A bit of a quiet chapter this time, to recuperate from last chapter.
Many thanks to Kokodoru for beta-reading!
Enjoy!
Luka didn't remember falling asleep. Waking up to yelling and shouting was distressing, feeling the cold tile pressed against half of her body even more so.
Meiko's voice reminded her of everything, though. She swallowed a sob, hearing the android reply, voice raised without it being a yell.
Luka held Dexter close with one arm. Her bad arm was worse than it had been in rotations.
She felt like she was cursed to never recover from that single shot.
"Let me in."
"No!"
Luka flinched at the anger in Miku's voice. Her tears returned, her fear, and they doubled when she heard Meiko insist, and Miku refuse again.
"You said that you would do everything I say!" the woman barked. "Now get out of my way!"
Slowly, Miku said, each word sharp as a knife, "I am making the deliberate choice to disobey."
"AIs don't do that!"
"I do."
Luka shook her head, pressed her forehead against the cool tile.
She wanted to be sick.
Being caught by the Shion couldn't be any worse than this: trapped in a house filled with people. So many rules. So many wants.
Impossible to win.
She sobbed, remembering how close she had been to retiring.
She had been so, so close.
"Luka!" Meiko's voice called.
The scavenger bit her tongue.
"Answer me!"
"She will reply when she wants to," Miku said coolly. "Right now, until she leaves that room out of her own volition, we are all going to leave her completely and totally alone."
"This is my house," Meiko seethed so loudly Luka could hear it through the door. Miku probably had her back pressed to the surface, the brunette right up in her face. "And here, we all work together to make the best of things!"
"If that is truly your goal, then you will leave her alone."
Luka sighed, muttering a small thanks under her breath towards the android.
"How much time does she need?"
"As much as she sees fit."
"Hours?"
"Days if she so wishes."
"How will she eat?!"
"I will provide food for her."
Luka heard it and knew it to be true.
She could cry, she was so grateful.
"And what if she needs help?" Meiko asked, her voice quieter. "What if she slips, or—"
"If she is in danger, I will sense it," the android assured her.
Luka couldn't imagine they were having this debate in the presence of all the children. They had probably been sent away. To their rooms. It was likely nighttime.
She couldn't imagine how Meiko would have reacted when she got home. She couldn't imagine what she would have found to begin with. Was it all a mess, pure chaos, mutiny? Unexpected takeout, miniature sweaters, a broken toddler, the stink of burnt batter in the kitchen? Or had Miku fixed it all?
She couldn't hear them any longer: either the two women were locked in a stare-down, or they had walked away from the door.
It didn't matter. As the silence stretched on, her uncertainty grew. Not just about the general situation, but the time of day. Was it really night? Was everybody sent to their rooms? Or was everybody outside? She couldn't imagine it was tomorrow already.
She stood on shaking legs and drank some water from the sink.
Her reflection showed a tired woman, eyes red and puffy, skin pale, hair messy and matted. She looked like shit.
With a sigh, she dropped back to the floor. There were worse sleeping arrangements. She could settle on this. Even with her injury throbbing, probably leaking, even with her artery pinched, she felt sleep return to her as the seconds ticked on by, each one blissfully and perfectly silent.
When she closed her eyes, even with the tile warm and hard against her skin, she could almost, almost imagine that she was back in space, alone.
Untouchable.
Locked in a small room where there was no natural light, time simply floated away. Even with the noise outside, the sounds of footsteps, conversation, playtime, she couldn't tell if it was morning or evening. The three daily meals were delivered to her, but she couldn't tell which was which. She skipped them sometimes too: someone, Miku probably, would knock, and if Luka felt like she could eat, she'd unlock the door. The plate would be pushed in without any comment.
She slept so much. Her injury stopped hurting eventually, but that wasn't the first time. She couldn't tell if it was healing or if she was growing numb from sleeping on the floor.
After a certain number of meals, she figured she needed to get the bandage changed.
But she didn't know how long it had really been.
Often, she could hear soft murmuring on the other side of the door. It took her a while, but she soon recognized the monotonous hum of the news.
Someone, Miku probably, was keeping an ear and an eye out for them both.
Miku. The sound of her name, the one she had chosen for her, it summoned so many emotions. Certain the android could most likely hear her regardless, Luka softly muttered it to herself and tried to taste the feelings as they flowed through her in response.
The fear, tasting like bitter metal, was still there. Undeniably so. Her anger, her glare, the memories were enough to make Luka cower. Her independence and strength brought forth more of it, but also...
Trust. It was something warm, savory, like vegetable soup on a cold day. She was reliable, not just as a medic, not just as an entertainer, not just as a conversation partner, a runaway companion. Perhaps... Could she call her a friend? After she had saved her life twice and had done so much to make things work, to make things better, perhaps... Yes, she could call her a friend.
There was something stronger there. Something complex.
Luka hummed.
She missed her.
She needed to be alone. But she had been alone for so long. Multiple days had likely gone by with her locked in that tiny bathroom. And she had been alone for so long before she had found Miku. How long had it been since they had met? Several cycles. At least four. Maybe a full month, perhaps.
Ruko would know.
She missed her ship. The cold but caring nature of her teammate who mostly spoke in reply, who never asked anything from her. Her familiar space. Her space. Her life. It was all she really owned.
But it was different from how she missed Miku. Ruko was a tool at her disposal, at her beck and call. Miku was... Back in her ship, she only had to drop Dexter and Miku would be there. She never imposed her presence. She was so mindful. So...
Luka swallowed past the lump in her throat and managed to sit on her knees. After some struggling, she stood, picked up Dexter, and clicked open the lock on the door.
She pushed it ajar, slowly.
It was night.
The house was completely quiet.
She stepped out, finding the android sitting on the couch, reading a book.
Luka approached the android who, very quietly, hummed to acknowledge her presence.
The woman almost melted: she wouldn't even look at her in the dark.
Still clutching Dexter to her chest, she whispered, "My bandage hurts."
Miku patted the space to her left before standing. Luka obeyed, eyes trained on the coffee table in front of the couch. It held a bunch of books, in two neat piles.
Was this how Miku was spending her time?
Did Meiko have no more chores for her?
Before long, the android returned with the first aid kit and a glass of water. Without looking at her in the eye, she fed the scavenger a painkiller, helped pull her shirt up over her head, unhooked her bra, and undid the bandage without the slightest comment.
She reapplied the bandage with the utmost care.
Her hands were so nice and cool.
Finally, she redressed the woman before standing to retrieve her bed wares from the bathroom floor. Luka, feeling her arm come back to life, watched her walk, watched her return, watched as she wordlessly gestured towards the cot.
Luka shook her head.
"I want to sit with you for a bit," she whispered. "Just for a bit..."
The android complied, sitting next to her again. She dropped the bed ware on the floor next to the couch, well within reach. Arms around Dexter, Luka stared straight ahead as Miku returned to her book.
She sighed.
Slowly, she leaned against Miku, pressing their shoulders together. Just gently; even if it was her good shoulder, she wasn't used to such a touch, no matter how much she needed it.
"May I?"
The android didn't reply.
"You can say no."
She said nothing.
"...Can I have a song? A quiet one."
Miku put down the book again, forcing the scavenger to sit upright as the android's form ducked out from under her.
The gentle guitar and her voice started nearly exactly the same time. Miku sang with her eyes closed, in her neo-human tongue Luka liked so much. She didn't know what she was saying, but...
This time, when Luka leaned against her, Miku gently put her arm around her shoulders. She turned slowly as she sang, letting the woman tuck her head in the crook of her neck.
The song wasn't a long one, barely over two minutes, but it swept Luka away, bringing her far from the home, far from all the troubles.
Part of her wanted to return to the bathroom. Just for a little longer.
The other part told her that she was safe where she was.
"Can we stay like this for a bit?" she whispered when the song ended.
Still mute, as she always was in Dexter's presence, Miku merely scooted a bit, propped up a pillow against the armrest, leaned back, still with her arm around Luka's shoulders. They came to rest lying down on the couch, the scavenger half on her good side, the other half supported by the android's frame.
The arm around her, the legs that had kicked up to rest next to hers on the couch, her cool, almost human body beneath her, they all told her she was safe.
She fell asleep effortlessly.
The sound of footsteps rushing downstairs sent Luka back a decade. Forced mornings, nights that never went on for long enough, imposed socialization, required participation in the game she never could win, forced to play and lose time and time and time again, another start, another day of disappointment and anguish.
When she started awake though, eyes jerked open by the knot of anxiety spontaneously born in her stomach, she saw and remembered where she was. She saw Miku's arm holding up a book, the curve of her neck, felt her chin resting against her head, the swell of her torso supporting hers.
The android not only had an arm around her shoulders but had managed to cover her form in the thin blanket. The scavenger was still holding on to Dexter, but only barely, her hand resting on him as he sat on the floor by the couch.
Miku obeyed it though: whether Luka was hugging the plush or resting her hand on it, it was all the same to her. Would the family care, though? As the noise of children made Luka grow tense, Miku's only comfort for the woman was to tighten her grip on her, along with a low hum.
Somehow, that was enough. Luka inhaled, smelling the scent of cut grass along with the faint smell of food clinging to Miku's shirt. There was something else there, the smell of dirt and dust, of outside, of the sun on a field of wildflowers.
She exhaled, letting her eyes drift shut, melting like snow into that summer field. Above her, Miku turned the page of the book she was reading. Nothing else happened. Miku didn't even breathe. The woman's state of relaxation was such that when the door to the dining room opened, she only barely flinched.
"Any news?"
Miku tilted her head slightly, waved with the book.
"She…? Oh."
Luka felt the tense silence seep into her bones. Eventually, the door closed gently, and the angle to Miku's head returned to the way it was before.
In the distance, breakfast went on as per usual.
Another page turned.
Luka slowly, slowly lifted her hand up from Dexter to rest it on the couch. When another minute of silence passed, she opened her eyes again, tilted her head. At the angle she was at though, she couldn't see the android's face unless she wanted to pull back further.
She preferred to rest against her again. It was so strange: having the android tower over her scared her half to death. But the contrary...
"What happened?"
"After I isolated you, I managed to quiet down Aoki," Miku whispered. "I spoke with the twins. I spoke with Piko and Oliver. Then I finished the laundry with Rin's help, and managed to get dinner done with Len's help."
Luka sighed. "And then Meiko got home?"
"The conversation was heated," Miku admitted. "She did not like that you had left me in control. But I explained that her decision to leave you in control had been a stupid one. No offense meant to either of you."
"You're right."
"We fought for a long time. She was put off by the fact that I had started disobeying her. She threatened to kick us both out."
"What changed her mind?"
"The twins, Aoki, and Oliver had managed to put in a good word for me."
"Oliver?"
"I had assisted him earlier."
"Oh..."
"The next day, we discussed quietly."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Meiko has promised to respect Dexter's presence. The children understand as well."
That now all-too-familiar lump in her throat returned. "Wow."
"She has also come clean to the twins about your history. You told them?"
"By accident."
"She was not happy. But it was good to have that out there. It explained much."
"I bet..."
"Despite all that has happened... I do think Meiko loves you very dearly."
Luka let that stew for a second, before slowly whispering, "I know."
Miku turned a page. "How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"That was not your day."
"It wasn't," she said with a sigh. "It... It really wasn't."
"I can better see why you pursue total isolation."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. I will never seek that for myself, but knowing you, I see why you do."
"Everybody always wants different things at the same time, and there's no way to win, no matter what..."
"Yes. This household functions thanks to compromise. Generally, they are all very understanding and helpful. But you are not so flexible. Nor are you a skilled diplomat."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright. We found a way to make it work. It will all be alright."
Luka's hand teased the edge of the couch, reaching for Dexter. "How long was I in there?"
"Two and a half days."
"It felt like so much longer."
"I can imagine."
"Any news yet?"
"No, but I checked regularly."
"I know. I heard." After a pause, she added, "Thank you. For everything."
"You're more than welcome."
Luka felt a shy smile tease her lips, but she reached for Dexter regardless.
Before she could rest her hand on the plush, Miku asked, "Is this alright?"
"This? You mean, the way we are?"
"Yes. I can tell you are relaxed, but I expected more tension from you."
"I guess I would have, too. But..." She sighed. "I think I... I needed a friendly touch."
"Then you may stay however long you wish."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Thanks..."
Her voice a little quieter, the android asked, "Are you going to sleep?"
"Just a bit more."
"Now that they are aware that you are awake and out of the bathroom, expect a little more noise."
"Just a little more is fine. You'll keep an eye on me?"
"Of course."
"Thanks."
The android only hummed as Luka rested her hand on Dexter's fluffy head. Above her, Miku turned another page. In the distance, the children babbled happily.
She was ready to slumber away the rest of the day. Whether it was actual sleep or mere dozing, recuperating in a torpor, she didn't know: she just wanted to close her eyes and leave the world for a little longer. Miku's total immobility helped in a certain way. She didn't breathe. Even when she turned the page, the movement of muscles was all localized to her hand. She never fidgeted or had to reposition herself. She remained cool to the touch too, a walking talking eternally fresh pillow.
It was pure bliss.
She zoned out, checking out from reality, letting all those noises and yells and steps become background noise for the first time in her life. They weren't a sign of impending doom any longer.
In Miku's arms, she was untouchable.
A quick movement along her bad arm startled her out of her trance: she recognized the feel of Miku's hand as it swiftly traveled from her upper arm, over her elbow, down her forearm to rest on her hand. The woman opened her eyes, slightly tense at the unexpected touch, only to find Meiko standing in front of them, arms crossed.
For once, the woman wasn't glaring at her. Those brown eyes were aimed slightly higher, and they weren't even glaring at all. The gaze was gentle, questioning.
Miku stared right back, pushing Luka's hand down on Dexter.
The reminder couldn't be more clear.
Luka blinked, not to fight sleep, but to wave consciousness away.
She was untouchable.
"Miku?" she mumbled, aware that half of her voice disappeared into the android's shirt.
A hum.
"Can I have another song?"
The hand on top of hers tightened a little just as a very soft and gentle piano filled the room.
Luka didn't know if any of them had heard Miku sing before. Meiko knew she lived to sing, but if she had asked for specifics while Luka was away, she didn't know.
Hearing the android rap surprised her somewhat, but like with all things in music, she was skilled and did it effortlessly, all in tune with the beat and the melody. The refrain, when it started, was soft, floaty, and so ultimately comforting. Peppered with Common, all kind words, it was not only another testament to her skill as an artist but as a companion.
Luka hummed, turned her head so she wasn't facing the living room any longer.
She soaked in the song, from the simple percussion and straightforward tune, the gentle touch of her voice that soothed her like nothing else.
When the song ended, she muttered a 'thank you' that, in all likelihood, only Miku heard or felt. Seconds later, she heard footsteps, and the android's hand lifted, surely retrieving the book.
Minutes later, another page turned.
By then, Luka was already asleep.
When Luka opened her eyes again, the way the sun shone into the room showed that it was late afternoon. A distant noise told her that most, if not all, of the children were outside.
Miku was still reading. The pile to the right on the nearby table had grown.
The woman chuckled and sat up.
"Can't you just scan the whole page or something?"
Miku, who stayed where she was, merely smiled. "What's the fun in that?"
"Ha, I guess that's fair." She stretched, daring to raise her bad arm. Despite the abuse her injury had suffered, it almost didn't hurt at all. "How long was I out for?"
"Five hours."
"Damn..." The woman yawned and ran her hand through her hair. "I need another shower."
"I'll help with your bandage."
"Thanks."
Miku put down her book and picked up the medical supplies while Luka went to retrieve her bag of spare clothes. Together, they trudged upstairs.
"What kind of things did I miss?"
"Not much, all told," the android told her as she locked the door behind them. "The news still says nothing about us."
"Either the eldest Shion is glad his son is gone or he's having trouble pulling strings," Luka muttered as she undressed. She kept a slightly wary eye on the android when she started pulling off the bandage. "We still have a few days to see."
"We do," Miku chirped, her eyes examining the wound. "It looks better."
"It does. Just a little red."
"Just somewhat. I think you'll regain your full mobility soon enough."
"I sure hope so," Luka said as she stepped into the shower. After getting the water to the right temperature, she asked, "Anything else?"
"When you were alone in the bathroom, Meiko and I spoke at length."
"What about?"
"A variety of things. I am not sure she likes me all that much, but I'd like to think that she respects me. In any case, I have proven myself to be a capable caretaker: she lets me spend time with the children, now."
"She does?"
"Yes. While I was still concerned for you, it was fun to play with them," the android said, and though she couldn't see it, Luka was sure she heard her smile. "They enjoy such a wide variety of games, of all kinds. Piko showed me a few of his video games, too. And Oliver is such a skilled crafter, especially for his age. Aoki, the poor dear, truly is a sweetheart."
"Yeah?"
"She likes that our hair matches," the android explained, running a hand through one of her twin-tails. "She joked that we're better sisters than you two are."
Luka didn't try to hide the chuckle.
"All in all, I think they like me more than Meiko does," Miku said. "She was... Not entirely certain that allowing you to block off all contact was a good way to participate in household tasks. We are staying for free and potentially bringing danger to this household, so I can see why she scowls at the thought of a free stay."
"Right. I get that. But..."
"She asked too much of you too soon."
"That's one way to put it."
Miku thought for a moment. "Was it always so explosive when you were growing up here?"
"Less. I guess I'm just used to having my own time, now: I haven't been exposed to this in ages. Even back then, though, I just kept running away for hours on end. She'd scold me when I got home, but when I wasn't home we both got peace and quiet."
"I see."
"We were constantly on each other's case..."
"Yes. She wants you to do your fair share when she tells you to, but you are capable of doing that at your own speed and time. Sadly, that does not always work in the constantly moving household. Things don't always have much time to get done when so many people depend on the machine to function smoothly."
"Yeah… It's all gotta be done now. Always now. It just becomes too much for me..."
Miky hummed in understanding. "It can't always be helped."
"Guess not."
Only the sound of running water filled the bathroom for a little while, so Luka took that moment to lather shampoo into her hair.
"Luka?"
"Yeah?"
"Forgive me if this is too much, but…" The android trailed off, which made the woman pause.
"What is it?"
"That day, you reacted very strongly to certain stimuli," Miku said.
"Stimuli?"
"Yes. For the sake of brevity, the best example I have is when you snapped at Len and his video game."
Luka stilled. "You heard that?"
"I heard most of it."
"...Right."
"I was wondering—"
"Hold on. Let me rinse my hair."
"Of course."
The scavenger took the handful of seconds to compose her reply, in vain. The running water did little to inspire her, and the feeling of clean hair in her hands was only slightly soothing.
Once the water was out of her ears, Luka muttered, "I know what you're asking."
"Do you need help?"
"I've been through this before. I used to use a bunch of drugs to take the edge off after such encounters, but, you know, see above. Not a good long-term solution."
"What solution do you have currently?"
"Beyond avoiding the source of the issue, nothing super solid. Some breathing exercises, anchoring techniques. All things I picked up from a therapy add-on I had Ruko download a few years ago."
"It helps?"
"Not getting into fights in the first place helps the most," Luka admitted. "But yeah. It's been helping. At least until recently."
She could almost hear the android think. "I would like to take a look at that add-on, if I may."
"I should be fine. Give me enough time, and I'll be right as rain," Luka muttered as she splurged a little more on some of the shower gel.
"If you fail to notice any improvement, however—"
"I'll let you know, of course. To be honest, though, my biggest trigger that I have around me all the time is you, and we're already working on that actively, so…"
"Ah."
"I trust you," Luka stated. Even though Miku couldn't see her, she stood still, glaring at the shower curtain, hoping that the android could somehow perceive her sincerity. "I really do. I just need to train my subconscious to follow suit."
"Very well…" Miku made a sound, almost like clearing her throat, before she asked, "What did you want to wear today?"
"Whatever's clean."
"You have one spare change of clothing left."
"It's laundry today, right?"
"I think so."
Luka turned off the water and accepted the towel the android handed to her. "Guess we might as well get that started."
"The twins got a head start."
"Then we'll take over. Their free day got spoiled, it's only fair I lift some weight off their shoulders."
Miku smiled as the woman wrapped her hair in the towel. Once that was done, she started packing up her injury again. "Very well. Meiko also mentioned that vacuuming needed to be done upstairs."
"We'll do that too," she said, watching the android work.
"The bedding needs changing as well."
"We'll get that all out of the way, then, if we're going to be in each room anyway."
"There you go," Miku whispered, smoothing over the tape. "How is it?"
"It's perfect, thanks."
Miku smiled, looking at the bandage once more, but she didn't quite back away.
"I'll be fine," Luka whispered. "You'll be the first to know when I'm not."
"Promise?"
"...I promise."
"Very well, then."
Luka finished getting dressed and dried her hair a bit before they headed to the basement together. The twins were most likely distracted with the playtime outside, so they hadn't looked at it in a while. After carefully filtering out the things that wouldn't survive the dryer, they returned upstairs. Miku took care of the bedding since it required both of her arms, while Luka dusted the bulk of things before vacuuming. Every now and then they returned to the basement, finding no clue that the twins had intervened in the meantime, before going back upstairs to finish their work.
By the time the whole upstairs was done, the blue sky had turned purple, the skirt of the horizon dipped in bleeding yellow.
"Guess we can get started with dinner?" Luka muttered, sinking into the couch. All the laundry was done, too, the dry clothes all folded and waiting at the foot of the stairs.
"I am a poor cook," the android admitted. "I cannot smell or taste as I go and I have very little exposure to the art."
"I suck too... I've spent too many years rehydrating things."
"It's alright. We earned a break," Miku assured her as she leaned forward to pick up a book.
"I guess we did."
After a moment, Luka turned on the news. She listened to the local little bits of chaos, an update on the well-being of the local wildlife, the start of a new trade with another planet to secure better quality food import, and so on.
Nothing about them. Nothing about the Sapphire Shores, or the Shion family.
She relaxed into the couch.
"Still there?" Meiko asked, entering the living room with rapid, heavy steps, Aoki stuck to her skirts as before, her eyes wide and apprehensive at the sight of the scavenger.
"Still here," Luka said, watching her approach. "I lost track of time: how much longer do we have?"
The brunette scowled just a bit, and Luka realized most of the kids had followed their mother, padding into the room. At the sight of the incoming confrontation however, they slowed, crowding the door.
"This is day four. You have four more after today."
"That's fair. Miku and I were starting to wonder if they care at all," Luka said, eyes on the TV. "It's been a fair while since we fled. Over two cycles, I think."
"It has."
Luka's eyes left the screen to look at the woman. "Did you have a nice day?"
Meiko blinked at the question. "Just fine."
"You said you're on vacation, right?" the scavenger asked. "That's why you're home all the time."
"Y-yes."
"You still work at the bar?"
"Yes..."
"Any new bands played there lately?"
Meiko sighed. "You're... Why do you care?"
Luka shrugged. "We might be here for a little while longer... Might as well catch up. We didn't really get a chance to sit down to talk yet."
"Of course not," the brunette grumbled. "Between the children and the chores—"
"The laundry!" the twins exclaimed.
"It's done!" Miku announced over her shoulder as the twins started running towards the basement.
Meiko did a double-take. "It's done?"
"Yeah. We didn't exactly have anything else to do either. You were taking care of the kids. So we did the chores," Luka said.
Next to her, Miku turned a page.
The woman's posture relaxed. "What?"
"Laundry, bedding, vacuuming. We would've started making dinner, but I'd prefer not to get yelled at again."
Meiko needed a second to think. "Since when do you voluntarily do the chores?"
"I've been living on my own for years now, ma. I know a ship isn't exactly a house but I know how to take care of a home."
Meiko thought for a moment before slowly, very slowly, sitting in the armchair, taking Aoki into her lap.
"I see..."
Luka shrugged. "I'm sorry for shutting myself out for so long. I'd been run ragged. A lot happened recently. I needed some time."
"Yes... Miku explained as much."
"She said so. Thanks for listening to her."
The brunette shifted, and more of the kids finally entered the room. Aoki mumbled something about cartoons, so the scavenger switched the channel. The first image was more cartoon violence; Luka fidgeted, averted her gaze from the TV.
"The chores weren't so hard?" Meiko asked.
"Not at all."
"Why are you so contrary to doing them when told?" Meiko asked, her tone surprisingly gentle. "Nobody else has much trouble with it."
"I don't know," Luka replied, shifting a bit on the couch. Miku cast her a worried glance. "If everybody stops pulling me every which way, I can actually get stuff done. But with everything coming in at the same time... It just overwhelms me. I can't handle it. I'm not very patient. Or social."
"And this system, with...Dexter?"
"Yeah."
"This helps?"
Miku nodded, while Luka said, "At the beginning, Miku and I really didn't get along. We kept butting heads, or rather I kept butting my head against her. But she figured out a way for me to communicate when I need a time out. Ever since, we've got along really well."
By then, Aoki, Rana, Una, Yuki, and even Oliver were gathering on the carpet, staring up at the cartoon, paying only a little attention to the conversation. Piko was busy texting, the twins sitting a little ways away, yet they were obviously listening in. Miku glanced at the cartoon at times, then to the scavenger, but that was about it.
Meiko regarded the space-traveling duo for a while. "Yet you flinch whenever she approaches."
Luka tensed. "We get along, but it's not perfect."
"Is that a consequence of when she..." Meiko's eyes quickly took in the room, before she near-seamlessly continued with, "Told you about manners?"
"I told her," Miku whispered.
"Oh. Yes."
"I see." Meiko sighed, distracted by the cartoon for a moment. Surely, she was trying to discern if it was something her children were alright watching.
While her eyes were averted, Miku shifted her posture just slightly to lean against the scavenger. Luka leaned back, wordlessly assuring her she was alright. She couldn't lie that the conversation was grounding.
Out of the blue, Meiko said, "I barely recognize you."
"How so?"
"In all the years since I took you in, never have we had a conversation like this. You're always so contrary. Defensive. But now? We're actually talking."
Luka shrugged again, wincing when she pulled at her shoulder. "I just needed a little time I guess. I never got much of that back in the day. I was always being pushed forward. I need to stand still every now and then."
Meiko hummed. "I see. And Miku figured out this system, just like that."
"It was a bit of a wild guess," the android chimed in. "It was inspired by the efficiency of the market at the Sapphire Shores."
"What are the Sapphire Shores?" Len asked.
The three women exchanged a look. "It's a bad place," Luka ended up saying. "It's relatively safe, but you don't go there if you can help it."
"Their traders communicate a wide variety of things with pins," Miku continued. "Like that, when two people start talking, they both have an idea of what the other wants, where the conversation is going. Luka would often tell me to be quiet or to leave her alone, but that would only be after I had already exhausted the little patience she might have. Having Dexter to communicate when she was open for conversation made things far easier."
Meiko mulled that over for a second. "Are you trained in this regard?"
"Hardly. But I am designed to work with people," the android said, putting the book down. "People come in such a wide variety of sizes, shapes, personalities, attitudes, and so on. We understood that if I were to unite people, I would have to have the capacity to unite with any person. And this requires a veritable fount of patience and understanding."
"Her personality did not put you off, knowing that there are trillions of others out there? Many of which are easier to approach and spend time with?"
"No. If anything, her contrary nature drew me in."
Luka raised a brow, and Miku chuckled when she noticed.
"It's no good if I can only unite the people that are drawn to me. I must be able to reach out and touch the outcasts too. Being an outcast, by default, means that you will inevitably hold my attention. I will not reject you or exercise prejudice. It will also make your first transgressions more forgivable: I will not judge you by your cover. That is why, when I learned more about you, it was easy to forgive and to try to understand. While I'm not trained in any specifics, I am made to accommodate, innovate if needed, and make the best of things. Not to make you join the crowd per se: you, in particular, would not benefit from that. I'm not here to change people. But I hope to do enough to make you know that I'm there for you if you would ever need it."
Luka averted her eyes. "Oh."
"Of course, I'm not perfect," the android admitted. "I'm subject to my own emotions and flaws. But it costs very little to listen."
The trio grew silent, Meiko's eyes downcast, Miku returning to her book, and Luka struggling to swallow around that lump in her throat.
"I'm glad you two managed to make peace," the brunette finally said.
Neither replied, all wordlessly agreeing to let the cartoon fill the silence.
"Luka? May I have a word with you?"
The scavenger paused, a toothbrush stuck in her mouth. She nodded, then watched the brunette walk away to the dining room.
Perplexed, Luka finished brushing her teeth and followed her. Miku had plugged herself into the outlet next to the cot and watched her walk by, a small smile on her lips. If she knew anything, she didn't give her the slightest hint.
Luka closed the door, knowing it didn't stand a chance of blocking out their conversation from the android. Meiko was already seated at the dining table, fingers interlaced, eyes focused on some distant point only she could see.
"What is it, ma?"
Meiko gestured to the chair across from her. Luka complied, wary.
"You wanted to talk?"
"I did."
"What's up?"
The woman sighed. "I... I am not sure. I am disappointed."
"Sorry."
"Not in you. In myself."
"Ah."
"I had always wondered how I had wronged you. Many kids need attention when they get home. Many need space. Many need special care. And, no matter what I tried, I simply could not figure out what you needed. Leaving you alone only gave you time to be destructive. Giving you attention only made you angry. It took me years to finally decide that you were contrarian by nature and that, well, no matter what I would do, you were doomed to be up to no good. And then this robot you find, she finds level ground between you two within days."
Luka didn't know how to reply.
"She hurt you, Luka. She hurt you physically, and you still get along better with her," Meiko hissed. "She's a killing machine, and you still..."
"I don't get along with her because she killed or because she hurt me," Luka muttered.
"I know," the woman said with a sigh. "But despite that..."
"It's not just you to blame, you know," the scavenger muttered when Meiko failed to finish her sentence. "I was a stupid kid, too. I had too much pride. Too much to prove. And not nearly enough trust, I guess. Getting some time alone, well, it really helped me sort some things out with myself. Even then, when Miku came forward with the Dexter idea, I didn't like it because it involved a stuffed animal. I almost... I almost pushed that idea away too. The only reason why I let her try it was because, well, I was scared of her."
Meiko hummed.
"So... Yeah. Maybe you tried too hard. But I know I wasn't trying nearly enough."
"Perhaps."
Luka stared at the table surface. With every second, she swore she recognized the veins in the wood.
"You know..." she started again, taking a deep breath before going on, "That just means I'm all the more thankful you still do your best to take care of me, despite all that I've done."
Meiko shrugged. "You're still my daughter."
"The fact that you haven't let go of that means a lot," Luka said. "I... I always liked knowing that no matter what, I could always count on you to at least consider helping me. Even though you hate what I do, even though you deny knowing me, even though you don't want me seeing the kids, you still help me up when I'm down, no matter what. And I don't think I could ever thank you enough for that."
The brunette shook her head. "You shouldn't have to thank me for basic parenting."
"Yeah, well, I want to do it anyway. Because I certainly haven't made basic parenting easy for you."
"You certainly haven't."
After some hesitation, Luka reached across the table, just halfway. "Ma?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks for taking us in. For giving Miku a chance."
Meiko reached out, holding her hand in the middle of the table. "You're welcome."
"And thanks for listening. I know we really tested the limits a few times, but you gave us a chance anyway."
"It's... It's fine."
"And..." Luka sighed, squeezed her hand a bit tighter, though she couldn't look her in the eye. "You do great work here, with these kids. They love you a lot. I'm proud of what you do."
Meiko chuckled, but squeezed back. "Thank you."
"Ma?"
"Hm?"
Luka hesitated, took a deep breath. "I love you, ma."
Meiko looked up at her, brown eyes filled with unshed tears.
"Oh, Luka."
"I do. You were the first who didn't mean to hurt me. You're the first who never used me. And although we never really got along, the only reason why I didn't run away any sooner was because, well, this was the best I ever had. I didn't have to worry about being awoken at night, about being beat, anything. Even all these years later, I keep coming back because I know that I'm safe here. You give me safety. And I love you for it."
"I..."
"You don't have to say it," Luka said quietly, squeezing her hand again.
She shook her head, eyes already closed, leaking large, slow-rolling tears. "I do love you, Luka. You make it so hard to, but I do. You're my daughter and more than anything, I want to see you safe, and most importantly, happy."
"It might be a while until then," Luka whispered. "But don't worry. I'm working my way there."
"I'll always be here to help," Meiko reminded her. "Now more than ever. No matter how much this situation you've gotten yourself into terrifies me..."
"Thanks, ma."
"If, in the next few years, you ever need a new place to stop and rest—"
"If the Shion really are after me, I won't be back," Luka said. "I won't put you and the kids in danger like that."
Meiko sighed, nodded. "Very well."
"I won't write, either. If they even get a hint—"
"I understand, Luka. You'll let me know when you're safe, then?"
"The first moment."
"Come home. We'll celebrate."
Luka smiled. "For sure, ma."