I'm a Phoenix/Maya gal myself, but this idea just came to me and I'm having fun writing it, so I'll see how it goes. Set after Spirit of Justice (which was AWESOME btw!!) and therefore spoilertastic so steer clear if you haven't finished.
Chapter One - Word on the street
It all starts innocently enough. I suppose these things always do.
"That Maya Fey, she's pretty cute, right?"
Datz is balancing on the arm of Dhurke's old sofa. His arms are swinging up awkwardly as he tries not to topple over; a long pink tongue sticks out of his mouth as he concentrates.
Before I know it, I'm agreeing. Albeit it, in a Datz-I-have-17-cases-to-sort-and-it's-not-even-lunch-yet-so-leave-me-be kind of way, but as I agree a vivid picture springs to mind.
The first time I saw her. The stand. Her long, dark hair.
Keeping Dhurke's secret…
"Yeah, she is."
Datz is on me like a Jack-in-the-box - all wild limbs, clambering across the sofa. He's in my personal space. Why is he always in my personal space?
"Oh reaaaaaaaaally?"
And what a grin he has plastered across his too eager face.
"Datz, I have SO much to do. Will you get on with sorting the files?" He just keeps grinning.
"Please?"
My token manners are ineffectual.
"Word on the street is - The 411 - the lowdown, if you like -"
"Datz-"
His grin is somehow broader than ever.
" -is that she thinks that you're cute, too."
And then he bounds out of the room, like a dog that got it's special treat biscuits before dinner-time and wants to gloat to the other dogs in the neighbourhood.
I'm left with a lot of work. And another thing - the thought of Maya Fey.
The amount of reform that has taken place in just a few months is colossal. The strangest part about being there is I don't regret my choice. Sure, I miss Mr Wright...I miss Athena. More than anything, I miss Trucy and I feel bad for leaving, but I still don't regret it.
"How are you finding it, Apollo?" Nahyuta asks me later that day. He's different, too. He has a new way about him - calm, at ease.
"Great," I answer, truthfully, "we have inconceivable amounts of work to get done, but it's rewarding."
Nahyuta isn't like Datz. He stands as though he's wary of touching anything in Dhurke's office. Strangely enough, despite all the time we spent here as kids, Nahyuta Sahdmadhi doesn't seem to belong in this room. His silver hair draws your eyes, too clean and bright in comparison with the dankness of the room. Speaking of which…
"You really ought to clean this place up."
I shrug, "it's the office area. It's not like the clients ever come down here."
What I don't say is that this room reminds me of Dhurke. I don't want to change it. There are hints of him scattered everywhere.
He pulls a face, "how do you concentrate with all of this mess?"
"I guess it's just not that bigger adjustment for me."
I think back to the Wright Anything Agency and the poorly stacked pile of manga on the table. Pens everywhere, legal papers, chocolate bar wrappers. A small voice in my head asks whether any of that stuff is still sitting there, left. Maybe they cleared it away when I left?
Despite my affirmation, Nahyuta is less than impressed, or at least he looks it.
"You're over-worked," he says bluntly, stating the obvious, "you need to get out of this room, lest you become the putrid red pepper I formally accused you of being."
I roll my eyes, "enough with the putrid stuff...and anyway, how do you have time? Don't you have endless work as well? I'm not the only one trying to reform the legal system, Mr Regent."
Nahyuta moves his shoulders gracefully in what I think is a shrug, but he's so elegant, he almost looks as though he moving from one ballet pose to another.
"I have the Holy Mother to guide me. She wouldn't let me fall behind on work deadlines."
Wondering whether I ought to convert to Khura'inism, I look at the pile of papers in front of me.
"I'm having a dinner tomorrow night. You should come. Rayfa requested you especially. You've made quite the impression on her, actually. I think she'd be quite upset if you didn't turn up."
"If future-queen Rayfa wants me at this dinner, I'm surprised she didn't march down here and drag me, herself. That's not like her at all."
Nahyuta glances to the side, "yes, and yet who can fathom the mind of a teenage girl?" he replies.
"Being a big brother proving more difficult than you thought?" I ask.
He smirks, "it's exhausting," he pauses, "but a relief. A blessing."
I try to imagine how weird things must be for Rayfa. To know someone for so long and not know they were your sibling must be downright bizarre.
"I'm sure you're doing a fine job."
"You'd only deem my attempt as fine?" He says, his tone light.
"Fine coming from me is like stupendous, remember?"
He chuckles at this and adjusts his shroud, "so you'll be there?" he pushes.
"Sure," I nod, "I'll see you tomorrow."