A/N: This was originally written for the kink meme and evolved into a much, much longer fic than I expected.
Prompt: Maya is involved in a terrible accident some time after T&T which puts her into a coma for a few months. Phoenix visits her everyday, even after his disbarment, letting out all his feelings and loneliness. Then she finally wakes up…and she doesn't recognize him. She has amnesia.
March 2019
Their pasts had traveling side by side, unbeknownst to either of them, racing to meet at the same point. They seemed fated to collide into one another from the very beginning, their destinies intertwined in a tangled path of bloodshed and betrayal. The previous winter had been a difficult time for both of them, bringing old scars out into the public. But they had each other, had been there to comfort one another and shared much of the same pains. It seemed that their demons had been put to rest and they were finally free.
In many ways, things had been looking up. It was a strange blessing to share so much history with another person. To be able to look at them on the worst days and be greeted with understanding, not frustration. That the healing was not a journey neither of them had to make alone.
Life at Wright & Co. had begun to return to normalcy. Not long after the trial had ended Phoenix grabbed Maya and Pearl, rushing them out of the office and only telling them that he had a surprise waiting. He was happy to finally make good on that promise of taking Maya on her first boat ride, even if it was three years in the making. The look of genuine joy on her face made the costs inconsequential. She had been so unlike herself lately that her first smile in weeks was a sight to behold.
"I can't believe you went to all this trouble, Nick. A theme park? A boat rental? Burgers without me having to beg? How much did all of this cost you?" she had asked, completely moved by his gesture.
"Don't worry about it," he had said, for once not feeling the desire to playfully argue with her as he usually did. As much as he loved to complain and roll his eyes, he always smiled when she looked away.
"Hmm? That's a new one." She laughed as she put her hand in his and ran to the dock, Phoenix barely able to keep up.
Phoenix had made an effort to set aside time for him and Maya to enjoy some leisure. She needed the distraction most of all, but a part of him feared that letting her out of his sight would caused her to be whisked away again, trapping her somewhere he couldn't protect her. The nights were the most difficult, when Pearl had gone to bed and Maya's composure began to falter. Phoenix felt powerless and wished that he could do something more, anything more, for the one who had given him so much support over the years. He wanted to always be available when she needed him.
Together, he knew, they were unstoppable. Some days he thought Maya knew him better than he knew himself, often beating him to the punch before the words could leave his mouth. Phoenix also knew that, in time, they would both be back on track together and ready to take on the world. It seemed the time had come where they could finally stop chasing after phantoms in the dark. They were done racing against the clock.
But still he felt like he was running out of time.