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Phoenix fiddled with the tiny box in his pocket. It had been forever since he had to wear a suit, and, if it weren’t for his boyfriend, he never would have realized that the pockets were sewn shut and he had to open them.
“Darling,” Miles said in gently mocking tone, while Phoenix sat on the bed in his underpants, feeling stupid. “How long have we lived together? Every time I get a new tailored suit, you see me with the seam ripper.”
“Excuse me if I’m too busy looking at your butt to know what the hell a ‘seam ripper’ is.” Phoenix crossed his arms. “Is that some kind of rich lawyer thing that I’m too poor to understand?”
Miles chuckled and joined his boyfriend on the bed. He slid the tiny blade under the stitching and began to cut them one by one. “Like this, see? You don’t want to tear the fabric.”
“Oh, speak for yourself, Edgeworth.” He snickered. “I think I want to tear the fabric.”
“This suit is made of cashmere.” Miles leaned in, his eyes focusing on his boyfriend’s lips. “If you rip it, I will marry you and then divorce you right after.”
Phoenix closed the space between the two of them. “I either end up with half your stuff or I get to keep you forever. Win-win.”
Miles’ mouth turned up into a smile as their lips met for a gentle kiss.
Phoenix held that memory close to his heart. Even though it was only a couple of days ago, it was special to him. Well, that wasn’t exactly true either; every moment he shared with Miles, he held close to his heart. Tonight was the first step to making it last forever.
“You do realize this isn’t the first I’ve met your dad, right?” Phoenix chuckled, trailing behind Miles as they ascended the marble staircase up to Gregory Edgeworth’s imposing mansion. “He knew me as a kid.”
“Yes, but, Phoenix…” Miles brushed the wrinkles out of Phoenix’s jacket. “This is the first he’s meeting you as my… boyfriend.”
“Honey. Bruh. Honeybruh.” Phoenix took Miles’ hands in his own and looked into his eyes. “It will be okay. Worst case scenario, we just elope.”
“You are so bad at this.” Miles laughed and rested his head on Phoenix’s chest.
The yellow light spilled out into the dark blue porch and standing in it was the familiar, but nonetheless intimidating Gregory Edgeworth.
“Father…” Miles stood a little straighter.
“Miles,” Gregory shared a warm smile and pulled his son in for a hug. Phoenix noticed his boyfriend’s face soften in his dad’s embrace.
“And Phoenix!” Gregory’s voice turned up as he offered the same greeting. Phoenix gladly accepted.
“Come inside, boys, you’ll freeze to death out here.” Gregory pulled his jacket in tighter and ushered the two inside the warm house. “Dinner is almost ready and the champagne is on ice.”
The fireplace crackled in the background of the immaculate dining room, and the pale gold of the decor matched the sparkling wine bubbling in their glasses.
“Phoenix, I haven’t seen you in years!” Gregory posed. Phoenix was only half paying attention, as he was mostly looking for the best opportunity to stuff a couple rolls in his suit pockets. He was caught off guard by the genuine inquiry. “What have you been up to?”
“Phoenix is an artist.” Miles cut in. “He’s a damn good one at that.”
Gregory chuckled. “My my, Phoenix, I didn’t know you were a ventriloquist as well.”
Phoenix swallowed his mouthful of bread. “Uh, sorry…” He side-eyed his boyfriend. “I am an artist. I’ve mostly been doing commissions at conventions. Sometimes I draw for comic books, but recently, some curators from a local studio have been looking into buying my originals.”
“When did this happen?” Miles’ eyes lit up. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this? I’m so proud of you!”
Phoenix started sweating bullets. In truth, the curators weren’t considering buying his originals, they bought his originals. One was bought for $5,000 and another for $4,000. Ignoring every piece of financial advice ever given to him, he did not invest that money or put it into the bank for an eternity to collect interest, he sunk it right into an engagement ring. He held $9,000, every penny to his name, in his pocket, to give to his boyfriend.
“Are you going to eat anything besides bread, Phoenix?” Gregory cocked his head and let out a soft laugh. Phoenix looked down and noticed that he had been impulsively grabbing rolls while his mind wandered.
“Oh…” Phoenix dropped the roll onto the tablecloth as soon as he realized what he was doing. “Sorry.”
“Phoenix,” Gregory stood up from the table. “Would you mind helping me with the paella in the kitchen?”
Phoenix shot up from his chair. His brain went on autopilot due to his rampant nerves. He meant to say something coherent, but it got lost in translation. “GET THE PAELLA.”
“Do you want to plate the rice in the kitchen and bring out the plates or just bring the whole dish to the table?” Phoenix asked, hovering behind Gregory as he pulled the savory dish from the stovetop.
“It’s a Spanish dish that’s served family style.” Gregory pulled some oven mitts from the drawer. “Miles loved Spanish cooking as a child, but we could never find any reason to make such a big meal for just two people.”
“It smells delicious.” Phoenix commented, almost regretting eating so many rolls.
“I had always hoped that Miles would bring home a nice somebody to share a paella with.” Gregory put the oven mitts down.
Shit. Phoenix thought. He’s on to me.
“Mr. Wright, I’m going to be frank with you.” he opened a cabinet full of dinner plates. An anticipating smile crept on to his face. “I’ve been a defense attorney for more years than you’ve been alive. I know how to read people. And the reading I’m getting from you is that you have something you’d like to ask me.”
Phoenix shoved his hand in his pocket and grabbed at the box. “Mr. Edgeworth, uh, sir?” He stammered. “I recently sold some of my original work for… uh, well, it doesn’t matter how much. I mean, unless you care?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Gregory shook his head forgivingly. “Please continue.”
“I would like your permission to…” Phoenix gripped the box tighter as he pushed himself just to say the right words. “...marry your son.”
“Now wasn’t that easy?” Gregory smiled warmly.
“Did I do it?” Phoenix asked.
“Phoenix, I knew it was only a matter of time before you asked, what with the way Miles talks about you so fondly.” Gregory took Phoenix’s hand.
“It seems he talks fondly about me to everybody but me.” Phoenix commented, letting out a stifled laugh.
“But don’t tell me you’re planning on proposing here?” Gregory raised an eyebrow. “The last thing my son would want is the rigid formality of you doing it right after getting his father’s blessing.”
“What? Of course not.” Phoenix lied. “I had no intention.”
“Sure, of course.” Gregory picked up the pan with the mitts. “Could you bring out the plates? We’d better get to eating before the paella gets cold.”
It was nearly nine at night when the three of them finished their meal. Even with the one extra person, the dish was far too much. Gregory ended up sending the leftovers home with them. The two of them stood in that same warm yellow light on the porch as they said their goodbyes.
“You’ve got a good man there, son.” Gregory held Miles a little tighter and whispered into his ear. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid and end up on trial for murder.”
Phoenix laughed nervously. Miles shook his head and chuckled. “Too late.”
“Not guilty, cleared of all charges!” Phoenix declared proudly. Gregory did not seem surprised.
“Well, don’t do that again, Phoenix.” Gregory pulled his future son-in-law in for a hug. “Promise me you’ll take good care of Miles.”
“I promise.” Phoenix whispered back.
“Well that went relatively without disaster.” Miles noted as the two of them walked side-by-side down the snowy path. Steam shot into the air from the warm container of paella Miles held in his gloved hands. “And we have lunch for the next week!”
“I see this as an absolute win.” Phoenix added, his hand reaching for his pocket. Of course he wasn’t going to propose in front of his father. Or anyone, for that matter. But the glimmering snowflakes, the solitude of the late night, it set the perfect scene.
Phoenix pulled the box out. Before he could even pull it into Miles’ line of sight, Miles grabbed his hand and pulled it up to his chest, bringing his boyfriend in even closer than he was. Both Miles’ hands wrapped around the ring box, but his eyes were fixated on Phoenix’s.
“Yes, Phoenix Wright. I will marry you.”