A/N: Shoutout to monobey on tumblr.
The first time it happened - exactly 2 and a half months after Storm Shadow's introduction to the team - no one was quite sure what happened.
"Scarlett, I believe it is important for you to know that my hair is bleached."
They were tucked in their corner of the Mess, Storm having just finished some story or another, and Snake Eyes had rolled his mask back down after his meal completion. But the red headed woman could have sworn that was her lover's voice - truthfully, she didn't remember what it had been too clearly by now - coming from her side.
She dropped her fork and gaped at the masked man beside her. Tommy seemed unfazed, still digging into his meal. Snake Eyes met her astonished look with an even - if somewhat curious - look.
His hands were still when a response came in that voice was the past.
"Yes?"
"I- you -"
The noises seemed involuntary and she stared for a moment longer before standing abruptly and leaving the mess hall. Several people called out after her - the ghost voice was absent from those who did - and she waved them off, crossing to the door and into the hall as quickly as possible.
Over the next several weeks, the majority of the Joes - people who knew him before and people who knew him after alike - were surprised with the appearance of Snake Eyes...talking?
Throughout it all, Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes himself remained completely calm.
They got caught in the worst of ways - Scarlett seeing a slip in the act.
"Scarlett, I have to tell you -"
Suddenly her gaze snapped over to the ninja in white.
"Your jaw moved."
There was a shift in the air - she couldn't put her finger on it but she could sense the guilt from the sword brothers.
"Tommy Arashikage."
"Hm?"
"I swear to God whatever you're doing-"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
There was a 4 minute staredown, a piercing blue against emotionless brown, unless she suddenly switched to Snake Eyes, staring him down straight through the visor.
He lasted only marginally longer before sighing and raising his hands to explain.
[Tommy is...specially gifted.]
"We all know that, Snake."
[He is a v-e-n-t-r-i-l-o-q-u-i-s-t.]
There was a long moment of silence before the, "What?"
[A v-e-n-t-r-i-l-o-q-u-i-s-t. Please do not make me spell it again.]
"How - why-"
"It's useful on certain infiltration mission to be able to imitate and throw voices in order to create confusion."
She was rendered speechless before copying a previous move and abruptly leaving the room.
"You had to tell her."
[I will not be kicked out of my own bed, brother.]
"That's not my problem."
[I can make it your problem, should you prefer it.]
A/N: Short, silly, and without much point. Like pretty much anything I write now-a-days. Thanks for reading, maybe drop a death threat review?