musings (whilst on walkies)

Day 6: Teamwork

"Be a good boy while I'm gone, alright?" The words are gentle, more out of routine than anything; Pess still sits upon his haunches upright, proudly nodding and wagging his tail, panting excitedly. He takes his daily mission seriously, after all; seeing off Miles as he goes to work and locks the door in that spiff-and-span suit of his means the world to Pess. He shall do his due diligence, ensuring that the household is safe and sound until Miles comes home.

At least, he normally does. This day, only two minutes after Miles has left, Pess has found something very strange. At the end of his daily inspection of the house, ensuring that there are no invaders, the doors and windows are clear of strangers, his water and food bowl are both full, and his stuffed toys are all in the right place to act as his sentries and playmates should he need them, he chances upon something very strange. Something shining, glittering in the light underneath the dining table, just a few feet away from Pess' bowl, formerly hidden by the chance placement of Miles' feet.

It is a pin. With dawning horror, Pess nudges it out from underneath the table so he can see it properly. It is the pointed, shining pin that is usually clipped onto Miles' jacket, or that fluttering thing that tickles Pess' face around Miles' neck; the man always wears it whenever he is leaving the house. It is important to him, undoubtedly. Pess has seen Miles staring at the pin again and again, holding it up to the light in the early evening, a mixture of pride and disgust and longing on his face whenever he examines this piece of himself with which he can never bear to part.

And it is here. His heart begins to pound painfully in his chest as he sees the back of the pin, usually able to secure the latch in place, on the floor a little ways away; with aching precision, Pess drops the pointed pin onto the spike of the latch and presses down gently with his paw, making them stick together. It takes thirty-seven tries, but finally, the two pieces (which had probably fallen off of Miles' outfit that morning by chance) are connected again.

Then, the true panic sets in. What can Pess do? Miles always takes it with him when he left! What will he do without the pin? Anxiety translates to movement, leaving him howling and running up and down and all around the stairs and both floors, whimpering once the immediate exhaustion sets it at the end of it all. How can he get this pin to Miles? The door is locked, and there is no way for him to leave!

Just as Pess is beginning to lose all hope, pawing weakly at the front door and whining in heartbroken despair, he leaps up on his feet as he hears the doorbell ring, knuckles wrapping upon the door. "Edgeworth?" Nick's familiar voice calls through the door. "Are you home, Edgeworth?"

Desperately, Pess barks at the top of his lungs. I'm here! Nick, you gotta help! Nick, come in, please!

"Pess?" the man calls, concerned. "What's wrong, boy?"

Frantically, Pess paws at the door. C'mon, Nick! We've gotta go!

For a moment, there is silence. Then, he overhears Nick muttering softly, "I- should I- I know he gave it to me, but I don't think he thought I'd use it- but what if Pess needs- oh, to hell with it."

Then, the front door's lock clicks open, and Pess' heart soars. He barks and yips and runs circles until Nick peeks his head in, the man's worried expression softening as he sees Pess' lively figure. "Oh, thank god," the man murmurs, holding his hand to his chest in relief. "I thought- what's wrong, Pess? Where's Edgeworth?"

Pess takes a moment to leap onto the man, ignoring his mission for a second. It is so, so wonderful seeing Nick; his familiar scent is instantly soothing to Pess' frazzled nerves, so he sniffs and kisses all around the man's face and hands until Nick is laughing brightly, the sound echoing in the air.

Pess' heart swells. He loves Miles the most, but this warmth he feels right now… maybe he loves Nick, too. It makes sense; he loves anything that can make Miles so happy, after all.

But Miles won't be happy if we don't hurry up! he suddenly remembers, bolting away from Nick. Ignoring the man's calls of confusion, Pess rushes over to his bed where he had stashed the pin to keep it safe. Carefully removing it from the folds of his favourite blankie, he gingerly carries it back to Nick's outstretched hand, pawing at the doorframe. We have to go give this to Miles! Let's go!

It takes a moment for Nick to process what is in his hand. When he finally recognizes it, turning the pin over to undoubtedly read whatever scrawl was engraved upon the back, his eyes widen, body stiffening. "Did… did Edgeworth forget this, boy?"

Nodding and barking in agreement, Pess paws at the door again.

Nick stares at Pess blankly for a moment. Then, he sighs, a wry, amazed smile spreading across his lips. The man buries his face in his hand, his grin almost manic as he mumbles, "I came here to apologize- I didn't think he'd be at work, it's a holiday… but with the courthouse closed, I don't think he even needs-" Sighing, he squats down, pressing his forehead lovingly against Pess'. "Are you giving me a chance, boy? To go talk to him?"

Pess pauses. A chance…? Then, he understands. Yes, yes go talk to him! he yelps and nods, kissing Nick's chin.

The man laughs brightly, pressing a kiss on top of Pess' head in return, eliciting warm butterflies in his tummy as the man stands up. Grabbing the leash from its hanger by the door, he clips it onto Pess' collar. "You ready to go give this back to your dad, Pess?"

Let's go! We have to help Miles!

Nick locks the door behind them, and for a moment, Pess is struck in awe. Nick also has the key to open this door. That means that, in the future, whenever he hears the door unlock, it could be Miles, or it could be Nick!

As Nick gets onto his bicycle and he and Pess tear off into the distance, Pess cannot hide the joy seeping into his lungs, his heart, every fiber of his being. His tongue lolls out, railing behind him as he pants, muscles tensing as he runs and runs alongside Nick, the knowledge that Nick has the key to his home fueling his drive even more than his need to see Miles.

It could be either of them coming through the door. He cannot way for the day it is both. Oh, it shall be wonderful. But for now, Pess has a mission: he is going to get Miles' pin to him, and he is going to get Nick and Miles to talk while doing it, and Miles is going to smile. Nick and he are going to be a great team, and they are going to save Miles. Pess just knows it.