Chapter Text
If you asked Klavier Gavin if he knew what it was like to be genuinely loved, he’d laugh in your face. Ok no, genuinely he’d probably give a small chuckle and a charming quip and a smile he didn’t mean, whatever it took to get you to drop the question and think he was fine. There were plenty of points in his life, he’d have given an enthusiastic answer to that question, but time and the people he’d known robbed him of that enthusiasm slowly but surely.
It had been little by little, over years of being a celebrity and dealing with what kind of relationships one found there, or with in-fighting in his band. By the time his brother first went to prison, his ability to trust and respect others had been truly shaken. His desire to be genuine with people was slipping. Be it in his stage persona or his role as a prosecutor, Klavier just wanted to disappear from his real feelings, even a bit. If he couldn’t have genuine connections, he could at least feel like he was doing the right thing morally.
To have his band fall apart, one of his best friends jailed for murder and his entire connection with his brother destroyed…yeah that’d been a lot. It had taken a little to hit him properly but when it did, it was hard and fast and overwhelming. Klavier had been making it day by day, keeping his smile up and assuring others he was alright, if they even bothered to ask - as if anyone not interested in hot gossip cared that he was a wreck inside or thought it possible.
Klavier ultimately ended up taking a week off, at the insistence of the Chief Prosecutor - he’d been told he could even take more but why should he? He hadn’t even wanted the week to begin with, why should he want more? More time left alone with his thoughts?! More time to let reality hit?
The first few days he’d been good, really! He ordered takeout regularly, he went outside some even to take care of his brother’s dog - which he’d been saddled with out of nowhere, thanks Kris - and he’d even tried to keep a regular schedule. That did not last long though and Klavier had quickly given up ordering takeout for himself. He didn’t feel like eating anyway, did he? He’d kept up walking Vongole till even getting up was too hard, and he paid one of his neighbors to walk her, which was deeply embarrassing in his own way.
Monday he could try to get up and go back to work, beg the Chief Prosecutor for more cases. Monday he could do things again. Yet by Saturday afternoon he didn’t even feel like he could stand anymore and had been in bed for at least a day - he’d lost track somewhere in there.
He’d turned off any calls from his Gavinners number - after the third or fourth call from his manager trying to demand they rethink breaking up the band, Klavier had shut it off and only kept up with messages and calls to his line as Prosecutor Gavin. Not that anyone besides work bothered getting in touch with that number but that was better right? Better than trying to lament a band when music felt like it had left him anyway.
So color him surprised when he saw a text message notification pop up from someone Klavier was positive would not be talking to him if they didn’t have a case together. Hell, this person hadn’t even given Klavier his number - he’d gotten it from an eager little magician when he exchanged numbers with her.
~~
Herr Forehead: Hi, this is Apollo - sorry for the sudden text, Trucy gave me your number.
Herr Forehead: This is probably super weird but do you like pie at all? Or like any sort of baked goods?
~~
The messages surprised him but Klavier took the rare opportunity to text back, not even sure of his own reasons. Maybe he was just so baffled at Apollo Justice texting him first that he had to? Or perhaps he was intrigued by the completely un-law-related questions, which was especially shocking to receive from this person.
~~
Klavier: Ja, baked goods are nice enough. Did you and the Fräulein go visit the Kitaki Family again?
Herr Forehead: no?
Herr Forehead: I mean yes we did? but that’s not why I asked!I
Klavier: I am eagerly awaiting your actual reason for inquiring about my taste in baked goods then
Herr Forehead: ugh
Herr Forehead: ok so Trucy had thoughts about the new stuff from the Kitakis and she was babbling about wanting to try baking and me and my big mouth said it wasn’t THAT hard
Herr Forehead: anyway i ultimately revealed i actually know my way around a kitchen which is horrible to tell her because mr. wright can only KINDA cook and he is extremely bad at baking and so she doesn’t get like home baked stuff much
Herr Forehead: why am I telling yo uall this? beside the point!!!!
Klavier: I am intrigued by this mysterious Yo Uall, you will have to introduce me, Herr Forehead!
Herr Forehead: YOU SHUT UP. You are WORSE than Trucy! this is why I did not even want to text you
Klavier: You are unwilling to even text me but you are willing to offer to bake for me? That is quite touching on your part. Or did the Fräulein suggest that as well?
Herr Forehead: ugh you’re insufferable. just text me if you want something.
~~
Teasing Apollo was honestly too much fun, and nothing had been fun in a while it felt like. Just to keep it up a little longer, Klavier scrolled through his contacts and fired off a text to the other half of the duo.
~~
Klavier: So I have been told baking for me was suggested. Do I have you to thank for this?
~~
As he had hoped, the dots indicating the girl was typing lit up immediately and Klavier settled back, staring at his phone in the dark of his room.
~~
Fräulein Magician: omg!! did he blame me for it? HA! nope nope nope! its entirely his own idea, its why i wouldn’t text you for him to ask!!!
Fräulein Magician: if he wants to ask a guy if he wants baked goods hes gotta learn to do that himself ;3c
Klavier: ;3c
Klavier: So how am I to coax you into telling me the truth about how this came up?
Fräulein Magician: I could be persuaaaaaaded to talk! >:3
Fräulein Magician: haha ill just tell you actually - im getting baked stuff out of this because of you!
Klavier: Oh? Does Herr Forehead not have enough sympathy in him to bake for just you?
Fräulein Magician: he said he doesnt like baking as much and always makes too much and his friend isnt nearby to eat all the extras anymore and my daddy would definitely not be happy with him if let me eat too many sweets by myself
Klavier: And he didn’t think to offer Mr. Wright any?
Fräulein Magician: polly and daddy are a little awkward still. plus polly grumbles that daddy gets enough free babysitting out of him as it is
Fräulein Magician: THEN i suggested i was sure there was SOMEBODY who would like extra baked goods
Fräulein Magician: and he rubbed the back of his neck and said ‘i guess you could see if prosecutor gavin wants any, he could probably use cheering up’ and then he realized he said it and he got SOOOOOOO red and flustered
~~
Oh, perhaps he did still have a little trace of a heart left to be moved by something like that. He returned to the other text conversation to finally respond to Apollo’s actual question.
~~
Klavier: Something simple if you’re already baking anyway, bitte.
Herr Forehead: do cookies work then?
Klavier: Ja, danke. Homemade cookies sound paradiesisch compared to what I’ve been having.
Herr Forehead: …should I be concerned about what you’ve been having? my baking isn’t THAT good.
Klavier: Better than days old stale takeout! <3
Herr Forehead: …I can’t tell if you’re joking.
Herr Forehead: WAS that a joke?
Klavier: You can’t prove it wasn’t, Herr Forehead.
~~
Perhaps that had been over the line. Perhaps he shouldn’t have tried to play off accidentally oversharing as a joke that way. Especially given how recently they’d both been through such a trial together. Apollo was completely quiet for a while, without a further message.
Klavier tried to tell himself he was probably just baking or Apollo was too frustrated to talk to him, but the act of having let any of how badly he was doing out really made him anxious. He’d only felt safe enough to even do so because he was secure in the fact that Apollo Justice probably didn’t actually care if he was in some sort of state.
It wasn’t like Apollo didn’t seem to make an effort to aggressively not care about things, particularly Klavier himself. They worked extremely well together in court and admittedly, Klavier enjoyed his company and wouldn’t mind seeing more of the prickly little attorney, but that didn’t mean the feeling was even close to mutual.
Deciding he’d just made that barely-there connection even more of a dead end, Klavier rolled over and went back to whatever number nap this was he’d had in the past several days.
Color him surprised when his phone actually rang and woke him up. Thinking it might be the Chief Prosecutor with an emergency or something, Klavier had grabbed up his phone and answered quickly, putting on his best cheerful tone before speaking up.
“Ja? Klavier speaking?” he hoped he didn’t sound as desperate, shaky and half-asleep as he felt.
There was a pause then, “...did I wake you up?”
Apollo Justice had called him.
Apollo Justice had called him.
Apollo Justice had called him!!!!
“Herr Forehead? To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“...look im at the grocery store, i got things to cook you some actual food, where are you before I talk myself out of this extremely stupid and meddlesome idea?” He could hear the awkward nervousness in Apollo’s voice and could picture how he was looking away from the phone and hunching up his shoulders. He was cute and emotive that way.
It was as Klavier was thinking this that he processed what had just been said to him. Apollo had stopped texting him back…to go buy groceries to make him food. He’d taken Klavier’s attempt at a joke to blow off the topic as confirmation that yes, he was not eating right. Those wild leaps of logic in court that led him to the truth had done so yet again - it had led him, very possibly, to the fact Klavier was not doing well at all by any stretch of the imagination.
With a nervous chuckle, Klavier tried to see if he could poke a hole in Apollo’s confidence and talk him out of this.
“Really, Herr Forehead, trying to convince me to just give you my address like that? What do you take me for?”
Another pause. “I don’t think you want me to genuinely answer that question. Now where can I find you?”
Welp. Rather than poke a hole in his resolve, Klavier had apparently strengthened it. With a defeated sigh, he ran a hand through his bangs and, against his better judgment, gave Apollo his address.
“I warn you, I am not presentable for company.” Klavier tried one last time to dissuade him. “I am not getting out of bed for the likes of you.”
“Yeah, because your idea of hospitality is really something I’m looking forward to. We’re just such close friends.” Apollo said sarcastically. “I’ll be there in a bit.”
Klavier almost wanted to point out that he very well wondered if they were, because why else was he intending to come cook for him? He hung up the call and curled up in a ball. Whatever they were, the defense attorney was coming to his aid and it made Klavier’s heart hurt so desperately. He very much wanted someone to care about him, but he’d burnt all those bridges one way or another. So who was this person to come build one when he was least expecting or deserving it?
He didn’t even realize he’d started crying again, which admittedly he hardly noticed anymore. That led to another nap instead of motivating himself to get out of bed and at least clean up before having a guest. He felt miserable and gross and he hadn’t even showered in a day or two and yet here he was, going to let someone come to his apartment, someone he wasn’t super close with, and not doing anything to be presentable.
When he woke again, at first he thought maybe it had just been a weird dream, till he realized the sounds waking him up were Vongole’s happy sounds and someone gently shushing her.
“He really must be out of it, leaving the door open.” He heard the grumbling voice easily in the dark apartment. “Let’s make sure you have food and water, girl, then we’ll check on him next? I bet you’re worried too.”
Klavier felt a little soft again at hearing Apollo gently talking to the dog with such affection. Was it because he was just more comfortable with animals, or because he was familiar with her as his former boss’s dog? He didn’t know if he could bring himself to ask.
There were sounds of puttering around the apartment for a while, and Klavier had at least managed to motivate himself to scroll mindlessly on his phone. It was all he could do to not freak out or try to bury himself under the covers to avoid this. He was going to end up seen like this, and it was going to be horrible.
Eventually the bedroom door open and for a moment or two Apollo said nothing. Then at last, he spoke. “You left your door unlocked. That’s really not like you.”
“My neighbor needed to be able to get to Vongole to walk her, and I don’t like giving out my keys.”
“And what if someone decides to take advantage of that to come mess with you?” Apollo asked, though it was more out of frustration than wanting an answer. Nothing Klavier could say would make him any less frustrated anyway.
He padded over and Klavier dared glance up from his phone. The light from it probably illuminated the lack of makeup and the awful state of his face, didn’t it? Oh well. This person had watched him put his loved ones in jail and didn’t even care for his looks anyway.
Klavier was glad he couldn't see Apollo’s expression in the dark, because he definitely didn’t want to see what it was - be it pity or some sort of smug satisfaction.
“I was going to cook you something but you look like you need a bit more than just that. Have you felt like getting out of bed in a while?”
“Not for long.” Klavier admitted. “Usually to feed Vongole.”
“You’ll feel more like a human again after washing up some.” Apollo said and got up from where he’d sat by Klavier on the bed. “I’m turning on the light so I can find you something to wear.”
Grunting and going back to staring at his phone, Klavier tried his best to pretend he wasn’t hyper aware of Apollo’s presence right now. He shut his eyes tight when the light was first turned on, but as soon as his eyes even semi-adjusted, they followed Apollo about his room.
He hadn’t cleaned up his clothes or the wreck he’d made of his closet. Klavier had forgotten about that with the lights off and just crawling into bed day after day. He watched Apollo bend and grab a few things, seemingly wanting to sort before seeming to recall his purpose and getting back to his search. Klavier had a pretty good idea of his mindset because Apollo talked to himself while he worked, and it was pretty easy to follow.
“No, no, definitely no…no way he’s in the mood to wear something like that…” just talking to himself, hunting through the depths of Klavier’s clothes, occasionally swearing about it.
“How do you have so many clothes and NOTHING to wear?”
“I wonder that all the time.” Klavier admitted.
“Presumably more dramatically than I mean it.” Apollo made an attempt at a joke, reaching over to pat Klavier’s shoulder as if that would emphasize he was teasing him and not seriously getting on his case. It nearly made him choke at the feeling. Was he really so far gone that just a caring touch would send him crying again?
Eventually he heard a small whoop of victory and Apollo tossed a couple things on the bed beside him and went to search for a few more items. “I apologize for how invasive I’m being right now,” he said as he started going through Klavier’s drawers, presumably looking for undergarments for him.
“Apollo-gize.” Klavier mumbled half-heartedly. He didn’t know if it was just because he was completely out of it, or because he wanted to annoy him a bit more, but the pun happened just the same.
Apollo turned back to him and tilted his chin up a little bit to look down at him, “Prosecutor Gavin, I don’t know what made you think you can make dumb puns on my name, but I assure you, I have made all of them myself before, and way worse.”
That made Klavier crack a proper smile and he had to put down his phone to half hide his face. Especially when Apollo smirked back at him before returning to his search.
“Are we so formal that you can call me that while going through my underwear drawer, my dear Forehead?”
“What, does no one address you respectfully when dealing with your underwear?” The back of his neck is red, but Apollo’s voice sounds mirthful.
“If they can talk that’s usually a sign I’m doing a bad job, is it not?”
Apollo turned to him again, opening and closing his mouth a few times before shaking his head and deciding against whatever he’d thought of to say. Klavier wasn’t sure if he was disappointed about that or not.
It seemed that Apollo found what all he wanted soon enough and had some clothes piled together for Klavier. He disappeared out of the room with them and soon returned.
“Think you can stand?”
“Nein,” Klavier admitted. “You shall have to move me if you wish me to mo-”
He really should not have called Apollo’s bluff. This was not court, where Apollo Justice was a novice entering the tiger’s den. It was as if in that moment Klavier had forgotten the reason he took whatever chance he could to admire those bared forearms and the way the fabric of Apollo’s dress shirt pulled over his shoulders. He may not be a rock god with glorious looks and he might clean up well, but Apollo had looks that indicated he probably could and would handle himself quite well alone.
This is why it should absolutely have been no surprise when Apollo took Klavier’s phone and tugged him up by his wrist, easily hefting the man out of bed, half dragging him half carrying. If the undignified noise of surprise Klavier made at being suddenly manhandled was as pathetic as it sounded to him, Apollo didn’t say anything.
“I have not been handled like this in some time, Herr Forehead.” Klavier told him, when his voice made it back to him right as they made it into the bathroom.
“What, haven’t had a drunken romp with your rock band in a while?” Apollo shot back. He seemed to have determined Klavier was a bit too out of it to handle being on his own so leaned him against the sink to start helping him undress.
“I could ask you the same - you’re the one who carries me like you’re used to wrangling men twice your size.” Klavier babbled to try to not feel how surreal it was to have someone else undressing him in this sort of context. Particularly when the one undressing him looked exactly as serious as he did when trying to think through the contradictions in a witness’ testimony.
“You are not twice my size - but yes, I might have had to carry a few guys around for various reasons before.” Apollo agreed as he tossed Klavier’s shirt into a hamper. “Can I leave the rest of the undressing to you? I’ll get the shower set for you.”
“Ja, ja I can, in fact, still get naked on my own.” Klavier waved him off, though how much of that was purely him talking out of pride was anyone’s guess. He certainly felt more stable letting Apollo handle this but he didn’t want to feel as pitiful as he probably already seemed.
Klavier managed to get himself the rest of the way undressed, sometime between answering Apollo’s questions about shower temperature and him leaving to go check the door - the neighbor seemed to be back to check on Vongole. He was trusting Klavier to be able to handle something as simple as a fucking shower on his own but apparently, even that was beyond him at this point. Once Apollo had left the room, Klavier had made an effort to bathe like he was instructed, but quickly found himself curled on the floor of the shower with his head in his knees rather than accomplishing a damn thing. He felt absolutely worthless.
“You’ve been in here a bit, are you- oh.” The soft ‘oh’ when Apollo returned just made Klavier feel worse and he hoped the rushing water hid the second sob. “I am so - so sorry. I should have thought more.”
Klavier didn’t understand what the apologies meant or why he was receiving them - Apollo wasn’t the one being a complete trainwreck of a human being, after all! He also didn’t understand the sounds he was hearing. Nothing made sense and he didn’t know if he was going to just be left like this, until once more he felt strong arms lifting him up and manhandling him some.
Semi-steady on his feet, Klavier Gavin found himself faced with one of the most unbelievable images he’d come across as of yet. Apollo had apparently peeled out of at least his shirt and waistcoat and was now standing in the shower with Klavier, arms wrapped around his middle and supporting him. The shower had sent his spiky bangs flopping into his face but the look in his eyes was so tender it made Klavier choke back another involuntary sob.
It wasn’t pity, wasn’t disgust and wasn’t satisfaction. Just a pure and achingly sincere tenderness. He’d apologized for leaving Klavier to his own devices and not caring for him enough, rather than scolding him for being unable to do even this. Without fully understanding all the feelings he was going through himself, Klavier let himself cling at long last to the only shred of stability he seemed to have in this moment.
For all the loud and emphatic Apollo was in court, in this moment he was quiet, gentle and so caring. He asked Klavier simple questions like which bottle was his preferred shampoo or to tell him if he pulled his hair a little by accident. Held him close and helped him clean off and wash his hair, let him feel so much more like a person than he had in a while. Let Klavier cling even if it was probably a hindrance to any actual activity, and he didn’t complain about it.
Once he was suitably washed, dried off and dressed, Klavier was left on his sofa for a while. Vongole came over to climb up and he hugged her and watched distantly as Apollo puttered around the kitchen and living room. Given he’d had an impromptu shower, half his clothes were wet so Apollo was now meandering in his shorts and undershirt, which made him messing around in Klavier’s barely-used-except-for-delivery kitchen even more endearing and domestic.
Somewhere along the line, he heard Apollo making some phone calls as he cooked. “Trucy, can you do me the most…ridiculous favor I have ever asked for?” A pause, presumably for her to answer. “Yeah, only someone as magical as you can do it, yep.” The sarcasm was so very gentle, he really was reluctantly nice to her wasn’t he? “Can you go put Mikeko in her carrier and bring that and her stuff to the address I’m going to text you?...probably some spare clothes for me too. I’d normally just have you feed her but-” Klavier caught Apollo’s eye as he glanced back, “-I think I’ll be here a few days.”
Apollo sighed and pushed back his bangs, which were still out of their usual gelled glory, “Yeah it’s related to that emergency I had to go deal with earlier. Please just trust me and don’t ask too many questions? It’s not the fun kind of emergency - not that I have many fun emergencies.”
‘How are you with cats?’ had been one of the various questions Apollo had asked him while showering, alongside asking if he felt he could keep down food. He hadn’t registered it at the time but now it was hitting that Apollo had decided he was clearly in no state to be alone and had decided to…essentially move into his apartment for a few days. It was strange but Klavier couldn’t refute it, not after that disaster so far.
“Is Vongole going to be ok with your kätzchen?” Klavier half called across the quiet apartment, unsure of his own voice.
“She’s met Mikeko before. I’ve had to watch her a couple of times.” Apollo clarified. “I was more worried about inviting a strange cat into your house, but you seem like you could use something small and purring to hug.”
Klavier choked back a remark about already having Apollo to hug. He didn’t want to test the man’s patience. Not when Apollo was being so good to him, when he felt like the one lifeline Klavier had left right now. He had not thought he felt so overwhelmingly alone before but he was realizing now just how much he’d been feeling it without realizing before.
Apollo came over to sit with him, shooing Vongole away for a bit to give Klavier something to eat. It was just eggs and some cut up fruits and vegetables to start, but right now it looked like an absolute feast. Apollo was also not assuming Klavier needed his help eating but made no objections to the man having to lean on him to stay upright. They were silent for a long while, with Klavier just eating his food as he was assigned to.
“When did the Chief Prosecutor give you off till?” Apollo asked, when Klavier was about finished.
“He required me out till at least Monday.”
“Is that all?” Apollo looked immediately shocked and outraged.
“He offered more, I wouldn’t take it.” Klavier admitted, a sheepish smile now finding him.
“You’re taking it now. There is no way you are going to be a functioning adult again by Monday at this rate. Even if you want to say you’re fine, it isn’t fair to the people relying on you to prosecute cases up to your usual standard.” Apollo’s voice wasn’t insulting but it was firm and the scolding felt so warm right then. He’d never felt so happy at being scolded before.
“Are you going to stay here the whole time if I do?” Klavier dared ask, hiding his face in Apollo’s shoulder again.
“No, I’m bringing my cat to your apartment purely to annoy Trucy.” Apollo said and put an arm around him to squeeze, to emphasize he was teasing. “Yeah, I’ll be here. Don’t worry.”
In spite of feeling more resolved to it, Klavier had had to have Apollo help him call the Chief Prosecutor to ask for further time off. Apollo had had to dial for him and even take the phone briefly to reassure his boss that no, Klavier was not alone and would be well taken care of. It had probably been a little surprising hearing his rival in court at that moment, but the Chief mostly just seemed relieved someone was taking care of him.
When Trucy arrived, Klavier was amazed at the sheer gall of Apollo to stand in Klavier’s doorway, wearing only his underthings, and tell her that it was none of her business who’s apartment it was but thanks for bringing his cat. If he weren’t in absolutely no state for company, he’d have laughed or maybe even welcomed her in. As it was, he was just glad that Apollo was able to convince her to leave quickly.
“I will be back to work in like a week. Not like we have cases anyway.” He was shutting the door on her fast.
“You have to bake for me next time, Polly!”
“Yeah yeah, I’ll bake for you when I come back to work, now go! I need to let Mikeko out.”
Soon as he’d closed the door on her, Apollo leaned back against it with a heavy sigh and looked at Klavier with long-suffering frustration. “Now do you see how I got forcibly roped into working as a detective for them? They’re persistent!”
Klavier managed a laugh at that then held out his hands. “I was promised kätzchen.”
Apollo snorted and moved away from him to carefully open the carrier he’d been given. Soon enough he came over with a beautiful young calico in his arms.
“Complaints aside, I’m glad Trucy’s a magician and thought to bring scratchers. I do not want to ruin your nice apartment.”
“Any more than I already have, ja?” Klavier mumbled and was happy when the cat was laid on his chest. She gave him a few sniffs before deciding to go back to sleep, especially once he pet her. “She’s beautiful…”
“She’s friendly at least, which is what I was hoping for.” Apollo admitted. “Gotta get a friendly cat that will tolerate a grump like me, right?”
Klavier smiled a little at that. He watched Apollo go wash the dishes from his meal and meander to start cleaning the apartment. He felt a little bad wanting to beg him to come back but contented himself with just petting the sleeping cat.
When Apollo did return, he hadn’t dressed any more than he already was and took a seat on the couch. Klavier felt daring enough to gently rest his head on Apollo’s thigh, which only earned him a raised eyebrow and then a hand carding through his bangs.
“I knew acting like a cat would get me affection from you.” Klavier said, a little mirthlessly. “You’re not so prickly as you pretend, Herr Forehead.”
“I’m very prickly, I just clearly have a weakness for irritating creatures that demand my attention.” In spite of his words, he was still gently stroking through Klavier’s hair and it did ease the man into relaxing again.
Really, what Klavier came to realize that day and those after was a type of person he’d never truly considered. He’d been surrounded by people who told him they cared, but never did, and often didn’t care even as much as he himself did. He had been completely unprepared for the opposite - for someone who swore up and down they didn’t care, didn’t want to, but when called to showered him in love like he’d never felt before. It wasn’t explicitly romantic love or attraction or something one would strictly call love unless they were looking at it that way, but it was warm and it was real and it was apparently completely unconditional.
And it was exactly what he needed right then.