Chapter Text
“Wanda can you liaise with Hill over at S.H.I.E.L.D to get the info on that alien tech in Eastern Europe, just incase we need to intervene over there?” Sam Wilson says, sitting at the head of the table at Avenger headquarters.
“Sure thing.” Maximoff replies as she gets up from the table, taking the file that Sam slides across the desk to her, red coat swaying elegantly behind her as she exits the boardroom.
“Zee, if you and Buck could head up this little issue we got with that stolen vibranium that would be great. Gives you an excuse to go back to Wakanda Buck, and I know you want Zemo setting his place firmly in their good books now.” Sam says with a cheeky grin and a wink as he passes a file to Zemo, “here ya go Zee.”
Zemo catches the file before it can slide right off the desk, Bucky smiles at Sam and nods his agreement to the task. He quickly gets up from his chair with a somewhat nervous eagerness to start their mission. Zemo follows him out of the room, the thought of having to go to Wakanda and face the people he wronged making his palms sweat against the thick confidential folder clutched in his hands.
“Lang, I need you and Parker on that case over in Fairbanks and I know this isn’t your usual level of danger but I know you two will get it sorted quickly.” Sam continues talking to the remaining two Avengers at the table giving them their mission briefings for the day.
“B and B,” Sam says, meaning Barton and Banner, “are already out or I’d get Bruce to do it, he doesn’t mind the cold so much.”
“Fairbanks? As in Alaska?” Peter whines, “but that’s soooo cold! I wanna go to Wakanda.”
“You know Bucky and Zemo work well together and they definitely don’t need you cramping their style.” Sam laughs.
“Yeah you need to learn to read the room Parker, you keep third wheeling them when they’re just trying to get some alone time.” Scott croons, laughing along with Sam as Peter looks between them confused.
“What do you mean… oh… oh no, do I keep cock blocking Bucky? No wonder he always calls me Nosy Parker, I thought it was just an old fashioned saying cause he’s like a thousand years old.” Peter says putting his head in his hands on the desk distraught. “He must think I’m doing it on purpose.”
“Nah he knows you’re just an idiot.” Sam says chuckling. “Speaking of idiots, those two need their heads bashing together, or they’ll never realise that they’re actually really good for each other.”
“Well you keep sending them on missions together they’re bound to figure it out eventually, like the rest of us already have!” Lang says getting up from the desk with the final files Sam hands him.
“I dunno man, Buck can be really stubborn, and Zee’s not gonna make the first move because he’s scared Bucky’s gonna think he’s manipulating him or something.” Sam says shaking his head and following Peter and Scott out of the room.
Bucky and Zemo had been on lots of missions together now and with the other Avengers on the current roster of heroes. After the Flagsmashers he and Sam had convinced the government that Zemo would be more useful on their team rather than rotting on the Raft and Bucky had been put in charge of making sure the man never steps out of line. They’d been using him as a liaison for his underground contacts for a few years before he’d finally been deemed more useful with boots on the ground, and it would save them time having to keep visit him on the Raft for his intel.
Down the hall are the private rooms each Avenger crashes in on missions, the men have already packed their bags ready to go, always on the move and Bucky tries to lighten the sudden tension between him and Zemo.
“Are you sure you’ve got everything? I know what you’re like when you forget your favourite sweater and your outfits all off.” Bucky says, a warmth in his voice as he remembers the time he, Zemo and Sam had to go undercover in the Paris fashion world and the Baron had spent hours dressing them all. At the time he’d been livid at the hours wasted but the attention Zemo had put into curating an outfit he felt comfortable and looked incredible in made his cheeks heat and his stomach twist.
“James I don’t have a favourite sweater and I certainly won’t be needing one in Wakanda.” Zemo says, his voice laced with humour as they approach Bucky’s room, the name plaque on the door reading ‘White Wolf.’
The room is stark white, no personal affects and only the bare minimum needed, large double bed with plain white sheets, metal table and lamp, small ensuite bathroom and a mini fridge. No pictures, no art work, no personality. Bucky doesn’t spend much time here but it’s not like his apartment is any better, he doesn’t really call anywhere home, apart from perhaps Wakanda.
“Come on I’ll grab my go bag and then we can head out to Wakanda.” Bucky says as he enters his room.
Zemo follows him in and sits on the edge of the firm bed, the corners tucked in with military precision. He looks pensive and fidgets with the sheets as he realises his weight has messed up the perfectly neat corners.
“What’s wrong?” Bucky asks as he hesitates in the middle of reaching for his already packed duffel bag on the other end of the bed.
“The Wakandans…” Other Zemo starts but trails off, stilling his fussing with the bed sheets and clasps his hands between his knees.
“I know, but this whole time we’ve been working together they’ve seen how you’ve changed, no… who you truly are. What you did before, was because you had been hurt more than anyone could ever comprehend.” Bucky says dropping his hand from his bag handles and coming to stand in front of Zemo, who refuses to meet his eyes.
“That’s no excuse, I still would not change what I did… perhaps not killing the King of Wakanda,” Zemo laughs nervously, “but even if I am sorry for what I did to you, I do not regret it.” He says, finally looking up at Bucky with eyes full of the regret he says he does not have, jaw clenched and lips pursed.
“And I don’t think you should, you lost everything in the blink of an eye, I can’t blame you for what you felt like you had to do... But obviously an eye for an eye is frowned upon in upstanding communities,” Bucky says light heartedly trying to lift the mood a little, he crouches down so he’s eye level with Zemo, his own eyes soft with admiration as he looks at the other man’s inability to hide his worry from him.
“They might not be able to forgive you, but they love me,” Bucky laughs before becoming a little more serious, placing his hands on Zemo’s knees, “and… when they see how much you mean to me, they’ll welcome you with open arms.”
He’d never alluded to it out loud before, he’d told Zemo he’d come a long way, that he worked hard and made them all proud with his achievements on their missions but he’d never said something so personal. He can feel his cheeks heating up like they do whenever Zemo’s attention is all on him and he feels exposed.
Zemo looks a little overwhelmed before a small smile spreads across his lips, Bucky lets out a tiny breath and smiles back, he ducks his head to hide his visible blush before getting back to his feet.
Bucky clears his throat, “come on, I want to show you the place I called home.” He grabs his bag from the bed, holding out his other hand for Zemo, he doesn’t back up so when the Baron stands up it’s directly into the space Bucky is occupying, the tension between them is even thicker now but it’s different, the nervousness has an electrifying edge to it and Bucky’s skin buzzes where he can feel the heat radiating from the other man stood so closely to him.
They stay like that a little too long, Zemo’s eyes flick down to Bucky’s lips and the urge to kiss him makes Bucky’s head spin, he’d thought about it a lot recently, kissing Zemo. But he’d never known if the other man felt the same, now he’s a little less confident that Zemo would just push him away and ask him if he’s mad. But he doesn’t want to risk the camaraderie they’ve both finally found in a world neither of them recognised.
Bucky backs out of the room with a playful grin on his face and Zemo dutifully follows after him.
Zemo looks out of the plane window as the colours of Wakanda come into view, the beautiful landscape breathtaking as they approach, he’d only ever seen it in pictures. The country was stunning even from this distance and he chews on his thumbnail nervously as the thought of facing the people he hurt and the aftermath of his own collateral damage becomes more real.
He feels Bucky’s metal fingers gentle grip his knee and he realises he’s bouncing his leg. A lifetime of learning how to have the perfect poker face, never giving anything away, not to his enemies, his allies or even his father, and it seems in the last few years he’s become so relaxed around the other man he can’t remember to keep his mask up around him. Maybe subconsciously he knows he doesn’t need to hide from Bucky.
He turns and gives the man a pinched smile, Bucky’s eyes are soft and his forehead wrinkles as he reads the worry on Zemo’s face.
“Let’s just focus on the mission, you’re not here for them to judge you as a person you’re here as an Avenger, to help them figure out who stole the vibranium.” He says, squeezing Zemo’s knee, he doesn’t remove his hand until the plane touches down a few minutes later.
Ayo meets them on the landing strip, Bucky smiling warmly at her but her face is stoney as always, Zemo doesn’t know if she’s angry or not, she never seems to show any emotion.
She stands rigid holding onto her spear so tightly it could snap any second. She’s dressed in red and gold, the fabrics and metals decorating her strong body and showcased beautifully on her dark complexion. She looks regal herself, and if Zemo didn’t already know her and what the Wakandan army dressed in he would assume she was the queen.
“White Wolf,” she nods at Bucky, “it is good to see you again.” She turns her head slightly to look at Zemo, “umbulali ukumkani.” She says nodding in the same manner as if addressing him by an official title, but Zemo doesn’t understand the language.
He nods back and when Ayo smirks he knows he was wrong to acknowledge her words.
“Ayo.” Bucky says, his tone a warning.
“Am I wrong?” She replies.
“I’ve missed you, don’t ruin it, please.” Bucky says a sadness in his voice.
“I am not the one ruining anything.” Ayo simply states.
“We’re here to help.” He continues, trying to brush off the less than warm welcome.
“We do not need your help.” She states, her hand tightening again on her spear.
“Vibranium was stolen from you, from here, and even with all your tech and security they managed to get in and out practically undetected, we’re just a fresh pair of eyes for the evidence you have, let us try.” Bucky says.
“Why? So you can prove his usefulness?” Ayo says jutting her chin at Zemo.
“He’s already done that himself, many times, he’s here because he is useful.” Bucky says and Zemo quietly clears his throat beside him, uncomfortable at being talked about so openly.
Ayo doesn’t reply, just looks at Zemo as if she can read him like an open book.
“We’ve been asked here, Ayo, it’s not your call.” Bucky finally says, he had wanted Ayo to accept Zemo, he knew she wouldn’t be particularly welcoming but he had hoped she would want to give him a chance.
Her eyes flash with something of surprise at Bucky pulling the Queen card on her, she nods and steps minutely aside so the men can pass her.
They’re escorted into the city, to the palace to talk to Queen Ramonda, and Zemo is momentarily distracted by the beauty of the architecture. How the rural countryside turns to modern buildings and higher tech then he’d seen at Avengers HQ.
“Ayo, what did she call me?” He says quietly to the man at his side.
“King killer.” Bucky whispers back, his eyes hard but apologetic.
“Hmm, she wasn’t wrong.” He says mournfully mostly to himself, but of course Bucky could hear.
Zemo’s stomach drops as they approach the entrance, the reminder that he is meeting with the woman who’s husband he killed. He’s no longer distracted by the beauty around him as they enter the throne room, the glass floor and golden pillars surrounding them, not even the view across the landscape of Wakanda through the huge windows can stop his mind from racing.
“White Wolf,” she says happily as she approaches them before taking both of Bucky’s hands in her own, “you look well.” She smiles at him, “I assume you’ve seen Ayo. Don’t be upset with her, you know how she is. Don’t let it burden your time here.”
He shakes his head, “It’s good to be back.”
She drops his hands and clasps them together in front of her, turning to Zemo. He’s in awe at her statuesque presence, she oozes power and her high neck, gold and white gown makes her look ethereal, like a goddess.
He and Bucky are dressed casually, the latter in black T-shirt and jeans even in this heat and Zemo wears a purple linen shirt tucked into grey pants, and he feels suddenly underdressed to be in the presence of a queen. He feels his shirt stick to his back with a nervous sweat and hopes the queen does not mind and assumes he’s just a typical Eastern European not used the heat, wonders if she can smell the fear on him. He’s not scared of her possibly deciding he should be put to death for his crimes against her, he’s afraid that she feels how he did, when his family was taken from him, he would not wish that on anyone and he himself had caused it.
“Baron Zemo.” Ramonda says, her tone not giving anything away.
“Your highness.” He replies with a short bow.
“You’re now working with the very people who took your family from you,” she says, “their efforts for the greater good meant your life was destroyed as collateral damage, and then you did the same to me, in the pursuit of your revenge.”
Zemo swallows audibly, his palms sweating, but he nods in agreement, not denying his crimes.
“If you can grow from the loss of your family, your home, your entire country, perhaps not forgive, and definitely not forget those that wronged you but if you can turn that hatred into something for good, then I can certainly do the same with my loss.” She says, taking a step closer to him.
“I am at least relieved it was just my husband that you took from me and not my children, not my home or my country. I do not hate you for what you did, I understand your pain, but I cannot begin to understand the scale of it. I cannot blame you for your actions.” She takes his hands in both of hers and he knows she’d be able to feel how clammy they are, he swallows nervously and she squeezes his hands.
“Once I was over my initial anger, I begun to understand, you had inflicted upon me what was done to you, I had wished you’d done it to someone else, I was not your intended target, yet I had become collateral damage, as you had. And then I realised I should not be wishing that upon anyone, and perhaps it had to be me, T’Challa and Shuri to suffer so we could show you the humanity that no one showed to you when they took your world away from you.”
Zemo lets out a shaky breath, can feel a lump in his throat at her words, at her kindness, he swallows it down but cannot open his mouth to speak. He focuses on the feel of her soft hands in his, the cold metal of her rings against his sweaty palms, the jingle of her many bracelets to ground him.
“Perhaps if they had, you would not have felt the need for revenge, and I would have not lost my husband, my children would have not lost their father, my land would not have lost their king, and you would not have wasted over a decade in prison.” Ramonda squeezes his hands again before letting go and taking a step back to look at both of them again.
Zemo clears his throat, “James is helping me to rectify that, despite what I did to him, he truly is a great man in seeing the potential I still have and not letting me go to waste.”
“Wakanda helped him after you were done with him,” Ramonda says, and Zemo balks at her words, “you cannot take all the credit for his misfortune, Zemo, Hydra had their iron claws in him for decades you had him for mere minutes in comparison. We helped him, and now it seems he is passing on the generosity to you. You are a lucky man, Baron Zemo.”
“Yes, I very much am,” Zemo breathes out, looking to his side to see Bucky staring at his feet with his hands clasped behind his back, avoiding eye contact with them both.
Queen Ramonda smiles at the clearly shy soldier, “you’ll be shown to your quarters, please wash up, relax, enjoy some dinner and then you can meet with Shuri to go over the evidence we have managed to gather.”
“We should really get started-” Bucky says his head snapping up to look at her.
“Not at all, you have time to rest from your travels before working, the mission will still be here. We’ve upped security if they come back and we have eyes on any vibranium popping up for sale, we take things slow here in Wakanda, we will catch them when we catch them. Please, rest.” She gestures to her guards to escort them back out, nodding to them as she retreats to her own quarters.
They’re shown to a royal suite more lavish than Bucky is used to while visiting Wakanda and much more than Zemo feels he deserves in hospitality from the Queen. However Zemo realises there’s only one bedroom and turns to the guard who is placing Bucky’s bag down but keeps hold of his.
“And where am I to be sleeping?” He asks, smiling at the Queens man.
He gestures for Zemo to follow him, he hears Bucky ask a confused “what?” Before the soldier follows behind them.
“I know I don’t need to keep an eye on him, but the terms of his parole state that he has to report to me, how can we do that if he’s so far away?” Bucky says as they’re escorted across the city.
“The Queen said it is what the people would prefer, it is mostly for show. Do not worry White Wolf, we will take good care of your Baron.” The royal guard says as he leads the way.
‘Your Baron’
There’s no poor areas of Wakanda, the wealth of the land shared with the people and everyone lives comfortably even if there is still status and hierarchy, everyone from the farmers to the soldiers and politicians are looked after properly. Everyone in Wakanda is important.
But there is a prison, more of a rehabilitation centre but it has cells, most of which are rarely used. Zemo is escorted to a room here, the cells don’t look like the type you’d get in a western prison, or on the Raft, they’re comfortable, clean but bare. Reminds Bucky of his room in Avengers HQ. Zemo will be comfortable here, but he will be far from Bucky.
Zemo is fitted with a bracelet of tracking beads, told the consequences of removing it or going anywhere he’s not supposed to, unless he’s accompanied by Bucky. Then they’re left alone.
“I’m sorry. I’ll talk to-” Bucky starts, his eyes sad.
“No, James, there is no need, the hospitality I’ve received is more than I deserve, this is more than fine.” He gestures around the space.
“If you’re sure.” Bucky says reluctantly.
“Of course.” He assures the other man.
“Are you hungry?” Bucky asks when he arrives back at Zemo’s room after they’ve both washed up and changed into more weather appropriate clothes, they’re both wearing soft linen trousers and light tunic shirts, Bucky in reds and browns reminiscent of the Wakandan army and Zemo in lighter beige like that of the towns people.
“Not particularly.” Zemo replies, strolling beside Bucky on the way back to his royal suite.
“It’s the heat, have you had enough water?” Bucky stops walking and turns to look at Zemo.
“Yes, I think it’s more nerves than anything, I’ve never been one to worry about what others think of me, but I hurt these people and they want me to remember that.” Zemo says, cautiously looking around him at the people staring.
“They’re staring at me not you.” Bucky replies as he carries on walking a little faster through the city.
“I thought they loved their White Wolf, they don’t look very welcoming, I am ruining your relationship with these people.” Zemo says trailing behind Bucky so it looks less like they are equals.
“No, you’re not.” Bucky replies trying to slow down to keep in step with Zemo but the other man stops walking again.
“I shouldn’t have come.” Zemo states matter of factly.
“I want you here.” Bucky says turning again to look at the other man, his forehead furrowed and eyes sincere.
“It’s hurting them,” he gestures vaguely behind him at the villagers still observing them, “and you.”
“Did you hear what the Queen just said to you? It doesn’t matter what the rest think right now, they’ll come around and if they don’t they’re not worth it.” Bucky says stepping closer, aware they’re being watched.
“And Ayo, and Shuri?” Zemo asks, tiling his head.
“Ayo’s Ayo, she more stubborn than me, and Shuri… I… we’ll worry about that when we get there. Now let’s eat something before we go and face that next hurdle.” Bucky says placing a hand on Zemo’s shoulder, he refuses to raise his gaze to the people watching them.
“Would you rather not just rip the bandaid off now?” Zemo asks.
Bucky breathes out slowly through his nose, he squeezes Zemo’s shoulder before dropping his hand and turning to go in the direction of Shuri’s lab.
“White Wolf!” Shuri beams as he enters. “Baron,” she continues, her smile faltering just a little.
She envelops Bucky in a big hug and nods at Zemo as she steps back.
“Should I give your arm a little update while you’re here and we can discuss the theft while I’m working?”
“Uh yeah sure.” Bucky says, Zemo had never seen him without his arm, he was already in the sewers under Riga when Ayo had literally disarmed him. He generally doesn’t like how it feels to take it off and it’s a vulnerability he was only now allowing Zemo to see.
He has learnt how to disengage it himself so he takes off his shirt, realising as it’s over his head that Zemo hasn’t seen where it joins to his body or his scars yet either. He hears a small intake of breath behind him as his back is exposed.
Bucky turns slightly to look over his shoulder at the other man and catches Zemo’s eyes on him, his lips pursed and his cheeks flushed a little red, he can’t tell what the other man is thinking.
Zemo catches his eye and the Baron swallows, clears his throat and turns away to look out of the window. He wonders if Bucky thinks he’s staring because he wants to see how to remove the arm, but really he couldn’t help himself from staring at not only the arm, but also the muscular body attached. The other man had never taken his clothes off in front of him before, not even when changing for missions, he’d always requested privacy. And he’d be lying if he said he hasn’t imagined what James hides under 5ish tight black T-shirts.
Once Zemo’s back is turned Bucky follows the sequence that removes his arm from his body and hands the metal limb over to Shuri who places it on a table to start examining it. He sits himself down on the hospital bed next to the table and her computer set up, she hooks the arm up to her equipment with wires poking out of where it attaches to the shoulder. The panels flutter and twitch as she checks that everything moves and works as it’s supposed to. He senses Zemo at his shoulder, curiosity having got the better of him.
“Apologies, it’s fascinating, am I being too invasive?” Zemo asks hesitantly.
“No… you can watch.” Bucky says with a small smile and Zemo walks round to the front of the table to watch Shuri work.
She explains to both of them what she’s doing, checking the sensitivity, balancing the strength to make sure it still matches Bucky’s super human abilities so he’s not imbalanced, ensuring nothing needs replacing.
She then quickly checks the attachment in Bucky’s torso, he winces as she pokes around the part where his arm connects.
“Does it hurt?” Zemo asks watching closely.
“No, it’s just… sensitive, it’s an odd feeling.” Bucky says, grimacing a little as she checks the connection.
“There’s a lot of sensors here so when the arm is attached he can feel through the vibranium fingers, otherwise he would feel very detached from his limb, it should feel like a real arm to him.” Shuri explains and Zemo nods his brow furrowed as he watches her work.
She moves to check the join between his flesh and the metal, and presses her gloved fingers against the ravaged mass of scar tissue on his shoulder, she jumps when he hisses at the touch.
“Is this still sensitive?” Shuri asks.
“Ah! Only when you poke it like that!” Bucky says.
“You’re a super soldier you shouldn’t be bothered by me poking you, you can handle being stabbed Wolf!” Shuri explains, pressing against his scar tissue again.
“Hey! It’s just a sensitive area, I got used to it, people don’t generally go around touching me there!” Bucky says shrugging her hand off.
“Hmm but it’s been yeeeears since we fitted this Bucky it shouldn’t still be so sensitive. Did you massage the scar tissue like I said?” She asks standing back and removing her surgical gloves.
“I uh, I didn’t like touching it.” Bucky says quietly tilting his head down.
“Bucky!” She scolds him, “you’ve set back your rehab-”
“It’s fine! Shuri. It’s just sensitive, it’s not gonna kill me.” He says a little deflated. “Are we done can we discuss the mission now.”
She huffs and walks off, Bucky looks at Zemo confused at her sudden departure and sees the man’s eyes roaming his chest. He clears his throat and Zemo’s eyes snap back to the arm lying on the table next to Bucky.
Shuri comes back holding a tub of cream and thrusts it against Bucky’s chest, he grabs it with the one arm he still has before it drops into his lap.
“What the-” he exclaims
“Rub this in twice a day, Bucky. Twice. A. Day!” She says firmly, “it’s not right that the scar tissue is still that sensitive. It’s normal for scar tissue to hurt once the nerves start to regenerate but we could have avoided this if you’d done what I asked in the first place, don’t be afraid of your body-”
“I’m not afraid of it, I just… didn’t like…” he trails off with a huff, “can I put my arm back on now?”
She unhooks the arm from her computer and allows him to slot it back into place, he jumps up from the table so he can stretch and make sure it’s in securely. The panels whir as the arm makes a connection with his body, he flexes his fingers and grabs for his linen shirt, roughly pulling it over his head.
“So this theft?” He says turning to Shuri feeling annoyingly exposed and vulnerable even now with his arm back in place and his shirt back on.