“What were you going to say?” The question honestly caught Danny off guard. His team always did there very best to hear him out, and he truly appreciated it, but his parents seemed to consider his answer a one and done type of thing. Spit it out or suck it up. But in the kindest way.
“Oh! Uh…” He shrugged, struggling for words. “Can I just… blurt it out? I—I’m not sure how to say it,” he said sheepishly, his eyes crinkling in pre-embarrassment. “Is… is it okay to joke that you’re deaf? I didn’t want to laugh—because I hadn’t found it funny—but should I have? Is it like… a coping thing? Oh my gosh, not that you have to cope because you’re deaf!” His cheeks blazed red. He squeezed his eyes shut. “I can’t believe I just said that out loud,” Danny admitted, looking at Kavi through one opened eye.
*”Watching you write would be amazing.” Danny couldn’t help but smile wider, tiny sparks of joy dancing in his chest. “Maybe I’ll record you writing. I brought my 16mm camera. We wouldn’t be able to see it until we get back and I can develop it but it’s my favourite way to film in terms of aesthetics. Perfect for a process film.” He imagined the two of them sitting together while the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting warm golden rays over Kavi’s focused face. “I’d love that. I have to admit I don’t know what a process film is, though.”
“We should definitely try some food together.” Danny nodded along, pulling his phone out. “Oh my gosh, yes! Absolutely!” he came to stand side by side with Kavi, opening his notes app. There were many—okay, thousands—of notes, sparsely labeled. Mostly half lyrics and rhymes, lists and locked secrets. But as if already knowing exactly where the specific information he needed was, Danny open an unlabeled note and scrolled out in one quick swipe. It was the quickest. He scrolled up a little, before a section named “Brazil 
Food” where names and pictures were stacked on top of each other.
Danny finally looked over at Kavi. “I mostly just googled common foods, but these four we have to try before we leave.” he said, scrolling through the pictures, names, and short descriptions he had pasted from the internet.
An image of them sharing a plate overflowing with colorful Brazilian dishes danced through his mind, vibrant and lively just like the music he loved. He hoped it would be one of those moments that felt like a secret between just the two of them, wrapped in the golden glow of the sun setting over the beach.
Danny’s gaze drifted over to a nearby corner of the treehouse, where a colorful set of beanbags rested, vibrant against the sleek wood. An idea sparked in his mind, warm and inviting like the afternoon sun. “Kavi, look over there,” he said, pointing with an exaggerated excitement. “I think they’re calling our names—like they want a showdown or something?” he waggled his eyebrows at Kavi.
As they walked over to the game, Danny tossed a curious glance at Kavi. “Just a heads up—you might want to practice your victory dance. Or at least give me a few practice rounds.” Danny couldn’t help but chuckle, delight bubbling within him.
@Caticorn | Kavi | nor as good as in my head, but still enjoyed writing 