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Ellie Rose didn't expect to find such an outdated piece of tech laid on her nightstand in her room, and briefly she wondered how it got there.
She had just gotten home to their shared house after a reconnaissance mission for the military, and Henry wasn't home. Probably working late, or out getting something she assumed. She had planned to nap till he got home, then make some type of dinner for the both of them. But the physical voice recorder had quirked her curiosity. Then, she noticed the sticky note next to it.
Please listen to this!-
-Henry
She blinked once, then shrugged to herself. If Henry found it important, it must be something interesting. A smile found it's way to her features. Whatever it was, Henry always made it good. She gazed fondly at the device for a long moment, before deciding to sit on her bed, pressing the playback button on the recorder.
Okay. Is this thing on?
Ellie's eyes grew a tad wide at the unexpected voice. It.. it was his. He usually talked with her when they were alone at home, or occasionally with Charles as well, but it was still a pleasant surprise nonetheless to hear his voice through this recorder. In any other time he would've used signs or writing.
He had been growing comfortable around her. She immediately locked her attention to the recorder, listening intently.
Yes it is, okay. Here goes. So, you're probably wondering why I'm recording this. Like I could've written you a letter, or email, or text, or just tell you/sign you in person. But.. I felt this would get my point across without the nervousness of speaking face to face. Not that I've regressed with verbally chatting specifically to you, quite the opposite! I want to talk with you. You make me want to speak. I enjoy our conversations more than you could know...
A couple of seconds of silence, like he's contemplating. Then, a sudden recollection.
...When I was two, I still hadn't said my first word, and a child psychiatrist told my mom I had a speech delay. Fortunately it wasn't for too long and I began speaking a year after some speech therapy. However I still chose to remain silent when I wanted to. Even throughout my entire childhood, I only spoke when I felt like it was absolutely necessary.
Growing up, my mom always told me to speak my mind. Don't let anyone else say your thoughts and feelings for you. Those are yours. That's partly why I don't say much out loud. And maybe that's why I found myself attracted to sign language. A way to speak out loud, even if it's silent. You could say anything you needed to without words. Perhaps that's also why I'm more of an acts of service guy, and prefer physical gestures... Or touch...
Ellie grinned softly at his truthfulness. The way he admitted to that last bit made her heart beat a couple extra times.
He nervously stuttered a bit, before realizing he totally deviated from what he was going to say.
Ur, uh, What was I talking about? Gosh I'm actually rambling. Focus Henry, focus!
Anyways, I-I didn't mean to go so off topic there. The point of this recording is, I just wanted to let you know: I appreciate you so much for staying by my side. You didn't have to. You know I could've left you at the Wall... But I didn't. And I didn't want to. Frankly, I felt.. exhilarated to escape with someone else. It's a high I wasn't able to describe.
I only felt it again when we took the Toppats down. Together. ...We should thank Charles a lot more. Though, he never made me feel this way. I've sat on this for a while... and I think I know what it is.
You... You're so special to me. The way you speak your mind so easily, your tenacity, your courage. You have this type of... grace almost, that at the same time, is decisive and steadfast. Like standing with perfect posture if that makes sense. You're smart, you're fierce... you're pretty...
He slowly stopped himself from talking.
A warm pink painted her cheeks, lips thinning into a line and eyes getting a little big again. Her hands, laid beside her thighs, moved up to her heart. Secretly hoping... Anticipating...
His voice seemed smaller.
We've been through so much now... You're my closest friend besides Charles, and I feel safe when you're with me. Secure.
... A genuine happiness I'm anxious to name. Please know what I'm talking about...
I just hope.. you understand what I'm trying to say. And I hope... ...Nevermind. Just had to get that across to you in a way that wouldn't explode my brain. ...Don't explode me please?
*click*
And the playback was over.
Ellie sat in stunned, weighted silence.
'He... He just...'
Her heart swelled with her own feelings. Henry Stickmin had just laid his heart bare for her to see, for her to hear, and that.
That was enough.
She shot up from the bed, hearing the front door to the house open. Quickly she took the recorder, and hurried her way out of her room.
She called his name. "Henry? Henry!"
She found him in the kitchen, a bag of groceries on the counter behind him. He looked a bit curious at the sudden call out, but not overly surprised.
Her voice lowered at the sight of him, stopping to stand a distance away, and she met his eyes. "Henry..."
He blinked once, and suddenly noticed the recorder in her hand. He tensed up. Ellie glanced to the device, then to him. "Is.. is this, what you said, true?"
A beat.
He can feel the nervousness crawling up his throat, and his face slowly warming.
He gulped, and looked down to his feet.
Ellie is waiting, figuratively on the tips of her toes, for him to respond somehow.
Eventually, he nods slowly. And shyly, he signs out a response, raising his head back up to see her. You know I'm not good with words.
She nods once, eyes setting into something softer, and she grins. She sets the recorder down. "And you know you can talk to me."
A wave of flutters hits Henry, and a hand goes to hold his opposite arm. Then, after another beat, he speaks. Softly. Bashfully.
"I felt... Leaving you a message with my own voice would be poignant."
Ellie's smile dropped in surprise. Her eyes felt watery. She couldn't believe it.
"I heard it loud and clear."
She took a step towards him. Then another, then another. Then, she quickly but warmly wrapped her arms around his body. She blushed completely, head resting on his shoulder.
"And I feel the same way."
It was like the wind had been knocked out of him. He also couldn't believe it. The feelings he had were reciprocated!
He completes the embrace and hugs her as well, heart swelling. Speech just seems to drip from his tongue when with Ellie. How does she make it so easy? He breaths it out, relieved. "Good... That... That's the best news I've ever heard."
Ellie giggles a little, immensely fond. She giggles a little more, pulling back her head to playfully meet his gaze. "... Although, I wouldn't mind hearing the exact words straight from the horse's mouth too."
His cheeks blossom a nice shade of red, a timid expression melting into a loving one. He pulls his hands off of her to hold her hands together. He raises them, staring into her eyes.
"I... I love you, Ellie. I really do."
She smiles sweetly back, cheeks also a lovely shade of red. "I love you too Henry." She jokes lightly. "Guess I'm really stuck with you now."
That pulls out a chuckle from him, and he takes one hand up to her face, cupping her cheek tenderly. Instead of responding, he brings her closer, and the two's lips meet in a tender loving kiss.
It was sweet, simple, beautiful. Sending a thousand more words than spoken speech ever could.