Phoenix Wright: Open for Business

Phoenix Wright is copyright of Capcom. No infringement is intended.

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A concerned expression crossed Phoenix Wright's face as he cast his gaze over the office. Everything seemed to be in order. The floor had been cleaned, the walls recently painted, the furniture moved in… but he still had an uneasy feeling in his heart. Something was missing, and he wasn't sure what.

He glanced behind him at the office's entrance door. Okay, one thing he could confirm missing was the name on the door. The sign painter he had hired was late, but the man had promised that it would be done today. So that was more or less confirmed.

So what was it?

He looked around the room again. It wasn't as fancy as the old office from seven years ago, but the paintjob he and Maya had given the walls really made the place look classier. Brand new bookshelves and filing cabinets lined the walls, and two brand new desks and chairs sat opposite to each other. Apollo and Trucy sat at each one, both working on the PCs placed there.

He smirked, thinking that several years ago he would have never imagined being able to have an office like this. Mia's office had been great, but it had never truly felt like his own, more like a place he was holding onto to keep the memory of his mentor alive. Plus, with most of his lawyer's fees going toward the rent, he'd never had enough to pay for new furniture and give it a more personal touch.

But Mia had convinced him to get his own place rather than just keep her old one. An office is just four walls and a roof, she had told him in Maya's body. It was what he could do within it that would truly matter.

Mia's love and support had been one element to convince him to take the bar exam and attempt this new venture. The other had been the last thing he'd expected, a little present of a large cash sum from, of all people, the Justice Department.

He hadn't really wanted it. All he had wanted from them was an apology, to just hear them acknowledge that they had made a mistake. It had been a major surprise to receive a check for several thousand dollars, and a letter explaining that the Justice Department were 'Terribly sorry for the grave injustice accidentally forced on you, and that the money would help him regain a better quality of life.'

Of course, he guessed the true meaning of the note was along the lines of 'We're sorry we couldn't pull our heads out of our butts to investigate this case properly and prevent you from losing your job. Please don't sue us.'

Still, a gift was a gift, and he was determined to not let it go to waste. So after putting some aside for Trucy's college fund, he'd found a nice affordable place a few blocks from the center of town, (He'd never realized just how much office space near the Gatewater Hotel actually cost until recently. How had Mia afforded it?) dragged all his old law books and papers out of the storage space in Fey Manor, and visited Ikea for stuff to put it all in.

He'd been working toward this day for a long time. So why was he feeling so anxious?

He sat down in his new office chair, (Maya had insisted they splurge out on the comfiest ones) and turned it towards the window, the view of the city streets before him.

He supposed it was just nerves. After all, it wasn't every day you went from being a piano playing poker bum to starting your own business, which he would depend on to provide for his small family. He had put in the work to study his books, get the word out to people, and locate some business contacts, but was that enough for success? While his involvement in the Jurist System had brought him some notoriety, and the clearing of his name had been in all the papers, it was still possible people would still see him as the Forgin' Attorney. Or maybe they would find his skills rusty after seven years, his sharp mind not what it used to be. It could be a repeat of his former years, where virtually no one came through his door.

He could recall the days after Trucy started living with him, the constant fear that he wouldn't be able to look after her. That fear was still there, but the years had taught him to face challenges in life with confidence. Even if things turned bad, he could always find a little bit of hope to keep him going.

"Huh? This can't be right." The voice was Apollo's who was staring at his computer screen in confusion.

"Problem?" Phoenix got up and moved over to gaze at his partner's screen.

"Yeah, it's the list of businesses we promised to represent." For the last week, he and Apollo had been canvassing the city, promoting the firm to local businesses and asking if they would let them represent their companies in any legal matters. Quite a few names had agreed, giving them contact details, which Apollo had been entering into the computer.

"We're missing some names." Apollo pointed to a sheet of paper from a small notepad, filled with names written in Phoenix's handwriting next to them. "I know we got at least twenty names, but I've only got half of them here."

Phoenix frowned at the paper. "Strange, I know I wrote them all down… Wait! The list was two pages."

"Ah, I see." Apollo nodded, looking relieved.

Phoenix glared at him. "So… where's the other page?"

Apollo's hair spikes seemed to flop down. "Err.. I dunno." He shrugged weakly.

Phoenix's frown turned into a full scowl. The day before they officially opened.. he should have known something would go wrong.

"Well, we'd better find it then." He spoke with authority. He opened one of the desk drawers and started hunting through the various papers crammed within. Mentally, he wondered how the hell he'd accumulated this much paper before the place was even open.

"Trucy, could you help Apollo search his desk? Look for anything which was ripped out from a notepad."

"I'm on it Daddy!" Trucy answered cheerfully as she got up, moved to Apollo's desk and flung open a drawer, almost whacking Apollo with it in the process.

"GAH! Trucy, what are you.."

"Come on Polly, start searching! We gotta find those names!" Trucy was rapidly rifling through the various items in the drawer.

"Sheesh, fine." He checked another drawer. "I don't see why you have to get so worked up about it…"

Phoenix ceased his search and looked at his young partner. "What do you mean by that?"

Apollo blinked. "Well, it's not so important that we have to find them right now. I can find the paper later. And there's some other jobs that need to be finished before we open tomorrow…"

Phoenix's eyes narrowed. "How can you say not knowing our client's contact details isn't important?"

"I didn't say that. I just said it's not a priority right now." He shrugged. "And besides, it's not like they're going to call any time soon. We'll probably get a client with a criminal case before we get a call from…"

Phoenix sighed. Ifhis was Apollo's attitude about things…

"So what are you saying? That some small business' legal dispute isn't as important as a big murder case?"

"Er.. well, in a sense…"

"How can you be so heartless, Polly?! Trucy cried out, putting her face inches from Apollo's. "Small businesses deserve just as much attention as everything else. We're a small business in case you didn't notice!"

"Now wait a moment…"

"No, you wait!" Trucy poked him with a finger. "You're a defense attorney, and you're meant to help people in need, no matter who they are, or where they come from! You can't treat people like they're second class!"

"What?! I don't.."

Phoenix couldn't help but smirk to himself as he watched Apollo cower away from a girl who was physically smaller than him, yet speaking with the loudest, bossiest voice she could muster. It was a shame Trucy was dead set on her path of being a magician. She could have been a great attorney.

"Help me out here, please!" Apollo begged him, his hands raised as if expecting Trucy to hit him.

Phoenix moved across and placed a hand on Trucy's shoulder, pulling her back. "Easy honey, I think Polly just got his priorities mixed up for a moment. Plus, we need him alive so we can make the rent next month." He joked

"Hey!" Apollo frowned.

"But Dad!" Trucy pouted. "He said he doesn't care about those business' names."

"No I didn't!"

"Then why aren't you looking for them?

"I was until you yelled at me!"

"You said they weren't important."

"I said, they weren't important at this moment."

"They're always important!"

"Okay, enough." Before Apollo could respond, Phoenix clamped his left hand over his mouth to silence him, and did the same with Trucy. They looked at him with surprised expressions.

Phoenix sighed. "Look guys, I don't want a big argument, so lets settle this."

He focused on Apollo. "Apollo, you need to remember than we started this business because we wanted to help those who needed it. That means we give everyone our full attention, even if their problem isn't as bad or as newsworthy as anyone else's. Because if we can't bring ourselves to fully care about our clients, then there's really no point in doing this."

Apollo nodded his head and mumbled something which sounded like "I know that!"

"And Trucy.." He turned to his daughter. "I appreciate your passion, but just accusing people blindly never gets you anywhere. You should hear Apollo's side of the story before you declare him wrong. I'd would have thought helping Apollo taught you that."

Trucy nodded.

"So, we all friends again?" Phoenix removed his hands, allowing the two others to catch their breath.

Apollo glared at Phoenix. "Sheesh, you didn't have to make me out as the bad guy. You know that I believe those clients are important. It's just… you know, what are the chances one of those clients might call today? But when they do call, I will be ready for them, I promise."

Phoenix studied his young charge's eyes. Though he lacked the skill to see into a person and perceive their thoughts and feelings like Apollo could, he could easily tell from the conviction in his eyes, that he was serious in his belief. Phoenix felt a little guilty for doubting him earlier.

"Now that's what an attorney sounds like!" Trucy grinned, moving over to give Apollo a little hug. "Sorry for not believing you."

"Ahh, it's alright…" Apollo shrugged, ruffling Trucy's hair.

"Sorry I got a bit angry back there." Phoenix spoke.

Apollo blinked. "You.. apologizing to me?" That is a first!"

Phoenix rolled his eyes and ignored the comment. "It's just… this is a big thing for all of us. It's the first time we're running a proper law firm in ages and well, it's important that we do it right." He stared at Apollo. "I don't want you making the same mistakes I made in my first career."

"Don't sell yourself short Daddy." Trucy smiled. "You weren't that bad when you started."

"No honey…" He spoke mostly to himself. "I was."

Seven years was a long time to reflect on your past, and when he had looked back to his first short career as a lawyer, he could only come to one conclusion.

He had stunk at the job.

Sure he had helped some people, saved his best friend and girlfriend from death, put several criminals, madmen and a corrupt police chief behind jail, and done several other things he would always be proud of.

But he'd also spent a lot of time doing nothing. No reading up on law books, no looking up clients, no advertising the firm.. no attempts to better himself. He had been quite content to just sit in his office all day and wait for some poor soul to fall in his lap and ask for his help. Waiting for the big puzzle or desperate situation which would get his blood pumping and his mind racing.

How many people could he had helped if he'd made the effort to look for them? How much money and experience had slipped through his fingers? Mia may have praised his deduction skills, but he believed she had nothing good to say about his business abilities. Even if Zak Gramaye had never shown up, he would have probably traded in his suit for that hoodie and beanie eventually.

Looking after Trucy, and seeing Maya take the role of The Master and changing many of Kurain's old traditions had shown him just how slovenly and unmotivated his life had become. And he had vowed that if ever he got the chance at something greater, he would treasure it and live it to the fullest.

That chance was finally here. And as he watched Apollo and Trucy hunt for the missing names, and thought of Maya, who was busy in town gathering some final items, he knew that he would be able to keep his promise. To live this life with everything he had.

As long as his family was by his side, he could do anything.

He started hunting around his desk for that elusive list of names, and that feeling of unease washed over him again. It wasn't about the names, they would find those out eventually. And Apollo was certainly not worried about anything. So what was it?

He looked around the office again, trying to ascertain if something was out of place or missing. He scanned the room from corner to corner, until it suddenly hit him.

"Trucy, where's Charley?"

Apollo huffed. "Oh don't tell me we've lost that too?"

"Charley is a he!" Trucy jabbed Apollo's ribs. "And I put him in the broom closet, so he wouldn't get damaged."

"Ah, thanks honey."

He moved to the closet and opened the door, revealing the missing plant. As he grabbed the pot and carried it over to the window, he marveled the fact that despite being in the office for ever ten years, Charley was still as healthy as ever, maybe even a little taller than back when Mia had hired him. Despite everything had had happened over the years, Charley had flourished. With a little help from his owners, of course.

Phoenix placed the plant next to the window, making sure it got a good dose of sunlight. Charley stood proudly, a testament to the power of perseverance.

At last, he felt at ease. The office was complete.

All it needed was it's final employee to return from her errands, and they could truly begin.