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Apollo stepped out of the shower with a huff, using a small towel to scruff the water out of his hair before draping it around his neck. It had been a long, exhausting day. At this point he wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and conk out. He tossed on a pair of boxers and an old t-shirt he’d grabbed from the pile of laundry he’d forgotten to put away after drying. Thank goodness Mikeko hadn't found her way to it yet.
It was then that his eyes fell on the bottle of medicated lotion he’d set on the counter earlier. He frowned. Yeah, he was definitely due for it- Especially after taking a scalding hot shower and drying his skin out. He grabbed the bottle, pouting at it as if the act would magically make his skin heal itself.
“Liebling? Are you almost finished in there?” Klavier called from the other side of the door. Evidently he needed to start his fifty-step skincare routine before it got too late and kept him up all night.
“Ah- Yeah. One second.” Apollo reached to open it with his free hand. He greeted his partner with a smile and shuffled to the corner. “Just gotta put this stuff on, then I’ll get out of your way.”
Klavier tilted his head as he stepped into their shared bathroom. “Do you need help? You’ve told me it's hard to get your back, ja?”
Apollo blinked up at him. “Oh. Uh. If you want. I-I can get it, it just takes a minute-” He shifted on his feet.
“Nonsense! I don't mind. Give it here.” Klavier held a hand out for the bottle with a bright grin.
… Apollo handed it over, cursing his pride for making it so awkward. It wasn't like they’d never been intimate before. Holy Mother, they slept in the same bed. This was quite literally nothing to be fussing over.
“There we are, Schatz. Was that so hard?” Klavier teased. “Alright, turn around. Shirt off.” He popped the lid and squirted some of the lotion into his hand.
Apollo relented, using the towel he’d discarded a moment ago to keep his chest covered. How full was his top surgery jar again? He hated the way his cheeks flushed- Maybe he could pass it off as the bathroom being cold. He couldn't help but grimace as Klavier got to work. He absolutely despised this stuff. It was sticky, it smelled awful, it made his skin tingle… He huffed, face once again settling into a deep pout.
Klavier hummed in amusement. “You know I can see the tips of your ears going red. It's very cute.” He giggled when Apollo promptly covered his ears with his hands.
Eventually Apollo relaxed into Klavier’s touch, sighing. “... Sorry you have to see all that. I know it's gross.” He stared at the wall, brow furrowed. The burns covering his back and arms had become yet another thing for Apollo to be self-conscious about- As if he needed any more of those. It didn't help that they carried memories of one of the darkest points in his life either.
“I wouldn't have offered if I minded, liebling. It's not gross to me. You got these scars saving Frau Woods, ja?” Klavier mused, tracing the outline of one of Apollo’s burns.
“Yeah. But they're rough, and they make my skin all dry… And I don't like thinking about those few months. Aside from meeting Athena, it… Wasn't a good time for me. You saw how I acted. I’m not proud of it.” Apollo closed in on himself.
Klavier paused for a long moment. He remembers watching the video of that trial. Watching Apollo act just like… He quickly shook the thought away. “... You certainly weren't yourself, I can say that much. But life wasn't very kind to you either. I was scared for you more than anything.” He bent down to press a kiss to the nape of Apollo’s neck, just below his ear. “I’m very glad you came to your senses. You’re much stronger than you give yourself credit for, mein held.”
Apollo went rigid at the affection. If his face wasn't red before, it sure was now. He finally turned to face his partner. “Aha… Y-You think so..?”
“Ja, of course! You suffered through so much and came out a better man. Even if you struggled along the way, your heart was in the right place.” Klavier smiled down at him fondly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should get to my routine. He passed the bottle back to Apollo and stole a kiss.
“Thanks… That means a lot coming from you.” Apollo watched him for a moment. “A-And thanks for the help too. It’s… Not as bad when you do it.” He tossed his shirt back on and got to work slathering his arms, only making a face once or twice.
“Any time, liebling. Just say the word.” Klavier looked up in the middle of washing his face and grinned at Apollo through the mirror.
Dammit, even with his hair a mess and soap on his face, Apollo had to admit that Klavier was breathtaking. He was such a lucky guy. He cleared his throat and looked away to keep from staring. “Love you. I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Ich liebe dich auch, Hase! I’ll be out in a minute!” Klavier called back as Apollo slipped out of the bathroom.
Apollo sat on their bed, a smile tugging at his lips. Klavier always knew what to say to change his outlook. Maybe that’s why they worked so well together in the courtroom. A better man… Yeah. He’d do everything in his power to make sure that was true. It’s what Clay deserved. He laid back, one hand tangling in Mikeko’s fur as she laid at his side.
Maybe, just maybe, the scars weren’t such a bad thing after all.