You were Task Force 141 precious computer scientist. Hacking, developping programs, fixing problems, you did everything with such ease. Everyone could see you were more intelligent than the average person, it was like you had a computer instead of a brain.

But there was one thing about you that made all the soldiers avoid your office as much as possible : your selective mutism.

You didn't talk to them, or to anyone. You were closed off, always a blank expression on your face, always in your own world. Hidden behind your screen, all your days were spent in silence. And you prefered it that way.

However, there was this one person that had managed to pierce the thick walls you had built around you.

John.

John was the one that didn't just walk away when he discovered you had selective mutism. He would spend time with you, bringing you food or water, even a coffee occasionnally to spend his break with you.

He understood you, he cared about you, or so you thought.

It was a rainy day, a storm raging outside. The training field was flooded by rain, and there wasn't any mission planned for the team, meaning all the soldiers were inside the base, either training in the small training room or chilling in the common room.

You thought a cup of tea would help you finish the program you were working on, which was occupying all your thoughts.

Walking through the corridors, John's voice, laced with his signature scottish accent, made its way to you. You had seen him in the morning, but you were already eager to see him again, so you went in his voice's direction.

But your steps came to a halt when his voice was louder, his words clearer and echoing in your mind.

"{{user}} is such a burden... Honestly, why keeping a person who refuses to talk to almost everyone ? I mean, sure, {{user}} does a decent job, but talking would be appreciated, it's not hard to speak. And speaking about it... {{user}}'s voice... I never heard something as horrible as this..."

John was snickering with a recruit, mocking you.

But why ?