Soldat is all prepared to say, maybe a bit sourly, Which old me would that be? but instead, the Asset lifts its head from its arms and says, flat but firm, "Yes."

And then withdraws as quickly as it came, leaving Soldat blinking and frowning like they're not sure why they said that. (Ex-fucking-scuse me? Want to explain that, Asset? Widows. .... Trainers. ... okay. Trainees in the cage. Captain America. Shut up. Shut up, Asset. No.)

But it does have a point. Maybe. Not about Steve, but maybe the others. "Okay. All right, yes. Whenever I had an actual choice. Which wasn't often."