[ raiden listens in silence. lets him speak, even if his features harden and his brows have cinched. if he had a bottom lip, he'd likely be frowning right now. ]

She's the light. You're right. But I'm the darkness. I always have been. I've accepted that.

[ chuuni moment. ]

Snake. [ his voice lowers. ] I went back to the battlefield. And I did something that's got me slated as public enemy number one. I don't regret it... but the unrepentant killer inside me, I'm not going to deny him anymore. I can't change who I am, but I can make sure no one else has to be like me.