Twist of Fate

Chapter 8 (TW): The Final Straw

It's been almost three months since the events of Machi's trial. Since then, Klavier has been working with Ema, Phoenix, Trucy, and Miles to gather evidence against Kristoph as well as getting Apollo away from his grasp. However, after showing up late for Apollo's weekly dinner at the Edgeworth household wounded, Trucy calls Klavier over to come help comfort the defense attorney. Once there, Apollo is able to see through Kristoph lies about his younger brother and ends up crying into Klavier's chest. After he is done crying, Apollo tells the others the events that lead up to him appearing on the doorstep that night. Phoenix then asks Apollo if he thinks he'd be okay to testify in court against Kristoph. He isn't too sure about it, afraid of what would happen in his boss wasn't convicted. The others assure him that his testimony wouldn't be the only evidence and admit they had been gathering evidence for months. Moved by this and finding out he wasn't alone anymore, Apollo agrees to testify against Kristoph.

"Kristoph!" His brother looked up from his desk to scowl at Klavier. Klavier had gone straight to the Gavin Law Offices as soon as he left Apollo's after leaving the knife in the compartment on his Hog. Though his chest was still hurting from Apollo's words, he had to confront his brother about what he was doing. He had to get answers.

"I hope there is a reason for you to be barging in like this," Kristoph scolded. He didn't even look up from his paperwork, angering Klavier. He slammed his hands onto the desk, startling the older man. Kristoph looked up to fix him with a glare. Klavier fixed Kristoph with his own glare in return. "Is something bothering you?"

"You're damn fucking right!" Klavier was shouting but he didn't care. "What the hell did you do to Apollo?!" Kristoph sighed deeply, moving his glasses up.

"Do we really need to go through this again, little brother? I'm not doing anything to Justice." He sounded calm, collected- normal. It filled Klavier with even more anger somehow.

"Die kuhscheiße," Klavier snarled. Kristoph raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Well, what do you think is happening, little bruder?" Klavier didn't flinch from Kristoph's harsh glare.

"You're abusing him," Klavier growled lowly. Kristoph stopped writing with an audible snap. He opened his mouth to say something, probably to defend himself, but Klavier wouldn't let him. "You went to his house last night, beat him for a reason only God knows, you kicked his cat, you used a knife on him- probably to carve into his back more. Not only that, but you've been putting it into his head that I'm toying with him, wanting to use him, twisting his mind so much that he doesn't even know up from down anymore. You've been using my nickname on him while doing so, trying to drive a wedge between us because you're seeing something between us that isn't there, a threat. Am I right?"

Klavier stared Kristoph straight in the eyes as he spoke. Rage was building in the prosecutor, but he didn't let his voice rise. He let his anger and hatred show through his gaze as his hands clenched into fists on the table. Klavier wanted nothing more than to reach across the desk and punch Kristoph in the face. Klavier wanted to hit his brother until he could feel at least a fraction of the pain he was putting Apollo through.

But Kristoph suddenly looked... different. At least for a split second. His expression darkened considerably to the point where Klavier was afraid that his brother was going to try to kill him. His ice-blue eyes hardened, growing emotionless even. His eyes were hidden when he reached up with his right hand to adjust his glasses. While the glare hid them, Klavier saw something flash on the hand that made Klavier feel sick.

As quick as the murderous expression came, it went and Kristoph's cool exterior returned. He shuffled the papers on his desk. He picked up the pencil again. Kristoph finally remet Klavier's glare with a perfect, bone-chilling familiar smile.