James is different.
Zemo didn’t want to acknowledge that, much less, accepted It. However, he had to after what he has seen since James helped him break out of prison. He can’t keep denying that simple fact. James is different. He was different from the beginning, since the moment he was created. He is the only human who had the serum injected against his will. James didn’t want it; he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had to endure tests and experiments without knowing what they were doing to him. James didn’t ask for what happened to him and that makes him different from the rest.
Unlike other super-soldiers, James hates what they did to him and the fact he has the serum running through his veins. Steve wanted the serum to help people, Karli sought the serum for her cause, the other Russian soldiers fought for it and John Walker craved it the moment he touched the shield. All of them desired the serum to fight for the right cause, even Steve Rogers. In that matter, he is no different from the rest. Only James had it against his knowledge and will.
Zemo crossed his name from his list because he has nothing against James. After all, what James did was just trying to survive and Zemo can’t blame him for that. That is such a human thing to do: fighting to survive. Thus, Zemo stole the notebook a second time to cross his name from that list. James owes him nothing. Zemo has nothing against him.
Zemo had to swallow his pride after Sam’s question: “What about Bucky?” Because that was the moment, Zemo had to accept James was different. He didn’t act like a god unlike the others, even Steve Rogers.
The incorrupt Steve Rogers.
James was right when he said the serum never corrupted Steve but he failed to see other things. Steve was a good superhuman and never felt superior but that doesn’t change the fact he could act like he was above the people without realising he was doing that. Although he was right, he had that sense of righteousness inside him that didn’t allow him to act entirely like any other human being. And that group of superhuman and superheroes… The Avengers… Steve acted so entitled all the time that even if he was right, he shouldn’t act like he was serving the right justice all the time. That is why Zemo can’t forgive Steve. Because in a sense, he was corrupted: no like Karli or John, but he was corrupted too. James has never acted like that.
And most importantly, Zemo can see the fear shinning in those blue eyes. He can feel the self-hatred and the pain, the doubt of doing the right thing. James questions himself constantly and tries his best even when he is mistaken. Having doubts is so human. None of the other super-soldiers, superhumans have ever doubted themselves the way James does it. And James understands he has wronged people as the Winter Soldier and as James Buchanan Barnes; why, if not, would have written his name on that list?
All with the serum must die.
James is the only exception to his rule.
Not Karli.
Not John.
Not the other super soldiers.
Not even the incorrupt Steve Rogers.
Just James.
The man who hates what happened to him. The man who was programmed to kill without hesitation. The man who didn’t ask for the serum. The man who doubts and suffers for what he is. Because the serum hasn’t made him a superhuman and Zemo just want to eliminate those who are super… whatever. And James is not.
James is just a human being struggling, learning how to live again and Zemo can’t hate him for that.
Zemo doesn’t hate James.
Zemo can’t kill James.
He is just trying to survive with what they did to him and Zemo can’t hate him for that.
James is different.