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“But why do I have to do this?” Phoenix grumbled “When you said you had a surprise for me when I got my badge, I thought you were taking me to a restaurant – I didn't knew you were making me clean this!” He said as he pointed the bathroom.
Mia laughed as she put her hand over Phoenix shoulder “C'mon Phoenix, is not that bad! I do this every other week” she said.
“See it as my way of introducing you to the family.”
Phoenix whined, which maked Mia laugh even more.
“Now Phoenix, hurry up! I am taking you to a nice italian restaurant after this.” Mia disclosed as she exited the bathroom, hearing a sneak of Phoenix whining ‘Why did i enter this agency!’
When Phoenix finished cleaning the bathroom, he went outside to see Mia putting her jacket on.
They went to eat to the Italian restaurant that was just across the People's Park.
That place shut down 2 years later.
And so did the Fey & co. Law offices when Mia passed away, and they became the Wright and Co. Law offices… and a few years later the renowned Wright Anything Agency.
Still, Phoenix could never forget those words Mia said.
“See it as my way of introducing you to the family”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“I can't believe you're making me do this!” Maya bemoaned.
“Maya you spent as much time in this agency as me” Phoenix exclaimed as he pushed the teen through the bathroom door “You don't even work here! Least you can do is help me with cleaning the bathroom!”
“But I don't want to!” she protested “ This bathroom always smells like poo and looks like it! We don't even use it that much, how does it get in this state!”
“Stop complaining and do it!”
“I'm going back to Kurain!”
They stayed silent for a minute.
“You know, when I joined the agency, Your sister made me clean the bathroom, she said that was her way of ‘introducing me to the family’.”
“If my sis said that, It means I'm already a part of the family right?” Maya beamed as she exited the bathroom.
“No–Maya!” Phoenix grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her from escaping.
The two of them crossed eyes, discussing over looks.
“I'm ordering burgers and we are making a Steel Samurai marathon if you clean it.”
“Deal!” Maya turned around and started cleaning the bathroom without complaining.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“Mr. Nick…? Why do I have to clean this…?” Pearl questioned Sadly.
“I– Y-You are right Pearls, You don't have to clean this…” Phoenix said.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“But why do I have to do this?” Trucy asked as she looked her brand-new dad “When you said you had a surprise I didn't knew it was going to be such a disgusting one.”
“Oh, I know Truce, it is quite disgusting.” Phoenix replied.
“Then can you do it for me?” coaxed Trucy.
“Truce, as much as I hate to say this, you have to do this, I'll show you how, alright?”
“But why does it have to be me?”
“Well, you see Truce: There was once a great defense attorney who owned this place, and the day I signed in this agency, she made me clean the bathroom– And believe me– I'd never forget what she said to me that day: See it as my way of introducing you to the family.”
“Oh I get it! This is your way of introducing me to the family!”
“Exactly! And I promise you that you'll have to clean it just this once and then I'll do it.”
“Okay!” The little girl exclaimed as she put her gloves on “You know daddy, she sounds very nice, can I meet her?”
Phoenix Smiled “One day, you'll do.”
“Now, Let's clean, okay?” Phoenix added
“Okay!”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“I'd still don't get why I have to clean it.”
“Because you are part of the agency!” The Wright's screamed at Apollo.
“Jeez you guys don't have to scream at me!” Apollo scoffed.
“Says mister ‘Chords of steel’!” Trucy sticked her tongue out to Apollo.
“Whatever! I've been part of this agency for what– A week? And you already have me in bathroom duty? This is a scam and it was not in my contract.” Apollo huffed yet again, then he turned around and saw a smug grin on Phoenix's face.
Oh.
Oh no.
“Actually” Phoenix started “It is in you contract, Mr. Justice.”
Apollo laughed “There's no way you put that in my contract!” And he laughed… until he realized how serious Both Wright's were.
“You put that in my contract?”
“Yes.”
“YOU PUT THAT IN MY CONTRACT!?”
“Jeez, chill with the Chords of steel, Apollo.”
“I–You– Ugh!” Apollo exclaimed as he marched to the bathroom.
“Take it as our way of introducing you to the Family Polly!”
“I hate you all!”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“Athena, Bathroom duty” Apollo said casually as he sat in his desk.
“Bathroom What?” Athena asked as she turned around to see the Horned Defense attorney.
“Bathroom Duty. You have to clean the bathroom” clarified Apollo.
“You guys are discussing Athena's bathroom duty?” Phoenix chimed in as he entered the agency “Oh, They grow up so fast”
“Mr. Wright, I don't actually have to clean the bathroom right?” Athena inquired.
“Oh no, you have to do it. Do it now, Please. It also is in your contract” Wright placed his jacket on the couch and Trucy appeared behind him.
“I– This–”
“–This was not in your contract? Oh, believe me, it is.” Apollo interrupted, not even bothering to look up from his papers.
“Man, this sucks” Athena whined as she stood up to direct herself to the bathroom.
“Oh wait Athena before you go”
The Wright's positioned themselves and Apollo pushed his chair until he was beside them. “Okay guys as we practiced” Trucy boasted before adjusting Her voice.
“See it as our way to introduce you to the Familyyyy” they all sang, harmonies and jazz hands included.
Athena laughed and applauded. “Maybe it doesn't suck that much, thank you guys!”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“No.” Edgeworth repeated.
“Miles, please” Wright pleaded “It's like our little ritual to make you part of us.”
“Oh, Wright, I'm already a part of you. In papers. Marriage papers.” Miles hissed.
Ouch, and he's getting the Wright treatment, that's how you know it's bad.
“Miles, this is spiritually, Ok? Mia started it, and she's going to haunt you if you don't clean it” Phoenix pressured.
“Then I'll go with Ms. Fey to get her spirit off me. I'd say it again, I am not cleaning the bathroom.”
“Papa please.” Trucy joined the two adults outside the bathroom “Even Athena and Polly have cleaned it.”
“You make your employees clean the bathroom?” Edgeworth questioned turning around to see his husband.
“I mean, it's in their contract.”
“You put that in their contr–”
“Believe me Mr. Edgeworth, It's not that bad after some time” Apollo chimed in “And considering you just married mister Wright –Congratulations Again, beautiful wedding, loved it– You will have to clean it again someday.”
“Where’s Athena, Justice? I want to hear her opinion.” Miles said.
“Oh, she's trying to convince Blackquill of doing her bathroom duty, you know, how friends will do for each other. Or how lovers, and family would do too.” claimed Trucy.
Everyone turned to look around to see Edgeworth. He examined everyone's looks and he sighed.
Edgeworth approached Phoenix and grabbed him by the face, Phoenix in automatic response hugged him by the waist. “I'm going to do it because I love you.” Then, Edgeworth took Phoenix into a quick Chasté kiss.
“Eww, saps!” Trucy cackled as she left the scene.
“My respects Mr. Edgeworth, I wouldn't clean that not even for my soulmate. I do it because my pay depends on it. It really shows how much you love Mr. Wright, really” Apollo sighed as he also left the scene.
“You'll get it one day, Justice.”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“Fraülein What's this?” Klavier asked.
“Oh, well, you see–”
“NO!” Apollo cried from his desk, stood up and turned around to see his now- Boyfriend and sister “Trucy, No. I am not letting you scare off my first serious boyfriend–and probably the best I will ever have–making him do Bathroom duties. Like the guy probably doesn't even know how to clean a bathroom properly and you are making him clean chernobyl!””
“Bathroom what–”
“Athena come here and shut up Polly!”
“Coming!” Athena joined them as she hugged Apollo from behind and positioned her hand over Apollo's mouth, stopping him from talking.
“As I was saying Prosecutor Gavin, I figured that since you and Polly already have a week together–And you probably already have a wedding ring– You might as well do the bathroom duties!” Trucy jabbered.
“Oh? And what's that Fraülein?”
“You basically have to clean our stinky bathroom” Phoenix appeared out of his office.
“Eww, Apollo no licking!” Athena exclaimed as she took her hand off Apollo's Face.
“–Mr. Wright please tell Trucy that she can't make my boyfriend clean the bathroom.”
“Oh, no. I actually like how she thinks, good one Truce” He High-Fived his daughter “Gavin, you're on bathroom duty this week.”
“Ah, well, I am not really convinced by the idea Herr Wright.”
“Okay, Gavin come here for a second.”
Klavier approached Phoenix as the one in question started whispering something that neither of the others in the room was quite sure what it was, but by the widened eyes in Klavier’s face, you could tell it was bad.
When Phoenix finished, Klavier walked Away directly to the bathroom, as he muttered “I'll do it.”
“Klavier you don't have to!” Apollo exclaimed.
“No, Schatzi, I have to. He said that if I don't I can't take your hand in marriage.” Klavier's serious expression made Athena and Trucy burst out laughing as they held Apollo.
“I– Gavin, you do realize I'm a grown ass adult – He's not even My dad– This Is ridiculous–Foolish–” Apollo splattered.
“Oh, now don't worry for me, I'll be back Hase.”
“No really, I'm an adult, Klavier what–”
“Shhh, I Will not take long, my Prince. It's called taking one for the team, Ja? If this is what it takes to be with you then so be it, I'll do it.”
Klavier gave Apollo a quick kiss, then he left the scene and went directly into the Bathroom.
“What the–”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“I'll do this because I love you, Maya Fey, and your foolishly fool family full of fools who foolishly rule this foolish office that only fools foolishly decide on.” Franziska declared as she entered the Bathroom with a NBQ suit.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Mia may have not been there to witness her own sister clean the stinky bathroom. She may have not been there to witness anyone other than Phoenix clean it.
But her spirit and essence sure was.
A family is not always one made by blood, but one that you form, that you construct, that grows with time.
And hey, Maybe next time they make you clean a stinky bathroom…
You should see it as a way of introducing you to the family.