Unheard Words

It wasn't enough that Tomo hated hospitals, but now she had to spend way too much time there without her hearing. Or most of it. Tomo could somewhat make out words if the people stood close enough.
Tomo wasn't going to complain, however, because she knew this was her own fault. She had already been scolded for being careless and getting zapped into a different dimension. It wasn't like Tomo had planned that. Who knew a block of ice would do that. Tomo had just thought someone's ice powers had gone berserk and wanted to help.
And that had gotten Lucas and Riley sucked in too. Tomo knew it wasn't her fault, not exactly, but she blamed herself.

Tomo sat on her hospital bed, her legs crossed and covered in bandages. There was some bruising on her cheek, and she had gotten a few stitches somewhere near her hairline. Other injuries were under the bandages, and there was a drip by her bed. Tomo was staring out the window, ignoring the pain she was feeling all over and refusing to use the pain meds. Tomo didn't like using medication, she could deal with pain better than with numbness.
Tomo was trying to figure out why this had all happened. She had read the newspaper articles, none explained why this had all happened. How had December ended up getting trapped with two kids, that had probably created that place that maimed Tomo and the others. Tomo wasn't that angry anymore, now she was just frustrated, annoyed and confused. She wanted answers, but no one was going to give them to her if she sat in a hospital.
But Tomo knew she was stuck here for a while, and that made her anxious.

Tomo kept glancing at the door, she couldn't hear if anyone came in so she had to look. It was strange, not being able to hear. Tomo wished it wouldn't be permanent.
Tomo was waiting for her siblings. They were probably super worried, and the people Tomo wanted to see the most right now. Lucas had kept Tomo company, which she appreciated more than she let Lucas know, and Riley had come to thank her.
And one of the reasons Tomo wanted to see them, aside from her just simply loving her siblings, was because they were bringing her violin. Or more like smuggling it, the nurses and doctors probably wouldn't be happy about it. But Tomo needed a distraction, or else she'd go crazy. Even if her fingers hurt like hell and she couldn't hear the violin properly.
Oh no, what if Tomo's hearing went even worse and she would be completely deaf? Tomo couldn't live in a silent world.

Tomo was drawn out of her worries when the door opened and Tomo smelled a pair of familiar scents. She turned her head and sent a tired grin at Shiro and Tadashi. Tomo looked worn out, there were bags under her eyes and thanks to the hospital clothes and bandages she looked like she had lost weight.
"Hey. Welcome to paradise."
Tomo's voice was a bit weird, it's loudness fluctuated since she wasn't sure how loud she was speaking.

Damn, Tomo's hearing really was fucked up. Even though Tadashi spoke right by her ear as he hugged her Tomo could barely make out the words. They made her smile, and Tomo carefully hugged her brother back, taking in his warmth, feel and scent. It was comforting, and made Tomo feel much safer.
And yes, it did hurt a bit, but Tomo didn't show it, little pain was nothing compared to the strength she gained from this hug.
"A small winter hell isn't enough to make me kick the bucket."
Tomo said with a small grin, it was just a shadow of Tomo's usual grin, she was too exhausted.

Tomo looked at Shiro over Tadashi's shoulder as he hugged her, and her eyes shifted to...herself? Tomo raised a brow at the copy, she could guess it was made by Tadashi and snickered a bit.
"Did you miss me so much you made a copy? I just can't leave you guys alone for a moment."
Tomo stopped hugging Tadashi, and looked at Shiro's lips as she spoke. Tomo could hear muffled noises, she could tell Shiro was talking, but couldn't make out what she was saying. But Shiro pulled a bunch of snacks from her bag, and instantly a big smile rose on Tomo's face. Oh yes, this is just what had been missing.
"Oh man, this is the stuff. Thanks."
Tomo said, her voice a tad too loud but she couldn't tell.
"Listen, my hearing is really bad right now. I can't hear what you're saying if it isn't from really close or loud. Did you bring my violin?"

Oooooh, so that's what the drawing had been for. It was kinda weird watch herself crumble and disappear.
"Damn, no mercy for fake Tomo."
Tomo said with a small grin, and made grabby hands at her violin. And once in her hands Tomo hugged the violin a bit and quickly put it under her covers, in case nurses or doctors came to check on her. They would probably take the violin away.

Tomo snickered at Shiro's words and looked at Tadashi with a mischievous grin.
"He's joining us on the dark side. Side of not doing your homework and flipping people off and skipping class."
Tomo smiled a bit less widely after saying that, mostly because smiling hurt. But partly, because that was exactly what she didn't want to happen. For Tadashi, or Shiro for that matter, to get corrupted because of her.

For a moment Tomo just watched her siblings fool around, too exhausted to join in and not really hearing their words properly, but still enjoying the company and bustle.
Tomo was kinda snapped out of her daze when Shiro sat on the edge of her bed and patted her head with the tail. Tomo smiled the best she could as Shiro asked it of her and hugged her sister back, taking in all the contact and kindness she could and for once not joking about it or shying away from it. Tomo was vulnerable both mentally and physically right now, even if it annoyed her to no end.
To Shiro's apology Tomo didn't answer in any other way but with a light bap on her sister's forehead, shaking her head a bit.

"I dunno if our definition of fun is the same though. If you like parties where people are thrown out the windows."
Tomo snickered a bit and also loosely kept her arm around Shiro, and putting it around Tadashi as Shiro pulled him to them. When the three of them were together like this Tomo could really feel strong and like herself again, to an extent where she wondered how she had ever survived on her own before finding her siblings again.