Guilty Love
Feb. 11th, 2021 10:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madimpossibledreamerMain Points:
Ace Attorney AU
Chapter Summary: Apollo doesn't think Klavier's being serious about flirting with him.
Word Count: 1802
Rating: Teen
Note: Apollo Justice spoilers. Klavier is Sir Being Talked About But Not Appearing In This Fic. (Edgeworth and Phoenix are also in this category)
Warnings: Kristoph being Kristoph even when not present (so emotional abuse), very brief discussion of mental health, speculations about incest and Kristoph
“Polly…” Clay’s speaking slowly, suddenly, like he always does when he thinks Apollo is being dense. “…What makes you think he’s lying?”
“He flirts with everyone. He just likes watching me squirm.”
Now he sighs, the sigh that says I signed up for this, being this guy’s best friend. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but you’ve always been good at telling when someone’s lying, haven’t you?” He…has. Huh. That probably means he’s been using his ability all this time and didn’t realize. The only difference—
The only difference is that he didn’t know how to concentrate, before. That, and it was easier to dismiss his intuition when he didn’t have a clue what was happening. Clay presses on when he doesn’t give a response. “Has he been lying?”
Apollo thinks back, and…no, not really. He can always tell when Klavier’s putting on his Glimmerous Fop but doesn’t really mean it, a shield from the world. Half the time Apollo guesses he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. It’s natural, after all this time. Probably how he deals with paparazzi. More of it is feelings, which he doesn’t normally pick up on but Klavier’s more insistent about concealing them than anyone he knows—
“Your emotions make you less professional, Justice. Your client is already distraught enough for the both of you.” Kristoph, the ‘Coolest Defense in the West’. Of course it was easy for him to be detached when he was a sociopath, but for Apollo, who was still far easier to fluster than he preferred and got angry a bit too easily and for Klavier, who occasionally wore his heart on his sleeve and could be a diva and was as honest and genuine as he could be in a world where paparazzi might lurk around every corner, such an act was a little more difficult. Still, the specter of Kristoph Gavin isn’t so easily dismissed, Apollo muses, considering his own issues. Mr. Wright finds him easy enough to rile up because he tries to get a genuine reaction, and Apollo can’t bring himself to show that ‘weakness’. And then Apollo gets angry, because what Mr. Wright wants from him isn’t professional, and…well, when he’s going around trying to conceal his own emotions, he’s basically lying all the time, so there’s probably some strain in his bracelet that he doesn’t even notice due to it, well, being normal. Dysfunctional workplaces can warp your sense of what’s normal, he reminds himself. He’d done some reading on the subject after realizing that one of his clients truly had no idea that calling the police after a break-in was the right call, because managers had yelled at him in the past to handle everything internally. He hadn’t been thinking about how it applied to him.
“Not consciously,” he decides faintly, thinking back on the flirtation, and the emotional deception got worse and worse the longer Klavier had done it. He could actually secretly hate Apollo, but compared to Kristoph his younger brother’s not so good of an actor.
Ohhh—and that would explain part of why he hates the Rock Star Personality soooo much. Insincere rock star = strangled wrist. Not fun. Of course, there are times when Klavier actually means it. He is actually a diva, sometimes, and sometimes he’ll put on a show for Apollo’s benefit, strutting like a proud peacock—
Ah. That word is a little tame to be describing the next revelation, but Apollo doesn’t have another handy. The flirting, at the beginning, hadn’t been genuine. Not fully, at least. The prosecutor had put up walls. He’d known, probably from the start, who Apollo was. It was a test, Klavier already trying him out to see if he could play him like a guitar. Maybe he’d been even more on guard, if he’d found Apollo attractive and the pictures didn’t do him justice. Heh.
But since then, more and more, Klavier had been letting down his guard, becoming more real and less twitchy. And Apollo could tell that it was him and not just the aftermath of the stuff with his brother, or whatever, because if he walked into a room and the prosecutor didn’t realize he was there, his bracelet would stay tighter just until the point at which the man noticed him.
The saddest part about that is, that means that sometimes, Klavier’s lying to himself, just to get through the day.
So. Klavier finds him relaxing, but at the same time can’t be honest about flirting with him. Doesn’t hate him. Won’t hesitate to challenge him, but is just as serious about finding the truth.
“You do know that it’s pretty common knowledge Rock Star Klavier Gavin is bisexual, right?” The evidence is beginning to add up, and Apollo’s not entirely sure how he feels about the case, but. He’ll find out.
“Of course you read all the tabloids.” Apollo tries to steady his heart beat.
“Come on, Lotta Hart sometimes has some pretty insightful things to say.” Clay’s sounding a bit less hesitant. So he thinks ‘Polly’ is catching up. Well, he is. Whatever. “So, you think he doesn’t mean it?”
“…” It’s Apollo’s turn to sigh as he sits down. This will be a longer phone call than he expected. “You don’t sound too opposed to the idea.”
“From what I’ve read, he’s always treated his ‘lovers’ with the respect they deserve. A suave, old-school romantic type.” Clay’s teasing, but this time, Apollo’s pretty good at keeping the blush down. “And despite all your complaining, you seem pretty into him, too. I trust the two of you are adults enough to handle yourselves.”
“Yeah, okay.” That’s a bit of a surprise. In the past, the few times Apollo had gotten into a relationship, Clay had turned into a disapproving bloodhound, but then, given Klavier’s fame, perhaps he’d been in the spotlight enough to give enough information about the guy to allow his friend to let down his guard. “Is there anything among the gossip that would help me?” He can test the waters, anyway, see if either of them are really ready. He is…probably. He’d always enjoyed being in a relationship, but after he got the job with Kristoph and the last guy walked away on him…
Huh. Yet another thing to blame his mentor for. The unprofessionalism of attachment. But then, there are so many.
“Well, you should know he’s really out and proud. He doesn’t make a big deal out of it, other than the flirting thing, but he’s a naturally flirtatious person, apparently. ‘I don’t see the harm in love, ja? Well, most love.’” Apollo winces. That accent is hideous. “He draws the line at incest, pedophilia, stuff like that. He’s actually German, though he hasn’t been there since he was, like, seven or something, so he’s rusty in his own mother tongue. After Kristoph ended up convicted in your first case, I read this huge thread about whether or not the older brother ‘helped him keep up his German’ and told him stuff wrong on purpose. Probably half the Gavinners fans had no clue who Kristoph was before that trial, and afterward everyone pretended they knew all along. The split between ‘manipulative older bro’ and ‘he was framed’ was pretty even. You won’t find that thread now, though. The mods were pretty good about clearing everybody out if they were talking about it—probably looking out for Klavier’s mental health.”
“…Was Kristoph Klavier’s guardian?” He has the feeling, but that would honestly be worse.
“Yeah.” Apollo closes his eyes as Clay says the thing he didn’t want to hear. “He took Klavier to the States for school after their mother died. Apparently, their father didn’t want anything to do with raising him solo, and there’s his much older brother, willing to step up to the plate.” Apollo curses under his breath. Not in English, but if Clay hears he’ll probably recognize it as a swear anyway. They’ve been friends for a long time. “Probably messed him up worse than he did you—and no, I don’t wanna hear another apology, Polly.”
Because he’d also practically abandoned Clay based on Mr. Gavin’s whim, and yeah, he still feels guilty about it. Then again, the man had practically mastered the art of isolating his targets.
Instead, Apollo moves on to something else that had come up. “You mentioned mental health.”
“If he’s seen anybody, it’s private, and not even the press went after it. Though, to be fair, if he did, it’s under a doc Kristoph chose, and I wouldn’t want to mess with him either. Klavier’s wound up pretty tight sometimes, according to the rumors.” That would match with the complete personality change he’d seen from Klavier at the concert.
Still, there’s one upside to all this. “Mr. Edgeworth had to have forced him to speak to somebody competent, after everything.” He wasn’t the type to ignore something like that, or leave it up to chance. It’s what made him such a formidable foe in court.
“Hey, he’s good for something other than making your boss happy.” Clay just grins and moves out of bopping range at Apollo’s scandalized hiss. “Though put him on the list of people I’d really like to not tick off.”
“At least he won’t poison you,” Apollo mutters absently, thinking. On one hand, he could badger Clay for more details, what his hobbies were (other than playing the guitar), wring every last detail of how Klavier would like to be wooed out of him. On the other…On the other, well. That would make him just like all the obsessed fans, wouldn’t it? Better to take this all organically. Because it’s not like he’s obsessed, or even head over heels. Klavier is pretty, and he’s got a nice smile, when it’s the real, almost shy, flirty one, and he thinks he’s even come to enjoy the man’s sense of humor. He definitely appreciates how much Klavier cares about the truth in the courtroom, despite the fact he sometimes seems like he’s not taking it seriously at all, or is a little cruel when pushing Apollo further.
That’s probably his brother’s fault—and, hang on. Because he’s gotten better about that too. It’s evolved to just…more teasing than vindictive. Well. If he was already having a positive influence, that’s good.
“I’d complain that joke is in poor taste, but…eh? Eh?” Clay’s nudge is excessive, but so was the pun.
“Can we please watch Doctor Who already?” Apollo whines playfully, quickly hiding behind the cushions and preparing for a counterattack when Clay starts pelting him with popcorn. It turns out that Ema’s actually been pretty good at training his reflexes.
Ace Attorney AU
Chapter Summary: Apollo doesn't think Klavier's being serious about flirting with him.
Word Count: 1802
Rating: Teen
Note: Apollo Justice spoilers. Klavier is Sir Being Talked About But Not Appearing In This Fic. (Edgeworth and Phoenix are also in this category)
Warnings: Kristoph being Kristoph even when not present (so emotional abuse), very brief discussion of mental health, speculations about incest and Kristoph
“And I wish he’d stop toying with me. He doesn’t like me; he just flirts with me to rile me up.”
“Polly…” Clay’s speaking slowly, suddenly, like he always does when he thinks Apollo is being dense. “…What makes you think he’s lying?”
“He flirts with everyone. He just likes watching me squirm.”
Now he sighs, the sigh that says I signed up for this, being this guy’s best friend. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but you’ve always been good at telling when someone’s lying, haven’t you?” He…has. Huh. That probably means he’s been using his ability all this time and didn’t realize. The only difference—
The only difference is that he didn’t know how to concentrate, before. That, and it was easier to dismiss his intuition when he didn’t have a clue what was happening. Clay presses on when he doesn’t give a response. “Has he been lying?”
Apollo thinks back, and…no, not really. He can always tell when Klavier’s putting on his Glimmerous Fop but doesn’t really mean it, a shield from the world. Half the time Apollo guesses he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. It’s natural, after all this time. Probably how he deals with paparazzi. More of it is feelings, which he doesn’t normally pick up on but Klavier’s more insistent about concealing them than anyone he knows—
“Your emotions make you less professional, Justice. Your client is already distraught enough for the both of you.” Kristoph, the ‘Coolest Defense in the West’. Of course it was easy for him to be detached when he was a sociopath, but for Apollo, who was still far easier to fluster than he preferred and got angry a bit too easily and for Klavier, who occasionally wore his heart on his sleeve and could be a diva and was as honest and genuine as he could be in a world where paparazzi might lurk around every corner, such an act was a little more difficult. Still, the specter of Kristoph Gavin isn’t so easily dismissed, Apollo muses, considering his own issues. Mr. Wright finds him easy enough to rile up because he tries to get a genuine reaction, and Apollo can’t bring himself to show that ‘weakness’. And then Apollo gets angry, because what Mr. Wright wants from him isn’t professional, and…well, when he’s going around trying to conceal his own emotions, he’s basically lying all the time, so there’s probably some strain in his bracelet that he doesn’t even notice due to it, well, being normal. Dysfunctional workplaces can warp your sense of what’s normal, he reminds himself. He’d done some reading on the subject after realizing that one of his clients truly had no idea that calling the police after a break-in was the right call, because managers had yelled at him in the past to handle everything internally. He hadn’t been thinking about how it applied to him.
“Not consciously,” he decides faintly, thinking back on the flirtation, and the emotional deception got worse and worse the longer Klavier had done it. He could actually secretly hate Apollo, but compared to Kristoph his younger brother’s not so good of an actor.
Ohhh—and that would explain part of why he hates the Rock Star Personality soooo much. Insincere rock star = strangled wrist. Not fun. Of course, there are times when Klavier actually means it. He is actually a diva, sometimes, and sometimes he’ll put on a show for Apollo’s benefit, strutting like a proud peacock—
Ah. That word is a little tame to be describing the next revelation, but Apollo doesn’t have another handy. The flirting, at the beginning, hadn’t been genuine. Not fully, at least. The prosecutor had put up walls. He’d known, probably from the start, who Apollo was. It was a test, Klavier already trying him out to see if he could play him like a guitar. Maybe he’d been even more on guard, if he’d found Apollo attractive and the pictures didn’t do him justice. Heh.
But since then, more and more, Klavier had been letting down his guard, becoming more real and less twitchy. And Apollo could tell that it was him and not just the aftermath of the stuff with his brother, or whatever, because if he walked into a room and the prosecutor didn’t realize he was there, his bracelet would stay tighter just until the point at which the man noticed him.
The saddest part about that is, that means that sometimes, Klavier’s lying to himself, just to get through the day.
So. Klavier finds him relaxing, but at the same time can’t be honest about flirting with him. Doesn’t hate him. Won’t hesitate to challenge him, but is just as serious about finding the truth.
“You do know that it’s pretty common knowledge Rock Star Klavier Gavin is bisexual, right?” The evidence is beginning to add up, and Apollo’s not entirely sure how he feels about the case, but. He’ll find out.
“Of course you read all the tabloids.” Apollo tries to steady his heart beat.
“Come on, Lotta Hart sometimes has some pretty insightful things to say.” Clay’s sounding a bit less hesitant. So he thinks ‘Polly’ is catching up. Well, he is. Whatever. “So, you think he doesn’t mean it?”
“…” It’s Apollo’s turn to sigh as he sits down. This will be a longer phone call than he expected. “You don’t sound too opposed to the idea.”
“From what I’ve read, he’s always treated his ‘lovers’ with the respect they deserve. A suave, old-school romantic type.” Clay’s teasing, but this time, Apollo’s pretty good at keeping the blush down. “And despite all your complaining, you seem pretty into him, too. I trust the two of you are adults enough to handle yourselves.”
“Yeah, okay.” That’s a bit of a surprise. In the past, the few times Apollo had gotten into a relationship, Clay had turned into a disapproving bloodhound, but then, given Klavier’s fame, perhaps he’d been in the spotlight enough to give enough information about the guy to allow his friend to let down his guard. “Is there anything among the gossip that would help me?” He can test the waters, anyway, see if either of them are really ready. He is…probably. He’d always enjoyed being in a relationship, but after he got the job with Kristoph and the last guy walked away on him…
Huh. Yet another thing to blame his mentor for. The unprofessionalism of attachment. But then, there are so many.
“Well, you should know he’s really out and proud. He doesn’t make a big deal out of it, other than the flirting thing, but he’s a naturally flirtatious person, apparently. ‘I don’t see the harm in love, ja? Well, most love.’” Apollo winces. That accent is hideous. “He draws the line at incest, pedophilia, stuff like that. He’s actually German, though he hasn’t been there since he was, like, seven or something, so he’s rusty in his own mother tongue. After Kristoph ended up convicted in your first case, I read this huge thread about whether or not the older brother ‘helped him keep up his German’ and told him stuff wrong on purpose. Probably half the Gavinners fans had no clue who Kristoph was before that trial, and afterward everyone pretended they knew all along. The split between ‘manipulative older bro’ and ‘he was framed’ was pretty even. You won’t find that thread now, though. The mods were pretty good about clearing everybody out if they were talking about it—probably looking out for Klavier’s mental health.”
“…Was Kristoph Klavier’s guardian?” He has the feeling, but that would honestly be worse.
“Yeah.” Apollo closes his eyes as Clay says the thing he didn’t want to hear. “He took Klavier to the States for school after their mother died. Apparently, their father didn’t want anything to do with raising him solo, and there’s his much older brother, willing to step up to the plate.” Apollo curses under his breath. Not in English, but if Clay hears he’ll probably recognize it as a swear anyway. They’ve been friends for a long time. “Probably messed him up worse than he did you—and no, I don’t wanna hear another apology, Polly.”
Because he’d also practically abandoned Clay based on Mr. Gavin’s whim, and yeah, he still feels guilty about it. Then again, the man had practically mastered the art of isolating his targets.
Instead, Apollo moves on to something else that had come up. “You mentioned mental health.”
“If he’s seen anybody, it’s private, and not even the press went after it. Though, to be fair, if he did, it’s under a doc Kristoph chose, and I wouldn’t want to mess with him either. Klavier’s wound up pretty tight sometimes, according to the rumors.” That would match with the complete personality change he’d seen from Klavier at the concert.
Still, there’s one upside to all this. “Mr. Edgeworth had to have forced him to speak to somebody competent, after everything.” He wasn’t the type to ignore something like that, or leave it up to chance. It’s what made him such a formidable foe in court.
“Hey, he’s good for something other than making your boss happy.” Clay just grins and moves out of bopping range at Apollo’s scandalized hiss. “Though put him on the list of people I’d really like to not tick off.”
“At least he won’t poison you,” Apollo mutters absently, thinking. On one hand, he could badger Clay for more details, what his hobbies were (other than playing the guitar), wring every last detail of how Klavier would like to be wooed out of him. On the other…On the other, well. That would make him just like all the obsessed fans, wouldn’t it? Better to take this all organically. Because it’s not like he’s obsessed, or even head over heels. Klavier is pretty, and he’s got a nice smile, when it’s the real, almost shy, flirty one, and he thinks he’s even come to enjoy the man’s sense of humor. He definitely appreciates how much Klavier cares about the truth in the courtroom, despite the fact he sometimes seems like he’s not taking it seriously at all, or is a little cruel when pushing Apollo further.
That’s probably his brother’s fault—and, hang on. Because he’s gotten better about that too. It’s evolved to just…more teasing than vindictive. Well. If he was already having a positive influence, that’s good.
“I’d complain that joke is in poor taste, but…eh? Eh?” Clay’s nudge is excessive, but so was the pun.
“Can we please watch Doctor Who already?” Apollo whines playfully, quickly hiding behind the cushions and preparing for a counterattack when Clay starts pelting him with popcorn. It turns out that Ema’s actually been pretty good at training his reflexes.
