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Klavier stood behind the prosecutor's bench, feeling as if the world had just shattered around him. His brother, his older brother who he loved and trusted even after he had been convicted of murder, was actually a murderer. And not only that but he had used Klavier as a puppet in his crimes.
The first case Klavier had prosecuted, he had won. He had been proud of that win, proud of the fact he had taken down a corrupt defence attorney and his brother, Kristoph, had showered him with praise. Fed his ego. Made him feel special.
He should have seen it coming. Looking back it was obvious. How did he know about the forged evidence? He never did tell Klavier. But then again, Klavier never pushed too hard. He never pushed too hard for answers when it came to Kristoph because Kristoph was always telling the truth. He was trustworthy. He was the ‘Coolest Defence in the West’. He was the perfect older brother. No one expected this.
Klavier knew the backlash he was about to face, his best friend and his brother? All in less than a year? Both murderers? He could already see the rumours, the rumours about him, the rumours about his friends, the rumours about the justice system. He couldn't be in this room anymore. He couldn't be in this damned building.
The moment the Judge hit his gavel to mark the end of court, Klavier ran. He tried to walk through the hallways, to be polite, but he just couldn't. He ran down the corridors until he ran outside. He ran to his motorbike and just started to drive away, he didn't bother with his helmet, didn't bother with any safety at all. But he still just drove. Recklessly as well.
Thoughts ran through his mind, memories of his childhood and of the start of the Gavinners. He remembered when him, Daryan, Kody, Dove and Benedict (Ben for short) started this band.
He would be the singer, he was the only one with any vocal training (and his voice was naturally rather nice), Daryan would lead guitar, Kody would be on bass, Dove on drums and Ben on keyboard. They had spent days writing some of the worst music any of them had ever heard, weeks on songs that would never be published. But they stuck together, worked it out. Made music people resonated with, music that built a community, a safe place for so many.
They had all met at high school, met when they all were in a maths class. They were all spread out in the class at first but each one got yelled at separately for disturbing the lesson and all ended up at the front in the corner of the classroom where their teacher could keep an eye on them. He remembered the stupid jokes they made, the little jabs at the education system, the pure panic when any of them were asked a question. The five of them became fast friends and were practically attached at the hip.
The wind was hitting Klavier’s face hard, it had been years since he had ridden without gear, without some kind of protection for his eyes, so the wind was stinging them causing the world to blur, but he just couldn't have stayed in that place anymore. His mind was too clouded, he knew this was dangerous.
--
”Y’know, I actually really want to be a musician, but my mum dad and brother had other plans for me, fucking sucks by the way” Klavier sat in the stairwell to the science department with his friends.
“Yeah, man that's rough, but also like same? My dad is obsessed with me becoming a lawyer” Dove lay back as he spoke, “I just wanted to be able to choose to be honest, but I'd need to be pretty successful if I'm gonna make my dad not kick me into space for choosing the wrong career”
“Honestly though, you two need to think about it some more, I mean I get not wanting something forced on you but I've always wanted to be part of the justice system. Not doing anything as boring as being a lawyer but maybe a detective, would be fascinating, and I could help you on your cases without having to argue constantly” Daryan was practically yelling as he spoke, though honestly that was just his voice, he was loud, unapologetic and so utterly himself all the time.
“I can't believe the one person who wants this life is the only one not forced into it” Kody said though it was hard to hear the words, he was eating and holding back a laugh.
Klavier grimaced and looked away “Ew, Kody don't speak when you're mouth is that fucking full”
Kody rolled his eyes playfully and punched Klavier's shoulder lightly. Klavier laughed and punched back.
Ben sat quietly, watching his friends laugh together. “Y'know, my parents actually want me to become a doctor, but I failed biology so they gave up on that dream”
“Aww Ben! Id totally trust you with my health”
“That's because you hate yourself Kody”
“Oh shut it Daryan! I do not hate myself!”
“Yeah you do!”
“No I don't!”
“Can you both shut up?”
“He started it!”
--
Klavier couldn't see. His vision was too blurred by the tears and the pain. He could only see the lights from other vehicles on the road. He knew this wasn't safe.
--
“You want to start a band? Seriously Klavier?”
“Yeah! I mean I know it's not as professional as being a lawyer but-”
“Klavier Gavin. This is outrageous! You shouldn't even be entertaining this idea! Your brother is already an attorney and we expect you to follow in his footsteps. We don't need any more of this music nonsense!”
“But Mu-”
“Don't. Now go. Do your homework and never bring this up to me again. Understood?”
“...yes, I understand.”
“Wait. Mother. Klavier's idea might sound outlandish, but his band mates are all students planning on going into law school or policing. This band would not have to dampen his studies or his potential as a lawyer. Let him do both. If it fails, I shall shoulder the blame.”
This wasn't the first time Kristoph had defended his dreams to their parents, but it was the first time it actually changed anything. Their mother faltered before agreeing. But there were rules. He had a deadline and if he didn't meet it, the band was done and he would have to be a full-time lawyer. He had until his 18th birthday, not just to become a musician but to also have appeared in court as either defence or prosecution. It felt impossible and, on top of all that, he was already 16. The timer had just begun and yet it was already too little time. But he knew him and his friend could do it. They could and would do it.
And they did. They succeeded, 17 years old, with less than a month to spare, he had won. Finally he had won something. And it was all thanks to Kristoph. His loving, kind, wise older brother who he cherished but also competed with. He would be just as perfect as Kristoph one day…one day.
--
Even with his limited vision, he should have seen the car coming. Turning was a foolish move, he should have waited his damn turn but his mind was elsewhere. He was running in muscle memory. And the car didn't stop fast enough.
--
“Klav…I know this is hard but with what happened with Daryan I think…I think it's over”
“Isn't it too soon to jump to conclusions like that?”
“No Dove's right, Kody…it's over. It's not just Daryan, it's my brother too. He's in jail for murder and now my best friend is too. If you guys stay around me it will only hurt you and your reputations”
“Klavier…we don't care about all that. We are still going to be standing by your side. Unapologetically. But…I do agree with Dove. The Gavinners are done. We can't be them without Daryan. Maybe we can go solo, or make a new band! But for now, I think we all need time to process”
“Always the responsible one Ben”
“Someone has to be”
“Oh please, I can be responsible too”
“Sureeee Klavier and responsible, definitely, totally work together”
“I would think it would be Klavier and Irresponsible”
“Shut up you guys…but thanks, for sticking with it for so long. Took a damn murder to break us up! But even if the band's gone, the group isn't.”
--
If he could see before, he definitely couldn't see now. He felt sharp pain going through his body, glass definitely was cutting into him. He could hear a commotion, people screaming, yelling, probably some were filming. But he could hear sirens in the distance though he didn't know if they were for him, he couldn't really tell anything. Everything was so far away, even his own body. Was he dead or was he dying? For all he knows, there is a group of strangers watching him die in a road accident that was 100% his own fault, and worst of all, they were definitely filming it.
That was when the voices started to fade. The feelings started to fade. It was all going away… He couldn't tell if his eyes were open or shut, couldn't tell if he was standing, laying or sitting, couldn't tell if there were people or no one at all. The world was gone. It was just him, and him alone and he was already lonely.
--
“THE LAW IS ABSOLUTE”
Kristoph's perfect mask had started to slip. By started, he meant the mask was shattered, never to be recovered. Klavier hadn't even recognised Kristoph during the trial. Even when the mask was on and perfectly in place, Klavier couldn't recognise him. He tried to remember the last time he had but he couldn't. Maybe Kristoph changed every time he saw him, maybe he was never the same man twice.
“You'd let ignorant swine soil your courts?”
The more Kristoph spoke, the less he was the brother Klavier remembered. The kind, respectful, perfect young man Klavier had always wanted to be. Every idea of his brother was broken. His brother, as he knew him, never existed. Klavier was a puppet, a toy to be placed on the board, to be used to terrorise and torment others.
He wasn't a prosecutor or a rockstar. He was the little brother of a murder, he was the tool used to ruin a famously kind man, he was a failure, he was a toy, he was nothing at all.
--
The sound of death was rather different from what Klavier had been expecting. The consistent beeping sound was irritating, and there was something bright hitting his eyelids. It was uncomfortable and he didn't dare try to open his eyes. The smell as well, it smelt of chemicals. It was overwhelming, it was too much for Klavier. So he kept his eyes closed. He kept his head down, he ignored the weird feeling in his arm, he ignored the aching of his body, he ignored the sharp pain in his head. He ignored it all, he tried to block it out. Until he heard a voice. A man's voice, a man he recognised.
“Hey Klav…it's been a horrific year for you and I know no one can truly understand what you're going through but please… We are all begging that you wake up. We can't lose you, please” it was Kody. Kody the bass player in the Gavinners, Kody the well known scientist who performed most of the autopsy reports in the city, but most importantly, Kody one of his chosen brothers.
Klavier felt something wet drip onto his cheek. “P-please…wake up Klav. Please.” Kody was crying, crying over him. He had to open his eyes, he had to be there for his friend. He just had to.
So he did, or at least tried. Kody definitely saw it though, saw his eyelids flicker a little, that tiny movement. Of course Kody saw it. “You…you're awake… oh my god… You're awake! Guys! Guys he's awake!”
Klavier heard a door open and footsteps rushing over. “A-are you sure?? He doesn't look awake…”
“Ben. I saw his eyelids move. He's awake! I know he is!”
“But what if it's just a spasm Kody? What if we are getting our hopes up just for-”
“Who here knows the human body the best? Go on Dovey, tell the class.”
“I mean you do but-”
“Case and point. I know what I saw. And I know what it means. He can hear us…even if he can't open his eyes yet”
Klavier could feel the three men sitting near the bed. The three started to talk, just chatting about anything and everything. One of them took Klavier's hand and gently stroked the back of his hand. It was comforting, it made Klavier feel warm.
“We should call the defense lady, she seemed terrified about his health when she found out about this”
“Kody! Her name is Ms Justice! Be polite”
“Well sorry that we can't be perfect like you Ben! No but seriously someone needs to call her, her boss and the magician girl. Those three need to be here, they care for Klavier too.”
“I'm on it, just don't be too rude whilst I'm gone.”
Again, the footsteps, this time moving away, Klavier hated it. He wanted all his friends here, close to him. He felt lonely. ‘Please…don't go’ he tried to say, but he couldn't. That's when everything faded away again. The feelings, the sounds, the smells. All gone, and Klavier was again, left with nothing but his memories.
--
“race you!!”
“Klavier. I know you're still young but I am almost at the age where I can take the bar exam and become a lawyer. I don't have time for such…childish games!”
“But Kristoph…we used to play together all the time..”
Kristoph sighed and put down his pen. He pulled Klavier close, hugging him gently. “Things change Klavier, and not always for the best. We just have to work with what we've been given, got it?”
“Okay… I won't bother you again!”
“You aren't a bother, don't worry about that. Now go play, I have to study.”
“Okay, bye”
“Bye Klavier”
--
He remembered that day vividly, it was the day things truly started to shift. Klavier swears that before that day they were normal brothers but after that single small conversation, their friendship was over.
The beeping was back, so was the smell and the annoying light. But it was now dimmed it seemed, maybe it was night. Maybe he could sleep more.
He heard someone come into the room, definitely high heels, he would recognise that sound anywhere. A soft voice of the defence attorney who put his brother behind bars forever. Artemis Diana Justice.
“I'm sorry. For everything that happened to you. It's not fair, it really isn't.” She was sitting next to him, she gently brushed some hair from his face. “You're so strong Klavier Gavin. So much stronger than anyone could ever know. And I know that you will be fine. You will be okay.”
She gently stood. “I shouldn't be the one you see when you wake up. I'm the last person you would want. I ruined everything for you after all but maybe one day, we can speak again and be-... I hope you can forgive me.”
She walked away. He could hear her walking away. He wanted to yell out for her, beg her to stay, tell her he never blamed her for any of it. ‘dont…go’. But not a word came out.
Being alone was the worst thing right now, being unable to move, speak, or open his eyes. He was so scared, so damn alone. He hated being alone with his memories.
--
“why did you do it Daryan. Why did you do it?”
“I didn't have a choice.”
“We were famous. Rich. We had amazing lives and an amazing community backing us up. What possible reason did you have?”
“The chief justice's son was going to die.”
“You killed a man. You tried to kill another as well. And you pinned it on a 14 year old boy. Daryan, what happened to you?”
“Oh no no no. You do not get to ask me that Gavin. Because you know what happened. You happened.”
“What? What do you mean, I thought-”
“You thought what? That we were all equals, all so close? Well, we were never fucking equals were we?! Me and the others were just things for you to use to achieve your dreams. I didn't even want to get into music that bad, I just fell in love with you. So I followed.”
“Daryan what ar-”
“Shut it and let me finish. I wanted to be a detective. I got that dream but it was always second to yours. We were the Gavinners. Notice anything about the name? It's not a symbol of all of us, it's a symbol of you. Did we ever matter that much to you?”
He was just like his brother.
--
It felt like days had passed, though realistically it must have only been a few hours, if even that. He heard footsteps again, a group of people were coming towards him.
“Hey Klav, We're back” Kody's voice, softer than normal though. “Ready to wake up yet? It's been 3 days since the accident, and 2 days since you showed any signs of waking… maybe you were right Dove. Maybe I was seeing what I wanted to see and not what was in front of me.”
‘No! No, don't give up on me! I'm here! I'm listening. Please!’
“We've been told you're going to be okay but, I don't know. It's so weird and terrifying to see you like this. You're so damn important to us and- and I-” Ben started to choke on his words, clearly he was about to start crying.
“We aren't leaving your side again. Not until you wake up.” Klavier felt Dove's hand slip into his. “Got it, asshole?”
Klavier felt something wet drip from his eye and he felt Dove tense.
“Guys did you- did you see that”
“Oh my god. Oh my god!”
“He's awake! He's actually awake! I'm going to get a nurse.” He heard Kody run out. There was hope in his voice again.
“Klav, Klav try and hold my hand, come on please just any movement at all”
He tried, he tried so hard to move his hand. All he got was a twitch but that was enough for Dove to be convinced. “His hand! It moved! Ben! Hold his other hand!”
Klavier felt another hand slip into his and he felt a squeeze. “We're here Klav, we always will be.” He felt a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Never doubt that.”
Klavier really tried to squeeze Dove and Ben's hands. He tried so hard. He felt Ben's grip tighten slightly.
“You felt it! I can see it in your eyes! He moved!”
“Oh my god…Klav you're here”
“He's here! He's alive, he can hear us! Oh my god he can hear us”
Klavier had never heard Dove like this, he was the cool, calm, collected, almost bad boy of the band but right now all he heard was joy, hope, excitement and everything Dove would normally hide.
“I'm back! Any updates?” Kody walked back in, Klavier heard more footsteps behind him though. Nurses he assumed, and his suspicions were proven to be right.
“Please, we need to run some tests. We need to ask you three to leave.”
“Leave? But what if he opens his eyes? What if he thinks we abandoned him?!”
‘I could never…you're my family and I know you love me. Please go, do as the nurses say, but promise you'll be back. Swear it.’
“If what you say is true, he might already be able to hear us. That means he knows that you're waiting for him. We just need some extra space and once we are done we will call you right back in, okay?”
“Fine. But if he wakes up and starts crying about how he's alone and unlovable I'm blaming yo-”
“Dove! Don't say that to them. They are saving our friend’s life.”
Klavier heard the three men bickering as they left and then he immediately felt the loneliness hit again. He missed them already, missed how they held him, missed how they spoke to him, missed how they cared about him and so much more. He knew this was what needed to happen but he also needed his friends.
--
“prosecutor Gavin! I'm surprised to see you here”
“Ach, please. Sometimes I need fresh air as well.”
Artemis and Klavier stood outside the backdoor of the courthouse together.
“So that was an interesting case. I didn't think that the person who hired me would be the actual culprit”
“Ya, it is an odd one, but if you are going to be working at all close to Mr Wright, odd ones are all you're going to get.”
“Yeah, I know.” Artemis sighed “I know his reputation.”
“So you know what he did?”
“Of course I do. It's the only reason I've ever hesitated to listen to him.”
“So why work for him.”
“It was him, a murderer or homelessness.”
“Ach, I suppose I wouldn't understand. I should go now though, it's cold and I don't have nearly enough on to be comfortable in this weather.”
--
Klavier had no idea what was going on, by the end of the tests he was still completely lost. But he heard some happy voices, some hopeful ones too so he could let himself be at least a little optimistic. Which was the right thing to decide as it turned out only an hour later he finally managed to open his eyes.
He opened his eyes to see three people, his three remaining true family, the people who stuck by him through high school and through the darkest year of his life. Kody, the bassist scientist who gave not a single fuck about most things (though secretly he was the one who cared the most). Benedict, the keyboard player defense attorney who acted more like a parent than Klavier's actual parents. Dove, the drummer bailiff who was cold and distant to most but the warmest person to the people he loves.
Klavier opened his eyes to his brothers, not by blood but by choice, by circumstance and by love.