I've been ranting to (and with) friends about the criminal lack of disabled readers or headcanons so buckle up people, this is gonna be one of my drabbles but with a hearing impaired Soap.
When you thought about it, it should have been pretty clear that John, as a demolition specialist, someone making and using bombs, specialised in tearing down any sort of obstacle, of all people in the military would most likely suffer consequences for his hearing. But it hadn't really struck you all that much, and neither had it him. In the military, everything was just fairly loud, so he didn't notice when he was back home on leave and you would call out to him, but he shrugged it off - he just wasn't used to the small voice you used with him.
It also didn't occur to you at first, but as the days passed he didn't get better, didn't adjust to your quietness, you were a bit confused. He usually adjusted fairly quick, but this time he wasn't, maybe it just took him longer? Another week passed and still nothing changed. You grew suspicious. John had mentioned having an irritating beep in his ear a lot when he was with you, but that was normal, right? And then you had mentioned it to John. John Price, that is, not your Johnny.
"He's not getting better even after weeks? Maybe you should go see a doctor. Just... Just to make sure. Soldiers tend to be easier affected by hearing loss anyways, and with him and his explosives? Take him to the doc, for me, will ya?"
And so you did. You had told Johnny not to worry when you took him to the city, having a nice date out, pulling him into a doctor's office in the middle of the day. You ha stood him to stay put in the waiting room, organizing everything yourself, you didn't want him to run in case he would realize. It was selfish and inconsiderate, but Price had asked you to, and you wanted to know. It would be better dealing with it together.
Johnny thought you had to go to the doctor yourself and was confused when they called his full name, instead of yours, but after you went into the room with him and the doc started with his exam, he realized what was happening. He felt a bit sad and disappointed you wouldn't talk to him first about this, he nearly shrugged the doctor off, if he hadn't seen your worried face.
"I'm sorry" was the first things the woman said, holding the results from the tests the nurse had done. "Your hearing is most definitely damaged because of your job. If you continue to work your current job, you will rapidly loose more of your hearing until eventually going deaf." Johnny simply stared at her so you stepped in. Even if you knew he would never ever drop his job as a soldier, his spot in the 141 being way too precious for him, you stepped forwards. "What if he stopped?" The woman looked at you then.
"No matter what you do, his hearing will decrease. How fast is the only variable in your decisions I'm afraid. I can get you a prescription for hearing aids, however you need to realize, even if you would continue your work, the military doesn't allow deaf soldiers. Once you pass a certain threshold, the military will drop you."
Johnny was mad. He was really mad. And you? You didn't really know what to feel. It was terrible. He would loose his hearing, his job and even his friends with it, considering most of them were in his task force. His dream destroyed itself. So you called Price and told him. He didn't have a lot to add, but he soothed you when mentioning Johnny avoiding you for the rest of the day. He was mad, confused. He would get his bearings.
That evening, you both were laying in your shared bed, back to back. He still hadn't acknowledged you. You were okay with it. It was your fault. You shouldn't have gone behind his back. Just when you wanted to apologize, tell him you were sorry for ruining his dream, he shifted, rolling over and looking at your back. "Can I hug you?"
His arms embraced you, as yours slid around his torso, one in his mohawk, one between his shoulder blades, as he started crying. "I don't want to loose my Ears, don't want to loose my dream." You teared up as well, as he cried, pouring you his heart out. "Don't want to not hear your voice anymore. I'll never hear you laugh again." You soothed him, telling him you had time.
"I'll never hear you say that you love me again"
He had resumed his job as long as he could. And you were there for him all the way. Years had passed, since you had gotten the diagnosis and today was the first day of his retirement. Early retirement, but retirement none the less. You smiled at him, ths small black knobs in his ears nearly looked like regular earphones he used to wear, as he closed the door behind him and the other men, smiling back at you.
You raised your hand, looking at the members of the 141 behind him, as your hands motioned your exact words. "Welcome home Johnny"
