Without a Sound
Disclaimer: Plot's mine…
Sorry! I know the wait has been long but I'm back on track now. Please review, even though I know some of you are kind of mad at me (.)
Chapter 23
Cloud and I were sitting in the waiting room when Sora's family arrived at the hospital.
When Roxas spotted me he ran over with his parents in tow.
"What happened? What's wrong with Sora?" Roxas asked with a worried look on his face.
"It would probably be better to hear all of this from the doctor. He's over by the front desk waiting for you." I said to Mr. and Mrs. Gainsborough.
They nodded in thanks and walked over to the front desk. Roxas stayed where I was.
"I want to hear what happened from you." Roxas said stubbornly.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "It seems that school was too much for him. He freaked out in P.E. and so I let him relax at my desk until your mom could pick him up. I was a little worried already because he was feverish. So when he got up to get some water, I kept my eye on the clock. When he didn't come back I knew something was up." I explained.
"Where was he?" Roxas asked.
"I found him passed out on the bathroom floor in a puddle of water. The doctor said that he had a minor case of shock that escalated after moving around. He said that the shock wouldn't allow him to stomach any water which made his fever worse, to the point where he passed out." I said.
Roxas nodded and looked over to Cloud. "Thank you… for helping my brother." He said.
"It's not a problem. But I definitely think it was a good choice to keep this quiet. The last thing Sora needed was another scene to draw attention." Cloud said looking at me.
"I just didn't want people to spread any rumors about it. Sora doesn't need anymore trouble." I said.
Roxas looked at me. "You know… to be honest, I thought you would be a terrible choice for my brother… but you're starting to grow on me." He said with a small smile.
I nodded and couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride. Gaining Roxas' approval seemed like something I would be working at for a very long time. So hearing that I had taken a step forward was a big accomplishment.
When Sora's parents came back from the front desk. Roxas turned to them. "Are they going to let us see him now?" Roxas asked.
His mother nodded. "They said he's most likely sleeping though."
"I just want to make sure he's okay." Roxas said.
"He's in room seventeen." Roxas nodded to his father and scurried down the hall towards Sora's room.
"You two can come as well if you would like. It's the least we can do for you after bringing him here." Sora's father said.
Cloud and I looked at each other and nodded before getting up and following them to Sora's room.
When we entered the room, Roxas was sitting at Sora's bedside as he slept.
His parents moved to the foot of the bed with concerned looks on their faces.
I stood at the doorway and Cloud sat in the chair by the window.
"Mom, Dad! He's waking up!" Roxas said quietly.
I looked over to the bed and watched as Sora opened his eyes.
He looked around before sighing as if to say I'm in here AGAIN?
I watched as Roxas signed something with a small smile.
Sora moved to lift his hands to sign but dropped them. They must of felt too heavy.
Roxas frowned but lit up when he remembered something. He pulled a notebook and pen from his jacket pocket and handed it to Sora.
Roxas and his dad maneuvered the bed to allow Sora to sit up.
Sora took hold of the pen and wrote.
"Sora says: Sorry for making you rush to the hospital. I guess I wasn't ready for school." Roxas read allowed.
"Sweetheart, you didn't know this would happen. It's not your fault." His mother said.
Sora wrote again.
"Sora says: What's wrong with me? Nothing is wrong with you bro. You just had a setback. All you need is a few days off and you'll be better in no time." Roxas answered.
Sora wrote.
"Sora says… Sora don't say that. You're doing just fine." Roxas said.
I was curious as to what Sora was writing on that notebook.
"Sora says: Can I be alone with Roxas for a while?" Roxas looked at all of us.
We all nodded and Sora's parents planted a kiss on his forehead before leaving the room.
"That doesn't sound so good Leon. I think he's getting tired." Cloud said quietly to me.
I frowned with a sigh but nodded. "I can't blame him either. He's been through enough shit…" I replied in a similar hushed voice.
"Look… I know you probably want to stay… but I think we should leave. We're probably already overstepping our boundaries as educators…" Cloud whispered.
It was true… as much as I wanted to stay to make sure Sora was okay, as his teacher, I didn't have the right to.
"Can we speak to you two?" I turned to see Sora's parents looking at Cloud and I.
We nodded and walked over to them.
"We just want to thank you again for taking Sora to the hospital. I wouldn't have imagined that this would happen at school." Mrs. Gainsborough said.
"I didn't think something like this would happen either. I knew he was under a lot of stress but I was definitely surprised when I found him." I said.
"Found him?" Mr. Gainsborough asked.
"He wrote that he was going to get some water but when he wasn't back when class ended, I went to look for him. I found him passed out in the bathroom. After that I called Cloud and we were off to the hospital." I explained.
"What about your classes?" Mrs. Gainsborough asked.
"I was finished with my classes when I found him. Cloud ended up using Mr. Fair as a sub, I believe." I said.
"Well that's good."
"We were about to head out. Was there anything else you wanted?" Cloud asked.
"I wanted to speak with Mr. Leonhart if that's okay." Sora's father looked at me.
I nodded and turned to Cloud. Cloud nodded before moving towards the exit. Mrs. Gainsborough walked back towards Sora's room.
"I can't help but notice that every time Sora is in trouble, you rescue him." Mr. Gainsborough said.
"I had made a promise to your wife that I would keep an eye on him. I couldn't help but find that Sora has been having a hard time at school. I figured it was only fair that he had someone on his side." I explained.
"I know this is going to sound preposterous… but I think your actions are causing a negative outcome." He said.
I looked puzzled. "I don't understand sir."
"To tell you the honest to god truth… my son is infatuated with you. I can just tell. He's not used to someone, other than his family, being so kind to him. He's misinterpreting your acts of kindness and fueling his own emotions. I'm telling you this because you have a right to know." He said.
I was surprised by Mr. Gainsborough's ability to read his son. But I was also concerned about where this conversation was going.
"Sir, are you asking me to stop being so kind to Sora?" I asked.
"Well yeah, you're giving him false hope and I don't think that's fair." He said.
I shook my head. "I'm sorry sir, but I don't think that's good enough of a reason to completely change my attitude towards your son." I said. I was actually disappointed by Mr. Gainsborough's words.
Mr. Gainsborough smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "I want you to know something. My son may not be able to speak or hear, but he's not stupid. If you're just fucking with his heart, he'll notice. And if you ever hurt my child, I will kill you." Mr. Gainsborough said with a deadly look in his eyes.
My eyes widened at what he had said. "Sir, are you implying wha-"
"Yes. I'm implying what you think I'm implying and I know. You just confirmed it for me. My wife probably knows too. She's sharper than a knife. I assume you want to speak with him before you leave?" he asked.
I guess… the cat's out of the bag…
"Yes." Was my simple answer.
"Well come on, you don't want to keep your colleague waiting for you." He said and ushered me down the hall.
Needless to say, I was very shocked.
I walked into Sora's room and Roxas and his mother looked up. I nodded to them and they smiled.
"There's no need to be cautious. I basically knew it all from the start!" Mrs. Gainsborough laughed.
"You don't find it too strange… or inappropriate?" I asked.
"Even if I thought it was, this is the first time he's taken a liking to anyone. And if you reciprocate his feelings, who am I to deny my son of them?" she said.
Sora blushed and huffed. I'm right here! You're embarrassing me!
I let out a small smile. "Thank you." I said.
They nodded before leaving the room.
When the door closed I walked over to Sora's bed and sat. "How are you feeling?" I asked.
Sora wrote:
I feel really heavy. I can barely lift my arms.
I sighed. "I'm glad you're okay."
Sora looked at me closely before frowning. He wrote:
I'm sorry for causing trouble…
I frowned at Sora. "Why?"
He looked at me with a puzzled face.
"Why do you think that way? Sora you're not a burden I have to carry or a—a raincloud hovering over my head. You're my boyfriend Sora! If I thought you were trouble, I would have never agreed to this." I sighed. "Just… stop worrying about whether or not you're causing problems. I'm sure all of us, me and your family, would rather you tell us when you're not okay and have us worry than for you to hide it and us not notice." I said.
Sora nodded and looked away from me.
"Did they tell you when you can go home?" I asked.
Sora wrote slowly:
Tomorrow morning.
"Would you like me to come visit you after school?" I asked.
Sora looked at me in surprise:
At my house?
"Well yeah, where else would you be?" I said.
Sora shook his head.
"No?"
Sora nodded.
"Why not?" Genuinely curious as to why someone who generally enjoys my company does not want me to visit him.
Sora just shook his head again.
I smirked. "Are you embarrassed?"
Sora blushed:
No one's ever been to my house before, at least not for the soul purpose of visiting me… maybe Roxas, but never me…
"So I can't come and see you?" I asked.
Sora gave me a guilty look:
It's not that I don't want you to visit me… but… my house is nothing like your house…
I chuckled. "So you are embarrassed… don't even worry about that Sora. One day, I'll take to my friend Tifa's house and you'll realize that nothing is more embarrassing than her place."
Why is that?
"She is the biggest slob on the face of the planet. I have to go every month to her house to clean because if I don't I'll have to worry about her health living in that pigsty! And even worse is the fact that she can't cook… she such a useless woman…" I rambled without realizing.
Sora's shoulders shook with laughter.
You? Cleaning? How housewife-like of you!
I almost flushed at the fact that I just admitted that bit of information. "That's not the point Sora! The point is, it's physically and theoretically impossible for me to judge you by the way your house looks or how your family may acts." I said and smiled at his mirthful expression.
Fine… but my house is really crazy…
"Sora, you don't even know the definition of crazy. You won't know until I show you Tifa's house. And besides, I know you Sora, why would I change my opinion of you just because your house is a little strange?" I asked.
Sora pouted:
You wouldn't but-
I stopped his hand from writing and gave him a kiss. "I'm visiting you for my own sanity… if I don't check on you, I'll worry about you all night." I confessed.
Sora smiled:
Because you like me?
"Yes, Sora." I said exasperatedly.
Sora wrote:
You sure?
I sighed. "Do you need assurance, proof? Is that what you're looking for?" I asked.
He nodded.
I rolled my eyes before tilting his chin upwards and placing a gentle kiss on his lips. I let that settle before initiating more. Sora opened his mouth and I seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
We didn't hear the door open.
When we pulled away for air I knocked my forehead with his. "Read my lips, Sora. I like you… I like you A LOT! So DON'T FORGET IT!" I said and then looked him dead in the eyes. "Got it?"
He nodded.
"Good." I said before kissing his forehead. "What happened to the confidence you had this morning?" I asked.
Sora managed to sit up a little straighter and lift his head up with a brilliant smile on his face. It's here.
I smiled. "There we go! That's the spirit!" I chuckled before turning around.
Sora's family was in the doorway with smiles on their faces.
"How does Sora get his first passionate kiss before I do?" Roxas said.
My eyes widened before I scratched the back of my head. "You saw that huh?" I said sheepishly.
They nodded.
I turned back to see Sora flush red and lift the covers of the bed over his face to hide his embarrassment.
"I have to go now." I said and waved to Sora who was now peeking from behind the covers.
Sora smiled and nodded. I bid farewell to the rest of his family before leaving the hospital.
"Geez, took you long enough! What did they want to speak to you about anyway?" Cloud asked.
"They know about Sora and I." I said.
"WHAT?" Cloud asked incredulously.
"They're sharp… that whole family is sharp." I said.
"Well, what are you going to do?" Cloud asked.
"They were okay with it. His father said he would kill me if I hurt Sora. So I figure I'll be just fine." I said with a smile.
Cloud smirked. "You're one lucky son of a bitch."
"Yeah… I guess so."
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