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When he had been promised the job as Chief Prosecutor, Miles was not aware of the degree of work he would be expected to take on.
Naturally, he had assumed that there would be an increase of responsibilities. It only made sense seeing as how he was taking on a higher paying job. Miles knew that better paying was not synonymous with more work (thanks to certain circumstances leaving someone close to him working multiple little jobs and the assorted elite that Miles had had the misfortune of knowing through his former mentor), Chief Prosecutor Doe made no effort to conceal the fact that he was pushing off his entire workload onto Miles, while he still had his own tasks to be doing.
That was to say nothing of the obnoxious flies that buzzed around them during the work day, trying to pull seniority over qualifications and dedication, and the degree of brown nosing they did to vie for his position was embarrassing to watch.
Almost as embarrassing as it was to know of it’s effectiveness.
But Miles will not be beat so easily. He would prevail with his dedication and merit alone. He doubted any of these pathetic whelps who called themselves prosecutors would last a day in his position.
Though given the history of people who’ve held the title of Chief Prosecutor, Miles wouldn’t be surprised if his so called “training” was an attempt to dissuade him from claiming the title. They could cite poor performance reviews as a reason, despite him working easily four times as hard as his fellow prosecutors.
They would have to try a lot harder than that if they wished to make him bow out. As a former disciple of Manfred von Karma, Miles had a distinct advantage over his competition when it came to dealing with near insurmountable workloads. This was still nothing compared to what was expected of him when he was a young man.
Miles would argue that this was still far more agreeable, given he no longer had his father’s death hanging over his head, and he had an actual support system. He could also go home and just relax. At home, no one expected anything of him, and Miles couldn’t be happier.
He froze when his hand touched the doorknob leading from his garage into his home. The peaceful night that he so craved seemed to be just out of reach, as he could hear voices on the other side of the door.
While there were many expensive things in his house, Miles had to stop and try and remember if he had taken any vital evidence home for a case. A moment of carelessness like that would cost him his position, and Miles was not about to have wasted four months worth of hard work for nothing.
He would send Gumshoe a quick text, letting him know that he heard someone in his house, and that he was going to enter and confront them. It was reckless, but Miles had little other choice. If he dawdled too long, the thief would escape, but if he could get the identity of the intruder, it was a net positive. The criminal could be arrested and his evidence retrieved.
With a deep breath, he entered. If they were being this loud, they had better expect to get caught.
Sitting in his living room, around a teetering tower of blocks, were a lot of familiar faces. There were Kay and Sebastian, who had moved out a few months ago into a shared apartment. There was Phoenix and Trucy, who on occasion dropped by to give updates on assorted events. But most notably there was the good detective himself that he had texted not moments before.
Sebastian noticed him first, freezing as he so often did when he thought he was in trouble. It was a look Miles had come to know well given his proximity to Kay.
Before Miles could make a comment, Trucy spoke up. “Hiya Uncle Miles!”
Miles knew her well enough to know that that cheerful tone was not one of ignorance. She was a smart girl and was fully aware that she had joined in on breaking into his house with the rest of them.
Her greeting him got the rest of them to turn and see him. Unsurprisingly, neither Kay nor Phoenix seemed too perturbed by his presence. Gumshoe, however, was rightfully embarrassed by his involvement in this crime.
“I, uh…” Gumshoe scratched the back of his head nervously. “I thought you knew we were all coming over.”
“Understandable, seeing as I was vague when I said ‘I will see you tomorrow, Detective’. Obviously I was expecting company tonight.”
“Aww come on, Dad. It’s Take-Out Tuesday!” Kay scolded, as if he was violating some previously agreed upon terms.
She knew full well what she was doing. Throwing in that “dad” was meant to disarm him and aid in getting her way.
Unfortunately, it’s still a lot more effective than he’d care to admit. Legally speaking he was the father to both her and Sebastian. However, it didn’t mean that Miles had adjusted well to the whole ordeal.
“I’m going to go get changed. Seeing as how I already know how this goes, I will allow it this time. Next time you are to plan this with me beforehand ,” he scolded, knowing for a fact that nothing will change it.
“You got it, Mr. Edgeworth!” she beamed, switching back to addressing him properly now that she’s gotten her way.
Miles would make a note to get better at this. He could not allow himself to be swayed so easily, and certainly not after two years of legally being their father.
But for now he’d return to his bedroom to put on something more casual. He’d settle for simply putting his suit jacket away and changing his slacks.
He was quick about it. Fortunately so, because no sooner had he changed, the door quietly opened and Phoenix slipped in. The door closed with a soft click.
“Entering without so much as a knock… Aren’t we bold?” he teased with a hint of a smirk.
“Said I was going to the bathroom, it’d be weird if I knocked first,” Phoenix shrugged as he walked over. “How’re you holding up? They’re not working you too hard?”
“ Please , you know I’ve dealt with worse. I can handle the work of two men effortlessly. They’re delusional if they think they can even come close to what I had to do as a child,”
There was something to be said about having Phoenix here with him. Miraculously it seemed to make his efforts feel worth it. Having his partner here in this endeavor to fix this whole corrupt system brought him some comfort, despite how he chose to enter his home. Most of the people who broke into his home today played some role in the entire overhaul of the legal system, but Phoenix was the one he would most consider his partner.
The term made him yearn. Yearn for a man who could be his, if not for the circumstances they were faced with. The public outcry of a high profile prosecutor who has connections to the second most corrupt prosecutor of their time being caught in a relationship with one of the most noteworthy defense attorneys who lost his badge in a forgery scandal would be unfathomable.
His job would bring about the most public casualty. The effects would echo throughout the legal system, as the deep rooted corruption would choke out the truth. Sebastian, Gumshoe, and even Franziska’s careers could take a blow if his own public image faltered.
He was soon taken into Phoenix’s arms. While he initially tensed, he soon relaxed into it. Even if it was something they had to hide, the irrefutable fact that he was here and felt the same way was soothing. It was warm, and being there as the distant yelling of Gumshoe and the kids filled the room was… really pleasant.
“You’re overthinking things, Miles. Just stay in the moment, and remember the plan. You’ll be fine,”
He wrapped his arms back around him. Hugs were not something Miles could claim he excelled at even the slightest, but the effort was put in. “So stay in the moment, but think about the plan for what to do in the future. Do I need to even point out that contradiction for you?”
“Well if you’re being technical about it, what you’ll be doing is focusing on the step of the plan you’re presently on.”
“Thus I am to focus on the future.”
Phoenix snorted. “You know that if we were in court the judge would side with me on this one. You’re getting needlessly caught up in technicalities.”
“Since when has the judge ever been against getting needlessly caught in technicalities? I believe that’s how you won most of your cases, correct?”
Phoenix kissed him. “Has the prosecution considered I’m a hypocrite and only I can use that move?”
Miles had to wonder if it was possible to miss something you never technically had. Or to miss someone who was still there.
Ever observant, Phoenix gave him a sad smile. “Soon…”
“Soon.”
As if Miles needed further motivation for bringing all the corruption to light. But it’d be nice after a long day, to finally be able to return home.