Chapter Text
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Phoenix Wright had neither fortune nor wife, and he found himself quite content with his circumstances. Certainly, money was tight; and of course it would be nice to have someone with which he could express his worries to in whispered confessions, to be held and reassured that everything would work out- but people didn’t always get what they wanted, did they? He had his little family, and their little business, and sure, times were tough, but they’d always been. And if he sometimes laid awake at night, imagining arms curled around him, someone pressing a kiss to his shoulder and telling him they’d figure it out together in the morning, whose business was that, really?
So, he was a bit of a romantic. Sue him.
When the door to Kurain manor slammed open, hitting the wall with a deafening crack and causing everyone within the parlor to wince, all eyes flicked to the gasping, disheveled forms of Maya and Pearl, who stood in the doorway, a dangerous glint in Pearl’s eyes, and a devious grin stretched across her older cousin’s face.
“Did you run all the way from Meryton ?” Apollo spluttered. The bang from the door had startled him enough to send his book flying across the room, and he seemed venomously cross about it.
Maya ignored him. “You’ll never guess what we just heard.”
Trucy, who had been practicing a new card trick, and Athena, who had been her test subject, perked up at the possibility of new gossip from town. Even Phoenix raised his jagged eyebrows in slight interest as he peered curiously at the Feys over the rim of his tea cup.
“Go on,” he prompted. Maya’s grin stretched wider.
“ Netherfield Park has been let at last. ”
The room was silent.
“Okay?” Athena said in confusion after a moment. Apollo scoffed.
“You made me lose my place in my book for that ? Maya, this business is the only thing keeping Kurain estate afloat, if I don’t keep up with my studies-“
“Oh, shut up, Polly,” Trucy giggled “We’re not gonna die because you threw your book.”
Apollo glared at her, opening his mouth to retort.
“It’s been let to an eligible young gentleman! ” Pearl blurted out suddenly, palms pressed to her cheeks, peering out at the room from between her fingers “and he’s bringing his friends with him!”
Phoenix gazed at her, confused. “That’s nice, Pearls,” he said “but… what does that have to do with us?”
Maya snorted. “Look,” she said, finally breezing into the room, the door swinging shut behind her as Pearl clung to her side “It’s no secret that we’re in trouble.”
“Maya-” Phoenix protested, but she shushed him.
“Let me finish, Nick. This is my house, after all, I’m really the one in charge.”
Phoenix rolled his eyes. Her sister’s will had been quite clear in naming Phoenix as her guardian and steward of the estate, but Maya had only grown more insistent over the years that she take on more of the responsibilities Mia had left to him. He was proud of her, but for all of her quick wit, she still wasn’t a lawyer, and her financial prowess was even weaker than her grasp on the law.
“It’s no secret we have money troubles.”
“We’ve always had money troubles,” Apollo deadpanned, eyes once again trained on his book.
“That’s true! Which brings me to our one and only solution.” She paused for dramatic effect, all eyes in the parlor fixed on her expectantly as she folded her hands together and lifted her chin.
“One of us had better marry rich. Soon. ”
The room erupted in giggles and Apollo spluttered again. Phoenix snorted.
“Absolutely not,” he said setting his tea down and crossing his arms as he fixed Maya with a withering look “You’re all too young.”
“Please, Nick,” Maya scoffed “everyone here is out except Pearl and Trucy, and this is supposed to be Pearl’s first season.” Pearl hid her face behind her hands again in embarrassment.
Phoenix frowned. “What? that can’t be right.”
“I’m eighteen now, Mr. Nick,” Pearl said shyly “you don’t remember my birthday?”
“Of course I do, Pearls, it’s just- I thought it was twenty, not eighteen. Eighteen is far too young to consider marriage.”
“Fine, Nick,” Maya crossed her arms, quirking an eyebrow at him “since we’re all apparently too young , you should be the one to marry an heir or heiress and get us all out of this mess.”
Phoenix smirked. “Oh, but this is your house , remember? That responsibility is all yours, I’m afraid.”
“Hm, I thought you said I was too young?”
“Oh, you’re not too young. Just ridiculously immature.”
Maya sputtered a “Hey!” Trucy giggled and Pearl shouted “Mr. Nick, don’t speak to Lady Maya that way!”
Phoenix shot her an apologetic grin. “Sorry, Pearls. I was only joking.”
“She’s got a point though, Daddy,” Trucy grinned at him “Marrying someone rich would solve all our problems… and it would be nice to have a Mommy.”
“Plus, if you settled down with someone, maybe you’d stop reading all those gross romance novels and wandering around, sighing wistfully,” Maya snickered.
Phoenix felt his face heat up as a chorus of groans and giggles erupted from his proteges. “Maya!” he grumbled, getting to his feet and picking up his teacup as he glared.
“Mr. Wright,” Apollo frowned “maybe if you picked up a law textbook instead of a novella, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Phoenix reached over the back of his chair as he rounded it, and ruffled Apollo’s hair. “But that’s what I have you for, Polly,” he said affectionately, and the young man muttered darkly to himself as he tried to smooth his hair back down.
“Mr. Nick!” Pearl followed him into the kitchen, wringing her hands “You have to go and visit them- you have to!” Maya leaned in the doorway, arms crossed, watching the scene unfolding with mild interest. Phoenix was vaguely aware that the rest of his little family were not far behind her- even Apollo seemed to be lingering at the back of the crowd, book forgotten in his chair.
“How will you ever find your special someone if you never leave the house?” Pearl shouted adamantly, a dangerous expression on her face. Phoenix stiffened, placing himself behind the kitchen island in case her violent tendencies overtook her. He sighed.
“Pearls, I’m an old maid,” he said, smiling apologetically at her and drawing a few chuckles from the others “I’m far too set in my ways to change now. And I thought you’d given up on the special someone thing?”
“I’ll never give up on you, Mr. Nick!” she almost wailed, her eyes misting over. He sighed again and rounded the island, wrapping her in a hug. She was so tall these days.
“Thanks for believing in me, Pearls,” he said warmly, then stood, patting her head fondly, before running his hand over his own hair and groaning.
“Fine,” he said begrudgingly “I’ll introduce us. And I’ll go to the first ball of the season-“
Maya, Pearl and Trucy all shrieked in excitement.
“- As a chaperone . A chaperone , got it? Don’t go getting any wild romantic notions, any of you.”
Apollo shuddered. “ God , no.”
“Daddy, can I go?” Trucy begged, suddenly at his side “Please? I know I’m not out yet, but if you’ll be there-“
“Oh, please say yes, Mr. Nick!” Pearl gasped “Trucy and I can stick together, we won’t be any trouble at all! I’ll be so much braver if she’s there!”
Phoenix scratched thoughtfully at his jaw. “I guess so,” he conceded with a shrug as the girls began to shriek “I can’t see why not, since I’m chaperoning anyway.”
Trucy threw her arms around him, and Phoenix stumbled back into the kitchen island with a huff. “Thank you, Daddy!” she screeched “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!”
“Don’t get too excited,” Phoenix grumbled good naturedly “One word that you’ve caused trouble, and I’m delaying your debut by a year .” He eyed her sternly. “ Got it , Truce?”
Trucy schooled her expression into one of perfect, solemn propriety. “I won’t be any trouble,” she agreed, clasping her hands behind her back “cross my heart, scout’s honor, mother’s grave, etcetera.”
Phoenix fixed her with an appraising stare, eyes narrowed as she blinked up at him with angelic innocence.
“Your fingers are crossed,” He said, his tone accusatory.
“Dammit.”
“ Language, Truce.”
“I don’t understand why you’re all so worked up about this,” Apollo grumbled, shouldering his way past Maya and into the kitchen. He set the kettle on the stovetop and stood on tiptoe to extract a teacup and saucer from the china cabinet. “It’s not like making a debut even changes anything. It’s all the same parties, same people, same dancing-”
“You’re just bitter because you never got a formal debut,” Athena snickered, and Apollo fixed her with a withering glare.
“Aw, Polly,” Phoenix grinned, throwing his arm around the shorter man’s shoulder “Why didn’t you say so? We can have a party for you, too.”
“I’m good, Mr. Wright, thanks,” He grumbled, shrugging out of the embrace “I just don’t see the point of it all. It’s a waste of money and time that we could put toward actually keeping the Agency afloat.” Phoenix rolled his eyes as he poured himself another cup of tea.
“Ugh, don’t be like that, Polly,” Trucy groaned “Have fun for once in your life. You’re gonna end up a spinster like Daddy and Aunt Maya if you’re not careful.”
Phoenix and Maya sputtered,and Apollo smiled, crossing his arms over his chest in smug determination.
“Good,” he said, to the groans of his family “I want to be a spinster. Maybe then I’ll actually be allowed to study in peace.”
“Whatever you say, Apollo,” Athena rolled her eyes “Like we don’t all know where Mr. Wright’s novels keep disappearing to.
The room erupted into jabs and laughter, Apollo’s face flushing several shades deeper as he protested, his voice booming, and Phoenix sipped his tea, eyes softened with fondness as he watched his little family bicker.
‘This is everything I need,’ he mused, content. ‘ What else could I possibly ask for?’
///
Dear Mr. Gavin-
My name is Phoenix Wright. I am writing to you at the behest of my family, the Fey-Wrights of the Wright Anything Agency, who are quite eager to make your acquaintance at your earliest convenience. We are delighted to welcome you to the neighborhood, and hope you plan to attend the upcoming town ball so that we might all be properly introduced.
We hope your stay at Netherfield is comfortable, and that you have come willing to make friends- we do not get many visitors from town in Meryton, and you are quickly reaching local celebrity status. I fear any peace and quiet you may have hoped to attain by visiting the countryside is well beyond your reach at this point. Brace yourself.
Sincerely,
Phoenix Wright
///
Dear Herr Wright-
I thank you for your kind letter welcoming me to the neighborhood. I would be delighted to make your family’s acquaintance at the upcoming ball, and I confess I do plan to stay in the countryside for some time. I will be bringing some friends to stay with me from town- associates in my legal firm, and I am quite certain they would also be rather pleased to become acquainted with the leading legal professionals in this county- talk shop, and all that- if I may be so bold as to introduce you.
Thank you for warning me of my status as a local celebrity- I confess it was rather expected, as I am a well known performer in town. Rest assured that I will not be deterred from my relaxation by adoring fans. I hope you will tell your family not to be intimidated by my reputation.
I look forward to making your acquaintance.
Mit herzlichen Grüssen,
Klavier Gavin
///
“He’s a lawyer? ” Apollo squawked, launching out of his chair as his voice reverberated through the breakfast room, causing Athena to wince, flinching as she poured herself a cup of tea.
“Polly, please,” she murmured through gritted teeth, and Apollo hunched his shoulders sheepishly, sinking back into his seat.
“Sorry, Athena,” he said in hushed tones, holding his breath before turning his attention back to Phoenix, who had set the letter down atop the table and was now buttering his toast.
“He’s a lawyer?” He asked again, in the most composed indoor voice Phoenix had ever heard from him. Trucy and Athena snickered, and Phoenix felt his own mouth twitch upwards in a crooked smile.
“Seems so,” he confirmed “and he’s bringing his associates with him.”
Apollo lunged forward, grabbing the letter and holding it inches from his face as he read ravenously. Phoenix raised his eyebrows, watching him in perplexed amusement over the rim of his teacup. Trucy groaned.
“You’re such a nerd, Polly,” she rolled her eyes.
“Or maybe,” Apollo said as he folded up the letter and placed it back on the table. He knit his fingers together and smiled haughtily. “I’m the one who’s going to save the Agency.”
All eyes trained on him as he sat, smugly spooning scrambled eggs onto his plate.
“...Care to elaborate?” Athena pressed. Maya picked up the letter and began to read.
“What, are you going to marry this guy?” she asked. Her brows furrowed as she read further. “Oh, Polly no , he’s insufferable. You can do better than this.”
“No, I’m not going to- oh, for the love of God ,” Apollo spluttered, then sighed. “Look. This guy is a lawyer, right? Probably from a pretty successful firm, given the fact that he’s able to afford Netherfield- and on top of that, he’s bringing his law friends with him.” Apollo fixed Phoenix with a grin, eyes sparkling with determination. “So, all we have to do is befriend them, then convince one of them to invest in the Agency. Show them how important it is for a small town like Meryton to have its own law firm, and not just be dealt with long-distance by city lawyers who have never settled a farmland dispute. Day saved, problem solved, happily ever after, etcetera.”
Phoenix pondered as he chewed his toast. The kid had a point. They had other investors- bigger firms with shares in the Agency. It would be beneficial to have another ally in London, especially if they were on friendly terms with the shareholders.
He regarded Apollo’s wide, earnest expression over the rim of his teacup.
“Okay,” he said slowly, mouth twitching in amusement as Apollo’s face split into a wide, excited grin “That’s not a bad idea, Polly.”
“So, what, you’re going to woo this guy into giving us money?” Maya questioned, bewildered “Because that sounds a lot like my plan from-”
“ Yes! I won’t let you down, Mr. Wright!” Apollo shouted triumphantly, ignoring Maya completely. “By the time I’m done with them, they’ll be begging for shares in our firm!” Everyone winced. Athena clamped her hands over her ears.
Apollo shrunk down into his chair once again. “Sorry,” He squeaked, still grinning fiendishly.