Chapter Text
Athena Cykes was fairly certain she couldn’t possibly be any more…well…psyched as she was at this moment. Not to say she wasn’t always excited and giving her all to everything she did. After all, ask anyone, especially her boss, Phoenix Wright, or her partner, Apollo Justice. They knew better than anyone that she always got herself enthused and energized when on the job or about to go to something she was passionate about in general…and the red-haired defense attorney was certainly passionate about Juniper Woods, that was for certain.
Athena personally considered this sleepover which she was so jubilant and energetic about to be quite overdue, as it was. While it was true that the brunette had visited the Wright Anything Agency many times following the case at Themis Legal Academy, Junie still didn’t have as much time to visit as she would have liked. Every time she did get a chance to stop by to see her best friend; the red-clad defense attorney she had seemed quite taken with; the boss of the agency who enjoyed her more meek and quiet personality as a sharp contrast to that of Athena and Apollo; and the daughter of Phoenix Wright, Trucy, who seemed to strongly approve of Athena’s best friend and managed to impress her consistently with the many magic tricks Trucy had up her sleeve (although the magician often noticed how nervously she acted around both Athena and Apollo sometimes); Juniper always regretted that she didn’t get to stay for very long. Even with the academy under reform after some startling revelations about the school came to light, the Student Council President was kept very busy with both her duties as a class leader and a student on the judge course. In fact, with everything that was taking place at the currently-changing school, Juniper found herself busier than ever.
So, deep in thought as she continued to follow the dirt path surrounded by trees effortlessly, that was settled in the highly-elevated mountainous area on the border of the city, Athena found it especially exciting that she got to have a sleepover with her cute, soft-spoken best friend. Though, soft-spoken as she was, the redhead was genuinely impressed with how much stronger Juniper had become over the past seven years. She often wondered what it was that had inspired the brunette to work so hard. Junie had so much more willpower than Athena had ever seen her with before she’d had to leave, and becoming such a capable leader and working so steadily on the judge course…honestly, the energetic lawyer never would have guessed her best friend would have come so far had she not witnessed it for herself. Still, it gave her a strong sense of pride to know that Juniper had done so well for herself while they’d been apart. But that time was over now, and this weekend was one they had entirely to themselves.
That was another strange thing, however. Usually Juniper’s kind-hearted, equally gentle grandmother was in the forested abode at all times, content to be among the trees and nature itself, though the interior of the house had seen a good number of changes over the past few years as the area became a little more connected to the somehow still-expanding city (although it seemed this more remote, natural area would stay that way for the most part save for the power lines and that had started to run through this area over the course of the past few years). However, as Juniper had explained on the phone the day before, the elderly woman would not be here this weekend, taking some time to visit her good friend who lived a good tram ride away from the area who she had not seen in years. It seemed this was a time of many reunions as the year drew to a close.
Athena drew in a deep breath and rapped lightly on the wooden door three times, giddy with excitement, but also holding a strange sense of nervousness within her heart. Perhaps it was because the last time they had done this, disaster had struck soon after, the disaster known as UR-1, and the two had been torn apart from each other’s lives so suddenly by it. But it was calming to realize that in a way, they were just picking up where they had left off when that had happened, and this time, regardless of what happened, come hell or high water (as if the latter would be a problem up here in the mountains), Athena was determined to stay by the side of her best friend this time. Besides, there was a lot less to fret about, considering how that horrible case had finally come to a positive resolution, or as positive as it could be in light of what had occurred. With that resolution, there was a lot of recovering left for everyone, meaning this wasn’t only for Juniper’s sake. This meant a lot to Athena too. She needed some time away from everything, to gather herself and get a break from the daily activities of the Wright Anything Agency, a break which Phoenix Wright had been glad to give her. It was nice to have a more understanding, laid-back boss than most people had. It gave her a chance to have somewhat of a breather in a place she was comfortable with, and with a person she was extremely comfortable with.
Speaking of that person…
Juniper’s hazel eyes practically shone as she opened the door to see her red-haired friend she’d been preparing to see all day. True, it was still the late afternoon, but Junie was always an early riser, and she’d been filled to the brim with anticipation over getting to have some time with Athena in the environment that the former was always the most comfortable in. Even when they had been younger, the reverse was usually true. The brunette had spent so much time with Athena at the Space Center that it seemed strange she hadn’t already known Apollo before they met during the Themis case, or that she didn’t know Solomon and Clay better than she had before the second murder at the Space Center happened, along with the bombing that took place. Athena had been to Juniper’s home before, but very seldom, due to the distance, so it was a nice change of pace for both of them.
Before Juniper could even reach forward, Athena practically flung herself around Junie, the lawyer’s arms wrapping around her into a tight, excited hug. There was a soft squeak of excitement from Juniper, and a loud squee of joy from Athena. Junie was used to these strong displays of affection from her friend by now, so it didn’t bother her at all.
“Junie!” Athena cried happily. “I’m so glad to be here again finally! It’s been so long, and us two finally get to have some time to ourselves!” It took all of her restraint to not dance around happily and pull Juniper into it as well, but that task would have been made a bit more difficult by the sports bag that the former carried with her. Upon noting the aforementioned bag, Juniper immediately took it from her and carried it into her bedroom, leaving it there for the time being, before quickly returning to Athena and giving her the most genuine yet calming smile that Athena could ever recall seeing.
“I’m really happy too, Thena.” Juniper murmured in reply, just staring into her eyes for a few calm moments. “I missed this so much…a-and you even more.” It caused the brunette a bit of embarrassment and nervousness to admit that she had missed Athena so dearly, though she couldn’t fathom why. Just like always, Athena just gave her another tight squeeze, in full agreement with that statement of Junie’s. It was most likely this lingering worry that she clung to the strength her friend possessed too much, and not feeling like she had much of her own. Even with all the growing that had happened over the course of seven years, her extreme sense of self-awareness, and the fears and low confidence that came with that, had not faded, but rather become even more intense with all the responsibilities she took on.
This was a constant which Athena had noticed. But that was Athena for you, always perceptive of everyone’s feelings, and although the brunette didn’t realize it now, Athena Cykes was determined to make Junie see herself as a far better, stronger, and more independent person than she believed she was before this three-day-weekend came to a close. Even though this extended stay was partly for her own sake, Athena really meant it to be more for Juniper’s. Yet even now, the ace psychologist wondered if she should have had Apollo come with her, or told Junie to invite Apollo instead. Honestly, her partner might do better at making Juniper feel like a stronger person than she would, or at least that was what Athena was led to believe sometimes.
“Y-You can take a seat if you want, Thena.” Juniper said warmly as she grabbed a kettle filled with boiling water she had let sit on the stovetop until she arrived. “Let me finish making these cups of tea, and then we can talk. We…have a lot to catch up on, don’t we?” Athena just nodded in reply before taking a seat in the living room as Juniper had invited her to do. Seven years was…a long time.
“Yeah, we’re still not caught up on everything yet, are we?” The lawyer called from the other room as Juniper readied the cups of tea she’d so carefully prepared. “Seven years is a long time to go without your best friend.” Though Junie would always mean more to Athena- wait, no, no, let’s not go down this line of thinking again. Geez, Athena, she may be the cutest thing on the planet, but you’ve got to get a grip on yourself. She’s your best friend, okay? Besides, it seems like Apollo’s got the market cornered on her heart, the dork. Heh, somehow it doesn’t surprise me he’s the sort of guy she’d fall for, though I didn’t really expect it until it happened.
Bringing in two piping hot teacups filled with, well, tea, set upon plates, the flower-loving law student eagerly sat down next to the attorney who had become ensnared in her own thoughts for a few moments, although the moment Juniper had entered the room, Athena immediately snapped out of her thoughtful state. “Be careful with that, Thena, it’s really hot still.” Juniper cautioned as her red-haired guest raised the cup to her lips. She attempted to stifle a laugh when Athena recoiled and the cup in her hand shook a little bit.
“Wow, that’s hot, Junie!” Athena exclaimed, setting the cup back onto the plate to avoid spilling it. “Geez, I know you warned me, but it’s been so long since I’ve had any of your tea, I forgot how warm it is when you’ve just made it. I guess some things don’t change that much over seven years.”
“You didn’t burn your tongue, did you?” Juniper asked with genuine concern as she watched Athena attempting to fan her mouth in a silly matter as if that would cool down any of the small sip of hot tea she’d just downed. “I know it’s been a while…but I think my tea has improved since you last had a chance to try it. I used to make the weirdest mixes, I know…”
“Welllll, maybe, but you know I always liked them.” The other insisted with a cheerful grin. “…still…this tastes…” Carefully taking another sip, Athena let the flavor more properly settle into her senses this time around. “…wow, actually you’re right, Junie. I mean, I’m not exactly an expert on tea, but you know how much I don’t like bitter stuff usually. This has a small sting to it, but I can’t really taste it with the different sweet flavors you added. This is amazing!”
Juniper just blushed, looking down at the floor for a few moments. “W-Well, I shouldn’t have bought a whole case of tea leaves from this company. I-It turns out their taste is more bitter than I like, s-so I had to overcompensate to tone it down. But I’m…I’m really happy you like it Thena. That means a lot to me.”
And so the first few minutes of their wonderful weekend off were filled with sips of tea and small talk about the flavor, the ingredients Juniper added herself, and the condition of the various fruits, vegetables, and flowers that the brown-haired girl tended to, the first part of their conversation leading itself well into the second, about her garden. It was a simple, relaxed start, for a weekend that would hopefully continue to move at a similar pace. After all, was there a better place to be…and a better person to be with?