Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter
Chapter Text
It had been years. Years since she’d been to this country, years since she’d even thought much about it. She was never a big fan of it in the first place. The smells, the sounds, the bright lights. The people. Ugh, the people. Don’t even get me started. She shook her head and focused on the task at hand; finding her adopted brother’s home and getting herself settled for the night.
“Franny?” A familiar voice. She turned her head.
It took less than a second to recognize her. It wasn’t hard. She always stuck out in a crowd. Franziska took a moment to take in the display in front of her. The kooky spirit medium she’d met all those years ago, dressed in – a white robe? She wasn’t sure – a magenta bow around her waist, a string of pearls encapsulating that same old tan magatama, and silky black hair tied up in the front, top, and back. Maya looked the same, maybe a bit older. She unknowingly clenched her fist. This was the last person she wanted to cross paths with. The last person she ever expected to cross paths with.
The spirit medium stood in front of her, a thin smile on her lips. Another moment passed, and she forced herself to regain her composure. “Ah, Maya Fey. It’s been a while… How are you doing?” She looked around, silently begging for Miles to arrive to save her from this encounter.
The girl smiled brightly. Well, that part hasn’t changed. She’s always had a nice smile, Franziska thought, though subsequently forced herself to shut that part of her brain out.
“I’ve been doing well. I’m here to visit Nick; I wasn’t expecting to run into you!” The girl took a step forward and grabbed her hand, still smiling at Franziska. “I’ve got to get going, but, hey, let’s get drinks sometime! Or just hang out… or something.” Maya looked down, tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, pulled out her phone, and held it out to Franziska. It had a sparkly purple case with a Steel Samurai charm hanging off of it. She’s still the same. “Put your number in for me?”
“Ah… yes, that sounds nice.” Reluctantly, Franziska took the phone and typed in her number. Maya smiled again, turned around, and walked away, waving as she departed. “I’ll see you!” She said, disappearing around a corner. Perhaps this was simply just two old friends meeting for the first time in years, hanging out once, and then parting ways. Perhaps this was nothing else.
The pit in her stomach told her otherwise.
…
10 minutes or so after Maya left, Miles found Franziska waiting at the cafe they promised to meet at. Franziska sighed upon seeing him.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?” She placed a hand on her hip.
“Ah, Franziska, impatient as usual.” Miles smirked and pulled her into a cordial hug, which she reluctantly accepted. She does a lot of things reluctantly. Maybe she should work on that. “It’s been far too long since we’ve met in person like this.”
Her hand returns to her hip as Miles turns around and she follows. “Well, I wish you’d come sooner. When I was waiting for you, I ran into…” Her heart caught in her throat as she searched for the right words. “…that Miss Fey.”
She saw his head move up and down in a nod without glancing back towards her. “Ah, yes. Wright informed me she was visiting.”
She stopped dead in her tracks. “And you didn’t think to tell me?!” She clenched her teeth, anger slowly seeping into her.
“I didn’t think it mattered,” Miles continued walking, disregarding any rage Franziska failed to hide behind her words. “you were never very close with her.”
Right. Of course, he wouldn’t know. She resumed walking, jogging to catch up.
Her mind thought back to the shared glances between them, the brushes of their hands meeting when they walked past each other in that courthouse, the blush that would creep onto her face when she saw her standing next to Phoenix Wright on the opposing side. She felt like a fool whenever she recalled these memories.
All of that was behind her now. It had been years.
And she was sure Maya Fey had moved on, too.
No way. I can’t have thoughts like this anymore. She sighed again and shook her head as she and Miles approached his bright red car.
Franziska von Karma was someone who never concerned herself with her own feelings. And that hadn’t changed since they parted ways. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose and released it through her mouth. And suddenly, all thoughts of the spirit medium were gone. Shut down in her brain. That was just how things had to be.
…
Franziska stepped into the room and was immediately welcomed by the scent of vanilla. She turned in the dark before finally finding the light switch, flicking it on, and walking over to the closet to set down her luggage. She sighed, entwined her hands behind her back, and stretched out. It felt nice. She glanced around, breathing in her surroundings.
The room was a spare. It had the basic features of one; a bed with white sheets and deep red blankets, a small bureau, and a desk. Not too cozy, but fine for the night, considering the fact she wasn’t staying for long. She walked over to the curtains and drew them to block out the city lights. Huh, blackout curtains. Nice…
“I hope this suffices.” A voice coming from behind her. Startled, she looked back and saw Miles standing in the doorway, leaning against the shiny wood. “I’m heading to bed. Good night, Franziska.”
“You startled me!” She scoffed. “... But good night.”
It took her about a half hour or so to get her things situated. She slipped into her pajamas; silk shorts with a simple white tank top, the edges adorned with lace. Removing her socks, she sat down in the chair of a small wooden desk and pulled out her laptop. Franziska skimmed her emails and stopped when she saw one about a case in the area. She didn’t recognize the name of the lawyer who was defending the suspect, but she assumed that if she was being requested, it must be a case worthy of her time. She wrote out an email back, accepting the case.
Franziska fell asleep that night feeling comforted by the fact that she at least had something that made it seem that she made the right choice to come back; she felt wanted here.
…
The next afternoon, Miles drove her to her new apartment. A fairly sized one-bedroom in a decent neighborhood. It wasn’t her preferred place of living, but it would do. She spent the evening unpacking what little she’d brought and managed to recruit Miles’ help to assemble her new furniture.
Ding
She was surprised to hear the chime of her phone. She picked it up, expecting it to be a scam text or perhaps some friend or family member from back home asking how the trip was.
( heyyy it’s maya! sorry i’m texting late u wanna hang tmrw night at 7? ;p )
Franziska scanned the message and typed out a response. She tried not to overthink it.
( Sounds good. )
Maya followed up with an address to a local restaurant and Franziska reacted with only a thumbs-up emoji.
Miles stepped into her apartment and set down a box. He peered over at her and saw her typing something on her phone. “What are you up to?” He asked.
Her cheeks burned red in embarrassment. “...Maya Fey. When we met, she asked for my phone number. She wants to hang out.”
He chuckled. “You gave me the impression you didn’t like her.” Miles roughed up her hair when he passed by her, causing her to flinch away from his hand and mumble some half-assed threat. She wished she had her whip.
Franziska had noticed Miles had become significantly more brotherly following the years she’d lost her father. She didn’t exactly mind it, though it still felt odd to her. It was something she wasn’t used to.
As the hours passed by, she bid Miles a short farewell and returned to her own work. She allowed herself to be absorbed in it so she didn’t have to think about anything else.
When she finished her work for the night, she got into bed and pulled the covers up over her shoulders.
She fell asleep, the smallest smile creeping onto her lips.
…
Franziska woke up in her new room, greeted by silence and a nearly empty apartment. She made her way over to the kitchen and began making some coffee. She returned to her room to get ready for the day as she waited for it to be ready. She breathed in and out. Today would be a busy day.
She pulled out her laptop and opened her files on the case she’d accepted the night before. It would be in 3 days from now. It was a case of theft, simple yet perfect to ease her back into her career in America.
6 PM rolled around. Although she was exhausted, she dragged herself out of bed and got changed. She threw on a long-sleeved black dress with a cut in the thigh, her usual dark tights, and some black flats, along with her signature gloves. She finished the look with a silver necklace and a purse that hung down from her shoulder. It took her at least 15 minutes to perfect her eyeliner. By the time she was done, it was already 6:45.
Franziska got her things together as she prepared to set off. Why did I agree to this? She adjusted her hair as she walked out the door and made her way down to the restaurant Maya had suggested. It was still light out, average for a July night in the city. As she walked she checked her purse to confirm she had everything. Keys, phone, wallet, lipgloss. She appreciated the fact that Maya wanted to meet at a restaurant near her new apartment so she wouldn’t have to deal with the hassle of public transportation.
Once again, it was incredibly easy to spot her. Maya hung around the entrance to the restaurant, phone in hand, dressed in a short, ruffly pink dress adorned with sparkles, her usual magatama sitting atop her chest. Her hair was unusually pulled back into a simple bun. Franziska wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen Maya with a different hairstyle.
“Franny!” Maya’s face lit up when she saw her. She waved and motioned her to come over. Franziska’s cheeks turned red as she heard her greeting.
“…Franziska is fine.” She looked away sheepishly. Maya placed her hand over her mouth, an apologetic look on her face.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just– I dunno. Haven’t seen you in a while.” She grinned. “Follow me.” She took Franziska’s arm and entered the restaurant. Although surprised, Franziska didn’t pull away. Maya was always friendly like that.
The restaurant wasn’t empty, but it was still early into the night, so it wasn’t packed yet either. Maya politely smiled at the waiter and requested a table for two. They were led over to one and handed two menus. Franziska skimmed the drink menu as she pondered what she might order. Across from her, Maya tapped the table rhythmically to whatever pop song played over the speakers. Franziska caught herself staring and brought her eyes back to the menu, eventually settling on an alcoholic beverage she’d never heard of before but sounded decent.
The waiter soon came over and took their orders. Maya of course went with a burger along with some drink. Franziska wasn’t even sure what she’d said. A few moments of silence passed between them. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut through with a knife. She had no idea where to start with her. Finally, after a minute, Maya perked up, seemingly remembering something.
“Franziska, I heard you’re moving back here. Nick told me that Mr. Edgeworth mentioned it. What made you come back?” Franziska was relieved Maya finally managed to dissipate the awkward feelings in the air.
Franziska met her eyes and thought for a moment, considering her answer. “I simply came back to continue my career. I didn’t have anything left to accomplish back in Germany.” She tried keeping her answer short so as not to provoke many questions. She was still exhausted from the move, and Maya was known to go on for quite a while when given the chance. Maya nodded wordlessly. She seemed to be mulling something over.
“So… you’re staying? Good.”
Franziska’s heart skipped a beat. Good? What could she mean by that? She’s glad I’m staying here? Franziska placed her elbow on the table and rubbed her temple.
Franziska looked back up at her and placed her hands on the table. She cracked her fingers as she thought of what to say next. She probably thinks I’m crazy. Why am I so anxious?
She nodded curtly. “...Mm, I’m staying.” Some more silence passed between them. Maya played with a few strands of her hair, twirling it around in her fingers. Franziska watched her, studying the little movements she offered. “Uh, what have you been up to?” She tried.
Maya sighed. “...Sorry I’m so awkward. It’s been so long, and I never talked to you much before… so I don’t really know what to say.” She paused. Franziska stayed quiet, anticipating what she might say next. “Honestly, I was surprised you agreed to hang out with me.” She folded her hands on the table and caught Franziska’s gaze. “I’ve been in Kurain Village as per usual. Quite a while back, I traveled to the Kingdom of Khurain for studies. I returned a couple of years ago and I’ve been continuing studying to one day become the master.” Franziska shuddered at her words. Maya was so… mature, so polite. It was nothing like the girl she thought she’d known before.
“Don’t worry about it. I feel the exact same way.” She offered a playful smirk. “You’ve matured, Maya Fey. You’re a lot different than when we last met.” Maya beamed back at her.
“Nah, I haven’t become mature. Just gotten better at pretending to be.” Franziska laughed at this, a rare sight from her. Maya giggled back. “You’re different, too, you know. The old Franziska would’ve given me a hundred lashings for calling her Franny!”
Franziska laughed again but quickly covered her face up in embarrassment. That whip – something she’d originally used as a riding crop – had been abandoned years ago, though she did still hold on to it. “Oh, God, Maya Fey! Don’t remind me!” She shook her head and looked back up, still smiling. Maya was looking intently at her as if she was studying her.
“Don’t be embarrassed! It made you more… interesting?” Franziska smirked again, shaking her head. Their attention was quickly diverted to the sight of their waiter approaching their table with their drinks. They both thanked him. Maya held her glass up expectantly, and Franziska clinked them together.
“Cheers.” They both took a sip.
…
They chatted for a while over their food and drinks. By the end of the night, they were both pretty tipsy. Franziska, being less sensitive to alcohol than Maya was, assured Maya she’d accompany her to the bus station, and then return to her apartment, as it was just a short walk through downtown.
Maya was strangely quiet when she was drunk. When the alcohol first began to set in earlier, she’d been a bit obnoxious and a little too loud for Franiska’s liking, but she managed to tolerate it. Now, Maya was silently walking alongside Franziska, one hand hanging down by her side and the other stroking her hair. She’d taken out her bun as the night went on, and Franziska had to stifle any thoughts about how nice she looked with it down.
The two of them approached the bus station. Franziska had seen it when she lived in the area before but had never used it. She despised public transportation. They slowly came to a stop as they came near a bench. Maya let in a breath of air as if she was going to begin speaking, then released it. She tried again.
“Franny?” Maya said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Franziska tried to ignore the use of that nickname. “Yes?” She looked over at her and found Maya’s eyes cast down toward the ground.
“Sit with me for a bit?” Maya sat down on the smooth bench. They were alone, and it was late. Franziska looked around, considering making up an excuse and bidding a short goodbye to her. Maya looked up at her and tilted her head slightly. I can’t just leave like this.
Franziska sat. Maya smiled softly and closed her eyes.
“I’m glad we hung out. I always wanted to be friends with you, you know. I was pretty sad when I found out you moved away without saying goodbye.” Franziska silently cursed herself for that, but she didn’t know why. They were never close, despite whatever tension she might’ve felt all those years ago. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not upset anymore. I get why you didn’t say bye, I mean, we barely talked.” Maya looked up at the moon. “It’s just, I hope we can be friends now.”
Franziska felt her heart melt at Maya’s words.
“I have some time before I head back,” Maya began again. “to the village.” She explained. “Pearly wanted to watch over the trainees back home, and she insisted I take a long vacation, so that's what I'm doing. I’ve been here for a week already. I have nearly three more months until I go back home…” She trailed off, her eyes beginning to close, until she snapped up again. “Sorry. I barely slept last night.” She rubbed her eyes. Franziska sat deep in thought, not uttering a word. She was scared to speak, or even think. Maya’s gaze met her eyes again. “Anyway, I hope we can hang out a few times before I return.” She smiled warmly.
“Of course,” Franziska whispered. She tried keeping her mind distracted. “I’d like to.” Franziska looked away. She could barely stand it anymore, but she had to try. She stood up. “I’m sorry. I should be going.”
She didn’t look back at Maya Fey. She wouldn’t dare. She just walked in the opposite direction. She heard Maya mumble a goodbye. And that was it.
Chapter 2: Waiting for You
Summary:
Franziska von Karma is perfect. But... does she really have to be?
Notes:
we dive a little into franziska's state of mind and inner thoughts, and gumbyrde mention :) again i haven't finished investigations so pls excuse any mistakes if there are any, or consider them apart of the au lol
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Franziska quietly walked through downtown. The hour approached 9 PM, yet she felt exhausted, as if she had been out for hours longer. Worn out, she made her way through the city. The lights felt overwhelming. Checking her phone, she saw that she was about a 20-minute walk from her apartment. She sighed and rubbed her eyes.
Upon entering her quiet, empty apartment, she removed her shoes and slipped out of her tights. Feeling far too tired to take a shower, she decided to take a bath instead. She reached out and twisted the knob. As she watched the water pour from the faucet, she stepped in and sat down. The hot water felt soothing against her skin. She exhaled through her nose and closed her eyes as the tub slowly filled. She reflected on the events of the past few days.
First, there was the move. It was exhausting, but she was grateful to have Miles help her. Then there was that case she had taken on. It seemed solid when she reviewed the files, but she still needed to prepare some arguments. And then, there was her outing with Maya Fey. She didn’t even know where to begin mentally unpacking everything that had happened that night.
Franziska turned off the faucet and started applying soap to her bare skin, scrubbing thoroughly. One thought echoed in her mind as she washed herself: she couldn’t believe how utterly foolish she had been.
Franziska had waited so long for a chance to express herself. Maya Fey finally gave her that opportunity, and she squandered it. Maya poured her heart out to her, and all she did was walk away. How could anyone be expected to deal with her when she behaved like this?
Her life felt like a joke. She should have stayed in Germany if she wasn’t going to change after all. All this time, she had been trying to prove something to herself—that she didn’t have to be like her father. She didn’t have to be perfect. She could allow herself to get close to people and share her feelings.
But if she couldn’t change back then, what was the point of trying now?
She didn’t notice the warm tears on her cheeks as she stepped out of the bathtub. Drying herself off, she went to unplug the tub to let it drain. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the water and saw the tears staining her face.
I’m pathetic.
…
Nearly a week passed before she could see Maya Fey again. Maya had asked to hang out a couple of times, and she’d thought about agreeing but ended up telling her she was busy with her case. Maya had understood.
One night, she finished her work early and thought about what to do next. Eventually, she decided to make herself dinner and take a break. She stood up and walked to her kitchen. Opening her fridge, she realized how empty it was. She heard a knock on the door while reaching in for some leftovers from the night before. It startled her, and she froze for a moment. She walked over and hesitated before finally looking through the peephole. It was Maya.
Of course, it was her.
Franziska took a step back and placed a hand on the doorknob. She considered her options: she could just ignore her and pretend she wasn’t home. That sounded tempting; she disliked being disturbed during her personal time, as she rarely set any aside for herself. She could also open the door and see what Maya wanted. Ten years ago, she would’ve chosen the former. But tonight, she decided to go with the latter.
The doorknob turned, and Maya’s face lit up when she saw her open the door. Franziska thought about how to ask her what she wanted.
“... What do you want?” No, definitely not the right way to greet her. Embarrassed, she looked away. “Sorry, uh… what are you here for?”
Maya just giggled. “I was in the area, so I decided to stop by. If you’re busy, I can leave, but I just thought I’d ask…” She held up a plastic bag and a case of hard seltzer she was carrying. “I brought snacks and drinks.” She gestured with her hands. Franziska peeked inside the bag and scanned the contents. Mostly chip bags. Franziska leaned back and sighed.
“Yeah, come on in. I just wrapped up my work for the night.” She glanced at the clock: 6:30. “I was about to heat up some leftovers. Want any?” she asked Maya.
Maya shook her head. “No thanks, already ate.” She set her things down on Franziska’s living room table and plopped herself onto the couch. “You’ve got a nice place for someone who just moved back.” Franziska nodded as she placed her food in the microwave.
“Thanks. Miles helped me put some things together.” She grabbed a bottle of cleaner and started spraying down her counters to keep herself occupied. “How did you know where I live, anyway?”
Maya walked over to the kitchen and began inspecting everything. She opened a cabinet. “Oh, sorry, I should’ve mentioned that,” she said, closing the cabinet and opening another one, “I asked Edgeworth. I tried texting you, but you didn’t respond.” She closed this one too. Franziska walked over and placed her hand on the counter.
“It’s no problem. What are you looking for?” Maya turned her gaze to Franziska.
“Glasses for the seltzer. Mind showing me where I can find some?” She smiled.
Franziska opened a cabinet and handed over two tall glasses. Maya took them back to her spot by the couch, filled them up, and placed one on the coffee table while lifting the other to her lips for a sip. Franziska finished wiping down the kitchen counters, retrieved her food from the microwave, and sat next to Maya. Maya reached down and picked up the bag of snacks she’d brought. She took them out and set them on the coffee table.
Franziska perked up. “These cheddar ones, they’re one of my favorite kinds. A neat coincidence, huh?”
Maya shrugged. “I thought you mentioned you liked them before.” She sat back and picked up her glass of seltzer.
Franziska felt her heart flutter. “It’s been years since we last talked. You… remembered that?” She looked down and placed her hands in her lap. Am I that important to her?
Maya smiled and leaned the side of her face into the couch. “I have a good memory for stuff like that, I guess.”
Franziska grabbed the TV remote and started scrolling through the channels. They eventually settled on one, but neither seemed to be really watching, both focused on different parts of the apartment. She took a sip and finally broke the silence.
“So… Phoenix Wright. Sounds like you two are still very close. How has he been these days?” She leaned back and crossed her legs, placing an elbow on the couch arm.
Maya nodded. “Yup, Nick and I are still as close as ever.” She looked away and took another sip. “And I’m sure you’re still close with Edgeworth. Y’know, those two’ve been hanging out a lot recently…” She smirked mischievously and turned back to Franziska, raising both eyebrows. “...if you know what I mean.”
Franziska’s face turned red, and she nearly spit out her drink when she heard Maya’s words. She knew something was going on, but she certainly didn’t expect her to bring it up like this.
“I- ah- yeah…” Franziska gave a curt nod and turned her eyes to her drink, her cheeks still bright pink. Maya started giggling, which turned into a full-on laugh. It took her a few moments to calm down.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry.” She snorted and wiped her mouth with her sleeve. “Hahh, I still don’t really know how to start a conversation with you. But Nick’s been doing well. Still a lawyer and all…” She trailed off, focusing on a spot on the wall. Franziska glanced at the clock again: 6:40. This would be a long night.
…
Franziska’s eyes fluttered open. She was in bed, although she barely remembered how she got there. She grabbed her phone from her nightstand and checked the time. It was Saturday, late in the morning, and her mind was still groggy after the drinks she’d had last night. She got up and stretched, walking through the hallway into the living room. Empty. She noticed a piece of paper on the coffee table and picked it up to read it.
[ Thx for letting me stay overnight ;p when I got up you were still asleep in bed so I didn’t bother u - Maya ]
That’s right. Maya missed the last bus, so she slept on her couch. She ignored the quiet part of her brain that said I wish she’d stayed longer and went to cook herself breakfast. She settled on eggs and toast and grabbed what she needed. While waiting for the eggs to cook on the stove, she grabbed a pad of paper and scribbled down a grocery list.
Franziska pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt before hastily doing her makeup and leaving the apartment. She checked her purse to make sure she had what she needed. She’d made a habit of doing that after forgetting her car keys a few times and showing up to court later than she’d liked. She was really the only one who cared, but that didn’t matter to her. A von Karma had to be perfect.
The way to the grocery store was short, only about a 5-minute walk, but she decided to take a more scenic route through a park to clear her mind. She wasn’t exactly hungover after last night but she had a small headache. She wished she’d taken some painkillers before she left.
She thought about her evening with Maya. Although Franziska wasn’t a fan of surprises, she found herself feeling grateful for her surprise visit to her apartment. It was something she could barely remember having before, spending time with someone just for the sake of spending time with them. It was so nice.
Franziska looked ahead and saw a little dog with a coat similar to a Shiba Inu trotting along on the park’s path. It stopped to smell a patch of grass, but quickly noticed her and started barking and wagging its tail, a high-pitched yip coming from its mouth. It looked pretty old, with white fur surrounding its mouth and going down its snout, though it seemed fairly active for its age.
Wait a minute. I know that dog. She looked up to see who its leash was attached to.
You’re kidding. She stopped dead in her tracks.
“Scruffy?” Her jaw nearly dropped as the detective noticed her, his eyes going wide. “I- ah, Gumshoe… I mean.” To his left, a woman stood next to him. She looked familiar, though she couldn’t exactly place her face. She thought she might’ve seen her around when she was in the States before.
She took a minute to study him. He wore a green coat, similar to the one he always used to be in, but definitely newish and brighter. He had a similar haircut with a few gray strands tucked back behind his ear. And… was that a ring on his left hand?
He took a step forward and grinned. “von Karma!” She offered a polite smile as she thought of excuses to get away. Detective Gumshoe handed the dog’s leash to the woman and held out his hand. She hesitated before offering hers back and shaking it. She placed a hand on her other arm and looked around, silently wishing for someone to drag her away. No one came. He continued talking despite her visual disinterest, so she resigned herself to pushing away her annoyance and attempting to respond to him.
“It’s been so long! I saw you were a prosecutor around here. One of my buddies was assigned to that case you were on a few days back, but I was wondering when I’d run into you.” He gestured to the dog, still excited but no longer barking. “You remember that K-9 unit we had, Missile? It seems he remembers you.” He laughed. “Almost 14 now and retired, but we ended up adopting him.” The woman walked up to her with the dog. Franziska slowly reached down to pat its head. He turned to her. “I don’t think you’ve met…?”
“I’m Maggey.” The woman, Maggey, she supposed, introduced herself. “We never met, but I think I saw you a couple of times when I was still a police officer.” Franziska shook her hand, too, and turned her attention back to the dog. Of course she remembered Missile. She recalled using him in those cases years ago. Her gaze softened as she petted the dog’s soft fur, and he licked her hands.
Franziska stood up again. She fiddled with her hands. “Nice running into you. I’m sorry, I should be going-”
Gumshoe raised his hand, promptly stopping her. “Ah, I’m sure you’re busy. But let’s catch up sometime. No whip anymore, eh? You know, I was pretty threatened by you all those years ago, hah. But I guess… people change.” He turned to Maggey and smiled softly before looking back at her and giving a quick nod of his head. They continued walking, as did she. Was there something she was missing?
As she walked away from them, a pit formed in her stomach. Gumshoe’s words echoed in her mind.
But I guess… people change.
Franziska von Karma had grown soft over the years.
Notes:
i hope you enjoy the fic so far! again my first fic so im learning as i go lol. idk when the next chapter will be posted but I'll work on it when I'm not busy with school :3
Chapter 3: Colors in the Sky
Notes:
just wanna add, phoenix wright and miles edgeworth are referred to as "wright" and "miles" because the story is from franziska's point of view :) chapter 3 yay!! enjoy
Chapter Text
Franziska wrapped up her second trial after returning to the States smoothly. Two weeks had passed since that Friday night, and she felt optimistic about the near future. She was confident her performance had been viewed as excellent by those watching, and she allowed herself to feel proud of her skills.
The first case involved theft, and the second was a car accident. Neither case resulted in anyone's death. Both were solid, although she still needed to put in some extra work to prove the defendants guilty. But she managed.
When she left the office, a few colleagues stopped her and invited her to join them for drinks. She obliged, liking the idea of making friends with a coworker.
She arrived five minutes before the others and explained to the hostess that she was waiting for her coworkers. She sat on the bench reserved for waiting customers and looked down into her lap.
She heard the ding of the bell above the restaurant door and caught the eye of one of the other prosecutors. She stood up and took his hand, smiling politely. They were led to a table.
The silence was awkward at first, but when a few others arrived, Franziska let herself relax and be comfortable with the others there.
She scanned her surroundings. She was sitting at the edge of a booth. The others already seemed well acquainted with each other. It put her in an awkward position, but they seemed willing to get to know her better. None of the prosecutors at this outing were ones she’d worked with before; they were all younger than her and fairly recent hires. She assumed she was young enough to get along with them, which was why they invited her. She sipped her drink and listened to the others talk about a previous case from a few years ago.
“…yeah, the defendant even tried to use a spirit medium to use as evidence for her innocence…”
Franziska’s ears perked up upon hearing one of their conversations.
“Hah! Did they seriously think that would work? That spirit medium stuff is all such bullcrap…”
Franziska turned to face whoever had made this statement. “You don’t think they’re real?” She set down her glass and put her hands in her lap.
Two of her coworkers, the ones having the conversation, looked at her, puzzled. The one who had made the accusation spoke up. “Of course not. You don’t believe in that stuff, do you, von Karma?”
She cringed at the use of her last name and looked away. “It’s not as if I believe in it. I’ve seen someone channeling a spirit with my own eyes.” She set an elbow down on the table and cupped her own cheek with her hand. Just stop talking.
One of them chuckled. “You’re kidding!” At this point, the others were listening to what was happening, and a couple of them also began giggling. “What, do you believe in fairies, too? What’re you gonna say next? You’ve swam with mermaids?” The rest of the table began laughing at the statement. Franziska’s cheeks glowed red as her brain scrambled, trying to think of a response.
She clenched her other fist. She knew it was a joke. She knew she should just let it go. Franziska felt their eyes burning into her. Play it off as a joke. Just say something. Anything!
Their eyes began to turn away from her and their initial conversation was about to resume when she finally spoke out. “I’m just saying, it’s foolish to deny something when proof of it exists!” She didn’t shout it, but her words came out a bit louder than she’d intended. The others looked back at her and stared for a moment.
“... Hey, we were just kidding. Don’t take it to heart…” One of them, a younger girl who made the comment about fairies and mermaids, spoke out first. The others mumbled words she didn’t quite hear (whether it was because they were too quiet or because she wasn’t quite listening, she wasn’t sure) and started talking again after a few seconds of silence. She slowly covered her mouth with her hand and looked down sheepishly.
Franziska barely spoke the rest of the night.
…
She heard the chime of her phone while leaving the restaurant. A small wave of anxiety washed over her. Recently, that sound has never led to anything good. She pulled it out and saw a text from an unknown number. She began reading the first few words of the message.
( Sorry to text you out of the blue. It’s Phoenix Wright… )
That was enough for her. She didn’t want to interact with… him. She stuffed her phone back into her purse.
She paused. What if it’s about Maya?
She shook her head, trying to dismiss her thoughts.
There’s no harm in just reading it.
She sighed, succumbing to that small and quite annoying part of her brain, and opened her phone to see what the message said.
( Sorry to text you out of the blue. It’s Phoenix Wright. Maya headed to the village for the weekend earlier. She doesn’t have good reception up there and wanted me to pass along a message )
Franziska tapped on the screen, considering how to respond.
( What is it? )
Simple enough. She walked over to the inner edge of the sidewalk and leaned against a wall, her phone still in hand. She saw the bubble indicating he was typing as he replied.
( Tomorrow’s the Fourth of July. I was just about to take a train over to Kurain Village. Maya wanted to invite you to watch the fireworks )
Franziska cringed at the thought of riding a train with Phoenix Wright.
( What time is the train? )
( 8 PM )
( Are there any trains after that? )
( No, it’s the last one for tonight )
( Village is two hours away by train )
( Thank you. I’ll be there. )
Franziska pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled. Somehow, almost all of her recent attempts to step outside her comfort zone revolved around Maya.
She pushed herself off the wall and continued down the sidewalk, allowing her thoughts to consume her. Her gaze remained fixed on the ground beneath her. She couldn’t understand why Maya Fey had become so significant in her life in the past few weeks. Sure, she might’ve had a little crush when they were both teenagers. She can admit that. But in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t mean anything.
It didn’t mean a single thing.
…
It didn’t mean anything.
These words continued to repeat in her head as she sat inside the train. Phoenix Wright sat opposite to her, slouched over and asleep, breathing evenly. They exchanged only a few words when waiting and boarding, and now the silence was uncomfortable and awkward only for her as he slept peacefully. At least she had music to keep her sane.
After an hour on the train, the light outside began dimming as the sun set. Franziska’s eyelids felt heavier. Her playlist transitioned to a calmer song, and she allowed her eyes to close and for herself to drift into a dreamless sleep.
She awoke nearly an hour later. She stretched, noticing the time on her phone’s clock.
“You’re awake. We’ll be there any minute now.” She yawned, nodding in Wright’s direction, and took out her earbuds, putting them back into her bag along with her phone and getting her things together. She brought a small suitcase with the essentials. She’d be staying only one night, so she brought some pajamas, makeup, changes of clothes, etcetera. She was grateful she woke up now instead of having to be woken up by Wright. He sat with his arms crossed, looking out the window, his things resting on the seat next to him.
The village came into view a few minutes later, and the train came to a halt. Only the two of them got off at the village stop. Wright walked down the dirt road towards the Fey Manor, and Franziska trailed a few feet behind. She took in the small village. It was nearing 9:10 at this point, and she felt exhausted, even after the short nap on the train.
Her luggage felt heavier and heavier as she walked. She tightened her grip on the handle. She felt the bumps on the road as she rolled her suitcase, the cool breeze on her face, and the warmth of the summer air. It had been years since she’d been to this place. Virtually, it hadn’t changed. Looking at the houses, she noticed how few lights remained on this late at night. That matched with the fact that no one came to greet them.
Wright approached the front door of the Fey Manor. It had two of those old-fashioned door knockers, bronze and quite pretty, which he ignored and used his knuckle to knock on the door. Franziska heard the pitter-patter of excited steps inside the house.
“Nick!” The door swung open inwardly. Franziska saw Wright’s face brighten. Maya opened the door further, stepped out, and wrapped her arms around him, smiling. He hugged her back. The two exchanged a happy greeting. and Maya took a step back, turning to Franziska and hesitating.
Franziska stayed still, so Maya resorted to offering a hand. Franziska took it and shook. “Thank you for coming, Franziska. I’m glad you could make it.” She smiled sweetly at her and closed her eyes contentedly.
Franziska simply nodded in return. “I appreciate the invitation.” Maya nodded back and turned around, walking back into the house. Wright followed closely behind. Franziska kept her distance.
“You guys are probably exhausted, huh?” Maya spoke, not turning around. “We can all stay in the side room tonight.” They approached the manor’s courtyard. Franziska thought for a moment and eventually recalled the name of the area being Winding Way. She shivered while walking through. She still remembered the layout vividly, being the first case she’d ever lost. To him, no less. But she wanted to put that behind her. The place had barely changed. The furnace still stood in the corner of the yard. She noticed Mystic Ami’s urn sitting on that little table while walking by.
Maya opened the door to the side room, revealing three beds on the floor. The wooden box Franziska remembered was gone, but the rest of the room was mostly unchanged. Maya looked at the both of them. “Are either of you hungry?” She turned back around and picked up one of the futons, moving it farther away from the others.
“No.” Franziska walked over to the futon Maya just finished setting down and placed her suitcase next to it. “I’m gonna go to the bathroom and get changed. I’ll be quick.” She opened her suitcase and sorted through her things.
“I’m not hungry, either,” she heard Wright speak. “I’ll take the bed over there.” Franziska looked up to see that Maya had moved another bed a bit farther away so the three were evenly spaced out. He was pointing to the one on the opposite side of the room.
“Guess that puts me in the middle. I’m already in my pajamas, so you guys take your time.” Maya sat down in the middle bed and stretched, pulling the covers up around her. Franziska started making her way to the bathroom. “Oh, and Franziska,” Maya started. She turned back around. “I hope you don’t mind this room. Our options for spare bedrooms around here are… limited.” She cocked her head and smiled.
Franziska shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.” She went into the bathroom and slipped out of her clothes, pulling on her pajamas. A matching pink set. She brushed her teeth and lazily brushed her hair. She hesitated, considering if she should wipe off her makeup or not. She took a makeup wipe. They won’t care. And I don’t want to get anything on my pillow…
Franziska went back over to her bed after finishing up and slipped under the blankets. Wright took her place in the bathroom and she set her head down on the pillow, facing the wall. She felt too tired to think. She drifted off to sleep.
…
Franziska woke up the next morning facing Maya. Her unfamiliar surroundings left her confused for a moment, though the feeling cleared up as she She closed her eyes and sat like that for a minute. She hadn’t slept terribly, but her neck ached from the stiff mattress. She placed a hand on her neck and rubbed it to sooth the pain. She opened her eyes again and they landed on Maya.
She’s such a pretty sleeper.
Maya’s eyes started to flutter open. Franziska almost gasped and rolled onto her back, facing the ceiling. She blushed. She swore that their eyes met for a moment, but she couldn’t be sure. She sat frozen for several minutes until she heard rustling to her right. She looked at Maya and saw her sitting up and stretching. Maya stood up and walked out of the room. Franziska grabbed at the cloth around her chest and sighed. She sat up, combing through her hair with her other hand.
“Uh… You alright?” She turned and saw Phoenix Wright staring at her.
“Ah – how long have you been watching me?!”
He raised both of his hands. “Don’t put it like that! I’m just asking!” Franziska huffed and fell back down onto the pillow, turning towards the wall.
“I’m fine.”
Maya came back into the room with her usual getup, along with a toothbrush in one hand and a hairbrush in the other.
“Alright gang, we’ve got a busy day today!” She shuffled over to Wright and started poking at him with her brush. He’d lied back down when she was still in the bathroom. “C’mon Nick! I know you’re old, but it’s time to get up!” She giggled. He turned around and groaned. Franziska watched them wordlessly.
“Okay, okay, I’m getting up.”
She spun around and pointed the brush at Franziska. “You’d better get up too, unless you want to suffer the same fate!” She stuck the toothbrush back into her mouth and resumed brushing, walking out of the room like that whole thing was nothing. Wright got up and started picking out his clothes for the day. Franziska’s face adopted a puzzled look.
“Why are you ignoring that?”
Wright paused. “Ignoring what?”
“That whole exchange. It was so… weird.” She tilted her head. “Don’t you feel at least a little embarrassed?”
He scoffed. “Embarrassed? About what? Maya just likes to be silly like that.” He stood up straight and started walking towards the doorway. “Besides, what’s wrong with being weird?”
Franziska looked down. She hadn’t thought about it like that before. “Wait.” She stopped him before he exited the room.
“... Yeah?”
“About what I said… I didn’t mean it like that. I –” She squeezed her hand. “I’m not… used to it? Interactions like that, I mean.”
Wright looked at her awkwardly. He nodded and left. Well, that was humiliating.
Ever since Franziska was little, she was expected to be polite and cordial, even with her family. Having ‘silly’ interactions like this felt foreign to her. She struggled wrapping her head around it.
But she would manage. She would learn. And now, she had a reason to.
…
Breakfast was simple; oatmeal with sliced bananas. Maya had some things to attend to and dragged Wright along, so she left Franziska to fend for herself. Franziska wasn’t exactly a chef, but she knew her way around a kitchen after years of living alone.
After finishing up her meal, Franziska walked into the main room of the manor.
“Miss von Karma!” She heard a jovial voice to her side. Surprised, she looked over and saw Pearl Fey. She walked closer and stuck out a hand, smiling. Franziska took it and shook it, quickly taking it back and stuffing it into her pocket. She took a confident stance.
“Ah, Pearl Fey. It’s been a long time.” Pearl clasped her hands together and nodded. Maya does that, too.
“I was pretty shocked when Mystic Maya said she was inviting you,” she spoke, “hey, no hard feelings about how we last left off, okay? It’s good to see you two’re friends. I gotta get going, but I’ll see you.” She smiled and left the room, leaving Franziska alone.
Now what? She looked around, studying the room. She walked over to the large doors that led to the room that was once a crime scene all those years ago. She placed a hand on the smooth door, feeling the details in the wood. She gave a small push. It was locked, of course. She looked to the side and noticed a table she hadn’t before. It had three picture frames accompanied by some decorations and a vase of flowers. It seemed well-maintained.
Mia Fey, Misty Fey, and Morgan Fey. She recognized these faces, though she only briefly met Morgan Fey and only knew of the others from court proceedings.
She jumped upon hearing the turning of the door handle and spun around, seeing Maya and Wright walking in. Maya was in the middle of a sentence, but she stopped when she saw Franziska.
“Oh! Hey! Sorry I left you alone. Be right back,” She hurried out of the room, leaving Franziska alone with Wright once again. She sighed. This was so awkward. Franziska leaned against the wall, looking around the room for a spot to focus on until Maya returned.
“... I’m glad you two are friends.” Wright spoke up. Franziska looked at him.
Huh?
…
Franziska sighed. It had been a long day of sitting around and doing nothing. 6 PM rolled around, and Maya insisted on making dinner for everyone, Pearl included. Franziska sat at the table, tapping her fingers on it while Wright and Pearl spoke.
Maya walked over, carrying a casserole dish and a bowl covered in tinfoil.
“I made salmon with mixed veggies and rice. Hope that’s good for everyone.” She sat down in her spot and cut off a piece of fish.
“Not burgers this time?” Wright teased. Maya rolled her eyes.
“C’mon, Nick, grow up…” She cut off a bit of the fish and took a bite. “Not bad.” She smiled to herself.
Franziska looked down at her plate, cutting off a piece of the salmon and bringing it up to her mouth and sticking it in. It was crisp and buttery.
She looked up. “Maya Fey, I never knew you were a good cook.” Maya paused halfway through a bite. She looked up, her face bright.
“Aw, thank you.” She beamed. “After Pearl… lost her mother, I often helped to take care of her.” She turned her attention back to the food. “So, naturally, I’ve picked some things up.”
Pearl nodded. “I really appreciate Mystic Maya’s efforts.” She tucked a forkful of rice into her mouth.
“I’m glad, Pearly.” She grinned and turned back to the rest of the table. “I think the fireworks usually start around 7. So that’s what we’ll do after dinner. Then you two can catch your train back home.” She said, motioning towards Wright and Franziska with her fork.
“That reminds me,” Franziska began, “Is the 4th of July important in Kurain Village…? I just, uh – wouldn’t expect it to be.”
Maya shook her head. “My big sis and I used to sit and watch the sky for fireworks from nearby cities and towns. We kinda made a tradition out of it,” she explained. “I’ve been doing it with Nick and Pearly for a long time now.”
Maya deemed the dinner a success after everyone was finished eating and was the first to leave the dining room. Wright and Pearl offered to clean up after dinner, so Maya dragged Franziska along to find a good spot in a nearby field.
She set up a plaid blanket and sat down, motioning for Franziska to join her.
“C’mon, they’ll start any moment now.”
“Are you sure this is okay? You worked so hard on that dinner. I feel bad for not helping to clean it up…” Franziska hesitated by the edge of the blanket.
Maya shook her head swiftly. “Oh, um, don’t worry about it! They wouldn’t volunteer if they didn’t mind it.”
“If you say so.” Franziska inched over and plopped herself down onto the blanket. Maya crossed her legs and looked up at the sky.
“It’s so clear out tonight. I’m glad,” They sat quietly for a few minutes before Maya finally spoke up, looking at Franziska. “And I’m glad you could make it.” Her gaze returned to the sky. “I used to come here with my Aunt Morgan, too.” She looked into her lap and sighed.
“I noticed her portrait in the Fey Manor,” Franziska said. “She’s important to you, huh?”
“Of course.” Maya nodded. “Especially to Pearl. She used to visit her every week.”
“... Used to?” Franziska inquired, tilting her head.
“Mm… She was executed a while ago.”
Franziska brought a hand up to her mouth, letting out a small gasp. “My apologies, I had no idea –”
Maya stopped her. “It’s okay. Aunt Morgan… even after everything that happened, she’s still Pearly’s mother. And my aunt. So we still have room in our hearts for her, you know?”
Franziska silently nodded. But in truth, she didn’t know. After her father went to prison, she was treated like an outcast by the rest of her family. Welcome at family gatherings, but not really wanted. It’s no wonder she came back here.
Maya looked at her. “Why did you come back?” Franziska’s train of thought was interrupted by her question, and she placed a fist on her cheek.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, you left your whole life back in Germany. I’m just curious,” Maya explained.
“What, my career? That isn’t my life,” She laughed, though it came out as more of a breath of air. “I have a life here, too… Things I care about.” Like you.
Maya didn’t speak for a while after that, seemingly considering something. Suddenly, she wrapped an arm around Franziska’s shoulder, pulling her a little close. “I don’t think I know anyone else like you, y’know.” She giggled and released her grip.
A bright red firework burst in the sky, far away from them, and Maya’s attention was stolen away to the colors painting the sky.
Franziska grimaced, feeling a pit open in her stomach.
Fine. Fine, I’ll admit it to myself.
I am in love with Maya Fey.
…
Late that night, Franziska dropped herself onto her bed and stuck both of her hands in her hair. She was a mess. She let tears slide down her cheeks. Her body yearned for the one thing she so desperately wanted but could never have.
She grabbed her phone, went to Miles’ contact, and pressed the call button. He picked up a few minutes later, sounding disheveled.
“Franziska…? What do you need this late at night?” He sounded half asleep. He probably was.
"It's Maya Fey." She winced, preparing herself mentally for what she was going to say next. Some time passed before Miles finally spoke up.
"Franziska?"
She almost stopped herself. Maybe if she didn't say it out loud, it didn't have to be true. Maybe she could get over it. She knew she couldn't. “I’m in love with her, Miles.”
Miles paused and sighed loud enough for Franziska to hear on the other end. “... It’s okay.”
“It’s not. How am I supposed to get over this?! It was bad enough all those years ago…” She wiped a tear from her face. God, this is so embarrassing to admit. She never even told him about her feelings when she was a teenager. “Maybe I never got over it in the first place. So what the hell am I supposed to do?!”
“It’s okay, Franziska. We’ll talk in the morning, alright?” He was unsure how to comfort her. She recognized this but still ached for someone to explain. She hung up the phone and forced herself not to throw it across the room.
I’m a mess.
She sat in silence for a minute until she finally made a decision. She pulled up Maya’s contact and pressed the block button. She had to cut this off before it got worse.
Franziska went to sleep.