Chapter Text
That final note, that perfect silence. The encore was over, and Klavier Gavin, frontman of the famed Gavinners, was exhausted. He eyed the crowd, put on his star smile, and winked, before strutting off stage without an ounce of confidence misplaced. Soon enough, after waving and setting their instruments down, the rest of the band followed. Sliding off the small headset, Klavier felt the roar of the crowd pulse against his back. It was euphoric, in a way, to hear the whole world love you. Though worn out, he always had this certain burst of energy soak into him after a show. The crowds just seemed to get bigger and bigger. Yeah… euphoria.
Settling into the (perhaps overly) loved couch in his dressing room, Klavier tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and listened to the buzz of the machines around him, the shuffling of feet and the chatter of his bandmates. He instinctively put out his hand, still not looking, as footsteps approached. A can, cold to the touch, was cooly slid into his hand, and he opened his eyes.
¨Hallo, Fraulein.¨ Standing there, hands on her hips, was Detective Ema Skye. He rolled his head back toward her, and her glare shot not daggers, but lethal bullets, into his heart. ¨Come on, we put on a good show, ja?¨
“Yeah.. right..” She slumped onto the couch across from him, cracking open her own can and taking a hefty sip. “Good isn’t the word I’d use. It’s not scientifically accurate.” She grinned at him before her sour face took over once again. “I’m going to need this.” She took another gulp and slumped further back.
The rest of the Gavinners spilt into the room, chatting and laughing. As usual, Daryan was the loudest, his laugh trumping out the rest of the talking. He fell back onto the couch next to Ema, chugging his can and throwing his arms across the back of the couch. Ema inched a little to the side, side-eyeing Daryan as she sipped at her drink. With everyone sat, there was a comfortable silence broken only by disorganized slurping.
A few minutes went by with no one speaking. Finally, after twisting her can around and crushing it until it was nearly beyond recognition, the drummer spoke. “Great job, you guys. Yet another success for us.¨ She made a humming sound, relaxed, crossing her leg over the other and leaning forward, towards the group. Her thick dreads moved with her in a sort of elegant dance, swaying with some imaginary beat. Eriss was a treasured friend to Klavier, to all of them, ever since her and her sibling responded to the community ad. He looked around and took a moment to relish in the peace, the happiness this band brought him. There was bad press, there was the public eye, there was what happened with Kristoph. But, he thought, with these people, this band, there might be something worth living for. Even with the stupid conflicts, there was something about each of them which brought him happiness.
Eden, bad posture and all, their arms crossed against their knees as they sipped quietly at their drink. Their silent reassurances, their soft smile as they played bass. Their poetry, being sung by Klavier as they focused on stage next to him. They sat next to Klavier now, the air conditioner behind them softly blowing on their fluffed-up hair.
Axel, with his quite oppositely collected and confident posture, exchanging knowing glances with Daryan. He had come in laughing with Daryan, sitting next to him on the couch across from Klavier´s. His professional attitude, and the power of his energy when he played keyboard. He could remember when he had listened, quiet, assuring, while Klavier whispered about Kristoph´s arrest on a day off. The press of the media, the accusations of evil, and finally, the calm voice of Axel explaining how it wasn´t Klavier´s fault. He sat on a circular chair next to Daryan´s couch now, his fingers drumming the side.
And finally, completing the messy circle as his partner in fame, Daryan. His charm was sprinkled in bits around the band, and though focused on the media, it certainly had its effect on his fellow band members. He was likable; how couldn't he be? He was Klavier´s bisexual awakening, after all, in their seemingly obligatory teenage boy makeout session.
Snapping him out of his appreciation-induced daze, Ema responded with noticeably slurred speech. He couldn't fathom, exactly, how she could get so drunk so fast, especially after building up such a tolerance. ¨Yup! Sure was…” She slumped back into the couch, seeming to want the couch to swallow her whole with the rate she was pushing back into it. He genuinely could not tell if she was being sarcastic this time, or trying to impress Eriss. If it was the latter, she succeeded.
¨I’m glad you agree, Ema.¨ She gave a sideways smile and picked at the can´s material, keeping her gaze at level with Ema´s.
The detective perked up at the sound of her name. It wasn't often someone in the band actually called her by her first name. Everyone seemed to have their own version of the woman, calling her by different names. She smiled from her slumped position and closed her eyes. ¨The press is going to love the… heh, bonding you all did on stage.¨
Axel laughed, covered his mouth and glanced at Daryan. The man in question still had his arm across the back of the couch, and hadn't been paying attention. ¨Huh?¨ He lazily turned his head, hitting Ema squarely on the forehead with his pompadour.
¨Ow, watch the dick!¨
Daryan looked confused for a moment, before sipping at his drink again and settling his expression. ¨I don´t know what you´re talking about, man.¨
Ema grumbled and sunk, somehow further, into the couch, eyeing the gravity-defying hair warily. ¨Anyways. I mean the lovey-dovey looks the shark and the fop gave each other. The press is going to eat it up.¨
Klavier sat up, raising a manicured eyebrow and leaning forward. ¨Whatever do you mean, Fraulein?¨
After setting the can next to her, she picked out a small bag of Snackoos from her shouldered purse, opened it, and brought one to her mouth. Instead of crunching down on it, however, she threw it at Klavier at the last moment.
¨ Ach! ¨ He dodged, and the poor snack tumbled onto the cushion between him and Eden. Eden looked at it for a moment, glanced at Klavier, narrowed her eyes, and went back to her drink.
¨I mean, you know, the-” her face scrunched up and she waved a hand around. ¨rotating hips, back-to-back, winking kind of stuff. The fans are really getting a hold of it already.¨
There was a silence, everyone exchanging glances with each other before staring back at Ema. She continued. ¨I´ve been on the chat, and had to make a whole channel for the ships. And by ships, more accurately I mean-¨ She tilted her head back and took another gulp. ¨ Klav-Dar. ¨ She grimaced, grumbling the ship name with a sort of disgust. ¨Where´s the love for the washed-up security guard, huh?¨
Daryan lazily turned his head back. ¨Ow! Fuck!¨ Ema closed her eyes and frowned further. ¨Cut that garbage, will you?¨
Daryan ignored her. ¨ Klav-Dar? ¨ He barked out a laugh, putting a hand to his chin. ¨Idiots. They´re all idiots.¨
¨I can see why they think that, though,¨ Axel chimed in, shaking his head so his long hair would sway. ¨You both are really into it on stage.¨ He covered his mouth again, leaning forward and laughing.
¨That's true.¨ Eriss smiled through her soft laugh. Her lips curled in a way that accentuated her beauty. Klavier couldn't help but notice how Ema was smiling from her slumped position, her arms crossed but her face giving away interest. Eden nodded, agreeing with their sister.
There was a silence as everyone processed this information, either playing with the aluminum of their cans or quietly sipping at it.
Finally, Eriss spoke again. ¨Well, you both like the attention, don´t you?¨ She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, clasping her hands together. ¨Why don't you just feed the rumors?¨ She shrugged, smirking. ¨Get together, for the press?¨
Axel laughed in unison with Daryan, who had put his drink down to put his other arm across the rest of the couch. Klavier could tell he must have looked confused, with the way his eyes narrowed and his mouth was set in a line. Eden said nothing, but smiled in amusement. Ema perked up, again.
She popped a Snackoo into her mouth and talked while munching. ¨Surely that will be most beneficial for publicity, and the theories will die down too, and-” She began to mumble, looking off into the distance (also known as the dressing room door).
Klavier considered for a few moments, shifting back into the couch as an odd silence dominated the room.
¨Yeah. We can do it.¨
He looked towards Daryan, who had just confirmed the beginning of a fake relationship for both of them. He had a calm, collected face on, not betraying a single emotion. ¨Ach, Daryan, are you certain of this?¨
¨Yep.¨
Everyone was now looking at him. Klavier looked around the room at his bandmates. Eriss looked perplexed, in a way, her eyes narrowed a little. ¨Wow… well, that works,” she said, a little quiet. She sat straight up again. Eden was smiling behind their drink.
Looking between his bandmates and his partner in fame (and now, apparently, his fake partner for the press), Klavier began to smile. Now that he was thinking about it, maybe this could work out after all.
¨Ja. Why not?¨
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click .
And with that, Ema was home.
She let out a heavy sigh, locking the apartment door and slipping off her heels. Hanging her lab coat on the coat rack, she untied her ribbon and unbuttoned her vest. Slipping those off as well and putting them in a neat pile by the door, she turned to the foyer and called out. “I’m home!” She grabbed the bag of Snackoos from her coat pocket and tiredly strolled her way to the living room.
“Welcome home, Ema.”
Ema grinned. “Hey, sis.”
Lana smiled at her from the couch, motherly and welcoming. She held her arms out and Ema collapsed into them, hugging her sister tightly. “How was work?” Lana continued speaking as Ema released her grip, relaxed into the couch, and crunched ravishly on her snacks. The older sister tapped away at her keyboard on the coffee table, seeming to be drawn into the world of documents and annotations. Ema knew, however, that Lana would always keep an ear open for her ramblings.
“That fop, you know, and his group of glimmerous rockers. They’re always up to something.” Despite herself, she felt a frown overtake her face. “Glorious and talented, my ass.”
Lana spoke without turning away from her laptop. “And what things did they get themselves into today?” Ema could hear the smile in her voice.
Ema sighed and closed her eyes, letting the Snackoo bag fall to her side on the couch. It was always nice to come home to such a welcoming presence with how awful things were going lately. Every day there was teasing, mocking, the depressing duties of her detective career, and so much more. With Mr. Wright gone from the job and in a slump, Mr. Edgeworth gone somewhere in Europe, and a certain rockstar prosecutor an endless annoyance, there weren’t many people left she shared a past with. But her sister, with all that they went through more than a decade past, was a light in the dark. She was always there, even in prison.
Ema opened an eye and leaned forward, looking at Lana narrowing her eyes at a typo, or whatever needed to be fixed in the document. “As always, them and their ridiculous ideas. Like hiring me as a security guard. That fop has a crush on me or something.” Looking at the fine lines settling into her sister’s face, she noticed new signs of age. The stress, the pride, the aging and the hard work over the years showed on her face.
Lana chuckled and hit the backspace a few times. “His confidence is astounding if he thinks he can get you. Doesn’t he know about your quest to romance that dru-”
“Hah, you can stop there,” Ema spoke over her, narrowing her eyes a little and setting her mouth in a straight line. She bit her lip and started untying her hair. “She’s cool, but unattainable. No way.”
Lana laughed quietly again. Her nose wrinkled a little when she laughed, her pale skin glowing a little. It had taken her a while to laugh again, especially when she was in prison. Ema loved to see the little happy effects she had on her sister, even more so after seeing her so down for so long.
“Well, I’m sure she likes you too,” Lana said, finally closing the tab and her laptop. “From what you-”
Ema spoke over her again: “Enough of that.” She picked up her Snackoos and began to munch again, slouching into the couch. “Besides, there are more interesting things that happened.”
“Go on.” Lana smiled, slouching a little back into the couch as well. Still, her arms were crossed and her posture mostly straight.
“Well,” Ema started, her lips turning upward, “I was explaining pairings to you, remember? And the one between Daryan and–” she scrunched her face up, accentuating the last two words with a bitter tone, “--the frontman.”
Lana looked like she was concentrating for a moment, before her face relaxed and she spoke again. “Yes, though this ‘pairing real people’ material appears unethical to me. Go on.”
Ema’s face relaxed. It was so comfortable in that place, just between her and her sister. “They decided to– and I quote–,” she formed her fingers into quotation marks, “‘get together for the press.’ I mean, it’s practical, but stupid at the same time, right? I have no idea why I approved initially, to be honest.”
“Hm, well,” Lana started, tilting her head, “There’s too much dramatism and destruction in this world. They should have a little fun now and then, shouldn’t they?”
Ema considered the past, the deaths, the deep, nearly unfixable sadness surrounding most of everything in her past, present, and possible future. The murders, the trials, prison, and her dreams, absolutely shattered in a blink. She considered: maybe Lana was right. Maybe there should be some fun every once and a while. Maybe, just maybe, this glimmerous drama would be entertaining.
“Mhm,” she finally mumbled, crunching into another Snackoo. “Maybe.”
Lana smiled again, sending more hope into Ema’s shaken thoughts. “Now come on, let’s get you fed.”
Ema brightened up and got up along with her sister, who headed for the small kitchenette. Soon she would be stuffing food in her mouth, laughing as Lana concerned herself with Ema’s manners. Sometimes life was worth living, like this.
Sometimes life was fun, enjoyable, even with her circumstances.
Maybe, just maybe, this would be one of those times.
Maybe. Just maybe.