experienceandpatience

[He isn't surprised that Bucky doesn't want to talk about what may be spinning around in his head, really. There are likely many reasons for that - the era he grew up in, what HYDRA did and the horrors probably still lurking in that head of his, that he's sure Bucky would rather not think about at all.

But it's easy to see the flush to his cheeks, the way his eyes seem to almost want to tear up.

For a moment, Zemo feels frozen for his own reasons. Conflicting urges to soothe James' worries, to give him what he needs, and that creeping little voice that says he's being foolish giving himself-- something to lose again. And he will lose it, one way or another.

He's not sure where he would be then. He knows where he was after his family.]

I know, James. [He ignores the sting in his own eyes, looking away briefly as he tries to settle his rushing thoughts.]

This is a rather complicated mess we've found ourselves in. [He breathes out something that may be a laugh, although it hardly sounds happy at the moment.]

Tell them what you need to tell them, James. [Because short of suicide watch, he can't come up with very many other plausible reasons to stay with Bucky... and even this one, Valentina will likely see through. She may tolerate it though.]

For the record, I don't look forward to the day I will lose you the same as everyone else I've held as dear to me. But for now, perhaps I can stay for a time.

[He pauses, looking around, and in an attempt to perhaps add something lighter into their conversation--]

I hope you don't mind if I add some personal comforts if I'm allowed to stay.

[ Bucky releases a breath of laughter, thankful for the levity. He slumps against Zemo, an odd sense of kinship that they're clearly in the same boat. ]

Are you kidding? I'm only keeping a rich baron around for his decor.

[ joking, of course. But he does steel himself before getting up to retrieve his phone.

Overheard: ]

Yeah, it's m-- no, nothing happened. Calm down. We're fine. Zemo's staying here.

...Because I want him to.

No.

No, it's n--

Listen, I know you'll sleep better knowing he's not just freewheeling around solo timing check-ins. If there's anyone who knows how to stay under the radar, it's me, so you won't have to worry about your super-secret team being found out.

...

Yeah, I'm here.

I heard you. I'll tell you if something goes wrong. But it won't.

[ another pause before he returns, dropping the phone onto the coffee table next to their empty popcorn bowl. He didn't lie, and didn't have to expose Zemo in order to have his way. Bucky collapses onto the sofa, suddenly tired again. He scrubs at his eyes, debating a nap-- at lunchtime. ]

There. All done.

[He hadn't thought when he came over the previous night that he'd be making any sort of arrangement to stay for a longer period of time. He-- trusts James though, and if he has to be under house arrest, he'd rather it be with someone he trusts.

He listens patiently to Bucky's conversation, a muscle in his jaw tightening.]

So the Countess was agreeable, I see... [Or the one-sided conversation certainly seemed to go in his favor, even if Zemo wonders if... this was the correct move for James or not.

Getting attached to a terrorist who already sealed his own fate is probably not the healthiest way to go.

And yet, he still reaches out to slide an arm around Bucky, encouraging him to lean in against him if he wants.]

[ Bucky leans in, not even thinking about how natural it feels. ]

She's not happy, but I think she's smart enough to be practical and she knows how to choose her battles.

[ it's just not worth fighting the once-Winter Soldier over someone she'd need to expend more resources on solo. Plus, even though she knows there's something between them, it plays to her advantage. Bucky leaves out her prissy little "warning" about how this is going to end up. Zemo likely already has a pretty good idea. ]

[Oh, he can certainly imagine what warnings Bucky received. He brings up a hand when Bucky leans in to comb through his hair -- though whether it's to soothe Bucky or himself more, it's difficult to say.]

Well, I suppose I should contact Oeznik. I do doubt you'll appreciate if I take all of your clothes after all.

[And with any luck, Bucky won't regret this decision of his in a few days' time.]

They probably won't fit. [ And now he's going a bit loose, eased by the fingers in his hair. ] You can always sleep at the other place if you get sick of me too. This isn't like house arrest or anything.

Say, Oeznik doesn't think of me like other supersoldiers does he?

Already relaxed enough to poke fun of my height, are you? [Not that Zemo has ever seemed overly bothered by the difference.] I suppose we will see. Who knows, perhaps one day, you'll rather me sleep elsewhere.

[Although Zemo has no intentions of being that poor of a houseguest really. He gives a wry smile.]

Oeznik is one of my dearest, oldest friends. I've known him since I was young. He trusts my judgement on these matters. [He pauses, considering it, before--] He wouldn't hurt you. He may even be a bit fond of you in his own way.

[ More like his body mass- Zemo isn't sporting big-ass supersoldier muscles like Bucky.

He tips his head back at the comments about Oeznik being fond. ]

What? Really? I thought he'd have rather that truck blew up with me in it, from the way he looks at me.

[ Maybe the old man is hard to read. ]

[ Alas, he doesn't quite have the muscle mass either. But that also doesn't mean he won't be stealing some shirts on occasion anyway. ]

He thought both you and Sam were too soft on them, too afraid to do what needed to be done because you needed to believe that there was some... hope of salvation. That they weren't dangerous symbols to be left alive, especially after the death of their leader.

[ and Bucky likely knows Zemo agrees with that as well. ]

[ He's heard this spiel before. ]

I'm sure.

So... the last part of the trilogy? I can make more popcorn or order some pizza.

[He suppresses a sigh at that. Well-- they are dealt with now, he supposes. No need to keep rehashing it... until the next would-be mad icon makes an appearance at the very least.]

Pizza, I think.

[Although there's a hint of amusement in his expression when he fixes his attention back on Bucky.]

A former baron and colonel of the Sokovian military and a former weapon of HYDRA watching movies together... do you think many would have ever thought such a thing would happen?

[He may have taken offense at the very notion many years ago.]

[ Bucky chuckles, reaching for his phone so he can pull up the delivery information. ]

Look, I've met a talking raccoon. This? Totally normal.

Toppings?

Talking racoons. Of course.

[So much superhero nonsense, Bucky, and now Zemo has willingly let himself be pulled right into it.]

Ah, I'm not picky as long as there's bacon.

[ Bucky taps the order in, pausing for a brief moment before throwing wings in also. He flicks the phone back onto the table, and leans back, leaning in against Zemo again.]

45 minutes.

Yeah, he asked if my arm was for sale. Not exactly the best time in the middle of a shootout with six-legged aliens.

Why would a raccoon want your arm?

[His brows furrow and a brief grimace graces his feature, even as he settles an arm back around Bucky.

The domesticity is... strange for a moment, especially considering the topic of conversation.]

Is this the fight that sent the world into chaos?

Yeah, the siege on Wakanda. He teleported in on Thor's shoulder.

[ bucky takes a moment, blinking at the absurdity of it all. He won't mention the tree. ]

Hell if I know what talking animals do with Vibranium arms.

Ah, of course. The God of Thunder.

[There's a wry note to his voice at the thought of that. Gods among men. Talking animals.]

[ Yeah, it sounds absurd. Almost like the movie they are hopefully going to watch. ]

Tell me about it. I saw more lightning though.

Well-- I guess there's no thunder without lightning first... [ Bucky it's not that deep. ] Anyway, space wizards?

[There's an amused huff as he goes to start the next movie up.]

At least that may be a bit easier to digest than Norse gods among us.

I mean, he kind of is? But it's more that they visited here a long time ago and people made the legends after.

[ At least that's how it was explained to him, after everything settled down. Aliens are gods, and animals talk. It's enough to make a person's head spin. ]

So what's this one called?

You've certainly made some... interesting friends, James.

[He gives a shake of his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. It's certainly a bit much even for him to wrap his head around -- makes his skin crawl just a bit, considering what the likes of Thor has brought with him.]

Return of the Jedi. I think you will like this one more, James.

[At least the heroes win.]

[ Bucky wouldn't call Thor a friend in the traditional sense, even if the giant man would probably not feel the same way. It seems anyone who fights alongside the god in battle is a friend, no matter low long they've known each other. ]

Jedi -- this one was on Steve's list.

How much of his list did you complete?

[He asks curiously, eyes darting over to the other man. He'd seen the list, of course. He just wonders how much Bucky pursued of it.]

I suppose we do know that you are not a fan of Marvin Gaye...

[Or at least not as much as Sam may wish...]

I liked him! [ Indignant. ] I just like other styles more.

[ Bucky shifts, because this could inevitably lead to him slipping into a funk over the way things used to be. Before he fell off a train and nearly died at the bottom of a snowy ravine.

But to the original question: ]

I dunno, some of that I didn't care about, some of it I had vague memories of and didn't wanna go through again. This was on there, so I'd mark that off--if I still had it.

Don't worry, James. I won't give you as hard of a time as Sam.

[He watches him quietly as he shifts around.]

You could always make a list of your own, with what you would want to do. I suppose I could promise not to read this one.

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Getting on a jet plane!

Without a rich baron?? 😮

I saw one w/a Bucky! (Am at a convention)

Ahh, awesome! (Dragon Con? Hope you have fun!)