[ There were certain sounds Steve longed for but knew he wouldn't find in the middle of a battlefield, such as the noise of the city and the scratching noise of a pen against paper. A thumbing heartbeat lulling him to sleep at night, something he missed most of all. But gone were the days he needed to take extra care to even make it through until morning. Most health risks were completely taken care of. ]

Did you always hear really well or did that come from - [ He trailed off, not wanting to hurt Matt or make him talk about something he'd rather not.

Hell's Kitchen. A little ways from where he grew up, then. ]

If you ask anyone in my life, they'd just say I was stupid. Stupid and stubborn. [ But he preferred to think of it as determined. ] What did you want to do instead? I mean if you weren't drafted? Or if you - [ Made it home. ]