We're more alike than you think

12. Baron

"So we are stealing cars now?" you asked as you looked around. James was a little bit too eager looking at them, but you couldn't really judge him for it. He was looking at a Cadillac series 62, pastel blue and without much knowledge about cars you could see it was a car from the 40s. You may not be fond of James and his behavior, but in some strange way even you enjoyed his enthusiasm.

"These are mine." Zemo said and turned around looking at you. He looked you up and down before a little smirk appeared on his lips. "My family has collected them over generations" he continued, but never let the smirk go. It made you insecure. You immediately looked down at yourself, almost afraid that you were wearing your clothes the wrong way or something, but everything was right. You straighten up and tried to act confident again. "Of course you do, Baron." you mumbled.

"I spent years hunting people Hydra recruited to recreate the Serum. Because once it's out there, someone can create an army of people.. Like the Avengers" Zemo said and walked between the cars. Sam looked over at you with a little smile, making sure that you were good, before looking back at Zemo.

You couldn't help but find Zemo fascinating. He appeared as a smart, almost genius level smart man, but he had such a primitive way of thinking. Zemo had a need to put people in boxes, boxes that didn't exist. You can't compare the different people in Avengers to an army simply because of their powers. Beside Steve Rogers, none other member of the Avengers have ever had the Super Soldier serum. It was more members without any powers than it was powered people, but Zemo's simple thinking didn't see the different layers.

"I ended the Winter Soldier program once before. I have no intention to leave my work unfinished." he said as he grabbed a coat out of his car. "To do this, We'll have to scale a ladder of lowlifes." he added and started to lead the way out. "Well, join the party. We've already started." Sam said and you couldn't help but laugh. The three of you followed him out the garage to something that looked like a little airport. Not so much farther a way a flight already stood ready for you. "First stop is a woman named Selby. Mid-level fence I still have a line on. From there we climb." Zemo explained.

"So all this time you've been rich?" Sam said as his eyes popped out. You looked confused at Sam "What did you think a Baron was Sam?" This was where you were different from the boys. You were way more educated than them, and much as you loved to throw a mean punch, you knew that knowledge could hit harder. "I don't know!" Sam answered.

"My family was royalty until your friends destroyed my country." Zemo snapped back with a calm voice as he greeted an older man in Russian. You could see how awkward Sam was because however much he wanted to be kind he just mumbled some words to the gentleman and gave him a nod. James almost ignored him.

"Приве́т, Как дела́?" (hello, how are you?) you asked with a smile at the man.

You made sure that nobody noticed, you didn't want the attention from the boys. The man clearly appreciated it and gave you a hug before the two of you walked in on the plane. You ended up closest to Zemo, on the opposite side. When you were young your father was always strict about learning about other cultures and languages, and when you lived as a bounty hunter it was a luxury that you were capable of most languages at least the basics of it and when you became an agent for Tony it was absolutely essential.

The old man, whose name was Oeznik came and gave Zemo a glass of champagne.

"Apologies if that's a little warm, the fridge is out. But I will see if there is some good food in the galley."

"If it doesn't pass the smell test give it to them." Zemo spoke in Sokovian. He seemed happy and almost a bit proud of his little joke. Sam tried to keep up, but he was long gone. You bit your lip to hold in a laugh and looked out the window as Zemo was waving his glass at the boys.

Oeznik came back with some food and served it to everyone beside Zemo. When it became your turn, you kindly put your hands on your lap.

"Oh, thank you so much Oeznik, but I'm not hungry." you said in Sokovian causing all the boys to look up at you with a shock. Oezenik who already heard you speak Russian was less surprised and kindly gave you a clap on the shoulder and a laugh before he went away. You looked over at Zemo who was still holding his glass to his lip, without drinking in shock. You continued in Sokovian

"You really thought none of us would speak Sokovian?" you said teasingly and tilted your head.

"Well now you have intrigued me, please talk little bird" he said and put his glass down. He moved in his seat so he leaned towards you, his feets pointing in your direction. You could feel the stares from James and Sam, but you tried to ignore it. James knew you spoke Russian, that's what the two of you mostly spoke together before and he had seen you speak a lot of different languages, so it shouldn't really shock him. Maybe it was the fact that you knew and remembered them so well? While James back then got trained in it, simply for a job and got it wiped after? You don't know. Sam was just surprised, which was fair. You looked over at them for a second, before Zemo interrupted  you.

"Don't look at them, look at me" Zemo said, clearly wanting your attention.

It made you feel good, it was nothing to deny. He made you feel little in the garage and now finally only minutes later you had the upper hand of him. Zemo had no idea of who you were or what you could do. You looked back at him with a teasing smile as he continued to ask "What is your name?"

"None of your business" you snapped back in english at him. Zemo smiled as he lifted an eyebrow, he was only looking at you as a simple challenge, nothing more.

"I got that one, I understood that!" Sam said in excitement when he finally understood a word of the conversation.

"Would the bird sing it if I got it a glass of champagne?" Zemo asked back in Sokovian with a charming smile leaning back in the seat.

"I work better with bubbles." You answered kindly back tilting your head.

"I like you," Zemo said as he gave Ozenik the orders.