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Klavier Gavin sinks into the soft chair in his office. He can't stand to go home right now, not with so many memories of those who have betrayed him. Two men whom he trusted above all others. It's enough to make a man go mad. And go mad he might, left alone like this. He picks up his guitar, plucking a few notes weakly. But the music does not come. How could it? He chuckles darkly, placing the guitar back where it stood. Why would music ever grace him with its presence again?
"You're weak." He can hear his brother say to him. "Why do you think everyone you've ever been close to has betrayed you? You're too quick to trust, and too dumb to notice when you've been tricked. Yesterday, in court? Pathetic. I would have wrapped that up far sooner. Besides, you needed that little attorney to hold your hand and guide you through it. I can't believe you would betray me like that, Klavier. You don't deserve to be my brother."
Klavier shrinks away, his brother's words echoing in his mind. He's right. Klavier was pathetic. All of this was his fault. It's him who did this, him who betrayed his brother's trust, his fault his fault his-
"Gavin? Are you there?"
Klavier's head shoots up, looking at the attorney who just walked through his door.
"Herr Forehead," he murmurs, throwing on a big, fake smile. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"You're hyperventilating." Apollo says, walking in. "Well, you were. Is everything ok?"
Ah. Blunt as ever. Sometimes that power of his was incredibly annoying.
"No, no. I am fine. Just... got caught off guard by a mouse, that's all."
He watches as Apollo raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.
"Do you want to talk about it? I'm here for you, if you need me." He gives Klavier a small smile, walking a little closer.
"Don't be ridiculous, Herr Forehead. I am perfectly fine, and do not need any help"
"My bracelet says otherwise, Gavin."
Damn it! Caught in his own lie. He could just send Apollo away, but it would be better for him to not bottle his emotions up.
"I-" Klavier takes a deep breath. "I was just thinking about Kristoph. Don't give me that look, I'll be fine." He says, fixing Apollo with a glare. "I was just thinking about trust, and how both Daryan and he betrayed mine. If two people whom I trusted can do such terrible things, what does that say about me? Will I be the next one to betray? Will another that I trust betray me? That brings up another question: Why? I know why Daryan betrayed my trust, but why did Kristoph? Was it to hurt me?" He huffs out a sarcastic laugh, his thoughts beginning to spiral downwards. "I wouldn't put it past him. And, of course, I was too pathetic to realize he was using me. I goaded Wright into using that evidence without so much as a second thought. I trusted Kristoph up to the last moment, and he repays me with jabs against my character and angry snarls. It killed me to see him on the stand, broken and terrified." His voice goes quiet, and he looks at the wall, his eyes dull and unseeing.
"I visited him, you know? After he was arrested. I visited him, and asked him if he'd ever trusted me as much as I did him. Do you want to know his answer? 'No.' That's what he said! I do so much for him, and he completely shoots me down! I guess I really am as pathetic as he said. Pathetic. I'm so pathetic. What kind of a person helps get their brother jailed? What kind of person does that, Apollo?" Klavier doesn't notice the tears that have begun to fall, or the fact that he's now crumpled on the floor. He just looks at Apollo, eyes pleading.
"I don't deserve to be here. I don't deserve to call myself a Gavin. I don't deserve to prosecute cases, knowing that I caused so much harm. I don't deserve anything."
He fully breaks down now, heavy sobs wracking his body. He can't see, can't hear, can't feel. His head is full of thoughts, buzzing and screaming. He's vaguely aware of his voice, babbling away, but it's lost to him. He sees Kristoph's face flash by him, then Daryan's, then Phoenix Wright's. Two he was betrayed by, one he betrayed. He can't breathe. The guilt from his misdeeds is filling his lungs, covering his body. He's cold, so cold. And everything is dark.
"Gavin. Gavin. KLAVIER!"
A voice. Apollo's voice. He looks up, and sees the man kneeling near him. Backlit by the fluorescent lights, he looks like his namesake. Just as radiant as the sun god himself.
"Klavier, look at me." He carefully moves a bit closer, almost as if dealing with a frightened animal. "It's going to be ok. You're going to be ok. They're gone now. They won't hurt you anymore. It's going to be painful, but I know you. You'll get through it, and you'll come back even stronger. I trust you, Klavier. And I know you won't betray that trust because you're a good man." He slowly takes Klavier's hand in his, and that's all Klavier needs. He wraps his arms around Apollo and clings to him like a lifeline. He's a drowning man and Apollo is an island in a sea of darkness. He buries his face in Apollo's shoulder and listens to the soft words murmured by the other man. He's safe, right where he is. Apollo will protect him, and he has nothing to fear.
"Danke, Apollo."
"Don't mention it, Klavier."
