A/N: I wouldn't be surprised if there was no one looking at this story anymore. I'll admit it. I kinda gave up on this story, and got absorbed into a whole different fandom. This one's kinda waning in interest, compared to Homestuck, which I can safely blame for this story's neglect. But since it's so close to completion, I decided to tough it out and work through it. Also, MMW will be discontinued.
Chapter Eleven: Realization
Hickfield Clinic
July 28, 2027—3:20PM
"C'mon, Phoenix, I know you can make it through this…" Miles whispered gently, but sternly, his thumb brushing along his husband's limp hand. Beside him, his daughter wept, unable to quell the pain and horror within her. Her father wrapped his arms around her tightly, exiting the room as the cyan-clad magician's tears soaked through his shirt.
Which again left rival prosecutor and defense attorney awkwardly in the same room (conscious, that is), the only noise filling the silence being Phoenix's heart monitor. Apollo hesitated, his thumbs twiddling, as the blonde beside him vented a breath of stress. "Apollo," He murmured, his voice strained from the event. "Who would have done this to him…?"
"I don't know…" Was all the dazed attorney could manage. "You… You were the first one there; what do you think happened?"
The crimson-clad attorney found himself very observant of his older friend. Somehow, something was subtly off about him—his bracelet never relented a thinly-tight grip on his wrist. "I don't know, really. Perhaps it was someone who was family to Herr Reynolds? Y'know, the murderer? Or one of Fräulein Feights's family, one of them could of been really mad over the situation and taken out their rage on poor Herr Wright."
"You think so?" Apollo murmured, still distanced.
Klavier turned around, his face still cheery, but still something about it was wrong that Apollo couldn't shake. "You didn't think I did it, did you?" Although his face was bright, there was still something about it that unsettled Apollo—the darkness in it that frightened him. Still, Klavier continued to smile, his ceruleans charming and endearing. Because of that, his questions were like a tease, his hands on his hips as he leaned forward a tad. "I just… came in and saw him there. Soon after I came in, Trucy did as well, and that's how all of it started."
"I see…" Apollo started, except his distance now was caused not by the shock of the whole event, but from Klavier, and his obvious change in behavior. Sure, any person off the street could say he was acting normal, but to a trained eye—one who's seen the blonde often—the violet-clad prosecutor was horribly off. It was apparent to Apollo that he was perhaps the only person that knew this, close friend or otherwise. "Klavier…"
"Ja?" He turned around cheerily. "What is it, Forehead?"
He gazed into the man's ceruleans. "N-Nothing…" He sighed, "I think I need some air, if you don't mind."
"I don't; it's alright. I understand it's a lot to take in."
"And what about you? You saw him there! You were the first to!"
"I know that. You think I'm not shaken up too?" The blonde said in a voice mirroring irritation and hurt, if only just a tad. "I just had more time to deal with it all. More time to breathe." He murmured, his voice slightly betrayed. "Please don't think I did it, Apollo… you'd be one of just so many others whose trust I've lost because of Kristoph; I'm not like him. You know that, don't you?" He pleaded, his voice defeated.
Apollo had seen Klavier like this before, right before their kiss, and knew he didn't want to repeat that process. He smiled softly. "I believe you, Klavier; I know you'd never do that sort of thing."
Klavier smiled with a tad blush that Apollo dare not attempt to interpret. "I guess I'll leave you to yourself." He murmured. "Just try and relax, ja?"
"Thank you," Was all the attorney could bring himself to breathe.
"God, I'm so sorry all of this happened…" Klavier murmured, his eyes saddened.
"It's not your fault," Apollo answered, his eyebrows knit. "Don't blame yourself."
"But if I'd just come a little earlier… he'd be okay." He embraced his head with his hand.
"No, no. Don't you think like that. It's no one's fault but the person who did it. They decided to hurt Phoenix. You had nothing to do with this." Kristoph grinned smugly at Apollo's words. The fool. How ironic could his words be? How stupid could a man of law allow himself if he can't see the falsities of my words…? Apollo turned back once more to leave again.
However, he did not depart, and stood awkwardly there by the doorway, as if some other invisible farewell needed be said in order to feel such security as to leave.
Klavier's smile, as usual, did not fade. "You're… leaving…?"
"Oh! Yeah, yeah…" Apollo gulped. He couldn't bring himself to stop gazing at the German. God, something about him was just so off. His feet, however, finally managed to remove themselves from the proverbial chains and just move. He exited with a heavy blush coming about his face. Was he really beginning to return the heartbroken German's feelings…? No, that's impossible. He's straight, after all.
After a moment had passed, and the innocent blonde took a moment to capture his breath and steady it, a fellow prosecutor returned, heaving a heavy sigh, a hand resting on his head. "And how has your day carried you?" Edgeworth asked, no particular interest in mind.
"Hectic," Klavier chuckled lightly, dully. There wasn't any reason to laugh now; it was simply a noise to break the silence between the two, or perhaps a reaction of nervousness due to the silence. "Are you alright?"
Miles's smile was small. "I'll manage," Another heavy sigh. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost Phoenix… and Trucy; what would she do? I'm hardly a father to her! It was Phoenix who took her in and loved her. I can't offer her the same level of affection as Phoenix had managed so seamlessly. And-And I can't give her up. She's far too old and—"
"Relax, Herr Edgeworth. It'll be alright. Herr Wright will make it out of this. I know it."
Edgeworth turned to the younger prosecutor in a tad bit of surprise. "So… I'm no longer your Stiefvater? I could understand…"
Kristoph's eyes widened. Klavier dared to call Miles Edgeworth his stepfather?! And atop that, he never told his dear older brother? "No, no. It's alright; I… I thought you didn't want me calling you that, since, y'know, since it's been so long…"
"Oh, it's alright, Klavier. I haven't forgotten your place in my heart. You have, and will always be, my first child. Even if you weren't born under me." He caressed Klavier's cheek. "It's alright to call me whatever you'd like." Despite his endearment for the blonde before him, Edgeworth, too, could not shake the awkward, strange feeling emanating from his little self-proclaimed first child. "If I may ask… about him." He began, a lump forming thickly in his baritone throat. "You were the first to see him, after all. You know… in his condition."
The blonde seated himself, and heaved a sigh. "I've been such the center of attention, let me tell you. 'Oh, reported his body, so you probably killed him!' " He chuckled wryly. "Just because I discovered his body does not mean that I was the one who killed him; and he's not even dead! There's nothing about that that we can prove, you know." He added upon the pained expression on Edgeworth's pale visage. "He's gonna make it. I know it. He'll be fine."
The ebony-locked prosecutor sniffled, unable to control his upset. "I know… I want to believe the same… but he's my husband, and it's only second nature to worry about him; I-I don't even know if he'll make it off the table."
Klavier pursed his lips. "Don't be like that, Stiefvater. He'll be okay. You just have to believe in him." There was something notable about that response; he didn't want to judge the blonde, but it could only appear as though he was dodging the question entirely.
"So… what did happen when you came in? What did you see?"
The blonde reclined, his eyes averting his stepfather's. "Well, I came in to just check on him. Just… to iron out things between us. He said he didn't want to leave things on a sour note, so I wanted to just chat. And, well, when I came in, the door was open, and I smelled blood. Wandering in, I just… found him… laying there. I… I panicked, and I tried to wake him up, but he just wouldn't. Trucy came in only a few moments later, and I had her call 911 while I took care of him." He peeked a glance at the older male. "Hey," He smiled sympathetically. "It's gonna be okay. Don't… Don't let this get you down. Trucy needs you to be strong for her."
"I know!" He cried, his eyes befalling to tears. "I know that. I know… but I can't contain myself over this!"
The younger male patted the older, a feeling of false upset washing over his remorseless body. "It's alright; you'll make it through this." He breathed a sigh. "But I have to go, actually. I haven't seen Vongole since I left a while ago, maybe six hours. She needs some taking care of, ja?"
"I understand," Miles muttered, having the experience of a puppy at home. "I'll be seeing you then, Klavier." The blonde smiled, then gave his stepfather a peck on the cheek before departing. Although he'd rather not bias, the older prosecutor's feeling of oddity ebbing from his stepson did not cease. His logical mind was at work again, piecing together the a puzzle that gave a sinking feeling fell in his stomach.
Outside, a crimson-clad defense attorney leaned against a wall, one hand hugging his knees together, attempting to hold back the tears he wished to cry out from his heart; the other, wrapped around his half-sister, comforting her from tears of her own.
After the silence sustained between them, Apollo finally found the throat to break the silence. "Truce… I know it's really early for this, but do you know what happened to Phoenix? Do you remember what you saw?" He whispered gently, rubbing the cyan cloth along her back. "You don't have to say anything if it's too much."
There was a pause of silence, and finally the girl lifted her head with difficulty, a hoarseness in her voice. "No, it's okay." She muttered, barely audible. "I'll tell you, but it's not much."
Apollo nodded, the meekness of his sister bringing tears to his eyes, dawning on him the reality that they might face should Phoenix not survive. "Take your time. Anything you say could be helpful."
She sniffled. "Well, I came in, and Klavier was already there, so I'm guessing Daddy had let him in. But he said a man came in and Phoenix was already lying there, so how did he get in…?"
The chocolate-haired male's eyes widened. Surely she wasn't thinking Klavier Gavin of all people hurt Phoenix? "He didn't do it. I'm sure he didn't."
"Yeah, I know." The distraught on the girl's face did not reflect this, though. Her eyes were not as blind as a lover's; she was willing to examine every side of the story. "But the door was locked when I came in; I had to use the keys. If Daddy was unconscious when Klavier came in, then that means Klavier broke the door down, or he's lying."
"He couldn't have harmed Phoenix. Why would he want to do that?" He asked, a defensive hiss lingering in his throat.
"Well, maybe it's because he's freaked out, and maybe his facts are wrong." She shrugged, hiding the truth of her comfort of the man for Apollo's sake.
At the moment, Klavier exited the room where he and Edgeworth had previously conversed. He bid a small farewell to each of the Gramarye children before exiting, claiming reasons of a rush. His sadistic mind was set on nothing more than those two, however, wrapping itself around the truth: his involvement with Phoenix's assault. However, as he exited, he relished in the thought, rather. The possibility in Klavier's arrest was far too delicious to not give time.
The children reentered the room where Miles awaited. "Apollo," Was the first voice heard as said man entered that room. "I need to speak with you in private, if you don't mind." The cherry wine prosecutor turned to his daughter. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, Apollo and I need to speak alone." Trucy gave her father a pleading, yet understanding gaze, and left. Perhaps she perceived that there would be grave conversation ahead of the boys, perhaps she was too upset to really care. Either way, she made her leave.
"What is it?" Apollo asked with a grim face.
"Apollo, let's cut to the chase. Do you love Klavier or not?"
The chocolate-haired male was taken aback by this. His face heated in a flush. "No! Of course not! How could you even think that?!"
"Because I know the signs. I am a prosecutor and I fell in love with a defense attorney. These things happen." He attempted gingerly, but the gravity of the matter hardened his words into criticisms.
"Well you two knew each other since you guys were kids! I met the guy last year!" He nearly shouted, only tethering his voice down by the white walls marking a hospital scene which needed silence. "I can't develop a crush on a guy!"
"Romantic troubles aside, it doesn't really matter what you think of this. I was only hoping you would have some sort of tie of protection to him, because you're the only person that can save him."
Apollo's eyes widened. "Save him…?
"Yes," Edgeworth's eyes contrastingly saddened. "Save him. Something's happened to him, as I'm sure you've noticed, and whether or not your heart truly loves him could be what saves him or not."
"Wh-What?! Why me?"
"You're the only person that can get to him, Apollo." He sighed. "No one else here is capable of making him feel the way you do. If you were to fake those feelings to try to educe him from what's taken over him, it won't work."
"I'm so confused." Apollo cried, his hands over his ears now. "You want me to love him?! But… But… I don't!"
"I thought you were in love with him, Apollo. That's why Phoenix and I had decided you were best to talk to him. At first we'd believed that he was simply depressed over events that were happening in his life," Such an observation formed a lump in the attorney's throat. "And I thought that if you loved him, you'd be devoted to helping him." He sighed. "I suppose I was wrong. If your heart truly doesn't love him, I suppose we'll find another way to save him."
The younger's heart sank, and with this sadness came confusion. Why was this sinking him so? Such emotion turned to anger. "God, just shut up! Give me a minute! I… I need to think…" Was it really up to him and him alone? Were all of these feelings something to shove off? To just be thrown away? Were they simply meek flits of embarrassment?
"…If you know you're straight, why do you not know how to react to this man?" The crimson-clad attorney stared at the boy, a fierce defense emblazoned on his chocolate eyes; however, the words of protest would not spill from his lips.
Indeed… why? He was even content with calling his murderer of a brother by his first name, 'Kristoph.' Why, then, is it so difficult for him to utter his name? It's not so bad… it's just Klavi— …A flutter filled his stomach. Inexplicable, yet absolute.
"Perhaps you'll find those necessary tools when you get to know me… a tad better." Apollo choked on those last words, and it was not at all by the words themselves. Did Klavier… blush?
…Or something more…? His breath fell silent for a moment, only to be recaptured in saying words that were barely audible: "I'm lying…"
"Excuse me, Apollo? I couldn't hear you."
"I…" He choked on the word for a moment. After this moment past, he found his Chords to speak, and with them, he spoke loudly, "I'm in love with him."
"What changed your mind?" Edgeworth raised an inquisitive brow.
"That doesn't matter right now," Apollo responded, his voice holding urgent authority. "Right now, Klavier's in danger. What am I going up against?"
The older was taken aback by this, if only for a moment. He regained his composure, realizing that the attorney before him was just as serious about this as he was. "Well, Phoenix and I were talking just yesterday. He felt Klavier wasn't himself. What happened to him, do you know?"
Apollo looked away for a moment. Even after all was said and done, he admitted how his heart truly felt, Klavier could still be out of his reach; he did hurt him, after all. "He… kissed me." He murmured. "And I didn't realize then that I liked him, so I yelled at him. A lot."
Edgeworth pursed his lips. "Oh dear… Well I suppose we have more ground to cover, then."
"Yeah, so if you're wondering why Klavier was so upset, it was probably my fault." Apollo murmured, his face ashamed. "I rejected him, when it was actually me that was too stupid to realize I was in love. God, I feel so stupid."
"There's no need to beat yourself up over this, Apollo; there's nothing we can do to change the past. All we can do is look ahead." He straightened. "Apollo, the person you and I were talking to, I've deduced, was not Klavier at all. I'm not going to judge what might have happened here, as I am a man of science, but I have seen some things, and I'm willing to believe that there are supernatural causes, only because my mind can conjure no other alternative."
"Uh…" Apollo paused. "What do you mean by that…?"
He sighed. "Phoenix and I have been married for four years now, Apollo. His two best friends are spirit channelers. I have experienced some things that science cannot explain, and I'm willing to live with that; it's become a part of everyday life. I feel that the entity—our true enemy—is something of that nature."
"So… a ghost?" Apollo asked, a finger pressed to his forehead in thought. "We're dealing with a ghost here?"
"I believe so, yes," The older attorney grimaced. "Although I wish there was a more logical explanation. But this also leads me to believe that this same entity, now in control of Klavier's body, used him as a weapon against Phoenix."
"You think Klavier honestly hurt Phoenix?! You're insane!" He cried.
Miles shook his head. "No, I don't believe Klavier in particular hurt Phoenix. Under the influence of an outside force, he was forced to commit actions he never would have, not of his own will. There is a substantial difference."
"I… I think I understand. But, who could this son of a bitch be?" The shorter male growled, his hand now balled in a fist as his whole body shook slightly in anger.
"Well, the process of spirit channeling is a very specific one. Unlike movies and the likes, in reality, when one channels a spirit, they take the general appearance of the soul that now occupies the body. However, Klavier I don't believe is empathic enough to channel a spirit, so I don't particularly know how the process works with his body. For all I know, the appearance of the other could be even more prominent on his features." He sighed. "But the thing I found was that he retained no appearance of anyone. He appeared like himself, and I know too little about spirit channeling to understand exactly why that's happening. The only thing I could conclude was that someone who looked similar to him took over his body."
Apollo's eyes widened slightly. "Someone… similar to him?"
"In appearance, yes. And that his intentions were malicious. As I was speaking to him, I noticed he appeared very malevolent and deceptive."
It was almost too much, his head beginning to hurt. Had he really missed the signs? The note, the nail polish… "It's Kristoph…"
"Again, Apollo, you're mumbling; please speak up."
"Kristoph!" He cried, the skin on his body now wracking against his bones. "That bastard… using his own brother… Already he's tried to kill him, but since he couldn't, he's going to use him like his own personal puppet."
"Kristoph Gavin…?" Miles murmured, more for himself than for reassurance. "He… He… I can't believe this…."
"Neither can I, but what else can we think of? Do you know what he wants? What's his game?!"
"I… can't be sure, but I know it's to hurt Klavier in some way. Knowing Kristoph, it's for revenge, and Phoenix isn't his only target. Everyone tied to his cases: Phoenix, Klavier, and even you, Apollo. He wants vengeance for those that killed him, no doubt. None of us are safe." He gasped. "Not even Trucy…"
"So if he's a malicious asshole, and he's gonna try to kill us all, what do you suppose we do?"
"Well, I propose I go after him. I am his stepfather. I'll have to leave Trucy in Gumshoe's care, as well as you."
No. Something about this just isn't right… I… have to do this. "Just because you're his stepfather doesn't mean you can help him. I feel like I was the one that allowed this to happen. If I had realized I loved him, he could have had the strength to fight Kristoph. I feel like I need to be the one to do this."
"This isn't about you clearing your conscience, Apollo, it's about getting Kristoph separated from Klavier safely."
He didn't quite know if it was fate, or what factor made him feel this way. His reasoning was ridiculous. It would be so much safer if Miles had taken it on, rather than him, but a nagging feeling caught in his chest that flushed his face and just made him feel like he was the only one who could do it. "I can reason with him! Trust me, I know I can. You have to believe I can, Miles! Please… If Klavier wasn't strong enough to fight Kristoph when he was hurting Phoenix, I think I'd be able to break that barrier. I think… I don't' know why, but I think I'd be able to tap into his strength."
Miles loosed a deep sigh. "And why do you think that, Apollo? You still have yet to convince me that you're best for this possibly-deadly endeavor."
"Look, none of my reasons are going to be adequate enough, but I feel like I have to do this because I love him and he loves me. Sappy, I know. Stupid, I definitely know. But I feel like this is my battle."
The prosecutor gave Apollo his signature hard glare. "Apollo Justice, I may be labeled as one of the most irresponsible, stupidest man in America, and possibly the world, when I say: fine."
"F-Fine…?" The younger male murmured in disbelief.
"Yes." He embraced his forehead with the tips of his fingers with a huff. "Now don't mention it again before I change my mind. I just… I feel like you're right. Strangely. Like the delivery I would have used would not have been sufficient enough for Klavier."
Apollo's eyes lowered, now somber. "So… what's going to happen now?"
"Well, all I know is that I have to leave here and protect my daughter. I'll leave Gumshoe to take care of you, alright?" He hitched his coat. "Now do you have a plan, Apollo, on how you're going to do this?"
He thought for a long moment. This man was possessing his brother's body for vengeance. He was going to try to kill Apollo, using Klavier, and try to blame the violet-clad man for it. He's already done the same with Phoenix. He knew he was the only one that could stop this, by somehow gathering Klavier's strength to break free, by encouragement or some other way. But… making sure Kristoph didn't harm him was the problem… He had an idea, but not how to execute it. "As of now… no." He bit his lip. "But… I'll do whatever I possibly can. For him."
