Old wounds and new chances.

Chapter four: The mornig after

Zemo placed himself behind the counter, pouring some steaming tea. He held an ice pack to his forehead. Buckys view wandered out the window front, twiddled with the scratch in his leather jacket. The sun was rising on the horizon. There was a bloody cloth sitting on the table in front of him. The room slowly drowned in a golden glow. 

"Thank you." Zemo murmured and brought the glass to his lips. He was met by a serious glance. Bucky put the heavy, dark blue fabric down. He opened his mouth, replacing his jaw. "He knows the words." Zemos face went almost completely blank. Their eyes locked. "Yeah..." Bucky exhaled. Zemo angled his head to one side and moved his gaze down to the tea. It was about cold by now. "But they don't do it for me anymore. Still." Bucky reassured. Zemo acknowledged his words with a gesture of his hand and a nod.

He stood back up to fill his tea glass again. "You some as well?" Zemo paused mid-turn. Bucky stared confused. "Its lime blossom tea. Its helps lift your uneasiness." His eyes narrowed a bit more as he tilts his head at him. "Its just tea James. Just take it.". He placed the glass in front of Bucky. "Huh..." a faint smile hushed over his face. He held the glass filled with whiskey colored liquid in between two fingers. "So you can smile?" Zemos noted as his expression lid up just a little.

Bucky wanted to counter with a rather sarcastic comment as someone entered the foyer. "What are you two doing?". Sam dropped his bag to the ground. He looked irritated at the scene. "What? Are we now having brunch with the bad guy?". Bucky put the tea aside. "Sam I-" He didn't let him finish. "Nah, man he literally kill-" The arguing stopped as Zemo bluntly stated: "We got attacked!". Both went silent. Buckys eyes went to the sandstone floor. "Someone attacked us last night." He repeated with a lifted chin.

Sam folded his arms. "Who?" Zemo stood up and moved towards the cabin they locked their hostage in. He and Bucky followed. "We don't know. He drugged him and tried shooting me." Bucky added. Sam's brows drew together as they entered. The man's head was sloped down to his chest. His face was covered with his ragged hair. He still sat on the stool placed on the little pedestal and in the mirror behind they could see he was still cuffed.

They got closer. Sam and Bucky gave each other side eyes. Meanwhile, Zemo tried waking him up. He didn't get any response. Curios but hesitant he took a fist full of hair, pulled the man's head up and immediately let go. The man's head rolled to the the side revealing bloodshot eyes and foam dripping off his chin. Disgusted Zemo wiped his hand on a handkerchief he pulled out of a pocket. "Dead.". "Shit..." Sam turned his head placing one hand on his forehead.

Bucky on the other hand looked at the man and felt a deep uneasiness. He had seen something like this before. He broke the silence: "Cyanide. We should have had an eye on that." Bucky pushed out of the room, continuing his rant. "You know who does that? Fucking hydra does!". Sam gave Zemo a tense glare. He sharply inhaled, rolled his eyes and went after Bucky. He stood crossed armed next to a wooden pillar underneath the staircase, brooding to himself.

Sam followed, meeting them in the middle of the room. "This is a shit situation I know. But what are we gonna do with him? We can't just leave him in there?" He tapped Bucky on the back, so he would face them. Zemo didn't take his eyes of off Bucky, who just stared ahead. "Don't worry about that Sam. I know where to get rid of them." His head turned to Sam and he walked away. "We don't have time anyway. Madripoor's waiting. I'll let your outfits be brought to your rooms." Sam's eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "See Buck? Bad guy." Bucky avoided his face and again walked off. "Really?" Sam shrugged and held out his arms.