I don't understand this site sometimes.
I tried to update I don't know HOW many times... but it wouldn't let me!
Then I discovered the wonders of copy and paste. Sorry, I'm a dumbass sometimes. :D
Ugh, I've had so much summer homework. What a pain. That and marching band season.
I'm late for my afternoon nap, so I'll just end this here. Now that I know how to work this thing, the updates will be much more frequent.
Thank you all for your support. Enjoy! :)
Chapter 11
March 26
12:00 P.M.
Burger Joint
"YAAAYYY, BURGERS!"
"Maya, settle down," Phoenix groaned as the seven of them squeezed into the booth. The unfortunate Detective Gumshoe was stuck between Franziska von Karma and the wall. The former kept ordering him to scoot over, and if the wall was in his way, then he should knock it down and build a new one that did not hinder their seating arrangements.
Phoenix was a bit troubled. There was enough room on his side for one more person. He knew who should be joining them, but he felt... a bit guilty. If it had not been for Miles, he would have been in jail right now. Pearl poked him.
"Mr. Nick... there's no need to be upset. I'm sure Mr. Edgeworth understands. Come on. You're making Ema depressed." Phoenix glanced at Ema, who gave him puppy eyes. He snickered slightly, feeling a bit better. "There you go," smiled Pearl. "See? Don't worry about it."
Ema grinned happily.
"This food is taking forever," she complained, although her voice was cheerful. "Let's play I Spy! I'll start. I spy with my little eye... something... spiky!"
"Ooh! It's Nick!" Maya volunteered, punching him lightly. Pearl looked at her, confused, then punched him as well, although not quite as gently.
"Did I do it right?" she asked, her wide brown eyes shining hopefully as Phoenix rubbed his arm. "That's what you do, isn't it? Punch whatever you were thinking of?" Ema finished inquiring as to how Maya had guessed her ultimate riddle, and grinned at Pearl.
"Yep! And if it's a person, you punch them three times!"
"Ema! Ow ow ow!!"
...
March 26
12:20 P.M.
High Prosecutor's Office
Edgeworth tapped his pen on his desk in a rhythmic fashion, unable to concentrate, which was rare for him. He brushed his grey bangs out of his eyes and leaned back in his chair, sighing. At least there was no Detective Gumshoe to further interrupt him by slamming the door to his office, as he had a bit of a headache. It was bad enough that a small child had knocked him over on the street while playing tag with his sister. Then, that annoying photographer with the... unusually styled hair had popped up in front of him and started yammering away, discreetly taking shots when she thought he wasn't looking.
'Larry should be asking her about her poofy hair instead of my "gay neck frills". They'd be great for each other.' He grinned slightly. Poor Larry.
Things got worse when he ran into a certain security lady, who told him that she was planning on becoming a bailiff for the courthouse.
"So I can be closer to you, Edgey-poo!" she had gushed, eyes shimmering. Edgeworth then muttered something about the Chief Prosecutor needing him and brushed past her, fighting the urge to dash away from her as quickly as possible.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by a slight clearing of the throat. Opening his eyes, he saw a brown-haired woman with a red muffler looking sternly at him.
"Ah, Ms. Skye. Terribly sorry. I was a bit... preoccupied."
She sighed.
"Miles... you haven't been yourself lately. Although it is not affecting your performance, I expect you to be more focused on your work."
He nodded, but Lana noticed that he still seemed... different. "Miles. It's Mr. Wright, isn't it?"
Edgeworth's eyes snapped fully open, muscles tensing slightly.
"What... do you mean?"
Lana smiled at him, her brow relaxing.
"You were upset about having to prosecute your friend. I know you, Miles. You're upset because he's angry with you." As Edgeworth opened his mouth to deny this, Lana looked away. "You need to trust others, Miles. They will help you. They are your friends."
Edgeworth grinned wryly.
"Pardon me for saying so, Ms. Skye, but I believe that all I need to do is lie down on the couch over there and hang a plaque on your door. 'Lana Skye, P.H.D.'"
She laughed, a merry sound that cheered Edgeworth up a bit.
"Miles. You can't hide from him. You know he'll just hunt you down. Besides, I have to punish you for your little investigation stunt. You are hereby banished from the office for today. I expect you to be more than productive tomorrow, Mr. Edgeworth."
Edgeworth stood up and grabbed his jacket.
"Um... thank you, Ms. Skye."
Lana's face grew stern, though her eyes were still twinkling with humor.
"Mr. Edgeworth. This is a punishment, and I expect you to take it seriously."
"Yes, Ms. Skye." With those parting words, he pushed open the door to his office and left. The Chief Prosecutor sighed heavily.
'So I was right... but I won't let him get away with slacking off. Tomorrow, he gets twice as much paperwork.' She nodded, having made that decision, and took her leave of the High Prosecutor's Office.
March 26
12:45 P.M.
Burger Joint
Phoenix sighed as he absentmindedly played tic-tac-toe with Maya on a napkin, using the crayons that Pearl had been given. Gumshoe was so squished, he was practically two-dimensional, while Franziska shot Larry a dirty look across the table.
"What did I do?!" he pleaded.
"You have been such a fool as to foolishly exist. Be quiet."
Ema carefully took notes. Maya leaned over the table to read them.
'Pearl seems to be consoling Mr. Wright.'
'Ms. von Karma appears to be flirting with Detective Gumshoe.'
'Larry is writing more smut on a napkin. Would tape it in here, but it is similar in content to previous story.'
Maya looked at Ema, eyebrows raised. Ema had put her glasses on, looking rather like an alien.
"Through my acute scientific observing, I have deduced that Mr. Edgeworth has arrived!" she declared.
Phoenix's head whirled around so fast that Maya was surprised he didn't snap his neck. Pearl slipped into her seat, followed by Edgeworth's sliding next to Phoenix.
"E...Edgeworth?" croaked Phoenix, unable to say anything else.
"Again stating the obvious."
"Um...yeah... about that...yeah."
Edgeworth smirked.
"Eloquent as always." he replied smugly. "But I think I get the gist of it."
They sat in silence for a bit as the food was delivered. Maya immediately grabbed hers and started eating.
"Di'n yu oder on, Ick?" she asked, cheeks bulging with hamburger.
"No, I didn't. I'm not very hungry," Phoenix muttered.
"LAME!" Maya nearly shouted, having swallowed her mouthful. Phoenix winced as everyone in the restaurant stared at them.
"Maya..." he groaned, trying to avoid the eyes of the other customers. Maya stood up, cramming the last bit of burger into her mouth.
"Okay! Let's go!"
"Go? Go where?"
"My house, silly! Hey, everyone! You're all coming with me!
Edgeworth groaned. 'Maybe Maya would be better for Larry…'
...
March 26
5:00 P.M.
Maya Fey's House
"Well, Maya," yawned Phoenix, stretching his arms. "It's been fun, but I should really get back home."
"Aww, Nick," whined Larry. "It's been so much fun! Don't go yet!" Franziska quickly silenced him with a lash from her whip.
"Be silent, fool. Stop your foolish complaining."
Pearl was already asleep, exhausted from the day's events. Gumshoe was slowly pushing her head off his lap and onto a pillow, while Ema amused herself by picking at the lint on Phoenix's jacket, occasionally taping a piece into her notebook.
"Sorry, Larry, I really have to go," said Phoenix. Edgeworth nodded.
"I must leave as well. Pess is probably hurt that I haven't fed him yet." He glanced at Phoenix. "Need a ride, or have you learned to drive?"
"Uh... yeah."
"Very well. Thank you for your hospitality, Maya." He gave a short wave to everyone before stepping out the door, Phoenix behind him.
...
March 26
5:30 P.M.
Outside Phoenix Wright's Apartment
The two men climbed to the eighteenth story, Phoenix a bit red-faced from the effort. He knew how Edgeworth was around elevators, so he had opted to take the stairs.
Now, Edgeworth was leaning on the balcony as Phoenix fumbled with his keys, walking up to the door. He stopped, noticing a small slip of paper that had been taped to the front. Ripping it off and peering closely at it, he groaned. He really needed to earn some money.
The defense attorney sighed, picking up the two suitcases that had been neatly packed and left outside the door. They contained all of his belongings, mostly clothes that had always managed to get strewn everywhere, as the furniture was already in the apartment when he had moved in.
"Wright? What's the matter?" Miles took the paper from him and scanned it, raising an eyebrow. "Couldn't afford to pay the landowner, hmm? Where will you stay tonight, if you've been evicted?"
Phoenix didn't know. In a daze, he flipped open his cell phone.
...
March 26
11:45 P.M.
Wright & Co. Law Offices
Phoenix lounged at his desk, struggling to keep his eyes open. He had tried to call Maya and request to stay with her, but Larry made some crack about a man in the same house as two young girls. Gumshoe had mentioned that Maya was, technically, over the minimum age of consent, and it had all gone downhill from there. He had tried Larry's place, but even he, the infamously disorganized Phoenix Wright, could only take so much mess. Next, he had checked with Gumshoe, whose living conditions weren't much better than a cardboard box. He couldn't exactly stay with the Skyes, as Larry would make the same "joke", and he didn't dare ask Franziska or Miles.
That left his office.
He put his pen and legal pad down and stumbled into the waiting room, strange-looking now that it was dark and quiet. The couch would probably be an okay bed. He changed into the tank top and boxers he usually wore at night and curled up on the couch.
Come morning, he wouldn't remember his rather interesting dream of Wendy Oldbag and Cody Hackins forming a superhero team, with Adrian Andrews and Moe the Clown as the villains.
That was just fine with him.