Chapter Text
The fact that they managed to row all the way out here was somewhat impressive. They sat in the rowboat, letting the gentle waves created by water jets below the surface push them along with little effort.
“That’s their first date,” Maya claimed, tilting her head to the side in reference to some people walking across the bridge.
Phoenix looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “You leave the happy couple alone.”
“I don’t know them, but I give ‘em one week. She doesn’t even like rollercoasters,” Maya said, making up a backstory for each passerby.
Pearl put a hand to her mouth to cover a small gasp. “Really?”
Maya smiled awkwardly, not realizing she was being taken seriously by her little cousin. “Yeah. Why not?”
He couldn’t help but smile. Only Maya could make people watching fun. As his eyes scanned the horizon, Pearl looked up at him somewhat expectantly, as if something romantic was going to happen at any moment. He checked over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t missing something.
Sorry to disappoint, but Maya and I are just hanging out, he wanted to say, but held his tongue. Plus, can’t really be much of a date when I’m babysitting.
“What about that guy?” Phoenix asked out loud, changing the subject and shaking the thought out of his head.
Somebody on a phone rolled a garishly loud suitcase towards the park. He seemed too distracted to do anything but walk straight ahead.
Maya squinted. “Is that Edgeworth?”
“He’s wearing a lot of magenta,” Phoenix agreed. “But I think he wouldn’t be caught dead with a bag like that.”
“Yeah, that thing looked huge! I bet I could fit inside,” Maya added enthusiastically.
“Somehow, I’m glad we’re not going on any flights soon,” Phoenix groaned.
“The pamphlet says that couples that cross this bridge together will find happiness,” Pearl said, holding the paper to her chest with a dreamy look on her face. “And both you and Mister Nick did that just so you could sail together!”
“Pearly, that’s because it’s the bridge to the entrance. They’re just trying to get people to pay the admission fee to Gatewater Land,” Maya said in a stern tone.
Phoenix was surprised. Usually they just let Pearl imagine whatever she wanted, so seeing the little girl’s embarrassed face made him a bit embarrassed too. He reached over, patting the Pearl on the shoulder.
“Do you want to try and row, Pearls?”
Her face lit up immediately, forgetting the admonishment. “Sure!”
“So if you push the oar this way…”
Half an hour later, he and Maya had woven an entire mystery plot while the boat floated in lazy circles. Even on their day off, they managed to talk about murder. “So the girlfriend had nothing to do with it?” he prompted.
“She did…But it was actually the stuck up brat’s fault,” Maya explained, still ironing out the details of this imaginary story she knew they were going to forget before dinner.
“Wait,” Phoenix interrupted, looking in the other direction. “I think that is Edgeworth. He’s got the ruffles and everything.”
Maya stopped talking, pondering something. She leaned over with a concerned look on her face. “Edgeworth isn’t the type to goof off. Does that mean there really is a murder?” Her voice was a harsh whisper in his ear.
Phoenix gulped. “With our luck, I think you’re right.”
“Somehow, that makes me really not want to be on this boat anymore,” Maya admitted, recalling Christmas a few years ago. She snapped back to attention, slightly nervous.
“It’s time to go home Pearly!” she said with a fake-cheery smile. The look on Maya’s face urged Phoenix to get the boat back to the dock as fast as they could. They were not going to become part of a murder investigation if they could help it.