Summer (Phoenix Wright x Reader)

Somehow, Larry managed to rope Phoenix into a summer vacation. If it wasn't enough that Phoenix was busy moping over his nonexistent workload and the absence of Pearl and Maya. "It'll be great!" Larry said. "There'll be lots of beautiful babes in swimsuits!" Phoenix didn't have the heart to tell Larry he wasn't interested in meeting women, not with Iris lingering in his thoughts. 

"It just feels so good to be under the sun with sand beneath our feet, doesn't it, Nick?"

"Please don't try to hug me while we're both shirtless, Larry."

The sand did feel strange beneath his feet. It felt even stranger between his toes. He huffed and continued to watch the waves come in and out as Larry threw his arm around Phoenix's shoulders.

"Aw, Nick, don't look so glum."

"Can you not-" Phoenix unwrapped Larry's arm from his person, taking steps backward, away from his friend. "I would appreciate not feeling your bare skin against my own bare skin."

Larry looked as if he had been stabbed in the gut fifty times and then some. Phoenix sighed and gave him an apologetic smile.

"Hey, I'm going back to the hotel, okay?"

"Fine. Just know you're missing out on the beach babes!"

"I'll live with myself."

It wasn't that long of a walk, Phoenix thought. He even took a detour and the sun was just setting when he finally reached the hotel. The doors automatically opened for him, but Phoenix found himself frozen in place in front of the beckoning doors. 

His breath caught in his throat when he saw her in a white sundress. A straw hat on her head to shield her eyes from the sun. She looked so different, yet the same. The heavy winter clothing that she wore on that day was gone and replaced with something that didn't make her seem guarded.

And then he thought, should I go up to her? Does she remember me? Would I be creepy if I attempted to socially interact with her? She looks nice without bulky winter clothes - not that she didn't look beautiful before. The snow really complimented her facial features-

His legs had minds of their own when Phoenix suddenly found himself approaching her. His noisy flip-flops caused her to turn in his direction. Her eyes found his eyes and Phoenix was frozen again. It was several beats before she seemed to remember him, or she was just incredibly friendly, and she gave him a sweet smile. 

"Well, if isn't it Phoenix Wright? I hadn't imagined I would have found you here."

"You remember me?" Phoenix was surprised. They had only met once before, and their meeting was very brief and fairly insignificant. He wouldn't have blamed her if she had forgotten him. He wasn't entirely sure why he remembered her.

"Of course! I never forget a face! You also helped me find something I would have dearly missed." Well, he had forgotten that part apparently. Phoenix smiled awkwardly at her statement.  

"I never thought I'd run into you here," she said. "What has brought you here, Phoenix Wright?"

"Oh, you know..." he trailed off. No, she didn't know. He had to tell her. He couldn't just awkwardly trip over his words. He was an adult. He could handle this. Phoenix Wright was an ace attorney. "I'm here on vacation with a friend. He said I was being mopey and I needed to see women in swimsuits to make me feel better. Yeah, we're sharing a room."

Well. Was he always this awkward?

"Ah, yes." She nodded understandingly. He wasn't sure if she was humoring him or if she truly understood whatever he just said though. The smile never slipped off her face. "I was meant to be married here, but... But things happened, so I'm here with some friends to run away from my responsibilities."

Oh, well.

Phoenix frowned. How could he segue from this topic? Well, he didn't have to. Her phone rang out with a catchy jingle.

"Oh, excuse me," she said, taking out her phone. He nodded understandingly and found his attention being drawn elsewhere. Wow, did those paintings always look so nice? The artist must be really talented. Upon closer inspection, Phoenix noticed that the artist was one of his favorites--

"I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but a friend has demanded my presence. It was nice seeing you again, Phoenix Wright!"

She stood up and left the hotel lobby before he could say goodbye. He huffed. Then he slapped himself when he realized he still hadn't gotten her name. He returned to his room to flop onto the bed and sleep for seven hours.

Amazingly bright sunlight woke Phoenix up. He glanced at the bed besides his to see Larry snoring away peacefully. Phoenix shrugged and dressed for the new day. He wondered if he should wait for Larry, but then he remembered he had to make the most of his trip. So, he ditched Larry.

Phoenix relished the cool beach breeze and he walked along the coast. His mind bounced from topic to topic one too many times. He decided to push everything away and just focus on how the waves pushed in and out. He continued on his walk until he knocked into someone.

"I'm sorry!"

Déjà vu suddenly overcame Phoenix as he has experienced this before.

"It's fine," he replied, picking himself up and brushing off his shirt. He offered a hand to the person he knocked into and they took it gratefully.

"I never seem to pay attention these days." She laughed, though it was humorless. "I really am sorry we met like this again."

"Don't be. Do you want to eat breakfast together?"

Where did this sudden bout of courage come from? Whatever its origin, Phoenix was glad for its arrival. Her eyes widened and her eyebrows rose, but she smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I think I would. I'll treat you since I wasn't paying attention. Oh, I never did repay you for helping me look through the snow, did I?"

"Uh, no, but..."

"Let's go! I know this nice place just down this street!" She giggled as she took Phoenix's hand and walked with him to some restaurant. "They serve a lot of seafood. I hope you're not allergic! Oh, and they have this beautiful balcony that overlooks the ocean and -- I'm rambling, sorry!"

"I'm sorry about your relationship," Phoenix said, looking down at his plate and twirling his fork around his fish. The restaurant they chose was an informal one (which was great because Phoenix only packed swim trunks and sandals). Fish was a recurring theme for the menu. Phoenix wasn't too sure what specie of fish he was eating. The server wasn't very specific when describing the fish.

"Don't be. What happened, has happened. There's no use in dwelling on past events." Though she smiled at Phoenix, her tone was somewhat sad. "At least my parents won't have to make a fifty-two hour road trip, right? I bet that old car of theirs will be glad." She laughed lightly and Phoenix weakly laughed with her.

"Right..." No, seriously. What kind of fish was he eating? 

"I'm glad that we broke up, I guess." 

Phoenix looked at her with wide eyes. She stared at the ocean with a distant look.

"Our relationship was falling apart anyway." She sighed wistfully. "We were together since junior year of high school. Our friends were so surprised when we continued dating through college. We had vastly different goals, so we ended up attending different colleges... We just drifted, I guess. Oh, but I'm talking too much!" she said, giving Phoenix an apologetic smile. She eagerly dug into her own food and distracted herself.

"It's okay," he said. 

"No, no! I can't unload all my relationship worries on you! We..." she paused, frowning slightly. "We barely know each other."

Phoenix had almost fooled himself into believing that she wasn't an almost perfect stranger. That they had known each other for a long time. That they were friends and more than just strangers that happened to bump into each other.

The rest of the dinner continued on quietly. Phoenix paid the bill and she thanked him for it. They walked back together to the hotel with a sizable distance between them. Streetlights and the moon served as their light.

And when they finally reached the hotel, Phoenix reached out and grabbed her wrist. 

"Do you want to have breakfast again tomorrow?" he asked, a light blush coloring his face.

"My flight home leaves this afternoon," she replied. He nodded and let out of her wrist. He turned away and sighed. He ran a hand through his spiked hair and sighed again. He wouldn't be back at his office for three more days. He was stuck here with Larry until then. What a fate.

Suddenly she came running toward him. When she neared, she quickly stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his cheek.

"Thank you very much for listening, Phoenix Wright!"

She ran away, happily giggling to herself as Phoenix stood still, shocked at what just transpired. 

He still never learned her name.