Prompt: So Apollo calling Phoenix dad is a cute and fluffy moment that's awesome and all well and good. But consider this. Consider Apollo calling Kristoph dad.


Apollo Justice. A man who looked far more childlike than he wished to, as well as the one and only apprentice to Kristoph Gavin himself, the 'coolest defense in the west' and sole owner of Gavin Law Offices. It had been shocking for him to receive the job, and that only fueled his hard work.

It was a typical, albeit slow, day at the office. His mentor was out doing fieldwork, and Apollo had already filed away everything he had needed to. He passed the time by making sure everything around the office was properly organized once, twice, thrice, and just barely starting a fourth time when he heard the familiar sound of Kristoph's car pulling up.

The apprentice instantly sprang into action, knowing the routine by heart. Fieldwork could be exhausting; Apollo could tell despite how his mentor always held that calm posture and denied that he was tired. Tea afterwards happened every time. Kristoph asked for it the first couple of times, but Apollo quickly picked up on it, the hot beverage becoming an unspoken tradition.

By the time the elder of the two entered the office, Apollo was already boiling the water. It wasn't long before the tea was ready for him to pour through the kettle's spout into the elegantly patterned cup which Kristoph held such a liking for and take to his mentor. At that moment, he didn't know what was about to occur.

"Here you go, Dad!"

Silence, complete and utter silence, was the soundtrack to the embarassment swelling in the future attorney. What would he think of Apollo now? How could he have let such a thing slip in front of his mentor and idol right under the legendary Phoenix Wright? Kristoph, however, was amused far more than anything his apprentice worried he was feeling. "Thank you, Justice."

A mere "huh..?" was all the younger could force out. Was he making fun of him? Would he bring it up in the future just to humiliate him? Apollo knew he wouldn't do something like that, yet the questions raced through his mind anyways.

In reply, a small chuckle from the man. "It's quite alright, Justice. Call me as you wish. If I fill that role in your life, so be it. All I ask is that you restrict yourself to more formal titles in the courtroom."


Out of all the moments he shared with his former mentor, Apollo remembered this the most often. Out of every kind act and word, giving him a father figure was the best by far. That went away all too quickly. Kristoph was gone now, waiting for his turn to die for his crimes.

Yet, Apollo still cared about him. He still cared about the man who killed, the man who deceived, the man who betrayed him. He still considered him like a father. That wasn't even the worst part, however. And that worst part?

Kristoph never once lied to him.