Apollo Justice was a good man. A clever one, too; it wasn't easy to work as a lawyer, after all. Not only that, he was also caring and good-natured, and he was very serious about his job. But when it came to families, he could only sit back and watch as others make families of their own. Being an orphaned kid he was, he knew nothing of a family. He was often jealous of his friends when they talked about their parents and siblings. He couldn't do anything because he understood nothing.

So when Lamiroir – no, maybe it was better to call her Thalassa now – came to the agency and dropped the news of her being his birth mother, he could only stare at her with a blank look in his face as she looked back at him with eyes gleaming in hope. He could only close his mouth when she told him that he and Trucy were related – children of the same birth mother, different birth fathers.

Honestly, he didn't understand how Trucy could accept the news so light heartedly. Even as he was gaping at Thalassa in disbelief, Trucy was already laughing and hugging her happily.

"Apollo?" Thalassa called to him.

Apollo stared at her and asked quietly, "You… are my mother?"

"Yes," Thalassa replied, "I am."

Apollo fell silent once again.

"Apollo…?"

"Stop," he suddenly said. "Just… stop." He stared into Thalassa with raging eyes. "A mother, you say? What kind of mother would abandon her own child in an orphanage? What kind of mother leaves her own son just like that? The orphanage I grew up in… it was horrible!"

"Apollo–"

"Shut it, I'm not finished yet, fuck it!" Apollo swore so loudly that even he was surprised by the word that had flown off his mouth. "I was the only abandoned child in that orphanage. Other kids mocked me because I had no parents. No one wanted to adopt me because I was always able to see through their lies. I was…!"

Apollo's words were cut off when Thalassa suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. He froze in shock, and when his mind registered what was truly happening, he sniffed and sobbed.

"It's okay," Thalassa whispered soothingly to his ears. "I'm here, now, am I? It's alright."

Trucy and Phoenix watched in silence. They understood the young attorney's outburst completely. It was to be expected for him. They knew Apollo grew up in an orphanage. They had also noted his reaction whenever the topic of a family was brought in a conversation; sometimes envious, sometimes he only showed a blank expression; sometimes he deliberately left the room for a while.

"Do you still remember the time when you were little?" asked Thalassa quietly. "I've always loved you, Apollo. I didn't want to have to leave you in that orphanage."

"No, I don't," Apollo muttered. "I was still four at that time."

"And you just forgot?"

"The stress of being called an unwanted child made me forget my own childhood. I only remembered some parts of it. Wasn't Father a performer?" Apollo looked up to Thalassa. "Where is he now?"

Thalassa smiled bitterly. "He's… in a better place."

"Oh," Apollo responded quietly.

Thalassa's smile broadened. "But I'm sure he must be happy to see you now. He'd always wanted you to become a lawyer. He must be happy that his son followed the path he wanted him to walk on to."

"Father wanted me to become a lawyer?"

"Yes. He was afraid that if you became a performer like him, you might be underappreciated because of bigger stars, get no money, fame, nor appreciation. At least if you become a lawyer, you'd be respected and paid more."

Apollo snorted. "Paid more? As if." He glanced vengefully at Phoenix and Trucy.

Phoenix shrugged. "What can I say? We have to pay the rent and electricity bills."

"My stomach's been suffering for the consequences of that," Apollo muttered grudgingly. "And I have to limit my hair gel use…"

"Try not using any hair gel for once, then," Trucy happily said. "I bet you'd look less ridiculous without it anyway."

"Why do people hate my hair so much?" Apollo sulked.

The first family dinner they had was nice. In a way, that is.

In another way, it was stressful.

There was nothing really wrong. True, they had dinner in a cheap diner that sold food in affordable prices. And it wasn't really bad, either. The problem was, of course, the family itself.

Apollo didn't know why, but Trucy and Phoenix seemed to be able to hold such strong spices in their food. They ordered the spiciest yet the most delicious food in the menu, and they were too spicy for Apollo's sensitive tongue. Trucy kept talking to Thalassa about her ideas of new magic tricks, which Apollo didn't understand. Phoenix kept wolfing down the food (and earned them some glances and even open stares from other customers, which Apollo had taken a note of), and for some reason Thalassa wouldn't stop bugging him about his love life. Well, he could understand that a mother wouldn't want her son to live his life without a partner, but was it really Apollo's fault that he hasn't found one yet?

He wondered for a moment why his family was so weird… but then he chuckled. If it wasn't weird, then it wouldn't be his family. After all, where can you find a little magician sister whose favorite trick involved panties and a large wooden doll?

"Apollo, want some more spicy curry?" Trucy offered somewhat graciously.

"Um, no, I'll pass," Apollo wrinkled his brows. "Too spicy for me."

"I know! What about we order some cold drink for you to cool down the heat after you eat the curry?"

"Nah. I'm already full anyway," Apollo said, then, almost inaudibly, he added, "And besides, why haven't you ordered any drink at all?"

"But this is our first nice dinner after such a long time…"

"Which is paid with my money," Apollo muttered under his breath.

"And we've only been eating Mr. Eldoon's noodles all this time…"

Apollo wrinkled his nose, silently thanking the heavens for letting him eat in the cheap diner that night. Mr. Eldoon's noodles were too salty for his tongue, to the point that his lips hurt because of the excessive saltiness. If the broth wasn't too salty, he would've enjoyed the meal. He glanced to the Wrights, wondering why their hair was still intact considering how much of the noodles they had every night.

"Anyway, have we ordered our drinks?" asked Phoenix suddenly, and Apollo couldn't help but stare at him blankly. Did he actually forget to order a drink for himself?

"We haven't," Trucy answered. "I thought you said you wanted to see how long you could hold the spices, Daddy."

"Yeah, I've reached my limits," Phoenix shrugged. Apollo looked at him and realized that his face was red after eating all the hot food he had ordered.

"I'll order the drinks then," Trucy said happily. "Mommy, Polly, coffee should be enough for you, right?" Upon receiving her brother and mother's nods, Trucy waved her hand to the waitress and yelled, "Two cups of coffee, a glass of grape juice and a glass of strawberry milkshake please!"

Thalassa giggled, "This is a really unique family, isn't it, Apollo?"

"Unique doesn't even begin to describe it," Apollo muttered.

A while later, the waitress walked to their table, carrying a tray with the drinks Trucy ordered on it. Phoenix glanced at her and smiled, "There you are."

"I'm sorry for not being quick enough," the waitress stuttered, blushing when she heard Phoenix's words. She hurriedly put down the drinks on the table, but she accidentally spilled a cup of coffee on Apollo's arm. He yelped in surprise.

"Ah! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" the waitress apologized.

"It's okay," Apollo hissed, thinking of the burns he would have to tend because of the hot coffee. He couldn't blame the waitress, really, since she was just trying to deliver them the drinks as fast as she could. And besides, when he saw the nasty glare a man, which he presumed as the waitress' boss sent to her, he couldn't help but feel sorry. "I'll go wash this up in the restroom. Can you tell me where it is?"

"Yes, of course," she nodded. "Please, follow me."

The waitress walked away in a rather fast pace, and Apollo had no choice but to follow her, though he initially wanted to refuse. After all, a bit of direction was enough for him. When he saw the restroom's door, he quickly jogged into the room. He thanked her before closing the door. He sighed in relief when he finally let a stream of cold water pour down to his arm. It was beginning to get unbearable.

A sound of a closing door made him turn. Apollo was baffled when he saw the waitress standing there, looking at him with grey eyes, her dark red bangs covering a part of her face. Somehow, the look in her eyes seemed ominous. Apollo was further agitated when he heard the sound of a locking door – surely the waitress didn't just lock the door?

"Um, isn't the ladies' room the room next to this one?" Apollo asked. The water was slowly filling out the sink, creating a noise that broke the silence in the room. Apollo watched the waitress closely, and he felt the hair on his neck stand up when he saw the waitress's faint smile.

"Apollo Justice," she declared, slowly walking to him. She glanced to the open water tap and her smile widened. "To think that your father died in water and it would be in water also that you meet your demise. What a poetic ending."

"E-excuse me?"

"It brings new meaning for the phrase, 'Like father, like son', don't you think?"

Apollo froze. "What…?"Father?

Before Apollo could react, the waitress had kicked his stomach, and he fell to the floor, coughing and panting for air. She grabbed his hair (Apollo: "My hair!") and pulled him up, ignoring his cries. She glared at him and asked, "I'm sorry I have to be rough, but honestly, he wanted me to be as rough as I can be. Now then. Where's the key?"

"Key, what key?" Apollo asked back, honestly confused. The waitress, however, clearly didn't like his answer, as her stare hardened and she coldly pushed Apollo's head down the full sink. Apollo choked, swallowing a few gulps of water, struggling to get the air he desperately needed. He coughed and greedily inhaled the air when the waitress finally lifted his head. He coughed and hacked, feeling his nose burning because of the water that had found its way up his nose.

"Now tell me truthfully. The key. Hand it to me!"

"I don't even know what you're talking about–" Apollo quickly took a deep breath and held it when the waitress once again pushed his head to the sink. He tried to use his hands to swat the waitress's hand away, but she used her other hand to prevent him from trying anything.

"Don't bother," she said as she pulled his head up again. "I know enough martial arts to make you cry for your mommy right now."

Apollo coughed and wheezed, glaring at her. "Why are you doing this? What is this key you're talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," she hissed. "The key. The cube key. Hand me the key!"

"How can I hand you something I don't even have?!"

She stared into his eyes and finally released her grip to his hands and hair, and he fell to the floor instantly, since her grip was all that kept him on his feet. Having to bear being drowned in the sink really made him tired. "So you really don't know anything?" She chuckled. "Funny. I thought he said 'The circle will tell you all'. I guess he's mistaken then."

"What…?"

She turned to the door when she heard the bangs against the door. She smiled and turned back to Apollo, who was still sitting defenselessly on the floor. She kept her eyes on him even as she climbed the window of the restroom. "Well, Apollo. I'm sorry for what I did. I wish you a nice day. Ciao." And she jumped out the window.

A click, and the door was opened. Apollo turned his head to see his family running to him.

"Polly!" Trucy gasped. "You look like a mess. What happened?"

"I think I saw that waitress coming in here before," Phoenix muttered. "Where is she?"

Apollo simply pointed to the window with his trembling hand. It was only then that he realized he was drenched and his hair was messed up. He flattened his bangs against his head.

"I'm very sorry about the inconvenience, sir," said a man, about fifty years old in age or so, from the door. Apollo recognized him as the one he suspected as the manager of the diner. "But I assure you, I have seen that waitress before she went in, and I believe I have never employed her."

"Then who was she?" Thalassa wondered. "Apollo, did she say something to you?"

"Something about cube key and my father," Apollo replied absently, still thinking about the (fake) waitress's words.

"Your father?" Thalassa repeated, her blood slowly growing cold. Ares Justice, she thought. What exactly have you done?

A/N: and that concludes the first chapter.

After reading the reviews some days ago, I feel that I need to clarify something: this story will be focused on the present and not the past, but I might add some flashbacks involving Little Apollo. How can I not? He's really cute!

And (a bit of shedding tears story here) I still mourn for my inability to play the Dual Destinies game. I already feel the need to play it, but nooo, I just can't! Can someone transfer me a bit of money to buy the 3DS please?

And can someone kind, handsome/beautiful, and downright gorgeous leave me a review? (If you feel that you're not kind, or handsome/beautiful, or downright gorgeous, just think that you are. Everyone is beautiful in their own way!)