Chapter Text
It was a quiet morning at the Wright & Co. office, Phoenix doing important tasks, like watering Charley the Plant, and the Fey girls watching T.V. It has become somewhat of a tradition to let them watch the morning cartoons and such, after finding out that Pearls hasn’t seen any of the Samurai series and Maya wasn’t about to let her be deprived of ‘this masterpiece of a show’, as she likes to put it. Usually, the girls stay very quiet while watching, occasionally jeering at the villain and cheering for the Samurai, so when there’s excited whispering, Phoenix has a feeling that something is being schemed. As the previous Let’s-Make-A-Cake scheme had almost left him without a place to live, he was quick to drop by and eavesdrop on what was being planned.
“Aw, come on Pearly! I’m sure Nick wouldn't be against it! Why don’t we just ask?” The younger girl shuffles around.
“I don’t know Mystic Maya… I wouldn’t want to impose any more than I already have.”
“But Pearly! You’ve never been to a park! It won’t cost much and it sounds like fun!” Phoenix takes a breath, relieved knowing his livelihood and the girls aren’t in danger (Exhibit A Let’s-Make-A-Cake), he decides to reveal his presence.
“Sounds like a fun time.” Pearls and Maya jumped at Phoenix’s voice and turn towards him. “Why don’t we make a day of it? I’ll close up the office and you guys get packed and ready.” They both smiled widely, nodding excitedly and then ran off to pack, all the while talking about what they are gonna do and what they are gonna bring.
It doesn’t take them long to be out the door and waiting for the train, Phoenix sporting an excessive three bags, one glittery pink, one a Steel Samurai bag, and the other his blight blue backpack and the other free hand holding Pearls hand. She was still not used to the bustling city and crowds of people so Nick would do everything in his power to make sure she was as comfortable as possible. Phoenix was still holding on to Pearl’s small hand as they got on the train, only letting go when they took a seat and Pearl asked for her bag.
“I worry it’s too much for you to carry, Mr. Nick.” Phoenix chuckles and shakes his head.
“No, don’t worry. Trust me I’m having no trouble carrying any of these.”
“Yeah Pearly! Despite his looks, Nick is pretty tough and strong.”
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!” Maya shrugs, a smug smirk on her face, in response as Pearl covers a laugh.
“Come on, Nick, we all know that the old age is catching up with you, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” Phoenix sighs, a little tired and defeated with the attacks, as Maya pats him on the shoulder. “Come on Gramps, nothing to be ashamed of.” Pearls laughs and Maya joins her.
“I’m only in my 20’s...” Phoenix mutters to himself, and despite the teasing, cracks a smile seeing the girls having a good time
Maya and Pearl ran ahead as soon as they spotted the green grass, telling Phoenix to hurry otherwise they might miss a good spot. It’s a nice warm day and despite that, there weren’t many people out and about. Once Phoenix catches up, they lay out a blue blanket, start setting up and unpacking. Besides a couple of manga, Maya also has the most food packed away and Pearls brought some board games and her ball. Once their area was set up, Maya leads Pearl, with her blue ball in tow, to the large playground not too far out and Phoenix sit, left to guard the area, snacking on some cookies and keeping an eye on the girls. After getting out a book, Phoenix’s reading gets interpreted as the girls come rushing back, and before he could ask, he could see the sparkle and pleading in Maya’s eyes, the same look she has when she asks for some burgers.
“Nick, there is an ice cream cart! Nick, can we have some ice cream? Pretty please? Pretty pretty, please?” Maya begs as Pearls peeks out from behind her, too embarrassed to ask. Phoenix lets out a small sigh, thinking how weak he is when it comes to these two as he puts his book down.
“Alright alright. I’ll get the ice cream. You both hold down the fort ok?” The girl’s eyes sparkle as they nod determined. “What flavor should I get?”
“Thanks, Nick! I will have chocolate, what about you, Pearly?” Maya says, turning to Pearls who is nibbling on her thumb, deliberate this very serious question. She doesn’t think for too long before she answers.
“I will have a vanilla ice cream, thank you, Mr. Nick!” Phoenix nods and gets up. Maya is quick to point out the location of the cart and the girls take a seat, watching Phoenix make his way to the cart.
As the girls wait for Phoenix to come back, playing Chutes and Ladder, Maya makes a horrific discovery.
“Pearls…”
“Yes, Mystic Maya?”
“Did you eat some of my cookies?” Pearl scrunches her brows and shakes her head. “Pearly I came here with 10 cookies, I now have 5, therefore someone ate them, and you were the only one who knew anything about them. You are clearly the culprit!”
“Objection!” Pearl shouts, making Maya and herself jump in the process. “I.. I mean, do you have any proof, Mystic Maya? I think your claims don’t have ev...evadance..” She bites on her thumb thinking of the word.
“Evidence?” She nods.
“Yes! Evidence!” Maya shakes her head with a sly smile.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk… Pearly do you think I would say that if I didn’t have some proof to back me up? I am no amateur, I have seen enough courtroom battles! Have you looked at your hands?”
“My hands?” She looks at her hands and lets out a small gasp.
“They have chocolate on them! My cookies are chocolate chip cookies!”
“Hold it! I brought my own snacks too, Mystic Maya,” Being Mayas turn to be confused, Peals reaches for the wrapper of the chocolate bar she was eating. “The chocolate on my hand is from this bar!” Maya opens her mouth in shock, dramatically placing her hands on her chest and letting out a gasp. Pearls smirks. “Where your proof now, Mystic Maya?!” Chuckling pulls the girls out of their impromptu courtroom fight as they look to the source of the sound.
“You know, Pearls, you would make good a good lawyer,” Nick says, handing the vanilla cone to her.
“And you, Miss Maya Fey, would make a good prosecutor.” Another familiar voice speaks up as Phoenix hands the other cone to Maya.
“Mr. Edgeworth! What are you doing here?” Maya asks seeing the Prosecutor behind Nick.
“I have made arrangements to meet someone at this location and happen to run into Wright.”
“That’s a very fancy way of saying he’s here to meet a friend of his.” Edgeworth crosses his arms, as Wright laughs. They all talk for a bit before Edgeworth informs them that he must be going as not to be late and wishes them a good evening. After they all say their goodbyes, Phoenix remarks that they should probably be hedging back home in an hour or so and encourages the girls to go play, who both nod and run to the playground.
After a couple of hours, they pack up and get to the train. The train ride back was a lot quieter as the girls were a little more exhausted so Phoenix proposes to have a movie night which is received very well and the two seemed to get some of their energy back. One they get back, Phoenix is the one putting all the park gear away as Pearls and Maya go to the kitchen to prep the snacks for the movie. By the time Phoenix gets into PJs gets to the couch, the girls are there ready. Maya, in a large Steel Samurai and plaid PJ pant, is already there picking a movie and Pearls, wearing a purple nightdress, holding a bowl of popcorn, occasionally munching on some. They have made room for Phoenix to sit in between them and he gladly does the exhaustion of the day hitting him all at once. Maya picks the second, ‘second and best’, Nickel Samurai movie, and gets her bag of chips.
Halfway through the movie, quite as usual since Maya and Pearls take their samurai watching very serious, Phoenix can’t keep his eyes open anymore, holding on to a small pillow and giving in to the sleep.
And by the end, Pearl curls up next to Nick, empty bowl abandoned and cuddling up with a small blanket. It doesn’t take her too long to doze off too.
Halfway through another movie, Maya picked out for herself, she notices her eyelids are feeling really heavy and yawning more often. She grabs her large blanket, turns the T.V., and leans into Phoenix, covering him with the blanket too, ensuring he doesn’t get cold.
And in the cozy and safe atmosphere, she let herself give in to the sleep too.