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Things have been going well. The food is good, the company is better. Phoenix, dressed in a light blue shirt that Miles suspects he purchased just for the occasion, has laughed at his quips and made a few of his own in return that Miles can’t help but smile at. Not quite a laugh, but Miles knows they will get there.
It’s still a little awkward despite how long they have known each other, but Miles is enjoying their first date immensely. Steadily, his nerves have settled and he allows himself to relax in Phoenix’s company.
Then his phone begins to ring.
Miles glances at the caller ID and his heart drops when he sees that it is Ema Skye. She never calls him for any reason but work. “I need to take this.”
Phoenix nods in the middle of taking a long sip from his drink, ice clinking against the side.
The conversation is brief, but as Ema speaks Miles knows the date is over. There has been a murder of a famous author, and at a first glance, the circumstances closely resemble an upcoming publication of hers. Already the media are making reports; it’s clear the case should be taken on by a senior prosecutor given the scrutiny.
“Phoenix, I’m sorry,” Miles says after he hangs up. “I need to leave. A new case has just come in that they need me to take charge of.”
Phoenix’s face falls in the same second that his phone buzzes. He glances at the text message that has just come through. Slowly, a smile reaches his lips again. “The author, right?”
Miles raises an eyebrow.
“I think you’re prosecuting the client Athena just got us. Mind if I get a lift to the crime scene?”
Phoenix reaches over and offers his hand – warm and steady – whenever they are stopped at traffic lights. Miles finds that he has never been so disappointed to see them turn green
They’d been at Miles’ house, just about to leave to go on a walk, when Miles’ phone rings. Klavier Gavin has taken ill in what is later discovered to be foul play, but it’s the third day of trial for his current case. Miles is needed at the courthouse immediately.
Given he’d already told Athena he wouldn’t be in the office that day, Phoenix decides to watch, taking a seat in the gallery. It will be a welcome change for somebody else to be on the receiving end of Miles’ sharp arguments and intimidating glower. He might even learn something.
Miles is tremendous. How he has learned the ins and outs of the case in such little time is beyond Phoenix, but he does just as an impressive a job prosecuting Klavier’s case as he would have his own. He listens to the arguments and testimony presented with a cold, calculating look before delivering devastating blows of his own.
He is fearsome. He is determined. He is-
Well, pretty hot, if Phoenix is going to be honest.
After the case is won, they return to Miles’ car, tucked away in the corner of the underground parking lot, and make out for a long time afterwards.
“Should I ask?” Miles mumbles against his lips.
“Probably not.”
But it seems that Miles has exhausted all of his objections that day.
It had been an excellent night, up until Phoenix receives the phone call. They had seen a film – something foreign that Phoenix had indulged him with – and planned to have dinner afterwards, though they didn’t quite make it that far.
Instead of eating a spread of seafood and sipping on expensive champagne, Miles finds himself driving to the hospital as fast as the speed limit will allow. As he drives, Phoenix runs his hand through his hair, silent.
They are ushered through quickly – Miles has been in hospitals for work enough to know exactly what to say and how to say it to achieve maximum efficiency – and meet a very embarrassed Trucy, her arm bandaged. A stressed Apollo is pacing back and forth, but stops when they enter.
“Sweetheart,” Phoenix says, his first words since they’d left the cinema. He sits down next to her on the hospital bed. “What happened?”
“I messed up, Daddy.” As she looks at her father, Miles realises that the tears in her eyes are not from pain, but from frustration. “I tried something new in my fire twirling trick for tonight’s show but…” The tears begin to roll down her cheeks. “My cape caught fire and by the time I managed to take it off, I’d burned my arm. I was too flustered to pretend that it was part of the act. Everybody saw.”
“Oh, Truce,” Phoenix says, putting his arm around her while taking care not to touch her bandage. “These things happen, even to the best of magicians. You can’t put on a perfect show every time. How’s the arm?”
“Doesn’t hurt too badly anymore,” she mutters, though Miles suspects she may be putting on a brave face for Phoenix’s sake.
“The doctor said that it’s a second-degree burn, so it’ll be okay,” Apollo pipes up. “We managed to get it under running water quickly.”
“Polly was amazing. He knew exactly what to do.”
Phoenix stands and turns to Apollo, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you,” he says, his voice strained and likely weaker than he desires.
After speaking with the doctor, who confirmed what Apollo had said and provided Trucy with some painkillers, Miles drives them home. He drops Apollo at the hotel he is staying at before flying back to Khura’in the next morning before pulling up to the Wrights’. Trucy takes the painkillers with a large glass of water and then prepares for bed. She gives Phoenix a large hug and Miles watches as both of them close their eyes, taking in the comfort the other provides without words, before she goes to her room.
Once she’s gone, Phoenix exhales deeply and Miles sees that he becomes a little less sturdy and much more weary. He isn’t sure whether it is politeness or curiosity, but he doesn’t say anything and instead waits for Phoenix.
“Sorry about all this,” Phoenix finally says, his voice devoid of any emotion though there is the slightest wobble to it. He doesn’t meet Miles’ eye. “Thank you for driving me there and getting us home.”
It sounds like a goodbye and Phoenix even begins to turn away, but Miles stays in the same spot. “Phoenix,” he says firmly, fingers carefully wrapping around his wrist.
Phoenix jumps a little at the contact. “Hm?”
“You’re shaking.”
Phoenix looks at Miles, then down at his own hands. “Huh.”
“I don’t… I don’t need to leave yet,” Miles says, willing his voice to be softer than he usually permits it. This comes more easily than he would have thought. “I can stay if you’d like some company.” He clears his throat and pushes himself to say what he really means. “I believe that would be for the best. For me to stay.”
Phoenix looks up at him, and it’s like Miles can see the debate raging in his mind between the façade of the strong father he’d put on for Trucy and the terrified man he is underneath all of that.
Finally, he nods and slips his arm out of Miles’ grasp so he can take his hand. “I’d really like that. Thank you.”
They order takeaway fish and chips and sit together on Phoenix’s sofa, watching a movie that Phoenix has on DVD that Miles senses is an old favourite. They don’t speak, but something within Miles is flattered when Phoenix’s head falls on his shoulder and he dozes off to sleep.
Phoenix opens the front door to find a red-faced Miles with a box of chocolates, flowers and a bottle of wine. He fights back his laughter, knowing that Miles almost certainly web-searched how to make a grand romantic gesture and then decided to cover as many bases as possible.
God, he loves the man.
“Don’t say sorry,” he says when they are seated on the sofa, opening the chocolates and popping one into his mouth. “I get it.”
Miles sighs and Phoenix can feel frustration radiating off him. “Of all the times for that emergency meeting to be called-”
“That’s the whole point of emergencies. They’re not convenient.”
But Miles continues, and Phoenix sees how much it bothers him. “I know that disruptions are inevitable. You are a father and run your own office. I am the Chief Prosecutor and was fully aware of the responsibilities when I applied for the job, including the time commitment. But I want to do this properly.”
Phoenix frowns, swallowing the chocolate. “’Do this properly’?”
“Dating.”
He lets out a startled laugh. “You can’t be serious, Miles. ‘Doing this properly’ is a ship that set sail long ago and has also been cannonballed into oblivion by now.”
Miles seemingly doesn’t like being laughed at and scowls, tapping his finger against his arm, but from the lack of telling off Phoenix knows that wants him to elaborate.
“Nothing about our relationship has been done properly,” Phoenix continues. “Do you know what normal people do? Ask out somebody they meet who they think seems cool, or get to know them for a bit first. Most people don’t have an adult friendship of over ten years before making a move. Why should we start worrying about doing things properly now?”
“You may have a point,” Miles says quietly, eyes closing. “Though it still feels strange to throw out any semblance of normal dating.”
“Don’t get me wrong – I want to go on dates with you and do things that are special,” Phoenix clarifies. “But even though none of our dates have gone to plan so far, I feel like things are going really well.”
Miles opens his eyes, lips twitching into a small smile. “I… also believe they are going well.”
Phoenix feels himself grinning. “Let’s be honest, the shock of something going to plan might be what breaks us up.”
“It might just.”
Phoenix stands to retrieve two wine glasses from the nearby cupboard. “So… we’re good?”
“I’m good.” Miles pauses for a few seconds. “And you’re Wright.”
Phoenix nearly drops the glasses in the shock of hearing Miles make a pun.
Miles remembers their early days of dating as a collection of little moments.
He remembers how they had first held hands as they drove to the crime scene that had interrupted their first date.
He remembers kissing Phoenix in his car, still buzzing from the victory of the sudden trial.
He remembers telling him that he should stay when he knew that Phoenix needed him there, rather than letting the other man slip away from him.
And long into the future, he remembers how Phoenix had, on the night he had arrived on his doorstep after cancelling a date, suggested that once they felt ready, they consider moving in together because it would mean they could spend more time in each other’s company despite the chaos of their lives.
And Miles knows that none of what he remembers about falling in love with Phoenix Wright has anything to do with their dates, but abandoning them.