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Trucy Wright was turning seventeen, and Apollo was damned if he wasn’t going to be there for her birthday breakfast. Even if that meant turning up unannounced at the Wrights’ apartment, the morning after Maya and Pearl Fey were due arrive.
Apollo had met Pearl a few times, but Maya was an enigma to him. He just couldn’t quite pin down her relationship with Phoenix, and he was too much of a scaredy-cat to just ask. He was scared to ask a lot when it came to Phoenix, which meant that despite getting the address and an invitation to ‘come visit any time’ almost a year ago, this would be his first visit.
He pressed the buzzer and was let in before he’d had time to say anything. He took that as a good sign, and took the elevator up, finding himself in a clean and well-kept hallway. The whole building seemed, he thought, a little outside of the Wrights’ price range. It didn’t seem like Phoenix had much cash, but then, since Phoenix had got is badge back he’d been wearing an awful lot of well-tailored suits. Perhaps that had something to do with the close relationship he seemed to have with the Chief Prosecutor?
Either way, he found the right number and knocked, feeling awkward to be standing alone in the corridor in his full work suit at seven in the morning.
The door opened, revealing none other than Miles Edgeworth himself, wearing flannel pyjamas and with his silvery hair up at odd angles. A very close relationship, then, was Apollo’s first thought. He tried to hide his surprise, but from the look on the man’s face, he didn’t do a great job.
Gulping, and already somewhat regretting his spontaneous decision to drop by, he vowed to act as if he found everything completely normal. If any more notable members of the legal profession were going to be jumping out at him in their pyjamas, then this was a necessary action. “Hey, um, mind if I come in? It’s Trucy’s birthday.”
Edgeworth didn’t seem particularly surprised to see him, and Apollo guessed he was the one who answered the buzzer. “Of course, Mr Justice.” he said, standing out of the way to allow him entry.
The Wrights’ apartment was significantly less cluttered than the agency, and once agin he found himself wondering if the Chief Prosecutor was part of the reason. It was still kind of a mess, but under the clutter were signs of a well-furnished living room. Edgeworth ushered him forward, and Apollo could hear voices, probably Trucy and Mr Wright. “She’s in the kitchen.”
He followed Edgeworth into the next room, then stopped in his tracks. Phoenix was at the kitchen counte, stirring a glass bowl of batter and humming out of tune. Trucy was sitting at the breakfast bar, swinging her legs and looking far too cheerful for the time of morning, as was Trucy’s way.
But Apollo’s attention was focused on the woman wearing the Steel Samurai pyjamas and a kimono-style bathrobe that hung undone on her shoulders. She had a slight figure and black hair down to her butt, and she could be nobody but the Maya Fey he’d heard so much about.
Edgeworth coughed, and they all looked around. Phoenix stopped humming.
“Morning, Polly!” said Trucy immediately.
“Apollo!” said Phoenix, brandishing a wooden spoon. “You here for Trucy, or to catch a glimse of Maya?”
Apollo could already feel the blush creeping up his cheeks. “To see Trucy!”
“Oh,” said Maya, “You must be the shouty one Nick was telling me about! Hi! I’m Mystic Maya Fey, Master of Kurian.”
“Oh…” was he supposed to bow? “Good morning, um, Mystic Fey.”
Trucy giggled. “Don’t freak out, she’s only using her title to scare you.”
“Way to ruin my fun.” she pouted. “Just ‘Maya’ is fine, though, Apollo.” then, “Nick, the pancakes!”
Phoenix swore loudly, returning his attention to his pan.
Apollo didn’t quite know what to make of the woman who was now bounding around the polished kitchen, collecting plates. For one thing, she already knew his name, and for another, she’d called him “shouty”.
Edgeworth had moved from the door and was now leaning at the counter next to Phoenix. His posture changed dramatically from the stiff man who opened the door for him. He looked like a completely different man the scary and influential prosecutor Apollo had met a few times before he was relaxed, a small smile on his features as he watched Phoenix pour some of the batter into a pan. Apollo was feeling spectacularly out of place.
“Oh, Apollo - can I call you Polly?” Maya asked, not waiting for an answer. “You can sit down, we’ve got this covered.”
Thankful for some kind of instruction in what to do, Apollo sat down next to his half-sister, who immediately started talking birthdays.
As he nodded and hmm-ed in all the right places, his attention kept shifting to the three adults in the kitchen. He just couldn’t make sense of their dynamic. As he watched, Phoenix leaned into Edgeworth, creating a very non-platonic intimacy. That he could kind of get - although he’d never outright asked, he was pretty sure that there was something romantic between Mr Wright and his ex-rival. He just hadn’t realised it had reached the point they were living together.
They were living together, right? Or was Edgeworth just staying the night?
“First pancake done!” said Phoenix proudly, spinning round and slipping it onto Trucy’s waiting plate.
“Thank you, Daddy.” Said Trucy, breaking off mid-sentence to beam at her father.
“Miles, could you get the syrup?” Edgeworth knew exactly where to look, in a way that just screamed that he lived there. He handed the bottle to Phoenix, who pecked him on the lips in thanks before giving it to Trucy.
Definitely dating, then. Just when he thought he’d got the relationship sussed, however, Maya entered the equation. As Phoenix turned back to the stove, Maya swatted his arse with a tea towel. What the…?
Phoenix laughed. “Oi, Maya, we do have company.” he nodded to Apollo.
Maya stuck her tongue out. “It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before, he didn’t grow up in Kurian.” Apollo had no idea what the significance was of where he grew up, but he was distracted from thinking about it as Maya slid her hands around Phoenix’s waist, pulling him closer.
Apollo very deliberately looked away, focusing his attention on Trucy and the pancake she was eating at an alarming rate, but he still heard a sound that was most definitely a kiss. Seriously, what the hell was going on? Trucy, licking syrup off her finger, was completely nonplussed. As was, he realised, Edgeworth. In fact, when he glanced up at the man, he saw that his expression could only be described as fond.
The three of them clearly had one of those things - a what do you call them, polygamous relationship. But wasn’t that usually one man with a lot of wives?
“What’s up, Apollo?” asked Trucy, staring at him. “You’re doing that thing you do when you’re uncomfortable.”
Apollo had no idea what ‘that thing’ was, but since it was Trucy, it was probably some minute habit only she would spot.
“It’s nothing, it’s just-“ he paused. How could he phrase this question? What question did he even want to ask? Trucy, Phoenix, Edgeworth and Maya were all acting like this was totally normal. Apollo was the outsider here, and he really didn’t want to step on any toes or come across as insensitive. He decided to play it safe. “Is Prosecutor Edgeworth living with you?”
“Miles?” said Trucy, finishing off her pancake and pushing the sticky plate away from her. “Yes, he helped us pick the apartment and everything. I’m sure Daddy’s mentioned it.”
Apollo was pretty sure he hadn’t. Or at least, not so clearly. Maya had clearly been listening in, and started to giggle. “Oh my God, Nick, did you really forget to tell him that?”
“Tell him what?”
“That you and Miles were living together.”
Phoenix scratched the back of his head. “No, I must have mentioned it. Miles, did I mention it?”
Edgeworth crossed his arms. “What you tell your employees is your business.”
“Yeah,” said Maya, hitching herself up so she was sitting on the breakfast bar, “But from the sound of it, Polly’s more than just an employee.”
He felt a little proud at that, and a little scared. What had Phoenix (or more likely, Trucy) been telling her?
“Of course he’s more than an employee.” said Trucy. “He is also my half-brother, remember?”
Can we please stop talking about me like I’m not even here?
“Second pancake done! I didn’t even burn this one!” said Phoenix, interrupting the conversation.
“Ooh, dibs!” said Maya, making grabby hands.
“As the guest, Mr Justice has ‘dibs’, Maya.” said Edgeworth, rolling his eyes.
“I’m fine.” he tried to say, but Maya cut over him.
“Yeah, but you two only get to see me like once every couple of months, so I should get special treatment.”
Phoenix had already slipped the second pancake onto a plate, and now he kissed Maya’s cheek. “Of course, darling.”
“Ew, not fond of ‘darling’.” she said, pulling a face and pushing him away.
“I was trying it on for size.”
“You failed.”
Edgeworth had still been leaning against the counter with his arms crossed until then, but at her words he stood upright and walked over, literally lifting Maya off the table and standing her upright. He whispered something in her ear that made Maya turn bright red, and once again, Apollo felt like he should be looking away.
“Yep.” she said as her blush faded, “That one wins.”
“What was it?” asked Trucy loudly, and Apollo sunk into his chair. No way what Prosecutor Edgeworth had whispered was fit for 16-year-old ears.
But his response surprised him. “I called her ‘Pink Princess.’”
Trucy made a loud ‘awww’ noise, and Phoenix looked impressed. “I like that one. What does that make me?”
“Hmm… Nickel. Goes with your name.”
The four of them laughed. Trucy took one look at the lost expression on Apollo’s face and took it upon herself to explain. “They call Miles Steel Samurai when the three of them are alone. It’s really cute.”
It didn’t sound cute, or fitting. From what he could remember, the Steel Samurai was a kids show, and the lead shared no personality traits with the man in front of him that he could think of. But then, couples were weird.
Couples? Triples? He had no idea what to call the unit in front of them.
As the three had been flirting - he was pretty sure that’s what it was - Trucy had stolen the other pancake. Maya spotted when Trucy took the first bite, and made an indignant noise. Phoenix broke out into loud guffaws, and even Edgeworth chuckled.
“You snooze, you loose.” said Trucy, looking very pleased with herself.
“Oh! Speaking of which, Miles, can you go wake up Pearls?” asked Phoenix. “And Maya, I’ll make more pancakes, don’t worry. Can you and Apollo go get the birthday gifts from our room?”
Trucy bounced in her chair at the mention of presents, and Apollo got up and walked around the counter to Maya. “Lead the way.” he said.
He returned with Maya to the living room, and followed her of the rooms leading off it. “This is Nick and Miles’ room.” she said. “And, for the when I’m here, my room.” Apollo nodded, not trusting himself to comment.
The room that greeted him was significantly cleaner and tidier than the one he’d just left. It was basically spotless aside from Maya’s suitcase and a few items of clothing. Specifically, a purple robe that was probably Maya’s and a blue waistcoat and suit jacket hat he knew to be Phoenix’s.
“Miles makes us keep this room tidy.” said Maya, when she saw Apollo looking. “He says he needs at least one organised area, since Phoenix keeps the study in such a mess.”
The room only had one kingsized bed, and it was becoming increasingly clear that all three of them had slept in it last night.
“Trucy’s gifts are on top of the wardrobe.” said Maya, “I’d ask you to get them, but frankly, you’re not much taller than me.” she paused. “Does Nick have a stepladder? Oh! I know! Polly, can you grab my other shoe, please?”
She leaned down and pulled a platform sandal from under the dresser. “Required spirit channelling gear.” she explained, “You know, for some reason.”
“Where is the other?” Said Apollo, turning on his heel and not seeing it.
“Uh… well I kicked them off when I came in, so probably under the bed.”
Feeling exceptionally awkward once again, Apollo crouched down and looked under the bed. It was immaculate there, too, aside from a white shirt, stray sock and lurid pink bra. And, of course, a platform sandal. He reached under and grabbed ahold of it, puling it out and standing upright.
‘Thanks, you’re a babe.” said Maya. And then, because this woman apparently had no shame, “Was my bra under there?”
Apollo nodded, feeling himself flush again. “I’m not getting it for you.”
“Oh, it’s ok. I’ll leave it as a memento.” she said, winking at him.
“Alright, I have to ask-“
“Wait just one sec.” Maya cut across, putting on the other sandal and standing on tiptoes to pull the immaculately-wrapped gifts from on top of the wardrobe. She handed a few to Apollo once her arms were full, and then kicked off the sandals again.
“Ok, so what d’you want to ask? I’m guessing Nick only sent you with me so you could get questions out the way.”
“Uh-“ Maya was looking at him with such a no-nonsense look, it seemed out of place with her kid’s pyjamas and messy black hair. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t realise before coming here I’d be invading.”
“You’re not invading.” said Maya. “I wanted to meet you and Nick’s other lawyer friend - what’s her name - Athena.”
“Still, I suppose I didn’t know it’d be so… domestic.”
Maya smiled widely. “Nick and Miles really have become super domestic now they’re old fogeys, haven’t they?”
I was talking about you, too. “I didn’t mean it like that.” Wow, implication just didn’t work on this girl. “Basically, I’m surprised by your, er, romantic situation. The three of you all act like one couple.”
Maya stared at him. “You mean you didn’t already know?”
“No?”
“Oh, bless. We usually try to ease people into it, so they don’t freak out. You’ve been remarkably at ease with all this, is all.”
“I don’t even know what this is.” he pointed out. “Polygamy?”
“Close. Polyamory.”
“So what, all three of you are dating?”
“Basically. It’s pretty unusual, I’ll admit. But perfectly natural. Rather than having a boyfriend, I have boyfriends, plural.” she shrugged. “It’s what works for us.”
Apollo, strangely, found that any freaked-outness had left. Maya seemed so earnest, and since imagining his boss with anyone was weird, realising he was dating two people didn’t make much difference. Maya, at least, was approachable.
“Prosecutor Edgeworth is kind of scary, though.” Apollo found himself saying.
Maya snorted with laughter. “Miles? I used to think that, and trust me, he’s mellowed. He’s much less scary when you’ve seen him sleepy, or fanboying. Nick without caffeine though, that’s scary. But I can keep my boys in check, don’t worry.”
She talked about both of them with such an edge of fondness to her tone, that Apollo had no difficulty in trusting their relationship. In fact, he doubted he’d ever summoned up that much adoration for one person. “I don’t think I could ever make something like that work.”
“Well, not everyone’s poly. Then again, I didn’t know I was until these two came along.”
Apollo didn’t quite know what to say to that, but Maya saved him from having to say anything by sniffing the air and bouncing towards the door. “Come on, I almost forgot Nick was making more pancakes. Almost.”
He followed her out, and as he shut the door behind him, he smiled. He understood the Wright family a little better now, he thought.