Notes – Written for a meme I posted on LJ asking people to give me a pairing and I'd drabble about that pairing's offspring. BiancaMaxwell gave me Edgeworth/Kay. Set many years post-AAI with established Edgeworth/Kay.
The last piece of loose glass fell from the window frame and shattered on the floor.
Bernard cringed; Edgeworth just frowned.
"I hope that we have learned something today," Edgeworth began, standing on the other side of his desk with his hands behind his back.
The boy tore his gaze away from the window and stammered wordlessly.
"This is disgraceful behaviour if I've ever seen it, Bernard," Edgeworth went on, "That you would enter my office uninvited and… rough house to the point of damaging my window. A man is measured by his appearances; I've told you this before. My appearance includes my office and it will not look presentable to anyone with a broken window, will it?"
"No dad…" mumbled Bernard.
"No matter, the window can be fixed. But it troubles me as to what you were doing in here in the first place," Edgeworth pressed.
"I was, you know, stealing the truth," confirmed Bernard, "Mum says you've got lots of truth in your files so I thought I'd start there."
Oh boy, this truth stealing business all over again…
Shaking his head, Edgeworth said, "You take too much after your mother, I've always thought that about you. There's nothing wrong with being spirited, but you need to devote that energy of yours to your studies. If you slack off then others will become superior to you. And you do want to become the best attorney that you can be, don't you?"
"Of course dad…"
"Then you need to be studying! When I was your age I focused all of my efforts on doing just that and you have a proud line of standards for this career to uphold," concluded Edgeworth, "So, what do you propose that you do now?"
Bernard thought carefully about his answer; "Returning to my studies and not mess about in your office?"
"Good choice, now leave me to deal with this damage," said Edgeworth.
Not needing to be told twice, Bernard dashed out of the office. It was a few minutes before his mother walked in after his exit.
"Don't tell me I was too harsh with him," Edgeworth started, inspecting the window.
"He won't leave his room for a week, you know," Kay said, walking over to him.
"Good. At his age he needs to study instead of fooling around," said Edgeworth, looking over.
"You do know he's four years old, right?" Kay asked, grinning.
Edgeworth faltered.
"O-of course. But you can never start too early. Next thing you know he'll have final exams and he needs to be prepared," he replied stubbornly.
Although he didn't practise the von Karma methods anymore, Edgeworth was still as proud as that family could ever be. However, he hadn't banked on his son being as stubborn as Kay and himself combined.
Stepping out of the prosecutors' offices, Bernard pulled out some evidence that his father had prepared for tomorrow's trial from under his shirt.
"The truth has been stolen!" he proclaimed loudly.
Little Bernard was already well underway with studying for his future career.