Chapter Text
Nick was clingy for days after the trial. It wasn’t in like, a weird way, but it was weird . He’d sometimes get like this when she had to go home, always hovering nearby or randomly giving her or Pearly hugs; just being a big ol’ momma hen.
She was taking a Steel Samurai break after an hour of ineffectually trying to sort through the things her mother left at Hazakura temple. Something about it felt too soon, after what happened.
Nick materialized out of nowhere moments later, two mugs of tea in hand. She must’ve been more distracted than she realized, she hadn’t even heard the kettle.
“I-I know you’re heading home soon, and I thought…” He mumbled as she accepted the offered mug. “I’m here… I-If you need to talk…”
“Come here, ya big mama hen.” She patted the seat next to her as he made a disgruntled noise. What a dork. “Join me for some chill-out time in Neo Olde Tokyo. I think we both could use a break.” If he wasn’t lingering around her, he’d go back to scrubbing the toilet (which probably wouldn’t survive another cleaning).
She restarted the episode, and as much as she loved the first season in all its cheesy glory, there was something Nick’s running commentary that made this viewing even better. Three episodes later, Maya found herself using Nick as a pillow; he was like cuddling a heated blanket.
Partway through the next episode, Nick started running a hand through her hair after lowering the TV’s volume. He must have thought she’d fallen asleep, as he began murmuring to himself. It almost sounded like he was singing…
Before she could decipher his words, she felt tiny sparks of magic dance around her like embers in a bonfire.
Now, magic wasn’t as uncommon as some might believe. She had grown up around it and heck, she used her own powers regularly. Not to mention the myriad of spirits and entities all over the place, just out of normal sight; even the office had its own resident spirit. Maya would sometimes feel freezing fingers tap her on the arm if Charley needed watering or if the printer was running low.
But this couldn’t be Mia, this was warm , wrapping her in a toasty cocoon of love and protection.
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Phoenix was letting himself indulge a little, preening Maya’s hair as he wove a blessing. His wonderful nest-mate was running herself ragged. At least she was sleeping now, she really needed it.
“Burning spark~ / Lady Seer~ / You’ve got nothing to fear~”
He was going to miss her. Would her nest home be warm enough, up in the mountains? It got so cold there. Yes, that was the point, but still. When she returned home, she was going to be carrying even more burdens…
“Shining strong~ / Briliant star~ / Rest, you’ve come so far~”
This wouldn’t be the first blessing he’d crafted for one of the Feys (half the time, he’d only realize afterwards). But magic was stronger with intent, his song focusing his desire to help/protect/heal into a blessing.
A blessing woven from verse and sunlight, his gift to her as a friend, a brother .
“Firelight~ / Sister mine~ / The worst is far behind~”
“Whatcha sayin’, Nick?” He jerked his hand away in surprise.
“A-ah, sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t, but you were saying somethin’. Anything important?”
“N-nope! Just talking to myself.”
“Oh? So you didn’t have anything to the spell I just felt?”
“W-what are you t-talking about?” Please let his tone sound more light and joking than how it felt. “I’m the lawyer, remember? You’re the one that does the magic stuff.” Bluffing, don’t fail him now…
“Nick, you’re bluffing doesn’t work on me. I know magic when I feel it.” Dang it! Did Fey women have the ability to read thoughts, too? “When were you gonna tell me?”
“T-tell you what?” His throat tightened in apprehension as he shifting uncomfortably away from gaze. He had been trying to be careful .
“Magic, dummy! Spill, Nick!”
“Look, c-can we talk about this in the morning…? It’s late…” Her eyes narrowed.
“I can and will annoy you into telling me. You might as well surrender now.” She was suddenly poking him sharply in the ribs, eliciting an undignified sound that was most certainly not a squawk.
Phoenixes did not squawk .
“Tellmetellmetellme.”
“ Please , I really don’t want to talk about it right now…” He should find a time to tell her soon. But not tonight, not now. She didn’t need another shift to her still settling status quo.
He looked up when Maya stiffened next to him, eyes staring wide.
“Were you forced to make a deal? Is that why you don’t want to talk about it?”
“Wh-what? No!” How had she even come to that conclusion?!
“Oh fuck, you were, weren’t you? Are you being forced to not talk about it? Blink twice if so, cause I will find them to kick their fairy ass-” He couldn’t stop the small puff of a laugh. Silly silly little sister of the moon-lit rivers .
“No, no deals, I promise.” His head bowed forward, trying to mask his affectionate smile. “S-sorry, I’ve never had someone accuse me of making deals before when I’ve sung them a blessing before.”
“ ' Sung them a bless-'? Nick, you used song magic?!” Maya’s confusion grew to alarm.
“Y-yes?” Singing came naturally to him, other ways never worked well for him. Sure, it was an uncommon focus, but…
“Nick, how do you even know what that is? I thought that was something only like, sirens could do.” Well, no, more knew how to utilize song than that. Frankly, he was a little hurt that he wasn’t one of the first to come to mind. He had a lovely voice, dang it!
“Maybe I learned it from that mysterious fey entity I supposedly made a deal with.” He tried to tease, but Maya’s only looked more fearful.
“…Nick, did you make a deal with something that powerful?” Crap crap crap, he hadn’t meant to scare her!
“No no no! Sorry, sorry, I learned it a long, long time ago.”
“Oh.” She visibly relaxed, sighing with relief and recovering enough to renew her teasing.
“And how long ago was that, Nick? ‘Cause you keep insisting you’re not an old man.”
“I’m 26 ! …I just… I-I may also be… uhngggg…” He groaned out his defeat. It was going to be tonight, wasn’t it?
“You gotta teach me how to use magic like that, if your voice hasn’t already given out on you in your old age.”
After everything they’ve gone through together, how could he not trust her with the truth? He just hoped it wouldn’t hit her too hard.
“… Would be a pretty bad Phoenix if I couldn’t sing…”
“Wuh- What? ” She fumbled for her next words. “ Nick , are you ser-!”
“Shhh, don’t wake Pearls.”
“ ‘Don’t wake Pearls’ he says, you’re the Phoenix?!” She flapped her hands wildly. “The Phoenix, the Spirit of Life- I’ve read- we have stories about you!” Flustered, he scratched the back of his neck.
“Th-that’s surprising, given the Fey’s specially is with the dead.” He tried to joke, but even to him, his words sounded a bit hollow.
“…Nick?” He shuttered, shoulders curling in a little.
“Y-you’re the first to know… in this life… Please don’t tell anyone… I don’t like being all-” He made a vague gesture with a hand. “ Revered just ‘cause I’m… I’m me , and…” Sure, praise could be nice, but there was little more isolating than being put on a pedestal.
“ Phoenix Wright, you absolute mother fucker.”
“I-It’s a good name.” He protested weakly. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before. I didn’t want to change how you saw me… or make you think you didn’t really know me… With everything changing, I... ” She interrupted his rambling by pulling him into a fierce hug.
“I know who you are.” She was partly muffled by his shirt. “You’re a big old dork who’s always helping people and my best friend.” He hugged her back, ignoring the stinging in his eyes. When she pulled back, she took one of his hands into both of hers. “I, Maya Fey of Kurain, promise not to treat you differently.” She spoke seriously, before smirking and booping him on his nose. “But you can’t get mad at me for calling you old anymore.” He pulled her close again, laughing. Something about it was just so Maya ; all the wording of a vow , but all the intention of a sister.
“You’re like a sister to me.” He confessed quietly into her hair. “Thank you… thank you …” Maya started to say more but interrupted herself by failing to hold back a yawn. “Alright, no more heavy conversations tonight, time for bed. A certain medium needs her beauty sleep.”
“Nick, I was joking when I called you a mother hen.” He leaned forward to turn off the TV. “Noooooo, staaaaaay.” She clutched at his middle when he started to stand. “You’re warm . Uggg, you’re the worst brother ever .” He finally managed to peel her off, half helping and half dragging her down to his guest room.
“Good night, ya big Fire Chicken.” She said at the doorway.
“…… Please, never call me that again.” His pleas went ignored as she laughed, disappearing into the guest room. “I was respected in Grease, you know.”