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It was a spontaneous, heat of the moment suggestion when Maya Fey invited Franziska von Karma for a drink on a random Friday evening. In Maya’s defense it isn’t every day you find your unaddressed crush of some years whose permanent residence is in Berlin on a fast food drive through in Los Angeles California. Before Maya could even stop herself from acting on impulse she carefully approached Franziska, who was looking at the menu.
“And here I thought a von Karma was above fast food,unlike us mortals” Maya told the woman who freezed upon hearing her last name, immediately snapping to look at the perpetrator of this comment.
Maya cocked her head to the side, returning a grin to the flustered face of Franziska von Karma. At that moment Maya was allowed to take a good look at the woman in question, she had changed since the last time their paths crossed, at the same time there were many similarities with the woman who tried to put her in prison many years ago.
“Maya Fey…Good evening.” Franziska spoke, not daring to avert her gaze.
The most prominent feature that changed was her hair: she had cut it and it was styled in a modern pixie cut with her usual side bang facing left. It barely reached her ears and Maya imagined it brushed the nape of her neck, leaving the skin in full exposure. She kept her posture high, just like back then, hand on the sides of her hip, whip placement still there. She was wearing a black long sleeved blouse with ruffles on its side, paired with dark pants and pointy leather heels. For Franziska’s standards, this was probably her casual wear.
“How come I found you in Los Angeles?” Maya asked Franziska, trying to keep her tone of voice as calm as possible. Again, it is not every day you stumble upon the woman who invaded your dreams for two consecutive years.
“Urgent work for Interpol, it was an impromptu visit, I plan on leaving the day after tomorrow.”
“I see and you are specifically here because…?”
“Are you practicing to become an interrogator Maya Fey?”
“Sorry, sorry, it is just weird to see you in a place like that” Maya scratched the back of her neck.
“I have booked a room in a hotel nearby and…I craved some filthy American food…” Maya was holding her laughter, the woman really was raised in a different setting than her. “Your turn Maya Fey.”
“Okay Franziska von Karma, the truth is” Maya debated on whether to tell the truth or not “I got stood up for a date.” She decided half truth was the best way to go.
“A d-date?” Franziska, Maya was certain, she stuttered, or maybe it was late into the night and Maya’s fantasies got the best of her.
Maya was not completely lying about the date stand up, the lie hid in the fact that it was Maya herself who never showed up. But Franziska does not have to know that.
Maya’s brain could not really understand the logic of painting herself as a less desirable woman to Franziska rather than one who had the confidence to ditch their online match ups. But this deduction was the furthest away from reality. Maya just chickened out last minute.
Was it the disappointment of her libido for not securing a good laid tonight, or maybe her tired self or just the words that itched to be pronounced all these years were uncontrollable, so Maya spoke before she could even think
“Well since we are here, would you like to go for a drink?” Maya regretted it the moment she realised what she had done, she was ready to back out but then…
Franziska raised her eyebrow, creasing her nose, she was still gorgeous to Maya’s eyes, she felt nineteen again, on the defendant’s chair, witnessing the beauty that was Franziska von Karma for the first time.
“Sure, I can’t see why not. Do you have any suggestions? You are the local here.”
If Maya had any energy left in her and if Franziska was literally anyone else she would annoyingly point out that her main residence lies in Kurain, not Los Angeles, but she was not going to pass the opportunity of a drink with the Prosecutor Prodigy.
“Hm, sadly not in this part of the city, didn’t you mention you stay at a hotel nearby? I’m always a sucker for hotel bars.” Maya spoke.
“Of course, let us go immediately, it is approximately a ten minute walk.” Franziska turned her heel and started approaching the clear glass door, Maya nodded, ready to follow the taller woman when-
“What about your food?”
Franziska’s eyes looked at the lady on the register, thinking for a moment before she spoke “I can always order room service, a drink sounds better than a filthy burger.” and then she left the store. Maya followed after some mental restraint not to defend one of her favourite burger joints.
On their way to the hotel, neither of them spoke. Franziska was a few meters in front of Maya, leading the way, whilst Maya was walking mindlessly behind, thinking of how many women across the world dream is she currently experiencing. A one on one drink with Franziska von Karma. Maya would be lying if she denied being part of that specific demographic of women. There was something about that woman that Maya felt weak to. Before she could think about it more, Franziska stopped and turned around, indicating that they reached their destination. When Maya looked up at the Hotel’s sign her mouth fell to the ground.
“You are staying at Petit Ermitage?” Maya could not believe her eyes, she knows that in order to even afford to stay here for a night she would need a year of Nick’s paycheck.
“Yes, I decided to travel on a budget this time to minimize my expenses.” Franziska, unbothered by the shock Maya had, stated calmly.
“This is your idea of budget?” At that moment Maya decided that rich people are crazy, specifically rich Germans. Looking down at her outfit: a long purple dress with a lower cleavage cut than her usual wear and her go-to platform sandals, she realised she was not dressed appropriately for this place and the only thing she could afford is to turn around and leave.
“Relax Maya Fey” Franziska spoke up, probably understanding Maya’s inner demons fighting “no one will bother to look at you, you are my guest after all tonight.” Franziska then held the door for Maya to go through. The shorter woman was unsure if that comment was meant to calm her down or remind her of her lowly worth, nevertheless she went inside, Franziska following slowly after.
The inside was exactly what Maya envisioned, golden, luxurious and empty. She thought it would make her feel on edge but her shoulders relaxed the moment she stepped into the dimly lit room. Franziska showed her the way to the bar and she obediently walked to the direction pointed, admiring the once in a lifetime scenery in front of her, making sure to preserve all the details. She was so going to flex this on Nick and Pearly.
The bar was surprisingly empty and smaller in size than Maya anticipated, the establishment opted for comfort over luxury, since she could see couches instead of expensive chairs, but they were probably worth Maya’s liver.
They took a seat next to each other at the bar and the bartender immediately took their orders.
“Whiskey on the rocks”
“Bourbon?’
“Scotch.” The bartender nodded and turned to Maya
“Uh a cosmo please.”
“Coming right up.” The bartender swiftly prepared and served their drinks, they both thanked him and he went a few meters away, for privacy reasons.
“Shall we toast?’ Maya asked, a bit too into the rich lifestyle she was now put in to perform into.
“To what exactly?” Franziska asked, crossing her legs, Maya just shrugged, resulting in a tiny laugh from the other woman “Let’s just drink.” Franziska followed and took a sip from her whiskey, closing her left eye.
“How do you even drink this stuff?” Maya commented, drinking her Cosmopolitan, even the taste was expensive.
Franziska winced, “You kind of get used to the taste after a while.”
“Why not order another drink then?” Maya asked, genuinely curious, earning a small scoff from Franziska.
“Whiskey is the alcoholic drink proven to make others take you seriously. A female prosecutor needs to present as someone not to be underestimated. The drink you order plays a major role.” Franziska paused her nonsensical monologue to stare at her drink “Or that is what Papa claimed anyways.”
“I believe it’s stupid.”
Franziska did not reply immediately, she only swirled the glass around, not daring to look at Maya “I suppose, old habits die hard, except whiskey and beer my alcohol knowledge is limited.”
Maya who was taking a sip out of her drink could not help but smirk “Old habits?Aren’t you twenty two?Since when have you been drinking?”
Franziska turned around and in the most neutral tone answered Maya’s question. “Sixteen.” The answer left Maya’s mouth hanging for the second time tonight. “Oh yeah, I forget you are German, but still.” Franziska smirked in response.
“Forgive me, law abiding Maya Fey who followed the legal drinking age. Such a good American citizen. You can drive and vote but god forbid one drinks before twenty one.”
Maya laughed, Franziska making fun of Americans was normal, as she was informed by Nick who told her his experience investigating together with her when she was channeling Dahlia back then. Maya never saw it for herself, it was quite entertaining. “Quite the contrary, my sister used to sneak me in bars and clubs when I used to visit her back when I was sixteen.”
At that moment Maya realised she told Franziska something personal, a memory only preserved for her, one only Nick knew. Maybe talking with Franziska under the effect of liquor was a bad idea, but she would do anything but call it early for the night.
“Bold move for a lawyer, was she determined to defend you in court if you had gotten caught?”
Maya laughed, “She probably would.” When Maya sobers up she will realize she talked about her dead sister with Franziska, and for the first time in years did not feel such a sharp pain in her chest. She took another sip of her drink.
“Enjoying your fruit juice Maya Fey?” Maya noticed how more loose Franziska acted when intoxicated, she is addicted now to that side of her.
“You are just jealous you are stuck drinking this crap.” Maya, without thinking, kicked the bottom of Franziska’s heel. Instead of causing a negative reaction Maya watched as the other woman leaned her head to rest on the head on top of her table
“Too bad you do not have evidence to support this claim. Evidence is everything”
“I stand defeated” Maya raised her two hands, unable to contain her smile. It was so unnatural to think of how natural the conversation went on. “Anyways, what have you been up to for the past years?”
“And what business is that of your’s Maya Fey?”
“Hey we are catching up over a drink, it is a perfectly normal question.”
“I suppose you are correct, it is the protocol of a successful evening out to discuss past business. Well then, I was caught up with work, Interpol is giving me little to no time for relaxation, not that I mind, on the contrary, I am more than content with it.”
“Same old’ Ziska huh, at least you dropped the perfect and the fool.”
Franziska pouted and raised her eyebrow “What is that supposed to mean, Maya Fey?”
“Let’s just say if we had played a drinking game back then, taking a shot every time you spoke of perfection or called one a fool, we’d end up with a ruined liver in the hospital.” Maya jokingly responded, hopefully not having offended the other woman.
“I was an immature…foolish girl back then, you are right on that, Maya Fey.”
“Can you drop the Fey? We are not in court for you to be calling me by my full name” Maya exclaimed
“Sure thing…Maya” Franziska shut herself with a big sip of her whiskey, probably not used on a first name basis. “So what about you? I answered, "It is only logical you do too.”
Maya bit her lip, suppressing a smile “Nothing much, mostly busy with stuff regarding Kurain Village, becoming Master takes a lot of time and energy. Sometimes I come to the city to cool off. Raising Pearly and helping Nick with cases from time to time.”
“Was tonight supposed to be your cooling off day?”
“Yeah…”
“A shame your date did not show up, their loss.” Franziska mindlessly responded, looking at the bottles behind the bar. Was she being friendly or was the last comment what she truly believed? Maya was not in the correct state of mind to ponder over that. “I hope this is a nice substitution.”
Maya wanted to say that this is what she always wanted, it was better than any date she had been or will go to, but she could not go saying stuff like that, so she opted for something close “Don’t mention it, I’m having a great time” Maya winked at Franziska, who took another small sip of her whiskey, still wincing. A moment of silence followed, only for Maya to break it. “Actually…I was the one who stood her up and did not show.” She had no fucking idea why she confessed that, after lying before about it.
“I see…Care to ask why?”
Maya did not reply immediately, she needed to organize her thoughts, flashbacks of being on top of the witness stand and having to testify for her mother’s murder flashed before her eyes, she shut them before a tear could even think of escaping.
“It is tiring.” Turning to Franziska who was staring in silence, she realized her answer was not satisfactory. Maya was currently talking to a prosecutor afterall, a two word answer is not satisfactory. She sighed and continued
“Just, the few dates I’ve been to the past few years, the ones not intended as hookups and one night stands always follow the same pattern. We talk about ourselves, I let her always go first and listen to what she has to say. Sometimes it’s engaging, sometimes boring, but always normal.Then it is my turn and I black out. Because where do I even start? Occupation? A Master of a village and a spirit medium, that alone raises hundreds of questions every time, if I’m lucky I don’t have to channel their dead relative the next day. Childhood? Absent mother and father, raised by an aunt whose grand plan in life was to murder me? The only real family was my big sister who by the way got murdered some years ago and I was the main suspect in the case and my cousin who I had to pretend to be her mother at eighteen? I don’t even manage to reach the part of my second arrest or everything that happened at Eagle Mountain, they all start apologizing to me like they had something to do with any of that. I get it, basic human decency to feel bad for a stranger’s suffering, but I am tired of being pitied my whole life. You can say I should lie and come up with fake answers, save the trouble but then what am I even trying to achieve there? Human connections are based on honesty.” Maya took a long sip of her cosmopolitan, emptying it. “I’ll need a second one soon, just so you know.” Franziska nodded, gesturing to the bartender to prepare another one for both of them.
“Thank you” Maya felt her voice tremble, thankfully Franziska did not notice or just did not comment on it. “I was fine with it, I mean I kept going for more, was it tiring?Maybe but I had needs that needed to be met, I managed” Franziska snorted “Sorry but it’s true. What fucked me up was my last date, several months ago.” Maya took the first sip of her second cosmopolitan, the flavour was the same and it still tasted like money. “I mentioned my mother dying, spared some details of course and she started tearing up, giving her condolences and apologizing to me, saying how awful and depressed I must have felt back then.” Maya let out a dry laugh. It was either that or a cry. “And then I realized that this random stranger felt more about my mother’s death than I did all those years back. I could not handle it, I am probably the worst daughter ever, I mean who doesn’t cry for days after the death of her mother?”
“Would you have grieved a stranger?”
That was all Franziska said, Maya could not help but snap her head to stare at the woman in disbelief. Her eyes were widened, maybe a tear fell but Maya could not care at all. Franziska was right from a logical point, Maya had no memory of her mother, hell she did not even recognize her in the painting. It was the hard truth served on a cold platter for Maya to digest by yours truly, Franziska von Karma.
“There is no textbook on the correct way to grieve a person Maya.”
Maybe it was the soft tone of voice that whispered this, maybe the mention of her first name coming out of her mouth so naturally, or maybe it is because it came from a girl with no relatives left either, but Maya for the first time in years, felt seen.
Maya wanted to say something, either to pronounce the woman’s name, or thank her but nothing would come out. Franziska continued.
“If it existed, I would have used it, trust me.” she said, coldly, taking a sip “I apologize, you were talking, continue.”
“Oh,uh I mean that’s all…” Maya cowardly spoke,turning her head to look down at the expensive flooring.
“I see”
The silence that followed was longer but comfortable nonetheless. Maya just realised the faint music playing in the backroom, some kind of jazz track, Maya enjoyed the way it hummed in her ears.
“I never knew my mother either.” Franziska’s voice made Maya turn away from the music and she remembered where she was: in a hotel bar deep into the night, next to Franziska von Karma.
The comment Franziska made took Maya by a shock, for two reasons.Firstly It was the first time Maya had seen Franziska share something about herself and secondly, Maya had kind of forgotten,due to all the talk about her father, that Franziska was supposed to have a mother. The other woman understood Maya’ shock, like a mind reader she answered her.
“Everyone forgets it, me too sometimes.”
“When did she…?”
“After I was born, her pregnancy made her very weak and suffered an illness, she died a few hours after giving birth to me.” Maya’s words died in her tongue, only a gasp escaped. She had never heard about this.
“Papa loved her dearly, he never remarried because of that, but he took down all her photos from our manor and never once talked about her with me. There is no proof she ever existed in the first place.” Franziska finished her sentence by drinking her whiskey.
The last part made Maya’s heart sink, evidence is everything, especially for a prosecutor. To have zero concrete evidence of your mother’s existence…that probably hurts. At least Maya had the charm and her mother’s painting.
And the mugshot they took of her mother when DL-6 occurred.
Franziska pulled her back to reality “I can sense you pitying me right now Maya, stop it this instant. You said it yourself, you dislike it when one does that.”
“Yeah sorry, I just thought of my own mother…At least I am now grateful I have something to remember her by. Do you not know anything about her?”
Franziska did not reply, Maya immediately apologized.
“Do not worry Maya, you cannot offend me this easily. The only thing I know is that I look nothing like her, or the maids that knew her whispered to each other so.”
“You had maids? Plural?” Maya knows that is the part she should focus her least of her attention to, but she cannot help it.
“Yes, as mother figures go, they were all I had, to me my biological mother is nothing more than a person lost in time. However depressing that may be.” Maya nodded along, the atmosphere felt heavier, maybe it was the alcohol. She tried to make them talk about something livelier.
In the end, Maya did not have to worry, Franziska moved on to another point on her own “Pardon me for overstepping a boundary, but is this not the case with your father?”
Maya’s eyebrow raised at the mention of her father and Franziska could not have been more correct,he was dead to her, both metaphorically and literally. Growing up in Kurain meant she did not have a father figure in her life, neither a maid or an uncle. “Yeah, I never knew him, it is not like I ever wanted to do so. He abandoned us, he got what he deserved. In my case a father was never present in my life.” She paused for a moment “...or a mother…”
“Your sister, Mia Fey raised you, right?” Franziska, genuine curiosity colouring her tone of voice. asked Maya
“Until one point yes, but it was mostly my aunt, ironic is it not?” Franziska just smiled in reply.
Maya had talked about her mother, so did Franziska, Maya had mentioned her father, if the conversation went both ways Franziska had to bring him up.
Maya decided not to take that step, for both of their sakes. Instead she fidgeted with her hands under the bar and spoke in a much higher tone than usual “So, Germany huh?” It was stupid.
Franziska scoffed.
“It’s not like he will come back from the dead if you mention his name, you know?” Maya turned around at Franziska, the lighting shining the perfect way in order to highlight her perked up eyebrow and knowing smirk. With the little makeup she was wearing, Maya flinched at the resemblance.
Maya was busted.
“I mentioned I look nothing like my mother,where apparently I am a spitting image of my father.”
Maya, still feeling like she is walking on eggshells nodded “The resemblance is uncanny…sorry.”
Franziska smirked, drinking her whiskey “Sorry for what? Biology? Genetics? Please Maya I am not shackled by unstoppable forces and also I have two perfect pairs of eyes.” She looked directly inside Maya’s eyes “I am his daughter after all.”
Maya hesitated, there is no going back now
“How was it…growing up with him?”
Maya did not know what to expect, one part of her was prepared for child abandonment or spoiling her since she was born. No in betweens, she could not imagine Manfred von Karma being anything but extreme. Instead Franziska
Just shrugged.
“He was a great mentor, he taught me everything about prosecuting, even the unorthodoxies the job comes equipped with.” Franziska’s last words came in a more quiet voice. “He stopped playing the role of a father when I turned thirteen, before that, he used money as a means to express his care for me.”
Maya fell silent and a bit empty inside. “I see.”
Franziska hummed “When Miles came…it was complicated. He threw me to the side and focused all his energy on this boy, I was living in the shadow of his rival’s son. I was his daughter again, he was his student and prodigy. To little me Miles was my brother and papa was well…papa. You can understand the confusion it caused?”
Maya nodded “Christmas cards were probably a pain to make.” and Franziska smiled.
“He was not such a horrible father to me…maybe that is the worst part.” Franziska was looking at her glass.
Maya spoke for her “You cannot hate him?”
Franziska shook her head to object “The contrary. I do…” she sighed
“He was a coward, made a false image of himself for forty years and died because of it. He was the biggest fool that ever walked the earth.” Maya stared at her in disbelief “Do not be so shaken Maya, it took me years and a therapist that Miles forced onto me to realise I am more than his name and blood.”
“And you are far better than him, in every department. Please remember that.”
“You really believe that?” Franziska asked, playfully, Maya nodded in determination.
A pregnant pause followed
“…I was his favourite.”
Maya did not speak
“Makes sense, for the daughter you spent your life curating to be the cardboard copy of you to be your favourite. It is the kind of narcissism that was in character…” Franziska bit her lower lip “His will was addressed to me,he left everything to me, to Franziska von Karma my perfect protege. could not even address me as his daughter in his final moments either. He switched between daughter and protege whenever it was convenient for him, finding loopholes in his own words, like a true demonic prosecutor.”
Maya knew she was staring at Franziska in a sad, and melancholic manner.
“It is not like there was any other family left, especially after Edgeworth…” she whispered.
“Nonesense I have a sister Maya.” Maya’s eyebrows flew to the ceiling and based on Franziska’s unbothered expression, she managed to react that emotion from Maya. “I believe he had mentioned a granddaughter in State v Edgeworth? I would have to know, I’ve studied this case a lot.”
Maya rubbed her chin, her memory was fuzzy after all these years, the specific trial had shaken her up, literally, so she doesn’t remember all the details, but she was reminded of this “Oh yeah, he used her as an argument to object to Nick.” Franziska nodded
“ I imagine you do not believe I have bore a child.” Franziska was strange, talking about her father and family while wearing a smirk, probably due the alcohol (or the company of Maya) she did not seem bothered about it
“Yes, well to be honest, I did not think about that, he could have lied about a granddaughter.”
“He did not, he had some decorum.”
“Are you close with your sister?” Maya suddenly realised another similarity between her and Franziska, them having sisters, presumably older ones.
“Not really, she is twenty years older than me anyways, by the time I gained consciousness she had married and moved out.”
Maya raised an eyebrow “How come she was not trained to be a prodigy?”
Franziska took a moment to think and then spoke up “Pa- Father was a traditional man with his whole life planned, he aimed to have a daughter to continue the von Karma blood and a son to follow his footsteps.”
She sipped on her whiskey.
“I ruined his plans”
Her statement took Maya by surprise, Franziska smiled softly at her direction.
“It is the objective truth, is it not? I am the reason his wife died and I am a woman.” She clicked her nails on the wooden bar “My sister studied law, obviously, but she did not become a prosecutor, she married a rich German man ,moved to the countryside, and had a daughter. She was still in touch with…father, she was ignorant of his ugly side though.Of course she never met Miles either.”
“Have you contacted her after….” Maya tried to respond, words dying at the tip of her tongue
“Yes actually, as I mentioned father left everything to me, I could not stand owning so much money, stained with blood, so we figured it out and I gave away a sum. Other than that, I have seen my niece once or twice and have heard her screams on the phone. I am glad she has her own family, cleared of his name…”
The fact that Franziska will always be haunted by his name were left unsaid
“Would you like to start a family?” Franziska was taken aback by Maya’s question and for the better of it, Maya was overstepping boundaries. “ Sorry…I should not have asked a perso-”
“Hm, the question shook me all, do not apologize and to answer your question: no. I traverse continents too frequently to have a specific place of residence and also obtaining a child, biological or not as a lesbian is a tedious procedure I do not wish to go through.” Franziska answered so formally, resulting in Maya’s stomach being filled with butterflies flapping around.
“Did your father know about…you?”
“My lesbianism?” Maya nodded and Franziska scoffed in return “I never told him, he did not hide his homophobia and I was smart enough to hide it from him, maybe he had figured it out, I was not subtle.” Franziska fixed her posture and licked her own lips “What about you Maya?”
“Which question is this about?”
“Hm both, I feel like I’ve talked too much, your voice is very pleasant to listen to, I would not like it if I did not savor it.” Franziska leaned on her hand on the bar, Maya enjoyed her subtle flirting, even though it made her legs weak and her mind spin a hundred times trying to decipher what it meant for Franziska von Karma.
“Well for the first option, I don’t think of having a family either, but it’s…more complicated i guess…” Maya took a deep breath, looking at the shelves full of bottles behind the bar, she felt Franziska’s soft eyes linger on her.
“Does it have to do with the Master’s position?”
“Kinda…I do not want to cause any disruption for who the next master will be, like when I die-” the word did not come out, she skipped that train of thought. Death is never a pleasant subject to think or talk about, especially if it involved her and her beloved cousin, Pearly despite being older was still a sensitive child, Maya adored that about her, so she was more prone to tears and Maya swore an oath to never be the reason she has to cry ever again. “Anyways I do not know how the role of mother suits me ha, what if I also abandon my daughters forever?” Maya jokingly said,trying so hard not to cry, she drank.
“Maya, I am pretty positive you could never do that.” Franziska sternly replied.
“Well, no use speaking in hypotheticals though-”
“Miss Pearl Fey is living proof, is she not? You took in an eight year old girl after her mother was found guilty of murder and you raised her on your own. You took that role of “mother” at eighteen, correct? And what I hear from my brother’s annoying ramblings about you all…you have done a terrific job.”
Maya’s face turned away from the woman, looking down at the wooden floor, face flustered from embarrassment. Franziska was right, she always was Maya noticed, it was that no one ever acknowledged her and Pearly’s relationship and Maya as far as she remembers was never praised for it. “T-thank you ‘ziska” she blames alcohol for the nickname “I-I appreciate it alot.”
“Do not mention it.”
“Ha,...anyways, about the lesbian thing? I left it there right? As I was saying, funny story actually, Aunt Morgan found my diary in my room and read it. I was scared she was going to punish me for it but on the contrary, she was beaming with light. Probably because it will be impossible to produce an heir. Her weird way of being supportive..I guess?”
Franziska laughed through her drink “That is funny indeed. Did your sister know? Miles had found out and we had…bonded over it…”
“Yeah actually, I told her as soon as I realised, I rarely kept anything hidden from her. Mia was super supportive of course. I mentioned she used to sneak me in bars right? Well some of them were gay ones, but I had to promise her I would not actually pick any girl up until I was eighteen. Nevertheless it was fun. Mia was bisexual too, it is not like she was not going to support me, she even taught me her tricks to make girls fall for me, she had allegedly used them in college.” Maya rubbed the back of her neck.
“Your sister sounds like an incredible woman.”
“She…was.”
“I know, I studied her cases. Her first one especially, she was this close to destroying Miles from his first case, she was a strong woman, one that should be respected and remembered by everyone.”
Maya was touched by Franziska’s words, she had heard great things about Mia, but from her loved ones, not from the German girl who was taught to destroy people like Mia in court. “That…is very sweet of you Franziska.”
“Again, it is the truth. Trust me, if Mia Fey was not worthy of my praise, she would not get any, I am not one to give compliments easily. Women in our field are rarely respected, your sister wore her femininity as a badge of honour and crushed pathetic men with it, I never told father because he would have a heart attack, but from the moment I read her case, I looked up to her.” Franziska sounded so sincere with everything tonight, it had moved Maya. She had no clue how to respond. Franziska took the initiative.
“It is refreshing to see her sister is as strong and admirable as she was, even exceeding.” Franziska had turned to look at her, a soft smile painted her face, Maya could feel her whole face burning, now certain it was from the other woman.
“Shush you are just…saying this…I am not…” Maya covered her mouth with her palm, a distinctive characteristic she had picked up over the years when she felt embarrassed or nervous.
“This is the most foolish thing I have heard since arriving in Los Angeles and trust me, you Americans say a lot of foolish stuff.” Franziska joked, but her tone was nothing but that. Maya opened her mouth to argue against that but Franziska cut her off.
“When State v Hawthorne ended and you were reunited with your cousin, I could only stare at you in awe, it was a new emotion for me back then…so I asked Phoenix Wright.”
Maya’s eyebrows shoot up, eyes widened. Nick had never mentioned this, the first time she was ever hearing about it. She knows what she is about to hear is nothing but the absolute hard truth, because Franziska von Karma is neither a liar or a hypocrite who hides behind fake words.
“How is she so strong? After everything you had been through. How on earth could you put on a smile and pretend nothing happened. I hated it, I was envious you could stand on your two feet. I was so confused, Phoenix Wright did not answer, he pointed his finger in Pearl Fey’s direction and softly smiled.” Franziska wore the same soft smile Nick probably had all these years ago. “Then I realized…how strong you are, you had to put on a facade or otherwise your cousin would crumble. Your maturity impressed me at that time…having only lost my father recently back then, I still was just a fool who could not function properly. But you could, because you are a strong woman, Maya Fey, always putting a smile for others.”
Maya’s ears could not believe what they were hearing. Were these Franziska’s true feelings about her? Maya was so overwhelmed she could only laugh. Franziska’s confused and annoyed reaction was everything.
“M-Maya did I say something funny?”
“No fool!” Maya calmed herself down “It is just…when I first met you back when-”
“When I tried to put you in jail for murderer.” Franziska completed Maya’s sentence.
Maya suppressed a giggle “Yes. When I saw you I was so shocked we were the same age, I mean you were eighteen and already had a successful career and a world renowned name for yourself. You could stand next to your father’s legacy. But I was….back then…not worthy of my mother’s title. I also had talked to Nick about how mature you were ....” Maya looked at Franziska, who was looking back “But that was all a facade, behind it hid a young girl, just like me. It took me a while to realize that.” Franziska smiled for the nth time this night.
“Ironic we both admired each other, wouldn’t you say?”
“Of course ha! That’s why I laughed. Hey back then I wanted us to be friends, but you were a bit…mean.” Maya scratched the back of her head.
“You were not wrong. The use of past tense indicates this opinion of yours has changed I hope.”
“Oh definitely!! You think I go out with drinks and spill all my baggage to every cute German woman I find late at night?” Maya stretched her hands and suppressed a yawn. It was getting late.
Franziska huffed “I suppose not, does that make us…friends now?”
“Dunno, if you want as well.” Maya did not expect to make friends in her twenties the same way she did when she was a kid. It was cute.
“I’d love to…Maya Fey,my friend.” Franziska blushed
“Wow, how many friends do you have to be acting like that?” They both bursted laughing.
After a few minutes they calmed down. Franziska spoke up again a sultry voice. “You had mentioned your sister taught you…flirting skills. Have any of them worked so far?”
Maya was many things, but not oblivious. “Maybe, maybe not.”
“Can you teach me any of them? Since we are friends now after all.” Maya swears Franziska leaned in on her seat.
“A magician never reveals her secrets.” Maya was poking fun at Franziska who was so obviously trying to flirt with her it was cute. A nineteen year old Maya would stutter and probably immediately fall onto her knees for the prosecutor with the whip, but she has grown, both of them Maya tonight realised, she could play the long game. It was just a harmless drink with an old…friend. Or a drink with a girl who could see her from the inside out and understand her.
“Ah I see, well too bad.” Franziska smirked
They stayed in a comfortable silence, Maya broke it.
“There was a girl one time who… went to Mia and wrote her phone number on her lower arm, after eye flirting all night. Mia turned her down because of Diego, but to me it was super romantic, I was jealous of my sister back then.” Maya spoke up and Franziska nodded. Maya was about to tease her further, opening her mouth only a yawn escaped, she tried to suppress it “Sorry”
“It is late into the night after all, it is only reasonable to get tired, I just hope I did not bore you to exhaustion.”
“Are you kidding? On the other hand, I had so much fun, I just had a long day…” Which is obviously not a lie, she came straight from Khurain village, she did not have time to rest. “You are the most fun I had in a while actually.”
“I could say the same about you, Maya.Shall we end the night here then?”
“Yeah sorry, I have to wake up early tomorrow.”
“Stop apologizing, you are right, I need to do the same.” Franziska replied and in a flash she gestured to the barman to put all their drinks on her tab, smirking at Maya’s direction. Maya in response just tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear.
“It is late…how will you return to your residence?” Franziska spoke up as they were heading outside. She was making a good point, she could probably take a cab, if she had the money or just utilize the city’s public transport.
“Uh dunno, do not worry I will find a way, I once snuck out from Khurain to the city on foot when I was younger to visit Mia, I will be fine.” Maya tried to act unbothered.
“Nonsense…let me secure you a ride, it is the least I can do.” Franziska pulled out her phone and before Maya could protest against it she gestured at her to shut it and started spouting German words on the phone. She ended the call and turned to her, wearing a smirk she was parading in the whole night. “A chauffeur will escort you to your place.” She sounded much calmer than she did a minute ago.
“T-thank you Franziska.” Maya would lie if she said she was not touched and enamoured by the gesture.
“Thank you for such a wonderful night.” a car engine was heard from outside “Ah I believe he is here to pick you up.” Franziska announced, almost sounding disappointed. Maya was imagining things.
Maya nodded and was about to turn around and leave when Franziska stopped her.
“Maya…” she was looking directly at Franziska as she was taking a deep breath “my schedule is free tomorrow evening, I was wondering if you would like me to treat you to dinner? It is high time you eat something else except fast food.”
Maya bit her lip, was Franziska von Karma formally asking her out on a date? Only an utterless fool would turn her down “Of course.” Just when she was about to ask about details of their outing, like time and place, Franziska took two steps, invading Maya’s personal space.
Franziska gently grabbed Maya’s wrist with her left hand, it felt cold on her soft skin, turned it and effortlessly scribbled a phone number on the surface of Maya’s hand. Maya’s face snapped up at Franziska’s taller figure. Grey eyes filled with fondness looked at her back, her lips turning into a smirk. She could feel her satisfaction. Maya never responded, because the car honked, reminding her she should get going.
Franziska took a step back and mouthed “Call me” as Maya walked out of the hotel.