Objection
It figured he'd want to meet at a tea house, of all places. That fool Miles Edgeworth had always had a bit of a dependency on tea. A dignified addiction, one could say. Franziska did not particularly dislike tea, but she had never understood his fascination with it. The appeal of waterlogged leaves only beckoned so far in her mind.
There he was, sitting at a small table near the window. Unusual, he used to be one to sit near the back, where no passersby could see him and whisper malicious rumors. But he had changed since three years ago, and she found him sitting near windows more often. If asked, he would probably reply that the sunlight made for easier reading and less strain on his eyes. But to Franziska, who watched him reading his notes with an unashamed, if not dignified, look of contentment as she approached, he almost seemed to be angling his face towards the light. Like he enjoyed it.
She sat down across from him, no invitation needed. He was her little brother, despite his older age, so she could do with him as she pleased. Miles Edgeworth took his time, finishing up whatever he was reading, before pushing the papers aside. He was smiling, ever so slightly, barely noticeable to the untrained eye. Franziska could see it clear as day. Tt was jarring to her, who had seen him somber most of their childhood.
"You look displeased." He said with an amused eyebrow raised, taking up his cup of tea and pressing it to his lips.
"I am far beyond displeased, Miles Edgeworth! I am appalled! To think that someone of my merit, with my legacy of perfection, would be required to provide what essentially boils down to community service!"
She heard him chuckle behind his cup, before placing it down between his hands. "And do you plan to continue prattling on about this grave injustice, or have you concocted a plan of action?"
Franziska pursed her lips in disapproval. He was playing with her, talking to her as if she was some naïve child. She opened her mouth to verbally lash back, but a waitress interrupted. Without listening to a word, Franziska waved the woman off. She didn't come here for tea and a friendly chat. She came here to put that smug fool Miles Edgeworth in his place!
"It isn't such a terrible thing. I personally provided free legal aid to a few underprivileged families." He explained, taking up his cup for another drink.
Of course! She could have done that, easily! Putting up with the multitude of ignorant fools and their bawling brats would have been irritating, but at least it was a job she knew how to do. Damn Miles Edgeworth for thinking of it first!
"Fool! If you think that I would follow in your footsteps like some blind schoolgirl admirer…"
He shrugged, shaking his head in that infuriatingly condescending way he did in court. Franziska gripped the edge of the table tightly to contain her rage. Who did he think he was?!
"It was a suggestion, Franziska. Take it or don't. There are plenty of other option availa—"
"Like what?" It's rude to interrupt, her mind chastised. She didn't care. If he wanted to play games, she could too.
He frowned, unimpressed with her childish shift in demeanor. He leaned back, withdrawing, using his height to his advantage. He wasn't playing anymore, he was dictating. Franziska twisted her napkin in her hands, under the table. If he thought she would be intimidated, he was sorely mistaken!
"Very well, if you insist, I believe a certain aspiring artist was asking for your help a couple months ago."
"What are you talking about?" She didn't know any artists. Their pitiful excuse for a profession was not one she went out of her way to seek out or even acknowledge.
"Larry Butz, or as you may know him, Laurice Deuxnim; the fool who asked you to model for his children's book. As I recall it, you eventually agreed just to be rid of him. Remember?"
Laurice Deuxnim? That fool among fools? The very KING of fools, lacking a crown only because his foolishly foolish head was probably too foolishly empty to support one!
"What of him?!"
Edgeworth brought a finger to his forehead, smirking in that self-satisfied way of his. Why did she suddenly feel deceived? "I'm willing to bet Larry's made little to no progress on said books. Helping the only known apprentice to the late Elise Deuxnim, so that his books can bring the joy of reading to young children everywhere? You would be hard-pressed to find a cause which looked worthier on paper."
Franziska narrowed her eyes, examining his face. He had to be joking! Did he really expect that she'd go gallivanting off to help that incurable fool write a foolishly foolish disgrace of a book?! Based on herself, no less?
That warm glow had returned to his eyes. Franziska remembered, when they were children he'd had that same glow. Even through his crushing grief, there had been a certain humanity to those eyes. She had never seen such a thing in her family before. But with time, it had been disciplined out of him; he had been honed into a perfect prosecuting machine.
Somehow he'd gotten it back. She was both disgusted by this fact, and slightly relieved. Miles Edgeworth may have been a second-rate romanticist in his heart, but perhaps he was supposed to be. He was a von Karma only by his upbringing. He was not held to the standards that she was; a von Karma by blood.
Slamming her hands against the table, Franziska stood up, excusing herself with a pointed "OBJECTION!"
Everyone in the tea house turned to look as the perfectly enraged female prosecutor stormed out. Once gone, their eyes turned to the man in the wine-colored suit whom she had been sitting with. Miles Edgeworth feigned disinterest, returning to his papers and tea.
Please review! It helps to know other people's takes and opinons on the characters. And lets me know if people like it enough for me to continue posting this story or if I should move on. Thanks!
