#deaf!light

When recounting what asks I had in my inbox, I somehow glossed over this one, which is an unforgivable mistake. I plan to correct it by writing these right this instant! (edit post writing: I am stopping after L’s death because I got… quite carried away here, and almost did a complete rewrite)

Light was born without auditory nerves. He would never be able to hear.

His parents got in touch with many associations and started learning shuwa right after the shock wore off, wanting to be able to teach their son how to communicate the same way a parent would teach a toddler how to speak when the time came.

Light was able to read and fingerspell quite early, and was a very inquisitive child. Before he started school, he went to a daycare that had other pre-lingual deaf children and teachers that helped kids with lip reading and refine their signs.

Once he started elementary, however, he saw the difference between him and his peers. They would usually mock him when he tried to talk using his voice, and would refuse to learn even basic signs.

As kids grew older, the teasing increased. But Light also made friends that helped him along the way. This settled his belief that there is two kinds of people in this world: those who are good and kind, and those who are rotten.

Light stopped trying to use his voice. He would only use JSL and written messages. He only used his voice with Sayu, who teased him in a completely different way about it, and was actually fond of the times his brother used his voice with her.

In a way to distance himself from the other kids, he concentrated on his studies, excelling in school. And he learnt; he learnt about people, he learnt to read them, he saw every micro-expression and every movement.

In secondary, his charisma started to shine: he was a good student, good at sports, a good friend and classmate, who always had the right words to say.

But he never forgot. He may not be able to hear the whispers, but he still knows about them. He was always aware, always vigilant.

By the time the DN rolls in, he is as, if not more cynical about the state of the world. He knew he had limited chances once he actually went into employment. He knew the shit people was able to pull. He had experienced cruelty first hand. The world needed to change.

Ryuk actually needed to touch Light to get him to notice him. The scare was even bigger when an inhuman hand was just on his shoulder, no prelude voice.

After explaining that he could not hear, they had mostly written conversations that Light would immediately burn up. Though Ryuk learnt some signs, if only to touch Light’s shoulder and make him know that he was laughing at him when he lost at Mario Golf. Or when Misora was using a fake name. Ryuk needs to make fun of Light, he cannot change his nature.

Light used a text-to-speech feature to pre-record messages and that´s what he played to Raye Penber at the station. Raye immediately guessed that it was Light, but since he had Kira’s power, he still obeyed his instructions. Knowing that the agent would guess his identity, Light wrote on the notebook that he would not alert anyone of any discoveries regarding the case he was working in before dying.

When it came to the speech in Tōō, he actually delivered it in sign language, and had an interpreter speak in the microphone for the people in the auditorium. He thought it was a funny, ironic way to deliver his speech, because it was always the other way around.

L proved himself fluent in JSL when he introduced himself. This only served as further proof of this individual to be more likely to be the real L to Light’s eyes. What better way to get under his skin than learning sign language just so he can specifically talk to him?

His father was the only member of the Task Force that was fluent in sign language. The other members, however, learnt the most basic signs, in an attempt to make Light feel more comfortable. Matsuda was especially adamant and surprised everyone by being the one that learnt and performed fingerspelling the fastest.

When Misa came around, Light had to communicate through writing with her. She promised to learn shuwa as soon as possible so she would be the most use to him, and make him fall in love with her.

Confinement happened the same, only L communicated through a screen showing writing of what he wanted to say to Light, and Light had his hands up front so he would be able to at least fingerspell.

After that, Yotsuba arc happens mostly the same. Either his father or Ryuzaki would quickly sign what was going on once they started spying on the 8 so Light would be able to follow conversations.

During this time, they would actually have many conversations, mostly about the case, but also about the world, and about the way everything is perceived by those who have to experience life in a world that wasn’t designed with them in mind. Light learnt in these conversations that Ryuzaki was severely colourblind; more specifically, he suffered from achromatopsia. They actually bonded during these months, and became what would actually be considered friends, by both of them.

One he regained his memories, however… He felt more conflicted. He actually held his plans of getting Misa’s memories back for a couple days, trying to think of a way to get Ryuzaki on his side. But he thought about how deeply rotten the world still was. And how impossible it’d be to change his friend’s mind. So, with a heavy heart, he carried on with his plans.

Light would never admit this to anyone, but… he wished things were different. He had never found someone he could have such deep conversations in what Light considered his true first language before, and he felt their absence once they became part of the past.