SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN
~AIMANTER~
** Scantily clad in a tee-shirt that Null owned. Turning over
wrapping the covers tightly around her. She managed to get the
day off, because this very day was her birthday. Although she had
nothing planned, she did intend to spend most of the day with
Patrick. For the last few months they had been seeing each other,
even if it was kept hush hush. GUARD would not look at it kindly
if they knew all the details about their relationship. She didn't
care that much about their 'scruples'and 'up-standing'of moral
codes. She wasn't sleeping with just everyone, in fact Patrick
was the first boy-friend she had in a very long time. She was
comfortable in his room at the complex, the US one. She had been
called away more than once in the middle of the night, found
herself waking up reaching for him when she was in her own room.
She knew GUARD knew of their relationship, even though she never
voiced it aloud. Then again they knew everything. Wile and Omit,
were guffawed to find her emerging from his room the first night
they spent together. And she expected glares, and questions.
Instead Wile was a perfect gentleman about the situation, and
Omit even offered her some of his eggs. They were a bit confused,
but soon grew accustomed to her around their place. She often
cleaned a bit at their place, never ruining or moving important
things. This was a major thing as well seeing as she never did
her OWN cleaning. She even got a bit jealous when Null had to go
to his work, sometimes dropping in on her off time, packing a
lunch for him. Sometimes even Wile and Omit too. They all in a
way must have figured out by now she was deaf, and well, she
wasn't the ice bitch most knew her as. Curling even tighter,
falling into a deeper sleep. **
~NULL~
*Null leaned back in his chair to rip his glasses away from his
face and rub his eyes. The room was completely dark except for
the small desk lamp that lit up a desk in front of him. He'd been
hunched over the small desk since the night before. After Emme
fell asleep, he'd been able to sneak away and slink into his
small room to work on an idea he had been keeping up with. His
workspace had become completely cluttered and unusable, except
for himself. He was used to the small places to come up with
whatever it was he needed at the time. This was no different. He
brushed some debris, metal pieces and plastic away to leave a
clear space in the middle, setting down his all-nighter. Pulling
away a pair of headphones from his ears, he shut off his Discman
to his right that he used to keep any side noises away that might
have distracted him. He grinned heartily. He picked up his work
and made his way out the door, squinting and blinking as his eyes
became used to the bright morning light. The house was quiet, as
it was still early and everyone was sure to be asleep. Especially
his two partners in crime who sneaked into a 21+ strip bar by
tipping the doorman $200 a piece. He was halfway through with his
work when he was taking a small break and watched as they
stumbled in the door. With a comment of something close to
"This jobs benefits rule" they passed out just feet
before their rooms. He didn't see them now, so they must have
realized where they were later on and crawled to their designated
areas. He opened up his bedroom door slowly to see the light
beaming on the small girl asleep in his bed. The sun shined so
carefully that he thought it was almost like God shining down on
an angel. Of course he'd never say that out loud. Patrick sat on
the edge of the bed, leaning in a bit. She rolled onto her back
and rubbed her nose unconsciously. He put one hand in the other,
pinching his pointer with his thumb with both hands. He carefully
set a small piece of plastic and metal, about half the size of
his pinky nail, just on the inside of each ear. She stirred for a
moment and he grinned, brushing away a few strands of loose hair
from her face as he kissed her**
Null: Happy Birthday
** Feeling his hands brush by her face, she stirred, looking upon
the face of perfection. A smile brushing over her face, a pair of
dimples creasing their way to her cheeks. He looked tired, he
must have been called to work at the last moment. She hated it
when they made him pull all-nighters. He was the best at what he
did, so it would be expected. Pulling the blankets further to her
chin, as he brushed away the strands of hair that loosely framed
her face. Managing a soft chuckle, until she heard his lips touch
her. She blinked, startled, backing away very slightly, until he
uttered two words, of the like she never heard or compared their
beauty before. His voice was softer than she expected, much
deeper pitched. A smooth warm honey, silken chocolate. The
teased, kissed her senses. She sat for at least 3 minutes in
silence, at least, looking at him. Bewildered, and afraid that it
was an illusion. No she heard the noises of Wile stirring, his
footsteps as he walked past their door to the restroom. Her eyes
widened, as her fear grew. She remembered the last sounds she
heard, her sister screaming, the plane ripping itself apart. The
unimaginable sound of wind. Fire, her bones breaking. This, this
now a stark contrast to that. Slowly her perfectly manicured
fingers wandered up to her ears. So frightened at any moment she
would be thrust back into the world of silence. Her startled
fingers pressed against her ears. Everything was so -loud-.
Blinking very slowly, uttering a single word, hearing her own
voice for the first time in over three years. **. . .How? . ..**
The sound of her voice startled her. It had changed, seemed
almost foreign. It wasn't the same voice she possessed when she
was 15. It matured, developed into sounding almost like an angel.
It too was soft, mellowed. She closed her eyes, just listening,
to the blankets settle beneath her, saying then quickly. ** I do
not want to know how . . . nevermind, . . . that now. ** Pulling
the blanket off her, moving to him, her arms wrapping around him
so tightly. In a voice feather light, managing a very sincere,
tear accompanied ** My God Patrick, Thank you. . .
*She took the breath out of him for a moment as she embraced him
as hard as she did. He grinned again, almost boyishly as he sat
next to her. He closed his eyes to listen to her. He listened to
her breathing. It was full of joy, but almost fearfull sounding,
as if her heart may have skipped multiple beats.* It's all in the
hands. *He grabbed her hand and picked her up out of bed* That's
not it though. Come with me. *Patrick led her through the room
and out the door, leading into a hall and the kitchen. The smell
of morning filled the air and mixed with a bakers scent. A
muffled beating of music became clearer as they entered the
kitchen. Behind the oven, sporting an apron, was Omit bobbing
side to side as he shook around a sizzling pan. He gave a jerking
nod to their entrance.* OMIT: Happy B-Day, Emmers. *On their
opposite side was a spinning Wile as he set a table with the
usual utensils. He ceased his dancing for a moment to look at the
two of them and gave a hearty bow.* WILE: Madam, Happy Birthday.
*Null turned to her with a bobbing head* NULL: Hungry?
** Pulling back a few strands of hair, looking towards the floor,
nearly ignoring what they said, moving to the radio. A blush
touching each of her cheeks. Managing a smile resting her hands
on it. Slowly flipping the stations, before settling on one. A
song that sounded familiar, A piano, and violins. She knew it
wasn't their cup of tea, and hoped a bit they wouldn't mind. Well
after all she was standing there in a beat up old tee, panties
and socks. Inhaling deeply the smells, indulging in the sounds of
them. Finally registering what they said, her back still to them,
resisting the urge to turn around and watch them. Instead she
just listened. Shutting her eyes, hearing FINALLY the nick-name
Omit had been calling her all this time that she just could /not/
figure out for the life of her. ** Good-morning, thank you. . .
** Letting her hands slip from the station, her eyes still shut,
saying. ** You do not mind that I changed the station do you? **
Looking back to the music fondly. It was something that she
missed beyond the comfort of loving words. It was the raw emotion
she thought she would never hear again. Not wanting to make a
huge scene of it, turning around, pulling her black hair behind
her ear, and smiling still. The smile that had not faded, ** I'm
famished, ** Moving back to the table where Wile was still
setting up. Inhaling deeply, giving a very big smile to Omit, as
Patrick pulled out her chair. Sitting, one foot on the chair, the
other folded underneath her. Resting her head on her knee,
listening to them, just quiet, reserved. Looking to Wile and then
Omit, saying quietly. ** Is there anything you three can't do? **
Offering a soft giggle, shaking her head and adding. ** It smells
delicious Ryan, ** Again she fell to uncanny silence.
Remembering, thoughts, images flooding her mind as she heard just
the most simple of routines being preformed. **