experience & patience

Happy Mission Report Day! ✨

𝑾𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹 𝑰𝑻 𝑰𝑺 that prompts the humility , helmut reasserts his commitment and bucky is grateful . he knew it wouldn't be easy working with zemo again , but a necessary evil , being part of this team in general . they'll be all the better for it once it's done ; for now , he has to grin and bear it . ❝ good to hear , ❞ bucky says after a moment , taking mental stock of his weaponry . ❝ let's get this show on the road , then . ❞

they are both trained soldiers. despite helmut's years of inactivity, his skills are just as sharp as they always were. his gaze follows james' line of sight to his weapons. helmut checks the twin lugers tucked into his harness. ❝ who do i have to credit for allowing me these ? ❞ he asks, gesturing to the guns. ❝ i would not think sam would be so generous after nagel. so was it you ? ❞

Daniel Brühl as HELMUT ZEMO (positively gazing at Bucky Barnes) THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER | 1.04

Instead he takes a drink of vodka, closing his eyes for a brief respite as he revels the burning down his throat. His eyes open and he looks to Helmut. "What about you?" Maybe it's too early to be asking, but Billy thinks it's a fair question to be asking back.

❝ no amount of scars could make you hideous, ❞ he tells him as he cups his face.

Daniel Brühl by Marius Knieling for SLEEK Magazine (2019) (x)

" Y'know , you make it sound so easy." A snort leaves him , his jaw tightens. "Even though you did the exact thing , didn't you? found me , pointed me , shot me." SIBERIA IS NEVER FAR FROM HIS MIND , a desperate truth that had broken a team apart until it was nothing more than pieces of a fractured mirror. "I got a choice , this , or a cell. You gonna tell me you'd choose the cell?"

his shoulder lifts with a shrug, ❝ ---i'm here for my own reasons. i set out to rid the world of super soldiers. i intend to continue to do so. but if our purpose changed to something i did not agree with, yes, i would rather return to my cell. ❞

Daniel Brühl as Thomas Lang The Face of an Angel (2014)

"There has to be a middle ground Zemo , Sam's got a point and you know it." YET A TINY PART OF HIM AGREES WITH THE OTHER MAN , as much as he hates to admit it to himself. Some people just don't stop & when that happens? you have to make them. It's the knowledge the serum is still out there ; still being used to fund death , torture , cruelty. It makes Bucky have to look in a mirror and ask himself if he's any less dangerous than those currently putting everything at risk.

helmut grimaces into his drink and remembers the barrel of his own gun pressed against his chin, ❝ ---trust me, james. sometimes death is kinder.❞

Daniel Brühl as Thomas Lang THE FACE OF AN ANGEL (2014) | dir. Michael Winterbottom

𝑩𝑹𝑶𝑾 𝑸𝑼𝑰𝑹𝑲𝑺 𝑨𝑻 zemo's insistence , pressing even when wound is open . bucky gives a quiet scoff at the question posed , and turns to helmut , looking unimpressed . ❝ now you're digging for compliments , ❞ he says , sarcasm in tone . ❝ of course i find you valuable , or you wouldn't be here . are you going to help , or do we have to keep doing this dance ? ❞

often helmut finds himself reflecting on his first interaction with james. manipulating him into becoming the winter soldier was a nasty but necessary consequence -- a means to an end. he had stared into his angry, vacant eyes then. now, james remarks with wit. he jokes. there is even a gleam in his eyes. it makes helmut feel something akin to regret when he thinks this was the man trapped inside the winter soldier. ❝ --- you know, i'm here to help, ❞ he tells him, ❝ --- so long as our goals align. i'm here. ❞

Daniel Brühl for Hugo Boss' Made in Germany collection