Chapter Text
“Hey, Trucy, start getting ready to go. We don’t want to be late.” Apollo said, distracting the young magician from her magazine.
They had been invited to Tenma Town by the mayor for tea and cookies, as thanks for the work they had done clearing his name. And Apollo figured he might as well go, it wasn’t like he had anything better to do. Who knew how long it would be before he got his next case.
“Oh, right, just a moment.” Trucy bounced up onto her feet and fetched her silk hat. “Have you heard about these recent rumours about the mayor?”
“Rumours? What rumours?”
“Well, for starters, they’re saying that the trial was a sham and that Mayor Tenma really did murder the alderman. I even saw one that said he did it with the help of Tenma Taro.”
Apollo rolled his eyes. Yet more ridiculous gossip, it seemed. “People really have no faith in the courts, do they?”
Athena perked up and interjected. “Wait, “for starters”? There’s more?”
“Yup. They cropped up just a month ago. Cheating allegations. That the mayor cheated on his wife.”
“Sheesh, that poor guy can’t catch a break, can he? I don’t think he’s the type to do something like that…” Athena mumbled, her arms crossed thoughtfully.
“There’s some that said it’s the other way around, that it was his wife that cheated on him, and Jinxie’s not even his real daughter. Look!”
Trucy presented the magazine she was reading. The title in bold; “Who Cheated On Who?”, with a generic photo of Mayor Tenma underneath. Dated June 28th, just two months after Damian Tenma’s trial. Apollo didn’t even give the tabloid the dignity of being read past the title.
“You know it’s good when nobody can even agree on the story. Besides, that girl is definitely his. She’s got his, uh… scowl.” Apollo shook his head. He grabbed his waistcoat and equipped it swiftly. “You know how tabloids are. I’m sure he’s fine. I don't think he’ll be fazed by baseless gossip.”
“I’m more worried about Jinxie. The rumours are getting to her, I think. It must be upsetting to think that the person you looked up to might be a cheater.”
Apollo sighed heavily. “Would be nice to take a defamation suit for a change…”
“A defamation case? Sounds boring.”
“Maybe to you! I would like something a little low-stakes once in a while!”
The trio departed, and a couple of bus trips later, they arrived at Tenma Town. Compared to the affiliated Nine-Tails Vale, Tenma Town felt a little more modern and developed, but still undeniably Japanese in style. (They clearly like their yokai here too), Apollo noted as he gazed up at a statue of some strange beast he didn’t recognise. Apollo could see that the yokai craze was not only still going strong since the trial, but had also spread to Tenma Town. Stores they passed by advertised various yokai-themed souvenirs, and unsurprisingly, tons of Amazing Nine-Tails merchandise.
The mayor’s manor had a roof as green as his iconic suit, and a dark grey brick path leading up to the grand entrance. At either side, a well-manicured lawn. A hedge decoration of Tenma Taro stood proudly in the centre of a ring of Nine-Tail Flowers. That… was surprising to Apollo. He had heard that Tenma Taro had grown in popularity ever since the trial, but even so, erecting a hedge decoration of him in your front lawn was a bit much, wasn’t it?!
They rang the doorbell, and Jinxie opened the door.
“Hi, Trucy, Athena… Demon Lawyer…”
“Hi, Jinxie!” The ladies responded.
(Come on, don’t I have a name too?) Apollo thought to himself as Jinxie stepped aside to let them all in. Apollo had a brief look at the foyer as Jinxie led her guests to the living room. With its black carpet and purple drapes upon the walls, Apollo couldn’t help but feel like the manor screamed villain lair.
At least the couches were both spacious and immensely comfortable, something the couches in the Wright Anything Agency were certainly not.
“So, how have things been, Jinxie?” Athena asked, sporting a big smile.
“Um, things have been well.” Jinxie replied. Apollo felt a pulse from his bracelet, and felt she wasn’t entirely honest. He knew Athena must have felt that too. “I don’t know where papa is right now. I would call him, but our phone provider has been on and off lately for maintenance.”
“Ohh, that explains why you haven’t been answering my texts!” Trucy said. “I sent you some memes of the Amazing Nine-Tails!”
“Oh, I want to see those too!” Athena said.
While the girls crowded and giggled around Trucy’s phone, Apollo busied himself gazing around and taking in the features of the room. He felt a little envious of the size of the television. The sound of the front door opening drew his gaze expectantly towards the hallway.
“Jinxie, where are you? I have something important to tell you.” Damian Tenma called as he entered the house, and noticed the others in the living room as he passed the entryway. “Ah, you have guests? My apologies, how rude of me to interrupt!”
“Papa, you’re the one who invited them…”
“...That was today? It must have slipped my memory. Agh, how much ruder can I get?! Let me bring out my most expensive tea!”
Damian’s glare almost made Apollo want to apologise to him for intruding. Damian left for what Apollo assumed was towards the kitchen.
Jinxie sighed, a troubled furrow forming in her brow.
“What’s wrong?” Trucy asked.
“It’s my papa. I’m a bit worried about him.”
“Worried? Why?”
“He just seems so… distracted lately. I mean, my papa, forgetting about a meeting? It’s so unlike him. I don’t think he’s getting good sleep, no matter how many charms I put on him… He even cancelled his latest wrestling match last minute.”
Apollo felt a bit sorry for her, he knew she must have been looking forward to that. He pondered if the rumours were affecting the mayor more than he initially expected. Damian returned carrying a tray and Apollo could see it, the bags under his eyes were deeper and darker than usual. He swore that Damian had even put on a bit of weight, his midsection not quite fitting as snug into his suit anymore. Must be a big deal for a pro wrestler.
Damian set the tray of fine china and cookies carefully on the coffee table and sat heavily in his chair. “I apologise again for being late.” He said, pouring the tea out one cup at a time and handing them around. “Help yourselves to the cookies, I baked them myself. I wanted to thank you again for clearing my name.”
“Yum!” Trucy had deleted a cookie before Apollo could even blink and for a second wondered if it had been one of her magic tricks.
“Wow, they smell amazing! Thank you!” Athena took a cookie and she also seemed to enjoy it. Seeing them both practically melting made Apollo all the more eager to try one too, and it was just as good as the others made it seem.
“You're welcome, but I was just doing my job.”
“And do it exceptionally well, you did.”
“Aha… Thanks.” Apollo replied sheepishly. “…So, we heard about these rumours.” He added, unable to resist slipping into investigation mode.
“What's this now?”
“You haven’t heard? About these supposed infidelity claims.”
“Hmph, those… Yes, I’ve heard of them. They’re old rumours suddenly reappearing again for reasons I cannot fathom. I assure you, there’s no truth to them. My wife was as faithful to me as I was to her. Pay them no mind.” Damian stated.
“Of course, we never doubted you for a second, sir!” Trucy exclaimed.
“Not at all! I just hope they’re not bothering you, that’s all.” Apollo sensed no tenseness from Damian, so it appeared it wasn’t the case. But if it’s not that, then what? Maybe it was something about how the death of the alderman is affecting him? But Apollo decided not to question further. It wasn’t the time to be discussing such things, this was supposed to be a pleasant chat.
-
“Goodbye!” Jinxie called, waving to the trio as they left down the driveway. Damian waved too and hoped his smile didn’t appear creepy. He closed the door and, with a sigh, made his way back towards the living room.
He felt dainty hands on his arm and looked down to see his darling, perfect daughter gazing up at him in worry.
“What is it, papa? Is something bothering you?”
He smiled at her concern. She was such a sweet girl. “Well, not quite. Come, take a seat with me.”
They took a seat on the couch. Damian was relieved to be seated again, his back had been aching all day long. He pondered what to say first. “Have you… ever wanted siblings?”
Jinxie looked at him in confusion, but glanced away as she mulled the question over. “I guess… a younger sibling would have been nice.”
“That warms my heart to hear. You may have a brother very soon.” Damian took a special something out of his inner pocket. An ultrasound, taken just a couple of hours ago.
Jinxie’s eyes widened. She looked at the photo, then to her father, and back. “W-wait, you’re...?!”
He nodded. “There’s… some risk to this pregnancy, so I want you to be aware of the fact that there’s a chance something will go wrong. But as it stands, it appears that everything is going smoothly. Your brother looks healthy.”
Jinxie beamed and threw her arms around him. He grunted, then chuckled and returned the hug.
“…Oh, he’s kicking. Do you want to feel?”
Jinxie nodded, and Damian directed her hand to where his son was gently prodding from the inside. He was overjoyed to see the happiness and excitement on her face, but also relieved. He had been worried that she wouldn’t take the news well and was thankful to have such a wonderful daughter. And soon, a wonderful son, too. Even if he felt unprepared to accept a new member to their family, Jinxie made him feel a little less alone, and for now, he could simply enjoy the wonders of being pregnant.
-
His unsteady breathing betrayed how panicked he felt. Damian shut his eyes tight, trying to regain his focus.
Breath. In, out. Stay calm.
He gulped dryly as another stabbing pain pierced his abdomen. He leant against the payphone for support, gripping onto his belly and praying, praying that his son was okay.
“Papa!!!” Jinxie cried, sprinting up to him and gripping onto his arm. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, glistening under the streetlight. “A-are you okay, what’s happening?! T-there was s-someone…!” She sniffled and sobbed, unable to finish her sentence.
“Shh, dear. I’ll be alright.” Damian said quietly. “I’ve called an ambulance.”
“I’ll come with you!” She whimpered.
Damian tenderly held her cheek. He reached into his pocket for a tissue, and gently wiped the blood from her face.