Chapter Text
Zemo exhales shakily as he takes in his surroundings and makes his way through the grand entrance of the Estonian mansion. The location was secluded, nothing but acres of forest and wilderness encapsulating it and Zemo had felt like he’d gotten himself caught in a trap as the chauffeur driven Rolls Royce sped past miles and miles of barren farmland. He had been picked up from the private airfield by a stern looking woman dressed in an all black suit and leather driving gloves with her mousy brown hair scraped back into a sleek bun at the nape of her neck.
The vintage car had driven through the country side for a little over an hour, the only view out the window was of the off season fields, stark and bare and covered in a layer of evening frost that shone like glitter in the moonlight. Zemo’s stomach was starting to tighten at the thought his cover may have been blown but a few moments later they were pulling up a long tree lined driveway towards a warmly lit mansion house.
There were several cars pulling up or away after already dropping of the clientele. Zemo gets out of the car and the driver immediately pulls back onto the gravel road, heading back away from the property. He walks through the double doors into a grand entrance hall with a wide staircase in the middle leading to the upper floors. The décor had been kept to the original 1890’s art nouveau style, golden spiral banisters on the staircase, pillars lining the entryway and a heavily patterned tile floor, the outside facing walls are covered in intricate stained glass windows surrounded by more ornate gold metal and warmly lit wrought iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The golden glow makes everything feel warm and comforting, a stark contrast from the people he was about to rub elbows with.
His long fur trimmed great coat and leather gloves are taken by a young man on the door, who gestures his hand down the hall towards the large dining room, the direction where all the other guests are headed. Everyone is dressed immaculately, floor length gowns and black tie, not a hair out of place, the room is thick with the smell of expensive fragrance. Zemo is wearing a black tailcoat, high collared shirt underneath with a dark purple cravat pinned at the neck with a gold brooch, his hair is smoothed back and gleams with a sweet smelling pomade, slick but not greasy looking. He has grown a slight beard, well groomed of course, to aid with his cover, but no one here should really know what Baron Zemo looks like. But his name would be the giveaway, he needs his nobility and wealth to get him in with these people, but with the Zemo moniker being tied to a long hatred of Hydra he can’t use his real name at a Hydra dinner party.
“Ah Viscount Heinrich I assume.” A man says warmly with a slightly ambiguous Eastern European accent that Zemo can’t quite place. He grasps Zemo’s hand in both of his own and shakes it vigorously. “We’ve so been looking forward to meeting you, thank you for taking the time out of your travels to attend this evenings event.”
“The pleasures all mine, Duke Raud.” Zemo replies gripping the man’s hand firmly. “And please, call me Karl.”
Zemo had settled on Karl Heinrich, not something he could easily forget being his son and fathers names respectively. Heinrich is also a German family name and his Sokovian accent can easily pass for German, Zemo wanted to give himself very little room for error, not that he would ever slip up, but he didn’t need anything going wrong on a mission with so many eyes in the room.
The Duke claps him on the back and leads him into the dining room, he has blonde but greying hair, it gives him an almost ethereal air, his teeth are sparkling white and eyes a piercing blue. Zemo would find him stunning if he wasn’t one of the leading men of such a heinous organisation.
Zemo makes small talk through the 5 course meal, sat between a Chinese CEO who owns 3 global companies and an American business woman who specialises in overseas property, as well as guns and drug smuggling. He passes himself off as a bored aristocrat with a military past and too much money to know what to do with, it’s not too far from the truth after all. He realises quite quickly he’s surrounded by billionaires, and rightly so considering the after dinner activities will be quite expensive.
After the lavish meal the group of 25 people are taken into what looks like a ballroom that’s been set up with a small stage area and lines of plush red cushioned seats facing it.
Zemo takes a seat towards the back and waits for the auction to begin.
A new branch of Hydra are selling off items they have acquired in order to raise even more money than their rich members already have to fund their extreme activities. Zemo hasn’t ascertained what their new goals are but he is here to infiltrate their ranks and take them down from the inside.
The auction starts off relatively tame, weaponry and technology that one can’t even begin to imagine, sold off for ridiculous price tags. He puts his paddle up once or twice on some bids, makes it look like he’s into vintage arms and modern tech, but makes sure not to win anything.
Zemo takes a glass of champagne from a passing waiter as the last guns are removed from the stage and the next round of items are displayed. A woman grumbles next to him about this being distasteful but the man next to her replies, ‘well everything has a price that someone will be willing to pay darling.’ But she still looks uncomfortable, so do a few others in the audience, a man at the back excuses himself and leaves out a side door. But most of the patrons look eager and Zemo can see a few gripping their bidding paddles tight, getting ready to throw in their offers.
Clearly heavily drugged women and men are brought to the front of the stage and sold off one by one. The auctioneer alludes to uses for such people, whether they’re strong, attractive, what their body measurements are and Zemo grits his teeth but doesn’t show his discomfort. Luckily there are no children he thinks as a way to calm himself down as his bidding paddle stays untouched in his lap. Every single one of the 6 people on stage are sold off quickly and at high prices, this round being more popular than the guns and tech.
Zemo takes mental notes of who is buying what, he’d been listening at dinner and honed in on a few Hydra collaborators and who was just here for fun.
“Our final piece for the night is a real rarity and as much as we love having it back in Hydra hands where it belongs we have aspirations to make even better versions of such a magnificent piece of Hydra craftsmanship.” The blonde man says grandly, and Zemo straightens his back. He’d known there was an impressive finale, a piece that only people with an obnoxious amount of wealth would be able to afford, but he hadn’t known what.
“But, we hope to be able to one day make more, and for that we need money, and lots of it,” Zemo swallows as the man laughs warmly as if this was a charity auction and they were saving the lives of sick little children, the Barons stomach twists in knots as he starts to realise what it is that Hydra wants to restart, “it’s the reason for this little soirée in the first place, so dig deep in those bottomless wallets of yours, as I introduce to you…”
Zemo swallows thickly again, his saliva getting stuck in his suddenly dry throat and he almost chokes, he knocks back the last of his champagne as a man walks out onto the stage and glares at the audience. Zemo’s grip on his glass almost breaks the stem and he shoves it at the nearest waiter, luckily not causing a scene as everyones eyes are focused on the man onstage.
“The Winter Soldier!” The Duke booms and the people in the crowd gasp and start talking to one another in hurried whispers.
Bucky is stood in the centre of the stage wearing a tight black tank top, it shows off both his vibranium arm and impressive physique. On the lower half he wears dark grey cargo pants and leather boots, the relaxed military style hinting at his use as a weapon.
“Shall we start the bidding at one hundred million?”
As the bids quickly get higher the auctioneer and leader of this particular Hydra faction details all the ways the Winter Soldier could be used; as a weapon, a butler, a pet or a slave.
Zemo’s eyes are locked on Bucky, he can’t tell if he really has succumbed to the Winter Soldier programming once more or if he is undercover himself. Zemo hasn’t heard of any covert operations by S.H.I.E.L.D or S.W.O.R.D but maybe Barnes has gone rogue.
Bucky hasn’t seen him yet, at least Zemo doesn’t think he has, but his stoic mask is firmly set in place, his eyes flick towards the people bidding on him but otherwise he does not react.
By one billion dollars people are slowing down, after half the room had started out the bidding. The only three people left are one man who will certainly use the Soldier as a weapon, a married couple with questionable motives and another man who is high up in the new Hydra ranks who clearly wants to keep the soldier within the organisation.
By 1.7 Billion the couple have dropped out and the two men are fighting against each other in increments of 100 million dollars. Zemo’s stomach tightens at the thought of either of these men owning James, if he really is the Winter Soldier again they could do a tremendous amount of damage with Bucky, and to him. But if he’s undercover does he need to be bought by one of these men, what would he do once purchased. Zemo’s mind is reeling and he makes a decision that could hinder his own mission.
“Two point five billion dollars.” Zemo says as he puts his paddle in the air, most of the room turn to face him and he knows Bucky will have now noticed he is here, recognised his voice if he hadn’t yet seen him hiding towards the back. He sees James’ fists clench by his sides and wonders if the soldier would do that, or if it’s Bucky’s reaction.
“Two and a half billion dollars,” the blonde man on the stage shouts, smiling broadly. “Do I hear, two point six?” The two men who had been fighting over the soldier look at Zemo, look to each other then back up as the stage, both shaking their heads. One throws his paddle to the floor in annoyance as the auctioneer booms; “going once, going twice. Sold!”
Zemo smiles tightly and nods to the people around him as they applaud his win.
“Congratulations Viscount, I hope you enjoy your purchase.” The man says from the stage as Bucky is led back out of the room and out of sight.
Zemo clearly doesn’t have 2.5 billion dollars on his person, but these things aren’t done in cash anymore. He pulls his phone from the inside pocket of his tailcoat and steps out into the hall to make a call.
“I will be needing to authorise a payment of two and a half billion dollars this evening… yes billion.” He finishes up the call with his financier and makes his way to the smaller room off to the side of the ballroom to make the payment for his purchase. It was an incredible amount of money, but when the whole of the Zemo family had been killed in the fall of Sokovia he had been the sole beneficiary of the entire families wealth. And he would pay a lot more than 2.5 billion dollars for the Winter Soldier.
When he made the electronic transaction he had Oeznik trace the money, he could hack Hydra later and get it back, he didn’t want to fund their project but it would be harder to steal the Winter Soldier from another bidder, easier just to buy him for himself.
Zemo was taken with the other winning bidders to the second floor of the mansion where each item, or person, had been placed in the rooms on the upper levels. He was let into a rather large guest bedroom. The young man escorting him closes the door behind him as he leaves and Zemo is left in the dimly lit room with the Winter Soldier.
Bucky is standing in the middle of the room, at the foot of the bed, looking at the wall to Zemo’s right. He doesn’t move, there is no indication he even realises Zemo is there. On the bed is an envelope; the code words to initiate the handling of the Winter Soldier.
Zemo walks over to the envelope, stands at Bucky’s side and looks at him, his face is angry, mouth turned down in a slight grimace and brow furrowed but he still doesn’t move. The Baron takes a moment to inspect James, he hasn’t seen him in quite a few years but he’s barely changed, his hair is a little longer but short, still trying to separate himself from the man he once was. There’s a few more lines around his eyes, Zemo hopes they are from laughing.
He bends down and picks up the envelope, opens it and inside are the words he knows should no longer work. But perhaps…
“I wouldn’t bother, Viscount.” Bucky says spitting the Barons alias as if the taste of the word is bitter on his tongue.
“James-” Zemo starts but Bucky swiftly grasps him by the throat with his metal hand, fingers digging in under his jaw.
“What are you doing here, Baron?” Bucky asks squeezing a little harder and Zemo drops the envelope to wrap both hands around the other man’s metal wrist.
“I- ah imagine the s-same thing you are.” Zemo chokes out and Bucky loosens his grip to let him speak but doesn’t let go. “I’m trying to infiltrate Hydra.”
“So not just casually buying the Winter Soldier at auction?” Bucky says squeezing his fingers around Zemo’s throat in warning before allowing him to speak again.
“Ah- n-no. I didn’t know you would be here.” Zemo gasps in a breath when Bucky’s bruising grip lets up momentarily.
“Then why did you buy me?” Bucky growls, his face close to Zemo’s.
“I… J-James, please c-can we talk without you ch-choking me.” Zemo gasps out and Bucky drops his hand.
Zemo lurches forward as Bucky lets go, the soldier had been holding most of the Barons weight up. He manages to rebalance before he falls and fumbles with the gold brooch on his cravat until he can get the fabric off from around his neck. He straightens up and sucks in air as he throws the cravat and brooch onto the bed and undoes his collar buttons with one hand.
Bucky’s eyes flick down to Zemo’s neck, seeing red welts blossoming on his pale, freckled skin.
“Talk.” Bucky says and Zemo rubs at his throat and huffs out a small laugh.
“I didn’t think you’d want to be used as a weapon by some Hydra goon… I wasn’t sure if you were… activated or not.”
“So better to be used as a weapon by you?” Bucky says face still full of rage but his voice is quieter, he doesn’t want to draw attention to themselves from the people he can still hear walking up and down the corridor.
“I would never do that to you again, you have my word.” Zemo replies and Bucky sneers as if the Barons word wasn’t worth much, but he knows the man never lied, withhold the truth yes, but never lied. “I had hoped you were undercover, but if worst case scenario you had become the soldier again I would have found a way to deactivate you.”
“Really?” Bucky says, narrowing his eyes as if he doesn’t believe a word coming out of the other man’s mouth.
“What had you hoped to achieve by being sold at a Hydra auction?”
“I wasn’t meant to be sold.” Bucky says, looking off to the side annoyed that his mission wasn’t going to plan. I had been ‘recaptured’, purposefully lost on a mission from S.H.I.E.L.D and ended up back in enemy hands, once inside I was going to find out what I could about the organisation so we could take them down. But I didn’t get far, I was never left alone and if I started incapacitating agents they would realise I wasn’t the soldier anymore. They needed to sell assets to pay for more lab space, equipment, top scientists, so they decided to sell me to make their even better version of the winter soldier programme.” Bucky says the last part as if he’s bitter about it, as if he hates that he’s some subpar equivalent of what Hydra really wanted to create. Not good enough for Hydra, not good enough for humanity.
“I see. I am also trying to infiltrate Hydra, hence the alias, which I hope I haven’t blown by buying you, I hadn’t intended on making any purchases this evening. Though I assume they think a bored aristocrat with more money than sense wants you for your… other capabilities.” Zemo says raising an eyebrow as Bucky grimaces at him, the soldiers face goes a little red, knowing Zemo has seen his files, knows what it was the auctioneer was alluding to that Bucky can be used for besides killing.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure your cover isn’t blown, you seem exactly like the type of creep that would buy the Winter Soldier for his other capabilities.” Bucky says scathingly. Turning his back on Zemo, now knowing he isn’t a threat to him or the mission.
“Do you think it perverted to want to enjoy the company of a strong and attractive man such as yourself James?” Zemo asks and Bucky keeps his back to him, he crosses his arms over his chest, shoulders hunched slightly as if he’s suddenly self conscious about the lack of clothing on his upper half.
Zemo takes in the sight of the scars he can see slithering beneath the black tank top from where his metal arm attaches to his shoulder, gets his fill while the soldier can’t see him looking.
“When it involves one that has no free will, yeah.” Bucky says straightening up again, turning to look back at Zemo, and the Barons eyes snap up to the other man’s face.
“But you do have free will, James.” Zemo says, tilting his head to the side a little, using his name to punctuate the fact that Bucky is his own man and not the Winter Soldier anymore.
“What if I didn’t? You said yourself you weren’t sure if I was activated or not. What were you gonna use me for, Zemo?”
“Like I said, I’d try to deactivate you, send you to Sam, or Wakanda, if I couldn’t do it myself.” Zemo says, brow furrowing, he knows Bucky thinks the worst of him, and rightly so, he did seek him out all those years ago to use him as a weapon.
“Straight away? Or would you have a little fun with the soldier first?” Bucky says narrowing his eyes at the other man.
“What are you insinuating James?” Zemo asks.
“Well you already tried out the soldiers main features, had you never thought about what else he could do?” Bucky says and although the words sound somewhat flirtatious his expression is one of repulsion.
Zemo walks closer to him, looks him up and down as if taking stock of the soldiers physique, admiring what he paid for, the property he technically owns.
“Ordering an emotionless robot to take my cock doesn’t sound enjoyable in the slightest.” Zemo practically growls, his voice low and he sees Bucky’s jaw clench.
Zemo walks up until they’re practically toe to toe and Bucky does not back down. The Baron leans into his personal space eyeing Bucky’s jaw as it flexes when he grinds his teeth before flicking back up to the other man’s eyes. The soldier maintains intimidating eye contact, the stormy blue piercing through Zemo having to tilt his head slightly as the Baron leans in to whisper into his ear.
“I would much rather have you begging for it, with all that free will of yours.” Zemo says his voice even lower, his hot breath rolling over Bucky’s ear and down his neck making him visibly shiver.
Bucky doesn’t reply, he grits his teeth again and Zemo can hear the squeak of his molars rubbing against each other. He backs up and Bucky exhales noisily through his nose.
“Now, how’re we going to infiltrate Hydra, Soldat?”