Work Text:
April 27th, 6:46 PM
Kurain Village, Fey Manor
Side Room
The evening light gave everything around him a soft glow, making it appear that it was warmer than it actually was. A cool breeze blew through the open doors as a reminder to everyone in the village that they were at a higher altitude than they may be accustomed to. Out in the village square, sounds of music and chatter were readily available. Here, though, it was quiet.
Phoenix Wright needed quiet. He needed to think.
How had he gotten here?
Not the village itself, that was just a two-hour train ride outside of the city. He meant in this very moment. How had he ended up in the Side Room of Fey Manor, standing in the alcove, looking out the window at the dying evening light turning the world shades of red and orange. In 30 minutes, the world would turn purple and blue, then dim into evening. The stars would blink into existence, one by one at first, and then faster and faster, until the entire sky was filled with blinking white lights.
Great, he was getting poetic. Which meant he was getting…nervous?
Nerves were unusual for him at this point in his life. After murder trials, kidnappings, burglaries and close calls with friends, very few things ruffled his feathers anymore.
This, though? Oh yeah. Very ruffled.
As a reflex, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a crumpled slip of paper. After years of wear the ink was beginning to fade, but he had long since memorized the contents it held.
Theatrical Cinema
Admission One
Pink Princess in: Blue Duchess Strikes Again
September 18, 730 PM
That’s how he had gotten here, he thought. This story had started years ago, back when Wright and Co. was still getting off the ground.
At the time, he hadn’t even realized what we was getting into…
September 18, 7:27 AM
Apartment of Phoenix Wright
Living room
He had noticed the advertisement for the movie when he nearly spilled coffee onto his ancient laptop.
It had been a rough morning. The alarm clock hadn’t gone off, so Phoenix Wright had slept later than usual. He was out of bread, so his usual breakfast toast was out of the question. After squirting toothpaste onto his only clean suit jacket and tripping over some boxes that he still had yet to unpack in the living room while trying to get to his backpack (Which had somehow managed to wander into the living room from the kitchen table where he had left it), he couldn’t help but think it was a good thing it was Friday. If this had happened in the middle of the week he would had said, “Forget it,” and gone back to bed.
He was in such a rush to get to the office that he didn’t bother to check his morning email, figuring he could do so at the office. Except when he leaned down to grab his shoes, he bumped the table and proceeded to knock over his coffee, spilling his last lifeline on the stained wood.
“Gah!” he yelped, grabbing the laptop before the prehistoric circuits took in a fatal dose of caffeine. The screen blinked to life, showing a list of emails underneath an advertisement for the latest releases at the local theater. He glanced at the screen and set it on the counter before turning to grab a towel for the coffee, then he stopped and looked at the screen again.
“No way!” he said, seeing the top release for that week was from Global Studios. Pink Princess in: The Blue Duchess Strikes Again, starring Mann Wella and an old client of his, Will Powers. Maya had been going on and on about this movie for weeks, ever since hearing about it on the news. He wondered how long it was going to be until the Steel Samurai poster in the office was replaced by one of the Pink Princess. Time would tell.
I bet Maya would like to go see that, he thought. He guided the cursor to the movie times and clicked, looking thoughtfully at the listed times. 7:30, he noted. Maybe I should suggest it-
7:30! He looked at the clock on the stove. I’m late!
Thoughts of the movie left his mind as Phoenix stuffed his feet into his shoes, grabbed his backpack, and ran out the door, completely forgetting about the coffee still spilled on the table.
September 18th, 8:42 AM
Wright and Co. Law Offices
Front Lobby
The smell of fresh coffee when he opened the door to his law practice was almost seductive enough to make him forget about his harried morning.
“Maya? You here?” Phoenix asked, setting his backpack down and heading for the kitchen. On the counter was the coffee pot, gurgling softly as black gold filtered into the decanter. Phoenix sighed.
“Does your spirit medium training give you the ability to tell when someone’s in need of coffee?” he said out loud.
“Don’t be silly!” a voice called from behind the desk in the lobby. Maya’s dark hair, wrapped in its signature bun, peeped above the counter to indicate where she was. “I figured if we were going to be sorting case files all day, you were going to need all the caffeine you could legally consume.”
“After this morning, I’ll need it in an IV,” he sighed. He poured himself a cup and reached for a second mug, both adorned with logos for the Berry Big Circus. “You want some?”
“Sure,” she answered. Maya Fey stood up, dusting off her cardigan as she dropped box and box of case files onto the desk. “And take the phone off the hook. You’re not getting out of this one.” Phoenix sighed. He had a feeling he was going to be doing a lot of that today.
“Who exactly is the boss here again?” he asked. She gave him a mischievous smile.
“Remember? You solve the cases and I manage the office,” she said. She pointed to herself proudly. “That means today, I’m in charge!” Phoenix shook his head, unable to hide an amused look.
“You Fey women,” he admonished. “All right, Madame of the Universe. I guess we’ll get started.”
September 18th, 1:16 PM
Wright and Co. Law Offices
Phoenix’s office
“If I see another manila folder ever again, it’ll be too soon,” Phoenix groaned hours later as Maya shelved the last case file on the shelves behind his desk.
“Considering that you’ve got a few more cases waiting for be reviewed, you might want to rethink that statement,” she said. She gestured with her shoulder towards his desk, where four stacks of paper sat paper-clipped together. Phoenix rubbed his eyes.
“I can’t even think about reading those until I get something to eat,” he stated. He stood, stretching his arms over his head. “What should we get?”
“You didn’t pack a lunch?” Maya exclaimed. “Nick!”
“What?!” he asked. “After the morning I had, I’m impressed that my bike didn’t fall apart halfway here!” She shook her head at him.
“You see, this is why I’m in charge of the office. You’d starve without me,” she said. “Come on, I packed plenty. Let’s eat.”
“So how is Pearls doing?” Phoenix asked when they were settled at the small table, the smell of noodles and broth wafting up. “Everything back at the village going ok?”
“Yup,” Maya said. She spooled some ramen around her chopsticks, letting the liquid drip off into the bowl. “She’s been planting cherry blossom saplings in the square with the other village girls. They want to have a festival of trees next year, complete with a dance.”
“Sounds like Pearl,” he agreed. “I still can’t believe how well she’s adapting to modern life.” Pearl, Maya’s younger cousin, had been coming to town regularly to spend time with the Kurain School of Channeling Master and to see Phoenix and their friends. “How long is she staying this time?”
“Probably until next week,” Maya said. “The school is taking a break while they sage the Channeling Chamber. Gotta clear out any bad energy.”
“Riiight,” Phoenix said. “Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to go see that Pink Princess movie that just came out. You know-”
“The Blue Duchess Strikes Again?!” Maya yelped. She jumped up, forgetting about her ramen. She punched the air. “You mean it?! Absolutely! That sound great!” Phoenix laughed.
“That was easy,” he said. “So how about 7:30?”
“Sure!” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to tell Pearly, she’s going to be so excited!”
Phoenix paused, clearing his throat a bit.
“Actually, Maya” he said as she practically bounced in her seat, vibrating with excitement. “I was thinking that we could go. You know…just us two.”
Her bounces slowed, looking at Phoenix in surprise. He cleared his throat again, trying to ignore the sudden kindling of warmth at the base of his neck.
“If you think Pearls would like to go, though, we can totally bring her,” he said, grinning like a fool to hide his embarrassment. “I bet she’d love it. And we can go get ice cream afterward at that place-”
“I’d love to,” she interrupted. “Go with you. To the movie, I mean. Just us two.”
“Oh.” Phoenix blinked. “Great! I mean, yeah, that’s good.”
“I just have to find a sitter for Pearly,” Maya said. Her earlier excitement was replaced with something that Phoenix could almost swear was bashfulness. Bashful? Maya Fey was never bashful.
“What if Larry watched her?” Phoenix suggested, referring to his longtime friend Larry Butz. “She and him get along great.”
“That could work,” Maya said. She crossed her arms and touched a finger to her chin, looking to the ceiling as she considered it. “And if things get too bad, Pearly can always call.”
“You make it sound like she’s going to be watching him,” he teased.
“Well, he does tend to act a little young,” she teased right back.
“Don’t tell him that, you’ll crush his heart,” he said. “So, 7:30 still?”
“Sure,” Maya said. Her voice got soft. “Do you want to meet at the theater a little earlier than that?”
“Sounds perfect.”
There was a beat of awkward silence, then…
“Hey Nick,” Maya said, looking at his jacket. “What’s that on your collar?” He glanced down, seeing a light blue splotch just above the breast pocket.
Toothpaste.
He sighed.
September 18th, 5:06 PM
Apartment of Phoenix Wright
Bedroom
“C’mon, Larry, you owe me one,” Phoenix said as he rifled through his closet. “And it’s not like you have any plans tonight anyway.”
“HEY!” Even through speakerphone, Larry Butz’ voice was just as goofy and piercing as always. “Listen, man, I happen to have a very active social life, thank you very much!”
“That’s not the issue,” Phoenix argued, pulling out a couple of hangers. He glanced at their contents, shook his head, and put them back, continuing his search. “I asked if you had any plans tonight.”
“Well, listen, the next time you want to insult a guy-”
“Are you free or not?” Phoenix cut in. Larry sighed.
“Yeah, I’m free,” he grumbled. “Something for a case? What is it you want me to do? Break into an office? Pose as a bellboy? Break some kneecaps for intel on a fishy suspect?”
“Nothing like that,” Phoenix said. “I wanted to know if you’d watch Pearls for a few hours. She’s in town.”
“Pearly?” Larry’s voice brightened. “I love that kid! Sure, not a problem. Does Maya have plans or something?”
“Yup,” Phoenix said, continuing to search. Gray sweater? Perfect. Now to find some jeans.
“WAIT A MINUTE.” Larry’s voice pierced the air after a beat of silence. “She has plans with you, doesn’t she?”
“I didn’t say that,” Phoenix said.
“You didn’t have to. Why else would you be calling me to ask?”
“Because you owe me a favor,” the attorney answered dryly.
“Nope, it’s because YOU’RE her plans!” Phoenix could practically see his lifelong friend doing a touchdown dance. “About time you two got together.”
“We’re not together,” Phoenix stated.
“Then why are you going on a date?”
“It’s not a date” he said, exasperated. “We’re going to see a movie. We’ve done that before, you know.”
“Just the two of you?” Larry pressed.
Phoenix did not reply.
Larry let out a whoop. “Nicky and Maya, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” he yelled gleefully. “First comes love-”
“Just be at Maya’s by six-thirty!” Phoenix snapped, hanging up on his friend mid-song. He tossed the phone on his bed next to the sweater. “He IS a child.”
September 18th, 7:13 PM
Theatrical Cinema
Lobby
It seemed like half the city had turned out for the premier of Pink Princess’ new movie. To Phoenix’s relief, there appeared to be quite a few people (ie, people who could legally drive themselves to and from the theater) who didn’t fall into the expected demographic for a movie like that. He didn’t want people thinking he and Maya were odd for seeing a kids’ movie sans kid.
His phone trilled, indicating a text message. Phoenix pulled the phone from his jeans pocket and read the message.
[Have fun u 2,] Larry texted. [Don’t worry about curfew. Maya looks real cute btw 😉]
Phoenix sighed and decided not to respond. Larry could be worse than a spinster aunt sometimes.
It had been awhile since he had worn anything other than his work suits, he realized. He almost felt exposed in casual wear out among the general population, with not even his attorney’s badge pinned to his imaginary lapel. But the sweater was soft and the jacket was warm, and with the weather predicted to be cool this evening he knew there were worse things.
The tickets were in his pocket as he glanced around, then checked his phone again. Nothing. If Maya had gotten held up, surely she would have called him.
"Hey Nick! Over here!”
Phoenix turned towards the sound of the voice, smiling automatically. Maya had just walked through the door and seen him, waving her arm wildly. His smile froze, eyes widening a little.
“You look nice,” he said as she wove through the crowd. Nice, he thought, a little sarcastic. Yeah, great compliment Wright.
“What, did you think all I had were spirit medium clothes?” she teased.
“Actually, kind of,” he answered honestly. She laughed.
“I mean, I could say the same for you,” she said. “Do you have one of the same suit for every day of the week?”
“Don’t be silly,” he said. “I have one for every day of the week plus an extra. You know, for emergencies.”
“And yet you still showed up to work with toothpaste on your collar,” she quipped.
“Man, you really know how to wound a guy.” She laughed again, giving him time to look at her longer.
Maya had exchanged her typical daywear for a dark skirt that went to mid-calf and a white blouse underneath a jean vest. Her magatama was still around her neck, but she had pulled her long hair into a ponytail. And her eyes looked a little…brighter?
Did she put on makeup? Phoenix thought, bewildered. I didn’t even know she owned makeup. Damnit, Larry wasn’t kidding. She does look really cute.
“Well, I can’t really take all the credit for my fashion choices,” Maya said. “Pearly had a ball picking out my clothes.”
“Pearl picked them out, did she?” he said as they started walking toward the ticket taker. He handed her one of the tickets. “What did you tell her you were doing?”
“Going to see a movie with you, of course,” Maya responded.
“Oh boy, I’m sure she was over the moon with that one.” Phoenix said.
“Of course she was,” Maya told him. They gave the teenager their tickets and walked down the hall toward the theater. “But if I didn’t say anything about it, Larry would, and then I’d have a mutiny on my hands when I got home.”
“Smart,” Phoenix said. “Head her off at the pass.”
September 18th, 8:10 PM
Theatrical Cinema
Theater number 3
The phone chimed just as the first big fight of the movie began.
“You didn’t put your phone on silent?!” Maya said in a stage whisper, looking incredulous.
“What?!” Phoenix whispered back. “I never know when I’m going to get a call from a possible client.”
“That’s why they have this thing called ‘voicemail’!” Maya snapped. A chorus of ‘shh!’s hissed out from the darkness.
“Sorry,” they whispered together, slumping a little at the scolding. Maya turned her attention back to the screen, where the Pink Princess (Aka- Will Powers in a dress) was battling the Blue Duchess’ Ladies in Waiting, each armed with razor blades in the shape of feathered fans.
Phoenix glanced at Maya out of the corner of his eye, making sure she was distracted, then discreetly pulled out his phone. Shielding the light of the screen with his hand so as not to disturb any of the other movie-goers, he pulled up his text messages.
[The popcorn bucket trick works like a charm fyi]
Damnit, Larry. Leave me alone already! He thought. Wasn’t he supposed to be watching Pearl?!
[?]
[U kno. Reach in the bag @ the same time, bump hands. Hold hands. Make out in car after show. Date = success]
[#1- We didn’t get any popcorn. #2- Neither of us have a car. #3- I am NOT making out with Maya. And #4- This is not a date .]
[Who goes 2 a movie and doesnt get popcorn!?]
[Not the point. Leave me alone, Larry. You’re supposed to be watching Pearl, not trying to coach me in something that isn’t even a thing.]
[@ least put ur arm around her.]
[No.]
[Chickn!]
Phoenix didn’t bother to respond, choosing instead to set his phone to vibrate. He turned back to the movie, where the Ladies in Waiting had cornered the Pink Princess and were moving in like Sharks on a lone Jet. If he was being honest, the movie actually wasn’t that bad. Sure, it was marketed toward kids, but that didn’t mean the producers left out the adults. There were plenty of veiled references and double meanings in the script and scenery to keep everyone paying attention.
He stretched his arms out in front of him. It had been awhile since he had been to a theater and he had forgotten how drowsy you could get sitting in a dark room like this.
His phone buzzed fifteen seconds later.
I swear to God, Larry, Phoenix thought, closing his eyes for a moment before covertly pulling out his phone again. The next time you’re on trial for murder, you’re on your own.
[Thought 4 sure u were going 2 go 4 it]
[Go for what?]
[The stretch/put ur arm around her technique. I thought u had wised up]
{What are you talking about?] he had started to text back, and then froze.
Oh no. No, no, no. This cannot be happening.
He turned around and tried to peer into the dark crowd, hoping against all hope that he wouldn’t see his best friend’s orange sweatshirt amongst the movie-goers. He didn’t see the sweatshirt, but he did see something about the size of a fist glowing faintly.
A magatama.
Specifically, Pearl’s magataga. He blanched.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Phoenix screamed mentally. ARE THEY SERIOUSLY HERE TO SPY ON US?!
Little Pearl looked away from the screen and saw Phoenix staring intently at her. She broke out into a grin and waved excitedly, oblivious to the daggers she was receiving from the others around her. Next to her Larry Butz grinned sheepishly and waggled his fingers at the suddenly homicidal attorney.
Phoenix turned in his seat and leaned toward Maya.
“I’ll be right back,” he murmured. “Something came up.”
“A new case?” she asked, interested.
“Not a case, but someone’s definitely in trouble.” He stood up and made his way down the row to the aisle, stopping only once to look at Larry and Pearl, then point a finger towards the exit into the lobby.
The excuses for this better be fantastic, he thought bitterly.
September 18th, 8:25 PM
Theatrical Cinema
Lobby
“Mr. Nick!” Pearl cried, waving at Phoenix again. She ran up to him in the quiet lobby and threw her arms around his waist, giving him a hug. “Isn’t the movie great?!”
“They pulled out all the stops, that’s for sure,” he agreed. Smiling despite the situation, he put his hands on her little shoulders and rubbed them a bit. “Pearls, I need to talk to Larry for a minute. Why don’t you go over and get some gum?” He handed her a couple of coins. Her eyes got big.
“Is that a machine for gum?” she asked excitedly, looking at the huge gumball machine in the corner. Her innocence about the world outside her village never ceased to charm Phoenix. She hopped on her toes a bit and ran off to the candy.
Phoenix made sure she was still within sight but distracted, then he turned to face Larry. The smile on his face was replaced with the glare he used so often in court.
“Aww, c’mon Nicky,” Larry pleaded, raising his hands in defeat. “Don’t be mad at me.”
“Mad?” Phoenix repeated. “I’d throw you into the snow cone machine if it could use you for syrup! What is wrong with you?! Are you seriously spying on me and Maya at the movies?! I thought you were watching Pearl!”
“I am watching Pearl!” Larry insisted. “I asked her what she wanted to do tonight, and she said she really wanted to go see the Pink Princess movie!”
“Uh huh,” Phoenix said, fixing Larry with another glare. “And the fact that it’s the same movie Maya and I are here to see bears no weight to that at all, right?”
“Jeez, Nicky, conceited much?” Larry groused. “The kid wanted to see a movie! And I, being the selfless babysitter that I am, chose to fulfill that wish. You should be thanking me for watching her so you guys could go out on your date.”
“It’s not a date!” Phoenix exclaimed, exasperated. “I saw the advertisement for it in my email this morning and thought it could be fun after a week of cleaning that damn office. Is that a crime?!”
“Getting a babysitter for the night so that two people can go do stuff alone is kind of the definition of a date,” Larry said. “And I don’t know if you were wearing a blind fold for the last hour or not, but Maya definitely got herself cute for tonight. Any idea why?”
“Because she owns other clothes than her spirit medium uniform?” Phoenix asked, his tone flat.
“Because she thinks this a date, too,” Larry said. He crossed his arms, triumphant. Phoenix sighed.
“Maya does not think this is a date,” he said. “She was probably just excited to have an excuse to wear something different after we’ve been grinding on cases for the past few weeks. And to see the movie, of which I am now missing.” He shook his head once. “Finish watching the movie if you guys want, but please, please get back to Maya’s before she does. The last thing I need is for Maya to think I picked an irresponsible babysitter.” He turned to walk back into the theater.
“She’s not the only one,” Larry called, ignoring the irresponsible crack. Phoenix paused, looking back at his buddy.
“The only one what?” he asked.
“She isn’t the only one who put in some effort to look nice,” Larry said. “Last time I saw that jacket, you were still smitten with Dahlia.” Phoenix glanced down at his clothes.
“Do you have my closet memorized or something?” he said, confused.
“Nicky, when was the last time you wore anything except gym clothes or your suits?” Larry asked. “Be real with me here. You wouldn’t have gone through your clothes trying to find something to wear if this was just another friends’ thing.” He looked over at Pearl, who was bouncing around on her toes with two bright-colored gumballs in her hand. She looked like she just won the lottery. “Whether you want to admit it or not, you were looking forward to spending time with Maya alone.”
“We’re not necessarily alone if we’re being spied on,” Phoenix said dryly.
“Me and Pearly girl will go sit away from you guys,” Larry promised. “Far be it from me to intrude on a date. More than I already have,” he added, seeing Phoenix’s exasperated look.
“For the last time, Larry,” he said. “It’s not a date.”
September 18th, 9:27 PM
Uptown Mall
Gelato’s Ice Cream
Is this a date?
Was Larry right?
Did I ask Maya on a date and not even realize it?
“Uhh, Nick?”
“Huh?!”
Phoenix snapped out of his musings and looked at Maya, startled. She appeared perplexed.
“What’d you say?” he asked.
“I was asking what you thought of the movie,” she repeated.
“Oh!” He scratched the back of his head and picked up the cup of ice cream that was rapidly melting in front of him. “I thought it was pretty good. The choreography for the fight scenes was amazing. You couldn’t even tell it was a six-foot-three guy in the Princess’ armor.”
“Will Powers was born to play that role,” Maya agreed, eating a bite of ice cream. “Thanks for asking me to see it with you.”
“Yeah, no problem,” he said. “I saw the advertisement for it and immediately thought of you.”
“Aww,” she said cheekily. “How sweet.” Phoenix felt the back of his neck getting warm again.
Luckily, his phone chimed, saving him from responding. He glanced down and noted it was from Miles Edgeworth.
Edgeworth? What’s he want? Phoenix wondered. He opened the message.
[Larry told me about your date. Be a gentleman and make sure to walk her home. You did pay for the movie, did you not?]
Was Edgeworth really giving him dating advice? Edgeworth? What was the world coming to? He could handle a date on his own perfectly well, thank you-
I just thought of this as a date, Phoenix realized. His neck warmed even further. Oh great. Oh no. No. I can’t be on a date. Not with Maya, anyway. We work together. That’s a workplace harassment lawsuit waiting to happen. She’ll go to Human Resources. Wait…It’s my business. I’m Human Resources. She can’t file a complaint against me with me, can she? I mean, I guess she could file a complaint with someone else. Maybe Von Karma…
“Is something wrong with your ice cream?” Maya asked. “You’ve got a weird look in your eye.”
“No,” Phoenix said, glaring at his phone. “Edgeworth’s just trying to give me advice on a case he knows nothing about.”
[Of course I paid for the movie! I’m not an idiot] he texted back. [And it’s not a date!] The phone trilled a response almost immediately.
[Objection.]
[Edgeworth, I swear to God if I turn around and you’re at the counter wearing a Gelato’s uniform I’m going to go into your office and break every teacup you have.]
He could almost hear Edgeworth’s snort of disgust.
[I may be many things, but a stalker I am not. Mint chocolate chip will keep your breath fresh, by the way.]
[You did not just give me dating advice.]
[So the defense admits it, then.]
[Admits what?!]
[“You did not just give me dating advice.”]
[>:/]
[The prosecution rests.]
[I’m blocking you. How are you worse than Larry?!]
[Persistence, logic, and understanding.]
[ Goodbye , Edgeworth.]
“Man, you’re popular tonight,” Maya commented. “First the movie theater, now this.”
“Sorry about that,” he said sheepishly. He rubbed the back of his head. “My friends apparently have no boundaries.”
“Well, at least you know you’re dependable,” she said, grinning. He smiled back.
Doo-doo-DOOOO-doo-doo-DO-do-do-DOOOOO!
“What now?!” he said, exasperating in his voice. “My god, I can’t even eat my ice cream!”
“Here, I’ll answer it,” Maya said, reaching her hand across the table. Phoenix handed her the phone and leaned his head back against the cracked leather of the booth, closing his eyes. Maybe I can drop it in the shake machine and get a little bit of peace.
“Hello, this is Maya Fey,” she said.
“Heya, pal! Did I call the wrong number? I was trying to call Wright!”
Phoenix snapped his head back up at the booming voice coming from his phone. Even from across the table, he could hear detective Dick Gumshoe loud and clear.
“No, this is his phone,” Maya answered, oblivious to the look of utter astonishment on her companion’s face. “He’s just trying to eat his ice cream before it melts. What’s up?”
“I got it,” Phoenix said, taking the phone from her. “Be right back.” He stalked off outside the ice cream shop.
“What do you need, Gumshoe?” Phoenix asked, no patience in his voice.
“I heard it through the grape vine that you and Maya Fey are finally making things official! About time! I was just talking to some of the boys down at the precinct-”
“Who the Hell did you talk to?!” Phoenix nearly yelled.
“Mr. Edgeworth and I were going over some evidence we had just gotten together for a case on Monday when he got a message from that Larry Butz,” the detective boomed from the phone. “Said he didn’t want you screwing up what could be your only chance to make a move on the lady.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Phoenix said. “I’m going to strangle him and when they haul me into court for trial I’ll admit to the whole thing. Take note, it’s premeditated and everything.”
“Ahh, c’mon pal, he’s just looking out for you,” Gumshoe said. “It’s a big deal!”
“This is not a big deal,” Phoenix snapped. “This is not a chance to ‘make a move’ on Maya, this is not us ‘making things official’ and this is not a date. This is two friends and colleagues who have been overworked and sustained many papercuts over the last week cleaning out the hole I call an office, and who thought that going to see a kids’ movie with surprisingly good fight choreography was a good idea, except I couldn’t enjoy said kids’ movie because I kept getting interrupted!”
“Well hell, pal, that’s all you had to say!” Gumshoe sounded amused. “Get back to the lady and enjoy your night.”
The detective hung up on Phoenix, leaving him holding the phone in a mild rage. What was the world coming to? Did nobody have anything better to do on a Friday night than get involved in his personal life?
“Sorry about that,” Phoenix said when he slid back into the booth. “People are just…”
“Don’t worry about it,” Maya said. “Although…” She made a face and gestured to his cup of ice cream.
Or rather what was left of it. He picked up the spoon and poured the melted chocolate back into the cup. Phoenix sighed.
September 18th, 10:17 PM
Chestnut Grove Road
Sidewalk
“Are you sure you’re warm enough?” Phoenix asked as they walked down the street toward Maya’s apartment building. “You keep rubbing your arms.”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Maya insisted. “I stand under freezing cold waterfalls regularly. A little wind doesn’t bother me.” A cold breeze blew by just then and Maya broke out in goosebumps. “B-Besides, we’re almost back to my place anyway.” Phoenix shook his head and stopped her.
“You’ll catch a cold,” he said, pulling off his jacket. “Here.” Before she could protest, he leaned down and put the jacket over her shoulders. His hands lingered on the collar. “Better?”
“Yeah, actually,” she said. “Much. But now you’re going get cold.”
“Nah,” he shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”
“So you say now,” she groused. “Until you wake up tomorrow and you’re the one with the cold.”
“At least I have a sweater on. Besides,” Phoenix argued. “I’m just trying to be a gentleman like Edgeworth said.”
“Edgeworth?” Maya said, tilting her head in confusion. “Why did he tell you to be a gentleman?”
“Oh…” There was no need for a jacket now, not with the blush that washed over him now. Thank goodness it was dark outside. “He just said that if we were going to a movie that I should buy the tickets. Not a big deal.”
Maya didn’t say anything for a while. In fact, she was so quiet that Phoenix felt himself becoming more and more nervous. What was she thinking? Was she uncomfortable? Crap, he really screwed things up. Now things would be awkward and weird and-
“Nick,” she said softly. She looked down at her feet, back up to him, and then back down. “Is this…is this a date?”
His thoughts came to a screeching halt.
“Is this a date?”
Was it a date?
“I…” For once, since his foray into law, Phoenix Wright was at a loss for words. “…I don’t know.” He looked at her. “Is it a date?”
He saw her lips quirk up into am embarrassed smile and she looked up at him, a shy look on her face.
“Do you want it to be a date?” she asked.
“Do you?” he responded. Maya narrowed her eyes at him a bit.
“Don’t be an attorney right now,” she said.
“How am I being an attorney?” he asked.
“You’re answering a question with a question,” she said.
“I just trying to gather all the information,” he answered promptly.
“Attorneys,” she groused, taking a step back and walking toward her apartment building. Phoenix hurried to catch up to her.
“Watch it, Miss Fey,” he warned. “Your boss is an attorney, you know.”
“Hah!” she laughed. “ ‘Boss.’ You boss me about as much as Gumshoe bosses the Police Chief.”
“No respect,” Phoenix said in mock outrage. She chuckled a bit as they walked.
It really was a pretty night, he realized. Despite the cold breeze, the sky was clear and traffic was relatively quiet. It had rained earlier that afternoon, so the air smelled clean. He wouldn’t have minded if they kept walking, honestly.
Maya wove around a puddle near a fire hydrant to avoid getting her shoes wet, brushing her arm against Phoenix’s in the process.
A burst of goosebumps washed over his skin, waving him shiver involuntarily.
Was this a date?
“Hah!” Maya said, turning around and pointing a finger at him. “I knew you were cold!” She was beaming ear to ear, that mischievous look on her face making her look every inch her eighteen years, and the wind had blown a few strands of hair loose from her ponytail so that they lay against her cheeks, and she was wearing his jacket over her shoulders, and she looked warm and lovely and Phoenix was suddenly overcome with the wild desire to pull her into his arms and never let her go.
Oh God, he thought. Even if this isn’t a date, I think I want it to be a date.
“Ok, ok,” he conceded, reaching up for the hand she was pointing at him. “I’m absolutely frigid. You win, Miss Fey. Now let’s get going.” He began to walk towards the apartment building again, tugging Maya gently by the hand, and she followed, falling into step beside him. Their fingers stayed loosely entwined.
Phoenix smiled, his face getting red. He glanced over at Maya.
Maya was walking silently, but still had a smile of her own on her face, cheeks reddening. Unbelievable.
…Maybe this is a date, Phoenix thought.
September 18th, 10:40 PM
Chestnut Grove Apartments
Outside Maya’s Apartment
“I hope Pearl’s asleep,” Maya said. They stood outside her apartment door, talking quietly. “Larry came over armed a dozen DVDs of his favorite cartoon movies.”
“Chances are they’re both passed out,” Phoenix said, choosing not to tell her about the incident at the movie theater. “He tends to wear himself out.” Maya laughed.
“I had fun tonight.”
“I’m glad,” he said. “I did, too. And I’m sorry for everything that happened.”
“What, with the phone calls and the text messages?” Maya clarified. “Nick, I already told you not to worry about it. You’re an important guy. People are going to need to talk to you.”
“Yeah, but still,” Phoenix said, feeling bad. “It was rude of me.”
“C’mon Nick,” she said. “It’s not like this was the first time we’ve ever hung out. I promise you, it’s fine.”
“If you say so.” He got quiet. “Maya?”
“Yes?” she asked, looking up at him. Damnit, she was so pretty. Why was he just now noticing this? This was not good for coherent speech.
Damnit Larry, he cursed. Damnit Edgeworth, damnit Gumshoe. Why couldn’t you have kept your mouths shut until after this was over?
“Do you think Pearl would like to go the zoo tomorrow?” he said. Maya smiled.
“I’m sure she’d love that,” she said. “How about noon?”
“Ok,” he said, nodding once. “Well…good night.”
“Good night,” she murmured, turning to go inside. She turned the key in the lock.
“Maya,” Phoenix said, stopping her. She looked over her shoulder at him. He hesitated, looking into her gray eyes for a long moment, hoping for an answer to a question he had to ask. “Was this a date?”
She glanced down, and Phoenix feared the worst. A two-letter word that would make him feel like a fool.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, he berated himself. Exactly like you thought. Nope. Not a date. Just two friends hanging out. Nothing more.
Then she smiled and looked back up at him. Shrugging slightly, she slid his jacket off her shoulders and handed it to him. It felt surprisingly warm when he took it.
“I don’t know, Nick,” she said. She opened the door and stepped inside, turning to face him. Her smile got a little wider, and the first of the butterflies stirred in his stomach. “You tell me.”
September 18, 11:28 PM
Apartment of Phoenix Wright
Living room
It couldn’t have been a date. Actually, maybe it was.
Nah, she was just excited about the movie. Although she did hold my hand when we were walking.
That’s because she bumped into you, genius. She probably didn’t want to pull her hand away so you didn’t think she was rude.
Damnit, why can’t I decide if it was a date or not?! “’You tell me’?!” What kind of brain scramble is that supposed to be?! Who messes with someone like that?!
Phoenix had sat on his tattered couch for ten minutes after getting back to his apartment, just trying to think the evening through. There was no way that he, Phoenix Wright, had actually asked Maya Fey out on a date without even realizing it. And there was no way he wanted it to be date…right?
Right?!
“You tell me.” I don’t know! I don’t even know where I would begin to know.
He groaned and stood up, scratching the back of his neck. Tonight was supposed to be fun and relaxing and instead all it did was stress him out. He wanted to do nothing more than crawl into bed and sleep, but he had the feeling that sleep wasn’t going to be easy to come by.
He walked into the shoebox kitchen and tossed his housekey on the table where it usually sat, right next to a weird splotch of brown on the ancient wood that hadn’t been there before.
“Hell,” he said, realizing that he had never wiped up the coffee from earlier that morning. He grabbed a cloth from the sink and began to mop up the long-cold coffee, hoping that the damage wasn’t too great that a little elbow grease couldn’t get rid of it.
‘A little elbow grease’ ended up being five minutes of vigorous scrubbing, trying in vain to remove any possible trace of his stressful Friday morning. Finally he tossed the cloth back into the sink, giving up and accepting his fate as a low-tier attorney with a stained kitchen table and boxes still stacked in his living room.
Coffee stains and confusion, he thought, turning away. If that doesn’t define my life, I don’t know what does.
He glanced at the stain and stopped. Didn’t that splotch look kind of funny? Sort of like the shape of…
Phoenix Wright stepped back toward the table, looking at the coffee stain from the right angle.
His morning coffee had left a stain on his kitchen table in the distinct shape of a heart.
He began to smile.
Ok…he conceded, looking at the stain in the midst of his cluttered apartment. Maybe it was a date…
April 27th, 6:58 PM
Kurain Village, Fey Manor
Side Room
The knock at the door was what caused Phoenix to snap out of his memories, looking up from the ticket stub he had held on to for eight years.
“Yo man, everyone’s ready and waiting for you,” Larry said, leaning against the doorway. “Edgey’s making his last rounds.”
“Made his last rounds,” Edgeworth corrected, coming up beside Larry and looking a little flustered. He eyed Phoenix standing in the alcove, assessing him up and down. “You made sure to iron that suit before you put it on, right?”
“Yes, Dad,” Phoenix groused at him, tucking the ticket stub back into his pocket. “Besides, it’s black. Who’s going to notice if there are wrinkles in a black suit?”
“The photographer,” Edgeworth said. “And if you think that Lotta’s going to do extra touch ups to these pictures just because she owes you a favor, you’re mistaken.”
“Hah!” Phoenix snorted, straightening the collar of his crisp jacket. “With everything I’ve done for Lotta in the past, she owes me way more than photography services.” His friends, he noted, both looked dapper in their own dark gray suits. Larry had even styled his hair, although he suspected that Edgeworth had been the one to harass him into doing so.
“Just be glad she’s better at this than paranormal photography,” Larry interjected. “‘From the Hartland Photography’ has a way better ring for a wedding photographer than a paranormal investigator.”
“Mr. Nick!”
The three men turned to see a teenager rushing through the door in a blur of pink silk. Big grey eyes danced with joy as Pearl skidded to a halt, her magatama almost hitting her in the chin.
“The preparations are ready!” she exclaimed. “Are you coming or not?!”
“So I’ve heard,” Phoenix answered. “You know, I haven’t decided yet.” Pearl narrowed her eyes at her soon-to-be cousin-in law.
“Don’t make me summon Mystic Mia and have her kick your butt,” she threatened. Edgeworth raised an eyebrow.
“Could help get rid of the nerves,” he observed. “You might want to take her up on that offer.”
“Nicky here’s never nervous,” Larry announced, slapping his best friend on the back. Phoenix jolted forward from the force of it. “Aint that right, Nicky?”
“All right, all right,” Phoenix said, settling the three people before him. He straightened the collar of his dress shirt. “Let’s get going, before Pearls here combusts.” Pearl was nearly vibrating with excitement, the spitting image of her passed-on cousin Mia. With her hair curled and pinned into place and a dark pink gown on, she looked every inch the up-and-coming spirit medium attending the wedding of her cousin that she was.
“I’m so excited,” she gushed, rushing out the door towards the square where the ceremonies would be held. “Mystic Maya is finally going to get her fairy tale ending!”
Edgeworth shook his head once at the girl, lips pressed into a line but looking amused all the same. ”I’ll make sure she doesn’t break an ankle prancing off like that. Gumshoe isn’t going to want to take her to the hospital in the back of the cruiser tonight.”
“I heard that!” was Pearl’s distance answer. Edgeworth chuckled and walked out. Larry turned towards Phoenix.
“Well buddy,” he said. “You ready for this?”
“I’m nervous,” Phoenix answered, suddenly realizing the impact of what was to happen. He put his hands behind his head to hide the trembling that had already started in his fingers. “Larry, what if I mess this up? I don’t know what I’m doing. I didn’t think I’d ever get here. I’m an attorney, not a husband. What do I do-”
“Nick.” Larry reached out and placed his hands on Phoenix’s shoulders, stopping him. Larry was smiling. “Nobody knows what they’re doing.”
“That’s not helping me!” Phoenix cried. He grabbed Larry’s wrists and shook him slightly. “I mean, what are the rules? The laws? I know the obvious ones, but what about who washes the dishes? Do we split that between us, or is it whoever cooks dinner is off dish duty? And what about holidays? How do we decide who we visit when? How do we split time with families, Larry?!” He began to breathe faster as his mind moved faster and faster. “We’re going to get divorced. Fifty percent of couples get divorced in the first five years, and the odds just go up from there. Add in kids and financial stress and we’re basically setting ourselves up to fail. This was a mistake. This is-”
“Dude, just listen to me,” Larry said, breaking into his best friend’s panic. He took a hand off Phoenix’s shoulder and reached into his pocket. “Look. See this?”
Larry was pinching a thin silver ring between his fingers, polished until the metal seemed to glow.
“What is this, man?” he asked.
“A-A wedding ring,” Phoenix answered.
“And who bought this?” Larry asked.
“I did.”
“Who did you buy it for?”
“Maya.”
“Why did you buy it for Maya?”
“Because we’re getting married today.”
“Why are you getting married?”
“Because I asked her to marry me.”
“And why did you ask Maya to marry you?”
“Because…”
Because she’s Maya, he thought. His thoughts drifted to his bride, mentally flashing through the years they had known each other. She’s funny and quirky and loves burgers and ramen. Because she drags me to the movies and the zoo whenever Pearl is in town and she’s a genius when it comes to locating evidence. Because she’s not afraid to set me straight if I screw up and she looks incredible in her channeling robes. Because we’ve risked life and limb for each other time and again without thinking twice. I want her in my life as more than my best friend. I want her to be my wife. I want her to be the mother of my children. I want her to be the one teaching our grandchildren how to channel spirits. I want her to be beside me for the next thousand trials and tribulations. Because I cannot do it without her. Because I need her. Because I want her. Because she’s my kind of perfect. Because she’s Maya.
Phoenix took a deep breath and looked at his best friend. “Because I love her.”
Larry grinned and let him go, putting the ring back in his pocket.
“There you go, man,” he said. “I’m not saying it’ll be easy. Hell, I haven’t met anyone I even want to think of trying marriage out with. But if you love Maya as much as you say you do, and she loves you just the same, you guys are going to go through this with flying colors.” Larry straightened. “Now come on. The judge isn’t going to wait forever, you know.”
Phoenix nodded, taking one more deep breath in the evening light. He followed Larry, who was walking out the door.
“Hey Larry?” Phoenix said. Larry turned toward him.
Phoenix gave a half smile.
“You guys were right. It was definitely a date.”