*Just a very quick note for those wondering: this does not exist in the Shattered Peace universe. I myself have been sick with COVID and have been feeling very unmotivated to write for that world. Which is one of the reasons why I wrote this. The other is just cause I had the idea. Currently, it's just this one scene but maybe this might turn into something more? But we'll see. Peace and love, and enjoy.*

Mike pulled his knees to his chest as he let the overwhelming silence consume him. He was done with everything by this point, done with the world. He was quickly pulled out of his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Micky sitting beside him. He smiled and waved at Mike, who rolled his eyes.

"What do you want?"

Micky smiled and didn't speak. Mike frowned at him, becoming annoyed.

"You can speak, you know. I won't get mad if you do."

He nodded.

"I know. I don't want to," Micky said slowly, enunciating each word more than he normally would, hoping Mike would be able to make it out. Mike clearly did because he scowled at him for overdoing it, but didn't respond. Micky sighed and stood up, now looking around the bedroom.

"What're you looking for, Mick?" Mike asked, trying to contain his frustration. He wasn't very good at it.

Micky turned around and made sure he had Mike's attention before he responded.

"P-A-P-E-R." He signed each letter carefully, mouthing out the word as he did. Mike frowned and sighed, going over to the nightstand.

"Here," he pulled out his song notebook from one of the drawers and handed it over.

Micky smiled and said something that looked like "thank you" before taking a pencil and turning to an empty page. He scribbled a note with a big grin as Mike sat back down in the corner. After a moment, Micky shoved the book back into Mike's face.

"The world is changing every day, mostly for the better. One of these days, I hope we can live in a world where chickens can freely cross the road without people questioning their motives."

"Thank you," Mike laughed, not expecting that at all. He reread it several times before he handed the book back. Micky smiled proudly, writing another note. He sat down and tapped Mike's shoulder to get his attention. When he had it, Micky turned the book to face him so he could read the note.

"I'm glad you liked the joke. But seriously, are you okay?"

Mike sighed and shook his head, turning away. Micky wrote again and placed the book in front of Mike's eyes on the ground.

"What's wrong?" The note read.

"Everything," Mike said heavily, closing his eyes.

Micky tapped his shoulder again so he'd open his eyes. Micky was now sitting in front of him.

"W-H-Y?" He spelled out, mouthing the word again.

Mike sighed.

"You know there's an easier way to say it than to just spell it out every time."

Micky nodded and took the notebook again, writing in it, and handing it back over.

"I'm sorry. I still don't know much sign language. I only really know the alphabet and the very basics. But we're all learning. Peter's much better at it than me and Davy, though."

"I haven't seen Davy sign yet." Mike looked up from the book.

Micky nodded and wrote another note in it.

"He doesn't want to because he's worried that he'll mess up and say something wrong or inappropriate."

Mike let out a laugh and nodded slightly.

"If it makes y'all feel any better, I barely know any myself. So I wouldn't know if he said something wrong."

Micky reached his hand out to grab the notebook again.

"Oh, sorry," Mike said, giving it back to him. Micky smiled and said something that Mike couldn't hear. He could understand one word though which looked like "fine."

Micky pushed the book back in front of Mike, and he read the note slowly.

"Back to the original question though, what's wrong?"

"I'm deaf, Micky. That's what's wrong."

Micky frowned and wrote another note. Mike turned to face him, but Micky held up his finger to say he wasn't done writing. Mike sighed and waited, and Micky smiled sadly as he handed the book back to him.

"I know you are and I'm sorry that you're so upset about it. If you get your hearing back, that's great and we'd all be really happy if you do. But if you don't, it'll still be okay. I told you we're all learning sign language for you."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to." Mike sighed and looked down. Micky waved in front of his face to get him to look back up.

"N-O," Micky signed sternly. "W-E. D-O."

"No," Mike shook his head. "You really don't. It's hard, and you shouldn't have to because it's my problem, not yours. I don't want to hold y'all back."

"N-O. M-I-K-E. S-T-O-P."

Micky furiously scribbled in the notebook and pushed it in front of Mike's face.

"Michael, stop. I know you can't hear what you're saying to yourself now, but you need to stop thinking like that. You're sick. You didn't choose to be sick. It's not your fault that you're sick, you just are. And now we're trying to help because we care about you and you shouldn't be left out of the conversation because of something you can't control. I'm learning sign language because I want to keep talking to you. You're my friend and I care about you. Peter and Davy are the same way. We're doing it because we want to."

Mike sighed and nodded.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Micky."

Micky smiled a little.

"I-T-S. O-K."

Mike looked down at the ground, visibly becoming tense. Micky scooted closer and wrapped his arm around Mike's shoulder again which eased a lot of the tension.

"Micky?" He looked up at Micky's concerned face. "What're we going to do?"

"W-H-A-T?"

"I mean, are we going to keep playing together? Doing gigs and stuff."

Micky looked down as he thought about it. He reached out for the notebook again and carefully wrote. When he was done, Micky tapped Mike's shoulder and held up the book in front of him.

"I don't know. I want to keep playing but if you don't, I'll understand and the guys will too. I think it's all up to you and how you're feeling though."

Mike nodded slowly. They'd cross that bridge when they got there.

"Thank you."

Micky nodded and wrote one final note, setting the book on the ground before standing up.

"Are you ready to go back downstairs?" It read.

Mike sighed and looked up, signing the word for "yes."

"O-K," Micky spelled out with a smile, gesturing for Mike to follow him as they walked back down to the others.