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Apollo Justice and Klavier Gavin had been dating for about three months as they were returning to Klavier’s home from their most recent outing. They stumbled into the apartment laughing and leaning on each other, for support and because they simply enjoyed the closeness of it. The two men had been out bowling- an activity they were both atrocious at.
“I can’t believe you managed to get a gutter ball even after we put the lane barriers up!” Apollo laughed, “I mean, I thought Mr. Wright was bad, but you’re on a level of bad I didn’t think possible.”
“ I can't be perfect at everything, schatzi! I try my best, but alas, I am a mere human.” Klavier said, dramatically raising the back of his hand to his forehead acting as though he was deeply saddened by his inability to bowl.
“A mere human, huh? And here I thought you were some great rock god.”
“An incredibly handsome, talented human, ja. Yet a human nonetheless.”
They were both clutching their stomachs and trying to catch their breath from laughter as they made it to Klavier's couch. The first time Apollo had been to the prosecutor’s home was months ago and he was surprised by how homey it was. He had expected an impersonal, minimalistic apartment but instead he had been greeted by a soft, welcoming space. The door opened to an open floor space, the living room and kitchen/dining only separated by some half walls or doorways. Instead of an uncomfortable couch meant to look cool, Klavier had a rather large, soft blue couch that was littered with pillows and blankets. The walls Apollo expected to be covered with expensive modern art instead featured family photos (including one of both Gavin brothers), The Gavinners different album covers, and artwork that looked like it had been personally picked by Klavier for the space.
Yeah, the apartment was huge and was definitely the home of a rich and famous musician, but it felt like it was meant for living in rather to entertain guests. It hadn’t been the carefully curated “bachelor pad” that Apollo was prepared for and that revelation delighted him.
Now, sitting on that same soft, blue couch three months later Apollo was about to do one of the most terrifying things he had ever done.
Apollo Justice is a trans man, he had known since he was very young, maybe ten years old. Before he started his law career and met Klavier Apollo had been able to get top surgery and had been on testosterone for multiple years. Anyone who saw the horn-haired man assumed he was a cis man and had no other thoughts about it, including Klavier Gavin.
At this point in their relationship Apollo and Klavier had conversed a lot about the logistics of their dating. They had discussed things like what it would be like for Apollo to be dating someone as famous as Klavier Gavin and the issues they would face. They had talked about homophobia in the celebrity realm and over-eager fans with little grasp of boundaries. They talked about the boundaries they wanted to establish with each other, such as how comfortable Apollo was with minor PDA or possibly being featured in gossip magazines. Klavier had quickly moved on from the topic of intimacy when he saw it made Apollo uncomfortable.
And Apollo was so grateful for all of that. He felt so lucky to have a boyfriend that was open and communicative about his feelings, but he also felt guilty. Klavier didn’t know that Apollo was trans. He didn’t have that context for when Apollo explained that he would prefer to avoid paparazzi and when Apollo got fidgeting when the topic of physical intimacy came up. Klavier knew there was something else behind Apollo’s anxiety, Apollo could see that much, but the rockstar never pushed him on it, he just waited until his partner was ready to speak.
It was here, in the comfort of his boyfriend’s living room, feeling safe and happy, that Apollo decided he was ready.
-
Klavier and Apollo were sitting in a comfortable silence, huddled up after finishing an episode of Steel Samurai when Apollo started to speak.
“Klavier, there’s something we need to talk about.” He looked up at Klavier as he spoke, “there’s something I need to tell you, I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now but I’ve been… nervous.”
Klavier watched as Apollo sat up and moved a bit away from him, concerned for his boyfriend. “Whatever it is, schatzi, you can tell me-I’m here to listen.”
“Right, ok, um, I’ll just get it out then.”
There was a couple seconds of silence before Apollo actually worked up the courage to say what he wanted.
“I’m transgender. I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I know we’ve been dating for months now and you deserve to know, but it's scary to say. I really really like you and I care about you a lot and I really hope this doesn’t change things between us, but I understand if you want to break-up with me. It probably looks like I was deceiving you or something and that wasn’t my intention. I just didn’t know how to tell you and frankly I’ve been scared about your reaction and-” Klavier cut him off with a bear hug, holding Apollo tightly in his arms as he started to cry.
“Oh, liebling, it's ok. You’re ok, you’re safe. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like you couldn’t tell me.”
The TV basked the couple in a cool light as they sat there, Klavier rubbing circles into Apollo’s back and whispering words of comfort as he cried.
“Herr forehead, nothing about who you are would make me want to leave you. You are a kind, amazing, and beautiful… man? Or are you telling me you’re a woman?”
Apollo laughed a bit, both at the use of Klavier’s silly nickname for him at this sincere moment and at the confusion on Klavier’s face as he tried to figure what direction Apollo was trans in.
“I’m a trans man, Klav, but it's sweet that you didn’t assume. And thank you, for not hating me or pushing me away.”
“You shouldn’t be thanking me for the bare minimum liebling. I could never hate you.”
A beat of silence.
“Does this mean you’re not breaking up with me?”
“Of course not, Apollo. I love you.”
“... I love you, too.”
They spent the rest of the night curled up on Klavier's couch watching TV, eventually falling asleep in the light of Steel Samurai’s end credits. Both men smiling in the safety and love of their partner.