Note: Events, places, and people are fictional (except major cities or countries) and any likeness to real life is coincidental. Capcom owns the Ace Attorney series and all its characters. Brands, artists, or song lyrics or titles mentioned are not mine unless stated otherwise. Standard Disclaimer Applies.
Remember, this story is rated M, and you probably shouldn't be reading this, if your age is still on the clock. Like the chapter before this, this one contains moderately graphic scenes as well (okay, maybe not so moderately graphic). Please be advised. Also, some portrayal may border on sadomasochism (which I never intended, but it's subtle anyway), because of the surrounding circumstances. If you are uncomfortable with any of the mentioned, you may skip that part, or find other reading material. Thank you.
Chapter 3
-Nirvana Resort, Noblesse Restaurant-
March 30 12:30 PM
"I trust you both are well, Mr. and Mrs. Edgeworth?" Reginald Starling, a cheery middle-aged Caucasian lawyer with German roots wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. He was seated across the two.
"Yes. Thank you for planning this trip, Mr. Starling." Miles spoke curtly.
"I was wondering why you declined your portion of the inheritance Mr. Edgeworth. Her ladyship was very fond of you."
"I couldn't take it. With all due respect, I feel I'm not worthy for such an honour."
"Your humility would make me believe otherwise." Mr. Starling smiled, taking a sip of his afternoon tea. "Those matters aside, I am glad that you have found the woman you wish to spend your life with." He stole a glance at Franziska who was pouring milk in her own tea.
"Well, it is uncanny, but I admit- I was never able to see her as a sister." He took her hand in his. "I was just not sure about her feelings. I decided to wait until we have finished mourning for me to ask her to marry me." Franziska decided to keep her mouth shut. What was he doing?
"I'm glad it ended well. How did Mr. Edgeworth propose, Franziska?" Starling glanced at her.
"Unlike many fools out there, he did not slip a ring into my food or beverage." She smirked while she bluffed. "He surprised me one morning when I came to visit him in his office. I was discussing some cases when he suddenly went down on one knee, held open a box and 'popped the question' as the Americans like to say." She wrapped her finger with a strand of her light blue hair.
"How pleasant." Starling chuckled. "I'm glad to have seen you both. You look positively lovely Franziska. I know your husband has been taking good care of you and I commend him for that. Gertrude must be smiling down at us from heaven."
"Indeed." She nodded, crossing her arms.
The three continued to eat their lunch with occasional small talk in between courses. Franziska was a little nervous that Starling might have seen through their lie. Miles was calm and acted as if he were truly her husband, occasionally slicing adequate portions of food for her, offering her favourites, and inquiring about her beverage choices.
"Thank you for having lunch with me Miles, Franziska." Starling pat Miles on the shoulder.
"It's our pleasure, Mr. Starling. How long are you staying in the country?" Miles asked politely.
"Not for very long. In fact, I leave at sunset for America. We may discuss the properties when you both return, alright?"
"No problem, Mr. Starling." Franziska nodded. With that they said their farewells and parted ways.
-Edgeworth Residence, Upper West Side, Manhattan, NY-
April 2 7:00 AM
"..." Franziska woke up to the sound of her phone alarm. She rubbed her eyes and sat up the bed. She grabbed her wool cardigan and looked for Miles. He was in his room, as she had suspected. She watched her husband buttoning his magenta waistcoat. She sighed. Ever since their first night, Miles had never been intimate with her. They spent their time in Maldives enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. They toured nearby attractions and ate unique cuisine. They took enough photographs, and had fun. But when night came, it usually ended with a pleasant dinner, a Law and Order marathon, and then sleep. Sometimes she fell asleep on the couch, sometimes he did, and sometimes they slept on the same bed. But she never found the courage to hold him again, and he never initiated as well. Now that they were back in New York in his house, they had separate rooms as they had initially agreed before the wedding. Strangely, she felt empty without seeing him.
"Good morning." He spotted her reflection on the mirror as he began to tie his cravat.
"Good morning yourself." She yawned and stepped into the bathroom, leaving the door open. "I swear, I do not understand how it happens, but I like my bed hair better than my normal hair." Her voice resonated from their bathroom.
"I like it too." He said. She blushed, then became frustrated at herself for being so sensitive. When did she become so weak, that four words would ruin her composure?
"Will you be back late?"
"I think so. There are new developments to the case I'm working on. And you?" he polished his eyeglasses.
He must be avoiding me. "I don't feel too well. I think I shall do my work here." She tied her hair into a ponytail. He stared at the back of her neck for a while. Even he found the back of her neck beautiful. He put on his eyeglasses and took her wool cardigan. He approached her and wrapped it around her shoulders. He placed the back of his hand on her forehead.
"Is it a cold? It's quite a chilly spring day. Please take care of yourself."
"I do, fool." She spat. "There are just some microorganisms I cannot control." She said in a sarcastic tone, trying to hide her bitterness."
"It would spell trouble for many of us if you were indeed able to control a number of pathogens." He tried to make a joke. She almost laughed. But damn, he looked so charming.
"Did you have breakfast?" she asked as she followed him to the front door,
"Yes, there are some omelettes, ham, and pancakes on the table." He slipped on his shoes, then turned to look at her.
"I'll see you tonight." He smiled, and placed a gentle peck on her cheek, like they always did now. To her it seemed impersonal, and guarded.
"Wait, Miles Edgeworth." She spoke up, and he looked at her expectantly.
"I... I have some tickets to the Wicked musical. Can you make time tomorrow?"
"... Okay." He nodded. She smiled.
"Good." She grinned. He turned and walked out the door.
She sat alone on their dining table with a plate of ham and eggs. Dammit. A few tears of frustration spilled out of her eyes. She wanted him to stay. She wanted him to hold her as they slept. She wanted more than just his kindness and companionship. She even began watching his Steel Samurai DVDs. I... I love him. To her dismay, she had fallen in love with her husband. She hated it. She knew they would divorce in two years, but no. She had to go falling in love with him- or... did she love him all this time, and only realize now?
Franziska glanced at the clock. It was already 3:00 in the afternoon. She had finished writing some legal documents for an upcoming trial. She had also reviewed some of her peers' work. She accomplished a lot, and successfully distracted herself from her domestic problem. She cringed at the thought of the word domestic.
Suddenly her phone rang. She answered it.
"Hello?"
"Fran, are you done with work? Let's go shopping!" Adrian's perky voice seemed to brighten her dark office.
"Yes, just now. Let's meet at your museum."
"Wonderful! I bet you have a lot of stories to tell. See you!"
"See you." Franziska hung up. She stepped into her bedroom to change her clothes. She brushed her soft light blue hair, sweeping it sideways. She placed on a single line on the edges of her upper eyelids and coated her lashes with mascara. She placed on some glitter blush, and for the final touch, she coated her lips with Miles's birthday gift- a light coral hued strawberry bubblegum flavoured lip gloss. She slipped on some casual clothes- a satin-chiffon natural kei style blouse with long sleeves and a moderate amount of ruffles, with a matching severe-pleated sea green skirt and white glass-designed mules. She grabbed her handbag and drove her silver car to Adrian's workplace.
-Vouchon Bakery, Upper West Side, NY-
April 2 7:36 PM
"I'm glad you had some time today Fran. It's been ages!" Adrian exclaimed. They were sitting on tall chairs across each other against a tall wooden table. Their shopping bags were in Franziska's car parked outside.
"It has scarcely been a week Adrian Andrews. How was work for you today?" Franziska took a knife and dipped it in butter for her honey croissant.
"-Another inventory as usual. Some new material from Greece arrived and we've been organizing another exhibit soon. But enough about me, I'm more interested to hear about you and Miles!" Adrian sipped her latte.
"Adrian..." Franziska was hesitant about telling her about her problems. She stared into her cup of lady grey tea.
"Okay, tell me what's wrong." Adrian pat her shoulder in support.
"Adrian, I think... I think I'm in love." Franziska's face was serious.
"...Oh... Frannie. Who is he? And that's too bad because you're married now. I'm so sor-"
"It's Miles Edgeworth, okay?" she shook her head. Adrian sighed.
"Oh God, finally." Adrian smiled and flipped her blonde hair.
"What do you mean, finally?" Franziska crossed her arms.
"I knew there was always something going on between you two!" she grinned.
"That is absurd! He is my little brother." She gasped.
"Something tells me not anymore!" Adrian said in a sing-song voice, which made Franziska blush.
"Since when did you notice? -And how long?!" Franziska fisted her hands and bit her lip.
"I have known you for years, and at first, I thought yours was just an obsession towards him; but no, I believe you have had feelings for him all this time." Adrian wagged her finger.
"How could you say that?"
"Chasing a man all the way to another continent? Does that ring a bell?" Adrian bit one of her blue macaroons.
"That was to prove I could beat Miles Edgeworth by beating the lawyer he couldn't." Franziska looked away in denial.
"Excuses, excuses. You wanted to avenge him, and you even tried to prevent him from leaving you again." Adrian laughed.
"H-h-how, how did you know?"
"So you did! Oh gosh I was bluffing. What a lucky guess!" Adrian teased.
"Anyway Fran, my point is, there's nothing wrong with what you're feeling!"
"But Adrian... There is..." Franziska looked her in the eye. She looked around the cafe for any suspicious individuals. Satisfying her neurotic tendencies, she continued. "Remember why I married him? This marriage isn't to last forever, Adrian Andrews."
"I see. You are afraid to let go of him?" Adrian asked.
"No. I never had him from the start." Franziska said quietly, her voice almost broken.
They were both silent for a moment. Adrian suddenly had an idea.
"Franziska. Do you want your marriage to be real?" Adrian took both her hands.
"What? Isn't it real enough?"
"Fine. Do you want him to love you for real?"
"...Yes." she blushed beet red and looked away, which made Adrian giggle.
"You both are close, there's no denying that. But... What about trying to appeal to him as a woman?"
"Huh?" Franziska's face was just pure confusion.
"Act like a real wife, silly!"
"You mean the usual things like preparing lunchboxes, preparing dinner, giving him a massage when he gets home, and all that other foolery?"
"Not necessarily. But! Find a way for him not to resist you." Adrian winked.
"Hmm, maybe I should find limited edition Steel Samurai trading cards." Franziska studied her options.
"I have a better idea." Adrian pulled out her new issue of Cosmopolitan. "This should help you- Page 69!" She shoved the magazine into Franziska's hands.
Franziska rolled her eyes as she turned the pages. "Ha-ha, very funny. Such innocent humour you have going on there-" she paused when she saw the article. Her tendency to quick read anything, combined with her genius absorption powers began to work on that spread dedicated to 'pleasing your man'. "It says, 'Your sex takes him to paradise'! Rubbish." She was blushing furiously. "It sounds like a line from one of the songs on your playlist."
"Oh come on, don't hate on my music now. I love that song!" Adrian took a bite off another macaroon.
"My apologies. But I simply cannot..." She bit off a quarter of her croissant.
"But, didn't you both have some sexy time back in your beach honeymoon?"
"I am not discussing this with you." Franziska ground her teeth.
"Jeez, fine. Sorry I asked." Adrian smiled and sipped her coffee.
"... Fine. We... We didn't really..." Franziska sent her an apologetic look- which resembled more like a resentful look.
"Okay. I understand. Hey, little steps then Fran. Cook something, or help with paperwork, or send him coffee. Maybe watch a drive-in movie, and have a candlelight dinner. Or, you know, steal some kisses." Adrian pinched her cheek. Only she could get away doing that without getting whipped.
"Hah. That is if I can get him to stay in one place long enough for me to ask. I'd have to strap him to a chair or something." Franziska gulped down her tea.
"Now there's an idea!" Adrian giggled. Franziska glared at her.
"I was joking!..." But seriously. Adrian grinned.
"Look on the bright side. You've got enough bravery to admit it to yourself, and even to me! You'll be okay."
"What if... What if he'll act differently towards me if he knows I like him?"
"Doesn't he avoid you enough? What else have you got to lose?"
"You're right. I should maybe give your suggestions a try."
"Keep my magazine. I've finished reading it this morning." Adrian winked at her.
"I won't need it." But Franziska slipped it into her bag anyway.
"Think of it as part of my wedding gift. I still have to give you my real present, but it's a huge package I left at my apartment. I'll drop by your house tomorrow and bring it over." Adrian finished her coffee.
"Thank you. We can have lunch together then." Franziska placed a reminder on her phone.
-Subway Entrance, Upper West Side, NY-
April 2 7:58 PM
"Thank you for today, Adrian." Franziska walked her to the nearest subway entrance.
"No thanks needed. I missed you too, Fran." They exchanged a brief hug. "And good luck with your husband." She whispered. Franziska watched her disappear into a sea of people, then made her way back to her car.
It was dark, around 8 now. She would probably be home before Miles. Home. Was it really? She wanted it to be now for sure. She found her car. She was about to pull out her keys when two men seized her and covered her mouth. The pulled her into a nearby alley.
"Don't move, or scream, or I'll slice your pretty little throat out!" a man whispered to her ear as he held a knife to her neck. The other man began to rummage her bag for her wallet and keys.
"Looks like we hit the jackpot, buddy. Plus, the lady's a hottie!" The other man walked up to her. While his partner seized her, the other man chuckled as he began to search her for some valuable pieces of jewelry, or so she thought. She felt disgusting, calloused hands on her legs, thigh, and even began feeling her breasts. She wanted to cry. She felt so disgusted. Miles! She was paralyzed in fear. There were a number of important things in her bag- Adrian's magazine, her whip, and Miles's birthday gift to her.
"Oh lookie, she's married! The ring looks expensive; maybe we should ransom her too! And maybe while her rich husband is piling the money, we can each have a go at her!" She nearly felt the bile rise up her throat. Impulsively, she fiercely stepped on the man's instep while twisting his wrist to disarm him, and kicked him harshly on the crotch. She avoided the other man who tried to attack her with a quick evade. She was able to grab her whip and delivered merciless lashes to the two men. She was immensely frightened but acted on adrenaline. She heard her car alarm from the short distance. She grabbed her things and ran towards the car.
She reached the door and fumbled for the keys. The tears were falling from her eyes. She was running out of time as one of the men- the one who kept touching her, slowly walked towards her laughing maniacally. She gripped her whip.
The moment before he could harm her any longer, suddenly a figure blocked Franziska and sent the maniac flying across, with a mean bloody nose.
"... It's okay now."
Franziska heard a gentle whisper and felt a warm body against hers briefly. She couldn't help but clutch onto Miles Edgeworth tightly. Their embrace was short-lived however when he left her inside her car and finished securing the criminals with Detective Gumshoe who accompanied him.
The two men were arrested and secured into police custody. Detective Gumshoe made sure of that.
"Mr. Edgeworth, I'll take care of these men. You should be with Ms. von Karma- I mean, Mrs. Edgeworth." Dick Gumshoe scratched his head as he spoke meekly to Miles. A backup unit arrived to assist Gumshoe.
"Thank you Gumshoe; and sorry for the inconvenience."
"Eh, this is nothing I can't handle. She needs you." Gumshoe inclined his head over to Franziska inside her car. Miles approached the car and opened the door.
His wife was trying to maintain a brave, expressionless face, but her body was shaking. Her hands were trembling and she was slouching, resisting curling up in a defensive ball against the seat.
"I'm so sorry..." he grimly spoke. He couldn't look her in the eyes. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he was hesitant to touch her.
"No." She responded in a dry breath.
"Tell me what happened." Miles needed to debrief her of the stress.
"I was out shopping with Adrian today. I parked the car here while we had dinner the bakery. I walked her to the subway. As I was going back to my car, two men grabbed me..." she sniffled and realized she was crying. Miles handed her his white handkerchief.
"Go on." He prompted.
"One had a knife on me and threatened to kill me. The other... He... Damn it." She cried and turned away from Miles.
"I have sent for an expert. You need to have a talk with her and undergo stress debriefing. You're in shock." Miles spoke in a matter-of-fact voice.
"I... I don't want to talk to anyone... I just... I just want to go home!" she cried, clutching her whip. She looked so defeated, and so broken. He couldn't stand it!
"What did they do to you..." his voice turned low, laced with a tightly reined anger. Something dreadful truly happened for Franziska to act like this.
"I told you, those men held a knife onto my neck, and-"
"WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO TO YOU!?" he nearly shouted. Franziska shook in fear, though she knew his rage was not directed at her. He grabbed her wrist and turned her to look at him. She stared into his grey eyes, which grew cold as steel. She closed her eyes as more tears slid from them. Her hair was a mess; her cheeks were blotched red from her crying. She probably looked unsightly.
"One of them... t-touched me. I-I... I couldn't..." she stammered. "He grabbed me, and..." as she spoke, she saw Miles and saw as if something in him grew immensely dark and cold. He carried her to the passenger seat of her car and fastened her seatbelt.
"Did he, by chance, perform any form of rape?" Miles cringed at the word, but he needed her to be honest.
"No." She replied.
"It's true, Mr. Edgeworth. I reached the crime scene first and I saw him. The man may have touched her inappropriately, but he didn't do anything of that untoward sort. We can file sexual assault on that man." Gumshoe's face was serious.
"Gumshoe, give those men the treatment at the detention centre. I will personally deal with them another day." He growled as he stepped into the driver's seat.
"Roger that, sir!" Gumshoe saluted him and watched as he sped off towards their home.
-Edgeworth Residence, NY-
April 2 8:20 PM
"Miles..." Franziska tried to call out to him, but he didn't answer. He merely stepped out of the car after parking it in the driveway and walked over her side to open the door. He removed her seatbelt roughly, then scooped her up in his arms.
"Miles Edgeworth!" She called out to him once more. He had an indiscernible expression on his face as he strode along the living room of their empty house. He gripped her body securely against his broad chest. Franziska felt physical warmth, but at the same time, felt the burning cold of his dangerous anger. He climbed the stairs effortlessly while carrying her and set her down onto her feet in his room.
"Miles, Edgeworth what is wrong with you?!" she cried.
"Strip." He demanded in an emotionless tone.
"What? What's going on?" her heartbeat notched up.
She did not follow his instruction. Impatiently he began working the buttons off her blouse.
"Miles..." she called. He grew more impatient and simply grabbed onto the delicate cloth of her white blouse and tore it open, popping all the buttons off. Her matching sea green push-up bra was exposed. She shyly gasped as he quickly unzipped her sea green skirt, kneeled lower and slipped it off her legs and tossed it into careless abandon, equally exposing her sea-green panties.
"What are you doing?!" she complained, while he rose up and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Stop!" she protested while he unhooked her bra and peeled it off her breasts in one swift movement. She was humiliated but at the same time, she couldn't find it in herself to complain. He took off her panties and then lifted her naked body once again and dropped her on his big, king-sized bed. He likewise, shook of his coat, pulled off his cravat and took off his waistcoat. He slipped off his shoes and socks. He folded his white shirt sleeves upwards to his elbows, baring sinewy, toned forearms. He took off his eyeglasses, then lifted Franziska's naked body into the bathroom. He settled her in the large, round tub and began to fill it with water so quickly.
Tears slid from her eyes as she watched him crouch down to her level. "Miles..." she whispered like a prayer. He looked at her, gently, this time. His grey eyes looked like clear mercury swirling gently. It held a deeply sorrowful expression. If not for his anger, he probably would have sobbed as well. He was so, so afraid of what could have happened to her. He took her into his arms, not caring if the splash of water got him wet as well.
"I'm so sorry... I... I failed to protect you..." he whispered into her damp hair.
"...Miles." she sighed and embraced him back.
He cupped her cheeks and gently nudged his straight, patrician nose against her slim, button-like one, and gently brushed their lips together. Franziska wrapped her wet arms around his neck and pulled him closer into a kiss. She had wet his dark hair and some parts of his white shirt. When she pulled away, she saw that his shirt stuck to his broad, fit body like a second skin. Suddenly, she realized how close they were, and what little barrier of cloth they had from each other. Her fear from earlier was now replaced with uncertainty, and something she could now clearly point out as desire.
"Where did he touch you?" Miles spoke coldly, but she knew the cold was not directed at her. He was a man who always protected her. Never did it come across her mind that he failed her, because he didn't. He came just in time.
"He touched my legs... and my thighs..." she said in a hushed tone. He took some bath gel and began to wash those places. She blushed even further and purred in pleasure as he ran his fingers along her smooth skin, warming them, wetting them, lathering them. He exerted enough pressure to make her clean. He rubbed along her hips and across her belly. She moaned and clutched onto his arms, pulling him closer. She couldn't believe it... She wasn't in much control of her body now. It acted on instinct- her primal need to keep him close, and closer.
"Ahh... Yes... There... Oh..." she grabbed him even closer, pressing her large breasts onto his hard, hot chest covered in that wet white button shirt, as he reached and washed her back, to the bottom of her spine.
"Where else did he touch you?" he grazed his lips along her wet neck. "He grabbed my breasts." She kissed his temple. He took her breasts into both of his hands and began massaging them, lathering them with bath gel. She leaned to rest her back on the tub's backrest. He circled each globe with his palms slowly with equal amounts of pressure, occasionally grazing her nipples, making her arch and moan in pleasure. "Oh... yes..." she gasped as he rinsed and repeated.
"Turn over. On your knees." He said. She obeyed. She looked so lovely, and the temptation to mount her was great for him. Like usual, he had a formidable resolve and self-control, and so he proceeded to bathe her backside.
He carried her out of the bathtub and set her on the bathroom bench, wrapped in his magenta towels. He stripped out of his wet white shirt and trousers. He could tell she was staring at his body. He turned his back to her, as he was only down to his boxer briefs. He was about to pull on a pair of pyjamas when he felt a warm, damp body along his back and soft arms wrapped around his waist.
"Miles... Don't. Be with me tonight. I... I need you." She sighed onto his shoulder blades. The tension in his muscles loosened. He faced towards her and wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. "Okay." He tilted her chin towards his lips and slipped his tongue to mingle with hers.
They kissed again and again, clumsily touching, smoothing their hands over their bodies, squeezing and sliding their fingers onto one another. They used their lips and tongue to love each other thoroughly. He placed her on the bathroom counter for better access to her body. By instinct, she wrapped her legs around his trunk while he stayed in between them. They made out heavily, Miles endeavouring to make her wetter by pinching her nipples and rubbing her derriere, and Franziska aiming to arouse him by grinding and sliding her wet womanhood against his crotch. They were a tangled mess of limbs when they eventually reached his bed.
Miles pinned her on his soft, white silk sheets with her hair sprawled on it like a lustrous blanket. Her baby blue eyes resembled sapphire, from the desire that burned in them. Her lips were swollen and thoroughly ravished, like the rest of her flushed body.
"Miles... Please." She caressed his cheeks and arched her upper body towards him, offering her breasts. He complied by sucking and licking her neck, and eventually her large, smooth, perky, soft globes as well. He continued on lower, and lower. She held onto his sheets with as much strength as she could muster as he ventured down further with his lips and tongue.
"Franziska... You're just so... so beautiful... So sexy." He whispered against the flesh of her thigh. She felt herself grow wetter. She felt so shy but at the same time, more free than the last.
"Ahh... I can't... Oh my..." her breaths became more frantic as he spreads open her legs and he kissed her lips down there.
"What... Why..." she couldn't complete her sentences. He was wreaking havoc on her there, but she found it so pleasurable. It seemed he knew what to do, and where. "Oh... Oh please..." she moaned as he continued to worship her body, licking, pressing and unfolding her there. He blew softly on her erectile nub of flesh then nudged it gently with his tongue. Her moans became more frantic. He breathed a smile. He intended to erase every horrible touch she had felt that day, and aimed to give her memories of pleasure in its place.
He continued to attack her with swirls of his tongue on that nub, and her moans became pleasured screams. Her fingers began burying themselves into his hair, and down across his shoulders. He returned to kissing her lips there, and began thrusting in his tongue repeatedly, in circular rhythms, coaxing her even higher. In, and out, in and out, again, and again as she fought to catch her breath. He simultaneously squeezed her pink swollen, erect nipples, tightening her nether lips on his tongue. "You're so hot... So wonderfully tight..." he praised her, which made her even wetter. "Please... No... Stop... Ahh..." she begged. "Don't... stop..." she sighed.
When her release came, he lapped up her wetness, satisfied at her pleasure and happiness. He was harder than he could ever remember, but he kept it in his mind, that he should never cross that line. After feeling the last of her release pass, he rose up to her and wrapped her in a warm embrace. She turned to him, teary-eyed, but smiling, and pulled him towards her for a kiss, and tasted herself on his lips. This night was theirs, and with all the prayers Miles could think up of in his head, he hoped for Franziska to sleep peacefully tonight and feel somehow better in the morning.
to be continued
O-o-O-o-O