Disclaimer: The Justice named Apollo and all things related to him are owned by the same people who own the Megaman.
And no, it's not Square-Enix.
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"So, why am I going with you two to this small town again? I mean, clients may be coming for our help and I won't be there and they'll be…"
"Face it, Polly, you're nothing without me!" exclaimed a girl with a blue hat, "And because people in this town might need you! Who knows? This town might have a secret ritual where multiple people die a horrible death for the sake of a god, and it's up to you to find the murderer!"
"Note to self: Don't let Trucy watch scary Japanese cartoons ever again," murmured their guardian to himself.
"At least we're taking this train…but then after that, we have to…take…a tractor?"
"Yeah! There's only one bus that comes here, and it already left!"
"But…couldn't we have taken a taxi…or couldn't Mr. Wright learn how to drive…?"
"When he learns how to play the piano, he says," Trucy answered.
"…nevermind. Maybe I'll go for my driver's license instead," Apollo sighed, "So if we ever have to go here again, we don't have to be in this muggy heat…"
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"And this is my house!" exclaimed Natalie, "This is also where Auntie Ema is staying, Mr. Gavin."
"Seems normal. But then again, this is your sister's house we're talking about…" he shrugged. It was a fairly sized house, not too big, not too small, with palm trees befitting its landscape. He did notice some breeds of spiky green plans in the backyard, but the exact name escaped him while Natalie pulled his hand.
"Listen, you…" she muttered as she aimed to punch him, but Natalie glanced back and she stopped her fist midway. "Sorry. Sometimes he likes to tease. But…that's just one of his few, um, bad traits," she clarified.
Nice save, Fraulein, he thought, I wonder if she's trying to control that impulsive behavior of hers just for the sake of her niece…what a sweet aunt.
"Ah, I see! Well, I guess even people like Mr. Gavin aren't perfect…I guess if you've been in a relationship for a while, you'd find that out. But, you know, Mr. Gavin, if you go with me, I'll still love you even if you tease! Papa loves teasing me and my brother…I mean, my brother and me. Heh heh, I get that wrong all the time," she exclaimed with a blush and a giggle.
"Aww, Natalie! You are so cute!" Ema exclaimed, suddenly giving her a tight hug. For a second, Klavier could've sworn little red hearts were flying in the air as it happened. "It's okay! You're only seven, after all! Nevermind the comments beforehand…"
"Auntie…tight…choking…" Natalie mumbled, and Ema backed off and knocked on the door.
"I didn't realize that you had a weakness for children," he commented, drawing his hand away from Ema's niece and patting her head. She almost fainted of embarrassment.
"…just my sister's kids," she replied, but he knew he hit the nail on the spot. The lock was being fiddled around and opened with much gusto.
"BANG! Hands up, right now! All right, deputy, I think I got…AUNTIE EMA?!" shouted a little boy who looked like a police officer.
"Sure did," replied a tanned older man, blinking at the sight of Klavier, "I think you've caught her accomplices as well. Good job, junior!"
"B…But…DAD! Auntie Ema's not a bad guy! Or girl…or…"
"Well, maybe it was the blonde kid she's got with her that's the bad guy," he replied, chewing on some piece of straw as he talked, "'cause I've never seen that pardner before."
"Are you crazy, Papa? This is Klavier Gavin! Of the Gavinners! Remember, you took me to a concert of theirs once! He's Auntie Ema's boyfriend!"
He spat the straw out on the little boy, who grimaced at his father's spit on him. "Boyfriend? You, Ema? I thought I'd never see the day…LANA! Come down! Your sister just pulled the gun from the holster and she's gonna shoot you with a bang!"
"Dad! It sounds like Auntie's going to kill Mama!" cried the young boy, who looked grim and angry at his dad.
"Ah, don't worry. She knows me too well to take me too seriously," he shrugged, chewing another straw that magically formed from his pocket.
"Huh...quite the family you have, Fraulein," he casually stated, "I hope when we have one of those, we'll be as interesting as your sister's."
"In hell," she muttered to herself, resisting the urge to get out one of her flasks from her bag and bash his head with it.
"Huh? Ema…finally," said a voice from the stairs. Klavier couldn't believe this mature, motherly looking woman could actually be Ema's sister. She had lighter brown hair than Ema, and wore a pink nightgown with a yellow apron. On top of the apron lay a picture of a boot. Random, Klavier thought, but yet fitting with the rest of the family.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier your boyfriend was coming here? Or that you had a boyfriend in the first place? Oh, and you brought Natalie with you, too! Good job, Ema," she replied. She seemed like a woman who often doted on her family…
"Ah, well, it was a surprise visit from me…on both sides," Klavier answered, gesturing to Ema that he'd be the one doing all the talking. "It might be quite the story, so we should all sit somewhere comfortable; would your kitchen table suffice, ja?"
"'Ya'? Where you from, pardner, Switzerland?" asked Lana's husband, but before Klavier answered, the six of them moved to the table as the rock star suggested.
"To answer your question, no, I'm actually from Germany," he replied, scratching the back of his head as he sat down, "Anyway. My band, the Gavinners, were to perform at a venue an hour away from this town. However, due to events beyond our control, we were forced to cancel tonight. They decided to stay in the town where the concert was supposed to go, and I told them that I'd make an impromptu visit to my girlfriend. Since I'm also her boss, I knew where she was, of course," he replied.
"Huh? But Ema's a detective, son! Why would you be her boss?"
"Ah, well, I'm also a prosecutor. You see…"
"…the entire band is involved in law enforcement as their day job!" exclaimed Natalie, who was again red in the face, "…I read it on the band's website."
"Good job. You're quite the loyal fan after all, Fraulein."
Lana raised an eyebrow. "A prosecutor, huh? I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, even if that apple's been gone for almost ten years. Even though it's a bit unprofessional for your career… Didn't you like another prosecutor when you were younger?"
The detective of science eyes' brightened with reminiscence. "Ah, yes. He was the most handsome prosecutor I've ever laid eyes on…and he was so calm and collected too," replied Ema, "But of course I was young and now I like my boss!" She added it enthusiastically, but Klavier could spot the resentment in having to say that.
"Heh. Well, that's great," she replied calmly, but suddenly she remembered something. "We haven't introduced ourselves, have we? I'm Lana, Ema's sister, and also a prosecutor like you. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Gavin."
"You know who I am, of course," Natalie replied.
"The name's Jake. Jake Marshall," introduced the cowboy, "If you haven't noticed, I'm a father of a fellow cowboy and an adorable bambina, and husband of the great Lana Skye-Marshall, and a detective, like your girl over there."
The last one was hesitant to speak; in fact, he looked like he was about to cry.
"Hey, junior, don't blubber up just 'cause your aunt's taken," muttered Jake to his son, "Just tell Mr. Switzerland over here your name."
"Neil Marshall, Jr.," he muttered, "Six years old."
"Okay, now you've met the whole family. Let's go," Ema mumbled to him, trying to pull him away from the house with a smile for the Marshalls.
"Wait just a second!" yelled Jake, standing up, "Horseback riding."
The two of them stared in confusion and blinked, almost simultaneously. Natalie giggled, like if she knew something about her Daddy's sudden suggestion. "…horseback…riding?" asked Klavier.
"Yup. I reckon a real man, especially the sister of my beautiful bambina, could learn to ride a horse with another man. And, in return, we could do something you're good at, son…teach me to play that guitar of ye'rs, I guess," he shrugged, "In the absence of parents, I can judge if ye'r the genuine thing."
" 'In the absence of parents'…you say?" he asked, curious of Ema, "Are you saying…"
"…our parents died in a car crash when we were younger," replied the scientific detective. The sisters glanced down at the mention of them, "But…it's okay! Ever since then, Lana's been there for me. And Jake, Neil, and Natalie as well!"
Now this is news to me, he thought, I've never heard her sound so…apologetic. Maybe this would be a good chance to learn about the Fraulein Detective. She was always a bit…mysterious to me. Might help with the poor relationship we have at work...
"Interesting," replied Klavier, "I think your plan sounds like a great idea. Besides, it's not often I go horseback riding. The last time I've actually rode one was probably when I was younger."
"Heh! Good thinking, pardner," he replied with a grin, " 'sides, I think the sisters need some time to bind without my constant presence. Ain't that right, Lana?"
She merely nodded, and although Ema wanted to protest, she did want to talk to Lana by herself. And…she also wanted some help with that play she had to do…
"Fine. Go have your male bonding time, or whatever the cowboys call it, Jake," Ema sighed, "Have fun…honey."
What bitter honey I taste, dear Fraulein, Klavier chuckled to himself, stroking his gorgeous blonde locks. His smile made Natalie almost faint and Ema almost barf.
The two men walked out the door as they said more goodbyes to the children. When they were out, Jake led him to a stable near their house. Now that he thought about it, he never noticed the horses when he was led here by Natalie and Ema …
"Ready, son?" he asked, opening the entrance. He nodded…however, as soon as Klavier went inside…
"NEIGH, NEIGH!"
"Whoa, calm down there Kristoph!" yelled Jake, "He's…"
Wait, what?
"NEIGH, NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The last thing Klavier saw was a pair of hooves.
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Ha. XD That's right, I support Lana/Jake! Hooray.
Read and review. ;3
