A Very Simple Story (A VOCALOID Fanfic)

AU Interlude 3

Fukase's request had been cleared with the Boss. He could now stay with Oliver for as long as he wanted with the time limit lifted. The situation made him tense, wary, but Oliver was happy.

They talked more than ever. Fukase directed the conversation and steadily avoided topics that reminded him how tangled their situation was. He learned a lot about Oliver in the two days before the signal came. The kid liked talking, but he liked listening too, and Fukase found himself telling stories more than asking questions.

When he heard the tapping from the vent in the ceiling, Fukase could feel the tension lift off his shoulders, like the first warm breeze of spring after a long winter.

"Oliver. Please stand out of the way, next to the bed," he said, pointing. Oliver instantly obeyed, waiting to see why.

Fukase pulled out the desk chair and positioned it underneath the vent. He climbed up and carefully removed the grate. He then placed the grate on the desk, got on the chair again, and began taking things out of the vent. Oliver couldn't see what from his angle.

Fukase crouched down facing away from him and started arranging the things on the hard floor. After a strangely quiet high-pitched noise, Fukase hissed out a soft "sorry," then stood, taking a step back.

There was a whooshing sound, and suddenly the tiny room had too many people who immediately started to bustle around. Before Oliver could yell in surprise, Fukase clamped a hand over his mouth.

"These are my friends.They're going to help us escape, all right?" He uncovered Oliver's mouth and smiled. "We're going to leave this place and go somewhere safe together. Just stay quiet and do exactly as they say, okay?"

He patted Oliver's head, then turned to speak to a lean girl with short hair who was wearing the exact same uniform as him, next to which a girl wearing a purple beret shifted back and forth on her small feet.

A blond man stepped forwards with what looked like a crash test dummy slung over one shoulder. He laid the dummy down on the bed then crossed the room. A woman with long pale hair dyed a flaky-looking pink knelt down next to Oliver. A cloud began to form in the air over her head as she smiled gently.

"Hello, Oliver," she whispered. "My name is Luka. It's nice to meet you."

Oliver gave a shaky nod, too surprised at the sudden appearance of these people to make any rational thought leave his mouth.

The lady held up her hand and said softly, "I'm going to touch your face and your shoulders, is that alright?"

Oliver hesitated. The question seemed like a trick. Why would she ask if she could just do it?

"Don't worry. I'm a Lectrinn user, just like you. I need to touch you to make my ability work."

He didn't understand, but Fukase had told him to listen to these strangers. He slowly nodded his head. It was okay. He didn't trust this person, but he trusted Fukase.

"Please stand still. I need to get this right."

With her hand beneath his chin, Luka titled his head to the side, up, and down, then asked him to turn in a full circle after tapping his shoulders. The cloud above her head began to swirl, then silently flash different colors as she brushed her slender fingers over his hair, his ears, eyebrows, and lips with the lightest of touches. Oliver was almost surprised to find it wasn't uncomfortable. Luka finally nodded, apparently satisfied with whatever she was doing. She then stood, snatching the airy swirl with one hand and effortlessly casting it over the dummy in the bed.

Suddenly Oliver wasn't looking at a dummy anymore, but himself. A sleeping boy with the same face, same clothes, and same hair, who Luka tucked in with the blanket.