Work Text:
Phoenix shifts in his seat. “How much longer will this take?”
“Just a couple more minutes! I’m almost done!”
“Larry…”
“Hang tight, Nick! You’ll love it, I promise.” Larry works on the easel between them, tongue out and eyes darting back and forth between Phoenix and the canvas, working with quick flicks of his wrist. As promised, it only takes another minute or so before, “Aaaand finished!” he reverses the easel with a proud flourish.
Staring back at Phoenix is a portrait of himself—in complete anime style. He’s wearing his trusty badge, and an array of sunflowers decorate the space behind him. Anime-Phoenix has his finger pointed outwards, and above his head, in red text, is the word “OBJECTION!”
“So? What do you think?”
Phoenix stares. “It’s…” he can’t stop a wide grin from breaking over his face, “it’s something else, that’s for sure.”
“Aw, come on Nicky, don’t be like that. I did it in the style of that show we used to watch together, see?”
His chest warms with compassion for his friend. “If I’m honest, Larry…”
Larry watches him with bated breath.
“It looks amazing. You really have come a long way as an artist. I really like that stylistic touch you added to it.”
Larry laughs with delight and throws his arms around him. “That’s what I’m talking about! At first I was planning to go with…” he rambles for a while about the various shows he was planning to take inspiration from, and his reasons for declining each one and settling on this one, and his efforts in picking up on its style. “Do you wanna know the name of this piece?”
Phoenix is smiling at him. “Sure.” He knows to keep his response short, as Larry would just butt in anyway if he made it any longer.
Larry crouches down to be level with Phoenix’s ear. He lifts a hand in the air, as if to showcase each word as it’s said. “Ace Attorney.”
“Creative.”
“No, no, see, I have it all planned out in my head. Here it goes.” He vocalizes an energetic tune. “Phoenix Wright: Defense Attorney. Miles Edgeworth: Demon Prosecutor. Aaaand… Laurice Deauxnim: World-Renowned Artist! Three lost souls, bound by fate, destined to save the planet through the forces of law, justice, and art. Will they defeat the corruption festering and growing right beneath their noses? Will Nick take his best friend out to dinner at a five-star restaurant to celebrate his creative genius? Will Edgey ever admit that boba is the best tea? Find out next week on AA!” He bursts into lively theme music, complete with air guitar.
“Wait, wait—our anime show is named AA?”
“Yeah, man! Ace Artist, Ace Attorney, and Ace Asshole!”
Phoenix barks out a laugh before he can stop himself. He rests his forehead on Larry’s shoulder, shaking with silent laughter and feeling glad that Miles isn’t around to hear that.
“So, whatcha say? We going out to dinner tonight, or what?”
“Let me guess. The meals will be on me?”
“Hell yeah! That’s the spirit! Thanks so much, Nicky!!” Larry races off to grab his coat before Phoenix can object.