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Apollo tapped his pen on the table and sighed deeply. This is not where he thought he’d be at twenty-three. He and Klavier had only been married for, what, six months? Was it even that?
He guess this shows him for marrying someone based solely on the sex. It was great, but what did they really have in common? Law, Apollo reminded himself. Klavier used to be real into the law, wanting to be a prosecutor and all that. Until his older defense attorney brother went nuts and -
Well, Apollo guesses that’d kill it for anybody. “Is this all? Everything settled?” Apollo doesn’t really care for the way Klavier is sizing up the attorney on his left. Not in an I could so beat you down in court way, but in a damn I’d fuck your socks off way. It makes Apollo’s stomach turn, not so much with jealousy as with embarrassment.
"Yeah, that’s all." Apollo didn’t bother getting a lawyer because unlike Klavier, he actually still gives a damn about the justice system and doing the right thing and is finishing up law school as they speak.
Or he would be, if he could find himself a decent mentor. Klavier nods, but looks away as soon as Apollo tilts his head up. He runs a hand down the front of his attorney’s suit jacket, and the man looks satisfyingly uncomfortable. He knows what Klavier’s doing here - trying to piss Apollo off, make him jealous, slipping a business card in to this guy’s - Mr. Wright? - pocket. “Give ma a call, ja?” he says. The lawyer just sort of blinks and goes um. Klavier winks and heads out, not bothering with a second glance at his now ex-husband.
Apollo sighs again and lets his head hit the table. He didn’t even listen to the list as Mr. Wright was reading off. He didn’t really care about what Klavier wanted, not anymore. He was done trying to keep them both happy, especially when what Klavier wanted was something that made Apollo so miserable -
"Are you okay?" Apollo looks up. Klavier’s attorney is still standing against the wall, head tilted and looking at Apollo in concern.
"Yeah," Apollo mumbles, rubbing his eyes. "I’m fine."
"I mean, I know that’s a lie," the older man continues. "But I guess it’s good that you’re willing to say you are?"
"What makes you think it’s a lie?"
He shrugs. “Divorces aren’t pretty, and you seem kind of defeated. You just sat there and let him take everything.”
Apollo shrugs. “He would have done that anyway. I’m not even sure if I want anything…”
"It’s a little too late now," he sighs. "I could always work it out with him, for you. I can be pretty convincing when I want."
Apollo was startled. “Uhm, aren’t you supposed to be helping him?”
The man shrugs. “I’ve known him and his brother for a little while. This is just another favor he’s asked of me. Believe me, he owes me more than one.” He pauses, and with a stupid grin, says, “He owes me two!" Apollo snorts, covering his head with his hands again. He can hear the lawyer laughing at himself.
"That’s pretty terrible. Like, dad joke terrible."
"Well," he shrugs, "I am a dad."
"Damn," Apollo says, then winces. "Uh, I mean -" He’s raising an eyebrow at Apollo, who’s never been good at keeping his mouth shut. He can’t possibly get any more humiliated, so he says, "No, I mean damn."
The older man chuckles and pulls out the seat Klavier had been occupying just a few minutes ago. “No need to be so disappointed. I am single,” he smirks. Apollo blushes and stutters. His face is so red it’s tingling. Mr. Wright holds out his hand. “I’m Phoenix.”
Apollo takes it. “I’m, uh, Apollo.” He thinks he might start crying. He’s never felt so much like a loser. “But I guess you kinda knew that.”
Phoenix waves his hand passively, leaning back in the chair. “So Klavier tells me you’re a lawyer?”
Apollo shrugs. “I’m in law school, not finished yet. I gotta find myself an internship first,” he sighs. “Everyone I’ve applied to is full already, though. Just my luck,” he shrugs.
"You could always come work for me." Apollo looks up and hums, staring off into space. "I’m being serious, Mr. Justice."
People rarely use Apollo’s last name, they think it sounds stupid. So at the sound of it, he looks over, eyes a little wider. “Wh-what?”
"I mean it," the other man is beaming. "How often does a cute young lawyer just appear out of nowhere?" Apollo’s blushing, still unable to tell if this man is joking or not. "Seriously. How about you meet me at that noodle stand by People Park at six? I’ll pay."
Phoenix is standing up, and getting his things in order, and smiling at Apollo, and Apollo is just blinking at him like an idiot. “Is this- is this a, a date? Or an - an interview?”
Phoenix shrugs. “Why not both? See you at six, Polly!”