#deaf author

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Last time Kira was here, she was in such shock and constant confused terror that all she could do was wait. This time, she needed to take action if she hoped to escape Wraith. Wraith "handling it" had only kept her involved in the hero and villain's feud.

Once she was free from Wraith, she would figure out what to do about Sentinel. Maybe she would move out of the city and back in with her mother. Get herself out of Sentinel's orbit by becoming the boring small town girl she once was. There was a reason many prey animals play dead when in danger.

It irked Kira that she had equated herself to prey and that she could see the obsession Wraith had pointed out. That what she originally saw as concern likely went beyond just wanting to take Wraith down.

Lunch got delivered at noon, or what Kira assumed was noon considering there was no clock for her to keep the time. The person who delivered it was the same as last time. A skinny guy with short cropped hair and biceps that showed under his plain black tee shirt.

Kira had some basic self defense training but she knew that guy would likely not budge. And that assumed he didn't have any abilities that would help him. With Wraith being a super, it would make sense for other members of his operations to also have powers.

He left the food on the metal chair Wraith had occupied earlier. "Mac and cheese for lunch. Dinner is going to be chicken and veggies."

Kira didn't respond. He nodded mumbled an "alright" under his breath and left. She heard the lock latch. She hadn't seen a key used.

She didn't trust that the food wasn't tampered with. Sure, last time it was fine but this was different from last time. Wraith had shown he was willing to drug her if he felt the need.

After clearing the food into the toilet, Kira moved to the metal chair by the door. It was a folding chair. She was never a huge wrestling fan but she had seen enough clips to know an improvised weapon when she saw it.

She lifted it and began practicing a swing. It was awkward to grasp, but practice would hopefully make perfect.

She practiced her breathing exercises her therapist had recommended to prevent a panic attack from creeping its way to the surface.

She leapt up from the floor by the door, chair in hand when she finally heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She positioned herself to the side of the doorway, hoping whoever dropped off her food this time wouldn't notice her immediately.

The lock clicked open and the door swung and as a voice called, "Dinner's here."

They stepped in and then looked towards the bathroom when they didn't see her on the bed. Kira took her opportunity and brought the chair crashing down on their head.

The person cried out and dropped the tray of food they were carrying. Kira didn't wait for them to recover. She was beyond the door and slamming it closed before they were able to turn back. She was thankful that the lock was a deadbolt she could twist herself.

She jumped as the person pounded their fist against the door and shouted profanities towards her. She was surprised how muffled the sound was.

Wraith had said the room was soundproof but she had thought that it was just to stop her from screaming the whole time. To find out that it was actually soundproof sent a shiver down her spine.

She turned and faced the stairs. Up those 10 steps meant some level of freedom. Climbing the stairs carefully, she peeked her head out of the opening. Dread sunk her stomach as she took in the open space. The space was open farmland, which offered few places to hide.

She was coming up out of a solitary bulkhead. Perhaps the room she was kept in was once a fall shelter or in ground wine or vegetable cellar.

A barn was across the way, and a farmhouse was a short distance away on the left. The right was a dirt road that extended into the distance where it disappeared into the tree line. The land itself was surrounded by woods.

Kira had hoped that it might be a short run from her to a road where she could flag down a passing car for help. But with this new reality before her, running was no longer a viable option. Especially while there was still light.

The pounding grew and spurred Kira into action. She ran towards the farmhouse. She might be moving closer to Wraith, but she was also, hopefully, moving closer to a phone where she could call for help.

She ducked and got herself to the side of the house. She leaned against the siding, huffing to catch her breath. By some miracle, she hadn't been spotted.

She heard voices but couldn't make out the words or specific speakers from the window above her. The pounding of her heart and quick breaths in her ear didn't help.

Deciding it wasn't worth trying to figure out what was being said, she slid along the wall until she could no longer hear the voices.

An empty back porch greeted her. She could see the light on in the room beyond the back door but she didn't see any movement. Sneaking a quick glance through the window in the door, she saw an empty kitchen.

Kitchen meant knives. Knives meant a weapon to protect herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She opened the door quickly and slipped in. She thanked some higher power for not making the door squeaky. She also thanked them for having the kitchen be closed off rather than an open concept design.

She spotted the knife block on the counter and grabbed the first handle she could. It wasn't the butcher's knife but it was enough to do some damage if she needed to.

She whipped around as the door closest to her swung open.

Kira held the knife out towards the young woman who walked in. The door swung closed as she looked up from knife pointed at her to Kira. She raised her hands in the air quickly, indicating immediate surrender.

"Who are you?" Kira demanded in a harsh whisper. "What do you do for Wraith?"

The girl looked confused and shook her head.

Kira stepped towards her with the knife. The girl countered, continuing to shake her head.

"Tell me." Kira felt horrible cornering this girl by knifepoint but she had to know. She had to understand so that she could figure out her next step but what happened next froze Kira in her tracks.

The girl's hands moved frantically. Deaf, I'm deaf! I can't hear you.

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Kira's head pounded. She hadn't experienced a headache of this magnitude since college. It rivaled the beast of a hangover she had gotten from the celebration after graduation.

But she couldn't remember drinking the night before. Which probably wasn't a great sign regarding how her night must have gone.

Eyes still screwed shut, she reached for the water bottle on her nightstand. Getting some water in her would be step one. Then locating the aspirin would be the next.

Her arm swung but all she felt was air. She tried again, praying that she wouldn't have to endure the light just to find her water. Nothing.

Kira groaned and shifted so that she was on her side, facing the nightstand. She cracked her eyes open to see a concrete wall before her.

Her body went rigid as her eyes opened further. The day before came rushing back to her at the realization that she was back in that basement room. Wraith's prison cell.

She turned slowly to face the door. Wraith sat in the chair against the wall, face stoic.

Good morning, he signed. When Kira didn't respond back he continued, Your hearing aids are there. Water and aspirin for your headache.

Kira glared but didn't move.

You're angry.

"You think?!" Kira shouted and then grimaced as a shot of pain went through her mind.

She reached for the water and aspirin first. She noted that the bottle was fully sealed and the aspirin was in a foil packet. He wanted her to know that he hadn't tampered with them.

After she gulped down the pills and half the bottle, she slowly sat up and took in the room.

He had changed it since she was last here. The mattress was no longer on the floor but on a low, simple metal bedframe. It was placed away from the wall, which is why her arm hadn't hit the wall when she blindly searched for her nightstand. A small wooden table was on the other side and held her hearing aids, the water, and the aspirin.

She noted that the chain that had originally been around her waist, was coiled up against the wall by the bathroom. Still attached to the floor. Still available to trap her further.

She finally gave Wraith her full attention. They wore the same outfit they had been in when they had broken into her apartment. He closed a small laptop she hadn't noticed at first, and placed it under the chair.

Wraith broke the silence first. I'm sorry.

"No you're not."

Yes, truly sorry.

"I wouldn't be here if you were."

Wraith sighed. Maybe it was a groan but without her hearing aids Kira couldn't know for sure. He looked to the charger beside her and she knew what he wanted. He wanted to be able to communicate with her verbally. He didn't want to be at the disadvantage of only being able to communicate with a limited vocabulary.

Kira scoffed and began signing. Why? So I can hear more lies from you? You have kidnapped me twice. I don't want to hear anything you have to say.

Wraith responded quickly with the slow sign.

No! I won't go slow. I don't understand you. Why couldn't you just leave me alone? I don't want this.

Wraith looked between Kira and her hearing aids again.

Kira wanted to chuck them at Wraith's head. She groaned internally when she realized he'd just stop them mid-air with his ability. Wouldn't even get close enough to do any damage.

Fine, asshole.

A few moments later, her hearing aids were on and she glared at him.

"Thank you."

She remained silent.

"You're safe here. I know you don't believe me but its the truth."

"Why doesn't anyone know your abilities?"

Wraith's face flickered with surprise before returning to its stoic form.

"What do you mean?"

"Your abilities. The telekinesis or whatever it is that you used on me. The news always said you were a heist mastermind, not a super."

"I've curated a particular image."

"Of being a dick?"

"I deserved that." They sat up straighter. "It is better to be considered a cunning villain than a threatening one with abilities."

"That and you don't want Sentinel to know."

Wraith smiled and tipped his head towards her. "Indeed."

A lot of puzzle pieces clicked in place for Kira. People taken by Wraith didn't often return and probably because they learned of his abilities. And that's why Sentinel was so insistent that she knew something. She might not have overtly noticed the abilities, but maybe she could share enough for him to put it together.

"I'm never going to leave here am I?"

The smile fell from Wraith's face.

"Sentinel is demanding your safe return."

"You didn't answer my question."

"He knows you left unwillingly. I made that much clear."

Kira enunciated each word. "Answer. My question."

"There are many aspects in play."

Kira shook her head and moved to take off her hearing aids.

Wraith stepped towards her, hand outstretched to stop her. "I don't know. I hope not."

Kira pushed the panic beginning to build down. She needed to know more before she was consumed by it again.

"So what now?"

"There is nothing for you to do but wait. I'm handling it."

"You said something similar the first time I ended up in this room."

"I know." He looked at his phone before focusing back on Kira. "There are things that need my attention. Meals will be delivered-"

"At 8, 12, and 5. I remember."

He nodded. "I'll stop by later-"

"I'm sure you will."

Wraith gave a hard Kira a hard look before turning to leave. The lock of the door clicked and Kira releassd the tears she had managed to keep at bay.

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The mind is a funny thing. The blanket didn't provide Kira any true protection, not really, but it felt like armor. It was a barrier to the rest of the world as she tried to believe that she really was safe now.

Kira had curled herself into a ball and cocooned herself in the blanket in an interrogation room at Hero Agency. Sentinel had left her there with a bottle of water and a bag of goldfish and said he would return shortly.

Kira had no idea how long it had actually been. There was no clock in the room. The red light from the security camera in the corner of the room blinked occasionally to tell her it was still on. Perhaps she could count the time based on how many blinks she counted?

She jumped when the door finally opened again.

"I should have let you know I was coming in." Sentinel spoke as he slowly moved towards the seat opposite Kira. "May I?"

She nodded.

"I understand what you have been through is traumatic and I can only imagine how you are feeling right now. I do have to ask you some questions though. Is that alright?"

Kira nodded again.

"Good. Can you tell me what you remember about your time with Wraith, starting at the cafe?"

Kira's throat felt like sandpaper as she began to speak. "I was reading at the cafe when he grabbed my book."

"You didn't see him or his men enter?"

"No. No without my hearing aids in I don't hear anything and I was engrossed in my book."

Sentinel nodded. "What happened when they moved everyone else into the freezer in the back?"

"He grabbed me. Said it would best that I not be able to hear him and his men. He made me give him my hearing aids."

"So you didn't hear anything? No directions he gave his men? Nothing about his plans?"

Kira shook her head. "No, I didn't hear anything and I kept my eyes down. I couldn't even hear the two of you talking when you tried to stop him."

"I see." Sentinel leaned back in his chair. "It was a clever move on his part to keep you deafened through your captivity."

Kira looked down at the blanket and picked at a fuzz.

"Did he keep you deafened throughout your captivity?" Sentinel asked as he leaned forward, face intent.

Wraith had told her that the less she knew the better. Is this what he meant? Telling Sentinel that she hadn't heard anything, that she hadn't spoken with him? Why would it matter? Its not like she heard anything helpful for Sentinel to find Wraith or to know what his next plans were.

A tingle down her spine told her that it was better to let Sentinel believe that to be the case. "Yes. He didn't give me back my hearing aids until right before the exchange."

Sentinel studied Kira. She could see him assessing her and trying to determine if she was being truthful. After another moment he sighed and leaned back. "That is unfortunate."

"I'm sorry." Kira pulled the blanket tighter around her.

Sentinel sighed again. "Nothing to be sorry about. It would have been beneficial but it's also better that you are no threat to him."

Sentinel stood slowly. "We are ensuring that your home is safe and unwatched. Once we feel confident of that, we will return you to the safety of your home. The media has strict orders to leave you alone."

"Thank you."

Sentinel nodded and walked towards the door. He opened it, paused, and looked at Kira, "If you do remember anything. Perhaps something you heard before your hearing aids were taken. Let me know."

Kira nodded, "I will."

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Sentinel had kept Kira at the Hero Agency for 24 hours to "ensure that her home was safe." He had regularly come to check in on her and see if she remembered anything else. Each time disappointed when Kira's answer was no.

At some point, Kira had been moved to a room with a bed. Sentinel told her is was a room heroes sometimes crashed in after a long night on duty. She hadn't expected to be able to sleep but her body forced her to once she laid down.

Before they left the Agency, Sentinel had given Kira her purse. They had found it on the scene.

Standing at her apartment door with Sentinel, she located her apartment key in the hidden pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. She put the key in and the door opened easily.

Kira looked to Sentinel, "Thank you. I've got it from here."

Sentinel nodded and held a device out to her. "I do not believe you will need to use this but it is better safe than sorry with Wraith. Press this button and it will send me and the Agency a distress signal as well as your location."

Kira willed her hand not to shake as she took it from him. "Thank you. I hope I never have to use it."

"As do I, Kira. Take care."

Kira nodded and let herself into her apartment. She closed the door and leaned against it. She heaved in a sigh and her nose was overwhelmed by floral notes. She reached for the light switch.

Her whole apartment was filled with flower bouquets. Flowers covered every reasonable surface they could. There was a wild variety, as if the florist wanted to ensure every possible flower was included.

Kira slowly stepped deeper into her apartment when she saw the card, her name scrawled across the envelope, leaning against one of the bouquets.

Her hands shook as she picked it up and opened the card.

I may have gone overboard but I didn't know what kind you liked. Be well Kira. May we never meet again.

Wraith

For the second time in under 48 hours, Kira collapsed to the floor in tears.

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The night's rest was fitful. Every time Kira closed her eyes, nightmares of what Wraith could do with her overtook any chance at rest.

She saw him as his namesake, floating above her, torn robes billowing, and a skeletal hand reaching for her throat. She saw him breaking into her home to take her away for knowing too much. She saw him smirking at her as he returned her to this room, but this time chaining her wrists and ankles as well.

When the door opened in the morning, she was relieved to find nightmare Wraith had not come true. Wraith was still terrifying, but at least they were human.

They spoke very little as they bound her wrists and removed the chain at her waist.

"My men have orders to remain silent during the trip. Unless we need to coverse, you'll keep your hearing aids. But you have to do the boindfold. Deal?"

Kira nodded. "Yes. Thank you."

He hmm'd and then tied the blindfold around her head. She felt his hand move to the back of her arm and he led her out of the room. Those same 10 steps up taken with her own feet this time. 5 more before she was told to step up into a van.

She felt the villain follow her in and sit beside her. She felt him reach across her and heard the click of a seatbelt before feeling it go taunt against her. The van rumbled to a start a moment later.

Kira tried to pay attention to the ride, trying to map out the turns like she had before. It became clear that more turns were being added than last time. A different route so that she couldn't lead anyone back to that place she assumed.

The silence was eerie. Only the faint rumble of the engine to keep her company. She almost would have preferred the deaf silence the lack of hear aids gave her. Not having to sift through the sensory input, however little there was, allowed Kira to calm her mind. Or at least stop it from so easily flitting from one concern to the next.

It was what Kira liked about her hearing aids and deafness. She could choose when she wanted to handle that sensory input and when it was better to not bother. When she didn't feel like she needed to hear in order to be safe. That would clearly need to change after today. Maybe she'd finally invest in that service dog she had been researching for years but never felt she quite needed yet.

"Boss."

Kira jumped at the sound of the driver. Also, realizing belatedly that the van had stopped moving. She heard Wraith swear under his breath beside her.

"We'll do it here then., if that’s what the coward wants."

"Need—"

"No. Just keep the engine running."

"Understood."

Kira then felt Wraith reach across her to unlatch the seatbelt. "Remember what I said. The less you know, the better.

Kira nodded and heard the van door slide open. Wraith guided her out and she wished he would remove the blindfold.

Wraith's voice boomed from beside her, his grip firm on her arm. "This isn't what we agreed to."

Sentinel's voice tried to sound unbothered as he answered, "I figured it better here to minimize collateral damage."

"And to prevent the news stations from filming the handover. Wouldn't want me looking like the reasonable person I am."

"You're a kidnapper."

"And you forced my hand."

"Excuses for bad behavior still doesn't excuse the bad behavior."

"You sound just like him, you know that?"

Suddenly, Kira was being spun around and a crashing was heard.

"That temper isn't a good look on you Sentinel," Wraith mocked. "The real reason you didn't want prying eyes."

"Enough! Let's get this over with."

"Yes, let's." Kira swore she could hear the smirk in Wraith’s voice.

She felt Wraith move behind her. They removed the blindfold, and Kira realized where they were. They were standing on the road in the warehouse district. The area was a ghost town as it was a weekend. If they had continued along this road, they would have eventually ended up at the city center.

She felt Wraith's fingers linger around her ears before returning his grasp to her arm. What was that about?

Sentinel stood about 10 meters away. His hero suit unblemished and mask obscuring his features. His eyes connected with Kira's and he held her gaze.

"Are you unharmed?"

Kira carefully looked to Wraith before answering. He hadn't told her what he had expected of her here. He gave her a curt nod.

"Yes. I'm not hurt."

"I'm glad. I'm here to take you home." He gave her that smile he had days ago. It tried to be comforting but didn't feel genuine.

"Let's proceed as discussed. Kira, you are going to walk towards me."

She looked to Wraith, who nodded and removed his hand from her arm. As she stepped away from him, she could swear she felt his hand resting on her back, at the base of her neck. She glanced back and Wraith's hands were at his sides. Yet Kira continued to feel that sensation.

Wraith spoke up as Kira hit the halfway point between the hero and villain. "Let's not meet again anytime soon."

There was a sudden bang and Kira dropped to the ground. Sentinel was there a moment later, arms wrapped around her and shielding her from the direction of the noise. She saw smoke billowing near where Wraith had been standing.

He was gone. The van speeding away.

Someone was crying. Kira realized belatedly that she was the one crying.

Sentinel squeezed her gently and spoke in her ear. "It's okay. You're safe now."

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TW: depiction of a panic attack

People often forget that hearing aids are an imperfect technology. They are tiny computers processing sound and outputing it with adjustments to help the user to hear as well as possible. It's not like glasses that help the user get perfect vision. Rather, hearing aids use its programming to give the user a step up in hearing things they may otherwise not hear, but it is imperfect.

Because hearing aids are tiny computers, they require a power source. They run on batteries, which often die quicker than one would like.

It was just after lunch the following day that Kira heard the first warning beep of low battery. She'd have maybe an hour left of life in her hearing aids if she was lucky. She had tried to extend the life of the batteries as much as she could, but she also didn't feel comfortable not hearing anything while she was chained up the villain's basement. She had left them on for stretches of time, even when she was alone.

By the time dinner came, she had lost any assistance they could have provided. She jumped when she realized the henchman was there but was thankful that he didn't try to speak with her. He just placed the tray of food on the ground and left.

The next morning, Kira slowly woke to the light filtering from one of the high windows. She yawned and stretched her hands over her head, then rolled over towards the door. She scrambled back immediately when she saw the villain seated and leaning against the wall beside the door.

He smothered a smile and then signed to her.

Good morning.

She tentatively waved at the villain.

He pointed at the foot of her bed, where she had left her dead hearing aids on her old shirt. Kira looked over and found her hearing aids in a charger plugged into the wall. Lit up green to indicate a full battery.

A gasp escaped her lips. Tears were falling next without her permission. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear them, but the tears wouldn't stop falling. The air was dense, and she felt like she couldn’t get a full breath of air in her lungs. The short breaths just came faster and faster as her lungs ached for air. The tears continued to flow. Her head buzzed, and the ringing in her ears grew.

At some point she felt pressure pushing against her knees and then plastic against her lips. Water tipped and Kira tried take a sip in between breaths. The cool water made tracks through her insides and gave her something else to focus on.

She focused on the cool water and making space for her to take more in. She focused on the pressure placed on her knees. Not hurting her, instead reminding her of the fabric and cushion below her.

Several more minutes passed before she opened her eyes again, breathing begining to level out. They were sticky with half dried tears. Villian's face was before her with a look she couldn't place. She found that it was their hands that were applying the pressure to her knees.

The villain began to pull away, and Kira instinctively reached for their hands to stay. He nodded and returned to applying gentle pressure. She leaned over and grabbed her hearing aids. She placed them in her ears and then pulled the collar of her shirt up to try and dry her tears.

"Sorry." She whispered.

Villain shook their head. "Don't be."

She looked to their hands on her knees and then back up. She took a steadying breath. "I'm okay."

Vilain pulled back and sat back on their heels. Silence fell between the two.

Villain broke it first. "It took me time to aquire the right charger or I would have provided it sooner."

"Why?" That was the single thought repeating in Kira's head.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Why did you get the charger? Why bother when I'm just some hostage?" Kira's voice raised in pitch. "Why do you care?!"

Villain looked surprised. It was the first time Kira had ever seen them have a look that was not absolutely confident. The news clips always showed an unwavering expression of being in control, like everything was going to plan even if they were being stymied by a hero. That was what she had experienced with him since the moment she looked up at the cafe.

She worked on leveling out her breathing again while she waited for a response. She really didn't want to fall back into the panic attack.

"I don't make a habit of treating my... guests cruelly. It would be cruel to deny you the aid they provide."

Kira didn't know what to say to that. Silence took over once more. She tried to keep her eyes to the ground and focused on her breathing.

Villain stood after a few more moments. "I'll give you some time. We can talk later."

Kira nodded.

As the door clicked shut, she whispered, "Thank you."

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A/N: Civilian is she/ her pronouns and her name is Kira. Villain is he/they pronouns. Still working on a name so if folks have ideas drop them in the comments!

After a moment more, villain moved their hand away from civilian's mouth. Civilian remained quiet.

"I'm glad you didn't disappoint."

There was silence for a few moments as the two stared at each other. Then the villain pulled out a pocket knife.

"Let's get the rest of the tape off you." He pointed to her bound legs with the knife. "May I?"

Kira nodded, watching the villain's swift, sure movements as they cut and removed the tape. First from her legs, and then around her wrists and waist. The chain around her waist remained.

He stepped away and she pushed herself into a sitting position.

"Thank you." It came out softer than she meant.

He nodded and then pulled a water bottle from the bag at his hip.

"It's unopened." He said as he pushed it into her hand.

Kira examined the bottle, noting that the seal was still in tact. She twisted it open and took eager gulps. She didn't realize how thirsty she was until the water was in her hands.

The villain seemed satisfied that she was drinking and moved towards the door.

"Wait!"

He stopped and looked to her, eyebrow quirked up.

"What, uh... what happens now?"

He turned his back towards her again and left the room. A moment later he returned with a folding chair and set it beside the mattress she was on.

"What did you hear?"

"You took my hearing aids. I couldn't hear anything."

"Let me rephrase. What do you know? You may not have heard anything but I know you aren't ignorant."

"I don't know anything! You grabbed some tech but I don't know what. Then the hero showed up. He told you to let me go and then I was thrown into the van."

They nodded as Kira spoke. "And you'd don't know the words we exchanged before I threw the knife?"

"No," Kira tried to ensure her facial expressions were as convincing and honest as possible. "I swear I don't. He was too far away and I couldn't focus anyway. You had a knife to my throat!"

The villain stared at them for a few moments. Kira felt like they were peering into her soul. Maybe they were, not much was publicly known about the villain's powers after all.

Seeming satisfied with whatever they found villain leaned back in the chair.

"You asked what happens now. For now, you will remain here until it is time for you to return to the city." He pointed to the other door in the room. "That is the bathroom. The chain should have the length you need to use the facilities. Meals are 8, 12, and 5pm. Any allergies we should be aware of? Food or otherwise?"

Kira shook her head.

"Fresh clothes will be provided to you with breakfast tomorrow."

The villain stood and folded up the chair.

"I can't stay here."

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter at the moment." They reached into their bag. "Perhaps your princess can provide you some comfort." They held out Kira's book to her.

Kira no longer wished to have anything to do with the book she once thought of as comfort. Her reading it at the cafe is what led her to become a hostage, a prisoner, in the first place.

When Kira did not move to take it, the villain placed it on the ground beside her. They looked like were going to say something else and then thought better of it. Instead they simply left Kira to her thoughts.

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Not a lot of action here but needed to move the plot forward.

Tag List: Let me know if I should add or remove you. 😊

I am currently working on the next installment of A bit disappointed and I've decided that I need names/formal pronouns for these characters.

Do folks have thoughts or preferences? I already know that civilian is she/her pronouns.

Part 1, Part 2

Without their hearing aids the world was quiet. They knew things were being said. Sound was happening, but it was like low tv static. Nothing was clear, and it was easy for Civilian to let it fade from their awareness.

Well, normally it would be easy. Normally, walls weren't being blown up, and things weren't communicated via yelled commands.

After giving their hearing aids to the villain, their hands had been bound. They had pleaded with the henchman that he didn't also need to gag her. The henchman had started to force their head still so he could apply the tape when he stopped abruptly. He nodded and stepped away. The villain came into their view and caressed their face, catching a tear Civilian didn't realize had fallen on their thumb.

"You're alright."

Civilian didn't hear the words, but they were able to lip read enough to understand. They heaved in a breath and nodded.

"Good."

With that, the villian had taken hold of Civilian's wrists and gently lead them to the side, protected from the blast but able to move quickly after.

And then the detonation happened. Their ears rang even if they didn't fully process the sound. Dust floated down and Villain had begun to move.

It was chaos and civilian couldn't keep up with everything happening. It was clear that this was a well concieved plan with the people needed to put it in action. They just tried to keep up with the villain and keep their head down. The villain had already made it clear the less they knew the better.

It was a shorter amount of time than civilian expected. Maybe their sense of time was off, but it appeared that the villain's operation had lasted only a few minutes. The crew had locked staff of the office in a closet and taken whatever they came for, bags slung over their backs. They were already headed towards the exit.

The villain had sent a wicked grin civilian's way as he guided them to follow. A van was just past the exit with it doors open.

It was when the villain had not let got of civilian that their mind finally switched out of freeze and into fight.

Their mind screamed, reminding them of those self defense lessons their mom had insisted on before they moved to the city.

Do not go to a second location! A second location means death!

They began pulling away from the villain. Their grip tightened on the civilian's wrists and they stopped outside the van doors.

"I don't know anything. Please, please let me go."

The civilian could see that the villain was speaking but they couldn't focus on it enough to know what they were saying. Civilian just kept repeating their plea.

The villian placed a finger over their lips to silence them and moved the civilian's hair from their eyes.

The villian pointed at the civilian and then fingerspelled O K. They then pointed at the pocket civilian saw their hearing aids disappear into with a smile.

Civilian thought the villain was going to grab their hearing aids. Instead, there was a flurry of movement and they ended up with their back pinned against the villain's chest, wrists still held, and a knife near their throat.

Civilian saw before them why the villain had suddenly done this maneuver.