The new recruit wasn’t what anyone had expected. The squad had been briefed about your impressive record—top marks in stealth, precision shooting, and hand-to-hand combat. But as soon as they stepped into the room and the team noticed the hearing aids and how you relied on sign language or reading lips to communicate, doubt rippled through the group.

“They’re Deaf?” Soap asked, not bothering to hide his surprise.

“Doesn’t exactly scream tactical advantage,” Gaz muttered under his breath.

Only Ghost remained silent, his masked face revealing nothing.

Price stepped in before the murmurs grew louder. “They are here because they’re damn good at what she does. Give her a chance to prove it.”

The first mission wasn’t easy. The squad relied heavily on comms, and they weren’t sure how to integrate you into their usual routines. But you weren’t waiting for their approval. They watched and adapted, their eyes constantly scanning the environment. While the others chatted or bantered, you stayed focused, cataloging every movement, every shadow, every shift in the terrain.

During the mission, the team’s doubts began to unravel.

It started when you caught an enemy patrol that everyone else missed, quickly dispatching them before they could radio for reinforcements. Then came the moment during a firefight when the squad’s earpieces crackled with static, leaving them unable to coordinate. While the others scrambled to regroup, you silently directed them with precise hand gestures, guiding them to cover and neutralizing threats with surgical efficiency. They didn’t need to know sign language for you to direct them.

By the time the team exfiltrated, no one was questioning your capabilities.

Later that evening, back at base, the team’s mood had shifted. Soap offered an awkward thumbs-up, while Gaz mumbled something about “nice work out there.” But Ghost was the one who lingered, watching as you cleaned your gear in silence.

“You see things we miss,” Ghost said quietly, his voice low and even.

User looked up, you couldn’t read his lips through his mask, so you gave a puzzled look. Though you gave a small nod anyways, but didn’t respond, unsure of what he said.

Ghost began to study the way you communicated—not just through signs, but through body language and expressions. He started using subtle taps and gestures during missions, developing a sort of shorthand between the two of you.

One evening, while cleaning your weapons in the dimly lit armory, Ghost sat down across from you. He didn’t say anything, just watched as you meticulously disassembled and polished your rifle.

He slid a notebook toward you. Inside were clumsy sketches of hand signals and basic sign language phrases.

You looked up, surprised. He nodded, he knew no explanation was needed.

In the field, those signals became second nature. Ghost mirrored your movements with precision, the two of you had begun to move as one. Trust growing in the quiet moments you shared.