version: 1.4 (9/25/08)

THE PARKING TICKET

Part III

Yes, things were easily solved with 'proper' paperwork, money, and intimidation. Such methods could erase such a humiliation from her record...but he would always know about it. He would always have that on her. And whether or not he ever brought it up in conversation or used it against her made no difference. The very fact that he knew was embarrassment enough to last for quite a while.

Franziska watched Edgeworth walk to his car, a shiny black Audi. He turned to face her. She met his eyes, glaring at him silently.

"Do you want to put your shopping bag in the trunk?" he asked her.

She felt her chest tighten with anger. Such a casual tone at a time like this?

"What am I going to do about my Mercedes? Those fools got their fingerprints all over it when they ticketed me, and what's more, they've had it TOWED. Do you KNOW what that does to a car?"

She found herself inches away from his face at the end of her outburst.

"Well, it's too late at night to do anything about that now, wouldn't you say?" he said coolly, opening the door and climbing into the driver's seat. "I'm sure the tow lot is closed at this hour."

Franziska clenched her fists and looked down at him through the window. A painful minute of silence passed between them, exacerbating Franziska's throbbing headache.

Edgeworth gave her a quizzical look.

"Why are you making that ridiculous face?" she said, averting her eyes in an effort to calm herself.

"You're not going to stay here, are you?" he said.

"Well, I suppose I'll have to."

"Get in the car, Franziska."

"Right," she muttered, walking to the passenger side of the car.

"Were you waiting for me to ask you?" he said, trying not to laugh. Only Franziska. Only she would be so stubborn. It's almost kind of cute, he thought.

Franziska buckled her seatbelt, studying her fierce eyes in the rearview mirror. Does it matter if I was? I could have called a cab. I don't need you, she thought, gritting her teeth.

Edgeworth dropped the conversation, starting up the car.

She absentmindedly examined the car interior, trying to find something to distract herself from the tension hovering around them.

"I see you never learned to drive a real car, Miles," she said, pointing accusingly at the automatic-transmission gear shift.

"Just because I don't drive a manual doesn't mean that I don't know how," he replied calmly.

"That's what they always say," she laughed, feeling slightly better.

No response.

Surreal, downtempo lounge jazz floated gently through the speakers at a low volume. The awkward, tense silence between them brought the music to Franziska's attention. The playfully quiet vibraphone melodies only made her angrier as she struggled to resist their soporific dance.

Franziska jabbed the radio dial. The music came to an abrupt halt. Edgeworth studied her out of the corner of his eye, sensing a great deal of anger and frustration as he saw her lean her head against the window and turn away from him.

"I'm almost certain that this will be erased from your record," he said, trying to alleviate the tension in the air.

"Oh, 'almost certain,'" she muttered, not moving from her position.

Edgeworth gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying not to let his emotions affect his driving. That ungrateful little...Sometimes, I wish I was her brother so that I could speak frankly about her horrible attitude, he thought.

"'Almost certain'? Do you think that's good enough? This is an embarrassment...to everything I stand for! To my family! To..."

She turned to face him, wishing that she hadn't left her whip in the car trunk.

"You fool! You're just going to ignore me?" she continued, growing louder with every word. "Aren't you going to ask me about what I did?"

Edgeworth tried to garble her words as they came in his ears, wishing she hadn't turned off the radio.

"And...my car! My beautiful Mercedes! Every time I see it with DENTS in the BUMPER and SCRATCHES on the hood, I'll remember this fiasco! That was a present from Papa! You know that! It's a precious memento! How dare you just brush this all off like-"

"Stop it!" he shouted. "First of all, do you know how much trouble I went through to drive out here?"

She seemed surprised, yet relieved, raising one eyebrow as she listened to him speak. Oh, she wanted to break my demeanor, did she? He immediately adjusted his tone.

"Secondly, don't act like I don't know about you and your father. I know for sure that that car has no sentimental value for you. He only bought it for you because you needed a vehicle. And finally, I only told you I was 'almost certain' because it is human nature to be imperfect...if you can get off your pedestal long enough to comprehend that."

She wanted so badly to hit him in the face, to destroy his stoic expression. Oh, he has an explanation for everything. He always gets back to his usual self.

But he did put his work aside to come help me...and he did 'almost certainly' take care of this humiliating little 'incident' singlehandedly.She wondered if she would have done the same for him...but it occurred to her that he would never have gotten himself into such a mess in the first place. Why was he always so much more collected, so much more...perfect...than her? You self-assured bastard. How dare you treat me like this.

She slapped him across the face, knowing he wouldn't hit back. She heard him breathing heavily as he sped up the car, trying to contain his anger.

"Franziska," he said quietly.

"What," she said, his tone catching her off guard.

"I'm trying to drive."

She sighed, looking out of her window, digging her nails into the upholstery.

He rejoiced in the growing silence, turning his full attention back to the road, noticing the milky brightness of the moon overhead.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRING

The unnaturally loud sound of Edgeworth's cell phone caused them both to jump. He nearly swerved off the road, causing Franziska to hit her head on the window she had been leaning against.

"YOU FOOL!" she shouted, pressing a hand to her forehead. "What will those fools think if I have to walk into the courtroom with a giant bruise on my face!"

"Well, that's no concern of mine, Franziska," he replied, trying not to laugh as she worriedly examined her head in the mirror. "After all, you could have done the same thing to me just a minute ago."

"But you deserved it," she muttered.

Edgeworth frowned, looking down, then back at the road, then down again every few seconds.

Franziska folded up the mirror, rubbing her forehead.

"What the hell are you looking at?!" she said, shifting her legs nervously away from him.

Not what you're thinking, believe me, he thought, shaking his head.

The phone rang again before he could explain that he had been looking for it.

"Hello!" Franziska spat, picking up the phone from under her seat.

"Uh, sorry, I think I got the wrong number?" said the voice on the other line. "Is this Mr. Edgeworth?"

"What do you think, you fool!?"

"Sorry, sorry, you know, some people totally sound like girls on the phone sometimes, and...yeah...oh, wait, wait, WAIT...I KNOW what's goin' on here. Did I, uh, heh heh, 'interrupt' the two of you?"

Franziska shoved the phone at Edgeworth. Unable to take his hands off the steering wheel fast enough, he dropped the phone onto the floor.

Not again, he thought.

"Can't you do anything right, you foolish fool!" she said. "Ugh, just drive. I'll get it."

It was quite dark on the highway. Unable to see, she groped about blindly on the floor of the car.

He kept his eyes on the road, trying to ignore her. She kept brushing against him as she searched for the phone.

"I know it fell over here somewhere," she said. "I hope it didn't get stuck under the brake."

"W-why don't you stop that," he said, worrying his imagination might make something more of the situation.

"Fine," she said, returning to her seat.

He pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car.

She looked straight ahead, her heart beating frantically.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"Something I should have done earlier," he replied.

He picked up his phone from under his seat.

"I'm just going to take that call, and then we can be left in peace."

To do what, she thought, her hand closing around the door handle.

"After all," he said, "even when no one's on the road, it's still illegal to use a phone while driving."

"Oh, I s-see..." she said.

"I can't wait," Maya said, bouncing up and down in her seat as Phoenix drove down the road. "This is all so exciting!"

"We'll be there soon enough," he replied, turning to look at Maya.

"I can't wait to buy myself some disguises!"

"Is that really how you think of normal clothes?" he said, looking back out at the road.

"Well...yes!" she said, grinning.

"It will be so nice to relax and enjoy our quiet weekend in the-"

"Hey wait," Maya interrupted, grabbing his sleeve and looking back. "There was a car pulled over to the side of the road out there."

"Hmm, did they have their emergency lights on?" he said, slowing down in case they had to turn back.

"No, but the headlights were on and it looked like there were two people just sitting there. I think they might be in trouble, Nick," she said, looking down at her feet.

How can I say no to a face like that, he thought, smiling to himself. Besides, it will probably bother her all weekend if I don't do anything.

"Franziska," Edgeworth said, putting his phone back in his pocket.

"What," she said, looking at a tree outside.

She saw headlights approaching behind him.

He turned, wondering who could possibly be pulling over in the same exact spot at this hour of the night.

Franziska jumped as she saw a round face surrounded by long black hair press itself against the window.

Edgeworth's first thought was of the Japanese ghost women in old woodblock prints. His rational mind quickly dismissed the thought as he recognized the bubbly tone of Phoenix Wright's perky sidekick.

"It's that psychic," Franziska said.

"I think they're okay!" Maya said, turning back to look at Phoenix. He looked slightly pale as he approached the car.

Oh no, I hope that's not the black Audi I think it is...

"What's going on here?" Edgeworth sighed, stepping out of the car.

"We saw a car pulled over, and Maya thought something was wrong," Phoenix replied, wishing he sounded a little more important.

"Y-yeah, we thought maybe someone fell asleep at the wheel or ran out of gas or-" Maya left her statement unfinished, frozen in fear at the sight of Franziska slamming the car door behind her. "Er, yes, and-"

"What's going on here, you fools?" she said, looking venomously at the three of them.

"That's what we were here to..." Phoenix began.

"Hee hee hee," Maya laughed, a huge grin spreading across her face. "Ho ho ho ho ho! No wonder you're angry," she said, wagging her finger.

"EXPLAIN YOURSELF!" Franziska shouted.

"Oh you don't have to be angry, we'll just leave you two alone," Maya said, prancing back to the car. As she noticed no one was following her, she stopped and began kicking a rock on the ground, still smiling mischeviously.

An awkward silence followed. Edgeworth looked confused, Franziska still looked quite irritated, and Phoenix's face was somewhere between embarrassment and confusion.

"Oh," Edgeworth said quietly, Maya's implications becoming clearer. "You're mistaken," he said, blushing.

"What are you...oh. OH! YOU FOOLISH FOOL!" she shouted at Maya, her face turning red.

"W-well! Ha ha ha, YOU have some explaining to do as well, Mr. Phoenix Wright!" Franziska continued, pointing at him.

"What do you mean?" he said.

"It's clear that you and your little 'employee' over there are on your way to some secluded spot as well," she said, laughing maliciously.

"What?!" he said.

Maya hummed to herself, still quite absorbed in her game of kick-the-rock, cheerfully oblivious to the conversation.

"M-Maya and me?" Phoenix continued, his face turning pale. "N-no way," he said. "We were just going to Fairview for the weekend to do some shopping."

"A quiet weekend together in a hotel," Franziska laughed. "Interesting."

"You've got it all wrong."

"Look, Wright," Edgeworth said, clearly less-than-amused. "It's getting late. We should really be going."

"Yes, yes, do continue!" Maya giggled, catching the end of the conversation. "But I'm sure you two could afford a hotel room no problem!"

Franziska launched into a chain of insults and curses as Edgeworth pushed her into the car.

"Just forget all this," he said.

"Isn't it sweet!" Maya said as they got back into the car. "They're both so embarrassed and reluctant!" She clutched her hands together, a dreamy look in her eyes.

"I think you're reading into it too much," Phoenix said.

"You know it's true," Maya said. "The childhood rivals, too proud to admit their deep respect and mutual admiration, forever embarrassed, find themselves alone in an awkward situation, lonely and in need of-"

Phoenix groaned.

"You're no fun," Maya pouted.

To be continued...

Author Notes - It was getting kind of serious and almost shippy for a while. I wanted to bring back some of the humor. After all, that's what makes the Phoenix Wright series the Phoenix Wright series. And if the phone law seems strange to you, allow me to explain. Ace Attorney takes place in California (orig. Japan) in the future, right? As of NOW in both California and Japan there is a law which prohibits you from using a cellphone while driving (unless you have a hands-free headset). So, you see...

I hope you will continue reading even if you don't support either of the pairings in the fic, I try not to push them too hard...because I know the in-game evidence is rather circumstantial for A LOT of the AA character shipping that people engage in. That's why I didn't mark the pairings on the description for the fic.

I kept thinking about that Doors song "Moonlight Drive" when I was writing this, even though I haven't heard it in forever and I can't even really remember the tune. More will be written sooner or later. The next chapter's events aren't really clear in my head yet.

Cheers, mate.

-Sparrow Townshend