75 Partners In Crime

A/N: When I started the first story of this series, Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman, about Phaya’s story, I never dreamed I’d ever do a trilogy – how could I have known out of the thousands of AA FF’s out there, anyone would actually care to read MINE?!
But to my shock, amazing readers out there actually were reading and mostly digging my geekdom, therefore prompting the second and third stories. (Thanks so much, you guys!)
Looking back, I realized when the reader jumped into that 1st story, it was where Phaya’s ROMANCE began, but as I wrote part 2, and now part 3, I realized I never gave Phoenix and Maya the COURTSHIP they deserved.
Instead, I gave the couple what I hope my readers will think is their own beautiful love story.
Ergo, I hope you guys enjoy my own take on the roots of how Phaya began, and therefore, grow to love and appreciate their story as much as I do😊

“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.”
~Bruce Lee~

Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey
Fey & Co. Law Offices
September 5, 2016

He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t blink. All he could do was stare.

The harrowing scene before him would be seared into his mind and haunt him for the rest of his days: Mia Fey’s lifeless body slumped over, beneath the window sill, her head bowed as though in submission, a thin trickle of tell-tale blood matting the silken caramel tresses.

At last, he found his voice, and heard it, although unrecognizable, as it cried out her name, begging her to wake up.

Desperately, not daring to hope, he placed his fingers against the side of her slender neck.

There was no pulse.

He’d known there wouldn’t be. The pungent smell of blood wafting throughout the air, which had assaulted his nostrils as he’d burst into the office, had confirmed that suspicion.

Chills ran down his spine as he felt the last of her warmth leave her still form.

His eyes were burning and his chest felt heavy as if it were filled with lead. He could no longer see clearly. All he knew was that his beloved mentor was gone, out of his life, forever.

A bead of liquid fell onto his hand he looked to the night sky outside the window, towards the heavens, silently screaming at whatever merciless powers that be how such a thing could have happened to the kindest, gentlest, greatest woman he’d ever known. And even though the sky had been grey and looked like it was about to break into a heavy downpour, not a droplet came from the sky. Looking down at his hand again another drop appeared, and he realized that the liquid was coming from his eyes.

A soft whimper sounded suddenly.

Peering over to the other side of Mia’s remains, Phoenix first laid eyes on the small, helpless-looking form, curled up into a little ball, astounded that he hadn’t even noticed it till now. It was a young girl, no older than her high school years.

Stunned, as he’d thought he was alone, he walked to the girl and shook her to let her know of his presence. She lifted her head and looked at Phoenix silently, pearl-shaped tears rolling down her tear-stained, pale cheeks, falling in wet tracks from wide, luminous eyes, as great sobs wracked her body.

In that split second, as he stared into those pained, red, tear-rimmed eyes staring back at him, instinctively, he somehow knew that the inconsolable, grieving devastation on this stranger’s visage matched exactly not only what was on his face, but also within his heart.

Before he could dwell on the curious sensation, however, the girl’s eyes suddenly rolled up in her head, and then, breathlessly, she fainted.

Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey
Fey & Co. Law Offices
September 9, 2016, 9:02 PM

The trial had been physically depleting. That sonofabitch White has one hell of a right hook.

Mentally exhausting. I haven’t slept for more than five minutes all week.

And emotionally vexing and fatiguing. Damn, it’s been one helluva ride, with more ups and downs, twists and turns than the Matterhorn at Disney!

He felt enlightened…yet confused. Mediums aren’t a hoax?! Spirit channeling was real?!

Less naïve, and somewhat wiser. Think outside the box, and don’t be afraid to turn around your way of looking at things…

Downright drained, tired, and above all, old. He wondered if it was at all plausible to have aged 10 years in just four days. He’d been through enough drama and turmoil since the fateful day of September 5 to last him a lifetime.

First, he’d had to square off against Miles Edgeworth, his childhood friend who’d suddenly resurfaced after fifteen years, into an inexplicably hardened prosecutor who was nothing like the loyal, kind-heartened young boy who’d been the champion for justice that Phoenix had once known. This alone had been quite disappointing and jostling in itself.

But then, on top of that, in the act of defending her, he’d had to not only repeatedly personally relive, but succumb poor Maya to the horrifying trauma and gory details of Mia’s murder, which thanks to the inconceivable ineptitude of the LAPD, she’d been accused of!

Of course, there was also the brief terrifying spell of when he’d temporarily been arrested for the crime and wound up in the defendant’s chair himself! However, after everything else he’d endured, he’d felt nothing but an icy calm within him as he’d successfully defended himself in the same manner he had the Chief’s baby sister.

The icing on the cake was now that the trial was over and Mia’s murderer, Redd White, had been incarcerated, Phoenix was now facing an additional sense of heavy obligation; that the onus was now on him to take care of the plucky teenage spirit medium.

To be fair, it had never actually been stated. However, in the manner of the instant unspoken affinity with Maya, he’d felt from the first moment he’d looked into her sorrowful eyes, knowing she not only shared but felt his same agony at the loss of Mia, somehow, he just knew.

What he didn’t know was how he felt about the additional sudden – he didn’t want to say burden – responsibility. After all, he was a rookie defense attorney who’d only just won his second-ever case, which couldn’t have been done without the help of his late mentor, whom Maya had miraculously suddenly been able to channel at the last moment, saving his bacon in the world’s most unanticipated turnabout. And he was a 24-year-old bachelor for Pete’s sake – he could barely take care of himself!

These were the brooding thoughts that plagued his mind as he headed back to the law office that night, just like Mia, whilst being channeled by Maya, had asked him to. Initially, his response to the request had been complete and utter disbelief – how could he meet a woman who was dead?

However, after the events over the past few days, he opted to suspend disbelief and decided that truly, in this whole new world as he now knew it, anything could happen.

Also, he figured he had enough to dwell over without adding this to the list, and opted to push it to the back of his mind.

At 9:00 PM, Phoenix entered the building. It was dark, like the day of the murder. He barely repressed a shiver.

Being here, it’s hard not to think about that night…

He scanned the premises and saw a figure standing by Mia’s desk.

“You came!” A familiar, but implacable, voice chirped.

“Mia…” he whispered.

“I was kinda worried you might not,” the voice went on.

“Huh?” He blinked, dazed. “Of course, I came…”

“Well then! I’m pretty hungry. How about a burger?” The voice asked cheerfully.

“Mia…?” Now Phoenix was dazed and confused!

There was a loud burst of laughter, and suddenly Maya burst from the shadows.

“You should see your face!” She crowed, looking at him with an undisguised expression of mirth.

Phoenix started. “Mia!”

“What are you talking about?” Asked the elfin-faced girl standing before him. “It’s me! Maya!”

“M-Maya…?”

Standing before him was not his beautiful mentor, tall, long-stemmed and voluptuous, with honey-brown eyes and flawless caramel tresses, but Maya. Tiny, little, ever-animated Maya, with her long black hair and impish mocha brown eyes, who wore that weird purple yukata … and an enormous shit-eating grin.

“What, did I look like my sister?” She asked mischievously.

Phoenix gaped at her.

Look like… you WERE her!

“Hmm! I might be able to use that!” She smirked. “Oh, Phoenix! Go to the store and buy me lunch, would you?”

She’s a real ball of gags when she’s not being indicted for murder, isn’t she?

Shaking his head, the lawyer turned on the lights in the office and asked what she was doing there.

The spirit medium beamed and with a flourish, waved a piece of paper at him, explaining Mia had written her a letter.

It was sweet and direct, just like the Chief herself. It simply read: “Take care of Phoenix for me.”

He closed his eyes. Here he’d thought he was going to be tasked with looking after this boisterous, effervescent minor as his final forsworn homage and duty to the woman who’d meant the world to him. Instead, even in the afterlife, Mia was making sure that he was the one who was looked after, in a way that she no longer would be able to.

He swallowed the lump in his throat before he finally found his voice.

“Take care of… huh?”

“She means the office! This office!” Maya stated simply, as though it were that obvious, which, come to think of it, it really was. “Someone has to help with the new Wright & Co. Law Offices, right? And who better than me!”

Who better indeed? Phoenix thought wryly, his lips twitching as he fought back a smile despite his exhausted state. The girl was bubblier than a bottle of champagne.  As much as I am not one to disobey the last orders of a dead woman…this is still moving a bit too fast for me…

“Maya Fey, reporting for duty!” Beaming, she clasped her hands in front of her chest delightedly. “Wait, no, on second thought, let’s make this casual!”

Casual? He looked at her in confusion. As opposed to what? More formal? I already wear a suit to work – if we get any more formal I’d be in penguin-style tuxedo attire!

“Yo, Nick! Maya here, ready, to get down to business!”

Phoenix just stared at her. Where does she get all that energy?! Will I ever be able to keep up?!

Maya suddenly halted and smiled at him bashfully.

“You… don’t mind me calling you “Nick,” do you?” She asked shyly. “It’s a great name! Mia said that’s what your friend Larry calls you.”

Nick? Sure why not? I’d forgotten Larry calls me that too…I try hard not to cross paths with that ill-fated bumble butt too often! But heck, there’s no other girl that’s ever called me that. I’ll let her be the first.

“You know what this means, don’t you?” Maya exclaimed as she put her hand out in front of her. “We’re partners!”

I guess we are. I need to trust the Chief knew what was best… Phoenix hesitated for just a moment, but then, somehow, he found himself placing his large hand on top of Maya’s tiny one, as though someone had taken his hand and led him to do it… almost as if… Mia herself was guiding it…

Maya was grinning at him, her slightly too-long fringe falling into her eyes, suddenly reminding him of a Shetland pony. It was adorable and endearing. He resisted the urge to want to pat her on the head.

The spirit medium noticed he was eyeing her strangely and blushed slightly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She tilted her head to the side, in the manner of her late older sister, and Phoenix was startled at the uncanny mimic of the action. They looked nothing alike, and yet…

“Sorry,” he blushed. “It’s just, looking at you right now, there was just something… I was just thinking you look kinda like Chief. Not your coloring or hair, and the…” He gestured awkwardly at her physique. “But I don’t know, something.”

Perplexed, Maya studied him, this blushing man who was now her business partner/boss, properly, for the very first time. He had removed his suit jacket at some point and had his sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his tie loose, and his collar unbuttoned. It made him look more relaxed and less serious. More approachable.

More hot.  

The girl felt her cheeks turning pink. Looking up at him, she realized just how much he towered over her petite frame. Wow, he was big. Tall, broad shoulders, strong forearms…just overall strong-looking. Like the kind of strong where you could lean on him, and be supported by him, kind of strong.

She’d never had any guys around in the village growing up and it was embarrassing to admit but really, she’d never been this close to one before. His eyes weren’t brown like she’d initially surmised, but more like a sort of dark blue. They were gentle eyes. Kind. Trustworthy.

She owed this man a lot.  He’d not only saved her life, and kept her from death row, but he was saving her, period.

Now that the trial was over, Maya was suddenly and achingly aware of her position. 17 years old and she’d never been to school. Hell, she’d barely ever ventured outside of her remote little bassackwards village. She wore clothes that made people stare like she was some kind of hippy-chick or freak and all afternoon, had been constantly fielding phone calls from her hometown telling her to just take the first train home. The elders curtly reminded her that since Mia was gone, there was nothing there for her in the city anymore.

But she didn’t want to go back. This man, this savior of hers, had given her a chance to see what else existed outside the restrictive walls of Kurain.

Staring into his eyes, the psychic’s mind shifted from the focus that right now she was standing in her dead sister’s office, with her former protégé; this guy with broad shoulders and weird spiky hair… who was so damn tall, and strong-looking, and gentle and kind…

Stop it, Maya! This man is your boss! Your partner! You are not, repeat not going to start fawning over him like some pathetic, love-struck teenager experiencing her first crush!

Even though that was exactly what Maya was at that moment!

Not that she had a hope in hell of ever being with him in that way. But her little crush would fade in time, surely. In the meantime, she had a rare opportunity to repay his kindness and be of some value to him. However, she’d have been lying to herself if she wasn’t a bit tickled that she reminded him of her gorgeous, glamorous big sister.

If that’s what it takes to make him look at me, er, find value in me, so be it! It’s a start, right?

“Really?” Maya asked, her blush deepening as she fidgeted with her magatama and dropped her eyes. “You really think I look like Sis?”  Privately she thought she didn’t in the least.  She was short, flat, gawky, and skinny – nowhere near as beautiful, polished, and grown-up as Mia. Could never be.

“Yeah, kinda,” Phoenix replied self-consciously, not knowing what else to say. Her staring unnerved him, and he wondered if he has something stuck on his face or in his teeth.

“Well, so do you,” she blurted out, then realized that didn’t even make any sense. “I mean, I don’t know, you’re like her in court.”

That much was true, at least. Her late sister’s protégé had Mia’s finger-pointing Objections, statement-pressing, and dual-hand, desk-slapping mannerisms down to a T.

“I guess…I learned from the best after all.” He shrugged. “You were too. Literally.”

Oh, right. Of course, that’s what he meant. Maya swallowed back the ridiculous feeling of disappointment. So that’s what he’s seeing. Mia…literally. Duh! Man, can I be any more of a lame-ass, pathetic, love-struck idiot?!

“It was pretty awesome,” he continued. “I’ve never seen anyone do something like that. Never believed in magic.”

“It’s not magic,” Maya mumbled. “It’s spiritual power. For harnessing spirits. And their power.”

“Ah, gotcha.”

There was a weird silence. She was the first to break it.

“Hey Nick, shouldn’t we mark this momentous occasion and celebrate somehow?” Maya forced herself to smile. She didn’t need to be Mia to get a bite to eat with him, after all, and she was starved. “Maybe you could take me out for that burger I mentioned earlier?”

“Um, sure, if you want,” he smiled. “Any place in particular?”

“Actually, yes!” Her eyes lit up. “There’s this awesome place around the corner that Sis used to take me to whenever I’d visit her in the city, can we go there?”

“Sure thing.” Phoenix graciously opened the office door and ushered her to proceed. “After you.”

“You’re buying, right Nick?”

“Er, sure. Your burger is on me.”

“Burgers, Nick! I’m a growing girl! I need more than just one!”

“OK, I’ll need to stop at the ATM then,” he agreed good-naturedly, figuring another twenty should suffice.

After all, how many burgers could one tiny, rail-thin teenage girl possibly eat?