Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright:Ace Attorney. I am merely borrowing the wonderful characters.


Süße Sechzehn

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February 20, 2015

Von Karma Mansion, Germany

6:05 pm

"Did you get my package, Franziska?" The yearly phone call came without a hitch.

"Yes, Miles Edgeworth, I received it." He was always so busy.

"Did you open it?" Yet, he always found time on her birthday.

"Do you think me some child who can not even follow simple instructions?" she snaps at him, but she does not do it to scold him. "Your foolish scrawl was all over the foolish box! 'Do not open until I call you.' Is that not what it said?" She does it for a response.

"It is indeed. Your wisdom far surpasses your years, Fräulein von Karma." A reaction.

"Is that your idea of calling me a smart ass, bruderlein?" Something to prove that he is listening. To know he listens to her.

He clucks his tongue at her foulness. "My, my, such language, fräulein." She imagines him shaking his head in his condescending way. She wishes he were he were here…

"Shut up. You know I hate when you call me that, Miles Edgeworth." …So that she could slap him for his insolence.

"I am sorry, Franziska. Why don't you open your present?" he asks her. His gift.

"…Alright." For her.

"…"

"…"

"…Well?"

"A-a whip?"

"I thought you could use an upgrade from that old riding crop."

"…Thank you." He thinks of her.

"What about your other gift?"

"What other gift?"

"There should be another item in that package."

"…I do not see anything. Only the whip and packaging peanuts."

"Hm. That's odd. There should be-- "*ding-dong*

"…"

"Was that the door bell?"

No.

"Yes." But it can wait.

"You should answer it. It might be someone to wish you a happy birthday."

"Yes, or carolers who are two months late."

He chuckles. "Perhaps." He pauses, she pictures his smirking face. "Go answer it."

"But…" I still want to talk to you.

He seems to know what she thinks. "Don't worry. I will talk to you later." A promise. "I will try to find out where your wayward gift has run off to, as well."

"…very well. Goodbye, Miles Edgeworth." Her brother knows her so well.

"Goodbye, Franziska. Talk to you soon."

Again, she was alone.

No one was with her on her birthday.

Her father was away on business.

Her sister made herself scarce with the excuse of having a family to tend to.

The servants in the house were too frightened to say anything to her, let alone wish her a happy birthday.

Miles Edgeworth was the only person to ever go out his way for her. She had no idea why.

Perhaps some attachment he had to their childhood. Was it guilt? Was it pity?

Or was it something else?

Franziska did not know. But, why did she look forward to his calls, however rare they may be?

Did she miss him? No.

No.

To miss him would be weakness.

Weakness was certainly not perfection. So she did not miss him.

*ding-dong*

"Coming!" Hold your horses you foolish fool--

"It would appear that I got lost in the mail."

"…"

"…Franziska?" He stands in front of her with an expectant look plastered on his smug face.

"…It would seem that the German postal system is lacking compared to the Americans', hm?"

He laughs, relieved.

Her heart plummets into her stomach because she, too, is relieved. Of what she is not entirely sure. "It would seem that way." A reaction.

"Well, bruderlein, you may as well come in." It took all her will power not to launch herself at him. Three years was too long. But, she did not miss him.

He bends in a deep, melodramatic bow. "Why, thank you for your humble hospitality." He straightens and follows her into the house. Or is it home? "It was getting quite nippy out there."

"Then why were you standing out in the cold like a fool and just knock like a normal person?"

"I thought it would be a fun to give you a little surprise. It has been so long since we've seen one another." Too long.

"Hm…I suppose it was a nice surprise." It was a wonderful surprise, but… "I thought you said you have a trial in the morning?"

"I do."

"WHAT?!"

"I plan on catching the red eye back to California tonight."

"This has to be the most foolhardy idea your foolish head has ever come up with!" She isn't really angry.

"I know."

"Then why…?"

"I thought my big sister could use some company on her sixteenth birthday, even if it was just a foolishly foolish fool."

"Hmph." No, she not angry…

"Franziska, please don't be upset with me…" …just a little…disappointed.

"I'm not upset, I just…" want you to stay. "Thank you."

"…For what?" Everything.

"…for being here with me." Please don't leave.

"…I'll always be here for you."

"…You shouldn't say that…" Don't lie.

"Why not?"

"Because in a few hours you will be on a plane back to America and I probably won't see you for another three years!"

"…Franziska."

"So don't tell me you will always be here for me when I'm going to be alone again before I even get used to having you home for this short time!" Why is it home now? "You always leave me!"

"…I meant metaphorically, I will always be here for you." That's not good enough!

"But I will still be alone!" She was practically in tears now.

Why? Why was she acting like this? These emotions! They make her weak, imperfect. What would Father say…?

It was all this fool's fault.

"That's why I got you that whip."

"What?" He was her weakness.

"To fight alone, one needs a weapon."

"…I do not understand."

"You will one day." One day? I want to know now! "Just know that--OW!"

S-she whipped him.

"Do not speak to me as if I am an ignorant child, Miles Edgeworth. You are speaking in riddles and I demand that you tell me what you mean!"

He rubbed at his sore cheek. A frown adorned his once smirking face. "…I only meant that when you feel that you have no one, just remember no one is ever truly alone. But, until you realize that for yourself, I think this whip will come in handy…especially since you seem to be so inept with it already." He smiles and her stomach flops yet again.

When had she become such a silly teenage girl? She was never like this before…

"I am a fast learner, Miles."

He smiles. "I know, Franziska."

They spend the rest of their time together talking about anything; trials, the weather, the migration of the African sparrow…

When it is time for Miles to make his way back to America, Franziska tries not to show that she doesn't want him to leave home (or is it the house?), to leave her all alone.

Alone to drown in his shadow.

He promises that he will call her after his trial is over to tell her how it went. She tries to suppress the happiness that rises within her at the prospect of another call. To hear from him more than once a year.

He promises that it would not be another three years before they see each other again. Miles will try to see her again in the fall, if he's not too busy. She reminds him to not make promises he cannot keep. He smiles.

He puts his arms around her in a light embrace. She stays still, not trusting herself when he is so close. He whispers a 'Happy Birthday' in her ear and places a kiss on top of her head in a very brotherly fashion. Her face flushes and she curses her body for betraying her and falling victim to such weak emotions.

Miles unravels his arms and gives his big sister one last smile as he walks out the door with his hands in the deep pockets of his dress coat.

Franziska closes the door quickly and does not see when he stops to look back one more time.

He is gone.

She is alone.

And she does not miss him.

Because that would make her weak.

She looks at her gift, her weapon.

She does not miss him…

…why was Miles Edgeworth always the only exception?

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Sweet Sixteen


A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed that. I was just so inspired I just had to write this…I actually started writing this one in the notepad on my cell phone Fun times…

So this one was really interesting to write…first of all Miles and Franziska are just intriguing characters and have a wonderful vocabulary and whatnot…but the way I wrote this was much different than I had written anything else before….

I actually wrote all the dialog first…and nothing else. I added all Franziska's thoughts when I typed it up on my computer. So I really hope it came out okay.

I hope you enjoy it and there should be more to come…soon-ish…hopefully…if I get inspired again.

So anyway, please review. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Even flames at this point. I don't care just review.

Oh, and if anyone could tell me if the German is right that would be really cool, too.