Chapter Text
She was consistently like a baby sister to him, even if she was a mass thorn in his side after all. The junior attorney was a remnant of importance to the elder prosecutor's past, and his beloved mentor's prized and cherished blood. Blood that he himself would keep close to his heart for the remainder of his life. He'd protect her with ever fiber of his being, every ounce of his energy he could, until he no longer found capability and took his last breathe.
Simon Blackquill and Athena Cykes were a set of two with a symbolic past, their fates forever entertwined. It was nothing more a lame excuse for babysitting her, she always remarked.
However, her statement held very not an ounce of truth; he was destined to keep watch over her like a hawk, whether their professions were opposing sides that may someday lead them into a battle of law against one another. Athena was bound to him whether she liked it or not, whether he felt it was a good day or not. It was just a matter of life.
The day he freed her from the chains of captivity, where lady liberty herself called down and decided his suffering would be no more... That was the day he knew things would change for the better and Simon was now subjected to a life outside the clink. Outside the debilitating frigidness they call prison in the United States. Outside with the mystery of years ago exterminated and no longer haunting them. As luck would have it, things were a happy ending and Simon could return to his prosecuting and Athena to focusing on bettering her skills as an Attorney, until one day he called her in to help with a case...
Well, more like step in and she was a complete disaster. She couldn't keep up with anything in court. Her objections were weak, her will to succumb to Sad Monk's cruel jests and insults, the way she carried herself... Everything happened to be a hot mess and he knew he'd have to take charge in some way. Simon had stepped in and, what he believes, saved the little sparrow from breaking her neck. Things went smoothly in court, well... Sort of. She still continued to fumble up and he had to snap some sense into the doubtful mind of the damn girl, but they won in the end and the true culprit was carted away.
"We managed to pull it off, Simon! We really did it!"
There was little Athena, chirping away her barely managed victories once again to him. Mischievious intent glinted in his eyes as she realized what was coming. The usual grin to the side. It only meant a whirlwind of insults awaited her.
"Only barely, because you had my help, Athena," he remarked. "If I hadn't stepped in when I had, you would have blown the entirety of the case!"
The junior attorney's short temper was set off, her fists clenched, lips creased into a deep frown. It truly amused him that she was so easy to pick on. It was no wonder Nahyuta had no problem either. She gave a reaction to every little thing said to her and that granted the damned fool his wanted satisfaction.
"I...I... I'm not a child anymore Simon!," her response was barked and brimmed with defiance. "P-Prosecutor Sahdmadi... He..."
Oh no, he had seen this only once before. Her moods shifted as quickly as their sessions in court, and she soon had her head down, shoulders drooped pathetically. Simon swore he saw tears dripping from her cheeks. This wasn't good one bit, he had made her cry... Simon sighed in frustration as he shook his head, realizing Nahyuta's derogatory commentary lowkey had taken a toll on little Athena. His comment probably happened to be the last straw as well...
Glancing away in embarrassment at the situation, before him, he placed a hand upon her head like he had back when he'd first found her in the lab. His large, calloused hands rubbed her head in an attempt to comfort her. Soon the gruff prosecutor realized it wasn't enough as Athena only began sobbing even harder in the middle of the lobby, causing him to grow even further uncomfortable. Reluctantly, as much as he wished he didn't have to, Simon pulled the attorney into his broad chest, hand rubbing her back in soothing circles as she sobbed into his chest with muffled cries and snuffs of her runny nose.
It was awkward, being a full grown man, holding a young teenage girl who still knew little about the harsh realities of the court system and its prosecutors. However, he knew for sure he'd give Sad Monk a piece of his mind next time they crossed swords again. Especially for upsetting fragile Athena this much, too.
Eventually the youth's fit came to a gradual stop. Athena pulled away from his massive hold with a sniff, forearm swiping across her face to rid it of the tears. Glancing down at her, doing his best not to feel awkward, Simon spoke.
"And are you better now, little Athena?," he questioned her with a softer tone, arms folded as he glanced elsewhere.
"Much better, thank you Simon," she flashed a slight smile through her pink, semi-swollen features.
"Good. Let me not have to do that again!" he boomed as she gave a soft chuckle. She knew he cared and that's all she needed to know.