He looks up at the tightening in Steve's voice, he's capable of picking up on it being a signal of distress but why -- it must be what he said, he can't pick up on any other catalyst. Is he afraid of being wiped too? The Soldier would understand if so, he is not allowed fear but he still fears that.

"It's not efficient." is the judgement he gives after a moment to assess the information Steve gives him. It's not like any mission briefing he's been given before. Of all the reasons Hydra had ever sent him out he didn't think appealing to an audience had ever been one of them.

When Steve turns he stops. They face each other now and it's different than it was before.

He didn't have to do as he was told. He could make his own decisions. Part of him rises up to deny it but -- but he had, he had done it before. The Soldier wets his lips as he thinks it over, remembering that moment where he disobeyed wilfully for the first time.

"I didn't go back." it's almost like a confession. "I was supposed to return and I didn't."

Before that even, when he spared Steve Rogers, when he saved Steve Rogers.