Pleasure Remains the Same -Helmut Zemo(eventual winterbaron) x Reader

Continued 21

"I'm really happy you two finally had that conversation." You say, smiling at Bucky in the dark. You've come down into the garden for some water and air; it's so late you feel like two teenagers sneaking off together, having left Zemo asleep in bed. You're sitting at the little white iron table in the center of the garden on the pea-gravel path and Bucky looks up at you nodding.

"Me too. It was long overdue— obviously."

"Well, if there's one thing you're both good at, it's bottling emotions." You give him a playful smile.

Bucky agrees like you're the asshole but knows you mean no harm. He leans back, petting Lou, who followed you out. Their bond is unbreakable, and it's quite possibly the sweetest thing you've ever seen.

"Hey, I've been curious. How was New York? Helmut sort of hinted that it wasn't easy. Sorry for jumping right in on your first night back but I just worry."

"I know. But I really have been through worse." He says, and it doesn't take any stretch of the imagination to know he's telling the truth "Still, being separated from the people I love pushes the limits. Decades ago, it was my little sisters..."

This strikes a nerve. He's only mentioned them one time to you and never again.

"Then Steve. It's not the same with you and Helmut, I know you're alive and safe so that keeps me sane. I just feel like I'm always so far away..." His voice trails and you feel the lump in your throat hurt with the promise of tears.

"Bucky— I would come back with you, I would. I will!" You say, reaching for his hand on the table.

His smile is as sad as the vibranium is cool that closes around your fingers. "I know you would. And I'd be a fool to let you. How long do you think it would take before everyone looking for him closed in on you? And how long do you think it would take for me to kill them all to keep you safe. It's too dangerous." He says your name with the fear he feels at the thought of you risking everything just to go back and resume life with him in New York. "It was different before. I could pull a few strings, say you were just mixed up in his mess, fooled into going along with him, but it was over because he was in prison. Not anymore."

You sigh and sit back. You already know this.

"He has a place in Spain. Did you know?" You say, breaking the silence.

Bucky looks up at you. "What?"

You nod with a the tight-lipped smile of a woman in the know. "If this location is compromised, that's where we'll go,"

"You shouldn't have told me."

"It doesn't matter; you'll visit."

Bucky laughs. "Any other over-the-top locations I can add to the list?"

You consider telling him about the castle, but Zemo doesn't know that you overheard his conversation with Oeznik and the only reason you understood was that you forced Petra to tell you. Her loyalties lie with the family, but you and she have become quite close over the past few months. "No, I guess these two are enough."

"Ha!" Bucky is a little taken aback but not much. Nothing Helmut does really surprises him anymore. "Yeah, two is good," He jokes shaking his head. "New York is— lonely." He says, suddenly, looking you in the eyes, and your smile dies like someone blew out a flame. "I think I forgot about that part. Kinda wishing I'd stayed alone so that I would never have remembered."

"Really?" You ask, feeling the sting of his honesty.

He looks up, and you know instantly that he doesn't mean it. "No." He says with the sort of sweet dismissiveness that warms your heart.