superoreoman:

I’m not even a huge fan of kidlock, but how fucking adorable would it be if Sherlock was deaf, and John spent ages learning sign language just to talk to him?

Okay so Sherlock is alone a lot bc none of the other kids know sign language. Yeah they’ve all been taught the really basic stuff since Sherlock is in their class, so they can communicate with him a bit, but no one can really TALK to him.

And then John comes along, and he thinks Sherlock is brilliant. He watches with fascination as Sherlock signs away at some kid who’s clearly got no idea what he’s saying, which is clearly quite frustrating for Sherlock. And eventually the kid turns away—and that is the worst fucking thing bc that’s effectively shutting down the conversation. Like it’s rude and frustrating as hell…not that this kid would really know that, but if you’re deaf that’s a huge slap to the face. But there’s nothing Sherlock can do but quietly fume and stomp away, his little fists clenched in frustration.

And John just watches from afar for a while, amazed at what Sherlock can do, and Sherlock’s work in class and such, but far too intimidated to approach him just yet. He thinks Sherlock is brilliant, though, just that other people can’t understand him. Heck, JOHN can’t even understand him, really. So John intends to fix that.

He begs his mum for a book on sign language. And slowly he learns. After sheepishly confessing to Harry why he wants to learn, she helps him read the harder stuff in his book and it becomes a secret project between the two of them. And John starts watching Sherlock at school when he signs, slowly understanding more and more as he practices with Harry. He’s still too nervous to try to talk to him, though.

But one day when he feels confident enough, John walks up to Sherlock taps on his shoulder. And Sherlock turns around with a scowl, except there’s this kid signing at him. And it’s slow and it’s choppy, but it’s sign language, and the other boy has clearly been practicing.

Sherlock quickly signs -You know sign language? I didn’t think anyone else knew how to sign- and John looks at him sheepishly and makes the signs for -slow- and -please-

And John’s using Signed Exact English rather than BSL and yes that’s a bit annoying, but Sherlock can get used to that, especially after John confesses he learned just so he could talk to Sherlock. And it means so much to Sherlock because no one’s ever done anything like that for him before. And Sherlock’s little heart leaps in his chest and he thinks this might be what a friend is.