[He didn't pretend to know how the bond actually worked, remembering a time when he denied that it could ever happen to him. He liked his privacy, his freedom, his goals... now he had none of that but still somehow had the steady warm weight of the bond that linked them but hadn't hit the point of complete dependence. He wasn't even certain how it could have survived all that had happened except perhaps Steve's stubborn idiocy and righteous anger had not let him slip away or let it break. He blamed Steve for a lot of things.

Still, at the words, he issued a soft raspy chuckle and stirred the contents of the pan as it began to sizzle.]

Rogers, you are as uncreative as ever. [He risked glancing back at Steve, feeling the flush or warmth at the man's attention on him.] They wouldn't have killed me, not at first. No, they would have used the bond first, drew you in, let you watch them torture me to break you down and when you were begging to take my place... then they would have killed me. Probably would have had the Soldier do it, mask off and all.