trace (vestiges)

"Does he know you're here?"

"Pft," Maya snorts, ungainly and yet painfully endearing all at once, "of course Nick doesn't know! He won't give me any details-"

"Neither will I," he replies, maintaining a cool expression despite the fatigue in his eyes, the strain in his lower back.

"Oh, c'mon Miles!" As he calmly continues to work, she stands, shuffling over to crouch beside his desk, propping her chin onto his bureau and staring up at him dolefully. "C'mon. Please?"

Sighing, Miles can only massage his temple and push lightly back away from his desk, leaning into his chair. Maya continues to watch him forlornly, her lower lip trembling more with every passing second. She sniffs lightly, large, innocent eyes far too like her younger cousin's expectant gaze, the image driving itself farther and farther into Miles' heart.

Finally, he groans and sits up straighter, crossing his leg over his knee. "Alright," he relents at last. "What would you like to know?"

Instantly, Maya's pitiful demeanor is gone, the young woman leaping to her feet as she cries insistently, "Oh, you know! Are you and Nick back together?"

For a moment, he hesitates. What is the point of telling Maya? If Phoenix hasn't said anything to her, then is it too soon? What is his reasoning behind it? Is it fair to say anything whilst he is still dealing with his own personal feelings? Is it right for Miles to divulge this when-

His lips move before he is even aware of it. "Why, per se, has Wright not said anything?"

To his surprise, the girl merely rolls her eyes, skipping around behind his desk. A year ago, he would have hesitated to allow her back there; as he is now, he simply sighs, watching her immediately go to the Steel Samurai limited edition figurine displayed beside his King of Prosecutor's trophy. Inspecting the detailing upon the helmet, she chirps, "He's just been moony-eyed for three days, okay? Like, it's definitely not a bad thing, but we've got clients to save! Cases to crack!"

"You want him to take you to that new old-fashioned diner down the street from you," he deadpans, crossing his arms.

She waves off his words. "That's not the point-"

"I'll take you there if you stop bothering Wright about this. He likely needs a bit of time."

And just like that, Maya's attention is fixed back onto him. "Stop trying to bribe me with food!"

"…it is working though, is it not?"

"Of course it's working," she replies with a pout. "Why won't either of you tell me what happened-"

Even as he speaks, he can feel his ears heating up in flustered, barely-concealed embarrassment. "Look, you do not need to be privy to our personal affairs, alright? What happens in my home is private."

Apparently, this is the wrong thing to say, for her eyes light up in understanding just a beat before he realizes his mistake. "So you are back together!" she squeals in delight, clapping her hands in joy.

He shakes his head, taking a moment to simply soak in her presence. The light shining through his office window casts her in a brilliant glow, he thinks idly; it warms up the entire room, softening her features, bringing out the affection she has long ago stopped concealing in regards to Miles himself.

For a moment, he hesitates. Then, he murmurs softly, "So… are you not upset with me, Maya?"

She frowns, cocking her head to the side as she thinks to herself. "Um… no, I don't think so?"

Taking a stand, he moves to join her at the window, idly picking up a polishing cloth out of the nearest drawer. Absentmindedly, he polishes her fingerprints off of the figurine as he murmurs, "I left for a year. I've explained my intentions, yes, but… do you not-"

However, she merely takes his hand, pulling the cloth away from him and squeezing his palm tight. Beaming, she says confidently, "If you had tried to push Nick into anything, I would've kicked your butt, yeah. But you listened, Miles! And if that worked, then why would I be mad at it!" Her grin turns wicked as she adds, "Oh, I'm going to love teasing him about this-"

He cries, "Maya Fey, leave Wright alone-"

"Too late! I'll take a rain check on that dinner, Mr. Prosecutor Boyfriend," she catcalls as she skips out the door. "Nick's paying tonight if he wants me to shut up about this!"

The moment her footsteps vanish into the stairwell at the end of the hall, Miles sinks wearily back into his chair. For a minute, all he does is quietly breathe, enjoying the sudden tranquility of his office left in Maya's wake; then, he pulls out his cellphone and messages Phoenix. 'I've told Maya about us on accident. She's coming back to your office.'

The response is immediate and utterly exasperated. 'Why would you tell her? I've been avoiding the topic all day!'

Raising a brow, Miles responds, 'She says your head has been in the clouds all day from happiness. Have anything to share, Wright?'

When Phoenix only sulkily replies that Miles shall be covering their next few dinners in order to make up for the hole about to be created in his wallet thanks to Maya, Miles laughs, the sound free and unabashed. It feels good on so many levels- feeling free in his office, having his relationship be accepted so easily by Maya-

And Phoenix knows there are many more dinners to come. There is no more doubt.

He goes back to his work. Perhaps he shall drop by the Wright & Co. Offices with some ice cream. That would surely be enough to distract Maya long enough for him to see Phoenix for a bit; that would be the perfect way to finish off this workday indeed.