Title: In Defense of Love
Summary: "A man will sully himself silly in the name of love"… Phoenix never realized how much those words truly applied to him as he shot his finger forward and shouted out in objection. Oneshot.
Characters: [Phoenix W./Nick, Maya F.]
A/N: This was a really fun one to write! I enjoy Phaya as a whole, and writing them is truly enjoyable. I hope you all enjoy this little homage to my favorite lawyer-spirit medium duo! I changed up some of the dialogue, so it's a very slight AU. I made a tiny change to Rayfa as well, though it's nothing too impactful.
Thursday, March 22, 2018 ~ Courtroom No. 3
The hushed sounds of the crowd leaving the courtroom fell upon deaf ears. Phoenix Wright's head went blank as he clutched his hair tightly. He could only recognize the Judge slowly walking out of the courtroom through the corner of his eye.
Miles Edgeworth's gaze remained frozen at his longtime friend. He muttered his name in concern.
I-I lost…. I didn't get an acquittal!
The courtroom went dead silent as the last of the crowd filed out. The young attorney kept his head low, futilely resisting the tears that stung at the corner of his eyes. A few tears hit the bench, splashing up.
Sh-She's gone….
Matt Engarde stood up from the defendant's chair, smiling at the lawyer.
"Too bad, huh? There's always tomorrow, though!" He remarked with a gentle grin. Phoenix ignored him, gripping his head tighter. Edgeworth shifted his gaze to Adrian Andrews who brandished a card in her grip.
"Witness… Would you mind if I asked you something?" The prosecutor crossed his arms, meeting Adrian's gaze. Phoenix lifted his head, pressing his hands on the bench. He gazed tiredly at Edgeworth. "Before you leave court today, I wondered if I might look at one thing. The card in your hand. It's had my interest for quite some time now. What exactly is it?"
Phoenix tightened his expression. I-I can't give up. The kidnapper might not have killed Maya… Yeah, that's right. If he killed her, then he wouldn't have any insurance on me for the second trial… I can't give up yet!
He wiped his tear-stained face with his sleeve, glaring at Adrian.
"Oh, this? Mr. Wright also asked about this. Although I didn't remember at the time you asked me about it, Mr. Wright, I remembered just now. I found this in the room on that day." She remarked casually.
"The room?" Phoenix managed to stutter out.
"That day?" Edgeworth raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I found this card when I discovered Juan's body. It was lying there right next to him." She twirled the card in her fingers.
"You found that card... next to the victim's body?" Phoenix pushed.
"I suppose I must have unconsciously slipped it into my pocket... ...But it's not as if this card has any relevance to Juan's murder, right?" Phoenix nodded. Makes sense. Probably some kind of exotic playing card or something of the kind. It's strange, but I can't see how it could be a clue to this case…
"Hold It!"
Edgeworth doubled over his bench, glaring daggers at the witness.
"Witness! That card... Give it to me! Hurry!" Edgeworth proclaimed furiously.
Phoenix was appalled as Edgeworth filled him in. A famous assassin kidnapped his chipper assistant?
Friday, March 23, 2018, 11:00 P.M. ~ Wright and Co. Law Offices
Maya and Pearl were cuddled together on the couch, both in a deep sleep. Phoenix smiled earnestly at the pair. She's really here… She's safe.
He stood up and strode to her side. He leaned over and planted a kiss on her forehead before sitting back down at his desk.
"Aww, I didn't know you missed me so much, Nick!" Maya whispered, sitting up and leaning over the couch. Though, she was careful not to move too much as to not disturb Pearl. Phoenix sat dumbfounded for a few moments before chuckling.
"Yeah, I did." He went silent for a moment, still smiling solemnly. "These past few days have been the hardest of my life, Maya. I was… terrified of losing you." He lifted his head, his warm blue eyes met hers. "I'm so glad you're ok."
Maya gently lifted herself off the couch before sprinting at the lawyer and taking him in a hug. He gladly reciprocated with a smile, wrapping his arms around her slim frame. She tilted her head upwards, staring at the lawyer. Her eyes watered.
"Thank you… so much, Nick." She muttered.
"So, when is the wedding?" A high-pitched voice tuned in from behind. Maya reeled around to see Pearl standing up. She blushed brightly, holding her hands to her face. The lawyer and spirit medium duo blushed bright red.
"Pearly!" Maya scolded.
"You'd even walk over hot coals for Mystic Maya, right Mr. Nick?" Pearl grinned widely.
Maya winced as Phoenix sweatdropped. I probably would, wouldn't I?...
Thursday, February 7th, 2019 ~ Dusky Bridge
A raging inferno crept at the suspension wires supporting the bridge. The wooden planks set ablaze by the lightning burnt slowly, but brightly. The sub-zero temperatures in the air did little to quell the flame.
Larry Butz stood grinning at the flame, completely oblivious to the true impact of the blaze.
The amateur attorney sprinted towards the bridge, holding his head down, completely ignoring the bridge.
He stopped near the cliff's edge and leaned over for a moment to catch his breath. He lifted himself, only to reel back at the sight of the burning flames.
"Dusky Bridge! It's burning down!" His eyes widened. What on Earth happened?
"Hey, Nick!" Larry said smugly, startling the young attorney. He winced back in shock.
"D-Don't scare me like that, Larry!" He declared angrily. W-wait… The bridge….
"M-Maya!" He cried out, staring longingly at the barely visible Inner Temple in the distance. "Larry, call the cops! I need to see if Maya's safe!" Phoenix readied himself to sprint across, only for Larry to jump in his way.
"Don't be stupid! The bridge is nothing but a burning wreck!" Larry said, to which Phoenix grit his teeth.
"I have to make sure she's safe." He proclaimed. Larry stood still wearing a solemn expression on his face. "Get out of my way, Larry!" He said, shoving his friend aside. He sprinted forward, completely ignoring his friend's words.
The remnants of the flame licked at his boots. He ignored them, sprinting straight across the wrecked bridge. In that singular moment, only one thought was on his mind.
Maya!
He lost his footing as the plank he was on snapped. He fell straight through into icy depths beneath. As the freezing rush of the Eagle River tossed him around like a ragdoll, he still held only one thought in his mind.
Ma….ya….
Saturday, February 10, 2019 ~ Courtroom No. 7
Maya Fey stood shaking before the witness stand. The same stand that had brought about the breaking and usually subsequent rebuilding of many a witness. Would it break her? The thought terrified her.
Phoenix couldn't bear to gaze into her shaking eyes. They were so desperately in need of comfort which he couldn't provide. He just wanted to toss his lawyerly duties aside and run in for a hug.
He instead remained still, trying to grasp hold of his professionalism again.
The trial went on and the Not Guilty verdict was earned. And the lawyer spirit medium duo couldn't be more overjoyed by the outcome.
Thursday, May 11, 2028, ~ High Court of Khura'in
Phoenix was fighting over completely new ground. Every time a gallery member chanted for his execution, he simply tried to ignore it. Yet, when they had called Maya an "impostor" and a criminal, it took every fiber of his being to hold back a sassy retort.
Truly, being attacked from all sides was the downside that led to the "Guilty" verdict at the end of the first day.
Phoenix leaned over, gripping at his spikes once more. Tears threatened to sting his eyes again, though he restrained himself.
A gentle hand fell on his upper back. It came with a comforting warmth.
Phoenix glanced up to his assistant smiling at him, tearfully.
A bailiff burst into the courtroom, declaring the second murder a prospect and netting the veteran lawyer an extra day.
The trial had adjourned as the Princess of Khura'in stepped into the courtroom. Rayfa stood in front of the witness stand to offer the veteran lawyer an ultimatum — renounce his client and live, or refuse and be met with the Guilty verdict.
"Do it, Nick." Maya immediately said out, holding a hand to her magatama. "I'll be fine… just save yourself."
He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Maya Fey, you are the shining beacon that keeps my life joyful. I can't imagine a world without you. I will always fight for you, Maya. Because I love you. Forever and always." He proclaimed openly, though not too loud as to allow the gallery or anyone else overhear. Tears began to swell in the spirit medium's eyes.
At that moment, she fully believed him. She fully believed in him.
The lawyer bluntly denied the princess's offer. And in the end, he won the case. The young medium had been exonerated once more.
Friday, May 12, 2028 ~ Teh'mpul Temple ~ Wright/Fey Bunk
Maya danced into the room before falling flat onto the bed. She wore a bright grin on her face as Phoenix set his luggage down beside his bed.
"Well… that was an adventure, wasn't it?" She remarked with a grin.
"True that."
"About what you said in court… did you really mean it?" She asked. Phoenix tensed up for a moment. He sat up in his bed.
"I love you, Maya Fey. Forever and always." He gazed at her worriedly, to which she grinned widely.
"I love you too, Nick." She said. The spirit medium stood up and strode to his bed before sitting herself down beside him. She faced him at eye level and pressed a hand to his cheek.
Their first kiss stole away all misfortunes. Everything that happened those few days was forgotten in that sublime moment. The two pulled apart breathlessly. They wore wide grins. It was truly a thing to behold.
"Took ya long enough, old man!" Maya yelled out. "I thought I might start getting furrows in my brow, Edgeworth-style." Phoenix let out a hearty chuckle.
"Well, why didn't you ask me yourself, then?" He chuckled. "Here I am, pushing 40s', only just now getting involved."
"Pearly really got to us, didn't she?" Maya smiled fondly. "Even if it took her 11 years and us being in multiple life-or-death situations."
"Yeah…" Phoenix affirmed. "She's going to be so overjoyed when we tell her. Trucy too."
Her grin widened.
"How do we tell them, Maya?" The two locked eyes for a moment before, in sync, saying "Not It!"
"That was you!" Phoenix yelled, cackling with laughter.
"No, that was definitely you, Nick. You're telling them! Plus, Trucy's your daughter and Pearly is practically your daughter!"
"Well, you're practically Trucy's mother now too! And Pearls has always looked up to you!"
The two laughed loudly. And the two laughed the night away. And no matter what happened, the two would stand by each other's side.
A/N: I really enjoy Phaya fics a ton and I loved writing this one! It was a bit cliched, but all in all, it was a fun write! I hope you all enjoyed this fic. I'll try to pump out a bunch more fics while I'm here in quarantine.