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Phoenix is always shocked when Apollo ends a phone call with one of his boyfriends by saying only an insult or a “See you later.” It’s the antithesis of romance: no kisses blown, no “I miss you”s, and no “I love you”s. The blue-clad defense attorney can’t understand it at all.
Apollo waves off his employer’s concerns over his love life. Phoenix may not understand it, but Apollo and his partners don’t really /say/ the words “I love you.” They show it enough ways in their daily lives that it doesn’t really occur to Apollo that they need to exchange these words.
After all, Apollo’s boyfriends know he loves them. They know it when he wears that blinding smile. Apollo is not normally a giggly person walking around with a sunshine expression, but since getting together with Simon and Klavier, wide smiles have graced his face all the more often. It sort of melts the normally composed prosecutors to see their boyfriend so openly happy just to be in their presence. Apollo’s lighthearted mood when with his lovers extends to his sense of humor as well- namely, he reveals that he has one. The defense attorney makes more jokes (with his special brand of dry humor) and doesn’t care if they fall flat; he just seems to become more comfortable and silly around the two of them.
They also know it when they come home to smell more pastries in the oven. Apollo is not the best cook in the world and therefore lets his boyfriends take the lead for meals, but he is pretty proud of his baking skills. And so, he drowns his lovers in treats. They can’t possibly forget Apollo’s devotion and determination to make them smile, as he makes sweet after sweet for them, using absolutely any excuse. He makes them “breakfast cupcakes” and “Wednesday tarts.” On ‘the way home’ from work, he drops by a confectionary store 45 minutes from their house in order to pick up ingredients. Klavier used to worry about maintaining his figure, but eating delicious chocolate and seeing Apollo’ face light up when he and Simon like his treats far outweigh his concerns.
It’s as good as Apollo saying “I love you” to Simon when Simon is sick and Klavier out of the house, and Apollo throws aside everything to care for him. Apollo breaks out the stepladder, despite his fear of heights, to rummage around in the medicine cabinet. He attentively cooks soup on the stove, despite his lack of talent in the kitchen. And he makes a quick stop at the nearby supermarket to pick up Simon’s “Samurai Prosecutor’s Weekly” magazine for the twisted attorney to read in bed. It is then that Apollo’s feelings come through loud and clear.
Apollo expresses his love to Klavier when Klavier slowly unwinds, and Apollo sits there waiting to put the pieces back together however long it takes. Apollo finds him when Klavier lets himself cry over his brother’s death sentence, hiding his eyes and back hunched in a defensive position. Although the tiny sobs from his lover break his heart, Apollo keeps his expression steady as he sits with him and rubs circles on his back. Klavier knows that Apollo understands, and Apollo tells Klavier that he is fine. With Apollo carding one hand through his hair and with Apollo’s strong heartbeat thrumming in his ear, Klavier believes he /will be/ fine.
…
Klavier also shows his love nonverbally. Be it romantic gestures or little things, he has never slouched on letting his boyfriends know how he feels.
Klavier publicly announces his relationship with Simon and Apollo, even though his agents warn him of decreasing popularity for celebrities who are attached. Even though some fans would denounce his homosexual, polyamorous relationship and leave him. Simon and Apollo both find it a bit foolish and impulsive at the time, but Klavier explains while smiling that he is proud of them. He wants to show them off. And he wants to be able to hold them in public and let the world know how great they are. His boyfriends can’t find it in them to complain, and even when they attract extra attention for their relationship status with the rockstar, it brings a smile to their face as they remember Klavier’s sentiment.
Klavier’s daily attitude around his lovers alters as well- he’s become more natural since living with the ones he loves. Though he would always shower praises on his partners whether they wore suits or sweats, Klavier used to hold himself to a higher standard, fixing himself up and claiming he had to look his best for “mein Lieben.”
Now, however, he has become as laidback as he would once pretend to be. He greets them and spends half the day in his pajamas without brushing his hair; he doesn’t need to pretty himself up around them anymore. His boyfriends can only feel flattered that Klavier is that comfortable around them and that genuine with them. After all, the same relaxation of appearance translates to how open Klavier has become about his negative emotions. Klavier is sure to keep up no facade around Simon and Apollo.
Simon feels Klavier’s love when the blonde tapes Steel Samurai episodes and watches them with him. Though Klavier understands very little of the show’s appeal, Simon’s happiness appears to matter more to Klavier than his own enjoyment, for every week finds the two of them draped over each other on the couch as cartoonish figures fight on the television screen.
Apollo also distinctly feels loved when Klavier concedes to riding together to the courtroom party on the back of Apollo’s bike. The two had agreed to come together, yet Apollo felt uncomfortable with riding Klavier’s motorcyle. So, despite Klavier’s own compunctions about arriving in style and his hog being “cooler and safer and better in every way,” Klavier wraps his arms around Apollo’s torso and lets Apollo be the white knight escorting him. Because sometimes love is about compromise.
...
Yet for all Simon’s boyfriends show their love and maybe make Simon feel a little cold and uncaring in comparison, his affections shine through just as well. When he leaves the katana by the door as he comes in, it gives his partners a warm feeling; it tells them Simon doesn’t need to be guarded because /he’s home./
Likewise, when Simon drops the “-dono” from their names, it seems symbolic of how much they mean to him. The first time he calls them “Apollo” and “Klavier,” they gape at him a few moments before smiling. Now, each time the monikers fall from his lips, his mouth forms around their names like they are treasured words.
Apollo specifically is humbled by Simon’s affections when Apollo sings. The red-clad defense attorney loves to sing, and Simon loves to listen to him, even though Apollo’s voice is not the greatest. Truthfully, the younger man is self-conscious about his voice; he doesn’t want to sing in front of Klavier since Klavier’s so talented. But Simon always makes him feel comfortable, and now he casually belts out tunes when with his older lover. It is one of the most freeing moments of his day, and one of the times he feels the most cared for.
Klavier receives Simon’s devotion in a different way. Their routine had started a while ago after Klavier took a shower- the samurai prosecutor offered to blow dry the blonde’s hair for him. The perfectionist rockstar, always so obsessive about maintaining the appearance of his locks, was mildly horrified at the offer at first. But after allowing it the first time, and each consecutive time, Klavier rests his arms and lets Simon give his hair intense focus.
And Klavier has to admit, it always comes out looking great. It’s more important to Klavier, however, that this ‘hair time’ is just a time where the two prosecutors can sit beside each other quietly or chit chat. Klavier knows Simon appreciates it as much as he does, and Klavier would take this time together with Simon over an “I love you” any day.
So Phoenix is still a little confused by the trio’s relationship. It doesn’t really matter because it makes sense to them, and best of all, each of them can feel his heart swelling with fondness whenever in his partners’ presence. The men could point to any number of things to prove their love for one another, but they don’t need to prove it.
They just understand.