Altruism // Helmut Zemo x Reader x Bucky Barnes

5

A/n: "Where the fuck have you been Aur?" I hear you ask. Well I was working my ass off to get into uni, then my great aunt died, and then I got rejected by the uni I worked my ass off to get into. Whatever, life goes on or something. Next chapter will be extra long and eventful, I just wanted to get something out. This is prob bad, I forget how to write

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The city of Riga was beautiful, Y/n couldn't help but look around with amazement as she walked. The architecture was like nothing she had ever seen before as she grew up and stayed in New York for most of her life. She noticed Bucky watching her with a smile and stuck out her tongue at him in response.

"I heard what became of Sokovia." Zemo said, the mood shifting from being filled with curiosity and excitement to seriousness. "Cannibalized by its neighbours before the land was even cleared of rubble."

His words seemed to take the joy out of Y/n's body, replacing it with guilt. She had tried everything she could do to help the people in Sokovia after the tragedy struck and she had the scars to prove it, however the guilt for being a part of the group that tore up the country without any regard for the damage still ate at her. Sam and Bucky stayed quiet, likely thinking of the man's words.

"I don't suppose you or your friends have visited the memorial?" He asked as a question, waiting for a response but only getting guilt ridden silence as a response. "That's what I thought."

Y/n had longed to visit the memorial and pay her respects to those who had died, yet she never did. In a way she felt unworthy to be there. She was part of the problem, she didn't want to disrespect the dead by showing her face around there. She knew the other Avengers felt the same way. Sokovia was a forbidden topic for the group, not banned by words but by the collective feeling of guilt. They were supposed to be the Earth's defenders, not the people who tore up a country.

"I'm going to go for a walk. Sam, come with me?" Asked Bucky when they arrived at the building they would be staying in.

"Are you okay Bucky?" Y/n asked the man quietly, her hand resting on his arm. He nodded in reply before wordlessly gesturing for Sam to follow him, leaving with a glare at Zemo which the Sokovian man returned.

"I hope he's okay." Y/n sighed as she stepped into the building after Zemo, taking off her shoes.

"I'm sure he will be. Would you like some cherry blossom tea?" He asked her, heading to the kitchen.

"Yes please." She replied with a smile, sitting down on the couch and taking in the place. It was nice and open, something she could appreciate. The large windows brought in a lot of light which lit up the main area well without the need for lamps.

After a while of comfortable silence Zemo approached with a tray, gently placing it down on the coffee table before her and pouring some tea into a cup. Y/n smiled gratefully at the man, adding in her preferred amount of sugar before taking a sip, Zemo's eyes never leaving her as she did so.

"This is a nice place you've got." She observed her surroundings as she blew gently on the hot tea before taking a small sip.

"Thank you, but it feels lonely now. It's missing so much." He said, his eyes staring into his tea as if he was seeing something he longed for in it.

"What is it missing?" Y/n asked.

He placed his cup down on the saucer, seemingly ignoring her question. "I saw your reaction to my words when I spoke about the memorial. I take it you haven't visited either?" His voice was surprisingly lacking anger, only containing curiosity.

Y/n hoped that this question would lead to the answer of hers, it was unusual for Zemo to just ignore someone like that. Regardless of the purpose of the question, the guilt hit Y/n again. She put down the cup to keep it safe as she felt her hands begin to sweat. "As an Avenger, well former Avenger, I didn't think I'd be too welcome at the memorial..." Y/n explained. "I couldn't stand to face everyone knowing I was part of the group that caused so much pain and suffering."

Zemo stood up, walking around the coffee table to stand in front of Y/n. He crouched down, taking Y/n's hands in his own gloveless ones. Y/n stayed silent, both shocked by the man's sudden movement to her, and feeling her hands comfortably relax in the gentle cradle of his larger warm ones. "You did so much for my people, you would have and still will be regarded as a hero if you were ever to go to the memorial or encounter another Sokovian. I would go as far as to say even my family, who died in the incident, would agree." Zemo's voice was soft, floating to her ears. It made the incomplete puzzle his words created less daunting to think of.

"Your family...?" Y/n looked at the man before her with wide eyes.

Zemo nodded. "I was royalty in Sokovia, a Baron, until the Avengers ripped everything from me. My wife, my young son, my family, everything I knew. I swore I would get revenge against all the Avengers, all but you. You're special, different. You stayed behind and helped everyone you could despite the physical toll it took on you as you pushed yourself past your limits. You left the group after seeing what chaos followed it. Y/n, your kindness makes you a goddess among us, altruism flows through your veins. I owe you everything for helping out my people and so I will always protect you, but not only because of my gratitude. During our time together I've also discovered that I feel something for you that I didn't think I could feel ever again. Y/n, I've fallen-"

The door creaked open. Y/n turned her head to look at the door, her face covered in tears of empathy for Zemo. Her teary eyes hardened when she saw Bucky and Sam walk in, knowing that they kept this all from her. She hardly even had time to think of what Zemo was going to say as she felt her body move on it's own and march up to Bucky and Sam. Rage coursed through her veins at the thought of having such important information hidden from her, and without thinking she raised her arm and gave who she thought was her trustworthy best friend Bucky a right hook to the face.