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Hm... Miles is canonically terrible at giving compliments so I imagine he tries so hard to pay Phoenix a couple in passing but they always seem to come out backhanded or lackluster because he just doesn't know how to say what he wants to, and he's getting more and more worried by the teasing annoyance from Phoenix because what if it's not teasing, what if Phoenix is mad at him for being so rude
Miles tells him something that comes out particularly snarky one day and Phoenix fires back, thinking they're ribbing on each other as usual, and Miles reacts with complete and utter frustration and snaps that it was meant to be a compliment before going off to sulk. Phoenix isn't sure how to take that at first, but figures Miles could use someone to talk to either way, and follows him to ask what that was all about
Miles is cagey and flustered and angry but Phoenix manages to coax out the fact that he's worried about being so bad at complimenting people, and Phoenix is like, hey, I can give you some pointers if that's the problem
Miles: ...You're just investing in this so you can get some compliments out of me, aren't you?
Phoenix: Wh-- no! I can tell you're torn up about this, and I wanna help! I know you struggle with it a bunch, and you'd rather show your appreciation in other ways, but if you really wanna learn, all you have to do is ask.
Phoenix decides to give him some examples, yes, to help, but he also kinda wants to see if he can fluster Miles a little, and starts complimenting him on how dedicated and caring he is to keep trying to do this when he's struggling so much with it
And Miles is just very unused to being praised in this fashion, he's received kudos for his work ethic before but this is on a personal level, so he's flushed and befuddled pretty quick
And Phoenix just keeps going, listing off every single little thing about Miles he loves and admires, watching Miles squirm as he tries to take it in and learn from Phoenix how to pay compliments like this,
And then Miles realizes that he's aroused by this, and just. Panics. Tries to shut things down and dart off, but Phoenix catches his wrist and asks what's going on and Miles short circuits
Phoenix connects the dots and immediately gets even more affectionate and sappy and Miles is helpless against this onslaught
Phoenix has dedicated himself to absolutely adoring Miles by this point, tracing fingers along his body over his clothes and peppering his face and neck and hands with kisses, and Miles is flushed and shaking and doesn't know what in the world is going on and he's too busy being flustered and aroused to offer any sort of rebuttal even though his brain is insisting that he should
And then Phoenix slides one hand under his waistband and he knows he's just going to be completely and utterly wrecked by this point, but that's not gonna stop him from squirming and whining in the only protest he can think to put up. Phoenix stops to ask if he's alright, assures he can stop if Miles is uncomfortable, and Miles manages to choke out that he's really into this and he just doesn't know what to do about all the compliments Phoenix is giving him because for the first time he has no idea how to answer a verbal challenge from him
Phoenix insists that there's no challenge at all, all Miles needs to do is listen and take it to heart, and Miles bites his lip and nods and tries to relax, which is very difficult with Phoenix stroking him and murmuring praises into his ear and he's so worked up that just like that he's done, it came on so fast he didn't even have time to warn Phoenix
And Miles struggles to come up with something to say, and manages to form a genuine compliment with nothing hesitant or backhanded about it, and Phoenix flushes and his eyes darken and he shivers a little and well. That's all the incentive Miles needs to practice.
Miles practices complimenting people a ton, because he is determined to do better by the people he cares about. And he puts it into practice! Sure, Gumshoe nearly bursts into tears and asks if he's dying, and Franziska demands to know what's gotten into him, but for the most part, things have been pretty positive!
And then there's poor flustered Phoenix, who's trying to be supportive, and struggling not to laugh off or deny whatever compliments Miles decides to give him because he knows Miles needs the support. But being praised so often by the man he loves is getting him VERY hot under the collar, and he doesn't know how much more he can take without deflecting.
One night, they're getting a little intimate, and Miles has gotten into the habit of paying compliments now, so he tells Phoenix how lovely he looks and Phoenix whines. Miles is thrown for a moment, asking if he'd done something wrong, and Phoenix, embarrassed to hell and back, admits that being praised so much has been really turning him on, and he'd really like if Miles could do it more.
Miles is thrilled that he's doing so well to elicit such a response out of Phoenix, and he definitely doesn't need to be asked twice. He holds Phoenix close and tells him anything that comes to mind, kissing him to buy himself some time whenever he can't quite think of the words he wants, and Phoenix is squirming and moaning and begging and just a mess
And then Phoenix starts babbling about how good Miles is doing and how fantastic he is and oh, that's just not fair, not after Miles is trying so hard to repay Phoenix, and they start going back and forth with it, getting aggressive and flustered and giggly as they try to outdo one another, until Miles finally covers Phoenix's mouth with one hand and asks through laughter to PLEASE let him do this for him
Phoenix is a goddamn wreck and while he has to consciously hold back from complimenting Miles he's still whining and begging and groaning to let him know he's doing a fantastic job, but he's super embarrassed when he doesn't last long at all, finishing practically as soon as Miles actually touches him
As soon as he gets over being winded though he just pounces on Miles to return the favor, no, he doesn't care that this was a returned favor in the first place, he can see how worked up you are, Miles
Miles: You can't just return a favor I've already returned, I'll owe you one and then you'll insist on owing me and we'll be caught in a cycle!
Phoenix: And what's so bad about that?
Miles: Well-- erm--!
Phoenix kisses every single inch of Miles he can reach, praising him for being so fantastic and taking such good care of Phoenix
He wonders aloud if he could ever get Miles to come with just the right words and no contact at all, and the expression on Miles's face combined with the shudder and groan that run through him at the very idea is more than enough to arouse Phoenix all over again
The two wind up tangled with each other and exchanging praise all over again, messy and excited and breathless and rubbing together with every word to one another, just brimming with love and excitement and pride for each other
Miles finishes first and Phoenix isn't long after, and they're way too exhausted afterwards to clean up and they really don't feel like pulling apart from one another even if they're all gross and sticky and sweaty. They'll deal with it later.