CHALLENGE FOR J00.

[More than Music]

Okay, so I had this idea today, one that might be good for all of us.

I want us all to try this with one of our characters, just to stretch our abilities a little and so do something kind of fun.

SO HERE'S THE CHALLENGE: Write a oneshot one of your characters recovering from some sort of accident or illness that has left them stripped of one sense and in such bad shape that they must be cared for someone else.

RULES:

1. It MUST be one of the five senses; sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. Though taste isn't as interesting, I'd be interested to see this.

2. It MUST be permanent, irreversible, and you MUST portray how difficult it is to do without. Even if taste isn't all the traumatizing to lose. Like, if they lost their sight, they CANNOT just 'sense' something like they've found a way to work around it all ready.

3. They MUST be early on in their recovery. No super awesome stuff like they understand how to work around it. Did Daredevil jump out of bed and immediately know his senses? Didn't he have to figure it out as he went? Your character should too.

4. You MUST have it so they depend on another person or group of persons to care for them. They are not only stripped of a sense, but they are recovering for some other sort of event which has led to the loss of their sense. Remember that.

5. Have some freaking fun and be creative as you dare.

6. Try and keep it below 5,000 words, alright? I mean, it can be longer, just try and keep that limit in mind. : )


PLEASE credit the people who own the characters you borrow, if you do. It's just a nice thing to do. : )

Points for anyone who puts blood in there somewhere. Like, crying blood tears or bloody fingers or coughing up blood or something boss like that. Do it. Make it work. Be awesome.

[More than Music]

Okay, I guess I'll post mine first. BTW, it's only about 1100 words long, but that doesn't mean you can't go a little bigger. Just don't kill anyone. xD

Cassie is Poppy's. Kagayaki is mine. : ) This is AU and set about the point where Erin is very pregnant with Rae, I think, because he mentioned the Cassayaki marriage.

WARNING: BEWAAAAAAAAAAARE OF THE CASSAYAKI FLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUFF that somehow managed to creep its way into this storyyy. lol~

~ Silence ~

It'd been a week since he'd come back home from the hospital. Nothing felt right, nothing felt the same. Maybe it never would.

But he was alive, that much was good. He could feel with his hands just like he used to, even if he was still shaky from whatever flu-like sickness had taken him over a couple weeks ago. He could still physically speak, but he couldn't hear what he was saying, so he always felt like he wasn't speaking right. And he could see to read and write, even if it wasn't any better before than it had been. But maybe that would get better with time.

From what he'd gathered, no one knew really what was wrong with him. He'd gotten violently sick over a weekend. He'd never felt so warm in his life, especially not his ears. They'd stung and felt hot to the touch. They'd swollen up and, with time, he'd lost all hearing. At first, he thought it was just because he was sick. But, apparently, the damage was permanent and he'd never hear again. And they didn't know why.

They'd tried to teach him a little lip-reading. No luck; he just didn't pick up on things easy. The only two things he could really read were the things he'd seen most: “I don't know” and “I love you.”

A hand on his shoulder made him look up. Cassie. She smiled a little and left a kiss on his cheek as she felt the sides of his head gently for swelling. They felt fine. Just... numb. He frowned and looked away. They were both still for a moment, then Cassie tapped his shoulder. He glanced up to watch her mouth move, but he couldn't understand what she was saying in the slightest.

Tears welled up in his eyes. He'd loved her voice too. She had such a beautiful voice... especially when she said his name. That was wonderful.

Was that what she was saying? His name? Maybe.

She frowned, putting the water bottle she'd brought him on his nightstand. He wasn't thirsty. He wasn't hungry. He just wanted to go to sleep, and wake up back in the world before he'd gotten sick.

But that wouldn't happen, would it?

He could see the pain on her face but couldn't do anything to take it away. He was too weak to get out of bed and hold her, and too sad to do anything but stare up into her eyes.

Her fingertips touched his tears and she mouthed something. It was that same thing. He decided it must be his name, or she wouldn't be repeating it so much. Then she said a lot of other things as she sat on the edge of the bed, and he just took her hand helplessly. 'Please stop,' he wanted to say. 'It hurts when I can't understand you, and I know all you need is for me to listen.'

She met his eyes and mouthed one more thing: “I love you.” That was it. He slowly smiled and nodded, urging her closer by pulling her hand to his chest. He tried to speak a little, but Cassie's face twisted with pain and she put two fingers over his mouth. He must have messed up really bad or something. She crawled up next to him, laying her head on his shoulder. Kagayaki shifted until he could lay his head comfortably on hers.

Well, he'd been wrong. This felt right. But nothing else did.

Cassie pushed down on his stomach a little, leaning up to press her open mouth over his frown. He tried to take in a deep breath but it got caught in his throat. For a moment, he couldn't breath at all, and it felt... amazing. The way she was kissing him right now was beyond any others he'd experienced before. Because it was a kiss from her.

She pulled away for a moment, just slightly. He opened her eyes, seeing her smiling, eyes still closed. With her body pressed against his now, he could feel a gentle thrum from in her lungs.

Laughter. She was laughing.

Kagayaki swallowed. That was something he'd loved most... Letting his hands rest around her waist, he laid back, letting the air of his lungs slowly. She pressed her forehead against his, staring right at him, like her bright blue eyes could shine away all sadness.

And maybe they could. Sometimes they did.

When she closed her eyes again, he closed his too, feeling Cassie move slightly as she breathed.

There were still so many unanswered questions. Like, what about the wedding? That'd been planned for June twenty-eighth, and that was only a couple months out. What about working at the daycare? He missed those kids so much... With him being so sick, neither of those things seemed to be in the near future. How could get married if he couldn't even walk from one side of his room to the other without help? How could he watch kids he couldn't hear? Everything seemed more and more helpless as he thought about it.

Her lips brushed against his, making him open his eyes as she laid her head on his chest. He swallowed hard, running his fingers along her shoulder. 'I can do this. I can. I have Cassie. I can talk. I did before.'

“I...” He forced that sound right out of his lungs, though he wasn't sure how clear or loud it was. But he was determined to say this. “I... love...”

Cassie looked up at him. She could hear him, couldn't she? She could hear what he was saying! Her beautiful eyes urged him on.

“I... love...” He closed his eyes, losing his confidence. Her hand cupped his cheek, and he looked at her again. “I... love... you...” Kagayaki smiled, though a little sadly. “I... I love you...”

Her eyes filled with tears, catching light as they bordered on over-flowing. She touched her fingers to his lips, then leaned closer until her lips brushed against his cheek. Slowly, Cassie mouthed something he was sure he recognized. Kagayaki smiled a real smile now. She'd said: “I love you too.” She must have. He was sure of it.

Just because he had to live in silence, didn't mean he had to live like he was alone.