Ashes Remain (A Man Named Terran #2)

A Family of Orphans

"So... um... that's where we are now, Mr. Wright."

"I see... Well, you're both adults. Legally, I can't stop or discourage what you do with your time outside of the office. I'm not either of youse father, I'm just your boss. The only thing I'd ask is you determine how you're going to split out your lives if you do go about this. You need to separate home and work. Other than that, it's all your decision."

"A-Alright. Thank you, Mr. Wright."

"Of course, Apollo."

"Thank you, Boss."

"Of course, Athena."

~~~~

"Athena!" They'd barely gotten out of the office building when his Chords of Steel took him over.

"Que?!" She jumped and he knew Widget was yellow around her neck. No turning back now...

"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to yell so loudly." Again with the neck scrubbing, seriously! What good was he if he couldn't keep his own tells in line? "You, uh, wanna grab something? I know there aren't a ton of places around we could get to during our break but-"

"Meín Gott, Apollo!" That big grin on her face reminded him of Widget's triumphant grin from the night before. "Are you asking me out?"

"Would you say yes if it was?" He needed to tie his hands together!

"Fantastisch, Apollo! Sí!"

"Come again?"

"Yes, I will go out with you, Mr. Justice!" She practically jumped into a hug.

"I supposed Prosecutor Blackquill isn't opposed?"

"Nope! Uncle Simon said 'He's a man of honor, Athena, and a valid defender. However, don't hesitate to bring him to me should a foul hand ever befall you."

"Did he seriously give you my shovel talk?"

"Maybe. He's writing another one that's much more fitting for prison right now. He'll probably grab your collar and give it to you next time we're in court. He said 'Now leave me be, Athena, I must prepare words for Justice-dono, and for Aura.'"

Lovely. The death row prosecutor had given his blessing, but at the cost of potential bodily harm regardless of whether or not he actually caused Athena harm. He'd already vowed not to let anyone hurt her, he just wished the convict would have a little more trust in his abilities as a defender. "Um, who's Aura?"

"It's... complicated."

"Yeah, I probably should have suspected, considering he said he was preparing words."

"You wanna go?"

"Yeah. Is there anywhere you've been dying to go recently?"

~~~~

Apollo had not been on many dates before. Before today, Athena had been on a grand total of zero. Their passion to become lawyers had overtaken their young lives.

However, with attorney's badges in hand, a new type of passion had overtaken them. Although their date wasn't anything newsworthy, it was enough for them to decide. Apollo was once again filling out paperwork, passing a few across the table to Athena for proofreading.

His girlfriend, Athena.

The decision to officially date hadn't knocked them off their sense of duty. It was more of a wave of clarity. Nothing had changed between them but titles, no grand changing of emotions. They'd loved each other before the lunch break, and loved each other now.