What happened over winter break?

by izzyworth (EnderRaccoon)

Summary:

Miles didn't come back after the end of winter break, and Phoenix is starting to get worried. Luckily, he came back the week after, though a bit different.

(No DL-6 AU)

Notes:

day 5 alternate universe!!!! i decided to do a no dl-6 au bc i like rolling it around in my head

also apologies i skipped day 4, i truly could not think of anything. plus i had to spend half the day comforting a dog from the Loud Noises

as always kudos and comments are appreciated!!

Phoenix walked into the classroom. He glanced over at Miles's empty desk and sighed to himself before walking to his own desk.

They came back from winter break last Wednesday, but Miles wasn't there. At first Phoenix assumed he was still on vacation, after all he couldn't seem to get ahold of him the week prior. His phone would either go to voicemail or, in one instance, be answered by a strange man with a gruff voice that scared him enough to hang up. But as the school week went by he became more and more anxious for his best friend, even Larry couldn't bring his mood up. If it wasn't so cold outside and he wasn't nine he'd walk to his house himself, but instead he spent the weekend at home worrying about Miles.

Phoenix pulled his homework and pencil case out of his backpack. He cast one more glance at Miles's desk before he set everything down and sighed. He looked up just in time to see the teacher walk in while gently guiding a student in by the shoulder.

Wait.

WAIT!

Not just any student, that was-

"Miles!!"

Ignoring everyone else, Phoenix got up and rushed over to him. He nearly tackled Miles before bringing him in for a near crushing hug.

"I missed you so much! Where were you? I couldn't even call your house." Phoenix felt Miles begin to shake in his arms. He pulled away and realized Miles had tears in his eyes. "Mi?"

He heard someone clear his throat behind Miles. He looked up and saw a tall, gruff man with his trench coat draped over his shoulders. Something that looked like a cigarette stuck out of his mouth. But you can't smoke those in here, that's icky!

"You Phoenix?" Phoenix nodded slowly, letting go of Miles who was trying to calm himself down. Was this the same man who answered the phone before? "Come with me. . ."

Phoenix cast a glance to his teacher before he followed the man down the hall. He knelt down a little ways from the classroom and gestured for Phoenix to come closer.

"Name's Badd. . . I'm, er, a friend of Miles's dad." He reached up to pull the white stick out of his mouth. Oh! It was a lollipop! "Listen, kid. I know you miss Miles. He missed you a lot too. Wouldn't stop talkin' about you."

Phoenix perked up at that. "Really? He missed me?"

"Yeah, he did. But see. . . something happened to him over the break. Something. . . scary. That's why he was gone for so long. He might not wanna talk about it, even. You just gotta be patient with him, okay?"

Phoenix nodded. "Is. . . that why he started crying?"

Badd nodded. "Yeah. It was a lot for him. A lot for me and his dad too." He sighed. "Just. . . if he brings it up, that's fine. But don't ask him about it. Okay?"

"Okay." Phoenix looked down at his feet, the anxiety twisting at his gut again. What could be scary enough to make Miles that upset?

"Good, now run back to class. Don't wanna make the teacher upset, yeah?"

Phoenix nodded before walking back into the classroom. The teacher was in the middle of role call so he quietly slipped back into his desk. Then he looked over at the desk next to him where Miles sat.

Miles was staring down at his lap. His desk was clear, when normally he had a thick law book sitting open on top of it. His hands were folded in his lap, and Phoenix could tell he was pressing his thumbnail into the side of his index finger. His entire body was stiff, as if he were worried something was going to happen to him at any second. It broke Phoenix's heart. While the teacher's back was turned he reached over and put his hand on Miles's arm. It startled him into looking over at Phoenix.

"I don't know what happened, but if you wanna talk about it I'll listen. Okay?"

Miles nodded softly and looked down at his desk again. Phoenix sat back and tried to focus on the lesson, but his mind kept drifting back to Miles. It startled him a little when the bell went off, signalling that it was time for recess.

Everyone filed outside. Larry tried to pull Phoenix over to the blacktop to play a game, but he was too distracted watching Miles walk over to a tree and sit under it. Larry tugged on Phoenix's arm.

"Come on, Nick! If we don't hurry someone's gonna take our wall ball spot!"

Phoenix finally pulled his arm out of Larry's grasp. "Go by yourself! I don't wanna play!" Without waiting for a reply he ran off towards the tree. Once he got closer he slowed down and walked up to Miles.

He was sitting at the base of the tree with his back to the trunk. He'd pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs. From the redness in his eyes Phoenix could tell he'd been crying. Without a word he walked over and sat down next to Miles. It was a little while before Miles finally spoke.

"Nicky?"

"Yeah, Mi?"

Miles sniffled and wiped his eye with his fist. "You. . . You said you'd listen to me if I needed to talk."

Phoenix turned to face Miles fully. "Yeah, and I mean it. Even if it's sad or scary."

Miles picked at a loose thread on his pants, twisting it between his fingers for a moment before he spoke. "Over the break. . . I went to watch one of my Father's trials. He'd lost, in the end. But he said that was okay, attorneys don't always win. But I knew he was upset about it." Miles then began to pick at a hangnail on his finger. "After the trial, we walked into the elevator together. A bailiff joined us, a-and then. . ." Miles froze, staring at the grass by his feet. His hands had begun to shake, so Phoenix reached over and took one of them.

"It's okay to be scared."

Miles nodded and took a deep breath. "There. . . There was an earthquake. It broke the elevator and turned the light off. We were in there for so long, and we were losing air a-and-" Miles covered his face with his hands. Phoenix noticed them slowly slide up to his hair and quickly reached over to cover Miles's bangs with his hands. He remembered when Miles got overwhelmed during gym once and started pulling on his own hair. He didn't want him to hurt himself again.

"Mi, it's okay! You don't have to talk about it. Uh, that Badd guy said it was scary, and I don't want you to be scared again."

Miles sobbed and grabbed onto Phoenix's wrists instead. "I-I was so scared, Nicky. . . I don't remember a lot but. . ." He squeezed Phoenix's wrists as he tried to swallow back a sob. "Th-The bailiff. . . he attacked Father."

Phoenix gasped. Not Mr. E! He's such a cool guy! And he's really nice to Miles! He pulled Miles into a hug while the other sobbed on his shoulder. He rubbed Miles's back, trying to find some way to cheer him up.

"But your dad's okay, right?" Miles nodded with a sniffle. Phoenix got an idea. "That's good! What if I came over after school? We can hang out, see your Dad, maybe you can help me with my writing homework? I know you like helping me with that stuff."

Miles lifted his head and hiccuped. He unrolled his sleeve and wiped his face with it. "Um. . . I'll have to ask Uncle Ty. H-He's supposed to come pick me up so Father can rest."

"Okay. Maybe we can ask him together? I promise I won't be too loud or anything."

Miles thought it over for a moment, then nodded. The two stayed under the tree and talked about their time during winter break until the bell rang again. The rest of the day went by in a blur, the excitement of visiting Miles's home again made it hard for Phoenix to focus. When the final bell rang Phoenix shoved his things in his backpack and ran over to Miles's desk. Together they walked out of class and to the front of the school, where Badd was standing with another lollipop in his mouth. Miles gave him a small wave.

"Hello, Uncle Ty. Um. . ." He began to rub at the tips of his fingers on his right hand. "Nicky and I were wondering if he could come over tonight?"

Badd looked between the two boys for a moment. "On a school night. . . ?"

"I promise we'll be in bed by nine." Miles's fidgeted more intensely as his anxiety got worse. "I-It ruins everything if I don't go to bed at nine anyway."

"Yeah, you are a bit. . . particular about that. Hm." Badd narrowed his eyes at Phoenix. "Your parents know?"

Phoenix rubbed the back of his head. "Uh, they usually don't care as long as I call them and tell them where I am."

Badd considered it for a few moments, then pulled the lollipop stick out of his mouth. "Yeah, alright. But just know Greg is still resting, and if he says you gotta go home, I'm taking you home. Clear?"

Phoenix nodded, already bouncing where he stood before grabbing onto Miles's arm. "You hear that, Mi? I'm coming with!"

For the first time all day, Miles smiled at Phoenix. Hand in hand, they walked with Badd to his car and climbed in. They continued to hold hands the entire drive to Miles's house while chatting about what they were going to do together.

Notes:

i might expand upon this later who knows :3

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of NaruMitsu Week 2025