[ Having a strong sense of duty can be a double-edged sword; Riku assumes that Soldier felt bound to his orders regardless of his own misgivings about it, a stubborn personality could take advantage. He's seen his share of situations when well-meaning loyalty and a strong sense of duty and honor have become the strings used to control people.

The duck of his head draws Riku's attention. He mentions the kid, Sora, Naminé, there's a moment when his eyes drop, but he masks the sadness by pushing a hand up into the overgrown curtain of his hair. ]

Maybe so, but that doesn't change who you are right now.

[ He could stand to follow his own advise. ]

There was a Heartless like you, pretty much indistinguishable from a human. He could command the Heartless, even made some of his own. Whole worlds could be brought to their knees before a hero rose to defend them.

[ Riku hasn't talked about this with anyone. It isn't out of shame - he's in a much better place now, after coming to terms with his guilt about what he'd done and resolving not just to make sure it didn't happen again, but to be a better friend, a protector. It's just... this place and their challenges. It's not about him, never was.

He just tells Soldat because he wants to make that connection. ]

For a while, that awful guy was me.

I did a lot of terrible things. Because I was jealous, afraid- because I wanted the power to protect what was important to me. I won't tell you that the past doesn't matter, because it does.

It doesn't describe who I am anymore. The same goes for you.