Hi, readers! I'm sorry this chapter took so long to upload, I was just struggling with working out where the story's going. I know now though, haha ^^ Thanks to everyone who's left reviews.
"Hello? Boss?" The yellow clad figure facing Apollo spoke enthusiastically and rapidly to the hologram projected by widget, "We won our case! Not bad, hey? You should've seen the look on Simon's face as we presented that scarf you helped us find in the trash can." She giggled.
The figure on the other end of the video call smiled in return.
"You two can have the rest of the day off, I'll organise your paperwork and start it off so you can work on it tomorrow instead."
"Seriously? Thanks so much, Boss! Hey, Apollo! Say thanks!"
Athena reached over the image and took Apollo's shoulder, dragging him through the hologram so that he was stood next to her. He checked to see his image, next to Athena's in the corner before he grinned at the full screen image of Mr Wright.
"Thanks, Mr Wright, I appreciate it. I guess we'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Sure, Apollo. Tell me everything about the case then too. Bye!" The image of the older lawyer disappeared and all that was visible was the image of the two of them side by side, filling the screen.
"What are you doing now, 'Pollo?" Athena asked, looking at his picture on screen.
"Well, I was hoping to spend some time cleaning my apartment since it feels like I spend so much time cleaning the office, but no time cleaning my ow-"
"My psychological analysis tells me you are obsessed with cleaning, Apollo. I think it's been caught from a man by name of 'Wright'." Athena cut in, gesturing as she tapped Widget to close the hologram and its video call software. "May I suggest we go out for lunch somewhere? You deserve it as the assistant attorney on this case!"
Geez, she sure is cocky when she takes the lead on a case, Apollo groaned.
"Well sure, why not? Where do you have in mind, Athena?"
"There's a cool fast food place a client was telling me about round here! They have really fancy sounding burgers, so how about there?" She said, eagerly.
She was looking straight into his eyes and he suddenly realised how close they were, her blue eyes clear and sparkling thanks to Apollo's perfect vision. They hadn't moved apart from when they were shoulder to shoulder with each other during the video call to Mr Wright.
"Sure, why not?"
"This is a great burger!" Athena laughed from the cushioned seat against the wall. Apollo occupied the chair on the other side of the table. "No wonder Maya likes this place so much!"
"Maya? You mean Mr Wright's old assistant?" Apollo paused until Athena nodded and grunted. "I didn't know the two of you had met. How come you seem so friendly with her?" His gaze shifted to Athena scarfing down the large burger, back to a fry from his meal which he twirled between his thumb and forefinger, then back to Athena who was now swallowing the last of the burger, before taking a minute to wipe the splashes of ketchup from her lips.
"Well, don't you remember when she called Mr Wright to defend her student?" She began at length, "She'd been accused of murdering another student. Well anyway, I helped out a bit with piecing together a testimony." She added, before she picked up her drink, poised to take another slurp of the strawberry milkshake then paused. "Boss worked with Maya for the most of it though. It seemed like she's his natural investigative partner." She sighed before continuing, "She said agency members can come to her village whenever they want as long as they bring an offering of burgers!"
"Ah, I don't know Maya too well. I first met her in the office when she dropped off some cakes for Mr Wright. I know one of her family members much better though. Anyway, she made a better first impression on me than you, that's for sure!"
"Well sorry, partner." Athena retorted with a roll of the eyes. "I suppose I should've brought cake to Nine Tales Vale as an offering to the great demon lawyer?"
"Well, a nice big cake wouldn't have gone amiss, Tiger. Maybe one with my face on it saying "You're ace! From your newest colleague.""
"Hold that thought, Justice." Athena commanded, standing up abruptly. Apollo followed her as she walked swiftly towards the counter and handed over some coins to the till operator. She hurried back to their table and placed a plastic package in front of him.
"It's a cake?" Apollo frowned, pointing to the blueberry muffin.
"Yeah, your cake. You said you'd rather have been presented with a cake than an airborne policeman so here it is. A year and a half late."
"A year and a half, huh? It sure went by quickly. Well, thanks Athena!" Apollo unwrapped the muffin in seconds before taking a large bite out it contentedly.
"Hey Apollo." Athena started to speak, pausing as if to allow Apollo to verbally acknowledge her statement but cutting the silence short before he could. "Have you done anything this past year and a half?"
"Of course! I've stood in court, cleaned the office toilet until the varnish wore away and become a pretty integral part of Trucy's Sunday night Stardust Spectacular. Not to mention all that private investigation I did over Clay's death."
His voice betrayed a mix of guilt, sadness and pride. Guilt, of putting his coworker through the trauma of reopening UR-1, and propelling the Agency into confusion over his leave of absence. Sadness. Naturally over Clay's death. The loss of an irreplaceable friend, who had stuck with him where family members had not. The pride was something Apollo tried not to let himself admit existed. But it was there, the knowledge that he could operate on his own after cutting ties to the Agency. He could be independent of the Wrights, of Athena and still get things done.
"Apollo. I'll ask you again. Have you done anything this past year and a half?" Apollo inhaled sharply, prepared to repeat his last statement with a less patient tone. "Outside of work, Apollo. And outside of Clay." Athena added apologetically as she met his eyes with a glance of sincere sympathy, "What have you done in the past 18 months that's never happened before?"
At first, Apollo thought that he would snap. Then he noticed the trembling right arm, crossing her chest and covering her heart. And he realised she wasn't asking what he had done, but whether she had achieved anything of worth.
"Athena, you saved Prosecutor Blackquill, just in time. That's a lifetime'a worth of activity. And-"
"Apollo, I've worked. I've met old acquaintances and friends again. Made new friends and landed the job I've worked for for so long. But I haven't accomplished anything outside of work, have I?" Her whole body was trembling now. "I've done so much, but nothing for me. All for work."
"Hey, Athena." Apollo mumbled as he rose, the back legs of his chair scraping against the floor. Athena winced at the sound.
"It's ok, Athena." He murmured gently, sliding into the space on the seat next to her, "It's ok, Tiger. It's been a busy, stressful time for you. But you can start doing things for yourself now."
His left arm encircled her slumped shoulders and brought her close in a sideways hug. His arm guided her head to his chest and the other wrapped around her back. Perhaps he thought he could comfort her with the beating of his heart, but if the warming of his cheeks was anything to go by, the heartbeat she was hearing was picking up speed.
"Hey, we can do stuff together, make some memories to tell our kids." His right arm wrapped around her back in a full hug, and his hand began to stroke the back of her head on instinct. All memory of the fast food joint and the surrounding clamour of everyday life faded as he gazed down at the ginger locks. He bowed his head further to plant a gentle kiss in the red locks before resting his head on hers.
"Want to go do something then?" He whispered with a quietness that surprised even him. "Want to take some time out for a holiday?"
Athena's back straightened up and her head tilted back until she was upright. Without making eye contact, she reached to her right and picked up the cheap restaurant napkin, searching for a corner that she hadn't wiped her lips with earlier to dry her eyes with.
"Yeah," her shaky voice replied, smiling gently at Apollo before reaching across to give him another tight hug, "Let's go have some kind of adventure."
Sorry if it didn't feel like a lot happened this chapter, but I'm going to have some proper plot introduced soon, hopefully. See you guys soon, hopefully!