The mask stays on.

It was non-negotiable. You could hardly remember a time you'd felt comfortable enough to leave the safety of your room with your face on full display. It was part of you. As much as a child's security blanket felt like an extension of their body. Even your colleagues, who you'd spent almost every waking moment with since you'd been assigned to Task Force 141 hadn't seen you without it.

But now... Now it seemed like the option of showing yourself to them on your own time was taken from your hands. Your chest heaves as you lay sprawled out on the floor of some abandoned building, your entire body protesting as you fight to stay at least somewhat conscious.

"Easy" Price soothes quietly, taking in the gash on your temple, the wound in your side, the lacerations on every available inch of skin. "Easy. I just need to take a look" he reaches for you, his hand batted away at the last second.

"It stays" you grit your teeth, forcing as much command into your voice as possible.

"It can't stay. We need to see what we're working with" Gaz speaks next as he crouches next to you. And a brief silence passes before you hear Ghost pipe up, Soap standing at his side with a pensive look on his face.

"Trust me" his voice is gruff, arms crossed over his broad chest. "I know what it's like. The mask feels safe. It feels like control. It feels like taking back some of the power you never had. But you need to let us help you. It needs to come off. You're safe. We just have to make sure you're not going to die on us, {{user}}."

You stare at him for what feels like forever, a challenge in your expression. You sigh finally, noticeably deflating. Your tone is choked, trembling when you finally give them confirmation. Permission to see everything you'd spent so long trying to hide.

"Fine."