Chapter Text
“Uncle Nick, what is High School Musical ?” Pearl asks softly, holding a DVD box up, making Maya gasp loudly, and Phoenix has to take a double take as he looks at her.
“Maya you told me she was sheltered but not to know the best Disney Channel movie of the 2000’s is just simply a crime” he says looking at her in despair, she shrugs confused.
“I watched the movies with my sis as a kid.” Maya smiles sadly and then instantly cheers up “Well Pearly it seems like it is time for you to learn what
High School Musical
is all about then!”
“I haven’t watched this movie in so long” Phoenix looks at the box fondly ”It was my high school junior year spring production even, so this copy is one I bought later on, my original one got scratched to hell and back” he chuckles.
“You are such a nerd Nick” Maya fake gags “Bet you played Troy” she snickers after putting the movie into Nick’s ancient DVD player, making him roll his eyes.
“Laugh it up all you want!, Larry played Ryan you should have seen him” he snorts and ruffles Maya’s hair, settling into the couch next to Pearl who is silently chewing into her thumb as she observes “Pearls, you let us know if there is something you don’t understand and we’ll pause the movie, okay?”
The girl nods and cuddles under his arm as per usual movie night rules dictates, Maya hands Phoenix the DVD remote, before going towards the kitchen to look for appropriate snacks “So this movie was released on 2006 when I was still on 8th grade, and it was very very popular” he fake whispers the next part “Is not actually very good but it makes us old people nostalgic” Pearl giggles at that.
“Shut your pie hole
Nicholas,
you are the only old fart in this room” Maya yells from the kitchen, making Pearl laugh harder.
“Uncle Nick didn’t say your name Mystic Maya '' she breathes out giggly.
“As Pearls said, you identified yourself as a nostalgic old person” Phoenix chuckles amused “I am innocent of any accusations” Maya groans as she returns with two bags of chips, one for Nick and Pearl and one for herself.
“Just put the movie on okay?” she pinches his arm, and snickers at his yelp of pain.
“Okay
geez
tone down the violence a bit, I bruise like a peach” he mumbles as he makes sure subtitles are on before setting play “Prepare for a musical experience Pearls”
Pearl puffs up her cheeks as the movie starts “I’m ready Uncle Nick!”
It doesn't take long for Nick and Maya to start singing along “Uncle Nick are they special someone’s? ” Pearl quietly asks after their lively performance of Start of Something new .
“There they just met Pearly” Maya explains before Nick can interject “But later on they are, so pay attention”
“This script just gets worse as the years go by” Nick grimaces constantly while Maya keeps snickering and Pearl just looks confused “I can’t really explain anything they say cause it has been 13 years and I still don’t understand it!”
They don’t have that many interruptions during the movie as it is pretty basic, and not that hard for a kid to understand but that doesn’t stop Maya from commenting on everything “Hey Nick did you have to learn the fancy basketball tricks for
Get’cha Head In The Game?”
Maya snickers as the song number goes on the TV.
“Don’t remind me” he grumbles “I kept tripping over” Pearl tugs on his sleeve “Yes Pearls?”
“
Shapray
reminds me of Miss Franziska” she stumbles across the name, and Maya snorts, grabbing her phone instantly to send her a text.
“Is Sharpay
sweetheart
” Nick gently corrects her after finishing up laughing.
“Nick, Nick!” Maya pokes him repeatedly on the arm “Does that make Edgeworth, Ryan?” they both stay quiet for a second before exploding on laughter “Oh Mother, I’m imagining them doing
Bop to the Top
now, my brain is amazing”
“I feel like if I agree your girlfriend is gonna show up to whip me for making such a foolish statement” Phoenix laughs shaking his head “Miles would make that constipated face he does, the
unnecessary feelings
one” and Maya falls off the couch while laughing.
And by the time Breaking Free is over, Pearl's eyes are completely amazed and is mouthing the words along with the songs.
“Maya get off the couch” Nick stops the movie right before the last song starts “Help me push it back”
Maya yells excited and follows up “I see you are using your brain cell today, smart” Pearl doesn’t move from her seat and just looks at them curiously “Pearly you are getting a special performance by yours Truly, Mia and I learned the dance together”
“You danced with Mystic Mia?” her eyes shine “That’s amazing” clapping her hands together “I’m excited!”
Phoenix looks at the space between the TV and the couch and nods to himself after moving the coffee table away “This is good enough I think” Maya gives him a thumbs up and presses play back on the movie.
It hadn’t been good enough, as Nick grumbles under his breath after the movie is over and he has to clean up the pieces of the broken lamp “You guys head to bed I’ll clean this up no worries” he says to the girls as they stand in the kitchen away from the broken glass.
“Uncle Nick this was lots of fun” Pearl says clearly after he is done “Can you teach me to dance like you?”
Phoenix smiles and opens his arms for her after she yawns, taking her towards the apartment’s only bedroom “Of course Pearls, you will be a professional in no time, I assure you” he kisses her forehead and puts her down on the bed “Goodnight”
“
Night uncle nick”
she mumbles sleepy, quickly falling asleep.
“Next movie night we should show her the second movie” Maya says coming back from the bathroom after changing into pajamas, “Thanks for everything Nick”.
“Of course Maya” he kisses her hair as she goes toward the bed too, “have a goodnight” he says gently turning off the light and quickly leaving the room, ready to settle down on the couch to sleep, happy to know they once again had a good time together.