Silent Noise

Chapter One: Deaf

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Monday, August 5

I walk into the bar, my notebook clenched tightly in my hand as I weave my way through all of the men and women who think that all their problems will just disappear if they drink themselves into oblivion. I shake my head in disgust and continue to the bar. I catch the attention of the nicest looking bartender. He's a very... Sparkly? man. Clearly gay. Most gays are really accepting. At least, the ones I've met are. But I digress. His dark hair is in carefully styled spikes and his eyes are lined in expertly applied black coal. I don't have any time to process him further before his eyes narrow. As I walk up to the bar, he says something but he moves his lips too fast and I don't catch his words.

Oh, yeah, did I mention that I'm deaf? No? Well, you know now.

Anyway, as soon as I'm standing in front of him I hand him my notebook. I wait anxiously as he reads, watching him carefully, analyzing every change in expression. I know what he's reading and the words I'd written earlier can't be too common for him to "hear."

I'm Ariana Taylor but I go by Ari. I'm looking for a job doing whatever except waitressing. I'm deaf so that wouldn't work well. I'm 18 so I can't serve drinks but I've been cleaning up after little kids my whole life so I have no problems with even the worst bathroom. I don't care what the pay is or what the benefits are, I just need to be out the house.

He finally looks up and motions for my pen. I give it to him and he writes for a moment before handing me back both objects.

I'm Magnus Bane. I own this place so I have to look after my own which is the only reason why I have to pry. Why do you have to be out of the house? Why are you so desperate for a job?

I bite my lip and look at the paper as I try to figure out a way to answer him without lying and without revealing anything. Finally, I touch the pen to paper.

I have some things at home that require me to absent for a few hours a day at least. If there's no chance of you hiring me can you just tell me that now so I can go look somewhere else? I only have today to look.

I slide the notebook back to him and he writes once more.

I didn't say that. I have a right to be suspicious... Okay, you can have a week to prove yourself and if that goes well then you're officially hired.

Okay, when do I start? What will I be doing?

You can start right now; we could use the help. And you'll be getting the drinks. As long as you don't hand alcohol directly to the customer, I can honestly say that you're not serving it so, that way, I'm not breaking any laws.

I decide right then that I really like this Magnus guy.

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Friday, August 9

Magnus comes up to me as I set a drink down and slide it, as he taught me, so it lands, without losing a drop of the amber liquid, in front of the buyer; accepting a nod of thanks from the regular.

My hopefully-soon-to-be boss hands me the mini spiral notebook that we've adopted as our "ComBook," which he came up with and wrote on the front... Don't ask, I have no idea.

You've done good, and gotten a hell of a lot of tips so that's always a good thing, so you're hired.

Officially?

*nods*

Did you seriously just write *nods*?

Well it's right there on the paper...

I stare incredulously at the arrow pointing from his most recent message to the word in question, which he circled... A lot... Looking up at him, I raise an eyebrow, biting my lip to try to keep myself from laughing. He gives me a deceptively innocent smile but then his eyes dart over my shoulder and his smile widens. I turn to see a man walking towards us, his black hair almost covering his sapphire blue eyes. Turning back to Magnus, I tap his arm and, when he looks at me, mouth "Boyfriend?" He smirks and I read his lips as he says "Hopefully." I smile to myself and leave them to it, sort-of-but-not-really serving drinks.

After about an hour, I feel a tap on my shoulder and one of the other bartenders, a platinum-blonde named Camille, hands me a note.

Ari-

I know you haven't looked at a clock but your shift has been over for half an hour. Meet me in my office (you're not in trouble), lets see if Cam will actually get off her ass and do something for once.

Magnus :)

Yes, he actually drew a smiley face. Oh. My. God.

I nod at Camille and head back to Magnus' office, which has a one-way window and, knowing him, I wouldn't be surprised if he put that in there so he could have sex and satisfy his exhibitionist side. Seriously, that's probably it. Sure enough, when I walk in, I encounter a smirking Magnus leaning against his desk and a blushing Blue Eyes sitting on the couch that's less than 4 feet from the overly-large oak desk.

I laugh my silent laugh and give my new boss a look. His smirk widened when I show him the note.

"Camille always did have the absolute worst timing... Anyway, I wanted you in here because I found out that my lo- that Alexander here knows sign language because his little brother is deaf."

I look at Alexander and sign, 'He is? How old is he?'

'Nine' he responds, 'And I go by Alec, which Magnus refuses to acknowledge.'

'Yeah, he's a little intense...'

'So I've noticed'

Alec stands and walks closer to us.

'So Magnus tells me you've been working here for a week?'

'That was a test period. I got officially hired today.'

He rolls his eyes. 'Oh please, he was planning on hiring you since the end of the first day. He likes you. I think his exact words were, "She's got balls, I like that."'

I laugh and Magnus waves a hand, getting my attention.

"Okay, I feel like you two are talking about me."

"Yes," Alec tells him, making sure I can read his lips, "we are."

"What are you saying?!" He whines. I stifle a laugh, this is gonna be fun.

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A/N: So, my 2nd TMI fanfic. I actually got the idea for this from A Napkin's Worth A Thousand Words which is amazing and you should read it despite the fact that is hasn't been updated in over a year and stops at chapter 28 :( Nevertheless, it's totally worth it. Please Review…

-Kari