Chapter Text
Crackles and screaming, the heat rising as the hellish oranges and reds engulfed him, and for a moment there was only fear racing through Apollo’s mind as he watched on. He could hear people far off in the background as this unfamiliar place continued to burn to the ground. He felt nothing but a paralyzing fear take hold of him, even as the fire began to lick at his own skin.
Before him stood a shadowy figure, glaring at him though it held no eyes, an icy presence to it that held Apollo in more fear. It loomed over him with its grandness, the shadow darker than any of the smoke that filled his lungs. He wanted to scream in panic, or at least try to run from whatever this thing was. But he could not find his legs, and his skin turned to ice the closer it got.
The shadow soaked up the smoke as it moved, now gaining a figure with an edge to it. More red shone through the fires on all sides of Apollo, turning into a familiar-looking jacket he had seen in a photo he held close to him. The shadow’s head then turned to skin and hair much like his own, and a pair of pleading brown eyes looked at him.
A man formed from the shadow, his hand coming up to touch his face.
Apollo’s eyes widened as this figure resembled Jove now.
Just as he was about to touch Apollo’s cheek, the flames ate him up and Jove was gone. The fire soon spread to him, inching closer, and closer…
Apollo jolted awake with a yelp, shooting upright as he searched the room for the fires that tried to eat him. He found nothing but the calm colours of Klavier’s bedroom, the light blues darkened by the night just beginning to turn to day as the sun peeked up from the horizon. For a second, Apollo was confused about where he was. It took a few deep breaths before he realized he was alright.
At least it wasn’t like the first time he had this nightmare.
Apollo never really remembered his dreams during the night. If he did, there would have to have been something in them that sparked a feeling in his core, or at least was on repeat for multiple nights. This nightmare had come to him a few times now, ever since the show with Klavier not two months ago, and each time he had it, he swore Jove would get closer and closer before disappearing into the flames. The nightmare terrified Apollo, and he wished more than anything to know what it all meant. Sadly, he would have to go on with the mystery as no one would be able to piece it together.
Not even Klavier had been successful in his attempts.
The brunette tiredly looked down at the sleeping prosecutor, his arm lazily draped over Apollo’s waist as if to still comfort him. The attorney was surprised he hadn’t woken him up this time around. Klavier was a heavy sleeper, but the last few times Apollo had a nightmare the blond had woken and soothed the man back into slumber with soft words and smooth motions of his hands. Apollo was unsure if he did this because he truly cared or was too tired to think it through during the moment.
The brunette shook that negative thought away. Klavier didn’t like it when he questioned his actions. They were in a somewhat secret relationship – somewhat, because Mr. Wright, Edgeworth, Clay, and Daryan all knew – and that was basically an open door for Klavier to show his affections where he couldn’t when they were just physically starved for each other. And because Apollo was still a little accustomed to the way Derek treated him before, he was constantly questioning Klavier’s motives for the things he did.
Anytime Apollo got flowers, he assumed Klavier wanted something in return. When he was complimented, he didn’t believe it. The worst, however, was when Klavier would give him gifts that were far more pricey than what Apollo expected from the man. He thought Klavier was trying to buy him or his emotions, and he confronted the prosecutor about it. Apollo instantly regretted that when Klavier simply told him he just wanted to get the defense attorney something to show his feelings. It made Apollo feel like a moron after seeing the blond so hurt by his accusation, and they had a long discussion afterwards about why he overreacted about Klavier’s gifts.
Apollo let out a sigh, laying back down in bed and faced the prosecutor. Derek had ruined his self-esteem and trust in others. The defense attorney may have taken back a lot of what Jeetle took from him, but his self-worth was still something he needed to work on. It was one of the many reasons he didn’t want his relationship with the man to be outside their little circle. The media would make him look like he was out for Klavier’s money, and that was furthest from the truth. He couldn’t care less whether Klavier was rich or poor. The man cared for him like no one else had in his past.
He grinned as he looked at the blond, remembering when he and Clay were young and would fantasize about their perfect partners. A Rockstar hadn’t been one he thought about, but that may have been because of the stigma that they all did drugs and went partying every night. Klavier never did any of that. Hell, the man could barely hold his liquor when out with Apollo and Clay. He wasn’t a lightweight by any means, but he could barely hold five shots to Apollo’s ten. Clay got lucky with Daryan as the two matched each other perfectly.
Which usually ended with them taking off to the nearest hotel without paying for their drinks, leaving Apollo and Klavier with the tab.
Klavier was also more fun than Apollo had anticipated. Most of the time in public he was usually being foppish, flirting and complimenting anyone who gave him a look, but when alone with Apollo things always revolved around the two of them doing something dumb like dancing to the radio as they made dinner together, or just watching movies they could talk through and try to guess the plot. Sometimes they would just sit on the couch and cuddle as one of them read a book or case file, or even just lie in bed and count the seconds. Nothing was boring between them, and it all fit so naturally to Apollo.
Things in bed only got better as time went on as well.
Their physical relationship before Klavier’s charity show was just that. Physical. But now, after a few months, it was much slower and more emotional. Klavier took his time with Apollo, kissing wherever he could, grazing his hands over every part of his skin, and never feeling rushed through any of it. Their first time together had been a mess of hormones and sexual starvation on both parts, but none of that was there anymore. There were still the occasional heated trysts that were simply for the sake of relief, and neither of them could complain when it came to that, but there would be times when Apollo was just reading a book and cuddling with him, and Klavier would just start kissing him for no reason. Kissing would lead to making out, then to the bedroom, and then a night of overall passion. It was fantastic!
And the only one he could brag to was Clay, who would just brag about Daryan in return.
Apollo scooted in closer to Klavier, mind now racing with raunchy thoughts. It wasn’t all that rare for him to think things like this, but it certainly was after a nightmare.
‘I should let him sleep.’ He thought to himself, biting at his lip. ‘But he doesn’t have any cases coming up. At least none that would force him into the office early.’
A squeak escaped the shorter man as the arm around his waist tightened, a hand squeezing his butt over the covers.
Klavier nuzzled in closer, keeping his eyes shut. “I sense a handsome man is staring at me. Should I be blushing?”
“Nope. That was just me. Sorry to disappoint.”
“Oh? What disappointment could I have when I instead have a god staring at me? I’m flattered.”
Apollo snickered, cuddling into Klavier’s arms as the man kissed the top of his head. No matter how much Jeetle had been able to tear down, Klavier was able to bring it back up with more to spare. The defense attorney spent years feeling like he wasn’t worth looking at. To know someone felt so strongly in the opposite direction, it made Apollo want to kick himself for not seeing it sooner.
The brunette turned his head a bit to look up at Klavier. “We need to get up and go to work soon.”
A grumble from the blond, unwilling to move. “Five more minutes. It’s too cold out there beyond the blankets.” He tightened his hold on Apollo more. “This is so much better.”
“How do you think I feel in my apartment? Winter is hell for me.”
“Then do not leave. I will take you and Kätzchen in and we will all be warm together, ja?”
“No. Not happening. Too soon for us. And I’m not sure how Mikeko feels about dogs. Vongole might get her ear scratched.”
“Minds might change when the snow falls.”
Apollo shivered out of instinct. “Ugh, why’d you have to say that?”
Klavier chuckled, kissing the top of Apollo’s head again. “Ich liebe dich, mein Schatzi.”
The attorney sighed. “You know I don’t have a clue about what you’re saying, right?”
Another chuckle, another kiss, and the Rockstar went back to sleep.
Apollo’s eyes rolled. “Fop.”