Chapter Text
“I’ve been staying with Phoenix for the past month or so. He’s a lawyer like Mia..was. I think I’ll be helping him with his cases for a while. I’m spending the nights at the office. It’s not the nicest, but he leaves the heater on and the sofa is good enough.” She paused. “I miss you guys a lot. I promise not to be away for too long. The city isn’t really my thing.”
The person on the other end of the line hummed, whether it was approving or not Maya could never tell. “I’m glad you’re doing well dear. Come home whenever you feel like it, we’ll be waiting for you.” Her aunt said just a little too quickly. Maya knew deep down that “come home whenever you feel like it.” really meant “I don’t care what you do.”, but she didn’t have the energy to process that right now.
“Well, it’s getting pretty late, so I’d better go. Let's talk again soon though.” She replied.
“Yes, good night dear.”
The call ended.
Maya glanced up at the spiky-haired man in front of her. Phoenix had been working on something and conveniently put on headphones so Maya wouldn’t have to worry about him listening in on her call home. She snickered half-heartedly at all the things she had said over the phone. They weren’t so much lies as they were half-truths. She didn’t especially want to go home for one thing.
Back home no one understood her, and there was hardly anyone her age. Plus, they didn't have all the new modern tech that they did here in the city. But she didn’t feel she belonged here either. She wasn’t used to it, and it was so big that she felt even smaller than she did in Kurain Village. She wasn’t even sure if she would be helping Phoenix with cases. Was that her job now, or was it a one time thing?
And her final lie, staying in the office sucked. She could hear all the traffic from outside, and the sofa hurt her back, and as embarrassing as it was; it scared her. Maybe it wasn’t that embarrassing, this was where her sister died after all. She had every right to be terrified! But she was almost eighteen. Maybe it was stupid to be so afraid.
If only Mia were here. Mia never seemed afraid of anything. When Mia called home she never seemed to be lying or half-truthing or whatever the hell it was she had been doing!
Phoenix seemed trustworthy enough, but it wasn’t easy living with a total stranger. A few times he had offered to let her sleep on his couch. but she had seen his house and it was a disaster. What did her sister ever see in this guy?
Maya looked up at Phoenix for a moment, as if making sure he couldn’t hear her thoughts. She felt guilty. Phoenix had been nothing but kind to her yet here she was here thinking awful things about him. This was probably hard on him too.
It was getting late. She glanced up at the clock as it ticked closer and closer to when he usually went home. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought. Maybe she should give this guy a chance.
After a while, Phoenix inevitably packed his bag and stood up. However this time, instead of asking for an extra blanket, or brushing him off entirely, Maya anxiously stood to meet him.
“What's up Maya? Do you need something before I head out?” He offered, checking his watch despite already knowing what time it was. Maya stared down at the floor. “Could I stay at your house tonight?”
Phoenix seemed surprised for a moment before nodding. “Of course.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes before reaching the bus stop. “I’m sorry, I normally ride my bike to work.”
“It's fine.”
Maybe it would be better if she stayed at the office. This was going to be inconvenient for both of them. Despite getting along pretty well, Phoenix seemed weirdly nervous around her. To be fair though, she’d probably be awkward too given the situation. “Aren’t you worried about your bike getting stolen?”
Phoenix glanced back at the tall office. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. There's not that much crime here.”
She had a hard time believing that.
Though maybe she just had a bad first impression of the city.
Eventually the bus arrived and the two of them boarded. There were a lot of people, they all looked old and haggard. Phoenix sat in the middle of an empty bench in the back, and Maya took a seat beside him. She put her small bag of belongings in between them.
“The couch folds out into a bed.” He muttered. “Oh, ok.” She replied plainly.
Neither of them made eye contact with the other.
Neither said anything after that.
After an awkward ride that felt like forever they arrived at their stop, and walked a bit more to Phoenix’s house. Phoenix lived in a small house on the outskirts of the city. It was nicer there, you could see the stars.
In the village you could usually walk wherever you needed to go. Sure the city was much bigger, but why did everything have to be so far apart?
She tried not to let it show too much, but the dark roads made her nervous. Every shadow seemed like a million different possibilities—each one more awful than the last. Mia probably wouldn’t be scared of this stuff though, so Maya tried not to be either.
Eventually they got to Phoenix’s door and Maya stood by as he unlocked it. Despite its condition, his house was pretty nice compared to the office. It felt more inviting.
“Have you had dinner yet?” Phoenix asked. She hadn’t, although by dinner she assumed he meant one of the various cups of instant noodles he kept in a drawer. Not that she was too good for those or anything, it just wasn’t exactly dinner.
“No. But you don’t have to make anything.”
“It’s not a problem Maya, I was going to make something for myself anyways.” He said as he hung up his coat. “Feel free to make yourself at home. The TV remote is..somewhere.”
He disappeared into what Maya assumed was his room, so she turned on the TV like he had said.
On one channel was a rerun of last week's episode of “The Steel Samurai''. It was mostly filler, The Steel Samurai saves a small village from some one-off villains who want to steal its gold. The next few episodes should be good though, since it’s almost the season finale.
Maya watched the scene play out for a few seconds before switching the channel. Phoenix probably wouldn’t want to watch that, and this was his house after all.
On another channel was some sitcom she’d heard of once or twice. It seemed boring, but these types of shows were made to be generally appealing to as many demographics as possible and, not to insult Phoenix, but he seemed like he’d enjoy that kind of thing.
After a few minutes Phoenix came back out in a t-shirt and sweatpants. It was weird not seeing him in his usual blue suit.
“What are you hungry for?” He asked. She wanted a hamburger, that’s what she always got with Mia. That’s what she was going to get with Mia. That didn’t seem like something most people would just have though.
“Sandwiches?” She said, although it was more of a question.
Phoenix furrowed his brow ever so slightly, although not in an angry way (at least she hoped). “What kind?” He asked. Obviously she knew different kinds of sandwiches. But her mind blanked and it felt like she had to prove she wasn’t just some dumb sheltered girl who didn’t understand the big city. The kind you saw in movies.
Sandwiches weren’t exactly dinner though, they were just the closest thing she could think of to a burger, but would Phoenix even want that? She was really overthinking a question about sandwiches. That made her feel every sillier.
She shrugged, almost guiltily. Phoenix shrugged back and began looking through cupboards.
Everything about this was so awkward and uncomfortable it was almost painful. Maya regretted not staying at the office. Mia probably wouldn’t be this awkward. She always seemed to get along with everyone.
Maya didn’t mean to keep mourning. She was so tired of mourning—but she just couldn’t move on and, aside from Phoenix, she was all alone.
She had no close friends, no family who would even give a damn, nothing! Despite being surrounded by so many people she felt lost.
“Maya?”
She looked up. Phoenix had put two plates on his small kitchen table. She got up from the couch and sat down across from him. “Thank you.” She mumbled. The TV continued to play, almost filling the deafening silence.
Almost.
“I hope you don’t mind that I ask, but why’d you wanna stay here?” Phoenix questioned.
Maya stared down at her sandwich, it had ham, tomatoes and lettuce. Not terrible.
“I guess I just didn’t want to stay at the creepy office.” She said bluntly.
They still continued to avoid each other’s gaze.
“Sorry to bother you after you’ve already done so much for me..” she mumbled.
Phoenix finally glanced up at her. “It’s really no problem. It’s the least I could do.”
It was quiet again for a moment.
“Am I going to be helping you with cases?”
“If you want to. You don’t have too though if-“
“I want to.” She interrupted.
Phoenix seemed surprised by that.
“I don’t mind earning my keep. I can try and help out with whatever.”
The spiky-haired man frowned. He seemed much less lively and confident now than he did in court.
“You don’t have to earn anything, Maya. It’s really no problem.”
More silence followed.
“Phoenix, why did you become a lawyer?”
——-
“There was someone I needed to help.”
——-
“How did you know what you wanted?”
He seemed to ponder the question for a moment.
“I guess I didn’t really. But I knew he needed me, and that was enough to keep me going.”
Maya took a bite of her sandwich. It was nice, much better than what she normally had at the office anyways—although Phoenix would usually bring her small snacks in the mornings.
She thought about what he said and couldn’t help but think of her sister. It made sense, she had been his mentor after all.
Maya nervously bit her lip before asking, “Can you tell me about Mia?”
Phoenix shifted uncomfortably as he chewed his sandwich.
“I’m sorry.. it’s just you were around her more before she…”
“No, no! It’s fine…” Phoenix muttered, sitting up a bit straighter. He took a second to think and sighed.
“Mia was.. brave. She was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”
He suddenly looked exhausted. Had he always seemed so tired?
“It’s kinda funny, Mia’s second case was defending me when I was framed for murder.”
He chuckled quietly.
“I guess history will always repeat itself or whatever.”
Maya could vaguely remember hearing about something like that. It was weird to think about.
“I was really gullible back then. Mia taught me a lot.”
The mood seemed to lighten up a bit, but Maya still felt unease. She chewed another piece of her sandwich.
“Did Mia ever..make mistakes?” She asked. That was a stupid question. Of course she did! She was only human after all. Everyone made mistakes. Phoenix laughed. “She messed up all the time! Where do you think I learned all the crazy tricks I use in court?”
Maya opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Her mind blanked. She hadn’t seen much of Mia in the months before her death, but when she did her sister always seemed so cool and elegant—like she always knew what to do and how to do it.
Phoenix changed his demeanor to something a bit less jovial. “Why do you ask?”
His voice had a hint of worry, and Maya knew he saw right through her.
She sighed, deciding that she might as well be honest.
“I guess I’m just..confused. How can I live up to her? I’m not “Mia Fey, Master of Lawyers”, I’m just Maya the spirit medium, and I’m not even that good at it.”
Phoenix furrowed his brow and took another bite of his sandwich. He said nothing for a moment, and Maya wondered if maybe she had ruined the mood.
Eventually he spoke. “Well yeah,”
What? “Well yeah”?
Phoenix must have noticed the puzzled look on her face as he continued.
“Of course you aren’t going to be ‘Mia the lawyer’, why would you be?”
“I know we don’t know each other that well, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with ‘Maya the Spirit Medium’.” He said, smiling softly.
“Mia was an incredible person. I know things have been hard on me, and I can’t imagine how hard this all is on you. But you don’t have to ‘live up’ to anything, you’re your own person.”
Maya was captivated by the simple statement. She felt herself tear up, but tried to hold it back. She really didn’t deserve all of this.
“I think Mia’s proud of the person you are.”
That was the final nail in the coffin. The tears she had been fighting for weeks were streaming down her cheeks. She didn’t sob though, she was silent. She glanced up at Phoenix who seemed slightly panicked. He obviously didn’t mean for this to happen.
“Thank you, Phoenix.” She whispered. Phoenix didn’t look at her with disgust or annoyance like the people back home would have, but instead with empathy and compassion. “Are you ok?” He asked. Maya sniffled, wiping away the tears that stained her face. “I will be.”