Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Soulmates had never been particularly important in Simon Blackquill's life, though he'd be lying if he said he hadn't been curious about the broken notes running down his arm.

They are in one of the robotics labs, Aura tinkering with one of her robots, while Simon writes an essay for his psychology homework. Simon's topic for this essay is soulmates, reminding him of his own. He's seldom been very curious about his own, but as he glances at it, a small bout of curiosity finds its way to him, he usually shrugs this off, but today, for whatever reason, it stays on his mind.

Either way, his curiosity seems to be written on his face because Aura catches on, he'd rather not discuss the topic with her as she didn't generally like soulmates, with them not having a scientific explanation. They'd been studied of course but, people usually end up finding out more about the meanings of the marks, there was no success in looking at where or why they'd appeared. Eventually, she asked, “ What's going on with you, you've been lost in your head for quite a while?” then she proceeds to use the rolled up blueprints in her hands to whack him in the back of the head, lovingly, of course.
“ Nothing, just wondering.”, at this he receives an inquisitive look to which he replies
by lifting up the cuff of his shirt to reveal his soulmark, black in colour. His sister stares for a moment before mentioning “You could try and find them, you know.”

“ And how do you expect me to do that?'' She takes the laptop from where it sits in front of him and turns it towards herself and then returns it to him. She's left the tab open on Google, he silently brings the laptop towards himself and starts his search. At first he looks for any musicians, teenagers like himself, but to no avail, all those who are possibilities have soulmarks that have nothing to do with him. He eventually gives up, returning to his homework and turns apathetic towards the person, his own work is more important after all, he's going to university soon.*

Simon was sitting in handcuffs, his wrists heavy, feeling both terrified and relieved. Having admitted to his “guilt” had done nothing for him, his sentence was the same as all the others, though the defence attorney, Raymond? had tried his hardest. Relieved for the girl who would never again see her mother, removed from the only home she's known and taken somewhere foreign, for Athena, who would never again be held in court, shaking and desperate, he thinks of her and knows he'd do anything.

But, still he fights to keep the grin on his face, as he hears the sentence and is dragged to his cell, the guards looking at him with disgust, when all he wants to do is cry. And cry he does, he cries for days and weeks, at some point unsure of who he was crying for, mourning the start of the loss of his own life, as well as his mentors.

Outwardly, the crying seems to help him, the tear tracts marking his face, making him look unapproachable, eventually though, he does start talking to people, to distract himself. He feels a slight disturbance when he hears the causal manner in which people talk about the crimes people commit, so he talks to people who've committed crimes minor in their degree.

He distracts himself with different activities as the date of his execution continues to climb closer, they hire someone to monitor him, Fulbright being his name, he doesn't trust him, the man too bright and cheery for a place that's the complete opposite. He has only one piece of leverage against this phantom, he won't let anyone get to it, just in case, though he knows his hope is useless.

Somehow, he'd built a reputation he'd long forgotten, in the few years that he did work.
He was released in April of 2027, given back his job in return for a few liberties, receiving a small desk in his cell as well as being able to go out to visit crime scenes and go on a few walks, monitored of course.

His first case back is given to him by Foolbright, having something to do with an orca. He eventually accepts, curious to see what type of person would've tried to defend one, to his absolute delight, he found Phoenix Wright, legendary fallen Attorney, having risen from the ashes at last. Alongside him stood Athena Cykes, surprising him enough he almost let his mask drop, almost, he doesn't, this is all for her after all.

She was different now, of course she was, she was still a child in his eyes, but now she was louder and more energetic as opposed to her quiet and reserved child self. She wore yellows and blues contrasting with Simon's monochromatic black and white. She also wore a mask, hers easier to break, newer, recluding every now and then, fearful.

Simon wasn't going to watch as Athena lost herself, she clearly had done a lot to get here, only eighteen, so he looks her in the eye and encourages her by reminding her who she's carrying on for. He sees her later on, in the aquarium, and she seems her usual self, if the water on the back of his coat is anything to go by, at least one of them is.

Sometime in late October, he sees Athena for the third time that year, this time facing her as his main opposition. She seemed more anxious this time than she had been at any other, he supposes she should be, it being the first case she's taking on herself, if he's assumed correctly. He quickly figures out that he's wrong, he realises as soon as he sees her, Juniper Woods, who had been Athena's childhood best friend.

He remembered her vaguely only having seen her once or twice though he'd heard of her quite a bit from Athena. The case was about someone who had murdered their mentor, of course Simon was the one to take it, he doesn't go easy on her, he can't, no matter who she may be. The case ended up comical, when it becomes obvious that none of the three suspects had done it, but Simon pushes on regardless, not having a choice as a prosecutor, having to ensure that any doubts as to the perpetrators identity was eliminated, together with the defence. They both deliver and Juniper Woods goes free.

Throughout the trial there was a sort of stinging right where his music notes were located,he ignored it and focused on the case. By the end the stinging was still there and he'd almost forgotten about it until he caught sight of a small glow coming from underneath his shirt sleeve. He'd barely caught a glance at it before it seemed to fizzle out,roughly at the time the gallery left the room but a faint gold shine seemed to remain even though his person had obviously gone.

While walking back to his cell he'd thought he'd caught Athena's voice on the wind shouting something in German? across the courthouse and there was such a faint buzz, so faint in fact, that he was sure he'd imagined it ,not that it would have mattered as he hadn't had the chance to talk to anyone without Foolbright listening in.

Once he'd got back to his cell he looked at his arm and the notes had a sort of shine to them for the next few days,he wondered if they'd noticed the buzzing too and when he'd meet them and how disappointed they'd be finding out who he was, with the little time they'd have left the truth wouldn't matter anyways. Two months is not a long time to spend with someone.

The thought gnawed at him for days afterward,if he was going to die anyways what was the harm in knowing? If Simon didn't meet his soulmate at the very least he had Taka who'd make for a better soulmate than any person could do at this rate, having been there for longer than any person had.

He thought his days were already stressful enough he only had a few days left, there was a slight spark of hope, perhaps there was a chance for him to live,but that soon faded as he looked back at the scene in front of him. Athena, standing behind the defendants stand, unsure of whether she had been the cause of her mother's death.

His sister, Metis, behind a robot, having kidnapped a few people desperate to free him, Wright's daughter was one of those included. He looks over at Phoenix, and never has he seen a person so determined and fearful all at once, he wonders if he looks the same.

Simon had never felt relieved in his life, Athena was released and he was no longer about to die, he finally sees Athena let herself cry and he allows himself to relax, the first time in seven years, the feeling more foreign than it should be. He watches his sister be dragged away, he thanks her and sees the relief in her eyes too, he feels guilty for causing her so much distress, he's thankful she doesn't have to go through anymore. It's almost terrifying how far she was willing to go for him, but he knows he'd be willing to go just as far, he already has.

There was no way he would've Athena end up where he had been, she was only eighteen now, he had told Aura the last time she came to visit, ignoring all her pleas for him to go through with a retrial. She had told him he was only three years older when he'd decided to give up his own life, he had replied with silence then. Now was what mattered, Athena clutching onto him like he might disappear otherwise, safe.

There was a call from the other side of the courthouse, barely audible over the flood of people, still standing inside. Still, everyone looked over to see Trucy Wright, being carried by a man in a purple suit, chains clanking together as he walked. As soon as Wright spotted them, he immediately pulled her into his arms, then released her to look her over once, before pulling her back in again, mumbling something inaudible to the rest of them into her cape. The hug lasted a while before Trucy said “Missed you, too” and squirmed out of the hug, and went to greet everyone else, Apollo looking particularly shaken.

Rather suddenly, Phoenix grabbed the man in purple into a hug, the man, clearly shaken, took a while to register what was going on before hugging back. A quiet thank you was heard from Phoenix, his voice slightly shaky, and in reply there was a small of course from the other.

If during any of this his arm shone a brighter gold than it had in the last few months with a stinging, then Simon didn't notice with his arm still buzzing from a few electrocutions and the force of Athena clinging onto his arm as though she might lose him if she let go.

Chapter Text

Simon went back to work a month after being released, the chief prosecutor forcing him to take a month off, in which he simply visited his old favourite soba shops and rifled through his old things ( apparently Aura had been paying his rent for seven years, she had the money to do so while living comfortably and he'd asked her not to at the time but he's glad she did so now).

He found old albums he'd listened to and tried to learn more about Athena, who had gone from being shy and reserved to confident and constantly chatty. He didn't mind though, he was perfectly content to listen to her chatter away, no longer worrying about either of their futures, while simply cooking a meal.

It was so very simplistic, but it meant a lot more when Simon was sure he'd not live to have a day like this a few months ago. He also brought in some of Aura's things from her lab in the space centre, having been given a sentence of three years, hopeful to be brought down if she was reformed.

He had gone in to see his new office, it'd been moved to a higher floor now since he'd been promoted especially after the lack of prosecutors from Edgeworth firing a lot of them. He went in to find the walls were all black none of them anywhere near the same shade of grey as the bland walls of his cell,he was glad for that. In the centre sat his desk with a bird stand at the side, large windows shrouding the room from complete darkness and the ceiling which was double his height.

The view showed that it was in fact, the top floor, which provided a nice view but was inconvenient, in the way that Edgeworth's office was on one of the lowest floors, and there were likely not many people in between them. The room was otherwise pretty empty apart from the few things standing on his desk and he'd decided he would change that come the end of the week, if not Athena definitely would.

Simon stepped out in order to look at how the rest of the place has changed since he'd last been there, the technology had definitely improved, if what he was hearing from Athena was true. He'd missed out on so much of the world, it was strange trying to adjust but he'd been getting along well so far especially since he was used to using a lot of technology anyways, moreso and more advanced than others because of his visits to the space station.

He noticed that there seemed to be no other office occupied bar one on this floor,the door was adorned with various stickers and had various messages written on a whiteboard by it, no one seemed to be inside however.

He walked towards the lifts, deciding to venture downwards in order to meet the other prosecutors;he needed someone to talk to after all. As he waited his arm started to sting slightly, which was strange, because his arms felt much better after not having to drag around an extra weight for a month. He went to press the button, before realising that it was already arriving, probably whoever his neighbour was then.

The lift opened to reveal the same startled man he saw in the courthouse a month ago. The man was holding his jacket over his shoulder, revealing his bare arm which was glowing a very bright gold, he took notice of this immediately, smiling and holding out his hand.

Simon took it, and just like the others he'd seen this happen to, a string of gold wrapped itself around both their arms before dissipating into the air, he caught a glance of the scales marked on the other's arm, one side being weighed down more heavily than the other. If in that moment Simon had been grinning, then he'd deny it the rest of his life.

“Klavier.” was what the other man offered, forcing Simon to bring his gaze back to him.

“Simon.” was what he said by reply.

“ Oh, Athena's friend, ja? ” German? He recognised that voice, having heard it only a few months before. Simon nods.

“I never thought, this year, especially after all that's been going on,” Klavier thinks aloud, not on purpose, if the way he suddenly attempted to backtrack was anything to go by “ A good thing, of course, Herr samurai.” a nickname already, that meant he'd have to think of one in return, he was good at that luckily.

Chapter Text

He was standing in a very shiny, messy and cluttered office in comparison to his own, it was so bright in fact, Simon would've shielded his eyes had he not been to Athena's house before. This however, did not help with Simon's now very common migraines, apparently adjusting to the light was very difficult after spending 7 years in a dingy grey room. Why was it that everyone who was to matter in his life had to be the complete opposite of himself? Klavier had asked for Simon to come see his office, Simon assumed it was for the purpose of getting to know each other better.

He could already make out enough by the silver rings and chains adorning himself and the guitars hung up all over his office, each corner of the room had stacks of paper or cd's spread across it may as well have been his bedroom. He mentioned that he was in a band, though Simon had guessed that the second he stepped in, he nodded along to show he was listening anyway but then Klavier had stopped in the midst of a sentence.

“The band is called-” he looked back up to see Klavier readjusting himself, before correcting himself.

“It was called the gavinners,I of course was the main star” he said, the lead singer then,before grinning at him while giving him the courtesy of a small bow.
Oh, this is definitely something to tease him about, Simon thought.

Simon was curious enough about this band to enquire

“Gavinners?”

“Ah, my last name is Gavin.”

“…You named a band after yourself?” says Simon, raising an eyebrow.

“I was seventeen.”

“ And pretentious, obviously.”

“ Our single went platinum overnight.” says Klavier, defensive.

“ And you knew that before naming the band, did you?” They went on this for a while before Simon eventually asks.

“Can I listen to some of the music perhaps, if it's so good?”

The music starts to play and Simon makes the horrifying realisation that he likes the song, he doesn't let it show on his face though, able to easily control the expressions on his face, unless something leaves him completely shocked. The song comes to an end and then another starts to play, better than the first in fact, he has just enough time to think he might recognise the other voice in the song when it suddenly cuts out.

“ Sorry, an unreleased song, it's one of my own, what did you think of the first?”

“Horrible.” he lies.

“Millions of people disagree.”

They talk for a few hours more, Klavier talking about his band and them eventually, looking at old pictures, Simon neglecting to bring up the second song. Klavier leads Simon around the prosecutor's office introducing him to a few of their colleagues, including a man with a hand pointer and a woman with a whip.

Chapter Text

Simon had made it home but not before entering a craft shop on his way to begin with his own gift. Firstly though he'd needed to show off the one he received so he turned on his phone, uploaded a photo of himself with the mug in his hands, the writing on full display and Taka perched on his shoulder.

Simon
@twistedsamurai

My first achievement post jail time.

Attached is a picture of one Simon Blackquill looking on from the rim of his mug, his bangs covering his eyes so only the stained remnants of tears and his mouth in a small half smile are visible.

Athena @Acykes
Replying to @twistedsamurai
I'm extremely proud,I am definitely not crying .

Simon @twistedsamurai
Replying to @Acykes
Thank you
But you are most definitely having a reaction much too dramatic, over something so simple do sort yourself out cykes-dono.

Klavier @kgavin
Replying to @twistedsamurai and @Acykes
Don't listen to him fraulein personally I'm touched that you like my gift, you're certainly appreciating it more.

Athena @Acykes
Replying to @twistedsamurai and @kgavin
Thank you Klavier, see Simon even he's thankful.

Simon @twistedsamurai
Replying to @Acykes and @kgavin
Regardless I was not wrong, Athena, however I will say thank you to Gavin-dono.

Klavier 🔒@kgavin
Replying to @twistedsamurai
Gerne geschehen, Herr Blackquill

Content, Simon fed Taka who had been bothering Simon since they came home as though Simon would suddenly forget to feed him, Athena had once said she didn't think that Simon would be able to deal with the guilt and she'd probably be right. Simon then made himself dinner enjoying being able to cook just because he could now, currently preferring staying home to going out as people were a little exhausting at the moment.

When Simon was released a lot of people heard about it as it marked the end of the “dark age” of law. As it had been the Wright office, not one but two different cases were solved,so people recognised him from time to time. He had been shocked to hear that this age only started after his arrest and Wright's disbarment,the law had been in it's dark age far earlier,people had only taken notice as a result of the two events.

Having had dinner, Simon took out the beads he brought from the craft shop and set to work the bracelet he was making to give away to Klavier as a response, it was a simple thing that didn't cost much and wouldn't take up too much effort. He chose the colours black and purple for they were Klavier's signature colours. There had been small charms with the same logo that he wore around his neck, the gavinners logo as well as a small sword which he couldn't not buy, for it fit too well. The making of the bracelet felt quite ridiculous to Simon. He was 28 after all and he'd spent the last 7 years in prison,he hadn't made any sort of bracelet since he was but a child.

Taka had decided to become a nuisance,perhaps it was the amount of space he was getting used to but he was generally more needy nowadays,not that Simon usually minded Taka was better than most human companions. Now though it was slightly annoying, his antics caused the bracelet to drop a few times prompting Simon to remake the bracelet after picking up beads from off the floor. To get around this he let Taka out to fly around by leaving the window open for him and he was eventually left in peace. The process had been a little tedious but Simon eventually did finish the bracelet and then wrapped it into a small box,which was sent directly to Klavier's place the address just barely pried from a very curious Athena. He would've left it at his office but with the amount of gifts Klavier received it would've been weeks until he finally received it.

Chapter Text

The next time Simon saw Klavier, he'd been wearing the bracelet on his right hand along with the usual collection of others and on his left he wore a watch. The other bracelets were made or given to him by various fans, those usually changed from day to day, the one he made however stayed where it was, they said nothing about the fact, only receiving a small thank you when he received the gift.

Nowadays, they interacted often, the first person being five floors down and Klavier and Simon informing each other of office gossip when one of them did eventually head down. In fact, Klavier would just enter the room, a cup of coffee from somewhere in his hands and then spread himself over the sofa, they had brought it because Edgeworth would otherwise stand after walking at least 15 flights of stairs acting as though it didn't exhaust him a little, Klavier would then start prattling on about his day or case no matter if Simon was working, sometimes he actually helped with the work, which there was a lot of, due to there only being about 20 prosecutors available. On occasion, he was even greeted by Klavier at his office door, laughing so hard that he almost dropped his coffee onto the floor,on those days Simon immediately puts down his work to find out what's going on, but he can barely get it out of the uncontrollable rockstar.

Simon had been to visit his sister who had finally allowed herself to grieve Metis, as she no longer had to focus on her anger and worry for Simon. He was glad for it, she had loved his mentor and had been lost knowing she wouldn't see her again and then Simon was put on death row, and a different grief was born. Simon had decided to visit a client of his since his, who resided in one of the solitary cells would finally be in at the moment.

On his way to leave he bumps into Klavier, or rather spots him standing across a cell,speaking to someone who Simon can't see.

He hears a voice as he's walking towards them.

“ I thought you would've, for me.”

“Now what would I have done to give you that idea, Kleiner bruder? ”

He sees Klavier's hands shake in response, and how quickly his hands fall into the pockets of his usual purple blazer.

As Simon walks past he's given a small smile he nods in response and continues walking along, however he's stopped when the person in the cell refers to him.

“Who are you?” he's asked. He walks closer and realises he knows this person, he'd seen him before, just two years prior, he remembered how calmly he had walked to his cell and how different that was less than a year later. He's also obviously Klavier's brother,
That much would've been obvious even if his limited German hadn't helped him figure out what ‘bruder’ meant, their hair is styled similarly, and they look practically identical, the suits, mannerisms and glasses being the things that set them apart. “A friend.” Klavier replies at the same time Simon introduces himself as “Prosecutor Blackquill.”

Recognition flashes across the man's face and he moves his glasses back up, before saying “Blackquill. The one on the other end of the dark side of the law, it's a pleasure.” he's smiling and he extends his hand. Simon doesn't take it, simply stares, the word ‘other’ lets him figure out he's Apollo's mentor, or former mentor, Kristoph, he thinks, who had been the cause for Wright's downfall. “ It's not mine. ” he answers finally, stepping back as he does so, Kristoph just tuts at him and turns back to his brother.

“Er ist dein Freund, der Mörder, wirklich? Natürlich ist er das.” and Simon can't understand, but from what he gathers from the quick glance that's thrown at him it's nothing good, the change in language is obviously meant to cut him off from the conversation, so he decides to leave, leaving behind a slightly distressed from Klavier, if he's reading the tone correctly, he usually does.

Klavier comes into his office later in the day, apologising for his older brother, still looking shaken though it'd been hours since he'd met him, somehow Taka takes notice and immediately perches on the man's shoulder. Simon tells Klavier of the effect he had on Kristoph, how the man acted just as put together a few months after his second charge, but how obvious it was that the day had rattled him, no longer as confident as he once was. A few hours later, and it's almost midnight, and they'd barely gotten any work done, but enough for the day and they're talking about Simon's past. They're just about to leave the building and Simon says “Did I tell you about the time I brought a bear into the office?”

“You what?” Klavier exclaims, the noise of his boots on the tiles suddenly coming to a stop.

“ I didn't realise, It just followed me in”

“You didn't notice a bear?”

“I think I have a video.”

The video Simon brings out is of a twenty-one year old Simon, taking a picture with the bear in the building, while people are sensibly flooding the doorway and security is slowly creeping towards him, all while Edgeworth is heading upstairs a scared Sebastian following him, Edgeworth barely glances at the shuffle of people, Simon pets the bear then there's the guards who are still deciding if it would be worth it to move closer, or if their life was worth more, the bear in question is simply standing calmly by Simon's side.