Prompt by IdrewAcow: Some kind of soulmates AU. Either with tattoos, a watch, any concept goes!
Perhaps fate was tired of her as well.
Searing pain in her arm lit the world up. Rolling over did not help in the slightest. Especially when one flopped back on her aching arm.
Luka's bloodshot eyes snapped open, cradling it, hoping that extra pressure did something. Luka cursed when everything in her vision came up blurry and dark. Luka pressed her screaming limb against herself, biting back a cry to stop her voice from joining it. Wheezing with her face smothered in her own pillow, wet from her tears, Luka blankly wondered if this was how it all ended. Was this what fate really had planned for her? Dying in her bed in this pitiful state. Luka cringed at the thought of Lily finding her like this. That was almost worse than dying.
Eventually, her neurons decided that enough was enough. Her nerves completely fried, her arm went numb, heavy as lead. Waves of ghostly pains and pure exhaustion swallowed her whole, dunking everything back into unconsciousness.
It was almost a pleasant surprise to see sunlight again. That is, if a particular blonde didn't show up in her field of vision. Luka cracked an eye open as she felt a hand run through her sweaty and matted hair. Loose blonde tendrils fell around her frame. Lily bent over her, worriedly placing a hand on her forehead.
"Did you run a fever or something last night?"
Luka swatted her away with her good arm, a choked mumble somewhere along the lines of she was just fine doing little to convince her roommate.
Luka heard Lily sigh and shuffle around. Her covers were peeled away, revealing Luka curled up in the fetal position, her left arm at the centre of it all. Lily raised an eyebrow. Lily gently pried Luka's arm from her grasp, causing her to wince and hiss.
"Sorry."
Luka's eyes watered again. Lily rolled up her sleeve, examining it.
"Oh. Uh, Luka, I think you gotta look."
Luka squinted. Aside from the golden infinity sign inked onto her skin from birth, now there was an excess of black squiggly lines swimming in her vision. They crowded around her upper arm, tapering off just around the elbow and stopping at the forearm.
Lily noticed her whimpering.
"Oh shit."
A large pad of tissues was thrust into her clumsy right hand. Luka hastily wiped her face.
"You need help, princess?"
Luka scowled at nickname but sullenly accepted it. It had always been like this since they were young. Lily was the one to drag her into trouble and the first to get her out of it, as counterintuitive as that was. A lump grew in her throat.
Her bed dipped from the extra weight. Lily grabbed some off the top of the bundle of tissues, her strokes firm. Luka rested herself against Lily. No wonder she harboured a crush on her. One that was unceremoniously squashed by the fates. In hindsight though, how else was she supposed to interpret that darned golden soulmate marking in the first place?
The pain in her arm dulled to a throb. Luka shifted her gaze to the new markings on her arm. Under the comfortable infinity sign, sheet music swirled around her arm, loops encasing it. Luka cursed again. How was this a marking? Luka could barely read the notes! Was this fate's way of punishing her for ignoring her assigned soulmate?
"You want me to help write it down?"
Luka flexed her left hand – her dominant one – and winced again.
"Thank you."
After shifting her arm into all sorts of odd positions, Lily finally jotted it down. Luka frowned at the length, spanning for only a couple of bars. Luka grabbed her teal keyboard that matched the rest of her room. She shook her head. That was at best a half-finished melody. Luka scowled again. Left with a limp arm and what couldn't even be called a song, a ball of frustration rolled about in her chest.
Lily leaned against her doorframe.
"That sounds fine."
"What am I even supposed to do with this? Is it a siren's song to attract my supposed soulmate?" Luka scoffed.
Lily began, "It won't hurt to start…"
Luka shot her a murderous look. Lily raised her arms in surrender.
"I don't want to."
Was she childish? Extremely so. Stubborn too.
Lily sighed. She really couldn't fault Luka for it though.
Luka tapped her fingers, imagining them dancing across the keys. At least that didn't hurt.
Her eyes fell on the newfound tattoo and a sickening feeling overwhelmed her. Lily hadn't reacted to that at all. As if Luka needed any more nails in that coffin. Although Luka knew soulmates weren't the be all and end all – Luka grimaced as she recalled her own parents – it was clear that was the case for Lily, at least.
"Well, I'm going out with Gumi. Call if you need anything, ok?"
There was no choice but to yield.
The sun was high. Bathed in a hot bright light, Luka lifted her hand up, squinting. She desperately needed the break from her thoughts. The lingering pain in her arm did not help matters. As Luka wandered the streets, a teal-haired girl showed up right in front of her, stopping her right in her tracks. A sense of dread warned her when she saw the flyers in her arms. Luka ducked her head down, hoping to bypass her. Luka bumped into something soft.
The girl smiled up at her. She had to have blocked her deliberately. Luka shifted her eyes, settling on the teal hair. Luka liked teal.
The girl chirped, "Hello, do you need help looking for your soulmate?"
Luka's tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. It was one of those.
"Um…"
The girl's grin grew a little wider.
"It's time someone as cute as you met your partner for life."
"My friends and I can offer our services…for a small fee, of course."
The girl giggled a bit at the end of her sentence, her teal eyes stubbornly trailing Luka's.
Luka took a small step back, eyes now on the ground. Ridiculous, she berated herself, cornered in the middle of the street? Sweat pearled, rolling down her forehead. Her arm had a dull ache. Luka's cheeks grew hot.
"We strictly track down and match up soulmates."
She was still talking. Luka must have tuned her out. Luka just had to wait until she finished. Her soulmate marking flared up.
"So! Take a flyer and call us?"
Luka stammered, "Thank…you…"
Luka finally briefly met her teal gaze. Her right hand grabbed the flyer awkwardly. The girl gave pause for a second, still holding on to the paper from her end. Teal eyes searched her. Luka weakly tugged it, half as a reminder, half as an attempt to get away soon. The girl shook her head slightly, a smile gracing her lips again.
"I look forward to hearing from you."
Luka scurried away, like a rat back to the sewer, disappearing with the flow of the crowd. She kept her head down. She was nearly there anyway.
Beyond the street, outside the cool confines of the shopping centre, was a small makeshift park. A few trees that could be counted on both hands were spread apart evenly. Rectangular granite structures boxed them in individually, acting simultaneously as benches and giant flower pots.
Luka slid down on the smooth, heated stone, wishing nothing more than to curl up. The girl lingered in her mind. Luka never was good with people. She was abysmal at it, in all honesty. She didn't remotely trust anyone else in her life but from Lily. It would have been so much easier if it was her. Luka let her pink hair cover her face, bringing her knees to herself.
No one was around – wanted to be around. The air-conditioning was far too inviting; the heat far too stifling. That was how Luka liked it. Luka was comfortably alone.
The flyer was yet gripped in her hand. Luka deflated. She reluctantly brought it onto her lap, pressing down to even out the creases. Bright splashes of colour filled the page, not the gaudy pinks and reds Luka expected. Printed words were not the god-awful swirly faux romantic, attempting to entice her. That was a perfect cross between unbridled joy and professionalism. Did one of them take graphic design?
"If you wanted another one, you could have asked."
Luka yelped.
The girl bent over her shoulder. That grin was still there.
Luka averted her eyes, back onto her lap, "Thank you."
"Hey now, that's my job," the girl continued to tease her, "No thanks necessary."
Unable to respond to that, Luka remained silent. People usually were satisfied by spoken gratitude. Luka pulled her knees to her chest. The paper crumpled against her. The girl set down another flyer next to her, suppressing a giggle. Luka's face was on fire.
The girl shuffled her feet, not quite getting closer, nor further away.
"Um, you okay? You're kinda red."
"Um…" Luka squeaked.
The girl scrutinised her once more.
She beamed, "Wait here a sec. I'm gonna go get something."
Teal twintails trailed behind her as she sped off, leaving dust in her wake. Luka blinked slowly, then rubbed her eyes. Was she dreaming? In the moments of silence that followed, Luka squirmed in her seat. Worry gnawed at her. Her eyes repeatedly drifted to the new piece of paper that was her companion, to convince her it all happened, that it would be rude to disappear out of nowhere.
A pinprick of teal in the corner of her eye quickly grew into the girl again. Luka felt herself wilt in mixed relief and anxiety.
"And I'm back!"
An iced milk tea was placed next to her. Dark boba bobbed and sunk to the bottom of the cup. Condensation rolled down the cup in beads. The chill emanated made her shiver in bliss. The girl beamed, shaking her own cup, gesturing for her to take it. It was polite to let guests drink first.
"I…can't. That's too much…I don't even know you…"
The girl pouted at the last sentence. She picked up the flyer as she settled down next to Luka, a teal-painted nail prodding at a name.
"Hatsune Miku, pleased to meet your acquaintance!"
Her voice, a cheery chirp, reassured Luka that she wasn't offended in any way.
"Megurine Luka," Luka echoed, "Nice to meet you."
Miku laughed again. Was she always this happy? Luka shifted, not joining in on the laughter.
Miku didn't mind.
"That was supposed to my friend's but she left me hanging. So, take it."
Miku's finger tapped on the unmarred plastic covering. The cool crinkle of plastic acted almost like a hypnotic lull. Luka shakily took the kind offer, her thanks a low whisper, hoping desperately that she wouldn't make a fool of herself. Luka gripped her straw, on the verge of strangling it. She willed the straw to pierce right through the plastic: no spillage, no embarrassing stutters and excuses.
With a satisfying pop, the straw slid through like a hot knife through butter. Luka let out a soft sigh of relief. She sucked at the drink. The cold liquid nectar soothed her parched throat. The sweet mild tones were furthered by the springy pearls, providing a much-needed break to stop her tongue from growing numb to the syrupy drink. Her lips only left the straw to chew. Neither of them talked. Miku swung her legs back and forth, her feet hitting the granite with a low thud. It built into a rhythm.
Luka's blue eyes flitted to Miku. She really couldn't tell what the girl thought. Who sat in complete silence with a stranger anyway?
In an attempt to distract herself from the treacherous cloud that plagued her mind, it drifted to music. A tune wound itself tightly around her mind, like a python with its prey. Repeatedly, it went on. Single, almost pitiful lone notes cut off before their proper end, looping back on itself. The damned song on her arm.
"Luka? You feeling better?"
Abruptly dragged from her thoughts, Luka blinked owlishly before stuttering out, "Yeah…why wouldn't I be?"
"You seemed a bit tired and out of it. That's all."
"Oh," Luka bit at her straw, just enough to sink her teeth into the pliable material, "Thank you."
Did she appear that vulnerable? Luka focused on the bright plastic wrapping, her cheeks burning. It was almost humiliating. But the person sitting next to her cared enough; Miku was willing to worry about a total stranger. Luka chanced a glance her way, to which the girl met with her bright teal.
"Luka? You're looking for your soulmate, right?"
Luka mumbled, "Ah…right…"
"Any idea on who you're looking for?"
Luka blinked, unsure if this was a joke. Luka set down her drink, buying herself some time from answering. Miku's expression hadn't changed. She bore that same friendly grin. She probably wasn't poking fun at her.
She slowly spoke, "If I did, I wouldn't be looking around for help."
Miku's eyes danced with mirth.
"Not that, silly. Who's in your life?"
Luka blinked again. She drew herself closer.
"Is this going to cost me?"
Miku actually spluttered. Her eyes went a bit wide, jaw dropping slightly in surprise. That grin was back in a split second.
"I'm off the clock so no. Anyway, I won't charge someone as pretty as you for advice."
Luka firmly placed her chin on her knees, not responding. That wasn't a joke either, was it? But the compliments… She felt Miku's gaze on her. Despite the heat, the surrounding air around them felt like slush, thick and cold. There was no shadow of a doubt that it was awkward now.
"Ah, sorry," Miku rubbed the back of her neck, "I meant it. You can ask me anything."
A slight glance to her side, Luka then focused back on herself.
"You asked for the people in my life. I have a friend, Lily. My parents are divorced."
Miku nodded. She waited for her to continue but Luka kept her silence after that. Thankfully, Miku got the hint and didn't go further into the parental situation. Miku hummed in acknowledgement.
"You're not surprised?"
Miku chuckled, "Not everyone ends up in marriage, Luka. Soulmates are the people who will understand you most. Simple as that. Some just don't end up together – nor do they want to. That understanding brings out the best and worst in people."
Luka pursed her lips. She tilted her head to get a better look at the girl.
"Is that from experience?"
"That's what I see," Miku corrected, "I might be wrong though. Fate leads us where we go."
"That's why you flirt with everyone with no repercussions?"
Miku's jaw dropped, then she laughed. Like bells, Luka decided. High-pitched, clear, almost tinkling in nature.
"I guess. I think I'll find them no matter what. Whatever we are after that…that's not set in stone either."
Luka's lips twitched. What did she want? Miku honestly seemed not to mind, despite being in that job. Luka huffed in frustration, a hand going to her aching arm. Perhaps she should have pressed the icy drink to it first.
"I suppose the tattoo doesn't help much."
Miku mulled it over, "We track people down with it. Soulmates have different ones but there's some semblance of rhyme or reason to it. We manage, even if it's hard to figure out at times. It doesn't tell us anything else."
Luka bit her lip. Maybe she really should ask for proper help…though, would her soulmate even appreciate that gesture? Was she that desperate for companionship? Luka was highly doubtful she could just ram herself into someone else's life. Miku was rather…adept at that, it seemed.
"Um, how much do you charge?"
Luka's face reddened as she asked. In any other situation, Luka would have felt like she had fallen hook, line and sinker for an elaborate sales ploy but Miku…Luka didn't know what it was about her. Miku just put her at ease.
Miku flashed her that cheeky smile again.
"Well now, let's see how yours go and I'll think about it then. Don't worry – I won't bankrupt you."
The turn of events wasn't quite what Luka had in mind.
Closing the door behind her, Luka thanked any deity watching over her that Lily wasn't back yet. Luka shuddered at the thought. Lily would no doubt badger her for bringing a girl back. Luka simply didn't feel comfortable showing her soulmate marking elsewhere, a fact she was none too willing to admit. It was personal. Miku, to her credit, didn't say anything about Luka's teal room, the exact shade of her hair. Luka tried not to let it bother her, when the person who had full right to be offended didn't mind. Miku pulled out a chair while Luka sat on her bed.
Luka exposed her mark by rolling her sleeve up. Her heart raced as she did. Her unsightly left arm hung limp, the upper arm still red and raw from the new tattoo.
Miku leaned closer to look. The teal eyes lost their playfulness for a bit, scrutinising the tattoo. Recognition came over her features. She soon schooled it back to neutrality.
"That's what been bothering you."
"It um…hurts."
"That sucks. At least it wears off in a couple of days," Miku's eyes travelled back up to Luka's, "It suits you though."
Luka swallowed. Miku's gaze left her more than a little flustered. Everything she was seemed to be laid bare to this foreign stranger.
"Ah…thank you. Um, it sounds like this."
To rid herself of this sensation, Luka busied herself with playing the thin reedy song. Her fingers almost slipped over the keys as she did. Miku's eyes never left her figure, something Luka was growing acutely aware of. A frenzied buzz in her head clamoured for her attention.
Miku hummed in acknowledgement.
"Sounds good enough."
Luka nodded before she realized what she was doing.
"It could be better."
Luka lowered her gaze. Right, that was abundantly clear -
Miku stood up and leaned over her keyboard. Luka flinched as the miniscule gap between them closed. Miku placed her hands on the keys. Her fingers practically flew, pouring a string of music forth. Luka's breath caught in her throat. It was the answering melody to her own. No – the rest of her unfinished song, complete with harmonies too.
Luka's mouth gaped open.
Miku giggled.
"You're really cute, you know that?"
Luka's face burned. She snapped her mouth shut.
"Oh right," Miku rolled up the sleeve on her left arm.
In the exact position as Luka's, was Miku's own soulmate marking. Two interlocked silver diamonds were atop the curling sheet music. There was no mistaking the identical structure, burned into her own memory.
"I always liked pink."
Tearing her eyes away from Miku's tattoo, Luka tentatively met Miku's eyes again. The girl already pulled back a few paces away, giving the space Luka so desperately needed. Almost a complete stranger – no, Miku had been kind to her – her soulmate, promised to be her closest friend, hopefully her lover. But Luka didn't know her.
"We're soulmates."
A murmur of a statement didn't make it feel any more real. Luka was a deer caught in the headlights, shocked into stupour. Miku gently pressed Luka's shoulders, seating her on her bed. Miku's bright grin softened.
"You need time, I guess? I'll drop by when you call."
"You promise?"
Whatever this was, Luka wasn't ready to let it go, culminating in a childish request. Luka blushed as she looked away. She wasn't owed anything, especially not a relationship with her, as Miku had made clear.
Miku giggled, "Of course, like I said, you're cute. It'd be tempting fate to ignore this."
To Luka's complete mortification, Lily chose that moment to slam the door open.
Luka ended up succumbing not even a week after knowing Miku existed.
The face to her – their – song did nothing to stop Luka's mind pouring over it. On the contrary, Luka found herself staring into space more often than not. Engraved in her head, Miku frequented her dreams, a welcome visitor in her thoughts. Like a blank canvas filled, a stream unclogged, Luka put her own spin on their song, building the harmonies, making arrangements. Her arm was a mere hindrance. In her idle moments, Luka, completely worn out for the day, wondered if Miku experienced that same rush.
Living with Lily had not helped. The blonde soon figured the extent of the relationship between them - which was none, Luka reminded her. That did not stop Lily from egging her on. Sick of Lily's teasing by the first day, Luka shut herself in her room to further her craft.
As the music flowed and changed, taking different bends in the stream, more and more did that frustration well again within her. There was Luka's own unrequited feelings, buried in the sand, easily dug up. And then there was Miku. Something budding between them. Luka traced the golden infinity sign on her arm again. The obvious and most hopeful interpretation would be...being together. For a long time. Luka felt a faint glow in her chest. Luka even felt herself smile. That was a beautiful promise, befitting of Miku. But what if it wasn't? Luka stopped her thoughts from careening on.
No. She had to face those doubts. Luka would always have Lily, that much was certain. Even if they weren't soulmates. Wouldn't it make sense for soulmates to be closer, even if they had a falling out? Somehow, Luka knew Miku wouldn't ignore her. She paid attention to her when Luka was a complete stranger, after all.
Before she knew it, the song was completed. Luka made simple plans to meet with Miku.
Luka, the hermit that she was, prepared herself both physically and mentally to leave the house. Creeping out of the house was not an option when her roommate waited for her like a wolf stalking a rabbit. Lily had her legs kicked up as she lazed across the sofa. Luka emerged. Amused ice blue eyes trained on her. That of course drew the attention of said roommate.
Lily smirked, "Miku?"
"Miku."
Luka's quiet attempt at a nonchalant admission made for a downright evil smirk on Lily's face. Luka was fairly sure what ensued next could be grounds for a lawsuit relating to physical assault. Lily tackled her, ruffling her pink hair. Luka shoved her friend off her, unable to help groaning, "Lily!"
Lily wiped a fake tear away, "My baby's all grown up!"
Luka smiled, "You're awful."
"Can we go out?"
"You mean like on a date? In a relationship?"
To anyone else, the conversation would have seemed odd between soulmates. After all, that was the point of the system.
Miku looked over her glass of lemon tea. Luka sat across from her, her attention on stabbing the slice of lemon in her own drink. The deliberate avoidance of her eyes and the pink tint of Luka's cheeks confirmed it all. After deciding Luka had sufficiently mutilated the innocent fruit, Miku spoke up, "You sure about this?"
Luka bumbled around for an answer, eventually settling on, "I'd like to try, moreso than us being friends."
"I'd be happy with it either way," that last part was added in a somewhat disappointed whisper.
Miku smiled, tenderly pressing her lips to Luka's cheek.
"I'd like to call you my girlfriend."
Already, Luka missed the touch.
Miku's grin promised so much more though.
For once, her fate felt her own.
Author's note: Miku attempts to flirt badly with Luka. Luka is very shy and confused. It goes well.
Happy late birthday Miku! Obligatory soulmate au for the otp. A mixture of home-brew nostalgia and feel-good fluff. Another shot at the simple things in life. (Y'know, to contrast last year's entry that I'm still not done with) Complete for now. I debated using another fantastical setting but that's reserved for another fic. Quality? What's that?