Fifty Cents
u_andcloud

Summary:
Apollo is a law student working at the Sunshine Coliseum part-time with his friend Clay, when a famous law-themed rock band comes to perform.


"Dude, the Gavinners are coming next month!"

Apollo went on unconcernedly sweeping some crushed chip crumbs from under a seat. "Who?"

His friend Clay stared at him with an incredulity that almost approached horror. Apollo stopped sweeping and raised an eyebrow.

"Whoever they are, I don't think that reaction is really necessary."

"Apollo," Clay said, resting his mop in the bucket and putting both hands on Apollo's shoulders. "Apollo. We work at a concert venue. Up until now I've excused your outrageous lack of knowledge about modern music but, this is the Gavinners. The Gavinners, Apollo."

"Saying their name won't make me know who they are." Apollo shook him off and kept sweeping.

Clay still wasn't over his astonishment. "You're going to law school and you still don't know who the Gavinners are?"

"What does that have anything to do with it?"

Clay exhaled in a world-weary sigh of record-breaking length and launched into a description. "The Gavinners are a law-themed rock band. All their songs have, like, legal terms and stuff."

Apollo squinted. "That sounds really, really stupid. Like, School House Rock or something."

"It's not. They're an actual, chart-topping rock band. And their songs are really catchy. And good. I'm surprised you haven't heard Guilty Love on the radio." Clay started humming a song that, if Apollo really thought about it, almost sounded familiar.

"I don't really listen to much music," Apollo said, probably for the dozenth time, because they had this conversation every time a show was coming to the Coliseum ever since they'd gotten their part-time jobs there. And it always went the same way; Clay was a sucker for celebrities, and Apollo couldn't care less. "But that still sounds stupid."

Clay ignored him. "I wonder if we'll meet Klavier Gavin…" he mused.

Apollo sighed. Fine, I'll bite. "Who's that?"

"The lead singer," Clay answered. "He's really cool. Like, really cool. And German."

"Well, generally we don't have much contact with the bands, so I'd guess probably not," Apollo interposed logically.

"You're no fun," Clay whined. But he finally picked up his mop and kept cleaning.

The Gavinners posters started showing up a week before the concert, and Clay and Apollo were charged with putting them up. The smaller shows throughout the week would be overshadowed by enormous, stylized "G"s and dark silhouettes of the band set against colorful, fiery backgrounds. Apollo unrolled the first one and shook his head.

"It still looks stupid."

"They're a rock band. This is was all rock band posters look like," Clay pointed out, reaching up to peel an old poster off the wall.

"I think just knowing that they sing songs about the law makes everything seem more ridiculous," Apollo went on. He spread out the poster and did his best to flatten it before taking out the tape.

"When you hear the songs next week you'll see," Clay assured him. Apollo raised an eyebrow doubtfully and Clay frowned. "How about this? If you're not a Gavinners fan by the end of the concert, I'll give you…fifty cents."

Apollo's eyebrow travelled even further up his wide forehead. "Fifty cents, Clay?"

Clay shrugged. "I don't have a big budget for this kind of thing. And if you do like them, I get fifty cents." He held out his hand. "Deal?"

Apollo reluctantly took his hand to shake on it. "Deal. I guess."

It was the day of the concert, and as usual around the Sunshine Coliseum for big events like this, everything kicked into high gear. Clay and Apollo were usually able to wrangle similar jobs, which made things like cleaning and poster-hanging a little more bearable, but that wasn't happening today. Clay was vacuuming the entryway, while Apollo was given a cleaning cart and pointed in the direction of the dressing rooms.

Apollo didn't mind cleaning, and he was very meticulous about it, which is why, he suspected, his boss sent him to do this kind of job instead of Clay. Clay complained the first few times, because the jobs he was given didn't usually get him backstage, but after the first few rounds of famous bands went by and Apollo reported again and again that, "No, Clay, I didn't see [insert lead singer's name here]," he got over it. The performers usually didn't arrive until much later in the day anyway, because they generally didn't need to hang around the venue for too long before performing. Apollo didn't blame them; sure, the Sunshine was fine for a concert, when the lights were off and no one was paying attention to anything but the band, but backstage it wasn't that glamorous, especially for someone whose job it was to keep it clean.

It was quiet in the dressing room as Apollo wiped down the large mirror, except for a few sound tests coming over the PA system from the stage. The stage technicians were starting to set up, and from what Apollo could tell from what he saw on his way in, the show tonight was going to be pretty elaborate. He still couldn't quite imagine how spectacular a law-themed rock concert could possibly get, but at this point he wasn't even questioning it anymore.

There were also a lot of voices passing by in the hallway, and Apollo eavesdropped absently as he cleaned. It seemed like there would be a lot of security tonight, which was fairly standard, but he didn't remember there ever being this many police officers around. Maybe the Gavinners had a lot of fans in law enforcement? He supposed it made sense, as much as any of this made sense.

"But siiiiiiiir I can guard the stage door fiiiiiiiine!" a shrill voice passed by.

"Meekins, we don't need any officers at the stage door." A different voice paused. "Officer, you're not even on my roster! Wait…you're not even an officer anymore, are you?"

The shrill voice started to protest and they moved out of earshot.

"Detective, my headset isn't working," another male voice said.

There was a crumpling sound and a faint curse. "Officer, you made me drop my Snackoos!" snarled a female voice.

The male voice quailed incoherently while the irate woman yelled at him. The now-terrified man with the broken headset disappeared from earshot a few moments later, and Apollo heard a faint sigh from the now-Snackoo deprived detective. The whole scene might have been funny if Apollo hadn't been the one who would have to clean up the crumbs later.

The detective was still mumbling to herself, but she was interrupted by another voice coming from down the hallway.

"Fräulein Detective! It's always a pleasure," a smooth, faintly accented male voice purred.

"Fop. You're early." Apollo almost laughed. Shut down, he thought, scrubbing at a stubborn spot on the mirror.

"I wanted to check out the security myself," the other voice continued.

"Well, go ahead and walk around. Just don't bother me," the detective ordered. The man chuckled.

"See you around, Fräulein," he said. The detective snorted, but the sound was fainter, and Apollo realized she was walking away. He was faintly disappointed; the antics of the security people in the hallway had been his sole source of entertainment.

The doorknob to the dressing room rattled, and he felt a brief flash of panic. He wasn't supposed to be in the rooms when the performers were. But he reassured himself with the fact that it was still too early for that. He didn't need to be done cleaning for another couple of hours, and he would be finished well before then. It was probably one of the security people coming to check out the room. Apollo finished with the mirror and moved on to polishing the dresser, glancing up when the person at the door pushed their way inside.

Apollo's first thought was, There's no way that guy's security.

The newcomer didn't see him at first. He was tall and tan, with long, platinum blond hair pulled back into a smooth ponytail and choppy bangs framing his ice-blue eyes. He was wearing a purple v-neck and skinny gray jeans, and a necklace with a very familiar stylized "G."

Shit, he's a band member! Apollo briefly wondered if he could somehow make himself invisible, but it was too late; the newcomer's eyes had scanned the room and come to rest at the mirror, in front of which Apollo was standing, which what he was certain was a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.

The newcomer's expression, which had been intent and serious as he surveyed the room, broke into a brilliant smile.

"Oh! Hello! I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone would be in here," the newcomer said, looking at Apollo.

"Uh…yeah. Sorry! I'm cleaning. But if you want to wait ten minutes, I'll be done soon!" He felt like his heart was racing and inwardly wondered how that was possible. He didn't even know this guy's name, but he positively exuded fame and glamour.

"Not a problem at all," the man assured him. He came closer and held out his hand. "Klavier Gavin."

This is Klavier Gavin?! was his first thought. Clay's going to be so jealous, he's going to kill me, was his second. I guess it makes sense that Clay wouldn't say he's hot but…he's hot, was his third.

He took Gavin's hand and shook. "Apollo."

The lead singer leaned forward. "Apollo? That's an interesting name." He was still holding Apollo's hand firmly, but Apollo had hardly noticed. The term "rock star" had never felt so accurate; he felt like he was being introduced to the sun. Gavin wasn't even in stage clothes, but that smile was almost blinding, and combined with the blue eyes, sparkling amusedly, and the conversational way he leaned forward, it was enough to make Apollo feel star-struck.

"So is Klavier," he managed to retort.

The rock-star laughed and released his hand. "That's very true. Do you mind if I look around a bit? I'll try not to get in your way."

Get in my way? "Actually, I'm not supposed to be in here while performers-"

Klavier waved his hand. "Ach, don't worry about that. I'm also overseeing security, so right now, pretend I'm security personnel. You're allowed to be in here with them, ja?"

"Um…yeah, I guess so."

Klavier smiled. "Then just pretend I'm not even here."

As if, Apollo thought, tearing his eyes away from the taller man and resuming his polishing of the vanity. Soon enough, though, the thought of what his boss would say if she found out Apollo had been cleaning the dressing room with the lead singer present pulled his attention back to the task at hand. He just had to finish the vanity, then change the trash bag, and then he'd be done. He crouched down to pick up a piece of trash from under the vanity.

"Apollo?"

The voice was much closer than he had been expecting and he jumped, looking up too quickly and bumping his forehead against the edge of the desk. He squeezed his eyes shut. Owwww…

He stood up. "Sorry…yes?"

Instead of answering, Klavier leaned closer and grimaced. "Ooh. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

Apollo shook his head and resisted the urge to rub his forehead. "No, it's no problem."

Klavier's eyes still rested intently on his forehead, where Apollo was beginning to think an unpleasant lump was probably forming. Suddenly, before he even fully registered what was happening, the rock star leaned forward and touched his lips lightly to Apollo's forehead.

It was the briefest moment of contact, but Apollo immediately felt his face flush. What the—did he just—I mean he's European but I don't think—what?

He gaped wordlessly at the rock star, who was smiling again.

"Better?"

When Apollo didn't answer for a slightly uncomfortable amount of time, Klavier's smile dimmed.

"I'm sorry," he said, stepping back a few inches. "I didn't think. I'll let you finish your job."

The slight touch of color that had seeped into the rock star's cheeks was enough to jolt Apollo from his daze. I made Klavier Gavin blush?

He shook his head. "No, no, it's okay. I just…uh…wasn't expecting that." He remembered this whole incident had begun when Klavier had walked over and said his name. "Did you need something?"

"Ah. Yes." The rock star recovered himself and the easy smile appeared on his lips again. "I was wondering if you could tell me where I could find the venue manager?"

"Oh, sure." Apollo gave him directions to her office.

Klavier inclined his head. "Thank you. And again…I'm very sorry for my actions. I know it's not an excuse, but I acted on impulse."

Apollo waved him off. "Don't worry about it. I guess if I was a fan I'd be vowing to never wash my forehead again, right?"

Klavier laughed. "Ja, that is probably true. Very well. Thank you. It was very nice to meet you, Herr Forehead."

The rock star brushed back his bangs and left Apollo alone in the dressing room.

He blinked.

That was…surreal.

Clay is going to flip.

"We've been demoted," Clay whined when Apollo joined him in the lobby. "We're on concessions tonight. We don't even get to see the show. How am I supposed to get my fifty cents if you don't even see the Gavinners?"

Apollo was entirely unsure how to mention that he had already seen one of the Gavinners. He decided to keep quiet for now. Clay was so absorbed in his misery that he didn't even notice the slight blush creeping up Apollo's cheeks.

He also didn't want to admit that after meeting the lead singer, he was a bit more curious about the band than he had been before, and was a little disappointed that they wouldn't be ushers that night, as they had been in the past.

"You're still on backstage clean-up afterwards, though," Clay continued in a disappointed tone. "Some people have all the luck."

"Maybe if you learn to clean a mirror without making it look dirtier than it was before, you'll get your chance," Apollo shot back. He ignored Clay's pout and started setting up the popcorn machine.

The concert was long, and if the faces of the fans were anything to go by, the Gavinners were bringing the house down. The fans were largely teenage girls, which didn't surprise Apollo, but there was a fair amount of representation from other demographics as well, and the place was packed.

"I told you they were popular," Clay hissed as they watched people file out after the show, grinning and humming songs. "I'm so mad we didn't get to see them."

"Yeah…" Apollo agreed halfheartedly as they cleaned up. From what he could hear over the speakers, the concert wasn't the type of thing he would have enjoyed, at least as far as music was concerned, although some of the lyrics he had heard had been surprisingly clever, especially from the law student's perspective. The idea of Klavier Gavin in whatever his stage clothes were gyrating on stage, however…well.

He tried not to think about it.

He glanced at his watch. "It's about time for me to head backstage. See you later!"

The performers always cleared out pretty quickly, and backstage was usually empty by now. He didn't expect to run into any platinum blond lead singers a second time. Sure enough, the hallways were deserted as he pushed the cleaning cart towards the dressing rooms.

He pushed open the door.

Another one?

A man with long hair arranged into an absurd torpedo sort of shape in the front of his head glanced up from the mirror. Obviously another band member, if the outfit and hair were anything to go by.

"Sorry," Apollo stammered. "I just came to clean."

"Oh, sure," the band member said. "I was just leaving. Sorry, man."

Apollo moved out of the way and let the other man leave. He let the door swing shut and looked around the room, which had been spotless a few hours ago, and now required a thorough cleaning. He sighed and decided to start with the vanity.

To be fair to the Gavinners, the mess really wasn't that bad. Maybe rock stars who sang about the law were a little more conscientious?

The doorknob rattled, but Apollo didn't look up right away. It was probably just the person charged with vacuum cleaning that night.

"Hey," he said in greeting, wiping up a spot of makeup.

"Hello, Herr Forehead," a familiar voice answered. His head shot up.

"Sorry to barge in on you again," Klavier apologized, smiling. "I left a few things."

Even after the concert, the rock star's appearance was even more disarming than before. His black collared shirt was unbuttoned such that it seemed like half his chest was visible, and his hair was styled in a peculiar braid that somehow suited him well. Rings glittered on his fingers, and the chain he was using as a belt made a clinking noise as he crossed the room.

Klavier bent down to pick up a leather bag that was lying next to the couch, and Apollo just barely managed to look away in time when the rock star turned to sit on the couch and rummage through the bag.

He tried very hard to focus on his cleaning without glancing up at Klavier in the mirror.

"Apollo?" the rock star's voice called from across the room.

Apollo turned around. Klavier was still sifting through the bag. "Yes?"

"Is there by any chance a cell phone over there? Purple case, Gavinners logo?"

Apollo cast his eyes over the detritus on the vanity. "Oh, yeah, here it is." He started to cross the room.

"Put your number in, if you would like."

Apollo froze. "…what?"

Klavier looked up. "Your number," he repeated. "I'd like it, if you want to give it out."

Apollo stared at him across the room, cradling the phone in his hands. "You…my…you want…why?"

Klavier stood up and slung the bag over his shoulder. He stepped closer. "Why? I'm a simple man, Apollo, no need to suspect my motives. I'm interested in you. That's all."

"That's all"? A famous musician wanting my number isn't really a "that's all" sort of situation!

"O…okay, right." Apollo put down his cleaning rag and pressed a button on the phone. "Oh…it's locked."

"Ach, right." Klavier took the phone, entered a passcode and handed it back. "There you are."

Apollo tried to ignore the feeling of Klavier's gaze on him as he entered his name and number.

"Apollo Justice," Klavier read when the phone was handed back to him. "That's some name."

"Ha. Yeah." He wasn't really sure what to do now, because Klavier was still standing there, and it seemed a little rude to just start cleaning again. "It's kind of funny, actually, because I'm a law student."

Klavier's eyebrows lifted. "Well, what a coincidence. I'm a prosecutor."

"Really?"

"We're a law-themed rock band, are you really surprised?" Klavier returned, smiling and brushing back his hair.

Apollo frowned. "I guess not."

"We're all involved with the law in some way, actually," Klavier went on. "You don't know very much about the Gavinners, do you?"

Apollo grimaced. "No, sorry."

"Don't be. The fact that you didn't ask for my autograph or a picture was rather refreshing," Klavier said, chuckling. He glanced at his phone before putting it away and frowning slightly. "Hm. The band is going to be wondering where I am. I'll have a hard time convincing them I wasn't seducing a fangirl backstage."

Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Is that…common?"

"Not at all, but they still tease. It would almost be nice to have a story to hide from them." Klavier's tone was still casual, but the way he was looking down at Apollo, eyes partly closed and fingers brushing through his bangs, caused a tingle to run down his spine.

This isn't a thing that actually happens to people, is it? Flirting with a rock star back stage? Band members making out with fans in the dressing room? Like, that's just a cliché, right?

"By the way, how is your forehead?" Klavier reached out and brushed his thumb lightly over the bruised spot.

Apollo's heart was pounding, not just because of the touch, but because Klavier was staring at him intently, his lips parted in the slightest of smiles.

"It's fine," he said slowly, registering that Klavier had asked a question a moment later than normal. "It doesn't really hurt."

"Good," Klavier said, taking his hand back.

"Uh…did you say you have to go?" Apollo asked reluctantly. He didn't want Klavier to leave, but he also wasn't sure what else to say when the rock star was just looking at him.

He remembered the ghostly touch of Klavier's lips on his forehead. No, I really don't want him to go…

The corners of Klavier's lips dipped down slightly. "Ja. I did. But…"

"Do you need an excuse? For being late?" Apollo asked. Wait, did I really just say that?

Klavier let out a small sigh. "I'll think of something."

Apollo took a breath. No going back now. "Because I can give you one."

He reached up, cupped Klavier's jaw in his hand, paused just long enough to see the rock star's eyes widen slightly, and pressed their lips together.

Klavier's lips were warm and slightly salty, and it occurred to Apollo that performers probably got pretty sweaty on stage. He still smelled nice, though, probably some kind of expensive cologne.

That was the last clear thought he had before Klavier caught up to what was happening and wrapped his arms around Apollo's waist, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.

Apollo twined his fingers in Klavier's long hair and a small, pleased noise escaped the rock star's lips. Klavier's tongue ghosted along Apollo's lower lip, followed by a light nibble. Apollo couldn't contain a quiet moan, and Klavier smiled against his mouth. His hand slid into Apollo's back pocket.

A loud rap on the door caused them both to jump.

"Klav! Come on! Just get his number and let's go," a voice insisted.

Klavier closed his eyes and laughed softly, leaning his forehead against Apollo's. "Guess I'm not fooling anyone." He pressed a kiss to Apollo's bruise and released him. "I will see you soon."

Flashing one last brilliant smile, Klavier inclined his head and slipped out the door.

"Jeez, finally," the other voice said. Footsteps receded down the hall.

A couple hours later, when their shifts were over, Apollo met Clay in the lobby and they walked out to the parking lot together.

"Catch," he said.

Clay frowned and looked at the two quarters Apollo had tossed to him.

"Wait, I won? How'd that happen? You actually liked the Gavinners?"

Apollo shrugged and couldn't keep a smile from appearing on his lips. "Well…at least one Gavinner."

"Wait…what? Which one?" Clay's thoughts were clearly racing. "Did something happen back stage? Did you meet…Apollo, what happened?"

Apollo's smile grew and he shook his head.

"Apollo, I swear to god…at least tell me which one."

"Maybe I'll tell you when he calls."

Clay's mind rushed to process that. "When he…" He stopped in the middle of the empty parking lot and stared. "You…you…"

"You're right, Klavier Gavin is pretty cool," Apollo said conversationally. He looked back at Clay's dumbstruck face.

"Apollo Justice, I'm going to kill you," Clay said evenly.

"What, and ruin your chances at meeting the Gavinners' lead singer? I don't think so," Apollo taunted.

Clay shook his head slowly. "I am going…to kill you."

Apollo barely had time to laugh before he had to start sprinting towards his car, because Clay had tossed down his fifty cent reward and was coming at him with a murderous expression on his face.