EJ is the best person to rely on while you're sick. Not only has he spent a very long time studying the human body, but he’s not exactly an easy man to scare away in any situation.
He’s happy to wait on you hand and foot if that’s what you need. Homemade soups and safe foods, all with the best ingredients he can get his hands on, fluffy blankets and good pillows for sleep, your aching body gently heated by heating pads as he works. He'll even offer to massage you if your joints ache, he’s surprisingly good at it. He’s never going to find you gross, and he can’t catch what you have so he is happy to cuddle you as much as you need. He gently rubs his fingers through your hair, whispering sweet things to you. He loves you so much, and this is his best time to show it, this is his element, caring for you. .
This is also one of the very very rare times he will allow you in his clinic. He needs to keep an eye on you as you recover. You're placed in his “bubble room.” to ensure nothing's contaminated He’s very strict about that, it’s almost obsessive, he also makes sure you shower and wash your hands, and add vitamin C to your water.
and the best meds are given to you, with the added bonus of prescription strength meds that he gets from…somewhere. Most likely the very sweet brunette named Toby who always seems to double time his missions when it’s you on the line.
The only downside is he will get really annoyed when you try to get up before you are fully healed. He’s a biiiig stickler on letting yourself recovery to 100%.
Overall he's the world's sweetest boy.
And secretly there’s this deep fear in him that he’ll lose you, that sickness will come and take his better half from him. He’s lived for so long, he’s been alone for so long, he is just so scared of losing you, he has to keep you safe till he can find a way to preserve you. He’d never want to make you a monster like him, but if that’s what it takes he will do it. He needs to make sure that till death do us part, never happens
Synopsis/Plot: For the last few years, Y/N has treated her birthday like any normal day, something not worth celebrating. Something to get through. But, on the first day of her senior year at Grey City College, she meets EJ—a thoughtful classmate who finally sees her as more than “the deaf girl.” An unexpected close friendship blossoms between the two. As her birthday draws near, Y/N must decide whether she’s willing to let EJ make the day matter.
(College!AU: EJ x HOH!Fem!Reader)
Word Count: 7.76k-ish
Notes/Warnings: pure ultimate fluff, frequent switches between sign and spoken language, dialogue in sign is bold and italicized, spoken language is written normally, thoughts are italicized, talks of apathy surrounding birthdays (#relatable), negative birthday experiences (turned positive), mentions of exclusion and subtle ableism, use of emdashes, written in 3rd person, divider by @dollywons
While I am not a deaf or HOH person, I noticed the lack of disability representation/misrepresentations in the fanfic community as a whole. I’ve also noticed the lack of pure fluff in Lunéville Tumblr community (because y’all are some freaks😭). So, this is one fic to help fill those gaps. Please let me know if there are any misrepresentations or inaccuracies that can be corrected/edited. Thanks for reading!
XOXO, Dai <3
Y/N and EJ met during the first semester of their senior year at Grey City College.
GC474 — Senior Seminar.
On the very first day of class, they were assigned as partners.
Y/N sat in the front row of the lecture hall while her interpreter, Alyssa, sat directly in front of her, signing everything the professor said.
The moment she saw the sign for partner, her stomach dropped.
Over the past four years at Grey City College, she'd had plenty of group projects and assigned partners. And more often than not, she'd been met with the same reactions when her classmates realized they were paired with the "deaf girl."
The awkward pauses. The disappointed sighs. The barely concealed frustration.
Some students tried to hide it. Others didn't. Either way, she always noticed.
Then her interpreter signed a name. "E-J."
Y/N blinked.
"The professor asked him to raise his hand," Alyssa added.
Her gaze swept across the lecture hall until she spotted a hand raised a few rows back.
And—
Wow.
Y/N wasn't usually the type to get flustered over appearances, but EJ was easily one of the most attractive men she'd ever seen.
Dark boba eyes. Soft smile.
As if sensing her staring, EJ glanced toward the front of the room.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Because if Y/N thought EJ was beautiful, EJ was having a very similar problem.
He had not expected her.
Not with her warm smile and bright eyes that immediately made his heart skip.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
Slowly, the raised hand turned into a shy little wave.
Heat rushed to Y/N's face.
She quickly waved back before turning toward the front of the room again, hoping nobody had noticed.
Unfortunately, Alyssa had.
A quiet laugh escaped her. "He's cute."
Y/N immediately groaned. "Please don't start."
Alyssa's grin only widened. "Too late."
Once everyone had been assigned a partner, the professor dismissed the lecture and designated the rest of the class period for introductions.
"You'll be spending a lot of time together this semester," Alyssa signed the reminder from the professor.
Great. Just great.
Y/N barely had time to mentally prepare herself before EJ stood up and made his way toward the front of the lecture hall.
When he reached the empty seat beside her, he offered a small smile.
"Hi, I'm EJ."
At the same time, he lifted his hands and signed the greeting.
The movement wasn't perfect. A little hesitant. But it was sign language.
Y/N blinked.
Beside her, even Alyssa looked surprised.
"You know sign language?" Y/N asked.
A faint blush crept across EJ's cheeks.
"A little," he admitted. "I'm still learning."
Y/N stared at him for a moment.
In four years at Grey City College, she'd never been assigned a partner who knew any sign language at all.
Outside of her interpreter and the friends she'd made through the Deaf/HOH and Sign Language clubs, she rarely met hearing people who could sign.
Most relied on pen and paper. Others used their Notes app. Some expected her to read their lips the entire conversation. And there were always the people who spoke exclusively to her interpreter instead of speaking to her.
Yet here was EJ, sitting beside her and signing. Even if it wasn't perfect.
"I'm Y/N," she replied, signing and speaking at the same time.
Her spoken voice wasn't flawless, but over the years she'd become more comfortable using it when necessary. It often made conversations easier for hearing people.
EJ nodded, clearly paying attention to both her voice and her signs.
Then he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Can I ask you something?"
Y/N nodded.
"What's the easiest way for you to communicate?"
The question caught her completely off guard.
Not “Can you read lips?”
Not “Can you hear me?”
Not “How are we supposed to do this project?”
“What do you prefer?”
Y/N couldn't remember the last time someone had asked that.
"I mostly use sign language," she explained. "At least on my end. But I can speak too if I need to. I can lip-read a little, and I have a cochlear implant, so you can talk normally if you want."
As she signed, EJ watched closely.
Whenever he missed something, he briefly glanced toward her interpreter before returning his attention to Y/N.
Not once did he direct the conversation away from her.
"Then I'll keep practicing sign language," he said.
Y/N couldn't help smiling.
"Really?"
"Yeah." He shrugged. "You're more comfortable signing, right?"
Y/N nodded.
"Then that's what I'll work on."
The smile on her face widened.
"Just promise you'll correct me when I mess up."
"You'll probably mess up a lot."
EJ laughed. "That's fair."
"And I'll teach you more signs."
"Deal."
He signed before holding out his hand. "Partners?"
Y/N looked at his outstretched hand for a second before taking it.
"Partners."
Three months later, spending Friday afternoons together had become routine.
The library's third floor had practically become Y/N and EJ's unofficial study spot. Most afternoons, one of them would claim their favorite table by the windows while the other grabbed coffee or snacks before settling in for a few hours of work.
Today was no different.
Y/N sat surrounded by notebooks and colorful index cards, carefully turning lecture notes into flashcards for an upcoming exam.
Across from her, EJ was focused on a paper, his fingers flying across his keyboard.
The comfortable silence between them wasn't awkward. It never was anymore.
Three months ago, Y/N had worried about being partnered with a stranger.
Now she couldn't imagine going through her final year without him.
EJ finished typing a paragraph before lightly tapping the table to get her attention.
Y/N glanced up.
"I'm getting hungry," he said. "How about you?"
She immediately set down her pencil. "Actually, yeah. I'm starving."
A grin spread across his face. "I've been thinking about Five Guys for the last hour."
Y/N laughed. "Only the last hour?"
"Okay, maybe the last three."
"That sounds more accurate."
"I even have enough money to splurge today."
"Ooh." Y/N nodded approvingly. "Now you're speaking my language."
"Five Guys?"
"No. Free food."
EJ laughed as he began packing up his laptop.
The two gathered their belongings while continuing their conversation.
Somewhere over the past three months, switching between sign language and spoken conversation had become second nature.
EJ's signing had improved dramatically since their first meeting. It was still far from perfect, but he practiced constantly, and Y/N had become his unofficial teacher.
In return, EJ had helped her grow more confident using her speaking voice. Y/N grew used to people being mean and condescending about her “deaf accent.” But with EJ, she had been talking more than she had in years just within 3 months of knowing him.
The arrangement had started as a classroom partnership. It hadn't stayed that way for long.
As it turned out, Senior Seminar hadn't even required a major project. Their professor's goal had simply been to pair students together for the semester—someone they could rely on, study with, or befriend.
In Y/N and EJ's case, it had worked almost too well.
They studied together. Ate together. Ran errands together. Spent hours hanging out in each other's dorms.
At some point, they had become each other's favorite part of the day.
EJ adjusted the strap of his backpack as he sat, waiting for Y/N to finish up.
"So, any exciting plans this weekend?"
Y/N shrugged.
"Not really. Just the usual."
"Same." EJ chuckled.
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence as Y/N zipped her tote bag.
Then EJ casually added,
"Although Alyssa told me your birthday is next weekend."
Y/N stopped immediately.
Slowly, she turned to look at him.
"Betrayal."
EJ burst out laughing.
"That's your takeaway from what I said?"
"Absolutely."
"I'm texting Alyssa later and thanking her."
"Traitor and accomplice."
"I'll accept those charges."
Despite herself, Y/N smiled.
"Yes," she admitted. "My birthday is next Saturday."
The words came out noticeably less enthusiastic than they should have.
EJ's smile faded slightly.
"Wait."
He tilted his head.
"Why do you sound sad about that?"
Y/N looked away.
"Because birthdays aren't really my favorite thing."
His eyebrows furrowed.
"How is that possible? A Saturday birthday is literally elite."
She let out a small laugh.
"Maybe for other people."
Something in her voice made EJ's expression soften.
For the first time since the conversation started, he realized she wasn't joking.
Y/N shifted her tote bag higher on her shoulder.
"Let's just say..." she said quietly, "I've never really been a fan of celebrating big on my birthday."
Birthdays had always been complicated for Y/N.
Growing up, she watched classmates throw elaborate birthday parties every year.
There were bounce houses, sleepovers, laser tag arenas, skating rinks, and entire classrooms filled with invitations.
She'd come home from school and excitedly tell her parents about them, secretly hoping that one day she'd have a party like that too.
But money was often tight.
Most years, her birthday consisted of a homemade dinner, a cake, candles, a heartfelt card, and a few carefully chosen gifts.
And honestly? She loved those celebrations. She loved spending time with her family.
She loved how hard her parents worked to make every birthday feel special, regardless of what they could afford.
Still, a small part of her always wondered what it would be like to have a big party surrounded by friends.
That opportunity finally came during her freshman year of high school.
After months of saving, her parents told her they could afford to throw her a real birthday party.
The kind she'd dreamed about for years.
Y/N had never been so excited. She spent weeks planning everything.
The decorations. The food. The guest list. The playlist. Every detail mattered.
When she handed out invitations at school, she felt something she rarely allowed herself to feel. Popular. Included.
Normal.
Twenty-five people were invited. Almost all of them RSVP'd yes.
For the first time, she genuinely believed people wanted to celebrate with her.
Then the messages started arriving. One cancellation became three. Three became seven. Seven became fifteen.
By the morning of the party, her phone was filled with apologies and last-minute excuses.
Some sounded genuine. Others didn't.
By the time the party started, only four of the twenty-five invited classmates actually showed up. Four.
Y/N still remembered standing in the party room and glancing at all the empty chairs.
Trying not to count them. Trying not to notice how much food was left untouched. Trying not to let her parents see the disappointment written all over her face.
Her family did everything they could to make the day special. They laughed. They danced. They took pictures. They showered her with enough love to fill the room twice over.
But no amount of love could completely erase the sting.
Especially when many of the people who hadn't shown up were people she'd considered friends.
People whose birthdays she'd attended. People she'd supported. People she'd believed would do the same for her.
After that, she stopped asking for parties. Stopped expecting them.
When her parents suggested another birthday party, or even a graduation party, during her senior year of high school, she immediately declined. Once had been enough.
By then, most of the people she'd known as a freshman had drifted into other friend groups.
Y/N mostly kept to herself.
Sometimes she found herself missing how easy friendship had seemed when she was younger.
Elementary school hadn't cared about differences nearly as much.
High school did.
Whether people intended to or not, Y/N often felt like she was standing on the outside of conversations, friendships, and experiences everyone else slipped into naturally.
College wasn't entirely different.
She'd made a handful of friends through Grey City's Deaf/HOH and Sign Language clubs, and she was grateful for them. Truly.
But many of those friendships never seemed to extend much beyond meetings, events, and occasional conversations.
Nothing that felt permanent. Nothing that felt like home.
Because she'd chosen a college several hours away from her family, birthdays became even quieter.
Every year, she followed the same routine.
She'd buy herself a small cake from a local bakery. Order takeout from her favorite restaurant. Call her parents. Open whatever gifts and cards they mailed her. Reply to small birthday messages on social media. Then she'd spend the rest of the evening alone.
By now, birthdays no longer felt exciting. They felt like reminders.
Reminders of empty chairs. Missed expectations. The lingering fear that she cared about people far more than they cared about her. And loneliness.
EJ frowned.
"Well, I, for one, think you should celebrate."
Y/N rolled her eyes.
"EJ, it really isn't that serious."
"It is a little serious."
"No, it isn't."
"Y/N."
The look he gave her immediately made her sigh.
"EJ."
"It's our senior year," he argued. "You're telling me you've spent four years at Grey City and never done anything special for your birthday? Not once?"
Y/N shoved her hands into her jacket pockets.
"Does takeout and a cake count?"
"No."
She paused. "Then no."
EJ looked genuinely horrified. "That's actually depressing."
"Wow. Thank you."
"I'm serious."
Y/N laughed despite herself. "I survive somehow."
"Clearly not."
"You're being dramatic."
"I'm not being dramatic. You're treating your birthday like it's a mandatory dentist appointment."
"It's not that bad."
"It sounds exactly that bad."
Y/N shook her head.
"What's so special about birthdays anyway?"
EJ looked at her as though she'd just asked why water was wet.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..." She shrugged. "It's just another day. The Earth keeps spinning. Life goes on."
The words came out casual. A little too casual. Because they both knew there was more to it than that.
After a moment, Y/N sighed.
"I already tried the whole big celebration thing once."
EJ's expression softened. "And?"
She looked away. "It didn't exactly work out."
That was all she said.
But it was enough. Enough for EJ to understand there was a story there. Enough for him to know he shouldn't push.
At least not right now.
"Okay," he said quietly.
Y/N glanced at him, surprised by how quickly he'd backed off.
Then he pointed a finger at her.
"But that doesn't mean you have to throw some huge party."
She groaned. "EJ—"
"I'm serious."
"You always say that right before saying something annoying."
EJ opened his mouth. Then immediately closed it.
"That's what I thought."
He ignored her.
"My point is, birthdays don't have to be huge. They don't have to be expensive either."
Y/N remained unconvinced.
"It's just about doing something special."
"I already do something special."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"You order takeout."
"I like takeout."
"You order takeout multiple times a week."
Y/N paused, then swatted his shoulder.
EJ laughed. "See? Even you know I'm right."
"I hate that you're right."
"I know."
The smug grin on his face made her want to hit him again.
"At least think about it," he said. "Please?"
Y/N hesitated.
For some reason, it was difficult to say no when he looked at her like that. Like he genuinely cared. Like her birthday actually mattered.
Finally, she relented. "Fine."
EJ's grin immediately widened.
"I'll think about it."
"Amazing."
"You look way too happy about that."
"I am."
Y/N shook her head. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're avoiding the possibility of having fun."
Before she could come up with a comeback, EJ stood up and started walking towards the library’s exit.
"Now come on."
"Where are we going?"
He looked back at her. "Five Guys."
"Oh, right."
"I'm starving."
"That's because you've been thinking about burgers for three hours."
"Closer to four now."
Y/N laughed and followed after him.
What she didn't notice was the small smile that crossed EJ's face.
Because while she had agreed to think about her birthday—
EJ had already started brainstorming.
It was nearly midnight when Y/N and EJ found themselves on the rooftop terrace of their apartment building.
The terrace was quiet at this hour, illuminated by strings of warm fairy lights that hung overhead. Beyond the railing stretched the campus and the surrounding city, glowing beneath the dark night sky.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
They sat side-by-side on a patio sofa, watching the lights below and enjoying the comfortable silence that had become second nature between them.
Eventually, EJ broke it.
"So... hypothetically."
Y/N immediately groaned.
EJ laughed. "What?"
She rolled her eyes and tipped her head back dramatically. "Every time you start a sentence with 'hypothetically,' I know you're about to ask something crazy."
"That's not true."
"It is absolutely true."
His grin widened. "Okay, maybe a little."
Y/N shook her head. "Go ahead."
EJ leaned back against the cushions.
"If you did decide to celebrate your birthday..." he began carefully, "...what would you do?"
Y/N stared out at the skyline. The honest answer? She had no idea.
"I don't know, EJ."
"Not even a little?"
She shook her head.
"I haven't really thought about it in a long time."
"How long is a long time?"
His voice became softer. Gentler.
"Years," she admitted quietly.
The answer seemed to surprise him.
A few moments passed before he spoke again.
"Have birthdays always been rough for you?"
Y/N considered the question. "No."
The answer came easier than she'd expected.
"They used to be okay."
EJ glanced toward her. "Used to?"
She nodded.
Another silence settled between them. This one felt heavier.
"What happened?" he finally asked.
Then, quickly, he added, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Y/N swallowed.
Normally, she would've brushed the question aside. Changed the subject. Made a joke.
But this was EJ. And somewhere over the last three months, he'd become someone she trusted. So instead of speaking, she lifted her hands and began to sign.
"My birthdays were always pretty simple growing up."
EJ immediately shifted his attention to her hands.
"They were mostly family celebrations. Just me and my parents."
A small smile crossed her face.
"I loved them."
She paused.
"But I used to see other kids having huge birthday parties. Sleepovers. Arcades. Event halls. Friends showing up to celebrate. I wanted that too."
Her smile faded.
"So one year, my parents saved up enough for me to finally have a big birthday party."
EJ's expression softened.
"Freshman year of high school."
Y/N looked down at her lap.
"I invited twenty-five people. Most of them RSVP'd."
For a moment, she could almost see it again. The decorations. The food. The excitement she'd felt. The certainty that people actually wanted to come.
Then came the messages. The excuses. The cancellations.
"I think only four people showed up."
Her chest tightened even now. Years later.
"It's stupid."
EJ's eyebrows immediately furrowed and furiously shook his head.
Y/N ignored him and continued signing.
"I know it happened forever ago."
Her hands slowed.
"But it felt like a big deal at the time."
A lump formed in her throat.
"I always went to everyone's parties."
She blinked rapidly.
"I showed up for people because I never wanted anyone to feel forgotten."
The next sign came slower.
"But when it was my turn..."
She couldn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to. EJ understood.
The silence that followed was brief. Then she felt him move closer. Carefully. Giving her every opportunity to pull away if she wanted.
When she didn't, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her against his side.
"I'm sorry."
Y/N laughed weakly through the sting behind her eyes. "Why are you apologizing?"
Her voice sounded much smaller than she'd intended.
"You didn't do anything."
"No." EJ's voice was quiet. "But you shouldn't have gone through that."
The sincerity in his words nearly broke her.
Because he wasn't treating it like a silly high school memory. He wasn't brushing it off. He wasn't telling her to get over it.
He was simply acknowledging that it hurt.
And somehow, that made the tears even harder to hold back.
Y/N lowered her gaze.
Still tucked against his side, she lifted her hands and signed again.
The movements were smaller this time. More vulnerable.
"It was already hard enough being the deaf girl growing up."
EJ's arm tightened slightly around her shoulders. Not enough to overwhelm. Just enough to remind her he was there.
Y/N swallowed.
For years, she'd never said this part out loud. Not to anyone.
"I just..."
Her hands trembled.
"I just wanted to feel normal for once."
The confession barely left her before tears filled her eyes.
And for the first time since they'd started talking about birthdays, EJ finally understood.
This had never really been about the party.
It had been about belonging.
A few tears escaped before Y/N could stop them, slipping down her cheeks.
Immediately, EJ noticed.
Without saying a word, he tugged the sleeve of his sweatshirt over his hand and gently brushed away the tears.
The gesture was so simple. So natural. As if comforting her was the easiest thing in the world.
Y/N let out a shaky laugh. "Sorry."
EJ frowned. "For what?"
She shrugged weakly. "Crying over something that happened years ago."
"Hey."
His voice was firm enough to make her look at him.
"You're allowed to be hurt by things."
The knot in her chest tightened again. Not painfully this time. Just enough to remind her how much his words meant.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The city lights twinkled in the distance while a cool breeze drifted across the rooftop.
Then EJ sighed dramatically. "Well…"
Y/N narrowed her eyes. "Uh-oh."
"Nope." He pointed at her. "Now I'm really determined."
"Determined to do what?"
"Give you the best birthday you've ever had."
Y/N immediately groaned. "EJ."
"I'm serious."
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips as she rubbed at the corners of her eyes.
"Just... nothing too extravagant, okay?"
EJ's smile softened. The kind that always made her suspicious.
"No promises."
Y/N dropped her head into her hands. "I knew you were going to say that."
EJ laughed, pulling her a little closer against his side.
And for the first time in a long time, the thought of her upcoming birthday didn't feel quite so dreadful.
The next morning, EJ was awake far earlier than he needed to be.
By mid-morning, he was sprawled across his couch with his Notes app open, staring at a growing list titled: Y/N Birthday Ideas.
The problem was that every idea felt either too small or way too much.
Y/N had specifically said she didn't want anything extravagant. But she also deserved more than a slice of cake and takeout in her dorm room.
EJ sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
Why was this so difficult?
Actually, he knew exactly why.
Because this wasn't just anyone's birthday. It was Y/N's.
The girl whose smile could instantly improve his entire day. The girl who patiently corrected his sign language every time he messed up. The girl who somehow made every errand feel fun.
The girl he'd developed a very inconvenient crush on.
Which was exactly why he wanted everything to be perfect.
Not because he expected anything in return. Not because he was trying to impress her. He just wanted her to feel special. Wanted her to feel celebrated. Wanted her to have at least one birthday memory that didn't end in disappointment.
She deserved it.
For the next several hours, EJ bounced between apps.
Notes. Google. Pinterest. TikTok. Back to Notes. Then Pinterest again.
Every time he found an idea he liked, he'd write it down.
Every time he found one he loved, he'd immediately convince himself it was probably too much.
By lunchtime, his notes looked like the ramblings of a conspiracy theorist.
Birthday dinner? Movie night? Flowers?
(Too much?) (Maybe not?)
Ask Alyssa for help? Absolutely ask Alyssa for help.
He was halfway through another TikTok search when a video caught his attention.
A college student had surprised his girlfriend by decorating her dorm room.
Nothing outrageously expensive.
Just thoughtful.
Balloons. Streamers. A few gifts. Her favorite flowers. A small birthday cake. Photos and handwritten notes.
The girl's reaction was immediate. She started crying before she'd even made it halfway through the doorway.
EJ sat up straighter.
Then watched the video again. And again.
A slow smile spread across his face.
This was it.
Not the exact decorations. Not the exact gifts.
But the feeling. The thoughtfulness. The effort. The fact that someone had taken the time to make another person feel loved.
That was what he wanted for Y/N.
Immediately, he created a new note.
Operation: Best Birthday Ever
Underneath it, he began typing.
Y/N’s favorite flowers. Her favorite snacks. Cake flavors. Gift ideas. Decorations. Things Y/N had casually mentioned over the past three months.
Little details most people would've forgotten. EJ remembered all of them.
The list grew longer and longer.
Soon he was watching YouTube tutorials, scrolling through blogs, comparing decoration ideas, and adding entirely too many things to his online shopping cart.
At one point, he looked at the total price and physically winced. Then added another item anyway.
By the end of the afternoon, he leaned back against the couch cushions and admired his work.
Was he slightly overthinking this? Probably.
Was he already way more invested than a normal person should be? Definitely.
Did he care? Not even a little.
A grin spread across his face as he looked down at his growing plan.
This was going to be her best birthday yet.
Meanwhile, several floors above, Y/N sat curled up on her couch, absentmindedly staring at her laptop while her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
More specifically, they drifted toward EJ. And whatever birthday plan he was undoubtedly plotting.
A sigh escaped her.
I really hope he doesn't go overboard.
Knowing EJ, that hope felt unrealistic.
The thought made her smile despite herself.
Still, beneath the nervousness was something else. Something she hadn't expected.
Curiosity.
Because as much as she tried to pretend birthdays didn't matter, a small part of her couldn't help wondering what it would be like to actually enjoy one again.
To wake up excited. To spend the day making memories. To feel celebrated.
Just because she mattered to someone.
The thought made her chest ache unexpectedly.
Growing up, she'd always felt loved by her family. There was never any doubt about that. Her parents had spent years reminding her how cherished she was.
But friendship was different. Being chosen was different.
And if she was being completely honest with herself...
She wanted that too.
She wanted someone to be excited about her. To think about her when she wasn't around. To look forward to spending time with her the same way she looked forward to spending time with them.
A warmth crept into her cheeks.
Okay.
Maybe she wanted something even more specific than that.
Maybe she wanted that from EJ.
The realization wasn't exactly new. It had been growing quietly for months. Ever since the first day of Senior Seminar.
The first time she'd looked across the lecture hall and seen him raising his hand. The first time he'd sat beside her and introduced himself. The first time she'd discovered he was learning sign language.
That moment alone had nearly been enough to give her a crush. Everything afterward had only made it worse.
The late-night study sessions. The grocery runs. The random conversations that somehow lasted for hours. The way he always made sure she was included. The way he looked directly at her when she signed. The way he never treated communication as a burden.
Before she'd realized it, EJ had become her favorite person.
And somewhere along the way, friendship had stopped feeling like enough.
She wanted movie nights that were actually dates. She wanted to hold his hand without needing an excuse. She wanted to know what it would feel like to lean over and kiss him.
The thought alone made her immediately bury her face in a pillow. After a moment, she sat back up and groaned.
This was exactly why she'd been trying not to think about it.
Because the more she liked him, the more complicated everything became.
EJ was her best friend. The person she spent the most time with. The person she trusted most at Grey City.
And she had absolutely no idea whether he saw her as anything more.
For all she knew, he viewed her exactly the way she was supposed to view him. As a friend. A really good friend.
The possibility made her stomach sink.
So she'd done what she always did when things felt uncertain. She kept her feelings to herself.
It was easier that way. Safer.
Whatever was happening between them right now mattered too much to risk.
And honestly? She was already grateful for what she had.
Even if it wasn't everything she secretly wanted.
Her gaze drifted toward the window. A small smile tugged at her lips.
Whatever EJ had planned for her birthday was probably going to be completely ridiculous. Possibly expensive. Definitely overthought.
But for the first time in years, she found herself looking forward to her birthday.
Not because of the day itself. But because of him.
Because regardless of what happened, EJ cared enough to try.
And somehow, that meant more to her than he could possibly know.
Saturday arrived much faster than either of them expected.
The entire week leading up to Y/N's birthday had been absolute torture for EJ.
Not because of classes. Not because of assignments. But because he was trying—and failing miserably—to keep a secret.
Every day, he told himself he would act normal. And every day, he lasted approximately five minutes.
Y/N noticed immediately.
During one study session, EJ spent nearly an hour staring at the same paragraph of his textbook without turning a page.
When Y/N asked him a question, he responded with a single sign.
Another question. One-word answer.
A third question. A thumbs-up.
That was it. Y/N eventually lowered her notebook and narrowed her eyes.
EJ refused to look at her.
The harder he tried to hide his excitement, the more obvious it became.
Honestly, it was adorable. And entirely predictable.
After all, this was the same guy who had accidentally spoiled the gift she'd gotten Alyssa for National Interpreter Appreciation Day.
The second he'd mentioned it, Y/N had sent him the most offended glare imaginable.
EJ had immediately realized his mistake. Then spent ten minutes apologizing.
Needless to say, keeping secrets was not one of his strengths.
Which was exactly why Y/N knew something was coming.
Normally, she would've spent the entire week teasing him. Trying to trick him into talking. Poking holes in his terrible poker face.
But this time?
She wanted to be surprised.
So she let him suffer.
Saturday morning arrived.
At precisely 10 A.M., there was a knock on her apartment door.
Y/N opened it to find EJ standing there with a takeout bag in one hand and a drink carrier in the other. The smell alone made her smile.
"You got breakfast?"
"I got your favorite breakfast."
Y/N laughed and stepped aside to let him in.
A few minutes later, they were sitting at her kitchen table enjoying brunch from her favorite restaurant.
Everything felt surprisingly normal.
Until EJ suddenly slid his debit card across the table.
Y/N blinked. "What is this?"
"An assignment."
Her eyes narrowed. "EJ?"
Y/N immediately looked up. "EJ."
"Nope."
"EJ."
"Not listening."
"EJ."
He pointed dramatically toward the door before signing. "Go."
Her jaw dropped. "You are not serious."
"I am extremely serious."
"EJ, this is already too much."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It isn't."
Y/N groaned. "EJ."
He crossed his arms. "Y/N."
She knew she'd lost. Still, she tried one more time.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Like... really sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Y/N."
She laughed. "Okay, okay."
Then she paused. "Wait."
EJ immediately regretted whatever was coming next.
"What?"
"You remembered me talking about needing new clothes?"
"Of course."
Y/N blinked. She'd mentioned that weeks ago.
Something about her body changing over the last couple of years and half her wardrobe fitting differently now. “Second puberty” and all. (A/N: ifykyk)
He remembered that?
The realization warmed her chest.
"Go enjoy your birthday," EJ said.
"Fine."
She grabbed her purse. "Fine."
Then she pointed at him. "If I come back and you've done something ridiculous—"
"I'm offended you'd even suggest that."
Y/N stared at him. He stared back. Neither of them believed that statement.
"Bye, EJ."
"Bye, Y/N."
The second the apartment door closed behind her, EJ sprang into action.
Showtime.
Thankfully, he wasn't alone.
Since Alyssa was currently a graduate student at Grey City, she'd agreed to help with the setup.
For the next three hours, the two of them hauled supplies between apartments like they were preparing for a covert operation.
Boxes. Bags. Decorations. Gifts. More decorations. An unreasonable amount of tape.
By the end of the first hour, Alyssa had completely stopped asking questions.
The second hour was spent inflating balloons. Or rather, EJ inflated balloons while Alyssa handled the decorating.
"Thank God for air pumps," EJ muttered.
"I was just thinking the same thing."
Soon, balloons covered the living room ceiling. On one wall, metallic letters spelled out: HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
And, of course, every decoration featured Y/N's favorite colors. EJ had made sure of that.
Once the decorations were finished, Alyssa left to pick up the cake and candles while EJ made a final snack run.
By the time she returned, everything was coming together perfectly.
The cake sat waiting in the kitchen. Her favorite snacks were arranged neatly in a gift basket. A bouquet of her favorite flowers rested on her bed beside several gift bags.
The entire apartment felt warm. Celebratory. Loved. Exactly what EJ had wanted.
Three hours later, he and Alyssa stood in the doorway admiring their work.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Alyssa smiled.
"You did good."
Relief immediately washed over him.
"You think so?"
"I know so."
As she gathered her things, she slid a gift bag and birthday card into the pile on the bed.
Then, casually, she added, "You better tell her how you feel."
EJ nearly dropped the roll of tape in his hand. "What?"
Alyssa looked at him blankly. "What do you mean, 'What'?"
"How do you know?"
Now it was her turn to look offended.
"EJ."
He winced.
"Your crush is painfully obvious."
"Is it?"
"It absolutely is."
EJ opened his mouth. Then closed it. Because unfortunately, she was right.
Alyssa laughed. "I was in undergrad once too, you know."
EJ buried his face in his hands. "This is embarrassing."
She patted his shoulder sympathetically. "For what it's worth, I think you have a shot."
EJ's head immediately snapped up.
Before he could ask another question, she was already opening the door. "Good luck."
Then she pointed toward the decorations. "And tell Y/N I said happy birthday."
With that, she disappeared into the hallway. Leaving EJ alone.
And suddenly very aware that in a few minutes, Y/N would be coming home.
Sure enough, about ten minutes later, EJ heard footsteps and the faint sound of keys jingling outside Y/N's apartment door.
Immediately, he sprang off the couch.
His heart began pounding. Way harder than it should've been.
He quickly ducked behind the wall near the entrance, trying—and failing—to calm himself down.
A second later, the door opened. Y/N stepped inside. And gasped.
Her shopping bags nearly slipped from her hands.
The apartment looked completely different.
Balloons floated against the ceiling. The decorations filled the room with her favorite colors.
The giant "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" display stretched across the wall.
Streamers. Confetti. Lights. Everything.
Before she could fully process it, EJ jumped out from behind the wall.
"Surprise!" He signed and spoke at the same time.
Y/N froze.
For a moment, she didn't say anything. She simply stood there. Looking. Taking everything in.
Slowly, she stepped farther into the apartment.
Her eyes moved from the balloons to the decorations. Then to the lights. Then back to EJ.
The room felt warm. Full of love.
And suddenly, it hit her. All of it.
The planning. The effort. The timing. The fact that someone had done all of this for her.
Her bottom lip trembled.
EJ's smile immediately disappeared.
Tears filled her eyes. Within seconds, they spilled over.
"Oh no."
EJ crossed the room almost instantly.
"Oh no, no, no."
He wrapped his arms around her.
"What's wrong?" he asked quickly.
"Is it too much? I knew I should've scaled it back. I knew the balloons were probably too many. Or maybe it was the confetti—"
"EJ."
His rambling stopped immediately.
Y/N pulled back just enough to look at him. Her hands remained around his waist.
"It's perfect."
The words came out through tears.
EJ blinked. "What?"
"It's perfect."
She laughed shakily and looked around the apartment again. "This is beautiful."
Fresh tears appeared.
"Oh no." EJ reached for her again.
"No, these are happy tears."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
Y/N laughed. "Yes, EJ."
Relief washed over him.
A moment later, she buried her face against his shoulder again. "Thank you."
The words came out muffled. But EJ heard them anyway. His arms relaxed around her.
"You're welcome."
For a while, neither of them moved. They simply stood there holding each other.
And for the first time in years, Y/N didn't dread her birthday. She actually felt gratified.
Eventually, they pulled apart. Though not without EJ carefully helping wipe away a few lingering tears.
Once he was satisfied she wasn't about to cry again, he clapped his hands together.
"Okay."
Y/N immediately laughed. "What?"
"Important question."
His expression became completely serious. "Do you want cake first or gifts first?"
Y/N stared at him. "There’s gifts?"
EJ looked horrified. "Of course there’s gifts."
"EJ, you literally gave me your card and sent me shopping."
"And?"
"That wasn't enough?"
"No."
Y/N dropped her head into her hands. "You are ridiculous."
"I've been told that before."
She laughed. "Cake first."
"Excellent choice."
EJ immediately led her toward the kitchen.
The birthday cake sat waiting on the counter. Two candles glowed on top.
As he lit them, he began singing Happy Birthday. Softly. And a little off-key.
Y/N smiled the entire time.
When he finished, she closed her eyes. Made a wish. And blew out the candles.
"Okay," EJ announced. "We can eat cake later."
"What?"
"Gifts."
"EJ."
"Gifts."
Before she could protest, he was already guiding her toward her bedroom.
Y/N slowly pushed open the door. And stopped.
Again.
The bouquet of her favorite flowers sat on her bed. Beside it was a basket overflowing with her favorite snacks. Several gift bags surrounded them.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"EJ."
"Oh, come on."
He rushed to her nightstand, grabbed the tissue box, and hurried back. "I just got you to stop crying."
Y/N laughed through her tears. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
He handed her a tissue. "I'd probably be emotional too."
That only made her laugh harder.
Once the tears finally subsided, she settled onto the bed and began opening gifts. One by one.
A new purse. A restock of her favorite perfume. Makeup. Skincare. Self-care essentials. Books she'd mentioned wanting to read months ago.
And finally, a LEGO set.
Y/N stared at it. Then looked at him.
"EJ."
"What?"
"You hate building LEGO sets."
"I don't hate them...I dislike them."
Y/N laughed. "You bought this for us, didn't you?"
EJ tried and failed to hide his smile. "Maybe."
Her chest tightened.
Because every gift told the same story.
He listened. He remembered. He cared.
By the time she'd finished opening everything, Y/N was overwhelmed all over again.
"EJ..." She carefully set the final gift aside.
"This is amazing."
His smile softened. "I told you I wanted to make this birthday special."
"It definitely is."
For a moment, they simply looked at each other. Then EJ tilted his head.
"So..."
Y/N immediately knew that look. "So what?"
He grinned. "Did I successfully cancel out all previous negative birthday experiences?"
Y/N groaned. "You can't be serious."
"I am very serious."
She shook her head, laughing. Then launched herself at him.
"Yes, you dork!"
EJ barely had enough time to react before she tackled him backward onto the bed.
His laughter filled the room.
And for the first time in a very long time, Y/N's birthday felt exactly the way it was supposed to.
Happy.
Later that night, EJ insisted on preserving one of Y/N's birthday traditions.
Takeout.
Because, according to him, "traditions are important."
So they ordered food, curled up on the couch, and spent the evening watching Y/N's favorite movie.
By the time the credits rolled, the clock was creeping closer to midnight.
The decorations still hung throughout the apartment. A few balloons had started drifting lower toward the floor. And the apartment felt warm in a way it never had before.
Now the two sat in the kitchen sharing slices of birthday cake.
For once, the silence between them wasn't filled with studying or homework.
Just contentment.
At least on EJ's end.
Y/N, meanwhile, couldn't stop thinking.
Not just about the act itself, but the fact that someone had spent weeks planning something just to make her happy. The fact that someone had looked at her and decided she was worth all that effort.
When they finished eating, EJ gathered their plates. "I got it."
"You always say that."
"And yet I always do it."
Y/N rolled her eyes affectionately as he carried everything to the sink.
She followed him into the kitchen a moment later and hopped onto the counter beside him.
For a while, she simply watched him. Watched him rinse the plates. Watched him hum quietly to himself. Watched him exist.
A smile tugged at her lips. "EJ?"
"Hmm?"
He didn't look away from the sink.
"Why did you do all of this for me?"
A small smile appeared on his face. "I already told you."
"You wanted to make my birthday special."
"Exactly."
Y/N stared down at her hands. "No."
Her voice was quieter this time.
"I mean... why me?"
That got his attention. The water stopped running. Slowly, EJ turned around.
Y/N swallowed. "I know you said you weren't going overboard."
A nervous laugh escaped her.
"But this was..."
She looked around the apartment.
"It was a lot."
EJ immediately looked concerned. "Too much?"
"No."
The answer came so quickly it made him pause.
"Not too much."
She shook her head. "It was perfect."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"That's what makes it hard to understand."
EJ frowned.
Y/N looked toward the floor.
"All of this..."
Her fingers twisted together in her lap.
"...for little old me?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Immediately, EJ's expression softened. He crossed the kitchen and stepped between her knees.
Close enough that she could see every detail of his face. Every beauty mark. Every lash. Every ounce of sincerity in his eyes.
Gently, he tilted her chin upward.
"Look at me."
Y/N followed.
"EJ—"
"No."
His voice was firm. Not angry. Just grounded.
"Y/N."
The way he said her name made her heart ache.
"I did all of this because it's you."
Her breath caught.
"You listen to people. You show up for people. You care about people."
His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek.
"You make everyone's day better without even realizing it."
Y/N felt her eyes beginning to sting again.
"And honestly?"
A nervous laugh escaped him.
"I think you’re my favorite person."
The confession settled between them. Warm. Honest. Terrifying. Beautiful.
Y/N stared at him.
Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she reached up. Placed both hands on his face. And kissed him.
For a second, EJ froze.
Not because he didn't want to. Quite the opposite, actually.
Because he'd imagined this happening so many times that it almost didn't feel real.
Then he kissed her back. One hand settling gently at her waist. The other finding her cheek.
The kiss was soft. Careful. The kind that felt like a question being answered.
When they finally pulled apart, Y/N's eyes widened.
Reality crashed into her all at once.
"Oh my God…EJ, I am so sorry."
"What?"
"I don't know why I—"
She immediately started rambling.
"EJ, I wasn't thinking and—"
This time, it was EJ who interrupted. Not with words. But by leaning forward and kissing her again.
The second kiss wasn't rushed or uncertain. It was deliberate. Grounding. Like he'd spent months wanting to do exactly that.
When they finally pulled apart again, both of them were smiling.
Neither one seemed entirely capable of speaking. For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Then EJ lifted his hands.
"Was that okay?" He signed the question carefully.
Y/N's face immediately softened. Still slightly stunned, she nodded.
"Yeah."
A smile spread across EJ's face. "Yeah?"
"Definitely yeah."
He laughed. The sound filled the kitchen.
Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. This time, Y/N hugged him back without hesitation.
EJ pressed a kiss to her forehead.
And for a moment, neither of them wanted to let go. Eventually, he glanced at the clock.
12:03 A.M. Technically, her birthday was over.
A grin tugged at his lips.
"So."
"So?"
EJ squeezed her hand.
"Best birthday ever?"
Y/N looked around the apartment. Then back at him.
At the boy who had somehow managed to change everything she thought she knew about birthdays.
And maybe a few other things too.
A smile spread across her face. "Best birthday ever."
Paring: Eyeless Jack x chronically ill! (Gn) reader
Genre: Fluff
Cw: Mentions of chronic fatigue and flare ups, reader doesn’t know how to relax for shit, gently forced caretaking, EJ lovingly manhandles reader like an angry cat
This is really for me cause my stupid ass is very tired and flared up rn. Tried to keep reader’s chronic illness as general as possible but some of my particular issues might still bleed in 😅
💤❤️🩹💤❤️🩹💤❤️🩹💤❤️🩹💤❤️🩹💤❤️🩹💤
Being chronically ill with a doctor boyfriend was an interesting experience. On one hand, it meant you really didn’t have to explain your situation and he knew how to help you manage your symptoms. On the other hand, it seems he could smell a flare up coming before you even registered it. That aspect was probably from his more creature side but who was really to say for certain.
In any case, you were minding your business doing the dishes when the first inklings of fatigue started washing over you. That was fine, you dismissed it and continued with scrubbing pans, wanting to just get it done and over with so it wouldn’t be a chore for tomorrow. That, you would come to learn, was a mistake.
You felt hands settle on your waist, EJ’s head looking over your shoulder and surveying what you were up to.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
His tone was a mix of chastising and concern, which made you sigh.
“I’m doing the dishes.”
Your answer seemed to displease him, his hands leaving your waist and taking the washcloth from your hands, plopping it back into the sink.
“You must feel that a flare up is imminent, yes? You should be resting.”
“Finishing the dishes won’t kill me.”
You grumbled, flicking the suds from your fingers. He carefully grabbed you by the underarms and gently dragged you back away from the sink, lifting you like a naughty cat that was trying to bite.
“You are resting now. The dishes will have to wait.”
He carried you effortlessly to the couch, lowering you down like you were made of porcelain and propping you up with pillows.
He puttered around the kitchen, filling up your water bottle and grabbing you a snack, bringing both to you then went back to the kitchen, wordlessly picking up where you left off with the dishes.
“Don’t even think of getting up. I am not above burritoing you.”
You swore he could mind read, as you had been secretly plotting to skitter off before he could catch you and do some nefarious chore-doing while his back was turned. There was still much to do and you almost felt itchy laying around when things needed doing.
With your dastardly plans foiled, you sulked deeper into the couch cushions like a dejected worm, watching passively as he finished the dishes.
When he was done, he came back over to where you were sprawled out on the couch and sat next to you, patting his lap in a silent invitation. So of course you flopped sidelong across his lap, much to his amusement and he began to rub your back.
“You are…uniquely bad at relaxing.”
His nails lightly scratched your scalp, a soft purr rumbling in his throat. A big benefit of having a monster boyfriend is that he was basically like a big cat. He was undeniably snuggly and always purred up a storm when you cuddled.
You were too tired to respond properly, merely offering a soft hum in response. His devious scheme to make you rest was working. You could feel yourself starting to drift off.
He seemed to realize that and smiled to himself, proud that he took such good care of his partner. You deserved nothing but the best, after all.
”Sleep well.” He whispered as you finally drifted off to a deep sleep.
-End-
Sorry for the like scrunched ending, I’m half asleep while finishing this 👍
Wait was this intended for me. Or do you just fucking read minds? I'm deleting my search history now and getting a new phone, this one must be bugged.
But I'm putting on my walking shoes, hold on. Prostate exam with EJ. Bondage with bandages. Scalpel play. Him shoving his fingers down your throat as means of a "checkup". And dare I say - catheter play.
I have an Euijoo x Deaf!Reader College AU sitting in my drafts, but I don't know if I should finish it...
Here's the first section, lemme know your thoughts pleaseeee (｡•́ ̫ •̀｡)
Y/N and EJ met during the first semester of their senior year at Grey City College.
GC474 — Senior Seminar.
On the very first day of class, they were assigned as partners.
Y/N sat in the front row of the lecture hall while her interpreter sat directly in front of her, signing everything the professor said.
The moment she saw the sign for partner, her stomach dropped.
Over the past four years at Grey City College, she'd had plenty of group projects and assigned partners. And more often than not, she'd been met with the same reactions when her classmates realized they were paired with the "deaf girl."
The awkward pauses. The disappointed sighs. The barely concealed frustration.
Some students tried to hide it. Others didn't. Either way, she always noticed.
Then her interpreter signed a name. "E-J."
Y/N blinked.
"The professor asked him to raise his hand," her interpreter added.
Her gaze swept across the lecture hall until she spotted a hand raised a few rows back.
And—
Wow.
Y/N wasn't usually the type to get flustered over appearances, but EJ was easily one of the most attractive men she'd ever seen.
Dark boba eyes. Soft smile.
As if sensing her staring, EJ glanced toward the front of the room.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Because if Y/N thought EJ was beautiful, EJ was having a very similar problem.
He had not expected her.
Not with her warm smile and bright eyes that immediately made his heart skip.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
Slowly, the raised hand turned into a shy little wave.
Heat rushed to Y/N's face.
She quickly waved back before turning toward the front of the room again, hoping nobody had noticed.
Unfortunately, her interpreter had.
A quiet laugh escaped her. "He's cute."
Y/N immediately groaned. "Please don't start."
Her interpreter's grin only widened. "Too late."
Once everyone had been assigned a partner, the professor dismissed the lecture and designated the rest of the class period for introductions.
"You'll be spending a lot of time together this semester," her interpreter signed the reminder from the professor.
Great. Just great.
Y/N barely had time to mentally prepare herself before EJ stood up and made his way toward the front of the lecture hall.
When he reached the empty seat beside her, he offered a small smile.
"Hi, I'm EJ."
At the same time, he lifted his hands and signed the greeting.
The movement wasn't perfect. A little hesitant. But it was sign language.
Y/N blinked.
Beside her, even her interpreter looked surprised.
"You know sign language?" Y/N asked.
A faint blush crept across EJ's cheeks.
"A little," he admitted. "I'm still learning."
Y/N stared at him for a moment.
In four years at Grey City College, she'd never been assigned a partner who knew any sign language at all.
Outside of her interpreter and the friends she'd made through the Deaf/HOH and Sign Language clubs, she rarely met hearing people who could sign.
Most relied on pen and paper. Others used their Notes app. Some expected her to read their lips the entire conversation. And there were always the people who spoke exclusively to her interpreter instead of speaking to her.
Yet here was EJ, sitting beside her and signing. Even if it wasn't perfect.
"I'm Y/N," she replied, signing and speaking at the same time.
Her spoken voice wasn't flawless, but over the years she'd become more comfortable using it when necessary. It often made conversations easier for hearing people.
EJ nodded, clearly paying attention to both her voice and her signs.
Then he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Can I ask you something?"
Y/N nodded.
"What's the easiest way for you to communicate?"
The question caught her completely off guard.
Not “Can you read lips?”
Not “Can you hear me?”
Not “How are we supposed to do this project?”
“What do you prefer?”
Y/N couldn't remember the last time someone had asked that.
"I mostly use sign language," she explained. "At least on my end. But I can speak too if I need to. I can lip-read a little, and I have a cochlear implant, so you can talk normally if you want."
As she signed, EJ watched closely.
Whenever he missed something, he briefly glanced toward her interpreter before returning his attention to Y/N.
Not once did he direct the conversation away from her.
"Then I'll keep practicing sign language," he said.
Y/N couldn't help smiling.
"Really?"
"Yeah." He shrugged. "You're more comfortable signing, right?"
Y/N nodded.
"Then that's what I'll work on."
The smile on her face widened.
"Just promise you'll correct me when I mess up."
"You'll probably mess up a lot."
EJ laughed. "That's fair."
"And I'll teach you more signs."
"Deal."
He held out his hand. "Partners?"
Y/N looked at his outstretched hand for a second before taking it.
Yeahhh Im back folks. 🔥 Let me introduce you guys to...
Random EJ headcanons.
Theres both sfw and nsfw! Minors obviously don't read the nsfw istg. You have been warned. (Respectfully separated!)
Cw: cannibalism (ofc), me yapping is its own cw, and just the usual stuff.
ONTO TO THE HEADCANONS.
Sfw:
-Jack is pretty warm. Most would assume he's more cold due to his grey skin but he's actually warm. He's not burning hot luckily but on hot days he's the worst. On cold days it's like heaven to cuddle him. Usually he sleeps with thin blankets because of his body temperature.
-He’s pretty tall and flexible. Not only that he's also fast. Running from him is not your finest moment. He can jump pretty high as well. Parkour master. /j
-Jack is mostly human in build. Yes he has grey skin but let's talk about the other traits real quick. First he has pointy ears. He has a few piercings on them! His teeth are sharp, perfect for tearing into people. His hands fade into a darker grey as they go down to the finger tips. His nails are obviously sharp which help him not only tear into people but stuff like climbing! He has a lion styled tail that is pretty sensitive. Never pull it that WILL hurt him. You probably won't see the next day if you do that. Obviously Jack doesn't have eyes he doesn't see like most people do and uses his other senses instead!
-his animalistic instincts. Now entities and demons work way differently than humans! They have different traits and behaviors. Jack has heightened senses compared to regular people. He might not be able to see you but he can smell you. His taste is also kinda dulled. He doesn't enjoy most human food anymore so he's fine sticking with kidneys or other organs. Human food doesn't really fill him up either and can make him sick. He has heightened hearing. You think you snuck up on him? You didn't, he just let you. His behavior mostly resembles cats. If he flicks his tail a bunch he's getting annoyed. He may also purr when happy. I could easily talk more about this but I'm sure we all understand that stuff.
-he's the type to get distracted by the smallest of noises. Usually his room is very quiet so if he suddenly hears a sound he's 100% checking. He would hate to find out there are any unclean critters inside.
-he's strong, like really strong. He needs to be strong enough to hunt humans so of course he is! He's not stronger than most entities/demons obviously since he was originally human and entities would have more experience compared to him he wouldn't really stand much of a chance.
-playing games with Jack like hide and seek seem fun at first but then you get stuck with a Jack who 100% kicked into his predatory instincts half way through. Let's hope he knows to not hurt you when he finds you but im sure if you guys are dating he'll know better.
Nsfw:
-I feel like most of these you guys agree on and don't need repeated but here we go!
-yes, Jack goes through ruts/heats. Most entities and demons do! It was definitely not fun for him when he first got sacrificed and such. It's kinda like going through puberty again for him and needing to figure out how to handle it. His body heat goes WAY up. He's constantly sweating so he needs to keep his room very cold. Jack also will steal his partners clothes if they aren't available. Most likely wouldn't want them to deal with him at the beginning of a relationship either.
-he definitely can get interested fast if you feed into his animalistic behavior. Play a game of hide and seek with him you got him all feral already you can easily flip that around for more fun.
-tongues. He has three and they are long. His favorite thing to do is give head. Probably won't pull away until you are literally crying.
-he CAN smell when you are horny. It's the worst when you are trying to go unnoticed because well… he noticed.
-personal belief that Jack prefers when you are taking control most of the time or at least when you guys first are together since he'll be pretty nervous and doesn't want to accidentally hurt you. Of course he doesn't mind taking control of things. Usually he does when he's in a rut or already gone feral.
I kinda just did these because I got bored ngl- I just like exploring nonhuman characters. 🐀
