trustworthy heart;

With a small chuckle, the shorter nodded. "...Yeah, I don't think as a kid I would put a lot of effort into my hair. Well, unless my mom made me. I doubt she really cared about things like that though." He smiled and they continued to walk a bit more in silence. 

They passed through the town, and he looked in amazement at the stores with toys and the like in them. "Yeah...definitely smaller than L.A....but I like it." He stopped their stroll in the middle of the sidewalk, looking into a jewelry store. "Huh. Their jewelry looks different from our's..." Very off topic from their date, he gestured for Miles to look.

     ”You should be sorry, Nick!” But she’s not serious, pushing his buttons is just a favorite past time.

     ”I’m kidding, of course. It’s really good to see you here, to see you at all. Now there is no need for emails or worrying over calling. There is so much to see and learn here, so much waiting, I look forward to doing it alongside you. You have to catch me up on all the gossip.”  Not that he was typically a hefty source on that matter but with her sly smile directed at him, Maya hardly cared.

"Well...there is that one professor who is honestly a bit scary," Phoenix admitted, "Professor Curtiss--he's a college professor. You'll have to meet him eventually, but I suppose you'll manage. You've dealt with Larry, Franziska--who, by the way, is here too, Edgeworth, and more. I'd be surprised if you couldn't handle Curtiss."

"...I'm glad. Maybe we can go out for lunch then--or will you have to return to the temple? I'll see if I can handle being up in those mountains, though after what's happened--probably not. It's too cold, even for a Japanifornian like me."

Phoenix’s words and kiss help calm him down a bit; he’s trying to keep himself from breaking, but he knows he’s not going to be able to hold himself together much longer because of how much that nightmare hits home.

When he feels the bed shift as Phoenix slides himself onto the bed, he doesn’t hesitate to reach out to practically pull Phoenix onto the bed, wrap his arms around him, bury his head into Phoenix’s chest and finally lets out the emotions he was holding back.

He was the one who solved the mystery of The Nightmare, and Phoenix felt like not only was it his responsibility as a lover-- but as the one who shoved the truth into Miles's face-- to take care of the other in a time like this. He is now seeing a vulnerable side of his boyfriend, and he is glad yet secretly terrified because he doesn't know what to do.

The defense laces his hands in between the hairs at the top of the other man's neck, leaning into the crook of his neck. He does not know what to say in this situation, so he thinks about the selection of words carefully before speaking.

"Of course," he says in a benign voice, "I'd never leave your side, I'll be here for eternity." Phoenix plants a small kiss in the crevice of the professor's neck. "I love you and know that you are strong, Miles." He uses the name that is somewhat foreign to him to show emphasis, and rubs his free hand quietly along the spinal cord--tracing, remembering this hold. This is the only way the counselor knows how to protect his lover, and he hopes it works.

Tears from the professor's cheek stream down onto Phoenix's sweater, but he isn't disgusted. He's quieting down, Phoenix thinks, good. I hope he knows that I care. With a soft smile, that is somewhat dull from the unforeseen awakening at the middle of the night, he speaks.

"Do you want to go back to sleep? I understand if you don't want to sleep after this. Don't think you have to sleep because I want to, Miles, I'll stay up with you if you want. We can talk about things, like we did on those sleep overs, remember?"

He continues pouring out words, hopefully calming down the silver even more. Phoenix hates when Miles's not feeling right--because it stresses him out too. He wants everything to actually be alright.

He awakes with a scream and a jolt. He can feel his heart pounding and tears running down his cheeks.

Again…?!

He always wakes up from that nightmare like this. Though the real question is why? Why has that nightmare returned after all this time?

Because his father is here, alive. There’s a chance he can lose him again, and that thought terrifies him.

He can feel more tears threatening to fall and his breath is coming shakily. He can’t deal with his alone - as much as he wishes to - and there’s only one person he feels he can turn to for this.

Grabbing his cell phone from the nightstand, he turned it on and scrolled through his contacts until he found the one he needed and typed out the message.

Phoenix…

I…they’re back…

Please…come. I…need you.

He hit ‘send’ and lied back on the bed, trying to calm himself.

"..." He stares quietly at the message, and realizes the urgency of the situation. The brunet sits up, slips on an overcoat, slides out of his door, peers into his daughter's room (and whispers "Truce, I'm gonna go out real quick--if I'm not home by 6 AM, please go to school. Don't miss out, 'kay?"), and then dashes out of his dorm. His lover's room is in another dorm, not too far away. But as he runs in the frigid weather, it feels like years before he gets to the door. 

The former defense walks in, takes the elevator, and gets off on the 6th floor. He's always found it peculiar that his boyfriend insisted on having a floor on one of the higher levels, as he had a fear of elevators, but did not question it.

Once Phoenix gets to Miles's door, he takes out his key ring from his pocket. He grabs the key with a piece of paper that has a tiny heart drawn on it and opens the door. He scurries through the hallway and opens up the door that is his significant other's bedroom.

Phoenix sits besides Miles, who's laying on the bed, and whispers, "Hey...hey, it's alright. I'm here." He hasn't gotten the slightest clue on what "they" are, or who "they" are--but does it matter? He has to be here for Miles.

But then it hits him.

It's December 4th. That happened during this month.

Slowly realizing what "they" is, he puts a gentle hand onto Miles's back and coos, "It's fine...it's fine, you'll be alright..."

     It is a complete disconnect from his disdain for the actions of the other man. Phoenix Wright, disbarred at Kristoph’s own hands, and his dear friend. The smile was not entirely false, seeing Phoenix in this position, somewhat compliant with Kristoph… there was a victory in that and that made seeing Phoenix a joy. However, the loud tinkering of keys in quite poor taste were another story and he had to wonder if it was meant to strike a nerve… or if he was truly this bad. Kristoph had expressed his sentiments once or twice— it would not be unlike Phoenix to challenge them regardless of how close they supposedly were.

     Yet the smile he wore was unwavering and his contentment to see Phoenix like this always tended to overpower any annoyances.

     ”Ah— Phoenix. A pleasure as always to see you. Perhaps you will one day take me up on that offer to buy you piano lessons.  You could make a tidy sum as a real pianist, you are aware?” And his eyes crinkle, a little chuckle and a broader grin from Kristoph.

     ”It would be a far more reputable position than this.” And he gives a little gesture to the venue before sitting near to Phoenix, careful eyes scanning the facility before landing at Phoenix, watching intent.

     ”You are very kind to ask, even if it is to live vicariously. We have taken on a few small  clients here and there though assuredly, nothing to write home about. It may not all be lost, I believed in you for a reason.” And though he does not wish to encourage Phoenix to pursue anything other than a different career entirely- and anything that will keep him from connecting Kristoph to it all- his words then are honest for he knows the truth.

Perfect, solid evidence.

He closes his eyes with a soft laugh, which comes out more like a sigh of a man who's given up. Phoenix would never give up losing his badge, the other should know that much well. No matter how much Kristoph would persuade him, he would never fall in. His badge meant more than any other human being's life.

"...You know that I don't like when people buy me things," he had stated it many times before when Kristoph offered one of the newest drinks at the bar or even new clothes. "I think my piano playing is just fine...all the customers say so themselves.

"And the Borscht Bowl is fine, thank you. Don't you agree that the Borscht tastes much more than cardboard? The small amount of customers that they bring in...it's the perfect amount for me to take naps in between." The nights he stayed up working late shifts for those who wanted a late night game, it was indescribably painful. Even as a lawyer, he may have slept at his office a few nights, but at least he got some sleep. At the "restaurant" he was lucky if he could even blink some nights.

Somehow Phoenix had been spared any lasting physical harm from the incident. Emotionally on the other hand - well, Phoenix had changed significantly during his pursuit of his badge. Mia had been glad to help him, but also sad as she realized how much he guarded his heart. 

Mia couldn’t help but nod to herself in satisfaction as Phoenix talked about his daughter. Phoenix clearly loved Trucy dearly. She didn’t have any memories of her own father - her mother had some sort of arrangement to have children - but she could remember the pride in her mother’s eyes. That was the same sort of pride she saw in Phoenix’s eyes now.

With a sigh, at the mention Trucy's career choice, he put a finger to his head and scratched it absentmindedly. "I don't know," he admitted, "I really don't want her to think that she has to go into law for my sake. I don't know if you remember me telling you about my mother way back then...how she wanted me to go into art, but it's really stressful."

"It's not good...or at least I think it's not good to force Trucy to do what I want. I want her to carry on the law firm, but if she doesn't...it's alright. I can hope for Apollo or Athena's children to carry on the firm. I don't want my hard work to go to waste, you know?" It'd be even better if both of them got married and then had children, it would ensure the business's security. Not that he would force them to get married either, he wanted them to do what they wanted to do. He felt like...their second fathers too.

"I know she wants to carry on the Gramarye name in reality. She wants to be a magician, make the magic business remember the Trucy Engimar Wright. To take on two businesses at once--one where you have to travel all the time, unlike mine which leaves you mostly stationary and always prepared for your next client...wouldn't that be too hard for her?" He looked at his former boss for a bit of wise words, and let out a larger sigh.

Throughout the length of the party, Ema had seen various people of different ages dressed up. This made her feel slightly glad, her decision to dress up was one that took much pondering over before reaching. It was strange to be participating in something usually only children would, though it seemed many people didn’t care much about that. That fact alone made her confidence boost ever so slightly, as she did put in time and effort into her costume.

Upon seeing him at the party, Ema was surprised to see that Phoenix too had decided to go in costume. The fact that he was wearing a mask didn’t really mean you couldn’t recognize him, you’d have to be blind not to notice that spiky hair of his. Since this party was to celebrate a holiday that was half based on tricks, an idea came to mind. Quietly she sneaked towards the unsuspecting defense attorney.

Phoenix turned around and tipped his head forward in greeting. He was surprised that the forensic-crazed detective would dress up, but then again--there was a lot of surprising things in Ema's life. 

The counselor gave her a huge smile and said, "It's been awhile hasn't it Ema? I've been counseling as of late, it's more fun than it looks."

"I heard you're a college student again? I wish I could go back to college," he snorted, "minus the whole deal about Prosecutor Edgeworth ignoring me and all. A fun, nice...non-stressing college life."

"Apparently they used the same outfit used in a play a couple years ago," Mia explained. "Makes sense that it isn’t meant for actually waitress - it’s not very practical." 

If anything, the costume seemed to be the inverse of practice, really.

"Don’t worry, I won’t encourage anyone to go to that restaurant. I doubt they could, as long as they’re on campus - and I don’t hate anyone that much."

He wouldn't admit to Mia that a few girls, who for some reason always dropped by his office, had made him this costume. They were squealing when he put it on. Phoenix thought it was pretty cool.

"And good," he says in a dark voice, "or I'd have to put you down--you'd be doing a huge crime, giving people the address to that bad restaurant, madame." He snorts and changes back to his normal voice, putting his cards back into his pockets.

But he had.

And then Athena and Polly had gone missing too. Trucy had been all alone and that had terrified her. It reminded her of the days after her first daddy had vanished, when she had sat in their apartment, wondering what would happen to her. She had taken care of herself, of course - Daddy was often busy with his magic performances so she had to get her own food sometimes - but it had been lonely. 

Her first daddy had promised that he would pick her out a new daddy, someone who was good and kind and would take care of her after he vanished. She had been very careful not to give away the secret of his disappearance, but she missed him.

Her new daddy was everything she could have dreamed of and more. Trucy loved him with all of her heart. 

She didn’t ever want to lose him. 

"I asked the Headmistress not to tell you I was here yet, but I should be officially enrolled later this afternoon!" Trucy explained, backing out of the hug a bit so she could look at her father while they talked. "I’m really excited though! This place has magic, real magic! I’m going to learn so much and make the Gramarye name even more famous!” 

The brunet released the hug and gave his young a laugh. "I'm glad you surprised me, you know how much I love surprises," that wasn't all true--most of his past surprises were getting hit by cars, falling off of bridges, and losing his attorney badge. But he was going to be sweet and happy, because he wanted to make his daughter smile.

"Don't do any dangerous, blowing-up-the-office kind of magic alright?" He raised an eyebrow at the thought of his daughter exploding the office. It had almost happened more than once, but luckily Apollo and Athena were there with 911 on speed dial. "If you learn any extra cool tricks," he added with a simper, "make sure you share with me, alright? If it's cool enough, maybe I'll go on stage with you."

He would never go on stage, no he hated the stage even though he had made a few quirks about "I should've been an actor" in the past--it was hard for him to stand on stage without thinking of how he had to surpass his own father if he took on acting. He shook that thought off with a glance at his daughter, bouncing her heels happily.

     ”Phoenix…"She ought to be happy now, this she knows. The truth has come to light, forgiveness seemed to be her friend… but seeing him upset like this, it reminds her of when she did the same to him.

All those memories of the past are being tossed around in his head.

"Okay," she mumbled, slipping into the room quickly. It’s definitely a nice setup, she thinks. Nicer than most counselors’ offices. And that couch really did look soft…. Couldn’t hurt to stay a while. Besides, she was kind of having some difficulties in the homesickness area.

Phoenix walked over to the couch and grabbed an empty manila folder off the top of the overflowing pile on one end of the couch. "Sorry about the mess," he snorted as he went to his chair and sat down. "Do you mind if you tell me your name, age, where you came from, and what grade you're in?" He grabbed a pen from his desk and prepared to jot down her name.