Work Text:
Apollo is having a nervous breakdown.
Not a breakdown "hey, Polly, I think I made a small explosion in the warehouse, will you help clean up before Daddy comes?"
not a breakdown of "Apollo, will you take another shift? Yes, I know, your workload is already big, but Thena is sick"
not a breakdown "so, Apollo, now you and I will sort out your emotional background"
and not even a breakdown "exams start tomorrow, this week you are on duty in the northern part of the city, it doesn't matter to us that you live in the east, work in the west, and study in the south" no, this is a breakdown from the category "Klavier-his mother (or brother)-Gavin, Mr. Radiance, Mr. Star, and just a villain (whom I call Apollo, - so it needs to be neutralized), standing in a tea shop, during his, Apollo, shift, smiling, and somewhere nearby, Mr. Wright (the manager of the store where Apollo works / the director of the store where Apollo works / hero / Apollo teacher from the academy, etc.) is standing nearby and will kill Justice first if he dares to be rude to a guest
even if this guest is a villain
even if this guest is one particular villain, attributed specifically to Apollo
even if this villain is now innocently blinking his eyes, inspecting shelves with boxes and containers with loose tea, now and then correcting the damn pink tinsel with sequins around his neck
so yes, Apollo has a nervous breakdown somewhere between 7 and 8 on the nervousness scale, and somewhere between 8 and 9 on the breakdown, and this is quite a lot, even in his life
apparently, it was necessary to listen to a quiet voice in his head in the morning, asking to stay in bed, write to everyone that he was sick /dead/ he was stolen, and then escape to Kurain to Nayuta, away from here, but he did not do this, and therefore right now two purple-blue, from-behind colored glasses, eyes, as if they had just noticed him
"ah, Herr Forehead, what a pleasant surprise! – Gavin theatrically spreads his arms to the sides, smiling with all 28 teeth, sprinkling glitter and glitter everywhere, straightening up to his full height, which was even taller because of glossy (very stupid) colored platform shoes. – I didn't think that the heroes also had time to work in such places, Apollo wanted to either hit him or shout, but the second option would probably lead to significant destruction of the building, and he doesn't need deductions from his salary, thank you, so he stopped at the first one
even it could not be carried out, because right now the boss was looking at him closely watching the politeness to customers (yes, Polly, even if customers are assholes)
Apollo–probably–his own voice sounded sarcastic and dissatisfied, no matter what Apollo tried to do with him. – we would have had many times more time if it weren't for people like... you. – Apollo tried to notice Mr. Wright and his reaction out of the corner of his eye, and he unequivocally raised an eyebrow
"ah, Herr Forehead, your words cut me to the heart," Gavin theatrically put one of his hands to his face, while the other handed over his shirt to his chest. – who knows if I can forgive this? – Apollo feels his eye twitching. maybe to hell with the salary reduction? there will still be a salary, new nerve cells – no. – but maybe, – Klavier straightens up, putting his hands on his hips. – I will forgive you, if you recommend me some tea, I will show generosity and grant your pretty face forgiveness, ja?
yes, after all, the salary may not be so important...
Apollo hears Wright's chuckle somewhere nearby, who is already clearly expecting an explosion
he can expect an explosion further, and Apollo is a professional, he will serve anyone as it should be
(even if he burns all the remaining nerve cells in the process, he will not get used to it)
Apollo takes a deep breath and remembers his first exams and how one day he did not sleep for four days and fainted right in front of the teacher. he takes a deep breath and remembers the first week of working for Wright and how one of the boxes exploded right in his face, burning his bangs
he can serve this one... the client, this will clearly not be the worst event in his life
Apollo lowers his face for a moment, pulls on a smile and raises
an already brightened physiognomy, trying to make your voice the most positively neutral:
- well, of course I'll help you with the selection of tea, - the decision to waste nerves immediately pays off with a look of slight confusion on Klavier's face and Wright's surprised laugh in the background. - do you have any preferences or wishes? - Apollo sweetly politely raises his hand with the palm to the top and slightly tilts his head to the shoulder, barely restraining a grin. So where's all your Shine, huh?
however, all the gloss and confidence returns to the villain after a split second. an infantile expression of thoughtfulness immediately appears on the face, and the index finger begins to beat rhythmically against the cheek.
Apollo's eye seems to have started twitching again
- hmm, let me think, a forehead, - Gavin expressively stuck out his lips. - hm... - his eyebrows were slightly furrowed and- stop. Apollo needs to stop staring. - I don't even know.. maybe something fruit or berry? your choice, Herr Forehead, ja?
Klavier grinned, brushed his bangs off his face and narrowed his eyes mockingly.
oh. berry teas, of course.
well, at least he knows what he wants
(don't get me wrong, Apollo had nothing against berry/fruit teas, but he got drunk on them already in the hungry student years of lack of part-time work, and they were probably the most popular and generally used, because now they were gradually starting to cause disgust, and Apollo himself quietly dragged more expensive teas from the Wrights, as moral compensation*)
however, since the client asked for a berry, he will give him a berry
- what are your special wishes in terms of choosing specific berries, maybe?
"Nope," Gavin said cheerfully, leaning forward slightly.
I wonder if something can happen to the eye if it twitches too fast?
- in that case, - Apollo suppressed the irritation that came over him again. I had to quickly run my thoughts through the shelves, and not think about a smug (possibly beautiful) face. - I can recommend sea buckthorn, - Klavier stretched out his hand forward, wanting to hear the characteristic. Apollo's hand gripped the tabletop. - it tastes very pleasant, and it smells unobtrusively sour, - the irritation of the essence subsided, giving way to working calm. Apollo is a pro. - it is rather a tea mixture, because it consists of black tea, a small amount of turmeric, small pieces of ginger, mint and, in fact, sea buckthorn itself. tea is rich in vitamins and does not contain caffeine, which can also be written in its advantages.
Apollo stopped and focused his gaze on someone else's face again.
Klavier bit his lip a little, casually adjusting his tinsel scarf and smiling insidiously.
- ah, - he grinned and Apollo wanted, really wanted, to yell at him. Klavier's gaze darted somewhere in the direction of Wright only for a moment and his mood immediately changed. - how can I continue to torment or ponder after such an incredible license, eh, Herr Forehead? Apollo resisted the urge to turn around and just stare at Mr. Wright, just to understand what he had done. - I think that's what I'll take. Will you wrap it for me, ja?
Apollo just nodded, quickly packed two standard portion, filling them with a spatula in a paper bag, and hurriedly poked the villain right into his hands.
Klavier took the goods elegantly, holding out the card for payment in the same way.
"ah, Herr Forehead, Danke," he smiles brightly, squinting his eyes. he takes the card and turns to the exit, vaguely waving his hand without turning around. - goodbye, Forehead, I hope to see you soon! - and laughs
- goodbye, - Apollo gives out through his teeth, it's not clear why, when the bell above the door is already ringing.
the shop falls into silence for a short time, until Mr. Wright's quiet laughter is heard in the room
- what? Apollo asks absentmindedly and suddenly wearily
- you know, - Phoenix grins into his fist, calming down. - as your teacher, I should give you a fine, - Apollo is ready to roll his eyes in sorrow. - but as your boss, I'm writing you a bonus for "professional behavior"
***
Apollo carefully makes his way through the window into Gavin's lair. it wasn't his first time here, but ka
every time he felt vague anxiety and guilt, as if he was not on the territory of the villain, but climbed on the private property of a worthy citizen even without a warrant
the hero carefully steps on the parquet floor, afraid to make an extra sound. all he needs is to take out the stolen information, thereby preventing the operation, it's just that-
the light turns on abruptly and Apollo does not jump up on the spot only thanks to numerous trainings.
he turns his head sharply to the door and there, leaning on the jamb, Klavier is expected to be standing (in one of his literally shining outfits) and does not look surprised at all.
Apollo is already ready for a fight, tensing his whole body, when Gavin lazily says:
- ah, Herr Forehead, you finally passed, - Klavier yawns like a cat, smiling easily and naturally. - I've been waiting for you, I haven't even brewed tea yet in the evening.
Apollo freezes, looking puzzled. What?..
- don't stand still, really, you have to have tea with me, - Gavin grins, going out into the corridor and already broadcasting from there. - your advice didn't deceive me, Forehead, he really turned out to be amazing
note
* At first, Apollo just drank only "real tea" in Kurain, from which he was already beginning to feel sick, as a student he drank cheap fruit (especially citrus), now the expensive phase has begun again, then there will be fruit again, everything is cyclical
background:
Klavier: Herr Wright?
Phoenix: what are you doing here.
K: I'm just... it's not... It's not for work, really👉👈
P: what..
K: just, well... Herr Edgeworth said he would contact you👉👈
P:
P: I am listening?..
K: How to approach Apollo?👉👈
P:
/hj