"I know this is like the millionth time I've said it, Franziska," Phoenix swallowed the last bot of spaghetti, "but thanks so much for treating me here."
From across the small table, Franziska took a sip of water before placing it next to the finished bowl of cioppino. She smiled. "Do not mention it."
Phoenix toasted her with his empty Coca-Cola can. "Here's to the heroine of the courthouse!"
"Pardon? Oh, yes," she responded, remembering how she had struck down Dahlia Hawthorne. "I was simply performing my duty as a future law enforcer."
"Nuh-uh," Phoenix chuckled. "I don't think anyone else could have done it like you did."
She shrugged. "If you say so."
The two of them were inside Grigoli's Italian, a joint not too far away from the university. It was a bit more upscale-looking than Phoenix had expected, with red carpets and chandeliers. Even so, there were not too many other people around. As today was the 21st of December, he had come in with a green sweater and jeans. He had been somewhat embarrassed to see that Franziska had arrived in a tight black dress and had hung a fur-necked coat around her chair, but she seemed pleased enough to see that he had also been wearing the blue hat she had made him. She did not seem to mind him ducking his face behind the menu to hide his blush from seeing her in her new outfit.
Phoenix let out a hearty sigh, and Franziska continued. 'It certainly has been a few months of twist and turns."
Phoenix nodded. The entire list of facts concerning the case had been laid bare after Iris had been released. Dahlia Hawthorne, as Mia Fey had suspected, poisoned both Terry Fawles and Diego Armando. With a file she had obtained through Doug and subsequently searched exhaustedly, she had finally found a face close enough to her own. A little makeup had done the rest. Dahlia had buried the corpse of Jane Dodder under the flowerbed, and had struck down Doug Swallow with the shovel after several days of monitoring him.
It had been discovered that there had been such a person as Mary Masque, who Dahlia had kidnapped and impersonated. The young woman was found in the storage shed used to hold the university's gardening supplies. She had been thoroughly unnerved and thin from malnutrition, but she had been taken straight away to the hospital. Detective Dick Gumshoe had gone on record that it was fortunate that Dahlia had been so busy asserting her new identity. A few days could have made the difference of life or death for the true Mary Masque at the hands of Dahlia Hawthorne.
Although not many would consider themselves especially close to Jane Dodder, the crowd of Ivy students had swelled at the funeral that had taken place just before the final exams. Old Man Dodder had wept as Jane's body was lowered for the second and last time, but he swore to live the rest of what remained of his life in her memory. Phoenix and Franziska had stood side by side throughout the proceedings. They had been the last two to leave.
Things were returning to normal at Ivy University, at least in the case of curfew. On a more individual level, things would never be the same again. Doug Swallow had taken a leave of absence for physical therapy and psychiatric support. For her part, Iris had explained that she needed time away from everything that had occurred. Phoenix had respected her decision, and Franziska did the same. She had departed after completing her exams.
Franziska noticed the faint, melancholy change in Phoenix's mood and changed the subject. "I know I don't have to ask, but how did the bar exam go?"
Phoenix grinned and pulled his zippered sweatshirt to the side to display the defense attorney's badge on his chest. Round, gold-painted, with the Scales of Justice right in the middle. "Score of ninety-nine." He watched Franziska smirk and reach inside an unseen pocket. She extended her arm to show the prosecutor's badge in the middle of her hand. Four white petals spread from the red dot, representing sunshine, with dark gold snowflakes making up the underside. "One hundred percent." As Phoenix's smile turned sheepish, Franziska took a second look at how Phoenix had pinned his badge to his shirt. She felt herself bring her badge to his chest, unlocking the metal spike and sticking it through the black fabric of her dress.
Phoenix pointed and said, "Looks good!" But she did not hear him. She saw the watch on the wrist of his outstretched hand, the same wooden one with the sunflowers that he had gotten on vacation. She laid her left wrist on the table, feeling the other watch they had picked up, the one with the whip. She paused, and then Phoenix spoke.
"Did you show your mother, or maybe your father, your badge yet?" He watched Franziska shake her head. "No. We have not been in touch since the trial ended." Phoenix abruptly recalled how he had confronted Mrs. von Karma in the lobby, and pursed his lips in shame. "How...has that been?" Franziska shrugged.
"It is somewhat refreshing, actually. I felt I needed some space for myself, and to win my badge on my own terms. Besides..." She smiled again. "You're the best person I have available to show my badge to first." Phoenix scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Good to hear." Then he stood up.
Franziska cleared her throat. "I assume you will work with Ms. Fey from now on?"
"Yep." He scratched the back of his head again. "Too bad you can't really live in an office."
"What do you mean?"
'Well…" Phoenix shuffled his feet. "I kind of paid my college debt off in one go….I'm not really sure where I'll go when the dorm manager kicks me out." He chuckled and began to turn on his heel. "See you soon, Franziska."
In the split-second before Phoenix turned around, a deluge of memories flooded Franziska's mind.
Phoenix shook his head. "Listen, I know it's awkward to talk about the past, and I'm sorry, but I think I've been where you are. I was a little kid, and my classmates thought I stole lunch money. I didn't, and there wasn't any proof, but the other kids and even the teacher kept going at me. I'm lucky there was someone around to help me then, okay? If I was saved when I was vulnerable, how could I not help someone in the same spot?"
For a moment, Franziska did not say anything. Then she hugged Phoenix.
Phoenix gulped. "Um, one of those letters you had said you had to...no, that you study for eight hours a day on weekends. Maybe we could study tomorrow together?"
Then Franziska saw a spark in his eyes. He had leaned forward just a bit. "Have you heard about the Halloween party we're having?" Franziska frowned. She had known about the November exams, but not this.
"When will that be?"
"One month from today." Franziska could not help but notice that he had a bit more confidence in his smile now. He continued, "Maybe there's something we can do together for that."
Then Phoenix moved again. Without thinking, he pulled his left arm away and let it circle her waist, keeping his right hand where it was. The two of them were still floating in the water, thanks to Phoenix unconsciously swaying his legs back and forth. Franziska was left to float limply in his arms.
Inside, Franziska stirred as she slowly opened her eyes. She and Phoenix had taken a seat at the back, and they had agreed it would be best to take a breather and a nap before they reached the station. She had expected to feel refreshed after awakening.
What she had not expected was to find herself in Phoenix's lap again, with his arms wrapped around her torso. How did this happen? He had fallen asleep before she had, and he was still snoring.
He went for her shoulders first, taking them in his hands. She did not resist, so, gulping, he pulled her closer. He felt her chin rub his own shoulder as he put his right arm around her waist and the left along her back. She was warm, soft, but with an undercurrent of tension and anxiety that began to ripple through him, too.
Carefully, still holding her, he walked over to the bed and sat upon it, taking Franziska with him. He scooched back so he could sit with both legs stretched. Franziska slumped against him. Phoenix felt himself move his left hand upwards, so he could put it to the back of Franziska's head and run his fingers through her hair.
"It's okay...it's okay…"
Franziska jumped from her seat and took hold of Phoenix's shoulder. He moved to face her, surprised. Her face was still, but her voice was breathless.
"I have a place in mind. My family has a few pieces of property, and one is a house just outside the city. It is small, but furnished. We can share the property."
Phoenix opened and closed his mouth a few times, shocked. Franziska finally put a finger to his lips. "I already know what you are going to say. You will not want to intrude. But you will be taking cases starting next month….or rather, next year. You can earn your keep."
Phoenix was still for a moment, then jerked to life and pulled Franziska into an embrace, his arms around her waist.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you."
Franziska hesitated, feeling a sort of dizziness that was so unfamiliar to her, but she returned the hug and put her arms around his neck. With her chin on his shoulder and her face out of his view, she allowed herself a wide smile. She did not need a mirror to see that her eyes were shining.
"As I said before...do not mention it."
Phoenix sighed. Everything was going well. He sat down on the sofa at Fey & Co Law Offices, ready for a day of checking documents and sharing dinner with Franziska in the evening. He let out an involuntary curse as he dropped the folder and saw the pieces of paper fall out. He bent over to pick them up, and one caught his eye; a cut-out section of newspaper. He picked the lone sheet up and read the headline.
The Daffodil Killer Strikes Again! Suspect Named!
So concludes the first story of Lashworld. Story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.
