Work Text:
After a grueling case over a deadbeat father being the culprit in a double murder of his ex-wife and young son, Miles found himself unable to move to the next case in a seamless, unscathed manner that he prided himself on. Perhaps it reminded him too much of what happened when he was a similar age, yet he came away with his life being uprooted rather than ended though he did find himself wondering why his adoptive father took him in instead of ending him, too, if he was such a burden to von Karma. It would have been easier…
Staring at the crisp, fresh printed pages on his desk, Miles was unable to focus on any of the information, the words a blur and unfamiliar when he caught glimpses of them. In a fit of frustration, he slid his fingers through the silver strands that framed his face and pressed both palms into his temples, sliding his hands down his cheeks once he realized what was happening.
“Inconvenient timing, I’d say…” he mused aloud, writing a quick note that he placed with the papers before he moved from his office and placed the folder in the hanging basket attached to Payne’s door before leaving for the stairs. His steps were on autopilot, the echoing in his ears his only company until he made his way onto the courthouse steps, the chirping of birds mocking him while his pace picked up speed.
Despite the strain in his calves, Edgeworth did not slow until he reached the entrance to the Wright Anything Agency, letting himself inside without assessing his appearance, pushing himself to hurry over;; if his senses were not slipping from him, he would make an effort to be more presentable, yet this was dire.
He heard Maya greet him, but he did not even register her presence while he made his way to Phoenix’s office, his progression paused only by his fumbling with the knob, noting how his abilities were becoming less precise. Soon, he would slip further from his adult body… He stood over the threshold of the room and stared at his partner, a sense of guilt washing over him when he noticed that the attorney was, for once, busy looking over a case of his own.
About to back out, Phoenix glanced up and his concentration melted away into a warm smile once he realized the visitor was not a client of his, “Oh, Mi, what a pleasant surprise!!”
Hesitating for a few seconds, the prosecutor permitted himself to continue in, closing the door behind him before he rushed over to where his boyfriend sat, “I wish… it was on better terms.”
“Whaddya mean, hon?”
Not answering, Miles climbed into the other man’s lap and curled against him, all too aware that he was trembling. If he was not desperate for the closeness, he would be ashamed of the display, yet he could not be bothered, pushing his forehead against his partner’s neck.
Phoenix placed a reassuring arm around the other’s waist, unphased by the prosecutor letting his guard down when they were alone, “Hard day at the office, I’m guessing?”
Miles grunted, muttering, “...Kinda.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
“Nu-uh, FiFi.”
“Oh, I see… That’s okay, hon,” the attorney soothed while he tried to help ease the regression for his lover, “Let me ask Maya to take over, then we’ll go home. Sound good?”
“‘Kay.”
“Alright, cover your ears for me.”
Edgeworth did what he was instructed, hearing the muffled call of the assistant’s name and the request for her, removing his hands only when his arms were given a gentle nudge. Normally, he would protest about his assistant seeing him in any vulnerable state, but when he got to know her more, he knew behind her silliness that she would be respectful if asked, and this was beyond the first she would see him regressed.
“What’s up, Nick?”
“D’you mind reaching out to the rest of my clients for the day? Gotta leave early and all.” he explained, pressing his cheek against Miles’ forehead, loving.
“Yeah, no prob!”
“You’re a lifesaver!!”
“I know, I’m pretty great like that!”
Miles whined at this, showing a bit of jealousy over his caretaker showing more attention to Maya, calmed down with a soft hum and nuzzle from the attorney.
Phoenix mouthed a ‘sorry’ at the woman, pulling away and pressing a soft peck against the prosecutor’s temple, knowing he would throw a fit about him moving.
“What doing, FiFi?”
“Getting your special earbuds,” he replied, simply, retrieving a small case that he slipped in his breast pocket before helping Miles to his feet, “We’re going in the car, I don’t want you to slip any further. Not till we’re home, of course.”
“Slip??”
“Nothing, sweet boy,” he soothed, guiding Miles to the parking lot with a gentle hand, “I’ll help you put them in once we get your seatbelt on,” he added, making sure that Miles was tucked into the passenger seat before he asked, “Or, do you want to buckle yourself in?”
“Can do it, FiFi,” Miles informed, struggling with the clip for a moment until it clicked into place, kicking his feet a little in his succession, “See? Got it!!”
“Good job, bud!!” Phoenix praised, mousing the boy’s hair with a gentle touch before he removed the carrying case from his suit jacket and putting the earbuds in place, tapping the button that would set in the noise canceling feature, “Can you hear me, Mi?”
When the prosecutor did not respond, Phoenix took the cue to make his way to the driver’s side, giving a warning out of habit before he started the engine. Waiting with baited breath, the defense attorney let out a sigh of relief before pulling away from the parking space.
Once they arrived home, Phoenix led the prosecutor promptly to the couch and helped remove the ear coverings, he warned, “I’m going to help you get out of your work clothes, alright? The cravat can be difficult to take off.”
“What crab?”
“Oh, no, sweetie. The scarf around your neck,” Phoenix said, leading the other to touch the flowing, white fabric prior to untying it with a delicate touch, laying it on the sofa’s arm, “That’s better. Do you want me to help with your jacket?”
Miles shook his head, shrugging his shoulders while he contorted his way out of the blazer, a look of pride mixed in with his tired features from the effort.
“Nice job! I’ll be right back, gonna get you some comfier clothes,” the attorney remarked, collecting the discarded suit jacket and hanging it on a peg on his way into the bedroom.
Left by himself, Miles managed to wrestle out of the black vest still on his person, fiddling with the sleeves of his button down when his caregiver returned from his search. Grunting with the effort, he tried to roll the sleeves when he felt the beginnings of discomfort settling in his gut, frustrated tears springing to his lashes when the sleeves unraveled, “Whyyyy!?”
“What’s wrong, sweet boy?” Phoenix asked, walking over to join his partner again with a bundle of clothes held to his chest.
“Won’t stay!!”
“That’s not good! Do you want to take it off, so it doesn’t keep upsetting you?”
Reluctant to give an answer, Miles nodded with a pout, yet his sour mood did not stay for long when his caregiver unbuttoned the dress shirt in a fluid motion, taking care to remove the shirt from Miles in a slower manner that did not set his temper off further. Once it was pulled away, Phoenix guided the other into the oversized, black shirt that now swallowed Edgeworth’s thinner form.
“Is that better, bud?” the attorney asked, smiling softly at seeing him relax under the protection of the fabric that allowed him to freely move.
“Mhm, I like it.”
“That’s great to hear!” Phoenix exclaimed, shuffling the remaining garments in hand, “I brought two options for your pants, there’s pajamas and shorts.”
“Pajamas!”
“Okie, that was simple. Do you want more help?”
Miles pondered his options, a streak of stubbornness showing through when he decided, “Nope!”
Managing to free himself from the dress pants he wore without removing his belt, Edgeworth reached for the replacement pair when he stumbled forward and headbutted his caregiver who caught him mid-fall.
“Uh oh, are you okay??”
“Ow, that hurtttt!!!”
“Oh, honey, come here…,” the attorney mused, pressing his lips against the man’s forehead before he offered his shoulder for leverage when Miles tried again, determined, “Let’s be more careful, there’s no rush.”
Miles hummed, not fully listening while he kicked the heap that were his dress pants away before he stepped into his pink, flannel pajamas, content when he pulled it around his hips, “I did it!!”
“You did, that’s awesome!!”
Miles plopped himself on the couch without warning, letting out a proud giggle at his accomplishment and forgetting about the bump he received to his head moments ago. Looking at Wright, he reached for him and demanded, “FiFi, sit with me!!”
“In a minute, bud. Did you eat before you came and got me?”
The prosecutor shrugged, seeming unbothered despite his growling stomach undermining him, “Not hungry.”
“It sounds like you are, hon,” the attorney countered in a gentle tone, knowing how tricky the topic of eating could be even when his partner was in this state, “It’s okay if you are. I can make you… chicken tendies?”
Miles fiddled with the bottom of his shirt, his face lighting up though the remaining adultness fought to keep him from reacting in a rash manner. Quietly, he nodded, curling his feet under him while he struggled to get into a comfortable position on the couch, making it known to his caregiver that he was still in between when he was placed with his adoptive family and the happier times before it happened.
“Okay, I’ll be in the kitchen for a few. Do you need anything else?”
“Milk?”
“Can do! You want to watch a video on my phone?”
Miles hesitated, then nodded, “The talking kitty!”
Phoenix cocked his head in confusion, then quickly realized that he wanted to watch Billi, the short-haired tabby that pressed buttons to communicate with her humans, scrolling to the YouTube channel when he brought out his cell phone. Handing it over to the boy, he excused himself with a murmured, “I’ll be back, I promise.”
Listening to the videos from the kitchen, Phoenix began to prepare a metal tray he secured from under the ove, tucking a piece of wax paper on top. While he was spoiled by having an airfryer in the manor, he knew that even with a warning, the boy happily squealing over the cat videos in the next room would scream in terror, and while he had no issue calming Edgeworth down from a panic attack, he wanted to prevent that from happening altogether, so he settled on the oven; the first time after his partner returned after an afternoon of regressing, the two agreed that it would be the best option going forward.
Humming to himself, Phoenix placed a few chicken tenders and a generous helping of french fries on the baking sheet while he waited for the preheating to finish. Stepping away for a moment, he delivered a plastic cup filled with milk for his partner and asked, “Enjoying yourself, bud?”
“Yup!! Look at the kitty!”
“I see her, sweet boy. She’s so smart!”
“Like me??”
“That’s right,” Phoenix agreed, patting the other’s shoulder softly, “How about we do a puzzle together after lunch?”
“Ooh, yeah!!”
“Okay, I’ll get some down after-”
“Now!!!”
“I gotta get your tendies started, hon.”
“Puzzle, puzzle!!”
Phoenix chuckled, shaking his head in mild exasperation, "Alrighty, hang on a sec.”
Electing not to use the step stool, Phoenix perched on his tiptoes when he opened the living room closet door, and started to slide a few of the boxes closer to the edge of the shelf. Confident that he could catch them all, the attorney reached for the bottom of the pile and lifted it when the others that were stacked in a haphazard way spilled around him on the ground with a rattling of the contents.
Aside from the current video playing in the background, the room went silent. Phoenix’s stomach dropped before he could even turn around, knowing that the ruckus did not go unnoticed, keeping himself calm when he faced the back of the couch, noticing how Miles’ head was bent forward and down; the usual stance of his reactions to any of his triggers.
“FiFi…?” the prosecutor called out, muffled by how his face was positioned.
A stab of shame greeted the attorney’s stomach, yet he disregarded dwelling on his part in causing the incident in favor of retreating to the sofa, needing to check on the boy who needed him. When he was close enough to Miles, he mused, “I’m here, bud. Do you want-?”
He was cut off by Miles falling against him in a sudden motion, hiding his face against his chest. Hesitantly, Phoenix wrapped his arms around his partner and stroked his back in a soothing motion, whispering, “You’re safe, Miles. Nothing bad will happen to you, I swear…”
The boy pressed closer to Phoenix, whimpering slightly while he let out, “I want papa…”
Phoenix’s heart lurched when he heard this, knowing that his boyfriend was now at an age where his father would still be living. Willing the tears that were building to not fall, he cleared his throat before telling the boy, “I’m sorry, bud, he’s in court right now. FiFi’s here, though.”
“Okay. Love FiFi.”
“I love you too, bud,” Phoenix remarked, a sad smile gracing his face while he held his partner against him, secure. After a few moments of them sitting together, he dared to ask, “Can you tell me how old you are right now?”
“...Seven.”
“That’s perfectly fine, hon. Are you feeling better?”
Miles shrugged, “Dunno, tummy hurts.”
“I’ll get lunch started soon. Can you take a drink of your milk for me?”
“Dunno where it is.”
Thankfully, when Phoenix glanced around, he saw that the cup was secured on a coaster next to the couch, grabbing the cup and offering it to his partner. Setting the cup aside, he moved to return to the task that he set aside when he found himself anchored to the spot, the boy’s hold on him even tighter.
“I’ll be right back, Miles.” he reassured, the grip on him not loosening.
“Don’t wanna be alone…”
“Oh, sweet boy. I’m not leaving, I’ll be in the next room.”
The prosecutor shook his head rapidly, whining against the defense attorney’s chest, “Papa gone, not you, too…”
“Okay, sweetheart. How about I order something instead?” Phoenix suggested, making a mental note to put away the chicken soon. Waiting for the child to give his opinion, he moved them once again to the couch, bending over to secure a wicker basket that rested under the coffee table filled with an assortment of snacks and a few, small plushies, “Would you like some of your graham crackers??”
“Ruin my appetite?”
“No, it’ll keep your tummy happy until we get a proper meal. You can even have a cookie, if you want!”
Miles hesitated, then he gingerly took one of the packages that held two generous sized cookies and nibbled on the edge of one with timid bites. When he got halfway through the first, his attitude seemed to improve and he ate with more confidence, his feet kicking happily against Phoenix’s, giggling around the treat.
“Alright, so… d’you still want chicken tendies?”
Miles ignored the question and continued on to the second cookie.
Phoenix chuckled at the boy’s fixation with the snack, letting him enjoy the cookie undisturbed. Meanwhile, the attorney scrolled through a delivery application and pondered over the extensive options.Eventually, he settled on a few different meals and side dishes knowing that if Miles was unable to eat everything, then there would be enough for Trucy to have for a few days, at least.
Now, to play the waiting game, hoping that he could find an activity for them to engage in that would not cause further regression; he could only imagine how painful the last one was, and he wanted to prevent Miles from feeling more discomfort, he was tasked with protecting the boy and he would do whatever it took!
“All done,” Miles announced, brushing the wrapper onto the ground, seeming more content with himself while he leaned against the attorney’s frame, “FiFi, play now?”
“Yeah, of course! What would you wanna play?”
Miles thought for a little bit, then he announced, “Make bracelets!!”
“Oh, we can do that! I think there’s a kit somewhere…” Phoenix trailed off in consideration, a trace of fear causing his skin to crawl when he thought he would need to rummage in the closet again. Thankfully, he caught a glimpse of the box that contained the materials perched near where Miles’ basket sat, kneeling near the coffee table while he took out the beads and thread.
Pushing the table away to make room for them both, the attorney patted the floor next to him and held out an arm to help Miles feel secure when he slid from the couch to join him. When the boy was settled, Phoenix set the materials on the table’s surface and let him choose which ones he wanted to start with, “Who do you wanna make bracelets for, sweetie?”
“FiFi, Maya, True. and papa!!”
“Aww, that’s so thoughtful! Who’s first??”
Instead of answering, Miles grabbed onto his caregiver’s wrist and tried to wrap a navy blue string around it, the ends of it falling from his uncertain grasp a few times before he found himself able to keep them together. Considering his options, Edgeworth got another of the same color before he chose a dark red string to go in between them before he began to weave them together in a clumsy manner that did not seem to bother him.
Busied with soothing motions of wrapping the threads around each other, Miles clung onto the combined ends and gave a loo of mild panic before he realized that help was not far away. Though, he could not bring himself to request the assistance he required, staring at the almost-finished bracelet in hand until Phoenix noticed he stopped.
“Here, lemme tie that off for you,” he offered, grateful that he’d helped his daughter with this project not long after she was adopted. With a tender touch, a sizable knot secured the accessory in place, slipping it onto his wrist with a satisfied smile at their combined handiwork, “Thank you, bud, it’s beautiful.”
Miles giggled in response, beaming over the appreciation he was shown. Though, it was short-lived when his focus went back to the assortment of thread, picking a lighter shade of red and blue for the outsides and a bright purple. Twirling the three strands with more confidence, the boy began to sway back and forth with a bit of glee that distracted him long enough not to realize when Phoenix left his side to retrieve the delivery.
“FiFi, need help!!” Miles called, holding up the second bracelet, expecting the item to be taken from him without protest. When he took a moment to look around, he saw his caregiver returning with an armful of paper bags. He was about to show his annoyance when he was reminded of the looming hunger in his gut that was only staved off by sugar.
“Sorry, bud, I didn’t wanna interrupt you.”
“‘S okay. Don’t wanna stop…”
“I know, hon. You can do both, there are plenty of napkins.”
“Don’t wanna get it dirty.”
“Hmm… I could feed you?”
A conflicted look crossed the prosecutor’s face while he contemplated whether he should or not, deciding, “‘Kay. Trust you, FiFi.”
“Well, I might steal a couple fries…”
“No steal, only share!”
“Of course, bud,” Phoenix reassured, not wanting to distress the boy too much even with his teasing tone. Pulling out a box filled with the potato appetizer, he nestled it in his lap, following it with a plain cheeseburger that he unwrapped with care before offering it to the boy, “Let’s start with these, alright?”
Miles nodded, taking a bite from the burger held up for him, chewing while he returned to picking out the next row of colors. Considering the materials in front of him, the boy brought over a few purple beads that would match the gradient of strings.
The two continued like this until the prosecutor finished with the last bracelet, one that was pink and blue with corresponding beads. When Miles sat back to admire his handiwork, he took the box of fries from his caregiver while the bracelets were tied into place, his attention focused while he continued to fill his aching, mostly empty stomach. Eventually, though, he began to slow down and offered the food to his caretaker, not daring to make eye contact when he did, “FiFi, ‘m full.”
“That’s alright, hon. I’ll save the rest for later, alright?”
“Mhm. Want cuddles.”
“Come here, sweet boy,” Phoenix murmured, circling his arms around the boy again, pulling Miles into his lap, “I’m here, bud. Are you feeling okay?”
“Feel bad wasting food…”
“Oh, you didn’t! We have ways of reheating everything whenever you want,” the attorney reassured, noting how Edgeworth seemed unconvinced, “You didn’t do anything wrong, Miles. It’s my job to make sure you’re cared for, and I want to keep you happy and healthy.”
“Ya do,” the boy insisted, fighting to keep in a little yawn that escaped, grumbling at the sound, “Don’t wanna sleep…”
“What do you want, hon?”
“Watch TV.”
“Alrighty! D’you know what you wanna watch?” Phoenix asked, though he was certain he knew what the boy would choose.
“Steel Samurai!!!”
“I should’ve guessed,” the attorney commented, ruffling the other’s silver hair good-naturedly, “Okie doke! How ‘bout we watch it in FiFi’s room?”
“No, not sleepy!”
“I know, bud. We’re not going to sleep, the bed’s nice for a lot of cuddles.”
At first, Miles seemed unconvinced about the reasoning he was given, yet he decided to compromise with his caregiver, “Only watch TV ‘n snuggle.”
“Of course, hon.”
“Can I bring Cinnamon??”
“Yeah, I bet they want to watch Steel Samurai too,” Phoenix responded, plucking the stuffed cat from the boy’s basket before he escorted him over to the bedroom door while Miles clung to him. Helping Miles onto the mattress after pulling back the maroon bedspread, the attorney placed the feline toy next to him before busying himself with setting up the television, determining not long after, “That should do it…”
“FiFi, c’mon!!!” Miles whined, reaching for his caretaker with impatience.
“One moment, hon,” Phoenix said, changing into his own pajama bottoms before he joined the boy and nestled close by, “Are we ready?”
“Yeah!!!”
Phoenix let out a small giggle at the prosecutor’s enthusiasm, clicking on the first episode without hesitation knowing that his partner would pester him to start the show if he waited any longer.
Under the blankets, Miles began to kick his feet happily while the program began, the motions speeding up when the titular character appeared on screen. Encapsulated by the show, the boy snuggled against Phoenix, resting his cheek on the attorney’s chest and relaxing more while the show progressed.
“You happy, sweet boy?”
Miles nodded, letting out an impatient, “Shhhh!”
Phoenix chuckled to himself and fell silent while he watched the contentment of the little who was enamored with the screen, his heart aching with adoration at the display.
The two rested together in quiet comfort so much that Phoenix did not recall when either of them fell asleep, but he felt the delayed panic in his stomach when he realized he left the boy unattended until he noticed that Miles was still tucked against him in the same position he was in while watching the television, sighing with relief; if Miles stayed awake the whole night, he would never forgive himself for being neglectful in any way that was similar to the boy's upbringing.
Gently, Phoenix shifted beneath his partner in an attempt to fall asleep again when he heard the other grumble, pausing to assess if the prosecutor was still in his regressed state or if he returned to his adult form, knowing if it were the former that he would need to stay awake.
“Miles, hon? You up?” he asked in a hushed tone, trying not to panic even more when he heard light sniffling.
Miles didn’t respond, pressing impossibly closer to the other man for protection.
“What’s going on, can you tell me?”
“I…” Miles began the strict upbringing that caused him to age at a faster rate replacing the youthful voice he used for the afternoon. Clearing his throat, the prosecutor tried again, “Did… that happen?”
“Yes, you regressed.”
Miles sighed, agitated at the reminder that he slid into that state every so often, “Trucy did not see this side of me, did she?”
“No, she’s still at Pearl’s,” the attorney replied simply, pressing a soft peck against the top of his boyfriend’s head, “Even if she did, there’s nothing to be ashamed of! She’s a sweet girl, she wouldn’t bat an eye at it, I bet!”
Miles did not reply, though he lifted his hand to rest on his beloved’s chest, noticing the woven bracelet surrounding his left wrist, “What antics did I get into?”
“You wanted to make friendship bracelets! I have a matching one, see?” the attorney informed, lifting his opposite hand where his own was secured.
“Are those the only ones I made?”
“You made one for Maya and Trucy,” Phoenix remarked, peppering a few more kisses into his scalp, “You were in quite the creative mood, it was lovely to watch.”
“I’m sure it was, for you.”
“I’m guessing you don’t remember much of the day?”
Miles shook his head, sighing softly before he mused, “I know this is new for you, but… I appreciate you looking after me. I’m sorry if I interrupted your work day, though.”
“You didn’t, honest! And even if I was busy, I would’ve stopped everything to help!”
“...you shouldn’t have to do that.”
“I want to, though, and I’m happy to care for you.”
Edgeworth hesitated, then glanced upward at his partner, his chilling gaze making the attorney’s heart lurch when the noticeable fear behind a sheen of unshed tears. Timidly, he reached for his partner and rested their foreheads together with a relieved breath tainted with the sorrow he did not let show to its full extent.
Barely above a whisper, Miles told him, “I appreciate you being my protector.”
“Of course, baby. I will always be here for you.”
“...You know, it’s strange, but… this feels like something I used to do.”
“Oh yeah? Can you tell me more? If you want to, that is.”
“It… reminds me of the times I had with father,” the prosecutor revealed, his pale cheeks dusted with a faint pink hue, “I imagine that isn’t the most romantic thing, comparing you to him…”
“Actually, I’m honored!”
Miles pulled away and raised a brow, “That… was unexpected.”
“Well, I mean… you looked up to your dad, yeah?” Phoenix questioned, blushing himself at the way he was being watched by his partner, “So, he was important. And that would make me important too!”
Waiting for an annoyed, cutting look from his boyfriend, Phoenix was relieved to see that the man tried to hide the sheepish look he gave instead, seemingly lost for words for a moment.
“I suppose you are, Wright.”