Unexpectedly: Chapter 3

Unexpectedly: Chapter 3

“So Mr. Wright likes someone…” Apollo repeated in a whisper.

Trucy sighed and readied her own chopsticks. “I just wish he would tell them. It’s distracting him more and more now.” She said, keeping their conversation very soft.

Her brother frowned a little, “He does seem really lonely lately.”

She secretly smiled to herself. So Polly’s noticed, too, hmm? And he’s concerned. She mentally tallies two more points.

The next thing that Apollo said surprised her. “Trucy…”

She turns to him, “Yeah, Polly?” He was staring at his plate, still untouched.

“Is…” He began, but paused. When he looked up, an unsure, sad expression was on his usually confident face. His eyes were flooded with concern. “Is there something I can do for him?”

That was unexpected.

“Hmmm… I’m not sure. I mean, you don’t even know who he likes-“

“I don’t have to know to make him feel better.” He said, picking up a piece of chicken. “I…” I actually don’t want to know who it is…

“You what?” She pressed.

Apollo tensed. “N-Nothing…” I can’t tell her that.

She decided not to press harder. She began to eat.

The young attorney relaxed when his sister dropped the subject. He looked back at Mr. Wright, his gaze soft. The once great attorney was eating his humble meal in silence. He still had that far off look.

Who is it, Mr. Wright? He begged. Who is making you so miserable?

What can I do to help? Can…can I even do anything? He wondered helplessly.

He turned back to his meal, his brows furrowed. I want to help so much, but… why?

Because… because I-

“Are you alright, Apollo?” Asked the subject of his thoughts.

Mr. Wright could see his daughter and Apollo out of the corner of his eye. He knew they were talking about him by the way they kept looking over, but he didn’t know what about exactly. Even though it peaked his curiosity, he had decided to stay out of it.

Until Apollo had turned to him with a look in his eyes that made his heart tighten.

It seemed to him that the brunette’s mind was raging with a harsh internal struggle that had everything to do with him. It hurt him just thinking about it.

“…!” Apollo looked back at him. “No- I mean, Yes! I- I’m fine, Mr. Wright!”

He gave the flustered man a serious look. “You seem more ‘conflicted’ than ‘fine’ to me, Justice.”

“…” Ugh… I’m like an open book to him!

Phoenix looked down, his beanie obscuring his eyes. “I would tell you to be more open, but that would only make me out to be a hypocrite.”

“But, Mr. Wright… You’re more open that I am…” He admitted in a small voice.

Mr. Wright just smiled. “One day, I will be.”

He looked up and locked eyes with Apollo. “I promise.”

Apollo felt his face flush. Mr. Wright was very often honest, but almost never straight-forward. This was a little new.

He liked it.

“Alright! It’s almost time for my afternoon show at the Wonder Bar, so I’m going to go pay. Make sure Daddy gets home safe, ok, Polly?” Trucy said as she got up.

“O…ok…” he said, looking down again.

“Oh, and Daddy?” She said.

“Hm?” He had yet to take his eyes off of Apollo.

“You’d better act fast. You might miss your chance.” And with that said, she left for the front counter.

The brunette watched out of the corner of his eye as Mr. Wright sighed and scratched at the back of his neck. She must be talking about Mr. Wright’s… interest… Apollo’s mind raced in a full out sprint as he pick up another piece of his meal.

Phoenix spared a glance at him as well, and then began to eat again.

IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!! IGIARI!! OBJECTION!!

The walk home wasn’t much better. The sun was setting between the buildings, casting pretty pink and orange over the concrete grey city. The few puffy clouds in the sky were also painted the same. It was beautiful and romantic.

AH! NOT romantic! Apollo screamed at himself. Walking home through the park with Mr. Wright at sunset is definitely not romantic!

He quickly glanced to his left, away from his walking companion. Just stop thinking about him, Justice! Now is not the time to get lost in your thoughts, He berated himself, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

He heard a chuckle. “You know, you are really fun to watch when you’re deep in thought.”

“…!” Apollo turned to him, face flushed. “I- I wasn’t-“

Phoenix turned his gaze forward. “You’re also a very bad liar.”

The young attorney faced away again. “Well, I don’t lie very often…” he mumbled.

The older chuckled. “So lying get’s easier with time, hmm?”

“N-No! I didn’t m-mean that!” He stuttered, starting to feel more than a little frustrated. Mr. Wright always did this to him.

“Hmm, I suppose you weren’t.” Hummed Mr. Wright. It was always entertaining to fluster his employee.

Since they were finally talking, Apollo thought he would venture out a bit. The conversation at the restaurant weighed heavily on his mind. He was really tempted to come right out and ask who Mr. Wright was so taken with, but he quickly suppressed the urge. That would not be a wise thing to do.

“Um… Mr. Wright…” He began.

“Yes, Apollo?”

“I was wondering… um… the ‘deal’ you and Trucy were talking about back at the restaurant…”

“Oh. That.” Phoenix deadpanned. “It’s… complicated.”

Apollo turned to him. “Complicated?”

Phoenix avoided his gaze. This made Apollo a little more worried. “Yes. Very complicated. It’s nothing you should worry about…”

He really didn’t want to get into that, so the older man did his best to end the conversation.

Suddenly, the golden bracelet tightened vehemently, causing the wearer to gasp.

Apollo paused in his walking, making Mr. Wright stop as well.

Phoenix’s eyes widened. “What is it?” He asked, wary.

The brunette grasped his left wrist and turned his eyes towards him. The usually brown depths were blood red, brimming with unsurpassed focus. An emotion akin to what he could only surmise to be betrayal swam to the crimson surface as those eyes glowed in the waning light.

“I-I…” Apollo stuttered, his brows furrowing together as a look of complete disbelief spread across his face, “You… you’re…you can’t be…”

Phoenix was shocked as well. The look on the younger’s face was one look he never wanted to be the cause of.

And now he was.

“Th-this isn’t… supposed to happen… you- you’re-”

Phoenix reached for him, but Apollo flinched away violently.

“You’re not like them! You’re not supposed to be like them!!” He shouted, covering his focused eyes with his hands. Apollo then turned and tore down the path towards the exit to the park as fast as he could.

“Apollo!” He yelled after him, giving chase. “Wait! Stop!”

But as soon as Phoenix turned the corner to the Agency’s street, Apollo was on his bike and out of sight.

“Dammit… what have I done?” He mumbles into the emptiness of the street, pulling his hat over his eyes.