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Phoenix stared at the grey haired child and held his hand up at him. "Miles, when we're forty, would you marry me?" He asked.
"That seems a little silly. However, if we are not married by then, I would."
Phoenix smiled, throwing his tiny little arms around Miles. Miles reached up and patted Phoenix's back. Phoenix pulled back and pressed a slight kiss on Miles's cheek. "Yay," he whispered, causing Miles to laugh.
"You're ridiculous."
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Phoenix hummed as he sat on the couch in the living room of his apartment. He was alone now that Trucy had gone off to tour the world as a magnificent magician. He sighed and barely followed the show that was on the television. A knock came to his apartment door, and when he opened it, he was hit across the face, causing him to fall down in unconsciousness.
Phoenix woke up in a dark, damp room. He looked around, hearing mutters in the background. He closed his eyes and tried to think of something better.
A light was shone in his face, making him feel hot everywhere. He grimaced at the brightness. He couldn't make out the face of the person holding the light up to his face. "Where's your daughter?" The person asked.
"If I knew, I wouldn't tell you."
"Pity."
Phoenix felt a punch against his middle and heard the cracking of some bones. He winced at the feeling. He passed out from the sheer amount of pain he was in.
He woke up again with a painful intake of breath. He saw a familiar shadow on the wall. He heard an even more familiar voice. He winced at the pain his slight excitement brought him.
That familiar voice entered the room he was in. He smiled weakly and painfully as he saw his best friend since they were both nine enter in a frenzy. "Phoenix! Are you okay?" He asked.
"I...I hurt."
Miles nodded and helped get Phoenix in his arms. Phoenix cried out in pain at the feeling of his ribs. Miles looked at him concerned as he helped him out of there. He noticed the ambulance and sighed. "He may have a broken rib or more. I am coming with," he told a paramedic.
The lady nodded as she hooked him up on the gurney. Phoenix fell asleep in pain. Miles just watched him carefully.
Phoenix didn't wake up until he heard someone say he could leave. He opened his eyes to see a tired and unshaven Miles. He winced as he tried to sit up in the hospital bed. "Miles? What...are you doing...here?" He asked with grunts of pain.
"It is a long story. I will explain when we get to my place."
Phoenix nodded as he stood. Miles wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Phoenix leaned into Miles as they walked out of the hospital. As they got into Miles's car, Phoenix took a deep breath and shuddered in pain. "Miles-" He started.
"Phoenix, save your energy. If you have something desperate to say to me, you can put in the text-to-speech app."
Phoenix nodded and sat a little more comfortable in the car. He hissed a little as the car stopped. Miles got out of the car and helped Phoenix out. Phoenix leaned heavily onto Miles. Miles wrapped his arms around Phoenix's middle. "Phoenix? Are you alright?" He asked.
Phoenix nodded. Miles sighed and helped him into his apartment. He watched as Phoenix flounced on his couch and winced in pain. "Your ribs!" Miles hissed at him.
"Yeah, I get it."
Miles sat across from him and shook his head. "I should probably tell you what happened," Miles started.
Phoenix raised his brows at him. Miles took a deep breath and met Phoenix's eyes. "I was opening a case about the man that kidnapped you. He figured out, and somehow he found my private notes. I...I'm sorry," he muttered.
"What?"
"The letters you sent me when we were younger. Those are the things he found."
"You still have them?"
Miles turned pink. "I do. I kept every single one I could gather," he admitted.
Phoenix nodded and pressed his feet towards Miles. "When were kids, we made a promise that I highly doubt you remember. We said if we were forty and not married, we would marry one another," he admitted.
Phoenix hid his face in his hands and shook his head. "We're forty now. Geez, I forgot about it," he muttered.
"Did you ever think we would be this old and not married?"
"Me? Yeah. You? No, you've always been good looking and had girls swooning. Larry and me were a little jealous."
"I am not good looking."
Phoenix shrugged at the statement. Miles shook his head and sighed at him. "Wait, I thought you didn't believe in marriage," Phoenix offered.
"I do not, but I should tell you."
Phoenix nodded. "Would you ever marry me?" He asked.
"I do not know. Are you sure you are okay?"
"Positive."
Miles smiled weakly as he left the room. When he entered, he saw Phoenix sleeping on the couch.
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Phoenix smiled when he woke up in a bed. He looked over to the nightstand and saw a velvet box with a tiny card in elegant handwriting. Phoenix opened the box and bit the tears back. Miles knocked on the door and gave him a shy smile.
"I might not like marriage, but we did make a promise."
"Miles, we were kids."
"And? I've loved you since then."
Phoenix choked a sob back and placed the ring on his finger. "I've loved you, too," he whispered.