So it's totally possible to WANT to do things you also HAVE to do, right? Think of a kid who really likes school, in a jurisdiction where schooling is compulsory up to a certain age: it's a coercive exercise of state power, sure, in the sense that even if you hated it you'd have to attend anyway, but you don't experience it that way because you happen to love it.
Okay. So after his visit to the Smithsonian, the Asset turns himself over to Steve. (If the Asset's reading it right, he thinks, it seems like maybe he should have been Steve's all along.) It's clear that the Asset regards him as a handler, and that's painful for Steve, but he's gentle and careful and confident that, in time, Bucky will regain his sense of identity and autonomy.
Nope! Writer's choice as to how much, if anything, the Asset remembers of his former life, but the personality forged by Hydra is a stable one: the Asset is a loyal weapon and, when he's not in the field, a submissive and eager toy. He's understandably nervous at first, because he doesn't know how Steve will choose to treat him, but it quickly becomes apparent that Steve is GREAT. He gives the Asset delicious food and a soft place to sleep, he affords him dignity and respect, yes, but it's more than that: he's funny and shy and kind, he's a brave fighter, he stands up for the weak. He's also, not to put too fine a point on it, gorgeous. The Asset's in love.
The Asset is required to offer himself sexually to his handlers, of course, and he offers himself with good cheer and considerable enthusiasm to this one, because this one is LITERALLY THE BEST. Steve always turns him down, though, and this makes the Asset sad. It's not that Steve necessarily objects to the idea of sex with him, the Asset is given to understand, but Steve's waiting for him to "recover." To turn [back?] into someone else. And that's (a) hurtful, and (b) not going to happen.
Up to you how it turns out! Is Steve able to accept that the Asset genuinely wants to go to bed with him, even though the Asset can't actually refuse? Or is the power imbalance too inescapably fucked up for Steve to ever feel comfortable?
The Asset is genuinely thrilled with his new handler
Okay. So after his visit to the Smithsonian, the Asset turns himself over to Steve. (If the Asset's reading it right, he thinks, it seems like maybe he should have been Steve's all along.) It's clear that the Asset regards him as a handler, and that's painful for Steve, but he's gentle and careful and confident that, in time, Bucky will regain his sense of identity and autonomy.
Nope! Writer's choice as to how much, if anything, the Asset remembers of his former life, but the personality forged by Hydra is a stable one: the Asset is a loyal weapon and, when he's not in the field, a submissive and eager toy. He's understandably nervous at first, because he doesn't know how Steve will choose to treat him, but it quickly becomes apparent that Steve is GREAT. He gives the Asset delicious food and a soft place to sleep, he affords him dignity and respect, yes, but it's more than that: he's funny and shy and kind, he's a brave fighter, he stands up for the weak. He's also, not to put too fine a point on it, gorgeous. The Asset's in love.
The Asset is required to offer himself sexually to his handlers, of course, and he offers himself with good cheer and considerable enthusiasm to this one, because this one is LITERALLY THE BEST. Steve always turns him down, though, and this makes the Asset sad. It's not that Steve necessarily objects to the idea of sex with him, the Asset is given to understand, but Steve's waiting for him to "recover." To turn [back?] into someone else. And that's (a) hurtful, and (b) not going to happen.
Up to you how it turns out! Is Steve able to accept that the Asset genuinely wants to go to bed with him, even though the Asset can't actually refuse? Or is the power imbalance too inescapably fucked up for Steve to ever feel comfortable?