Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Phoenix felt a low tremor as his startled eyes snapped open in the dark. He waited a second longer, assessing the sounds of grumbles. The reverberation was gone for a moment. As he lay still, his chest rose and fell quickly, his heart hammering, his mind reeling. Another disturbance rumbled through the apartment. He sat up as a frightened Trucy made her way into his room--it was an earthquake. This realization had him on his feet as he bolted out of bed. He hiked Trucy up in his arms and made his way into the living room.
It was a small place. In the room was a couch, a radio, and a table with two chairs set up for the both of them. He turned the little radio on before seating himself under the table with his little girl.
His back bent and his head turned at a frustrating angle to fit. The radio’s white noise shredded his sensitive ears as it flared to life. The lights flickered; Phoenix hoped the radio would work in these bad conditions. He listened with Trucy, both exhausted and uncomfortable. He didn't have to tell her to be quiet, the whites in her eyes were the size of saucers and she held his hand. After some time he could understand the words coming through from the device.
“…s..all earthqu…most…over..indoors..hour….l” It didn’t take him a lawyers mind to make sense of all this.
“Everything will be alright kiddo,” reassuring her and himself. Trucy asked how much longer they would have to stay under.
“It’s not a big one, it’ll most likely be okay in an hour.”
“That long?” She pouted.
“We’re in warning now, it may end sooner.” She hung her head but let it go.
“Ok then,” she said sweetly. He held her as he waited, still a little on guard as they sat there. After a few minutes they both relaxed and quietly carried on a conversation about things young girls liked, primarily Trucy’s next magic show. She demanded smoke machines and flashy stage lights, for no top notch magician could have a show without them. Nick’s bank account wasn’t inclined to the idea. Thier debate was in rather heated whispers by the time the radio declared it to be officially safe.
It was about 3:30 in the morning and by then electricity became fully functional. It had taken an hour and a half for it to be over. Phoenix felt like he was forgetting something. “Earthquakes...?” he thought. What was significant about them? Trucy crawled out and stood. He climbed out from under the table to pick his daughter up, pain shot through his back and he groaned, but he brought her to her own bed. She held onto his hand and wouldn't let go.
"Don't be scared Trucy, its over," he chided. She grinned and sat up.
"I’m not scared, I'm just not tired anymore!" She tugged his arm.
"Oh boy.” It would already be unpleasant in the morning he supposed, and he didn’t have work on Sundays.
"I want hot cocoa!" she insisted. He sighed and gave in. Soon they were sitting on the couch with steaming cups of chocolate and marshmallows. She smiled.
“I wonder what Mr. Edgeworth is doing right now,” Trucy asked casually, sipping her hot drink. Phoenix winced mid-sip. Oh no! Earthquakes! Was Edgeworth ok?
The last time he’d seen Edgeworth react to an earthquake was shortly after he’d been wrongfully arrested. Even though it had been small and only happened once he’d been so shaken up afterwards. Phoenix wondered if he should dare a trip to Miles’ penthouse to check up on him. Nick was already awake and wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep anyways. But perhaps Miles didn’t need anyone around; he was an adult, couldn’t he handle it on his own?
Phoenix considered this, but he waved that argument away. That’s what Edgeworth would declare had he been present, and Phoenix knew better than to trust Edgeworth when it came to his personal feelings. Or anything really. Besides...there was a small part of Phoenix that couldn’t resist a visit. He admitted to himself that maybe he needed to see Edgeworth safe for his own sake as well. That’s just what decent people did for their friends. Even if those friends were a pain in the butt.
What about Trucy? Nick looked over at her--she was plucking marshmallows out of her cocoa and eating them. He didn’t want to bother scary Franziska at this time of night. He certainly couldn’t trust Gumshoe with anything, let alone a child. His consistent mishandling of anything he was entrusted with made the man a nerve wracking babysitter. Anything he was placed in charge of was returned in lesser condition, if it was returned at all.
He didn’t want Trucy listening in on the very serious discussion he and his courtroom opponent would be having, assuming he wasn’t immediately thrown out. Phoenix rubbed his brow. He just couldn’t bear to leave her at home alone.
“Hey, Trucy dear,” he said, startling her. She looked up at him and squished another marshmallow between her thumb and forefinger.
“Is it alright if we take a trip to see Mr. Edgeworth?” he asked.
She gulped her cocoa down and beamed.
“Sure thing daddio! Right now?”
“Yup, just to check in with him.” She grinned in a devious, knowing way. He took her empty cup and put it in the sink with his.
“As soon as you're ready.” He called out as he washed the mugs. She flounced off the couch, giddy to stay up longer and go out at night. The stocky and silent Mr. Edgeworth had a cold exterior, but Trucy saw right through that and she liked him very much.
She held her nightgown up to her knees as she hopped into her blue boots. Nick grabbed his worn jacket after slipping on his shoes and pocketing bus fare. They were soon out in the windy night and Trucy huddled close to Phoenix for warmth against the draft. The buses were in operation, and they waited at the curb for one to stop.
One finally arrived and they stepped on. The little girl held out her hand expectantly, and Nick handed Trucy her quarters so she could pay the operator herself. Phoenix paid for his own seat and they shuffled past other passengers to the back of the bus. It was stuffy but they were accustomed to it and Trucy swung her feet back and forth, vibrating with excitement. Nick thought of Edgeworth alone in his penthouse. He closed his eyes and his back hunched over under the flickering headlights.
The bulky vehicle lurched forward and picked up speed. Trucy watched the lamplights outside fly past as they jostled onto the highway. She looked up at her beloved foster father. She knew he was thinking about Mr. Edgeworth. She had come to understand that they weren’t rivals as onlookers whispered. She knew the way that daddy looked at Mr. Edgeworth. She saw his frustration, but also a certain tenderness in his eyes and in the quirk of his lips that she knew she couldn't understand yet. It seemed sometimes as though he didn’t understand it either.
“Hey daddio,” Trucy chirped.
“Yes kiddo,” he responded, looking down upon her innocent face.
“Do you like Mr. Edgeworth?” The question caught him off guard but he played innocent to the meaning of her inquiry.
“Why of course I like him, he's my friend.”
She shook her head vigorously.
“No no, I mean Valentines Day like… like like.” He laughed a little, awkwardly. His eyes found themselves on his own hands. The thought had ebbed into his mind before of course, but he always forced himself not to bother with it.
“Erm… Well that’s a bit of a tough question… There are a lot of… Factors affecting our personal relationship.” His vague adult response didn't hinder her, and she furthered her investigation; he’d almost feel like shedding a tear of pride if not for the fact that she was cross-examining him like a guilty witness on the stand. And the fact that she was implying a special relationship with Edgeworth of all people.
“C’mon, don’t you like him a little? Haven’t you guys helped each other all those times? Hasn’t he came to all my birthday parties?”
His smiled strained and he tried to switch the subject quickly. “Once we get there,” Nick prompted, “you have my permission to watch TV in the living room.” That would get her attention.
Trucy squealed. The rich lawyer’s big television always caught the child’s interest.
“But,” he added, “please stay in there and keep it at a reasonable volume. I will be finding Edgeworth and speaking with him privately.”
“Awww,” she whined. “Why not? Are you going to discuss your like-like?”
Nick chuckled, almost hopefully, but then a serious note entered his voice as he spoke.
“No, see kiddo, earthquakes make him think of...unpleasant things. They remind him of his past and his dad...and his very mean mentor. I don’t think you're ready to hear about what we’ll be discussing.” She sank a little but he patted her on the back as the bus shrieked to a stop, they ran from the sharp wind into the large lobby of the luxury apartment building.
He walked up to the mahogany reception desk and the young secretary recognized him, gave him a spare key, and allowed him to walk past her and into the hallway. Trucy followed and they stepped into the bright elevator, one place Nick knew Edgeworth had never been since he’d moved here. Stairs were the prosecutor’s preference, no, his requirement, and if he was asked why he would talk about the benefits of daily physical exercise, for the truth was more private and much more horrifying.
Phoenix stood against the wall as Trucy eagerly pressed the button, tapping it multiple times to hear the click. He thought about how everyday Miles walked all the way down the stairs to his car. In every building he entered he walked up and down many floors. Every evening he briskly climbed his way up 22 flights of stairs to reach his apartment, all to save himself from a severe panic attack. The constant motion had left the man in fantastic physical condition. His muscles must be tough and tight. His skin would surely gleam with sweat, underneath the soft cotton shirt that caressed him under his layers of expensive button up jackets. Sticking to stairs kept Miles looking very good. Very good indeed…
Nick became aware that the elevator had stopped from Trucy tugging on his hand. He had his bottom lip between his teeth; it was quite painful. By the time they’d reached the top she had pressed the rest of the buttons and he pulled her out of the lift before anyone else could step on and see what she’d done. They walked into the corridor and at last stopped at Edgeworth's suite. Phoenix used the key to let himself and Trucy in and they slipped their shoes off on the mat.