Apollo's first date with Klaire was going pretty well, all things considered. He had approached her unannounced one day in the lobby, when he did not have a case and when he knew she had a shift.

He had recited and practiced his planned proposal early in the morning, and barely had enough time to practice with his Chords of Steel. He had decided a direct approach was the best option, and had walked straight toward her.

They had exchanged greetings and Apollo had said, "Maybe we can meet at the arcade?"

He had immediately felt like slapping himself. Why did he say that, of all things? He had planned to invite her to a restaurant, or maybe a walk in the park if that could not match her schedule. He was beyond grateful that she had smiled her perfect smile and slapped him on the back in agreement.

"Got you again, Apollo!"

He chuckled. It did not matter what they played, Klaire always beat him. It did not matter if it was skeeball, a shooter, or even the claw game he had practiced so hard with as a child. She always beat his record, and she would laugh, and he would join in.

Then, all too soon, it was time to leave.

"Klavier!"

"K-Kristoph, it broke."

"What's done is done. We should apologize."

"Klavier did it."

"Anyone can make mistakes, Klavier. Don't you think now's a good time to own up and make up for it?"

Apollo offered to walk Klaire home, hoping to maximize every second he had with her on the way to the surprisingly large house set in the city's east end. The only thing he had not counted on was the face that met him when he knocked on the door.

It was Klavier Gavin.

The young prosecutor stared at Apollo and Klaire. The young defense lawyer forced down a gulp. For a second he felt years younger, as if he were a suspicious high school student staring up at a parent with a fifty-fifty chance of pulling a shotgun wedding on him.

Then Klavier gave one of his signature, gleaming smiles.

"Welcome back, little sister."

Klaire slapped Apollo on the back. "Thanks for tonight, Apollo." Then she sprinted past Klavier and into the house. But Klavier and Apollo remained where they were, motionless. Klavier's smile faded.

Apollo eventually decided to take the risk. "Did...you want to talk about something?"

"Ja."

"About your brother?"

Apollo once again fought off the urge to slap himself. Two verbal pratfalls in one day...

"Sure." Klavier leaned against the doorframe. "He's awaiting a new trial. I won't be able to prosecute him myself, but no matter what they'll lock him and throw away the key. Solitary within solitary. He's done enough to deserve it. Murder, perjury, smuggling, conspiracy..."

Against his will, Apollo thought of the man who took him in, trained him, and opened the doors for him.

"But he was better as a kid, right?"

Klavier's gaze turned flinty.

"No."

Apollo raised his hands helplessly. Klavier sighed. He took a moment to compose himself before speaking again, in a quieter tone.

"Once, the two of us were playing ball outside. Bonding time, eye-hand coordination, you know, those things. Eventually, I stepped in front of a window and held up my hands. Klavier missed and hit the window. I was so scared of what Mom and Dad would do. He calmed me down, gave me a hug, and said we would apologize together. Would you believe I hugged him back?"

Apollo was stunned.

"A couple of hours later, Mom and Dad came back from work. It was him and me at the front door. I was ready to stand with him. I was ready to confess. I was ready to get shouted at. I was not ready for Kristoph shoving me in front and saying that it was entirely my fault the window was broken. He smiled, just grinned at me, said I should apologize. And...and for a moment, believe it or not, he actually had me believing it was my fault. Even though I saw him toss the ball at me with my own eyes."

"Did he ever...like, do that sort of thing again?"

Klavier shook his head. "Not really. But he did keep giving me that look I told you about. Just to let me know that he could do worse to me than the window accident if he ever felt like it. And before you ask, no, he didn't treat Klaire any better."

Apollo nodded with a worried expression.

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

"Ja."

Klavier's face softened, and he finally smiled again. "We may have been rivals in court, but for what it's worth...thanks for ridding us of him. There's nothing I'd like more than a fresh start. And I wish the best in all your future endeavors." He bowed his head, went into the house, and closed the door.

Just as Apollo began to take a deep breath, the door swung open again. He could not help but yelp.

"But if you ever do Klaire wrong, I will hear of it, Herr Forehead." Klavier snapped his fingers. "Good night."

Then the door was closed again.

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 24; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.