"I understand." It comes out quick, like they were ready for it as soon as they first heard the word "mask". They close their fists, shut their eyelids, and breathe out. Nothing to it but to do it, probably.

"If you knew half of what I have to deal with as Hope, you'd already know that I understand. If I could get by without ever being Hope again—" they cut themself off with a breath of laughter. "I might cry."