Perfect.

Yes! It was the perfect day! Rin was out with Miku to record a new album. And the others would have better things to do than to annoy us every half-hour. We can finally do this!

I laid myself back on my bed, smiling, let my gaze settle upwards as the ceiling made to be the canvas of my imagination: we could talk, cuddle, play together; just spend time together with each other. The throbbing ache of hope grew—

Maybe we could even go out together... sneak out, have a date. Maybe we could even sleep together, just like the old times. My heart clenched again as I got up, thought for another moment of the things we could do.

With those thoughts in mind, I brought myself out of my room and to Oliver's front door. I knocked thrice with my trembling fists, struggling to keep my excitement in.

Is he there?

Is he—

Then relief washed over me when his cheery voice finally answered, "Yes?"

Oliver!

"It's me," I whispered through the tiny gap. The door clicked, then gladly opened. Standing there was a smiling, grinning Oliver, his eye, too, sparkling in excitement.

He leapt and latched onto me as he giggled. "Len!" He exclaimed, nuzzling his face onto my chest.

I hugged him back and "Oliver," I smiled. I knew then for sure: He still loves me!

I reached up to stroke his hair and get his attention, to which he looked up to me with his cute curious expression and playful hum.

"Come to my room?" I invited with a smile. He nodded delightfully, then giggled as he pulled me into my own room. Time slowed for a moment. I took the chance to watch his innocent giggle and blush as he smiled and called for me to come with him. I saw the glimmer in his single livid eye, still untouched by those demons of our world.

Mine was – at least, I was sure then that it was – completely dulled.

Once we had settled ourselves down on my bed, I asked him, "what do you want to do?"

"Hm?" He perked up, "well..." he paused to think, "I don't mind anything as long as it's with you," he replied, blushing lightly at his own words.

How does a person become so cute? God answer me.

"I just want to spend time with you, Ollie." I told him, cuddling him as I brought us to lay under my blanket. I felt his body heat up. Then I saw: red crept up his face once more.

Enough teasing?

I hummed by his ear, rubbing skin on skin as my hand swept over his body. He shifted lightly, uncomfortably. But he stayed quiet.

Yeah, probably.

"If you don't like it, you can tell me, Ollie." I told him with a giggle, playfully hitting him on the side as I usually do after a tease.

"N-no, I-I like it," he muttered with embarrassment, his face wholly buried on my bed, "I-it's just that," he faced me, still flushed red, "I-it... makes me... nervous..."

I smiled, then nodded. "Alright." I sat myself by him and lightly massaged his back, to which he hummed quietly, calming down.

"Len..." he mumbled, his voice placid, as was his expression. It was then Oliver sat back up and faced me, his hand venturing through the little mountains on the bedsheet to connect with mine. "I just want to be close to you." He muttered, his tone laced with need. I felt it too. We both had been desperately starved of each others presence in the past few weeks... scratch all the games, movies... sure, they sound good... but what we really want... it's just us... being together... spending as much time together as we possibly could, getting the attention of our significant other.

Yes, that sounds great.

I took him close, laid us down in the spoon position. Then we stayed there, awake, syncing our breathing, listening to each other's heartbeats... beating to the same rhythm.

Then we started talking, 'catching up' though we lived mere doors from each other.

"How was your week?"

"It was fine," I told him, "miserable actually... but I guess I'm just used to it."

"Mmm... Rin keeps asking me to play her games with her." He complained.

"Heh, yeah. That's Rin for ya."

"She's done that to you?"

"Ten years ago, yeah," I told him, "before any of this had happened."

"You never really did tell me about your past,"

"Well, we've never really had the chance to sit down and talk have we?" I frowned, taking in his scent from his hair, "Since we finally made up."

"Mmmn you're right." He giggled, "it tickles."

"Hm?" I smirked, nipping on the nape of his neck lightly, leaving with a small lick to which he chortled and jerked. My eyes quickly shut and the next thing I could feel was a thump and crack from my nose.

At that he stopped and turned to me, saw the tiny drip of blood pouring down the left one, and immediately sent streams upon streams of apology.

"I—I'm sorry! Oh my gosh! Len! Are, Are you okay? I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have hit you like that! I shouldn't have jumped like that! Oh my god!"

I took a piece of tissue from my bedside and blocked it, using my other hand to pat Oliver and comfort him, "It's not your fault. Besides, aren't we having fun now?"

He smiled a little, but concern ultimately took over his expression, "I don't want you getting hurt for it!"

"It's just a little nosebleed, it'll be fine." I told him, "besides, we still have the whole day to look forward to."

Then he finally nodded, smiled, then sat beside me. "I love you, Len."

"I love you too, Ollie."

＊＊＊

"Len! Len!" Came his voice, afraid. Ripples formed in my vision as it waved, the flower before me fading away. And when my eyes jolted open, I saw Oliver's face, tainted with fear.

Shit, I fell asleep, didn't I?

"Len! They're here!" He whispered. "Rin, Miku, they're back!"

My fight or flight response kicked in. My heart paced as my breathing quickened, the footsteps outside were getting... louder! "Quick, get in my closet, she won't find you there!" I told him. He nodded as a tear dropped his right eye, then he pushed himself off the bed and ran quietly to my closet.

Just as Oliver shut the closet door, my door blasted open. Rin stood there with a face. "Where's Oliver?"

No, No, No! They couldn't have known!

I stayed silent, my shaky voice would have been a dead giveaway. I answered with a shrug, falling back onto my bed as I sought to calm myself down.

Of course, this angered her immensely, her face flamed red as she blew within. Respect was to her a greatest value... so long as it was going her way. But she too stayed silent... "Tch..." running off to presumably find him.

Why does she care about him so much?

After I had confirmed she was gone, I whispered through the slit on the closet door to let him know. When he got out. Oh, the poor look on his face. He was so scared!

My heart begged for me to leap forward to him, to comfort him. "Oliver," I whispered by his ear, holding him tight to me, "it's okay, they won't bother us."

I felt his weak nod as he wiped his pouring tears with his drooping right hand, "Len," was all he could say.

"Come on," I took his hand, frowned, you should go back to your room now. He nodded sadly, fumbling on his steps as he made his way to the door.

"See... you later?" He mumbled in his silent tears, his hand lightly on the knob, faced away.

"Yeah," I nodded in reflex, smiled lightly in his lingering effect, "see you later."

＊＊＊

We sat around in our usual spots. Quietly. Three men stood at the end of the table—with their immaculate suits... as usual. They were the directors, the people in-charge of everything that happens in our 'organisation'.

The middle one cleared his throat, spoke in his stereotypically-low masculine voice, "sorry for such short notice, but we will be going on tour in a week." Excitement grew within the table... yes... even I was interested. We may not be allowed much freedom there, but it was certainly better than being locked up in a building.

Besides, even Rin and Miku likes sightseeing sometimes.

"Where are we touring?" Rin asked, a sliver of excitement managing to escape her usual façade.

The man on the right answered with his raspy voice, "America and Europe. We will be touring through thirteen different sites, so be prepared."

And of course, I had been stealing glances at Oliver. Happiness, disbelief, excitement, they were all there on his face. For a quick moment, our eyes locked... and he smiled at me.