A Song of Flames and Feathers - Chapter I
Tears Falling Down at the Party
May 16th, 2030. It had been two years since his father had died, and yet, Nahyuta Sahdmadhi couldn't bring himself to smile like Apollo did. Apollo was far, far stronger than he was and will ever be, smiling and laughing about happy memories with Miss Cykes and Phoenix Wright...
He quietly excused himself from the table they had booked at Whet Soba and made his way to the restroom. Everything felt like too much. He touched a hand to his forehead and mumbled a subconscious prayer in his father's spirit.
That's when he felt them.
Tears.
Dropping down his cheeks, a symbol of his utter weakness. He did not deserve to cry for a father he didn't show his love to until it was too late.
"Damnit..." he whispered. "Damnit all to the darkest pits of the Twilight Realm!"
"..."
Unbeknownst to Nahyuta, Simon Blackquill had noticed his leave of absence, and, finding it odd and a little suspicious, had gotten up to look for him. He was expecting the sad monk to be preparing something mischievous or some random research on how Americans eat their noodles, not... Being quite literally a sad monk.
"Sad...." Simon cleared his throat. It was dishonourable to kick a man while he was down. "Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. People are ordering dessert."
Nahyuta gripped the sink, his head low enough that it wasn't reflected in the mirror. His voice shook imperceptibly, but Athena had rubbed off on Simon enough that he noticed.
"You need not come fetch me, Panda."
"Alright then, suit yourself, O Your Holiness," replied Simon, rolling his eyes and heading for one of the stalls. "There are caramel donuts, however. And there is a chance there are not enough for everyone."
Nahyuta frowned and turned to look at Simon, too confused to hide his tears. Why in the 12 levels of the Twilight Realm was the Panda Prosecutor of all people trying very obviously to bait him into coming out of the restroom?
Simon's eyes widened. He had never seen any look other than calmness or smugness on that sad monk's face. But now, with tears pearling at his vibrant green eyes, Sahdmadhi looked like a delicate flower bent by the morning dew.
Yeah, Simon definitely cringed inside as he thought that.
"Pan-- Prosecutor Blackquill, I..."
Simon took a few steps towards Sahdmadhi. He knew that when people were like this, they were more likely to react in unusual ways. What he didn't expect was for Nahyuta to thrown himself into his arms, sobbing.
He froze.
Nahyuta's sobs were quiet, restrained... Lonely. Simon couldn't help himself. He wrapped his arms around Nahyuta's shaking frame, silently patting his back. He said nothing, not wanting Nahyuta to return to that facade until he had sorted his thoughts out a bit.
Simon took a few slow steps back, still holding tightly to Nahyuta and blocking the door to the restroom with his back. This felt... So odd. It's not like he hated Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, even though he had been a major twat to Athena in the case ironically involving this very same restaurant. But he knew he wasn't being his genuine self...
He never imagined that he himself would be the one to deal with Sahdmadhi's genuine self... And yet, he made no efforts to let go.
Nahyuta, meanwhile, was slightly... as Apollo often put it, "freaking the FUCK out". He was bawling his eyes out in front of the Panda Prosecutor, face buried in his (admittedly very solid) chest. And he didn't mind it as much as he thought he would. In fact, he stayed against him until his sobs died down.
"Better?" the other prosecutor asked gruffly, looking away.
Nahyuta nodded, wiping his tears and composing himself once more.
"Yes. I.."
"Don't mention it. Just... I might be an ex-convict, but I am also a licensed therapist."
Nahyuta pursed his lips, facade back across his face. Simon understood and nodded, making his way to the cabin (he actually did want to go to the restroom before), giving Nahyuta the chance to slip back into the celebration unnoticed.
"Yuti, you good man?" asked Apollo, patting him on the back.
"Yes, of course. I just found the drunk cook's performance so revolting I had to excuse myself for my own sanity," answered Nahyuta with a small smile.
That comment earned him a sardonic chuckle from a returning Simon Blackquill. Nahyuta quickly hid his smile behind a mouthful of noodles as miss Cykes started badgering Simon with questions.