[ there's a lot put into tone, when a person speaks. tone carries intent, meaning, even context. but when you can't hear the tone, you have to make do with everything else — the set of the shoulders, the thoughtless gestures of the hands, the way eyes flicker back and forth. body language.
he's in-tune to all of that because he has to be, because he's got to be able to read people if he can't hear them, and so when that hand hovers uncertainly between tess and his shoulder, he can do nothing but watch it, and watch her.
watches how she shifts back, jaw set in a decision. how her eyes look directly at him, but not entirely naturally. every movement is a conscious effort, even the way she steps back and puts some physical distance between them, as if the words weren't enough on their own.
and then, suddenly, surprisingly, a step forward with her very words, even though her lips fold awkwardly around the shapes, even though the syllables drag on her tongue.
he stares, but she's probably used to that by now. what she may not be used to is the small step he takes towards her, the width of his shoulders easily framing hers as he turns to her fully.
there is no hesitation in his words, though his own jaw sets in decision. ]
no subject
he's in-tune to all of that because he has to be, because he's got to be able to read people if he can't hear them, and so when that hand hovers uncertainly between tess and his shoulder, he can do nothing but watch it, and watch her.
watches how she shifts back, jaw set in a decision. how her eyes look directly at him, but not entirely naturally. every movement is a conscious effort, even the way she steps back and puts some physical distance between them, as if the words weren't enough on their own.
and then, suddenly, surprisingly, a step forward with her very words, even though her lips fold awkwardly around the shapes, even though the syllables drag on her tongue.
he stares, but she's probably used to that by now. what she may not be used to is the small step he takes towards her, the width of his shoulders easily framing hers as he turns to her fully.
there is no hesitation in his words, though his own jaw sets in decision. ]
aNYtHIng ElSe You WAnT?
[ even if maybe he already knows.
even if maybe he knows better than to give it. ]