Without a Sound

Disclaimer: Plot is mine. Don't steal it.

So the last chapter was not the end… don't get the wrong idea. I did however need to organize what happens next… here's the next chapter please review my loves!

Chapter 24

If there was one thing I hated most about hospitals… it was the nights you had to spend alone in a cold bed.

If you've never spent a night in a hospital, you're lucky.

It's during these times that I feel loneliest.

And due to my condition… this wasn't the worst of it.

I laid quietly in my bad and watched as a nurse entered the room silently for the night checkup.

'So I was walking down the hospital hallway doing my rounds and what do I see? The most handsome man I've seen in a long time. You don't see pretty men in the hospital a lot. Those come few and very far between. And I'm thinking… maybe this is my chance right?' the nurse seemed to start.

She must not know that I read lips… in fact, I don't even think she knew I was awake.

'But then I got to thinking… there's no way a handsome bachelor would visit a hospital! He must have a wife or a girlfriend that got sick. Ohhh, the life of a single woman is so hard…' she continued.

I could jut ignore her and choose not to watch her lips move… but it was hard to go to sleep when someone was moving about your sleeping place.

And the window just conveniently had just enough moonlight to see her face clearly.

I watched silently as her smooth facial features filled with the mirth of senseless prattle became jagged and plagued with malicious intent.

'But my blissful ignorance was stripped away when I heard a rumor spreading around the hospital. This beautiful man, in reality, didn't have a beautiful wife in the hospital; he was visiting his beloved boyfriend! HAHA! Can you believe it! And then I hear that not only does he have a boyfriend, the boyfriend was in fact deaf and mute! Are you kidding me!' She seemed to cackle quietly.

To tell the truth… this sort of thing happened every time I spent the night in the hospital. I always seemed to get a nasty nurse who thought is was a chore to check my pulse and fluids. It only takes five minutes, but they always feel the need to sit and vent all of their evils upon me. All because they thought I wouldn't understand the language they speak. I'm neither foreign nor stupid… I hated situations like these.

'Why would someone so beautiful choose a retard boy over a beautiful woman? It makes no sense! You can't possibly be of any sort romantic value to that man! He probably just sees you as a plaything. Maybe even a sex doll. It sucks, all the perfect ones have weird fetishes. When he gets bored he'll probably just leave you in the dirt. Maybe then I can seek him out and make my move. Oh WOW! That sounded a little creepy didn't it!' she seemed to giggle.

I wanted to roll my eyes. This woman was ridiculous. And if it were any other time… I would have been seriously hurt by her words but I always get my answers from the source.

When we pulled away for air he knocked his forehead with mine. "Read my lips, Sora. I like you… I like you A LOT! So DON'T FORGET IT!" he said and then looked me dead in the eyes. "Got it?"

She had already finished checking my vitals and yet she still wanted to sit here and talk shit about me right to my face. It was annoying.

Confidence was self-assurance.

Confidence was standing up for yourself.

Confidence was inner strength.

Confidence was knowing in your heart that you were special to someone out there.

When the nurse opened her mouth to start another rant I took it upon myself to sit up and point to the door.

She seemed to gasp as if it was a shock that I could relay a message to her.

When she wouldn't leave I turned and took my notebook and pen.

I wrote in big bold letters:

THOSE WHO NEED TO SAY FOUL THINGS ARE FOUL THINGS THEMSELVES. JEALOUSY SURE IS A BITCH, HUH? NOW PLEASE LEAVE!

She read what I had to say and covered her mouth in surprise. I rolled my eyes at her and pointed to the door. Sure I knew I was being mean myself but I was tired and this woman wouldn't understand the message if I didn't lay it on her thick.

The nurse huffed and left the room. I smiled. Maybe I really was getting better. I might have a long way to go but… this was the first time since the accident that I didn't feel afraid of letting others know where I stand.

I fell asleep with warmer thoughts in mind.

-Without a Sound-

My family was already in my hospital room when I woke.

'Sora, you ready to go home?' Roxas signed.

I nodded frantically and signed that I needed to clean the house.

'What? Why?' Roxas signed in confusion.

I signed that Leon was coming to visit me after school was over.

My dad smirked and my mom seemed to giggle.

'What?' I signed.

'So you call him Leon, I see.' My dad grinned.

I blushed and covered my face. DAD!

'What's wrong with our house? It's not bad!' Roxas seemed to say.

'Are you kidding me? My room is a mess, not to mention your gay porn stash is still blatantly in the hallway!' I signed frantically.

My parents looked to Roxas with frowns on their faces.

Roxas seemed to inch away with a sheepish 'ehehe.'

'HEY! SORA! I TOLD YOU THAT IN CONFIDENCE!' I watched Roxas yell.

My dad's torso rose in a sigh. 'Well… they do always say the best hiding place is right in front of you…'

'Don't encourage that!' Mom seemed to screech exasperatedly.

My dad put an arm around my mom's shoulders. 'Boys will be boys!'

'Not MY boys!" I would have giggled at this scene if I had the ability.

Instead, my shoulders shook and my mouth formed a mirthful smile.

I jolted in surprise when my mother's arms wrapped around me. 'It's been a while since I've seen you laugh. I say we get you out of here so Pluto can see your smiling face too.' I watched my mother say.

I nodded and moved to get off the bed. Then I touched my stomach when I felt a rumbling sensation.

'Well someone's hungry!' Roxas laughed.

I flashed a goofy grin before standing. I was a little wobbly but after a few small steps, I was finally back on track.

It wasn't long before I was checked out of the hospital and on my way home.

-Without a Sound-

Pluto immediately started to wiggle with excitement when I entered the house.

I kneeled down and patted his head. He licked my face and I pushed his cold snout away from my face.

I gave him a hug. I missed you buddy!

I watched as Roxas whizzed down the hallway to snatch a large box out of the hallway and lock it in his room.

I snorted.

I stood and looked around to see which room I should start on first.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see my dad looking down at me.

'What exactly do you need to change about this house, son?' my dad asked.

I sighed before I began. 'I know you're an artist dad… but having paintings of naked people all around the house is a little creepy… especially the one of me and Roxas… that's embarrassing. It's the same thing as breaking out the nude baby pictures. So yeah, those need to be moved into your studio… Second… mom's yoga and pilates equipment need to go back in the closet. People don't leave large exercise balls and pull ropes out for others to see. And knowing you guys, you'll be like Oh! Go ahead and help yourself to the fridge! And he'll think those weird weight loss drinks are like lemonade or something! And those things taste terrible.' I signed quickly.

'I always thought that was your favorite painting of mine…' my dad said looking a little sad.

I frowned. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!

I took my dad's hands and pulled him on the couch with me. 'I love your paintings dad…' I signed.

'Then why do you need to hide them?' he asked.

I looked to my mother who walked into the room. She had a smile on her face. 'I had to put away my exercise stuff… that would have embarrassing!' she giggled before she noticed the dejected look on her husband face.

'What's going on here?' she asked.

'Well I…' I started to sign. 'I just told him that having all these nude paintings around the house would be weird and that maybe we should keep them in his studio while Leon is here.'

My mother seemed a little shocked.

I signed that I didn't mean to hurt his feelings and that I really did love his paintings.

'Sweetheart… I think you're going a little too far with this.' My mother said. I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't particularly happy with me.

I looked to my hands feeling guilty. Though I was usually on the receiving end of hurtful words, it didn't make me incapable of relaying hurtful words to others.

I looked back up to my mother. She didn't speak until she knew she had my attention.

'You seem to have forgotten the fact than Mr. Leonhart is a grown man. He's grown out of the superficiality that you teenagers seem to have these days. I'm not going to lie to you and say that adults don't judge others through appearances, but he's a good man and I don't believe that his attraction to you is so frivolous that it would bend and break after being subjected to a less than normal house. You should have more faith in your boyfriend… and more pride in your father's work.' She said her mouth forming words solidly.

I nodded and lowered my head in shame. I felt terrible. I really did like my father's artwork and I wasn't ashamed of them…

Then why did I ask my dad to put them away?

I clutched my hands and bit my lip. I looked over to my father… I only wished that I could really tell him how much I regretted telling him what I did.

My dad reached over and gently ruffled my hair. 'Do you really want me to put away my paintings son? Tell me honestly. I'll put them in my studio if you really want me to.' He said.

I shook my head and gave my dad a hug. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I felt my dad chuckle and he pulled away so that I could see his face. 'Still hungry?' he asked.

I smiled and nodded frantically.

We walked into the kitchen and I remembered something.

'Doesn't Roxas have school?' I asked.

Dad rolled his eyes and Mom shook her head.

She signed that he had a fit saying that it wasn't fair that you got to skip school and he didn't.

I snorted and my shoulders shook. There were some days when I felt like I could never understand Roxas.

'To be honest… I think he wanted to be with you for emotional support. He can be pretty transparent if you know where to look.' Dad said and pulled out fruits and veggies.

I frowned when he placed them in front of me with a peeler. 'Enjoy' he signed.

I gave him a puzzled look.

'The doctor sad you might not be able to stomach anything else…' my mother signed.

I signed that I really wanted a hamburger.

They laughed and ruffled my hair before leaving.

After a couple minutes of peeling fruits and carrots before eating them I noticed a few spikes of blonde hair peeking from the doorway.

I clapped my hands as if to say: I SEE YOU!

Roxas peeked from around the corner to see if the coast was clear before entering. 'Oh man! I thought my stash was doomed!'

I shook my head at him. 'Even if they did take it from you, you'd find a way to get it back somehow… you're sneaky like that.' I signed.

Roxas seemed to laugh. 'That is true.' He said.

After an apple, two carrots, and a banana I felt Pluto tug lightly on my pant leg. I figured he wanted to play outside. I walked upstairs and moved to my drawers. I figured I could keep the sweatpants on, but it was sunny outside and a baggy shirt would look kind of funny.

I frowned… worrying about one's appearance was kinda hard. I mean… how am I supposed to know what's appropriate and what not?

I grabbed a shirt out of the giant bag of clothes my mother gave to me. It was as if she was anticipating the day I would stop wearing baggy clothes.

I put it on and when I looked at what it said on the front, my mouth opened as if laughter would come flowing out of it.

There was a donut and a donut hole running towards each other and the above it, it said, 'You complete me!'

Needless to say… to me… it was highly amusing.

I figured since I was just hanging out on my lawn, I wouldn't really have to wear any shoes either. So once I was finished I walked downstairs and grabbed a tennis ball on the way out.

Pluto ran ahead of me, tail wagging in anticipation.

I walked out of the house and sat in the soft green grass. I really liked our lawn… it always seem to maintain its gentle green color no matter what time of the year.

I waved the ball around it before throwing it to the other side of the lawn. I watched with a smile on my face as Pluto ran after the ball. His large furry ears flopping as he ran.

Pluto brought the ball back and opened my hand as if to say, give it to me so I can throw it again.

Pluto dropped the ball into my hand and I patted his head before throwing the ball again.

Pluto moved to run after it but ended up tripping over his own paws.

I laughed silently as he got back on his feet and ran after the ball. He picked it up and started to run back with it but then stopped.

I looked at him and I realized he was already bored with that toy. I smiled. Pluto must have split personality or something. His attention span was so short when we play together. But whenever we're going for a walk and he needs to be my ears, he's always alert and ready escort me elsewhere if he senses danger.

He was like super dog. He may seem like a regular puppy but in reality, once he had a leash on, he activated his super powers.

I giggled inwardly at my own thoughts before walking back inside to get another toy.

This time it was a rope.

Tug of war was so on!

I ran back outside and waved the toy around. Pluto immediately got the idea and grabbed the other end of it.

I sat on the ground and pulled but Pluto dug his paws in the ground and tugged. I smiled when I felt vibrations through the rope I was pulling.

Pluto was growling, probably telling me that he would win this game.

On Pluto's hard tug I let go of the rope and watched him stumble backwards. He let go of the rope and I watched him bark at me.

You're not supposed to let go of it! Is what he seemed to be telling me.

I grabbed his little body and pulled him into a hug. Pluto licked my face and I scratched behind his ears.

When I noticed a black SUV pull up in front of my house I had a puzzled look on my face.

But I smiled when I saw who was getting out of the SUV.

'SOOOOORRAAAAAA!' Zell seemed to yell as he ran towards me.

I waved and watched as Seifer, Rude, Raijin, and someone I didn't know come out of the SUV.

I asked in sign language why they were here.

'Guys! He just asked us why he was here!' Zell translated.

'We obviously came here to see if you were okay! Stupid Chicken Wuss!' Seifer seemed to yell.

I shook my head. 'You should be in school.' I signed.

'SENIOR PRIVILEGES! Seniors are allowed to leave campus during lunch. You should know this dude!' Zell said. He seemed really happy today.

I nodded in understanding. I signed that I was grateful to have them come and I kind of pulled Zell aside to ask who the long haired stranger was.

Zell laughed. 'That's our captian! Tseng! He was out of town of some sort of cultural pilgrimage…' Zell's mouth articulated.

My eyes widened and I turned to Tseng and bowed a little.

'C'mon Chicken Wuss! He's not royalty! You don't have to pay homage to him!' Seifer seemed to say.

I blushed and stood up straight.

'Well it's quite refreshing to get respect from someone.' I managed to catch the emphasis on the word someone.

Zell scratched the back of his head sheepishly and grinned. 'You know we love you Captain!' Zell saluted Tseng as if to make up for his lack of manners towards his captain.

I smiled but I had to ask what a 'cultural pilgrimage' was.

'Oh! Tseng was out of town because according to his culture he and his family are obligated to make some yearly pilgrimage to his mother-country as he so eloquently put it.' Zell explained.

I nodded in understanding before turning to Tseng and signing something.

'Sora says thank you for visiting me even though you didn't know who he was.' Zell translated.

Tseng nodded. 'To be honest, I needed to see the guy who seemed to achieve the friendship of my entire team.'

I nodded in understanding again.

'Sweet ride.' Raijin added.

I gave him a puzzled look.

'We needed to bring Tseng along for his sweet ride.' Rude pieced together.

I smiled. 'It is really nice.' I signed and mouthed.

'Your dog is really cute. And I mean that in the manliest way possible.' Seifer's mouth formed

I watched as Zell and Seifer kneeled to pet Pluto.

I smiled and turned when I saw my front door open in the corner of my eye.

My parents and Roxas came out of the house, probably to see what the ruckus was.

The team looked up to see my family approaching.

I introduced them in sign language. Roxas translated for those who couldn't understand.

It was maybe about twenty more minutes of conversing before the basketball team piled back into the nice, black SUV and made their way back to school.

When I couldn't see them anymore, I yawned and walked back into the house. I was really tired and I needed a nap.

I hoped that when I woke, Leon would be on his way here.

A/N: Review! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!