bokuaka one shots

lucky

(hh I'm not fluent in asl but I don't  know anything about jsl so I'm only referencing asl here !!)

Akaashi stepped into the familiar building, greeting the older woman who sat in the lobby, chatting with someone he didn't recognize, on his way in. She leaned over, moving her hands quickly to let him know the classroom was already open. Akaashi only nodded and smiled.

He used to come here with his mother often when he was little, sitting through classes with her and learning new words and phrases that she would help him with. He only returned last week, long after he stopped using sign language and had forgotten most of it, trying to become fluent this time.

He started towards the stairs to get to his class, which was starting soon and he didn't want to be late.

A boy, with bright, gold eyes and hair spiked up with a generous amount of gel hurried down the stairs at the same time Akaashi was going up, neither having time to react before colliding with each other, the brunette taking the worst of it and falling back onto the cold, tile floor. Akaashi's face bloomed red with embarrassment at the sudden exchange.

A look of concern crossed the mans eyes as he hurriedly reached out a large hand to help Akaashi up. Akaashi took it, if somewhat reluctantly, and pulled himself to his feet; dusting off the filth that had accumulated to his pants.

The man for a moment seemed to struggle, his face twisting with annoyance but not at Akaashi. He parted his lips, furrowed his eyebrows, but no sound came out.

"Sorry," Akaashi said and signed at the same time.

The man smiled softly and began to sign as well. "I'm sorry for running into you. I'm..." He made a gesture Akaashi was unfamiliar with, one where he made a fist and put it to his face.

"You're what? I... do not... understand."

Akaashi silently prayed he got it right, well aware of how long it took him to figure out the words and how awkward it must look for him.

The man frowned, went to make the sign again, but stopped himself, and pointed to his mouth before making an "X" with his fingers.

"I'm sorry," Akaashi repeated.

He began to sign quickly, saying something along the lines of, "I can't talk," that Akaashi understood.

"Oh," Akaashi said to himself, finally understanding what he meant.

The man nodded enthusiastically to show that Akaashi had guessed correctly.

"Are you deaf?" Akaashi signed. It was one of the few useful phrases he knew. Akaashi quickly corrected himself, adding, "Or hard of hearing," before he could respond.

The man shook his head to answer "no" before signing again. "I'm Bokuto." He spelled out his name, slowly and carefully, fingers moving in patterns they were too familiar with. He made the language seem so easy, so effortless. 

"Akaashi," the brunette said aloud while signing. He didn't need to, but it was practice and his teacher told him he should use sign language all the time when inside the school. "I have a class."

The mans eyes lit up. "Can I walk you there?" 

Akaashi, confused, agreed reluctantly.

If Bokuto could talk, he would surely be talking Akaashi's ear off. His hands were moving quickly and it seemed he would never stop, and though Akaashi couldn't understand all of it, he nodded and smiled and occasionally chimed in as if he did.

"This is my class," Akaashi announced, stopping in front of a door and pointing to it.

Bokuto nodded and waved, walking away and leaving Akaashi to his class.

Bokuto walked Akaashi to class the next day. And the day after that. Everyday, he, without fail, managed to find something to go on and on about, but Akaashi didn't mind. It was practice, and he was learning new words. The company wasn't too bad, either.

Today was no different. Bokuto was waiting in the buildings common area, waiting patiently for Akaashi so they could walk together. Why Bokuto had taken such a liking to Akaashi, he didn't know.

That day after class, Akaashi found Bokuto waiting patiently outside of his classroom, lighting up at the sight of the brunette and walking alongside him.

"Hello," Akaashi laughed, beginning his descent down the stairway.

Bokuto waved. "I'm free today."

"Is that so," Akaashi mused, stepping into the carpeted common area and making his way towards the door. He kept his eyes on Bokuto the best he could while walking, so that he wouldn't miss anything.

Bokuto nodded. "Do you want to get something to eat with me?" His face lit up in a warm blush as he signed the question.

Akaashi's eyes widened slightly, pleasantly surprised at the question. He didn't really have anything to do- though he did have his cats at home so he wouldn't be able to stay long considering he hadn't prepared to leave them alone for too long. "I would like that."

Bokuto smiled, satisfied with Akaashi's answer, and began walking a bit faster, leaving Akaashi to catch up.

They soon found themselves at a small diner, quiet and familiar and slow. After ordering (Akaashi ordered for Bokuto as the server didn't know sign language) and busied themselves with small talk.

"Why are you learning sign language?" Bokuto asked Akaashi.

Akaashi simply answered, "My mom," taking a sip of his water casually.

"Is she deaf?"

The brunette gnawed on his lip, not wanting to put his emotional baggage on a new friend. "She's not around anymore. But we used to go to classes together when I was little, so I figured I'd pick it back up."

Signing a quick, "sorry", Bokuto nodded and moved on. "I actually can talk."

"You're mute, though, are you not?" Akaashi giggled.

"Yes but I can still talk sometimes," he explained. "Only to some people. I want to talk to you one day."

Akaashi nodded considerately. He began to wonder what Bokuto's voice was like. He imagined it was warm and familiar. "I would be glad if you talked to me."

Bokuto grinned. He then pointed at Akaashi, then himself, and pushed his fists together with his thumbs up, moving them up and down.

"I'm your what?" Akaashi asked, lips curling up in a soft smile, repeating the gesture.

Bokuto opened his mouth, attempting to say something but failing. He frowned at himself, but soon got over it and pulled a pen out of his bag. Retrieving a napkin from it's container, Bokuto began to write something on it before passing the napkin to Akaashi.

Scrawled across the napkin in black ink read the word "sweetheart" and Akaashi smiled.

♡

Word count: 10098