Chapter Text
Title: Turnabout Airport
Prompt: Travel
Author: StarbearerTM
Beta: Nerdowl
Rating: T for language and adult situations.
Disclaimer: Capcom owns Ace Attorney and its characters. This is written for Klapollo Week 2016, for entertainment. I make no money writing this fanfiction.
Klavier walked quickly to the security checkpoint. He glanced over at his traveling companion who had already pulled his tickets out to show the guard. They were at least five people back in line from being searched.
“Ohhh it’s Klavier Gavin!” whispered a few other patrons in the long line that snaked behind the airport scanner. “Can I have your autograph?”
“Ah, I always have time for my fans,” Klavier said to the people in the line, about ten patrons back.
Apollo raised an eyebrow but said, “Go on, I’ll just go ahead through the gate and wait for you Klav…”
“Danke, Schatz,” Klavier thanked him, kissing him briefly on the lips before he moved out of the line to speak to the group of young women wearing lighter sundresses and travel attire.
Apollo shook his head, smiling knowingly to himself while Klavier posed for a few selfies and signed autographs. He preferred to stay out of the limelight, and this vacation was one that Klavier had given him for his birthday. An entire week off in the Bahamas to an all-inclusive stay resort. He himself had paid for half his plane ticket, in response to Klavier’s protests. So both had agreed to fly first class in a regular airline at a discount rate. Phoenix had helped out a travel agent in a recent case and the woman had gotten them a good rate so Apollo could actually afford his plane ticket. Klavier would pay both their way for the resort since he’d already bought the reservation.
As he was next for the gate he set his bags on the conveyor belt, and walked to the archway. A guard suddenly stood in front of him. Apollo toed off his shoes for them to scan. However, he had not yet removed the characteristic bracelet he never took off, except for bathing, and sometime when they had been intimate together the past few months.
“Take off your jewelry,” the one guard said. He saw the last person in line ahead of him who was complaining because the officer was yelling at her to remove her hijab.
The woman shrank as the man was about to grab her veil. Anger boiled up in Apollo so he rushed up shouting, “Hey! Leave her alone!”
“Stay out of this, mister. We’ve the right to search anyone we suspect of being a terrorist…” the man cut him off.
“I am just going back to Pakistan to visit my brother,” the woman protested, holding one of her children while the other one cried.
“Leave the lady alone. She can walk through the X ray scanner herself just like the rest of us,” Apollo interrupted again. “That’s a violation of civil rights…”
“Oh, a lawyer huh? You stay out of this. Go chase an ambulance or something,” the guard grumbled, glaring at Apollo.
The woman swallowed but murmured a thank you to Apollo. The other guard muttered, “He’s got a point. I don’t want a lawsuit. Let her through…”
“Thank you,” the woman murmured to Apollo and he smiled at her. “I appreciate it.”
“Not a problem,” Apollo said gently to her. He bent down to her son who was nervously clinging to his mother’s hand. “It’s gonna be fine. What’s your name?”
“Ibrahim,” the boy said as his mother was led through the scanner. Their items were X-rayed on the conveyer belt without further incident.
“Well you just say, “I’m Ibrahim, and I’m fine,” the next time you feel upset,” Apollo said gently to him.
“Thanks mister…” the kid said as he rushed off after his mother through the scanner arch.
Apollo then was about to walk through when the guard said, “Okay bright eyes, off with the jewelry. I’m going to search you…”
“Excuse me?” Apollo asked, blinking at him.
“I can’t believe you’re a sympathizer to those people. As an American citizen I’d have thought you had more sense,” the guard said angrily.
“Look, just let’s get this over with,” Apollo said. “I’m not going to talk politics to you, ok? The election is over!”
“You probably are in league with those people,” the guard continued, as Apollo put his wallet and other items in a bit. He hesitated with his bracelet.
Instead Apollo muttered to the guard, “I’d rather not take it off. Could you use the scanner?”
Unimpressed, the guard folded his arms over his chest and said, “No way kid. Put it in the bin like everything else!”
“But I… the last time I flew it wasn’t a big deal,” Apollo protested.
“You just made it a big deal sympathizing with a Muslim,” the man shot back.
Apollo felt his blood boil. He was in no mood for this sort of thing. Instead he gritted, “If you have a problem with me, then I want to speak to your supervisor!”
“Andrews, help me out here. This guy’s threatening me. And he helped a possible terrorist,” the guard shouted over to the attendant.
“I didn’t!” Apollo protested angrily. “I was just standing up for someone else that you were discriminating against…”
“I just saw his passport,” the other guard, a woman said, as she glared back.
“Is there a problem, officer?” Klavier asked, walking over as he regarded the man quietly.
“Stay out of this, sunshine,” the guard said as he didn’t look at Klavier. Instead he waved over another guard.
“What’s the big deal? I’m not carrying a bomb or something,” Apollo quipped. This instantly got him nabbed by the security guard.
“That’s NOT even funny, you creep,” the man growled. “Pat him down! I bet he’s hiding something else…”
“Now just a minute! I paid for plane tickets,” Apollo shouted back. “Just like the rest of the people here! Last time I checked it was fine to…”
“Objection!” Klavier snapped. He moved forwards, brandishing his prosecutor’s badge in the other’s faces. Both guards stopped cold, seeing the characteristic badge with its red gem and white petals that represented the sun’s intensity.
They were speechless by the glare that Klavier gave them, except for the first one who said, “Sir, we didn’t know… do you know this guy?”
“This guy who you are manhandling as if he was a thug is my boyfriend. So unless you want me to call Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth and file a complaint, to sue you for undue harassment, I suggest you release him immediately,” Klavier snapped, pointing a finger at them.
Apollo was immediately released. Both guards stepped back at the fierce angry look the prosecutor mustered as he glared at them with sparkling blue eyes. They were hard as chips of ice, and Apollo was sure he hadn’t seen that expression since Klavier had last gone off on someone who dared to harass Apollo or anyone else known to him.
One guard managed to say, “But prosecutor, he was possibly impeding a search on someone who could be a terrorist…”
“Objection, they were harassing a woman and trying to pull off her hijab,” said Apollo as he folded his arms over his chest.
“Is that so?” Klavier asked, slipping into the mask of prosecutor, a role he easily tonned.
“He interfered in a search,” the guard insisted, glaring at Apollo. “Isn’t THAT against the law?”
“Klavier, he did act in a discriminatory manner to that woman, and scared her kids. He was going to violate her civil rights,” Apollo said, nodding towards the guard.
“You just had to get involved didn’t you? Why can’t your lawyers mind your own business? I mean Prosecutor Gavin, as an American citizen surely you understand we have to do our jobs,” Crouch said as he took a deep breath.
“There is doing your job in a polite way. Did a female officer initiate the search, and was there just cause?” Klavier asked.
“I was present,” said the female guard, her arms folded.
“So we were following the law,” the guard said as he stuck his chin out. “Can’t you see there’s a big line of passengers behind you? With all due respect..."
“Nein. I want to see your supervisor, Herr Security Guard… Herr Crouch is it? I’m going to file an official complaint,” Klavier said in a low tone that made Apollo shiver. A crowd of people had gathered to watch the little drama unfold.
“Just because you’re some sort of celebrity doesn’t mean…” mumbled the other under their breath.
“What was that?” Klavier asked, glaring at the other. “I asked to see your supervisor. Are you going to say no to a prosecutor?”
One man rushed off quickly while the other mumbled, “Prosecutor Gavin sir, I’m sorry. I was just doing my job! “
“Does your job involve harassing someone who requests to be scanned instead of blindly handing something over? Maybe you claim I was obstructing a search, but I believe the law has not changed,” Apollo snapped at the man.
“You were aiding a supposed person that could be a terrorist,” Guard Crouch said glaring back at Apollo.
Klavier then said, “I can request to see the security footage… and decide for myself.”
He motioned Apollo to stand by him, and the guards to the side. Other guards had moved over to take over the job when a camera crew moved over with a local reporter. Apollo shivered, wondering when the news had been called? This was all getting out of hand.
“Klavier, the were harassing a woman. I’m sorry I’m ruining the vacation but…” Apollo began. “this is turning into a three ring circus…”
“Es tut mir leid, Schatz. You are right to try and call people out, in this day and age,” Klavier informed him as they waited for the supervisor. Both of them were suddenly waved over by a uniformed individual that appeared to be of a higher rank. Also, a police officer had come over, and saw Klavier’s badge.
“Prosecutor Gavin,” the officer began as he pulled out his notebook and a yellow number 2 pencil. “I understand you’ve a complaint about these airport security guards?”
“Ja. They were harassing my boyfriend, and a woman wearing a hijab,” Klavier said as the officer removed his notebook.
“Let’s step into the lounge, and speak about this in private whilst I get statements,” the officer nodded. Klavier did as well. Apollo felt his heart sink, realizing that danger was following them everywhere. So much for a relaxing vacation. At this point he felt like turning around and going home.
A few hours later, Apollo sipped on a bottle of apple juice, watching the planes come and go. He felt even more cross and frustrated since they had missed their flight, and Klavier and the officer had interviewed a few witnesses as well as the woman before she had to get on her own flight. He squeezed his eyes shut.
Now they sat in the airline first class lounge speaking to a representative of the airline, the police officer in charge of the investigation, and an customs official who handled overseas flights.
“I’m sorry there is a problem with his passport,” said the customs agent as she looked over at Klavier, who seemed collected despite the whole ordeal.
“What’s wrong with my passport? I just had it renewed!” Apollo complained.
“Ja. What is the problem?” Klavier asked.
“The person who renewed it, I’m afraid had their license revoked,” the agent said as she held it up and then showed a document on the tablet she carried to Klavier.
“That makes it invalid?” Klavier asked.
The customs agent shook her head and apologized, “I’m sorry, but as a prosecutor you must know international law…”
“The Bahamas are a US territory,” Klavier said.
“I know sir, but the paperwork and the investigation is still ongoing. I’m sorry Prosecutor Gavin, but while we can rebook your flight, I’m afraid we can’t allow your boyfriend to travel until the case goes to trial.”
Apollo’s hair spikes drooped. He should have known that it wouldn’t be simple. He slowly rose to his feet and mumbled, “I want to go home. This is ridiculous.”
“Schatz, there is something we can do,” the prosecutor said gently.
“But all that money you spent, and I spent! I demand a refund,” Apollo said bitterly.
The airline representative said worriedly, “I’m sorry but we can’t refund you fully… all we can do is offer a replacement ticket of equal or lesser value for a later date or…”
“Ugh…” Apollo sighed. It was clear she was bending over backwards to help, mainly because Klavier was a prosecutor and celebrity. Not to mention Apollo was a lawyer and the airline didn't want to add a lawsuit to their tally.
“Can I exchange both our tickets for a flight to Hawaii?” Klavier asked. “That IS a US state, and he doesn’t need a passport to travel there…”
The travel agent’s eyes lit up with relief. Apollo sighed, presetting a hand over his head. He wasn’t looking forward to a longer plane ride. Instead he groaned and felt like banging his head against a wall. Instead he asked quietly, “When’s the next available flight?”
“Tomorrow morning. I’ll make arrangements for you both to stay at a local hotel, free of charge for your trouble,” the airline representative said biting her lip. Klavier nodded and looked apologetically at Apollo who wanted to bag the whole trip. Yet since it was both their money he was damned if he was going to just roll over and let several thousand dollars go down the drain.
“Danke,” Klavier said softly to the ticket agent. He looked at the officer and the woman who was in charge of checking passports. She handed it back to him with a look of concern and sympathy while Klavier wrapped an arm around Apollo’s hunched shoulders.
“Ugh, this is just asinine,” Apollo mumbled, inhaling deeply. “Mr. Wright and Trucy are never going to let me live this down. I’m sorry I ruined your big plans, Klav.”
“Nein Schatz, think nothing of it. We will receive a voucher for the hotel, where we can sleep and relax for tomorrow’s flight, and the resort we would be staying at has a location in Honolulu. I’m sure they can do something so we don’t lose our money,” Klavier reassured him. “But if you’d rather not go…”
“No way. We both paid a lot for those tickets and that resort package! I won’t have us losing one dime if we can help it!” Apollo stubbornly bit back. Klavier nodded, brushing back his fringe. If it had been six months ago he would have just written the whole trip off as nothing. Yet Apollo had him see the value of money in a different way. Just because he was rich didn’t mean that he needed to lose his hard earned money, no matter how much he made.
“Are you sure, Apollo?” Klavier asked him. However, Apollo pulled him into a hug.
Cupping his face Apollo said in a low voice, “Just because you’re rich doesn’t meant your money is something you have to throw away. You earned EVERY dollar of that paycheck and that money from working hard. So why should YOU think that you can’t get the same refunds and satisfaction for what you pay then I do?”
Moisture swam in Klavier’s eyes. He said, “Ach… Schatz… that means a lot… I have forgotten how it is at times when I didn’t have as much…”
“Well, you don’t have to throw money away. Whether it’s ten dollars or ten thousand. And I insist we go to that fast food place and get some burgers. My treat since I made us miss our plane,” he said as he reached into his wallet and pulled out some tens. Pulling him into a kiss, Klavier stroked the other's back. He ran a hand over Apollo's neck and rubbed it soothingly.
“Schatz, that sounds lovely,” Klavier said as he went to get the travel vouchers and arrangements for their refunds and comps.