Traitor ~ Bucky Barnes

List of Names

"This whole time you you've been rich?" asked Sam in disbelief.

The four of them were walking to a private plane Katherine and Zemo had. For Sam, it was hard to believe that these two criminals were so loaded. But, of course, that changed a bit when Sokovia fell.

"We are Baron's Sam. My family was royalty until your friends detroyed our country." said Zemo.

Waiting at the bottom of the stairs of the plane was Oeznik. He was an old server of the Zemo family. Katherine was amazed he was still even alive. Oeznik had served Zemo's father. This man had seen and done a great deal in his life.

"Hello, Oeznik" said Zemo in Sokovian.

"Welcome, gentlemen and lady."

Katherine was so happy to see Oeznik. It had been years since she had last seen him. Greeting him with a hug and two kisses on each of her cheeks. She asked, "How are you?"

"I am doing better with you here."

Both of them laughing, Zemo approached Oeznik with his own greeting. To him, he was an old friend to Zemo. Someone he could always trust no matter what.

Everyone got on the plane and sat down. Katherine sat across from Zemo as Sam and Bucky sat across from each other. Bucky and Katherine, however, were sitting horizontally from one another. There had been tension between the both of them since Katherine arrived.

Sam chose to ignore it and not say anything. For Katherine and Bucky, the tension was quite known. At times, she would catch Bucky staring into her soul. But, once she would look his way, he averted her eyes. Pretending like he was not caught.

As the plane was in the air, Zemo and Katherine enjoyed a nice, warm glass of champagne. It was nice to drink something that was not water. That was all Katherine allowed to drink for eight years.

"You don't know what it's like to be locked in a cell." said Zemo. Looking toward Sam, he gave a face of realization. "Oh, wait. That's right. You do."

Katherine started laughing at her father's comment. It was hilarious how petty he was to Sam and Bucky. Even though they set him free, he made sure to remind them of how similar they were to him. Criminal or not, they were almost the same.

Ignoring Zemo, Sam said, "Why don't you tell us about where we're going?"

Ignoring him back, Zemo said, "I'm sorry..." Pulling up a book, Zemo pretended to read it. What was hidden was Bucky's amends list. "I was just facinated by this. I don't know what to call it, but this part seems to be important." Lifting the little book up from the cover-up book. It could be seen by all what Zemo was referring to. "Who is Nakajima?"

Everything happened so fast. As Zemo finished his question. Bucky got up and launched himself at Zemo. Grabbing him by the neck, he squeezed it. Then, whispering to Zemo, "If you touch that again, I'll kill you."

Katherine was taken aback by what was in front of her. Never had she seen Bucky get like this. There was nothing she could do exactly. All she did was sit there in silence and watched the scene unfold.

Bucky let go of Zemo and walked back to his seat. His eyes never leaving Zemo's. Sitting there, processing what just happened, was Zemo. He knew it would get a response from Bucky. But never to this degree.

"I'm sorry. I understand that list of names. People you've wronged as the Winter Soldier." Pausing, Zemo looked at Katherine, then back to Bucky. "What I don't understand was why Katherine's name was there."

"Don't push it."

Katherine was shocked. Her name was among others that Bucky felt he wronged as the Winter Soldier. It did not make sense. Hearing this, she looks at Bucky, searching for an answer. For the first time, he did not look at her. Bucky knew he could not give her an explanation, at least not yet.

The conversation continued. Sam started to talk about the book and how it was Steve's when he came out of the ice. Katherine zoned out at this point. She was still thinking about her name being on that list. How did he wrong me, she asked herself. If anyone wronged someone, it was her. It was Katherine that played with Bucky's emotions and used him. In terms of apologies, it should be Katherine, not Bucky.

"You must have really looked up to Steve. But, I realized something when I met him." said Zemo.

This was when Katherine zoned back into the conversation.

"The danger with people like him, America's Super Soldiers, is that we put them on pedestals."

Hearing the Steve slander, Sam stepped in.

"Watch your step, Zemo."

"But, he's right. They become symbols. Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws." said Katherine.

She wanted to make it clear where she stood among the super-soldier situation. This was more so for Bucky than anyone.

"From there, cities fly, innocent people die. Movements are formed, wars are fought." continued Katherine.

"You remember that, right?" asked Zemo to Bucky. "As a youg soldier sent to Germany to stop a mad icon. Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull?" Answering his own question, Zemo shook his head. "That is why we are going to Madripoor."

"What is up with Madripoor? You talk about it like it's Skull Island." said Sam.

Madripoor was the city where Katherine had made most of her deals during the five years of the blip. With her Baron title and her reputation. Many had reached out to her in hopes of making a deal. Some wanted funding, others wanted a partnership. Katherine had rejected most but kept close only a few. Those who were worth it. With Madripoor, Katherine had increased the Zemo family's wealth.

"It was a pirate sanctuary back in the 1800s. It's kept its lawless ways, though." said Katherine.

"That is why we cannot exactly walk in as ourselves." Pausing, Zemo looked a Bucky and knew who he was going to "pretend" to be. "James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone."

Katherine burst out laughing. This was perfect. Having Bucky go back to his Winter Soldier ways is what this trip needed. All the ideas Katherine had planned for Bucky was spinning in her mind. This was going to be a trip for all of them to remember.

Leaning back in her seat, Katherine took another sip of her champagne. Then, looking at a stressed Bucky, she said.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."