Chapter Text
Through the, what seems like, little time that Phoenix got to know Maya and Pearls, they have started to develop many traditions. One of them has become letting the Fey girls sleepover for the occasional weekends. Not every weekend, mind you. Phoenix has no problem, he doesn’t mind the company but Pearls gets anxious about being imposing or too much for Wright, and her staying happy matters a lot to him, so the occasional weekends it is. However, this night had a slight difference. The rain knocking rapidly on the glass windows, the quick and bright flashes of lightning, and the low but loud rumbling of the thunder. There aren’t many thunderstorms in the sunny land of Japaniforina so Phoenix doesn’t really get bothered by them. Other might. For example, the Fey girls, who have left the comfort of Phoenix’s bedroom (they stay in there because the room stays a lot cooler during the night than the living room) and are standing by the door, staring not-so-sneakily at him. Though I’m sure that they wanted to be spotted. He sighs, putting down a case file he had no real interest in.
“Yes, I can see you both there.” The door squeaks open a little more. “And yes, you both can join me.” Maya opens the door fully and her and Pearls shuffle out. Just at that moment though, there’s a bright flash followed shortly by a loud boom causing both girls, jump and run, hopping onto the couch bed and hiding under the blankets they had trailing behind them. The sight makes Phoenix stifle a laugh, very poorly, to which the Fey girls pop their heads from under the blanket. Maya, furrowing her brows angrily and Pearls, eyes downcast.
“Niiiiiccck, don’t be like this.” Maya crawls back into the blanket, from her tone of voice most likely sulking. Pearls wants to say something but the volume outdoors gets louder, causing her to jump, again, and flee under her blankie for cover.
“Alright alright, no need to sulk, Maya.” He replies before turning his attention to the younger, more frightened child. “Pearls if it makes you feel any better, I was afraid of thunderstorms when I was younger too.” He says softly. Once again both Feys poke their heads from under blankets, both very invested in what Phoenix told them. Maya bolts upright, sitting, her eyes sparkling with interest in the dim night light. Pearls sitting up too, scooting closer to Phoenix, her eyes looking like he just divulged his deepest darkest secret to her ( in her mind he might as well have.)
“Really, Mr. Nick?! You were afraid of thunderstorms?”
“Well, I was afraid of many things when I was younger.”
“Were you afraid of spiders?”
“Uh-huh.” Maya joined in.
“Oh! And heights?”
“Yep.” I should probably keep the fact that I am still afraid to myself.
“What about spelling? And breaking a vase where the pieces are too small to glue together??” Pearls grips her blanket.
“Uhh...Yes...that too.” Pearls let out a relieved sigh, probably glad she wasn’t the only one. Poor Pearls… Maya sits there, concocting a scheme in her head to embarrass Phoenix somehow.
“Hey, Nick, do you have some stories about your fears? Like a funny one or maybe some embarrassing one?” Phoenix squints at Maya, knowing she’s after more ‘friendly blackmail’ to embarrass him in front of others. But Pearls earnest and innocent look to learn more about “Mystic Maya’s Special Someone” has him stuck in a corner.
“Hmm, I guess I have a story I can share. However, it is a secret that is not to leave this room!” Maya pouts at him, and Pearls gives him a confused look.
“How is a secret able to leave a room? It doesn’t have legs…”
“It’s a special secret between us that you two cannot share with anyone else, ok?” Pearl, with a new imbued sense of responsibility, nods her head. Phoenix glares at Maya for a bit longer.
“Ok, ok, Nick, I got it. No sharing. I promise.” Maya says, looking slightly disappointed. Hey, don’t act so disappointed about NOT being able to share my secrets with the world!
“Good. Now, it was my 9th birthday, I remember this clearly because it was a cheesy Signal Samurai themed party. Most of my birthday parties were because it was the one interest that my mom could reuse the party favors and decorations for.” Both the girls let out a small giggle, scooting in closer, clearly very interested.
“Anyway, all the familiar faces are there, Larry and Edgeworth, and some folk from my class, which my mother insisted on inviting, she loves planning things. She also loves taking pictures and a lot of them. So she has this brilliant idea for a photo, where I hold the cake and stand next to my presents.” Maya seems to have figured out the outcome, cringing a bit, while Pearl is just staring up at Phoenix, eyes widened at every word (even if isn’t a really interesting word.) “So, I’m standing there, the big cake of Signal Blue’s head in my hands, my mother snapping away when I spot something out of the corner of my eye. A spider.” Pearls gasps.
“A small spider?” She asks, nibbling her thumb. Phoenix shakes his head dramatically.
“No. A big spider,” Pearls gasps loudly, covering her mouth. “And, I panicked. I threw my hands up and ran up onto the nearest chair. Don’t forget what I was holding.” Maya is silently snickering to herself as Pearls shakes her head.
“The cake of Mr. Signal Blue…” She whispers and Phoenix nods.
“Yep. That poor cake was on the floor. Larry quickly caught the spider and threw it outside, as my mother stood there, laughing at the picture she took. The camera was still rolling and she got the perfect shot of the whole thing. I was still up on the chair, crying about the spider and apologizing to my mom about the cake I ruined, it was her creation, you know. Of course, she consoled me, told me she had a surprise ice cream cake. Everyone was a little shocked, some kids laughing, of course along with my mother, who gladly showed them the photo.” Maya could barely contain her laughter as Pearls just look at Phoenix, pitifully, as if this happened yesterday, not years ago. “It’s alright now, Pearls, don’t worry.” He says, patting her head reassuringly. Maya finally manages to calm down before asking something.
“Do you have a copy of that photo?” Phoenix sighs, knowing the question was coming. He begrudgingly pulls out his phone, opening it and finding the said photo. Once he shows it to Maya, she loses it again, this time falling off the couch bed. Pearls also take a look, letting out a puff of air before putting her hand over her mouth, looking a little guilty.
“It’s alright. My mother sends this to me every birthday. As long as you don’t print it on a blanket as she did, it's alright to laugh.” Another wave of laughter erupts from Maya and Pearls letting out a small giggle.
“Oh Nick, you have to let me in on this legend of a woman.” Maya says, calming herself down and climbing up on the bed again. Phoenix’s chuckles to himself at the chaotic energy those two would have in one room.
“Maybe someday Maya,” He glances at the clock which shows that it’s way past midnight. “Whoa! It’s getting very late girls. Time for lights out.” Both girls whine a little in protest, still riled up from all the laughing and giggling, at Phoenix’s expense. “Ok, let’s make a deal. If we all fall asleep in the next 25 minutes, then I will tell you guys another story in the morning.”
“With pancakes?!” Both girls exclaim in unison.
“Yes. With pancakes. My mom’s recipe, actually.” They both cheer and huddle up on opposite sides of the bed. It doesn’t take long for Pearls to be asleep, the now clam rain helping lul her to a peaceful sleep. Maya struggles to stay awake a little longer, probably trying to outlast Phoenix, but she didn’t go through university and law school, so she is soon snoring quietly, sprawled out on her side. Granted it’s a little cramped for Phoenix but it’s warm and comfortable. So it doesn’t take long for the soft tapping of the rain and Maya’s snoring (he’s used to it) to also pull him into a nice sleep.
The rest of the night was peaceful, both the outside weather and the inside of Phoenix’s apartment.