#defcnestrate

“You’ll have to open it and see for yourself, of course!” “…Of course. Come on in, Mr. Wright is in the kitchen and Trucy’s in Mr. Wright’s office, I think. Do you have any experience with cooking?” “Mucha experiencia!” “I don’t think Mr. Wright actually knows how to cook and I fear for our dinner if someone doesn’t intervene—“ “Let’s do this!” she said with a grin, leaving him to balance the serving platter in one hand and the gift in the other. “Hey! You could’ve taken this to the kitchen with you!” If she heard then she chose not to respond, and Apollo was left in the hallway to complain to himself. A meow around his ankles alerted him to Mikeko, who was circling his feet and trying her hardest to trip him. “No,” he warned, the tray wobbling dangerously. She mewled pathetically and jumped on the arm of the couch, nuzzling against his arm. “Why are you like this?” he asked as the box fell. “That was the only present I’d gotten. You probably broke it.” He couldn’t resist those big green eyes of hers and he rubbed behind her ears. “I can’t stay mad at you.” “Polly!” called a new voice. “I need your help!” “Apollo Justice, attorney at law,” he mumbled. “Yeah, right, I just clean the toilet and help Trucy with her magic. When’s the last time I was in court?” He didn’t have the ability to keep complaining as Trucy ran up to him and wrapped a mass of fabric around his head. “Now hold still!” “Truce, hold on just a second—!” She unwrapped him again and grinned. “Thanks!” Just as he was about to finally leave the hallway there was another knock at the door. He was surprised to see the Chief Prosecutor standing there but Mr. Wright ushered him inside, apparently having been removed from the kitchen by Athena. “Miles! I’m so glad you could make it.” “I was in the area.” “Athena is taking care of dinner so you can come to the living room.” “Making your subordinates cook, hmm?” “She more or less forced me out of there,” he admitted. Apollo was closing the door when someone stuck a patent black leather boot in the way. “Is there room for one more, Forehead?” “P-Prosecutor Gavin?” he spluttered. “I couldn’t help but notice Herr Edgeworth’s car outside. It seems your little firm is busier than it’s been in awhile, no?” He frowned and finally set down the platter, offering his now free hand to the prosecutor. Instead of shaking it like anyone else he leaned forward and kissed it, offering one of his flirtatious smirks as Apollo’s face burned. “Ach, you’re so red. Just like that suit you usually wear. Speaking of that, it’s nice to see you in something that isn’t so formal.” “Please come in,” he mumbled. “I’ll join you in a minute.” Trucy chose that moment to leave the office and rest a bright green elf hat upon his head, complete with ears on the sides. “There you go! You’re like Daddy’s little elf, always helping out. Oh, Prosecutor Gavin! Would you like a hat as well?” Klavier tried not to laugh as the hat sat lopsided on Apollo’s head and his usual horns drooped in his face. “I’ll be fine without one, fraulein. Why don’t you run along?” She skipped off, another hat in her hands, and Apollo ripped his off as soon as she was gone. “Forehead, it was cute,” Klavier said with a pout. “Keep it on, if not for her then for me.” He begrudgingly put it on again and Klavier adjusted it so it sat straight this time. “Now then, my little elf… Shall we get ready for dinner?” “Did you really come here just to eat?” “Schatz, do you really think I’d do such a thing?” Apollo gave him an unconvinced look and he laughed nervously. “I brought my own addition to the table, of course.” He produced a tupperware from behind his back and Apollo pried it open, staring at the apparent mashed potatoes suspiciously. “It’s a family recipe,” Klavier added. “Of course. That’s why it looks exactly like the stuff Mr. Wright got from the store last week.” “…Oh.” “Klav, please, just drop the façade. You’re only making a fool of yourself.” He was about to respond but a mewl from their feet cut him off. “I didn’t know you had a cat.” “Are you okay? Your face looks kinda red.” “It’s nothing,” he persisted. “What’s her name?” “Mikeko. She doesn’t like being alone for too long so Mr. Wright said I could bring her tonight.” As if understanding, the cat jumped up on the arm of the couch and nosed at Klavier’s hand. He shakily pet her head and Apollo half-smiled. “Are you sure you’re alright?” He tried to nod, but a second later sneezed loudly and Apollo jumped. “The fur,” he explained. “I’m afraid I’m allergic to it.” “Oh! I can put Mikeko in another room—!” “Nein, nein, it won’t be a problem. Just let me get used to it.” “That can’t be healthy,” Apollo argued. “And neither can your constant frowning but I don’t say anything about that.” His point was interrupted by another sneeze. “This is different. Something serious could happen to you and— Hey, I don’t frown all the time.” “Schatz, please. Let the cat be and I’ll be fine. Besides, I think she likes me.” He couldn’t ignore that as Mikeko got on the back of the couch and rubbed against his neck, the poor prosecutor looking like he had to sneeze again. “At the very least I’ll put her away while we eat. I doubt everyone wants fur in their food, anyway.” “That might be for the best. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. Oh, and I almost forgot. Merry Christmas, Forehead.” “…Where do you keep pulling these boxes from?” “Just unwrap it.” Apollo grumbled at the blond’s impatience and did as he was told, his smile wavering as it was revealed to be a Gavinners CD. “Er… thanks, Klav. You know Trucy already has all your albums, right?” “This isn’t a typical CD, mein lieb. I suggest you listen to it when you have some free time.” “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to it later. Let’s get to the kitchen before Mr. Wright thinks I ran off with you.” “Would you like to run off with me, Forehead?” “I do need this job, you know. That means I have to stay on Mr. Wright’s good side.” “Ach, the life of a law abiding attorney.” “And you don’t…?” “Ah, I think I heard fraulein Cykes just now. It’s time to eat!” “Uh-huh. Get going, Gavin.” *** Apollo lounged at home, Mikeko on his lap and purring contentedly. Dinner had gone well, if he had to say so himself. Mr. Edgeworth was more than surprised to see Klavier but moved on quickly. So long as Prosecutor Blackquill doesn’t show up, he’d said. Athena assured him that neither Blackquill nor Taka would be visiting that evening. He glanced at his stereo and the CD which sat in it, ready to be played. What could be so different about a CD? It looks just like the one Trucy has, and she’s played it often enough at the Agency that everyone has the lyrics memorized. I guess it could be something else… Like that time he recorded me in court for one of his songs. I can’t believe that went platinum. But if it is something like that… Curiosity won out and he grabbed the remote. Their debut single, 13 Years Hard Time For Love, filled the room and he cringed. “How that one went platinum I will never figure out,” he mumbled as he skipped it. The rest of the album was the same; all their old songs that had gone gold. Love With No Chance Of Parole, My Boyfriend Is The Prosecution’s Witness, and Gunna Lock U Up followed that. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the last one. That’s what started their chain motif, he remembered. That stupid album cover. Now you can hear Klavier whenever he walks down the hall. Guilty Love played after that and he laughed so hard Mikeko jumped off his lap with a hiss. This is his ringtone! he realized. What a narcissus. It’s also what got Athena calling me Forehead too… Even so, he let the song play and drummed his fingers along to it. As it faded out a very different song started and he smiled softly. The Guitar’s Serenade… The first time Klavier and I worked together on a case, even if it was figuring out that creep Daryan missed his cue. The song ended far too soon and he was reaching for the remote when there was the sound of a mic being adjusted and someone shuffling around. He fumbled for the case and frowned. There weren’t any other songs after The Guitar’s Serenade, yet something else was starting. Recorded Klavier cleared his throat and laughed nervously. “Ah, Forehead. I’m finally making a CD for you. Now all I have to do is actually gather up the courage to give it to you. Ach, why’d I say that? Let’s just forget about this an—“ It cut off and something else started. “I don’t know how to delete old recordings,” he admitted. “Someone in the studio takes care of all the technical things. Let’s pretend that never happened, okay? Just focus on the music.” He strummed a guitar and Apollo’s heart soared. A smooth sounding stream of German words followed, although he’d picked up enough over the years of knowing Klavier. Even without understanding everything he knew the song was special. The melody was easy enough and he began to hum. Mein Apollo, du bist mein Licht. Der ich warm hält; Die mein Leben erhält. Du hast mich vor der Dunkelheit gerettet. Lassen Sie mich an Ihrer Seite bleiben, bitte, und versuchen, die Gunst zurückzugeben. Mein Licht, versprechen, an meiner Seite zu bleiben.