Peppermint

and

Hot Chocolate

Apollo pulled back the curtain to peek outside the Agency at the big, fluffy flakes of snow falling. It covered everything in a soft blanket of white and made the city glow. The city rarely received snow, so it was a treat. The attorney wasn't fond of winter, but it did hold his favorite holidays, so he never complained too much.

He wrapped his hands around his cup of hot chocolate and watched a few of the patrons and employees of the hotel across the way engage in a snowball fight, while others were building a snowman.

Apollo took a sip of the chocolate now that it was cool enough to drink and hummed his approval. He had been skeptical about the drink; it was thicker than what he was used to. The sender – who still goes unknown – assured him that it was how they served it in Europe and it's especially good with a stick of peppermint, which the sender so graciously included.

Apollo actually did have an idea of who sent him the hot chocolate...and that person was riding up the street on his hog. Klavier stopped the motorcycle in front of the building that housed the Wright Anything Agency and took off his helmet. Apollo made a noise of surprise when he saw the blond hair tied back in some sort of messy man-bun, instead of its usual drill style. A few of the patrons came over and asked for the rock star's autograph. The attorney watched as he took another sip. When Klavier finished signing and taking photographs, he took out his phone and pushed a button.

"Oh!" Apollo exclaimed as his phone buzzed in his trousers pocket. "Hello?"

"Herr Forehead," Klavier's voice blared out of his phone. "Why aren't you out here with these folks making snowmen and having a snowball fight?"

'Because I like to be warm and not soaking wet.' Apollo thought.

Aloud he said: "Klavier, good to hear from you too. I've got some paper work to catch up on-"

"Achtung! I don't believe it! Get out here and have fun."

Apollo sighed and looked down at the prosecutor. Klavier smiled his million dollar smile and the attorney shook his head. He hated that the blond knew exactly what buttons of his to push.

"Alright, give me ten minutes and I'll be down."

After spending seven minutes searching for his gloves, Apollo gave up and pulled on the knit cap Trucy knit for him. It was surprisingly warm and similar to Phoenix's old cap. He buttoned his red pea-coat as he took the three flights of stairs down to the first floor of the building, then wrapped his neck and face in the red striped scarf he bought in anticipation for the weather. He pushed the door open and a sudden blast of frigid air hit him and he paused. For a split second, Apollo thought about backing up and forgetting about the snowmen and snowball fights. Klavier hadn't seen him exit at first. But when he turned, the blonde's face lit up like the lights lining the hotel's tree across the street.

Apollo's knees went weak for a second as his cheeks went red and a dumb grin spread over his own face. He finally convinced his feet to move forward as he tucked his grin into his scarf and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You are quite bundled up, Forehead," Klavier remarked as he sculpted a snow ball in his gloved hands. His jacket was an iridescent violet color; the kind that subtly changes colors when one moves.

"It's cold out here. Of course I'm bundled up!"

Klavier snorted as a young woman approached him with a marker and a picture of his band, The Gavinners, in her hand.

"Klavier Gavin," she said breathlessly. Her hat had what looked like two nubs shaped like mouse ears on the top and her mittens were gray with pink on the palms.

"Ja, that's me, Fraulein." Klavier flicked his bangs out of his face.

"Oh, would you mind signing this picture! I've been hanging on to it since your second to last concert, hoping I'd run into you." She said. She bounced on the balls of her feet as her teeth chattered.

Apollo saw Klavier flinch at the picture she held out. It had him and Daryan rocking out in a guitar solo on a brightly lit stage. The girl didn't notice, or she ignored it, but Apollo noticed when Klavier's hand hesitated over the picture.

A muffled whine came from the girls jacket and the prosecutor and attorney stared at her.

"Sorry," she said as she unzipped her jacket part way. A tea-cup Chihuahua with a bright blue sweater, poked it's head out of her jacket. The sweater had a tiny gray shark on the chest. "I was taking Jaws out for a walk and I saw you and completely freaked out. Well, in my head of course."

Apollo gave her a small smile as Klavier patted the dog on it's head.

"He's adorable,"

"He likes you," the girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled wide. "He usually snaps at people."

"Hmm...So who do I make this out to?"

"Oh! Jaws and Maddie. Thank you!"

Maddie bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited. She thanked Klavier again as she walked away, beaming, autograph in hand.

"Are you okay?" Apollo asked when she was out of earshot.

"Of course," Klavier flicked his bangs again and snapped his fingers. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, I saw you flinch at that picture of Daryan and the Gavinners,"

"You're seeing things, Justice," he furrowed his brow and zipped his jacket to the top. "Now let's build a snowman."

Apollo raised an eyebrow at Klavier's clipped tone, but let it go when Klavier knelt to start a snowman.

"Jaws! No! Come here! Ack!"

Apollo and Klavier turned in the direction of Maddie's voice and saw the girl, her hands to her face in distress.

"What's wrong Fraulein?" Klavier said as he ran over to her and Apollo followed.

"Stop! He's in the snow!" Maddie pointed to the patch of snow between them as both attorneys stopped in their tracks.

"Well, let's get down there and look for Jaws," Klavier knelt in the snow and started pushing the fluffy white around.

Apollo sighed as he pulled his already cold hands out of his pockets and knelt beside Klavier.

"Where are your gloves?"

"I couldn't find them. I think Trucy has them."

Klavier snorted.

"Here Mr. Justice, please take mine." Maddie said as she held out her mittens.

Apollo hesitated for a moment; he'd rather dig in the snow with mittens that resembled the paws of a giant mouse than have frostbite. He nodded his thanks as he grabbed the mittens and slipped them on.

Klavier barked a loud laugh, but instantly regretted it after Apollo threw him a dirty look.

Five minutes later, after Apollo swept away a swath of snow, Jaws bolted out of the snow with a loud yip, into Apollo's mittened hands.

"Jaws! Oh Jaws! Oh baby!" Maddie's voice went up a couple octaves as she carefully scooped the tiny dog out of Apollos arms.

It all happened so fast; Klavier and Apollo were stunned.

"Looks like you are the hero of the day kleine Maus." Klavier said. He smiled a wide smile and held his hand out to help Apollo to stand. Apollo nodded and took off the mittens before taking Klavier's hand. He handed the mittens to the excited girl.

"Thank you, Maddie-"

"No, no! Thank you Mr. Justice and Mr. Gavin! Oh I don't know how I would live with out my little Jaws!"

"You're welcome, Frau Maus."

Maddie giggled and ran into the hotel.

"I'm going in before my fingers fall off. You are welcome to come in and warm up, Klavier."

"Thank you, Justice."

As they ascended the three flights of stairs, Klavier pulled out his phone and scrolled through a popular shopping site. He found what he wanted and clicked on the order button.

"Who names their tiny dog, Jaws?" Klavier clucked as he wrapped his hands around the mug of hot chocolate Apollo made.

"Apparently Maddie does." Apollo said before taking a drink of his hot chocolate. "Thank you for this drink by the way."

Klavier furrowed his brow. "How do you know it was me?"

"Please," the attorney raised an eyebrow. "Who wraps their gifts in purple ribbon and knows what kind of anything is served in Europe?"

Klavier smirked.

"So, um, any plans for the rest of the evening?"

"No, not really," Klavier answered before taking a drink.

"Want to watch a movie with me?"

Klavier blinked at Apollo. "Er, sure."

"Make yourself comfortable on the couch, I'll grab a couple blankets and ..." Apollo paused before he walked into the room Phoenix turned into a bedroom. He had watched movies with Klavier before, but Ema was always with them. Now it was just him and Klavier. He could feel his cheeks warming as he blushed. He grabbed a couple blankets and walked out of the room. Klavier was on one end of the couch with his boots kicked off and his sock feet on the coffee table. Apollo handed Klavier one of the blankets then kicked off his shoes.

Before he could settle in, a knock came at the door.

"I'm not expecting anyone...are you?" Apollo furrowed his brow at Klavier as he walked to the door.

"Not exactly," Klavier gave a smug look.

"Delivery for..." the man at the door had a logo of a popular local shopping center and a box that he squinted at. "Apollo Justice."

"B-But I didn't order anything,"

"I just deliver, kid. Sign here," the man held out a tablet and Apollo quickly read the form on the screen before signing. "Thanks. Enjoy, kid."

After he closed the door, Apollo turned the box over, looking for clues.

"For heavens sake, Forehead! Just open the box already!"

Apollo dug his keys out of his pocket and found the tiny folding knife he kept on the key chain. He broke the seal and the tape and upon opening the box, he found a pair of red, fleece gloves. On the wrist, was a tiny image of a gray mouse. He pulled them on and realized they were soft inside, and warm. He giggled at the mouse.

"Is this your doing?"

"Maybe," Klavier winked at him before taking a long drink from his mug.

"Polly, this was-...oh!" Trucy stopped in her tracks as she opened the door to the Wright Anything Agency the next morning. She cocked her head and smiled at Apollo who was sleeping on top of Klavier, his head on Klavier's chest. One of Klavier's feet was on the floor, and the other propped against the back of the couch, a blanket covering both of them. Trucy closed the door as quietly as she could, and pocketed her keys. She walked over and set the box down on the coffee table.

"Morning, Fraulein," Klavier's hoarse voice startled Trucy as she muffled her squeak with her hand. He chuckled at her as Apollo stirred.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she said in a low voice.

"And I didn't mean to scare you."

"Who did you scare?" Apollo's sleepy voice was also hoarse as he lifted his head. He blinked and tried to orient himself. "Klavier..."

"Ja, Forehead, Guten Morgen,"

"Whoa," Apollo scrambled off of Klavier and fell on his rear between the couch and table. "Sorry, I...was sleeping on you, sorry."

Trucy giggled.

Apollo scrambled to his feet and brushed imaginary lint off his shirt.

"Trucy, we were just sleeping, I swear-"

"Polly, it's okay, I know. I walked in and you were both sound asleep on the couch." Her grin was a thousand watts as Klavier tried to muffle his own laugh. "Oh, I found this box in front of our door. It's addressed to you, Klavier."

Trucy pushed the box to Klavier as he sat up and rubbed his eyes and stretched.

"Justice, is this you?" Klavier asked as he grabbed his keys out of his pocket and used one of the keys to break the tape and opened the box. Inside was a thick, purple knitted scarf. Near the fringe at the bottom, was the image of a tiny mouse. He smirked.

"Well, when I saw you pull up in front of the building yesterday, I thought you could use a scarf." Apollo shrugged.

Trucy grabbed the box and another box that was similar, located under the coffee table and announced she was taking them to the recycling bin out back as she left the office.

"Thank you for the movie and the scarf, Justice." Klavier said after pulling on his boots.

Apollo cleared his throat nervously. "Yes, thank you for the gloves. S-Sorry for falling asleep on top of you. That was unbecoming of me."

Klavier chuckled as he pulled on his jacket and gloves, then threw the scarf around his neck.

"I hope you won't think less of me when I tell you that I woke up to you asleep on my shoulder and I adjusted us into the position we woke in."

"W-Well, it's not appropriate for friends to sleep on top of each other, b-but it was comfortable so..." Apollo stammered as he pushed his hair back in a nervous gesture.

"I hope we can be more than friends someday, Apollo." Klavier said as he stepped toward Apollo. The attorney held his breath as the prosecutor kissed him on his forehead. He smiled as he watched Apollo turn fifty shades of red. "Call me, we can make an actual snowman sometime."