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"Phoenix?"
The man being addressed seemed to freeze for a moment, his mind buffering as it processed the single word that fell from his best friend and rival's lips, who was standing just moments away from him, against the kitchen counter, dressing in a burgundy sweater and grey slacks, glasses perched on his nose, and wine glass held between deft fingers like the sophisticated man Miles Edgeworth liked to be.
Currently, the Wright apartment was buzzing with sedate New Year's energy again for the first time in eight disbarred years. Christmas had come and gone not too long ago, a small affair with just the two Wrights sharing the morning together before being joined by a few more friends for a small meal that trumped anything they had done since Phoenix had lost his badge and main source of income. The Borscht Bowl was good for money but half of his Christmases as a mediocre piano player slash masterful poker champion had been spent out of the country. The perks of having a friend who was a rich international prosecutor, Phoenix supposed. But this year, the year of 2026, Phoenix Wright was holding his own little New Years party in his own place, with his own money spent on things like food and alcohol, and with his family to share it with. And Miles, back in the country for god knows how long, had joined them to Phoenix's pleasure, and the ex-defence lawyer was damn well going to spend as much time with his friend as he possibly could.
It wasn't unheard of the man calling Phoenix by his first night, though throughout the evening, he had only ever been addressed as 'Wright' so the sudden switch to first names could have meant anything from "I'm about to tell you I'm leaving for Europe and not returning" to "I'm going to express my deep feelings for you right here, right now." Somehow, Phoenix knew the former would be far more likely than the latter, though a man could dream. So, Phoenix was either going to have his evening ruined or his evening completely ruined. Phoenix, if he were a betting man, which he kind of was, would put his money down on completely ruined.
"Yes, Miles?" The defence lawyer answered not a second too long after Edgeworth had first spoken, hoping he showed no sign of how his thoughts raced to conclusion after conclusion, none of them a happily ever after Phoenix wanted. Edgeworth took a moment to adjust the glasses on his face and Phoenix's thoughts betrayed him, wanting to get close to do that himself followed by a soft kiss. His own wine glass felt heavy in his hands, hoping he hadn't drunk enough to follow through with anything his mind brought up.
"Will you be retaking the bar?"
"I-" Phoenix started, mouth opening and closing like he'd been caught bluffing in court without a single shred of decisive evidence. He clamped his mouth shut as he thought further about it, mostly drunk wine sloshing in his glass as he set it down to scratch as his chin. "I haven't really thought about it, if I'm being honest."
"I think you should." Edgeworth admitted without pause for thought, briefly surprising Phoenix, though he wasn't sure why, perhaps the idea that his friend had been thinking about this subject prior to the conversation was the cause. The idea of Miles Edgeworth thinking about him gave Phoenix goosebumps though he partly wished it didn't. "Court, though I have frequented it less in this country over the years, will continue to be dreadfully normal without you."
"Is that a compliment I hear, Edgeworth?" Phoenix smirked, raising a scarred eyebrow and trying not to seem too smug.
"No." His friend snapped reflexively, glaring at him before clearing his throat and sipping his wine. "Yes- perhaps, Wright." He corrected himself and Phoenix breathed out of his nose. Phoenix had actually thought about returning to the law business, helping those without anyone in their corner, but some part of him still wondered if it was worth it. The law and the system had failed him, so what was the point if it could just continue to fail him again? Yes, Kristoph Gavin had finally got his just deserts, but why should Phoenix return to the same system that wrongfully stole his badge and his reputation and his dignity from him? Why did Phoenix Wright, disgraced defence lawyer, owe anything to the courts, to the law? He glanced down at himself, shabby yet comfortable grey hoodie with his sweats and sandals, Trucy's glaring blue knitted beanie upon his head, nothing of a respected defence lawyer, a contradiction against Edgeworth's smart, casual style that had everyone looking at him without disgust but utter respect and even attraction. The thought of regaining his badge, being able to flash it off to anyone he wanted to, did get Phoenix a little bit excited, so he turned back to Edgeworth.
"I'll… I'll think about it." The prosecutor nodded, a small curl of his lips hardly visible unless you were used to looking out for it like Phoenix was.
"See that you do." Edgeworth's response might have seemed almost like a teacher reminding a student to get that missed assignment in but Phoenix heard the unspoken I'll see you in court soon. "There is another thing I'd like to inform you about."
"Oh?" That got Phoenix's hopes up dangerously, hopelessly wondering if Edgeworth was just about to confess his feelings as his tone didn't suggest he'd be moving back to Germany or somewhere else. Why would he encourage Phoenix to get his badge back if he wasn't going to stay? Unless, he just wanted LA left in somewhat capable hands...
"I got promoted to Chief Prosecutor." Edgeworth told him and Phoenix froze for the second time that evening, eyes widening slightly.
"Chief? Wha- When?" Phoenix stammered, taken by surprise, Chief Prosecutor was something big, and Phoenix knew that Miles Edgeworth certainly deserved the title. Though, a small part of him hoped that he was taking the promotion not for the title or the money, but to have a more permanent job in LA, meaning not so many trips abroad, and he'd always be coming home for certain if he did take a trip out. Even more selfishly, Phoenix hoped it meant Edgeworth would be spending more time with him.
"Two weeks ago, give or take."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I was going to, Christmas was rather busy, and you know how I am the days after that." Phoenix nodded, completely understanding. Every year since his friend let him, Phoenix had been there for him on the 28th, as well as the surrounding days, knowing he needed someone there on the anniversary of his father's murder, whether it was a shoulder to cry on or someone to just share the silence of a warm room with. Whatever Miles needed, Phoenix was there to offer it to him, or to the best of his abilities anyway.
"Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth, huh?" Phoenix tested the title, smiling to himself. "It suits you."
"Yes… well, it's nothing more than a title and a bigger workload." Edgeworth explained, being his humble self as always."
"No doubt a bigger pay too?" Phoenix poked at him, knowing Edgeworth wasn't one to truly boast about his significantly larger and heavier bank account, though they both knew it had a substantial amount of money in it, cash he liked to spend on others seeing as he could throw it around without much of a care knowing it would make Manfred von Karma roll in his grave. Phoenix had been at the receiving side of his philanthropist ways (Phoenix had dared to suggest that Edgeworth was more of a sugar daddy, which had earned him the sharpest of glares, and he hadn't been allowed to drink the rest of the milk from the prosecutor's morning tea that he didn't use at the restaurant in Paris.)
"Well, yes, but it also means I can have a bigger input in reforming the law." Edgeworth mused and Phoenix nodded, shifting on the spot.
"Wouldn't want anyone else." He hummed, avoiding his friends slightly surprised expression, the man still not used to compliments.
"It… it would be better if I had a more reliable partner working alongside me." Edgeworth said with all seriousness, making Phoenix's heart swell and his ego boost. He smirked knowingly at his friend.
"In that case, I'm sure Winston Payne will be up for it" The look of utter disgust and repulsion on Edgeworth's face was everything Phoenix had hoped for by saying that comment, letting out a small laugh as Edgeworth wrinkled his nose in dissatisfaction, sipping his wine as if to get rid of a horrid taste.
"Dear god, don't even joke about that Wright." Edgeworth warned before dissolving in small, less boisterous but still amused, laughs, ones that made Phoenix's heart yearn for more, wanting his friend to laugh more frequently and because of him. The ex-defence attorney didn't realise they'd drifted closer until he could see the small laughter lines that carved their way delicately along Edgeworth's pale skin. "In all seriousness, Wright, I wouldn't want anyone else by my side with this, but you."
Letting that sink in, Phoenix felt himself almost melt, knowing he felt exactly the same way. He trusted nobody as much as he trusted Miles Edgeworth, going as far to entrust the man with his badge before it got taken away. Watching his friend, Phoenix's mismatch eyes found Edgeworth's grey one just behind his glasses, feeling his breath hitch and feeling an odd tug pressuring him into moving closer and just cupping the pros- Chief Prosecutor's jaw, brushing his hair back from his face, and kissing him feverishly. The familiar burn on his cheeks told Phoenix he had definitely had too much wine that night, but the gravity pulling them closer forced him to discard those more logical thoughts.
Until the thumping of feet muffled against carpet then the sudden volume of voices, music, and the distant sound of the TV filled the kitchen as the door swung open, ruining just about everything. Though, Phoenix couldn't be mad as he saw who was standing there, interrupting whatever was happening between him and Edgeworth.
"Daddy, the count is going to start soon!" Trucy, happy and beaming like normal, bounced in the doorway, her magician's cape flowing behind her. Phoenix himself couldn't help but smile just as wide as he looked at his daughter, her happiness infectious in the best of ways. "You two don't want to miss it."
"Of course not, Truce." Phoenix assured her. "We'll be there in a sec."
"Okay, don't get too caught up in your reminiscing, you're not that old yet." Trucy called back to them as she left, no doubt dashing off to sit back with Pearl who was here with Maya, Larry too, not to Phoenix's surprise. Apollo having shown up with Klavier Gavin, not one to let the man go alone in a time like this after losing his brother to jail. Despite being the one to call Phoenix out on the falsified evidence, he held no hard feelings to the young prosecutor, those feelings were directed towards the older Gavin, the real one behind everything.
"Yet, she still likes to remind me that I am getting older. Maya too…" Phoenix grumbled as he pushed away from the counter top, his back popping to prove it. Downing the rest of his drink, the red liquid bitter on his tongue but would hopefully banish any lingering thoughts about what almost and could have (and should have in Phoenix's opinion) occurred between the two friends. Looking at Edgeworth, he didn't seem like anything had occurred, not even fazed about how close they'd come to be, and Phoenix half wondered if he had been imagining things. "Almost midnight then, this year went quicker than the last seven."
"Mmm…" Was all Phoenix got back, not that he expected anything more from his quiet friend. He'd placed the wine glass in the sink to clean up later when Edgeworth spoke again.
"Are you to keep up the tradition?" Phoenix turned his head to face him, confused. It must have shown in his expression because the prosecutor straightened up and carried on, stepping towards him where Phoenix stood near the doorway. "Of kissing someone else at the stroke of midnight."
"Oh ugh… no. Klavier seems to have Apollo covered and I don't feel like kissing anyone else."
"Oh?" Edgeworth let out, thankfully choosing to ignore the subtle hint that he'd kiss Apollo willingly on New Year's, Phoenix unsure why he'd even brought up the younger defence attorney, cursing himself for making things weird. A look crossed over his face Phoenix could have sworn was disappointment. “No one?” Here, Phoenix could have spilled out the truth, confessing his deepest desires to take the man by his stupid jabot - though he wasn't wearing one - and crush their lips together, end up getting together, spending nights curled up in bed together, or on the sofa watching the Steel Samurai with Phoenix not understanding a single thing, growing old and soft together. Or, the more simple and less emotional option, Phoenix could lie.
So, he chose to fib.
"...not really…"
To his relief and, at the same time, horror, Edgeworth left it at that, sipping his wine with a little more need than necessary before gesturing for Phoenix to lead the way as Trucy's voice carried through from the sitting room.
"Daddy, Uncle Miles! You're going to be late!" Shaking his head at his daughter's enthusiasm, Phoenix led the way, coming to stop not far from the door, the TV across from him, casting the room into a soft, white glow, while the Christmas decoration with their small, colourful lights, twinkled around the edge of the room. The room had a calm feel to it and Phoenix enjoyed it as he glanced around at everyone. Apollo and Klavier sat close on the shorter sofa, closer than just friends would though his protégé would never admit to his crush on the prosecutor, Phoenix knowing exactly how he felt, though at least Klavier was totally obvious in how he felt back while Edgeworth was just...well, Edgeworth. Maya was lounged across the larger chair, Larry slumped in the spot she didn't manage to take up, while Trucy and Pearl took up the floor, heads bent close, no doubt conspiring some sort of plan that hopefully didn't include Pearl's still present obsession with Maya and Phoenix, or Trucy's prior want for a mother. That had been one thing he could never give his daughter, seeing as the person he was in love with was not of the maternal side, nor was he so easy to claim.
Something brushed his shoulder and Phoenix turned his head to find Edgeworth standing next to him, eyes on the TV screen where the clock displayed in large numbers 11:59:34.
~~~
Miles had followed Wright and Trucy into the sitting room after the young girl had sought her father out, refusing to let him miss the yearly countdown that brought the new year in, fireworks and people celebrating something that happened so frequently. Miles couldn't entirely understand it, there wasn't anything really that special by incrementing a number by one every 365 days, especially when the first day of the new year seemed no different from the days prior or soon to come. But Trucy Wright was not someone Miles ever wished to deprive of things she wanted, completely wrapped around her finger, and always wanting to spoil the young lady now he didn't just have Wright to spend his money on. Spoiling Trucy was much easier than spoiling his friend (he was not a sugar daddy like Wright loved to tease) seeing as the man never felt like he could just take Miles' money even though the Chief Prosecutor had assured him many times that he always could, especially if they were tight on funds for bills and buying supplies.
They reached the sitting room where everyone else was, all waiting for the count down to being and the year 2027 to roll on in. A new beginning, hopefully with newer and better times ahead, and even more so, Phoenix Wright returning to court and giving all the prosecutors and judges a run for their money. Although Mr Justice was very capable at being a lawyer, there was nothing like seeing Wight face anyone off in court, nothing like the unadulterated satisfaction when Wright had Payne cornered and without escaped, nothing like the adrenaline rush when actually standing opposite the old defence lawyer who bluffed beyond belief yet still managed to soil the top three prosecutors' perfect records, one after the other, though Franziska's coming a little later one and Von Karma's ending with the man himself locked away in jail. The Dark Age of the Law needed stamping out and Miles couldn't achieve that without Phoenix Wright at his side. He hadn't flown the man out of the country just to have his company while working on a case, though that did happen to be some percentage of the reason.
The digital clock displayed 11:59:41 and Miles thought back to the moment in the kitchen. He'd felt something and Miles was sure Wright had too, the duo having ended up closer to each other, thought it wasn't a strange sight to see Wright bumping his shoulder against his after winning a case, or Miles' hand splayed out on the other man's back as he guided him irritatedly out of his office. But Miles was certain, having pondered on it and brought all logic and reason in on the debate, that Phoenix Wright had been leaning towards him and whether it was the wine's fault or not, Miles was far more sure he'd have not moved out of the way if Wright just happened to be leaning in for a kiss.
He had never thought that about anyone and found it mildly inappropriate to think those thoughts about one of his oldest and closest friends, but it was something that lingered in Miles' mind whenever he saw the man whether he be dressed in homeless attire or a baggy off-the-rack suit. Miles wanted to kiss Phoenix Wright, and hopefully the ex-defence lawyer would want to back. Edgeworth admired Wright, his unwavering trust in every client he had got, his undying love, his devotion to his daughter, the pure joy this man had used to radiate every day since Miles had been reunited with him. Though he had dimmed after the disbarment, had experienced dark paths than Miles vowed to never let his friend travel alone, had cried, had yelled, and had collapsed out of sheer emotional and physical exhaustion into Miles' arms more than once when the two had met during those almost unwanted seven years. The trips hadn't all been about wanting company or needing some legal aid, but to keep Phoenix somewhere where Miles could see him in fear of what his friend might do once he found himself alone in the darkness of his bedroom, and believing there was no one in his corner anymore, and a sharp object or over the counter medication lying no too far out of reach.
Choosing death for oneself left lingering effects, especially when it had almost been in the literal sense, and Miles couldn't stop imagining Wright in the same predicament he had found himself once before.
"The countdown is about to begin here in LA, and we'll be bringing in the New Year!" Announced the woman now standing on the television, microphone in hand, and party goers lingering around with their minds lost to alcohol, and their friends snickering and being boisterous alongside them. Miles grimaced, much more thankful to be indoors, where things were less chaotic, less wild, and with people Miles deeply cared about (yes, even Larry.) New Years in Germany and Paris had been nice, but there was something much more appealing about spending it in Wright's apartment, with home cooked food, not too cheap wine, where Miles didn't need to be Prosecutor Edgeworth.
Catching Wright glancing at him, Miles felt his skin burn. The way Phenix Wright looked at him always had Miles tingling with feelings, some unnecessary, some not. But, they never failed to appear even when someone so much as uttered his friend's name. He was wearing that god-awful beanie and hoodie, as if he had managed to lose his wardrobe alongside his badge, and Miles hoped to God he retook the bar because he'd decided he was going to buy his friend a brand new, fitted suit, perhaps with a nice waistcoat. He'd already had his own suit redone, double-breasted waistcoat with a frock coat to make him look a little more authorial. As long as it wasn't what Wright was wearing at this current moment, especially the sandals…
Shaking his head slightly, Miles looked at his friend again, bringing his bottom lip between his teeth and worrying it. Despite the hobo look and the unkempt hair, the week-old beard that hadn't quite had long enough to properly grow out of the patchy mess it was currently in, Miles felt his chest constrict. He was marvellously handsome. Gorgeous even. Something Miles didn't find himself worthy of but as the woman on the TV announced the countdown to start in less than ten seconds, a sudden brashness overcame the prosecutor, along with a selfishness and eagerness he couldn't explain.
"Phoenix." He whispered almost desperately, not wanting to alert the others, as the TV began its countdown like it was giving Miles a time limit, a deadline to get what he wanted to be done otherwise he'd miss out yet again for another year. And Miles Edgeworth was not a man who was tardy enough to miss a simple deadline.
"Ten."
"Miles?" Phoenix said back in a hushed voice that sent an involuntary but minute shiver down Miles' body. His expression was soft and Miles felt he could have melted into a puddle of goop, even if it was particularly unsanitary and would have ruined the man's carpet.
"Nine."
"I think- no-" Miles cut himself off, entirely and utterly unsure of how to proceed. His heart was beating rapidly, somehow louder than the television itself. He'd never done this before, he'd formulated no plant, he wasn't like Wright, he couldn't just bluff and manage to be so lucky that almost everything turned out perfect for him. Almost everything.
"Eight."
"Take your time." He assured Miles, a gentle smile on his lips that reassured Edgeworth that he could have taken a decade to say it and Phoenix Wright would still be waiting there for him. However, this time, he didn't have a decade.
"Seven."
"I don't have much."
"Six."
"What?..." Scowling at himself, Miles realised just how ominous it sounded as Wright's expression briefly flashed into something of fear. He didn't want that.
"Five."
"Time that is." Taking a hesitant step towards his friend, already pretty close anyway but needing to be closer, impossibly closer, Wright relaxed a little in the low light, though his brow still furrowed in confusion. "Kiss me." Blurted out, Miles.
"Four."
"Huh?" This man seemed to be as thick-headed as he was smart, Miles couldn’t understand his attraction, yet he could completely at the same time.
"Three."
" Kiss me, Wright ." He ordered a little forcefully, impatient. There was a millisecond of doubt between them before everything seemed to register in Wright's mind.
"Two."
They hadn't even hit one yet and Wright moved so suddenly. Miles' eyes had already fluttered shut before the two of them met though, heads tilted not enough, noses skimming one another, Miles' glasses pushed awkwardly up his face, everything less than perfect and slightly off angle, but there - finally - nonetheless. That alone seemed to be enough to make Miles hedonistic, drinking in the taste of wine on Phoenix's lips and the heat from his mouth, cold fingers coming to run along the rough jawline while warmer and larger hands bunched themselves in the soft material of the back of Miles' sweater. The action encased Miles in his friend's arms, bringing him closer so that both were touching chest to chest and Miles would have wondered if Phoenix could feel how his heart was going wild and thumping against his rib cage, except his thoughts were occupied by nothing by Phoenix and how the man's lips felt on his, how his beard scratched at his fingertips and palms, how the weight of his hands on Miles was comforting. His head was empty apart from Phoenix .
That had always proved to be impossible, but Phoenix Wright was nothing except capable at achieving just that.
The swipe of a warm and wet tongue on his bottom lip snapped Miles back to reality and the distance sound of fireworks reminded him just of where they were and what was going on. He pulled away sharply, hands sliding down from Phoenix's face to rest on his biceps, trying not to keel over right there and then as he felt the clear muscle he had hiding under the hoodie. A muffled boom went off outside the window, lighting the room up in a red glow and a soft breath toppled from Miles' lips as it illuminated Phoenix in the most perfect of ways, eyes still shut and lips slightly slick with saliva.
Miles' newfound hedonistic tendencies urged him to lunge back in and capture his mouth back up in a kiss and not stop even when their lungs demanded oxygen and the world did its best to rip them apart with work, deadlines, and expectations. Only self-restraint took over and Miles held back, fixing his glasses just as Phoenix - when did he become Phoenix? - opened up his eyes, one brown and one blue reduced to a slither around the blown wide pupils. It didn’t take long for a beaming, almost cocky grin to spread across his face, one that could have blinded Miles if he hadn’t grown accustomed to those sorts of smiles from his friend, one that sent a rush of positive emotions through Miles’ system.
"Wright-" Miles started up, just barely louder than when Phoenix spoke himself, calling Miles by his own name at the same time, and both managing to capture the other by surprise.
"Edgeworth-" Phoenix tried though, once again, the two spoke over one another yet this time the prosecutor had switched to his friend's first name. And this time, the two dissolved into hushed, short laughs. If it had been anyone else, anywhere but right here, then Miles would have been reaching the end of his tether but instead he was giggling, like a child. Perhaps he had drunk too much wine and it was getting to his head, or maybe he was drunk on the lingering effects of the kiss. Whatever it was, it made the Chief Prosecutor feel like a middle school kid who was experiencing their first ever romantic kiss. The thought that this was actually Miles' first kiss had him cringing internally.
"You go first, Miles." Phoenix told him, voice still at a whisper, his smile visible as the pageant of fireworks kept on exploding over the skies of LA, casting a rainbow of colours through the window that reflected in Phoenix's eyes.
"I feel as though I approached what just occurred with something of a rash decision, however, I am not of regret." Miles divulged, catching the small eye roll Phoenix shot his way.
"You make it sound so formal, Miles, like we didn't just kiss at the stroke of midnight in my apartment on New Year's Eve-" Phoenix's eyes abruptly grew wide as he cut off, jaw dropping almost comically, though not the sort of comedy Miles himself enjoyed. "We did just do that, right? And I'm not having some weird dream that's to that fancy pants wine of yours?"
"It did just happen, yes." Miles nodded, refraining his own eye roll. "And the wine I brought over is not as fancy as you seem to think it is."
"Anything to do with you, Miles, is fancy."
"Yet, you're amongst them." Miles shot back without a thought, the corner of his lips twitching up as he forgot about the present company they were in.
"Is that an insult, Chief Prosecutor ?" Phoenix asked with pseudo offence, hand pressed to his chest like Miles had just called his mother a horse. Amused by his friend's dramatics, Miles couldn't help carrying on their little tête-à-tête.
"Perhaps."
After a little more bickering, they settled into a comfortable silence, Miles sticking close to Phoenix who wouldn't stop bringing his finger to toy with his bottom lip, making the prosecutor want to slap it away and kiss him attentively once again, however, the count down to the new year was over, the tradition fulfilled, and even if Wright had reciprocated the kiss, some part of Miles' cursed mind kept telling him that that was never going to happen again. All that it was, was tradition, two friends possibly drunk on wine, with the buzz of festivities around them. That's what Miles thought and that what his mind was determined to keep telling him until one such ex-defence attorney spoke up to fill the silence between them.
"May I kiss you again."
The question took Edgeworth by more surprise than it probably should have but the man just hadn't been expecting it. He gawked, blinking at Phoenix who was watching him with hopeful eyes, hair sticking out from under his beanie and Miles immediately and unexpectedly had the urge to rip the hat off and card his fingers through the man's spiky hair. He already knew that it was a soft as it looked, having found that petting Phoenix's hair acted as a comforting method to the man when he'd been upset or after the Hazakura Temple incident with a delirious and feverish Phoenix stuck in bed panicking over Maya, Pearl, and Iris rather than his own wellbeing.
"Miles-" Phoenix's voice brought him from his thoughts, having briefly forgotten that the man was awaiting an answer. Miles blushed, clearing his throat.
"You may."
"May.. ?" Phoenix tilted his head to the side like a confused dog, though Miles supposed even a canine would have had more sense than him at that moment.
"You may kiss me." Miles said properly, taking the moment to remove his glasses and deposit them safely in his trouser pocket, hoping Phoenix would understand this time. Yet when the man did not move, instead, beaming like the idiot he was, Miles pushed more. "Do it- please."
"Well, seeing as you asked so nicely." Phoenix stepped towards him, closing up the small gap that has formed when they'd last broken away.
"I have a mind to deprive you now for that." Miles muttered, lips just inches away from Phoenix's, feeling the ex-lawyer's smile ghost across his.
"Go ahead then, Chief Prosecutor." Phoenix challenged. Miles, not one to cower to petty intimidation, did the exact opposite. Miles Edgeworth kissed Phoenix Wright.
~~~
When the countdown hit one, and the TV presenter announced the new year with music blaring and fireworks exploding acting like cheerleaders to accentuate the point, Trucy turned to Pearl with one of her most powerful grins, happy to be spending the holiday with one of her best friends and her family around her. Pearl, always enthralled by exciting things, had looked as excited as her.
"Happy New Year, Pearls." Trucy beamed, pulling her friend into a hug.
“Happy New Year!” Pearl said back, arms wrapping around Trucy as the whistling and blasts built up outside the apartment, colouring the night sky with a collage of lithium reds, barium salt greens, gold specs of sodium, and nondescript colours that mashed together and seemed beyond words. It was beautiful and Trucy carefully tugged Pearl to her feet, dragging her over to the window to get a better view of the display. Trucy enjoyed spending the last few New Years in Germany and Paris once with her father and uncle, going through their different traditions and seeing things Trucy never thought she would, trying new foods, and listening to a language she hardly understood, yet being home had to be her most favourite one. The fireworks outside were pretty, loud though muffled by the glass that separated them from the cold night air, more static versions of further fireworks playing on the TV.
As the light show outside didn’t seem to intend on letting up any time soon and Pearl was almost entranced by the colours, Trucy decided to leave her to it, happy to let her friend enjoy the fireworks. Trucy spun around, intending on speaking to her dad, wanting to wish him a Happy New Year because if anyone deserved the best year, it was her Daddy. Looking around the room, she found him standing near the door, with Uncle Miles, the two of them-
Trucy’s hand flew to cover her mouth before she let out a girly, childish scream of excitement, eyes growing wider than dinner plates. Usually whenever the two adults were in the same room as one another, they always seemed to gravitate towards each other, some sort of indescribable connection between the two that they managed to be completely blind towards, though Trucy had repeatedly seen it - though maybe not understood it - from the first time she had ever met her Uncle Miles. He never seemed to fail in making her Daddy glow, eyes lighting up like little Christmas trees at the mere mention of the prosecutor, and Trucy knew her uncle had done his very best to look out for the both of them while her Daddy was struggling and everything was wrong. And her Uncle Miles always looked happier, more content, and a bit exasperated around her Daddy. They were old friends, after all.
But she had not been expecting to catch the two of them kissing. They might have been pinning and yearning for one another for longer than Trucy existed for, but they were as good at getting their feelings for one another out as Apollo was being quiet, perhaps worse. There had been moments Trucy felt she'd have to take it into her own hands before they got too old, her Daddy too lonely, or her Uncle Miles whisked off to Europe with no sign of return. But apparently they had it all covered tonight, Trucy beaming to herself and deciding not to intrude or bring the whole room into awareness of the two men. Instead, turning back to Pearl, Trucy felt the new year was going to be one of the best.