Don't Think Twice

Faraway Promise

"That's a record, Phoenix!"

"I am sure it can't be."

"Well anyways," Athena declared again butting in with her own invite and sharing the massive amount of paperwork cascading from her arms. "Still gotta get these filled out."

"Is this about our next client?"

"Yup!"

Her finger traced the name of the client, underlined and bold before she glanced at the crashing sound behind her.

"MINJU!"

"S-Sorry." Came Minju's only response as the stain of coffee mixed in with her blood. "I guess I didn't watch what I was doing too well."

"Isn't this your third time?"

Minju snapped her head back as a scarlet color enveloped her cheeks but there wasn't any judgment as Phoenix came to understand her character better. She was a klutz, a rather endearing one, ready to please.

"I'll see if we-"

"I'll take care of it." Phoenix announced sweeping his hands over his box of bandages he kept on steady supply. "Are you alright?"

"I'm better with you here."

"Ha!" Athena declared pivoting on her foot and leaving only them, even worse off but taking the paper with the client's name back with her. "Apollo and I will take care of this case. You two have fun!"

"I did something wrong, didn't I?"

"No. You can't help it. I find it endearing of you to always try and make and bring me coffee, but you don't have to keep doing this for me. Minju-"

"I know I can't stop. You saved me though! I owe you for everything, Phoenix!"

Gripping a bit harder, he wanted to be forever, maybe even bolder with his actions, other than just feel her this way, contain her the same she was when he found her.

"You think that too much."

"How could I not love my savior?"

Love?

Phoenix held in his breath.

She loved him? She loved him? Why? How could he even pretend to like that? Or even reject it? He strained his words a bit more, even worse than before.

"Minju, you are my friend and-"

"It doesn't matter if you don't feel the same, I just want to help out as best as I can."

"I didn't say that-" he halted a bit, almost stuttering to a full stop. "I care deeply for you and...I'm not good at this. You just make me feel a bit different than most other people and it's been awhile since I've had it with anyone."

"Did the detective find anything?"

"Minju."

He leaned forward and without thinking pulled a few strands before kissing her forehead.

Warmth.

That was enough to send his own heart into a pitter patter mess although he desired more even restraining himself on the grounds of being indecent to some dependable girl. How could he take advantage of her?

"It will take awhile."

"Oh. Could you not stop?" She whimpered softly and as he kept his lips pressed, her hands swung and grasped his that were to his side but he couldn't be immobile anymore. She forced him to act more in a way he hadn't thought possible. He couldn't confess nor concede defeat but he had to keep it professional, right?

"I won't if you don't want me to."

"You sound so scared, Phoenix. I'm sorry if I..."

"No. I'm in the wrong here as I should have never done this, but, I-"

"Who said it was wrong?"

"What if someone sees, I mean-"

"Does it matter anymore?"

He knew her.

He definitely did but where? Why was his memory gone from those times? Was the last few years so traumatizing that everything else was wiped from existence? Maybe with Gumshoe's results, Phoenix could let the mystery rest but that left them here again. Over and over.

It was funny how the defense attorney was the one without words and objections.

"Are you all right?" He asked even more concerned and parting his mouth gently.

"I told you, I am with you here."

Her head laid on the crook of his neck as his palms pushed her more to him, unable to grasp more than the stifled intakes of his own suffering and as the minutes passed and the door of the agency opened wide; he couldn't dare break himself from her.

"Hey, Phoen-"

"Shhhhh."

Athena and Apollo stood there willing with more familiar faces peering out from behind them, just surveying the scenario and allowing nothing to be discarded like Minju had been.

"Now, you're all better, right?" Phoenix declared even unsure but with the rising of Minju's head and eyes, her hands continued to lace themselves between his'. No protest. No resistance and like that, they both stood proudly together now ultimately aware of the varied expressions and the embarrassment spreading to both Phoenix and Minju.

"You two, seriously. We leave and win the case and now, you two are playing boyfriend and girlfriend." Apollo gave a visible sigh as if amused, too.

"Not playing at all, Apollo." Phoenix announced.

"Then?" Minju's voice ended as he detached and put an arm on her waist, almost sure of his own intentions.

"FINALLY!" Athena cried nearly also falling on her own two feet and all that Phoenix could do was try to bring her back down to their reality but with a hidden grin, Minju began laughing hysterically.

"Oh man."