Klavier was very happy to have finally freed himself from his abusive brother and problematic bandmate. Fans and haters alike saw Klavier as a traitor; however, he felt more secure than ever. He didn’t have any furious messages from Kristoph yelling at him about problems he had nothing to do with, nor did he have to pay Daryan’s bail for another crime born out of greed. Klavier already knew that very greed would eventually kill Daryan and Kristoph, and when that happened, he could finally live.
He sat in the sunlight in front of the window of his studio and improvised a song about starting over. He was happier, and the words flowed more easily without so much pressure on his shoulders. Quickly, he wrote rough drafts of three different songs—something unthinkable for the Klavier of the past. It was a peaceful day; the joy in his chest showed that many more days like this would come.
He thought about visiting Apollo and Trucy after work, so he headed to the Wright Anything Agency. The door was open, which wasn’t very responsible considering it was a place full of legal documents. Nonetheless, he let himself in, ready to comment on that to whoever was inside.
The person he found was Phoenix. He thought quickly, ‘Oh, I haven’t spoken to him yet’, his smile widened as he approached to greet the man sitting in front of the toy piano in the office, facing away from him.
“Oh, Apollo, you’re back,” Phoenix said, “I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t think that—” Phoenix turned to look at who he thought was Apollo, freezing when his eyes met Klavier’s. They widened for a moment at the sight of that blonde hair and blue eyes, so distinct yet so similar to Kristoph’s. Did he have a heart attack? Then he smiled, a practiced expression he had surely used in his poker games. “Klavier, I wasn’t expecting you. Are you looking for Apollo and Trucy? They just left, but they’ll be back soon,” he said calmly, lowering his eyebrows and narrowing his eyes slightly.
“Oh, okay, I can wait. I see you were practicing, huh? Did you want all the neighbors to hear you, leaving the door open?” he joked.
“No, not really. I should do something about that.” He stared at the piano, deep in thought. “Have you… been well?”
“Ja, very well. Everything is much quieter without those certain criminals in town. I suppose you think the same?”
“Uh-huh,” Phoenix murmured weakly.
“By the way… you were the one who created the Mason System, right? A smart move, considering that…” Klavier soon realized he was the only one in the conversation; Phoenix was just looking at him with a strange expression on his face. “Is something wrong?”
“…I just didn’t expect you,” Phoenix repeated.
It seemed Phoenix was the only one hurt by Kristoph’s absence. And Klavier was so much like him… no, that comparison was cruel.
Then Trucy and Apollo walked in.
“Here, I brought you disinfectant, Mr. Wright; have you cleaned your wound yet?”
“…Oh, uh, no.”
“Ah, Prosecutor Gavin,” Apollo said, “We have a bit of a problem here; can you come back later?”
Klavier saw what Apollo was carrying and felt confused. Had Phoenix had a domestic accident before he arrived?
“Sorry, I didn’t know. See you, ja? And get well soon, Herr Wright.”
Phoenix nodded, embarrassed, and Klavier left.
Two hours later, Klavier received a message from Trucy: hi! we’re ok here, come back if you want!
And that’s what Klavier did, not without first buying some pastries on the way to the agency to bring to Phoenix for whatever had happened to him.
“Hello,” he said cheerfully upon entering, seeing Apollo and Trucy playing Monopoly. They didn’t seem to be having much fun; both wore serious expressions. Trucy, at least, feigned a smile.
“Welcome, Prosecutor Gavin!” Her eyes sparkled with surprise. “Wow, is that for us?!”
“Indeed, Fraulein.” He sat down next to them and opened the box of pastries, sharing his gift. Trucy devoured the chocolate donuts, and Apollo slowly ate a croissant. Apollo seemed a bit tense, but he smiled at Klavier with fondness.
“So you’re just here to hang out? For a second, I thought it was something work-related.”
“It’s as if you don’t want to see me,” Klavier joked.
“Not what I meant.”
There was a moment of silence.
“I assumed Herr Wright had a domestic accident, so I bought this for him. Where is he?” Klavier asked.
Trucy and Apollo exchanged glances. In his short time at the agency, Apollo had discovered Phoenix’s habit of… using himself as a punching bag, so to speak. That only worsened with Kristoph’s absence… he missed his enemy despite everything; he had been his company in the pit Kristoph himself put him in for seven long years. They weren’t sure how he would react upon seeing his brother.
But Trucy thought of Klavier’s gesture reflected in the chocolate on her lips, and she thought that his presence could comfort Phoenix, not because Klavier and Kristoph were similar, but because they were opposites.
“You're very sweet!” Trucy said, “He’s in the room upstairs, the second one. Bring him some if you want.”
Klavier climbed the stairs, carrying the box of pastries under his arm. He knocked on the door.
“Herr Wright, it’s me. I brought you a gift.”
Inside the room, Phoenix hesitated about whether he should come out or not. He didn’t know if he was in good enough condition to see anyone. But ignoring Klavier would be rude… so he opened the door, determined to accept the gift and show gratitude but then leave as quickly as possible.
…But upon opening it… Klavier was smiling.
“I don’t know what happened to you, but I thought this would make you feel better,” Klavier said.
Phoenix's heart melted.
“Thank you,” he murmured. He looked so weak, and felt stupid because of wanting to hug him.
“You’re welcome. The door is still unlocked, by the way.”
“Yeah, it’s broken.”
“So I can come over whenever I want?”
“Sure. And if you bring more gifts like this, it’ll be even better.”
Klavier chuckled.
“Your kids are playing Monopoly downstairs, shall we join them?” he said, offering the box of pastries.
“Yeah, of course,” Phoenix took the box. “…Apollo isn’t my kid, though.”
Phoenix and Klavier began to walk down the hall toward the stairs.
“Gavin…” Phoenix began to say. He didn’t want what he was about to say to sound as personal as it was.
“Ja?”
“You know… you’re a good kid. Considering the people you grew up with, that’s quite an achievement. So, seriously, I’m glad that you…” he said the last thing as barely a whisper.
And then, he fell silent, hoping Klavier wouldn’t ask him what he was about to say.
Klavier finished the sentence.
“I’m glad that you and I are no longer enemies,” he said with a smile, “Come here.”
Klavier hugged him. And for a moment, Phoenix thought everything would be alright.