That's actually... very sweet. And not in the taunting way he's used it in the past when Bucky has bought him more time from Wakandans or stood in front of him when he's said one word too many and a fight's broken out because of it.
As sweet as it is, it's also caught him a bit off guard in the way that only Bucky seems able, somehow worming under every preconceived notion Zemo has of him and reminding him that he doesn't quite know everything the way that he tends to in other situations. It's never the sort of being proven wrong that makes him angry though, never disappoints him.
"James," he starts quietly, a smile twitching at his lips that's more sincere than usual. His hand creeps across the table to cover Bucky's, even if it's the vibranium one.
"You must have been quite the charmer back in your day." At least he's doing a fair job of making Zemo nearly swoon in ways he hasn't in a very long time.
"I'll certainly make an effort to be better tempered. I-- want to take care of you as well, James. I want to give you nice things and I want to show you new experiences. After everything, I think you deserve kindness."
Particularly when Zemo hadn't shown any at all in the beginning. He probably doesn't show it all the time now either, not the way he should. "When we first left together, none of this was... what I planned on. I've felt like a dead man walking for so long, it was unsettling when that started to change, when I realized I didn't want to die if it meant leaving you alone. Part of me felt-- guilty for it as well."
And he still does, on some level. It feels like letting his family down all over again in a way he can at least recognize isn't rational. "Being in love with my wife had been easy. It hadn't come with the same worries because I was foolish enough to think I could protect her from anything. I know better than that now. So being in love with you... I find myself often wondering when and how it will end, and if you'll be fine at the end of it all. But that isn't any way to live, is it?"
Waiting for the other shoe to drop, always expecting the worse. Although admitting to anything like love so plainly may have cemented awkwardness happening. They don't use that word. "I'd rather be happy with whatever time we do have."
A pause. "And I think I'd like to get the check soon. The table between us is posing a bit of a problem at the moment." He'd maybe like to take Bucky up on that being held offer, that's all.
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As sweet as it is, it's also caught him a bit off guard in the way that only Bucky seems able, somehow worming under every preconceived notion Zemo has of him and reminding him that he doesn't quite know everything the way that he tends to in other situations. It's never the sort of being proven wrong that makes him angry though, never disappoints him.
"James," he starts quietly, a smile twitching at his lips that's more sincere than usual. His hand creeps across the table to cover Bucky's, even if it's the vibranium one.
"You must have been quite the charmer back in your day." At least he's doing a fair job of making Zemo nearly swoon in ways he hasn't in a very long time.
"I'll certainly make an effort to be better tempered. I-- want to take care of you as well, James. I want to give you nice things and I want to show you new experiences. After everything, I think you deserve kindness."
Particularly when Zemo hadn't shown any at all in the beginning. He probably doesn't show it all the time now either, not the way he should. "When we first left together, none of this was... what I planned on. I've felt like a dead man walking for so long, it was unsettling when that started to change, when I realized I didn't want to die if it meant leaving you alone. Part of me felt-- guilty for it as well."
And he still does, on some level. It feels like letting his family down all over again in a way he can at least recognize isn't rational. "Being in love with my wife had been easy. It hadn't come with the same worries because I was foolish enough to think I could protect her from anything. I know better than that now. So being in love with you... I find myself often wondering when and how it will end, and if you'll be fine at the end of it all. But that isn't any way to live, is it?"
Waiting for the other shoe to drop, always expecting the worse. Although admitting to anything like love so plainly may have cemented awkwardness happening. They don't use that word. "I'd rather be happy with whatever time we do have."
A pause. "And I think I'd like to get the check soon. The table between us is posing a bit of a problem at the moment." He'd maybe like to take Bucky up on that being held offer, that's all.