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Ripon’s Fanfic Recs, International Fanworks Day 2022 - Classic Fic Recs, Aishu’s favorite fics
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Published:
2019-08-16
Updated:
2024-08-16
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311,066
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182/?
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Saturation

Chapter 7

Chapter Text

“Oh, screw you, Edgeworth!”

“I don’t see how this is an issue!?”

“I asked you to come help, not for charity!”

“Char-?! She needs a phone! We agreed that she needs one, with how much she likes to vanish!”

“Yeah, but I don’t need you to pay for it!”

“I didn’t say that you needed me to, I said it would be more efficient!”

“Same difference!”

“It is not you insufferable-!”

“I could pay for it.”

Wright yells and falls over while Miles makes a rather embarrassing noise, clutching his chest as they both turn to stare at Trucy, who is calmly watching them from the sofa in Wright’s living room, eating popcorn out of her hat. When she sees that she has their attention, she reaches through the popcorn up to her shoulder, then withdraws it to reveal a roll of bills in her hand.

“I think I’ve got enough for a phone from busking, and you won’t let me pay for anything else,” Wright gets a look here, “So I might as well buy this.” She pauses significantly, tapping the money against her chin. “Or you could ask Mr. Edgeworth why he wants to buy me a phone, hear him out. Unless you want to keep shouting at each other. I did get popcorn.”

“…Trucy, how long have you been there?” Wright asks forlornly. She meets him with a bland look and crunches down another handful of popcorn. “Uuuuugh, fine. Edgeworth, why did you feel the need to try and undermine my ability to-” Trucy clears her throat. “-okay, geez, why’d you do it?”

Miles groans. “I wasn’t attempting to undermine you or imply you couldn’t afford to get Trucy a cellphone, they’re not that expensive these days, I’m aware. I offered because there is room for a second phone on the plan I already have. If I pay for the phone, I can add it to my plan and she’ll have what equates to a free, international phone plan, making it easier for you both to contact me in case of emergency. Or just, in general. Without having to worry about the cost.” He folds his arms and looks away, scowling and not at all red in the face.

“Oh.” Wright is quiet for a moment, then the sofa creaks as he sits down to Trucy’s right. “I’m sorry, I- I’m not that great with money, in general. And with what’s going on lately… guess it’s a subject I’m kinda touchy about.”

It’s gotten too hot in the room from all the shouting, and Miles decides to relinquish the advantage of full business attire for the moment, striping off his jacket as he sits on Trucy’s other side. “I am… unused to having people in my life I can make such offers to, or whom I give gifts. It is… not a skill I was either taught or endowed with. My intent was not to cause offense, merely offer the most efficient solution to the problem at hand.”

“Oh,” Wright repeats. There is silence for a moment, then, “Why do you have a plan with room for two phones, then?”

Miles shrugs. “It was the most cost-effective international plan. Don’t look at me like that,” he adds, scowling at the side-eye Wright is sending his way, “Just because I’m well-off does not mean I don’t understand the concept or practicality of thrift!”

“Okay, okay,” the man holds up his hands in surrender, “I guess we both messed up.”

“It would seem so.” He turns to the young girl seated between them. “I apologize that you felt the need to mediate, but I do appreciate it.”

Trucy grins at him. “It’s okay. Besides, you were so confused and upset, I would have felt bad if I didn’t.” She notices her hat is now devoid of popcorn and spins between her hands until it’s satisfactorily full again. “You’re not very used to having friends, are you?”

“I- no. I am not.” He glances at Wright, “But it’s something I’m working to improve on.”

“Ugh, fine, she can be on your phone plan if you’re going to be so sappy about it,” the man snarks, but lightly this time, more playful, and he leans around Trucy to offer a conciliatory smile. “Are you really that worried about losing contact with us?”

Miles shoots him a Look. “Is it that much of a surprise at this point?”

“…no,” Wright’s smile does something Miles doesn’t quite know how to describe, “I guess not.”

 

OoOoOoOoO

 

It ends up being a group adventure the next day, going down to the electronics store to figure out what is both appropriate and satisfactory. Wright is of the opinion that a flip phone is the way to go. Miles holds the firm mindset that she might as well get a smartphone, since they’re more versatile tools and thus a better investment. Trucy sides with Miles – smartphones can record videos, and she can use that to film her magic tricks then self-critique, and, anyway (her roll of cash reappears again),  she’s been saving her allowance and Christmas and birthday money for a whole year so she can buy it herself, so please?

“You’re going to have to watch this one, Wright,” Miles murmurs after the man weakly agrees in the face of Trucy’s enormous, earnest eyes and the absolutely besotted look of the sales associate helping them, “She’s too smart for you.”

“I’m gonna have to carry my magatama to catch her out,” Wright grumbles back, but with an oddly proud look in his eyes, “And she’s so smart. I love her.”

The words pass casually into the air, easy as breathing, but it’s the first time Miles has heard Wright say them, and they make him zone out, just a little. Because Trucy’s situation is not what his own was, not even a little… except in the ways that it is. Except in the scant handful of times he has caught her turning to a man who isn’t there and when the light that seems to compose her being vanishes for just a moment. And Wright is a good man, lightyears beyond the one who took in (who stole) Miles, but still… it is a reassurance to hear him say those words so freely, so lightly. A part of Miles that is still very young relaxes at their speaking.

Meanwhile, Trucy has chosen the model she’s going to get and Wright is negotiating for the right to buy a case for it.

“Look, you’re buying the phone, Edgeworth’s helping you with the plan, I’m feeling kinda left out. At least let me do this much, please?” he adds, trying to make his eyes go all big and pleading like hers (…actually he’s rather good at that). Trucy giggles but graciously agrees, and they shake on it.

“Great!” Wright perks up, turning to Miles, “You saw that, right?”

“I am standing right here.”

“Yes or no, Edgeworth.”

“Yes, you ridiculous human being.”

“Harsh, but I’ll take it!” Wright heads over to the phone cases. “We’re getting a sturdy one.”

“What? Wait, no,” Trucy protests as she scuds after him, “I want a cute one!”

“Only if it’s also water-proof and drop resistant. And no take-backs, we shook in front of a witness.”

Trucy gapes at Wright in utter shock. “You played me!!!”

“How is wanting to be part of you getting a phone playing you?”

“You knew I’d want to get something cute and you set it up so now I have to get one that’s all clunky!” she scowls and folds her arms at him, “I don’t need a safety case, I’m super careful!”

“Okay, one, don’t try the Edgeworth Scowl on me, you cannot beat the original there, especially when he’s right here,” Wright glances up at Miles, “Making the exact same face and looking much, much scarier. Two,” he lowers himself so that his eyes are level with Trucy’s, “I’m perfectly aware that you’re probably the most coordinated, agile person in the whole city. I have no doubt that you’ll take good care of your phone, none. However, three, I am also aware that there are a lot of klutzes in this world, and whatever you’re doing back there is not appreciated, Edgeworth.”

Miles folds his arms, because of course he would never stoop to pointing at Wright and mouthing ‘Exhibit A’ behind the man’s back.

“Anyway,” Wright continues, “It’s those people I’m worried about, Trucy, not you. I don’t want someone knocking you over or spilling their drink or something and ruining something you worked really hard to get. Okay?”

“…okay,” Trucy mumbles, mollified that it’s not her own competency being called into question, “But I’m not getting a black one!”

“Of course not, that would be boring! You can’t have a boring phone – it wouldn’t work with your theme!” Wright agrees easily, and, from the sound of it, with complete sincerity.

Following this, Miles trails after them, content to merely observe for this leg of the venture, until one of Trucy’s potential selections makes him pause. “So, black is boring, but grey is acceptable?”

Her eyebrows knit together as she turns her attention from the phone case she’s examining to him. “Huh?”

“You said you didn’t want a black case, but you’re currently considering a grey one? I was curious as to your thoughts on the matter.”

Trucy remains confused, glancing to Wright, whose own expression has become drawn. “Edgeworth… that’s not grey, it’s light blue.”

“Ngk.” …often he wishes he weren’t quite so… vocal when startled, and now, looking at the two concerned faces in front of him, is one of those times. Two years, going on three, that he’s been aware of and dealing with this… quirk of vision, and, after all that careful maneuvering, he’s finally been caught out.

Damn.