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Indigo hadn't realized she had fallen asleep until she opened her eyes and let out a soft yawn. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she found herself lying in seats, nestled in the warmth of the dimly lit cabin. She shifted slightly, intending to sit up, but the hushed tones of Bucky and Steve's conversation caught her attention, prompting her to remain still and listen.
"What's gonna happen to your friends?" Bucky asks, his voice tinged with concern.
"Whatever it is... I'll deal with it," Steve replies.
"I don't know if I'm worth all this, Steve," Bucky admits quietly.
Indigo wanted to get up and slap him upside the head for saying that, but she stopped herself, wanting to hear Steve's response.
"What you did all those years... it wasn't you. You didn't have a choice," Steve says, his voice steady and reassuring.
"I know. But I did it," Bucky replies quietly, his tone heavy with the weight of his past actions. Indigo could hear him let out a sigh, the sound laced with regret and self-condemnation.
"Indigo seems to think you're worth it," Steve says, his voice carrying a gentle yet firm conviction.
"You know Indigo," Bucky says. "when I first met her, I didn't think I deserved a second chance. But then she came along and showed me that maybe... just maybe, I could have something good in my life again."
Steve's voice carried a weight of understanding as he responded, his gaze steady on Bucky. "She believes in you, Bucky. And so do I. We've all done things we regret, things that haunt us. But redemption isn't about erasing the past. It's about finding a way to make amends and forge a new path forward."
Bucky nodded slowly, his expression reflective. "I want to believe that," he admitted quietly. "But sometimes it feels like the shadow of the Winter Soldier is always looming over me."
Indigo listened intently, her heart aching for Bucky's struggle with his past. She knew firsthand the complexities of redemption, of trying to reconcile the person you were with the person you strive to become. Her respect and admiration for Bucky deepened as she heard him confront his demons with such raw honesty.
"You're not alone in this, Bucky," Steve said firmly, his voice unwavering in its support. "We're in this together. And Indigo... she's not someone who gives her trust lightly. If she believes in you, it's because she sees the man you can be."
Bucky's gaze softened as he absorbed Steve's words, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. "I don't want to let her down," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
"You won't," Steve affirmed, his conviction clear. "We'll face whatever comes next, and we'll do it as a team. Trust in that, Bucky."
Indigo sat up, her muscles stiff from sleeping in an awkward position. With a stretch and a yawn, she greeted the others, "Morning, boys."
