The Sibling Bond
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or cases from Ace Attorney. All credits go to Capcom, the own the rights to everthing. This mini-fic is my own creation from my own original story, Love is Like Atroquinine. Both of the aforementioned stories are completely original and were created by me.
Reviews would be awesome, please and thank you. This is starting to pick up steam in my mind, and I'm excited to keep the momentum going. Really emotional, this story is going to be.
Ava pulled into her apartment complex in San Francisco and exhaled a tired sigh. Five hours was a long way to drive alone. The radio just wasn't enough of company when you watched boring highway mile after highway mile pass you by at seventy miles an hour. Ava parked the sedan in her numbered spot and locked it over her shoulder as she walked inside.
When Ava opened the front door to her apartment and dropped her keys in the bowl by the door, she eyed the treadmill in the living room in front of the television. She was tired from the long drive home, and really didn't feel like doing the two miles that she promised herself she would do after eating the pizza. But Ava knew she had to do the miles anyway. That was one of the prices she paid to become a professional model. You have to keep your fitness and activity level high and consistent. Yoga was no problem for Ava, as she enjoyed how relaxed she felt after doing a session.
Ava rounded the corner to her bedroom and pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket. She pushed Daryan's speed dial number and put it on speakerphone. As the phone rang once, twice, Ava got undressed and put on her workout clothes. Daryan picked up on the third ring. "Hey, you made it home alright?" Ava answered as she pulled the sports bra over her head. "Yeah I just got in a couple minutes ago. I would have made it home earlier, but 695 was a mess. Big accident had a lane shut down for a few miles." Daryan answered back. "As long as you weren't in that accident, that's fine."
Ava grabbed the phone off the dresser and walked into the kitchen to grab a water bottle. "Well I just called to tell you I'm home like you asked. I'll see you in a couple days Daryan." "Alright. Love you sis." Ava smiled. "Love you too, little bro." Ava hung up and tossed the phone onto the sofa. She wasn't expecting any more calls, but she kept it close by just in case.
Ava grudgingly went through her usual exercise routine. Half a mile at a slow walking pace to warm up, half a mile at a faster power-walking pace, half a mile at a quick jog, then another half mile at the slow walking pace to cool down. Ava stepped down from the treadmill, slightly out of breath. As her breathing returned to normal, she gulped down a few mouthfuls of water and changed the television settings so she could watch her yoga DVD.
The music coming from the television sounded like a tropical paradise, and the instructor's soothing voice had Ava calm and focused as she settled down on her purple yoga mat. Ava followed the instructor as they went from pose to pose. Downward Dog to stretch the back, Warrior to stretch the legs, Triangle for balance, and Dancer to increase flexibility.
A half hour later when the credits rolled on the DVD, Ava shut the television and all the lights she had left on, off, before entering the bathroom to grab a fast shower. Once she was done, Ava ignored her usual routine of blow drying her hair and putting in overnight conditioner and went straight to bed. She was exhausted and needed some rest. She would be doing a photo shoot for a magazine all day tomorrow.
The magazine shoot the next day went from ten in the morning until eight at night. She got a call from her agent while she was at the studio, telling her that she had booked her for a cameo in a soap opera. Ava agreed to the job, and her agent promised to call with more details regarding the role as they became available. When Ava entered her apartment that night, she was mentally and physically drained. She pushed through her workout routine once again, got a shower, didn't skip her nightly beauty routine like she did yesterday, then went to bed.
Two days later, Ava was making the drive back to Los Angeles for the Gavinner's video shoot. She navigated the streets easily and found the studio with time to spare. Ava spotted Daryan's midnight blue Viper in the lot and parked her sedan next to it.
She hadn't been here in probably half a year, as the Gavinner's had been on the European leg of their 'Guilty Love' tour. It was wrapping up in two weeks time, ending with a special concert with a singer from Borginia. Apparently Klavier met her while he was over there and had invited her to perform with the band.
Daryan had sent her a ticket for the show earlier that week, as Ava had found it in her stack of mail waiting for her on the dining room table. She had asked her neighbor to run to her P.O. box the day she was picking Daryan up from the airport.
Ava flashed her employee pass at the guard who was manning the front desk and he waved her back. Ava called Daryan to ask which studio room they'd be in. He told her to come to the second one down the hallway. She pushed the door open and was greeted by the entire band and crew.
Klavier came over and hugged Ava. "Fraulein Crescend, it's good to see you again. I'm glad you could be here for the latest shoot. I tried to convince one of my detective's to work on the video with us, but she thumped me and said 'Hell no.'" Ava gave a tinkling laugh and nudged Klavier's shoulder. "Ever the ladies man you are. Which detective of yours?" Klavier's face glazed over for a split second. "One of my newer detectives. Her name is Ema Skye. Fiery temper, but she's one of the precinct's finest. I keep trying to ask her out, but she continues to turn me down."
Daryan gave a laugh and slapped Klavier's back. "You're probably just losing your touch, Gavin. Give me a few minutes with her and I bet ya I could have her agreeing to go out with me." Klavier frowned. "Achtung! No chance in hell, Crescend. Fraulein Skye would eat you alive." Daryan laughed. "Ha, I'd be willing to bet you I could get her to say yes to me. Wanna bet on it?" Daryan held his hand out for Klavier to shake and agree to the bet. Klavier rolled his eyes and grasped his bandmates outstretched hand. "Fine. But if the Fraulein finds out about this, it was your idea. The usual stakes?" Daryan grinned and nodded. "Sounds good. I want a Telecaster next time. Haven't had one of those guitars in awhile."
Ava rolled her eyes at the boys antics. She pitied the detective that was becoming the center of the rocker's wager.
At that moment, the director clapped his hands for order. "Alright guys, let's get started. Dancers, go with the choreographer for half an hour and learn what you need to do. Guys, go sound check the instruments and get them ready. We'll start shooting in an hour!" Everyone disbanded to do their respective tasks and Ava waved to her brother as she joined the other four dancers, as they walked into the adjacent room to work with the choreographer. It was a fairly simple routine, and before long Ava had it memorized.
The shoot for this video was no different than the other three Ava had done before. Each of the band members (aside from the drummer) had a dancer assigned to them, Klavier having two. Ava was assigned to Daryan, naturally. They got the footage they needed after a couple takes. The director said he'd call them back if they needed anything else.
As the guys packed up their instruments, Ava walked over to Daryan. "Hey, you want to go out and do something? It's only two in the afternoon and I don't have anywhere to be tomorrow." Daryan inhaled a deep breath and shook his head. "Sorry, sis, but I got somewhere to be. Gotta meet someone up at three." Ava was surprised that he said no. Daryan usually took the entire day off from work when they had a Gavinner's shoot to do. "Who are you meeting up with? Someone with work?"
Daryan shook his head. "No." He didn't elaborate any more on the subject, just turned back to his guitar case. His phone rang and he glanced at the screen. Daryan walked off without excusing himself from Ava and she was baffled. "Um, okay just walk away then."
Ava stood there and waited for Daryan to finish the call and return. She waited five minutes, then ten. Daryan still hadn't come back. Fifteen minutes passed, then Ava grew impatient and walked in the direction that Daryan left. He left his guitar case, so he'd have to come back.
She heard his voice grow louder as she walked further. She rounded a corner and saw Daryan on the phone with someone. She backed up a couple steps before he realized she was there and listened quietly.
"I don't care. You have to do it. Get ahold of one, and hold onto it for me. I'll be there in a week and a half, and I'll be coming back with Gavin and Lamirior. We'll take care of it then. Just make sure he doesn't know anything about this. If he finds out...No, it won't happen. I've covered the tracks too carefully. I-Alright, fine. I'll call you in a few days." Daryan hung up and Ava fled back down the hall before he discovered her hiding place.
When she re-entered the room, she stood in the same spot that he thought he left her in and pretended to be occupied with texting someone. Daryan came back a minute later and picked up his guitar case. He looked surprised to see his sister still standing there. "Why are you still here? Thought you would have bailed by now." Ava shook her head. "I figured I'd wait. We always walk out together." Daryan shrugged and strode wordlessly toward the entrance of the building.
The director momentarily stopped Ava to give her her paycheck for the day. Ava thanked him and rushed to catch up with her brother, who ignored the fact that she had stopped.
Ava followed her brother out, confused as to why he was being so distant. She and Daryan always had something to talk about, but this was bordering on awkward silence. Her brother looked distracted and deep in thought about something that he apparently didn't want to relay to his sister. As they reached their cars, Daryan slid the guitar case into the backseat of his car and turned to face Ava. He embraced his older sister, but still said nothing.
There were too many thoughts running through his mind to be talking about anything to her. If he started talking now, he'd run the risk of telling her everything. There was no way he was bringing Ava into this. No way in hell he'd put her in danger.
"I'll call you when I get in, like usual." Daryan gave a single nod. "Or text me, either one is fine. I'll talk to you later, sis." Daryan got into his Viper, started the engine, and sped off without another word. Ava was baffled by her brother's behavior. Something was bugging him. Ava hesitantly shrugged and got into her own car. "He'll tell me eventually. He always does."
Ava stopped off at a Starbucks to grab a skim, iced caramel latte for the road. No sense on trying to make the drive with no caffeine in her system. As she pulled out of the drive-through, she looked both ways to make sure a left turn was safe.
She swore that a block up the street she saw Daryan's car pull into the back parking lot of a shifty looking building. She glimpsed it so quickly, she chalked it up to a figment of her imagination. This was Los Angeles, where every other person drove a BMW, a Ferrari, a Mustang, or the like. A Viper was hardly an uncommon vehicle of choice.
Ava pulled off in the direction of 695 to begin another five hour journey home. As she saw the familiar streets of Los Angeles become a blip in her rear view mirror, she sighed in frustration and wistfulness. She almost wished she could move out of San Francisco. But that was where her agent was located at, and as a result, where most of her modeling and acting jobs took place. Otherwise she'd have been in Los Angeles in a heartbeat. It would certainly be easier on her if her brother wasn't half a day's drive away.
Ava called Daryan to tell him she made it home, like she usually did. Daryan answered the phone on the fifth ring, and gave his sister only monosyllabic answers. He almost sounded like he was talking to a stranger. Ava told her brother she loved him with a bit more emphasis this time, hoping to break him out of his stupor, but he simply said "Love you too, sis" and hung up.
She hoped everything was okay with him. She knew if he was in any kind of trouble, he'd ask her for help. He knew that she was there for him whenever he needed her. She was his older sister, his confidant, and his friend.
For the next few days, Ava was busy with her acting job on the soap opera. It was a hospital drama, and she was playing a patient who died at the end of the episode. The filming for the hour long episode spanned four days, so it gave Ava something to think about other than her brother's out of character behavior.
In the next week and a half, Ava talked to Daryan once. Normally they would talk three or four times a week whenever he was in town, but her phone remained silent the entire weekend and the following week. She texted him several times asking if he was alright, but he never replied to any of them. When she did manage to get a single call through to him, he seemed a bit more cheerful, but still preoccupied.
This was not the laid-back and talkative Daryan Crescend that Ava had known her whole life. Something had changed in him, and she had no idea what.
The phone call she overheard at the studio still bothered her. Who was Daryan talking to? Where was this mystery caller at? Who were they trying to keep their plan a secret from, and why? What was so top-secret that they had to 'cover the tracks'? Ava didn't have an answer to any of those questions. Daryan usually had to keep quiet about his work in International Affairs, for security purposes, so he seldom told Ava details about a case he was working on. This especially kept her in the dark about any reason as to why he was acting so odd.
The days drew near to the finale of the 'Guilty Love' tour, and Ava was getting more excited to see her brother play live again. It had been over six months since she'd seen him perform at a concert. Despite the growing number of Gavinner's concerts Ava had been to over the years, she never got tired of them. The boys always changed up the sets and the setlist from venue to venue, in order to keep it fresh for the fans. This concert would be especially memorable, as they were having a guest singer during the show, the Borginian singer Lamirior.
The day of the concert, Ava was picking an outfit to wear and how she wanted to do her hair. For rock concerts like the Gavinner's, Ava always stepped her look up a notch and looked like a real model. She texted her brother telling him she was excited to see the band play again, and that she wanted to see him between one of the sets or after the concert. Surprisingly, he texted back immediately agreeing to her suggestion and that he'd let her know closer to show time when they could meet up.
Ava beamed as she read her brother's message. This sounded more like the Daryan she knew.
How wrong she was.
Author's Notes: Well, we all can guess where I'm going with this story now. We know we are officially at the day of Turnabout Serenade, and what is going to happen tonight. But how does everything that we know happen backstage affect the people that weren't in the picture? How is Ava going to be affected when she is broken the news of Daryan's actions and the consequences of what is revealed? It's going to be rough, that's for sure. Reviews are gratefully accepted, so I hope to hear from some people!