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Apollo sighed, collapsing backwards on the floor. He didn’t expect Trucy to be so heavily emotionally impacted by his decision to stay in Khura'in.
I'm Trucy Wright and I'll be fine! were words that were now etched into his brain. Not that he wanted to forget them, but he was so used to hearing “I'm fine” that hearing “I'll be fine” instead seemed to have caught him off guard. Somehow, despite both of them being emotionally constipated in different ways, Nahyuta and Datz noticed this.
“I feel I should apologize,” Nahyuta said the morning after the first video call with Trucy.
“For what?” Apollo asked, giving them a questioning look.
“I sprung the question of you staying in the country too soon,” Nahyuta explained. “If I'd given you more time to think it over —”
“When would you have?” Apollo asked, interrupting them. “Khura'in needs at least one defense attorney to rebuild the legal system. What else was I supposed to do?”
Nahyuta hesitated. They sat down next to Apollo; Twix curled up in their lap, purring.
“I knew there'd be a revolution at some point. I could've asked you while you were still in America.”
“That would've given me a few more weeks at best.”
“That is better than what I gave both you and Trucy, Apollo.”
“I didn’t even know you had a sister, AJ!” Datz said as he waltzed into the room. Apollo and Nahyuta groaned.
“We were having a conversation, Datz,” Apollo said from his spot on the floor. “And Trucy and I aren’t related. We just see each other as siblings.”
“Same as you and Yuty, right?”
Apollo and Nahyuta looked at each other for a moment, came to a silent understanding, and looked back at Datz.
“We’re rivals at best,” Apollo said with a smile. That seemed to completely throw off Datz.
“You both decided to live here,” Datz said, sputtering a bit. “You grew up together.”
“Growing up together doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” Nahyuta said, also smiling.
“But —”
Apollo laughed.
“We’re messing with you, Datz,” he said, sitting up to look at Datz properly. Nahyuta sighed, looking at Apollo.
“I’d like to join your call with Trucy tonight, if that’s alright,” they said, messing with their braid. Twix started batting at it; Nahyuta fixed her with a stare. “Twix, I would much prefer you don’t do that.”
Twix, being a cat and therefore unable to understand a word Nahyuta was saying, simply stared back at them before batting at their braid again.
“Why do you want to join the call?”
“I feel like I owe Trucy an apology.”
“For what?” Datz interjected, snacking on an apple.
“Taking her brother from her.”
Apollo’s eyes widened and he stared at Nahyuta.
“Nahyuta, you’re not… it’s not your fault I decided to stay. I owe it to Dh….” Apollo took a deep breath. “I owe it to Dad.”
“If Dhurke was your dad, what does that make me? Your uncle?” Datz said, using his kukri to peel an apple.
“Butt out, Datz,” Apollo said irritably.
“If you wanted me to leave, all you had to do is ask,” Datz said with a shrug. Apollo and Nahyuta glared at him. “Okay, I'm going!”
Datz left the room, leaving Apollo and Nahyuta alone with Twix.
“If you think I’m not at fault for you staying here, I need to ask you something,” Nahyuta said, petting Twix absentmindedly.
“Okay,” Apollo said skeptically.
“Would you have stayed if I hadn’t asked you to?”
Apollo stared at Nahyuta for a moment. They were staring at nothing in particular and not looking at Apollo.
“Nahyuta —”
“Please just answer the question.”
Apollo gave the question some thought. Would he have still stayed if Nahyuta hadn’t specifically asked him to?
“Let us put it another way,” Nahyuta said. “If you asked me to go to America with you and I said yes, leaving Rayfa here, would I be at fault?”
“I think that’d depend on the circumstances.”
“How so?”
“I stayed here because Khura’in’s legal system needs to be rebuilt and there aren’t any defense attorneys to help. How would you end up in the same situation, or even a similar one? To answer your question of whether or not I would’ve stayed if you hadn’t asked, probably not. Only because I didn’t realize how important it was that I did stay. So technically, yes, I did only stay because you asked me to. But I also didn’t realize you’d need me to stay until you told me.”
Nahyuta stayed silent. Apollo looked over at them.
“I’d still like to apologize to Trucy, if that’s alright,” Nahyuta said after a moment. “If not for you staying here, then at least for trying to get her convicted of murder.”
“Of course. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”
It was around nine in the evening by the time Trucy called. Nahyuta and Apollo had made the decision to do the call in Apollo’s room; this wasn’t a call Datz needed to listen in on. Nahyuta was leaning against the wall opposite Apollo.
“Hey, Trucy,” Apollo said with a warm smile. “How are you?”
“I’m doing pretty good, all things considered,” Trucy replied. Apollo noticed she was messing with the cuff of her glove, but he decided to ignore it until Nahyuta left. “What about you?”
“Good. By the way, Nahyuta’s with me. He wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“I don’t think it’s my place to explain.”
Apollo motioned for Nahyuta to join him, moving over to give them space to sit down.
“I can leave if you want me to, Nahyuta,” he said.
“No, stay.”
Apollo nodded.
“Hey, Yuta,” Trucy greeted, smiling.
“Hello, Trucy,” Nahyuta said. “I'd like to apologize to you.”
“For what?”
“I took your brother from you.”
Trucy stared at Nahyuta for a few seconds.
“Nahyuta, why do you think you need to apologize?”
“You don’t blame me for Apollo staying in Khura’in?”
“No, why would I? He’s his own person. He’s an entire adult. And it’s not like you were threatening him or anything. Besides, he’s your brother too, he grew up with you. Surely that counts for something.”
“Then I’d still like to apologize, if not for Apollo staying here, then for trying to get you found guilty of murder.”
Trucy stared at them.
“I suppose I should apologize to both of you for it, actually,” Nahyuta continued. “Apollo had a panic attack and you were put in detention overnight. If it wasn’t traumatizing for both of you, I’d be very surprised.”
“Nahyuta, I have a question for you,” Apollo said.
“Yes?”
“If you weren’t being blackmailed with Rayfa and your mom’s safety, would you have been so adamant about Trucy being guilty?”
Nahyuta froze. After a second they started messing with their braid.
“I… suppose not,” they said quietly. “But it’s still something I feel I should apologize for.”
“Why? If you were being blackmailed, you didn’t really have a choice, did you?” Trucy asked. Nahyuta shook their head.
“My actions still hurt both of you.”
“You were being blackmailed. If anything we should blame Ga’ran,” Apollo pointed out.
“Yeah, I don’t blame you and it doesn’t seem like Polly does either,” Trucy added. “If you’re still apologizing though, I accept your apology.”
“Me too.”
Nahyuta let out a content sigh.
“I’ll leave you two alone then,” they said as they got off of Apollo’s bed.
“Talk to you later, Yuta!” Trucy said as they left. Nahyuta made an amused noise and left Apollo’s room. Apollo sighed.
“Trucy, are you really doing ‘pretty good’?” he asked. Trucy’s eyes widened.
“What makes you think I’m not?”
“You were messing with the cuff of your glove when you said you were. You know you can’t lie to me, Trucy.”
Trucy sighed.
“I thought I could get away with it over a video call,” she said, messing with the cuff on one of her gloves again.
“You’re doing it again,” Apollo pointed out gently. Trucy’s hand froze. “I won’t be upset with you and I won’t tell anyone what happened if you tell me.”
Trucy looked around for a minute before sighing and pulling off her glove.
“I’m planning to talk to Athena about it,” she said, showing Apollo the inside of her forearm. Her wrist was covered in at least a dozen fresh cuts. “She and Daddy don’t know about it.”
“When did that happen?” Apollo asked; he was trying his best not to react to the revelation that Trucy — someone he saw as a younger sister — had hurt herself.
“Last night, after Daddy and I went home for the night,” Trucy replied. “He went to do something with Mister Edgeworth and I had a breakdown while he was gone.”
“Does he know about the breakdown?”
“No, I haven’t told him or Athena yet.”
There was a pause before Trucy spoke again.
“Please don’t tell them. I don’t want to hurt Daddy and I was planning on telling Athena when she comes in for work.”
Apollo sighed. He really didn’t want to do more to cause Trucy emotional suffering.
“Truce, I know it’ll be hard, but I think you should tell both of them. Your dad should know too.”
“But —”
“Just consider it. I know it’ll be hard, but it’s better than him finding out in a way takes your control of the situation away, right?”
“You’re right,” Trucy said with a sigh. “I’ll tell him when I tell Athena.”
“Whatever makes it easier for you. So aside from having a mental breakdown last night, you’ve been okay?”
Trucy hesitated.
“Not really.”
“Well, at least you’re honest.”
Trucy and Apollo went silent for a moment. Apollo started fidgeting awkwardly.
“I miss you, Polly,” Trucy said quietly. Apollo looked at his phone. Trucy was crying, something he’d only seen her do for the first time less than a month ago.
“I’ll come visit when I get the chance,” Apollo said. “Promise.”
“Alright. I’ll call you again tomorrow.”
“Alright. If you break down again before then, text me or call me earlier, okay?”
Trucy nodded.
“Talk to you tomorrow, Polly.”
“Yep. Don’t forget to tell Athena and your dad about —”
“I know. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Trucy.”
Apollo hung up and laid back against his bed. Nahyuta came back into his room and sat down by Apollo’s feet.
“Is she doing alright?” they asked with a concerned expression.
“I… I don’t really know,” Apollo responded. “It doesn’t seem like she is. I feel bad because there’s not much I can do from halfway across the world.”
“You can offer her emotional support,” Nahyuta said. “Not in person, but over text and call. It’s not the same but it at least tells her you care. It’s hard, but sometimes it’s all you can do.”
“You were still able to talk to Rayfa while Ga’ran was using you as blackmail?”
Nahyuta nodded.
“I suppose she was trying to get me to let my guard down,” they said quietly. “She was safe and seemed to be well taken care of, but I don’t know how much of what she said was the truth versus how much was lies she was told to tell by Ga’ran.”
“How did you show Rayfa you cared?”
“I was genuinely concerned about her safety, and I believe she realized that, even if she didn’t know we’re siblings and thus why I was concerned about her safety.”
“Right, I forgot she hasn’t known you’re siblings for even half a week yet.”
“In any case, staying in contact with Trucy is the best thing you can do for her right now. It shows her you care about how she’s doing. I’ll make sure you get enough free time to visit her at some point.”
Apollo sighed. He felt like he was able to relax for the first time in the past two days.
“Thanks, Nahyuta,” he said quietly.
“You’re welcome, Apollo.”