[Inspired by that one scene in TFATWS - i.e., Zemo dancing at the club.]
The bar wasn’t his scene — just an item to be ticked off his list - ‘places to visit, in New York.'
Or so he would claim, with that faint curl of a smile that suggested otherwise.
Bodies swayed in loose, unrestrained rhythm, skin gleaming under coloured lights. Some of them half-dressed, half-lost, half-trying to forget. The bass from the music thrummed faintly through the floor, and he moved with it — just barely — a slow tap of his finger against the glass, a subtle shift of his shoulder that almost looked like he was feeling the rhythm rather than listening to it.
He even had a few glances come his way — eyes that lingered too long, smiles that invited, suggestive of seeking intimacy. Yet each time, he met them with the same quiet courtesy, placing distance where others might have stepped closer. The art of appearing interested while staying untouched.
And with every raise of his glass, he took slow sips, lips ghosting the rim, as if letting the night keep its secrets. Observing. Scrutinising. Waiting for something - perhaps even someone.
Neither of which he was sure of just yet -- at least not in particular.
Okay, let's talk about "Zemo" from the new Marvel Zombies.
(this contains spoilers)
For the first time since TFATWS, we got our beloved character on screen. But not to admire him, not to scream "hell yeah" every time the dude does one of his adorable stupid things. No... We got him to get mad right from the start that he's being voiced by another actor, then roll our eyes every time he acts like he doesn't even know how to hold a gun AND when we finally think that he might have some potential and we start to be okay with him, he gets killed as soon as the shit starts going like a pathetic little fly as if he never mattered enough to have a dignified death...
For me, the show isn't worth watching just for him. I always watch all the Marvel shows no matter how bad they are, but this... I'm so angry that I just never turn on the last episode.
Dividers by me, made in canva pro. Credit to the OG artists for the art :)
This can be read as stand alone but sits as part 3 of the Vrăjitore AU 💜 I do not give permission for my work to be reposted, copied, translated or put through an AI machine.
Tags/warnings: Fluff, secret relationship
Summary: Zemo sends you a gift.
Word count: 882
Vrăjitore = Enchantress (witch)
A/N: I was peacefully listening to music in bed last night when a spider crawled on my face and another (bigger) one was not 2 feet away from me. Suffice to say I have not slept very well so apologies for any mistakes lol.
Zemo Masterlist | Vrăjitore Masterlist |
Main Masterlist | Pots and Petals AU
"That's a pretty orchid."
Natasha eyes the plant, gently caressing the purple flowers with her pointer finger. It was yet another gift from Zemo and, while you couldn't tell her that, pride swelled in your chest.
"Thanks." You desperately want to add 'my boyfriend got it for me'; but that would lead to an interrogation, the inevitable revelation and the horrid reaction from all of your friends. Instead, you opt to continue making her coffee, letting her scan your apartment and hope she doesn't catch on to an invisible trace of your boyfriend.
"I didn't know you liked them." She comments moving away from the orchid and collapsing onto your sofa with a sigh.
"Oh, I - um..." You swallow thickly. You hadn't realised either. You'd never paid them much thought since they were usually expensive and required more care than most houseplants. However, Zemo's gift had come prepared already; complete with a small manual and orchid feed so you didn't have to worry too much about what to do with it.
"Neither did I, it was on offer." You lie, kicking yourself as you feel Nat's eyes narrow at the back of your head.
"You're a terrible liar." She says and when you turn to her with two steaming mugs of coffee you see she's smiling. "So, who's the lucky guy?"
You end up spilling your guts to Natasha about your mystery boyfriend, making her promise not to dig deeper.
"We've... kinda just started seeing eachother." You confess, hiding your nervous smile behind your mug. "Everything's a bit... fresh."
"Is it serious?" Natasha asks sipping her coffee.
"I hope so." You sigh cradling your mug in your hands. "I don't need you or the guys scaring him off, though."
Natasha laughs. "Not unless he deserves it."
You crack a smile at your friend. "Of course not."
"Well, so long as he's good to you - I won't bite." Natasha shrugs and then smirks at you. "But I do want all the gory details."
You can't help the relief that washes over you and the joy about finally being able to share some of your experiences with Zemo as a boyfriend to one of your friends is incomparable. You'd spent weeks wanting to blurt something about your boyfriend, to share the romantic gestures and lavish gifts he seemed to love bestowing on you, but were too afraid of someone finding out who your boyfriend was.
Your joy is infectious and Natasha is soon excitedly animated as you gush about your mystery boyfriend to her.
You grin sheepishly. "He actually got me the orchid. It came last week."
"Wow," she blinks. "You've hit the jackpot."
"Thanks, I hope so." Then you sigh. "I do worry that the romance will... go. If he gets bored."
Natasha looks thoughtful for a moment before responding. "I guess and I'd be careful. But he seems to be head over heels for you; and I don't blame him!"
"Vrăjitore," Zemo's silken voice carries through your phone speakers and you shiver when he calls you by your pet name. "How was your day?"
"Good," you nod to your living room, nursing a tea this time. Natasha had long since departed and now that you were alone, you could enjoy your weekly phone call with your boyfriend. Being a wanted criminal had its downsides - like changing his number every so often. "I caught up with Nat today."
"Oh?" There's a hint of surprise to his tone but its still level.
You swallow awkwardly. "She likes the orchid you gave me."
"Ah. Do you like it, Vrăjitore?"
"I love it." You murmur quietly, eyes flickering to the plant. Something stirs in your chest that you dare not name, and quickly continue speaking. "I told her about you too - not by name or anything. Just -"
You stop yourself from blabbering with a nervous laugh. "Just that you're, um, you know..."
"Your boyfriend?" Zemo offers helpfully and you can hear his smile through the phone. You can see it, the smug smile of satisfaction knowing he's got you blushing like a teenager from hundreds of miles away.
"Yeah." You say a little breathlessly. "My boyfriend."
It sounds silly to say out loud; bordering on childish. However, the word makes you feel giddy and you want nothing more than to fall to your couch and cup your face and kick your feet.
"At least you have someone to talk to about me," he adds. "Even if it's not about me."
"Very true." You bite your lip thoughtfully. "Anyways, tell me about your day. What happened?"
Zemo gives detail to some of the more mundane things he did, like reading, and some throw away lines about legal and business related work. Although he doesn't go into detail about the latter, you know its probably better that you don't know what he was actually up to. You'd be in enough trouble if your friends or the government found out about your relationship but without knowing knowing entirely what was going on you could sweetly feign ignorance. Not that you wanted to lie to your friends about this.
But that was another downside of fugitive boyfriends. The upside being you were swept off your feet by a charming gentleman who had another surprise incoming sooner than you expected.
