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“You know what I realized?” Clay asked nonchalantly. It was the first time either of them had spoken in hours. Apollo had thought that Clay had fallen asleep.
“What?” Apollo looked at him warily. The glint in his eyes had never signaled anything good.
“Almost dying made me realize just how short life is,” Clay said thoughtfully.
Apollo set down his book. “Yeah...that makes sense.” His heart still clenched at the reminder of how close he’d been to losing his best friend.
“Life is too short to conceal... feelings . And such.”
“Feelings?”
Clay rolled his eyes. “You know, the stuff that you have to deal with sometimes? Feelings ,” he repeated with emphasis. “I know it can be painful, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
“What are you trying to get at?” Apollo sighed, exasperated.
Clay glanced around furtively, even though they were clearly the only people in the apartment. “ Klavier Gavin,” he whispered.
Apollo almost flung his book at his friend’s head. “What?” he hissed.
“You know what I'm talking about,” Clay said slyly.
“I really don't,” Apollo muttered evasively, opening his book again and trying to ignore the knowing smirk across the table. Figures Clay would try to meddle in his...life.
“Come onnn, Pollo,” he whined. “You heard what I just said. Life is short, so go for it!”
This was ridiculous. Klavier Gavin? He was a...a fop. An attractive fop, his brain nudged him.
Shut up , he told his brain.
Okay, so admittedly they’d somewhat become friends over the last few months. There was more to Klavier under the surface. So what?
“Apollo,” Clay started seriously, “from what you’ve told me about the guy, he’s a good person. You guys seem to understand each other.”
“In court, maybe,” he muttered.
“Oh, don’t be difficult,” Clay groaned, standing and stretching. He walked around the table and put his hands on Apollo's shoulders. “Did you know you smile when you talk about him?”
Since when? Apollo thought frantically.
“You do,” Clay confirmed, nodding. Seeing the dumbstruck look on Apollo’s face, he grinned.
...Okay, fine. Maybe he was interested. As if was going to go anywhere.
“You’re thinking that it won't go anywhere, aren't you?”
“Well, obviously. He’s some...genius, rockstar prosecutor,” he scoffed.
“And you're Apollo Justice!” his best friend declared loudly. “You’ll be fine!”
“But...what do I do?”
Clay shrugged. “Ask him out for a drink. Or dinner. You guys haven't done that, have you?”
Apollo shook his head. “Just had a few lunches together.”
Clay pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing his legs. “And he’s usually the one to ask you to lunch?”
Why did he feel like he was being cross-examined? “Yeah.”
Clay gave him a serious look. “When you ask him, you have to be really clear that it's not just another occasion of friends or coworkers hanging out.”
Apollo frowned. “How am I supposed to do that?”
“Beats me. I'm sure you'll figure it out.” At Apollo’s glare, Clay laughed. “Don’t worry. It already helps that you're going to be the one asking, and asking someone out to dinner often has a different meaning than lunch.”
Did it really? “Why is that?”
Clay didn't have an answer for him. Of course.
He was waiting outside the prosecutor's lobby, his stomach doing flips.
“Should I ask him after a trial?”
“You could just go to his office, you know…”
“But what if he's not there? Or if he refuses?”
Clay gave him a look. “You’re really getting into this, Pollo. But yeah, okay. Ask him after a trial, but don't be ambiguous in your intentions. Unless he doesn't seem willing. Then you can make it into a regular celebratory meal or something. Not that that's going to happen.”
“...You’re so helpful.”
“Herr Forehead? Did you need something?” Klavier said as he walked and saw Apollo waiting.
He gulped. What was he supposed to say? “Yo, want to grab a bite tonight?” Hell no.
“Do you want to go on a date with me?” Better, but still no.
“Uh...” Come on, Justice! He’s staring at you; you have to say something instead of just gaping like an idiot! “A-are you busy tonight, by any chance?” Okay, good start.
The prosecutor seemed mildly surprised. “Nein, I believe not.”
Apollo let out a breath. “Would...would you like to...”
Klavier gave him an expectant look, and Apollo almost lost his nerve. “How would you feel about getting dinner tonight?”
A pleased grin lit up the man’s face, and the choking sensation in his chest loosened. “Like a date?”
Apollo tried to nod nonchalantly, but he could feel the heat flooding his cheeks. “I guess. If you’d like.”
Klavier leaned down. “This is...a very pleasant surprise, Herr Forehead. Just set the time and place, and I am all in.”
Hell yeah. Thank you, Clay.