"You're not needed anymore."
Klavier spoke into the tense atmosphere, feeling the blood rushing through his palms, the thoughts and emotions rushing through his head, and the cold buzz of numbness running to his palms.
He meant it, every word. As he felt his emotions dissipate in the face of the law, he understood.
Kristoph was not needed.
As a brother.
As a mentor.
As a defense attorney.
As a person.
The golden room and the people in it seemed to disappear around the two brothers, leaving only Klavier and Kristoph. The fallen man stared at the risen prosecutor, unblinking and tense. Unguarded. Gone was that man who helped Klavier with his homework late at night, who brought Apollo into law. Gone was the calm defense attorney who kept his eyes on the law and the facts. In its place was a murderer, shivering, angry, and afraid.
Klavier had flashbacks to his younger days, when Kristoph would put up with the noise he made while practicing guitar, when he'd always try to make time to come to his concerts… He couldn't help but be sentimental, if only for a few seconds.
The prosecutor knew in his heart that, in a few days time, the murderer would be put to death for his crimes. As he should.
But that tough shell of nonchalance was hard to put on when the man on death row was your own brother.
The room returned to normal- he noticed Apollo was speaking. Klavier got easily distracted, he needed to work on that. Klavier turned to face Apollo, and he saw the look in his eyes, too. The shouting voice of his sounded uncertain, his eyes hiding disappointment, as if to say, 'I expected more from my mentor.' Klavier understood the feeling. He expected more from his own brother, too.
His brother was carried away in shackles that day, but not before Kristoph turned and faced Klavier, shooting him a slightly unstable smile.
"Klavier, before I go, make me a promise, please." Gavin began, as calm as ever.
"Hm? What is it, Kristoph?" Klavier tried to reply with the same calm demeanor, but wasn't extremely successful.
"Remember me not as the man I am, but the man I was. Remember me… as your brother. Please." Kristoph looked down at his feet in defeat, his messy hair sprawled on his shoulders, his eyes glistening.
"Sure thing, brother…" Klavier quickly turned and walked away. "...Goodbye." Somehow, Klavier knew he couldn't dare face Kristoph again, less the tears fall and the emotions that he let fade come flooding back in…
He'll remember the man who helped him with his homework, who comforted him, who taught him, who scolded him, the patient man who simply put up with him.
But it's time to let that man go.
After all…
He wasn't needed.