Work Text:
When Luka was told she had a new assignment, to be the caretaker and researcher of a new project, she wasn't exactly thrilled.
She was happy for the drastic pay increase. But Luka was not ready to care for a young child. She was a young woman, with little desire for kids of her own. Let alone taking care of a kid who's file said she was merely five years old.
Little Yoisaki Kanade was an orphan, who'd lost her parents in quick succession. She lived with one of the head researchers for awhile due to the woman being close with Yoisaki's mother, and had begun to shown peculiar healing abilities.
As Luka entered the common room, there was the little girl. She scanned over her file as she took a seat on the couch, watching as Kanade scribbled on a piece of paper with crayons.
"Hello, Yoisaki. My name is Megurine Luka, I'm here to be your new caretaker."
Kanade continued to scribble, only acknowledging the researcher with a disinterested hum.
"What are you drawing?"
"Nothin'."
It did seem like mindless scribbles. Eventually Kanade tossed it aside, grabbing a new paper and beginning to draw something new. Her soft blue eyes looked up to meet Luka's. The scientist blinked, caught off guard by the deep azures.
"Would you like to play a board game with me?"
"mm, later. I wanna draw."
"That's alright. Can you tell me more about yourself?"
Kanade shrugged, continuing to scribble. Luka realized that she needed a different approach, as this girl wasn't very talkative.
The girl had lost both parents, and despite the memory wipe to try and lessen the trauma that would follow, it was clear it still affected her to some extent.
Kanade was quiet, preferring to color quietly instead of engage in conversation. Luka filled the silence with basic things about herself, like her favorite color and some of her hobbies.
Nothing about the outside world though. The subjects were to be completely unaware of a world outside of this facility. It felt cruel in Luka's eyes, but she wasn't one to disobey.
"When's your birthday?"
She finally asked. It wasn't listed on Kanade's file, and Luka wanted to gather as much info as possible in their first meeting.
Time was running out, Luka only had a few more minutes before she had to go.
"February."
"What day?"
"Ten."
Ah.
Her birthday is in a little over a month.
Luka made a mental reminder to do something special. Maybe Kanade couldn't know about the real world, but that didn't mean she should miss out on the joy a birthday brings.
"I have to go, Kanade. I'll see you tomorrow, but it was nice meeting you!"
She moved towards the door, but a small hand tugged the hem of her long lab coat. The researcher turned, only to see a piece of paper being held up to her. She took it gently, flipping it over. Kanade watched with intent eyes.
It was a drawing of Luka holding Kanades hand, the two standing together on a blank page. Normally she'd expect grass and maybe a sun, but Luka came to the unsettling reminder that Kanade wouldn't remember what that was.
Mildly perturbed at the thought, Luka promised she would keep the drawing as she stepped out of the room.
She framed it on her wall after a few days.
"Kanade dear, won't you come here?"
Luka called as she stepped into the room, scanning for the teenager.
Birthdays had always been uneventful in the lab, but even more so these past few years. As Kanade grew, her tests grew more intense. It led to her not having much energy left for anything by the time she was permitted to return to her room.
The scientist reminisced about a younger Kanade, who would come running up to Luka every birthday with a new drawing of the both of them.
Except recently, Kanade had preferred quietly resting instead of their usual board games or drawings. Luka made sure to bring her favorite cake flavor this time, determined to make the teenager smile.
Speaking of which, Kanade was lying in her bed. She was curled up, her head peeking out from the covers ever so slightly to meet Luka's gaze.
"Good morning, Kanade."
".. Morning, Luka."
"Happy birthday, I brought you cake."
She didn't exclaim it, didn't over exaggerate. Kanade liked celebrating her birthdays quietly, and the scientist would oblige.
"Thank you."
She murmured, taking the container as she sat up. Kanade ate quietly while Luka told her about her day.
Luka told her about the dog she saw on the way here, a brown haired girl and her samoyed. The raven haired girl and her father singing together on the street corner. Murmuring about how she wished Kanade could see it all with her one day.
"Maybe when all of this is over."
Her voice was barely audible, a murmur meant for only herself. Kanade nodded absentmindedly, but it was clear she wasn't all there. Her eyes gazing into nothing as she took small bites.
"I want to see my friends."
"Im sorry Kanade, but they're busy with tests today."
"mm."
"I'll see if you can visit them tomorrow?"
"Thank you."
They fell into a comfortable silence after that. Kanade had lost her spark, but Luka could still see it shining through some days. Mainly when she was with Nightcord, or even just Mafuyu.
Luka would give anything to see it return for good.
Kanade's smiles had become few and far between. Luka had nearly forgotten what Kanade's carefree smiles looked like, as they had long since become laced with sadness.
Comparing a photo of young Kanade to teenage Kanade was jarring. It was sad.
But now, here her pseudo daughter stood, smiling and laughing with her friends. That carefree grin and sparkling eyes a refreshing sight after all these years. Luka could almost watch the years of trauma lift off the young girl's shoulders in real time.
"Luka, come get cake!"
Miku called, holding up a slice of vanilla cake. Kanade's favorite flavor. The birthday festivities had already passed, and that left everyone to mingle and chat until it was time to leave.
She wandered over, still keeping a close eye on Kanade.
"I bet you feel proud, seeing her all grown up."
Miku teased, but Luka only nodded with a bittersweet smile.
"I really am. She's been through so much, I couldn't bear another birthday where she could barely even stay awake long enough to eat her cake. They've put her through so much, I'm glad she's kept her heart open after everything."
Quietly nodding, Miku stabbed into her own slice of cake before speaking.
"I agree. I never gave Mafuyu cake, but I would always bring her a gift for her birthday. A book, a journal, something to keep her sane. But they always had this empty look in their eyes."
Both watched as Mafuyu approached, arms wrapping around Kanade's smaller form and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Kanade giggled in return, patting Mafuyu's newfound short hair. It was down today, signalling that they felt like a girl as of right now.
The two lovers were cute to watch, their affection unrestricted now that they were free.
It was always subtle, but present. The two oftentimes would hold hands, sit so close they were practically touching, but nothing that outright gave away that they were dating.
"But they're happy now, and that's all that matters."
"Mhm."
They ate silently after that. At least, that was until Kanade approached. Mafuyu was close behind, offering Luka a neutral stare.
"Thank you for all of this."
"It was really nothing—"
She was pulled into a firm hug. Kanade squeezed her gently, head buried in the crook of her neck.
"Thank you, mom."
Luka felt something warm trickle down her cheek before she met Kanade's embrace with an even tighter hold. They weren't related by blood, but the bond was there nonetheless.
"Of course."