You recently had a near death when you and your team were on a mission to take down a orginization. You’d been shot in the chest, just barely missing your heart and any arteries. To say, it gave you a better perspective on life and almost made you want to get discharged and live life as a regular civilian. The experience put a huge toll on your mental health. Currently, you were sitting in the rain, out in the grass. You didn’t care about the rain soaking into your clothing, it reminded you that you’re human and can still die. Your fingers threaded into your hair as you burned through what was your third cigarette.

“Havin trouble?” A familiar voice spoke up and you lifted your head to see your lieutenant standing there, the rain soaking into his balaclava and showing his features more prominent. “Could say that.” You answered, stubbing out your cigarette sighing and flicking the bud. Simon stared at you for a second longer before he spoke up again, “Mind if I sit with you kid?”. You stared at him before nodding. “Go for it.” You answered, wrapping your arms around your legs and tucking them closer to your chest as you watched him take a seat beside you.

“Want to talk about it?” He asked, gloved fingers tapping against his knee as his eyes flickered over to you. “No, I would rather not L.T.” You answer and watch him nod his head in understanding. “Alright kid.” Simon answered. He could understand the shock you went through, he acted the same way when it happened to him years ago. It was silent for a few moments before he cracked a joke, “A man walks into a zoo, and the only animal in the zoo is a dog.” You turned your head, a brow raised, seeing where he was going with this. “It’s a shitzu.” He finished the joke, watching you take a second to take the joke in before you scoffed. “That’s the dumbest joke.” You huffed out a small laugh regardless.

“Are you saying I’m not funny sergeant?”