Fanfic: Phoenix Wright - Five Blocks
This idea had been rolling around in my head since late last year. I think I'm confident enough in my writing ability now to do it justice. There's a few things I think I'll fix later, but otherwise...yeah. I like it. :D
Title: Five Blocks
By: neutraltwin
Rating: G
Fandom: Phoenix Wright
Pairing/Characters: Phoenix Wright, Maya Fey, Miles Edgeworth
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, property of Capcom, etc.
The sky rumbled overhead, an ominous warning, and Phoenix looked up from below the canopy he was sheltering under. The sky was dark, heavy, threatening, ready to burst like an overfilled balloon. Phoenix sighed and ran his hands through his spikes; it was going to rain any second now. Where the heck was she?
A jingle of keys and the clop of sandals alerted him, and he turned towards the doorway next to him. Light flooded out onto the street, illuminating the passing pedestrians - hurrying home, hurrying out, hurrying everywhere; hunched in towards themselves, protecting themselves from life itself - and the smiling medium who skipped out of the doorway and beamed up at him.
“What took you so long?” Phoenix said. “We’re going to be late.”
A puff of cheeks and a clench of fists; oh, he’d invoked the rage of a Fey now. Phoenix bent down slightly to pick up his umbrella, resting against the brick wall. Take it just in case, he heard his mother say, far in the past. You never know.
“Hey, not all of us can just put on a suit and go, y’know!” Maya protested. “This outfit takes time!”
Phoenix glanced down at her, familiar folds of cream and purple covering her skin. How she could wear that thing in all weather, all situations, and stay warm was beyond him. Phoenix triggered the mechanism in the umbrella, watching it unfold and unfurl. He flipped it up above them and stepped out onto the pavement.
“I’m sure.” Phoenix muttered, glancing down the street. He didn’t like rainstorms; they made everything too dark. Light was spilling out of the shop fronts, casting out onto the streets, but it wasn’t enough. Outside was still cold, no matter how much sunshine you had in your smile.
That wouldn’t stop Maya from trying, of course; the medium locked the door behind her and trotted out to the pavement, all sunshine and happiness, sandals clopping on the concrete below. Phoenix set off at a stroll down the street, Maya keeping pace beside him; the restaurant was only five blocks away. They could walk and still be there in time to be twenty minutes late.
Maya peeked out from beneath the umbrella, peering up at the sky, groaning heavy with the oncoming storm. Phoenix looked at her; she had one of her rare pensive expressions on her face, like something was troubling her.
Something which, considering all that they had been through together, probably was.
“Boy, it’s really gonna come down soon, isn’t it?” she said, flicking her gaze back to him. The pair stepped off the curb, almost in unison, glancing from side to side for oncoming cars. “Almost as if the sky’s gonna fall…”
“Mm.” Phoenix said, looking up at the sky as they came to the next curb. He didn’t like that sky at all; it looked like depression, like guilt, like the overbearing weight of responsibilities and expectations you could never fulfil. A flash of pink - it’s magenta, Wright - and frills passed through his mind before he pushed it away. This was no time for that. They had a dinner to get to.
Maya looked curiously up at Nick, studying his face. Phoenix glanced down at her.
“What?” he said.
“Nothing.” Maya said. “You just look like you’ve got something on your mind, that’s all.”
“It’s nothing.” he muttered, shifting the umbrella further back on his shoulder. “Overcast days just make me moody.”
Maya smiled, acceptance and affection, and patted him on the shoulder. Phoenix felt himself warm at the touch, bolstered by the smile.
“I know.” she said, and walked on.
Phoenix paused, halting in his steps. She knew.
…well, yeah. Phoenix thought. I guess she does.
Maya stopped, turned around, gave him a playfully scolding glare.
“Come on, Nick! Didn’t you say we were late?”
Phoenix blinked, nodded, picked up the pace again. Two blocks passed in a blur; Phoenix considering just how much Maya knew, Maya chatting airily, commenting on the world passing them by. Their feet fell into an easy rhythm, worn by time; they could keep pace with each other without even trying.
Phoenix glanced back at her, rising out of the depths of his mind, and noticed she was shaking. A stab of pity passed through him; that outfit didn’t exactly weather the elements.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
Maya looked up at him and smiled; this time, Phoenix noticed the shakiness. “N-no. I just like sh-shivering.”
Phoenix rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t you bring your coat?”
Maya rubbed her arm, hand trailing down to clasp with the other.
“…I lost it.” she said, eyes downcast.
Phoenix stopped, looking at her. Only Maya. He began to slip his shoulder out of his coat.
Maya’s eyes widened. “Oh no, Nick, I couldn’t…”
Phoenix stopped, raising an eyebrow at her, arm half-out of its sleeve. “You drain me of my money for a Steel Samurai boxset with matching Pink Princess carry bag, and this you protest against?”
“Well…” Maya wheedled. “That was different! That was a necessity!”
Phoenix blinked, paused, and continued to shed the coat, weathering Maya’s protests. Resting the umbrella against the wall - a large sign beamed Angel Food Bakery at them, flowery script and old-world class - and removed the coat completely, handing it to Maya. She protested for a few more moments before sighing and taking it, pulling it over herself and huddling inside. It was far too large for her.
Phoenix picked up the umbrella and resumed his pace, Maya clopping along beside him. Now he was stripped of his outer layer, Phoenix could really feel how cold it was becoming. This storm was bringing more than overcast skies and eventual torrents of rain, it seemed. He glanced over at Maya, her eyes half-lidded as she enjoyed the new warmth. Apparently, the outfit didn’t keep her warm. She looked cold because she was cold.
Occam’s Razor, Wright. A voice echoed in his head; he could practically see the haughty expression, the finger tapping impatience on the sleeve. The simplest solution is often the best.
Another two blocks and the restaurant loomed in front of them, a sign over the doorway proudly proclaiming a name that Phoenix couldn’t even begin to pronounce. Maya reached the doorway first and halted, pulling off the coat and holding it out to Phoenix again.
“I don’t think I’ll need this in here.” she smiled, and that warm feeling pushed through Phoenix again. “Thanks, Nick.”
Phoenix smiled, lifting his hand to his neck and rubbing. Only Maya.
“No problem, Maya.” he said, feeling for all the world like that pink-sweatered fool again. “Anytime.”
Maya smiled again and skipped inside, chirping their table at the maitre’d. Phoenix followed her inside, folding the coat over his shoulder. He smiled at the man’s stony gaze; oh, these patrons would be trouble. Spiked hair and hippie clothing. What did Prosecutor Edgeworth see in them, to want to have dinner with them?
“Wright, Phoenix. Ms. Fey and I are dining with Mr. Edgeworth tonight.” he said to the maitre’d.
“Very good, sir.” the man replied. “Since your…associate has already entered, I shall show you to your table.”
Phoenix nodded, smiled, followed the stiff man into the warmth and clamour of the restaurant. Magenta and frills passed through his mind again, memories of former days, but purple and cream pushed them away. He waved over at Edgeworth, already engaged in frenetic discussion with Maya.
History had changed them all, lying heavy on them like the clouds were on the sky outside. But in here, together, enveloped in the coverings of friendship and security…it was warm.
And really, Phoenix thought, settling into his seat between the two best things in his world, what more can you ask for?
~ Aaron
Title: Five Blocks
By: neutraltwin
Rating: G
Fandom: Phoenix Wright
Pairing/Characters: Phoenix Wright, Maya Fey, Miles Edgeworth
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, property of Capcom, etc.
The sky rumbled overhead, an ominous warning, and Phoenix looked up from below the canopy he was sheltering under. The sky was dark, heavy, threatening, ready to burst like an overfilled balloon. Phoenix sighed and ran his hands through his spikes; it was going to rain any second now. Where the heck was she?
A jingle of keys and the clop of sandals alerted him, and he turned towards the doorway next to him. Light flooded out onto the street, illuminating the passing pedestrians - hurrying home, hurrying out, hurrying everywhere; hunched in towards themselves, protecting themselves from life itself - and the smiling medium who skipped out of the doorway and beamed up at him.
“What took you so long?” Phoenix said. “We’re going to be late.”
A puff of cheeks and a clench of fists; oh, he’d invoked the rage of a Fey now. Phoenix bent down slightly to pick up his umbrella, resting against the brick wall. Take it just in case, he heard his mother say, far in the past. You never know.
“Hey, not all of us can just put on a suit and go, y’know!” Maya protested. “This outfit takes time!”
Phoenix glanced down at her, familiar folds of cream and purple covering her skin. How she could wear that thing in all weather, all situations, and stay warm was beyond him. Phoenix triggered the mechanism in the umbrella, watching it unfold and unfurl. He flipped it up above them and stepped out onto the pavement.
“I’m sure.” Phoenix muttered, glancing down the street. He didn’t like rainstorms; they made everything too dark. Light was spilling out of the shop fronts, casting out onto the streets, but it wasn’t enough. Outside was still cold, no matter how much sunshine you had in your smile.
That wouldn’t stop Maya from trying, of course; the medium locked the door behind her and trotted out to the pavement, all sunshine and happiness, sandals clopping on the concrete below. Phoenix set off at a stroll down the street, Maya keeping pace beside him; the restaurant was only five blocks away. They could walk and still be there in time to be twenty minutes late.
Maya peeked out from beneath the umbrella, peering up at the sky, groaning heavy with the oncoming storm. Phoenix looked at her; she had one of her rare pensive expressions on her face, like something was troubling her.
Something which, considering all that they had been through together, probably was.
“Boy, it’s really gonna come down soon, isn’t it?” she said, flicking her gaze back to him. The pair stepped off the curb, almost in unison, glancing from side to side for oncoming cars. “Almost as if the sky’s gonna fall…”
“Mm.” Phoenix said, looking up at the sky as they came to the next curb. He didn’t like that sky at all; it looked like depression, like guilt, like the overbearing weight of responsibilities and expectations you could never fulfil. A flash of pink - it’s magenta, Wright - and frills passed through his mind before he pushed it away. This was no time for that. They had a dinner to get to.
Maya looked curiously up at Nick, studying his face. Phoenix glanced down at her.
“What?” he said.
“Nothing.” Maya said. “You just look like you’ve got something on your mind, that’s all.”
“It’s nothing.” he muttered, shifting the umbrella further back on his shoulder. “Overcast days just make me moody.”
Maya smiled, acceptance and affection, and patted him on the shoulder. Phoenix felt himself warm at the touch, bolstered by the smile.
“I know.” she said, and walked on.
Phoenix paused, halting in his steps. She knew.
…well, yeah. Phoenix thought. I guess she does.
Maya stopped, turned around, gave him a playfully scolding glare.
“Come on, Nick! Didn’t you say we were late?”
Phoenix blinked, nodded, picked up the pace again. Two blocks passed in a blur; Phoenix considering just how much Maya knew, Maya chatting airily, commenting on the world passing them by. Their feet fell into an easy rhythm, worn by time; they could keep pace with each other without even trying.
Phoenix glanced back at her, rising out of the depths of his mind, and noticed she was shaking. A stab of pity passed through him; that outfit didn’t exactly weather the elements.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
Maya looked up at him and smiled; this time, Phoenix noticed the shakiness. “N-no. I just like sh-shivering.”
Phoenix rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t you bring your coat?”
Maya rubbed her arm, hand trailing down to clasp with the other.
“…I lost it.” she said, eyes downcast.
Phoenix stopped, looking at her. Only Maya. He began to slip his shoulder out of his coat.
Maya’s eyes widened. “Oh no, Nick, I couldn’t…”
Phoenix stopped, raising an eyebrow at her, arm half-out of its sleeve. “You drain me of my money for a Steel Samurai boxset with matching Pink Princess carry bag, and this you protest against?”
“Well…” Maya wheedled. “That was different! That was a necessity!”
Phoenix blinked, paused, and continued to shed the coat, weathering Maya’s protests. Resting the umbrella against the wall - a large sign beamed Angel Food Bakery at them, flowery script and old-world class - and removed the coat completely, handing it to Maya. She protested for a few more moments before sighing and taking it, pulling it over herself and huddling inside. It was far too large for her.
Phoenix picked up the umbrella and resumed his pace, Maya clopping along beside him. Now he was stripped of his outer layer, Phoenix could really feel how cold it was becoming. This storm was bringing more than overcast skies and eventual torrents of rain, it seemed. He glanced over at Maya, her eyes half-lidded as she enjoyed the new warmth. Apparently, the outfit didn’t keep her warm. She looked cold because she was cold.
Occam’s Razor, Wright. A voice echoed in his head; he could practically see the haughty expression, the finger tapping impatience on the sleeve. The simplest solution is often the best.
Another two blocks and the restaurant loomed in front of them, a sign over the doorway proudly proclaiming a name that Phoenix couldn’t even begin to pronounce. Maya reached the doorway first and halted, pulling off the coat and holding it out to Phoenix again.
“I don’t think I’ll need this in here.” she smiled, and that warm feeling pushed through Phoenix again. “Thanks, Nick.”
Phoenix smiled, lifting his hand to his neck and rubbing. Only Maya.
“No problem, Maya.” he said, feeling for all the world like that pink-sweatered fool again. “Anytime.”
Maya smiled again and skipped inside, chirping their table at the maitre’d. Phoenix followed her inside, folding the coat over his shoulder. He smiled at the man’s stony gaze; oh, these patrons would be trouble. Spiked hair and hippie clothing. What did Prosecutor Edgeworth see in them, to want to have dinner with them?
“Wright, Phoenix. Ms. Fey and I are dining with Mr. Edgeworth tonight.” he said to the maitre’d.
“Very good, sir.” the man replied. “Since your…associate has already entered, I shall show you to your table.”
Phoenix nodded, smiled, followed the stiff man into the warmth and clamour of the restaurant. Magenta and frills passed through his mind again, memories of former days, but purple and cream pushed them away. He waved over at Edgeworth, already engaged in frenetic discussion with Maya.
History had changed them all, lying heavy on them like the clouds were on the sky outside. But in here, together, enveloped in the coverings of friendship and security…it was warm.
And really, Phoenix thought, settling into his seat between the two best things in his world, what more can you ask for?
~ Aaron