The music thudded, lights flashing in an almost nauseous pattern as Ben moved through the throngs of people in the crowded club. Before his accident, this never would have been his scene, but now that he couldn't hear music anymore – well, he could feel it by coming here. With the music and the sound, he didn't have to worry about talking to anyone, which was pleasant after days spent worrying about how he could communicate effectively with the world around him.

Reaching the bar, Ben waited for one of the bartenders to come over. Refusing to shout his drink order, he simply typed a message onto his phone to show the twenty something. Double rum and coke. The man nodded his understanding before returning with his drink a few moments later. Thank you, Ben mouthed to the man before he turned and leaned back against the bar, his eyes surveying the crowd as he enjoyed his drink. The music pounded in his chest, and if Ben closed his eyes, he could imagine how it sounded.

….

The club scene was not one Rey was used to, and as she weaved her way through the throngs of undulating, drunken bodies, she wanted to turn around and go back home. Finn and Rose assured her that she needed to have some fun, so she had reluctantly agreed to go with them.

She had been up since seven that morning, and had spent her work day shelving books, all the while secretly admiring her new boss as he sat in his office. Maz had told her that he was quiet, and that all he expected from his employees was showing up to work on time and doing their jobs. She had caught him looking at her several times during the day, and as he caught her eyes a small smile had come to his lips.

He was glorious, and Rey wanted to get to know him even more now.

Making her way to the bar, Rey waved at the bartender to get his attention, ordering her favorite drink and trying to ignore the drunken college student who was leering at her and trying to catch her eye. As she waited for her drink, Rey swept her eyes across the club, wondering where Finn and Rose were amongst the throngs of people. Her eyes widened as she recognized a broad set of shoulders and a shock of soft, wavy raven hair. She had spent so much time looking at Ben Solo from afar that she could pick him out in a crowd easily.

The bartender came back with her drink, and Rey slid a ten across the bar to him before making her way down the bar, coming to a stop behind Ben. Taking a deep breath and plastering what she hoped would pass for a genuine smile on her lips, Rey reached out, tapping her boss on the shoulder with one finger.

….

If there was one thing Ben hated, it was having someone suddenly touch him without him being aware of their presence. Not only did it set off his PTSD from his military days, but being deaf meant he couldn't hear people's footsteps anymore. It was a shock to his system, and as he jumped, heart racing, he stumbled slightly, his large frame hitting a much smaller – a much softer – person as he reached out to grab the bar to steady himself.

Brown eyes met Rey's hazel orbs, Ben's mouth opening in shock as he realized who he had stumbled into. Rey had been on his mind almost constantly, and the last place he ever imagined seeing her was at a club frequented by mostly obnoxious, drunk college students.

Throwing up a hand in greeting and trying to ignore her now throbbing foot from where Ben had stepped on it, Rey did her best to keep the smile in place as she leaned towards Ben, yelling over the music so he could hear her. "Hi! I honestly didn't expect to see you at a place like this!"

Ben stared at Rey intently, wondering if Maz had said anything to Rey about his impairment. As Rey leaned in to talk to him, Ben could tell from her actions that the older woman had kept this information from their new employee. Without thinking about it, his heart still racing and the blood pounding in his head, Ben threw up his hands, signing furiously at Rey.

What the hell are you doing, sneaking up on me like that? Jesus!

Rey just stared at Ben as his hands flew up, fingers and hands moving so quickly that she had no idea what he was doing at first, her eyes widening as she realized he was using sign language – and that he wasn't happy with her currently.

Oh.

Suddenly, everything fell into place, and Rey's face colored with embarrassment as she realized that her seriously hot, seemingly sweet new boss that she had been crushing on for weeks was deaf.

Thanks for telling me that, Maz… Rey thought to herself, wondering why the old woman hadn't divulged something so important to her.

…

Fuck! Ben thought to himself as he brought his hands back to his sides. He was so used to signing to everyone he knew, it had become habit to him. It was obvious from Rey's expression that Maz hadn't told her, and as the reality of it dawned on her face, Ben wanted to be anywhere else but there.

Pushing himself off the bar, Ben turned, his face flush with embarrassment as he started to weave his way towards the exit of the club. He could feel his anxiety mounting with every step he took, his breath hitching in his throat as he finally found his way out an exit – an alley to the side of the club providing him the needed space he needed to breathe.

Reaching out, Ben hit the side of the brick building hard, barely feeling the skin tearing and scraping off the side of his hand. Over and over he pounded the building, letting all the frustration and rage of his current situation out – the bricks unyielding and non-judgmental under his hands.

The bricks would never judge him for being deaf, for being unable to communicate normally with the one person he desperately wanted to get to know. What was Rey thinking now? Ben could only imagine she was horrified to find that the man she had been silently flirting with for months now was a freak. He knew he was a freak, he felt it in the core of his very being. He was alone for a reason – he would always be alone. That would be his cross to bear. With one last thrust of his fist into the bricks, Ben sank to the garbage riddled concrete of the alley, his large hands cradling his head as he let a sob wrack his body.

He had never felt so alone in his life.

….

Rey watched as Ben turned, his tall frame unmistakable as he weaved his way through the crowd inside the club. Biting her bottom lip as she thought, Rey downed the contents of her glass for courage before following the same path as Ben through the crowd, her hazel eyes finally making out the exit sign she felt sure Ben had seen as well.

Did she see him any differently know that she knew – no – suspected he was deaf? No. Rey still saw him as the tall, gorgeous man that she had made excuse after excuse to see almost every day of the week for months. She didn't care if he could hear her or not – in fact, Finn and Rose told her to shut up so often, it was probably a blessing Ben wouldn't be able to hear her voice.

He was amazing, and Rey wanted to get to know him.

It was simple, and it was beautiful.

Rey found Ben crumbled on the cold, dirty concrete in the alley, sobbing like his heart had been broken. "Shhh, sweetheart, shhh," Rey said as she approached, not caring that he couldn't hear her. Something told her that he needed her right now – that he needed her touch to help him over whatever mental hurdle he was attempting to jump over.

Kneeling beside him, Rey reached out, her hand resting on his arm as she watched him, his beautiful face streaked with rivers of tears. She knew what it felt like every time she locked gazes with those warm, expressive brown eyes of his – she felt like he was looking into her soul.

"Ben," Rey said, his name flowing off her lips sweetly. She tested out the sound of it again, her hand rubbing his arm softly as he continued to sob, his sinfully beautiful hair covering his anguish. "Ben Solo… I don't care. I don't care that you can't hear me. I just want to spend time with you."

Rey continued to rub his arm with one hand, her other hand moving up to trace the scar on his face, her fingers ghosting over the pink, jagged skin. It was wet from his tears, and Rey was positive that instead of distracting from his classic good looks, it only added to them. She longed desperately to ply his skin with kisses, to kiss away whatever agony it was he felt inside. He was incredible, and Rey planned on telling him so, as soon as he was well enough to hear it.

….

Suddenly, Ben could breathe again, the tears slowing as he opened his eyes, swiping his torn hands across them to clear his vision. The briefest flash of white caught his vision, and his eyes swept up to find Rey kneeling beside him, one of her hands caressing his scar, the other his arm. His breath hitching in his throat, Ben sniffled once more, his hands coming up to sign 'Thank you', his lips also mouthing the words at the same time.

Instead of disgust and revulsion in her gaze, Ben saw something much more welcoming. Something that made his heart stutter in his chest. He saw longing and, somehow, warmth and understanding.

….

For the first time, Rey noticed the injuries to his hands. Her eyes widened slightly as she grabbed them both, surveying the damage critically before looking at Ben, her lips meeting each palm softly as if her lips could be a healing salve for his wounds. Looking into his eyes, Rey said, "Come on, let's go get some coffee and talk. My treat."

Rey stood, offering one of her hands to Ben. There were so many pages in the book of Ben Solo, and Rey wanted to read each and every word, turning each page with wonder at everything she saw within. His hand was huge as he reached up, his long fingers tangling with hers briefly as he pulled himself off the ground, swiping at his face with his free hand to clear away the last of his tears.

….

Ben swallowed hard as Rey's lips met his palms, his heart stuttering in his chest before remembering to beat again a moment later. He wasn't used to having anyone touch him – but Rey's touch was soothing to his soul. As she looked at him, Ben nodded at her before standing, her small hand warm against his. After wiping away the last of his tears, Ben looked over at Rey, expecting her to pull her hand away from his. Instead, she smiled up at him, lacing her fingers through his and tugging gently at his arm as she pulled him down the alley and onto the sidewalk.

Ben kept his eyes on Rey so he didn't miss anything she might say, but instead of talking, she just looked at him every few seconds, her hazel eyes burning with warmth and admiration. Finally, she looked at him, her words a mad rush as they left her lips.

"I know, I mean, I am guessing you are really good at reading lips, right? You'll let me know if I am talking too fast? I'm sorry, this is new to me, Ben. I want to make sure we can communicate well."A slight tilt upwards of the corners of Ben's mouth led Rey to believe that she wasn't speaking to fast, and she squeezed his hand gently as the warm glow of the coffee shop sign came into view.

Ben gestured to her with his free hand, his words again almost too soft to be heard over the hum of the traffic as he spoke, "Your phone?" Rey graced him with one of her glorious smiles, reaching into one of her pockets and withdrawing the device, handing it to him and just watching as he input his number into her contacts, his eyes meeting hers as he handed it back to her with a smile.

Stopping outside the glass door of the coffee shop, Ben kept his hand twined with hers as he opened the door, only letting go to sweep his hand out in a grand gesture of chivalry, indicating that Rey should step inside ahead of him. He could only guess a giggle left her perfect lips as a blush came to her cheeks before she stepped inside, looking back to watch as he followed her.

At this particular moment, Ben thought to himself, he may just follow her anywhere.