116 Think Of Me
“He loved her like he was five years old and he’d just discovered fire. He loved her with both of his hands, with his eyes, with his mouth, like he didn’t always know what he was doing but it was all coming naturally anyway. He loved her like he was watching sunsets and sunrises in her smile, like every time she laughed his day got a little brighter, like when he held her, he was holding the sun in his arms. It felt so simple and right.
And even though, sometimes, there were fights that removed the sunshine, they always found a way to get it back. And even though there were tears, from both of them, in a back cupboard somewhere, there were always tissues too. And even though there were moments when she doubted, he was always there to make the doubts go away. And for this she loved him. For all of this, he loved her. He loved her like he was five years old again and discovering fire. And she loved him right back.“
~Sue Zhao~
Miles Edgeworth
Von Karma Estate, Germany
April 14, 2026
I think that after the first time you give your heart away, you never get it back. The rest of your life is just pretending that you still have a heart.
It was the ultimate exercise in futility. His atrabilious state could not be abated, no matter how much he tried to sidetrack his brooding reflections.
Meine Dame! Miles’s heart cried silently. If only you knew how I loathe myself as I look back now! I am beyond lachrymose; I could weep an ocean of tears for the inadvertent pain and anguish I must have caused you, what with assaulting your poor, disheartened ears with my boorish, nonsensical, bloviating about another woman! In my younger days, I was such a different man than I am now. Until you, I was a contumacious, selfish, cur, completely swept away in a surge of gratuitous concupiscence for someone who merely got into my blood, but never my actual heart or mind. It was pure misguided blindness that made me mistake my competitive, predatory desire for Lana for genuine caring and devotion. My regrettably accursed, lust-fueled possessiveness kept me blind to the truth for far too long, and I unwittingly allowed myself to take a temporary leave of my senses, unable to distinguish it from true, sempiternal love – something I neither recognized, nor comprehended…until you.
It was like trying to hold back a relentless tidal wave. The harder he tried to suppress the turbulent reminiscences of yesteryear which had led up to this point, the greater the rushing tide egregiously reemerged and inundated his memories, forcefully drawing him backward beneath the surface of the water, trying to tow him into its depths.
Franziska, I fell for you harder than a slip upon black ice. With you by my side, my life was as sweet as gingerbread, but now it’s naught but a cookie-cutter hole, right in the centre. You walked out, and the aperture you left behind cannot be filled by any type of work or distractions. In your inimitable formidable way, you carved yourself a role right into my DNA and no matter how hard I try to remove it, it remains unchanged; not bigger, not smaller, not louder, and never quieter. Even if I tried to work around it as though it were a ball of razor wire in my living room, it would still take a superhuman effort to disregard it, and just the slightest grazing will cut deeply. I know this is my fault; despite my promises to go slow, to fall back so you could catch up, in the end, it seems, I left you behind far too many times. And for what? A pat on the back, a gold star? Nothing that matters at all anymore. Now I see how much you meant to me all along. Now that you aren’t here to hold my hand, I see for myself what is truly important in life. Alas, it appears I am historically doomed to unearth these revelations when it’s too little, too late…
Miles Edgeworth and Franziska Von Karma
Von Karma Estate, Germany
August 28, 2015, 11:00 PM
It had been a very long, hectic day in the courtroom, and Franziska had decided to make it a somewhat early night. She was just about to doze off when the telephone in her bedroom rang.
Humph! What Schwachkopf could be calling me at this hour?
“Hallo?” She answered grumpily.
“Franziska it’s me.”
That nitwit was none other than her Kleiner Bruder!
Disregarding the fact that she was normally delighted to hear from him, as she had not set eyes on him since the previous Christmas, Franziska reluctantly sat up, realizing as she glanced at her bedside clock, that in California, it was still early afternoon, and that he was only just past the middle of the workday.
“Miles Edgeworth, you foolish fool!” She grumbled. “How dare you interrupt my beauty sleep! What are you doing calling me this late at night?”
“Apologies for the inconvenience, Big Sister,” Miles returned blithely, not sounding particularly sorry at all. “It’s a Friday night; I imagined that you might be out and about?”
Franziska scowled into the phone, taking great offense at what she took as a slight at her lack of social life. Well, it was true that most 17-year-olds would be out with their friends and mingling on the weekend, she was certainly no typical teenager, and after a nearly 12-hour workday, she was certainly entitled to one good night’s sleep, and without judgment from her out of sight, but unfortunately never out of mind, Little Brother!
“I will have you know that I did have plans, which I opted to forsake – if you must know!” She informed him loftily, not wanting him to think that she was some pitiful old maid who had nothing better to do but work and pine away for him, even though, pathetically, that was exactly the case! “But I had a tiring workday, which, as a fellow prosecutor, I am sure you can understand. Ergo, I rescheduled for Saturday. Now, kindly inform me as to the purpose of this phone call posthaste, so that I can go back to bed and be refreshed and well-rested for my weekend festivities on the morrow!”
“Well if you’re busy tomorrow night, it will be a pity that I miss you then,” he remarked mildly. “I had hoped that we could have dinner at the restaurant of your choosing, and perhaps compare American versus European courtroom stories.”
Franziska blinked in surprise. Miles was coming to visit? Since when did he make impromptu,
cross-continental drop-ins? Moreover, it wasn’t even an official holiday! Whatever had brought this on?“Pray tell, to what do I owe the pleasure of your spontaneous arrival?” She asked, unable to keep the wariness out of her voice, and instinctively sensing a crisis. “Is everything all right?”
Miles cleared his throat, the way he always did whenever he had to speak about a topic he wasn’t entirely comfortable with.
“I have simply had a last-minute change of heart, and decided that I wish to be present at our brother-in-law’s golden 30th birthday party, after all,” he replied easily, as though expecting her to forget that he had already RSVP’d his inability to attend months ago. “I didn’t want to risk waking up Katharina and Günther, so I was hoping you could convey to them that I will indeed be joining the festivities on the 30th, as I plan on catching the redeye flight and being there by late afternoon or early evening tomorrow.”
Franziska’s heart leaped with initial excitement at the idea of seeing him again, but at the same time, her mind recoiled with a twinge of aggravation. How presumptuous to assume that she would not only willingly be his personal secretary, but that she would have nothing better to do on a Saturday night than welcome him with open arms because he had unexpectedly decided to grace her with his presence! Her feelings for him had admittedly not changed in the least, yet ever since the day of their fatefully telling conversation, she had henceforth resigned herself to the fact that the two of them were possibly never meant to be, what with his heart being in the hands of the mystery coworker he had mentioned to her. Therefore, seeing him again would be a mixed blessing, as it would only put her heart through the wringer again when she had to bid him adieu, this time knowing that he was going back to the arms of another woman.
“I am sure everybody will be delighted to have you,” she answered coolly. “Will Papa be joining us as well, then?”
There was a delayed pause on the line as Miles searched his mind for the most diplomatic way to relay Manfred’s reaction to the inquiry regarding his attendance at his son-in-law’s party. Even two hours later, he still cringed slightly at the memory.
“Himmeldonnerwetter!” The legendary DA had shouted, and the frustrated disgust in his voice was starkly palpable, even over the phone. “Of course, I am not attending the party of that verdammten, schwachsinnigen Muttersöhnchen that my poor, foolishly naïve daughter married, Edgeworth! I can barely stomach that plastic Ken doll pretty boy! It’s bad enough I must endure his sniveling, spineless, simpering presence once a year at Christmas, and even that is too much! Spinnst du oder was? I thought you had more sense than to ask me questions to which the answer should be obvious to even the mother of all die Dorftrottel! It appears I have overestimated you!”
Somehow, I am under the impression that telling Franziska her father nearly ripped my head clean off at the slight mention of the milestone party for his damned, moronic, mama’s boy son-in-law would not be a wise move!
“Unfortunately, your father regrets that he will be unable to attend, but sends his best wishes,” Miles answered at last. “Anyhow, as you said, it’s getting late over there, and far be it for me to disrupt your slumber more than I already have. So tell me, do you want me to make reservations at say, 8:00 PM at our usual restaurant tomorrow night, or should I?”
Franziska was flat out livid now. She could not believe the audacity of the arrogant man on the line! After all, he didn’t know whether she was telling the truth or not about having plans the following evening, and yet, he was brazen enough to expect that just because he would be around, she would be ready to drop everything for him on a whim! Her heart was not a toy, and she would not be taken for granted by any man, not even Miles Edgeworth!
It appeared the presumptuous fool was quite overdue for an exercise in humility!
“I may already be gone from the house, depending on what time you arrive tomorrow.” Her cadence was clipped. “Regardless, I shall pass on your message to my sister, and I will wish you a safe flight until then. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Big Sister,” he chuckled, seemingly undaunted by her icy tone. “I shall see you on the morrow.”
Infuriated now, Franziska slammed down the phone. Damn that blasted, foolish man! Enough was enough! It was time to teach Miles Edgeworth a lesson!
Reaching over to her cell phone on her night table, she sent out a quick text.
Addie, are you free for a quick moment? Call me.
Her friend called back right away.
“Franziska, I see you’re still awake,” Addie said warmly. “Élie, his cousin, and I were just about to head out to the club. Have you had a change of heart and decided to join us after all?”
“I am afraid not. I have had a crazy day at work, and am beyond exhausted.”
“Work, work, work, that’s all you ever do!” Her friend exclaimed. “As impressive as it is to have a friend who has managed to become a professional, while I was still a schoolgirl, you do know you are still a teenager, don’t you, Franziska? Live a little once in a while! There’s no court on the weekends!”
“As a matter of fact, that is why I called,” Franziska told her. “Perchance, does the offer you made for going out with the three of you tomorrow night still stand? Because if so, I would very much like to join you and meet your boyfriend’s glamorous Parisian cousin at last.”
“Of course, it’s still on the table! I am so happy that you changed your mind, and that this show ticket needn’t go to waste!” Addie sounded positively giddy. “I showed Pepé your photo by the way, and he thinks you’re so beautiful! He will be over the moon at the idea of being your escort tomorrow night!”
“Well, I hope he does not see this outing as an actual date, per se, rather than just a group of friends getting together…” Franziska began, but then stopped herself, and a crafty smile suddenly crept over her face. “Although I am very much looking forward to showing him around town while he visits, as well. Tomorrow should be a lot of fun. Perhaps I can take him out for a quick bite to eat, just the two of us, before we meet up with you and Élie? Could you have him pick me up around 6:00?”
“Sounds good. I will let him know he’s got a hot dinner date before we all attend the show tomorrow night!” Addie teased. “You may hear his celebrated holler of joy from your place! You know how expressive these French boys can be!”
“You are too drôle! Tell him to look sharp as well, as I will be taking him to the best restaurant in town!”
And I should know, too! After all, it is the one I normally go to with my Little Brother, Franziska added silently, snickering to herself as she rang off a few moments later. Oh, I shall be making reservations at our favorite eatery tomorrow night, Miles Edgeworth, but not with you!
Miles Edgeworth and Franziska Von Karma
Von Karma Estate, Germany
August 29, 2015
It was a quarter after five by the time Miles’ taxi arrived at the Von Karma mansion. He was spent, having flown on an all-nighter immediately after a particularly grueling day at work, and airline food, as usual, left much to be desired, so he was particularly famished. He wondered what Franziska would say about bumping up their dinner reservation from 8 o’clock to perhaps 7 o’clock. After all, she had always been very practical and quick to dress for all occasions, not bothering to fuss too much with her hair or makeup, so he didn’t imagine it would take her that much time to get ready, despite the short notice.
Work and his unpleasant telephone conversation with Manfred notwithstanding, yesterday had been a day he was very much hoping to obliterate from his mind! Therefore, Miles was also in the mood to consume a good stiff drink or three that evening with his meal. He’d never been the type to drink alone, but Franziska was now old enough to consume beer at German establishments that served alcohol, so at least he would have some fellow companionship. He hoped she wouldn’t mind allowing him this indulgence, or taking a taxi to and from their destination if need be, so neither one of them would be stuck driving while in any sort of altered state.
Miles exhaled tiredly as he hauled his suitcase and fatigued body up the long staircase to the bedrooms. He was genuinely looking forward to seeing his adopted sister after so long. She was very good company, intelligent and mature beyond her years, and always found a way to make him feel better about himself, which would be most welcome, particularly after the beating his ego had withstood the day before!
I would never need to fight for Franziska’s affections with another man! He fumed, raking an agitated hand through his hair. Nor would I ever need to give an ultimatum to her to finally decide between me and said inferior individual, after idly dallying between the two of us for nearly a year! Franziska thinks that when it comes to me, there is absolutely no contest! Regardless of whether or not that is true, it still does warm the heart to know that there is at least one female in the world who wouldn’t take me for granted, and appreciates me as I am, and all that I have to offer! And not just any female! A lovely, articulate, bright, and ambitious young woman, that any man would be fortunate enough to have! It’s a shame that she’s still only a girl, otherwise…
Miles halted this alarming, entirely out-of-the-blue notion before it came to fruition, and cursed himself for it, regardless. His flaming row with Lana yesterday over her continuing indecisiveness between himself and Jake had rattled him far worse than he had initially imagined, and this time away from her, and the entire situation, had been exactly what he’d needed! What the hell was he doing, going right out of the frying pan, and into the fire like this, by letting his mind walk down such a treacherously dangerous and slippery slope?!
Otherwise what, Miles Edgeworth? He frowned as a constricted sensation formed around his throat then, forcing him to jerk his cravat so that it loosened somewhat. If she were not just a girl and were indeed older, what would you do about it? Manfred would have your head for even thinking such a thing, and if Franziska ever found out, you would earn a thousand lashes with that merciless whip of hers for even allowing your mind to go on that path, like some sort of old, perverse lecher! How dare you go that mental route, even briefly! God’s teeth! She is your sister, just like Katharina, and naught else! Moreover, she simply sees you as her Little Brother, who she is much too young for, and who is definitely old enough to know better!
Miles was still muttering angrily to himself as he got to the top of the stairs. He saw that Franziska’s bedroom door was open, and heard the faint strains of a familiar melody coming from the room. His curiosity got the better of him as he neared her chambers, assuming it was safe to pass by since the door wasn’t closed.
The normally cool and composed prosecutor was wholly unprepared for both the sight and sound that greeted him, and he drew in a sharp inward breath.
The classic song playing on the stereo in the room was from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, “Think of Me,” which Miles remembered had always been one of her favorite songs, despite his abhorrence for the entire score of the wildly popular, albeit puerile musical! Nevertheless, it wasn’t his aversion to Franziska’s choice of composition, which was making him infinitely grateful that he’d loosened the pressure around his neck just a moment ago.
No, in all veracity, it was the actual vision of her, after being away for so long, that was making him feel as if the wind had been knocked out of his sails!
Standing before her vanity mirror, skillfully applying lipstick to her full, pouty lips, humming along to the music, was a brand-new, never before seen, Franziska Von Karma. Somehow, during his time away in America, she had blossomed from the teenage girl he last recollected, into what he could only now describe as the most resplendent, striking… and breathtakingly gorgeous young woman he had ever laid eyes upon, in all of his 24 years, on God’s green earth!
There had been a point in Miles’ life when he had thought Franziska and Katharina’s mother had been the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Now, before his mesmerized eyes, he realized that in the time since he’d last set eyes on her, Mother Nature had completed the final wave of her magic wand, resulting in his younger adopted sister now becoming the very essence of Minna Von Karma, reincarnated. All that was missing was the silvery-blonde hair.
His Big Sister looked like an enchanted Snow Queen, dressed in an outfit, which he dimly remembered from his niece’s obsession with Disney’s Frozen, was nearly identical to that of Queen Elsa. Just like in the movie, when the heroine had morphed into the dazzling iconic outfit that was beloved and renowned worldwide, Franziska’s transformation was equally as spellbinding, if not even more so.
Her lithe curves were donned in a floor-length, celestial blue, strapless mermaid dress, made of satin silk, with glittery, all-over beading in swirling patterns adorning it. The gown was snug in the bust area, with a crystallized, waistband belt, where the bodice cinched in at her narrow waist. Over this, she wore a sheer, long-sleeved, overlay, composed of white lace and chiffon, decorated with shimmery snowflakes of Swarovski crystalline decal. The transparent garment draped slightly off both shoulders to the floor, leaving them beguiling bare, and the gown flared elegantly around her perfectly shaped legs – alluringly displayed with a thigh-high slit up the side. Sparkly ice-blue pumps and a matching evening clutch completed the look.
As the prosecutor stood there, completely frozen, in the doorway, Franziska looked up and caught his astounded reflection in her mirror, and spun around with a welcoming smile on her flawlessly made-up, ethereal visage. Quickly turning off the stereo, she approached him gracefully, leaning forward to press her lips lightly against both his cheeks in customary European greeting, close enough for him to catch a whiff of her intoxicating perfume.
“Little Brother! How nice that you made it home in time before I headed out,” she said sweetly. “I was so afraid that I would miss you.”
“Miss me?” Miles echoed blankly, gesturing at her outfit. “Whatever do you mean? Aren’t you a tad too munificently dressed just for dining with me, at the Reinstoff Rutz?”
“But I am not merely going to dinner,” she corrected him, an excited twinkle in her stunningly made-up eyes. “I am attending the opera! Well, Phantom of the Opera, to be exact, which is why I was playing the music of my favorite stage production.”
“Phantom of the Opera?” Miles repeated, dimly aware of the fact that he was beginning to sound very much like a parrot! “But what about our dinner plans?”
“Little Brother, you truly never listen, do you?” She tilted her head to the side and flashed him a coquettish smile. “Even in my semi-sleep-deprived state last night on the phone, I vividly recollect informing you that I had other plans this evening. Have you forgotten already, in your old age?”
“I – I believed you were just saying that to get a rise out of me,” he admitted, feeling a slight blush creeping to his cheeks. “That’s fine, then. I apologize for being presumptuous. I suppose I will just have Helga prepare something for me.”
“She would be delighted to. You know she loves waiting on you.”
Miles knew he was ogling her, something he had never done before, but she looked so captivating … so incredibly breathtaking, that you couldn’t have pried away from his stare, even with a crowbar. As though sensing his lingering glance, Franziska quickly masked the knowing glint in her entrancing silvery orbs and fluttered long eyelashes at him ingenuously. He hastily tore his gaze away and cleared his throat.
“So, Phantom of the Opera, you say?” He jammed his hands into his pockets. “I’m surprised you’re so eager to see the performance so soon since the last time. I remember I took you to it for your birthday.”
“So you did.” She shrugged. “Although, the magic of the Phantom will always prevail, for me anyway, and I leaped at the chance to see it once more. As I said, it is my all-time favorite musical.”
“Yes, I am very well aware,” he retorted dryly. “Afterwards, I keenly recall getting into the most heated debate with you about it. You were moved to near tears, and said the Phantom was a tragic, romantic figure who was merely misunderstood; whereas I countered that the Phantom, despite being a musical genius, was an evil predatory sort, for stalking and terrorizing the young, beguiling Christine in such a manner! I also remember, as part of your defense, getting several dozen lashes in retaliation for voicing my opposing point of view!”
“I acquiesce, that was a very childish and overly temperamental demonstration on my behalf,” she acknowledged this time with deliberate insouciance. “But time has passed, and people change, Miles. Surely, you cannot hold against me the immature and irrational behavior from my earlier days of youth?”
“Franziska, this was just last year!”
“So it was,” she twittered gaily. “Thusly, maturity is not measured in moments, but is from gained life experience and expanded knowledge that further enriches one’s character. A lot can happen in a year or less.”
I’ll say! He thought sourly. Within less than a year since our last visit, you have miraculously changed from an innocent, comely teenager into a seductive enchantress, who should be confined into a nunnery until a minimum age of 30, due to the impure stirrings you would now inspire in any lascivious male that sets eyes upon you!
“So, with whom will you be seeing this show, which neither of us can agree to disagree upon?” Miles cocked an inquisitive brow. “Adelaide, I presume?”
“Indeed, we shall be attending with Addie and her boyfriend, Élie later tonight. However, before meeting up with them, I have dinner plans at Reinstoff Rutz. My date should be arriving very shortly to come to get me,” Franziska purred. “Since you are here, you can meet him for yourself, if you wish.”
“Date?!”
Miles felt as though he’d been sucker-punched, and didn’t care this time that he sounded like a bloody Macaw! She could very well cram a cracker into his mouth and call him Polly for all he cared, at that moment! Just what did she mean by ‘we?!’
“You mean to say that you have a … date? And with whom?!”
“Why, with Élie’s cousin, who is here from Paris,” she replied innocently, although there was an unmistakable gleam in her eye. “We are all going out to celebrate Pepé’s birthday tonight. I decided I would commence the festivities by taking him to that wonderful restaurant which you and I frequent so often whenever you are in town.”
“Pepé?” His tone was dubious, as the uncomfortable sensation of mounting protectiveness and something else – which he refused to name! – began brewing within him. “You have a date with an actual, real-life, French stereotype?”
“Just what do you mean by that remark, Miles Edgeworth?!”
“Have you never seen an episode of Looney Tunes?” The incredulous words were tumbling from his lips as though he had no control of them, even as his voice rose. “Pepé?! What is his last name? Le Pew?”
The moment the uncharacteristically juvenile words left his mouth, Miles swore a mental blue streak, hating the fact that he sounded every bit as petty and jealous as he was admittedly feeling! He thoroughly despised himself for it, fully knowing that it was as incomprehensible as it was inappropriate! He had zero right to either intervene or make any sort of objection to anything she did, nor could he even claim protective Little/Older Brother status as the reason that the hands in his pockets were now curled into tightly clenched fists. Franziska was nearly a grown woman now, and looked every bit the part! Besides, at 17, by German law, she had been a legal adult, for the past year. Of course, it would be another year before she would be considered an adult by lawful standards in the States, where he now resided, but that was beside the point … wait, why the deuce was his blasted mind veering in that direction – yet again?!
“Do not be foolish, Miles Edgeworth!” Her tone was sharp as she glared at him. “For your information, I am not going out with an overly amorous cartoon skunk, so no, you fool, that is not his family name! For your kind information, his full name is Pepé Roni!”
Pepé Roni?!
Miles stared at her speechlessly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
So, it turns out my Big Sister is not going out on a date with a shamelessly persistent, lovesick
moufette, but is instead attending the performance with a human pizza topping! I am unsure if this is better or worse! I also don’t know why it bothers me so damn much! Nonetheless, it is inconsequential whether he is a skunk or a fatty, nitrate-laden meat by-product! Regardless, this is still conclusively…
LE PEW!“Is this something sort of joke?” He eyed her stonily. “Is it fair conjecture then that Monsieur Roni comes from a long family line of affluent pizzeria owners?”
“Don’t be absurd! He is French, not Italian! His father owns a large chain of successful Parisian delicatessens!”
“That is beside the point! For heaven’s sake, Franziska, I thought you were trying to abstain from carbohydrates!”
“I never made any proclamation of the sort!” She placed her hands on her hips, a dangerous warning glint in her eye that Miles was too blinded by jealousy at this point to pay heed to.
“You reached a stage-level of histrionics that one time you overindulged on pasta, and claimed you’d gained half a pound!” He snapped. “And you swore you would never let any sort of carb pass through your lips, because you wailed that it would go straight for your hips – just like this French oaf undoubtedly will, as well!”
She recoiled as though he’d struck her, and at that moment, Miles realized that he had gone way too far. He didn’t even know how to apologize for his unseemly words, for which he had neither excuse nor explanation, but he did know he was in trouble as her eyes narrowed into slits and she reached reflexively for her whip, then cursed as she realized that there was no place for the holster on a formal dress!
Before he could react, the fuming Franziska snatched her sought-for weapon off her dresser and cracked it in the air while she stared daggers at him.
“Just who the hell do you think you are to be speaking to me in such a manner, Miles Edgeworth?!” Her argent eyes were sparkling like large twin flints. “You have an incredible amount of gall, making snap judgments about both the virtue of myself and the character of this boy, whom you have never even met before! If you are acting in this childish manner simply because you wanted to have dinner with me, perhaps you should have had the courtesy to give me more than barely one night’s notice! There was a chance I wouldn’t have agreed to these plans if I had genuinely believed that I was the one you honestly wanted to spend time with, instead of your obvious fallback game plan, because your first one didn’t work out!”
Miles swallowed hard at the painful veracity of the words.
“That’s not true!”
“That is a foolish lie and we both know it! Just why are you here, Miles Edgeworth? Did your precious colleague break your heart?” She demanded harshly, still brandishing her whip threateningly. Even in her feminine gown, she still looked ready and capable of doing some serious damage! “Are you here to seek comfort in the arms of your loving family in your time of need? The same family to whom you originally claimed you were too busy with work, to come and visit for this milestone event?”
“Franziska, please, calm down, and listen to me –”
His words were cut off as the whip whizzed through the air, but for the first time, Miles was able to react early enough, and with absolutely no intention of doing anything other than disarming the enraged girl, he reached for the leather object at the last split-second, successfully wrapping it around his hand and giving it a sharp yank. Unfortunately, the temperamental teen also had equally zero inclination to releasing her prized possession, and in the ultimate act of grown-up tug-of-war, the only thing Miles was successful in pulling was the infuriated Franziska Von Karma, right into his arms!
The two prosecutors gasped in shock as she collided heavily with his chest. Reflexively, he reached out to catch her, and then held her tightly against him, expecting resistance, but finding none, and his chest heaving as he looked down into her wide eyes. Shocked by the action, the equally breathless teen stared up into his face, an expression of disbelief, and something he couldn’t quite place, evident on her lovely face. Neither of them spoke nor moved for the longest time, and just stood there, staring searchingly at one another, with her surprisingly pliant body locked against his.
At that moment, the ludicrousness of the situation hit him, and his defenses collapsed, leaving him torn between the walled urge to laugh at her wonderful, courageous, outraged sense of feminine dignity, and the wilder urge to keep her in his arms while shoving his hands into that mass of gleaming hair, and burying his lips in hers. Somehow, seemingly overnight, without his notice, his Big Sister had become as enticing as she could be sweet, and more sexually provocative, even though fully covered in that delectable, clinging to her every feminine curve, evening gown, than any magnificently dressed, or undressed, woman he had ever known.
The man who finally gets this Wild Mare into his bed, Pepé, or otherwise, shall indeed be quite the fortunate bastard!
The moment the libidinous musing went through his mind, guilt abruptly doused his pleasurable contemplation of her appealing assets, and shame ate away at his innards like acid. He had no right to be mentally undressing her and thinking thoughts about her in bed with another man, or otherwise! Especially considering his own debacle of a love life, which had yet to be resolved, what with him continuously trying to force Lana to make up her bloody mind and at last, make the choice between Jake and himself! It was only due to his eventual frustration with her inability to do so that had resulted in this impromptu trip!
There is a woman back in America, whom I have been trying to make choose me, over her other lover, and still, knowing there is the looming possibility of us finally truly being together, I am now bewilderingly filled with impromptu, newfound desire for my Big Sister! I am, without doubt, the most fiendish, vile lecher to have ever lived!
There were no words to describe just how filled with savage self-disgust Miles was to be lusting after his adopted sister in such a manner. His attraction to her was obscene! Moreover, it was insane! If he’d ever tired of his bizarre love triangle and decided he wanted diversion of any sort, he could have chosen from among some of the most beautiful women, which Lana Skye most definitely was ranked amongst, in Europe and/or Los Angeles! Sophisticated or naïve, witty or serious, outgoing or shy, blondes, brunettes, and redheads, they were willingly his for the taking.
There was no reason whatsoever to feel attraction to this woman, who was entirely too young for him (and still not even legal in his country of residence); no reason to react to her like some randy adolescent or aging libertine!
Her quiet voice jerked him from his self-reproach as his feelings of revulsion lingered.
“Whatever it is,” she noted half-seriously, gently beginning to pull away from his embrace and coughing slightly. “I do not think it has very long to live.”
His gaze slid back to her face as he reluctantly dropped his arms. While he could tell she was still slightly annoyed with him, unexpectedly being in his arms somehow seemed to have lowered her temper from boiling point to mere simmer, and unless he was mistaken, he could have sworn he saw a hint of amusement on her face.
“I beg your pardon?” He muttered, shuffling his feet uncomfortably.
“Whatever it is that you have been glaring at over my left shoulder for the last minute. I hope it has legs and can run very quickly.”
Franziska had always had a selective sense of humor, often at the most unexpected times, and this one was no exception! If he hadn’t been so busy kicking himself, he would’ve laughed at the quip, which he knew was intended to be her gracious way of conveying exoneration for his earlier insolent comment.
Miles gave her a brief, humorless smile.
“My thoughts drifted. I apologize.”
“Oh please, do not apologize!” Her eyes were positively dancing now. “I am most pleased to know that it was not I who brought upon that black scowl on your face.”
Biting back an appreciative smile, he couldn’t help but marvel that she could convey so many things without moving or speaking. She was innocence on the brink of womanhood, and outrageous daring, untampered by wisdom or hampered by caution. A vision of her gleaming hair spilling over his bare chest flashed through his mind then, and he abruptly shook it off.
“Have you finished staring at me?” She drawled, lifting her pert nose in the air.
Despite the sharp contrast to the stony hauteur of her stance and expression, she was still a glorious display to behold, and Miles was unable to resist the slight smile tugging at his lips.
“I was admiring you, actually.”
She blinked in surprise, obviously not anticipating this response, and dropped her gaze to the floor, blushing gorgeously as she did so, and the realization dawned on him that the beautiful young woman had absolutely no idea of just how mesmerizing she was; just what a hypnotic effect she had on him.
“Y – You were admiring me?”
Franziska’s obliviousness to her allure only made the girl more compelling to him, which only made him hate himself even more.
“Absolutely, I was,” he deadpanned, a mischievous smirk now playing upon his lips as he attempted to restore the natural order between them. “With that dress, all I need now is to get you a blonde wig, and you could easily be the main heroine from Frozen! It is not every day that I get to meet a real-life Disney Princess, after all.”
“Are you trying to say that I look like a cartoon character in this new gown, which cost me a small fortune earlier today?” Franziska looked as though she did not know whether to laugh or hit him.
“I am saying, Queen Elsa, is that you look positively regal, and will no doubt be the belle of the opera.” He gave a slight bow and then straightened, a mischievous glint in his eye as he heard Hans calling Franziska’s name from downstairs. “I do believe that your chariot awaits now, Your Majesty.”
“That will be Pepé.” Franziska straightened her dress, and headed to the door, glancing back at him over her shoulder. “Did you want to come to meet him?”
“No, it’s fine. You go enjoy your evening. Do not fret about me.” Miles forced himself to smile even wider. “I am quite tired from my flight and will probably just spend my evening resting these weary, old man bones of mine, attempting to recover from the jet lag. It’s just as well you and I did not go out for dinner. I highly doubt I would have been good company, anyway.”
“At least you are honest, if naught else.” She flashed him a cheeky grin, unaware of how attractive it made her. “Have a good evening, Little Brother. I shall see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Franziska.” He watched as she turned and left the room, descending the stairs as she met with her escort for the evening in the main foyer.
Pepé Roni had finally arrived.
Unable to resist the curious temptation, Miles cast a quick, cursory glimpse over the railing, and swallowed back a chuckle at the sight below.
Evidence of the young man being an actual member of the skunk family is highly probable! Assuming that ghastly, white-blond, frontal fringe, which contrasts quite garishly with the rest of his faux-hawk, ebony hair, is anything to go by! He smirked pitilessly. Still, Monsieur Moufette is most fortunate to be attending tonight’s show with the most beautiful girl in Europe on his arm, even if she does have questionable taste in musical theater!
Despite his antipathy about the songs in the musical, preferring more actual, classic operas such as Carmen, as soon as he heard the front door downstairs shut behind Franziska and her date as they exited for the evening, Miles found himself wandering back into his adopted sister’s room. He took a seat next to her desk and flipped the stereo back onto the song she’d been playing, “Think of Me.”
Why were these very lyrics, which he’d always dismissed as trite, and jejune, suddenly resonating so heavily with him now?
[Christine:]
Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we’ve said
goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while
please promise me
you’ll try.
When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free
if you
ever find
a moment,
spare a thought
for me …
We never said
our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea
but if
you can still
remember,
stop and think
of me …
Think of all the things
we’ve shared and seen –
don’t think about the things
which might have been …
Think of me,
think of me waking,
silent and
resigned.
Imagine me,
trying too hard
to put you
from my mind.
Recall those days,
look back
on all those times,
think of the things
we’ll never do
there will
never be
a day, when
I won’t think
of you …
[Raoul:]
Can it be?
Can it be Christine?
What a change!
You’re really
not a bit
the gawkish girl
that once you were …
She may
not remember
me, but
I remember her …
That was it, Miles realized. The male romantic lead…it was his portion of the song lyrics, which were hitting so close to home with him now. The part where Raoul sang of the transformation about the gawkish girl he’d once known, being completely vanished without a trace as he now gazed upon her… he could certainly relate to that, couldn’t he? Talk about a literal case of life imitating art.
What a deluded fool I was tonight. How could I have had the hubris to think that if the girl had been worth having, she’d have waited for me? The reality is that the girl worth having will wait for no one.
The barrister sighed heavily and closed his eyes, lost in thought.
Oh, Franziska. I like to think back to when we were but children. How shy and uncomfortable you were back then. With cheeks that always seemed flushed and curls that did a lively dance when you ran. How different you are now. All the softness of a child is replaced by sharp edges and chiseled lines, and tantalizing curves. Oh, but a bit of softness does remain. Right there on your lips. That same supple dent above that Cupid’s bow. The tender curve to your smile. If only you knew how simply taken I am with you…
Phantom of The Opera – Think of Me
Translations – (danke, RoterSchmetterling!)
Schwachkopf – moron
Himmeldonnerwetter noch ein mal! – Damn and blast it!
verdammten, schwachsinnigen Muttersöhnchen – damned, idiotic mama’s boy
Spinnst du oder was?– Are you crazy or what?
die Dorftrottel – the village idiots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9qLfyLowjg
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