Archive of Our Own

Apollo was pretty sure he wasn’t the kind of guy anyone would want to take to a musical. It wasn’t as bad as a concert, but with how close their seats were, it was louder than he would’ve liked. 

But Klavier had a point, in that their dates couldn’t all be dinners and curling up on the couch to watch movies. It wasn’t a point that he liked, but he could concede that variety was important. Next time they were going to watch a movie though, and Apollo got to pick. 

If it was any other kind of play than musical, he might appreciate it. He remembered in high school giving a great performance as Mercutio when his class did a read through of Romeo and Juliet for English. 

Granted when he tried out for the school play that year, he couldn’t even manage to get a role as a tree. But his acting talent going unappreciated aside, Apollo could appreciate a play. 

Musicals were just so… much. 

Like everything he hated about concerts merged together with everything he loved about plays, making it a meh experience. So he had no idea why they were here. He’d do his best to not sour the experience, sure, but he just didn’t understand why everything needed to be sung. It wasn’t realistic. 

Actually, that wasn’t quite true. Apollo knew why he was here, and he knew that his own experience with singing wasn’t universal. Because in the short time living with Klavier, he had found that the man sang practically any chance he got, going so far as to narrate what he’s doing around the house. And Klavier was also a fan of too much, ranging from the amount of glitter he wore to his taste in men. 

And it made him feel so bad about this, because he was going to say something absolutely bitchy and ruin this for him. It was who Apollo was as a person and he probably couldn’t stop all his mean little comments. The only saving grace was that this was a double date with one of Klavier’s friends and his partner, who Apollo was a mild acquaintance of. 

Hugh had not been someone he had been expecting to see. In fact he hadn’t expected to see him outside of the courthouse on the off chance they both had a trial the same day, or at the grocery store where they’d recognize each other and just not say anything because they had no reason to. 

Now he was sitting three seats away on this double date. Apollo would say next time he would choose who they’d go on a double date with next, but honestly he’d rather not do this again. Because this was more of an uncomfortable hang out session with two couples and Apollo didn’t know when would be socially acceptable to kiss his boyfriend in a double date scenario. 

Not that he’d really get the chance. They’re sitting close enough to the stage that if he kissed him the entire cast on stage would see and that’d be weird too, right? 

All these little issues had all compounded into one big issue, being that he no longer had any idea what was happening in the show. Klavier was going to ask him what he thought about the musical and Apollo was going to have to tell him that he was overthinking about kissing the whole time and absorbed none of it. 

Eventually the house lights came on, and Apollo thought he was finally free. But to his dismay, it was only intermission. Damn. Maybe he could try and piece together using context clues after. 

“Is it just me, or was Christine flat?” Klavier’s friend spoke up, which was really weird to focus on. Were her boobs important for her character? He was pretty sure that would be an easily fixable problem all things considered. 

To Apollo’s surprise, Klavier scoffed in agreement. “She hit the high notes, but aside from that I don’t think she properly hit any note.”

Oh it was a music thing. That made a lot more sense than just randomly objectifying a lady while you’re on a date with a man. 

“Which is really a shame because she did a really good job hitting those notes, and all things considered she has a great voice,” his friend continued on, “and the trumpets were late.” 

And then the conversation descended into music nonsense that Apollo couldn’t participate in at all. Even if he understood it, he couldn’t tell what was happening in the show anyways. He had nothing to add. 

“I think I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” it was more an excuse to leave, because he was starting to third wheel on his own date.

“Yeah, same.” Hugh said. He looked like he was in the same boat. 

Neither of their dates noticed, and continued on with their conversation. The Phantom had taken another victim. Hopefully a short walk would be enough for them to work themselves out of it. They didn’t even notice when Apollo scootched past. 

There was quiet as they headed to the bathrooms out in the lobby. 

“So…” Apollo started, in desperate hopes that he could break the awkward silence. Last time they really spoke he was helping Athena spill all his secrets. “You wouldn’t happen to know what’s going on in the play, would you?” 

“I was kinda hoping you did. I’m not big on this whole,” he gestured vaguely around them “Theater thing. I’m more here for Sebastian.” 

“Same. Not that I’m here for Sebastian, I’m here for my own boyfriend. I didn’t know Sebastian existed before tonight,” smooth. “I’ve never been to a play, and I’ve never been on a double date so I’ve been trying to figure out when the acceptable times to kiss Klavier would be, because they can almost definitely see us on stage.” 

“I mean they can’t see anything out there. Stage lights. Juniper told me it made performing on stage a lot easier,” Hugh explained. “Though given how neither of us got a response, I don’t think either of us are getting any kisses from our dates until the play’s over.” 

“Yeah that’s fair. I think they more wanted to hang out, but the only tickets they could get were on date night,” He would’ve understood completely. He didn’t need to buy two extra tickets. 

“It is nice seeing Sebastian get excited like this. Especially since I can enjoy it and not worry about him saying something that would completely destroy my case,” so that’s what Hugh was doing during the play. “It’s kinda weird being the third wheel though.” 

“Especially on a date.” he agreed as they walked up to the bathroom. 

Or more so the line reaching out of it. 

“I think I can wait. I don’t think that line’s gonna be up in twenty minutes anyways.” it was more of an excuse to walk around and pull his brain together. 

“Yeah, same.” 

They both turned and started walking back to the theater. “So do you think they’ll have stopped tearing the play apart by the time we get back?” 

“Oh absolutely not. I’ve listened to hours of Sebastian talking about movies he doesn’t like. I’m sure he can manage the ten or so we’ve been gone.”

There was a biting comment on the tip of his tongue, before he realizes that he does that. He’s done that many a time and he’ll do it again. “Klavier’s really good at keeping you going, so he’s definitely not helping in that department.” 

Hugh snorted. “Speaking from experience, Justice?”

He wasn’t exactly friends , but he was sure he could manage a friendly shoulder punch. “Oh fuck off. You’re probably doing the same thing Klavier does and encouraging him to keep going.” 

“Now that’s jumping to assumptions. I don’t even have to say anything to send him going.”

“You just listen?” 

“Like any good boyfriend would,” Hugh boasted.

“Klavier would say the exact same thing. You’re not allowed to give me shit for the exact same thing you and your boyfriend do.”

Hugh scoffed. “And who are you to tell me what to do?” 

“I guess that’s fair. If you’re fine with throwing rocks in your glass house like that.”

“I know what I’m about. I am the genius after all.” 

Apollo rolled his eyes. He had a sarcastic remark, but it was interrupted. 

“There you guys are!” Sebastian ran over, grabbing the cuff of Hugh’s sleeve. “We were worried that you guys got lost!”

Klavier wrapped his arms around Apollo, leaning his chin on the top of his head, smooshing down his hair. “Ja, we were worried we were going to have to go make an announcement.” 

“We told you we were going to the bathroom. There was a line.” 

“I walked past you to get out.”

There was a beat of silence. 

“Now that you mention it, I do vaguely remember that.” Sebastian mumbled. 

“Well none of that matters now. You’re both here and safe, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Klavier pulled away, brushing his fingers through his bangs as he took Apollo’s hand with his free one. “Now that you’re back, we can hear your opinions of the show so far.” 

Shit. 

“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until the show was over, so you could hear our opinions on the whole play?” Hugh said, thankfully giving them a foot hold.

“Yeah! I mean it’s an incomplete picture. How are we meant to have any solid idea of anything yet? And if you wanna hear where we think it’s going, well I doubt I could cover that in as little as ten minutes. Probably less than that.” 

Sebastian squinted. “There’s only like an hour and fifteen minutes left.” 

“Nein, I’ve listened to Mein Schatz talk theories. Ten minutes is most certainly not long enough.” though Klavier still gave him a suspicious look before taking his hand and guiding him back over to their seats. “Though there’ll be plenty of time after to talk about it, ja?” 

They saved it. It was a team effort, but they definitely managed it. 

Maybe there was something to double dates. They’d have to do this again sometime.