Understanding was a far cry from trust; just because the Soldier could recognize that his companion had been manipulated at least somewhat, didn't make him inclined to trust him here. Besides, he saw things perhaps a bit differently than others. "You're the one who has to deal with the fact that you acted to deliberately hurt others. Nothing I could say or do changes the fact that you did those things; you are the only one who gets to decide what you feel about it now."

It wasn't that different from what he'd told Billy, actually. Actions had consequences, even if only in the living with the reality of it afterwards. Even if one was completely brainwashed and under the control of an evil organization born out of Nazi Germany, for example.

The Soldier shrugged; he was well aware that most people would prefer what he was there, not what his real self. "Every good story needs heroes and villains and struggles, doesn't it? We just fell into roles that added interest to the story."