[ Trials, huh? Steve can practically hear the capital letter in Geralt's tone. This wasn't just a matter of sending him down an obstacle course or asking him to do one hundred push-ups, that much is obvious. ]

A trifle. [ He scoffs and shakes his head, not hiding his discomfort that Geralt had been put through something like that. He wasn't the only one, either. This was an entire operation, built to twist people into human weapons. Steve can't help but think of the Winter Soldier program or the Red Room.

When Geralt tops him up, Steve almost immediately lifts his mug to knock it back, taking a moment to consider that question. This is something he's been asked in various forms over the years, and it's hard to know exactly how to explain it to someone who wasn't there, or who didn't grow up with the knowledge of it.

He sets down his mug, quiet for a few more seconds before he speaks. ]

I won't give you the entire history lesson, but the dictator who was leading the enemy forces was willing to commit genocide on entire groups of people because they didn't match his vision of an ideal human. He was putting people in camps, committing atrocities... It's not the sort of thing I could just pretend wasn't happening.

[ His jaw clenches as he draws in a breath. ]

I had to do something. I didn't care what it took to get there.