ᴍᴜʟᴛɪғᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇ | ᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴡ ғɪᴄs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ɴᴏᴛᴇs

ME TO YOU {ARTHUR MORGAN X DEAF WIFE! READER}

Summary: When love is not just through words

Warning: IT'S ARTHUR MORGAN! WE LOVE HIM! Modern au, half deaf reader but the reader becomes fully deaf, faint, arguments, workaholic Arthur, Arthur being guilty about the reader, sign language, Arthur learn basic sign language just for you, medium angst, fluff, comfort, reader wearing hearing aids, a bit misunderstanding, police officer Arthur and the gang.

As usual, I'm sorry if there are any wrong sentences or typos or grammatical mistakes, please forgive me and again English is not my first language, so I try to improve my language and writing in this way.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A ringing in your ears greeted you as you stirred your tea in the kitchen. You winced at the noise and immediately pulled your hearing aids out of your ears and placed them on the kitchen counter. You sighed. The hearing aids are not comfortable to wear but then again, they also help you hear. Lately, your hearing aids have been having problems. Probably because they are old or the batteries are getting weak. But then again, the cost of buying new hearing aids is not cheap. One hearing aid is half the cost of renting a house.

So like it or not, you have to rely on these old hearing aids. You close your eyes as you stop stirring the tea. The sugar in the tea has long been dissolved as you have been staring into space not noticing how long it has been dissolved. Silent is all you hear. Obviously. You were born with a hearing problem. Not fully deaf but still, you need aids to hear. But there is a chance that you could become fully deaf if something unwanted happens and you don't want it. You sighed as you looked at the clock on the wall.

12:00 pm

Arthur is back at 1pm so you have an hour to yourself before your dear husband gets home from work. Oh, Arthur. He is such a gentle soul that you don't regret having a relationship with. Although he seems rough and grumpy all the time but deep down he is just a bear that needs gentleness in his life.

You still remember how you first laid eyes on him. He was doing his work as police officer at the time. With his police uniform on as he took a seat in your cafe one evening. Having a lot of work that day and he just happened to take his time off duty at your cafe ordering strong coffee just to ease his stress? that's what you thought. Seeing him tense and tired at work, you offered him some chocolate bread that had just come out of the oven.

This made him surprise as you told him that it was free. Stating that he was a police officer, he deserved some kind of appreciate for protecting citizens. And that made his day brighter with just your simple gesture.

One or more chocolate breads later (with 7 months of dating) you and him are now husband and wife.

Arthur is a gentle and polite man (he always is) and he doesn't care about what you lack instead he supports you and helps you whenever your hearing aids are giving you problems. He even learned basic sign language when you don't wear hearing aids which is very important to him if you decide not to wear hearing aids for one day but when it comes to some gestures that he doesn't know how to sign, he takes out his journal to write a sentence before handing it to you. Sometimes he insists that you wear them. He doesn't force you but whenever there is a day when you need to wear them, you wear them. Like working.

You started sipping your neglected tea as you walked to the living room. Hearing aids clutched in your other hand as you took a seat on the sofa. Tea was placed on a small table in front of you as you put your hearing aids back on. Slightly adjusting the volume on the aids. You winced slightly when the ringing struck but then it stopped and your sense of hearing was fine again. You started hearing the sound of the TV channel playing.

You returned to your tea and sipping it slowly with eyes watching the tv. You chuckled slightly at the joke made by the actor on the tv. Minutes passed, the door of the house was opened wide by someone. Heavy footsteps were heard entering, car keys were tossed into the cabinet along with shoes. Someone sighed heavily as they hung their jacket on the hanger. You turned.

There Arthur who had just returned from work sighed tiredly with a lot of duty hung on his shoulder. Lately he has been working non-stop at the police station. No rest, late night back home, go to work before the sun fully rises and repeat the next day. You ever wondered when he would rest. You watched him as he pulled out a few things from his work pants pocket. Cigarette box, lighter and wallet were placed on the cabinet by the door.

You decided to greet him. You placed your tea on the table, you stood up and walked towards him with a gentle smile. Arthur looked at you with love.

"hey there, sweetheart" he greeted tiredly.

You smiled as you hugged him. "everything alright?"

Arthur sighed as he placed his head into the crook of your neck. "stressful as usual. More emergency calls and duty to keep up as usual"

You parted away from him with concern. "you should have taken a short break, love"

Arthur sighed as he closed his eyes then shook his head dismissed. "can't do that. The station needs me, sweetheart"

"and you need a break." you replied.

"i can't. I have to do duty. You know what Dutch is like" he said tiredly.

Dutch Van der Linde. The head of the police in this town. He always needs Arthur as Arthur is a reliable police officer. As if he is the only police officer here. Always pressuring him to do his duty.

You sighed in defeat. Once Dutch's name came out of his mouth you couldn't fight back as he was loyal to him.

"You hungry? I can heat up the dishes" you offered as you walked to the kitchen.

Arthur shook his head. "I think I'll sleep for a while. Maybe I'll eat later" he said.

You nodded in understanding as you watched him climb the stairs to the bedroom. Your poor husband. You walked back to the living room. As you sat down, a painful ringing greeted you harshly making you ripped off the hearing aids. You closed your eyes as the ghosted ringing was still felt. It was quite painful and loud. You winced slightly. The world around you became silent that evening.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It was around 8 pm when you half woke up from your sleep and noticed your husband's shadow coming down the stairs. He took a long nap, probably he was hungry so you started to sit up from your lying position on the sofa and yawned. Stretching your body, you started to reach for your hearing aids that you previously threw on the table and put them back in your ears. You adjusted the volume as you walked to the kitchen to heat up the food for Arthur.

"I'm heating up the food for you, it won't be long now" you said loudly.

Arthur walked past you in a black t-shirt and fancy pants, suspenders tight on his broad shoulders. His face fresh, his hair slightly wet but neatly combed with the smell of mint cologne on his body. If he wasn't in a hurry, you would take him there and now. But he was in hurry.

He started kneeling to put on his black socks. You frowned as you walked towards him.

"Where are you going?" you asked.

"duty call, Dutch calling me that there's a crime scene that I need to be involved in" he replied without looking at you as he put his feet into his work shoes.

"Tonight? but what about food? you surely need to eat" you said with your eyes wide in disbelief.

"I'll grab food at work, sweetheart" he said as he reached for his black jacket that was hanging. He then started to reach you to kiss your cheek but you took a step back.

"stay" you insisted.

"I can't, please. I need to go" He replied tiredly.

"you just got back a few hours ago and now you want to go back to work after Dutch called you? Aren't there any other police officers at the station?" you exclaimed in frustration.

Arthur sighed heavily. "Dutch.. He needs me. I know there are other police officers at the station like John and Charles but I am the most important person at the station and Dutch.. He is the chief of police, I can't disobey him"

You nodded bitterly. "It's all about Dutch, isn't it? Why can't you just take a damn break for a while? You work non-stop without resting nor do I know if you're eating or not at the station. And you just care about duty other than your well being? Can't you see that Dutch is using you, Arthur? He's pressuring you! Why can't you just notice it?!" you yelled.

"You don't talk about Dutch like that!" Arthur yelled as he slammed his hand on the cabinet next to him.

A loud ringing started to struck making you visibly winced and it went unnoticed by Arthur as he kept on yelling at you.

"he's the one who hired me in this job, to take care of everything in this house! This job is also the one who gives you enough money to pay for everything at your cafe when you're short on money! This job is also the one who gives you food and anything you want while I work hard to make you comfortable. Why can't you just understand it?! " he slammed his fist into the cabinet loudly, creating a loud bang.

You winced as the ringing got louder and louder, making your head dizzy. Arthur kept on rambling furiously about the job and kept on slamming his hand into the cabinet. His emotions were now pure anger and frustration. You could only keep quiet and narrowed your eyes. Try to focus with your sudden blurred vision. All you could hear was ringing in your ears and Arthur's voice getting muffled.

You try to focus on your vision and listen to what Arthur is saying but all you get is a muffled voice with loud and painful ringing with your sight getting blurred and blackened.

"I work because it is my responsibility as a husband, to support you in this household. And you should do the same!" he yelled loudly as he slammed his palm on the cabinet in frustration.

Your vision darkens as Arthur's voice becomes more distant and muffled as if you are underwater. All you can see is Arthur yelling and moving furiously with extreme anger. Your head hurts and so does your eardrum, which is ringing loudly and painfully, making it difficult for you to focus.

"Why can't you just appreciate what I do if you really love me!"

And you fall into darkness.


─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───


Hearing aids were put away in a drawer and locked by you as you sighed heavily. Well you don't need them now, you are officially fully deaf with no hearing aid to help you. Sometimes you forget that you don't need it anymore. But old habits die hard, they said, nor did you care about that as it only made you sick. Sadly, you can't hear the birds chirping in the morning, the rain, the car engine, the annoying sounds from the TV and mostly Arthur's deep voice that made you fall in love. Thinking about Arthur makes you bitterly scoffed.

After the fight, if you call it a fight as he is the only one yelling, Arthur began to distance himself with guilt and regret. The moment you suddenly fainted in front of him awakened something inside him. Guilt and regret haunted his life the moment the doctor announced that you were fully deaf. And that was 2 weeks ago.

Arthur barely looked at you since you and him got home from the hospital. Whenever he looks at you, all he sees is his fault against you. You just wanted to take care of his health, his whereabouts and this is what you get in return.

The feeling of regret, disappointment in himself rises whenever he remembers the fight. And you standing in front of him trying to stay upright with the painfully ringing in you head when he stands there. Yelling with anger, the feeling that he can't hold in as he lets out everything resulting in you becoming fully deaf.

He distances himself from you, Sleeping in a separate room, only exchanging a few looks at each other, going to work until late at night and coming back late.

You keep on working at your cafe. Sadly you can't hear the sound of the coffee machine buzzing, the sound of water being poured, the sound of customers talking, the sound of vehicles that you are used to hearing during the day you can hear with hearing aids. Although it is only through hearing aids, it is enough to make you feel grateful to hear clearly. But then again, the pleasure is taken away from you.

Your work is done in silence. Making a few employees at your place concerned and sympathetic knowing that you are unable to live your life as usual. You are a good manager and friendly to your employees but when you inform them that there is a slight accident, they are all sympathetic and angry with your husband.

Sean Maguire your bright young waiter suggests that you file for divorce against Arthur but you dismiss it as you tell him that it is not necessary.

"I can't file for divorce, Sean.. He doesn't abuse me or anything besides I can be categorized as deaf because I have been wearing hearing aids from the beginning..." you replied to his message making the young man silent digitally.

"I'm just givin' ye a wee suggestion," he replied.

You sighed as you started to stand up to get ready for work while humming. Since you can't hear, there's no point in talking if you can't hear your own voice. But when you're humming, you can feel vibration in the back of your throat.

Your room door opened, you stopped for a moment when Arthur stood in front of you. The eyebags under his eyes were visible, his tired and gruff face and his slouched body seemed to be carrying a heavy burden.

Your mouth agape with surprise seeing him but you closed your mouth and slightly looked at him with cold. Arthur eyes widened at you but then lowered his gaze with shame. The same look you received from him throughout the past 2 weeks.

But then again, he was the one who caused all this to happen. You walked past him without looking at him. Arthur's mouth opened but he closed it. What's the point of talking if you can't hear his voice. His eyes follow your figure with melancholy.

But Arthur didn't miss the opportunity, he chased you to the door and blocked your way. His body towering over you. You looked up at him coldly.

"what" you signed.

Arthur tried to sign what he knew. "wait-" he stopped. He clenched his hands in frustration.

Arthur looked at you pleadingly. He doesn't know how to form some words in sign language. He only knows basic sign language.

But then he got an idea. He fished out his phone and opened the note apps. He quickly tapped the keyboard on his phone before showing you what he was writing.

"What time will you be back?" the word was written.

You read it with no reaction on your face. You looked at Arthur who looked at you as if he had kicked the puppy.

"why do you care?" you signed with a frowned.

Arthur was stunned. He didn't know what you signed. He sheepishly turned his phone and typed.

"i don't understand it.. sorry :("

You sighed before taking his phone and typing the sentence you signed earlier.

"why do you care?"

Arthur frowned at the writing. He then replied.

"because I'm your husband. That's why I care" he showed it to you.

You read it and scoffed before replying back to him.

"now you want to use that word after what happened"

Arthur read it with the senses of guilt and regret. He nervously typed.

"i'm sorry.." he showed it to you.

You shook your head after reading that and glared at him. You snatched his phone and aggressively typed.

"tell me, do you even care that I as your wife try to know your day? Tell me, do you even care that I care about you where you have eaten or not? what time are you back or do you need space? No. You shouldn't use the word husband to me when you make me like this. When did I get this when I care about you. And now you care about me? really" you showed it to Arthur with eyes glossy with tears.

Every sentence Arthur read, every time his heart broke reading what you wrote. He realized his mistake. He was blinded by his work to know your well-being while you were blinded by his well-being. Care for him and he reciprocated your kindness with something that made him regret it.

He lost his words to reply. He realized his mistake was not just something that could be solved with an apology. He realized his mistake was bigger than he thought.

You looked at him furiously. "You made me like this" you signed before walking past him.

Arthur stared where you had previously stood with guilt and regret. His heart sank when he understood what you had signed.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Later that night, you came home from closing your cafe. You opened the door to your dark house. You assumed Arthur was still at work doing god knows what. Probably one of the many things Dutch told him to do.

You sighed as you entered your dark house - The jacket is opened and hung on the hanger, the cut key is thrown into the basket near the door. The shoes are opened and arranged on the shelf. You now walk into the living room with only socks on. But then you stop when you hear the sound of the television playing. The dim light from the living room makes you feel interested to see who in the goddamn person is in your house watching TV.

But what was surprising was that Arthur was sleeping sitting on the sofa with his head tilted to the side. The TV playing in front of him was long forgotten. This makes you feel weird. Usually, Arthur always comes back late but this time here he is sleeping with the tv still on. You walk towards Arthur. Arthur silently snores with mouth slightly agape. Hand sprawled at his side. His position is enough to make you grimaced with discomfort especially the nape of his neck.

You touched his shoulder trying to wake him up but Arthur just let out a quiet groaned before he continued to sleep. You huffed. This time you shook his shoulder hard making him jerk in shock. His sleepy eyes looked around him before settling on you.

You looked at him with displeasure before you signed a simple word.

"what are you doing?"

Arthur blinked a few times before he seemed to just realize what that meant.

"I'm taking a temporary leave" he signed even though the motion for the leave was a little off but you could still understand.

"why" you signed.

"i.. want.. to.. spend.. time..with.. you" he sheepishly signed slowly.

You scoffed. "how long?"

"3 days"

"3 days?"

Arthur nodded several times. "i was waiting for you" this time his signed smoothly.

"why"

"because I want to spend my time with you" he signed this as if he had taken practice with how smoothly he signed without mistake.

"why" you pressured.

Arthur was silent. His mind blank. He nervously took out his phone and opened the notes app. He typed.

"I want to make up for what I did to you." he showed it to you with the looked of pleading.

You stared at Arthur's phone for a moment. Eyes darted from the phone to Arthur's face several times. Arthur seemed genuinely to be seeking your forgiveness. He couldn't bear this silent treatment anymore. He was dead. He was losing you day by day.

You noted that he wasn't getting enough rest nor did he eat enough. The eyebags under his eyes were very obvious so was his body which was losing weight though he was still massive with his big muscles under those shirts.

You softened your look.

"oh, Arthur" you signed with sympathy. All the walls you built crumbled seeing your husband crumble day by day without you. You kneeled in front of him and took his big hand and stroked the back of his hand gently.

Arthur avoided looking at you. He still felt guilty about what he had done. He let his anger out on you. Now he paid the price. You then got up and sat next to him.

Hands palmed his face - trying to get Arthur to look at you.

You sighed and then without wasting time, you hugged him. Arthur's hands automatically around you. He hugged you tightly as if he didn't want to let you go. You stroked his back gently.

You could hear Arthur sobs on your neck. Never have you ever seen Arthur breakdown this badly until he shed a tear. The strong and fierce man now crumbled in his wife's arms.

You could feel his chest rumble so was a ghost of his mouth brushing your neck. He was mouthing sorry a few times on your neck. Although you didn't hear it you could still feel it.

Arthur's body shook - you rubbed his back gently trying to comfort him.

Arthur parted from your embrace. His cheeks wet with tears. His hands then signed.

"i'm sorry" he signed several times.

You took his hands and put them on your chest. You looked at him with sympathy. One hand signed.

"i forgive you"

He leaned his forehead against yours.

"I shouldn't have done this to you.. I'm sorry" he signed a slight shake.

You stroked his arm. "it's okay.. Things have happened" you replied.

He closed his eyes and then he leaned his head a bit just to catch a feeling of your lips against him after several weeks of silent treatment and rejection. You leaned forward - kissing him back with a feeling of sorrow and acceptance.