Protection

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Ace Attorney universe optional
Summary: Kind of a follow-up to The State of Being Picky.  Apollo's trying to figure out how to deal with a partner with a food allergy.
Word Count: 934

Rating: Gen
Notes: References a manga case, though hopefully I made the description vague enough to not be spoilery.

            As usual when Apollo discovers a problem (and, well, thinks it’s actually a problem that pertains to him and that he cares about), he anxiously attempts to fix said problem.  In this case, he’s not sure how to deal with a partner with a severe food allergy, so he does what he’s very good at and begins researching.

            A question to Wright…as usual isn’t very helpful.  It results in a long, rambling story about a cat named Phoenix, some flour, and a girl’s mother coming back from the dead.  “But in general,” he interrupts himself before he gets too into it, sending Apollo a wink that leads him to wonder exactly what the man thinks he’s doing, “I’ve never had an allergy, just lots of colds.  Luckily my immune system got better by now, what with everything that happens.”

            While that’s probably the case, that doesn’t help Justice.  So he goes to the local library, staggers out with a bunch of books that he promptly has to hide ten minutes after he’s made it to the apartment when he hears the familiar rumbling of a motorcycle outside.  Given Klavier’s reaction, he assumes that the prosecutor doesn’t want any reminders of that particular health issue.

            Edgeworth, it seems, knows a little, because out of the blue he calls Apollo into his office.  (Apollo, stupidly enough, assumes it’s for work.  Why would he assume work would happen in a law office?)  Unfortunately, his allergies (Edgeworth has allergies?) are apparently only seasonal, related to flowers blooming (and why he tends to be miserable and irritable when he receives flowers, though the fact that they’re usually sent by Oldbag probably doesn’t help matters, either).  He is able to direct Apollo to some useful cases, including one that begins to sound familiar when Apollo begins reading it.  (The cat with the flour is definitely not named Phoenix in the court transcript, though.  Justice would ask Phoenix about it, if he was really that curious about it.  He isn’t.)

            He also searches “Klavier + allergies”, trying to figure out if the younger Gavin is really as careful as he thinks.  If the technologically challenged defense lawyer can find anything, then Klavier is definitely being a little more flamboyant than prudent, and they need to take safety precautions.

            The links on the first page are all speculations about one of the early Gavinners’ songs, “Silent Objection”.

            “While most of the Gavinners’ lyrics are lighthearted and make one smile, ‘Silent Objection’ is a more solemn song of the bunch,” Apollo reads.  “While the band’s namesake, Klavier Gavin, states that there is no personal connection, he does acknowledge in interview the double meaning behind the lyrics.  And despite the smiles, his more serious tone when discussing the newest addition to the discography matches the feel of the song.  ‘It was written to bring awareness to food allergies.  You can think of it as an extension of the band’s charity work, ja?  We are all in the justice system because we wish to see justice done.  I have friends who cannot simply on a whim go out to eat.  Travel is a burden.  Restaurants need to be more accommodating for those with allergies, or at least be more informative.  For products on shelves, they need to have a full ingredient list.  Under no circumstances should they lie about their product’s ingredients, because for the most serious, death can result, and that is simply playing reckless games with peoples’ lives.  The current situation is not acceptable, and if I can, with a simple song, make the world a better place, why not?  Change has to begin—’”

            “I wondered what would have Justice sneaking around so much, these past few weeks.”

            “Gaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!”  Apollo practically jumps out of his skin, and turns to glare at his boyfriend, looking a little sheepish and definitely more serious than usual, crouching behind him.  “W-warn me next time…”

            “Ach, but where’s the fun in that?”  The smile’s a little more normal.  One of the man’s hands (fingerless gloves?  The purple makes sense, since it’s Klavier’s favorite color, but Apollo’s never seen him wear those) reaches out and steadies itself between Justice’s smaller fingers.  “If you were so curious, all you had to do is ask.”

            “I thought you didn’t like to talk about it.”  The blunt words are out of the lawyer’s mouth before he can really think about it.

            A soft chuckle greets him in response, and Klavier nods.  “Ja, that is a good assumption, but…”  He sighs, lifting his gaze to somewhere in the distance.  “That does not mean it is not important, liebling.”