Disclaimer: Ace Attorney and all characters are copyright by CAPCOM; I'm just a fan imitating. The stories presented are influenced by the multiple games as well as the comic (Manga written by Kenji Kuroda).

This story is in response to a challenge posted by CRyogenic-maelStr01m

More Than You Think You Are

Chapter 1:

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

"Edgeworth," Phoenix Wright said.

"Wright," Miles Edgeworth replied.

They stared. It was weird. Phoenix looked away first. Edgeworth finally turned his head to look at his shoes.

"I'm glad you came—" Phoenix began.

"It was nothing, Wright. Butz seemed so worried—and Franziska had gotten involved…"

"Yeah," Phoenix said. He gave his companion and awkward smile, tight lipped and slanted, and offered his hand.

Edgeworth stared at it for a moment and then he took Phoenix's hand and gave it a firm shake and released it as if it pained him. Phoenix smiled more broadly. Edgeworth glared at him.

"Everyone wanted to get together for dinner, Maya's feeling better, and you know—"

"We were going to fly back today," Edgeworth said.

"Oh," Phoenix said, "No problem. I just wanted to make sure the invitation was passed along."

"Of course," Edgeworth said, "Thank you."

"Anytime," Phoenix said his hand went suddenly to the back of his neck, "Well… Maya is probably going to wake soon… I should…"

"Right," Edgeworth said, "I don't want to keep Franziska waiting."

"Yeah," Phoenix said, "Take care."

"You too."

Phoenix turned then and walked back into the clinic. He didn't see Edgeworth and figured the other man must have gone toward the parking lot—so he was surprised when Franziska passed him at the clinic's entrance. He was walking in and she was walking out.

"Phoenix Wright, you fool," she scolded, "You left her alone."

"I'm going to see her now," Phoenix said.

"Have you seen my foolish little brother?"

"Yeah," Phoenix said, "I think he was going toward the parking lot."

"Good bye Phoenix Wright," Franziska said. She stared at him with her ice blue eyes.

"Bye, Miss Von—Franziska," Phoenix said a little taken aback. She lifted her arms and he braced himself for her whip. Instead she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He was startled to say the least.

She let go abruptly and continued toward the parking lot. He chuckled to himself.

As soon as he entered the clinic he was almost knocked down by a powerful SLAP!

"You were hugging that lady, while Mystic Maya was waiting for you," Pearl glared at him.

Phoenix was on his knees beside her, rubbing his cheek, "I was just saying goodbye—and she hugged me!"

"Mystic Maya is the only one you should hug, Mister Nick," Pearl said, still fuming.

Phoenix heard a giggle and looked up to see Maya smiling down at him. He smiled back, his relief washing over him anew.

"Maya," he said.

"Hey Nick," she said.

"How are you feeling?"

"I could use a burger, Nick."

Phoenix smiled.

Phoenix rubbed his face and hunched down in his seat in on the train. He was exhausted and in spite of the layers of clothing he wore he still couldn't get the chill out of his bones. The special course at Hazakurain was not for the feint of heart.

If he never saw another waterfall again, it would be too soon.

As soon as the train exhaled him into the familiar terrain of the city, he turned on his phone and frowned at his missed calls. He stared at one number in particular, and deliberated a moment before dialing.

It rang out and Phoenix started to hope it wouldn't pick up.

"Hello?"

"Mom," Phoenix said, "It's me."

"Oh, you finally decided to call?"

"I'm busy, I'm kind of a big deal now."

"Suzie said you went up to the mountains on vacation."

"I don't even know anyone named Suzie."

"Your cousin, Nick? I know you're a hot shot city lawyer and everything, Nick, but do you have to throw away your family?"

"Come on Mom, I didn't mean—"

"You need to come home, Nick."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah… But some thing's come up, Nick. And we need to talk."

"Okay. I have to square some things away here, I'll come up tomorrow."

"Good."

"I'll see you—"

"Wait Nick."

"Yeah?"

"You remember that boy you used to be friends with?"

"Really Mom? Can you be any more vague?"

"He's a lawyer now too—with the District Attorney…"

"Edgeworth?"

"Yes, can you bring him with you?"

"Mom what—?"

"Just—can you?"

"I… He's not even in the country right now, Mom. Why would—"

"I'll see you tomorrow, Nick. I'll tell you about then."

"Okay… Why can't you just say it now over the phone?"

"This isn't something I want to do over the phone, honey."

"Fine… Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Mom."

"I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too."

"No way…" Phoenix slouched at the dining table in the kitchen of his childhood home. His mother sat across from him staring at him intently.

"It's true," she said simply.

"But that means my Dad—"

"Yes."

Phoenix covered his face in his hands and then slid them into his hair.

"Nick?"

"Hold on Mom… I'm… You just blew my mind…"

"I'm going to hang up in five minutes, Wright."

"Fine," Phoenix said into the phone.

"This better be an emergency if you're going to call me collect internationally…"

"Okay…" Phoenix said.

"I'm going to send you the bill for this—"

"I won't pay it if you don't shut up and let me have my five minutes!"

"…"

"…"

"…Well?"

"When's your birthday Edgeworth?"

"That's what you called me about?!"

"It's important, Edgeworth. My mom—" Edgeworth ended the call.

Phoenix shook his phone in his fist and threw it against the back of the sofa. Then he sat down and put his head down, elbows on his knees and his hands in his hair. It still hadn't sunk in…

Phoenix glared out at the nature while ice-cold water poured heavily against his bare back. He yelped when something pushed him suddenly off of his platform and he fell into the pool. He came up sputtering and gasping.

"Maya what—!"

"Nick! You're wound up so tight I think you're about to snap!"

"And that was your solution? To interrupt my deep meditation?"

"You weren't meditating, Nick."

"You could've drowned me!"

"Oh you're fine… You want to sneak out of here and get some noodles?"

"I thought this was part of the "ultra" course? Won't Pearl find out if we take off and go into town?"

"Eh…" Maya said with a shrug. She was still dressed in her robes.

Except they were soaking wet.

And the thin material was clinging to—

"Nick!"

Maya smacked him and pulled away.

"I'm sorry… I thought…" he scratched at his wet and sagging hair.

She was staring at him. He was wearing his board shorts with the sharks on them. She was clutching at the front of her wet robes holding them away from her chest.

"It's all the water… and the cold…" Phoenix explained, his teeth chattered as he spoke.

Maya nodded at him open mouthed and wide-eyed. Her teeth chattered too.

They stared. It was weird.

Maya grabbed him around his neck and shimmied up him as if he were a palm tree. Phoenix didn't fight against her when she pressed her mouth to his. They both stopped shivering.

Pearl pumped her fist in the air. Then she put down her binoculars to give them some privacy.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please Rev—you know what don't… Do whatever you want…

So what's the big news Phoenix's Mom has? It's kind of obvious…

Let Phoenix and Maya have their fun…

This story is based on a challenge from CRyogenic-maelStr01m (posted in Flame Soldier's Challenge forum). I'd explain it, but that would give away the story… If you weren't sure, this takes place in the weeks following Bridge to the Turnabout (GS3/AA:T&T)

UPDATED JUN 2015 – Some minor edits here. But I'm reworking the ending so expect to see more changes as the story moves along. I've decided to actually do a sequel to this… So I have to tighten up this story before I can start posting the next one. (Can you forgive me for the long hiatus?)