Looks Aren't Everything (Ask)

"Me?" The answer he got did nothing to alleviate his confusion or concern; though Serena's additional information helped some, it was still a lot to process as she left, and he turned back to Tanzo to see the other guy's mouth covered by what were obviously Flynn's hands. His head cocked to one side as he blinked, still taking in everything. It took him several long seconds to formulate a response, thoughts nearly as chaotic in that moment as they had been in the hospital wing a couple of weeks ago.

"Why does he think I'm going to reject him?" he asked Tanzo, as if the thought had never even occurred to him. "I just needed time to think." Confusion would be writ clear on his face. Hal had always worn his emotions on his sleeve, and today was no different.

Flynn watched Tanzo's lips as the larger student held his wrists to push him off. Still confused as he was only getting have of the conversation, he sat back down in his desk chair and stared at Tanzo waiting for an explanation of what was going on. What did Hal say? What did Serena say? What was being said about it? He was being left out of a conversation about himself and he didn't much appreciate it, especially at a time like this. Staring down Tanzo with enough intent to suffocate something he expected some sort of details to be given.

Tanzo would end up just translating everything Hal said directly rather than coming up with his own explanation for Flynn's appeasement. "See, it'll be fine" he signed "I'll interpret for you as best I can so you can stay hidden, but you don't have anything to worry about here."

The furrow in his brows deepened, and it was all he could do to keep himself where he was, respect Flynn's wishes to talk this way, however silly Hal personally felt it was. And then Hal did something he'd almost never done with anyone before, much less with these two. He got confrontational about something, even if it was only for a moment, his expression stern as he put his hands on his hips, even if Flynn couldn't see it. "Don't lie to me, you're not okay or you wouldn't have smashed your mirrors. So stop apologizing for something that wasn't wrong, stop avoiding me, and talk to me." It was mentally taxing, though, to maintain such a stern demeanor for long, so the moment he had said his current piece, his shoulders sagged and he leaned against the wall, letting out an explosive sigh as his tense body went limp, and he rubbed his face with his hands. Why did feelings have to be so complicated?

Long practice meant that by now, he usually was able to catch what Flynn was saying when the deaf boy chose to use his voice, but it didn't guarantee he would understand everything. However, he was pretty sure he caught the gist here. He chewed softly on his bottom lip for a few seconds as he processed what he understood.

"I've never noticed anyone for their looks, why would I start now for you? Attraction is...new to me," he admitted--and he finally realized what else was actually bothering Flynn. He was worried because he'd broken the rule of 'not without permission.' Something they had established early on in his first year and they'd never really discussed it further. How was he going to explain this?

"Flynn," he started, his voice softer now, trusting Tanzo to communicate that as well as he could through body language and softer emphasis. "I know what I said when we first met but, it's like..." He struggled to put it into words. Perhaps an analogy? He tried to recall an analogy he'd seen online one time, though he was probably going to make a hash of it. "People, when they get too close to me, always make me uncomfortable. You don't do that anymore. I like being around you. It's like you don't register as a person anymore, but only the uncomfortable parts. The ways that make you more comfortable to be around are still very much there. Does that make sense? Scars or no scars, you're you, that's what you will always feel like to me." He bit his lip, again, harder this time, as he finally procesed one last bit of emotion. He still wasn't sure if it was romance, but he knew how to describe this at least. "I...want you in my life. I feel a sense of dread at the thought of you NOT being in my life."

Once again he had to scrunch his face up for a moment, to concentrate and make sure he hung onto Flynn's every word as it was intended. Still, he couldn't help a sharp intake of breath as Flynn stepped into view and he saw the extent of the damage, especially after being told why the other teen was so insecure about his appearance. It froze him in place long enough to listen to the rest of what he had to say, but when he realized Flynn was done speaking, he stepped forward--and grabbed Flynn's face in both hands, one palm to each cheek, giving him probably the most intense gaze the deaf teen had ever received from another person.

The most shocking thing about the moment would likely be that Hal was the one initiating contact, not allowing others to touch him after asking him, but actually reaching out and touching someone else in a gesture that was not merely a polite handshake like he had done on the parting after their first meeting. He was also...angry? An expression neither Tanzo or Flynn would have seen on Hal's face before, on top of the unprecedented moment of physical contact.

"You better tell me the person who hurt you like this is in a hospital or I'll find a way to put them there myself," he hissed. Not even he could explain this sudden burst of rage. Was this what it was like to want to hurt someone in turn for them hurting someone you cared about? One thing was for certain, he was more upset about how Flynn had been hurt, than how he looked. It was especially evident when he pulled Flynn into a tight hug. He might not look it, but he had wiry, whipcord muscles within him and so that would be something close to a crushing hug. Not anything like what Tanzo could do, but still stronger than one would expect just looking at Hal. And it was all put into a gesture of affection he so rarely ever gave to anyone.