And here we are at chapter 3! Thank you so much to those of you who have reviewed, followed or favorited so far! I really appreciate it. Now, back to Nick's POV:
Phoenix found himself shivering as he entered the Detention Center. He didn't remember it being that cold; then again, he rarely ever went there alone. There was always Maya by his side, warming the place with her constant positivity and radiant smile. Even in the dark times when she couldn't be with him, little Pearl helped to fill that gap. Pearl, whose angelic sweetness could cheer up even the most desperate of defendants. Pearl, who'd always been like a daughter to him. Pearl, who he'd sent running away in tears just moments before. Phoenix felt utterly miserable.
"Um, hello?" That sweet voice called him out of his thoughts. He raised his head, and sure enough, there she was on the other side of the glass.
Her violet robes hung loosely on her body, her luscious raven locks tied up in the usual fashion. The dim lighting of detention made her pale skin glow. She gave a charming smile, and all at once his mind called out her name.
Maya.
Wait, no, this wasn't her, he blatantly amended, cursing his own idiocy. Even though there were several similarities in the cousin's appearances, there were too many obvious differences for any sane person to confuse the two.
For one thing, Iris was much slimmer, not that Maya was fat, but rather the nun's frame was thinner than the average person's. Her height and lightness gave her a graceful air, for she had the build of a ballerina. Her cheeks naturally flushed a rosy pink, and Phoenix had no doubt that she was beautiful.
"Iris," he greeted kindly, "Sorry, I was lost in thought. You look well."
"Thank you, Feenie," she cooed, "It's great to see you again. I've missed you."
Beautiful and sweet, Phoenix corrected. In the few times they'd met together since her trial, he'd taught himself to stop flinching whenever she called him by that name. While it's true, he had had some terrible nightmares associated with his "Feenie" self, there were also pleasant ones, which he could now remember as times with Iris, not her she-devil sister.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, the former temple nun leaned in closer, eyes prying. "Have you… considered my offer, since last time?"
"I have," he nodded, glancing up to meet her gaze. She stared at him so lovingly, but it made him falter.
There was something in her eyes. There was something about that murky, dark mud-colored gaze that made him uneasy. He longed for eyes that were clear, a greyish-blue, eyes he had seen before… Maya's. Maya had such a sincere gaze, he just now realized.
Phoenix also realized that earlier, during their chat, she had been giving him the exact same look that Iris was giving him now.
"Now, a foolishly foolish fool in love will always choose the most foolishly foolish course of action when confronting their emotions," Franziska preached in between bites of strawberry ice cream, "And that, of course, is denial." She hummed through another mouthful, before pointing her spoon at Pearl. "Take notes, this is important."
The young medium nodded earnestly, stopping her red-crayon drawing of Phoenix and Maya to pull out a blank napkin to write on. Edgeworth simply raised an eyebrow. "If you don't mind my asking, love, when exactly did you become a romance expert?"
She scowled fiercely. "For your information, Miles Edgeworth, a Von Karma is perfectly educated in various fields, and love advice just so happens to be one of them!"
"Yeah, Mister Edgeworth!" Pearl chimed in, wiping crusty remnants of Cookies-and-Cream from her cheeks, "You shouldn't question your special someone like that!"
The prosecutor simply shook his head, eyeing Franziska suspiciously once more. "So this is a Von Karma trait, then? Are you meaning to tell me that the great Manfred von Karma taught you how to love?"
Tugging at her sleeve, she countered, "I never said he taught me how to love." Timidly, her eyes met his. "You did that, fool."
With a warm smile, he leaned in for a kiss, but was stopped by Franziska's finger. "We're in public," she reminded scoldingly.
"Then stop tempting me," he grumbled back with a grin. Pearl giggled merrily, causing Franziska to aggressively clear her throat and continue.
"Now, as I was saying, the fool will always make excuses about why a theoretical relationship would be implausible in a pitiful, foolish attempt to spare his feelings. For example," she dramatically began, "when I realized that I was in love with Miles Edgeworth, I told myself that he would always be just a brother to me, nothing more. I urged myself to believe that so hard that I even took to calling him 'Little Brother'! Currently, I suspect that Phoenix Wright is doing something similar."
Franziska gestured to her lover with an outstretched hand. "Miles Edgeworth. What did you tell yourself when you first fell in love with me?"
"Well," he sighed, tapping a finger on his arm, "I told myself that you were too young for me, and therefore wouldn't be interested in having that type of relationship."
"Exactly!" the prosecuting prodigy proclaimed with a triumphant finger wag. "And I would bet my current win record that the foolish fool Phoenix Wright is thinking the exact same thing right now."
No. I couldn't do this with Maya, the foolish fool Phoenix Wright thought at that moment. She's too young, and wouldn't be interested in dating someone older like me. Iris, on the other hand…
He broke his gaze, sitting back in his chair for a second. Carefully, Iris reclined as well, still eagerly waiting for Phoenix to speak.
Iris was so much more experienced than Maya, experience she'd got with Phoenix himself. Not to mention, she was several years older, beautiful AND sweet…
But those that look! Couldn't it mean that Maya, she really... No. It's over, now. I don't have a chance, not with her. This is my best option.
Phoenix shot up, slamming his palms on the table in a Hold It! fashion, causing the young woman before him to look up optimistically.
"Iris," he declared, his tone serious, "I've made my decision."
To be continued next Sunday...
