Bucky had slept for more than 5 hours that night all thanks to Sam and his tea. He wakes up still on the couch. Sam long gone. Possibly to the bathroom.
He lets out a squeal though noticing Zemo standing in front of him.
"Bucky why did you scream like a girl?" He hears Sam chuckle from the other room.
He'd usually make a sarcastic reference or roast Sam but all he could say was "No reason"
"Um..." He hears Zemo's voice that he'd much rather not hear in the morning.
"I'd understand if you rejected the proposal but I need to talk to you James. Preferably alone." Zemo said motioning to the room where Sam and Sharon were. Bucky rolls his eyes.
"What do you want from me? Making my life miserable wasn't enough?"
Zemo looks in his eyes for the first time in a long time and Bucky is shocked to see compassion?
Zemo leaves the hotel and goes outside. Bucky understanding that he can either follow Zemo or stay (he's surprized as it is Zemo's giving him the chance) decides to follow.
Zemo is standing in front of their hotel with his furcoat on. Bucky doesn't really know why he wears it. it's hella hot. Bucky stands next to Zemo.
"James...Bucky. I have something to say and please don't interrupt me until I finish. After you can do with me as you please I mean...you did kind of kidnap me."
"Ok so....um..."
"Just get it over with I don't have your time and I don't want to spend more time with you than what I have to"
"Right...understandable. Alright. I...I wanted to apologize.I noticed you and Sam up at night yesterday. I guess you had a nightmare because of the Winter Soldier plan. I want to say that I'm sorry. Not for the Civil War. I am of course sorry about that too but I feel like a sorry won't be enough will it? I am sorry for having you pretend to be him again. I...I was out of prison and I had freedom to some extent and I only cared about myself. I was always selfish it's why my family died. It was easy for me to act like I control you and I didn't think about your feelings about it." I traumatized you yet again. It's why you stay as far away from me as possible right? I understand that though. I wouldn't want to be close to me either.So for whatever my word can be worth I am sorry J-Bucky."
Throughout the speech Bucky didn't look at Zemo not even once but when at the end he turned his head he noticed that there were tears in Zemo's eyes. This was a sight Bucky never thought he'd see ever.
"I thought you were an egotistical dickhead" Bucky said.
"I guess I was that for a long time. But that was never me. I cared about my family and loved them. But then a building was dropped on our home and everyone died. I blamed the Avengers for that.Because they were supposed to save people. But I understand now that no matter how hard they try they can't save everyone. And I was young and naive and didn't want to accept the reality of the situation. I was angry at myself for staying alive while they died. I still feel guilty about it. And I put you through hell. You and Steve and everyone who fought for you. I never understood why they did it. But I understand now." said Zemo tears streaming down his eyes. Bucky tilted his head to the side as if he was asking a question.
"They're your family.They love you and they fight for you. Sam always looks at me wierd because he thinks I will hurt you. I guess he wasn't wrong about that.You have something I always wished to have. But I understand why you never killed me even when you could've multiple times. *You should live for your family and not die for them* right?"
"Yes..."
"You should do that too Bucky. You know after all you've been through you're very compassionate and understanding and you care even if you stare into people's souls like you're going to murder them not everyone would've turned out that way"
"Which is why you should value your life more. I know you're careless and you think your life isn't worth much I've been there. Out all the shit I've put you through Bucky I'm honestly glad you're here in this century. Sam and you have something. Your life is worth living you have him. I don't have that. So live your life and be as reckless as you are. Super soldier or not you're not immortal. I'm sorry again. For what I did. I know quite a lot about nightmares if you ever want to talk which you won't. You can go now."
Bucky doesn't know how to respond to that. He never expected Zemo to apologize.He goes back inside to meet Sam.
"What was that about man? Did he do something? I SWEAR TO GOD-"
"No Sam it's ok. It was wierd. He like gave me a talk about how important life is and how I shouldn't waste it. He freaking apologized for the Winter soldier plan."
"NO WAY"
"i know it's insane but like he literally cried"
"WHAT?"
"I mean it"
"Wow I'm shocked. I mean who would've thought"
"Not me Sam. But wierdly enough it meant something you know? That he isn't a heartless prick and he actually cared about it."
"I know man"
That night bucky sleeps through the whole night soundly. and if Zemo had a photo of Bucky and Sam cuddled on the too small bed asleep at night nobody had to know.