Chapter Eleven

A Merry Disaster Zone

"Oh, Athena, you're here! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Trucy!" Athena responded cheerily, decked out in Santa-like red dress that clashed with her hair. "How's show prep coming along?"

"It's good." She smiled, then sighed. "I'm kinda sad that I'm performing alone, though. Last year, Polly did it with me."

She'd heard. Apollo liked to complain ad nauseum about how awful it was to serve as Trucy's assistant. She always wanted him to be the "victim" in her more dangerous tricks, and his avoidance of practicing them much with her beforehand constantly made the stage performance that much more unnerving. Trucy liked to tease him about what little faith he had in her, and Athena would laugh along. According to him, it was worse even than the first days of having Mr. Wright for a boss. One, at least, had gotten better with time.

That was one good thing that taking time off had done for him, at least. Athena would have to check on him once he arrived. Ask how the funeral was coming alone. If he felt up to returning to work after it all.

As for Trucy, her response was standard. "Well, I'm sure he'll be happy to watch it this year. I'm looking forward to it."

"Thanks, Athena!" Trucy beamed with her hands behind her back. She turned to look at the time, and was shocked. "I need to finish getting ready. I'm on in twenty minutes!"

Without another word, the young magician scampered off into the back of the Wonder Bar. Mr. Wright and Mr. Edgeworth had rented out the place for a joint Christmas Party, inviting friends from all sides of the courtroom, plus a few friends. It would be the first time the Chief Prosecutor had celebrated the holiday since becoming an adult. Hopefully, tonight's hijinks wouldn't ruin it for him.

Back at her uncle's home, Christmas had been a very traditional affair, steeped in the Christian faith. It was one of the few times that the man had been successful in forcing Athena to go to church. But here, it just felt like an excuse to party. They wouldn't be exchanging gifts, praying, or anything of the sort. And then six days later, they would do the same thing for New Year's Eve, just with added fireworks. It was different, in a good kind of way. Athena was looking forward to it, if pensively.

No matter her day yesterday, Athena was determined to have a good time. She'd been ignoring Gavin all day in the hopes of such an outcome, and with success, too!

Honestly, she was just hoping he would take the hint and go away for a while. Maybe if she didn't engage him, he would get bored.

Athena had invited Juniper and her grandmother to the party as well, but Juniper declined, preferring to stay in the mountains with Grammie while she recovered. The doctor had let her go home, but she still didn't feel up to travelling to the city, least of all for a party.

It's just as well. You don't want to risk them letting slip about your adventures these past days.

Yesterday, Athena had explained her situation to Juniper. Her friend hadn't been approving, but she'd been willing to keep Athena's secret, and asked only that Athena keep her in the loop about Apollo and his condition. Athena had teased her about that, laughing. It was a easy change of subject. Athena had invited Juniper's Themis friends too, but they had other plans already.

While Athena did want to tell her boss eventually, she didn't feel like now was a good time. Maybe a few years down the road when she had more trial experience under her belt, she would look back on the episode in her life and laugh. Mr. Wright probably would, too.

"Hey, there stranger. Long time no see."

Speaking of Mr. Wright...

Athena turned around, greeting the older lawyer with a bright smile. "Hey there, Mr. Wright! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas to you, too. Glad you could make it." He studied her for a moment puzzled. "Where's Widget?"

"Oh, he's in my bag." She pointed to her small clutch purse, which also had her phone, "I didn't want to have him on my neck for tonight."

"Ah, okay." He bought her explanation one hundred percent. "Is it working alright?"

"I think so. I still don't know what happened a few days ago."

"Didn't do a therapy session on yourself?" He was joking, but Athena had a hard time laughing. It hit just a little too close to home.

"So, how's the case with Aura Blackquill coming along?"

Mr. Wright slumped, a lock of hair sagging on his forehead. "It's coming. The first day of trial for her state-level crimes was today. And even though the plea was guilty, it got extended into a second day."

The famous Phoenix Wright, knowingly taking the case of a guilty client? Pleading guilty from the start? My, how things have changed.

"Oh no, why? Did something go wrong?" Athena asked, sticking to her promise of ignoring the voice in her head. "Is there a dispute with the charges being filed?"

"Something like that. I thought Prosecutor Gavin and I were on the same page with the twelve hostage charges served cocurrently, but when I got to court, he wanted to up the charges to aggravated and add conspiracy to commit murder. He thinks because she said some things over the course of the trial, she meant to kill people if things went wrong." He shook his head, almost incredulous. "I didn't think what she did was enough to count for conspiracy. The legal bar on that is a lot lower than I thought."

"What?" Her hands flew to her face. "Doesn't he think the original charges are enough?"

The older lawyer paused before answering. "Best I can guess, the Prosecutor's Office is under public pressure to be harsh. I protested, and even called Trucy to the stand to prove my client hadn't used violence in the hostage situation. I tried to get Ms. Blackquill to clarify that she wouldn't have killed anyone, but that wasn't convincing enough." He sighed. "I don't want to bother Edgeworth or Prosecutor Gavin at Christmas about it, but I do wish I knew why they changed their mind. Did they forget she still has to go through federal court as well?"

Puzzling as ever. "I don't think that's it. How does your client feel about the situation?"

More slumping. "She's unrepentant as ever. As far as she's concerned, freeing her brother is worth some jail time. But at this rate, I think it's gonna be more than some. And now Prosecutor Blackquill is on my back about it, and-" he stopped himself. "But enough of that. It's Christmas. I don't want to worry about cases today." Her boss smiled, though the voice of his heart remained strained. "How did that body they found near Miss Woods pan out?"

Athena shrugged. "It turned out to be an accident. The guy who caused it just freaked out and buried her."

"The police told you that?"

"...Yeah." Athena went with it, lying through her teeth. "It took some arm-twisting, but they told me everything. The prosecutor in that town isn't even pursuing charges, and the woman had no one left to protest that. There's nothing else to it."

"I guess not every case goes to court. Well, good. I'm glad they found the truth. And that you didn't get too involved." He fixed her with a look as he said the last sentence. Athena forced herself to not squirm as he did so, eyes darting to the hand in his pocket. He waited a few seconds before speaking to her again, though Athena could have sworn she saw his lips moving. "How's Miss Woods?"

"She's fine, but her grandmother is having trouble." Athena was glad to be speaking honestly again. "That's why she didn't accept my invitation to come."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Mr. Wright would have said more to her, but just as they were talking, a tall, loud man with light orange hair burst through the door, stumbling as though already drunk.

"Nick! Edgey! M-Merrry Christmas?" His speech was slurred.

Athena turned to see her boss's reaction. He seemed resigned to the situation. "Give me a minute, Athena." Then, to the man who'd walked in: "Larry! Long time no see, huh?"

The young lawyer ducked away, surprised at how relieved she was to not be talking to Mr. Wright anymore. She hoped it wouldn't always be like this. Things would suck if it were always so awkward between them.

She leaned back onto a bar stool, fingering a green tablecloth. There were at least a dozen people in the room now, and all talking loudly. Athena did her best to tune them out, briefly wishing she was wearing Widget after all. Should she get him out of her purse? He didn't really go with her outfit, but maybe it would help her concentrate.

Maybe there was something she could do to help Mr. Wright. Make it up to him, after everything he'd done for her. Even if it was just something small. But what?

Don't bother. He doesn't take to favors well. I should know.

Lost in her thoughts as she was, it took a few tries before Athena realized she wasn't alone. When a bronzed hand landed on her shoulder, she actually jumped.

"Fraulein Cykes? It was Cykes, ja?"

Athena turned around, almost running into Klavier Gavin, the former rockstar she'd met two months ago. The prosecutor Mr. Wright was having trouble with.

Kristoph Gavin's little brother. The very thought filled her mind with foreign emotions. Mostly rage, but tinged with something else. Something... softer.

Whatever it was, she did her best to ignore it. "Prosecutor Gavin. Didn't see you there."

"I didn't say your name wrong, did I? It is Cykes?"

"It is. I was just... lost in thought, is all," Athena explained, feeling tongue tied. "Merry Christmas."

The younger Gavin tipped his beer towards her, an acknowledgement. He took a large swig before continuing. "I was wondering if you might have seen Herr Justice. He's coming to the party, ja?"

"He said he would, but I haven't seen him yet. The last few days have been hard for him, after all."

"So I've heard. I tried to offer my condolences, but he didn't answer my call. You've been through a time and a half as well, no?" He asked as if he'd just remembered. "How are things for you, Fraulein?"

Well, I'm haunted by your brother's demon. He wants to possess me and act like a lawyer again.

Athena came to her senses before she said that. Instead, she gave a shrug, and cut her heart open for a guy she'd met twice. "Still pretty new. I feel like this weight... this huge part of me that I've been repressing for seven years is just gone now. If I think about it, it doesn't bring me pain. Not anymore. I should be happy, but I almost feel empty. Like I need to put something else in its place. Else I'm not whole." She shook her head. "It's unreal."

"I understand how you feel, Fraulein. I would have offered to aid in the drama last week, had I not been on a leave of absence myself."

"I heard. Your brother's death?"

"I didn't come here to talk about it." Klavier finished off the last of his can, the edge in his voice undeniable. "Forget I said anything."

At least he isn't asking how you knew. By request of my washed up little brother himself, my execution wasn't supposed to be reported on by anyone in the media. Sure, now he told her.

"I'm sorry. We've all been dealing with our own baggage for too long." She left the topic alone after that. "Well, at least it's done. And before Christmas, too."

Klavier agreed. "Now is a time for celebration!" He gestured at the empty space before her, smiling. "Could I buy a drink for the lovely lady? What do you like?"

Athena returned his smile. "Back when I traveled to Germany, they let me drink as much wine as I wanted. Here? I have to wait a few years."

"It doesn't have to be alcoholic, now does it? Are you fond of any sodas, perhaps?" His trademark smile was back. "There must be something of interest I can offer to a pretty girl like you."

"Sprite is fine, thanks." Athena felt a blush creeping into her face at that. It would have felt nice, had it not been for the voice in the back of her head. The one that was laughing furiously. She kicked herself in the shin, but he didn't get the message.

Lucky for her, Klavier didn't seem to notice. In under a minute, she had a large glass of fizzing clear soda in front of her. They talked for a bit longer, mostly about cases they'd seen or worked on. The compliments kept pouring in to the point where Athena felt obligated to return them. She could hear the voice of Klavier's heart. She knew he was only mildly into it. But part of her was just fine ignoring that, and that made it possible for Athena to enjoy herself.

"So Mr. Wright tells me you're the prosecutor on his case right now." Athena brought it up delicately, not sure where she was going with this. "How is that going?"

"Ach, it's a circus. Media all around the affair, none I can please. Herr Monochrome isn't too pleased with me either, I know. But Frau Blackquill can't be excepted from justice. No one, not even relatives of prosecutors, are that privileged."

If you were to let me talk to him right now, I could change his mind. I've always known how to get to my little brother. He was defensive towards me in my final days, but he wouldn't expect it coming from you.

Athena couldn't directly respond like this. So she did her best to communicate nonverbally her surprise that the demon would ever offer to assist Mr. Wright's case. After that, the deceased Gavin was silent. "I... guess I can see what you mean. But Mr. Wright says she still has to face trial in federal court, once she's done in this district. Don't you think they'll be strict enough on her?"

Klavier shook her (and her reasoning) off. "I didn't come to a Christmas party to be pestered about work. Perhaps I should leave." He stood up, then looked around the bar. "Fraulein Detective!"

He was gone before she could get another word in. So much for making it up to her boss.

"Great, he's gone."

Athena whipped her head around searching for the source of that voice. Her eyes finally landed on Apollo, who had been hanging in the shadows a few feet away.

"Apollo! You made it!" Athena felt genuine cheer seep into her voice. "Merry Christmas!"

"Thanks." He sat down opposite of Athena from where Klavier had been. This put him in the corner of the bar. No one else seemed to have noticed his arrival.

"I took a back way in," he offered by means of explanation. "I thought Trucy might see me, but she was busy getting ready. I take it she's performing tonight?"

"She is," Athena confirmed. "I'm sure she'll get excited when she sees you out in the audience."

Apollo laughed, once. "As long as she doesn't drag me on to the stage, I'll be fine with that."

Silence.

"So... how are you doing? How is... everyone?" Athena didn't know how to approach the subject with him. After the way Klavier reacted, she wondered if she should be bringing it up at all.

"Clay's father is a wreck, of course. His stepmom isn't much better. They have the funeral date set, though. They're gonna have him buried near his mother."

Athena choked up just hearing about it. "I'm sure they've been happy to have you around. Look, if you aren't ready to come back to work, you can talk to Mr. Wright about it. I know he'd understand. Just-"

"No, I'm fine. I want to go back," Apollo insisted, a hard cast to his eyes and his fist on the bar's counter. "Anything has to be better than thinking about this all day. I'd rather deal with someone's else's problems for a while."

"Well, don't forget about your own, either. Because that doesn't fix anything. You can spend years away from it all, but somehow it's gonna find a way to catch up to you in the worst way."

"Well, not so bad for Blackquill. Is he here?" Apollo asked, sounding glad to have the focus off himself. He motioned to the bartender, who threw him a beer. "I heard he took a leave of absence as well."

"He did, but it's longer than ours. He has until New Years to get his life sorted out, then Edgeworth wants him back."

"That's... not a lot of time. Does he have a place to live? Food? Money he can use until his next paycheck comes in?"

"His sister's place, yes, and not much," Athena answered all his questions. "But according to Mr. Wright, he spends most his time trying to help his sister with her case. She asked for you first, you know."

"Then I'll join Mr. Wright tomorrow and help him," Apollo promised. "I've helped clients with guilty sentences before, so it won't be completely new for me."

"You took cases with guilty clients before? I didn't know that." Athena steered the conversation from there, remembering another thing she'd been wanting to ask about.

"Well, not guilty of murder, but guilty of lesser crimes. They were just initially charged with murder. Both of them were pretty young, though, and caught in extenuating circumstances, so the court was lenient with their sentencing. Neither one got more than a few years."

"I see." Athena sipped on her drink before continuing. "I just realized: I don't know anything about your past cases. I know some of Mr. Wright's, but-"

"Well, there's not much to tell. My first case was a real wake up call for me, but after that, I felt like I could be ready for anything life threw at me. Anything before Clay's death. That whole trial... the last one, the retrial. When I was on the stand... I don't know what came over me. It's all kind of a blur, I felt really awful afterwards, and-"

"You don't need to apologize, Apollo. I believe you. I know things were bad. They looked bad." She raised her drink to him. "But that's all behind us. Merry Christmas?"

Apollo nodded, clinking their glasses together. "Merry Christmas."

Athena never got to ask Apollo the things she wanted to know. But just sitting there in the back with no eyes on them, it felt nice to chat about nothing. Sitting and laughing together, it felt like their pasts didn't matter anymore. Like they could be anyone else in the city, just enjoying their Christmas party together. It was a nice change.

They didn't get up until Trucy's show began. Everyone noticed Apollo then, and they all had to ask him the same questions. Over and over again. Some asked her too, but Athena was fine not being the center of attention.

And all through the night, Gavin didn't say another word to her. She could almost believe he was gone... if the shuddering resentment wasn't still buried deep within.

Athena cringed occasionally at the almost physical pain. She didn't always notice it, but it was always there.

Just like the man it belonged to.

A/N's: First of all, my apologies for taking so long to update. I did not mean to put it off for so long. But it's here now, so that's good, right?

A lot of this chapter is setup for later chapters, so nothing of much excitement happens. That's coming. I may have a bit of a timeskip to when Aura's case is ending, though, because that needs to wrap up before the next arc of the story can begin. But Apollo is back, and Klavier is officially in the story. This won't be his last appearance in the work, so keep your eyes out!

Thanks for stopping in to read, don't forget to review, and I'll see you on the far side!