#this is also not among the list of things that krissey gave me to write just u wait

[littleladymab]

yesterday @thesugarcookieday​ distracted me from being glum by making us both sad over 7yg ldr nrmts+trucy headcanons so i decided to return the favor in between working on things that I should Actually be working on 

i love this fambily, ur honor

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Trucy is still mostly asleep when they disembark from the plane. Phoenix is used to this, of course — having more than his fair share of handling all of their things one-armed as he carried her in the other. The stewardess is nice enough to help him with their things, even if he tells her he’s fine. (But it’s hard to say no when the older woman seemed to be extremely fond of Trucy, so he lets her help.) 

The line through customs moves smoothly, thankfully, and Trucy remains mostly asleep through the entire process. The one time they did this when she was awake, Phoenix had to keep making sure she didn’t wander off to investigate something or show someone a card trick, and then he’d lose sight of her for a few minutes and it was a whole process. Half asleep, he knows exactly where she is, can present their passports single-handedly, and has perfected the art of stacking their backpacks and single suitcase. 

Not that they’ve made this trip often, but the frequent weekend trips to visit ‘Aunt’ Maya in Kurain have helped hone the skill. 

Phoenix’s phone buzzes in his pocket, and he juggles Trucy carefully as he pulls it free. 

Have you successfully convinced customs that you’re safe to allow into the country? 

“Hah hah,” Phoenix mutters, and Trucy mumbles the laugh back into his shoulder. 

“What’s funny, Daddy?” she asks, becoming a little more awake as they jostle their way through the airport. “Oh. We made it through the long line already?” 

“You slept right through it. Do you want down?” He thumbs out a reply, careful to keep an eye on where he’s walking as he does so. Despite your wishes, I have infiltrated your country once more.

Trucy hums in thought, then nods. “I want to pull the suitcase!” 

“You sure? It’s almost taller than you.” 

She pouts. “I can do it!” 

Phoenix laughs and puts her down, ruffling her hair as she attempts to fix her skirts. 

“Daddy! Stop!!” Trucy’s pout only deepens, though the seriousness of it is greatly diminished by the creases on her cheeks from her travel pillow. “Is Uncle Miles here already?” 

“Should be.” While the text didn’t say as much, Phoenix knows how to interpret most of Miles’ humor. But to be sure, he also sends, Truce and I will be down shortly. 

The reply is almost immediate. See you soon. 

Phoenix can’t help the smile before returning his phone to his pocket. “Alright. Do you need to use the bathroom?” 

“No!” 

“Are you sure? You remember how long the drive was back to Miles’ place, don’t you?” 

She thinks about this, tapping her finger to her chin. “Okay, you’re right, hold on.” Trucy gives his hand a pat, as if telling a dog to wait, then skips off in the direction of the nearest restroom. 

Phoenix takes the time to stretch, pulling off his beanie to ruffle his own hair — knowing that there’s no possibility of making it look even the slightest bit presentable. How Miles manages to step off of a sixteen hour flight looking as immaculate as always, Phoenix has yet to learn. 

Perhaps it’s one of the perks of First Class, though he’s more certain it just has to do with Miles’ inability to look ruffled in front of other people. 

Trucy emerges from the restroom, looking more awake and refreshed than when he put her down. Well, at least one of them will look presentable. 

She rejoins him, pulling her backpack free from the tower he made. “Okay! Let’s go!” 

“Are you sure you want to carry the luggage?” Phoenix asks as he takes his own backpack. 

“I am sure!” she says, and expertly nudges the suitcase with her foot to tip it down in her direction. “I helped Daddy and Uncle Valant move equipment all the time! This is nothing.” 

He laughs and reaches out to pinch one of her biceps, and she puffs out her cheeks in response. “Oh, good, you’ll be able to take care of me in my old age.” 

Trucy flexes her free arm as she starts walking. “Don’t worry, Daddy! Soon, I will carry you when you get too tired!” 

“I’m going to get you to make that promise in writing!” He’s not even thirty, but with his luck, who knows how soon that would be. 

She takes his hand in hers, and proceeds to take the lead in navigating the airport. Even though this is only her third time visiting, and she can’t read German (as far as he’s aware), she has a keen sense for where to go and who to follow. 

They descend into the area near the luggage carousels, and Trucy bounces up on the balls of her feet with every other step.

“You’re going to trip if you keep that up,” Phoenix says, steadying the suitcase after one particularily wild leap sends it skidding to the side and nearly colliding with someone passing them. 

“Can you see him, Daddy?” she asks, ignoring his caution. “I’m not tall enough.” 

“You wanted to be put down.” 

She sticks her tongue out at him and does another bounce to try and see. “Why is everyone so tall?” 

Phoenix scans the crowd as well, trying not to wonder if he is simply looking in the wrong place or if he’s glancing over Miles or— 

The phone in his hand buzzes with an incoming call and Phoenix answers it without even looking at the caller ID. “Do you always look so lost when in a crowd, Wright?” 

He frowns out of habit, and has to tug Trucy back to his side before she can go wandering off in search of the man currently on the phone. “You can see me?” 

“Yes, I can.” 

Phoenix scans the crowd again, frown starting to deepen as he ignores the twinge of panic, but then their eyes meet as a group of tourists parts and his heart jumps as he watches the smile form over Miles’ face. 

Miles’ lips move seconds before his voice floats through the phone. “Ah, you found me.” 

“Of course I did,” Phoenix says at the same time Trucy tugs on his hand and says, “Oh! I spotted Uncle Miles!” 

He lets her tug him a few steps before she simply abandons him and the suitcase to fling herself headlong through the rush of people. 

“Trucy!” he calls, hanging up and scrambling after her. 

Another flood of tourists surges past, and he scoots through the thick of them to come out the other side — just in time to see Trucy being caught up in Miles’ arms and her delighted laughter ringing out. 

“You’ve grown considerably, Trucy Wright,” Miles says with a groan. “What has your father been feeding you?” 

“Haven’t you heard?” Phoenix asks as he gets within earshot. “She’s been working out. Show him your muscles, Trucy.” 

This time, she has both arms free to flex, and Miles gives an appreciative whistle. “I see,” he muses. “It all makes sense now.” 

Phoenix tucks his hands into the pockets of his sweatshirt, resisting the urge to reach automatically for Miles — always afraid of the distance at first, uncertain what might have changed between visits. “She’s volunteered to carry me in my old age.” 

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t be able to manage. I wear myself out with paperwork.” Miles sets Trucy back down and moves to close the distance between them. 

The pull is automatic and magnetic, and Phoenix frees his hands just in time to wrap his arms around Miles. “I’ve missed you,” he says, the sentiment buried into Miles’ shoulder as he tries to tug himself closer. 

“And I, you,” Miles returns, his nose pressed to the side of Phoenix’s head. 

There is a beat before Phoenix can feel Trucy’s arm around his hip, and he looks down to see her clinging onto both of them with a large grin on her face. 

“I want a hug, too!” she says, rocking up on the balls of her feet and giving her most winning smile.

“Dads only hug, sorry,” he teases, and ruffles her hair. 

She pouts, arms crossed over her chest, but the expression doesn’t last that long before Phoenix gives a sigh and scoops her back up into his arms. From this height, she gives Miles another hug, and snags Phoenix’s beanie for herself. 

“Hey!” he says, having to free one hand to try and snag it back. “I’m the one with bad hair, not you!” 

“You keep ruffling mine!” she says matter of factly and tugs the beanie on, even though it’s too big and slips down low over her brow. Doesn’t diminish the large, teasing grin she wears though. 

Miles laughs, and combs his fingers back through Phoenix’s hair (so maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing after all). “Come on, then. Let’s get you home so you can relax.” 

Phoenix swoops in for a quick kiss, hearing Trucy gasp as Miles doesn’t let him immediately pull back. When he looks, he sees that she’s pulled the beanie down over her eyes. “Are you going to pull the suitcase again, or are you going to make me carry you?” 

“I’m tired, Daddy, carry me,” she says, and drapes her arms around his neck to settle her cheek against the top of his head. The beanie is still pulled down over her eyes, so he reaches up to pluck it free. 

“I’ll get your suitcase,” Miles offers, and ignores Phoenix’s protests — and also effectively ends them by taking Phoenix’s free hand in his own. “There. You have Trucy, I have your suitcase. Seems fair.” He gives Phoenix’s hand a fond squeeze. 

“Alright, you win this round.”

Miles leans in to give him another kiss, then leads them out of the airport towards where his car is waiting for them. 

—— 

The drive back to Miles’ apartment takes a bit as it is a few cities over, though they also stop for lunch on the way in. 

Trucy has to fight to stay awake in the back seat, as Phoenix has to remind her to stay awake until it’s bedtime here in Germany instead of responding to her body demanding California time. He gives her his phone to play games on during the long ride — content to sit with his hand in Miles’, the two of them talking softly as they drive. 

The apartment is as clean as always and Trucy gives a delighted whoop as she bounces onto the sofa that will be pulled out for her bed later. She pulls out her deck of cards and barely gives Miles the chance to sit down before she’s already demonstrating her latest tricks for him. 

They spend the rest of the afternoon like that, making plans for the two weeks of vacation. They order take out for dinner, and Trucy picks a movie that they all curl up onto the couch to watch. 

When Trucy’s bedtime finally arrives, Phoenix helps Miles set up the pull-out sofa for her. She’s already back to being mostly asleep, so he has to usher her into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face before carrying her back into the living room. 

The room is dark, illuminated only by a nightlight in the corner, and the light spilling out of Miles’ open door. 

Phoenix tucks Trucy into bed, running his hand through her hair as she gives a huge yawn. “You’ll be okay?” 

“Yeah, I’ll be okay!” 

“You know where to find me if you need anything.” 

She nods, then throws her arms around his neck for a hug. “Goodnight, Daddy.” 

“Goodnight, baby.” He gives her a kiss on her forehead before picking his way carefully across to Miles’ room. 

Miles looks up from his phone when he hears the door click shut. He doesn’t have to say anything — he just sets aside his phone and barely manages to pull off his glasses before Phoenix collides with him. 

He feels like he can finally breathe again the moment Miles’ arms close around him. “Christ, I’ve missed you,” he sighs. 

“Are you alright?” Miles asks, fingers carding back through Phoenix’s hair.

“I am now.” 

“Phoenix—” 

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” It must not sound that convincing because Miles cups Phoenix’s face between his hands and pulls him back far enough to make eye contact. “You do the Disappointed Dad face a lot better than I do. Trucy would listen to me more if I could pull that off.” 

Miles gives a snort of amusement before leaning in to kiss him. “I’m not disappointed. I’m just worried.” 

“Nothing I haven’t already told you.” 

“They’re all valid things to be worried about, and it’s okay to not be fine.” 

Phoenix shifts up so he can sit on the edge of the bed next to Miles. “I know. I just… Everything feels easier here.” 

Miles lifts an eyebrow. “In Germany?” 

He rocks to the side and nudges Miles with his shoulder. “Next to you.”

There’s a breath of silence between them as Miles takes his hand, lifting it to his lips and placing a tender kiss on their joined fingers. “I’m sorry I had to cancel my trip out over Christmas.” 

Phoenix takes a breath, but Miles cuts him off with a kiss — and a second and a third when the first wasn’t enough. “You don’t have to apologize,” Phoenix says instead of it’s fine, because each time he tries Miles doesn’t let him get the words out. “You know you don’t have to apologize for that.” 

“I get so few chances to see you,” Miles murmurs against his lips, and Phoenix turns it into another kiss. 

He kisses across Miles’ jaw, then down his neck — nuzzling the soft skin there to earn a throaty laugh. “Then make up for lost time,” he says, and gives a sharp, delighted grin as he is tugged into Miles’ lap.