Work Text:
It had been a long twenty four hours at the precinct and without intention, Ema Skye had briefly put her head down at her desk, safely cradled by my own arms. It couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes before a knock at the door startled the dozing detective. Ema Skye's head flew up from the surface of her desk, "Y...yes?"
A slender figure appeared in her doorway, "Apologies Fräulein Detektiv, I know it's been a long day... and night.” He held a mug of coffee over his crossed arms, he leant his head against the door frame, his gaze gently on her.
Ema averted his big doe eyes, feeling self conscious she began rubbing at her bloodshot eyes. "And then day again..." She grumbled bitterly.
"Indeed.” He agreed with a hefty sigh. “Well, no matter now. You should go home and rest.”
"Are you sure?" Though the man she called “fop” had worked just as long and hard as she had, Ema was truly exhausted and couldn’t refuse the chance at returning home. She slouched back into her chair, arms crossing her chest as she awaited his reply.
Klavier nodded in reassurance, "Ja, Prosecutor Edgeworth is taking over now, however I need those statements before you leave." The German prosecutor took a seat opposite Ema, placing down his cup of coffee on his side of her desk.
Ema exhaled and began gathering her papers into a beige file folder. Once they were neatly arranged, she closed them up safely and passed over the statements to Klavier. The pair had been up for nearly two days straight working on a particularly sensitive case, due to exhaustion silence now hung in the air rather than their usual back and forth. As Klavier leafed through the file, Ema took the opportunity to check her cell phone.
"Oh shit!" she said under her breath.
Klavier's head shot up, "What is it Fräulein?!" The man panicked, assuming something was wrong with the paperwork she had just handed him.
"Trucy's 16th birthday party is happening right now. Apollo’s messaged me a million times,” she replied in a deadpan voice, refusing to take her gaze away from the cell phone's screen.
The prosecutor sighed in relief, "you better get going then, Detektiv" A silence filled the room, "Detektiv?" He put the papers back down.
"Ssh, Fop!" She hissed back at him. "I need to think..."
The prosecutor complied, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. But of course he always complied with her. As much as he teased her, in his eyes she was the boss.
Ema took a deep breath and slipped her phone back into her pocket, "Fop.." she stood up and placed her palms onto her desk, leaning towards Klavier Gavin, "I need to ask... a favour," she asked, clearly grimacing.
He couldn't help but flash a boyish smile, "anything for you Fräulein, name it"
"Well, since we've been here for two days straight" she trailed off, unable the mask the pain behind her words. Ema Skye didn't like being in this position, especially with Klavier.
"Ja..."
"I haven't had time... to buy Trucy a present..."
"Jaaaa...?"
She took a long look down at her worn desk before admitting defeat- she knew she would pay for this with constant teasing but it was her only shot.
"Will you be my present?" Ema looked at him pleadingly.
Klavier couldn't help but break out in a huge grin at her phrasing.
"I mean, Trucy's present" she quickly corrected herself, feeling her cheeks become warm. "She thinks the world of you and your... music" she added in disdain.
Mimicking her stance, the blonde haired prosecutor leaned forward, inches from her face, putting on a faux serious expression.
She played along, squinting her eyes and leaning closer, waiting for his response.
"Well..." he began.
"Well...?"
"Well..."
"Klavier!"
He reached his hand up and tapped her on the nose, "I'll do it!" he proclaimed happily. Ema felt like throttling the man.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
…
The tired pair stomped slowly up the steps to Phoenix's apartment, "Perhaps it would have been better if we'd both showered and changed before the party, nein? I'm afraid Trucy Wright will be... um..."
"Grossed out by a smelly rock star?" Ema quickly finished off his sentence, "I know I was thinking the same thing. Trust me there's nothing more I want now then a long hot bath and my bed" she added, persevering up the long flight of stairs. Klavier pouted and checked himself over, while muttering in German.
"Don't worry yourself, she'd be peeing her pants with excitement even if you turned up wearing a garbage bag" she reassured him, as they finally reached the front door. Ema pressed the doorbell.
Klavier Gavin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "You really know how to paint a picture Fräulein."
The detective quickly shoved him aside as the door flew open, "Hide!" She then turned to Trucy with her best smile.
"Ema! You made it!" the young magician beamed, "Polly! Ema's here!" The girls exchanged excited greetings as Apollo made his way to the front door.
"Wow, you look terrible, when was the last time you took a shower? Have you been home yet?" Apollo teased Ema. She obviously looked as bad as she felt.
She pouted, "Thanks dweeb- but no we haven't.”
Trucy and Apollo blinked. "We?"
Ema gasped a little, "Oh! Yes! Happy Birthday Trucy!" She exclaimed, grabbing onto Klavier's shirt collar and pulling him into view. It was then the teenagers at the party started screaming, he gave a small wave, smiling, a little embarrassed. Apollo just shook his head in disbelief.
…
Ema felt herself sink into the sofa, this evening it felt particularly soft and inviting, a wave of drowsiness hit her, her eyes began to shut involuntarily. Slowly but surely, the detective was falling asleep. She felt someone take her drink from her hand. "Huh? Oh Klavier, having fun being worshipped?" Ema said with a sarcastic smile.
"Nein, not at all." He began, flopping down next to her with a yawn, "Trucy is very polite, I'm happy to be here"
"Wow, really? You need more friends." she muttered, removing her glasses from her head.
The blonde prosecutor slouched down into the sofa, edging closer to the detective. "Maybe that is true but you're lucky to have these people. They are like your family, nein?"
She nodded slowly, "You're right, they are."
A comfortable silence fell between them, both letting their eyes close.
"Thank you, Klavier"
"Hm?" he grumbled, clearing his throat
"Thank you for coming, it was..."
Klavier couldn't resist opening one of his eyes and peeking at Ema, waiting for her to perhaps, for the first time, possibly ever, for her to say something nice to him.
The brunette continued, "It was..."
"Ja..."
"It was..."
"Fräulein Detektiv?"
Ema broke and let out a laugh, opening her eyes.
The Aryan prosecutor pouted, " Fräulein Detektiv! Why do you torture me so?!"
"I'm sorry, I must be delirious from the lack of sleep," she said, attempting to calm down her giggles. Klavier smiled despite himself, only a few times he had seen Ema Skye behave in a silly way, usually when she had had a few too many drinks at the precinct get togethers. He couldn't think of anything that made him happier than seeing her smile. It was so rare, it was precious to him.
She peeked up at him, almost resting her chin on his shoulder, "It was really nice of you Fop- I owe you one"
He beamed down at her, his nose gently touching hers, "Believe me, it was my pleasure, Fräulein.”