She rests on the throne of my being;
She is my heart's eternal wife.
Yet she looks at me without seeing,
I've crowned her the Queen of my strife.
.'.
They didn't have to wait at the door for very long – it was answered almost instantly by Edgeworth who looked a little harassed. Nevertheless, he greeted them courteously and led them to the lounge that reminded Klavier very much of his family home back in Germany; it was spacious despite playing host to several people. Klavier saw Phoenix, Apollo, Trucy and Gumshoe with Maggey however, there were others he didn't recognise. His attention was drawn particularly to a woman with light blue hair and a whip; she was quite beautiful but severe looking and Klavier wondered who she was – it was the whip that intrigued him. He turned to Ema to ask if she knew her identity but found that the detective had disappeared, no doubt to find her sister. With a smile he turned back to the people in the room and saw that Trucy was approaching him, dragging a very awkward looking Apollo with her.
"Hello Mr Gavin!" she said bouncing on the soles of her feet and he smiled at her.
"Fräulein," he inclined his head. "You look wonderful as always." She grinned at him without blushing and he liked her for it. Roses in cheeks were cute at first but it all got awfully boring after a while. Klavier looked at Apollo with a smirk. "Ah, Herr Forehead. You look different." He leaned forward, his hands on his waist, pretending to scrutinise Apollo's face. "Have you done something new to your forehead? It is looking extra wide and shiny today."
Apollo scowled but chose to ignore the dig. "How's Ema?"
"Ah," Klavier said, straightening up again and playing with a lock of his hair. "She is quite alright. I believe she has gone to find her sister."
"What happened to your hand?" Trucy gasped and a hand rose to cover her mouth. Klavier looked at it – it was no longer in a cast but the last two fingers were still bandaged together.
"It is nothing to worry about, fräulein," he flashed her a charming smile, touched by her concern. "It was a mere accident."
Apollo seemed ready to make a remark and, judging by the expression on his face, Klavier guessed it was a sarcastic one however, at that moment, Lana came in the room (predictably followed by Ema) and interrupted.
"Ah, Mr Gavin!" she smiled at him as she approached. Klavier knew he had offended her in some way upon their first meeting but the past few weeks had changed her opinion of him; she had ceased looking at him coolly and was noticeably more friendly. "I'm so glad you came. Have a drink," she gestured towards the tray of wine glasses on the table behind him and he inclined his head. "We're just waiting on one or two other guests. Meanwhile – "
"Whoooaaa!" a voice cut across her and they all turned to see a man ogling Ema. "Who's this!"
Lana sighed. "This is Ema, Larry. My sister."
Klavier watched in bewilderment as Larry threw a fit. Exclaiming "What! Why didn't you tell me you had such a hottie for a sister, Lana?" he rushed over to Ema (who was looking positively alarmed) and gazed into her face. "Where've you been all my life! Man, Edgey, get me some ice!" he cried to Edgeworth who was glaring at him. "I'm gettin' hot!" Klavier rose an eyebrow. 'Edgey'? He'd never dreamt the man known as the Demon Prosecutor would be called something so… unrefined.
"Perhaps you should jump in the lake out back," Phoenix said, joining them. "Seems like a more practical solution. There's no use wasting perfectly good ice."
"Not to mention we'll be rid of him for the duration of the party," Klavier heard Edgeworth mutter.
"Larry," Phoenix glancing at Larry with exasperation and Klavier was surprised to see the expression on Phoenix's face – usually, the only emotion that inhabited his features was boredom. "I think it would be in everyone's best interests if you refrained from your… antics."
"Yo, Nick!" Larry turned on Phoenix with a scowl. "You're crampin' my style dude!"
Klavier surveyed the man, taking in his bright orange jacket and the too-short-for-him pants and wondered what style Larry was referring to. From the expressions on everyone's faces and the behaviour he was exhibiting, Larry seemed to be a bit of an idiot. He wondered how on earth he'd managed to befriend Phoenix and Edgeworth.
"Franziska?" Edgeworth said, turning and looking at the blue-haired woman who narrowed her eyes at him.
"What?" she snapped.
"Why are you standing all the way over there?" Edgeworth asked. She sniffed and stalked over to the group.
"Mr Gavin," Edgeworth said. "This is Franziska von Karma."
"Fräulein von Karma," he said, fingers playing with his fringe again. Yes, of course he'd heard of her. The whip made much more sense now. "Wie geht es dir?"
To his surprise, the woman unleashed her whip with a resounding crack and everyone around him flinched. She glared at him as it hung by her side, her hand on her hip.
"Don't you know it's rude to speak in German around non-German speakers?" she demanded with an authoritarian tone. Klavier saw Ema giggle out of the corner of his eye.
"But I was addressing you, Fräulein," he said turning on the charm. "It is never my intention to be rude."
"Fool!" she said and Klavier found an amused smile creeping onto his face. "I know who you were addressing. I would be a fool if I didn't and this room may be full of foolishly foolish fools foolishly indulging in foolishly foolish frivolities but I am no such fool!"
Klavier nodded solemnly. "I know. You are a woman of refined taste. Tales of your excellence have reached me."
Franziska narrowed her eyes and she cracked her whip again causing a few of them to recoil again. "Are you mocking me, Klavier Gavin?"
"Nein," Klavier shook his head, trying to hold back a laugh. "I would never dare."
She stared at him for several moments, as if attempting to determine whether or not to believe him, in which he stared back at her with a pleasant smile. Then, with an annoyed "hmph" she whipped Larry who yelped. Klavier's eyes widened at the sight of the man (who had tears in his eyes) and Franziska who was smirking. He hadn't actually thought she would used that whip on anyone – now he understood all the flinching. He glanced at Edgeworth, who looked somewhat satisfied, and Klavier had an inkling Edgeworth had called Franziska over to do to Larry what he could not. Klavier marvelled at the strange characters he was surrounded by and, yet, he was enjoying himself.
"So, when are you going to tell us why we're here?" Phoenix asked turning to Lana and Miles.
"Soon," Lana said with a smile. "We're just waiting for Diego and…" She turned to Ema. "Did Deston say whether he was coming?"
"Yeah, he is," Ema said, nodding. Klavier was somewhat disappointed – he'd hoped to have Ema to himself for tonight. He quickly shook himself of this feeling and tried to remind himself that while Deston might not have behaved with propriety with regards to Ema, he was still Ema's boyfriend… not Klavier.
"How is Diego?" Phoenix said. "I haven't…"
The sound of the doorbell interrupted him and Lana laughed. "You can ask him yourself. That's probably him right now."
Klavier was feeling somewhat out of place; everyone seemed to know everyone else and the people he did know were either acquaintances, colleagues or both. He recognised quite a few people standing around, like Franziska von Karma, but it was either because he'd heard of them from a previous case or their links to law enforcement. There was nobody here he could really call a friend except Ema. And Deston, he thought, the disappointment hitting him again. Well at least once he was here, Klavier would have someone he could talk to on a level.
Except, he would also have to watch him with Ema.
The woman he loved.
"Mr Gavin." He turned to face the voice and found Edgeworth looking at him with a small smile. "May I have a word with you?" he said gesturing towards double doors on his right. Somewhat surprised, Klavier nodded and followed the other who, on his way, picked up a glass of wine and handed it to Klavier before moving out into a very white, very grand patio. Klavier watched, puzzled, as the elder prosecutor closed the doors and turned to him, a glass of sparkling beverage in his own hands. He had no idea what Edgeworth might want to say to him, considering they barely talked, and he was curious as to what could induce him to want to talk to Klavier in private.
"You must be wondering why I have brought you out here," Edgeworth said.
Klavier chuckled at the vocal echo of his thoughts. "Ja, Herr Edgeworth."
"Please," Edgeworth gestured at the chairs to their left. "Let's sit." Klavier obliged, seating himself opposite the other man. "You're aware, I'm sure, that I, too, was bred in Germany?" Klavier nodded. "Then you must also know that I speak the language also." Klavier nodded again, his curiosity peaked. "You see, Mr Gavin, I appreciate your helping Ema like this given the conversation you had with Mr Cavatin the night she was attacked."
Klavier was confused for a second and then, suddenly, he felt his stomach drop. He remembered the phone call, the conversation that Edgeworth was referring to… He'd spoken to Deston in German because he did not want anybody to know what they discussed. He had forgotten, at that moment, that there was one man in the room who understood German and had probably heard every word he'd said. It had been a very heated conversation – he'd insisted to Deston that he didn't find it appropriate for his girlfriend to live with him and that he was sure Ema would not want to. Of course, he'd wanted nothing more than to grab her and take her away to his apartment where he could protect her but there had been a fear of rejection, that he would see disgust in her eyes every moment of the day especially as he had believed she hated him. Nevertheless, Deston had pleaded with him and he had given in, without much effort on his friend's part.
And Edgeworth had heard it all.
"I can see you know what I'm referring to," Edgeworth said with a slight nod of the head. Klavier nodded, somewhat stiffly, as Edgeworth took a sip of his drink. "I would have been grateful that you helped Ema in any case. However, in light of this fact, I'm even more grateful to you for allowing Ema to stay with you. So, I thank you."
"Herr Edgeworth," Klavier interrupted. He didn't know why it mattered but he had to let him know that it wasn't what he thought. "You misunderstand the situation. I have – "
Edgeworth held up a hand. "Please, you don't have to explain yourself," he smiled for good measure, as if to reassure Klavier that he didn't judge him. "I understand how you would find the situation inappropriate and, in fact, I respect you for it. However, there's something else I wish to discuss – something regarding Ema." Klavier waited, his jaw clenched in tension, as Edgeworth took another sip of his drink and looked to the side. "You see, I first met Ema when she was only 16."
"16?" Klavier said, his stress replaced by surprise.
Edgeworth nodded. "Yes." He looked at Klavier. "She was a much happier person back then." Klavier frowned, wondering what Edgeworth meant and where this conversation was going.
"How did you know her?" Klavier couldn't help but ask.
"She was involved in a trial. Two, in fact," Edgeworth said.
Taken aback, Klavier placed his glass on the table before him and frowned. Something was tugging at the corner of his memory… His eyes widened as he was transported back to the day Daryan had been accused by Lamiroir. What had she said?
'Authority figures cannot always be trusted, Gavin. I know. I was on trial once.'
He looked at Edgeworth in shock. She had told him something so important and he'd dismissed her, coldly, cruelly and then… forgotten.
"What happened?" Klavier asked, quietly.
"Have you ever heard of the Joe Darke killings?" Edgeworth asked. Klavier shook his head, frowning. "I don't suppose it's that surprising – you would have, most probably, still been in Germany and very young." Edgeworth sat up straight now, placed his glass on the table beside Klavier's and entwined his fingers. He looked at Klavier for a moment as if assessing him for something and then he began to talk. Klavier listened, with mounting horror, to the tale of the murders Darke committed, his capture, Ema's near-fatal encounter with the killer and her testimony in the subsequent trial rife with forged evidence. His fists clenched as Edgeworth went on to explain Lana's trial, the manslaughter everyone believed Ema to be involved in and the truth behind the entire thing – Gant's mind games and corrupting the facts of the incident.
After Edgeworth was finished, Klavier sat in silence for what was, most likely, only a few minutes but felt like several hours. He was trying to process everything and several thing were going through his mind, some of which unsettled him deeply. He finally understood Ema's comments about authority figures and their trustworthiness. Somehow, the likeness in their experiences did nothing but disconcert him. Another thing that was nagging at Klavier was the phrase 'forged evidence'. He couldn't help but think of Phoenix Wright… the man they called the Forging Attorney. How could he have forged a diary paper when he, himself, helped shed light on a case involving tampered evidence? How could he have helped Ema and Lana and then gone on to commit the same crime? Klavier felt more disgusted than ever.
"My reason for divulging this information," Edgeworth said bringing Klavier out of his thoughts, "is that Ema is a very guarded person as a result. She has suffered two extremely disturbing trials after which she endured a separation from her sister while Lana was in prison. I ask that you bear this in mind."
Klavier knew what Edgeworth was saying; be nice to Ema and get where she's coming from. And he could do that; he would do that. Now he realised so much more about her – why she was always so moody and reserved, why she never joined in any festivities and why she was generally so disagreeable. Klavier finally understood Ema Skye in a way that he would not have been able to otherwise. He could be gentler with her now… he wanted to take care of her and he wanted to erase the memories of the past.
"Danke schön," Klavier said to Edgeworth, gratefully. And he was grateful – because now he knew more about the woman he loved.
Edgeworth inclined his head. "I ask one last thing of you, Mr Gavin." Klavier looked at him quizzically. "I ask that you not judge anyone," Edgeworth said and he sounded graver than before now. "There was forged evidence – nobody can deny that – but all is never what it seems. I am sure, as a prosecutor, you already know that."
Klavier frowned inwardly. Something told him that Edgeworth was referring to something more than just Lana Skye's mistake. He was well aware that Edgeworth and Wright were friends and it was clear that Edgeworth didn't believe his friend had forged anything. Nevertheless, Klavier was surprised at the veiled meaning of those words. Just as he opened his mouth to reply, they were interrupted.
"Miles…?" Lana was standing in the doorway, holding open the doors and looking at them quizzically. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."
"Not at all, Lana," Edgeworth said, picking up his glass and standing up. "Mr Gavin and I were just discussing some old cases." He turned to look at Klavier who, taking the cue, stood up with his own glass and smiled at Lana.
"Well, the last of the guests have arrived," Lana said addressing Miles. "Why don't you come in and meet them, Mr Gavin?"
"After you," Klavier said, with a smile, aware that Edgeworth was watching him. Klavier knew that Edgeworth expected him to be different towards Lana but how could he begrudge her the instinct to protect her sister? Why, if Lana hadn't done what she had, Ema might not have been here and Klavier almost shuddered at that thought. He couldn't imagine his life without her now.
So he followed her back to where all the guests were gathered and his gaze was instantly drawn to his friend – Deston was standing beside Ema, a glass in his hand and a smile on his face.
"Hey, K," Deston greeted him with a grin and Klavier nodded at him.
"Mr Gavin, I'd like you to meet Diego Armando," Lana said and Klavier looked in the direction of her waving hand. A tall Latino man stood before him, a mug in his hand that smelt strongly of coffee and a mask over his eyes. Klavier recognised him instantly.
"Herr Armando," Klavier greeted with a smile.
"Her Armando indeed," he smirked, raising the mug to his mouth. "I don't think you ever actually met her though, Mr Gavin."
Klavier blinked. What on earth was the man talking about?
Lana chuckled. "Ignore him, Mr Gavin. Even I don't understand him half the time." She gestured towards a woman in a white robe and black hair standing by Phoenix. "This is Maya Fey, the Master of the Kurain Channelling Technique."
Klavier smiled at her and extended a hand to the young woman. She was quite pretty with a lively face and a wide smile. He'd heard of her but had never expected such a comely figure. "Fräulein," he said shaking her hand. "I have heard of you."
"And I hear you every day!" Maya said chirpily and when Klavier rose an eyebrow, she giggled. "My cousin is a huge fan of yours. She always has your music on around the manor."
Klavier laughed. "Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"Well, I don't mind but some of the elders do get really annoyed!" Maya said cheerfully, holding her hands together. "I try to tell them we should move with the times!"
"This is good advice," Klavier said, amused, thinking he liked her.
"I wish they shared your view," she sighed.
"K!" He heard Deston's voice call.
"Excuse me," he said with a smile at her and turned around to face his friend. As he stepped away from her, he heard Maya whisper to Phoenix; "Nick, what's a fro-line?" Chuckling, he headed for his friend who was beckoning him with his hand.
"Long time, man," Deston said, smacking Klavier on the back. "You too busy to return my calls?"
Klavier glanced at Ema who was standing by him, sipping her wine and he remembered what Edgeworth had told him about her. "Actually, I – "
A clinking sound interrupted him and he turned to see Lana putting down the spoon she'd been tapping her glass with. Edgeworth was standing by her side. A hush spread over all the chattering people as they turned towards the couple to listen to whatever they had to say. Klavier glanced at Ema and was surprised to see the excitement on her face and he smiled. She looked happy – and he liked that. She deserved to be happy. Again, his mind turned to all that he'd found out about her and he could not believe that she'd kept such an important part of her life so close to her chest and remained so strong. How could he have missed it? How could he have simply forgotten what she'd let slip not once, but twice? Klavier wanted to bang his head against something.
"First, I know a lot of you have really busy schedules so thank you for taking the time to come," Lana said smiling at everyone and Klavier suppressed his thoughts, deciding he would think on it in his own time, without distractions. This simply was not the best place to become so thoughtful. "What I have to say is pretty important and I wanted all of you guys to be here so it means a lot." There was an outbreak of muttering as everyone she was addressing smiled back at her. "Again, thank you."
"Come on, bambina," A man among them called out. "This here mystery's gettin' mighty frustrating," he drawled. Everyone laughed.
Lana was smiling at him. "Okay then, Jake. Miles and I are getting married." There was a silence for a split second and then they were all converging on the pair offering their congratulations among many 'it's about time' and 'I knew it's. Klavier saw Ema rush past him with a huge smile on her face and one made its way on his face too when he saw her push her way through the crowd and throw her arms around her sister, pulling her in a hug before turning to Edgeworth and doing the same to him. Klavier chuckled when he saw the surprise on the man's face at her affectionate gesture.
"It's cute how much she adores Lana," Deston said from behind him and Klavier glanced at his friend as he came to stand by him.
"Ja," Klavier nodded. "It is refreshing to see such strong sibling bonds."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Deston look at him and he mentally kicked himself for making a comment that sounded so obviously depressing. He had just managed to get Deston to leave him alone and now he'd probably alarmed him again. Klavier wondered, as he lifted his glass to his lips, what Deston would do if he found out Klavier had almost… Well, he didn't know, and Klavier didn't want to think about that because it only reminded him of Gale which reminded him of Rafael and –
He shook himself mentally. No, he didn't want to think about it but it was damn difficult. Klavier had heard of Rafael's nature but he had not been prepared for how potent the power of his words was. He was left wondering what else Kristoph had told Rafael and why. Defending a criminal was one thing but to practically befriend one…
"I propose a toast!" Deston said loudly from next to him and Klavier looked at him; he was holding up his glass and had everyone's attention. He faced the couple who were both smiling at him. "Let the angels sing on this – your engagement! Let them sing of your happiness and choosing and may their song forever shower down upon you both!"
"Hear, hear!" everyone murmured and raised their own glasses. Klavier saw Lana beam at Deston – she obviously loved her sister's boyfriend.
"Thank you, Mr Cavatin," Edgeworth said in his deeply quiet voice. "That is gracious."
"Thank you, Deston," Lana said with a radiant smile.
"Speaking of songs," Deston said and he turned to Klavier. "Why don't you sing one for the happy couple?"
"Was zur H…" Klavier caught himself as he remembered that Deston was not the only person in the room who understood German. Taking a discreet breath, he smiled at everyone. "I would be honoured but I am afraid that none of our songs are appropriate for an engagement, Deston. You are aware of this."
"Why don't you just make it up as you go," Deston suggested. "You're good at that!" He turned to everyone else and smiled. "Klavier's talented in more ways than one! I've seen him invent lyrics on the spot!" They all seemed to find this impressive and Klavier resisted the urge to roll his eyes and maintain the smile on his face when he saw some of the women in the crowd go nuts. Deston turned back to him and Klavier glared at him although his friend seemed not to notice. "Come on, give us a performance."
Klavier knew that to decline would be rude but it was more to do with the look on Ema's face – she looked somewhat… hopeful? When he saw her face, he knew he couldn't say no so, with a smile, he turned to everyone and nodded; taking that as a yes, they all cheered. Amid the chaos he turned to Deston.
"Drecksau," he hissed. "I have no instrument upon my per – "
"Lighten up," Deston laughed. "I have a guitar in my car."
Klavier's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How very convenient."
"You take your instruments everywhere with you, why can't I?" Deston said with a mischievous glint in his eyes and before Klavier could respond he'd turned to address everyone. "Just need to get the things from my car. Make yourselves comfortable for one of the best performances by Klavier Gavin!" And with these words, he jogged away leaving behind a seething Klavier and a worked up crowd. Klavier had a nasty feeling that Deston had known what the occasion was and had intentionally brought his instruments. He didn't know what Deston was thinking, putting him on the spot like this when he had not a single appropriate song for a party such as this, but two could play at that game.
He watched as everyone seated themselves, readying themselves for the performance that Klavier was dreading – yes, he'd invented lyrics on the spot before but not an entire song. He had a few minutes now though and he spent them rummaging his head for discarded songs he'd never used and piecing some of the lines together, clenching his fist when he was unable to make it work. He saw everyone watching him and he smiled just as Deston walked back in through the door carrying one of the guitars Klavier used sometimes during their rehearsals. He handed it to him with a wink as he dropped a pick in his bandaged hand.
"Good luck," Deston muttered with a devilish smile.
"Du bist als Nächste," Klavier said, looking down at the guitar, but Deston simply chuckled as he seated himself in a nearby chair. Klavier looked up at everyone and flashed a grin at them. "Achtung baby! Let's rock!" They all cheered and he took his place upon the stool Deston placed beside him before looking around at Lana and Edgeworth. "For Herr Edgeworth and the lovely Fräulein Skye… You are ensnared in the relentless net of love – may you forever remain prisoners of this perfection!"
Everyone murmured in agreement and the couple stared at Klavier with identical smiles. Klavier winked at them and, as he adjusted his guitar, he glanced at Ema. She was watching him with a curious expression and Klavier couldn't understand it or maybe he just didn't have enough of a mind left to try and figure it out – his body was warming up, his fingers tingling and something inside of him was bubbling, waiting to burst forth and he wondered what he'd been worried about when all the inspiration that he ever needed was in this room, with him.
He took the pick in between his undamaged fingers and ran it across the strings to test its sound. He glanced at Ema once more before closing his eyes, like he always did when he played, and he was silent for a moment as he chose two melodies he'd played before and combined them; his finger's danced across the guitar and the room was filled with an up-tempo composition. Before his mind's eye flew visual manifestations of a memory that he would always cherish; the day he met her. He'd exited his new office and found himself thrown off-balance by a small figure in white with the most mesmerising green eyes…
"With a stumble you fell into my arms, and baby with one look in your eyes…"
Klavier almost jumped at the sound of his own voice – it wasn't his anymore…
"My soul was entranced by your charms, forever fated to be my demise…"
He recalled their interchange in the hallway before the concert and he saw the fierce look of embarrassment when she'd pushed him away and his fingers sped their dance on the strings as the volume of his song rose.
"You can push me away but I'll always be here," his eyes opened against his will and sought out her beautiful face. "And these games you play, just bring me near..." He forced his eyes shut again. "'Cos baby…"
His fingers weren't obeying him anymore either – he was the slave now and as the music reached a crescendo, he didn't know where the words came from…
"You are the truth and the dream too… you are my river and my thirst too…" Again, his eyes found her and the next words were lost in the intertwining blue and green of their gaze; "You are my hearts restlessness and my heart's content too…"
He brought down the veil of nothingness over his sight but her image was branded in his mind and, behind the darkness of his closed eyes, he saw her – the way she always glanced at him as she passed, glaring at him when he smiled…
"Oh baby, every moment I long to see, the secret of love in your gaze... And when you walk by me…" He could have sworn the strings were now commanding his fingers… "Every fibre of my being sings in praise…"
And there she was again, floating before him, and now he had no idea if his eyes were open or not – but it didn't matter. All that mattered was he could watch her smiling at him, blushing at the meaning of his words as if she knew who they were for…
"And girl, you can deny me for as long as you like…"
The tempo increased with his voice as he let all of his determination flow into his words…
"But baby, don't you see I'm just waiting to strike?"
He thought he heard a few whoops and squeals but he was too entranced in the music and the story it told – she was working her magic on him… She must be…
"Cos baby… you are the truth and the dream too… you are my river and my thirst too… you are my heart's restlessness and my hearts content too…"
How could he honestly have doubted his ability to do this? She was all the inspiration he needed. She was the woman who occupied his every thought, who commanded his every action without knowing it… He was wrenched awake from dreams of her and dragged back into them longing for her…
"In you each dream starts, as the real world dies…" his eyes opened again and it kept all his willpower to keep them fixed on his guitar. "The real world dies…" With inhumane strength, he closed them again… "Without you, I fall apart, upon every sunrise…"
And in all the performances he'd given, none matched the adrenaline that flooded him now, driven by the fiercest resolve that his next words would come true. Power was rushing through him, escaping his fingers, flowing into the instrument and he heard the harmonious voice of his determination – it was sweeping across the room, the music riding the space around him…
"Girl, I'll win this game you began, and I'll claim your heart as my prize…" And he'd forgotten where he was… He was staring at her again, uncaring of who saw the love burning in his eyes… "And baby, I'll be the richest man to live and die beneath these skies… 'Cos baby…"
And the music and her gaze and his strength was taking him onto some higher plane and his body tensed, his eyes closed as he tried to let it all go, to release this intense power overtaking him…
"You are the truth and the dream too… you are my river and my thirst too… you are my heart's restlessness and my heart's content too…"
And he could feel it leaving his body as his voice mellowed on his last words and something was slowly bringing him back down…
"Cos baby… baby…"
He saw the slight brush that had crept over her skin and he smiled.
"You are my journey and my destination too…"
There followed a few minutes in which he continued to play, the music filling the silence of the room and he continued to stare at Ema. His sanity was returning and he thanked his lucky stars when he saw that Ema was standing beside Lana – they would all assume he had been watching the couple. For good measure, he swept his gaze over everyone with a grin. He saw many smiles, blushes – the expressions he was used to in a concert. When he struck his last note, he raised a hand, as was his habit after a performance, and they all broke out in applause punctuated by many whoops and screams.
"Knew you could do it, man!" Deston said, clapping him on the back and smiling at him. Klavier smirked at him, not annoyed anymore, but not willing to let him get away with what he'd done either.
"Time to rock with Deston," he called out above the clapping and laughed when they cheered. He turned back to Deston who was simply grinning at him.
"Nice, K," he said laughingly, taking the guitar Klavier was handing him. "But I'm ready for you."
Klavier laughed too and, with a wink, got off the stool gesturing towards it. "It is all yours." He moved to the side as Deston took the limelight and started speaking to everyone. Klavier wasn't paying attention though – his eyes had sought out Ema once more and he felt a jolt when he saw her look away quickly, clearly embarrassed at being caught looking at him. A smile spread to his lips again and he mentally gave himself a pat on the back for his performance – he'd done well and nobody seemed to have noticed the way he'd stared at her throughout his performance. Not to mention, he seemed to have got her attention…
"Darling, it's my desire to let it all go, to break free of these bonds and show…"
Deston's song broke through his thoughts and Klavier looked at his fellow musician; he had no doubt that his song was also for Ema. As could be expected of Deston, he was not looking at her or communicating with her in any way. Klavier rolled his eyes at Deston's old-fashioned ways. There was no shame in proclaiming one's love for another in public. This was one thing about Deston that Klavier could never understand. Unwilling to stand and watch this, because he knew the images it would invoke, Klavier slipped away, out through some nearby doors, and walked out onto a veranda that overlooked the lake. It was dark now and Klavier could see the stars creeping across the black canopy of the sky, their twinkling lights reflected in the water below. He sighed deeply.
"So you like your coffee with a spoonful of sugar, huh?"
Klavier turned towards the sound of the voice and, just then, Diego Armando halted to a stop beside him. He was still holding a mug in his hand and while he was facing the lake, Klavier could not say for certain that the eyes beneath that mask weren't staring at him.
"What?" Klavier said, confused.
"The scent of coffee is unmistakable," the ex-prosecutor said taking a swallow of it. "Even the inexperienced can recognise it."
Klavier frowned, trying to make sense of what he was doing. He'd heard of this man's somewhat strange affection for the beverage but this was quite something else. He didn't know whether to ask him what he was talking about or to just leave it. He knew he would probably get even more confusing answers if he tried to ask so Klavier simply remained quiet. It appeared Diego wasn't going to say anything else as they stood in silence, watching the water as it rippled but then Diego shifted and Klavier saw the glaring red lights of his mask facing his way and he could not ignore him; he looked at Diego, about to say something but the other spoke first;
"It's too early in life to grow wrinkles, Mr Gavin," he said, his deep voice low. "If you love a kitten, you tell her." Klavier did a double take at the words and he saw Diego cock his head back with a grin. Unbidden, an image of Phoenix tilting his head back in the same manner came to Klavier's mind. "I told you, didn't I? Even the inexperienced can recognise the scent of coffee. For the experienced…" His smirk grew as he lifted the mug as if in a toast and took a big gulp.
Klavier finally understood the coffee references and he chided himself for not remembering what had been dubbed as Coffeenese; just after his trial against Phoenix Wright, the press had been going crazy with the story of Diego Armando and one of his most endearing traits (to the public at least), had been his coffee addiction and his use of it in his metaphors.
Klavier turned back to Deston but he was tense now and his attention was still on the man beside him.
"She is in a relationship," Klavier said. He knew there was no point denying it – Diego Armando was no fool.
"That didn't seem to stop you from singing to her."
"Singing is very different to professing my feelings to her," Klavier said sharply. Diego, however, simply chuckled. "If I were to say anything to her, it would be once she is single."
"Ha…!" Klavier looked at Diego, surprised at this reaction. "Leave a good cup of coffee out for too long and it becomes cold."
Klavier refrained from sighing in exasperation. "Meaning?"
"Meaning that it becomes undrinkable," Diego said, vague as ever. "How different is life, really, from a good old cup of coffee?" Klavier chose not to comment on that. "Time is like money – you've got to be careful how you spend it… but penny-pinching never did anybody any favours either."
"You're saying…" Klavier started but trying to think about it all just confused him again.
"Nothing waits forever," Diego said and there was an underlying current of sorrow in his voice. The knuckles of the hand that held the mug turned white and he turned those glaring red lights to him again. "I can promise you that, Mr Gavin"
Klavier looked away from Diego, realising the man was thinking of his own lost lover. "I was sorry… for your loss." When he first heard of Diego's case, Klavier had not taken well to the fact that he had murdered a woman no matter what he had been through. He had been disgusted by the reaction of the masses. But now… Everything was different.
He was different.
"Ha…!" Diego drank deeply from his mug again. "You're not what I expected."
"What?" Klavier asked, surprised.
"You are the attorney who got Wright disbarred. So, of course, I had to know more."
Klavier stiffened. "Herr Wright got himself barred."
"Still got a grudge against Wright, huh?" Diego asked and drank his coffee again. When Klavier didn't reply, Diego set his coffee down on the wall beside him and leant against it, staring at the water. "So did I, you know."
"The circumstances are different," Klavier said curtly.
"Ha…!" Diego smirked and Klavier scowled inwardly at the sound – he was getting sick of it. "You met Maya in there, didn't you?"
"Ja." Klavier nodded.
"You know that, when her sister died, Wright took it upon himself to look after her?"
"Herr Armando," Klavier said, turning to the Latino. "If you are going to justify what he did by using Ms Fey, then I – "
"My blend number 159 isn't fit for the gutter if it's even one minute early," Diego cut across him. Klavier frowned, trying to make sense of this latest riddle. "I'm not justifying anyone, my melodic friend." When Diego was certain Klavier wasn't going to interrupt him, he continued. "I'm certain that you've heard of the Engarde case. It was one of Wright's biggest trials." When Klavier nodded, Diego smirked. "Then it's even more surprising you still suspect him of forgery."
"What do you mean?" Klavier said, annoyed that Diego insisted on pursuing this subject. He knew he could just turn around and walk away but there was a part of Klavier that was intrigued by this man and what he had to say.
"Wright fought until the bitter end," Diego said and he wasn't smiling anymore. "He even had something akin to a breakdown when he thought he'd failed and, in turn, cost Maya her life. It was last minute evidence retrieved by a certain prosecutor that saved her – and this certain prosecutor also bore a grudge against him. There was no opportunity for foul play – she would never have helped him forge anything."
Klavier raised an eyebrow. "Please get to the point, Herr Armando."
"My question for you, Mr Gavin," Diego was smirking again. "Is how can a man who did not forge evidence to save the person who meant so much to him, ever forge a diary page to maintain a perfect win record?"
Klavier had no response to that. It was unthinkable, unimaginable, incredible… but he had nothing to say to that.
And somewhere inside, in a secret place, unease curled in him.
Suddenly, the doors behind them flew open with a bang and Franziska stood on the threshold with a hand on her hip and a whip at her side. She pointed a finger at them and scowled.
"What are you two fools doing out here?" She demanded.
"Well, nice seeing you again, princess," Diego smirked at her, taking up his coffee from the wall once more. "Still playing with the big boys?"
Franziska scowled and turned to Klavier. "Lana Skye is calling for you. If you'd stayed inside, I wouldn't have to chase you down," she snapped, cracking her whip again. With one last disgusted look at Diego, she turned on her heel and walked back inside. Klavier followed suit, smiling at her behaviour, finding it somewhat cute that she was clearly intimidated by Diego Armando. He glanced over his shoulder to see if the man was following but found that he was staring out at the water again. Klavier left him in silence, knowing that he probably needed a moment; he had an idea what Diego was thinking about.
Upon entering he saw, what looked like, a commotion; Edgeworth's face was almost the same colour as his clothes as he stared at Larry who was talking loudly to everyone.
"…man, he was sobbing for a whole day!"
"Be quiet already!" Edgeworth snapped, completely unlike himself and Klavier stopped to stare at them, his eyes wide. "I'll never forget the shame of that day!"
"See? See?" Larry cried, gleefully, at everyone. "What'd I tell you!"
"You want a crane!" Edgeworth's voice was rising. "I can now make a perfect quarter-inch crane without a single flaw!"
"…Prove it."
"W-What?"
"I said prove it," Larry said, his arms folded.
"Well, that's… there isn't any… THIS IS NOT THE TIME!" Edgeworth exploded and Klavier folded his arms, rubbing a hand across his jaw in a bid to hide his grin. "This – why you… WRIGHT!" Edgeworth turned to Phoenix who turned and smiled at Maya.
"Maya?"
Maya grinned and looked past Klavier. "Diego?"
Klavier glanced over his shoulder to see the man drinking his coffee. At the sound of his name, Diego smirked.
"Ha…! What do ya say, princess?"
Franziska was already pulling on her whip, a gleam in her eye. "My whip was made for foolish fool's fools." With this dramatic proclamation, she marched towards Larry who, eyes wide with fear, spun on the spot to escape the three-course meal of whip-leather headed his way.
"Don't you dare run away from me!" She said and her voice was loud enough to be heard over the raucous laughter of the crowd. Larry ran past Edgeworth shouting, "What the hey, Edgey!" As she followed him, Franziska paused for a second, glaring at Edgeworth, before promptly whipping him.
"Whaaagh!" Edgeworth yelped
"Unable to make a crane!" She snapped. "You are a disgrace! A von Karma strives for perfection! You have demonstrated, once again, why you are unworthy of the name!" Without waiting for a response, she continued after Larry, her shouts drowned by the roars of laughter that had overtaken the room.
"Nngh…" Edgeworth spun on Wright with the evil eye but whatever fury he'd been about to unleash on his friend was forgotten as Larry ran into the room again, through another set of double doors, followed swiftly by Franziska.
"Come back here!" she shrieked.
"Duuuuuuuuude!" Larry shouted as he weaved in and out of the amused crowd. "Do something!" Just as he passed Ema, Klavier saw her pelt him with a handful of Snackoos she'd produced from nowhere. "What the hey!"
Klavier's laughter was as loud as everyone's this time, his mirth born from the expression on Ema's face. He was certain she'd been wanting to do that since the moment Larry had got in her face and she now looked thoroughly pleased with herself.
"Mr Gavin," Lana was by his side suddenly and her face was shining from the laughter that had consumed her too. "I'm sorry to ask this of you but I feel Ema should rest. I was hoping that you could take her home."
Klavier inclined his head. "Of course, Fräulein."
"I apologise again. I feel it's awfully rude of me to – " Lana started, guilt marring her beautiful features, but Klavier held up a hand.
"Please, Fräulein… Ema's health is the priority. I have enjoyed myself…" He paused and they chuckled as Larry could be heard crying in the distance. "However, I do have much work to do."
Lana smiled and, saying her thanks, turned to look at Ema. Klavier watched as Ema heard her named being called and smiled at Lana, holding up a finger. She looked around at everyone and, catching sight of the one she was searching for, ran up to him. Klavier watched, with rising jealousy, as Ema put her slender hand on Deston's forearm. He looked at her with a smile and she laid a hand on his neck to pull him down to her level; she whispered something in his ear and Klavier's fist clenched. Deston seemed surprised and he turned to look her in the eyes. The next moment, Klavier's world rocked and the monster of insanity roared in his chest as Ema wrapped her arms around Deston's neck and pulled him down into a passionate kiss.
Drecksau - dirty pig
Du bist als Nächste - you're next
Waz zur H... - what the h...