Chapter Text
When the blast came down, Juliana and Florian yanked Kieran out of the way. The impact of the explosion shakes the ground, creating a loud crashing sound.
Florian, unable to keep his balance, falls to the ground. He holds his hands to the sides of his head, his ears ringing.
The boy slowly sits up, looking around to see his friends battling off Terapagos. Juliana seemed to be taking the lead, Kieran standing closely to her side to provide aid.
To his other side, Florian sees Carmine next to him. Her mouth was moving but the words didn’t seem to hit his ears, being lost as they left her mouth. Florian freezes, suddenly feeling nauseous by the realization that he can’t hear anything, not just Carmine.
“Florian! Are even listening to me?!” Carmine says, looking panicked. Florian stares Carmine in the eyes and he only manages to croak out four words.
“I-I can’t hear you…” Florian felt like his whole world was closing in and all he could do in that moment was let his tears stream down his face.
The group immediately took Florian to the hospital when they got out of Area Zero. Florian sat there silently the entire travel, eyes locked on his shoes.
All three of his friends were sat in the hospital’s waiting room. Juliana was pacing crazy while talking to Carmine while Kieran held Florian’s bag close to his chest.
“Are you sure he actually said that?” Juliana asked for the millionth time but Carmine keeps saying she knows what he said.
Hours passed and the doctor ever came to check up on the group. Juliana and Kieran were leaning on each other.
“…What if they’re wrong? He can’t just... Florian can’t hear?” Juliana mutters, stressing out over her brother’s possible hearing problems.
Kieran tries to reassure her that Florian will be okay and that the doctors probably just needed to check up on him.
Finally, nearly three hours later, the doctor came out to the waiting room. Juliana immediately sits straight up with her leg hoping up and down crazy.
“Is he okay? Is my brother okay?” Juliana asked, immediately thinking of the worst.
Kieran squeezes her hand. The doctors give them a sympathetic look, explaining that, while Florian had not sustained any serious injuries, he had lost his hearing in the explosion.
Kieran covers his mouth and looks down at the ground, guilt rising in his chest. Carmine hugs her little brother, trying to give him comfort. Juliana stares at the doctor, trying to process the news.
“Can I see him…?” Juliana whispered, just loud enough for the doctor to hear her.
The doctor led Juliana to Florian’s room. Her eyes fix on Florian who was staring down at his hands. He looked numb, sitting there all alone. He couldn’t hear the beeping or doors opening or anything that he once could. It was all gone.
Juliana walks up to his bed and pulls out her phone, typing something. She holds up her phone and shows him a text.
“Can I join you in the bed?” Florian stares at her phone before he nods his head. Juliana joins her brother in bed.
Florian doesn’t even try to talk, considering it wasn’t like he could hold a conversation at this point. He can’t hear anyone.
Juliana and Florian text each so they can try to figure out a way they could talk even now that Florian is deaf.
Florian didn’t even want to try. He wanted to hear his laughter, his sister’s silly rants, Kieran’s dumb arguments, all of his friend’s voices. None of that can be done anymore.
Juliana immediately notices Florian clutching his hands together. She rubs the boys back, trying to comfort him. Kieran comes in after a few moments, he had some lavenders in his hands to give to Florian.
When Florian saw this, two people he cares truly trying to make him feel better, he started to cry. He didn’t care that he looked like a crybaby.
All he knew was that he couldn’t hear anymore and he won’t be able to hear his two friend’s voices again. Juliana hugs Florian and tries to comfort her brother to make him feel better. Juliana glances at Kieran motioning him to join in.
Kieran felt hesitant, but when he saw how distressed Florian was. He couldn’t say no. Kieran joins in the hug and whispers his apologies to them, feeling bad that all of this mess is happening.
The trio holds each other close with Florian sobbing his heart out while the duo hugs him. After an hour or two of crying, Carmine comes and checks up on them, her gaze softening when she sees the three kids sleeping. She closes the door and sits on the chair, keeping an eye on the trio as they slumber peacefully.