The Manny Named Miles

❥ chapter two: manny mcphee

Phoenix couldn't have possibly predicted it, but Trucy fell madly in love with Miles practically overnight.

Phoenix came downstairs the morning after he'd hired the man to find them drawing some elaborate pictures together. He peeked over Miles' shoulder and saw that Trucy's drawings appeared to be sketches of dresses. Very small dresses, fit for someone her size.

"Whatcha doing there?" He asked, and Miles stiffened. Trucy was all too eager to tell.

"Miles can sew clothes! We're gonna make the coolest dress ever for my next magic show and he's gonna be my assistant and have a matching outfit!"

Phoenix grinned down at Miles, who was deliberately hiding his face.

"Is that so? And did you decide all that while I was gone?" Phoenix's eyes flickered down to the stack of books near Miles, one made up entirely of books on magic tricks. It seemed that magicians always did wear pretty grand outfits, but that usually, the girl was the assistant.

"Look at our sketches, daddy!" Trucy insisted, shoving her many papers into his hands in fistfuls. Trucy had designed the dresses and Miles had used the sketches as reference for his matching suits.

He watched them draw and scheme for a few minutes, and then he kissed Trucy goodbye as she bolted out the door to catch her bus. Miles smiled softly as he watched her go, and once the door was shut, Phoenix shrugged.

"...So you're also a tailor?"

"Children ruin their clothes all the time, so I found it necessary to learn basic sewing rather early in my career. The rest came from making Halloween costumes, actually."

"Oh, that's cute! I didn't even think of that," Phoenix said as he made his way to the kitchen, and he couldn't help but notice that Miles looked mildly disgruntled. Maybe he was embarrassed? He gestured at him to follow, and he did, albeit slowly. Phoenix started moving things on the countertop. After a minute Miles cleared his throat.

"Does she actually know how to do all of the basic tricks? Because she is very determined to saw me in half, and I fear somewhat for my safety."

Phoenix laughed so hard at that that he nearly dropped the coffee beans. Miles didn't seem to think it was very funny.

"You— you do know that no one actually gets cut into, right? It's just an illusion."

"I know that, but she keeps... She keeps..."

"Cackling?"

"Yes!"

Phoenix laughed again, and Miles took the hint. He relaxed and joined him in it.

"She's a little weird, I know, but... She's great," Phoenix said. Miles nodded in agreement.

"So. What was it you wanted from me?" Miles asked after Phoenix fell silent. He jumped up from his spot at the coffeemaker.

"Oh! Sorry— I just wanted to know if you wanted breakfast. I mean, you don't have to stick around while Trucy's at school. You've got a life of your own. But I figure we should probably get to know each other seeing as you'll practically be living here."

"...Alright. I can help, if you want. I should get as used to this kitchen as possible."

Phoenix tried to insist on doing it alone at first, but eventually capitulated to Miles' request. He made bagels and coffee while Miles made eggs and bacon— which Phoenix could hardly argue with, as the best he could do was prepare sausages.

Phoenix was surprised to learn that Miles took his coffee nearly black. He himself was the kind of guy who put so much creamer and sugar in it that it hardly qualified as coffee by the time he was done with it, but Miles gulped down the hot bitter drink like it was nothing. He shrugged at Phoenix's perplexed glance.