experienceandpatience

People are going to think that Bucky is certifiable either way. They shouldn't drag Zemo or anything else into it.

"It's nice," Bucky offers unhelpfully, the way husbands are okay with anything wives could have emerged from the changing room wearing. "You look like... you. Just different." But the same. Does that even make sense? It made sense in Bucky's head.

"Are you comfortable?" Zemo's always got so many layers on, and he wears fancy stuff that Bucky wouldn't think is comfortable. But Oeznik thinks Bucky is sloppy, so he's probably not even one to talk.

There's a brief, skeptical look at Bucky's reassurance before he nods acceptingly. Surely if he looked ridiculous, then Bucky would tell him. "I'm fine."

It's-- different, but he'll feel better once he has his coat -- or a new coat. If he really wants to blend in and not stand out. Either way, he takes a step towards Bucky and makes a motion with his hand. "Why don't you go find your swimsuit? I will join you in just a moment."

"Okay." Is Zemo not going to pick something awfully skimpy and revealing out for him? Well, he shouldn't be encouraging that anyway... Bucky's just going to pick out a simple black pair of trunks that don't seem much different from his usual 'walking around the house in boxer briefs for as long as he can manage without Oeznik catching him' attire.

And, because he likes to make Oeznik's eye twitch, respectable monochrome boardshorts for the old man with one hibiscus printed on the one side. Not quite Hawaiian, but not quite so boring either.

Everyone's got to start somewhere. They thought they'd never be able to get Bucky to ~~unclench~~ unwind and look where he is now.

He can be polite and let Bucky choose something within his comfort level -- Bucky didn't shove skimpy, revealing things at him while they were shopping for his clothes, so he can extend the same consideration.

And once Zemo has picked up a few other items, collected himself as much as possible, he goes in search of Bucky, giving a bit of a smile when he spots him. "There you are. Come on, let's go pay. I'm not sure about you, but I'm starving and we need to decide where we will have lunch."

A pause. "I decided on dinner already. A nice steakhouse... it seems quiet, private."

And it should have something they'll both enjoy. Perfect spot for a date when their options aren't terribly grand.

"These trunks are the nicest thing I'll have, other than the suit," Bucky comments. Which probably means he's replacing too many of his old clothes with offerings from Walmart. Zemo can slowly wean him off that habit, but he might need to start with fancier t-shirts made of better material before trying to make any drastic changes to Bucky's wardrobe.

"I think we passed an Italian place." Much as he doesn't mind fast food or Chinese takeaway, those aren't really the kinds of places he imagines Zemo would want to go on a lunch date at. Bucky puts those two pieces of swimwear into the bag and brings them over to the counter. He likes Wyoming for its lack of crowds, and it doesn't take them long at all to ring up a few bags of clothes that Zemo could even start using if he's really uncomfortable with how he's dressed now.

"The kind that doesn't serve mac and cheese." Because that's not real Italian. Look, Bucky does pay attention to these things when Zemo goes off on one of his rants about how the 0.01%ers live.

"Then what you're saying is we need to buy you more nicer things." Don't tempt him, Bucky, or there will be a closet full of finer clothes... or at least finer t-shirts and jeans.

Zemo does at least grab some of the bags they're leaving with, giving a nod at the mention of Italian. Sounds nice, even if he may not have fussed if all Bucky wanted was quick fast food in the car... sometimes, those aren't so bad when it's accompanied by quiet talking.

"Ah, well... I guess that means we need to expand your horizons. Unfortunate, I know." Mac and cheese from a box is an atrocity, honestly. How Bucky seems to often live on it is beyond Zemo's understanding at times, other than Bucky seems willing to put anything in his mouth that's not poisonous.

And that's up for debate.

Since it's Bucky who spotted the Italian place, Zemo moves to slide back into the passenger side to let him navigate the way once they're all squared away.

"I have enough nice things. My shirts have no holes and my boxer briefs still fit." That's what Zemo means by 'nicer things', right? Surely that's enough for anyone.

"And I eat things other than mac and cheese." Oeznik has been broadening his horizon just fine without Zemo's intervention. But that's a two-way street where Oeznik is also being introduced to the horrors of pop tarts and frozen dinners. So far they've both managed to survive their respective culinary adventures.

"I don't know what's wrong with mac and cheese. It's the best." It's cheap, and all you have to do is open the cardboard box, poke the plastic sheet cover full of holes, throw it in a microwave for 5 minutes and the meal is sorted. All you have to wash afterwards is a fork.

He doesn't bother arranging the shopping into a neat side of the boot, since they're just going to slide around in the car until they fill up the back with more stuff - and he's pretty sure Zemo's going to get more stuff, either coming back here or somewhere else - so he just leaves the bags standing upright as he climbs back into the driver's seat and heads back to the Italian restaurant.

It is a proper place, not American staples passing for an Italian restaurant like an Olive Garden, but it's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it signboard and a chalkboard menu out on the footpath sandwiched between a row of shops; you'd have to wonder how Bucky managed to spot it while driving. It is thankfully not a fancy place even if it is a little quieter, and they get shown to a table right next to the window and left alone to browse the menu even though Bucky seems distracted by what's happening outside the window, by what's happening across the dining table and what's happening past those swinging doors into the kitchen, looking basically everywhere except for the menu. The wall is lined with an impressive number of wine bottles and there's multiple forks and knives on the table, a sure sign that this is the kind of place Oeznik would approve of.

"Am I allowed to order pizza?" He's pretty sure the answer is no, but it's worth asking anyway...

It seems Sam isn't the only one who is an affront to fashion everywhere. Zemo wrinkles his nose briefly, but decides against arguing. Better to simply replace the items slowly before Bucky can think to properly protest it.

"It's hardly food, James." And maybe Zemo isn't one to talk really -- he was happily eating what food remained in Latvia after all. But he'll eventually put aside his judgement over mac and cheese once they get to the restaurant and seated at a table.

There's a shake of his head at the question, lips curling into a wry smile as he reads over the menu, trying to decide what it is he wants. "You know, James, that is a question my son would always ask."

He looks up over the menu at Bucky, his smile turning a little more teasing. "I would always tell him to at least try one new thing, and if he didn't like it, then he could have the pizza."

The correct answer is that he's not a kid, and definitely not Zemo's kid. It shouldn't involve him licking his upper lip as he scans the menu somewhat nervously for something different, but not too out there. In the end he settles for some kind of stuffed rice ball thing and some kind of squid ink pasta - holds himself back from asking how exactly squid ink is squeezed out of squids - and casts a furtive glance at Zemo to see if it's 'out there' enough before handing the menu over.

He could probably put away a whole pizza by himself on top of that, but he's apparently exercising some self-restraint today.

"You and Oeznik are making me try plenty of new things." It's usually hit or miss, most of those new things have been difficult for him to like, but he can't say that they've always been terrible. Honestly he'd rather suck it up and try something new than have his favourites get swatted out of his mouth - yes, Oeznik's been trying to wean him off biting everything too, to a limited degree of success.

Well, if he's going to act like a kid, then Zemo can't help but point it out...

Although he is rather surprised that Bucky listened -- and went for one of the more unusual pastas on the menu. Impressive, really. Maybe he is opening up to new experiences more.

"That's not a bad thing, is it? You've gotten plenty of experiences you wouldn't have otherwise." He pauses, looking down at himself briefly, at the ring next--

"And so have I, recently."

Plenty of adults eat pizza. He and Steve went out for pizzas before and they're over 200 years old between them. Just because he still feels a little weird about mooching off the baron doesn't mean he's acting like a kid. What the hell?

"There's been a few nice things." Although he's not thinking about their marriage and now having a wife instead of a husband right now. He does notice the way Zemo's looking at himself though.

"This doesn't have to be a bad thing either. Even if it's not-- a good thing, objectively. How are you feeling right now?"

Plenty of adults eat pizza, but not all adults choose pizza and mac and cheese over everything else. The mooching-- well, Zemo doesn't particularly see it like that. If he didn't want to give it, he wouldn't. He just happens to enjoy spoiling Bucky on occasion, and he's certainly got the means to do so with very little else to do with it.

"I should hope so." Otherwise, he's done something very wrong along the way if nothing has been nice at all. The question has him pausing thoughtfully. How does he feel right now?

"I'm enjoying myself. So I suppose I can't complain much."

"That's good." Resting his chin against his loose fist, he studies Zemo from across the table and flashes him a somewhat relaxed, wide smile. They haven't really been able to just go out like this and-- well, Bucky's always going to be checking over his shoulder and looking around, and he suspects Zemo will too. You can't ever shake that kind of paranoia off once you start living this kind of life. But they don't have to be on high alert all the time and just enjoy each other's company almost as much as they can do from the safety and privacy of their secret home. This really is the best they can hope for.

"Is it the clothes shopping or the hiding in plain sight or...?" Look at Bucky go, making slightly-larger-than-small talk without being prompted to. He tried to stay positive, he drove today, he's even taking the initiative - someone buy a lottery ticket.

It's the smile on Bucky's face. It's not one he gives often at all, let alone in public where they're both always at least a bit on edge. That's something that promises to never go away -- even if Zemo were to stay like this and live out the rest of his life in relative anonymity. But right now -- maybe they can make an exception and just relax for right now, enjoy their lunch.

It feels deserved.

"It is nice to not wonder if there are Wakandans lurking nearby or upstanding citizens who may recognize the war criminal and call it in." He leans his elbows against the table lightly, leaning forward just a bit closer to Bucky.

"But mostly, it's the company." Rocky morning aside, Bucky has indulged him all day. It may not be the smartest move, spoiling Zemo, but it's been very appreciated all things considered.

Bucky would be the last person to advocate for lowering their guard, but so far, their stay in Wyoming has been fairly uneventful. Everyone he's encountered may be friendly in a distant way, but they seem wont to keep to themselves for the most part, engaged in some silent, mutual understanding of you minding your own business and them minding theirs.

This is just going to lead to Zemo accusing Bucky of treating him differently when he was his wife than when he's in his usual body, but for better or worse, Bucky is as oblivious as ever and doesn't see that argument coming. He doesn't think it's true at all, but he's not the one that this has happened to, and he can't truthfully argue that there aren't any deeply entrenched gendered notions etched into his head, the way and the time period he was brought up in.

Still, he doesn't think there's anything wrong about being concerned about Zemo, and showing it in such an overt way.

"Well you've had the same company for a while now..." Bucky points out. Sure, it wouldn't hurt either of them to make new friends. But neither of them seem particularly inclined to expand their circle of trust.

There probably will be arguments later when things are back to the way they're supposed to be. But Zemo isn't quite bristling as much as earlier at the shows of concern or the way Bucky is treating him. He had a point after all -- there's no reason this should be a bad time when there are certain advantages to it for the moment.

Other issues can wait until later to be sorted out.

"Company I must generally enjoy or I wouldn't have been inclined towards rings at all." There's a soft laugh. It may not be a proper marriage, or one planned for, but-- it hasn't been terrible so far either.

And it's easier, keeping to themselves anyway. Safer.

At least it is for Zemo, if he doesn't want to slip up, go back to a prison cell. Bucky-- perhaps he could benefit from a wider social circle. Maybe Zemo is selfish in not quite encouraging it.

"How do you feel? Your mood seems better than this morning... I can't imagine it's the shopping that did it."

"You were--... out of it." There's no better descriptor for Vegas. He's never seen Zemo so uninhibited before and he doubts he'll see it again. No doubt it would have been fun and carefree and there had been a lot of positive energy, but also, it must have been terrifying in ways Bucky can relate to in a different way, to wake up and have this blackout where the rug got pulled from under his feet.

"But I guess we were already acting like a married couple. I know Oeznik said so, a couple times." Was Bucky eavesdropping again? Maybe. It's been harder since they stopped trying to teach him Sokovian. That won't stop him from trying to learn the language himself, but he needs more exposure from two people who are actively trying to stop him from picking up on everything they say.

"I've had some time." Which he seems to need, every time there's some kind of change. "You should be comfortable with yourself and your life and your house and... everything else." It can't just be that same house that's been standing there for decades, just as Bucky can't be the same man he was since the 1940s and if he wants to live in today instead of feeling like he's always lagging behind somehow, he needs to... be better, about things changing around him.

"A bit." There's no denying that, is there? He can't imagine it was amusing for Bucky to deal with -- Oeznik has certainly let his own opinions be known. "But that doesn't mean the vows were... meaningless. You know that, don't you?"

He can't say waking up married or to the aftermath of his terrible choices quite compare to waking up to a changed body. In retrospect, he'd have taken another bender to someone tampering with him like this... but a bit late to mourn it now. There's a soft chuckle at that mention, a shake of his head. "I suppose we have. I think he worries about... this. Us."

Or rather, whatever aftermath waits when all of this crumbles down. But Zemo doesn't want to dwell on that, not right now.

"I-- should have brought it up before Vegas. My apologies, James." At least he'd have had a warning. But-- "It's your house as well, and your life. I don't set out to make you uncomfortable or unhappy either... quite the opposite when I'm able."

It's a complication... Somewhere along the line his soldier and sometimes resilient bodyguard became someone he cares about. It's a danger in its own right, becoming that attached... as Oeznik has warned him countless times. But it's happened and Zemo isn't inclined to do anything about it at the moment.

Sure. They can count up all those scratches and bruises and the number of hours Bucky was sore afterwards as 'a bit'. Even though Bucky had fully healed by the time they got to the Alps, Zemo had just about broke his soldier in Vegas.

"There's nothing to worry about." Bucky had promised he'd be in this for the long haul. Wearing a ring only cements that. And he's still entertaining that pipe dream that this run they're on can go on indefinitely.

And there's nothing they can do about the house now. There's no way it's going back to the way it was. If Zemo feels more comfortable with all the new bells and whistles, Bucky won't have too much of a hard time getting used to them either. He might end up enjoying the sun room floor as much as Steve does. And he won't be the first person to hate a hot tub.

The bottle of wine is presented and poured out before getting set down in a bucket of ice on a stand, and the starters follow shortly after. Bucky declines the wine himself.

"Do they serve anything from a cardboard box?" He's only partly trolling.

That was certainly out of hand, yes, though at least not likely to happen again. Zemo still hasn't been indulging much in alcohol beyond a drink or two there -- he'd rather not wake up to another morning like that.

Zemo wants to insist there's plenty to worry about, but-- he decides not to. Not now. This dream will end one day -- but at least he can make certain Bucky has a home out of it, and maybe some spare funds to do with as he wishes. It isn't as if Zemo has any sort of heir or family to worry about outside of the two men and cat living with him at present. But that's a thought for another time. The idea of another cell... it's enough to make his chest tighten for a second.

"You could try something from a bottle," Zemo suggests. "Maybe you'd like it. Or they have beer on the menu..."

If they think Bucky wouldn't risk everything to try to protect Zemo, they'll be in for a hard fight, tooth and nail and it's going to be ugly and bloody and nothing will be the same again.

"It's wasted on me," Bucky reminds him, as though getting drunk is the only reason for drinking wine. He won't feel any buzz from it and the cheap stuff doesn't give him a headache or anything - he's been happy to guzzle it down. Besides, he runs hot as it is. Drinking will only burn him up from the inside out.

"Want a rice ball?" It doesn't look like rice, actually. It's crumbed all over and probably deep fried. But if it tastes as good as it smells, Bucky might be inclined to order something similar again next time.

Zemo isn't sure he'd like that, really. His fate was sealed the minute he promised to get justice for his family. There was never much hope of him being free, nor did he care at the time. He hadn't intended on surviving... and yet, he had, and here he still is. For whatever reason, Bucky seems to have decided against killing him, himself, even if Zemo has certain seen his name written in that little book of his.

But Bucky protecting him from police or Wakanda can only end poorly for him, ruin whatever chance of a life he may have. It isn't a particularly happy thought.

"Good wine is never wasted... on most at least." There are a few people he can think of that don't deserve the luxury of even boxed wine.

But Bucky hardly has to ask twice if he wants to try something, there's a nod. "Of course."

Of course, he can't quite stop a teasing smile. "Sharing off plates... I'm sure Oeznik would have a thing or two to say about this."

When he's accused them of acting married over lesser things especially.

"Well luckily he's not here, or he might tell me I'm using the wrong fork." Bucky never used to care about such things, but when he finally convinces Oeznik he can help with laying the table and gives himself only one fork with no knife or spoon, he usually gets the Deathly Glare into submission and gives himself more cutlery he ends up not touching. Bucky's made it stressful for himself to eat in, and there's a bit more breathing space when he's out with Zemo.

"Oh-- it's haww--" Yeah, that's probably why Oeznik gives him a knife, so he doesn't put the whole thing in and potentially burn himself with molten hot cheese and whatever else the filling is made from. He covers his mouth and tries - and fails - not to laugh while chewing on his rice ball and swallowing it without burning himself all the way down his throat.

"It's hot..." Don't do what he just did. Not that Zemo would put a whole ball into his mouth like an animal without cutting it in half first.

There's a laugh Zemo doesn't even bother to contain as Bucky fumbles with his food -- and fails to not burn his mouth. That is why one uses a knife first. Perhaps Bucky will remember that next time.

"James..." Zemo will take the time to cut his own into smaller pieces at the very least. "Was it good at least?"

"Mmh." He nods a few times, still chewing, brushing his teeth over the raised bumps on his tongue, blowing out a few times once he's swallowed. "It's nice." He probably should get some wine now, even if it's just to soothe the ache on his tongue.

"There's different cheeses in there." Yes, he can taste them, even if he does like his simple plasticky mac and cheese. He's about to reach over and pour himself some wine, but the waiter beats him to it, and he lets the wine sit on his tongue for a bit before swallowing.

"Oeznik's been getting experimental in the kitchen." Either that or he's grown tired of Bucky's overly processed shit and is trying all sorts of different ways to get Bucky to eat something that doesn't come prepackaged or is edible straight out of a box. "Must have been bored while we were gone."

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