Sharp Words, Atonement

"Is he asleep?"

Shuri looked at Bucky, who lay motionless on the bed.

"No. He's been awake the whole time."

Leo smiled and said it directly, then walked toward Bucky.

Standing directly beside Bucky's bed, he could see that Bucky's left arm was completely gone, with only a short, mangled stump remaining.

"Don't you plan on going back?"

Leo stood beside Bucky as he spoke.

But Bucky, lying on the bed, did not move at all. He did not even twitch his eyelids, as if he were still asleep.

"Looks like you remember everything you did back then. Otherwise, you wouldn't be suffering like this now."

Leo could see the reactions within Bucky's body, so he could naturally use them to judge Bucky's current emotions.

"But you don't need to dwell on it too much. After all, you were being controlled back then. You had no subjective awareness and were only obeying Hydra's orders."

Seeing that Bucky did not move, Leo continued speaking.

But Bucky still did not move at all. He lay silently on the bed, seeming unwilling even to open his eyes.

Leo somewhat understood Bucky's pain. After all, Bucky had originally been an enemy of Hydra and a member of the Howling Commandos, a man who had enjoyed such glory. Before he joined them, everything had gone smoothly for him.

But during that battle, the once-glorious Bucky had fallen into hell.

His spirit had been exceptionally steadfast, yet he had endured the cruelest mental torment. His mind had been shattered bit by bit and completely erased, leaving behind only the battle instincts of a creature.

It was as if another self, devoid of emotion and reason, had been forcibly ground out from within his body.

And whenever that self had any doubts about the missions he was