Title: The true beauty of snow
Author: Even at the risk of giving myself out elsewhere, yes, it was me =p
Rating: All ages
Genre: Romance
Status: Completed (one shot)
Pairing: Phoenix/Maya
Summary: It's been a few days since the Hazakura incident, and Maya's still heavily shook up about all that went on. Phoenix wants to comfort her, and has something very important to tell her, which maybe will help alleviate the mental anguish she's going through.



This was one of those rare times -- he'd have cleared all his cases for a while, and he had nothing to do at the office. Given this, he'd agreed to spend a few days in the Fey manor at Maya's request. It had only been a few days after the events of the Hazakura case -- he knew she'd still be shaken up after all that happened, and knowing how much she trusted him, he wanted to be there for her. He wasn't sure if what he had in mind to tell her was the right thing to say at a time like this, but he trusted his gut feelings, and instinct, overwhelming instinct, told him this was somehow the right move.

When he got to the manor, he was surprised to see it was still snowing -- the weather had started to clear up around the office already. "But then again, this has been an all-around strange year, alright", he thought aloud. Shrugging to himself, he trudged on, starting to consider his attire (sneakers, jeans, and a t-shirt with a thick jacket on top -- all blue, just as he liked them) had been a slightly bad idea. Shaking his head, he approached the manor entrance and knocked on the door, which was almost immediately opened by a small, pretzel-haired girl that broke into a huge smile at the sight of him, and with a yell of "Mr. Nick!", jumped on him to give him a huge hug. Pearl's fear of strangers had subdued greatly with Phoenix around, and she was considering him already part of her family, so he wasn't surprised at this rush and show of affection. He held her tightly, gave her a small kiss in her forehead, and stroked her hair before asking her, with a smile on his face, "Hey, Pearls, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine, thank you, Mr. Nick. I'm glad you could make it here, I'm sure it'll help Mystic Maya feel better..."

"We both hope so, Pearls" said Phoenix, as he let the little girl back on the ground. "But more than that, can you help me with my backpack while I carry the big suitcase in? I'm starting to freeze out here."

The girl giggled while receiving the item, and helped Phoenix head into the manor, then closed the door with a small "clang" afterward. As they carried his luggage to the guest room, Phoenix looked at the yard -- it was covered in snow. He stopped in his tracks admiring the image, breathless, empty-minded. Apparently Pearl had gone on ahead to the room, because he didn't feel any movement around him, and just stood there, dazed, for what felt like hours.

"...Nick?"

The voice of a young woman snapped him out of his trance, and as he turned to see his assistant and closest friend, Maya, he could see her face suddenly brightening into a small smile as she walked to her friend and hugged him. When she held him, he heard a small sob and felt something wet slightly the t-shirt he was wearing under the jacket, and he hugged her back strongly as he stroked her head. Upon feeling this, and without making a sound, she started to cry in earnest, her restraint thrown to the winds. Her knees failed her, and she fell to the ground, kneeling, albeit not alone, for he had dropped with her, not wanting to let go. She cried, harder and harder, and all he could do was hold her, stroke her head, and whisper into her ear, "Cry, Maya, cry all you want... I know it hurts, but tears help ease the pain... And I'm here, I'm here for you, I'm here for anything you need me for..."







After a while...

"...Have you calmed down?" Phoenix asked while looking at his young friend's eyes. She breathed deeply, and replied with a slightly broken voice.

"Somewhat, yeah."

"Good... Because I wanted to show you something."

He stood up, and offered his hand to her to help her do the same. When she stood up, he didn't let go, and instead pulled her to the Winding Way, where they had a clear view of the yard, covered in pristine, white snow. He waved his hand towards the yard.

"Look at this."

She pointed her sight towards the yard, but noticed nothing special.

"What do you see?"

"The yard... Covered in snow..."

"I know. But you can do better than that. What else do you see?"

Irrationally feeling he was somehow trying to make her mad, she replied, a bit offended, "I don't know! What do YOU see?"

"Me? I see a lot of things. I see peace. I see tranquility. I see a million feelings represented by each of the small pieces that form this blanket of snow, millions of wishes made by millions of people upon each snowflake."

Maya was astonished. She could not believe Phoenix could come up on such short notice with those beautiful words, and her suddenly eager expression was pretty obvious in showing that she wanted to hear more.

"I see a small life developing within each snowflake. I see the tears of the sky, made into a small jewel, a jewel that disappears at the touch of the warm rays of the sun. I see hundreds of little universes, with thousands of little stars and millions of little worlds inside them. I see expressions, shaped in each little droplet, frozen in their beauty by the clouds."

Phoenix was pacing by now. He had started spluttering things, and now his heart had taken over.

"I see beauty. I see kindness. I see cold, and in that cold, the need for people to be together to warm up each other. I see unity. I see care for others. I see love."

And with these last words, he stopped in front of her, and looked at her.

"I see you, Maya."

Her eyes widened, and the next thing she knew, she was being held in those arms she liked so much, those arms that always had made her feel safe, secure, warm.

"I see you, Maya, in each and every one of the snowflakes in this yard. I see your expressions, your smiles, your frowns, your kindness, your sadness, your tears, your heart, and every single one of those things strikes me as the most beautiful things I have ever seen."

At these words, tears of emotion started to well up in the young woman's eyes, piercing with their dark shine those of the man in front of her, hungry for more.

"In every single flake that covers this yard, Maya, I see each and every one of the things we have done together. I see you laugh, I see you sleep, I see you cry, I see you pout, and I can't think how much more I'd like to see. Snow is immeasurably beautiful, Maya, but it becomes even more so when you're by the side of the one person that means the most to you. I have already discovered that, and I want you to see it too."

She could not believe it. Was Phoenix really doing what she thought he was doing? She put one hand over her mouth and the other over her heart. Could it really be true?

"I had no idea how I'd tell you this, Maya, but I... I'm almost sure you've noticed it, but I like you so much, Maya, it hurts. And I can't stand seeing you like that, all broken down. I came here because I thought you'd be happy if I did, but... Deep down, I came here because I wanted to see you, and to tell you that no matter what happens, I'm here for you now, and I will always be here for you."

Incapable of holding it anymore, she threw his arms over him so strongly that they both fell to the floor. Maya hugged Phoenix with all her might as she had managed her first true smile in days, tears no longer able to stay tucked up together in her eyes... And when she raised her face, it was to cup his cheeks in her hands and give him one of her most treasured possessions: her first kiss. Long, delicate, brimming with all kinds of feelings, it was the most fantastic thing she had ever experienced up until that point. His lips, sweet, trembling, warm, slow, kind, loving...

She slowly pulled her face away from his, still savoring the taste of her first kiss ever, and upon opening her eyes, she found his, deep, peaceful, and with a bright shine that showed just how happy he was at that very instant. Sitting against one of the corners of the Winding Way, her back and head on his chest, snuggled between his arms, they felt something fall beside them -- a thick, warm bed quilt. Smiling to himself, and thinking of a little girl with a pretzel on her head, he picked it up and covered himself and the girl in his arms with it, and they sat there in silence, enjoying each other's presence, until they both fell asleep.








Several hours later, deep into the night, Phoenix woke up slowly with a groan. He could only see the back of the head of the girl that sat between his arms, breathing peacefully, and gave a small start when she spoke to him.

"...Nick? You awake?"

"! Oh, oh yeah... Yeah, what is it?"

And before she spoke, she gave a small kiss to the wide, strong hand that was in front of her, as she felt another one stroking her head lovingly.

"You know... I think I'm starting to see what you mean."

"About?"

"...How beautiful snow is."

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it's so beautiful i cant actually picture this in my head(the part where there at the snow scene)

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It's so cheesy and romantic and I love it! >__<
This is true beauty indeed <3

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Phoenix waxes lyrical! This is adorable! I like the idea of Phoenix comforting her after the Hazakura thing - it's got to happen sometime. We need more fic about it!

See, when I read that prompt, I had this terrible idea of Klavier or somebody making some kind of stupid comment and Ema brushing him off by giving him a totally clinical scientific definition, but I didn't think that was quite what they wanted somehow...

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I think you have talent.

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