My Dog Is Named Scruffy

by Lamia of the Dark

Franziska gives Gumshoe a collar and makes him her pet dog. Love triangle with Edgeworth in later chs. This is an edited and expanded version of the Little Present chapters that were posted in my Million Little Things drabble collection.

7. Lie

-- My Dog Is Named Scruffy --

- Lie -

A few weeks after that scene Edgeworth witnessed...

"A DOG COLLAR?!" Edgeworth's shout could be clearly heard halfway down the hall. Which, coincidently, is where Detective Gumshoe happened to be located at the time. Despite the obvious fight going on inside, the detective continued making his way toward Franziska's office. "That's low, even for you. What were you thinking? How could you do something like this?"

"Why don't you yell a little louder? I think half the Prosecutor's Office didn't hear you," Franziska snapped. She was in a foul mood. She didn't know how Edgeworth found out about the collar, but she didn't particularly feel like discussing it with him right now. Not that what they were having technically qualified as a "discussion".

It was at this point that the detective entered the office. Edgeworth was surprised to see him there (in a speak-of-the-devil kind of way), but Franziska had been expecting him and took advantage of Edgeworth's moment of shock to make a move that would end this argument once and for all. She brushed past Edgeworth and stalked toward the detective.

"I guess our secret's out," she said. She was smiling as she said this, but the look in her eyes was saying play along or die.

"Looks like it is," the detective replied, laughing nervously. She was smiling that dangerous smile, the one that meant something was about to happen, something he couldn't predict but instinctively knew he wouldn't like.

She closed the distance between them in two steps. She stepped closer still, even though she was already too close for comfort. Any closer and she would be pressed right up against him. Her hands reached for his throat, and for a brief instant he thought she was going for the collar, but then her arms wrapped around his neck and she kissed him.

His first impulse was to push her away, but he remembered the play along or die look she had given him and resisted the urge. He reminded himself that they were putting on a show for Edgeworth, that's all this was.

Edgeworth watched in shock as the detective slid his arms around Franziska's waist and returned the kiss.

-tbc-

A/N: Reviews are love.