A/N: Blind Maya AU
Maya Hart was an artist. You see, when most people heard this, they usually blurted out "Really? That's so inspirational!" or "Uh, but don't you need to be able to see your canvas?" Usually, it was the latter. Mostly because it wasn't usual for blind people to become artists.
Whenever someone did question her dream of being an artist, she usually snapped at them, "I don't need eyes to see how much of an a** you are."
Yes, Maya Hart was slowly going blind. She had been suffering from glaucoma, a disease that causes gradual vision loss, since she was six. She remembered clearly when she had complained to her mother, Katy, about how she felt as if someone was always covering the sides of her face because she couldn't see things that were beside her without turning her head.
Katy had quickly taken Maya to an eye doctor where they confirmed that Maya indeed was going blind. The six year old was prescribed eye drops and some pills, being told to take them daily to slow down the disease. Apparently, most cases of glaucoma did not cause blindness, but Maya was one of the unfortunate few who would go blind. The only thing she could do was delay it.
It was infuriating to the fourteen year old that no matter how much she fought off the disease, she would still go blind. Maya often looked out at the world, wondering if she would ever be able to see it again. The blonde wanted to be an artist so she could paint the world, ingraining it into her mind so that when she couldn't see it with her own eyes, she could see the beauty of it in her mind.
Yes, Maya Hart was going blind, but that never stopped the stubborn blonde. She astounded all who met her with her snappy, arrogant attitude. Most people expected the blonde to be grieving about her eyesight, but the blonde just shrugged the disease off like it was nothing and continued her life as a eighth grader at John Quincy Adams.
In fact, that is where Maya was heading to right now. The short blonde sits on the subway, her hands adjusting the aviators covering her bright blue eyes. She wears a playful smirk on her face, looking around at all the people on the subway. Maya was extremely perceptive to detail.
She noticed the clean-shaven man who kept glancing at his watch who she guessed was late for an interview at a prestige business, the old woman who wore an I Heart NY shirt who Maya guessed was a tourist, and she noticed the lanky brunette girl, who was holding onto the pole next to Maya's seat, who kept smoothing out her dress. The blonde bet that the girl was extremely self-conscious and wanted to fit in with the crowd.
Maya leans back in her seat, lifting the aviators to rest on her scalp. She feels a pang of sadness as the darkness surrounding her vision becomes more noticeable. The blonde, too caught up in her own thoughts, didn't feel the subway jolt to a stop, sending the passengers standing up stumbling. Maya only came back to the real world after she felt a soft body slam into her small frame.
"Sorry, we seem to be having a malfunction. Please, wait while we fix the issue. Thank you for your patience."
The blonde grunts as the person groans in pain. Maya looks on her lap to see the brunette she had noticed before on the subway. The girl looks up, smashing into Maya's chin. The blonde groans in pain as the brunette's eyes widen in horror. The girl scrambles off Maya's lap, mumbling apologies.
"I am so sorry! I am such a klutz! It doesn't look that bad, I promise! I should go get you something to put on that. Except... we are stranded in a subway... Oh my God! I'm going to be late for school! My dad is going to-" the girl rambles.
Maya giggles before bursting into a hearty laugh, "It's fine. You really know how to talk, huh? It looks like we are going to be here awhile so it wouldn't be wise for me to make things awkward between us. My name's Maya Hart. You?"
The brunette smiles brightly, and Maya wishes she could see that smile more often than that anxious look of self-consciousness that had graced the girl's face earlier. The girl tucks a strand of hair behind her ear before sitting down next to the blonde.
"Riley Matthews," she says with the bright smile.
Maya turns to Riley, "So what brings you to the subway, Riley?"
"School. I go to John Quincy Adams so I have to take the subway to school everyday. Today I got to the station early so I'm not on my usual subway. I guess this proves that I knocked the natural balance of the world out of whack," Riley jokes.
Maya smiles, "I go to John Quincy Adams, too."
Riley raises an eyebrow, "Really? I haven't seen you around before, and I basically know everybody because my dad is a teacher there."
The blonde giggles, "You're Mr. Matthews's daughter? I'm in his class, and the reason you probably don't recognize me is because I don't have these on."
Maya flicks down her aviators, her world going darker again. She sees Riley gasp in recognition. The blonde giggles at the brunette's surprised expression.
"Wait, I know you. You're the rebel who sits in the back of class! You are so cool! You led the homework rebellion! I wish I was like you!" Riley rambles out.
Maya smiles tightly, "Thanks, but you really don't want to be like me, Riles."
"Of course I do! You are like the coolest person I know! I mean, you even wear sunglasses everywhere you go, including school!" the brunette gushes.
"That's because I'm going blind," Maya says quietly.
Riley looks at her, confused, before her face lights up in realization, "What? Oh... Oh my God! I am so inconsiderate! I am so sorry!"
"Please don't apologize... I really like having a normal conversation for once instead of the typical 'you are such a brave soul for just living your life' bull s*** I usually get from people."
Riley winces at the strong language. Maya mumbles an apology, but the brunette shrugs. She looks at the blonde, smiling.
"Why do you wear the sunglasses?" Riley asks.
Maya raises an eyebrow, "Uhm, Riley... They look kind of disfigured compared to other people's eyes. If you saw my eyes, they would make you uncomfortable..."
"What? No, that's ridiculous. I saw a glance of your eyes, they were pretty," Riley promises.
Maya shakes her head, "No, Riley. My eyes are disfigured. They just don't look right. I mean, at first glance, maybe, but... It's just never ended well whenever I let people see my eyes for more than a few seconds."
Riley boldly grabs Maya's hands, "I promise I won't care about your eyes. It matters what's in the inside, not the outside."
Maya takes a deep breath before nodding. Her hands shaking, Maya slowly grabs the arms of the aviators. She looks at Riley's reassuring smile before lifting the glasses up on her scalp. She closes her eyes before taking a deep breath and opening them to see Riley's chocolate brown eyes staring at her. The blonde feels another pang of grief when the darkness threatens to swallow her vision.
"It... Your eyes are beautiful, Maya. I promise," Riley whispers, wonder twinkling in her eyes.
Maya looks at Riley questioningly, "Really?"
Riley nods, looking into Maya's eyes. The blonde had bright blue eyes, her iris threatening to cover her pupil. Darker hues of blue surrounded the bright electric blue, making Maya's eyes almost seem like a masterpiece themselves.
Maya smiles softly, a tear trickling down her face, "Riley, I want you... I want you to be with me while I still have my vision. I- I want to be able to see the world with you... I want you to make the world beautiful for me. When I am blind... I want you to be my eyes. You see the world with no evil, only the good in it, and that's how I want to remember the world."
The brunette smiles, "Of course, Maya. I want to be there with you, too. I want to show you everything you can before your vision leaves you forever. When you are blind, I'll tell you all the beauty in the world so that you may envision it in your mind."
Maya gathers Riley in a hug, a sniffle leaving the usually tough blonde, "Thank you..."
Riley squeezes Maya tightly, "Of course, Maya..."
The blonde gives Riley a watery smile, "I think we are gonna be best friends, Riles..."
Riley grins, "I hope so, Maya, because I wouldn't want it any other way."
"Attention, passengers, we have fixed the malfunction, and we shall continue to the next stop. Thank you for waiting."
"Ready to take on the world, Maya?" Riley asks with a smile.
Maya grabs Riley's hand, "With you? I'm ready to take on the universe."
A/N: I know, I know! Not one of the requests! This has been stuck in my mind and stopping me from writing what you guys want so I just wrote it so I could actually focus on what you guys want. Sorry, but I should update soon! Thanks for reading! Leave a follow/favorite for more!
Also, if you have a suggestion for a chapter/one-shot, write it in the reviews!
Stay awesome! Thanks for the support! Bye!
~rsbaird :P
