Title: his legacy
Rating: G
Fandom: Great Ace Attorney
Relationship: Asougi Kazuma/Barok van Zieks
Wordcount: 375
Short summary: Barok contemplates retirement out loud. This time Kazuma doesn't protest.
“Maybe I should retire.”
It’s a thought that Barok voices out loud one morning, when the sunlight filtering through the windows of the carriage had hit Kazuma’s hair in just the right angle to cause his hair to shine with silver. Because if even Kazuma now has silver in his hair, just how old is Barok?
Barok stopped counting the years long ago… Or rather, he has let Kazuma count for him, when his birthday arrives and another candle is added to the table. For without any goal of marriage or children, another year added to his age means little. He has long accepted that he will die when God intends for it. Because he should have died long ago, if it were up to anyone else…
(He doesn’t speak like that anymore, especially not in Kazuma’s presence.)
“Hmm.”
Unlike last time, Kazuma does not immediately berate Barok for suggesting this. Then again, how many years ago did Barok last say something about retirement? Perhaps now is an actual appropriate time to retire. Barok is not running away or giving up. He has not only helped to reform the British legal system but trained more than a fair share of full-fledged lawyers, not the least being the man by his side. Kazuma, who has long graduated from being an apprentice but remains at Barok’s side as his personal companion.
“Next year? Or maybe in the autumn, so I do not have to brave the cold and dreary winter weather.”
“I suppose your old bones would prefer that.”
Barok raises a brow. It’s been a while since Kazuma has called him “old”. It used to be a common retort when Kazuma was irritated with something Barok had said, and then an unsaid word when Kazuma had passed a certain age… The fact that they have both outlived the men they loved and respected so dearly…
Barok has mixed feelings about his own legacy. But the one thing he knows he has done right is stay by Kazuma’s side, despite all the raw hurt and anger and feelings of injustice. To live long enough to earn forgiveness… While it may not mean much to anyone else, it may be the best thing he can say about himself.