"Do you think Oeznik would wanna go? I mean, I could hold down the fort here instead, if someone needs to stay," Bucky offers, oblivious to the intent of taking him out of Wyoming. "I do want to go with you, but it-- might be important to Oeznik too." Or maybe Oeznik doesn't want to go at all. Maybe he's spent too much time mourning too many Zemos already, and he just wants to stay here and enjoy the time he can have with the last one.
It would be a little strange though, if they find Bucky rolling around in this big old house alone with a cat he's gone and named Steve because he's really lost the plot this time, marrying the titular villain of their shitshow. It's very unlikely that they'll just leave him here alone if that's how they find him, though. There's too much of Zemo in this house for them to really believe everything Bucky would categorically deny.
"Hmmh. Do you--... I haven't. Contacted anyone, but. Do you still want me to, if you're stuck like this for a while?" He gets that it is the desperate play, that they have no other choice, but he still wants it to be a choice. And, most importantly, Zemo's choice.
Although, Zemo did buy about as much clothes for his current form than Bucky has clothes for himself, so... Maybe he is planning on staying like this for a while?
The idea of leaving Bucky alone strikes something uncomfortable in him. It's-- strange to think that they haven't been apart for a very long time now, whether they've bickered or distrusted each other or fallen into bed together, it doesn't really matter. Perhaps that's not healthy. But the idea of leaving Bucky behind-- here...
Well, it just seems like a very bad idea, all things considered. He isn't certain what he'd come back to.
"We could all go, if Oeznik is inclined..." It means uprooting Steve and he's not certain that's really best for the cat, but they also can't quite leave him behind in an empty house. Maybe they could board him for the duration...
Or maybe Zemo should let Bucky stay behind, but there's also the fact that the man may not care enough to take care of himself or the cat in their absence.
The question has him pausing, humming thoughtfully. "We will have to, won't we? Though I still can't quite escape the nagging feeling that it will be at least the beginning of the end of whatever peace we have found."
Involving more magic, or letting people know they are traveling together. "We will see if it lasts, I suppose."
Bucky is so used to being alone that it's probably surprising that he hasn't lashed out yet. Well, okay, he might have had a meltdown or two, but Zemo's taken them in his stride, and he's given Bucky a lot of space when he thinks he's pushing Bucky a little bit too much.
Oeznik is likely to veto any notion of Bucky being alone here, however, and make the trip there on his own at another time. He's taken it upon himself to look after all of them, and he's fairly certain Bucky and Steve won't be fine left alone to themselves. Steve will probably be fine, wander off on his own to find whatever scraps he's been living on all this time. He can't say the same for the lump they will find on the dust-covered floor when they return.
Still, Bucky likes to fantasise that Oeznik trusts him enough to leave him alone to man the house for a while.
"We'll see what he says." Bucky almost gets his hand wet again when Zemo shoves it back and keeps it out of the spray, helping to wash the soap off his body and rubbing him in places that make him whimper and squirm. He licks his bottom lip nervously and makes a disgruntled, warning noise. For someone who's not fooling around in the shower, Zemo's being a little handsy.
Zemo can't be blamed for getting a bit handsy, can he? Bucky is very tempting to get handsy with and it's a rather perfect excuse -- although the noises he gets in response do have him show a little mercy. There's a brief, teasing smile before Zemo leans up to press a quick kiss to his cheek -- and backs away enough to start scrubbing himself down.
Still a bit awkward with the differences, but Zemo is rather talented at at least seeming at ease in most situations.
"We will. For now, let's just enjoy the rest of the day as much as we can." They still have a bit to go after all, and it's been rather pleasant for the most part. Zemo would like to keep that trend going for a bit longer at least.
"Anything else you would like to do tonight, James? Besides the hot tub."
No amount of showering can convince Oeznik that they didn't get up to any hanky panky on their day out but he can't fault them for trying. Probably better than showing up to dinner looking like horny teenagers - if Zemo's still up for dinner of course.
"If I don't eat something I'll get an earful from Oeznik," he laments softly. So that's on the to do list. After that, well... He's pretty sure he's going to squirm in the hot tub and Zemo will enjoy it too much.
Well, with any luck, Zemo's used up the earfuls so Oeznik is too tired to nag at Bucky.
"Are you hungry?" Bucky tries to shake water off his bandaged hand not unlike Steve would when he gets a paw wet, but there's no hiding the fact that it looked like he didn't put in the effort to keep his hand dry.
Oeznik knows them too well to guess they didn't get up to something, left to their own devices. But at least they'll look less like they parked somewhere and acted out semi-public fantasies somewhere. And at least he didn't have to hear a bit of it, this time around...
Unless things get heated up later tonight, of course.
But right now, Zemo cuts the water and gives a quiet tsk at Bucky before he takes his hand in his, inspects the damp bandage. Despite his best efforts, it seems they weren't very successful at all keeping it clean. "We will have to change this before you can go down."
Unless Bucky wants to be shamed for his lack of care, of course. As for the question-- "I'm not in particular. I may take a few moments before coming down, if you don't mind."
Surely, Oeznik has used his reserves to give Zemo enough of an earful to turn it on Bucky. "Meet you in the hot tub later?"
No, Bucky would not like to be shamed for anything. Oeznik deserves a break from having to tell the two boys off for their various wrongdoings. He nods without protesting - both for the bandage change and for letting Zemo have some time to himself.
"Okay." He leaves his hand in Zemo's grasp as he makes his way partially out the shower, dripping a bit before grabbing hold of the towels. He drapes one over Zemo's shoulders first before wrapping the other one around his waist, letting water drip from his hair freely while he ambles towards the sink, gives Zemo more space.
His hand is actually mostly recovered and it doesn't even look as severe as it was when he first sliced it open when he unwinds the bandages and dumps the old one. Somehow despite his negligence, he hasn't gotten an infection, and this dressing change will likely be the final one before it will heal up as best it can.
Bucky touches the exposed ring with his metal fingers, head lowered and silent, seemingly not bothered by the cold or the wetness while his mind drifts. But he'll eventually get distracted and look up when Zemo gets his attention.
"It doesn't need bandages, does it?" he asks as he flexes his hand at Zemo just a little bit - not enough to rip anything open, so he should relax.
Zemo seems pleased by the progress as he inspects the wound. He takes Bucky's hand in his, turning it around to look closer. "This will be the last one, I think. Despite all carelessness on your part, James, it looks like you will heal very well."
Probably largely thanks to the serum in his veins than anything he's done, but Zemo will certainly accept it. Either way, Zemo reaches for the bandage to rewrap it for now -- Bucky can tolerate a few more days of annoyance while the wound closes a bit further.
... There's something a bit charming that Bucky truly hasn't taken his ring off, and seemingly has no intentions of doing so at the moment. Zemo's fingers may brush briefly over the metal before it's covered by the gauze wrap again. "This is quite a position, isn't it? I doubt you would have thought years ago that you would be wearing my ring, letting me bandage your wounds."
"I tried," Bucky insists firmly but quietly. Clearly he didn't try his hardest, or he wouldn't have hurt himself to begin with, but he didn't deliberately try to give himself an infection either.
"I guess." Bucky lowers his head a bit and swallows. "I thought you'd be like the others." Hydra's technicians and handlers, he means. His eyes narrow by a fraction. "They would have just left me if they thought I wouldn't make it."
He doesn't know for sure. Maybe they'd try to retrieve him, to cover their tracks, or extract what they can out of his corpse and work on a better v2.0 soldier. Or on the off chance that he does make it, give him that false sense of being valued, being wanted, being part of the organisation. But he's pretty sure that once he's a liability they would have cut him loose. They don't have the same complications or hangups that he does in his head about being saved or the intermittent bouts of kindness he'd been shown.
"You don't have to, anyway." Patch him up, he means. It'll heal one way or another. Just that this one won't turn into a nasty scar like all the others. "You didn't have to do any of this." Drag him around the world, buy him nice things, nudge him into not giving up on himself. Feed him, bathe him, clothe him. Wyoming. They've progressed far beyond just keeping a wary eye on each other.
"I hope I've been okay to you. Or, good enough. Or whatever."
"I'm not HYDRA," Zemo answers simply. Some situations, you have to leave others behind. They were soldiers. They both knew lost causes when they saw them -- and how they had to be handled, whether you liked it or not. Honestly, Bucky had been one of those lost causes, hadn't he? Perhaps if someone had come back for him back then, he wouldn't have been dragged off to HYDRA's hands.
No need to dwell in what-ifs of the past though. "And anyway, don't be dramatic, James. It's a cut to the hand. Hardly worth leaving anyone behind over..."
Maybe he's willfully ignoring the implication there. Zemo hadn't really considered that Bucky... wouldn't make it. Couldn't make it. He'd thought him a murderer still, maybe, but doubting his will to survive? Just looking how far he's come should attest to some sort of will to not die. Or maybe it's just that he hasn't had the option otherwise yet.
"I want to." It's better than letting him bleed or hurt. Quietly, Zemo wraps the gauze around his hand, eyes focused on his work until it's done, but there's a bit of a softer look when Zemo looks back up.
"I wouldn't have cared to marry you if you were so disappointing, James, drunk or not. You've been-- very good. More than I expected. Good to me, good for me. I also don't have any intention of giving you up anytime soon, so you can put that worry to rest." If it was a worry at all.
Once the bandage is done, Zemo guides his hand up to brush another kiss over the back of it -- a mirror of that night at the clinic. "There. Go dress and have dinner, James."
... And let Zemo browse through his phone in peace, of course. He has no doubt Bucky told him a bit of truth, but he can't help but be curious what exactly was said, what slander is being thrown his way. "I'll see you downstairs in the hot tub later."
The wary look Bucky shoots him is slightly less accusatory than before. He's not just talking about the cut on his hand, but he suspects Zemo knows that already. He's also not having an averse reaction to being kissed better, as unfamiliar as the gesture is to him.
"Thanks," he replies quietly, a one-worded response to summarise a lot of other words that had been rolling around his head that he's either not sure or not willing to say. Maybe Zemo deserves more, but he finds that both Zemo and Oeznik understand him without him having to use his words and it's letting him silently cultivate bad habits of just grunting and glaring his way through most conversations.
Flexing his hand once it's returned to him, Bucky pulls a clean shirt and trackpants on and gathers up the laundry to be done, tidying up in the bathroom a bit before slipping back out. If he isn't oblivious about the snooping, he evidently doesn't seem to care. Although, more likely than not, he's oblivious to a lot of things.
Anyway, it's not anything Zemo wouldn't have expected. There's nothing polite in the messages about Zemo's character. The only thing that looks vaguely polite is how Bucky needs help and it's okay to ask for help, he needs to turn Zemo in before putting himself in a situation he can't walk back from, and some other thinly-veiled threats masquerading as concern and helpfulness.
Besides, Bucky's more or less forgotten about it. By the time he's downstairs he's getting shit from Oeznik about not disclosing Zemo's predicament this morning and being adamant about not wearing the board shorts (no, not even once to humour him).
To his credit, Bucky has done a lot of talking today, a lot of sharing. He supposes he can give him a break for the one worded thank you, let him retreat back into his grunts and stares for a bit. It isn't as if it's difficult to figure out what he's thinking -- not for Zemo, at least. Not for Oeznik.
For now, Zemo slips into a robe, waiting until Bucky has slipped out before he goes to sit on the edge of the bed. He spends a bit of time scrolling through the messages on his phone - and it's not surprise to Zemo to see he's once again the villain. It is a bit... tiresome, the threats and that sense of being closed in on, sooner or later. Zemo isn't sure what will happen when that day comes.
He's not sure if it wouldn't be better in the end to slip out quietly and leave Bucky and his cat be before they're all put in the Raft or the ground together. In the end, he knows he won't actually do that. Somewhere along the way, he started to genuinely care about the man. Abandoning him now wouldn't do much good for any progress he's made, well-intentioned or not.
And then there's the selfish part of him that doesn't want to give up something that's his, something that he wants.
After the phone is put back where he found it, Zemo lets himself lean back on the bed for a while, hands folded over his stomach as his mind wanders, as he tries to figure out some plan for-- anything. His current predicament, or if Sam Wilson shows up on their doorstep one day.
Or worse, the Wakandans.
And some of it's just dwelling on this new body, whether it will right itself or if they'll have to reach out to the witch or the doctor or any other person who boasts themselves knowledgeable about magic.
Eventually, he knows he can't brood the entire night away and gets up to slip into the swimsuit he got. It's just a simple one piece, flattering but nothing risque, and it's covered by a robe before Zemo goes to get some towels. His goal is to slip down to the hot tub without facing Oeznik again. He's already gotten a proper enough talk from the old man that he doesn't think he needs to see whatever other exasperation or worry is there.
Technically, despite the changes, he's fine. He's healthy. He's not mutating or anything. That should count for something, yes?
And he feels better by the time he can slip into the hot water and chase some of the chill from the night air away.
Steve comes wandering in for a bit of attention from his favourite human after napping for the better part of the day, and Bucky indulges. He indulges Oeznik plenty too, which is probably why the old man has taken a liking to him. Past the initial resistance phase, he lets himself be fed and clothed, tries to do things how Oeznik likes things to be done, and doesn't complain about the things Zemo complains about because he thinks he's too old to be looked after. He won't go pester Zemo to come down and have a bite since he has a soldier to feed. It's so much nicer when feeding one of them doesn't become an arduous mission.
Oeznik engages Bucky in conversation about how his day had gone out in town. Bucky mostly grunts and shrugs and nods his way through it, although eventually Oeznik manages to pull a few more words out of him. Bucky confesses that he thinks Zemo had a good day, going around town and not having to worry about getting recognised. He stops just short of saying this unexpected, unwanted sudden change might be a good thing, but it's implied. They can at least both agree that there's a few advantages. A silver lining and all that, depending on how they look at it, but ultimately it's not for them to decide since it's Zemo's body.
The topic meanders and circles around to Bucky having a wife, and he shrugs and says it's the same. Mostly. But Oeznik had picked up on a shift in the vocabulary Bucky tends to use. He's never talked about treating Zemo right or things a man should do up until today. It doesn't sound like it's the same, to Oeznik, and he's not sure if that's solely because of how Zemo must be acting out, either, but it's filed away for later when he has the opportunity to probe Zemo further.
Oeznik shoos Bucky away after he's finished his second helping, kicking him out of the kitchen before he can attempt to do his own dishes. Isn't his wife waiting for him in the hot tub, he jabs, and he doesn't let Bucky slip away before reminding him again to not get his new bandages wet.
"I think that went well," Bucky comments when he joins Zemo in the hot tub, wearing black trunks that don't look too different from his sleeping attire. He's not delicate about throwing a stack of towels on the edge, or each step down making a bit of a splash, or that squeaky noise as he sinks down into the seat, leaving his arm raised and resting around the edge of the tub to keep his hand out of the water.
"I mean, Oeznik seems okay." Possibly an understatement, and possibly also because he doesn't know what conversation Zemo and Oeznik have already had.
"It's hot in here." Of course it is. It's a hot tub. And while Bucky wouldn't want to sit in a tub of cold water this time of the year either, it's just. Going to take him a little while to get used to it.
By the time Bucky joins him in the tub, Zemo has let his head fall back, eyes shut as he debates-- what to do. There feels like there are multiple problems. His body, and what to do about it. Bucky and his ever persistent "friends." The way he can't quite-- put his finger on the shift in Bucky's demeanor and whether it actually comes from a place of concern because Zemo was taken aback or if it's some old fashioned mentality he's not shed.
But all in all? It hasn't been a bad day. Possibly one of the best in a while. There's just part of Zemo that wants to go back inside and pick Oeznik's brain about... everything. See if an old friend has any insight or advice on what to do next.
He has a feeling Oeznik would tell him it's all his choice, of course. "It's a hot tub, James."
Zemo cracks open an eye to look at Bucky before he's shifting to fit up against his side. As much as he wants to seek out Oeznik-- Bucky is... his spouse. That means that they should be able to have frank discussions, doesn't it? Even if neither of them seem talented at it, depending on the topic.
"... Do you think that I should stay like this?" He ventures after a moment, not quite doing more than giving Bucky a quick once over. "And if I did, would it change anything between us?"
A pause. "Besides new birth control concerns, of course."
An attempt at a joke, but he isn't terribly inclined to be a parent again, not with this sort of life they've got. Then add in the serum in Bucky's blood and it becomes an even bigger headache...
Bucky stops fidgeting because he's pretty sure Zemo has had enough of him having the occasional shitfit over what he would deem inconsequential. Yes, he knows it's a hot tub. But he also runs warm so it's hot on top of hot which makes it uncomfortably hot. Anyway, he doesn't expect Zemo to understand, so he just finds an angle that's comfortable for Zemo and doesn't move too much after that.
His arm can handle the soak, but he does end up lifting it so Zemo can lie down against his side instead of trying to work with that uncomfortable hard metal, and Bucky lets it rest on the edge of the tub out of the water. It almost powers down to a kind of unnatural stillness that he readily adopts.
"I think you were happier today like this. Or at least, more relaxed. But I don't know if it's what you would want, long term." Only Zemo would know that for sure. Would it change anything between them? He doesn't think so.
"I mean. Nothing's changed between us today, has it?" Apart from the fact that they were able to move a little more freely around town. That was a nice perk more so than anything else.
"Ultimately I don't think you'd want somebody to just. Do this to you, and make you deal with it, and it's all just. Fun and games to them, or whatever." That's the only thing Bucky feels strongly about, if he felt strongly about anything. If they let whatever happened just get away with it, then, they might as well just issue a free pass to let whoever feels so inclined to just fuck with them.
They won't linger in here long. Zemo knows Bucky's aversion to heat... but right now, it's nice enough, especially when he runs cold. He turns his face in towards Bucky's chest to press a soft kiss there, idly, either as a way to buy time or appreciation for joining him in one of the last places Bucky would want to be. Some-- things felt different, but fundamentally? Zemo can't say it's changed too drastically.
"It was nice for a change. A reminder of a life I thought I'd left behind." In multiple ways, with the spouse and everything else.
"I don't like it. I don't know if it was just a bit of unfortunate mischief, but--" He doesn't have to explain the violation, does he? He lets it trail off because he knows Bucky is well aware of the horrors. Waking up to a body that doesn't quite feel like your own anymore, with no knowledge of how or why.
"... So we try to find who did it and why." At the moment, Zemo would rather have some revenge for that first. Or at least a question or two answered.
"Although we may run into your friends along the way. I'm not-- sure they will let you stay with a wanted terrorist and not check up on you, James." There's a wry smile.
"I don't suppose I could pass for your displaced Sokovian wife? Or American. I am not terrible at accents." There's no chance. As different as he may seem, he's familiar enough under all the softer features and longer hair.
Bucky wraps his arm around Zemo and holds him close, rubbing his upper arm in small reassuring strokes. Would he ever lean over and kiss Zemo on the forehead if this hadn't happened to him? Probably not. But he's not even really noticing that he's doing it right now, chaste and spontaneous as the gesture is.
"Okay." He's determined to help Zemo out, whether he wants to find out who's done this or whether he wants to get help.
"It's not up to them, who I want to be with. Or what I want to do," Bucky insists. He knows the consequences, he knows what they're thinking, what Zemo must be putting him through. But it's nothing like that. He's choosing to be with Zemo. He can't help them see things his way. He can only live with his choices and deal with the fallout when the time comes.
Bucky just scoffs when Zemo suggests to try and pass off as his wife. He resembles himself too much to get away with that, even if he can manage a different accent.
"No one would willingly marry me knowing they have to put up with-- all this." Not sober, definitely. "That alone would give you away." He makes a bit of a splash with his metal hand in the water before idly playing with the tips of Zemo's hair.
"They know we got married. I don't expect them to-- be supportive. But they could just leave us alone. I wouldn't bother them if they wanted to go live on a farm with-- I don't know. Thanos?" Not that he's comparing Zemo to Thanos, but the point stands. It's none of his business, just as this would be none of theirs.
Zemo weighs pointing out again that Bucky is acting... strangely towards him. The kiss to the forehead, the way his fingers play through his hair. But it won't solve much in the end beyond making Bucky tense and self-conscious. Besides, they have so much else on their plate right now... is it really worth making a fuss over this particular thing?
Still, he lets out a sigh as he tips his head in against it's rested comfortably on Bucky's chest. They both know why they can't leave them alone, and it feels morbid to ask Bucky if he will still want him even when they're both put in a cell.
There is a soft chuckle that leaves him at Bucky's insistence. "I would hope I am at least better company."
He understands his point though. "Although I feel like you are questioning my taste in partners, James... I did very willingly marry you." Although he was drunk, admittedly.
Bucky just scoffs at that. "You were so wild that night." Not that he's implying their marriage wasn't real or anything like that. But Zemo wouldn't have asked if he had been sober or in a bad mood instead of winning it big on the casino floor and celebrating in a bigger than usual way.
His hand goes back to rubbing Zemo's arm, holding him close. There's no need to point out anything negative tonight. This is their current predicament. They should just enjoy it.
"You look good in this swimsuit," Bucky comments. It's nothing that offends his delicate old man feelings. But it's still very flattering. "You wear a lot of-- different stuff, today." Not just the usual long sleeves or turtlenecks and trousers, is what he means.
"I was winning." Mostly. He apparently lost in a very big way if that's what set him down the path to magical mischief, but-- he's not dwelling on that right now. He's a bit distracted by the hand rubbing over his arm, in a much more pleasant way than dwelling on how odd Bucky has been acting on and off.
"Thank you, James." He lets out a quiet laugh at the compliment, turning his head up enough to press a kiss to Bucky's jaw.
"Mhm... well, I didn't want to look too much like myself." Although he doesn't think he chose anything that outlandish either. Maybe some of the underwear, but-- he hasn't heard James complain about that. Yet.
"If the car is anything to go by, you seemed to enjoy the new look quite a bit." Not that Zemo hadn't been just as insistent...
"You were pretty lucky." Bucky was actually impressed that Zemo managed to walk away from Vegas winning that tidy haul, even if they had to get Oeznik to collect the winnings.
"You do look a bit like yourself, I guess." He feels a lot different, for sure, but some of the features are still there. Despite the... soft bits. Softer. But it's true that Zemo's wardrobe has grown in unexpected ways. Even though it must be weird wearing women's clothes...
"The important thing is what you like and what you're comfortable with," Bucky deflects deftly from the car. They were both involved there and, to be fair, he didn't hear any complaints about Bucky putting all sorts of things in his mouth that time, did he?
"If everything goes back tomorrow, at least you'll have had a good day." It could have been worse. Zemo's handling it well, all things considered. Bucky would have just locked himself away and sulked or lost his shit or, well, not bought clothes and sat in a hot tub, that's for sure.
It may have been tempting, but-- well, there isn't a way that Oeznik would have let him barricade himself in the bathroom, or Bucky for that matter. It's better to be up... trying to solve the issue anyway. Or at least keeping busy enough to not let it crush you.
Then again, they've got so many things that could crush them at any given moment, it's best to not think about that.
There's a smile at those words, Bucky trying to reassure him or put a positive spin on things. That's not how it usually works. It's as weird as all the affectionate little touches, the way he's been talking to Zemo now. All those subtle little differences Bucky swears to not notice.
And either way, it still has Zemo shifting his position until he's sat on Bucky's lap and leaning in to give him a kiss - it's something soft, affectionate. Not like many of their usual kisses, perhaps, but Bucky is certainly inspiring it. "A very good day."
A very strange one, but good nonetheless. "You've made it quite... difficult to imagine life without you, you realize."
Which was never how it was supposed to be. Not really.
A hand splashes into the water to make sure Zemo doesn't slide or fall off his lap, resting on his lower back. Finally they're at a better height for kissing, and Bucky is the one who has to tip his head back and lean up to meet those soft, wet lips.
"Have I?" He hasn't noticed. Most of the time he's a fairly inconspicuous presence, silently skulking here and there. When he has a little project to work on he'll keep out of sight and out of mind until he shows up pestering Oeznik in the kitchen for food or when Steve demands attention and lures his favourite target down to the floor to play with him.
He's pretty sure Oeznik wouldn't agree. He'd rather deal with one disaster than three. (Okay, fine, two and a half. Steve's messes are a lot easier to clean up, and he's gotten less and less feral over time as the men in the house have tamed him in their own ways.) But he's been kind and patient and firm so far and whatever grievances he takes up with Zemo, Bucky is completely oblivious to.
"I'm planning on sticking around a while." Although he does feel like he's getting older. It's been strange, in and out of cryo, the Blip - losing all these snippets of time, remembering and yet not being able to piece together a lot - but he's not going to pull an Old Man Bucky anytime soon.
Or dying. He's not planning on that either, but. Who knows, at this rate? The world's getting crazier by the day.
"We made vows, Helmut. You're not supposed to have life without me."
For all of Oeznik's complaints, Zemo likes to think they've grown on him -- both Bucky and Steve. He's rather certain if anything ever happened to him, the old man would at least stay with Bucky... for better or worse. There's some comfort in that, knowing his oldest friend will not be alone and lost and to know that his-- husband will have someone to remind him to eat and to sleep in a bed at least once in a wile.
There's a soft laugh at Bucky's reminder, his fingers sliding up to stroke over the side of his face. "We did. I lost one spouse and joining her didn't go very well at all. I expect you to not put me in that position again anytime soon, James..."
Bucky turns his head a bit to give Zemo more access to his face. He's used to the touching, the chiding, the rubbing his stubble by now, although from time to time Zemo still gets grunts and disgruntled noises out of him.
Honestly he wouldn't know what Mrs. Zemo would have wanted. Seems pointless and empty to say she would have wanted him to live on or do whatever with his life. Especially since so many people want him dead or gone. But Bucky wants Zemo around and surely that ought to count for something now that they're married?
"Well, no promises," he says dryly. Is it too soon for that kind of joke? He's not sure. But he's still a soldier and dying is pretty common as far as soldiers go. "If I can help it we'll only do the positions you like," he jokes instead. Maybe a bit of that casual flirty European charm is finally rubbing off on him. Or at least, trying to fight off those tired, old, traditional puritanical values he unconsciously holds dear to his heart.
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It would be a little strange though, if they find Bucky rolling around in this big old house alone with a cat he's gone and named Steve because he's really lost the plot this time, marrying the titular villain of their shitshow. It's very unlikely that they'll just leave him here alone if that's how they find him, though. There's too much of Zemo in this house for them to really believe everything Bucky would categorically deny.
"Hmmh. Do you--... I haven't. Contacted anyone, but. Do you still want me to, if you're stuck like this for a while?" He gets that it is the desperate play, that they have no other choice, but he still wants it to be a choice. And, most importantly, Zemo's choice.
Although, Zemo did buy about as much clothes for his current form than Bucky has clothes for himself, so... Maybe he is planning on staying like this for a while?
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Well, it just seems like a very bad idea, all things considered. He isn't certain what he'd come back to.
"We could all go, if Oeznik is inclined..." It means uprooting Steve and he's not certain that's really best for the cat, but they also can't quite leave him behind in an empty house. Maybe they could board him for the duration...
Or maybe Zemo should let Bucky stay behind, but there's also the fact that the man may not care enough to take care of himself or the cat in their absence.
The question has him pausing, humming thoughtfully. "We will have to, won't we? Though I still can't quite escape the nagging feeling that it will be at least the beginning of the end of whatever peace we have found."
Involving more magic, or letting people know they are traveling together. "We will see if it lasts, I suppose."
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Oeznik is likely to veto any notion of Bucky being alone here, however, and make the trip there on his own at another time. He's taken it upon himself to look after all of them, and he's fairly certain Bucky and Steve won't be fine left alone to themselves. Steve will probably be fine, wander off on his own to find whatever scraps he's been living on all this time. He can't say the same for the lump they will find on the dust-covered floor when they return.
Still, Bucky likes to fantasise that Oeznik trusts him enough to leave him alone to man the house for a while.
"We'll see what he says." Bucky almost gets his hand wet again when Zemo shoves it back and keeps it out of the spray, helping to wash the soap off his body and rubbing him in places that make him whimper and squirm. He licks his bottom lip nervously and makes a disgruntled, warning noise. For someone who's not fooling around in the shower, Zemo's being a little handsy.
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Still a bit awkward with the differences, but Zemo is rather talented at at least seeming at ease in most situations.
"We will. For now, let's just enjoy the rest of the day as much as we can." They still have a bit to go after all, and it's been rather pleasant for the most part. Zemo would like to keep that trend going for a bit longer at least.
"Anything else you would like to do tonight, James? Besides the hot tub."
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"If I don't eat something I'll get an earful from Oeznik," he laments softly. So that's on the to do list. After that, well... He's pretty sure he's going to squirm in the hot tub and Zemo will enjoy it too much.
Well, with any luck, Zemo's used up the earfuls so Oeznik is too tired to nag at Bucky.
"Are you hungry?" Bucky tries to shake water off his bandaged hand not unlike Steve would when he gets a paw wet, but there's no hiding the fact that it looked like he didn't put in the effort to keep his hand dry.
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Unless things get heated up later tonight, of course.
But right now, Zemo cuts the water and gives a quiet tsk at Bucky before he takes his hand in his, inspects the damp bandage. Despite his best efforts, it seems they weren't very successful at all keeping it clean. "We will have to change this before you can go down."
Unless Bucky wants to be shamed for his lack of care, of course. As for the question-- "I'm not in particular. I may take a few moments before coming down, if you don't mind."
Surely, Oeznik has used his reserves to give Zemo enough of an earful to turn it on Bucky. "Meet you in the hot tub later?"
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"Okay." He leaves his hand in Zemo's grasp as he makes his way partially out the shower, dripping a bit before grabbing hold of the towels. He drapes one over Zemo's shoulders first before wrapping the other one around his waist, letting water drip from his hair freely while he ambles towards the sink, gives Zemo more space.
His hand is actually mostly recovered and it doesn't even look as severe as it was when he first sliced it open when he unwinds the bandages and dumps the old one. Somehow despite his negligence, he hasn't gotten an infection, and this dressing change will likely be the final one before it will heal up as best it can.
Bucky touches the exposed ring with his metal fingers, head lowered and silent, seemingly not bothered by the cold or the wetness while his mind drifts. But he'll eventually get distracted and look up when Zemo gets his attention.
"It doesn't need bandages, does it?" he asks as he flexes his hand at Zemo just a little bit - not enough to rip anything open, so he should relax.
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Probably largely thanks to the serum in his veins than anything he's done, but Zemo will certainly accept it. Either way, Zemo reaches for the bandage to rewrap it for now -- Bucky can tolerate a few more days of annoyance while the wound closes a bit further.
... There's something a bit charming that Bucky truly hasn't taken his ring off, and seemingly has no intentions of doing so at the moment. Zemo's fingers may brush briefly over the metal before it's covered by the gauze wrap again. "This is quite a position, isn't it? I doubt you would have thought years ago that you would be wearing my ring, letting me bandage your wounds."
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"I guess." Bucky lowers his head a bit and swallows. "I thought you'd be like the others." Hydra's technicians and handlers, he means. His eyes narrow by a fraction. "They would have just left me if they thought I wouldn't make it."
He doesn't know for sure. Maybe they'd try to retrieve him, to cover their tracks, or extract what they can out of his corpse and work on a better v2.0 soldier. Or on the off chance that he does make it, give him that false sense of being valued, being wanted, being part of the organisation. But he's pretty sure that once he's a liability they would have cut him loose. They don't have the same complications or hangups that he does in his head about being saved or the intermittent bouts of kindness he'd been shown.
"You don't have to, anyway." Patch him up, he means. It'll heal one way or another. Just that this one won't turn into a nasty scar like all the others. "You didn't have to do any of this." Drag him around the world, buy him nice things, nudge him into not giving up on himself. Feed him, bathe him, clothe him. Wyoming. They've progressed far beyond just keeping a wary eye on each other.
"I hope I've been okay to you. Or, good enough. Or whatever."
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No need to dwell in what-ifs of the past though. "And anyway, don't be dramatic, James. It's a cut to the hand. Hardly worth leaving anyone behind over..."
Maybe he's willfully ignoring the implication there. Zemo hadn't really considered that Bucky... wouldn't make it. Couldn't make it. He'd thought him a murderer still, maybe, but doubting his will to survive? Just looking how far he's come should attest to some sort of will to not die. Or maybe it's just that he hasn't had the option otherwise yet.
"I want to." It's better than letting him bleed or hurt. Quietly, Zemo wraps the gauze around his hand, eyes focused on his work until it's done, but there's a bit of a softer look when Zemo looks back up.
"I wouldn't have cared to marry you if you were so disappointing, James, drunk or not. You've been-- very good. More than I expected. Good to me, good for me. I also don't have any intention of giving you up anytime soon, so you can put that worry to rest." If it was a worry at all.
Once the bandage is done, Zemo guides his hand up to brush another kiss over the back of it -- a mirror of that night at the clinic. "There. Go dress and have dinner, James."
... And let Zemo browse through his phone in peace, of course. He has no doubt Bucky told him a bit of truth, but he can't help but be curious what exactly was said, what slander is being thrown his way. "I'll see you downstairs in the hot tub later."
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"Thanks," he replies quietly, a one-worded response to summarise a lot of other words that had been rolling around his head that he's either not sure or not willing to say. Maybe Zemo deserves more, but he finds that both Zemo and Oeznik understand him without him having to use his words and it's letting him silently cultivate bad habits of just grunting and glaring his way through most conversations.
Flexing his hand once it's returned to him, Bucky pulls a clean shirt and trackpants on and gathers up the laundry to be done, tidying up in the bathroom a bit before slipping back out. If he isn't oblivious about the snooping, he evidently doesn't seem to care. Although, more likely than not, he's oblivious to a lot of things.
Anyway, it's not anything Zemo wouldn't have expected. There's nothing polite in the messages about Zemo's character. The only thing that looks vaguely polite is how Bucky needs help and it's okay to ask for help, he needs to turn Zemo in before putting himself in a situation he can't walk back from, and some other thinly-veiled threats masquerading as concern and helpfulness.
Besides, Bucky's more or less forgotten about it. By the time he's downstairs he's getting shit from Oeznik about not disclosing Zemo's predicament this morning and being adamant about not wearing the board shorts (no, not even once to humour him).
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For now, Zemo slips into a robe, waiting until Bucky has slipped out before he goes to sit on the edge of the bed. He spends a bit of time scrolling through the messages on his phone - and it's not surprise to Zemo to see he's once again the villain. It is a bit... tiresome, the threats and that sense of being closed in on, sooner or later. Zemo isn't sure what will happen when that day comes.
He's not sure if it wouldn't be better in the end to slip out quietly and leave Bucky and his cat be before they're all put in the Raft or the ground together. In the end, he knows he won't actually do that. Somewhere along the way, he started to genuinely care about the man. Abandoning him now wouldn't do much good for any progress he's made, well-intentioned or not.
And then there's the selfish part of him that doesn't want to give up something that's his, something that he wants.
After the phone is put back where he found it, Zemo lets himself lean back on the bed for a while, hands folded over his stomach as his mind wanders, as he tries to figure out some plan for-- anything. His current predicament, or if Sam Wilson shows up on their doorstep one day.
Or worse, the Wakandans.
And some of it's just dwelling on this new body, whether it will right itself or if they'll have to reach out to the witch or the doctor or any other person who boasts themselves knowledgeable about magic.
Eventually, he knows he can't brood the entire night away and gets up to slip into the swimsuit he got. It's just a simple one piece, flattering but nothing risque, and it's covered by a robe before Zemo goes to get some towels. His goal is to slip down to the hot tub without facing Oeznik again. He's already gotten a proper enough talk from the old man that he doesn't think he needs to see whatever other exasperation or worry is there.
Technically, despite the changes, he's fine. He's healthy. He's not mutating or anything. That should count for something, yes?
And he feels better by the time he can slip into the hot water and chase some of the chill from the night air away.
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Oeznik engages Bucky in conversation about how his day had gone out in town. Bucky mostly grunts and shrugs and nods his way through it, although eventually Oeznik manages to pull a few more words out of him. Bucky confesses that he thinks Zemo had a good day, going around town and not having to worry about getting recognised. He stops just short of saying this unexpected, unwanted sudden change might be a good thing, but it's implied. They can at least both agree that there's a few advantages. A silver lining and all that, depending on how they look at it, but ultimately it's not for them to decide since it's Zemo's body.
The topic meanders and circles around to Bucky having a wife, and he shrugs and says it's the same. Mostly. But Oeznik had picked up on a shift in the vocabulary Bucky tends to use. He's never talked about treating Zemo right or things a man should do up until today. It doesn't sound like it's the same, to Oeznik, and he's not sure if that's solely because of how Zemo must be acting out, either, but it's filed away for later when he has the opportunity to probe Zemo further.
Oeznik shoos Bucky away after he's finished his second helping, kicking him out of the kitchen before he can attempt to do his own dishes. Isn't his wife waiting for him in the hot tub, he jabs, and he doesn't let Bucky slip away before reminding him again to not get his new bandages wet.
"I think that went well," Bucky comments when he joins Zemo in the hot tub, wearing black trunks that don't look too different from his sleeping attire. He's not delicate about throwing a stack of towels on the edge, or each step down making a bit of a splash, or that squeaky noise as he sinks down into the seat, leaving his arm raised and resting around the edge of the tub to keep his hand out of the water.
"I mean, Oeznik seems okay." Possibly an understatement, and possibly also because he doesn't know what conversation Zemo and Oeznik have already had.
"It's hot in here." Of course it is. It's a hot tub. And while Bucky wouldn't want to sit in a tub of cold water this time of the year either, it's just. Going to take him a little while to get used to it.
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But all in all? It hasn't been a bad day. Possibly one of the best in a while. There's just part of Zemo that wants to go back inside and pick Oeznik's brain about... everything. See if an old friend has any insight or advice on what to do next.
He has a feeling Oeznik would tell him it's all his choice, of course. "It's a hot tub, James."
Zemo cracks open an eye to look at Bucky before he's shifting to fit up against his side. As much as he wants to seek out Oeznik-- Bucky is... his spouse. That means that they should be able to have frank discussions, doesn't it? Even if neither of them seem talented at it, depending on the topic.
"... Do you think that I should stay like this?" He ventures after a moment, not quite doing more than giving Bucky a quick once over. "And if I did, would it change anything between us?"
A pause. "Besides new birth control concerns, of course."
An attempt at a joke, but he isn't terribly inclined to be a parent again, not with this sort of life they've got. Then add in the serum in Bucky's blood and it becomes an even bigger headache...
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His arm can handle the soak, but he does end up lifting it so Zemo can lie down against his side instead of trying to work with that uncomfortable hard metal, and Bucky lets it rest on the edge of the tub out of the water. It almost powers down to a kind of unnatural stillness that he readily adopts.
"I think you were happier today like this. Or at least, more relaxed. But I don't know if it's what you would want, long term." Only Zemo would know that for sure. Would it change anything between them? He doesn't think so.
"I mean. Nothing's changed between us today, has it?" Apart from the fact that they were able to move a little more freely around town. That was a nice perk more so than anything else.
"Ultimately I don't think you'd want somebody to just. Do this to you, and make you deal with it, and it's all just. Fun and games to them, or whatever." That's the only thing Bucky feels strongly about, if he felt strongly about anything. If they let whatever happened just get away with it, then, they might as well just issue a free pass to let whoever feels so inclined to just fuck with them.
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"It was nice for a change. A reminder of a life I thought I'd left behind." In multiple ways, with the spouse and everything else.
"I don't like it. I don't know if it was just a bit of unfortunate mischief, but--" He doesn't have to explain the violation, does he? He lets it trail off because he knows Bucky is well aware of the horrors. Waking up to a body that doesn't quite feel like your own anymore, with no knowledge of how or why.
"... So we try to find who did it and why." At the moment, Zemo would rather have some revenge for that first. Or at least a question or two answered.
"Although we may run into your friends along the way. I'm not-- sure they will let you stay with a wanted terrorist and not check up on you, James." There's a wry smile.
"I don't suppose I could pass for your displaced Sokovian wife? Or American. I am not terrible at accents." There's no chance. As different as he may seem, he's familiar enough under all the softer features and longer hair.
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"Okay." He's determined to help Zemo out, whether he wants to find out who's done this or whether he wants to get help.
"It's not up to them, who I want to be with. Or what I want to do," Bucky insists. He knows the consequences, he knows what they're thinking, what Zemo must be putting him through. But it's nothing like that. He's choosing to be with Zemo. He can't help them see things his way. He can only live with his choices and deal with the fallout when the time comes.
Bucky just scoffs when Zemo suggests to try and pass off as his wife. He resembles himself too much to get away with that, even if he can manage a different accent.
"No one would willingly marry me knowing they have to put up with-- all this." Not sober, definitely. "That alone would give you away." He makes a bit of a splash with his metal hand in the water before idly playing with the tips of Zemo's hair.
"They know we got married. I don't expect them to-- be supportive. But they could just leave us alone. I wouldn't bother them if they wanted to go live on a farm with-- I don't know. Thanos?" Not that he's comparing Zemo to Thanos, but the point stands. It's none of his business, just as this would be none of theirs.
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Still, he lets out a sigh as he tips his head in against it's rested comfortably on Bucky's chest. They both know why they can't leave them alone, and it feels morbid to ask Bucky if he will still want him even when they're both put in a cell.
There is a soft chuckle that leaves him at Bucky's insistence. "I would hope I am at least better company."
He understands his point though. "Although I feel like you are questioning my taste in partners, James... I did very willingly marry you." Although he was drunk, admittedly.
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His hand goes back to rubbing Zemo's arm, holding him close. There's no need to point out anything negative tonight. This is their current predicament. They should just enjoy it.
"You look good in this swimsuit," Bucky comments. It's nothing that offends his delicate old man feelings. But it's still very flattering. "You wear a lot of-- different stuff, today." Not just the usual long sleeves or turtlenecks and trousers, is what he means.
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"Thank you, James." He lets out a quiet laugh at the compliment, turning his head up enough to press a kiss to Bucky's jaw.
"Mhm... well, I didn't want to look too much like myself." Although he doesn't think he chose anything that outlandish either. Maybe some of the underwear, but-- he hasn't heard James complain about that. Yet.
"If the car is anything to go by, you seemed to enjoy the new look quite a bit." Not that Zemo hadn't been just as insistent...
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"You do look a bit like yourself, I guess." He feels a lot different, for sure, but some of the features are still there. Despite the... soft bits. Softer. But it's true that Zemo's wardrobe has grown in unexpected ways. Even though it must be weird wearing women's clothes...
"The important thing is what you like and what you're comfortable with," Bucky deflects deftly from the car. They were both involved there and, to be fair, he didn't hear any complaints about Bucky putting all sorts of things in his mouth that time, did he?
"If everything goes back tomorrow, at least you'll have had a good day." It could have been worse. Zemo's handling it well, all things considered. Bucky would have just locked himself away and sulked or lost his shit or, well, not bought clothes and sat in a hot tub, that's for sure.
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Then again, they've got so many things that could crush them at any given moment, it's best to not think about that.
There's a smile at those words, Bucky trying to reassure him or put a positive spin on things. That's not how it usually works. It's as weird as all the affectionate little touches, the way he's been talking to Zemo now. All those subtle little differences Bucky swears to not notice.
And either way, it still has Zemo shifting his position until he's sat on Bucky's lap and leaning in to give him a kiss - it's something soft, affectionate. Not like many of their usual kisses, perhaps, but Bucky is certainly inspiring it. "A very good day."
A very strange one, but good nonetheless. "You've made it quite... difficult to imagine life without you, you realize."
Which was never how it was supposed to be. Not really.
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"Have I?" He hasn't noticed. Most of the time he's a fairly inconspicuous presence, silently skulking here and there. When he has a little project to work on he'll keep out of sight and out of mind until he shows up pestering Oeznik in the kitchen for food or when Steve demands attention and lures his favourite target down to the floor to play with him.
He's pretty sure Oeznik wouldn't agree. He'd rather deal with one disaster than three. (Okay, fine, two and a half. Steve's messes are a lot easier to clean up, and he's gotten less and less feral over time as the men in the house have tamed him in their own ways.) But he's been kind and patient and firm so far and whatever grievances he takes up with Zemo, Bucky is completely oblivious to.
"I'm planning on sticking around a while." Although he does feel like he's getting older. It's been strange, in and out of cryo, the Blip - losing all these snippets of time, remembering and yet not being able to piece together a lot - but he's not going to pull an Old Man Bucky anytime soon.
Or dying. He's not planning on that either, but. Who knows, at this rate? The world's getting crazier by the day.
"We made vows, Helmut. You're not supposed to have life without me."
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There's a soft laugh at Bucky's reminder, his fingers sliding up to stroke over the side of his face. "We did. I lost one spouse and joining her didn't go very well at all. I expect you to not put me in that position again anytime soon, James..."
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Honestly he wouldn't know what Mrs. Zemo would have wanted. Seems pointless and empty to say she would have wanted him to live on or do whatever with his life. Especially since so many people want him dead or gone. But Bucky wants Zemo around and surely that ought to count for something now that they're married?
"Well, no promises," he says dryly. Is it too soon for that kind of joke? He's not sure. But he's still a soldier and dying is pretty common as far as soldiers go. "If I can help it we'll only do the positions you like," he jokes instead. Maybe a bit of that casual flirty European charm is finally rubbing off on him. Or at least, trying to fight off those tired, old, traditional puritanical values he unconsciously holds dear to his heart.
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