Wright Anything Agency
September 6 8:30 p.m.
"You want some, Nick?" The spirit medium spat out some of her burger onto the plate as the words squeezed from her lips.
"Maya… I don't understand how you can eat at a time like this." Phoenix spoke straightforward.
"I'm sorry!" The meat filled the crevices of the inside of her cheeks. "Kurain doesn't let me have any of this stuff. It's a horrible diet of just green and more green! The only green I want to see when I'm here is lettuce between the buns! No pickles."
"That's not what I meant, Maya." He turned to her, picking himself away from leaning against the office window. "I'm talking about Athena and...wait… HOW MANY BURGERS DID YOU ORDER?!"
The spirit medium was towered over the amount of warm wrapped burgers on the office table, practically a fort made of sandwich wraps. "I don't know… I lost count" Further fulfilling herself with the delectable umami goodness.
Phoenix groaned as he felt his wallet feel somewhat lighter even though it wasn't in his pocket. 'Just like the old days. Maya has not changed one bit.'
"You're still worried about Athena, huh?" Maya walked to the attorney, still munching as she patted the attorney's shoulder.
"Yeah…" He muttered. He sniffed the burger Maya was holding. That meaty smell was gracious, but his thoughts were still worried on his employee.
"She's probably home now." Her lips still flapping. "Cheer up, Nick!"
He smiled faintly at her. Admiring the spirit medium whose presence was enough to bring up his spirits. As well as that mouth-watering protein smell.
"You're right…" He stifled softly. That burger aroma still raping his nose.
She swallowed before answering. "Of course I am!" Maya was stained by the fragrance.
He breathed a small laugh before gazing out the window again. It was becoming dark. The moon absent from the skies, only dim streetlights accompanying the shadows below. There was a knock at the door. The spirit medium wiped her hands off, dropping a few sesame seeds on the floor before brushing her hair back. Her partially dried greasy fingers twisted the knob, greeting two faces, one concerned, the other green.
"Oh no! Pearly! What happened?" Maya yelped.
The cry of Pearl's name made Phoenix dart where Maya was, rubbing his soles against the carpet. The little spirit medium was green.
"She had too much cake." Trucy held the spirit medium's arm over her shoulder, supporting her weight. "She doesn't feel well."
Maya puffed her cheeks. "Oh! Pearl! You know you can't have so much."
Phoenix would've added a sarcastic thought about how the gluttonous Master was being quite hypocritical, but his concern for Pearl was more important.
"Pearls? You okay?" Phoenix raised his arms to pick up Pearl, her tiny weight held high by the broad blue defense attorney.
"Mr. Nick…" She whispered groggily.
"Yes, Pearls?" His voice worriedly stuttered.
"I think I'm going to…" she held her mouth.
'NO WAY!'
The blue attorney ran into the bathroom like a bullet train. Trucy and Maya raced after him before hearing a hurl behind the door. He held her by her pits over the toilet as she released her sugar loaded stomach contents into the toilet.
'That was too close…This is a brand new suit!'
He finally released Pearl, allowing her to have a better direction. "Watch Pearl for me."
"Okay, Daddy…" Phoenix left the restroom before heading towards the cupboard, still hearing her daughter comfort the sick medium. "You'll be okay, Pearly."
He rummaged through the cupboard, searching for a stomach relaxer to remedy the medium. There was a small packet with two tablets, he dug his hand inside the box before flinching his hand back in pain. The spare razor beside it cut his thumb. 'Aw man.'
This time the attorney utilized his other hand, brushing off the little pin spot of blood on his hand before pulling out the small pack of white tablets. The blue attorney poured water into glass, ripped the seal, and placing the two tablets into the liquid. They sizzled and dissipated into the liquid, occupying the walls of the surface with bubbles. Her turned to see the magician holding back Pearl's hair while Maya rubbed her back.
Phoenix returned to the glass, now fully consuming the seltzer. His eyes fixed to the crimson splotch on his finger. 'I'd better wash that off.'
His arms reached forward to the faucet handle, gripping the metal frame before turning it. The sound of the running water interrupted the hurling Pearl was making. He pushed his finger forward the edge before stopping, the small wind the water made lightly brushing against his finger. The blue attorney turned the tap off. He brought his finger back, gazing at the red speck in his hand with utmost care. The way how the light made it shine and how it glowed with life was astonishing. Phoenix further squeezed his finger, allowing the pressure to bring forth more of the fluid from the scratch. The blue eyes widened as he admired all the details on the tiny lesion like art.
The daydream broke when he heard the spirit medium still releasing herself into the bowl. He quickly picked up the cup and shoved his thumb in his mouth.
'GOOD LORD!'
Phoenix pushed the door aside before handing the cup to Maya.
"Here." He muffled through his occupied mouth.
Maya took the cup from him before settling up Pearl. "Drink this Pearly."
The small medium shook with the cup in her hand. The medicated water swirling in the cup as she brought it trembling to her lips. Trucy smiled as she saw color come back to Pearl's face, but also feeling partially guilty for not watching her during her show at the birthday party. Phoenix was busily nipping at his thumb, enjoying the fleshy section as it oozed blood against the surface of his tongue. It sent shivers of ecstasy as the taste buds registered the pleasurable trembles through his body, starting from his mouth, down to his feet. His eyes closed tightly as he embraced that flavorful droplet, revelling how such a small dot can have such explosive grandiose flavor. The attorney made a mess in his hand as he slurped every trickle that escaped.
"Nick?" Maya questioned oddly. "You suck your thumb?"
His eyes darted left and right nervously, finally recollecting where he was. "No!" He pulled the finger towards her. "I just have a cut! See!" He hesitantly ushered.
She grabbed his fist and examined the finger thoroughly. "Nick…" She gave him a dirty look. "You don't have a cut."
Phoenix furrowed his brow, "Yes, I do." He brought his hand backwards. "It's right… there…?"
He flicked his hand around several more times, entirely confused. The drenched finger was clean, besides his saliva. Not a mark in sight.
"I always knew you were a big baby, Nick!" Maya sassed as she waved her hands. "You further proved it to me!" Maya laughed.
Phoenix was flabbergasted. 'That cut was there! I swear it!'
"I guess Daddy got Pearl's bad habit." The magician laughed.
Sadly Pearl couldn't have any say in the matter, still downing the seltzer. Phoenix shoulders slacked as he was double teamed by the two females in front of him. He wiped himself off. "I don't suck my thumb…"
"Whatever makes you feel better, Nick." Maya joked towards Phoenix. If it was up to her, she would've said something dirty to the attorney that he could have fun like that with something or someone else another time.
'I wonder who's scrubbing the toilet tomorrow?'
Phoenix fixed himself upright before jumping. He felt a tap against his shoulders. "Gah!"
He swerved, seeing the yellow defense attorney, her head low as she held her elbow in shame.
"Athena!" The blue defense attorney gasped.
"Athena?!" Maya tilted her head to get a better view, but Phoenix's size managed to cover the whole door frame. "She's here?"
Phoenix caught his breath. "Athena… Are you okay?" He fluttered a bit. "Listen, about-"
"HOLD IT!" Athena shouted. Phoenix shot a deranged look by the sudden suspense.
"I know what you're going to say, Mr. Wright… and I realized that… I was wrong." Athena lowly asserted.
Phoenix remained quiet. His focus on his employee's words.
"You were right. Even though the opportunity is right in front of me, I shouldn't use the technique." Her head was slowly tilting higher as she spoke. "And I have come to realize that I was being selfish. I wanted to see my mother because I thought maybe I could be comforted by telling her what happened and that telling her all the things that were left unsaid."
She fixed herself completely. "I now know that it wouldn't change anything. That I should grow and live the life she wanted me to pursue and to be dependent, not on those who are gone, but those who are here. Now. You, Apollo, Simon, Trucy, Maya and Pearl. You are all here and that is what makes me stronger as a person and a lawyer."
Phoenix blinked several times. The words his younger cohort spoke were touching. He was relieved and gratified knowing that Athena was making her own path in life. "Athena…"
The yellow attorney lunged forward into Phoenix's chest. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wright. For doubting you. For not believing in you. Which is something I regret and you taught me to believe 'till the bitter end." Her words muffled on the fabric.
The blue attorney thought all of this commotion was moving too quickly. He quickly adjusted himself, placing one hand over her shoulder, giving her a soft squeeze. "It's okay, Athena. As long as you see that, it is alright by me."
Trucy and Maya smiled gleefully at the touching moment. Pearl managed to twist her sick body towards the scene that was happening behind her. She spat the last gulp of seltzer from her mouth, releasing a bubbly stream towards the sink besides her before hitting the ceramic surface hard with the glass. "Mr. Nick! How could you?! Mystic Maya is right here!"
'I never win, do I?' Phoenix thought sadly.
