Work Text:
Phoenix Wright's grip on his briefcase tightened like never before when he saw the pink butterfly pass as he was walking out of the courtroom, another case completed.
He watched it perch on the handcuffs of the culprit he had uncovered as they were being led to prison by the bailiffs, who didn't seem to know what the butterfly meant.
But Phoenix did.
He could only watch as the culprit's body turned slightly clear, with a tint of pink. So subtle that nobody would notice unless they were looking for it.
But Phoenix had to look for it. It was part of his job. Not as a lawyer… a newer one.
He rushed to the nearest alleyway near the courthouse. It was always secluded, and there was a lamppost to hide his body.
“Phoenix…” muttered Aya, the talking cat he'd rescued from the crowd once it wandered into the courtroom on a busy day.
Suddenly, Phoenix heard the sound of chains breaking.
A maniacal laugh echoed from something that couldn't be human. “Phoenix Wright!”
Oh, god.
“Use the magatama I gave you!” Aya meowed. “Now remember what I told you. You got this!”
He allowed himself a brief sigh as he fished the magatama from his pocket and muttered a string of words, their syllables still unfamiliar.
“Goddess of Justice, help me open the world's eyes to the truth!”
He wasn't quite used to his suit jacket turning into a cape, and his hair suddenly growing longer. Or the golden mist that swirled around him as frills were added to his ensemble. And he was even less used to the magatama's point expanding into a sword, but he managed to stay mostly still.
Phoenix jumped with his newfound agility to perch on top of the lamppost, looking at the transformed culprit.
“Phoenix Wright… Phoenix Wright…” a giant humanoid in a black suit called. Chains were wrapped around their arms and legs, and they wore steel cuffs and a hat.
That must be the culprit!
“Where are you…”
“Can't find who you're looking for?” Phoenix taunted as he jumped onto the roof of the courthouse.
“...Naru-chan? You're not Phoenix Wright. Where is Phoenix Wright?!” they roared.
Phoenix didn't hesitate as he thrusted his sword toward their chains like a frisbee in an attempt to break them.
“Tsk, Naru-chan… even you should know that's not the proper way to do things.”
Phoenix couldn’t help smiling. Hearing that voice always seemed to calm him when he was stressed. “Edge– Mitsu-chan?”
A girl with long gray hair and a dark pink cape approached Phoenix. “Hmph. I know you're not used to this, but it's improper to present without evidence.”
“...This isn't a courtroom, Mitsu-chan…”
Mitsu-chan adjusted the lacy cravat she always wore, even in her civilian form. “If you don't have evidence of what the corrupted object is, you can't break parts of the Possessed! If you break it, they'll just get angrier.”
“Oh, I see…” Phoenix blushed.
“Let me show you how it's done, Naruhodo-chan.” Mitsu-chan said as she clutched her trademark twin knight chess pieces.
“The full name, huh?” Phoenix teased. His partner in crime-fighting only used his full alias when he was concerned… or when he wanted the other to pay attention.
Mitsu-chan didn't reply. She instead leapt off the lamppost to get a closer look at the Possessed's accessories.
“I'll let you have this one, Naru-chan. Get the cufflinks!” Mitsu-chan ordered.
Phoenix had already summoned the sword back, but now he had to hope his sword was strong enough to break the cufflinks as he jumped off the lamppost too.
“Left!” Mitsu-chan called.
Phoenix adjusted his position without realizing it.
“Good, now break the cuffs!”
The cufflinks made no sound as they split into halves upon meeting the sword.
Phoenix let out a breath of relief as the chains started to unwrap themselves from the Possessed's legs.
“Well done.” he heard someone mutter.
“Throwing your sword? Really?” Mitsu-chan scolded. “I'll have to get your cat… Aya, right? I'll get her to teach you more.”
“If you must…” Phoenix sighed.
While the bailiffs were re-cuffing the person and offering some emotional support, the two crime-fighters leapt to opposite sides, and detransformed.
“O Goddess, the world's eyes have been opened.” Phoenix solemnly said.
“Great job, Phoenix!” Aya purred. “Though you should listen to Miles. Throwing your sword really wasn't the best idea…”
“If you stop talking about Miles, I'll get you burgers.” Phoenix bribed.
“I never said anything!” Aya meowed.
As he made his way out of the alleyway, Aya following suit, his body collided with that of one Miles Edgeworth, a prosecutor he knew quite well, who was apparently rushing to get somewhere.
Phoenix looked up at Miles’ windswept hair and slightly crooked cravat. Seeing signs of exertion on someone who always seemed to look so polished… looked a bit endearing.
“Sorry, Edgeworth!” Phoenix apologized as he pushed himself away from Miles.
“Gah– Wright–… It's fine.” Miles muttered. “What you should be apologizing for is your poor conduct with that sword. I told you to stop throwing it last week.”
“You told me to think about not throwing it.” Phoenix crossed his arms.
“Which you obviously did not do.”
“You worry about me too much!”
Miles muttered something under his breath. “Someone has to.”
Phoenix blinked. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Phoenix! Stop flirting with Miles and give me my burgers!” Aya hissed impatiently.
Another cat with silvery-blue fur appeared between Miles’ legs. “And I want to get home to scratch your furniture!”
“Ohh, so you’re the other cat!” Aya purred. “I’m Aya, nice to meet you!”
The other cat backed away slightly. “...You will call me Ruma.”
“...That’s your cat?
“Regrettably, yes.”
“Hey!” Ruma objected.
“Can we bring Ruma to get burgers?” Aya asked.
Phoenix looked to Miles. “...Are you alright with that?”
“At least she won’t be scratching my furniture.”
“Did you know?” Phoenix asked. “Burgers are always better with someone you enjoy spending time with.”
“...We’ll see if that theory holds water, then.”