more fanfiction ayyy hope u enjoy

Apollo had to admit, this concert was ages better than his first one.

And it wasn't just because no one was murdered here, either. Klavier seemed more personal this time around, with more time to himself and more time to tell himself to the audience. It felt less like a cheesy band and more like an artist to Apollo, now that Klavier was just sharing the stage with his guitar- or rather, he was during this number, and Apollo's previous favorite, The Man with No Name.

Just thinking about it made Apollo want to hum the chorus. The man has no name, 'cause he stole mine, and me. Say what you will about Klavier changing between concerts, but his skill at creating catchy melodies hadn't changed a bit.

This one had started out slow, though, and at first Apollo had wondered if it was a reprise of It's Nothing to You (but it's Everything to Me), or one of the other million sentimental songs Klavier had written. It was to be expected, of course, Klavier had a "boyfriend", after all. Except… this didn't feel completely like a media cover up, some of the phrases and melodies felt real. It certainly felt like too much to be written in the meager time they'd been "dating", even though Apollo knew nothing whatsoever about songwriting. Apollo tried to stop himself from wondering, but… what if Klavier had been writing those songs before they started "dating"? Could he really be attracted to Apollo? It'd be an explanation better than alcohol and the party for why he slept with Apollo, that was for sure.

Apollo sighed. He couldn't keep on trying to convince himself like this. Klavier hadn't wanted him to move in, and then there was earlier, when he'd pushed Apollo away instead of kissing him. Obviously, this was one-sided, and Apollo couldn't forgive himself if he took advantage of their situation.

This song was beautiful, though, with high, vibrating violins and the lingering notes of things Klavier had sang before. It just kept on building, layering over itself in a way that made Apollo shiver. Klavier was almost talking over himself with the echoes, pitches blending together to feel heavy and threatening.

"I've got these puppet strings on me," Klavier was cupping his microphone now, a prop he'd added for this number alone. "(They itch)," chimed in the background vocals, as Klavier took a breath to begin again.

"They rub my ego the wrong way, but I can't fight,"

"(I'm scared)" The background seemed whispery now, only getting quieter and raspier.

"I'm too scared to take them off," Klavier continued, and Apollo nearly couldn't believe what he was hearing. The lyrics felt too truthful to be an act, and it all added up with everything he'd seen over the past couple of days. It felt plain weird to hear Klavier's innermost thoughts aloud, as though he was reading Klavier's diary or something. Apollo hadn't ever thought Klavier this much of an exhibitionist, plainly lying out the truth about his relationship with his brother in front of thousands, millions. The mere memory of Kristoph was enough to render Klavier a sobbing mess a few days ago, and now he seemed composed, singing comfortably to everyone there.

Yet it felt more natural than any way he had attempted to explain anything to Apollo before, so bare and honest and personal that it was impossible to deny. The music made sense, weaving in and out of Klavier's voice to paint the most telling story Apollo had ever heard. He understood what he was hearing, and it reminded him of his own experiences with Kristoph- because damn, the man could be convincing, and pleasant when he wanted to. It felt too easy to do something for him, no trouble at all to do anything for him.

Klavier must have somehow sensed that Apollo got it, because Apollo could suddenly feel his eyes drilling into him. He'd read countless descriptions of piercing blue eyes, but this was the first time he'd really gotten it. Goosebumps rose on his flesh as the music slowed, Klavier's lips parting- gorgeous lips, lips Apollo had kissed- and he sang the last line, the background fading into the phrase puppet strings, puppet strings, until that too, was gone…

"Who am I without them?" Klavier asked, and everything faded into rousing applause. Apollo couldn't hold himself back, cheering and jumping and yelling that's my boyfriend! (Which, admittedly, probably wasn't the smartest decision in a crowd full of teenage girls in love with him, but Apollo didn't much care.) He was so proud that Klavier had done it, that he was strong enough to admit that he was scared of Kristoph, to pour his feelings into a song accessible to anyone and walk away. It felt good, just being a part of all of this. This was the relationship hinted at in Atroquinine, My Love, but now understanding, now getting where the aggressive sparks and blank patches came from. Atroquinine My Love was a question, and this was the answer.

"Come on!" Apollo grabbed Trucy's hand, dragging her through the crowd. There were people everywhere, and Apollo kept on getting hit by elbows and backs and who knew what else, but that wasn't important. He had to see Klavier.

Trucy was giggling. "See? Subtlety!"

"Yeah, ha ha." Apollo replied without even turning back, though he had to agree. Whether it was maturity or the lack of others, Klavier had gotten… well, more to Apollo's taste. Maybe comparing himself to Kristoph's puppet wasn't exactly subtle, but the song was catchy and personal and it made Apollo feel in all the right places. In other words, the song really felt like Klavier himself.

Apollo pushed through a door marked Employees Only, getting waves from people who'd seen him come through before. They'd asked him just what the hell he was doing there, but apparently being Klavier's boyfriend was enough. Apollo could get used to this.

"Great job, everybody!" Klavier was saying as Trucy and Apollo picked their way through the thick multicolored electrical chords, brightening even more the instant he saw Apollo.

"Achtung, baby!" His arms wrapped around Apollo and he kissed the top of Apollo's head, twirling him around with post-show ecstasy. Apollo had to laugh, this felt more like the Klavier he'd met back at People Park than anything ever had. It felt nice to have him back.

"You were amazing!" Apollo laughed, hugging him tight. "So, so, so amazing."

"Ach, danke," Klavier said happily, stepping back from Apollo, hands still cupping his shoulders.

"You really were."

Klavier and Apollo spun around at the new voice, squinting a little in the darkness of backstage. There was a flash of bright blue as Trucy ran towards the new voice with a cry of "Daddy!", and they knew who it was.

"Herr Wright," Klavier choked, immediately sobered. "It's… a pleasure."

Apollo stared at him, noting how his jaw twitched. Klavier only did that when he wanted to tilt it up, and he only tilted his jaw up when he was scared, or vulnerable. It was oddly helpless, in a way, baring his throat so that the worst of it could be over.

Klavier must have been thinking something along the same lines, wanting the worst of it to be over, because he blurted out everything he'd been thinking. "I'm so sorry, Herr Wright, I shouldn't have trusted him, this is all my fault, I hope you don't hate me too much. I was stupid, and awful to you, and gott, if I could do anything over-"

He stopped as soon as Mr. Wright held a palm up, stuttering to a stop. He'd been nearly incomprehensible, anyways, going at the speed of light to get out everything he wanted to say.

"I forgave you a long time ago." Mr. Wright said contentedly. "All you had to do was ask."

Klavier looked relieved, and Apollo rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe this. "Classic Mr. Wright. You've gotta know the magic words to get him to do anything."

"No, really." Mr. Wright argued, giving Apollo a playful shove. "And I'm not just saying that because of what happened today."

Klavier's face crumpled. Was he ever going to stop being so nervous around Mr. Wright? It was Mr. Wright, after all. "Was… was happened today?"

Mr. Wright smiled, and seeing him smile this genuinely at Klavier really was something else. "I retook the bar exam."

Klavier's face lit up in a smile, freezing in disbelief. "R-reall- ja! Yes!"

He launched forwards, seizing Mr. Wright around the waist and hoisting him up. Mr. Wright made a little oof noise, legs dangling in the air. Trucy doubled over laughing at the sight, and Apollo couldn't stop smiling either. Mr. Wright seemed to have accepted the hug after awhile, patting Klavier on the head with a small smile on his face. Klavier let him down, still beaming.

"Sorry- I just-" Klavier stuttered, gesturing without any real meaning.

"It's fine. There are like, 10 million screaming fangirls out there dreaming about what I just got. Trucy'd never wash again." Mr. Wright laughed heartily, brushing himself off.

Klavier's face relaxed visibly, and he settled back into the post-show high, beaming. "Speaking of which, who's ready for autographs?"

"You, hopefully, mine's not worth anything unless you want to forge a legal document," Apollo deadpanned, shoving Klavier towards the door. "Now get out there before they break down the door!"

Klavier grinned back, playing a riff on his air guitar. "Achtung, baby!"

He strode through the backstage area a lot more confidently than Trucy and Apollo had, moving past boxes and doors and black flooring with practiced ease. Trucy and Mr. Wright drifted towards each other, and Apollo could faintly hear Trucy's congratulations on retaking the bar exam behind him.

"Klavier! Wait!"

Klavier had made it to the door when Apollo found the strength to move again, running towards him. He couldn't leave it like this, not after a performance like that.

Apollo crashed into him, arms around Klavier and panting heavily. Why was he so worn out after so short a sprint? Was it even because of the run? Apollo didn't care, there was a way to say everything he'd been thinking during the concert, lips to Klaviers' and everything would be easy, everything would be alright-

"You…" Apollo swallowed, hands on Klavier's chest, looking up into his eyes, and suddenly, he couldn't do it. He couldn't be too forwards. There was two days ago to think about, when Klavier hadn't wanted him moving in, and then there was before the concert, when Klavier didn't kiss him, looking almost scared. Apollo couldn't push anything now, he wasn't going to use Klavier's good mood against him.

Apollo tilted his chin up, smiling at Klavier. "Just… remember. You deserve this. You earned this. Good job."

This was where Apollo would have liked to add something like I love you, but he knew better than that. Klavier nodded, with something like acceptance in his eyes. They had to slow this down, so they didn't crash and burn at the inevitable breakup.

"Ja," He said hoarsely, and then he left without saying another word.

alright straight into the rip

this is basically as far planned as I have this thing, and my plans for future chapters are a bit fuzzy. I'll try to get them out with the least amount of delay, but since I have an ending planned as well as other projects, it might take a little longer than the usual.

thanks for reading!