<sub>[She lets out a gasp. She can't help it. It's a burn. And a nasty one. Not as nasty as the ones she's seen and worn before, but... well, that sort of sight has been burned (no pun intended) into her memory and it's never a pleasant one to revisit in real life.]

[But she bites her lip and tries to purge the shock from her face, because she doesn't want to prove any part of what he says next.]

[Her face takes on a steely look instead.]</sub>

Maybe you can pull that with other people, Snake... but not with me.

_{[Shutting her eyes, she exhales briefly. Otacon knew what had happened to her-- knew why she hated fire so damn much. But he's gone, and so are most of the other people who know that little detail of her past. Snake doesn't, and now's NOT the time to tell him. Not when he's the one with the burn and she doesn't have a blemish on her body besides the sun-spattered freckles on her skin. No, now's not the time. He wouldn't believe it and it wouldn't make him feel better either. So she just shakes her head resolutely.]}

Trust me on this.

You couldn't drag me down if you tried. ... Scorched shadow or not.