[Well. However Allen meant it, the memory reacts as if he did it the way he was supposed to. Apollo calls out at the same time as Allen, and that makes Clay freeze in his spot. One hand presses to his face while the other grips tightly into his knee, enough for his knuckles to stand out, as Apollo gets close enough to set his hand on Clay's shoulder.]
Clay? Clay, hey...
[Clay turns his head away, but he doesn't move. So, Apollo sits beside him instead, hand still on his shoulder, and gives a sympathetic smile as he leans over to get a better look at him.]
Clay, listen to me. I don't have a mother, either...
[... The crying quiets for a moment as Clay finally looks at Apollo, the hand at his face lowering slightly.]
Huh...?
[If Allen tries to move at this point, to walk away from the scene and really not play along, he'll find that he can't. It's like his feet are glued to the spot.
Meanwhile, Apollo takes his hand away from Clay's shoulder and looks down at the ground, his fingers lightly tracing the bracelet. Which, if Allen cares to look closer, is clenched around his wrist; it's the very reason why he was drawn here to where Clay was crying in the first place.]
I always think, everybody else has a mom. Why am I the only one...?
[He looks at Clay again, and this time, he has a brighter smile.]
But, you know, when I start to feel that way, I yell at the top of my lungs. I holler, "I'm fine!" and then, you know what? I start to feel like maybe I really will be fine.
[Clay blinks, unsure how to really take that. Apollo, however, turns forward, hands turning into fists in front of him, takes in a deep breath, and:]
no subject
Clay? Clay, hey...
[Clay turns his head away, but he doesn't move. So, Apollo sits beside him instead, hand still on his shoulder, and gives a sympathetic smile as he leans over to get a better look at him.]
Clay, listen to me. I don't have a mother, either...
[... The crying quiets for a moment as Clay finally looks at Apollo, the hand at his face lowering slightly.]
Huh...?
[If Allen tries to move at this point, to walk away from the scene and really not play along, he'll find that he can't. It's like his feet are glued to the spot.
Meanwhile, Apollo takes his hand away from Clay's shoulder and looks down at the ground, his fingers lightly tracing the bracelet. Which, if Allen cares to look closer, is clenched around his wrist; it's the very reason why he was drawn here to where Clay was crying in the first place.]
I always think, everybody else has a mom. Why am I the only one...?
[He looks at Clay again, and this time, he has a brighter smile.]
But, you know, when I start to feel that way, I yell at the top of my lungs. I holler, "I'm fine!" and then, you know what? I start to feel like maybe I really will be fine.
[Clay blinks, unsure how to really take that. Apollo, however, turns forward, hands turning into fists in front of him, takes in a deep breath, and:]
APOLLO JUSTICE IS FINE!!!