Chapter Text
In retrospect, you’d kind of wanted him to yell at you.
You’d singled him out first, since there were only so many people who would wear that color in an airport (or for that matter, at all, ever). He’d been scanning the crowd, eyes passing over you as he no doubt searched for a blue suit. Your apparent invisibility made you feel cheeky; you waved at him frantically until he finally couldn’t ignore you. He glanced over again, and you felt a sharp pang of satisfaction as he reeled back in sudden recognition. You had expected him to fold his arms and shout at you for your lousy fashion choices, while you laughed and teased him back and told him your outfit was comfortable. Instead, he just looked at you with a sad, uncertain frown, which threw you off your script, and so you didn’t say anything.
Some expert poker player you are, Nick. It’s been a while since you flubbed your hand this badly. Though considering my usual interactions with Miles Edgeworth, I really don’t know why I’m surprised anymore…
Edgeworth had turned his attention to Trucy now, still wearing that same uncertain frown, though he was also regarding her as if she might be venomous. Trucy was examining him back, without any hint of an expression on her face.
Right. It was probably time for you to step in.
“Trucy,” you said, taking a knee to better talk to your daughter. You were going to regret it when you stood back up again, you just knew. “This is Mr. Edgeworth. He’s one of Daddy’s closest friends, and he’s going to be our host while we’re in Germany. So be nice to him, or he’ll throw us out on the street, alright?”
“I assure you, I would never do that,” the man replied to Trucy, far too gently. You tsked at that, flashing him a lopsided smile.
“That’s the second time you’ve gone off script on me, Edgeworth,” you warned him. “C’mon, cut me some slack. My improv skills are rusty.”
He gave you a normal frown at that, which was an incredible improvement.
Any retort he had was interrupted by Trucy, who had absorbed what you had told her, finished processing it, and thus bounded forward with her brightest smile. “Pleased to meet’cha, Mr. Edgeworth! Any friend of Daddy’s is a friend of mine!”
“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Wright,” he said, not sounding the least bit convincing. Ah, there was the normal Edgeworth. Achingly formal and stiff as a board. If you could get him to insult your hat, it would be just like old times.
Trucy completely ignored how awkward everything was, continuing to chatter as Edgeworth took her suitcase. “Daddy says you invited us here earlier, but he wouldn’t let us go until I finished out the year in school.”
“That’s very responsible of him,” Edgeworth said.
“But if we did come out here during school, you could teach me instead. Daddy says you’re really smart!”
You caught his pale grey eyes flickering back towards you. “I am afraid my work would keep me far too busy to properly teach, Miss Wright.”
“Just call me Trucy, Mr. Edgeworth! Don’t worry, I’ll keep calling you Mr. Edgeworth, cuz I don’t know your first name!” She put her hands on her hips and beamed at him as she walked. “So, Mr. Edgeworth, Daddy says there’s lots of old castles and stuff around Europe. I was thinking we could go out and visit the smallest one sometime.”
“I’m certain we could make time for that. But why the smallest?”
“So I can make it disappear, like that magician did with the Statue of Liberty! But I haven’t had a lot of practice yet, so I wanted to start with the smallest one. Good idea, don’t you think?”
“That would be both inconsiderate and illegal without permission, Trucy.”
“Oh! You’re right, Mr. Edgeworth, we’d better ask so we can announce it. I can’t do my European debut without the proper publicity! But hey, you’re a famous lawyer, aren’tcha? I bet you could get permission if you asked!”
You lingered a few paces behind them, charmed at how easily your cold and stuffy rival slipped into a father-figure role. Then again, it was impossible to see Trucy’s smile and not melt, even with the thick layer of permafrost that coated Edgeworth’s heart. You mentioned as much to him, minus a few choice descriptors, as Trucy ran to eagerly bounce next to the baggage carousel.
“It’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with an excitable young girl,” he admitted, a soft smile on his face as he spread his hands. “Though both she and Trucy were very mature for their age, which helped.”
“Yeah, Trucy’s the best.”
Something opened up in his eyes when you said that, though when he looked back over at Trucy, he seemed even more strained than usual. You weren’t sure how that was supposed to work.
“Though I am a little worried she might get restless, with all these boring legal places you’re planning to take me,” you continued, rubbing your chin and grimacing as you imagined it. “She might try to make someone’s notepad disappear, and she’s not so good with the part of the act where they’re supposed to reappear.”
“If you’re willing… I’d spoken to some people about providing a chaperone for Trucy, if she wanted to sightsee while we were working. There’s a young woman with whom I am acquainted that I believe Trucy might like, though I would understand if you would prefer someone more…” He trailed off for a moment, drumming his fingers on the handle of Trucy’s suitcase. “Adult.”
“How old is this person?”
“Old enough to babysit, young enough that I suspect Trucy could talk her into trouble.”
You let out a chuckle. “I don’t think anyone’s old enough that Trucy couldn’t talk them into trouble. Is this a relative of yours?”
“No, simply an old friend.”
“An old friend? Now you have to tell me the details.”
“Later. Let’s get out of this airport, first.”
You didn’t actually get to ask about it on the ride over. It turned out the Autobahn didn’t have much in the way of speed limits, and watching how Edgeworth drove on them, you were beginning to suspect why he’d chosen to live here.
Trucy loved every second of it. You, on the other hand… needed a minute.
She was already bouncing by the door by the time you managed to haul yourself out of the car. Edgeworth was pulling your last suitcase out from his trunk. It seemed a little weird to watch him carry your luggage, even though he must have done it often enough on his frequent trips. You walked up the stairs without him, putting a hand on Trucy’s shoulder as you both waited.
“Now remember, this isn’t our apartment, so don’t cover the place in confetti.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“And no sawing Mr. Edgeworth’s tables in half, even if you know you can put them back together.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“And no sawing Mr. Edgeworth in half either, okay? He doesn’t like enclosed spaces.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“And… hold off on the magic panties act, please. I think he might have me arrested if he saw it.”
“Don’t you worry, Daddy! I know exactly what I’m gonna show him!” She smiled sweetly at you, and at Mr. Edgeworth once he finished coming up the stairs. He quirked one of his eyebrows at her, with a look that clearly said he knew she was up to something, that it was likely no good, and that he would not be falling for it, whatever it was.
You’d let him think that.
Trucy was inside the apartment the instant the door opened wide enough for her to get through, making a beeline for the appealing red tile in the kitchen. You just shook your head, gathering up the handles of the suitcases Edgeworth had brought in. “Can you watch her for a minute? I’ll go put these in our rooms.”
Edgeworth gave a distant nod, not even looking at you to respond. “Up the stairs, the first two doors on the left.”
“Hey, Mr. Edgeworth! Do you want to see a magic trick?” you heard Trucy’s voice drift up, as you dragged your luggage up the stairwell. You shook your head again and rolled your eyes.
The guest room - your room, now, for the next three months - was definitely nicer than the room you had back at home. It was probably nicer than your entire apartment, even before you’d let it go, along with yourself and… well, pretty much everything, if you were being honest. You flopped down on the disgustingly perfect bed and let out a sigh, folding your arms behind your head and closing your eyes.
You hadn’t wanted to come.
It was Edgeworth, of all people, reaching out to you, something rare enough you should have jumped for joy. But you were finally beginning to understand why he’d pushed you away when he’d been accused of murder, why he would rather go without legal representation than allow you to get involved in his case. Letting him see you like this was a disaster, much like everything else in your life right now. Just the sound of his voice had made you want to fling his hospitality right back in his face; you didn’t even understand why it had made you so angry. You’d only agreed because of Trucy: you couldn’t keep her cooped up in your sloppy apartment, living off cheap noodles that she had to buy with her own money, just to salvage your pride.
Just a few minutes. Then you’d be alright. You had to be alright, for Trucy’s sake.
A startled shout and the sound of breaking glass from downstairs interrupted your revery, and informed you that Edgeworth had just been introduced to Mr. Hat.