The Badge and the Burden

A Sense of Discovery

Three Days Later, Neo's POV

I went to go visit the clinic again, as they told me to. They told me not to speak for two days, no matter how tempting it was. I followed their instructions, and excitedly walked into the clinic, my smile causing many more. I followed the woman into the back room, which I expected to be empty. It was actually full of many types of equipment and earmuffs of sorts.

"Here, put these on." The woman said, handing me a pair of headphones. "We don't want you to hear your voice yet until we are sure it's completely normal."

I put them on reluctantly, and sat down next to her.

"Now, do you know how to talk? Feel free to speak to answer these questions." The woman said through speakers in the headphones. I tried to speak, realizing full and well I couldn't hear my voice.

"Yes." I said, seeing the woman give me a thumbs up.

"When were you born?" The woman's voice again said through the speakers.

"January 19th, 1974." I responded, seeing the woman's face light up.

"You're doing wonderfully so far. Now, what is your full name?" She asked, writing down the results of every test.

"Neapolitan Ava Torchwick." I lied, saying my last name. Well, it was a half-lie. I didn't remember my last name when Roman took me under his wing, so I took up his last name. As for Ava, I never had to have a middle name so I decided Ava would be good as a placeholder.

"Are you related to the infamous criminal Roman Torchwick?" The woman said, eyeing me up.

"No, I just happen to have the same name as him. I get asked that a lot, actually." I responded.

"Your enunciation seems perfect, and your voice is unwavering. Are you ready to hear your voice?" The woman said again.

"Yes, I am." I felt like a kid in a candy store. I removed the headphones as the prompted, and sat there, unknowing what to say first.

"Feel free to say anything you want." The woman said.

"I need it to sound badass yet filled with a sense of discovery." I thought to myself, before settling on a simple sentence, referencing many people before her.

"Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3." I said, almost falling off of my chair in surprise. My voice sounded strong yet calming, as if it could kill, yet hypnotize. Kind of like Cinder's yet higher pitched.

"Everyone is surprised, don't worry. Once I had someone yell 'Cheese Puffs' and they almost died of laughter." The woman said, handing me a list of instructions. I read them over as she spoke.

"Don't yell too loudly until a month after this appointment, Drink lots of fluids, especially water, do not have any foods like chips or other 'sharp' foods for at least three months, do not partake in serious physical activities for one week after surgery." She read off the slip of paper, before turning to me.

"Thank you doctor, I'm so happy to finally have a voice." I said, before realizing a key thing I forgot. Roman liked to talk to me, because I can't. It made him happy to have someone that he couldn't get a reply from, so he could get things off of his chest.

"Forgetting something?" The woman asked, seeing my worried face.

"No, sorry to worry you. I'll be on my way now, thank you again doctor!" I said with a wave as I exited the door into the lobby of the clinic to be greeted with applause.