Chapter 2: You're watching
It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. Seto didn't mind one bit that Joey wanted to eat lunch in the park. Children were flying kites near by. An elderly couple was walking a dog and a younger couple were walking a baby in a stroller. Joey unwrapped their deli sandwiches and began to eat. Seto watched him from the corner of his eye. How on earth did you go about a proposal? Especially when you'd barely begun to experience love?
He cleared his throat, but Joey didn't even glance at him. Seto rolled his eyes and tapped his fingers in frustration. Why did he always forget Joey was deaf? No matter how much he signed, he could never quite grasp the fact that Joey could not hear him. For the time being anyway...
He tapped him on the shoulder and when Joey had his semi-full attention signed, It's a beautiful day
Joey nodded and shoved the remainder of his sandwich into his mouth so his hands could be free to communicate.
It is pretty. It was raining all of last week. Tea even believed the world might flood. She's silly sometimes.
Seto nodded. Not that he wasn't listening, but Tea was not what he particulary wanted to talk about. He wanted to talk about Joey and him. Their relationship. Their future. Their...their options on communication. He'd been studying a lot on the cochlear implant, a device that could give Joey his hearing back. Doctors told him Joey could regain at least a fraction of his hearing back.
You know, I've heard about this thing called a, Seto began to finger-spell, c-o-c-h-l-e-a-r i-m-p-l-a-n-t. Have you ever heard of it?
Joey waved his hand in a so-so manner. He often read about things like that on the internet, but he considered them miracles...and he didn't believe in miracles. Seto shifted his weight to one side so he could be even closer to Joey. So close the blonde could feel his breath. He shivered slightly at the feel of it.
Joey, I think we should consider the possibilities of..., he hesitated, hearing. You know? The device is usually a success. I wanted to show you some brochures on it and-
The blonde shook his head. He crinkled the empty trash and placed it beside them. He smiled brightly at Seto and took his hands in his, staring into his eyes. Next, he slowly set them on the ground and raised his own to sign. He signed slowly, trying to let his words sink into Seto's mind.
I've been deaf for two years, he signed staring dead into his boyfriend's crystal blue eyes, and whether anybody believes it or not, I've changed. I really have, Seto. I've learned to listen with my eyes. I've grown attached to certain things that would have never interested me before. I've, I've...
He drummed his fingers together against his crossed knees, trying to find the right words.
Grown, he finally signed, and I'm not exactly who I used to be. Deafness didn't destroy me, Seto,
He leaned his forehead against his, and their lips met briefly. When he pulled away, he signed, it made me a better listener. A better idealist. A better person. I know that I can make it through almost anything.
Seto became bitter. He didn't want Joey to want to be deaf. He wanted him to jump for joy and shout, "I'll be able to hear!"
But can you talk? He spat through hands.
"Dog, Boy, house, car, food,"Joey's speech was oddly quiet and slurred, but he did speak.
Seto crossed his arms. Maybe proposing wouldn't be such a good idea afterall. Maybe Joey wasn't such a good idea afterall. Joey nuzzled against him like a lovesick puppy and fondled Seto's hand in his own. It was odd to know that he might as well had given his heart to Joey. Afterall, in a way, Joey's hands were his heart. His mouth. His voice. Seto squeezed his hand lightly and brushed his fingers over Joey's.
I love you, Joey signed with his free hand.
Ditto, Seto signed back.
They laughed a little and then kissed. Long and hard, they kissed in broad daylight right under a shady oak tree in the park. Tongues tangled. Hands unable to sign. It was heaven to Seto. He decided it was time.
When they pulled away, breathing heavily, the CEO took Joey's hand and turned it over. Joey looked questioningly at him. His boyfriend retrieved something smal and shiny from his pocket and slipped it onto to Joey's third finger. He let go long enough to sign, Will you marry me?
It wasn't as romantic in sign language. In sign, he had to sign, "You want marry me?"
But he didn't care when he saw Joey's eyes light up and his fist pump up and down, the sign for "yes".
He kissed Seto, knocking him down in the process, and whispered in his ear, in his slightly unearthly tone, "I love you."
To Be Continued...
To the readers:
BarbedWire23: Thank you so much! I had to get off my lazy butt for once and do this!
Bakuraluver4ever: Yah, I really suck when it comes to description in a signing story. Anywho, what's wrong with Tea? If you don't like her now wait till you-oops! Can't give anything away! signs, secret!
Koalared: I'm so glad you're happy!
MladyAngel: Is this enough SetoxJoey for ya? Who are we kidding? You can never have enough!
Reena: Go back and read, "Make you Speak". Seto knows Joey's deaf. He just doesn't like to remember. The first story explains everything