Work Text:
After three months of price negotiations, sign-painting, and moving all of our stuff out of our old office, Fey and Armando Law Firm has finally become a reality.
A year ago, I was still in my self-imposed exile from taking cases because I didn’t want anyone else to die… and I wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t impulsively follow Diego’s car to the courthouse the day he was interviewing Dahlia…
It’s strange, how so many things are impacted by one decision…
“Kitten, we’ve got a new client.” Diego says as he drops his coffee on my desk and pulls me back to reality.
“How?” I ask, for unless Grossberg’s rerouting his backlogged cases to us, there’s no reason for anyone to visit a law firm that’s existed for about a day.
“He’s been standing outside the door for the past few days; I think he’s fairly desperate for a lawyer.” he answers, as a dark-haired boy in a pink sweater and flu mask walks into my office.
...no offense, but I’m not quite sure how you assumed that we were the best place for your legal council, when there’s been no one in this building before today.
Then again, we did put the sign up on Sunday, so maybe that’s why he thought we existed?
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“...um, Phoenix Wright… and I didn’t kill anyone and don’t tell my girlfriend about this because she’s going to faint if she hears about this, she’s really fragile…”
“Luckily, you came to the one law firm with unrelenting belief in its clients, Mr. Wright.” Diego says, and the confidence in his voice causes a small smile to appear on my face. He passes me the case file, and the first thing I notice it that he’s underlined something in red pen.
“Why did you bother reading this one?” I ask.
“Contrary to popular belief, I do read all of our case files, but a name jumped out to me in this one.” he answers, as he points to the underline and takes my hand.
My girlfriend…. Dollie Hawthorne, we met in the courthouse eight months ago and she gave me her necklace as a symbol of our undying affection….
“Yes, that’s exactly who you think it is.” he says, and my mind’s playing through the day he almost died and I almost caught Dahlia in the act of poisoning him…
“You saved my life by doing nothing. I think that’s commendable.”
“Diego, when did you interview her?”
“You took your second case a few days later, so around seven or eight months ago?”
How do you forget the day you almost died?!
“This certainly is the best way to start our lives together as a law firm, isn’t it?” he quips, stopping me from yelling at him to care more about his own life.
It’s over… the woman we spent fourteen months chasing and hurt so many people… has finally been brought to justice…
“Miss Fey, can I talk to you?” Phoenix asks as he walks up to Diego’s car and stops me from accidentally drinking his coffee.
“It’s not your fault that you fell for her act, Phoenix.” I blurt out.
At least you’re alive… unlike the first person I ever defended, who killed himself for Dahlia….
“I… um, I know that, but can you help me become a lawyer so I can save my best friend?”
“The most important thing is to never lose faith in your clients and the truth.”
I don’t know if you wanted more concrete advice, but this is the one guiding principle I’ve adhered to in my career. Do that, and everything else will fall into place….
“I will.” he says, and his voice is unexpectedly serious as he walks away, leaving me waiting for Diego in his car with a mug of coffee.
I am highly tempted to drink this, but I don’t know if this is the blend I like or one of his experimental ones…
“This is the one you like, by the way.” he quips as he passes me a pair of tickets and begins to drive.
“Why do you have a pair of theater tickets for Ivy University’s production of Waiting For Godot? ”
“Because I think we should take a break from lawyering and do something relaxing for a change. Don’t you agree?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” I say, as I take a sip of the coffee.
I still need to write to Maya and Aunt Morgan and finish packing up my apartment, yet here I am, sitting in my office in the middle of the night and trying to analyze why Bluecorp shows up in four cases that have nothing to do with one another.
I would’ve brushed that off as a coincidence, if not for the fact that every witness who brought up the company tried to instantly deny doing so.
“Great minds think alike, don’t they?” Diego quips as he joins me in our office with a pair of coffee thermoses and a small box.
“Have you also noticed that every time a witness brings up Bluecorp, they try to instantly backtrack?” I ask, as I pick up a thermos and drink the coffee.
Which blend is this one? I know I’ve asked you this before, but I keep forgetting…
“Why would multiple witnesses over multiple cases bring up Bluecorp in the first place, kitten?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out, but why are you also here at midnight?”
“Because I wanted to give you this.” he answers, as he hands me the box, which I open, and there’s a ring with a little diamond sitting on this inside….
I… really wasn’t expecting this at all, but yes. I love you.
“Will you marry me, Mia Fey?” he asks, and all I can do is smile like an idiot.
“Do we have enough room for my sister to stay with us?” I ask.
Why does Maya have to visit now… but as long as she doesn’t show up when I’m interviewing Redd White, everything’s going to be fine and she won’t get killed…
“Unless we move her onto the sofa or purchase a house, no.” my husband answers as he begins to read the visit itinerary I stuck on the fridge.
I hope neither one of you mind me not being with you for about three hours; I just need some more information about Bluecorp’s little net of manipulation, and once their CEO’s in prison, I can have fun with my family.
“What are you doing on Monday that requires you to be alone for three hours?” Diego asks, as he turns towards me.
“I finally got the CEO of Bluecorp to agree to an interview.”
“Is your sister going to mind if we have Wright join her for those three hours, while I stay with you?”
“Why?” I blurt out, and he looks completely lost in thought.
“...because the last time either of us interviewed a suspect on our own, it was four years ago, and I was on the verge of drinking poisoned coffee when you stepped in and saved my life.”
How did I forget about that?! Then again, Redd White hasn’t directly killed anyone, but how do I know that he doesn’t know about why I kept calling him?
For all I know, he’s planning on killing me during our interview, and getting away with it.
I… there is a part of me that can’t believe that I’m still alive, and another part that was subconsciously expecting all this to happen….
“Thank you for saving my life.” I say, as the policemen finish exiting my office.
“I had to repay you for saving mine, Mia.” Diego says, but his voice is unsteady as I grab his hand to prevent myself from collapsing.
I hope… I wasn’t hit by the clock, so that lowers my risk of having a concussion, and I don’t want Maya to be worried about me or for that to be hanging over this week that was supposed to be fun.
“So… now that you got Redd White arrested, what should we do now?”
“I think I should finally introduce you to my younger sister. I think you’ll like her.”
“Well, I can’t wait to meet my sister-in-law, then.” he says as we walk out of the office and cross the road, and my sister and Phoenix are standing on the edge of the crosswalk.
"Mia, I'm so glad to finally see you!" she exclaims as she runs across the road, dragging Phoenix with her.