Service.
His whole life he had been in service to someone or something.
As a child Oeznik had assisted his family with tending to the family business. He had taken orders or requests in the shop and helped in running the dubiously legal side business with his Mother.
As a young man he had served in the Sokovian military. He had been particularly good at it; having order, a goal and to feel useful fuelled him. He loved his country after all, and this way he was aiding her. He had been told he was exceptional in the field, he picked up skills quickly and followed orders down to the letter.
His Commanders had liked him, even though the common soldiers less so.
It was in the military that he had met a young member of the Barony, the next in line for Zemo household. He was determined, fierce and undyingly loyal to his country. He was everything he thought nobility should be.
They fought side-by-side for a couple of years. Keeping Sokovia safe.
The man saved his life on a mission that should have left him dead but had suffered too severely to continue his military life. Oeznik had to leave the army and his comrades soon afterwards...
A few weeks later he received an offer via posted letter from the same young noble, one that changed his life.
Life moved quickly from that point, he met with the Zemo family and was evaluated to see if he was fit to serve the noble house. Then he was sent to England to train within the best academies for his role on the planet.
And three years later he stood before the Zemo main residence once again.
The newly titled Baron Heinrich Zemo greeted him at the door, a beautiful and pregnant woman at his side. The new Baroness Zemo.
These were his employers for the foreseeable future.
He didn’t realise back then it was until they all past before him.
“Do you remember that day?” Heinrich Zemo muttered lowly, solemnly, over a bottle of Whiskey. It was half empty already and Oeznik knew it had been unopened yesterday.
“I will until my dying breath, Sir.” He said with a slight nod as he reached over to gently take the bottle away, the Baron allowed him to do so.
“I will too, old friend.” He looked reserved, even while flushed from the amount of alcohol consumed and the pain laced within his words.
“She was the perfect Baroness. We all miss her dearly.” He agreed.
“I know. I wish I’d burned them to the ground myself.” His hands curled into fists, so tight his manicured nails pierced the skin. Blood staining his nails.
“There was nothing you could do...” He reached out to place a hand over his Master’s shoulder.
“Still, I should have. I’m a Zemo and I failed to do my duty. Failed to protect her.” The Baron whispered, black eyes falling to the contact on his shoulder, an unhappy smirk touching his lips. He removed it with a brief nod.
“You didn’t fail, Sir. Sweet Sokovia, she failed you.”
The dark gaze in the other’s eyes meant he didn’t believe a word of it.
Service.
It was everything to him.
He had served the last Baron; he served the current one and if Helmut ever did have a successor and Oeznik was still breathing... He would serve them as well.
Before Sokovia fell he had his life planned, his loyalty to the Zemo household stood before all else. He would work for them until his body or mind gave out, whichever came first. He would train his only son to continue in his role once he was unable.
But Nova Grad rose into the Sky, his people died in mass, his wife and child were murdered by crazed machines created by an American, and the Zemo family... The most important of all... was almost extinguished. All but one still lived:
Helmut.
And the man was unhinged in all the devastation...
He continued to serve the last member of the Sokovian nobility, even though Sokovia was no more, his loyalty didn’t waver. He didn’t have anyone else. No one but Helmut to call family.
But by the way the young Baron acted... Oeznik would have no one left very soon.
“Oeznik, why do you continue to stay? I am not my Father and you can retire if you wish.” Zemo asked one day, many months after the fall of Sokovia. He had been dragging his Butler around as he formulated his plans. Yet, the man just followed, ignoring the ways he broke the law to get the information and resources he needed, making sure he eat and was rested. Even when he refused, the man ensured he did not waste away while he planned.
The older man gave a tight smile. “I have my reasons, Sir.”
“If it’s money, you know I will not leave you without. You should leave my service... I will end up dead or imprisoned. I’d rather you not be tied to me... Master-less as it were.”
“Is that an order or request, Master Zemo?” There was something in his eyes, something cautious but dangerous, something he hadn’t seen since he had been a disobedient child and made his Mother cry.
“I...” He paused, looking at the older man, he reminded him of his Father in this moment. “I would never order that of you. It is your choice.”
“Good, Sir.”
With that the conversation came to a close and the last Zemo never brought the topic up again.
“Do you remember that day?” Helmut Zemo muttered; voice edged with a slight growl. His fingers were curled tightly around a fragile teacup, it was close to shattering under their iron grip.
“I will until my dying breath, Sir.” He said with a slow nod, while offering a hand to take the teacup. A quick blink and the man released it, placing it softly into his hand.
“I will too, dear friend.” Darkness so alike his Father danced in his mud-brown eyes, a feral smirk tugged at his lips. The only difference between them was the present Baron had less control over his anger.
He let it drive him. He’d always been an emotional boy.
“I miss them all, so very much.” He uttered, trying to placate the man, just a little.
“I know. I will burn them to the ground. There will be nothing but ashes and agony like our Homeland.” He hissed, biting into his lip hard to avoid losing his control, teeth tore into the flesh, blood pooled from the wound.
He passed over a handkerchief and the younger man frowned before nodding in thanks and taking it, dabbing his red lips.
“I will not fail. I’ll avenge them all.” That cruel smirk was back, eyes only revealing fury. That was an expression he had taken from his Father but adapted to something much more sinister.
“I know, Sir.” He said, holding in his sigh. He couldn’t save this man.
Much alike the last Baron he supposed.
Little Helmut did it. Well, he wasn’t that little emotional boy, anymore. He was vicious, fuelled only by rage and suffering.
And still, when there was no one to give peace to the ashes of Sokovia and her people, her last Baron fought... He vindicated them. All those lost souls.
He did what no other had done before. He cleaved the Avengers apart, they suffered! Many were on the run; they were injured and alone. They were as broken as the remaining Sokovian survivors.
And what did they do to Sokovia’s own Protector:
They let him rot in prison.
His final Master locked away from him. The last Baron of Sokovia’s throne was a prison bed, his reward... Endless confined solitude.
“You’re really loyal to him, aren’t you?” Sergeant Barnes called as he entered the cockpit. He glanced at the pilot, nodded and left to speak with the American his Master had insisted on bringing with them.
“That I am.” He stated simply.
“Can I ask why?” He hummed, eyes narrowing, head cocking to the side. It was remarkably similar gesture to his young Master.
“I do believe that is not your business, Sergeant.” He said, eyes blank, voice low. He was not challenging the man; he could not hold his own against the Winter Soldier. Very few could. Physically at least, yet maybe he could talk circles round him. The Baron certainly could.
“Why do you want to question my loyalty? Am I a threat to you?”
“No. It’s not that.” His eyes tightened; he was glaring at him now.
“Then pray tell, Sergeant, what is it?” He kept his gaze, staring into the steely unblinking eyes.
“Curious. You’ve been with him a long time, yeah?”
“Yes, I served the late Baron Zemo before him.” Unsure just how much information to give the man to satisfy his thirst.
“You’d do anything for him, right?”
“After you have seen all that I have, all that you have. Loyalty shouldn’t be something that confuses you.”
The Sergeant's nose twitched. “One of those people then.”
“Do not presume to know me. Or know my Master.”
“I think I understand him pretty well.” The man near snarled.
“No, you don’t. He is the last Baron of Sokovia. He’s our Vindicator. He did what no one would. He is a troubled but good man.” He said back evenly, almost grinning as he gazed back into that unblinking glower.
“He’s not a good man. He-“
He held up a hand, and cut them off. “Think what you will, but do not slander him in front of myself.” He smirked, trying to emulate the Zemo staple look.
“Now good day, Sergeant Barnes.” He uttered, turning back to the cockpit.
His Master was back, Baron Helmut Zemo stood before him. His usual playful smirk in place, the one he used for those he liked but his eyes... They were so different. They were empty. Nothing filled them, they were a dry dirt brown. Dry, harsh and unfeeling. His emotions had deserted him.
“I appreciate you answering my call, Oeznik.” His voice was wrong too, even as he spoke in their precious native tongue, though he could not pick out what exactly it was.
“Anything for you, Master Zemo.” He replied, trying to sound cheerful.
“Yes.” His lips twitched. “I’d rather you didn’t call me that.”
“What, Sir?”
“Master. Oeznik, I think it’s time for you to retire.”
He tired to school his expression but was unable to stop his face falling at those words.
“I told you those years ago...” He started but was interrupted.
“I know. But that man was a fool. I am ordering you to leave my service once this mission is done.” His voice was ice, drier than the Antarctic desert.
“May I ask why, Sir?”
“I have made peace with life. At the end of this, I will be dead.” He murmured as he drew close. His eyes still empty as he spoke of his supposed death. He didn’t recognise this Helmut.
Where was that fury and conviction?
“I have left everything in my will to you and anyone you choose. Do with it as you wish. It’s not like our home will benefit from it.” The word home made him choke but the Baron was as detached as before.
“Sir?”
That cruel smirk returned. “No one can change my mind.” He slapped him on the shoulder, faux-friendly, and tilted his head in a way that reminded him of the Baron’s late Mother. “Goodbye, dear friend. May retirement suit you well...”
The last Baron of Sokovia walked away.
The Baron had completed his mission, and he watched from afar as they stood in front of monument to all that Sokovia had lost.
In all honesty it was a picturesque spot, the large lake, the snow-capped mountains in the background, the forest that had grown wild in recent years.
His Master lingered in front of that monument for almost 36 hours before another joined him.
With a scowl, he realised it was Sergeant Barnes. Was this who Helmut had been waiting for, that American brute formerly controlled by Hydra?
They spoke, and even from the distance he could tell there was thick tension in the air, even as both of their gazes seemed vacant yet fathomless.
Barnes raised a gun, pointed it between his Master’s eyes and he almost screamed in protest. But then he saw it, Helmut was at peace, or as peaceful as he could be these days... He nodded slightly at the former Winter Soldier... With that gesture he agreed with their decision.
Oeznik turned away; he couldn’t watch this.
He wanted to stop them...
But that was not the Baron’s wish and well... He had been forcefully retired.
There was no gunshot, instead a quiet delicate sound of metal pinging on the ground and Barnes lowered the gun.
Helmut looked defeated. The last Baron of Sokovia looked broken. He was surprised they didn’t fall to their knees or pull out a pistol of their own finish it themselves.
A group of oddly armoured woman approached the Baron from behind, Wakandans he realised, and Master Zemo greeted them before leaving with them.
As the ship disappeared from view, Oeznik was at a loss.
Service.
His entire life had been service.
And yet, he had a Master that didn’t want him, one that was to locked away again, one that didn’t want to live.
But it didn’t matter, what he felt wasn’t service anymore... It hadn’t been for a very long time.
It was loyalty,
And Oeznik would be loyal to the Zemo line until it was wiped from history.
With a sad smile, he turned away...
It was time to complete his last order and then find out where his Master had been taken.
Regardless of what the last Baron of Sokovia wanted, he was their loyal servant and his Master needed his assistance.