Chapter Text
It was a hot summer day. The skies were clear, the sun was bright... A perfect day to go sailing, thought Phoenix.
Earlier that week, Edgeworth had invited Phoenix for a cruise on his family yacht. And although the invitation had caught Phoenix off guard, he had immediately accepted.
(To be honest, Phoenix had been desperate to find a way to cool off, as the air conditioner at his law offices had broken down yet again, and the electric fans that were constantly on just weren't cutting it...)
So that was how Phoenix now found himself strolling down the local docks, cheerfully breathing in the salty, ocean air.
Just then he heard running footsteps on the boardwalk behind him. He turned around curiously, to see a familliar figure running towards him.
"Larry? Is that you?"
As the other person caught up to him, Phoenix saw that it was indeed his childhood friend, Larry Butz, waving at him.
"Hey, Nick!" greeted Larry, as he paused to catch his breath. "Glad to see you're still here; that means that I didn't miss the boat!"
"You mean... Edgeworth invited you, too?" asked Phoenix, feeling oddly disappointed.
"Yup!" Seeing Phoenix's expression, he added, "Hey, aren't you glad to see your best buddy?"
"Oh... Of course I am!" replied Phoenix, somewhat ashamed at his reaction. It's not like he was looking forward to spending some time alone with Edgeworth... Was he?
To cover his embarassment, he focused his attention on Larry, and then stared.
"Uh, Larry? What are you wearing?"
"Oh, this?" Now it was Larry's turn to look embarassed. "I rented this outfit just for the occasion."
Phoenix eyed the blue-and-white middy blouse and pom-pommed hat that his friend was currently wearing, with some skepticism.
"Yeah, but a sailor suit?" he pointed out. "You look just like Donald Duck!"
"Yeah, about that," began Larry sheepishly. "Let me explain. When I went to the costume shop, I wanted to rent a Captain's uniform; you know, like the ones they wear on a cruise ship? But they mixed up my order somehow, and I ended up with this outfit."
"Why didn't you just cancel your order, then?"
"I already put down the deposit, and I didn't want lose my money." Larry sighed. "Still, it isn't so bad... At least this costume keeps me cool."
Yeah, but it doesn't keep your dignity, thought Phoenix, though he didn't say it aloud.
"Still, I don't understand why you're all dressed up," he said, instead.
"C'mon, Nick... It's a yacht, for goodness' sakes! When are we ever going to be invited on one of these babies again?" exclaimed Larry, as he waved at the ships surrounding them. "Besides, I was hoping to impress... Someone."
Who? thought Phoenix curiously. He knew Edgeworth wasn't one to be impressed by clothing... Or at least, not rented costumes. (At least, he didn't think so...)
They both strolled down the pier, admiring the expensive-looking yachts docked along its edges.
"Do you know where Edgey keeps his boat?" asked Larry.
Phoenix nodded. "Edgeworth said that his yacht should be docked somewhere at the end of this pier."
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing Larry to nearly walk into him.
"This must be the boat; I'm sure of it."
"What makes you so sure, Nick?"
"Check out the name."
Larry glanced at the stern of the yacht before them. Clearly stencilled upon it were the words, 'Lady Justice'.
He nodded. "Yep, that one definitely belongs to Edgeworth."
Both men looked up at it. Phoenix knew nothing about boats, but he had to admit, Edgeworth's yacht was pretty impressive-looking.
As Phoenix admired the sleek line of the hull, he felt Larry nudge him in the ribs.
"Psst, Nick. You think old Edgey is compensating for something?"
"Larry! Honestly..."
"I'm just sayin'! I mean, you have seen his car before, right?"
Phoenix rolled his eyes. "Yes, I have. Grow up already, Larry... Like you wouldn't buy something sporty and expensive if you could afford it."
"Well yeah, but..." Larry trailed off when he caught the warning look on Phoenix's face, and decided to shut up.
Just then, there were footsteps from the direction of the yacht. Both men looked up at the sound.
It turned out to be Edgeworth, walking down the gangplank. Phoenix felt himself turn red, though not from the sun.
Edgeworth was impeccably dressed in a red silk shirt, open to the waist, over dark shorts and sandals. In his blue-and-red hawaiian shirt, bermuda shorts and flipflops, Phoenix suddenly felt outclassed.
Edgeworth walked up to the two, and nodded curtly. "Wright, Butz... So you've finally arrived... Wright, why is your mouth hanging open?"
Phoenix snapped his mouth shut. "Uh, sorry Edgeworth. I was just... Impressed by your yacht, that's all."
It was a lame excuse, Phoenix knew. But it was weird, seeing Edgeworth in anything but his trademark suit. The prosecutor might cut an impressive figure in court, but now, dressed in casual clothing, Phoenix was suddenly aware of how incredibly attractive Edgeworth could be.
Edgeworth eyed Phoenix's flushed face, and Larry's silently laughing one, and decided to ignore both. He then craned his head to look behind both men.
"Where are the girls, Wright?" he asked. "I thought they were going to accompany you today."
"They wanted to, they really did," admitted Phoenix. "But they both had to go back to Kurain Village, for some special medium training. So instead, they made me promise to take lots of pictures of your boat, so they could see what it looked like." He sheepishly held up a digital camera, by way of explanation.
"It's a yacht, Wright, not a boat," corrected Edgeworth, a bit absentmindedly. He then turned his attention to Larry.
Larry saluted him with a grin. "Permission to come aboard, Captain?"
Edgeworth glanced at Larry's outfit, stared, then promptly decided not to comment on it.
"Permission granted, Butz," he replied, grudgingly.
"You two are late," Edgeworth added, as the three of them walked up the gangplank onto the yacht. "Even Gumshoe beat you here."
"Gumshoe's here too?" asked Phoenix, looking surprised.
Edgeworth nodded. "Along with my sister Franziska... Although that's to be expected, of course."
"Ah, so Miss Von Karma is on board, as well..." mused Phoenix aloud, as he cast a sidelong glance at Larry. Suddenly the motive behind his friend's cosplay had become much more apparent.
As if on cue, Franziska suddenly appeared, as she strolled down the deck towards them.
Phoenix swallowed nervously. He couldn't help but notice that she was wearing a wine-coloured bikini that emphasized her shapely figure. Fortunately, the outfit didn't appear to leave any room for her to carry her whip (although Phoenix wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not).
As Franziska approached the trio, she lowered her sunglasses and peered down at the two newcomers.
"Oh, it's you two foolish fools," she said shortly, and strode off.
Like magic, Larry suddenly disappeared from Phoenix's side, only to reappear behind Franziska, trailing her like a lost, sailor-suited puppy. Phoenix shook his head.
"Should I even ask about his costume?" murmured Edgeworth, once Larry was out of earshot.
"No, not really," said Phoenix, with a sigh.
Edgeworth nodded sympathetically. "I thought as much. Well, since our old friend is otherwise preoccupied... Come, let me show you around, Wright."
"Um, okay..." And so, Phoenix found himself walking down the deck of the yacht, side-by-side, with Edgeworth.