Altruism // Helmut Zemo x Reader x Bucky Barnes

6

Y/n walked at a quick pace down the streets of Riga. Although she healed at an accelerated rate, she could still feel the dulled pain of her broken knuckle pulsing with every step she took. She didn't know where she was going, but she didn't care. She just had to get away from it all, she needed a moment to breathe and collect her thoughts. A moment to think about what the fuck she had just done.

Y/n punched Bucky. Her best friend, Bucky... whose face broke a knuckle. Sure he deserved it, and maybe she did too, but she didn't realize she had it in her to do that.

Her non-injured hand shook as she thought about what Zemo had told her, her pace speeding up to distance herself even further from the super soldier. How dare he boil her down to nothing but a peacemaker whose loyalty is spotty enough to switch sides like flipping a coin. The conversation they had before she left reappeared in her mind, leaving a sour taste on her tongue.

---

Bucky's hand went to his cheekbone, touching the spot where Y/n's fist came in contact with his skin. Although he seemed physically unaffected, unlike Y/n who was cradling her hand with tears in her eyes, his face bore a mix of confusion and remorse. The tension in the air was thick, even Sam who was usually able to solve any conflict opted to stay silent and stand by Zemo, who was watching intently with a slightly tilted head.

"Y/n... are you okay? What was that for?" Bucky asked, taking a step forward and reaching out his flesh hand to grab Y/n's hurt one.

"Am I okay? Am I okay? Of course I'm not okay! You didn't tell me Zemo lost everything ! Why would you hide something so important!" Y/n shouted, stepping back and out of Bucky's reach.

Realization hit Bucky hard, his eyes widening. "Look, Y/n, It's going to sound bad but..."

"But what, James?" Y/n narrowed her eyes.

"Well... you know how you are about Sokovia... If you knew Zemo was Sokovian you would have let your guard down and--"

"And what? Betray you?" Y/n let out a shocked laugh, running her uninjured hand through her hair. "Is that what you think of me? That I'm some traitor? After everything I've done?"

"What? No! Well at first... but not anymore!"

"You're un-fucking-believable! You know what? I'm sick of this, I can't look at you right now." Y/n ripped her jacket off its spot on the couch and shrugged it on, ignoring Bucky's pleas for forgiveness as she walked out the door, slamming it behind her.

---

Y/n found herself sitting down on a cool metal bench in the park, the pain in her fist subsiding to just a dull ache. She wasn't aware of how she had ended up here, her body having been on autopilot as her mind wandered to her and Bucky's altercation. She was glad she ended up in this park though. The spring breeze wasn't too much for her light jacket, and the way the tree branches swayed almost calmed her down. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply to try to further compose herself.

"Sleeping in a park or just resting your eyes?" A man's voice interrupted her moment, making her open her eyes.

"Lemar, right?" Y/n asked tentatively, not sure if it was the right name for the man that stood before her. She had only seen him once, on tv, and she hadn't been paying attention.

The man nodded. "Can I sit down?"

Y/n stared at him for a few moments, confused as to what was going on. What did he want from her? Although she would have preferred to be alone, Y/n scooted over to make room for him as a silent way of saying yes.

"I thought I'd talk to you while John is busy. He wanted to do it first, but he doesn't have the best people skills, although his heart is in the right place." Lemar said, taking a seat beside Y/n.

"If you're trying to ask me to talk to Bucky for you guys, It's not happening. We aren't talking." She said quickly, hoping he wouldn't ask her to explain.

"Actually, it's about that. John and I weren't spying on you, I promise you that, but we were scoping out the hideout Zemo brought you guys to for potential threats so we could go and negotiate with your group when we heard what happened. We were thinking that maybe you could be convinced to work with us."

Y/n hesitated. From what Bucky had told her, John Walker was frankly a dick who she shouldn't associate herself with, but at the same time Bucky had thought she was a traitor. She didn't know what to think.

"Why do you want me to help you out? I don't fight, I'm virtually useless." Y/n asked carefully, wondering what their motive was.

"You're more useful than you think." A voice approached. Y/n looked over to see a vaguely familiar muscular blonde man approaching. She could recognize the suit that fit him like a second skin anywhere.

"Mr. Walker." Y/n greeted quickly, looking at the man with wide eyes. She examined the man before her closely. He was muscular, but not to the same degree as Steve was. Objectively he was also handsome, although Y/n had to admit her type was more tall, dark haired, and intelligent men, not blonde and already taken ones.

"Call me John," He reached out a hand for Y/n to shake and she took it, looking into his ocean blue eyes with confusion about the whole situation. "You seem confused. You see, me and Lemar are new to all of this, we figured it would be wise to get someone more experienced on our team, and you seem like the person who is most willing to cooperate with us, after all you were close with Steve Rogers."

Y/n almost cringed at the last part when he mentioned her connection to Steve. She was sure he didn't mean to openly imply that he was Steve's replacement and that he should be treated the same as Steve was by his friends, he just seemed a little tone deaf and eager to please the avengers, it was as if he needed their acceptance for his own sake. Y/n let out a soft exhale.

"I'd be willing to help you on some conditions. I don't have to fight the flag smashers, and you don't kill them. They're just people looking for a place in this world like everyone else after the snap, yes they deserve punishment after they killed those people, but they don't deserve to die." Y/n stated her terms after a few moments of deliberation.

Lemar and John shared a look, seeming to be close enough to speak to each other through their glance instead of out loud. After a pause, John cleared his throat. "Alright Y/n. Welcome to the team."