#ngl I had to read like 12 different shogayu recipes for this

[snezfics-n-shit]

Sicktember Day 12: Home Remedy/Old Wives' Tale

Fandom: Ace Attorney Characters: Phoenix Wright, Maya Fey Notes: The Fey clan has sworn by traditional remedies for generations. The Wrights have essentially built up their repertoire of home remedies almost from scratch throughout the past 20 years. Normally, these two facts would not be any reason for conflict, but a lawyer and his assistant with no energy to leave a shared office while they both fight off colds is hardly what anyone would call “normal.” Could this spell trouble for bi solidarity? Set cozily between 3-2 and 3-3 because Phoenix saying “you don’t have to tell me twice” when Maya referred to being sick in bed got those brain cogs turning.

“I don’t care how well you think it works, I’m not letting you strangle me with that thing!” 

Perhaps it was childish for Phoenix to shout such a thing while hiding behind the blanket-cluttered office couch, but in his defense, his expectations for the duration of the cold Maya managed to share with him did not involve what he considered ‘strangling.’ 

“It’s not strangling, Nick!” Maya held up the ‘thing’ in question – a long green onion – as if it were a lethal weapon, and it might as well have been, what with Phoenix’s reaction to her suggesting he wrap it around his neck. “Did your mom never wrap a warm negi around your neck? I thought you said her great grandfather or something was Japanese. This is a classic home remedy in Japan!” 

“I did say that, but you forget the fact that before I was born, my parents used to be kept so busy, home remedies weren’t even on the table. Besides, what’s wrong with what I’m already doing?” 

Maya frowned and glanced at the half-open bathroom door to observe the sink still running hot water, which Phoenix forbade her from turning off despite his previous complaints of her wasting the office’s utilities. What a hypocrite!

“The fact you think it’s normal to lock yourself in a bathroom with hot running water for an hour.” Maya deadpanned. “After rubbing expired goop on your chest, no less.”

How many times did Phoenix have to tell Maya that the date on a tub of vapor rub was simply a sell-by date that said nothing about its effectiveness? 

“It’s not expired, Maya–” Phoenix’s argument was cut short by a particularly nasty coughing fit, provoking a smug look from his assistant. 

“Are you sure you don’t want my honey and daikon syrup? I haven’t coughed once since taking it this morning.” 

“Yeah, but you did sneeze on me twi–”

“Hhh… Haahh!! HahchiyAAh!” 

“... Make that thrice.” Phoenix grumbled. 

“It’s because of that goop! That smell is not natural!” 

Phoenix couldn’t help but roll his eyes before heading to lock himself in the bathroom to take advantage of the steam from the sink. It probably would have been better if the available shower had a curtain and was capable of a water pressure greater than that of his parents’ garden hose when his childhood cat managed to get outside and mercilessly chew on it. Did Mia ever tell him why the offices came with a shower in the first place? He couldn’t recall ever discussing that with her. 

Knock, knock, knock.

What was Maya going to suggest now? 

“Look,” Phoenix sighed as he slowly opened the bathroom door, caught off guard by the cool air contrasting the warmth of the bathroom, “I just–!!  H’T’TCHUUH!!” He sniffled, not yet aware he hadn’t bothered to cover his sneeze. “Excuse me.” 

“Well now you have to drink my peace offering now that you’ve sneezed on it.” Maya still sounded annoyed, but at least a little more patient with him.

“What peace offering?”

Phoenix looked down to see the mug in Maya’s hands. It looked and smelled like tea, but Phoenix was skeptical. 

“It’s like tea! I know you’ve had tea for colds before. It has honey and ginger in it.” Maya held out the mug for Phoenix to take, eager to see his reaction to the taste.

“Hmm,” Phoenix hummed before taking a sip, “it’s… It’s really good. You know, I think my mom made something like this, but she would add lemon to it.” 

“It’s called ‘shōgayu.’” Maya explained. “Sis used to make it with yuzu,” she started to look a bit sad as she reminisced, “it always tasted a lot better when she made it than when anybody else did.”

The two settled onto the couch so Maya could grab her own mug from the side table and enjoy the hot beverage as well. 

“I think you did a pretty good job.” Phoenix placed his hand on Maya’s shoulder. “Yuzu or no yuzu.” 

“It’s not just the yuzu, Nick.” Maya took a small sip. “It was, you know…”

Maya didn’t even need to finish her sentence for Phoenix to understand.

“I know. I miss her, too.”

“I’m glad you liked how I made it, though.” Maya turned the subject around, not wanting any crying to add to her already existing congestion. “I’m sorry for chasing you around with the negi earlier, by the way.” 

“I’m sorry for accusing you of trying to strangle me.” Phoenix chuckled through his apology. “As a peace offering for you, how about I make my mom’s famous chicken soup for lunch?” 

“Can you add the negi to it?” Maya requested. “I don’t want it to go to waste.”

“You know what, Maya? I’ll see what I can do.”