Chapter Text
Miles felt very silly being the only adult going to the circus without a child. He paid for parking and waited, noting how many young children passed by his car. He was sure none of the other parents cared, but it still felt embarrassing on Edgeworth’s end. At least he hadn’t seen any of his students. That would be hard to explain. He didn’t want to show favoritism. He’d end up going to every performance of every child he taught. He didn’t have that kind of time.
Thankfully, he wasn’t alone for very long. Phoenix met him at the front gate, letting them both in. Phoenix was dressed in a simple shirt and jeans. A bit causal for Miles, but it looked good on Phoenix. It somehow fit him.
Miles was probably far too overdressed to go to the circus, but he didn’t own anything more causal than dress pants, button downs, and cardigans. He almost wore a tie, but he figured that would be a little much. He was thankful he didn’t when he saw the only other person wearing a tie was the ringmaster himself.
“Trucy got us front row seats.” Phoenix informed Miles.
“Oh, that’s sweet of her. She didn’t have to. I’m sure I would have been content from the back of the tent.”
“I think she’s friends with the Ringmaster’s daughter who got them for her?”
“You think?”
Phoenix raised his hands defensively. “Listen, I don’t get involved in the office politics of the circus. But Truce and the Ringmaster’s daughter at least get along.”
Miles frowned and glared at Phoenix. He made no attempt to hide his disapproval. “One would think you would keep better track of your own daughter’s interactions, especially at her young age.”
“Miles, she literally sparkles. I-I had mentally prepare myself for a lot when I adopted, and I had to just give up understanding Regina.”
Edgeworth gave him a skeptical look. People just didn’t sparkle naturally. He crossed his arms. Phoenix shrunk under the scrutiny. The legal aide frowned and gave his best puppy dog eyes he could muster.
Edgeworth couldn’t stay angry at that attempt. Phoenix was so silly sometimes. Normally that would annoy Miles to no end, but he couldn’t hold his anger. They were at the circus. Phoenix was trying his best. If they did end up working as a couple, Miles would definitely keep a better eye on Trucy’s interactions. Something just did not sit right with him about this Regina woman. But, for now, he could forgive and appreciate Phoenix’s intentions.
“Alright, alright,” Miles smiled. “Fine. As long as you make sure she’s safe.”
“I do! I swear!”
“I know! You’re a great father.”
Phoenix looked away, blush dusting his cheeks and ears. Miles didn’t know why he was embarrassed, but Miles took it as a sign that he said something right.
Phoenix was a great father, but Edgeworth had to admit he didn’t know why Phoenix was one in the first place. He knew he adopted the girl, but it was very unusual for a man in his mid to late twenties to adopt a young child out of the blue. It wasn’t as if Phoenix made an extravagant amount of money.
“Speaking of,” Miles began. “Why did you decide to adopt Trucy? I… I hope this doesn’t come off the wrong way, but I wouldn’t expect you to have a daughter. I… didn’t guess it the… uh… the first time we m-met.” Miles convinced himself his blush was from the hot lights shining in the circus tent.
Phoenix gave an embarrassed grin and scratched the back of his neck. “Well…” He began. “It was unexpected. To say the least.”
Miles forced himself to get over his embarrassment… uh, the hot lights, rather, and listened to Phoenix’s story. “Oh?”
Phoenix sighed, looking a little sad. “Mia was working a case and I was there and she found out there was forged evidence and Trucy’s father escaped from prison but was killed a little while later and…I just couldn’t leave her alone. Her mother disappeared and she had no family. I took her in. I couldn’t leave her like that.”
Miles couldn’t contain the lurch of sadness that went through him. He immediately stepped closer to Phoenix, putting one hand on Phoenix’s shoulder and the other on the man’s stubbly cheek. “My god… Phoenix…” All words died in Miles’ mouth. He didn’t know how to react.
“I love her all the same. I just wish she didn’t have to go through all of that.”
“I didn’t know any of that.” Miles saw the images of his own father, dying in front of him. He knew the pain of losing parents. He wouldn’t want anyone to go through that ordeal, especially the happy little ball of energy that was Trucy. She didn’t deserve any of what she went through. He was so relieved that Phoenix took her in. He was one of the kindest men Miles had ever met.
Phoenix shrugged, but he put his hands on Miles’ hips, bringing their bodies closer. He had this soft, lovely look in his eyes that Miles couldn’t pinpoint. It was a hazy glare that could melt the coldest heart. He could relax under that gaze no matter what. It was lovely. “I don’t think she wants you to know. But, she’s happy now. And that’s what matters.”
“Of course.” Miles rubbed his thumb against Phoenix’s cheekbone. Phoenix seemed to like it; he leaned his head into the touch, eyes drifting closed.
The world could have melted away and neither of them would care. The connection they had now, the contentment they had at this moment was all that mattered. They felt truly like they belonged together. Nothing could break them apart. Even in the rush of the circus, they found a calm peace in the little space they carved out. They noticed nothing but each other, not the screaming children, or the organ playing, or the quiet gasp of a young magician from behind a wall of the tent. It was they and they alone.
After what could have been seconds or minutes or hours of getting lost in each other, Phoenix finally spoke. “We should get our seats.”
Miles nodded, placing both hands on Phoenix’s shoulders. “True. How long is the show?”
“An hour and a half.”
~
Miles had come to learn to expect certain things in his life that were… unusual. His sister, for instance, became a prosecutor before he finished college, and carried a bullwhip into the courtroom, and has somehow not been arrested for assault. His crush’s hair naturally grew horizontally, without need for any product. He had come to accept this little strangeness in his life. It helped in his life, especially when dealing with young children. By accepting their differences, he could effectively find the best method to understand and educate them. None of this mattered, however, when he saw Regina Berry.
“Phoenix, she sparkled.”
“I know!”
“She sparkled.”
“I told you earlier about it. You didn’t believe me.”
The show went off without a hitch (Phoenix confirmed after having to sit through multiple rehearsals). Miles felt Trucy performed the best and with the most enthusiasm, in his unbiased opinion. The last performance before the bows was the animal tamer, Regina. Every comment about the show was lost when Miles saw the girl. She sparkled. It was a biological impossibility that Miles wanted to refuse was real.
“Did you like the show?”
“She SPARKLED.”
If Phoenix was going to say something, Miles would never know. Trucy came bouncing to them, still in her performance outfit.
“Hi Daddy! Hi Mr. Edgeworth! Did you like the show?” She rocked on her heels in anticipation of their answer.
Phoenix was the first to reply. “Of course!” He bent down and gave her a big hug. “It was amazing. You were the best magician on the stage.”
Trucy scrunched her face in embarrassment, but hugged him back. “Awww, you’re just saying that.” They separated, and Phoenix stood up to his full height. “What about you, Mr. Edgeworth? Did you like the show?”
Miles kneeled down in front of Trucy, so he could look at her face on the same level. “Yes. It was wonderful. I didn’t know you were so talented.”
Trucy giggled. “So does that mean I can do more magic tricks in class?”
Miles gave her a stern look, but had a smile on his face. “Maybe we can set some time aside so you can show the class. Next week is the last week of school, so we might have some extra time. My only request is that if we do, you teach the other students how to do a simple trick.”
Trucy jumped up and down excitedly. “I can do that! Oh, it’s going to be so fun. Thank you Mr. Edgeworth!” She suddenly wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a big hug. It took him by surprise at first, but he recovered quickly enough and hugged her back.
After the tender hug, Miles stood back up to his full height.
“I’ll be back soon, Daddy. I just need to have the post show meeting thing with the other performers.”
“Okay. Come back as soon as you can. We need to catch the bus.”
Miles interrupted before he could process the words coming from him. “Would you two like a ride?”
Phoenix looked a little surprised, but Trucy had the largest grin on her face. “Does that mean we can ride in your big fancy car?”
“Yes, Trucy.”
“Oh, can we Daddy? Please? It’s so cool!”
Phoenix seemed to recover from his surprise, and smiled down at his daughter. “Sure. Just remember to say thank you.”
“Oh yes! Thank you Mr. Edgeworth!”
Before Miles could get a word in, Trucy ran off back behind the curtain to her meeting. Both men were left, small smiles and giggles on their lips.
“She really is something else.” Miles commented.
“She is,” Phoenix replied. “Do you need gas money?”
“Don’t worry about it. Although, she did have a good point, Wright.” Right. He could do this. He was going to take the initiative for once. He could do this. There was a small window of opportunity and quickly diminishing confidence, but it was now or never for Miles.
“What’s that?”
“Next week is the last week. And I did promise you… ah… a… date.” He could have been smoother at the end but considering Miles didn’t even have the will to ask his date to prom back in Germany, he felt pretty accomplished of himself. He didn’t even have to ask Franziska to make the move for him this time.
Phoenix got a huge grin on his face, and his cheeks became dusted with a light blush. He scratched the back of his neck. “R-right! What do you wanna do?”
Miles shrugged. What did people do on dates? He certainly wouldn’t know. This was well out of his realm of expertise. “I don’t really know.” He admitted. Better to be upfront than drag this out any longer. They already dragged this on for ten weeks. It was time to go to the next step. Miles just hoped that Phoenix felt the same way.
Phoenix shrugged and thought to himself for a second. “Well, I know a place I like. I’m not sure it’ll be your thing.”
“Oh?” Miles asked. He was a little apprehensive. Did they force people to wear short shorts or something?
“It’s a little smoky jazz bar downtown. Nice; pretty quiet for a bar. Well, I guess it’s more of a lounge. Anyway. Maybe we can grab a thing to eat there or something and then head home?”
Miles gave Phoenix a look. “A bar? Really?”
“It doesn’t have to end the same way. Or it can. If you wanna.” Phoenix winked.
Miles probably turned as red as his sweater, but he conceded. A relaxed old style bar sounded really nice, actually. He wasn’t a huge jazz fan, but it could make good background music.
“I’d love to.”
“Cool. We can work out the details later. Trucy’s gonna be staying at a friends house for a sleepover so we can have the night to ourselves.”
“Phoenix, you make it sound as if you want to recreate the night we… Uh… met.”
Phoenix just laughed and winked again before Trucy came running back to them. Miles straightened himself out as subtly as he could. He’d have to blame the blush on the hot lights. Again.