Chapter 1
"Well how do I look?" Apollo asked walking up to Trucy.
"Dull," Trucy said without looking.
"Well I'd appreciate if you would actually look at my outfit," Apollo said putting a hand on his hip.
"I've seen your entire wardrobe twice and they all look ok," Trucy said turning. "I mean we're only going to Vera's house, what are you afraid of?"
"Scarring her," Apollo said.
"Well none of your outfits will do that unless she somehow turned into a fashion addict since we last saw her."
"Good point," Apollo said. "Do you think she'll be scarred?"
"Of going outside?" Trucy asked. "Of course she will. She's not used to it." Trucy was nudging Apollo out the door. "But I don't think we're helping by not going to her house."
"I know. I know just stop pushing me already Trucy," Apollo said. Trucy obliged.
"I don't think she'll be scarred of you," Trucy said reassuring Apollo. "I mean sometimes you feel like a big brother."
"Yeah to you," Apollo said. "But it's been two weeks since the trial and this is a big adjustment."
"Yeah well tomorrow maybe I'll call over someone who sorta knows the feeling," Trucy said walking on the puddles. "I just mean that no matter how much we shelter her it will be hard today."
"You think," Apollo said turning the corner.
"Yeah first days are often the hardest when it comes to these things," Trucy said. "It's like preschool only for a 19 year old."
"That's a simple way of putting it," Apollo complimented.
"Thank you Apollo," Trucy gloated. "Oh look here comes her house." Apollo knocked on the door.
"Wh-Who is it?" a timid voice asked.
"It's just Trucy and Apollo," Trucy said. Vera opened the door slowly before appearing. "Well I'll be you already made progress opening the door." Vera nodded.
"So what do you want to do first Vera?" Apollo asked. "Do you want to go outside and have lunch or do you want lunch inside then exploring?" Vera looked down in thought mumbling to herself.
"Out-outside please Mr. Justice," Vera said clutching her sketchbook.
"It's just Apollo, Vera," Apollo said nervously. Trucy took Vera's hands smiling.
"It's ok to take small steps Vera," Trucy said. "It doesn't have to be like ripping off a band-aid." Vera giggled.
"Thank you," Vera said. Apollo opened the door for the girls. Vera looked intently at the outside.
"If you don't want to we would understand," Apollo said. Vera stared at the outside for a full minute, nodded, and walked out the door. A breeze flew by and Vera shivered.
"We can't control the weather Vera," Trucy said.
"I-I know," Vera said. "Sometimes before that case, I used to face my fears and look at the thunderstorms. When they weren't to big I liked drawing the lightning across the night sky."
"Well now you can experience it," Apollo said. Vera nodded. A squirrel crossed their path. Vera shrieked clutching to Apollo. "It's just a squirrel, Vera. It won't hurt you."
"Yeah besides animals are very cool," Trucy said.
"I just don't like being startled," Vera whispered. "I know that little animals will appear every now and then." Apollo looked at Trucy.
"Well as long as you know that," Trucy said. They walked around for 15 minutes with no immediate damage. Of course when they came across to an intersection Apollo and Trucy had to stop Vera.
"Sorry but they really appreciate if we cross when a little man is on that light," Trucy said. "And not a giant hand." Vera nodded.
"Right," Vera noted.
"So where do you want to eat for lunch?" Apollo said. Vera hesitated realizing she had not thought that far ahead. Trucy looked at Apollo, and Apollo shrugged.
"I know," Trucy said. "How do you like hamburgers?" Vera shrugged. "Or hotdogs." Vera shrugged again.
"Hey I know a place," Apollo said. They walked for a while before reaching their destination. There they had a nice lunch although Vera did order something from the kid's menu. Apollo suspected it was all to draw on the kid's menu.
"Is it fun Vera?" Trucy said. Vera nodded smiling. After lunch they walked back to Vera's house.
"Th-thank you Mr. Justice," Vera managed to say.
"No problem Vera," Apollo said.
"We'll be back tomorrow. Ok Vera?" Trucy asked. Vera looked down and nodded. When she waved bye and closed the door, Trucy nudged Apollo. "That wasn't to bad was it Polly?"
"I guess not," Apollo admitted.
AN: A new fanfiction. Staring Apollo and Vera. Chemistry starting. Of course it is going slower than I would like but you know you can't rush Vera. R&R.