~*~
~*~
Arthur wakes up to a wet mouth sucking on his neck and fingers loosely wrapped around his cock, which seems to have woken up long before Arthur himself. Still dazed and slow with sleep, he raises a hand and places it on Merlin's forearm to stop him. “What are you doing?” he asks when Merlin looks at him.
“Waking you up,” Merlin replies, tightening his grip on the base of Arthur's cock. Arthur moans quietly.
“Okay, I'm awake,” he says, though his eyes are barely open. He thrusts experimentally into Merlin's hand, his hips lifting off the bed less than he'd intended.
“Good,” Merlin hums, dropping an open-mouthed kiss on Arthur's shoulder. “Because I'm horny and I want you to fuck me again,” he says simply, like he's talking about the weather. The words go straight to Arthur's cock.
“You're impossible to please,” Arthur complains. He guides Merlin's face up from his chest and goes to kiss him before remembering. “Wait, I haven't brushed my teeth.”
“Hm, neither have I,” Merlin replies plaintively. “Raincheck on the kissing?” he offers, his hand on Arthur's cock already moving again.
“I'll hold you to that,” Arthur agrees, turning on his side. He takes a moment to drink in the sight of Merlin lying on his stomach in Arthur's bed, completely unashamed in his nudity. He's looking at Arthur sideways, only half of his face visible while the other half is buried in Arthur's large pillows, and humping the bed, his whole body rolling against the sheets in a slow, but steady rhythm. Arthur squeezes his eyes shut and rolls over so he can hide his face in the pillow as well. It's even worse like that, because the pillows smell like sweat and sex and with their sides now pressed together Arthur can feel Merlin moving. He moans into the pillow.
His arm naturally drapes over Merlin's back, his hand resting on Merlin's ass. Merlin makes a pleased little sound and raises his hips up in an invitation. Arthur lets his fingers slip between Merlin's cheeks and bites the pillow. Merlin hasn't showered and Arthur finds him still damp and a little slick with lube from a few hours ago. He probes at Merlin's hole with two fingers, testing to see how much preparation Merlin still needs, but his fingers sink inside with little resistance and Merlin moans loudly at the feeling.
“Oh my god,” Arthur mumbles into the pillow. He pumps his fingers in and out in a shallow motion a few times, before letting them sink inside as far as they can. “You have got to be kidding me,” he sighs into the pillow when he realizes that he can feel his own come inside. He turns his head to look at Merlin. Merlin's face is very close, still half-hidden; there's a flush high on his cheeks, his bottom lip is bitten red and his breathing is laboured, but his eyes are a clear blue focused on Arthur. “You're trying to kill me,” Arthur tells him.
“Thought you might like that,” Merlin replies with a grin. He shoves his ass against Arthur's hand, taking Arthur's fingers deeper and squeezing around them. Arthur is tempted to get Merlin on his knees and get behind him, to watch when his fingers come out coated in white; just the mental image has him rubbing against the sheets as well, but the truth is that he's too lazy still. The sunlight pouring in through the windows still hasn't lost its greyish morning tint and Arthur's body is still relaxed from sleep, the sex-induced heat coursing through him only making him marginally more alert, and he just can't bring himself to do much more then shove Merlin down into the bed and roll on top of him.
“Yes, yes, please,” Merlin breathes, fisting the sheets. Arthur barely holds himself up on one arm for long enough to guide his cock into Merlin (it's not as easy of a slide inside as Arthur expected and he considers pulling out and getting more lube, but then he's in and for one short moment, he forgets everything else) and then he just collapses on top of Merlin, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. Merlin grabs at Arthur's ass and tries to push him closer, cursing into the pillow. “Fuck,” he's saying, “fuck, give me a second.”
Arthur rests his forehead against the back of Merlin's neck, steadying his breathing and focusing on gently running his hands over Merlin's sides. He wants to ask Merlin if he's all right, but then he remembers he can't, that he has to rely on Merlin telling him everything in this position, that he has to read Merlin's body instead of asking. He realizes they've never done it like this before. “Oh,” he whispers, when he thinks about what it must be like for Merlin who can't hear and right now can't see either, can only feel and trust Arthur to know what to do. Arthur kisses Merlin's neck gently, suddenly emotional.
“Yeah, go ahead, move,” Merlin instructs, already sounding completely dazed.
Arthur tries a few shallow thrusts; it's tight and hot and every sensation is a knife-sharp thrill of pleasure, a complete contrast to the slow and relaxed morning around them. He kneels up a little, enough to be able to slow pull out almost all the way, then push back inside, dragging out every move. Merlin moans under him, his hands coming up to grip the pillow he's lying on. Arthur gives him a few more slow thrusts, before he falls on top of Merlin again. This time Merlin's not still under him, pushing down into the bed and then back against Arthur. It can't be very satisfying.
Arthur grabs Merlin's wrists with his hands and pulls them over his head so they're both stretched out on the bed on top of each other, every inch of their skin touching. Merlin mumbles something unintelligible into the pillow. Arthur squeezes his hand in a question. Merlin squeezes back before lifting his head just enough to mumble, “'m good, keep goin'.”
Encouraged, Arthur uses his knees to spread Merlin's legs as wide as they can go. Merlin's body is pliant and relaxed and Merlin follows Arthur's lead without hesitation or any trace of uncertainty or nerves. Arthur admires Merlin's willingness to let himself be so vulnerable. He doesn't want to waste the trust he's being shown.
The new position makes it a lot easier for Arthur to give Merlin what he wants. He starts to move again, fucking Merlin slow and deep and Merlin rewards him with loud moans and a few grunted curses. Arthur closes his eyes and rests his head against Merlin's. He wants to keep doing this forever, wants to stay glued to Merlin like this, locked in their own little bubble of heat while the world around them stays its cold, sleepy self. He tries to drag it out as long as he can, not really speeding up until he notices that Merlin is shaking and cursing under his breath. He kisses the top knob of Merlin's spine and listens to his panting breaths and quiet whispers.
“Fuck, Arthur, god,” Merlin chokes out meeting Arthur's thrusts. He cries into the pillow and squeezes around Arthur's cock as he comes. Arthur moans at the feeling. He slows down and almost stops, but Merlin squeezes his hands and says, “No, keep going, please, wanna feel...”
Arthur speeds up again, his eyes still closed. He loses track of time and numbers and speed, letting Merlin's almost-sobs guide him once he loses himself in the sensations. He wonders if it's always that intense for people who lose a sense, or if that's just his bodies reaction to Merlin.
When he comes, it almost takes him by surprise, his orgasm rushing through his body and making him gasp. Merlin squeezes around his cock, milking it. Arthur bites down on Merlin's shoulder and doesn't let it go until he's come down from the high. He slowly becomes aware of everything around him again, of Merlin breathing steadily and stroking Arthur's hands with his thumbs. Arthur soothes the bite mark he left on Merlin's shoulder with his lips before rolling off.
“That was new,” Merlin says, propping himself up on his elbows.
“Good though,” Arthur replies with a confident smirk.
Merlin swats at his chest. “How can you be simultaneously the most arrogant and the most insecure person in the world, I will never understand.”
“I guess I will always be a fun mystery to you then,” Arthur replies, stretching. He feels thoroughly sated and, oddly enough, awake.
“Your phone is ringing,” Merlin informs him, a complete non-sequitur.
“How do you even know?” Arthur wonders.
Merlin pulls Arthur's phone from under his pillow. “It was literally vibrating under my head.”
Arthur checks the screen for caller ID. It's Gwen. He decides to ignore the call.
“It rings to music, doesn't it?” Merlin asks, pointing at the phone.
“For my friends, yeah. It's Smoke on the Water for Elyan. That's the only song he can play on the guitar,” Arthur explains. “He used to dream he would be in a band but he never actually bothered to learn to play an instrument.”
“I can teach him if he still wants,” Merlin says casually, running a hand over Arthur's side absently.
“You play guitar?”
“I used to. I don't anymore,” Merlin shrugs. “I miss playing.”
“So play. For me,” Arthur suggests.
“I can't. It's... complicated. I can't really explain it.” He looks at the ceiling wistfully, like he's remembering something. “Music is the thing I miss most about hearing. It used to be such a huge part of my life.” Arthur doesn't have a good answer. But Merlin seems to be satisfied with ending the conversation there. “We should shower,” he says.
~*~
Arthur tastes a spoonful of rice. It's still a bit too hot but he can definitely tell it needs more seasoning. He adds some more fennel and then pours some soya sauce totally on a limb. He puts the lid back on the pot and lets the rice simmer. He turns back to Merlin, still sitting at the bar, bent over his sketchbook. Arthur hasn't had much opportunity to see Merlin draw; Merlin's sketchbook rarely makes an appearance when Arthur is around, and when it does, Arthur tends to leave Merlin to his work, rather than hover over his shoulder.
This time, however, he leans over the bar to look. His forehead bumps against Merlin's as he scans the upside-down sketch. It's still a rough outline, but it's definitely the kitchenette he's currently standing in, the sharp angles and long straight lines as unmistakable as the lack of dishes. There's also somebody in the kitchen. Somebody who dresses a lot like Arthur does.
Arthur raises his eyebrows at Merlin. “You're drawing me?” he asks.
Merlin's face does a weird thing where it's trying to both frown and smile at the same time. “Yeah, do you mind?”
“No, of course not. Just... surprised, that's all.”
“What are you talking about? I draw you all the time!”
Arthur stirs the rice pot to buy some time. He turns the oven on; he's a little late, but the fish should still be ready in time. “I didn't know that,” he eventually says.
Merlin taps his pencil against his cheek. Arthur is not sure if he's nervous or just twitchy that Arthur's interrupting his work. “I have a whole sketchbook fool of you upstairs.”
“Really?”
“Yeah!”
He's amused, Arthur realizes when the corner of Merlin's mouth quirks upwards. “I just never... saw any of them, so I assumed,” Arthur says apologetically.
“Well, I don't really draw much when you're here, we're usually busy doing something else,” Merlin explains with a shrug. “And, well, you've never expressed any interest in art, so I figured you just weren't an art person and didn't care.”
“I don't really,” Arthur admits. “To be honest, most of the time I don't even understand art.” Merlin rolls his eyes. “But I care about your art,” Arthur adds quietly, struggling not to turn away from Merlin.
Merlin smiles fondly at him. “I'll show you some time then,” he says, going back to his drawing.
~*~
“So, you still have that buddy who works at university?” Arthur asks, gesturing to the bartender for another around of drinks.
“Yeah. Why, thinking about going back?” Leon teases.
Arthur snorts into his glass. “Right!”
“So what is it then?”
Arthur takes a sip of his whiskey, keeping it in his mouth and savouring the taste before swallowing. “I was wondering if he could talk to some students for me. I may have a job offer for some of them.”
“Didn't realize you were hiring,” Leon says. “What's the offer? 'Cause I might be interested.”
“Please,” Arthur drawls. “Being an environmental lawyer is not something you do, it's who you are. And I, unfortunately, have no openings for someone with your particular qualifications.”
Leon traces the rim of his glass with a finger. He sighs. “Yeah, I figured. It's just... With Mom sick, and me practically volunteering, the money is a little tight.”
Arthur puts a hand on Leon's shoulder and squeezes it. He wishes he had something for Leon, but the truth is that he really doesn't. He makes a mental note to ask Morgana if she knows anyone who's hiring. “If you ever need anything, you know you can ask me,” he tells Leon honestly.
Leon nods. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Arthur replies, turning back to the bar, knowing that Leon is probably uncomfortable admitting how much of a financial issue he's really in.
“So, these students. Assistants, I assume? Any particular department you want me ask around for?”
“I'm not sure actually,” Arthur confesses, laughing at himself. He really hasn't thought this through. “I'm thinking maybe engineering? IT? Maybe someone in the medical field as well.”
“What the hell are you planning to do to these kids?” Leon jokes.
“Not to them.” Arthur takes another sip of the whiskey for some courage. He doesn't really have a plan, it's just a half-formed idea in his head, something that occurred to him one late night and has been taking over his thoughts for a while now. Still, telling someone else about it feels like an obligation, a promise that he will do something to make that idea into reality. He takes a deep breath. “I want to see if there's a way to make something like... a hearing aid? But better?”
“Oh,” Leon just says. They're both quiet for a while, and then Leon asks, “For Merlin?” Arthur nods. “Did he ask you?”
“What? No.”
“Are you sure it's a good idea then?” Arthur frowns. He doesn't see why it wouldn't be. “I'll ask Owain,” Leon eventually says.
~*~
Lancelot comes back from Nepal on a Thursday afternoon. Arthur is tempted to give everyone a free afternoon, but Gwen convinces him that she'll be fine picking Lancelot up from the airport and keeping him company for a while. She sounds positively giddy about it.
Morgana ends up being the one to organize a night out, inviting all of their close friends and even some not so close (His name is Mike, Arthur, he's been working in accounting for 3 years. And he's cute!), but Arthur is the one who invites Merlin. Merlin has never met Lancelot, hasn't even spent that much time around Gwen so he probably hasn't heard much about Lancelot either, and Arthur is not sure if it's smart to invite Merlin at all. He does it from purely selfish reasons, really; he's been so busy this week, he and Merlin haven't been seeing each other that much and Arthur kind of misses him.
They're all gathering in Morgana's favourite bar, a fancy upscale place with art hanging from the walls and jazz music floating from the speakers. Arthur's always found it a bit too uptight.
He's one of the last people to arrive, perpetually late Elyan showing up some 10 minutes after him and Freya ending up not there at all. He spots his group easily, they're sitting at the table in the corner, chatting and laughing and drinking already. Arthur zeroes in on Merlin, though, watching the someone intently from the edge of the table. Arthur feels a pang of guilt at having left Merlin alone with his friends because he knows Merlin does better in smaller groups than this one.
When he gets closer, though, he realizes that Merlin is actually focused entirely on Lancelot who's sitting next to him. Lancelot is talking animatedly, waving his hands around and pulling a face and Merlin laughs. It looks like he's having fun.
“Hey,” Arthur tells everyone, putting a hand on Merlin's shoulder to get he attention. “Welcome back,” he tells Lancelot.
“Thanks,” Lancelot replies with a wide smile that reveals his perfect teeth. He stands up, shaking Arthur's hand and giving him a hug and Arthur finds that he smells divine. He's beginning to sound like Gwen.
“Hey you,” Merlin says, grabbing Arthur's tie and pulling him down to kiss him.
“Sorry I'm late,” Arthur apologizes to Merlin as he pulls up a chair to sit next to him.
“It's okay. Lancelot has been telling me about his adventures.”
“I see.” Somehow, Arthur can't even be jealous of Lancelot. He still asks,“Should I be worried?”
“Mmm, I don't know, maybe,” Merlin answers, cocking his head to the side. “Lancelot is pretty great.”
“Yeah, he's alright,” Arthur agrees. Over Merlin's shoulder he can see Lancelot smiling humbly. He smiles back briefly before Merlin pulls him closer for another kiss.
“He was just telling me about this kid who literally confused him for an angel,” Merlin explains to Arthur before turning back to Lancelot, prompting him to continue. Arthur rests his chin on Merlin's shoulder to join in the listening. He glances at Merlin's face. Merlin looks about as smitten as the rest of them are. Arthur smiles and shakes his head a little, drops a casual kiss on Merlin's cheek. Merlin squeezes his hand, not looking away from Lancelot's face.
~*~
“Hey, did I see that e-mail right, you hired some new people for the research department?” Morgana asks during commercial break. They're sitting on Gwen's creaky bed, playing cards and waiting for Gwen to come out of the shower. It's Gwen's first date with Lancelot and she's asked them both to drop by for moral support.
“Uh, yeah, I'm starting something new.”
Morgana looks at him over her cards. Arthur knows that look, he's either about to lose the game or be grilled about work. Maybe both. “Care to elaborate?” Grilled, then.
“I interviewed these three kids, they have an idea for, um.” Morgana cocks a dark eyebrow at him. “They think they have an idea for earphones that might help people hear,” Arthur finishes. He hasn't officially decided on the funding yet, but the whole project is definitely happening, and if Arthur can convince the board tomorrow morning, it is gonna be their most important one. He already has a pitch, he's been practicing, so he's confident he can sell them on the idea. What he's less confident about, though, after having talked to most everyone working in R&D and a few of his friends too, is the success of the project.
Morgana puts her cards down on the bed. “Is this about Merlin?”
Arthur looks mournfully at his hand. He has two queens and two eights and he's pretty sure Morgana has nothing for once (seriously, the woman is either crazy lucky at cards or cheating). He sighs and follows Morgana's example.
“Maybe,” he allows.
“Does he know that?”
“He doesn't know anything,” Arthur says. He's been thinking about this for going on two months, and there were times when he wanted to tell Merlin for one reason or another, but he decided not to. He doesn't want to give Merlin any false hope until he's sure his team can at the very least make some progress with their research.
“He's not gonna like it, you know.”
“Who's not gonna like what?” Gwen asks, entering the room wrapped in a towel, her hair dripping on the carpet.
“It's nothing, we're talking about work,” Arthur answers at the same time as Morgana says, “Arthur is being pig-headed again.” Arthur glares at Morgana over their abandoned game of cards.
“Oh, what did you do, Arthur?” Gwen asks gently as she sits down with them.
“Who says Idid anything!?”
“He has Camelot working on a new type of hearing aid,” Morgana explains. “And he hasn't told Merlin.”
“Oh dear,” Gwen sighs.
“Why is everyone acting like I'm doing something awful!? If this work, everyone involved could benefit, starting with Camelot!” Arthur is even prepared to give his speech for tomorrow to them. He doesn't understand why no one can see that this is important to him and that he just needs some support.
“Oh, come on, it's not your work we're concerned about,” Morgana says.
“It's your relationship,” Gwen adds. Arthur feels awfully a lot like they're ganging up on him.
“My relationship is fine,” Arthur insists angrily.
“He's gonna find out, you know,” Morgana says tiredly, gathering the cards from the bed. It surprises Arthur that she's not actually arguing with him. “And he's gonna know you're doing it because of him and he's gonna be angry. Now I know everyone thinks Merlin is this innocent, sweet little flower, but when he's angry, trust me, you don't want to be in his way. He knows exactly how to hurt you.”
“I've noticed,” Arthur says quietly, not looking at Morgana. Gwen's hair drips over his hand as she moves to get up. “But why would he be angry? I'm doing this to help him.”
“And that's why,” Morgana replies, giving Arthur the look that says he's just said something very stupid and she's been waiting for him to do it all along. “And you're hiding it from him, which is never a good idea.” She absently twirls a card between her fingers. “He doesn't need help, Arthur.”
“I'm just trying to do the right thing,” Arthur defends himself. He knows that Merlin hates it when people pity him or assume that he's any less capable than they are, but this isn't about that, it really isn't. All he wants is for Merlin to have again what he's lost. He wants to give Merlin back the voices of the people he cares about and the shit reality TV without subtitles and an apartment that doesn't have to be modified to suit him and the music that he misses so much.
“I know,” Morgana says, putting a hand on his knee, surprisingly gentle. “But when he finds out, what kind of a message do you think he'll be getting from all this?” Arthur frowns. He's just always assumed, hoped really, that Merlin would be happy. “Gwen?”
“I'd really rather I'd stayed out of this,” Gwen mumbles, poking her head out from the closet where she's been digging for stuff to wear. “I don't know Merlin that well, but if it were me... Well, I'd feel like you think I'm somehow incapable of living my life without you saving me.”
“What? That's not-“
“Just talk to him,” Morgana interrupts. “Just that.”
~*~
Arguing with Merlin is not easy. If he wants to be understood, Arthur needs to speak slowly and calmly enough for Merlin to read it and that still doesn't stop Merlin from simply looking away when he just doesn't want to understand. In addition, Merlin's exceptional skills at reading body language mean there's little that Arthur can hide. Arthur sighs.
And Merlin is angry. He's probably the angriest he's ever been with Arthur. Arthur genuinely does not get it. But he also doesn't like being yelled at or being told what to do, both of which Merlin is doing right now.
“This is not happening. You are not doing this,” Merlin yells.
“Don't tell me how to run my business,” Arthur says as calmly as he can manage, squeezing his fists together so tight his nails bite into his palms.
“Don't bullshit me,” Merlin throws back.
Arthur rubs his forehead and runs his hand through his hair. “Fine,” he finally concedes. “Fine. I did it because I thought you would like to... You know, hear again,” he finishes lamely.
Merlin's nostrils flare. His lips thin and he gives Arthur a cold look. Arthur crosses his arms over his chest in a defensive gesture before he's even consciously decided to do it. “I don't need you to fix me,” he hisses.
“I am not trying to fix you!”
“Yes, yes you damn well are!” Merlin shouts. “You might not see it, but you are! I don't fit into your idea of someone happy, someone complete.”
“That's not true,” Arthur whispers with his hand over his face, fully aware that Merlin won't see it. He's not sure he's convincing Merlin anymore anyway because when he gives it a moment's thought he realizes that Merlin might be at least partially right - Arthur has always assumed Merlin wanted his hearing back, has never thought to question that.
“You know what, the problem is not me, the problem is people like you, who just don't get it!” Arthur reels back, feeling like Merlin slapped him in the face. “I don't need a knight in shining armour to cure me, Arthur. I need a partner who will support me and accept me for who I am.”
“I do, Merlin, I promise you,” Arthur says, reaching out towards Merlin. Merlin flinches away.
“Don't touch me. And don't talk to me, I can't look at your face right now,” he replies quietly. He doesn't sound any less angry, if anything he sounds disappointed on top of being angry.
“Merlin, I...”
“You can sleep on the couch tonight,” Merlin says, not looking at Arthur. He walks away before Arthur can stop him.
Arthur's head is pounding and there are things he should think about. Instead, he gets colossally drunk and passes out on the couch while watching Toddlers and Tiaras and doing his damn best not to think about what Merlin is doing upstairs.
When he wakes up his mouth tastes like something died in it and his head feels like ever photon of light is drilling a hole in it. He thanks God it's Sunday because he couldn't go to work now if his life depended on it. He groans quietly into the forearm he covers his face with. He can hear Merlin pottering around in the kitchen and that's what forces him to drag himself up into a sitting position. There's a glass of water and two white pills on the coffee table. He knocks back the pills and gulps down the water.
The smell of coffee carries Arthur to the kitchen where he sits at the bar. Merlin's back is turned to him and Arthur is not sure how to catch his attention without touching him, something he's still not sure Merlin will allow right now. So he waits until Merlin turns around.
“Morning,” Merlin says, putting a steaming mug in front of Arthur. “I was just about to wake you up.”
Arthur nods in thanks. He's not sure where to start, what to say first. Merlin is leaning on the other side of the bar, right opposite Arthur, but he's careful not to let their arms touch; it makes Arthur nervous. Taking a few sips of coffee, he studies Merlin's face - Merlin looks tired, like he didn't sleep well either, and his eyes are puffy like he's been crying. Arthur reaches out and touches Merlin's cheekbone with his thumb.
“Listen,” he says just as Merlin looks up and says, “Look...”
Merlin chuckles. “Well, that sums it up pretty well, I guess.”
“I'm not trying to fix you,” Arthur says seriously. It feels like the most important thing for Merlin to hear.
“It sometimes feels like you are,” Merlin replies. It's not an accusation today.
“I just, um, I guess I don't understand,” Arthur admits. “Sometimes I feel like... I don't understand you. It's like everyone knows you better than me.” He has to look away then, uncomfortable to show so much of his vulnerability.
Merlin tips Arthur's head up again with a finger. “I'll tell you something I haven't told anyone else,” he says, looking straight into Arthur's eyes. “Sometimes I don't understand either.” Arthur frowns. “I miss sound. Sometimes I miss it a lot. But it's been 10 years and being deaf is part of who I am now. And sometimes feeling both of those things is confusing even for me.”
Arthur considers that. He's never thought of it that way. He's always seen deafness as just a part of Merlin, not a part of Merlin's identity. He didn't realize this was so important to Merlin. He figures if someone tried to change a fundamental part of who he was, he'd be pretty mad too.
He puts hand on the side of Merlin's face and Merlin leans into it. “I want you,” he says. “Deaf or not, I'm... I'm with you.”
Merlin hums quietly and nuzzles into Arthur's palm. “Thank you,” he whispers. “I'd kiss you, but you really should brush your teeth first,” he adds, making a face.
Arthur scrunches up his nose. “You're probably right,” he says, a little abashed. He clambers off the bar stool he's sitting on and heads upstairs.
“Hey, Arthur?” Merlin calls after him. Arthur turns around. “It's your company. I shouldn't tell you what to do with it. So if you think this little research pet project of yours is a good idea, I think you should probably go for it.”
Arthur smiles. It's as close to an apology as either of them will get.
~*~
“Well, the good news is,” Mithian says, checking the paper in her hands, “that we already have the technology.” Arthur motions for her to explain. “Camelot has been developing two new pieces of technology separately that we believe could work to enhance hearing if combined.”
“And the bad news is?” Arthur prompts.
“They're both still prototypes.”
Arthur nods. He looks Mithian over. She's young for a PhD student, only 21, but in a chocolate brown pencil skirt and beige blouse covered with a white lab coat and with wire-rimmed glasses, she looks professional, she looks older. There's a certain air of confidence about her that makes Arthur trust her. He can see why Leon's friend recommended her.
“So how do you plan to make this work?” Arthur asks, then before she has the time to answer, adds, “In simple terms, please.” Mithian flashes him a bright smile that makes her look her age, if only for a moment. Arthur loves her enthusiasm.
“You are already working on a personal listening device that expands to lock into the ear canal, it's called SoundFit, I believe.” Mithian glances at the paper in her hands to check.. “It raises the volume of sound significantly simply by shortening the distance the sound travels to the ear drum,” she explains. “We would like to combine it with the new addition to vibro headphones, to give it a wider surface area of contact. We hope it will make for an excellent bone conduction technology.”
Arthur nods, pretending he has any clue about what she's saying.
“Essentially, we want to bypass the ear altogether, and go directly to the auditory system of the brain,” she summarizes quickly.
“Will it work?” is the only question Arthur has left. It's really been the only question for him all along.
“I guess we'll find out soon enough.”
~*~