A Long Line of Disasters

[madimpossibledreamer]

What I meant is that Klavier is happy, and Apollo’s happy Klavier’s happy, but it could totally be read as jealousy.  You’ll know the part when you get there (probably).

Main Points:
Ace Attorney Soulmate AU
Chapter Summary: Klavier is having a bad day.
Word Count: 1640
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Even being able to read Klavier's mind, Apollo still doesn't take Klavier's crush seriously...
Spoilers: Beginning of Case 3 spoilers, some of Case 2 spoilers
I used some German I know + the infamous Google Translate + me making a new German compound word for Linked Person for fun

 

        Klavier, you’re aware you didn’t actually pay for the tickets you sent, right?  He’s doing a good job putting on a grumpy face, and to be fair, he’s really, really not looking forward to having his hearing soundly damaged, telling Trucy he’s only going because Mr. Wright would not be happy with him if she went on his own, but he’s actually kind of curious about watching his Linked perform for the first time.  Sure, the lyrics are wince-inducing cheesy, but Pianoman has a really good voice, which he hears far too often, and he’s definitely curious.  He plans on teasing the prosecutor a bit before he actually admits to that, though.
        His plans kind of disappear when the only thing that responds is a very decisive, Scheiße. 
        Klavier is, yes, prone to dramatics, but there’s also usually a good reason behind it.  No matter how effortless he makes any of this look, he definitely feels the weight of his fame and the expectations of his fans and those depending on him in court to get the right verdict.  The dramatics, like the air guitar, are usually a way to let off steam, a nice pressure valve.
        Ich kann das nicht.  He’s heard that before, too, so he knows what it means—I can’t do this.  His Linked tends to drop into German when he’s stressed without even realizing, so he’d studied a little, to actually help.
        Well, not with that attitude.  Start with breathing with me, okay?  One step at a time.  It’s not like he hadn’t relied on a mix of Pianoman’s encouraging words (though he’d drawn a line at the point where the ridiculous rock star started turning it all into a musical like the embarrassing dork he is even though it’d made him laugh) and his own Chords of Steel before his own disastrous first case.
        Das ist eine Katastrophe, the prosecutor manages, then, I’ll pay you back, Verknüpftermensch.  He sounds so miserable Apollo can’t just leave him like that.
        “Apollo?” Trucy asks, and he shakes his head.  He absolutely cannot manage a conversation with both Trucy and Klavier at once, given how much attention they both require, and he’s not going to abandon the man when he’s clearly having a crisis.
        “Just reminding Klavier about the price tag on his gift,” he tells her, because it’ll make her yell at him and he can tune her out, and re-prioritizes the Link.
        I think Trucy asked for an advance on her birthday gift.  I also think I heard her proudly tell me that she’s borrowed birthday gifts until she’s eighty, but I kind of stopped paying attention because I really, really don’t want to know.  The Wrights scare me.
        At least Klavier hiccups into his tears.  That’s a start. 
        So, uh, bad day?  He keeps the opening just that, an opening.  If Klavier wants to accept it, that’s fine.
        Where to start? Klavier sounds miserable.  This concert, Herr Justice, it’s important.  All those following a hiatus are.
        Klavier, I’m pretty sure you’re putting more thought into this than any of your Fräuleins.  I’d have a feeling they scream louder than you at any given performance.  It’s just a consequence of his chosen style of music, Apollo’s pretty sure.  They’re not as, uh, discerning as others might be.
        We do actually have critics who, ja, like our performances und go into great detail analyzing every aspect, his Linked corrects him softly, but good, at least he’s got him thinking, now.
        There’s a special aesthetic to a live performance, Gavin.  What with autotune and really edited songs and the like, it’s a style that’s on the decline.  If you mess up, just tell the press something about honest and authentic feel.  They’ll eat it up.  He hesitates and then adds, I mean, that’s one of the big reasons why people consider Tank! one of the best anime intros of all time, right?  It’s raw and authentic, which honestly kind of matches the show…
        He trails off at the amusement he can feel, but as embarrassed as he is, it’s an improvement on Klavier’s mental state, so he’ll take it.
        You are such a geek.  Adorable, he responds, before turning a little more serious.  I can’t say I won’t seek perfection—it is such a curse, ja?—but I will keep your advice in mind, at least.  The defense again submits fairly decisive evidence.  He sighs, offering a glimpse of himself putting his hands behind his head and trying, unsuccessfully, to relax in the dressing room couch.  It feels like today is cursed, though, natürlich, that might be mere imagination drawn from the fact this has been one of the worst weeks of my life.  My hog won’t start, und I’m missing some keys.  Had to break into my own guitar case, like a thief.  It was a nice case, too.  The media are swarming outside und I had to send Skye to get Lu, since we agreed threatening to sue them would, wie soll ich es ausdrücken, not be very productive.  Lauren is arguing mit her newest boyfriend again, und Justin is late, though I’m sure he’ll show up before we start.
        It’s easy enough to picture it all.  He’s known of these people since the Gavinners formed, though Pianoman had been careful to omit actual names, only referring to them all by nicknames.  Police Commissioner Lu Tennant, “Observer”, quiet and distant with an unexpected sense of humor but a demon on the drums and, like Klavier, far too caught up in her work and, Apollo thinks sourly, barely speaks with her family because of it, which is a similarity he takes no pride in contributing to its existence.  Lauren Leroy, keyboardist criminal psychologist, whose interest in chess easily had Klavier calling her “Chess” and whose nose for trouble often had her prodding around to find scandals (to be fair, she only seemed interested in some sort of macabre collection of secrets with no interest in either using or revealing them, or Klavier would have kicked her out long ago).  Still, Apollo can understand why his Linked finds her unsettling and is happy that she’s never shown an actual interest in dating him.  Justin Case, “Surfer”, laidback Australian judge and bassist who simultaneously infuriates Klavier with his unwillingness, seemingly, to take the band seriously—and yet is also the only one who can calm him down in one of his perfectionist fits and knows the exact right thing to do or say and without whom, Klavier freely admits, the whole band might have fallen apart years before.
        Which leaves the second guitarist and Klavier’s best friend, “Shark”.  Where’s Daryan?
        Hell if I know, Klavier responds dismissively, waving his hand expressively, but he’s covering up real ache under there.  It’s easy to tell how upset he is, how much this means to him, because he usually doesn’t transmit pictures over the Link this much.  He tells me I am overreacting and then leaves me here alone.
        To have a panic attack by yourself?  Poor baby, he states, the fond care in his heart hopefully taking the harsh bite off his words. 
        I—ja.  Klavier gets up energetically and starts pacing, trying to get rid of the nervousness thrilling through him like he’s a too-tight wound guitar string.  (The only reason Apollo can even make that comparison is that he’s been mental witness to far too many of Piano’s broken guitar strings.)  I don’t—this was all ein Fehler.  Who looked at me and said, ja, this is ein Mann who seems mature.  Let’s let him make choices; this won’t all go horribly wrong.
        He just needs a little more of a push.  You’ve been playing too much Stanley Parable, haven’t you? he asks, listening carefully to the choking laughter to make sure he hasn’t actually broken the prosecutor and doesn’t need to call for help.  He knows it’s not true, that Klavier has never actually played the game, just put it on in the background for noise to concentrate, but it’s a big enough theme he’s fairly sure the blond will remember anyway—as, clearly, he does, judging by the fact that Gavin thinks it’s hilarious.
        Take that! he thinks triumphantly before realizing that, oops, he sent that over the Link and he’s set the rock star off again.  You’re one of the only people who actually thinks I’m funny, he tries to cover his mistake, and Klavier sits again, smiling.  His mood has definitely improved, but Apollo can and should continue.
        The point is, the more I do this ‘adult’ thing, the more I realize, well.  Maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe there are actually people out there with all their stuff together.  But it seems like a lot of adult life is just making a bunch of decisions that probably aren’t the best because you’re stressed and trying to make the best of it and pretend like you actually know what you’re doing.  It’s exhausting.
        Klavier sighs, but he actually dries his eyes, and the fire that motivates him seems to be back, judging by how he’s feeling.  You have a way with words, Verknüpftermensch.  I will go find our makeup artist…again…und try not to vibrate out of my skin.  I will pay you back at some point, you will, perhaps, actually enjoy yourself, at least a little, und if it gets too loud you’re free to hide in the dressing room, since the VIP passes include the backstage, und I will see you later?
        It actually sounds hopeful, even a little shy, and Apollo rolls his eyes.  We are coming to your concert, he reminds the rock star.  Also, we’re Linked.  Like you’re getting rid of me that easily.
        Sehr gut.  Achtung, baby, let’s rock!  Well, if nothing else, that enthusiasm will really help him out on stage.