madimpossibledreamer

okay, having a smile for the 'weird' emoticon mood confuses me more...

Main Points:
Ace Attorney AU
Chapter VII
Summary: Wright & Co. have to deal with some of the fallout of the 'worlds colliding' scenario.
Word Count: 1,585
Rating: K+

Miles could tell from a glance that the mission hadn't gone particularly well, from the way Wright was sweating. He hadn't permitted himself to acknowledge it-no, that prosecutor hadn't allowed himself to do so-but he did sweat when the trials weren't going his way. Openness hadn't been a trait he'd associated with Phoenix in a long time, and apparently it was one he missed.

"Apparently I have nowhere to live," Wright announced as soon as he came within a fair distance from the group. Edgeworth raised an eyebrow. (If he needs money, I can arrange something.)

"There's someone living in there now. And the landlord remembers renting me a place, but can't find the agreement. He says it's not the first time it's happened recently, either. The paperwork thing." His old childhood friend definitely looked grumpy. "He says he'd give me a new apartment and a couple months free or something, but with everyone else that's been turning up he's run out of room already. And they can't even find my stuff."

That...was certainly serious. He'd have to check the office, to see if any of it had turned up there. He might be guessing, but at least it was an educated guess. If they had switched places, then Wright had likely worked for Mia at some point. Still, he would do his best to help. It wasn't Phoenix's fault that he'd been thrown into such a situation, and as such any punishment, even lack of help, in such a situation was clearly unjust. Edgeworth led them back to the bus stop, allowing Wright to take one of the spots beneath the awning, a slight, ironic smile on his face. He needed the time to think exactly how he was going to approach the situation. Phoenix might not have the ego of Prosecutor Wright, but he certainly wasn't without his own pride that might be hurt by attempts to help. The matter would have to be handled carefully.

The banter between Phoenix and Maya grew teasing but affectionate, and only Miles caught the slight trace of distrust still lingering in Maya's voice. Of course, she would have to relax into the situation as well, but as it was, it was easier to believe she and the blue-clad lawyer were siblings, rather than he and Maya.

"Come on, Edgeworth! You don't have to be all grumpy all by yourself you know!" He felt the shock run through him. Maya saying those words was one thing, but even despite everything he still found it difficult to believe when Wright would say things like that, so...informal.

This, despite the fact that the man currently had nowhere to live, and no reassurance that he'd have any kind of money to pay for someplace in the near future. He couldn't even sleep in his office, as Edgeworth sometimes did, due to the fact he no doubt worked in the converted Fey & Co. Law Offices, which, as far as Miles knew, were still the converted Edgeworth & Co. Law Offices. He would still put on a smile and worry about his friends first, rather than himself.

"I'm not being grumpy," he protested, but stopped his pacing and came back closer, relaxing as best he could in an awkward position half in, half out of the bus stop enclosure. They didn't make it very large, did they? Though that probably spoke to the number of people that utilized the public transportation, rather than driving, or, if necessary, walking.

"That's what Mr. Grumpy Fins says," Maya grinned, poking him at the shoulder. He resisted retaliation (it was, of course, infantile to be engaging in this kind of squabbling at a certain age) and merely rolled his eyes.

"I believe you misquoted that, Maya," he pointed out mildly.

"Where are we going this time, Edgeworth?" (Thank you so much for not using 'Edgey' this time.) Phoenix couldn't contain his curiosity, a trait Miles remembered vividly from childhood. At least he'd had some sense, and sense of self-preservation, unlike the idiot Larry. Who despite everything he still thought of with an even mix of fondness and irritation.

At least Larry wasn't there. He'd have to enquire into the man's whereabouts soon, but he had no intention of doing so at the moment.

"It's a surprise." Luckily, Maya actually seemed to catch on and cooperate for once, rather than just blurting out the answer.

Nick whined, pouting. "No fair!"

Miles smiled slightly, smug as usual. "If you remember, it was I who disliked surprises, and you loved them. Yet you and Larry latched onto this fact and repeatedly exposed me to such with very little promise in the way the day might turn out. You should have no right to complain when the situation is reversed."

Phoenix had trouble not laughing, but he managed to get out, "Yeah, but that's when we're doing it to you!"

Edgeworth lectured him with the pointing finger, having difficulty keeping a straight face himself. "You should have considered that previously."

The conversation and light-hearted atmosphere was almost enough to distract himself from the other passengers as they boarded the bus and waited to reach their destination, although his friends did not divert him enough to prevent him from noticing the stares and whispers. Ace Attorney Edgeworth Rides the Bus. Perhaps not the most usual, but surely they had other entertainments than merely staring and pointing? If he had to make an educated guess, Maya also noticed, though pretended not to do so, and Phoenix did not. At all. The man could be incredibly obtuse sometimes. Which he alternated with being extremely insightful, and left the rest of the world wondering at how the man worked.

Unfortunately, Pearls was getting tired by the time they arrived at the bus stop in question. Their actual destination wasn't far, but... "Miss Fey, would you mind carrying young Miss Pearls?"

"It'll be fun!" Maya grinned, already aware that she'd have to convince her cousin. The young spirit medium was much more aware than she let on.

Mystic Pearls, it seemed, knew all too well one of his major sins that he had been attempting to quash-pride. It took a bit of cajoling, but Maya was well versed in dealing with such stubbornness and was quietly persuasive. Her talents at influencing minds without the individual involved realizing what was going on were truly remarkable. He'd actually noticed her using her subtle arguments on himself, but only after he'd grown used to them and thus wasn't highly bothered by their presence. In fact, he was secretly pleased that his assistant, however useless she portrayed herself, was actually more competent than she appeared. One of her favorite tactics, which was sophisticated enough that he'd borrowed it himself, was a sort of misdirection, outwardly stating a particular argument, while having another underneath the surface.

This time, she was being especially sneaky. "Pearly doesn't want to ride with me. Miles, she doesn't like me anymore!"

He had to avoid a grin. "Now, Maya-chan, I'm sure that's not true." The ease of the Japanese honorific slipped through his lips before he had a chance to think about it. By this point, it was practically second nature.

Maya blew out her cheeks like a pufferfish. "Miles-kun, I don't like it when you lie to me, you know. I'm a big girl; I can handle the truth!"

Pearls stopped on the sidewalk and began rolling back her sleeves, and Edgeworth took a few steps back involuntarily. He had too good of a memory of stinging cheeks than to allow that to happen again without some sort of avoidance strategy.

"I do not hate you, Mystic Maya! Mr. Edgey knows the truth. You should listen to him!" Oh, so she was merely trying to demonstrate her seriousness about the matter. (Well, I suppose 'Mr. Edgey' is better than some things. And it's far better when it's coming from a child, rather than Larry, no matter how childlike he can be.)

Maya pouted a bit further. "You still care?" she asked, the slightest hint of a smile peeking through when she asked, though her cousin didn't notice.

"Of course! I want a pig-back ride, Mystic Maya!" She started jumping in enthusiasm, grinning, and Miles quickly turned away to hide the smile. Pearls never really changed.

"One piggyback ride, coming right up!" Maya knelt and pulled her cousin onto her back, who was still barely able to contain her excitement. "Now we can get to the food faster! Onward! Samurai Charge!"

She began dashing, and Edgeworth winced. "Don't fall, Maya," he muttered in half-prayer, then turned to a bemused Phoenix. "We ought to catch up before she eats the contents of the entire restaurant."

The man grinned, a grin that couldn't fail to cheer up anyone's mood, despite any wishes to the contrary. "Okay, then. Race you!" He promptly took off running, flopping his arms far more than was probably necessary.

Miles paused, unable to contain a bit of mirth at the sight. The man looked absolutely ridiculous, and if the fact was pointed out would probably just grin sheepishly and agree. (Well, I would absolutely refuse if it was Larry, but I am rather hungry.) Phoenix grinned even wider when he glanced back and saw Miles had joined in, and something in Edgeworth's eyes flashed. He did have a slight competitive streak after all.

Well, if nothing else, always taking the stairs should leave him in a better shape to win the race.