This AU was requested by XxSaiZEE! I love the idea, buddy :)

Also since you mentioned you like angst in the request, I've added ✨extra angst✨ for ya >:3

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How this AU goes is that Sabre is selectively mute due to trauma in his old world. Signs of said trauma are many, many scars he has all over him. Because of the memory of what happened to him that they bring, Sabre hides the scars from everyone, hence the constant wearing of long sleeves, hoodies, the blindfold, and jeans. Added parts of his designs are fingerless gloves and a scarf that covers his neck, of course, hiding more scars.

At the point he enters the world of RQ, Sabre has been mute for years, so he's very used to not speaking. However, this does cause problems when he needs to communicate with the Steves. As they don't really have the concept of 'mute' in their world, they're all very confused when they first meet him.

Common reactions by other Steves when he doesn't respond verbally is asking Orange/Rainbow or whoever's with him what's up, more attempts at getting Sabre to talk until Orange/Rainbow or whoever's with him steps in and explains, and being understanding and asking if he has other ways to communicate. In some cases, people try raising their voices or poking/shoving him a little bit, which Sabre very much doesn't like as he's more sensitive to loud noises and sudden physical contact due to his trauma.

When he can, Sabre uses a book and quill to communicate. He's learned to write quickly yet neatly because of interactions in his old world, so it doesn't take all that long. Down the line of the story, Orange/Rainbow makes Sabre little cards that have common responses to things people ask him when he meets new people.

These responses can be usual ones, like 'Hello', 'Yes', 'No', 'I'm Okay', and other recurring phrases used in conversation. There's also cards that describe him for introductions, like 'My name is Sabre' and 'I am mute, which means I do not speak'. These come in handy very often.

As I mentioned before, Sabre is more sensitive to loud noise and sudden contact with others due to his past. He flinches whenever someone suddenly yells, he covers his ears whenever he knows there's about to be lightning, he hates crowds, he flinches when someone touches him and he didn't see them coming, and other things. Of course, many people notice it, and when they ask why he does that Sabre just writes down 'Things happened, it's nothing to worry about'. His friends, of course, worry about it.

People have also tried to look at his scars, but Sabre never lets them, either pulling his sleeves down (his arms have the most scars, and people sometimes see a few of them on accident), turning away (the blindfold covers scars that are near his eyes), hiding his hands behind his back (gloves sometimes slip a little, or people notice the few scars on his fingers), pulling his scarf up (sometimes that slips too, and a few scars peek out from the fabric), or just straight up walking away and hiding behind Orange/Rainbow if he's there. Later on into the story, that shifts to him hiding behind Time when that happens.

Here are some situations where Sabre would rarely speak:

- While getting destroyed by Nightmare, he screams. Orange Steve later describes it as both terrifying and heartbreaking.

- Sabre tells Dark 'Thank You' when he agrees to help him save Rainbow from Reverse Steve.

- Both when Rainbow shatters himself and when he's destroyed, Sabre screams Rainbow's name.

- Sabre tells Shadow to shut up before the fight at the tower, right in the middle of Shadow's monologue.

- When Light attacks him with lightning while he's on his way to confront Shadow, Sabre just asks "Why?", which makes Light stop. Sabre then continues on his way while Light questions what he's doing.

- Rainbow Void gets called a nuisance right before he's destroyed.

- Sabre tells Dark that he did great and that he's proud of him before he dies, just after the fight with Shadow.

In all of these moments, Sabre's voice sounds raspy and hoarse, because he doesn't speak that often.

And there you go, one very angsty AU :>