Silent Understanding

Somehow, Daniel understood him.

It didn't matter how little actual sign language he used, or how many signs of his own creation he added into the mix. If Daniel was speaking to him it was as if every word Jay signed was said aloud, crisp and clear and unable to be misheard.

Even his own family members weren't like that, not truly. They understood most of it, of course, but even now there were moments of hesitation. Confusion.

But with Daniel, despite him allegedly not knowing sign language before transferring. Despite him not having the years of experience Jay's family did...

Despite everything, Daniel understood him.

That wasn't why he first started watching him, though. At the time they'd never said a word to each other, and yet... he'd watched him.

Not... Not in a creepy way of course! Definitely not. Just...

Daniel was so kind.

Not necessarily nice, though he was that too. There was a difference between kind and nice, a difference Jay knew like the back of his hand.

Nice was a social obligation. Nice was formalities and smiles and shaken hands.

Kind was something different.

Jay wasn't kind.

He tried to be, of course. And he was, sometimes.

But... it was hard.

Because kindness? Kindness, to him, came from a sense of understanding. Of putting yourself in someone else's shoes and seeing the world through their eyes.

It was helping a beggar to food and water, instead of tossing a few dollars in their hands and moving on. It was seeing someone shivering in the cold and using your only jacket to keep them warm, despite the chill now finding it's way into your bones.

It was sitting with the outcasts, the bullied, despite the many others clamoring for your attention.

Daniel was kind.

Somehow, one day, the watching turned from appreciation to... a sort of anticipation. Jay went from silently applauding Daniel's actions to rooting for him at every turn, to standing up for him even when he would never know about it.

It was like he was watching a sports game and his favorite player was on screen. Jay was there, on the couch, shouting his silent cheers for everything Daniel did.

And then there was no longer a screen. There was no longer a game. It was just Daniel, and him, in his living room.

Because Daniel... talked to him. Pushed him into the forefront of his life, where he could cheer him on, not from the sidelines... but from his side.

And Daniel understood him.

It was inevitable, really. Maybe at that point it'd already happened.

Jay fell, and he fell hard.

He knew it was pointless. Futile. Daniel was... so kind and good and loyal to his friends and to his beliefs, and...

He was also popular. Popular in many ways, but... popular with the girls.

Not that Jay himself wasn't but... a lot of them left when they found out his 'silent and strong' type was just... who he was and not an attempt to be mysterious and cool. He didn't have a swarm of adoring fans following him around like Daniel. He didn't want one either.

But still... it didn't matter. It was obvious Daniel was uncomfortable with the attention but that didn't mean he didn't like girls. Maybe he just hadn't found the one yet. Maybe he wanted someone that didn't fall head over heels for him because of his looks.

(Yes, Jay knew Daniel thought about that. It was hard not to notice when he watched him so much. Not... in a creepy way, oh god, that sounded bad—)

Sometimes, Jay wanted to grab him by the shoulders and tell him in his silent way that he didn't like him because of his looks. That he didn't care. That he didn't care if Daniel was a woman or a man or other or fat or skinny or well built. That Daniel was kind and fierce and shy and he was beautiful.

He never did. Not because Daniel wouldn't understand all of that in a single sign, he was freaky like that, but because...

Jay was a coward.

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"Hey, Jay?"

The words were like lightning, alighting every nerve in his body as he shot up from his desk. Jay flailed for a moment, eyes wide, before finally focusing on Daniel's smile.

There was a pause. Jay flicked a shoulder up inquisitively even as he tried to regain composure. He was pretty sure Zack snickered at him.

"Oh, no, I'm alright, I was just..." Daniel paused, "um... well... it's okay if you don't want to but..."

Oh god, not the shy lip bite. That was Jay's ultimate weakness, that and the way he fiddled with his shirt.

"Wouldyouliketogoouttoeatwithme?"

Jay blinked.

What.

Daniel shrank into himself even further, eyes darting to where a few of their classmates were openly staring at him. As Daniel's gaze left him Jay sent a glare their way, scorching even through his bangs.

The classmates dutifully looked away as though the scene wasn't happening. Daniel relaxed minutely.

Mission accomplished. Jay mentally patted himself on the back, even as Daniel took a deep breath as though to steady himself.

The look he sent Jay's way, full of determination, was chilly. Probably scary to anyone who knew him as 'that one kid who beat up Zack'.

To him, it was just endearing and mildly amusing.

"Would you like to go out to eat with me?" Daniel asked again, slowly and with a strange enunciation on each word, as though it pained him. "I finally got enough money— I mean I finally found a place I like and I thought it'd be nice and we haven't really hung out recently so—"

Oh.

Oh... Oh my god.

Daniel was... asking him out. (Not in that way, shut up.) He was actually... asking to hang out with him. Him. Jay, the silent one that hardly ever added anything to a conversation. Him, that one rich kid with style but nothing to back it up.

Daniel wanted to hang out with him one on one.

He was also still speaking.

"...I don't know if you've ever been there but—"

Jay shut him up with a quick jab to his arm. Unorthodox, but effective. Despite his own internal fumbling, he slowly signed his answer.

The way Daniel beamed at him in that moment was so bright it nearly blinded him. Jay had to fight to keep himself from grinning like a lunatic as he suggested they leave the classroom.

But... not before he stopped Daniel in his tracks and placed a hand over his heart. He tapped twice, smiling softly.

When he turned away to pack his bag, giddy all the while, Daniel stood nearby. He hovered for a moment, wavering, before...

"What did that mean..? That sign you just did?"

It was the first time he'd had to ask that question. Jay just smiled wider.

He shrugged.

"You'll tell me later...? Okay! I'll walk you to the place we're going, I've heard it's got a lovely view..."

That was the first time Jay hung out with Daniel one on one outside of his house, and it wouldn't be the last.

It definitely wouldn't be the last.

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He did tell Daniel what the sign meant, one day, while on one knee. Maybe it was a bit dramatic, a bit cliche, but it made them both happy, in the end.

"I love you too."

Daniel understood.