was nearly as warm as it was in person, bodies tangled on the couch, his ear pressed against his chest, listening carefully as he breathed, usually unable to even notice what they were watching on the television. Miles sighed again.
———
It was a bright Saturday morning, the 10 am sun streamed in through the window that sat just above the kitchen counter, a gentle breeze drifting through the small, cluttered room.
"Are you just not going to say anything? 'Cause if not, can I please talk to Uncle Edgeworth?"
His daughter's chipper voice broke him from his trance, his eyes finally moving from the tree they had been trained on out the window. He smiled.
"Trucy wants to know if she can talk to you now."
"Of course she can."
Trucy handed her father the spoon she was using to mix the pancake batter and took the old battered flip phone in exchange, not even having to wait for the reply. Uncle Edgeworth would always talk to her. Uncle Edgeworth would do anything for her.
"Just don't be too long, he still needs to sleep, it's early for him." Phoenix scooted around his daughter and took up the bowl of batter, mixing the contents with a very soft smile.
"Yes, dad." She drew his name out with an eye roll before finally bringing the phone to her ear, "Uncle Edgeworth! It's Trucy!"
Phoenix chuckled to himself as she chattered to Miles beside him, mixing the lumpy batter with a slight shake of his head.
"Yes, you need to get home quick." He heard his daughter demand, leaving her spot at the bench to march into the living room. He only just caught the last part, "Daddy misses you and I'm the one who has to suffer for it."
At that Phoenix found himself laughing rather heartily, his shoulders bouncing so violently he almost dropped the pancake mixture.
Even if she was exaggerating ever so slightly, he couldn't help but feel the slight sting of truth at Trucy's words. He had been rather... suffocating lately, even he had to admit it. The other day he insisted that she cancel on some friends to spend the evening with him instead, promising her favourite takeout and a movie of her choosing. Of course, Trucy would happily oblige, but after the fourth bail it was understandable that she would be... concerned.
He sighed, pushing away his thoughts and instead busying himself with the frying pan. It was sad really, the only reason he could even remember how to cook pancakes was because it was Miles who had taught him how to.
Phoenix closed his eyes with a rough grunt, leaning against the counter top much like he would have in court. The familiarity of the position immediately bought an image to his mind, his thoughts now spilling with silky grey locks and perfect posture. Man, did Phoenix really hate himself right now. He was doing exactly what he had been trying not to do for the last three weeks. He was thinking about Miles.
———
"-you should have seen him, he was so surprised when I pulled his dog out of my magic panties! And the dog was so soft! She reminded me of Pess."
The sweet scent of maple syrup and butter wafted across the room as Phoenix set the plate of fresh pancakes on the table in front of his daughter.
"Alright, Trucy, let Uncle Edgeworth get some rest."
She gave him the saddest pout she could muster, but relented as he pulled out his dad posture, sternly raising his eyebrows and holding out his hand for the phone.
"Oh, alright," she sighed, slumping back into the chair, "I hope you'll bring Pess over when you come visit next. I miss you, papa- yes- yeah, I love you too. Bye." She finished her goodbye quietly, handing her father the phone without a word and turning to pop a few pancakes on her plate.
Phoenix thanked her before stepping into the kitchen to finish the phone call.
"Papa, hey? That's new." He mused, stopping to lean his back against the counter top, carefully avoiding the flour and milk that had been scattered across the bench from the pancakes.
Edgeworth chuckled lightly, the sound causing a pleasant warmth to fizzle across his chest.
"It's not, actually." He returned matter-of-factly, the tone suggesting he was proud to share this little thing between just the two of them.
"Huh," phoenix touched his free hand to his chin in thought, "does that mean I can call you-"
"No, it does not."
At that, Phoenix laughed, trust edgeworth to be two steps ahead - even in the middle of the night.
"you lost your nickname privileges last Christmas, remember?"
Oh, Phoenix remembered alright. He'd spent the whole Wright anything Christmas party calling after him by the name 'edgey-poo', in reference to the rather extravagant bouquet he received as a holiday gift from Wendy Oldbag.
"That's fair," he shook his head fondly at the memory, "totally worth it though."
They both stood in comfortable silence once again, reminiscing a time where they were both in each others presence. The quiet was so relaxing he could barely bring himself to speak.
"I should probably let you go." He said finally, disappointed grabbing at his stomach at the thought of Miles leaving again.
He shut his eyes briefly, reminding himself that it was less than a week before he got back, he'd just have to hang on for a few more days.
———
Miles glanced at the clock again. It really was late - or rather, early - and he knew he'd run the risk of over sleeping if he didn't get back to sleep soon. "I suppose you should." He responded with a sigh, a similar feeling tugging at his own stomach, "but, one thing before you go, Wright."
"Yes?" Phoenix answered almost too quickly, not that he minded in the slightest.
In fact, it made the corner of his mouth quirk up ever so slightly.
"I thought, perhaps, next time I go away..." he paused, desperately trying to find the right words to say, "well, I had wondered if you and Trucy would consider accompanying me. It'd be my treat, of course, all I request is that you be here..."
Edgeworth's stomach sank at the lack of response. He had been to forward and now he'd ruined it. How could he even think that he'd be able to just waltz back into his life after leaving him in his time of need. How could he be so foolish?
A sniffle from the other end of the line pulled him from his thoughts. Had he made him cry? Oh great, Edgeworth had made him cry.
"Thank you, Miles." Phoenix's voice gave way half way through the sentence, causing a sharp tug in the bottom of his stomach.
He was... thanking him?
Miles hesitated, "w-why are you thanking me?"
Again there was a pause, the soft sound of Phoenix shaky breaths filling the silence.
Finally he spoke, "because you've been so helpful to me... and I don't know what else to say, I- you... thank you."
He had to blink back tears of his own, now. What Phoenix had said wasn't anything he hadn't said before, but it was something in the way he had said it... and maybe the fact that it was close to four am didn't particularly help.
He wondered what he should say next. He had to say something. His breathing grew shallow as thoughts raced through his mind. Any time? Thank you?
... I love you?
"S-sorry, I, um," Phoenix's watery chuckle squeezed at Miles' heart, a very loud, wet sniff somewhat ruining the moment, "I didn't mean to get all soft on ya."
"O-oh, not at all, I, erm, I'm... here for you, Phoenix." He had decided last minute to tack his name on end in a sort of emotional panic, but the laugh Phoenix gave afterwards was worth it.
"Thank you, Miles." He smiled "...again."
They both laughed.
It was getting a little bit ridiculous, Miles thought. He was quite obviously procrastinating. He didn't want to hang up the phone, because then he'd be alone. Because he didn't want to be alone and he didn't want Phoenix to leave. Because he loved the way he talked and sound of his voice and he loved-
"Hey? Miles?"
He blinked, his cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink as he realised where his train of thought was leading "y-yes?"
"I said Trucy needs to get some magic props and you need to sleep." Miles shook his head, Phoenix was getting too good at using his dad voice, and he knew it too.
Miles closed his eyes and smiled, "Yes, sir." As if to emphasise his point, he yawned a very un-Edgeworth yawn and laughed wearily, "I suppose I'm a little more tired than I had originally thought."
He could practically see that 'I told you so' look on Phoenix's face as he spoke. But he didn't really mind. He really only wished he could have seen it in person.
"I miss you."
———
Miles didn't respond and he immediately regretted his decision to speak. He'd already said he missed him before, and twice seemed a bit forward didn't it? But it was true, Phoenix did miss him. Maybe a bit too much. Trucy already had a go at him for it, he couldn't admit to it now.
"I'm going to come home early."
What?
"Miles, did you just-"
"I said I'm coming home early."
"You can't just-"
"I can and I will."
"Miles-"
"Wright, I am coming home early and you will just have to deal with it."
Phoenix fell silent. It was serious when he reverted back it last names.
Edgeworth sighed, "as... as ridiculous as it sounds, I... you..." he took a breath and tried again, "you're becoming a distraction and I feel that I'll work better if I'm with you. So, in that way, it's beneficial for both my work and social life."
Phoenix couldn't help the silly grin that spread across his face, doing his best to ignore Trucy's judgemental eyebrow raise from across the room.
"Well, if it's beneficial for work," he teased "I can't wait to see you."
"Likewise."
After a somewhat hopeful goodbye, Phoenix finally hung up the phone.
He smiled as he shoved the flip phone into his pocket, smiled as he helped Trucy pick out her new magic props and smiled for the rest of the evening.
He couldn't wait for Miles to get home.
---
"Daddy, there's a package at the door for you!"
His daughter's voice woke Phoenix up from his nap. Groaning, he pulled his beanie over his eyes, blocking out the afternoon sun, his head throbbing at the sudden light.
"Can you get it, Truce?"
"Nooo~ you have to get it! The mailman says you have to sign for it!"
Rolling his eyes, (but not too hard - it hurt to move them) he swung his legs off of the couch and trudged to the door with a grunt, lazily grazing his stubble with his fingers. When was the last time he shaved? What package was he even expecting?
"Alright, what do I need to-"
Not a mailman. Not a mailman. Really not a mailman.
"Miles?"
Sure enough, on his front step, was, in fact, not a mailman, and in place, a very attractive prosecutor.
Miles smiled.
"Phoenix,"
Phoenix beamed back.
"Welcome home."