Chapter Text
Klavier realized as he parked that he'd made incredible time, so incredible that it was obvious that he had jumped on his motorcycle and sped over the second he'd heard Apollo wanted his help. He knew that he should've been embarrassed, but he was too big a romantic. When he first realized he'd liked Apollo a few months ago, he'd embraced his newfound crush to the point that he practically lived and breathed Apollo. Of course, he'd calmed down a bit since then, but he still found himself dropping everything for Apollo occasionally.
Like now.
"Ah, hello Fraülein!" Klavier greeted Trucy as he stepped into the agency. He glanced around as subtly as he could. No sign of Apollo or Wright. He knew it was irrational, that Apollo was just in another room, but he still felt traces of disappointment. Apollo hadn't bothered to greet him?
"Hi, Mr. Gavin!" Trucy tackled him into a quick hug like she did nearly every time the two saw each other. Seemed she didn't notice his prying eyes, nor his well hidden disappointment.
As soon as he was released, he ran a hand through his hair- he'd checked his hair before he left, right? - and asked, "So, what does Herr Forehead need my help with this time?" That's right. He's cool and casual, and it's a bit of a burden to have to help his rival so often.
Trucy smirked at him. "Eager to see him, aren't you?" Gott, this child is perceptive. He kept his face locked in its previous smile until she answered. "Polly's working on a case and he wants a second opinion on something, but Daddy's gone right now, and I'm busy practicing magic, so he asked me to call you." Klavier could have sworn he saw a flash of mischief in her eyes, but it was gone just as soon as he noticed it.
"I see, I see," Klavier nodded as he followed her to a back room in the agency.
"Polly's phone is broken, by the way. That's why I had to call you," Trucy explained without being asked. She seemed unusually talkative today. Maybe she's lonely?
"I understand." Klavier gave her a big smile. He'd ask to see a new trick or two before he left to cheer her up, but for now, he had to help Apollo.
"Thanks Mr. Gavin!" She practically shoved Klavier in the room before apparently running throughout the agency, if the heavy sound of her footsteps were any indication. Klavier chuckled a bit at her over-excitement. Is she still a bit star-struck? Or just eager to get back to practicing?
A question for another time. It's time for Herr Forehead , he thought to himself, and he turned to see Apollo asleep on the couch, most decidedly not working. Klavier stifled a giggle and moved to get a closer look.
Apollo had fallen asleep sitting up, clutching a binder to his chest like it was a teddy bear. His hair had miraculously stayed in its impossible style, but his two horns of hair had drooped down as though they were asleep too. Klavier realized, as he stared at Apollo's peaceful face, that it was probably the first time he'd seen him with less than a hundred percent emotion on his face. But Klavier couldn't care about that, not as he took in Apollo's soft pink cheeks and his surprisingly long lashes and damn did Klavier have it bad .
He turned to leave. He wasn't heartless enough to wake Apollo up, so maybe he'd watch Trucy practice to pass the time. He carefully stepped over a plate of... plastic spaghetti? and exited the room, closing the door slowly to try to keep it quiet.
And waiting for him behind the door was Trucy. "Congrats!" She exclaimed, only bothering to keep her voice somewhat quiet. "You win!"
"What? Wait, please be quiet, Herr Forehead is asleep!" He glanced at the door as though it might tell him whether Trucy's outburst had woken Apollo up.
Trucy waved her hands as though waving away the problem. "Don't worry, don't worry. Polly takes naps here all the time and nothing can wake him up. Anyways, you win! You can go now. He doesn't need your help."
Klavier narrowed his eyes at her. "What exactly are you doing, Fraülein Trucy? What's going on?"
Trucy widened her eyes in an all too innocent expression. "Me? I'm not doing anything! Just a little... test."
"Test?" Klavier echoed. He had an ominous feeling about this.
"Yeah!" Trucy nodded, still giving off as strong an aura of innocence as she could. "I was just giving you a little, itty bitty test to make sure you're good enough to date Polly!"
Date?!
"Date?!"
"You like Polly, don't you?" Although she gave him a question, it felt more like she was stating a fact.
"Wha- How do you know?!" Klavier had to fight his urge to stare at her, and try to stay somewhat calm.
"It's pretty obvious. Everyone with eyes knows, Mr. Gavin. So, everyone except Polly, really. He's kinda clueless about this stuff." Trucy began staring at him with intense eyes, and Klavier realized he was intimidated by a sixteen year old girl. "So it's my duty, as his boss and big sister, to make sure you're up to snuff! I'm not letting my Polly date someone terrible!" She punctuated her declarations by pointing at Klavier's face. "And you, my dear Mr. Gavin, just passed the first test!"
Everyone knows?
His boss?
His big sister?
The first test?
"The first test? What... exactly do you mean?" Klavier was pretty sure he was going to give himself wrinkles if he didn't stop raising his eyebrows, but Trucy made it very difficult to keep a straight face.
“The first test, Mr. Gavin, was just now!” Trucy bounced up and down a bit as she talked. “I waited for Polly to fall asleep when Daddy weren’t here, and then I secretly called you so you’d come over and I could see how you’d act when he was asleep. Like, would you take advantage of him when he’s asleep? Wait! I wasn’t supposed to tell you my whole plan! Forget all of that, please.”
WHAT?
“Take… advantage of him?!”
“Yeah, like kiss him or something. Cause that’d be creepy when he’s asleep, you know? Or like, taking a picture when you know he hates that.” She didn’t seem to understand the implications of what she said, and Klavier sighed in relief.
“I assure you, Fraülein, I would never do anything like that.”
“And that’s why you passed!” She pointed at him again.
Well, she isn't actually doing anything wrong. And she is just doing this because she cares about Apollo. I may as well let her have her fun.
“Excuse me, but you referred to this as the first test, right?” Trucy nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly how many ‘tests’ do you have planned?”
Trucy tapped her chin as though in thought. “I haven’t decided, exactly. I haven’t planned any more yet. I wanna do one for ‘are you a murderer?’ but I’m not sure how to test that.”
Klavier nodded. “That certainly is more important.” Is this because of Kristoph? She doesn’t think I’m anything like him, right? He didn’t let his thoughts show, instead plastering his typical smile on.
“Glad you think so! So, you’re fine-”
Trucy was cut off by the door opening in her face. She managed to jump back before getting smacked in the face.
“Be careful , Polly! I could have died!”
“Sorry, I-” Apollo rubbed his eyes and cut himself off. He’s cute when he’s sleepy, too. “Prosecutor Gavin, what are you doing here?”
Klavier brushed his bangs before answering. “The magical Fraülein here invited me here to see one of her tricks, and who am I to say no to such talent?”
That’s not technically a lie, right? Klavier didn’t know how he did it, but he was still wary of the seemingly magical ability. Luckily, either it didn’t count as a lie or Apollo was too tired to use his magic bracelet properly.
“Well, okay,” he said slowly, still somewhat out of it. “Trucy, don’t bother Prosecutor Gavin, you know he’s busy.”
Klavier smiled. “Your concern is touching, but I’m wrapping up two of my four current cases. But I should be off, I need to drop by a crime scene before the end of the day. See you later, Fraülein, Herr Forehead.” As he waved, he leaned over Apollo slightly in the way that always made the other man blush. Klavier smiled as it had its intended reaction, and turned to leave.
“Four cases?” He heard Apollo say to Trucy when he thought Klavier was out of earshot. “Now he’s just bragging. Wait, did you tell him I was napping?” He couldn’t make out Trucy’s response, but whatever it was prompted Apollo to yell Trucy’s name at the top of his lungs. He smiled all the way to his motorcycle.
A quick buzz from his pocket, and he read Trucy’s text "thanks for not snitching to polly. you get bonus points!" His smile wavered for only a second before he began calling his favorite forensic scientist.
“Ema? I know you don’t care for details of my love life, but I think you’re going to enjoy this…”