Chapter Text
viii. Bronco (And All the Weeks After)
Come on in hot, babe
Hurry up, babe
Can’t you see the gate from here?
And nothing holds me back at all
Nothing left to fear
Best of luck, my dear
Bucking side to side
Bronco run wild
Forgiveness isn’t a linear journey. It takes many forms. In the lives of Klavier and Apollo, it looks a little like family dinners, laser tag with Ema and Trucy and waking up with the sun coming through a cracked curtain, gently bathing them in golden light.
Klavier’s grief will become a gentle thrum thanks to continued therapy sessions and the love and support of his new family. When he has a bad day, he won’t have to be alone. People want to have him around. It’s new and scary and Klavier will be, against all odds…happy.
The Cowboy will release a full studio album. Much to the joy of the internet (who has settled on ‘Klavcow’ which is, objectively the funniest option) Klavier Gavin, previously of Gavinner’s fame, is set to produce it.
Nothing makes Klavier more thrilled than knowing that the world is about to hear his talented boyfriend’s songs and voice. And well…if he sings and plays back up on the album it’s just to make sure he’s not getting rusty. It has nothing to do with Apollo sitting at the booth as Klavier records, looking at him like he’s the most important person in the world.
Forgiveness takes time. But for Klavier and Apollo they have their whole lives.
There’s so much to come: an elopement to quell jitters, angry sisters flying from Germany and Khura’in to make sure there’s a reception, official adoption ceremonies with not a single dry eye from the participants, college applications, deciding not to go and to keep on performing because in the end: that’s always been her greatest wish, fathers crying at the airport to wish their daughter good luck on her first international tour, fathers crying at the airport to wish their son good luck on his first international tour, court battles, falling asleep at desks, release parties, sold out stadiums, private dinners, public announcements with masks coming off and…well.
That's another story.
Today Apollo winks at Klavier from the little bar stage. He tells the gathered bar guests that he’s managed to convince a certain someone to sing with him. Klavier grins back at his masked boyfriend, slinging his own guitar over his neck as he makes his way to join him. The bar erupts into hollers and cheers.
Apollo takes a second to send Klavier a gentle smile before starting to strum a familiar chord progression.
Klavier barks out a laugh as he takes his cue.
And together, they sing.