Do go, say you'll stay
Spend a lazy Sunday
In my arms, I won't take
Anything away

~Stars, "Elevator Love Letter"

...

Being blind is honestly the worst thing that ever happened to August Anderson.

He remembers each moment leading up to the explosion with complete clarity, which is unfortunate, really, because he doesn't like to think about it. Sometimes he convinces himself that if he just forgets about it, it'll be like it never happened.

The only problem with that theory is that his lack of sight serves as a constant reminder of everything he lost.

Want has always been a funny thing to Auggie because it is something he cannot understand, control, or reason. Need he gets—he understands human needs and how to keep them in check but not let them go unnoticed. But want is an entirely different issue. There are things he wants that he cannot ever have, and it kills him because he feels useless and frustrated all the time.

He wants to be able to walk through the halls of the CIA without holding onto someone's arm. He wants to be able to throw his cane and his laser away. He wants to be able to drive himself around.

The last one always gets him the most because he loved driving. A lot. There were times before the accident that he would get in the car and just drive no where in particular, just to drive anywhere.

Now he waits for a cab that someone has to help him into or bums rides off of people. Not that anyone would ever say no—people just can't find it in them to disappoint the blind guy.

"Hey, Superman, you ready to blow this popsicle stand?"

Well, Auggie reflects, there's people and then there's Annie Walker.

He turns his head slightly at the sound of her voice, his lips twitching up at the smell of grapefruit drifting under his nose. Standing and stretching, he says curiously, "Superman?"

Annie Walker, who he has never once seen and who would probably always drive him anywhere, if he asked.

"Well, of course. I suppose that since you can pretty much do anything, you're a bit like him."

"Does that make you Lois Lane? Cause honestly, Annie, I don't really think you're the type."

He can practically hear her grinning, amused. "Oh, really, Mr. Anderson? And what 'type' am I, exactly?"

He pauses, as if deep in thought. After a moment, a smirk appears on his face and he says, "Oh, you're definitely Wonder Woman."

He can hear the smile in Annie's voice all the way to the bar.

Being blind will probably always be the worst thing that ever happened to Auggie, but if it means he gets to drive around with Annie Walker every other night, he thinks it might not suck quite so much.