Title: forgiveness
Rating: G
Fandom: Great Ace Attorney
Relationship: Asougi Kazuma/Barok van Zieks
Wordcount: 325
Short summary: Kazuma contemplates forgiving Barok.
Kazuma has contemplated the act of forgiveness. He has thought about it from all angles: the value of such an act, the benefits, the consequences. He has thought about what it means for the forgiver as well as for the one forgiven. And yet all this contemplation has kept him stuck in a loop.
Wanting to forgive. Wanting not to forgive.
Everything is made difficult because of one man. The man who sits at the desk in this room, a stern-faced gray-haired man with cool eyes and thin lips. The man who sentenced his father to death on false information. The man who he almost sentenced to death on false information.
But also… A man who had been wronged, deceived and manipulated. A man who took on such punishments because he believed in justice, but justice betrayed him. A man who became bitter to survive, and with that almost led to his own downfall.
He thinks if he forgives that man, his heart may start to heal. He might even accept the fact that he loves that man. He thinks if he forgives that man, his guard may soften. But that means he would be weak to an attack.
But if he never forgives that man, he will never move forward. He will have only the past and no future with that man.
…What kind of future does Kazuma want?
Maybe that’s the most important question. Can he have a future with Barok? Waking up and seeing his face every morning, conversing about everything and nothing at mealtimes and breaks, lying next to him on the sofa or in bed…? Is this a future that Kazuma could have?
Can he trust Barok?
…Can Barok trust him?
Kazuma is afraid to know. But he has already accused Barok of being a coward. If he is to be the better man…
He will tell Barok everything and weather whatever response comes his way, no matter how strong.