Chapter Text
After the trial, Maya and Phoenix seemed to return to their normal lives. Miles could only hope that she would be okay. He knew how hard it was to recover from this kind of case. It pained him to admit, but Maya was Phoenix's problem. She was Phoenix's assistant, Phoenix's mentor's sister, Phoenix's friend.
Both of them were not his business.
Even though Miles thought he wouldn't have to worry about them for a long time, he received a call on his personal cell phone a few days later. He picked it up.
"Hey Edgeworth? I got a problem."
Hearing his voice after a few days brightened Miles' mood like no other. "Make it quick, Wright. I am working."
"I think… I'm running out of money."
Miles's hope vanished. Of course it wasn't about him. "And why, pray tell, are you telling me this during my work hour?"
"Um, well, listen first. Please? I don't have anyone else."
Phoenix's voice was desperate. Miles would never admit under torture, but Phoenix's tone, begging for help… Miles wanted to impress this person however he can. Throw 'I am working' out the window. "Meet me at the cafe nearby."
"You see, Maya is my assistant and I don't have enough to actually hire her. So, I let her live in the office and we share meals…"
They met at a cafe near the courthouse, somewhere in the middle between Phoenix's office and the prosecutor's office. After they had a seat and the beverage was served, Phoenix started talking about his problem.
Miles sipped his tea. He hated himself for being so nervous. It was his idea to meet in person since it seemed like a serious thing, but also… he wanted to see Phoenix. And treat him to coffee. And let him know Miles was always here, ready to take care of him. All of these, a desire to impress. Silly unnecessary feeling.
"Right now Pearls is in my office too…" Phoenix sighed. "I don't want to be rude, but maybe I could just send them back to Kurain?"
"Absolutely not," Miles said. "Miss Fey is coping. It could be worse if she went back to that village, especially now that she is staying strong for Pearls and you. If she went back, she would have to put up a front for the whole village."
"Yeah, I know... I don't want her to be alone either." Phoenix sipped his latte. "... but I can't babysit her forever. I don't know what to do."
That comment struck Miles as odd. "You have taken care of her for three years. What makes you unable to continue?"
"You see… I need to save some money for Iris."
Ah, of course.
Someone like Phoenix would care even for a friend who kept deep, dark secrets from him. He went as far as to prepare some money for her to build her life out of jail again. It was always a case with Phoenix Wright, always doing something for someone else...
Then it hit him. This was the perfect opportunity to impress Phoenix. "I could help."
Phoenix looked up from his latte. "Really? How?"
"She could assist me in my office." Miles raised the teacup to his lips to cover his face. "That way, she would have money to fend for herself."
"Eh. I doubt she could help you." Phoenix scratched his head. "She doesn't actually help me except taking calls and channeling, and err… Maya doesn't want money. She wants food and a place to sleep. She sleeps in my office, by the way."
"Treating her to lunch and dinner should not be beyond my ability." Miles could do a lot more, technically speaking. He could rent Phoenix's apartment easily, but that would damage Phoenix's pride. Of course, if Phoenix did as much as to ask, Miles would help in a heartbeat. He owned that man more than his life.
"Thanks so much, Edgeworth." Phoenix grinned. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Miles wished Phoenix would stop teasing him like that.
"Ohhh your office is nice, Mr. Edgeworth!"
"It is nothing special," Miles said.
They had agreed that the longest Miles would take care of Maya would be no more than seven years. By then, Iris would be out of jail. Phoenix told him he considered having a part-time job to get more money for Iris.
"Would you like some tea, Miss Fey, Pearls?"
"Oh, yes please," Maya said. Pearl also nodded.
After giving the Feys two cups of tea and some entertainment, Miles started doing his paperwork. Phoenix seemed really guilty for letting him take care of Maya, and Pearl, for the time being. Miles didn't mind it so much. Lunch and dinner, what could possibly go wrong?
The Feys sat on the couch and played his DS. Maya was good at dancing games, if the cheering of Pearl were to measure Maya's skill. Then they started reading some of his literature book, if Pearl really was trying to pronounce the name Javert correctly.
Miles let out a breath. The first set of paperwork was done. He looked up to find Pearl sleeping with her head on Maya's lap. Maya was giving him a tired look. She yawned. "So, anything I can do to help?"
Oops. Miles forgot about that. "You could clean the room."
Maya looked around and shook her head. "But everything is already so clean!" She then pointed at his computer. "Maybe I can help with emails? I always help Nick with email."
"Wright is hopeless with technology, unlike me," Miles said. "And my email is private and important. I cannot let you."
"But, but! At least I can organize them?" Maya gave him a pleading look. "And I can separate files into different piles? Please? And er… I can go buy lunch!" Maya stood up, careful to place Pearl back on the couch, and headed for the door.
"It is not lunchtime yet. Miss Fey, wait-"
Maya stepped back with a yelp as the door swung opened without her touching.
"Hey, pal! I didn't expect you here." Gumshoe stepped into the office with lunch boxes and case files.
"You've got lunch!" Maya said. "Why do you have four boxes? I thought you didn't know."
"Ah, it was for sale. Buy one get one, you see." Gumshoe chuckled as he placed the food on the coffee table. "Angle always gives me a discount."
"Angel?" Maya tilted her head.
"He meant Ms. Starr," Miles said. Then he got an idea. "Detective, are you free?"
"Yes sir. Do you have anything for me to do?"
"Tell Miss Fey here how it is like to work with me," Miles said. "She would be my… assistant, for the time being."
Maya started talking with Gumshoe about… everything. Dogs and family and Steel Samurai and games. After Pearl woke up, Gumshoe and Pearl caught up with each other. He was surprisingly good with kids.
When it was time for lunch, Miles took a short break and ate with all of them, then he returned to work. Gumshoe still wasn't going anywhere, so Maya played the DS with him wth Pearl sitting on his lap.
Miles blinked, suddenly aware that he was watching them. The scene before him pleased him for some reason. Of course, these annoying people were finally out of his hair. It was a relief. Gumshoe and The Feys got along so well. It felt like an accomplishment, a personal victory. He wondered if Franziska would get along with Maya, too...?
Maya touched the ornament on her neck. "Here is my magatama! If I have enough spiritual energy one day, I'll charge it with my own power!"
Gumshoe snuck his hand into his trenchcoat. "And here, pal, is my pistol!"
"Detective!" Miles said. "Do not use your service weapon recklessly!"
Gumshoe's shoulder sagged. "The safety is on, sir."
"Do it again and I'm cutting your salary."
"Yes, sir..."
"Mr. Edgeworth, you gotta raise Gumshoe's salary!" Maya piped up. "He's so poor. He's poorer than Nick!"
Miles huffed. What kind of life has Gumshoe bragged to Maya to earn such pity? "I will consider it."
"Consider? Seriously?" Maya confronted him with hands on her hip. "Don't you cut his pay enough?"
"Miss Fey, I do not cut his salary." Miles wondered if she thought she was intimidating looking like that. She was cute, if anything. Even if this worked on Phoenix, it wouldn't work on Miles. "... Not often. Those are empty threats, I assure you."
"Good. You really should raise his salary though. It's not like it's your money, and you have a lot of money anyway, no? Let him feel just a bit of your luxury life, would you?"
"You make me sounds like a terrible person."
"You won't be terrible if you treat us to ice cream."
Miles let out an amused smile. He could do that. "Dinner first."
"Oh right." Maya knelt down. "... Okay, Pearly, say you're hungry. Say that Mr. Edgeworth is evil and keep us in here all day and he should take us out to burger joint, okay?"
Pearl nodded.
Gumshoe perked up at that. "He's treating you to dinner, pal?"
"Yep!" Maya said. "Right, Pearly?"
Still confused, Pearl nodded.
"Yes, Detective." Miles sighed inwardly. "I hear your wish just fine, Miss Fey."
Maya grinned sheepishly.
Miles could eat burgers. If the majority wished for burgers, he would listen to them. They didn't have to act like the world was ending whenever he showed some kindness. Perhaps he should do this more often. Gumshoe and Maya, even Pearl, were so happy. Was it because he was the one paying? Miles wondered why they appreciate it so much.
It took them so little to be happy.
After parting with Gumshoe and sending the Feys off at Phoenix's office doorstep, Miles drove back home, trying to recall the last time he ate dinner with someone in a casual setting.