Work Text:
Based on this tumblr headcannon! https://emono-omae.tumblr.com/post/161642759466/deaf-headcanons-with-hbo-bois
Since the words first showed up on Joe's wrist on his 13th birthday he was utterly confused on how he'd know.
His mother told him his skin would start to burn and it would disappear. But he was still more than scared for the day it would happen.
Joe stood in the bathroom at school with his friend group. He sighed as he bent down and pulled out the small tool kit from his backpack.
His hearing aid batteries died just as he got to school and now had to change them.
"Who knew Joe could be a handyman," George giggled and signed.
Joe turned around looking at his friends and rolled his eyes. He turned and signed a quick "shut it, Luz."
He got the batteries changed in his hearing aid and stood up to put it in when a body collided with him and he dropped it. Joe's eyes met the ground as the other boy stepped on it by accident as he tried to regain his balance.
George's eyes went wide and Eugene dropped to the ground in an attempt to fix anything.
"Oh, my word I'm so sorry!" David said quickly why he helped Joe up off the ground. Joe sighed heavily not getting a word David Webster said but his wrist began to burn and he looked down.
"Oh my god it's happening," Joe signed to George then David's eyes went wide as he noticed his words start to fade on his wrist.
"I'm just gonna back away and go call Joe's mom. Uhm Eugene Wanna play translator? Thanks, Roe." George signed and dipped out of the bathroom.
Eugene was hard of hearing but could still pick up on some words.
"Uhm can you tell him I'm really sorry?" David pleaded looking at Eugene.
"Tell him yourself," Eugene said and signed at the same time.
"But isn't he?" David started.
"Yes but he's not stupid if you speak clearly he can lip-read." Gene sighed and watched the two. David took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, I Uh hope I can make it up to you," David spoke.
"I accept your apology," Joe signed and Eugene translated it back to David. Joe still had his face stuck in a shocked manner. His eyes gaped wide and his mouth parted slightly. Both boys were in utter shock this was the circumstances.
"Since we're soul mates, I hope I can make it up to you?" David sighed looking at Joe for any reassurance.
"Here I'll give you my number," Joe signed and Gene told David. David took his phone and handed it to Joe. Joe put in his number then texted a quick hey so the contact would get added. Joe's watch flashed alerting him the bell had rung and he picked up his backpack. He picked up the remainders of his hearing aid and put them in his pocket waving at David as he and Eugene left.
Since the first text, Joe couldn't stop texting David.
Joe spent the whole bus ride home texting David. He got off and pocketed his phone as he walked with his sister Laurella.
"What's with the smirk on your face?" She signed.
"I met my soul mate today," Joe signed his crooked smile growing bigger.
"Oh, Joey you did?!" She signed beyond excited for her older brother. Joe smiled and nodded as he opened the door.
Joe walked into the kitchen and put his broken hearing aid on the counter.
"Joesph, what happened?" His mom signed and walked over to him.
"I met my soul mate mama, and he uh stepped on my hearing aid," Joe signed with hesitation.
"Just this one broke?" She asked. Joe nodded and his mom hugged him tightly.
She was always scared for Joe to meet his soulmate.
But from what it looked everything was going as planned.
David:
So your mom probably assumes I bully you now, huh?
Joe:
I explained everything to her.
David:
Good, I'm glad you have supportive parents. My parents are always gone :/
Joe:
Yeah, I'm sorry about that? So why'd you move here?
David:
My dad got a huge promotion but it didn't matter because it's not like my parents are ever home. They're always on some bull shit work trip.
Joe:
Oh :( that sucks.
David:
Yeah, maybe you can come over some time while they're gone.
Joe:
I'd love to <3
From then on that day their freshman year, Joe and David were inseparable. Their friends would then meet their soulmates.
But with every long-lasting relationship, it came with fights.
Joe and David got in petty arguments a lot.
They'd both sign at each other aggressively. Most of their arguments ending in violent kissing and then them banging it out.
"Why is George even throwing a party most of his friends are deaf." Joe signed as David drove them to George's.
"Toyes on the football team and George is the captain of the cheer squad they know people." David signs carefully as he drives.
"True," Joe nodded. They pulled up at George's and parked on the street.
Joe sighed getting out and David rushed to Joe's sighed and took Joe's hand.
Joe was used to David being clingy at social events. Where Joe was pretty open, David had to play translator. Or try the best he could.
Joe opened the door and let him and David in as they looked around.
Jocks were dancing and drinking in the living room. Joe looked over and some girls that George knew from the squad were smoking weed on the staircase. He walked to the kitchen to get drinks as he abandoned David in the crowd by accident.
"Liebgott!" Heffron signed walking over.
"What's up?" Joe signed then poured himself a drink.
"You know Eugene is playing medic for every one that falls." Babe signed and nudged Joe's shoulder, "Where's Web?"
"Lost him in the crowd," Joe giggled and took a drink of beer.
"Well you better find him before he talks someone's ear off about sharks," Heffron smiled. Joe nodded and turned into the crowd. Joe looked around trying to pick up on any sound of David's voice in the crowd of voices and music.
Joe jumped as a hand wrapped around his wrist and he turned and it was Toye.
"Hey webs looking for you," Joe signed.
"I'm looking for him, where'd you see him?" Joe signed back.
"He's upstairs in George's room," Joe signed and let Lieb return to his search. He sighed walking up the stairs and going past the cheer team girls.
He opened George's bedroom door and there was David sitting on the bed reading his book.
"You brought a book to a party? I was hoping you'd have Booz in your backpack now books." Joe signed and rolled his eyes. David set down his book and crossed his arms.
"Oh don't get pouty with me you shithead," Joe smiled as he signed and sat next to David on George's bed.
"What did you expect for me to do here?" David signed but in a quiet environment, Joe could hear soft murmurs of David's voice. Even if it sounded like they were underwater and David was speaking at him. Joe mouth David's name and shook his head.
"Come on Joey," Web sighed moving his hands.
"Your ASL is so bad," Joe shook his head.
"What you told me it was good. I've been working so hard since we met!" David defended himself.
"Maybe it's because it's all I've known my whole life but you're decent maybe not bad. But your spelling out letters need help. Maybe I'll teach you slang some time?" Joe made fun of him then held David's hands but let go of him to get one more thing out.
"Just speak to me like you did that day when you broke my left hearing aid," Joe smirked.
"Okay," David spoke clearly to his soulmate. The only man he'd drop a book for. And the only man that mattered to Joe.