"W-What're you doing, Maya?"
"What am I doing?" She sauntered willfully towards the door, done up in her prettiest dressing gowns. "I'm going out. That's what I'm doing." Maya turned her head up, refusing eye contact with the bewildered Phoenix. Adjusting the hem of her dress and breathing steadily to calm herself, Maya reached out for the knob.
Phoenix watched her from the other side of the room, coffee mug in hand. He had woken up later than usual and appeared exceptionally messy. His trademark spikes stuck out in odd directions and an obvious stubble dotted his chin. Bags under his eyes pronounced his un-restful sleep.
Phoenix scratched his head, humbled slightly from the previous night's events. He was up late, tossing and turning anxiously in bed as he mulled over his actions. He hoped that Maya would feel better in the morning, maybe even normal. What he didn't expect was a sort of indifferent anger.
"Listen, Maya... I'm really sorry about y-yesterday. I wasn't really think-"
"It's okay," Maya cut him off. "Really, Phoenix, it's completely fine." She blinked without looking at him, "Anyway, I'll be out late, maybe, hopefully. Don't wait up!" Maya closed the door with a loud click.
Phoenix remained still in his position at the counter. He looked into his swirling morning poison and suddenly felt disgusted at ingesting the contents. He placed the mug wearily down and leaned back against the wall behind him, watching the closed door for any sign his assistant might return. She did not.
("She never calls me Phoenix...")
Maya heaved a sigh of relief. She was glad her morning encounter with Nick wasn't as awful as she assumed it was going to be. She said her goodbyes and was out the door like the switch of a light. It wouldn't do either of them any good if she were to linger. If anything, Maya was avoiding any sort of angry confrontation on her part.
But what was she even angry about? So, Phoenix kissed her, big deal, right? It wasn't even real. It didn't mean anything. He was making a stupid point that went across horribly. Maya didn't even have any time to enjoy it before her hand flew up in a reactive angry response. One's employees can't just kiss their assistants for such a reason and get away with it.
She sighed again, this time looking towards the clouds in pleading assistance. In response, the sky released a light drizzle.
Of course, Maya mused but wasn't deterred from her destination. In fact, the rain was comforting almost. Light and soft but still sunlight fading in and out through the clouds. A renewed sense of determination rose within her and she continued on.
She smiled in the midst of the oncoming storm as she unconsciously dug her nails over and over into her palm. A series of creases appeared.
Back at the office, Phoenix was still working at his single cup of coffee. It was almost cooled completely and the lawyer opted to flushing the remains down the sink.
He scratched at his disheveled hair and decided to get dressed. With an empty office, no paperwork, or a single case to work on, Phoenix figured he ought to head down and visit Iris. The meetings were sweet in their own right and Phoenix felt all the better that his connection with the poor girl was no longer muddied by an unfortunate past.
With one last look at himself in the mirror, Phoenix thought he looked pretty good. Why he felt it was necessary to notice such a thing before he met with Iris confused him momentarily. Rather than mull on it, he straightened his tie, left a note for Maya incase she came back before him, and walked out the door.
('Went to the detention center, there's money on the counter if you need to get food, I'll be back soon- Nick')
The drizzling of earlier turned dark and heavy and Maya had to seek the shelter of a nearby bus stop. She leaned her head against the small roofing structure and sighed. She hoped her date would understand her short delay when she noticed the time.
The sky was relentless in its downpour and the spirit medium couldn't risk the destruction of her dress in such conditions. She was never one for appearances but the thought of arriving looking like a stray cat was not on her to-do list.
Her thoughts drifted again to the night before. Why did I have to get so angry? I know Nick didn't mean to upset me...
She sighed audibly a second time, as if to try and drown out the roaring of the sky above. Maybe it bothers me because... Maya couldn't bring herself to answer her own thoughts. Instead she squeezed her eyes tight and shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts by force.
(Because I know it meant nothing to him...)
Phoenix arrived at the detention center slightly worse for wear. The onslaught of rain had hit him in the second half of his journey. Shaking the droplets from his head like a dog, he requested a visit with Iris.
Moments later, she appeared, sitting daintily in the seat across from him. Iris smiled immediately upon recognizing her visitor. Noting his wet appearance, she laughed lighting into her hand. Nick only grinned in embarrassment.
"I see the rain got you... I suppose it's a first where I can say I was lucky to be in here instead." She laughed. A flowing and musical tone.
It was the first time in a long time where Phoenix could sit and appreciate the beautiful woman across from him. For so long, Iris was nothing but his precious "Dollie", but now, here in his sights was someone else entirely.
"A-hem," Phoenix cleared his throat awkwardly. The beginning of their conversations were never entirely smooth but they always eased into it. "How are you, Iris? I hope you are getting on fine."
"Better than fine actually!" She hummed, a soothing tone. "I'll be released very soon it seems!"
Nick's eyes widened, he had almost forgotten her sentence! Was it already this near? "Congratulations! I'm happy for you!" He smiled encouragingly. A sense of hope suddenly risen within him. He questioned the emotion but didn't hinder its building.
"Thank you so much. I would never have made it if not for you. With all the troubles I have caused... I'm not sure how I can ever repay you." Iris closed her eyes solemnly, the weight of her past actions caught up to her. She opened them again, this time with a sparkling determination. "When I am released from here, I promise I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you."
"Please, Iris, that's really not-" Phoenix began.
"No!" Slamming her fist on the counter. It reminded him of his days in court. "I cannot rest until my debt has been repaid. I have given you too much sorrow over the years." Her eyes glimmered.
Taken aback by her sudden and unusually loud outburst, Phoenix leaned back. He surveyed the girl momentarily and realized that her determination could not be shaken no matter how much he pleaded. He nodded in understanding, smiling softly.
("If that's so...then I wholeheartedly accept.")
"Are you okay, Maya? You're soaked to the bone!" A concerned young man looked at the spirit medium, his hand attempting to wipe the offending droplets of water off of her. It made little difference but the gesture made Maya grin.
"I wanted to wait for the rain to stop but I also didn't want to be late!" Maya spun her drooping dress, spraying droplets everywhere.
Her date, Charles Mallory, waved a hand to block the watery bullets but ended up laughing instead, his dress shirt covered in spots. "In that case, you should have waited longer! Can't have you getting sick on our date, can we?"
"Oh psshaw, the Great Maya Fey never gets sick!" She triumphantly stuck out her hand.
"The great who? I don't think I've ever heard of such a thing!"
Maya jokingly flung more water at the laughing boy. "You know, I have a plant named Charley. It feels like I'm watering him right now!"
Charles grinned. A permanent fixture on his face whenever he was near the unusual spirit medium. Ever since he saw her, wearing her unusual outfit, he knew he wanted to know her. Whatever kind of person she was, he knew she was different in a special way. What that way was, was something Charles wanted to spend as long as it took to know.
"And when could I ever meet this incredibly named and probably handsome plant of yours?"
"Err..." Maya hesitated. The pair have only been on a few dates so far and the thought of Nick bearing witness to this mysterious boy she has been seeing made her uncomfortable. She also didn't want to have to share the reasoning of why she was living in an office with an attorney. She shuffled from foot to foot.
Sensing her discomfort, Charles immediately changed topic. "Perhaps another time. But for now, we better hurry and get to our reservations, shall we?"
Maya smiled happily. It was fun out with Charles like this. He was different towards her, and kind. He laughed at her offending remarks and her questionable behavior. His unassuming laugh was easily becoming one of her favorite sounds.
"We shall!"
They arrived promptly to their reservations; a local Italian restaurant. Sitting in a booth, the two mulled over their menus and ordered quickly. The chatter was flowing easily but half way through the night, Charles grew a bit soft. A worried look chased his easy-going personality out the door.
"Maya?"
"Yeah?" She looked up from her almost wiped clean spaghetti plate. She had smiled a little when she read of the dish on the menu. She thought back to the days of Nick and her, investigating the warehouse... seeing a sign and interpreting it as "spaghetti." Nick had chastised her-
Maya paused and ground her thoughts to a halt. She shouldn't be thinking of Nick while out with another man. When Charles didn't immediately speak, she asked him if he was all right.
Charles looked shifty, a lot more than usual. He always held an air of confidence about him without coming off as boastful or smug. Maya liked that a lot about him.
"Er, um, uh, I..." He looked away from Maya's curious and unassuming stare. It exuded both kindness and a type of innocence. Underneath that, Charles was sure there was something dark and hidden. He could never place it, but it never bothered him for a moment.
Maya urged him to continue.
Charles gulped, took a long swig from his water glass and slammed a fist on the table. It willed him a sort of strength. "Maya! Will-you-be-my-girlfriend?" His eyes were clenched and sweat pooled on his forehead. He didn't dare open his eyes for fear of seeing a disgusted face grimacing across from him. Sure, the two went on "dates" but as far as Maya could have known, these "dates" could have meant practically nothing.
She stared blankly at Charles but he couldn't have seen it. All at once, different thoughts spun in Maya's head. Was this a good idea? What do I say? What do I do? What would Nick think? The latter of which gave her a jolt. What does that even matter? Maya could date. She DID quite like Charles.
A darker part of her whispered how jealous Nick would be. She quickly shook her head, shamed herself mentally, and smiled bright.
"Of course," Maya spoke softly, hoping to comfort the worried boy.
Charles popped a single eye open. Once he saw her gleaming smile, he broke into an astounding grin. "Fantastic! Whoo, that really psyched me out for a moment." He laughed, feeling embarrassed for his display.
"Why? What's the difference between dating and going on dates?" Maya asked curiously. She was still new at the dating business.
"I guess it's the... exclusivity, if you get my meaning."
Not really, Maya shrugged. Date or not, Maya felt no different towards their now "relationship." The only thing was the smile she couldn't wipe off her face.
(Charles grabbed her hand.)
Phoenix was cold. Rain plus the chilliness of the detention center sparked a bit of the sniffles in the off-duty lawyer. He wrapped his suit jacket tighter around himself and trudged back towards the off. His visit with Iris was a sufficient use of time but now he hoped Maya would be home soon to maybe fix him some tea. He sneezed.
"So, you're telling me, you live with this attorney guy?"
"Uh, yeah, technically I guess... It's not my real home like Kurain- that place I told you about."
Charles nodded.
"...But I spend a lot of time there. I'm his assistant!"
"Huh, that's interesting..." Charles scratched his chin, not much thought on the matter. It was odd to say the least but there was nothing too unsavory about it.
The pair walked down the rain-slicked sidewalk. Charles glancing occasionally at the spirit medium's bobbing head. He blushed as soon as he looked at her. Now that they were dating, the atmosphere was significantly charged.
"So," Charles stuck his hands in his pockets, resisting the urge to grab her tiny hand again. "When can I meet this guy...?" He hoped he sounded as casual as possible.
"Hmm, how about now?" Maya said. "We're heading there anyway! I'm sure he's home." Home, huh. What am I thinking bringing him there... to Nick!
"A-are you sure?" Charles asked, worried that this older guy might be the protective mentor type.
"Yeah! No problem, Nick is a huge pushover." Maya laughed a little, halting halfway through. Her laugher faded into forced chuckles. The thought of Nick suddenly made her sad. They didn't laugh like they used to. Somewhere, sometime, things had become awkward. Maybe even before he kissed her.
("Sounds like my kind of guy," Charles laughed.)
"Maya, there you are," Phoenix spoke from the couch, hearing the door open, "Can you-" His thoughts cut short when he saw an unfamiliar blonde head enter the room. The same blonde head connected to a body, with an arm, and a hand wrapped around Maya's waist.
"Uh, hello. Who's this?" He forced his gaze away from the offending hand, smiling professionally as if to a client.
"Hi Nick," Maya spoke hesitantly, trying to gauge his reaction. He seemed stoic to her. "This is Charles Mallory."
"Hmm, like our plant?"
Maya ignored the comment.
"Nice to meet you," Charles said matter-of-fact. This "Nick" guy was a lot younger than he imagined.
"Same here," Phoenix extended a gracious hand. Charles had to release Maya's waist to shake it.
The room grew silent, with the only sound of Charles scratching his head. He could sense the tension in the room but couldn't place it. The boy looked to his now girlfriend the man across from her. Both refused eye-contact for some reason.
"Nick," Maya spoke again.
"Yes?" Nick sniffled. His cold facade beginning to crack.
"Your nose is dripping."
Augh, great first impressions! Now this kid will never take you seriously!
Nick shuffled around for some tissues, digging around in his desk drawer. He sprung out a small package. "A-ha!"
"By the way, we are going out officially now."
AN: I'm sorry for the long wait! School started and I have felt especially bogged down with all the stress. Anyway, I'm not too proud of this chapter but it needed to be here. You know how things go... people start to focus on another aspect of their life. People drift away after the tiniest events. It's hard to change what already happened...
Anyway, please check out my one-shot Maya/Nick story I published recently! I actually like it. Tried to be funny and failed. And please review too! I appreciate it a ton!