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„You didn't have to kill him.” James said once they were on the plane, leaving Madripoor's horizon far behind. Zemo turned his head towards the man and put his glass full of whisky aside. James was staring daggers at him. Helmut didn't expect Bucky to speak to him. He thought that he would hear the man's voice only when Sam, who had gone to sleep exhausted in the back of the plane, woke up. Zemo cleared his throat and said „I had to, if we left him alive, he might try to recreate the serum again. I'm not doing half-measures, James, you should know that by now.” Zemo explained, being sure James would understand. After all, that was their mission to get rid of the serum.
„Yeah, your measures are nothing but death and destruction.” Helmut laughed dryly. James wasn’t wrong but the way he said it, made him angry.
„Maybe. Then I must be not so different from your friends, the Avengers, your precious Steve Rogers.” Comparing himself to the avengers was not easy for Zemo, but it was worth it, seeing the anger on James's face. Because he wanted to rub a little salt on the wound, because although he was calm and relaxed, it didn’t mean that he stopped suffering, that he forgot what happened to him.
„They were heroes, you are a psychopath. And don’t talk about Steve like that, you don’t know what he went through, what he did for his country.” James said, raising his voice, not hiding how angry he was. Zemo even noticed how the man clenched his fists, like he was ready to punch him any minute. But Helmut wasn’t scared of him. If a man does not fear death, there is not much left for him to be afraid of. Besides, he knew that Barnes no longer wanted to resort to unnecessary violence. That was a good thing, for everyone.
„We all went through something, did something for our countries.” Zemo replayed calmly. James looked at him in disbelief and frustration.
„Yeah? What did you do?” At that moment Zemo remembered that he knows everything about Barnes but Barnes doesn't know much about him. „I was in the army too.” Helmut said simply, stating a fact. „That doesn’t mean anything. You don’t know shit. As you said yourself, you are rich, your family was a royalty. You could do nothing your whole life and you’d still have everything. You joined the army because of what? You were bored? You’re some kind of adrenaline junkie, just wanted to fight for the sake of it?”
Zemo winced hearing that. He didn't care much about James's opinion, but that didn't change the fact that he felt offended. Yes, he was rich, but some things cannot be bought. His title and influence were unable to buy peace in his country, nor were they able to bring his loved ones back to life. Zemo put on a mask of indifference despite his anger and looked James in the eye „Do you know how my family became an aristocracy?” He asked, but of course it was a rhetorical question so he didn't wait for an answer „My great ancestor, Harbin Zemo, defended his village from the attack of wild tribes from the east. He did it all by himself, only with his sword in hand and nothing more. For his courage and bravery, he received the title of baron. You see with that came responsibility. Because being a baron is not only about all the riches and luxury, it’s about protecting your people, putting your life on the line for them.”
Zemo paused for a moment. He expected Barnes to cut him off in the middle as he wouldn’t be interested in the history of Zemo’s family, but surprisingly he seemed to be focused, even a little curious. Zemo decided to get to the point. „There were wars and conflicts all the time in Sokovia. If not with other nations, then internal. It was hard for me seeing all of that. I joined the military because I wanted to put an end to it all. I wanted to protect my people, my country. Nobody forced me to do it, I didn't do it for fun or out of boredom. I felt responsible for them. I also didn’t want my son in the future to risk his life for the sake of the country, like me, like my father, his father and so on. I wanted him to have a good life, for him to be safe. I wanted this for all the kids in Sokovia.” After finishing, Zemo felt a rush of sadness but at the same time a strange relief. The last time he spoke to anyone about his past was 7 years ago, with King T'challa. The man whose father he killed. He felt another rush of sorrow.
For some time, they were quiet. They both sat motionless in the same positions, staring at each other. James's face softened a little, his hands no longer bound into tight fists. Helmut was sure he was wrong, but he thought he saw a little understanding in the man's eyes. Bucky cleared his throat and for a split second he broke their eye contact. He looked at his hands then back to Zemo. „I’m truly sorry for what happend to you, but that doesn’t change anything, it doesn't justify what you did.” Zemo understood that what he said might sound like explaining himself, making excuses, trying to elicit sympathy. But that was not what he meant at all. He didn't need anyone's mercy, he felt he didn't deserve it anyway. He just wanted to try to give Bucky his point of view. He didn’t want anyone, even his enemy-temporary ally-associate, to have an inaccurate opinion about him, to make assumptions about him that were not true.
„You think I don't know that. I am well aware of the atrocities I have done and I pay for that every day. You may think otherwise but I do have a conscience.” James shook his head „I know...I mean...listen…” He seemed a little lost, didn't quite know what he wanted to say. Zemo, however, waited patiently for the other man to collect his thoughts. „Maybe you're not bad to the bone. If that were the case, you'd probably run away or try to kill us or something. And You had several occasions.” Bucky said it with some reluctance in his voice. But despite his dislike of the man, there was no scheme he could accuse the Baron of. That's because Zemo had no reason to have some hidden agenda, to stab his associates in the back.
„I really mean no harm to you and Sam. What i want is to shut down the super soldier program for good.” He really meant that. Although James might not believe him and Helmut wouldn't be surprised, it was true. James studied him for a moment, then replied „It still doesn't mean we will trust you.” Zemo wanted to roll his eyes hearing that, because of course they would not trust him. He could prove his loyalty and purity of intentions again and again, and they would still see him only as a common villain. He didn't like it but hey, it’s only his fault.
„I know James. I’m not expecting you to. Let’s just not make assumptions about each other. Okay?” James didn’t respond to that, just nodded. Zemo smirked and took a sip of his drink. After a while Sam walked into the main part of the plane. He looked refreshed and calmer than before. He looked at Bucky, then at Zemo, and a smile appeared on his face.
„I’m glad to see you didn't kill each other while I was asleep. Proud of you guys.”