November
11
2:03
PM
Apartment
Complex
Edgeworth's
Apartment
Franziska didn't bother to knock or call; she simply used the spare key Miles had given her and stepped inside his home. The place was dim. A box of food from some restaurant was still on the table, obviously unopened since he had gotten home. From somewhere further in she could hear water running.
Cautiously she made her way into the hallway, the sound of water growing louder as she approached the bedroom. The door was half closed, but she could see the glow of light from the bathroom and hear the rushing sound of water washing down the sink. She pushed open the door.
Miles was where he had probably been for the past 20 minutes—sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, his head buried in his arms and his body tense and shivering. The water spilled out of the tap in the bathroom, and a bar of soap lay forgotten on the floor. Franziska ignored all that and knelt in front of him, placing one gloved hand on his arm. So foolish... She frowned. Why didn't I come sooner...?
"Miles…" She could feel him trembling beneath her fingers. He didn't respond.
So she sat quietly with him instead, not minding the time that passed.
After what seemed like hours she suddenly felt his hand tentatively folding over her own. "Franziska… what…"
She looked up at his face, no longer hidden by his arms, but his eyes were already closed. He looked like he was asleep. A strange expression crossed her face, almost like one of tenderness, but in a flash it was gone. Gently she helped him onto the bed, then cleaned up the bathroom and went outside to let him sleep.