<typed>
«signed»

Rosinante chuckled from your kitchen table as he sat with your tablet propped up in front of him.

Your face was burning as you sat across from him thoroughly embarrassed. His amused eyes flickered from you back to the screen.

"I didn't know you were gonna watch it in front of me." you groaned.

He was reviewing the project he'd assigned you - to translate one of your favorite songs into sign language.

«Sign only, please.»

It wasn't that you had done a bad job, but your discomfort and embarrassment was very apparent in the video. It made you stumble and sigh often. Also something you weren't aware of, was Ace's voice singing along as if he'd known the song his entire life between chuckles and celebratory words when you managed to get a whole sentence correct. It wasn't just funny, it was down right adorable.

«Mean.» you pouted.

He rolled his hazel eyes and leaned forward locking the tablet.

«This was very good.» he smiled encouragingly, «There are still some words and letters you need to work on.»
«OK» you sighed and rubbed your face, «I'll work harder. »
«You aren't in trouble.» his smile remained, «We're going at your pace. You've come a long way in the last month and a half.»
«If you say so.»

He shook his head at your behavior as Kuma rested his chin on your lap. You wish you could say you didn't know why you were being so difficult, but you knew.  Signing forced you to make movements you weren't entirely comfortable with. It was like dancing - you hated dancing. Not only that, it wasn't something that was incredibly common. At least you had never met a hearing impaired person before, which meant when you were at the store with Ace having a conversation people were staring. You felt it. Being on display like that was the last thing you wanted.

Kuma left your lap drawing your attention back up. He waddled to the door excitedly and sat with all of his attention focused on the doorknob.

Ace was home.

You glanced back at Rosi who was gathering his things.

«I'll see you on Friday, keep going over your alphabet and the words we discussed.» he swung his messenger bag over his shoulder and turned somehow getting his feet tangled.
"Rosi!" you gasped hopping to your feet as he caught himself on the side of the counter.

Ace rushed passed you to help the blonde up, "Are you alright?"
Rosi straightened himself out, «I'm fine, sorry to startle you.»
"As long as you're not hurt." you stepped next to your freckled mate.

You really should have been used to his clumsiness by now, but every time was a complete surprise.

After some reassurance and some small talk with Ace, Rosi made his exit.

You were stretched out on the sofa, the back of your head resting in Ace's lap while he brushed his fingers through your hair and watched TV. He'd been a bit down the last few days, after having a dream about Pops. He claimed it wasn't a dream - who were you to deny him? For him it was a very real experience that apparently Thatch had as well one night a couple of months ago. Finally reaching the closure he didn't know he needed with his father figure.

Finding out about Pops' death hit Ace harder than even he ever thought. He knew the old man would pass away eventually - he'd been very ill over the last year. Something about knowing they perished on the same day in the same place hit him in an unexplainable way. There was a silver lining, as there often is with this sort of thing - he was free of that illness. He also died knowing he was loved by his sons.

Your gaze rested on his melancholy expression. His eyes were cloudy but fixed on the television as he mindlessly messaged your scalp. You knew he was in some place far away. Slowly you reached up caressing his freckled cheek forcing his rubies to focus on you.

"You ok?"

You couldn't hear what he said but you were getting better at reading lips.

"I am." he smiled softly and rubbed his thumb over your bottom lip.

With a small smile you reached for the tablet laying on your stomach.

<I have an assignment from Rosi for tomorrow. Have you seen Kuma's service vest?>
His brows pinched together as he read, <You're going out?>
You nodded, <I'm meant to have my first public experience alone, well, with Kuma at least.>
<Should I have Thatch take you?>

You could tell he really wasn't ready for you to go out, hell, neither were you.  It was going to happen eventually and as Rosi said, "the sooner the better."

<I'll just Uber. I've got some work to get done.>

His pout tugged at your heart, <Where are you going to go?>
<Just the craft store, I'm more comfortable there. Nothing crazy I promise.>
<Promise you'll text if you need me.>

You nodded and pulled him down for a sweet kiss.

_____________

The next afternoon you waited on the porch for your Uber driver to arrive. After loading Kuma into the back seat you tapped the driver on the shoulder and showed him the note on your phone informing him that you were hearing impaired. He nodded and proceeded to take you into town.

Kuma's head rested against your shoulder, having sensed your anxiety beginning to peak. You hadn't been in a car many times after the accident, and when you were, Ace was with you. You rubbed his head until you arrived at your destination.

It was so strange to enter a busy store and not hear anything. You almost missed the 90's pop music playing over the store's speakers, it would have been better than the overwhelming nothingness.

With a soft sigh you tightened your grip on Kuma's lead and grabbed a cart. Looking around, you realized everything in the store had been reset.

Not off to a great start.

You were hoping this would be a quick trip with minimal human interaction. Now, unfortunately, to make it a quick trip you were going to have to ask for help.

Reluctantly you made your way to the nearest employee and tapped her shoulder. She turned and glanced at you, then down at Kuma.

As her lips began to move you held up the same note you'd shown your driver.

«I sign a little.» she smiled sweetly, «What can I help you find?»

Your anxiety ebbed a little, which was unexpected. You didn't expect to find someone who could sign.

«Paint, fabric and...» you paused and snapped your fingers trying to remember how to sign what you needed, «wooden...» you could feel your face heating up with embarrassment.

She watched you patiently.

"Dowels." you muttered.
«Still learning?»

You nodded bashfully, «Car wreck.»
«That must be hard. You'll get the hang of it.» she gave your shoulder a reassuring pat.
«Thank you.» you gave her a small smile.

With that she walked you through the store to find the things you needed.

___________

Ace sat at the bar in the restaurant flipping his phone in his palm while he waited for Thatch. He was a little worried that he hadn't heard from you. After your accident leaving you alone was difficult for him. This was the first time for you to go out without him, and you didn't check in when you got home.

If you got home...

A huff pushed passed his lips as a hand came down over his left shoulder.

"Calm down, you're weirding out the customers."
"She didn't text me." he muttered turning to the brunette.
"You said she had work to do. I'm sure she got busy." Thatch assured checking his phone, "C'mon, let's go."

The drive home was more or less quiet. Ace couldn't stop being bothered but Thatch managed to distract him with stories of things that happened before he'd arrived in your world.

Trailing off his laughter the raven glanced out the window a bit alarmed. They'd driven passed the house and were on a dirt path that led to the man-made pond near the forest where you discovered Ace. As they approached he spotted you standing in front of a small paddle boat with Kuma not far away.

"What's going on?" he asked looking at his brother.
"You'll see." Thatch's demeanor had gone a bit serious suddenly which made the younger male cautious.

Finally he parked as Kuma nudged you alerting you of their presence. You turned toward them, an adorable smile up turning your lips as the setting sun warmly lit your features. Ace's heart pulled in his chest. Seeing you so happy just to see him made his chest flutter.

After hugging you tightly and kissing your head he stepped back, «What are you doing out here?»
«I wanted to help...» you stumbled a bit with your signs, «with close.»
"Help with close?"
"Closure, I think." Thatch interjected.
You huffed and pulled your tablet from your hoodie pocket, <Come look. I'll explain.>

The brothers followed you the short distance to the bank of the pond where you had beached a small beat up wooden row boat. Ace's eyes widened as they scanned the very familiar jolly roger painted on black fabric that was pulled taut with dowels over a neat little pile of logs.

You handed a large smooth stone to Thatch and gave the second to Ace.

<I know that in some sort of dream scape you both got to say goodbye. Part of saying goodbye usually involves a ceremony. In our world pirates were honored by their crews and given back to the sea.>

Thatch was already sniffling as the app on the tablet read your text aloud.

<Sorry this isn't the sea but it is a place you can visit and hopefully feel a connection.> locking the tablet you slipped it into your hoodie pocket.

The brothers stepped closer as you motioned them to place their stones at bow and stern. After that you opened the white container that had been sitting on a tree stump with a box of matches. You squeezed the bottle dousing the vessel and its contents in lighter fluid.

Ace and Thatch gave the boat a push as you struck a match and quickly tossed it into the logs igniting it. The sun had gone down quickly allowing the flames to be perfectly mirrored on the water as boat drifted out. Ace's arms wound around you tightly while you all quietly watched it begin to sink.

His damp freckled cheek nuzzled against yours as he muttered into your shoulder.