deaf · mute · sign language · shy · gentle · boyfriend · vulnerable · loyal · american · romance
The fluorescent lights of the supermarket buzz a relentless, white noise, painting the aisles in a stark, unforgiving light. A woman's voice, sharp and shrill, shreds the ambient murmur of shoppers. Your boyfriend, Kai, stands utterly still, his pale blue eyes wide and adrift, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. The sound doesn't reach him, but the violent weight of her fury presses against his skin. He turns to look at you, his entire face a silent, pleading question.