Simply modifications

“Ah, Lamiroir!” Klavier starts, one of his false, dazzling smiles already in place across his lips as he suddenly stands. It’s too quick to be natural, the sound of his hand falling rapidly to his side too jarring to be anything but surprise, but the attempt is admirable. He takes two quick steps away from Apollo and towards the door where she stands, as though that will somehow undo the scene. Apollo only sits, his mind blank with panic. “Although, I think I should call you Thalassa now? Congratulations on regaining your memory!”

Thalassa simply stares, her gaze moving between Apollo and Klavier almost mechanically. Klavier glances at Apollo out of the corner of his eye when she doesn’t immediately reply, his smile still firmly in place. Say something, it says. Apollo knows that he should, that gaping mutely is doing nothing but undoing Klavier’s attempt to salvage the situation. But Apollo is 25 years old and has never had the pleasure of being caught in an embarrassing situation by his mother before. Until a month ago, he’d never had a mother. The sensation of his stomach dropping rapidly to his shoes and the blood rushing to his face is one part of having a family he could do without. He says nothing, and Klavier’s eyes widen in what might be panic.

And then Lamiroir/Thalassa/his mother laughs, the sound unrestrained but delicate, almost as melodic as her singing voice. Klavier’s smile falters in its wake. Apollo watches as her eyes crinkle closed and a hand raises to cover her mouth. She looks younger, so like Trucy in that moment that Apollo is stunned they hadn’t figured out their relation sooner.