I was given a list of prompts with the challenge to write 100 drabbles, each no more than 600 words long. I chose to do things a little differently: instead of one pairing, I'm writing for four of my favorite ones, and attempting to make all the drabbles interconnected and chronological. I'm also picking them at random - shuffled up all the prompt words in a box to make sure. (This is why each chapter has a random number in parentheses as well.)

The summary/title may change as the fic evolves, depending on where the prompts guide me. I have a general idea but can't get too specific for obvious reasons. Also, updates will probably be slow, as I'm cycling my drabbles through each pairing as well as not doing this every day. I'm posting each as a separate story for ease of reading, but they're all in a series if you feel inclined to check the others.

"Your foolish assistant scribbled this crude depiction of you," she said without preamble, shoving a small card into his face. Phoenix spluttered, stepped back, and it fell to the floor. Franziska glared at him.

"Phoenix Wright! Do I look like someone who has time for your foolish buffoonery?" she snapped.

"…No?" he guessed. "I, um – welcome back to America? It's been a while?"

"Your small talk is tiring," she scolded, tapping a stern toe on the card. "I only came to return your property."

"To America?" Phoenix couldn't help but gape, but one sharp glance and he corrected himself. "Oh – my office. Right. I don't know what this is, though."

Franziska frowned, and pressed her foot flat to the floor just as he bent to pick up the card. She looked away as he glanced quizzically up at her.

"You've never seen it before," she said, voice strangely soft. "But it rightfully belongs to you."

Her cheeks were slightly pink.

"Thank you," Phoenix said, slowly. He got a finger beneath the edge of the card, but waited to pick it up until Franziska removed her boot. She slid it back after a moment, almost reluctantly.

Phoenix stood, turned it around, froze. He'd recognize that pink shell symbol anywhere. And over it – she'd drawn –

"Oh, Maya," he said out loud. Franziska made a quiet sound, and when he looked up, she was biting her lip. She let go of it immediately.

"She had great faith in you," she said, unexpectedly. Then again – this all was. The way she looked at him now most of all, gaze thoughtful, nearly soft.

He tried to smile back just as softly. From the way Franziska blinked, physically jerking back in surprise, he must have managed.

"Thank you, Franziska," he said sincerely. "I don't know why, but thank you for returning this. It. It means a lot."

"Hmph. Only a fool would feel so moved by such a simple matter." She suddenly smiled in that simultaneously condescending and genuine way she had: "I knew you would like it, Phoenix Wright."

Feeling both insulted and a little touched, Phoenix didn't drop his smile. In fact, he felt it getting a little bit fonder. Maybe it was foolish to like her, but he couldn't help it. Franziska was indeed one-of-a-kind – but beneath her rudeness and ruthlessness, she could be quite sweet. The way she tried to cover that up was still, after all, almost cute.

"But why now?" he asked her. It had been some time since de Killer had kidnapped Maya. He'd hardly have believed Franziska would hold onto this for so long, if it weren't for the proof in his hand.

"You have not taken on any cases since your assistant returned home," she said. He noticed her hand clenching and unclenching on the handle of her whip, and realized belatedly that this was, so far, the longest conversation they'd had without it making contact with his face. "It seems you are in need of a reminder: there is a person who believes in your capabilities. Even if she is not with you."

Phoenix didn't say a word about the suspicious phrasing, too afraid for his health.

Instead, he said, "Franziska, you–"

"You once returned a belonging of mine," she snapped, face flushed, eyes averted. She gripped her whip so tightly he heard it creak as she emphasized, "I'm merely returning the favor."

His lungs emptied in a comprehending sigh, even as his heart filled up.

"Franziska–"

"Goodbye! Phoenix Wright." And with a final glare, she exited – leaving him alone, still stunned, pulse racing.

wordcount: 600

This chapter is set between T&T and AJ. The card being discussed is the Shelly de Killer card that Maya drew Phoenix onto when she was kidnapped; at the end of JFA Franziska said she would give it back to him next time she saw him. It was actually that scene that started me shipping these two, and when she didn't return the card in T&T I've always wanted to read something dealing with that. Since I've never seen it done, it seemed like a perfect start to this fic!