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It’s been a couple months since Miles Edgeworth has been adopted in the Von Karma household. His father died. The supposed killer has been acquitted. He had to move away from his friends.
He accepted this change because without Mister Von Karma, he would be nowhere. Yes, Von Karma could be a little harsh, and yes, he has high expectations for all his children to be perfect. But Miles knew he wasn’t perfect. And with that realization, he tried his best to be above average in everything. The last thing he wanted to do is upset his mentor.
Even with his determination to be the best he could be, he had flaws. Primarily being in the elevator at this moment. Miles stares at his hands, trying to control his breathing. Why is he panicking? The elevator is moving. There are no dangerous weapons in the compartment. This isn’t even the same elevator-!
He starts to get lightheaded. The only other person in the elevator is his big, younger than him sister, Franziska von Karma. If he lost consciousness, he would be a disappointment to her. What would she think? What a fool. He can’t faint here!
He breathes hard. “Little brother?” he hears Franziska ask. “Miles! What are you doing?”
He can’t see. The only thing in his vision is the darkness around and the blurriness of the person in front of him. He can’t do this. He can’t do this!
“Miles!” Is the last thing he hears before he can’t think anymore.
He wakes up and immediately looks around. He’s on a bench right outside of the elevator. Franziska is sitting on the bench with him, under his head. He quickly gets up. “F- Franziska!” He looks down on the ground. “H-how long was I out for?”
“Hmm...” she replies, thinking. “Around 30 seconds or so...”
“Way more than zero,” he says under his breath. He can’t believe the weakness he’s shown. “I’m… I’m going to the restroom!” He needs to escape eyes. He can’t show any more weakness.
“But Papa said that we have to stay together!” Miles’s eyes start to fill with tears. He breathes heavily. “Miles!” She stands on the bench. “Miles!”
“I’m- I’m fine!” he says angrily, trying so hard to stop crying.
“Come- come here, Miles!” Franziska orders. Miles shuffles to her. She’s a bit taller than him. “Little brother, are the Signal Samurai successful on their first try?”
Miles thinks about each episode. Usually there’s a big conflict in the episode so they can overcome it and learn a lesson. Miles shakes his head. “Not all the time.”
“Then, act like them!” That’s true! The Signal Samurai might have lost the encounter, but they don’t give up! Miles sniffs. She rolls her eyes. “I can’t believe I know the show better than you and I don’t even watch it.”
Miles chuckles. “Thank you, Franziska.”
“Hmph! I said act like them, big and strong, and help carry me!” she extends her arms.
“Okay, Franziska.”
There is only one thought in the back of Miles’s head. What would Mister Von Karma say about this?
It’s a week later, and Von Karma are taking his kids to his prosecutor office. It’s above the first floor, so they have to take the elevator. They’re too proper to use the stairs.
Once Von Karma pushes the button, Franziska speaks out. “Papa, Miles can’t take the elevator!”
“Why not?” he asks in a stern voice. He looks down on Miles, making the kid nervous. What puzzles him, though, is how come Von Karma wouldn’t know the reason? Maybe he either forgot or he’s about to teach Miles a lesson.
Miles swallows. “Well, sir, it’s because-”
Franziska puts out her arm in front of Miles, effectively shutting him up. “He needs to be punished for doing one less math problem! We need to teach him to be less lazy.” Miles looks down again, this time in shame. Whether it was true or not – he’s done so much math – Von Karma isn’t going to question much of what his daughter says.
“Hmm, you’re right! Miles, take the stairs. We don’t want you lacking, do we?”
“No, sir!” Miles says quickly.
“Good, now go! We’ll meet you upstairs.”
“You know where it is!” Franziska adds. “Unless you don’t, run the stairs before the elevator reaches! But then… what would the point be for elevators if you can run up the stairs in less time?” Franziska smiles. “Ah well. Good luck.”
“Well said, Franziska. Let’s go.”
And Miles runs up the stairs. He beats the elevator, and he decides from now on to not ever use an elevator in his life.
–
Franziska and Miles are both in the kitchen making something. They are both in each other’s way, but they don’t have a choice. They’re both making a different part of dinner, so the kitchen is somewhat divided by the ingredients that Miles is using and what Franziska is using. It isn’t too bad, Miles thinks. He likes to spend time with his sister, and this gives him the opportunity to talk to her. They don’t really talk because they’re busy with studies and their hobbies.
“Do you think Mister Von Karma will like this?”
Franziska snorts. “Little brother. It’s been four years! You can call him father!”
Miles rolls his eyes. It’s true he’s been in the Von Karma household for four years, but he doesn’t feel comfortable being casual with his mentor. “Big sister. I asked you a question. Don’t avoid it or else it’ll make you look suspicious.”
“Why do you need to know? Is it important to what we’re doing right now?”
“Yes it is! It’s on the subject of dinner!”
“Will it make a difference whether or not I tell you what I think?”
“It might help with what I’m doing. If you don’t think he’ll like it, I’d be able to revise the recipe until it’s up to standard.”
Franziska shrugs. “I don’t think it matters. I don’t know him any better than you do.”
“Yes you do!”
“You’re really good at reading people.”
“Thank you. But you’re literally his daughter. By blood-” he is cut off by a piece of onion flung to his face. “Franziska!!”
She runs away. “I didn’t want to break it to you, but you’re adopted!”
Miles gasps melodramatically, running after her. “You take that back! It’s not true!”
“It totally is!”
Suddenly there is a light tremor. Miles stops in his tracks. He knows this is an earthquake! This isn’t the first time since the incident that he’s experienced one, so he knows how he feels when one does happen. He needs to hide. He can’t let anyone know that he’s afraid. He looks around and finds a closet. It might have coats that fall on him, but it’s better than the embarrassment.
The blunt of the earthquake hits before he can make it into the closet. He falls to the floor, going back to that day. He can’t breathe. Everything is in a haze. Stop! Don’t hurt him!
It’s so dark. “Miles,” he hears Franziska’s voice. He opens his eyes.
“Fra-Franz-”
“You’re fine. Everything is fine. No one’s been hurt. Pess is fine. You’re fine,” she says quickly, hugging Miles.
Miles tries to tell her something, but he’s still in shock to even make a sound. “Shut up, fool. An earthquake messed up our cooking time. That sucks. No need to whine about it.” Miles titters. “Okay I’ll answer your question. I think he’ll like what we made.”
“Thanks, Franziska.”
–
Franziska wanted to show her family her horse skills. Unfortunately her father couldn’t make it. Good thing her little brother came! Against his will. He just wants to be home working on some law homework.
She has been horseback riding for a couple years now. Every so often, Miles does join her in her lessons, so he knows how good she is. There was a new skill she learned and just wanted to share. She just wants validation, poor her. When will either of them be good enough for validation? Miles doesn’t know.
“Miles, are you looking?” she yells from across the field.
“Yes!” he yells back. She shows off. He enjoys it because it really does seem like she’s happy.
“Ta-da!!”
Miles claps for her.
“Ms. Von Karma please be careful,” says her instructor.
“I am!” She does another trick. And another.
“Miles, look at this one!” she yells, performing another trick. This time, she falls off the horse. No one is worried. She’s done that plenty of times before, even today. But this time something is wrong. She doesn’t move to go back up. Miles, on the other side of the fence, feels a deep dread drown him. Why is his sister not moving?
“Franziska!!” he screams, almost too loudly. He dashes around the fence to reach her. The instructor has taken the horse away so while she’s taking care of the child, the horse doesn’t interfere. But Miles gets to Franziska first.
Looking at her almost makes him vomit in panic. His mind is fuzzy. He has to focus! For Franziska! Quickly, he assesses the scene. There is no blood. It seems that Franziska is still breathing. She’s unresponsive when Miles tries to say her name again. He kneels down, not worrying for his pants. “Franziska,” he chokes. He hasn’t noticed, but the tears he has are just falling down his face. He can’t lose her! Not another family member!
Miles takes her hand. Her eyes flutter open. “Ow.”
Relief washes over Miles. He bursts into more tears. He hugs Franziska. “F-Franziska! I’m s-so glad to s-see you alive!”
“Of course I’m alive!” she says, hugging her brother back. “What is wrong with you?” Miles doesn’t answer.
The instructor comes back and makes a quick check to make sure Franziska did not suffer a concussion. Good thing she doesn’t.
Miles’s crying continues, having just thought Franziska might’ve been lost. He couldn’t stop himself from thinking about the scenarios, including having to tell Mister Von Karma about this. The most horrific part of losing her for Miles would losing what made her his friend. Her powerful demeanor, her sarcastic quips, and her talent would be missing in the world. Miles doesn’t know if he’d be able to live without her.
He doesn’t stop hugging her, even after she’s been declared perfectly okay.
“Let’s get ice cream to sooth both of us,” Franziska says, patting his back so he can let go.
“Good idea, Franziska,” Miles replies.
While they are walking out of the ranch, they hold hands. “I love you, Franziska.”
She doesn’t say anything for a while. Then she lightly punches her brother’s shoulder.
“I love you, too, little brother.”