Based on this request: "Zemo x Reader: The reader goes on a mission with him, sam and bucky but get injured somehow and Zemo is worried about her"
masterlist
Sam and Bucky are arguing. Again.
This makes it- what, the tenth time this week? That’s just going off of the stuff you’ve seen on the security cams and by tailing them for the last couple of days to see what you’ve gotten yourself into by approving Bucky Barnes’ request for help.
Note to self: tell Sam and Bucky to get better at not having important, federal secret-centric conversations directly in front of security cameras. It’s getting annoying to have to keep deleting them from the footage.
However, you feel that they’re justified in fighting this time. Bucky has taken the liberty of freeing Baron Helmut Zemo from prison, something that definitely should have had Sam’s approval. It probably should have had your approval as well, seeing as you’re one of the agents who had to handle the damage Zemo dealt in the first place, but Bucky’s always been more of a lone wolf. He’ll ask for forgiveness afterwards if it suits him, but you don’t mind.
That’s how things usually work in S.H.I.E.L.D., at any rate; you do your work as a solo agent and apologize for any red tape you crossed while you were out in the field. Still, you suppose you never did something as drastic as liberating the man who fractured the Avengers into pieces.
Sam is, understandably, reacting poorly to the news, especially when confronted with a newly freed Baron Zemo face to face. From your vantage point hidden in the shadows and out of their lines of sight, you can see every concerned furrow of his brow.
“Why could this possibly be a good idea? Sure, maybe the guy could have some insight on tracking down supersoldiers, but I’m finding it difficult to believe he’s not going to betray us. Are you forgetting what he did?”
Bucky sighs. “I’m not forgetting that. I’m also not forgetting that we need help locating the Flag Smashers, or a lot of people other than the Avengers are going to get hurt.”
Sam pinches the bridge of his nose, clearly fatigued from the weight of Zemo’s additional responsibility. “And how are we supposed to find and fight the Flag Smashers while also keeping an eye on Zemo?”
Bucky takes a half step forward, pleased that the conversation has finally gone the way he’d hoped. “Actually, I already thought about that and got some additional security.”
Sam looks suspicious, likely because Bucky’s last great idea involved getting Zemo out of his cell. “Who’s your security?”
This seems as good a time for a dramatic entrance as any. You step forward from the shadows, allowing the light to finally illuminate your face and expose you as having been here all along.
“That would be me. I’m Y/N L/N, and I’ve been with S.H.I.E.L.D. for a very long time. Making sure people don’t stab you in the back is kind of my specialty.”
Sam startles slightly at your abrupt entrance, although Bucky just looks as if he’s been expecting something like this. Zemo takes off his borrowed prison guard’s cap the moment his eyes land on you, the picture of a perfect gentleman. Even after Sam starts talking, the baron’s gaze still remains captivated by you.
“Y/N L/N, huh? I think I remember Steve saying your name once in passing.” Sam says.
You nod. “I’ve worked with the Avengers before, most notably helping Steve find Bucky when he first turned up as the Winter Soldier. You don’t have to trust me as much as he did, but you can count on the fact that I’m not going to let you die.”
Sam stares at you for a moment longer, then shrugs. “Alright. You know what, alright. Supposing this plan works, we’re probably going to need all the help we can get. We leave tomorrow morning.”
Sounds good to you. Sam seems to accept your presence pretty well, especially after you have to save their collective asses from a shootout about half an hour later. Bucky seems happy that he’s at least temporarily alleviated Sam’s wrath over breaking Zemo out, so a tentatively good mood has stretched over the group.
The reaction to your presence that surprises you the most is Zemo. You assumed he would be as unnervingly calculating with you as he is Sam and Bucky, or at least talk to you with some form of passive aggressive nonsense seeing as your being here means it’ll be harder for him to get away with whatever mad scheme he no doubt has planned, but that’s not the case.
In fact, he seems more open to you than anyone else, especially when he realized that you could speak a little Sokovian. As a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent assigned to help with Sokovia during Ultron, and as someone who wants to make sure Wanda Maximoff was in their corner, you figured it couldn’t hurt to have a basic understanding of the language.
You didn’t anticipate it coming in handy now, though. You and Zemo have long conversations on his plane, much to the suspicion of Sam and Bucky, but you couldn’t care less about their opinions of you. You’re still saving their lives, so they can think whatever they want. Besides, Zemo gets this soft smile whenever he hears you slipping over his native syllables, and it fascinates you enough that you want to see it again and again.
Truth be told, you feel a lot closer to Zemo than you strictly should. You still keep him at arm’s length, as per an agent’s tradition, but you have quiet talks as you walk throughout a variety of cities trying to track down the Flag Smashers. Some of these chats happen in Sokovian, others, when Sam and Bucky are getting a little too antsy, are in English so they can hear mild parlor conversation and have their fears averted for the time being.
Zemo is nicer than you thought he would be, maybe that’s what’s getting to you. He asks about your life as an agent, although he only uses questions that have been carefully tailored to not force you to give anything away. Zemo knows that the second you suspect he’s asking around for federal information, you’ll stop talking to him, so he steers clear of damaging topics. It’s a kindness that he does not extend to Bucky, although that could just be his inherent dislike of supersoldiers.
Take tonight, for instance. There will be an expedition into Flag Smashers territory tomorrow, and all signals point to it ending in a fight. You’ve checked your weapons about a dozen times over, and scouted out the area as best you could, but all you can do now is sit tight and wait for the day to come.
You’re leaning against a marble-topped peninsula in the latest hideout, staring at the glass idly placed in your hand. It’s probably not the best to be drinking before a fight, but the mission won’t happen for a couple of hours and it’s only a few tablespoons, anyway. Not that you’ve managed to drink even a swallow of it, though- your nerves are too strong for that. You’re used to impossible missions, but usually you know that death or capture won’t risk your job. S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn’t know you’re here, so you can’t afford to slip up.
Soft footsteps sound across the hall, and moments later the door cracks open and Zemo appears, hovering over the threshold before realizing that you’re here alone and heading inside.
He pours himself a small glass before turning to you. “I cannot imagine the life you lead. Does it not grow tiresome to always risk your life for someone else’s fight?”
You shrug. “If I have to go to war for the lives of the people I care about, it’s always my fight.”
You hazard a glance up, and when you do, Zemo is looking at you with the same soft smile that you typically associate with you saving his life or using some Sokovian phrase because you heard him using it first.
“That’s a very generous sentiment,” he says, taking a step closer to you.
You let him come. “I can be a very generous person. On occasion.”
Zemo laughs, and you think it might be the first time you’ve heard him laugh without a motive, like he’s just a man who can find you funny, not a baron who needs to win to do anything worthwhile.
Then a troubling thought occurs to him, and his smile drops from his face as cleanly as blood falling from a blade.
“Stay safe during this mission tomorrow. You’re no supersoldier, and you can’t heal as easily.”
You arch a brow. “I don’t know that I’ve ever needed the reminder. I’m perfectly aware of my own limits.”
Zemo shakes his head. “I do not mean it as an insult, Y/N, just a warning. Perhaps I do not want to see you hurt.”
You had turned away slightly when he brought up the fact that you weren’t a supersoldier, and now he lays a hand on your arm, gently keeping you close. If you wanted to, you could reach forward and break several bones in his hand, just because he dared to touch you.
Instead, you stay. “I will watch myself if you do,” you offer.
He nods once. “It seems like a fair deal.”
You can’t help but laugh quietly at the earnest shrewdness in his gaze, and raise your glass in agreement. “A fair deal indeed.”
Like it or not, the morning of the mission still comes. You’ll be infiltrating a building with known Flag Smasher activity in the hopes of tracking down Karli Morgenthau long enough to figure out what she wants and where she’ll be going next.
The complex is no doubt teaming with enemy fighters, so stealth is of the utmost importance. Sam and Bucky are approaching from the north side, so Sam can get close to Karli. You and Zemo, however, will come from the south part of the building, searching for computers and hard drives or any source of information that you can take home with you.
The soles of your shoes crunch over gravel and broken asphalt, although you make no other sound as you approach. Gun in hand, you make your way carefully to an unsecured area of the complex, Zemo right behind you. There’s a door partially obscured under a low-hanging portion of the roof, and you’re able to kick it in without too much noise or difficulty.
Wordlessly, you start to move down the hall, and Zemo follows you. A few times, the two of you have to duck behind a large concrete column or head back down a corridor to avoid detection, but the job is done and you remain unseen by any and all Flag Smashers.
This might be a little too much good luck for you. You have yet to see a mission where everything went according to plan. Sure enough, your worries are proved correct when you hear something that sounds like a gunshot echoing out from the other side of the building, followed by ear-piercing klaxons screaming to life.
Bucky’s voice comes crackling in over your comms about half a second later. “They’ve spotted us.”
You grimace. “Yeah, I think I got that.”
Sam sighs amid a crackle of static. “Not helpful, Y/N. Get out now.”
You shake your head, forgetting for a moment that he can’t see you. “There’s a tech room around the corner. Give me thirty seconds and I can get what we need.”
Sam and Bucky erupt into immediate declarations of disapproval, but Zemo’s already beaten them to it. He takes your arm, pulling you into the shadows of a nearby corridor.
“You cannot risk your life like this. We have to call off the mission.”
He’s not wrong about the dangers, but you’ve been in enough situations like this to know that when you’re in, you can’t afford to back out. Leaving now will just make it harder to get that information on the Flag Smashers.
So, you give him your best attempt at a smile. “We need this. Trust me, alright? I’ll be back in a minute.”
You just have enough time to see his face twist into shock before you’re turning and running away back down the hall. There’s no point in trying to remain undercover anymore, as the Flag Smashers obviously know that you’re here, so you skid into the tech room without a second thought.
Luckily, the Flag Smashers only intended on being here temporarily, so they haven’t set up many protocols in place to keep you out. You shove a flash drive into one of the main computers, and start the largest file transfer you can manage.
They’ve already started to catch on to your plan, so you keep your gun aimed at the door, one hand on the trigger and the other poised over the flash drive, ready to take it and run at a moment’s notice. A few guards start pouring in, and you take them down as fast as you can.
You’re still just one person, though, and even if they’re slowed down by the one doorway, you’re going to run out of bullets eventually. The computer behind you beeps, signaling that the file transfer is complete, and you look behind you to retrieve the flash drive.
One moment. That’s how long you were looking away, barely any time at all but just enough for another Flag Smasher to get through the door without you noticing. When you turn back, flash drive in hand, they’re already pulling the trigger.
The bullet hits about a second later. The impact makes it feel as if you’ve been hit by a truck, and you’re pushed backwards on legs that no longer seem to support your weight. Blood is pouring out from the hole in your shirt, and it is not good in the slightest. You manage to fire at the man who’d shot you, granting you a temporary reprieve, but it’s not enough.
Another pair of guards appear in the door, and you know that this is it. You’re going to die from this bullet wound, and there’s no way you can take down both of these guys, what with your vision already tunneling.
As you watch, though, two gunshots ring out and the men fall to the floor. Standing behind them, lowering a smoking gun, is Zemo. His face constricts with horror when he takes in the sight of you, covered in blood and on the ground.
He’s by your side in a second, gently pulling you into his arms. “I need you to stay with me, agent. Just for a little longer.”
You should respond, but you’ve lost so much blood that you can’t quite force your tongue to move. Zemo notices this, and you watch as he desperately calls Sam and Bucky over his comms, asking for medical help.
He picks you up, carrying you through the crowded halls. Zemo has to stop just shy of the door, though, because more Flag Smashers have massed outside the exits, intent on choking you out and not allowing your group to escape.
Zemo’s hand is on your face, gently propping up your head in an attempt to keep you conscious.
“Keep your eyes open, alright? I need you to stay with me for just a little longer.”
He sighs suddenly, the weight of a thousand suns seemingly on his shoulders. “I don’t know why you mean so much to me, but you do. I don’t know why I need you more than breath, more than life, but I do. Just stay with me. Please.”
You want to do as he says, really you do, if just so you can ask him what that means more than anything else. The world is growing suspiciously dark, though, and as much as you try to pay attention to Zemo’s words, you can’t.
You wake to the sound of machines beeping and quiet voices. You hurt all over with the simmering kind of ache that tells you that you’re at least not about to immediately die, although recovery will be hell.
You keep your eyes shut, recognizing two of the voices as Sam and Bucky. They’re talking about the mission you just finished, and the data you were able to retrieve. They appear to be just on their way out, though, as their voices soon fade away and are cut off entirely by a closing door.
Another voice sounds now, calming in its tranquility.
“You can stop feigning sleep now, angel. They’re gone, and you have no more information to overhear that you couldn’t gain just as easily by asking me.”
You smile and open your eyes, revealing Zemo sitting in a chair by your side. You’re in a bed hooked up to an IV, and although there are a considerable amount of bandages wrapped around your midriff, you think that the danger has likely passed.
“Perhaps I like being able to listen in. You shouldn’t fault me for that.”
He chuckles softly. “I have no fault with it, I just think that there are easier ways to go about it. You were shot, you shouldn’t be straining yourself over secrets that I would gladly tell you.”
There’s a warning tone in his voice as he mentions the fact that you were shot, and you grimace.
“Alright, I know I was injured, but I completed the mission. That’s always the primary goal of stuff like this, above the health of the agents when necessary.”
Zemo sighs, running a hand absentmindedly through his hair. “I don’t deny that this is what you were trained to do, but for those of us who would rather not see you rushed into medical care, I wouldn’t mind if you changed a few prerogatives.”
He pauses a moment, then continues. “I meant what I said. I need you alive. I need you with me.”
You weren’t expecting such an honest confession, and it stuns you. Carefully, you mention that you need him as well, but the rush of painkillers no doubt injected into you by happy-go-lucky doctors is getting to your head.
Zemo notices this, and smiles. “Save your strength, love. We can talk about this later.”
You want to talk about it now, while your mind is still firmly entrenched in the topic, but rest does sound rather good. Your eyes flicker shut again, and the last sensation you recall before slipping beneath a sea of sleep is Zemo, pressing a kiss to your forehead. After that, there is nothing at all but a feeling enchanting every one of your dreams that you are blissfully, unimaginably happy.
marvel tag list: @thatfangirl42, @rogueanschel, @mycosmicparadise, @ellobruv-blog, @caswinchester2000, @with-inked-solace, @sher-lokid7
Zemo stirred in bed, risen out of sleep as you coughed next to him. He reached out to you, his vision still bleary as remnants of sleep clung to him. His hand touched your burning hot skin, finally shaking the baron out of his sleep.
“Darling?” Zemo murmured, sitting up and feeling your fevered forehead.
“Get off,” you whined, hating the extra heat his touch brought, your body shivering as you hung between sleep and being barely awake.
“You’re burning up,” he said, pulling the heavy duvet off of you.
“Don’t feel good,” you sobbed weakly, shivering, your body feeling freezing from the fever.
“I know, let me help you.”
He stood from the bed, walking to the corner of the room where a large bowl bathtub was situated under a stained glass window. As he turned a knob, water began to fall from the ceiling, filling the tub along with the oils and salts he poured in.
“Come here.”
You rose shakily out of bed, covering your mouth as you coughed, weakened from the effort. Your muscles were sore, every inch of your body aching as you took unsteady steps toward Zemo. He unbuttoned his shirt that hung on your body, slipping it off your trembling shoulders.
“You have to work, Z,” you mumbled, rubbing your eyes as he lifted you into the soothing bath, tenderly washing your skin.
“Don’t worry about anything other than feeling better,” Zemo said, wiping your face with a cool washcloth.
You leaned your head against his arm, breathing in the scent of lavender as he bathed you, trying to help you feel better. He hummed a melody, one you vaguely recognized as a Sokovian song he sang when he was anxious. His fingers massaged your head, using a detachable shower head to rinse the soap out, using cool water to try to help your fever.
“I’m going to make you some tea. What kind would you like?”
“Jasmine, please,” you answered, letting him dry you off, though you were capable of helping yourself.
“Jasmine it is. I have to do some work, but I can sit in the lounge if you want to watch films on the couch. I can keep an eye on my girl that way,” Zemo offered.
You slipped into a silk pajama set he laid out for you as he went into the kitchen to start your tea, giving you a few moments of privacy, though he would’ve preferred to dress you and not allow you out of his sight when you felt so sick.
You went out to the lounge like he asked, settling down onto one end of the couch that had been set up with pillows and blankets. You pushed your arms into Zemo’s oversized fluffy robe he had left out for you, worrying that you would be cold with fever.
He placed a tray of tea and toast down beside you, draping your favorite fuzzy blanket over your lap.
“There’s some tylenol, too, if you need it,” he pointed to the little dish on the tray.
“Thank you.”
You lifted the steaming tea to your lips, smiling weakly as he sat down on the other end of the couch, reading a chapter of your book aloud before he needed to be in a meeting. You listened to his smooth accent roll over the words, crafting tales of legends and magic from the story you became engrossed in.
He finished the chapter just before the door opened, Bucky and Sam walking in to do business.
“Hey, angel, how’re ya feeling?” Sam asked, ignoring Zemo to kneel beside where you were snuggled on the couch.
“Sick,” you whispered before falling in to another bout of coughs.
“Zemo mentioned it. We brought you some soup,” Bucky said, holding up a brown paper bag before setting it down on the coffee table beside you.
“Thank you!”
“Feel better. We don’t need a stressed out boss,” Sam teased, gently tugging on a lock of your hair.
“I’ve got to meet with them about some things. I’ll be back to check on you in thirty minutes. Yell if you need anything, we’ll just be in the office,” Zemo said to you, leaning down to gently kiss you.
“No, you’ll get sick!”
“Don’t worry. Just turn on a movie and try to get some sleep. I’ll see you in a bit,” he shushed you, putting the remote in your hands.
You nodded, turning on a romcom before laying down on your side, your eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion. The men were quiet when they reentered the room, and Zemo carefully shut off the television and let you sleep.
The sun was low in the sky when you woke up from your fevered nap, the lounge dark, save a lamp glowing in the corner.
“Zemo?” You whimpered, uneasy in the dark.
“I’m right here. How are you feeling?” He walked over, flipping on another dim light.
“Still crappy, but a bit better,” you confessed, trying to shed his robe, feeling too-warm.
“Do you think you could eat some soup the boys brought? I can warm it up.”
“Please,” you nodded, feeling hungry.
He warmed it up on the stove, watching over you as you got up to stretch your sore legs. You walked over to him, wrapping your arms around his waist and lying your head against his back, feeling the cool cotton of his shirt against your cheek.
“Will you let me feed it to you?” he asked, pouring it in one of the hand-painted bowls you loved, ones he had picked up from Sokovia on a trip home.
You nodded, sitting down in his lap once he was back on the couch. You opened your mouth for him to spoon the soup into, letting Zemo feed you.
“Stop, I don’t want you to get sick too!” You whined, complaining as he kissed your face.
“I’ll be fine, darling.”
You huffed, pouting before returning to gratefully accepting the soup.
.
“Zemo, I feel better!” You insisted as he pushed your shoulders back down to the bed.
“I want you to stay in bed one more day, to make sure it’s out of your system. It’s cold and wet today, and I will not have you being reckless and getting more sick,” Zemo argued, being his annoyingly protective self.
“You won’t even be here,” you argued, trying to sit up.
“That’s why I need you to just obey.”
You sighed, sinking back into the pillows, giving up, even though you felt completely back to normal.
“I’ll reward you if you’re good,” he promised, kissing your lips.
You watched him leave for work, needing to go into Madripoor’s downtown to take care of some business, leaving you alone in the flat.
A sigh left you, though you resided yourself to staying in bed like he asked. You turned on the television, getting lost in Sons of Anarchy, making the hours pass quickly as you waited for the return of your lover.
Your mid afternoon disappeared as you napped, enjoying the clean sheets and fresh pajamas you were in. Soft noises made you stir, but you didn’t wake, comforted by the familiar weight of Zemo’s footsteps on the Turkish tile flooring.
He watched you nap, happy that you had appeared to stay in bed like he’d asked. He had gotten home earlier than planned, and was looking forward to spoiling you for being his good girl even though you were sick.
“Hi, darling,” he bummed as you slowly woke, sitting up with a yawn.
“Zemo,” you opened your arms and pulled him to you, wrapping your limbs around his neck.
“I stayed in bed just like you told me to,” you informed him with a small yawn, smiling dreamily at the baron.
“I’m proud of you.”
“I want my reward,” you giggled, squirming on the sheets, your hips wiggling in anticipation.
He laid you down on your back, slipping your shorts and underwear off in one movement. Zemo didn’t hesitate before prying your thighs apart and lying between them, his mouth connecting to your glistening folds.
Your low moans and fingers pulling on his hair sent Zemo into a rougher mood, his fingers bruising your thighs as he held your legs open.
“Please!” You cried out as he bummed against your pussy, toying with your clit as you began to spasm, your orgasm dangerously close.
“Come for me, darling, I want to taste my sweet girl,” he growled, two of his fingers curling deep into your cunt.
The walls swallowed your scream as you released the tension in your body, coming hard on his tongue, your whole body quaking in the aftermath.
“So gorgeous for me,” he murmured, using a warm washcloth to carefully clean you up after, smiling down at your swollen sex.
“It was worth it,” you giggled breathlessly, reaching up and pulling him down into a kiss.
“Don’t get sick, and I’ll reward you with many more orgasms.”
Synopsis: Joining your friends, Sam and Bucky on a mission, you are forced to join arms with the villian Zemo. Though you weren't thrilled by this, over the mission you find yourself growing closer to the man through an awkward and embaressing incident. Can you resist this magnetic pull to him? Or will this charamsmatic man drag you under with him?
Word Count: 15k
Warnings: f!reader, smut, use of condom's and unsafe sex, m + f oral, car sex, use of the word daddy
Author note: Today is the 1 year anniversery of me joining tumblr and joining the Zemo fandom! One year ago today our screen's were graced with the lovely Zemo and so many of us fell completely in love with him and all of Daniel's characters. I found such a lovely community here in the Daniel fandom and I'm thankful for how many of you liked my content enough to follow and reblog! It's been really encouraging for me as a writer. For a little celebration I decided to re-edit my popular Zemo fanfic, A Freudian Slip, for when I first wrote it I was still growing used to writing in second person and getting back into writing, and my writing has certinally improved since then. This was originally a three part small series but I have added all the parts together into one big one-shot here. I hope all of you who liked the original fanfic will enjoy this re-edited version and for anyone who didn't read the original one I hope you enjoy this for the first time then!
-
You couldn’t help the eye roll as you admired yourself in the mirror. A tight-fitting dress, made out of black silk, pleasant on your skin. It only came down to mid-thigh which even then it had a slit along the side revealing more of your legs, likely an ulterior motive of his. Zemo must have planned this from the beginning. Somehow he knew you would find yourself in his private jet, on your way to Madripoor and needing a disguise to pass for the mission.
“In order for the mission to succeed, I’ll need you to be my Baroness for the night. I have something already laid out in the bathroom; I’m sure you will find it… exquisite.”
His words still ring in your mind.
His Baroness. The thought of it sent a shiver up your spine. You had done the odd mission before but never had you had to pretend to be the lover of a wanted criminal. It didn’t rest easy on your conscience.
You glanced over yourself in the mirror again, fixing a few odd strands of your hair. You were certain he was making you wear this revealing dress just to rile you up. Like he was doing with Sam and Bucky. Something to amuse him while the three of you use him to get information. You weren’t going to let him though. You were going to flaunt your confidence in this dress. Shove it right into his ferret-like face; he couldn’t get to you like this.
Leaving the bathroom you found the rest of the jet empty, with the main exit door opened, letting in the light of the new day. Blinking you emerged and glanced down at the site before you.
Zemo’s butler had landed you in a vast but empty parking lot. Only a few cars plotted here and there. At the end of the staircase, the three men rested. Sam was looking at his phone, while Bucky stood rigid, his arms crossed as he glared at Zemo. Zemo smiled back at him, his arms neatly tucked behind his back as he stood to attention. They saw you appear out of the corner of their eyes and turned to greet you, but each of the men lacked any words to say.
Sam averted his eyes as soon as he saw just how high the dress rose on the side of your legs, while Bucky’s face flushed, his eyes lingering on your calves before he too averted his eyes, his body tensing more than you thought possible.
Zemo was the only one who continued to stare. You watched as his eyes ran up and down your body, admiring it. Admiring how the dress he ordered hugged your figure in the perfect way.
Frowning at his lack of decency, you slowly made your way down the stairs, refusing to break eye contact with the man.
“The dress suits you y/n. You look ravishing,” Zemo tells you as he holds out his hand for you to take when you reach the end.
You raise an eyebrow, glancing at his gloved hand that stretched out towards you invitingly. You didn’t say anything to him; instead, crossing your arms over your chest and gave him an icy glare.
“You have to play the part y/n”, he replies, moving his hand further towards you, but Sam brushes past him, knocking Zemo’s hand away as he steps up to you. His firm hand grasps your shoulder, guiding you away from the man as he slowly mutters.
“She doesn’t have to yet.”
He leads you a few paces away, towards where Bucky stood, hands shoved into his pockets and his shoulders tensed. Sam moves to stand before you, his other hand now grasping your opposite shoulder, holding onto you with a harsh grip. He dips his head, looking at your eye level as he asks,
“Are you sure you’ll be okay with this y/n?”
You smile gently at Sam, raising your hand to brush against his reassuringly.
“I’ve done similar missions before, Sam. This won’t be different.”
You glance to your side, looking at Bucky, whose eyes were torn between looking at you and Sam and glaring at Zemo, who watched the discussion with intrigue.
“Plus, this is nothing compared to what Bucky will have to do.”
“We both have to do this mission when we don’t want to because of him.” Bucky spits, his eyes lingering on Zemo, then glancing at you as they lose their harshness.
“We’ll both pull through it.”
“You two aren’t the only ones. I would rather be anywhere than here right now.” Sam says, grimacing as he lets go of your shoulders.
“You should be thankful that I agreed to help you and kindly let you ride in my jet, but no matter now, our ride is here.” the velvety sokovian accent rings out as Zemo nods his head towards the three of you, then spreads his arm out to gesture to the approaching car.
“You might not want to play your part now, but your acting needs to be very realistic when we get out of this car.”
The car stops beside the three of you, the door stopping right by you, yet in a blink, Zemo is beside you and is opening the door for you. He places his hand in the dip of your lower back, the rough material of his glove hardly concealed by the thin material of your dress. You felt the touch linger on your skin, even if his hand was quickly removed by Sam, who pushed his way past Zemo to get into the car beside you.
Zemo let out a chuckle because of Sam’s antics. He closed the door on him and got into the front as Bucky climbed into the other side of the car beside you, sandwiching you between him and Sam at the back of the vehicle.
The car was deathly silent. You could hear how Bucky’s metal fingers tapped on the plastic lining of the car, waiting for the chance he could leap out of the confining vehicle. You felt the hairs on the back of your neck rise up as you glance up at the car’s inside mirror. You meet those warm brown ones, like the swirling mug of hot chocolate. You held his eyes for a mere second, then glanced out one of the side mirrors, feeling how your cheeks burn though you willed them not to.
After half an hour, the car arrives in a busy town. You could feel the energy vibrate through the ground, but it did nothing to ease your tension. Though the town was vibrant and full of unique people, there was an edge of darkness covering the side, the knowledge of how dangerous this place was tainting any other aspect.
You were pulled out of your thoughts as the door was opened. Sam had left, leaving you the only one left in the car, when the gloved hand was pushed out towards you again. Zemo tilted his head, a slight smirk gracing his lips as he watched you decide.
You took his hand in yours.
Zemo didn’t let go of your hand when you were out of the car. He squeezes your hand gently as he leads you forward, being the only one knowing which way to go. He took charge in guiding you along as Sam and Bucky trail behind the two of you.
You two didn’t speak as you walked into the bar. He guided you up to the front of the bar to order as he perched himself on one of the bar stools. You suppose he expected you to sit on the seat beside him, but instead, you wrapped your arm around his shoulder and used the grasp to hurl yourself up onto his lap, stelling down comfortably. You rested the side of your head into the fur part of his coat. It was soft and tickled your skin, yet some of your tension started to fade as you rest your head. Zemo chuckled as he watched how your face relaxed. He wrapped his arm around your waist to ensure you wouldn't slip off his lap. His hand seemed to fit perfectly in the dip of your hip, and gently he rubbed his hand up and down in a calming gesture.
You closed your eyes for a moment, taking in the comforting gesture. You hadn’t expected to feel so safe in the lap of a murderer, especially one as annoying as Zemo, but you felt safe enough that you could also fall asleep right there, leaning into the soft coat.
“Two glasses, please, one for me and my lady here.”
You open your eyes again, shaking your head as you try to push those thoughts away. You were on a mission that should be your primary focus. Your eyes dare to glance at Zemo, and you feel your insides jolting in a strange feeling as you see the side of his lips curled into a smile as if he could have read your thoughts.
The man places the drinks down in front of you. You reach forward to get yours, and you grab Zemo’s and hand it to him, to which he smiles and nods to you in thanks.
“I haven’t seen you around before,” the man says as he looks at you with narrowed eyes.
“I found her on my travels. Showing her the world,” Zemo is quick to reply before you could even think of a response. He leaned forward, and in what you have to assume was an attempt to make your relationship seem more realistic, he kissed your temple gently. He was gone before you could even blink, but you glanced at him, lips parted and a blush blooming over your skin.
The man chuckles as he observes your reactions.
“She seems quite innocent.”
You clenched your jaw as your gaze snapped back to him.
“What did you say?” you spat.
You felt Zemo’s grasp on your hip tighten in warning as he put on a smile, crinkling his eyes as he chuckled.
“Oh, I can assure you she isn’t.”
You take in a few deep breaths. Your hand itches to spin you around and slap that annoying nice smile off his lips at his remark, but you hold it steady. You glanced at Zemo, pressing a thin-lipped smile to him as you raised your drink to your lips and down the content in one sip.
It wasn’t too long after all of you had your drinks when a man approached Zemo to tell him he was unwanted.
As soon as Zemo felt the hand on his shoulder, his hands came to your hips and lifted you off his lap. He turned in his seat, and as he stood up, he stood before you, blocking your view of what was to happen, which made you huff. You watched how Zemo ordered Bucky to fight the man, and you had to bite down on your lip so as not to exclaim in anger for poor Bucky.
You moved to the side, standing next to Zemo as you watched the fight. As you stood, you felt the gloved hand brush against yours. You could have excused it as an accident, but when you felt the glove linger against your skin, you knew Zemo was intentionally doing it. A strange notion took over you. Something inexplicable, but you grasped Zemo’s hand, wrapping your fingers around the gloved ones as you continued to watch Bucky.
Bucky was quick to win the fight, and as if that was some trial, you were allowed to go and meet this Selby. Zemo took the lead, holding onto your hand as he guided you through the narrow hallways. He walked with a purpose. As if he knew this place and had been here before. He likely has, you thought, feeling a sickness in your throat as you imagined all the shady things Zemo had done, and yet here you were holding his hand as he led you into this room.
You intended to stand by Sam and blend into the background, simply keeping out of the situation and letting Zemo deal with it. So when instead, Zemo made you go with him. He practically dragged you along, and when he sat down, you were essentially made to sit back down on his lap again. You had to wrap your arm around his shoulder to ensure you were stable while his hand rested on your exposed thigh, the heat of his glove on your skin feeling like it was burning into your leg. Sam glanced at you, his eyes burning into your questioning if you were okay, and you subtly nodded back to him. Though you weren’t happy being in this more intimate situation, you could deal with it.
Zemo started talking to Selby about Bucky. The way he spoke about Bucky as if he was selling off an animal made you want to grimace, but you knew it had to sound like that to be convincing. Not that that made it any easier to listen to. You weren’t entirely sure of Zemo’s plans, for he had been very vague about everything but what you were sure of was the uneasy feeling of being in Selby’s presence. Especially as you felt her gaze run all over your body.
“So who’s this bird you have resting on your knee?”
You could feel your body freeze as she acknowledged your presence. Suddenly all time slowed down as everyone’s eyes now moved to you.
“This is y/n, quite the treasure, isn’t she?” Zemo replied instantly, moving his head to look at you as he smirked, the sides of his eyes crinkling brightly as you tried not to glare at him.
“That’s for certain,” Selby mutters.
She turned to Bucky, smirking at his still stilted posture.
“What do you think, soldier?”
There were a few moments of silence where it felt like you could hear a sweat droplet on your forehead drop till Zemo said, “answer.”
“She’s very beautiful”, Bucky replied while still keeping a straight face and looking forward.
Selby chuckles, seeming satisfied, so her eyes turn back to you, trailing up and down yours.
“She doesn’t talk much.”
“I can talk plenty when I want to,” you snapped, moving to adjust yourself in Zemo’s lap to appear more comfortable. As you wriggled and lent into Zemo slightly, you heard the slight hitch in his voice, gone instantly.
“Is she only yours, Zemo?” Selby asks.
Before Zemo got a chance to answer, you felt enough was enough. You could speak for yourself, and you wanted to make it clear to her she wasn’t going anywhere near you. The thought that popped into your mind might have been seen as drastic, even cringe-worthy, but you were determined to make her back off.
You moved your hands from where they rested against your lap to gently weave their way through his surprisingly soft and silky smooth hair as Zemo looked at you with surprise. You looked at him, feeling a jolt in your stomach from the gentle way he looked at you back. You opened your lips without thinking about what you meant to say.
“Oh yes, I only belong to daddy.”
His eyes darkened. You felt your stomach drop to the ground at the words left your lips. You hadn’t meant to refer to Zemo like that. Not like that in the slightest; it had just slipped out. You felt frozen in place, mortified as Sam’s eyes burned into your back while Zemo and Shelby looked at you with interest.
After a second's hesitation, gathering his thoughts, Zemo responded to try and keep with the situation, his voice firmer than before.
“Yes, I’m afraid this good little girl is mine and mine only,” he said, smirking while his hand patted your thigh warmly.
From the way his lips curled up into a smile and his eyes sparkled, you could tell that he took immense enjoyment in the situation and your mortification. His head tilted at you, his eyebrows slightly raised, gave off that typical Zemo teasing image. You could feel your cheeks burning, which only caused his smirk to brighten further. And yet, behind that mischievous look, his eyes portrayed something different. Something you could almost describe as soft. They started into yours, and you found that warmth from earlier again, a comforting warmth.
The two of you were so close together you could feel his breath on your lips. It fanned across your skin, warm; you wanted to steal the air away from him. With a jolt in your mind, you realised you wanted to feel how his soft lips would feel on yours, taste the delicate lips and explore further than you had thought of Zemo before.
You tried to rationalise it in your mind.
It was just a mission. It was an act. You had to do it. To prove to Selby that you were his ‘bird’. That’s why those thoughts were in your mind.
With one hand still curled in his hair, you raised your other hand and cupped the smooth skiing of his face, resting your hand against his jaw. His eyebrows quirked up in surprise, his eyes flicking between you analytically. You saw how his lips parted slightly, and then you didn’t give him any more time to react.
You press forward, pushing your lips onto his. They were soft like you imagined, and they slotted perfectly between yours as if meant to be there. He tasted of his last drink, intoxicating alcohol but mixed with sweetness as well that you couldn’t get enough of. His hand leaves your thigh. He wrapped his arm around your body, pulling you as close to him as he can, so your chest is pressed against his. He held you so tightly it would surely leave a bruise. You felt his lips prise open slightly further, inviting you in as if he had forgotten where the two of you were, only focused on the feeling of you on him.
You hadn’t forgotten, though.
After a moment, you placed your hand on his chest and pushed yourself away from those lips. Your eyes lingered on them as you swiped your tongue over your own lips briefly, trying to savour the feeling and flavour of him. Your chest heaved as you finally glanced back into those warm eyes. You had found a strange comfort in him, and his own cheeks now adorned a slight blush as his eyes started into yours in wonderment.
Your eyes were locked on each other, gazing deep into the swirls of colour as desire and unspoken longing ignited within them. You felt you could lose yourself in them till the sound of slow clapping shattered the deathly silence of the room and pulled the two of you out of your trance.
“My my wasn’t that a show,” Selby says, the sides of her lips twisting into a dark smile.
“I didn’t know you still had that in you Zemo.”
“Well…” Zemo trails off, finally looking away from you.
He shrugs his shoulders, shooting a smirk at Selby as he titled his head, putting back on that self-confident mask.
Selby seems satisfied with the show the two of you put on because business resumes. Zemo carried on selling Bucky to Selby while you sat on his lap, hardly paying attention to anything that was spoken. You could tell everything was okay, though, that Zemo was getting closer to figuring out who they go next until the shrill sound of a ringtone cuts through his words.
Wide-eyed, you turned to the source of the sound. Sam stood frozen, anxiously glancing around as his phone rang out loud, capturing everyone’s attention. The colour drained from Zemo’s face as Sam was forced to answer the call in front of everyone.
All that happened next occurred so quickly it felt like a blur to you. Sam screwed it up. They figured it out. But before you could leap into action to fight, Selby was shot. Right in front of you. You felt frozen by the shock of her dying so suddenly in front of you. But Zemo had already snapped into sense as he wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you out of the building.
He held onto you to guide you along as you, him, Sam, and Bucky tried to leave without looking suspicious. But it was a lost cause. Bullets started to fly in every direction in an attempt to hit you and the others. Sam and Bucky instantly charged forward to escape, and you were poised to do the same, yet with Zemo’s grasp on your waist, he instead pulled you along with him. He pulled you down a hidden alleyway where the gunfire didn’t follow the two of you.
“We need to catch up with Sam and Buc-” you shouted, trying to prise Zemo’s grasp off your waist to chase after them, but instead, Zemo used his body to back you up into a wall and cage you in.
“What-What the hell?” You asked, stunned.
You looked up into his face, only inches away from him again. You could see every little freckle, every little mole that scattered his skin, and for the first time, the thought occurred to you how pretty they were on his face.
“Daddy? That’s quite the title.” he purrs.
“Are you seriously going to do this here!? Right now”
“I don’t believe we will get another chance of a private conversation without Sam and James. They don't exactly like me being around you,” he mutters, still staring down at you, his eyes refusing to move away.
You can feel your cheeks burning bright red. His intense gaze in your eyes forced you to glance away, trying to forget the fluttering feeling in your stomach that started to overwhelm you.
“There’s nothing about it; I was just playing my role.”
Zemo takes his hand, placing it under your chin and turning your face towards his. He leans in, his lips almost touching yours.
“You were very convincing.”
You don’t reply. Instead, your eyes drop to his lips. It was as if you could still feel their softness against yours. The sweetness of them melting you. Zemo moved forward, letting his lips graze against yours, then he pulled back. His eyes look back into yours as if asking a million questions, yet none leave his lips. His hand reaches up to push part of your hair covering your face back behind your ear. As you felt his hand graze the side of your face, the draw to lean into his touch was overwhelming.
“I…” You start but trial off.
“Perhaps…” you try again.
“Perhaps it wasn’t all acting”, you finally mutter.
A cocky smile creeps onto Zemo’s mouth.
“I thought not.”
“Oh, shut up and kiss me”, you angrily reply, and Zemo doesn’t hesitate to give you what you ask.
His lips crash onto yours with a lust-driven force while his hands wrap around your legs, lifting your body up against the wall so you can wrap your legs around his waist, pulling him closer to you. You grasp the fur parts of his coat, your hands melting into the softness as you tug at it and feel his lips move against yours. Your hands don’t stay there for long, though, for Zemo grasps your wrists within his hand and raises them above your head, making you unable to move apart from kissing him back just as passionately. A disappointed moan leaves your mouth as his sweet lips leave yours again, but it turns into a quiet gasp as he places a chaste kiss against your jawline. Then he moved a few inches further and pressed another searing kiss to your skin. He moved from your jawline to your neck, trailing, kissing all over your skin as you closed your eyes and lost yourself in the feeling of him upon you. It felt so perfect though it shouldn’t. His kisses were electrifying, and you felt like you might die if he stopped now. When his lips found the natural dip of skin on your neck and started to suck a bruise into your skin, claiming you as his, you couldn’t help the mewl of pleasure that escaped your lips.
“Y/N!? ZEMO!?” you hear Sam shouting in the distance.
Zemo sighs, his hot breath fanning over the already forming bruise on your skin as he slowly pulls away from your neck.
“It seems our time together is over, for now, little one.”
Gently he lets go of your wrists and helps you stand back on the ground. You whisper a shy ‘thank you’ to him, to which he reaches for your hand, bringing it to his lips to place a soft kiss on the back of your hand.
“My pleasure, little one.”
You rolled your eyes at him over romantic reaction, but you couldn’t hide the flush on your cheeks which he chuckled at. He held onto your hand, rubbing his thumb over where he had kissed it as he guided you forward to where you two could hear the voices of Sam and Bucky calling out for you.
-
“Madripoor knows how to give New York a run for its money,” Sam says as the five of you walk through the build-up trailers. They towered over you, trapping you in a labyrinth, and you just hoped Sharon knew where she was going.
“They know how to party,” Zemo replies.
He quickened his pace to walk up beside you. You could feel his eyes flicker to you, watching your face, but you continued to look ahead, refusing to acknowledge him. When you felt his arm brush up against yours. Your body stiffened at the contact, refusing to move your arm to him. Instead, you walked faster to step up beside Bucky, leaving Zemo in your wake.
You couldn’t face him after what had previously happened. You refused to. You knew the person he was. You knew the sorts of things he had done. How deeply his actions had affected your life for the worst. You had hated him for what he had done. You despised the man.
Yet when you looked at him, the warmth you had grown to love spread through you again. The butterflies kicked him as you saw his smile. His gravel accent made goosebumps rise on your skin, driving you wild. When you looked at him, you could still taste the sweetness of his lips on yours, and you craved them again with a fever. And what affected you most was those eyes. Those eyes you had managed to be drawn to in a way that felt unreal. The intensity of them and your feelings for them felt out of this world. He made you feel alive. As if with him, you were taking a breath of air for the first time. He made you feel self-conscious for the first time; he made the blush rise on your skin which no one else had even succeeded in before. He made you feel confused.
Earlier, at Sharon’s party, you were watching him. You ever in half a mind to join in the party, but you held back this once. You watched as Zemo walked around the room, turning left and right, trying to find you. Almost like a lost puppy. Eventually, he gave up on his search, through and danced by himself. Alone on the dance floor. You smiled as you watched him, feeling smitten by the silly way he danced as if no one else was watching him. In those moments, he seemed so innocent. He hadn’t killed multiple people like he hadn’t split up the avengers. He was simply a nice guy who enjoyed dancing.
You wanted to join him, but Sam and Bucky were already becoming suspicious, and you didn’t need to add fuel to the fire. When they found you and Zemo again, Bucky pulled you to the side to check you were okay after Zemo ran off with you. He also asked about what had happened with Selby. If you were okay, that he was sorry, Zemo forced himself onto you. But he couldn’t have been more wrong. But it made you realise you had to nip this in the bud. While you could. This couldn't go on. You had to distance yourself before you were in too deep.
You swallow, pushing away the thoughts of you and him as you try to focus back on the mission at hand.
The five of you arrived at the crater, and Sharon handed you all earpieces to wear. You placed it in your ear, wincing at how uncomfortable it was. It was then Sharon left you lot. Sam looked at you three before stepping into the crate, to which you quickly followed. It was pitch black in there, and even with squinting your eyes and trying to focus them, you couldn’t see anything.
Zemo was following up behind you, and as you stopped in your tracks to look around, his body walked into the back of you. You stiffened, feeling his body press up against yours. His arm reached around, squeezing yours gently as he stepped to the side and passed you. Though you couldn’t see him, you knew he was smirking at your reaction.
Zemo pulled out a flashlight that was concealed inside one of his pockets. He turned around and briefly shone the light in your eyes, a mischievous smirk curling at his lips as you groaned in annoyance. He turned around and shone it forward to see the back wall of the crate. He walked forward, reaching his hand out to touch the wall, then pushing it. The wall moved, revealing it as a hidden door. Music flooded the room as the path opened to the four of you. Zemo glanced back around to you, Sam and Bucky as you pulled out your guns in preparation. Sam and Bucky step forward into the pathway, and you follow behind them as Zemo holds the door open for you. His hand rests on the dip of your back as you walk past. The constant felt like a burning sting against your cool skin, and in an instant, you shook his handoff. Zemo turned to stare at you, his eyes burning into your head, but you continued to walk ahead, not giving him a second glance.
The song ‘Comin home baby’ plays out of an old record player as you walk into the room. Your eyebrows furrowed as you looked around the room. Rounding the corner of a shelf, you see a man dressed in a science coat bent over a table, singing along to the song playing. He was unaware of the four of you approaching him as he quietly sang along to his music, and so when Sam grasped him and pulled him away from the table, he was taken by surprise. Sam and Bucky started to question him on the super-soldier serum while you and Zemo stayed back in the background, observing the man but not adding to the conversation.
You couldn’t help the way your eyes trailed over to Zemo as he walked around the room. He had a commanding presence, from the way he dressed in that long coat, his purple sweater tucked into his black combat trousers, tied with a belt that he held onto as he strutted around the room. It made your knees feel like buckling. Zemo’s eyes snapped to yours as he felt you smiling, and he tilted his head at you, his thin lips sneaking up into a curl from catching you staring.
You look away, staring ahead, willing your cheeks to stop burning.
Just when it seemed as if Sam was getting somewhere with the man regarding information, Sharon ran into the room.
“Guys, we’ve got to go.”
Zemo leaps into action, which in his case was revealing a hidden gun he had found, pointing it at the Doctor and shooting the man directly in the head, instantly killing him.
“NO!” both you and Sam shouted as you rounded on him, staring at him wide-eyed.
Sam crashes into Zemo, pushing him against the wall to prevent Zemo from being able to harm anyone else in the room.
You took a step forward to help Sam restrain Zemo by grabbing the gun off him, but the crate exploded before you got a chance.
You were flung onto the floor. Your head collided with the metal floor and a searing pain spread along the back of your head. A yelp of pain escaped your lips as your brain felt like it had been shot, and the licks of searing heat from the flames danced on your skin.
Groaning, you raised your hand to the back of your head, lifting it up from the floor as you tried not to feel sick from how the room revolved around you. When you felt your hand touch something sticky on your head, you pulled it back and found it covered in fresh blood.
“Shit”, you choked out, trying to wipe your hand on your trousers to get rid of the blood, but it had already stained your hand.
Not concentrating on what was happening around you, you felt an alarm flare in you as arms suddenly wrapped around your waist and pulled you off the floor. You were too weak to stop the person, so you let the firm grasp on your waist pull you out of the fire-lit room. You raised your hand to your eyes, rubbing them with the back of your palm to try and get the dust out of your eyes. You were able to blink it away as you emerged into the sunlight. Blinking, you could see the pair of hands on your waist belonged to the Sokovian man as he rounded around the corner out of sight from the burning crater just as you heard it explode behind you. He glanced around the area to ensure no one was around and then rounded on you.
“Are you okay?” Zemo questions you and takes a few steps toward you. His eyes glance you up and down as he tries to take in all the injuries you had sustained in the explosion.
“I’m fine, Zemo. Were they still in there!?” you ask hurriedly as you turn around, trying to see the crate.
“They’ll be fine. Come, we need to go,” Zemo insisted, grabbing hold of your hand again to pull you along.
Your head exploded in blinding pain as you were rushed forward, but you bit down on your bottom lip to stop a hiss leaving your lips as you were dragged along again.
“Where are we going?” you ask, but Zemo doesn’t answer. He pulls you along and then guides you to climb on top of a crater to get a bird’s eye view of everything happening below.
“Zemo!” you exclaim, pulling out of his grasp to glare at him, teeth bared, but your eyes bulge as he pulls something out of his pocket.
“What the fuck is that”
“My mask, ”
“Since when have you had a mask!” you exclaim, shooting him a look.
“I’ve always had one. Now you need to duck,” he ordered, his sharp eyes looking into your eyes, and then he turned to look over the edge of the crate.
“Why should I do that?”
He rolled his eyes in exasperation. He leans over to you, harshly grabbing your arm and retching you down onto the floor, making you let out a muffled complaint.
“Can’t you listen to me for once, y/n’’ he mutters under his breath.
He grabs your gun, which you had managed to drop when he pulled you down, and then, as quick as lightning, he pulled his mask on and walked to the edge of the crater. He shot at something a few times and then aimed for a pipe. As he shoots, the pipe explodes, and the shock wave flows through you, making you collapse to the ground. The crate felt like it was spinning as the blood loss started to take hold of you, and you couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped your lips.
On hearing the sound, Zemo spun on his heel to look at you. Seeing you now on the ground, he rushed back to you, falling onto his knees to try and help you up. He placed his hand on the back of your head to help you up, but when he held the stickiness of your blood soak into his gloved hand, he pulled back. Seeing the amount of blood covering his hand, his eyes widened and then glaring down at you.
“Why didn’t you say something?” he seethed through his teeth.
“I’m fine”, you managed to gasp out, but as he placed his hand under your head again, another groan left your lips.
Zemo huffed as he gave up trying to help you get back up. Instead, he pushed one arm under your legs and grabbed the side of your leg while his other hand went under your back. Ensuring he had a tight grasp on you, he lifted you up, which made a gasp leave your lips. Quickly you wrapped an arm around the back of his head for security; in this moment, not thinking about the closeness of the situation as Zemo started to run while he held you bridal style in his arms.
After a few minutes of searching, he finally let you stand on your own. As he placed you down, you staggered, almost collapsing back onto the ground, but he grasped your waist again, steadying you. You were forced to lean against Zemo, arm around his shoulder as his hand rested on your waist as he helped you along. He let go of you to open one crate, though and as he saw the contents inside, he pulled off his mask and smirked. You let out a groan and shook your head as you watched Zemo disappear into the crate and then emerge a minute later driving an expensive car.
He gets out and opens the passenger seat door for you. He wrapped his arm around your waist again as you put your arm around his neck to let him help you into the car. Neither of you speaks. He knew you were too embarrassed to, and at this moment, he didn’t want to push you.
Zemo drove around the labyrinth of crates till you two could find Sam, Bucky and Sharon, who were thankful to see you alive. Begrudgingly Sam and Bucky got into the car while Sharon left and let Zemo drive them to a new hideout he knew off. One of his old summer homes.
On arrival, Zemo quickly left the car to get to your side and help you out, but you were already opening your own door and attempting to get up. As soon as you stood up, though, you felt a rush of blood leave your brain. You stumbled, and if it hadn’t been for Bucky catching your arm, you would have fallen over.
“She needs medical help,” Zemo ordered as he opened the door to the house.
Bucky gave you over to Sam, who guided you in, as strangely Bucky said he wanted to go on a walk. Sam proceeded to ask you a load of questions as he helped guide you to one of the sofas in the main room of this house. Zemo went to one of the many cupboards and pulled out a medical kit which he handed to Sam. He hung back as Sam tended to your wounds, wrapping a bandage around your head.
When you finally started to feel relaxed as Sam finished up, Zemo appeared beside you and gave you a glass of whiskey.
“To get rid of the pain,” he says, nodding at you to encourage you to take a sip.
Zemo pulls out a chair to the side, only a few inches away from you. He gently raises his hand and places it on your bandaged forehead.
“Zemo”, Sam growls, noticing the action.
“My apologies,” Zemo quipped, removing his hand. You couldn't help the way your heart felt like it sunk a little in your chest at the loss of his contact.
With the pain slowly easing, you felt lulled off into a light sleep as your energy crashed from everything that had been happening over the last few days. You don’t know how long you were asleep, but when you woke up, the pain in your head mainly had vanished and you felt okay to sit up. Looking around the room, you noticed no one else was around. They had seemingly left you on your own here.
Gathering your strength, you stood up from the shower and started to walk around the room, curious about Zemo’s house. As you walked nearer one room, you noticed the sound of rushing water emerging from the other side of a door. Gently you knock on the door, and in seconds, you hear the water stop.
The door is pushed open slightly, and the sly face of Zemo appears in the crack. As he sees it as you, he reaches forward to grasp your arm and pulls you into the room with him, shutting the door behind you. You gasped, taking a step back, your back hitting the door as you stared at his state in shock.
“I-I didn’t mean to come in here; I just wanted to see who was around”, you mutter as your eyes flicker up and down Zemo’s body. He had wrapped a fluffy black bathrobe around his body, but from the way it dipped, exposing part of his chest, you were sure it was the only thing he was wearing, and that thought made you blush heavily. Instead, you tried to distract yourself, focusing on the necklace hanging from his neck, but Zemo knew what thought ran through your mind.
A deep-throated chuckle emerges from his throat as he watches how your eyes wander. He crosses his arms around his chest, tilting his head as a bright smile finds its way to his lips.
“Enjoy what you see?” he purred, his accent sending shivers up your spine.
“N-no,” you say.
Feeling embarrassment flood through your body, you turn to open the door and leave to escape the situation, but Zemo wraps his arm around your waist and pulls your body back to him. You flinch as you feel the way his body pressed up against your back, the bathrobe doing little to conceal the feel of his body against yours. You could smell freshly applied aftershave and it made your eyes flutter as if it was intoxicating and addicting. Gently you feel his lips on the skin of your neck, placing a delicate kiss on the vein that throbbed under the skin, beating in quick succession. You felt a moan tear from your lips as you closed your eyes, wanting to get lost in the feeling of his lips against your neck, but he suddenly pulled away from you, letting go of you to stand back.
“How’s your head?” Zemo asks, raising his hand to touch the bandage.
You turn your head slightly, shooting him a glare from the sudden loss of contact.
“I’m fine.”
“Forgive me, little one, for not believing you, but previously you have lied about saying you were fine.”
“I feel better than before…thank you for helping me.”
“It was my pleasure,” he whispers against your ear as he steps forward again to press his body into yours. You could feel how his chest moved with every inhale and exhale, and you let out a gasp as you felt something particularly hard press against your ass.
“Why have you been ignoring me?” he asks abruptly.
“I haven’t”, you were quick to reply, but you heard Zemo let out a huff behind you.
His hands touch your waist again, and he spins you around and pushes you back against the door. You were caged in again by his body, captured by the warm eyes that now seemed to burn into yours as his dead tiled.
“Don’t lie to me y/n.”
Under his gaze, you felt like you could melt. These new feelings made you so conflicted internally, which made your skin burn as you narrowed your eyes at him, swallowing before speaking to him.
“You are a villain, Zemo! You’ve innocent people, and I should hate you because of it. I should want to rip your guts from you; I shouldn’t be… I shouldn’t be thinking these other thoughts.”
He leans towards you, his lips grazing yours, “Such as?”
You pause for a moment, knowing you shouldn’t step over this line, but you couldn’t help it.
“Kissing you. Touching you… making love with you.”
“Oh? Such scandalous thoughts. I assumed you above such things.” Zemo purrs, his eyes seeming to sparkle as he looks at you.
“Stop teasing me!” You whine, raising your hands to grasp the edge of his bathrobe and pull his lips to you, accepting this guilty pleasure you wanted.
“Ah y/n,” he says, capturing your hand on his chest.
“I want you to make a promise before we get anywhere.”
“What?”
“Please…don’t ignore me.”
You look into his eyes, and for once, it was like the mask he always wore, of a self-absorbed man, slipped away. You were staring into the sadness below. The eyes of a desperately lonely man.
“I promise, but Sam and Bucky can’t know.”
Zemo grins, his teeth flashing.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.”
His lips crash onto yours, the passion evident as he sucks on your bottom lip with need, letting out a little groan as you return the kiss just as passionately. He pushes his tongue into your mouth as his hands wander up and down your body, wanting to feel every inch of your skin. Leaving nothing explored. Pulling back from the kiss for a second, he roughly grabs your arms and pulls you over to the sink, where he lifts you up and places you on it. You let out a loud gasp as he presses his face into the dip of your neck, trailing hot kisses over every inch of skin that he could reach.
Slowly he starts to move his hands down, trailing over your stomach, prising the hem of your trousers away from your skin to slip his hands in. They felt so warm against your bear skin, and when you felt his hand slip past your underwear, you couldn’t help but buckle your hips in anticipation. You moaned as you felt him rub a finger through your folds, pulling upwards to graze against your clit. You throw your head back slightly at the contact as the bolts of pleasure travel through your body.
Zemo smirks against your skin and watches your reactions, but his lips don’t leave your skin as he sucks a hickey against your collarbone. Needing something to hold onto other than his bathrobe, you grasp his neatly styled hair, tugging at it roughly, which spurred Zemo on as he let out a breathy moan against your skin.
He pulls his hands away momentarily to grasp your trousers. Tugging at them, he is able to slip them down your legs, then he works on your underwear and finally your shirt and bra so that he can see every inch of your beautiful body.
You attempt to grasp the bathrobe to pull it away from his body, but cheekily Zemo ducks down before you are able to.
His palms firmly grasp your thighs and slowly parts them to expose your core to him. Zemo trails kisses up your legs, gradually getting closer and closer. Your legs felt like jelly, and they shook in his grasp as you anticipated the feeling of his lips on your core. Noticing this reaction, Zemo chuckles and looks at you with a mischievous grin.
“So needy for me”, he jested.
Before you could get in a single word as a comeback, he moved forward and wrapped his thin lips around where your clit was and gave a deep suck.
You chuck your head back, your chest puffing out as a loud moan escapes your lips at the sensations of Zemo sucking on your clit relentlessly. Your hands find their way to his hair again to tug and pull at it as he flicks his tongue over your clit, rubbing it against you to make your hips buckle into his face.
“Be careful, Y/n, these rooms are not soundproof”, he says, releasing his lips from you momentarily, but you are beyond the point of caring. You wrap your thighs around his head, pushing him back to you.
His fingers ghost your core, rubbing through your folds to pick up all the slick coming out of you. He played with you for a few moments, delighting in how wet you became from him. After another groan escaped your lips, he slipped two of his fingers inside you with ease. He pushed up to his knuckles, curling his fingers into that spot that made your body shake from the pleasure. He stretched them apart inside of you and slowly started to pump them in and out of you, picking up his rate as he licked at your clit. The moans spilt from your lips now from the overload of sensations lighting up the pleasure in your body. You couldn’t think of anything other than how good Zemo was making you feel and how handsome he looked buried between your legs, kneeling before you as he pleasured you.
“Zemo”, you gasp as you feel a knot in your stomach tighten.
“Zemo, I’m going to-” you break off, unable to finish the sentence as you finally release, seeing stars swarming your eyesight.
After a few moments of feeling like floating on cloud nine, you were brought back to reality. You felt how Zemo ran his tongue through your folds, attempting to drink as much of your release as he could. You looked down as he pulled away and shuddered as you saw his lips wet from you, his chin covered in your release as he licked his tongue out to run over his lips.
He pulls back from you and gracefully stands up. His eyes trail up and down your body as you lie there recovering from your pleasure.
“As beautiful as a glass of cold water on a warm summer’s day,” he whispers, trailing his hand along your leg in comfort.
You reach forward, grabbing hold of his bathrobe and tugging it down his body till he wasn’t covered anymore. You smiled, finally able to see the body you had been craving. His body was toned, not muscular per se but with enough to see the hint of abs on him. Light hair covered his abs which suited him perfectly. His body was firm, strong, and slight bulk made him so incredibly hot to you. Your eyes wander down to his hips. How the v line looked delectable. His cock was hard before you, a drop of precum already swelling on the tip as his patience started to wear thin. You knew he might be a touch fit; while good in length, his thickness was another matter.
Zemo swiftly moves over to a draw, pulling out a condom. Tearing it open with his teeth, he pulls the condom out of the package and slips it onto himself.
He steps back to you, his hand reaching out to you, wrapping around your body. He rests his head on your shoulder as, in one hand, he grasps himself while his other hand holds your body. He rubs the tip of himself over your folds, coating himself in your wetness till he can’t hold back any longer. A gasp escapes both of you as he pushes his hips forward, his hand guiding him to sink into you. You moan against his ear, your nails marking his back as you drag them down, feeling how deep he slips into you. It takes him a second but he manages to push your walls open as he bottoms out. He rests for a moment to allow you to get used to the feeling of being so full, but slowly he starts to pull out and then gently rocks his hips back into you. He tries to be gentle at first but hearing you moan and feeling your nails dig into his back, and how your walls clench him, he starts to pick up his pace as he thrusts inside you. He lets out grunts, his eyelids fluttering as he feels the way your walls ripple around him in pleasure. He hadn’t felt something so good in such a long time that he was slowly losing his mind in the sensations. You place a few kisses on his chest, leaving a claiming mark of your own on him. Feeling your lips suck at his skin was electrifying, and he grasped your chin, forcing your lips away from his chest so he could kiss you deeply again as the slaps of his balls against your skin and the wetness of your core echo in the room as he chases his pleasure further.
“Y/N”, he gasps, pulling back from your swollen lips to stare at you with half-lidded eyes as his chest heaves. A smirk curl onto his lips, though as a thought crawls into his mind as he slams into you.
“Are you going to call me daddy again?”
You flush bright red as Zemo brings back the memories of that night.
“Damn you”, you rasp out between moans.
He chuckles, leaning towards your ear.
“I don’t mind if you do.”
His cock pushes deeper to you at that moment, hitting that one spongy spot inside of you that made you cry out in pleasure.
“There, Daddy, please”, you gasp, and he complies, attempting to hit the spot again within you.
He grunts with every thrust into you now, starving off his release so you could reach yours first. His hand sneaks down to your core again, his two fingers finding your clit and starting to rub circles that made your body quiver. You shut your eyes, your head falling back as you let out a loud moan, the knot in your stomach getting tighter and tighter as your walls bore down on his perfect cock inside of you.
You reached forward to pull Zemo’s chest against yours, your hand going into his hair again to yank it, feeling your release crash down on you. Zemo’s eyes closed as he moaned from the vice grip your walls gave him and the feeling of your release exploding over his cock. He thrust into you a few more times as you whimpered from the over sensitivity, but his lips found yours again, moaning against them as his release cums. Slowly his thrusting stops, and he breathes heavily against you as you both try to recover.
You two stay like that for a few minutes, just holding each other. Eventually, as his cock softens, Zemo pulls back. He slips his condom off and throws it in the bin before coming back to you. He kisses your hot and sweaty forehead gently while his hands brush the hair away from your face. He cradles your chin again, pulling your face up so that he can kiss your delectable lips again.
“You were a goddess, little one.”
-
Bucky carried Zemo back into the house bridal style, his hands gripping tightly around Zemo’s legs and chest. He dropped him down onto the sofa where you had rested not too long ago. Zemo was dead to the world, though. At least for the moment. The bruise on the side of his head, thanks to John Watson, was enough proof of that.
You gently run your fingers over the side of his face. He looked so peaceful. His lips pulled up into a natural smile, parts of his hair dangled down across his forehead, his face softened and not tensed like it usually appeared to be. You brush the hair back into its usual place, running your fingers over his feverish forehead.
You turn to Bucky and Sam, whose eyes burn into yours, millions of questions flashing through them, yet they remain unspoken.
“I’ll look after him,” you tell them, turning your gaze back to Zemo’s peaceful form. It was easier to stare at him than at them at the moment.
“You and Zemo have been spending a lot of time together,” Sam states, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ve been making sure he doesn’t betray us,” You snap back, refusing to look at them.
“Sam and I have been doing that as well, and you haven’t seen us giving him bedroom eyes,” Bucky says roughly, stepping forward, but Sam grabs hold of his arm to stop him from going further.
“Look, y/n, we’re just concerned about you. Zemo is a criminal; he could easily manipulate you,”
Your eyes flash to him angrily as you curl your lip.
“You think I would be easy to manipulate,”
“No, that’s not what I meant-” Sam says, but Bucky interrupts him.
“Yes. I know him, y/n; that is exactly something he would do. You can’t trust him,”
“I’ve told you already; I’m just making sure he doesn’t betray us. There’s nothing else. I’d appreciate it if you believed me,”
They sigh in defeat, glancing at each other, then back to you.
“I don’t want to argue with you, y/n. Go get him the things he requires. Bucky and I need to check to see if we can find Karli. I might get a chance to talk to her again,” Sam says, and he and Bucky turn their backs, sending one last concerned look at you over their shoulders, then disappearing.
You sigh, looking back to Zemo, who still slept peacefully, unaware. A smile tugged on your mouth, but it twisted to a frown. You all knew damn well you had been lying. Whether you wanted to admit it, you liked Zemo. Every time you saw him, the urge to kiss his sweet lips pulled you in. You could still feel his embrace, his kisses on your neck, shoulders, collar. The sensation of him inside you, touching you. You craved it more and more like he was your addiction.
You couldn't believe how far this addiction to him had come. Sure, you had certainly noticed that he was handsome the first time you saw him. But that’s where you thought it had ended. You knew what he was, and you thought you hated him because of it. But when that moment happened on the mission. When you sat on his lap, called him ‘daddy’ and kissed him, your whole world and perception of him changed. Everything that happened afterwards made your cheeks burn. He was so passionate. So earnest. No wonder you had managed to fall so hard.
Your eyes flickered over to the bathroom door. It was there you felt you truly saw Zemo for the person he was. A man who was lonely and broken from his past. A man who cared for you no matter what Sam or Bucky says.
Your heart had seized when you saw how the shield collided with Zemo and how he had collapsed onto the floor. Not thinking about your actions yourushed over to him, kneeling down to cradle his face in your hands and checking him over. John peered down at you as if you were dirt.
When Sam and Bucky ran into the room, you could feel their judgemental stares as they noticed you and Zemo.
While your eyes lingered on his face, lost in your thoughts, Zemo’s eyes slowly cracked open. He moaned as his face scrunched up. He raised his hand, using the back of his palm to rub his eyes. You shouted at him to stay still as you fetched a flannel. You brought it to the sink, turned the cold water tap and soaked it under. When you felt the flannel was drenched in cold water, you turned the tap off, wrung the flannel then took it over to Zemo.
He smiled at you gently as you handed him the flannel, the sides of his lips curling up like a cat.
“Thank you”
“I’ll get you a drink,” repaying the act of what he did when you were the one lying on the sofa.
“You’re kindness to me is admirable, y/n,”
“Don’t get used to it,”
He snickered, his bright eyes glancing up to look at you.
“Will we always tread the line between fondness and detest for each other?”
You exhale, sitting down beside him, handing him a glass of whiskey.
“I don’t hate you, Zemo, though I really should. There’s something about you that, well that I love, and I can’t let it go.”
You hesitate, both of you pondering over your sudden confession. Zemo raises the flannel off his eyes, turns his head and lets his eyes wander over your tensed face. You met his stare, holding eye contact though you wanted nothing more to slink away and hide.
“You terrified me earlier. I thought John Walker had killed you,” you whispered, desperate to not let silence take over the room after what you had said.
His eyebrows furrowed, his face softening, and he continued to look at you.
“I apologise for frightening you, y/n. I- I never thought I would love again since my wife passed away, and though I still love her, you enthral me. You live in my mind constantly, your smile etched into my brain. I want to know everything about you, to feel every inch of your soft skin. To touch and kiss you everywhere. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way that it frightens me.”
Your heart felt like it had stopped beating. You looked into his eyes, your mouth parted, and slowly you reached out your hand to grasp him. His thumb runs over your knuckles delicately, and you feel the heat swarm inside of you.
“Zemo I-”
You hear the sound of the door creaking, and both of your heads snap to the entrance to see Sam and Bucky walking through. As quick as lightning, you dropped Zemo’s hand. You jumped up from where you were sitting and slowly strolled to the other side of the room, not wanting to hear any more from Sam and Bucky about you and Zemo.
Zemo’s eyes watched you as he sighed, glancing at his hand once more and flexing it, still feeling the remembrance of your hand holding his. He brings the glass you made for him to his lips, taking a sip and then he pulls the flannel back over his eyes and settles back on the sofa again.
Bucky disappeared again, likely wanting his space, whereas Sam grabbed a seat and pulled out his laptop to try and find some information on Karli. The silence of the room was suffocating. At least you felt that way as you paced. Sam seemed to intently focus on his laptop while Zemo just laid back and sipped his drink. You pulled out your phone and glanced through random apps for something to do to mind the time.
“Were you ever offered it?” Zemo’s voice finally breaks out. Sam’s gaze leaves his laptop to glance at you, then at Zemo.
“What?”
“The serum.”
“No.”
You glance between them, curiosity spiking. Sam clearly didn’t want to be engaged in a conversation, but Zemo wasn’t taking the hint or, more likely, choosing to ignore it.
“If you had been, hypothetically, that is, would you have taken it?”
Without a second hesitation, Sam replies with a harsh tone to his voice,
“No.”
“No hesitation. That’s impressive,” Zemo admits, nodding his head.
He raises his hand, taking off the flannel with a grunt.
“Sam,” he continues as he holds the flannel, gaze unwavering from it.
“You can’t hold out hope for Karli. No matter what you saw in her. She’s gone. And we cannot allow her and her acolytes to become yet another faction of gods among real people. Super soldiers cannot be allowed to exist.”
Your gaze moves to the ground as you frown, thinking over Zemo’s words, whereas Sam answers without hesitation.
“Isn’t that how god’s talk?”
Zemo’s eyes continue to glare down at the flannel, not speaking up for once.
“And if that’s how you feel, what about Bucky? Blood isn’t always the solution,” Sam finishes.
There was a moment of silence as you thought over Sam’s and Zemo’s words. The sound of a door click breaks the thoughts from your mind. Bucky struts in, glancing over at the tensed appearance of the three of you. You move from your spot, walking over to where Zemo had sat up, moving so you could sit beside him. As you take your seat, making sure there is space between you, he places his hand on your knee. Your eyes flicker to each other, words speaking in silence. His warm eyes bore into yours, but there was a misery in them, something you were sure was also reflected into yours.
“Something’s not right about Walker,” Bucky mutters, shrugging off his jacket.
“Like we hadn’t known that from the start,” you reply.
“Well, I know a crazy when I see one. Because I am crazy,”
“Can’t argue with that,” Sam agrees.
The two of them break into an argument about the Shield, making you sigh in frustration. Just when you were about to stop their bickering, the door of the villa bursts open and John Walker and his partner storm into the room.
“All right. That’s it. Let’s go. I’m ordering you to hand him over,”
Sam and Bucky walk into John’s path, preventing him from advancing on Zemo. You stood up from the sofa to stand next to them, but Zemo grasped your hand and pulled you back. You looked at him, watching as he stood up, but he shook his head slightly, his eyes burning into yours. You furrow your eyebrows, questioning him but he doesn't give any explanation.
On the other hand, he passes you a bottle of whiskey. He picks up his glass and walks over to the kitchen counter, pulling you with him. In this odd display, you weren’t paying attention to the situation with John until a spear flew past them, embedded into a pillar.
A light gasp left your lips as the Dora Milaje stormed in.
One of them speaks in Wakandan to Bucky, her tone harsh and biting.
“Release him to us now”, she demands in English.
Zemo’s eyes glance anxiously from yours to them, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Hi, John Walker. Captain America.” John says, walking over to them to assert himself. The Dora Milaje stand still, refusing to acknowledge his presence, making John stand there awkwardly.
“Well, let’s uh put down the pointy sticks, and we can talk this through, huh?” he says patronisingly.
“Hey, John. Take this easy. You might want to fight Bucky before you tangle with the Dora Milaje,” Sam warns, but it falls on deaf ears.
John Walker continues to antagonise them till he takes a step too far and places his hand on her shoulder, and all hell breaks loose.
You and Zemo stand back as the fight breaks out. Zemo sips his whiskey as he watches with amusement. He glances at you and raises the glass, inquiring if you want a sip. You smile at his nonchalant attitude about the fight, nodding your head and letting him raise the glass to your lips as you drink.
Eventually, Sam and Bucky join in the fight, seeing that John was losing, and losing badly.
You started to step forward to join them, but Zemo’s grip on your hand tightened.
“Not now, little one”, he mutters.
He peers around, watching the fight and the surroundings while you glance at him with an eyebrow raised.
“What the hell, Zemo?” you whisper harshly, glancing around as if trying to spot something Zemo was looking for.
“We need to go”, he whispers urgently and pulls on your arm, leading you to the bathroom.
“What? Zemo, Zemo, wait. What do you mean we?” You ask, grounding your feet into the floor.
Zemo’s eyes flickered around the room again, observing the fighting and then looking back to you, his skin paler than before.
“We don’t have a lot of time y/n, please. I need you to come with me,”
You didn’t know where he wanted to go or how he was planning on leaving, but you could see fear prickling in his eyes as he looked at you, and it calmed all the questions and suspicions in your mind.
“What about Sam and Bucky?”
“You know them better, and I do, and I know they will manage well. Please y/n, I want to spend this precious time I have left with you. I don’t want to do this alone,”
You stare into his eyes once more, staring into those pools of warmth and nodding, making your choice.
You let him lead you back into the bathroom and close the door behind him. Quickly he grasps the bathtub in the room and heaves it to the side, revealing a hole in the floor. A passageway into the sewer.
You wrinkle your nose as you stare down into the dark hole. Zemo comes to stand beside you, pursing his lips at the rancid smell.
“I will go first if you prefer,” he tells you, but you shake your head. He places his hand on the dip of your back as you move to step onto the ladder and slowly start to descend down the ladder, grasping the metal tightly in your hand so you wouldn’t slip.
It only took you a minute of climbing till your feet hit the wet concrete below. It was pitch black in this passageway, but when Zemo managed to get down to the ground, he pulled out the flashlight he had from before and turned it on, illuminating the sewer in a creepy light.
He grasped your hand again, taking charge to lead you a certain way.
“So this was the best escape plan you had?” you ask, holding your hand to your nose to try and block the smell.
“My apologies, y/n, did you have a better plan?” he replies sarcastically.
“Well, I didn’t know I was running away with you until a minute before,”
Zemo pauses, beaming the light on your face, making you flinch back. He notices and lowers the light slightly, so it isn’t blinding but still illuminates your face.
“I owe you a great deal for coming with me. I know it wasn’t a simple decision to leave your friends for a person you met meer days ago,”
“When you put it like that, you make me feel even crazier for making this decision,” you grumble.
“But it’s okay. Zemo, Sam and Bucky will be fine without me, and I wanted to be with you,”
Zemo raises his hand to cup the side of your face, his thumb running along your cheekbone. He stares at your face for a moment, drinking you in, till he pulls you to him and captures your lips in a passionate kiss. His spare hand holding the flashlight wraps around your waist as he holds you there, his soft lips moving on yours as you reciprocate.
As suddenly as it had started, it ended.
He pulled a few centimetres away, his lips still brushing against yours.
“Thank you, little one.”
His nickname makes a shiver work its way through your spine. The breath leaves your lips as you feel your cheeks burn, shown by the flashlight. His classic smirk appears on his face as he watches your reaction. He leans forward again and places a quick kiss on your cheek, and then continues to lead you down the passage.
After around 10 minutes of walking, you reach another ladder that Zemo gets you to climb up. You had never been so thankful to breathe in the fresh air. You close your eyes to feel the breeze of air and sunlight on your face till Zemo makes you get out of the way so that he can get up onto the surface as well. You had emerged on the side of a road, and of course, by the side of the escape, there was a car waiting for you.
“I shouldn’t even be surprised,” you say, a chuckle escaping your lips as Zemo holds up some car keys he had been keeping hidden. He opens the passenger seat door to let you in and then quickly gets in on his side, starting up the car and driving off.
“Is this car yours, or one you had stolen?” you ask, running your hands along what you sure was expensive material.
“I believe you won’t like the answer.”
“I suppose aiding with the escape of a criminal now makes me one. You bring about a lot of surprises,”
“I’ve been told I am quite surprising,” he glances at you, smirking as he drives.
“And seductive,”
You slap the side of his arm lightly, a smile tugging on your lips.
“Eyes on the road, mister.”
“Mister? I’d prefer what you called me before. Hm, what was that again?”
You groan and hide your face in your hands as Zemo reminds you of the moment you wished you could forget.
“You’ll never let that go, will you?”
“You calling me daddy? Of course not. I find it most pleasing,”
“Where are we even going?” you ask, trying to direct the conversation somewhere else.
Zemo turns from looking at you to the road, the smile on his face slowly fading.
“Sokovia,”
Your breath hitches as he says the name of his country. The knowledge of his previous family, his wife, and his son, comes back into your memory.
“I want to see the memorial,” he explains, glancing at you.
You stare forward at the road, though, nodding silently.
For the next ten minutes, you two sit in uncomfortable silence. All previous moments where you were having fun had faded, leaving a chilling tension between you two. Eventually, Zemo sighed in frustration and made a sharp turn in the car, pulling into a secluded spot on an empty road.
He turns the key, killing the car engine and then, in his seat, he turns to face you.
“It seems to me we need to talk,”
You look at him, then away again.
“I don’t think so.”
“Y/n”, he growls
“I said we don’t need to talk!” you exclaim, feeling a burst of energy in your body as you snap your head and glare at him. You purse your lips, though, realising how much anger had just flared up in you.
Zemo stares at you for a few moments, his face pulled into concentration, but it detenses as recognition flashes in Zemo’s eyes.
“This is about my family.”
You look away, your cheeks burning as you know how ridiculous you were being.
Zemo nods his head, looking at the road ahead as he thinks over what to say.
“You are part of the reason I want to go to the memorial,” he finally admits
It was your turn to look at him, puzzled. He pushes his lips together, breathing in a deep breath as he prepares himself for what to say next.
“I love my family. Every day, I miss them more. They were everything to me, and after their deaths, I was filled with pain and anger. I couldn’t see anything else apart from revenge, and I made sure I got it. I never thought I could move on from them. But I love you y/n. I am honest. I never thought this old heart could love again. But with you, I know I can. You are someone I want to spend all my time and money on just to make you happy. Every time I look at you, I want to take you, no matter where we are. And I feel I owe it to my family to visit the memorial to pay respect and to accept that it is okay for me to move on,”
It felt as if an enormous weight was suddenly lifted off your shoulders with his words. Tears sprung to your eyes though you tried to blink them away. Seeing the tears, Zemo panicked, his eyes widening and sitting up straight to try and comfort you, but you grinned at him and placed your hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you, Zemo,”
He moves his fingers to your face, tracing your jawline. His eyes flicker from your eyes to your lips, desperate. He moves forward to his seat, capturing your lips with his. Unlike the passion from last time, this kiss was gentle, like he was trying to savour you. You melted into the kiss, feeling completely overwhelmed with its gentleness. You had to grasp the soft fur parts of his coat to try and pull him closer, ignoring how, in the kiss, you could feel his lips smirk.
“Would you prefer to take this to the back seat?” he rasps, and you nod your head quickly.
You pull away from the kiss, shifting in your seat so you can climb into the back apartment of the car. Zemo holds onto your waist as you climb through and as he follows you after. He sits down in the middle seat, and instantly, you pull yourself onto his lap, straddling his waist. The grip of his hand on your waist tightens, his fingers digging into your soft skin as you bring your lips back to him while grinding onto his lap, feeling the wrt stain start to build on your underwear.
A smirk pulls onto your lips as you feel a bulge press into you through Zemo’s trousers, making you grind down harder on it to hear the little gasps leave his lips.
“Let go of me, Zemo,” you murmur, pulling away from his sweet lips.
Hesitantly Zemo lets go of your waist, his eyebrow-raising slightly as he watches you move.
It was hard moving in a limited space, but you were able to get onto the floor, sitting on your knees as you grasped Zemo’s legs and pushed them apart so you could slide in between them. You reach up, grasping the zipper of his trousers and, while holding eye contact with him, pull it down, exposing his boxers. Next, you tucked your hand under the waistband and wrapped your palm around the warm cock hardening by the second. Zemo’s breath hitched as you pulled his cock out of his boxers, exposing it to the cool air.
Some pre-cum was already appearing at his tip, and it made your mouth water, imagining the taste. You stuck out your tongue and lent forward, kitten licking at his tip to lap it up. You could hear Zemo’s gasp as you teased his most sensitive part, and you noticed how his legs tensed as you continued to lick at his cock. You dipped down, licking down the shaft and then tracing the throbbing vein back up to the tip again. Feeling mischievous, you tease his poor tip, licking at it and hovering your lips near but not doing anything else.
Finally, Zemo moves, his patience growing thin. His hands grasp your hair, his fingers wrapping into his securely. He pushes your head down, guiding his hard cock into your mouth. He was gentle, not pushing you down too far, just about half way but you moved further down his cock, feeling the tip of him hitting the back of your throat and making you gag. Zemo let out a lustful moan, his eyelids fluttering from how good it felt to be inside your wet mouth. His head rolls back as he focuses on the heat of your tongue pressing along the underside of his cock. You suck your cheeks in, making your mouth constrict around his cock more as you start to push your lips up and down his cock while your hands take his base and balls and begin to stroke and play with them. Zemo’s grasp on your hair tightens as he lets out louder moans now, his hips thrusting up into your mouth, making you gag on his cock again. He started to push your head faster on his cock, grunting as his cheeks turned red from pleasure, and just when you felt his cock twitch in your mouth, he pulled you up, off his cock and grasped his base, squeezing it delaying his oncoming release.
He grasped your arms and lifted you up, pulling you over to the seats. You let him move you, pushing you down to where you were lying on the back of the seat, staring up at him, already parting your legs.
“Forgive me, little one”, he purrs as his hands roughly grasp at your trousers and push them down, exposing your pants.
“I need to feel inside you.”
He runs his finger up them chuckling, feeling the wetness soaking through.
“Do you have a condom?” he asks, looking in your eyes.
“We don’t need one”, you gasp, the urge to feel him swarming you. You moved your hips up, practically begging for him to be inside you.
“As you wish,” he says, immediately pushing your pants aside with a slight more roughness than last time, slipping into you.
You moan, feeling him stretch you out, but as soon as he was in you, he drew back almost entirely out of you. His hips snapped back into you, pushing your body up and down the car seat. Your moans were mixed in with his grunts, his hands grasped your hips, his cock pushed into you perfectly.
You wrap your hands around his back, your nails digging into the skin as your body moves up and down with his. He settles his head on your shoulder, pressing kisses to your hot skin as he chases his high. Every time he pulled back from a kiss, he whispered something in his husky sokovian language. You couldn’t understand what he said, but from the look on his face you knew it was endearing.
His fingers moved down to find your clit, rubbing it with precision. It felt like a shock wave of pleasure washing over your brain. You let out a series of loud moans as you felt the knot in your stomach grow tighter. Knowing you were close, Zemo’s pace started to speed up while he thrust deeper into you, hitting the right spot inside you. You didn’t even get a chance to warn him as you came, your walls fluttering and grasping his cock as it washed over him. Zemo groaned into your neck, feeling your walls clamp down on him. He was on the edge already, and feeling you come around him triggered his own release. You let out a soft moan as you felt his cock twitch inside of you, spilling his warm seed into you.
He pants heavily, his cheeks flushed, but finally, his shining eyes meet yours.
“I love you, little one,” he whispers.
You smile, placing a kiss on the side of his face, “I love you too… daddy.”
He chuckles, his eyes glowing as they stare into you. Slowly he moves out of you, though, ensuring he wouldn't hurt you as he helps you clean up and make yourself comfortable again. He helped guide you back to the front seat, placing kisses on your body whenever he got the chance till he was back in the driver's seat again and set out on the road.
The car drive after that was comfortable. Zemo drove with one hand on the wheel while his other hand rested on your thigh. You two either talked about things you thought of or sung along to music on your phone. The hours felt like they slipped by like minutes till he pulled up beside the sokovian memorial.
Holding your hand, Zemo slowly walks up to the sculpture. His eyes don’t leave it as he looks at it. The wind waves through his hair, billowing his coat. He doesn’t say anything at first, but he slowly starts speaking in Sokovian, getting what he needs to say off his chest. After that, he turns to you, his eyes capturing yours as they were glazed with tears.
“The loss of my country, of my family, broke me y/n, but in some twisted way, I don’t mourn it as much as I did previously, for it led me to you. I don’t blame you for their deaths. You had nothing to do with the Sokovian attack, similarly to Sam and James. What I’m trying to say, though, is that it has been my pleasure to spend these last moments with you, y/n.”
Your eyes jumped to him, and a frown appeared on your lips.
“These last moments?”
The sound of footsteps behind you made you jump. You spun around on your heel, your eyes widening as you saw Bucky approaching. Your head snapped back to Zemo, glaring at his remorseful face.
“Zemo, what the hell is going on?”
A small smile appears on his lips as he looks to the ground and then back up to you, but there is no joy in his eyes. He leans forward, his cold hands grasping onto yours.
“I’m afraid I must ask something hard of you, y/n. Please, can you leave”
The breath left your lungs; your heart dropped out of your chest at the words.
“… What,”
“I don’t want you to witness what must happen next,”
Your gaze flickers from Bucky, standing back, letting you two have your private moment, but he looks to the ground as your eyes meet his. You glance back to Zemo’s, whose face is now desperately looking at you.
“I’m not leaving you, Zemo,” you state.
“Y/n…”
“No!” you shout.
“Y/n I-” Bucky says, walking forward, but one death glare from you quickly shuts him up.
“How could you ever ask something of me like that, especially after… after everything that has happened,”
“I know I should have told you y/n, which I apologise for, but I needed to spend these last moments with you because you are so special to me; I didn’t want to ruin the moment by telling you what was to come.”
Tears gush from your eyes as you shake your head at him. He steps closer to you, holding your head in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe away your tears.
“And because I love you, I don’t want you to see this. You know there is no other way out of this. It has to happen, and it’s okay; I’m ready. Just like I could with my wife, I know you’ll be able to move on and find someone who will give you everything I can’t and never will because you deserve so much better than me,”
“I love you,” you whisper, the hot tears spilling down your cheeks. Your eyes examine every detail of his face, trying to ingrain everything in your mind.
“I love you, little one,”
He pulls you into one last kiss, but the romantic moment is drowned in sadness.
You pull away. Turned around. You don’t look at him. You can’t because you know if you do, you won’t be able to leave. You glare at Bucky though you know as well as Zemo it isn’t his fault. You walk a slight distance, just enough so that they are out of sight, and then you collapse on the floor.
Your hands into the ground, pulling at the dirt as you let all your pain out, trying to hold in your sobs. How is it you had fallen for that man so quickly? You loved him; you had risked giving him your heart, and he was pulled so soon from you. You felt betrayed; he didn’t tell you what he was planning, but you couldn’t bring yourself to hate him for it either.
You don’t know how long you stayed there, but you opened your eyes when you felt a shadow fall over you. Looking up, you saw one member of the Dora Milaje looking down at you.
Your eyes widen in surprise, and then you gasp, connecting the dots.
“Zemo”, you whisper, jumping off the ground and running back to where you last saw him.
Sure enough, as you arrived, you saw him being escorted to the Dora Milaje aircraft.
Hearing your footsteps, Zemo glances over at you. Sadness flickers in his eyes as he stops walking to look at you, but they grasp his shoulder, forcing him to look forward and to keep moving. You watch as they escort him away till you can't see him anymore.
Bucky walks over to you, looking at the floor guiltily.
“I’ll see him again,” you tell Bucky.
“y/n, I don’t think-”
“I’ll see him again, Bucky. You can count on that.”
A/N: this is nearly 10K words and is easily the longest oneshot I’ve ever written, so I hope you like it - for the title, I just picked a lyric from Lorde’s song Team.
WARNINGS: canon level violence, injuries to both Zemo and the reader (though not super detailed, it just happens), reference to smut (I think?) - if there’s anything else let me know.
My Masterlist
Zemo was broken out of the Raft only three months after the flag smasher incident. He was recruited by Val to join an anti-hero team consisting of Justin Hammer, John Walker, Yelena Belova, and Ava Starr. Together they make a pretty decent team, despite not always getting along. Zemo soon became their unofficial leader, despite Val technically being the one in charge, as she gives them their missions.
You are a government agent who’s been made the leader of a team of covert agents by Secretary Ross. You clash with Ross on a regular basis, and your teammates are exceptionally hard to manage.
Ross and Valentina are usually on the same wavelength, meaning your team and Zemo’s team are often sent to secure the same data, or kidnap the same assassin, or take down the same enemy base. This leads to multiple confrontations between you and them.
°•. ✿ .•°
Some, where you win.
“Need a ride?” You hear a voice call out as the sound of the engine nears you. You turn your head, greeted with the sight of your opponents crowded into a car like a family road trip. Hammer is in the passenger seat with the window down as he flashes you a wide smile. You roll your eyes at him as your right knee buckles slightly, but you continue walking. Zemo leans over from the driver’s seat, looking down at the briefcase in your hand.
“Would you like to spare yourself the humiliation of us merely pushing you over and taking that?” You grit your teeth, as he waits for your reply. “That limp looks painful.” You stop walking and the car parks beside you. You toss the briefcase on the floor in front of you, and Zemo’s smirk widens. “See? Was that so hard?” Belova opens the back door and picks up the briefcase. She hands it to Hammer who places it in the footwell. She turns back to look at you before holding a hand out,
“You coming?” With a sigh, you accept her hand, letting her pull you into the seat beside her. Luckily there’s only Belova and Walker in the back so you easily fit.
“I assume you’ll be going to the airfield?” Zemo asks you, his eyes meeting yours in the mirror.
“Yes.” You answer tersely. He raises a brow and you roll your eyes before adding, “Please.” He gives you a small nod, before returning his attention to the road. Despite being in a car with the people you’ve just been fighting, it doesn’t feel awkward. Belova and Walker bicker quietly over who did what in the mission. Hammer chips in every now and then to include his highlights of the day. Zemo remains quiet as he eyes you. It isn’t long before the car is turning into the airfield, and you spot your team already gathered into the helicopter with the engine going.
“They seem eager to leave.” Belova remarks. You breathe out a laugh,
“They always are.” Zemo pulls up at a safe distance from the helicopter and you get out. You circle around the car, passing Zemo’s window. “Well, thanks for the ride.”
“Wait.” He calls out. You stop spinning around slowly. “Empty your pockets.” He knows.
“Afraid I’ve stolen your wallet Baron?” You tease with a smirk. His eyes run down your body, noticing your sudden lack of limp as you take slow steps backwards.
“Check the briefcase.” He orders Hammer, and when he turns to him you set off running. You hear him swear and call out for Walker to follow you. The car doors open but you don’t turn to check how close they are. You throw yourself into the helicopter with a cry of,
“I’ve got it, go!” As you take off you spot Walker still running towards you, but he won’t make it in time. Zemo has stopped running. You grin when you see him run a hand through his hair. Mission accomplished.
°•. ✿ .•°
Some, where you lose.
You hunch over, attempting to catch your breath as you use the alleyway to hide in.
“Tired?” You straighten up at the sound of his voice.
“I think your super soldier broke my ribs.” You turn to face him. “I wondered when you’d be showing up.”
“Did you miss me?”
“Missed the opportunity to fight with you when I was less battered and bruised.”
“I’m sure that opportunity will arise again.” You scoff,
“I don’t doubt it.” He shrugs off his coat, and you brace yourself to take as few punches as you can manage. He looks down at you, noticing the bullet wound on your right arm, and the cuts on your thighs. Bullets from Justin. Knives from Yelena. You joked about fighting John. You had just taken on his entire team on your own. Why? You’re never usually such a poor strategist. He tilts his head aside, “You’re the distraction aren’t you?” Your face drops,
“What?”
“You’re not afraid to face us like the rest of your team. It makes sense that you’d be the one to draw us away from the target.” He taps his ear, speaking into his comms, “Yelena, the target has been moved, most likely in the custody of Ross’s men. Where are they?” He asks you.
“Like I’d tell you.” He pauses to think,
“They most likely believe there’s strength in numbers so if you find one you’ll find them all. Have Justin run facial recognition.” Your mission is falling apart in front of your eyes. You try to push past him while he’s distracted but he’s too quick. He shoves you hard against the wall and you’re stunned momentarily. When you’ve blinked the stars from your eyes one of your wrists is handcuffed and he’s wrapping the cuffs around a drainpipe. You attempt to struggle, but he soon gets your other wrist locked in. Now you have no hands free, and are tied up in an alleyway. Great. Rather pathetically, you pull against your restraints. You’re hardly surprised when you’re not miraculously freed. You slide to the floor, your arms suspended slightly above your head.
“Zemo, please let me go.” You plead with a small pout. He pulls his coat back on, before turning to regard you.
“Is that supposed to convince me?” You smile softly, shaking your head.
“No.” You sigh. “It’s hardly like I could catch up with them now.”
“Yes. But knowing you, you’d still try, and consequently end up disrupting my mission.” You nod slightly in agreement. You close your eyes, leaning your head against the bricks behind you.
“Ross is going to kill me for this.” There’s a small pause before,
“I do hope that statement wasn’t literal.”
“Why? Concerned about my working conditions Baron?” He shakes his head at you. He looks down the alleyway before tossing the key for the handcuffs at your feet. He gives you a small nod before running off.
°•. ✿ .•°
Zemo’s team becomes very well known by your team and the other government agents you work with on the Raft. So much so that they often become the topic of conversation during your drinking nights.
“For a hypothetical mission, you have to seduce one person from Valentina’s team, who would it be?” You take a sip of your wine, before replying,
“Strategy wise? Probably Hammer.”
“Explain.”
“Well, Walker’s married for starters. Starr seems too nice, I wouldn’t want to do that to her. I don’t think Belova’s interested in any of that. So, Hammer.”
“What about Zemo?”
“Oh, he’d see right through me. He’s way too smart for that.”
°•. ✿ .•°
And throughout these missions, you and Zemo begin to get to know one another.
If you’re infiltrating an event, you’ll spot Hammer charming a small band of admirers. Walker and Belova will usually be at the bar, downing their drinks as they survey the crowd. Sometimes they’ll encourage Starr to join them when they dance. You’ll lean against a column before you sense his presence behind you.
“Having fun?” He’ll remark. You’ll breathe out a small laugh,
“You’re not going to distract me.” You tell him, your eyes remaining on the crowd as you scan for your target. He hums softly,
“And you’d know all about distractions, wearing that outfit.” He murmurs, his tone appreciating as his eyes flicker down to admire you. Before you can even begin to consider your reply he adds, “Could you even fight someone in that?”
“Come any closer and you’ll find out, Baron.”
°•. ✿ .•°
The two of you soon stop trying to fight one another during missions, as it usually doesn’t fare well for either of you. You’re too fast, and Zemo’s too smart, and neither of you can do much besides disarm the other.
On one occasion, Zemo finds out what hotel your team is staying at and decides to book the same one for his team. And to organise the same table for dinner.
You raise an eyebrow at him as you study your menu. He only offers you a small smirk as he leans back in his chair, sipping at his drink. Your eyes flicker down the table, to watch as your team eyes the people opposite them warily. His team doesn’t seem the least bothered by the change in company. Belova is helping herself to the bread basket while Hammer is attempting to explain the wine list to Walker. You’re about half way through the meal when one of your team speaks up,
“Commander?” You hum through a bite of your food. He sends a very pointed look at your dinner companions, and then gestures a stabbing motion using his fork. You frown at him,
“We’re at dinner.” You state. “Not only would it be considered rude, we’re surrounded by civilians. If there’s one thing you should know about dealing with this lot is they can be rather destructive.” You glance over at Belova and Walker. Her brow crinkles as she pouts,
“Why are you looking at me?”
“I was looking at both of you.” You admit, gesturing to her and Walker which sets them off squabbling. It takes her comparison to Walker as a human bulldozer for him to immediately start his spiel of ‘it’s because I’m a super soldier...’ and you know Zemo will step in.
“Children.” There’s teasing in his tone, but the warning is clear. When his eyes fall back to you they’re shining with amusement and you can’t hide your smile. Your team disperses the moment dinner is over, you would feel disappointed but by now you’re used to their professional disinterest in you. Which is why you feel so surprised when Belova asks you if you’d join them at the bar. You thank her, but insist that you should leave. She nods, not fully expecting you to join them. You slip away, wandering through the ground floor of the hotel before you find a large balcony. There’s a few people there, mainly couples, sitting and talking, drinking or smoking together. You find a secluded corner to lean against the railing and watch as night falls on the city. Turning back to look through the french doors, you spot Starr attempting to teach Hammer to make cocktails, whilst Belova is mixing something that includes an entire bottle of vodka and Walker watches in apprehension. Zemo’s team, with distinct lack of Zemo. Your eyes soon land on him, as he leans against the doorframe looking at you. You turn back to the view, tracing your fingers along the railing so that you don’t watch him approach you. He pulls a box of cigarettes from his pocket, he holds it out to you, and you shake your head,
“I don’t smoke.”
“Do you mind if I?” You shrug,
“Go ahead.” The two of you are quiet for a moment, as Zemo takes a drag of his cigarette. You sigh, “Why are you here, Zemo?”
“The same reason you are.”
“I’m not talking about the mission.” You keep your eyes fixed on the skyline. “I’m in this hotel because it’s the only place we could afford on Ross’s meagre budget. I think we both know you could buy this entire building.” He laughs softly at your remark,
“And renovate it.” You smile at him,
“It certainly needs it, my room is a horrific shade of mustard.” He laughs again. It’s so rare that the two of you are able to have an actual conversation where you aren’t at each other’s throats. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I heard you had some new members, I thought I’d scope out the competition.” He says, though you’re not fully convinced.
“Hm, a smart idea.”
“I have been known to have them, on occasion.”
“I believe I’ve been on the receiving end of a number of those ideas.”
“I believe you have.”
°•. ✿ .•°
Of course, your colleagues take notice of how often you run into Zemo. Whilst you’re trying to make sense of whatever it is you think of him, they all come to the same conclusion.
“There’s a betting pool on how long it’ll take for Zemo to kill you.” Michael, your friend from HR tells you one morning.
“Oh.” He looks up at you, and you quickly manage a smile. “It’s nice to know you guys are rooting for me.” He laughs, but notices something’s off,
“You okay?”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine. I should probably go finish these reports, get Ross off my back for once.” You make your way to your office, unable to shake the strange feeling that’s settled in your chest. Yes, you and Zemo are on opposite sides. And you fight one another regularly. And you’re both highly skilled, very dangerous people. But you’ve never been afraid of him. You’ve never once thought that he might kill you. Because he wouldn’t. Would he?
°•. ✿ .•°
Over time you get more and more friendly with Zemo and the rest of his team, and increasingly less fond of your own.
“Well maybe I’ll walk back then.” You remark, as a few of your ‘teammates’ make one too many comments that rub you the wrong way.
“Go ahead.” They shoot back. You stand to jump off the back of the truck, only for someone to nudge your foot, sending you slipping backwards into the mud. You hear sniggering as the truck pulls away, and you begin to regret your stubbornness. Within seconds you’re soaked to the skin, as the rain lashes down. Your tact suit provides very little warmth as you hug your arms close to your body and begin to follow the road. You hear a car pull up, and feel a sudden sense of deja vu. The passenger door swings open and Zemo gestures to you from the driver's seat. You hesitate for a brief second, before climbing in.
“We had a bit of a disagreement.”
“And they left you?” Walker asks, disapproval clear in his tone.
“Out in the rain?” Starr adds, and you nod. You rub your hands together, as your entire body shudders. Zemo leans to turn up the heating, adjusting the fans to your direction. You give him a small smile. As you’re making your way through the town, Starr makes a comment about a local drive-through, exciting the rest of the passengers to the point where Belova is bouncing slightly as they all attempt to convince Zemo to pull over.
“I’m sure the Commander has a plane to catch.” Zemo says, dismissing their pleas. He glances over at you, and you meet his gaze. You smirk,
“Well the weather’s pretty awful right now. I don’t think they’ll be able to take off until morning, so I suppose I have some time to kill.”
“You’re paying.”
“Which one of us is a Baron?”
“And that money is finite, it’s hardly like I receive a monthly payment for being a Baron.”
“But Valentina pays you, doesn’t she?” You ask with hopeful eyes, and a rather smug smile. He grumbles quietly to himself before turning into the drive-through to the delight of the rest of the passengers. Belova gives a small cheer and you grin at her, missing the soft smile Zemo gives you.
°•. ✿ .•°
Then Zemo gets hurt on a mission, badly. His team is nowhere in sight and you know that if you bring him to medical Ross will keep him at the Raft forever. So you panic and do the only thing you can think of. You cut out your tracker and go off the grid with him. You head to a safe house that you haven’t used in years, and help nurse him back to health.
“It’s mostly broken bones. But a lot of broken bones. No internal bleeding which was a relief. You’re on a lot of pain medication right now.” You tell him, and he nods in understanding. You hadn’t really considered what he’d be like in this state, but he’s his usual calm self. You stand up, ready to leave him in peace. “Is there anything you need?” His fingers curl around your wrist, he winces at the movement but tightens his hold slightly.
“Stay?” He asks in a small voice. Whether his voice is thick from emotion or lack of use, you’re not sure, but you nod. You sit down on the bed beside him, pouring him a glass of water and helping him to drink. A gentle smile flickers across his face and you notice the warmth in his gaze.
“Get some rest. I’ll be right here.”
°•. ✿ .•°
The two of you get increasingly closer as, for a while, Zemo is reliant on you to look after him.
He smoothes a hand over his face, and you can hear the scrape of his beard against his palm as you follow the motion of his hand. When he notices that he’s gained your attention he asks you,
“Would you mind helping me shave?” A small noise of protest is past your lips before you can stop it. He laughs softly, “What’s that face for?” You shrug, setting your book down and moving to sit on the bed beside his legs.
“I like it.” You admit, trailing a finger along his jawline, feeling the rough texture of his hair against your skin. “It reminds me of Paris.” You add, and he smiles.
“That was a fun one.” You hum in agreement as your thumb smooths over his cheek.
“You actually helped me on that one.” He frowns, not remembering being particularly helpful to you. “Everyone was so busy looking at you, in that goddamn suit, that they didn’t even notice me.”
“I certainly noticed you.” Your hand drops down into your lap.
“Perhaps that’s because I had a knife at your throat.” He shakes his head with a small smile.
“I noticed you much earlier than that. The morning before the gala, you went to the cafe on the corner. You were wearing that ridiculous hat, and pulling off the role of an irritating American tourist rather well.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment.” He laughs softly, rubbing his hand against his face again as he thinks,
“Perhaps I’ll keep it.” You smile shyly, looking down at your lap.
“You don’t have to.” He shakes his head immediately dismissing your backtracking. “Would you like a trim?” You ask him. He nods, and you disappear into the bathroom before returning with a small basin of water, a flannel, and a hair styling kit. You hesitate as you attempt to figure out how you’re going to get close enough to him, though he soon realises your train of thought and pats his lap. “I don’t want to hurt you.” You protest.
“I’m mostly healed.”
“Which is why I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” He states firmly, guiding you closer. You settle down in front of him, and begin to wash his face. You keep your focus on the task at hand, knowing that if you meet his eyes you’ll find them studying your face. He watches you as you devote your attention to carefully washing and drying his face, before you begin to comb the hair of his beard. His lips twitch into a smile at the creasing of your brow as you concentrate.
“No smirking.” You scold him quietly.
“Me? Smirking?” You roll your eyes as the smile creeps onto your face. You pick up the scissors and begin to trim the hairs with an unbreakable level of focus as you turn his face this way and that. Once his beard is trimmed to your liking, you retreat back into the bathroom to retrieve a mirror which you hand to him. He takes in his reflection, before lowering it to regard you with a soft smile.
“Very well done, Schatz. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
°•. ✿ .•°
Though Zemo also ensures to look after you.
You wake suddenly, hand clutching the knife under your pillow and impaling it into the wall before you’re even fully conscious. Your breathing is ragged as you stare at the hilt of your knife with the blade wedged into the wood of the door. Thudding back down against your pillows, you try to ignore the cold sheen over your skin as your heart continues to pound. You’re hardly thinking as you cast the covers away from your body, and drag yourself out of bed. You completely ignore the knife in the door as you open it and pad across the hallway into Zemo’s room. He’s awake, which is a relief, though he looks over at you almost half asleep. He gestures vaguely, encouraging you to come closer. Which you do, slipping under the covers beside him. He slides an arm around you, shifting you further into his arms. Your legs tangle between his, and his hand settles at the base of your neck, squeezing softly before trailing his fingers down your spine. You nuzzle your face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent, and finally allowing your body to relax.
“That’s it, Schatz, you’re safe.” He murmurs against your hair, and the two of you settle into one of the deepest sleeps either of you have had in a long time.
°•. ✿ .•°
The two of you fall into domestic life rather easily. You spend most of your days together, finding out you have a lot in common now that you can actually talk instead of conspiring against one another. You tell him about how you’ve spent the majority of the past few years in the Raft. That the only chances of freedom you get are missions, which certainly aren’t the most enjoyable. He tells you about his family, about Sokovia. About this new team that he’s a part of, and how it can be chaotic at times, but it’s the closest thing he’s had to family in a long, long time.
Your safe house is in the countryside, not far from a small village. So life with Helmut is rather quiet, not something either of you are used to. You take up gardening, planting vegetables and herbs. After living on the Raft for years, you haven’t had the chance to enjoy such greenery around you, or good home cooked food. You soon find out that Helmut is an excellent cook. He teaches you all kinds of dishes, your favourites are some of the Sokovian dishes that his mother taught him to make. Once he’s mostly healed from his injuries, he’ll help you in the garden. When you go to the market you’ll buy certain ingredients that he’s mentioned, or another blanket if he made a comment about being cold, or a new book if he’s already read through your collection twice. You know you should limit your spending, since you can’t use any credit cards while on the run, but it’s worth it to see the bright smile on his face along with the surprise that you’d actually been thinking of him.
On cold, rainy days, you’ll curl up on the couch together with blankets and mugs of tea provided by Helmut. Sometimes he’ll read aloud, his voice soft as he plays with your hair from where your head is lying in his lap. Sometimes he’ll rest his head against your thighs, and you’ll smooth your fingers through his hair as you both listen to the rain pattering against the roof.
Most nights you would end up in Helmut’s bed, whether that be because you woke up with a nightmare, or you just couldn’t sleep without him, or that you were in his bed reading and fell asleep in his arms. You can’t remember exactly when you stopped sleeping in your own room, and neither of you acknowledge the gradual change in your relationship.
You’re sitting on the front porch one warm morning, watching as Helmut tends to some of the flowers you’d planted and thinking deeply about the man before you. When you’d first heard about him, you regarded him professionally as an agent working on the Raft, thinking of him only as the man who blew up the UN. After the chaos of the blip, and then the return, you’d been so busy working. Of course you heard about the flag smashers, about what Helmut had done, before being brought to the Raft by the Dora Milaje. You hadn’t seen him then. You had met for the first time on a mission. From then on he and his team were the thorn in your side. You’d spent night and day trying to outsmart him, to ruin his plans. Somewhere along the way, you had begun to enjoy it. The little quips between you two as you fight over something. The covert dancing at galas and clubs. Now that you look back on it all, when did this start? When did you start loving him?
Whilst the two of you haven’t fully acknowledged it yet, you both know there’s something beautiful growing between you. He’ll call you Schatz and Liebling, you’ll call him love and dear. When you’re cooking he’ll wrap his arms around you. You’ll kiss his cheek when he makes you laugh. The two of you will wake up together in a tangle of limbs, your chests pressed together.
Some mornings you wake to Helmut murmuring sweet nothings against your skin in Sokovian. Not only does he think you’re still asleep, he also doesn’t know that you know Sokovian. One morning, you wake to the sun glowing from behind the curtains and Helmut’s lips brushing against your shoulder as he pulls you closer. It’s become an almost routine, you pretending to be asleep as he mumbles his sleep-addled admiration of you. Though it has been getting more and more difficult not to respond verbally or physically to his murmurings. Then he kisses along your shoulder, his murmurs continuing,
“Du bedeutest mir so viel, Schatz.” You mean so much to me, sweetheart. Your heart warms at his words. “Ich liebe dich.” I love you. He loves you. Helmut Zemo loves you. He shifts slightly, as he feels you react. “I’m sorry if I woke you.” He tells you, acting as he hasn’t just confessed his love to you, and he begins to pull away. You turn around quickly, pulling him back in closer against your body.
“I love you too.” You breathe out, nuzzling against his chest. He tenses for a moment, realising that you’ve been understanding him all along. Then he’s tightening his hold on you. He presses a soft kiss to your forehead as he breathes out a small laugh,
“You’ve known Sokovian this whole time?” You hum in confirmation. He leans back to look at your face, seeing a glowing smile filling your features. He cups your cheek with his hand, brushing his nose delicately, “May I?” He asks you. You nod,
“I’m all yours.” Then he finally kisses you.
°•. ✿ .•°
The two of you manage to live in peace together for a number of months, that is until his team shows up.
There’s a knock at the door and you’re greeted to the sight of Justin, with Yelena, John, and Ava hovering close behind him. They all look a little surprised to see you, and you’re willing to bet you look just as surprised to see them.
“What the hell are you doing here?” You ask them, but Justin and John hurry past you. You don’t do anything to stop them, knowing that they don’t pose a threat to Helmut or yourself. Yelena frowns a little at the boys, but then follows them. Ava gives you a small smile. You wave her into the house, “By all means come in, everyone else has.” You follow them into the living room where Helmut is sitting on the couch. Of course he recognises the footsteps of his team thundering down the hallway, but he only lowers his book when you’ve all gathered before him because he’s a drama queen.
“You look like shit.” Yelena remarks, but you know she’s been worrying about him. That they all have.
It’s a tight squeeze, fitting them all into your safe house. When it was just you and Helmut, the space felt just right; with an extra four people, you would think it’s verging on claustrophobic. But if anything it feels more cosy. You and Helmut share his room, Ava and Yelena share your room, John sleeps on the couch, and Justin sleeps on the pull out. There’s a bit of an adjustment to your usual routine, and you have to buy a lot more food. But within a day or so, their presence begins to feel natural. The six of you spend a lot of time out in the garden, or huddled comfortably in the living room. Which is what you’re doing when everything changes.
“Did you hear that?” John asks sharply. He stands and peers behind the curtains. The rest of you exchange confused glances. Yelena shakes her head, but she stands and goes to look in the hallway. You look over at her as she returns, once she meets your eyes she shrugs,
“Nothing.” Despite living in peace together for the last week, you’re all still on edge, not entirely sure what to do.
“I’ll go check.” Ava offers, then disappears from view, presumably materialising outside the house. You all wait in quiet suspense for her to return. Then you hear it. A muffled scream from Ava. You all turn to one another in shock.
“Run.” You order them, just as the front door is forced open, the wood splintering as armoured men crowd into the house. You leap up from the couch and run to the kitchen, hoping Helmut isn’t far behind. You hear a crash as John leaps through the window, and the thundering of Yelena rushing upstairs. You seize a knife from the countertop as the back door bursts open. With a quick glance out the kitchen window, you see a small SWOT team making their way to the door. You lunge at the first man as he attempts to grab you. You manage to take down two men, but only momentarily. There’s just too many of them. You’re shoved to the floor, your face pressing against the cold kitchen tiles as they wrestle your wrists behind your back. Once they’ve forced a pair of handcuffs on you, they pull you up and March you out of the house. You struggle and stumble, and make it as difficult as possible for them. As you reach the driveway you see John being held on the ground as they attach some large cuffs over his wrists. Another man has Justin pressed against the side of a black van. From the violent bangs and yells coming from inside one of the vans, you guess that they’ve already contained Ava somehow. Yelena and Helmut are kneeling down and cuffed, with a few guards gathered around them. You meet Helmut’s eyes for a moment as the men shove you down to kneel next to Yelena.
“How the tables have turned.” A voice crows from your side, and you groan when you recognise him. Steven. Your supposed second in command. The one who was always undermining you. The one who always wanted your position. Well he’s welcome to it. You stare up at him unblinkingly, saying nothing, and his smirk widens. “Where’s all that famous Commander fight gone?”
“Take these handcuffs off and I’ll show you.” You growl at him. He laughs, and a few of your other former teammates join in on his amusement. He turns away from you. “Or not, you always were a coward.” He wheels around quickly and backhands you. The pain spreads across your cheek, knocking you to the side, but you manage to keep your balance. You look back up at him with a smirk, and begin to laugh quietly.
“What’re you laughing at?” He spits, noticing the guards eyeing you.
“I just think it’s funny.” You say, smirking at him. “That the only time you can land a punch is when your target’s handcuffed and on their knees. Even then, is that the best you can do?” Your ears ring from the force of his next blow, and your vision blurs. You can hear Helmut’s voice distantly, but you’re already losing consciousness too fast to understand what he’s saying.
°•. ✿ .•°
You wake up with a start. Your first thought is, where’s Helmut? Then you realise you’re in your room, the one back on the Raft. Then it all comes back. You stand up hurriedly, your legs wobbling as you stumble to your feet. You catch your reflection in the mirror, the beginnings of bruises mar the side of your face as proof of your capture.
Whilst it probably isn’t the smartest idea, the first thing you do is rush into Ross’s office.
“Sir, I can explain everything.” You say, despite the fact that you can explain absolutely nothing.
“Commander, good to see you’re up and at ‘em.” He says lightly, as if his own men weren’t the reason for your unconscious state of arrival. “And there’s no need, Zemo’s done all the explaining for you.”
“He has? Where is he?”
“Back in his cell. I’m sure he’ll appreciate us leaving his things from his last stay.” Ross chuckles, and you force a smile with a distracted half-laugh.
“What exactly did Zemo tell you?”
“Oh, everything. Going off the grid with him to lure his team to you, knowing we’d be able to track you eventually. A smart move I have to say.”
“Thank you sir.” You say, hoping he doesn’t pick up on the hollowness in your tone. “Did you manage to secure the entire team?”
“We did. Hammer, Belova, Walker, Starr, and Zemo. All thanks to you.” You nod, as your mind reels.
“And they’re all staying at the Raft?” He nods,
“For the moment. We’ve decided to have the relevant scientists flown in, instead of transferring our new inmates.”
“Scientists, sir?” He nods, standing to walk around the side of his desk and perch on it in front of you.
“Of course. Belova was under the subjugation of the Red Room, with her we can implement it in our own agents. Starr is the key to quantum manipulation. Walker will allow us to finally crack the case on the super soldier serum. It won’t take us long to break Hammer, then we’ll have a new tech wiz to replace Stark.”
“And Zemo?” He shrugs,
“I have no use for him. He’s free to live the rest of his life in his cell.” He laughs, clapping his hands together, “Hell, you keep working like this, Commander, and you’ll end up with my job.”
“One can only hope sir.”
Ross dismisses you, telling you that you’ve already done enough work. He even offers to give you a week holiday, as if a week spent on the Raft could ever be considered a holiday. Your legs shake as you find an empty hallway and you lean against the wall for support, before sliding down to sit on the floor with your head in your hands. You stay like that for quite some time, trying to figure out something, anything, to do. You pull out your phone, scrolling through the contacts until you find the one Helmut gave you, in case of an emergency. You dial the number, your leg bouncing as you wait for an answer. The Contessa’s voice is cheery but you know she’s far from pleased that her entire team is in Ross’s custody. Your conversation is brief, you secure a quinjet for you and the rest of the team in exchange for a place on her team, should they want you. There’s a limited window of time before the Raft is fully submerged again. You’ll have to move fast.
You head down to the lower levels, where the laboratories are. It doesn’t take you long to find where they’re holding Yelena. She’s conscious, but restrained to a metal surgery table. Luckily there’s only one doctor in the room, and he’s distracted by whatever he’s reading, so much so that he doesn’t hear you enter. Yelena’s eyes widen when she notices you, and you motion for her to be quiet. It doesn’t take much to knock the doctor unconscious. You leave him on the floor and immediately cut the bindings around Yelena. Once she’s free she’s seizing a scalpel, you grasp a hold of her wrist, keeping the metal away from your throat as the two of you crash to the floor.
“You sold us out.” She hisses, as you both struggle against each other.
“I didn’t, Yelena please. I spoke with Valentina, there’s a quinjet on its way to get us all out of here. But we don’t have long.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“Because I want to get out of here just as much as you do.”
John’s being held on the same level, at the other end of the corridor. You and Yelena stop off at one of the nearby armouries where they’ve locked up her and John’s tact gear. You grab a few extra weapons and then the two of you go to retrieve John. There’s several scientists in his room, along with a small number of guards. You and Yelena soon fight them off, until they’re all knocked unconscious or are too injured to move. Yelena cuts John free, explaining your plan to him, as you man the doorway. He pulls on his own tact gear quickly, and soon the three of you are heading to the elevator.
“Ava will be on the floor below this one. Justin will be two floors up. Ava will have more security, so you two go get her, and I’ll get Justin. Come find me when you’re done, we’ll wait for you.” You tell them as you press the button for the elevator. They both agree, and step into the elevator. The doors close, and you wait for the elevator to come back for it to take you to Justin’s floor. You manage to convince his interrogators to take a break while you attempt to ‘crack’ him. Once they’re gone, you step into the room and uncuff Justin from the chair they’ve tied him to. He rubs at his wrists and you attempt to mop up some of the blood at the side of his head. “Are you alright?” You ask him. He shrugs off your concerns, despite him looking the most disheveled you’ve even seen him.
“Let’s get out of here.” He says, and you nod, helping to pull him to his feet. You steal his briefcase of tech from the evidence room and head towards the stairway to wait for the others. Hearing three pairs of footsteps racing up in your direction, you look down the staircase, preparing for the worst. You sigh in relief when you spot Yelena, John, and Ava.
“Everyone okay?” They all nod, “Let’s go get Helmut.”
You’re tense as you and the team make your way up the stairs towards the prisoner’s floor. You weave your way through the maze of corridors, knowing the way to his cell by heart.
“Wait here.” You tell them, knowing that a large group crowded around Helmut’s cell will attract some unwanted attention.
“Ross is onto us. My codes aren’t working. Justin?” You call out and he nods, pulling open his briefcase and beginning to fiddle with the console beside you.
“I don’t think so.” A voice from the end of the corridor speaks up. Steven. Fantastic.
“And what are you going to do about it?” You goad him, hoping that he’ll go for you and you can fight him off to buy Justin more time. His eyes narrow and you smirk, “Hit me again? Go on, I know you’ve been dying to.” He doesn’t disappoint you, lunging for you faster than you expect. You dodge his first few swings, landing a few hits of your own before you’re shoved against the wall, his hands crushing your windpipe. You land a hard kick to his kneecap and his grip on you falters, allowing you to slip away. You slam his head against the wall. He’s stunned but he still manages to grab you again. You don’t feel his hit land, but there’s a sharp pain in your abdomen which has you crying out. Then he’s gone. Tackled to the wall by a blur of prisoner uniform, relief overwhelming you at the sight of Helmut freed. It only takes a few direct hits to the face for Steven to go down, slumped in a pile of limbs on the floor. In all your time fighting against him, you’ve never seen Helmut use such brutal force. He turns to you and the two of you can only stare at each other.
“I had that covered.” You tell him with a small smile. He breathes out a laugh,
“It looked like it.”
“Thank you, though.” You say with a small nod, a brief smile curls at his lips in response.
“You’re welcome.”
“Come on lovebirds.” Justin calls out to you from the doorway. You hear a large group of people heading down the corridor towards you. Helmut follows you as the two of you rush through the doorway, and Justin locks it behind you. Helmut’s eyes haven’t left you, so he catches the wince you immediately try to cover up.
“What’s wrong?” He asks you.
“It’s nothing.” You say, motioning casually with your hand, which you realise is rather coated in blood.
“You’ve been stabbed.”
“It’s more of a slash.” You remark, looking down at the wound with another wince. He narrows his eyes at you, pulling his hoodie off to press against your wound. You hiss at the contact. “We need to keep moving.” You insist. He nods,
“Which way?” You look up at the corridor, trying to gage your bearings.
“That way.” You nod in the right direction. Helmut loops an arm around your waist, allowing his shoulder to support you, as his other hand keeps the pressure on your wound. You continue to guide the team through the labyrinth of corridors until you reach one of the maintenance exits, which should lead straight up to the upper level where Valentina has hopefully kept her promise. The rest of the team begin to make their way up the maintenance ladder quickly, the metallic clanging of their feet echoing quietly through the narrow space. John is the first to reach the top, once he gets the door open at the top a bright beam of light illuminates the exit. You look up to see a glimpse of the bright blue sky awaiting you, and you let out a shuddering breath. Helmut’s hand is still pressed against your stomach, and he sees how your nails dig into your palms as you grip the rung of the ladder. “You should go in front of me.” You tell him. He shakes his head. “You’ll be faster.” You reason.
“I’m not leaving you behind.” He guides you to the ladder, helping you up the first few rungs with a hand on your waist. “And I’ll be here if you fall.” It’s excruciating. Pulling your body up the ladder, inch by inch, with every muscle screaming at you. You can feel your blood, hot against your abdomen, mixing with the sweat coating your skin. Helmut is behind you every step of the way, offering encouragement that you slowly stop fully understanding as you become more lightheaded. Once you get close enough to the top, Yelena is helping, pulling you up, and you collapse to the floor. Breathing hard, lying flat on your back, you stare up at the open sky above you. You’re not sure if it’s the rushing of blood in your ears, or the crashing waves of the ocean, but either way, it’s the sound of freedom. The quinjet is waiting for you all, and Helmut helps you as you stagger towards it. Once you’re inside, you’re sliding into a seat, your legs giving way quickly. “Stay with me, Schatz.” Helmut says, as you grip onto his wrist.
“I’m here, I’m here.” You reassure him. Ava appears with a first aid kit, and Helmut begins to work on your wound. Your eyes skim over the group. “Someone should see to Hammer, he doesn’t look too good.”
“You look worse.” He argues, flinching as Ava presses a cold compress against his face.
“Thanks Justin.”
“Stop talking.” Helmut scolds you. It doesn’t take too long for him to fix you up, to the best of his abilities. He sits down beside you, and you rest your head against his shoulder. Your eyes flutter closed at his familiar scent.
“Can I go to sleep now?” You ask in a small voice as you continue to fight with your consciousness. Helmut looks down at your exhausted face, before pressing a tender kiss to your forehead.
“Yes, Schatz. You can sleep.”
°•. ✿ .•°
You wake to a strand of hair falling over your face, though it doesn’t stay there long as a hand brushes it behind your ear. Your eyes flutter open, and Helmut’s soft smile is the first thing you see.
“Where are we?” You ask him, your voice quiet and thick with sleep.
“My room, in Valentina’s house.” You close your eyes, a small smile on your face as you mumble against the pillow.
“You have room in Valentina’s house? Is she about to come in? I wouldn’t want to intrude.” He chuckles, shifting closer to you.
“It’s just us, Schatz.” His fingers brush over your skin to cup your cheek affectionately, his thumb trailing across your cheekbone. You hum contentedly.
“Good.” He’s quiet for a moment, before he speaks up.
“You rescued us.”
“Of course. Thank you for covering for me with Ross.” He nods,
“I thought it best to have someone on the inside.”
“You could have told me your plan.”
“I wanted you to be free to choose. I knew you’d be capable of breaking us out should you want to. I wanted you to decide whether you wanted to stay there.”
“I couldn’t stay. Not when I knew that they would be prying into Yelena’s mind, or that Justin was being beaten black and blue. Or that they’d keep taking John’s blood until they had an entire army of super soldiers, or tearing Ava’s cells to pieces. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I’d let that happen.” Helmut pulls you closer into his arms, fingers trailing down your spine soothingly.
“We’re all safe now, Schatz. You got us out.” You nod, the pain and the fear of the last 24 hours finally creeping up on you, as tears fill your eyes.
“I also couldn’t live with a wall of glass and metal bars between us.” You mumble into his neck and he grips onto your shirt when he feels your hot tears against his skin.
“I am unbelievably grateful for the chance to hold you again.” He whispers, his voice breaking for a moment. You turn your head further into his embrace, pressing your lips against his cheek, and he sees you wince as you shift back into his arms. “Careful Schatz, you were stabbed.”
“Yeah, I do remember that.” You out a soft, tearful, laugh. He strokes your cheeks tenderly, brushing your tears away before leaving soft kisses all over your face until you’re smiling again. Your heavy eyes flutter closed as you relax against him.
“Get some rest, Schatz. I’ll be right here.” You smile up at him, feeling a sudden sense of deja vu.
“I guess it’s your turn to take care of me now?” He laughs softly,
“Yes it is. And I’m going to enjoy every second of it.”
“So am I.”
°•. ✿ .•°
Valentina gives the team a few months off, mostly as a gift to you for bringing the team back in one piece. You and Helmut pack your bags and head to Europe in his jet. He introduces you to Oeznik, the old man was practically glowing when he saw how happy Helmut was again.
The two of you visit the Sokovian memorial together. You had offered to wait nearby and give him a moment alone, but he had insisted you be with him. You stand by his side as you look down at the transcription on the memorial.
“She’d be proud of you.” You say quietly, not looking at him.
“Would she?” He asks, staring down at the ground.
“Are you happy?” He seems a little thrown by your question. He stares away for a moment, lost in thought, until realisation shines in his eyes and he admits hoarsely,
“Yes, more than I have been in a long time.” You look back at him.
“Then she’d be proud. I know the way you got here wasn’t exactly conventional.” You say with a small smile as you nudge his shoulder. “But I think that’s all she would want for you.” You take his hand in your own, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
°•. ✿ .•°
You never want him to feel the need to hide anything about his wife for your sake. And you tell him so as you walk through the streets of Rome. He’s mid-way through telling you about a post honeymoon trip when he stops and apologises, mentioning how you wouldn’t be interested.
“Helmut, I know you will always love Heike, and I want to hear about her. Please?” He regards you with such a fond look that you nearly melt. He glances down the street, and something catches his attention. After a brief look at the wall behind you, he smiles. Placing his hands against your hips, he guides you gently against the wall. You frown at him, a little confused by the sudden change in tone of conversation.
“Do you see that restaurant?” He asks you, motioning his head to the building that had caught his eye earlier. Still confused, you nod. “It was the year before Carl was born,” he begins. Understanding dawns on you, and your face softens. “Heike and I were visiting some friends.” His fingers brush along your sides, as he traces your curves absentmindedly. “We started at a bar on the other side of the city at seven in the evening. By three in the morning, we had ended up here.” You pull your eyes from the doors of the restaurant and look up at him as he brushes a strand of hair from your face. “When the owners finally kicked us out, we were tired, full of good food and drink, and happy.” You smile softly at the thought of a young Helmut, blissfully happy with his wife. His smile mirrors your own, but there’s a trace of mischief in his eyes. “And then, I backed her against this wall, right here and…” His lips are on yours, as he steps forward, pushing you further into the bricks against your back. His mouth moves hungrily against yours, as his hand moves to the back of your neck to grip at the hair there. You whimper as he slides his thigh between your legs and you part them immediately to accommodate him. He pulls his lips away, and you attempt to breathe again, looking up at him with a dazed look in your eyes. He smiles at you softly, brushing his thumb over your cheek. “She had the same look on her face as you do now when I did that.”
“I don’t blame her.” You remark with a small laugh which he returns, before you pull him in again by his jacket. The kiss is long and slow as you intertwine your fingers, and he holds them against the wall as he pushes his body closer to yours. He presses a few more soft, lingering kisses to your lips before leaning his forehead against yours to give you both a chance to breathe again. “Where to next?” You ask him.
“I was thinking about Paris?” He suggests with a twinkle in his eye that makes you grin.
“Only if you wear that suit again.”
°•. ✿ .•°
After spending your summer around Europe, you and Helmut meet up with the rest of the team at one of his safe houses. The six of you soon settle in together and Valentina drops off the intel for your first mission. The team begins working on locating your target. Justin runs facial recognition and hacks into databases to retrieve files for the rest of the team to read through. You spend most of your mornings doing research, then training during the afternoon. You spar with whoever’s up for it, though you only fight Helmut for fun as you can read each other far too well. Then you’ll either eat dinner as a team, or Helmut will invite you out to a restaurant, or a picnic under the stars.
One morning you wake up in Helmut’s arms, as usual.
“Good morning, Schatz.”
“Morning, my love.” You nuzzle closer against his chest, and his fingers trace the line of your spine carefully. You hum contentedly as he presses a soft kiss to your forehead. A pair of heavy footsteps head down the stairs, and Helmut murmurs,
“That will be John.”
“Meaning that’s our cue to get up.” He nods, and you whine, “Five more minutes?” He chuckles softly,
“Two more minutes, and you can stay under the covers while I shower.”
“Deal.”
“And no going back to sleep.”
“I will try my hardest.” He makes a small noise which conveys how unconvinced he is. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” He laughs softly, holding you close. You pout when he finally gets up, but settle back under the covers as he heads into the bathroom. You decide to sit up in bed, knowing that you will fall back asleep, especially with Helmut’s warm pillow in your arms and the soothing sound of the shower. When the bathroom door swings open, you’re blinking the sleep from your eyes and Helmut smiles at the sight of you. He leans forward over the bed to kiss you tenderly, when he pulls away he brushes your noses together and you beam at him. “I love you.” You tell him, and his smile widens.
“And I love you.” He kisses you again, before leaving to give you the space to get ready. You hear him talking to Justin in the hallway, and the two of them head downstairs. You shower and get dressed before following Helmut downstairs to the kitchen, only to find the whole team at the kitchen table. You smile and nod in response to the small chorus of good mornings before making some breakfast for yourself. You’re aware of a few conversations occurring, but don’t tune into any of them until you’re sat down at the table. The only seat left is between Justin and Ava, but you’re directly opposite Helmut so he gives you a small smile before he continues reading his newspaper. John’s scowling a little into his coffee, and you nudge Ava slightly.
“What’s up with him?”
“Yelena and I were just discussing codenames.” She explains. You frown at her,
“Codenames?”
“Yeah, like a team name, you know? Like the Avengers.” Yelena adds.
“But not the Avengers obviously,” Justin specifies, before adding, “We know how Zemo feels about them.” Most of you roll your eyes at the recurring joke.
“What did they call us on the Raft?” Ava asks you.
“There was an official codename, but that was just a load of numbers and letters. Most people called you Valentina’s team. I called you Zemo’s team, because…”
“Zemo’s your favourite?” John teases. You open your mouth to argue but then, thinking better of it, you shrug with a smirk as you catch Helmut’s eye.
“It depends on how much he’s annoyed me.” They continue to throw out names at one another, as you and Helmut exchange a knowing look. You decide to cast your mind over the issue, trying to come up with an idea before the team descends into chaos.
“I have an idea.” You offer, and they turn to you and you see Helmut raise a brow in interest. “I was just thinking of names that would really stick it to Ross.” You admit with a small smile.
“Since that’s our mission in life.” Justin remarks and you laugh softly,
“Exactly.” They all look at you expectedly, your new team, your new family, and your smile widens as you suggest, “What about the Thunderbolts?”
whilst Bucky and Sam are out in Riga looking for any information regarding the flag smashers, you are instructed to watch Zemo. and it's safe to say you definitely kept a close eye on him. (1.8k)
requested: not really? i remember someone asked for some kind of zemo smut and this was my best attempt lmao with angst and fluff of course
warnings: brief mentions of poorly written smut, mentions of tfatws series so if you've not seen it minor spoilers ahead (I think)
(everything on my blog is my own writing. if it is shared on another page or website without being credited, it has not been approved to be shared by me. all rights reserved.)
Standing in the streets of Riga. Bucky could feel the civilians watching the two of them closely. "She answered yet?" Sam asks whilst Bucky continues to pace around in a circle with his phone to his ear, listening to it continuously ring waiting for you to answer.
"Does it look like she's answered, Sam?" Bucky quickly retorts, glaring over his shoulder causing Sam to huff loudly and take his phone out from his pocket.
"Let me try too." He mutters, dialling your number and listens for himself as it goes straight to voicemail.
"You get through, huh?" Bucky questions, hanging up as your voicemail message plays for the eighth time in a row.
Burying his phone back into his pocket, Sam looks around. "Got any bright ideas?"
Bucky shuffles on the spot. "It's not like she can be busy, she's babysitting Zemo." Bucky reminds Sam who nods along.
"Hardly a handful for her." Sam jokes as he and Bucky carry on through the streets of Riga, hoping to find some answers.
Yet, back at Zemo's apartment, you were technically keeping an eye on Zemo since he was currently above you in his bed.
"Fuck, Zemo, don't stop." You pant heavily against his ear, faintly hearing your phone ringing from the bedside table.
Zemo reaches down and grips your face. "Focus on me, liebling, nothing else." He breathes out, keeping his eyes fixated on yours. "Is that clear, princess?"
Nodding in response, you can feel the coil inside of you tightening as a moan escapes your lips. "Helmut, I," You stutter, only to feel Zemo pick up his pace, slamming his dick in and out of you faster.
"Hold it, just think what would happen if James and Sam walked in, seeing you begging to cum beneath me." Zemo chuckles, feeling your nails claw at his back, begging for your release.
"Helmut, please," You try not to cry, but you can't hold on for much longer as he continues to thrust into you.
"Cum for me, Y/n." Zemo demands. "You can let go, princess." He softly tells you, watching you become undone beneath him, causing a smile to grow on his face as sweat gleams across your forehead.
Slowly pulling out from you, Zemo moans as he pulls off the condom and heads to the bathroom.
When he returns, he can feel his heartbeat accelerating at the sight of you lying in his bed, the sheets around you creased, your legs still parted and your eyes remaining closed.
"Y/n?" Zemo speaks up, watching you slowly opening your eyes only to see him holding a towel for you. "How about a bath, liebling?"
Smiling, you shuffle off of the bed with Zemo's help, his hand remaining in yours as you walk into the lavish bathroom, the tub close to full already.
"You better not try and escape whilst I'm relaxing, Baron." You quickly comment, looking over your shoulder, watching Zemo leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.
"On the contrary," Pushing himself off from the door frame, Zemo reaches out and brushes his fingers along your shoulders, feeling you shudder in response. "I wouldn't dream of leaving you." He whispers into your ear.
You quickly turn around, looking up at those brown eyes intently. "Helmut," You start, but Zemo shushes you before you can object.
"I mean it, Y/n." Zemo tells you, lifting his hand up to cup your cheek softly. "Now, come, the bath might overflow if you don't get in." He chuckles and brushes past you to turn the tap off.
"Thank you, Helmut." You mutter as you climb into the warm water, letting out a sigh of contentment whilst you lower yourself and close your eyes.
"How is it, mi schatz?" Zemo knows it's the perfect temperature, noticing how you're fully relaxed, a rare occurrence since he's known you.
Humming in response, you open one eye, noticing he's still stood there in a robe. "Why don't you join me? There's room for two I'm sure." You tease, bringing your legs close to your chest.
"Are you sure?" You can tell he's hesitant, but once you nod he removes his robe and motions for you to move forward, allowing him to slot in behind you.
The water spills over the edge at the sudden movement, but you lie back against Zemo's chest, your wet hair brushed over your shoulder as his hands settle on your thighs.
"Can you tell me a story?" You speak up after a moment of silence settled between you both.
Smiling down at you, Zemo nods. "What would you like to hear?"
"I, I'd like to know more about Sokovia. I know I wasn't there when," You trail off, knowing you don't have to explain yourself. "but, it was your home, part of who you are Helmut and I'd like, no I, I'd love to know about it."
You can feel your heart begin to hammer in your chest at Zemo's prolonged silence behind you. Yet, you can't bring yourself to glance up to see what he's thinking.
However, Zemo is trying to remain composed. "Of course," He eventually answers, hearing the breath of relief escape your lips. "well, when I was a child, my father had a farm which we used to visit on weekends,"
*
Pulling the soft robe tightly around you, you couldn't help but struggle to keep your eyes open as you wandered around the kitchen.
"Tired?" Zemo can hear you yawn before you're able to reply, listening to you laugh at yourself whilst he leans against the kitchen counter. "Why don't you lie down, you know I'm not going anywhere." He reassures you, seeing your limbs growing heavy as you shuffle around the counter to stand in front of him.
"I'll be fine, the boys won't be much longer." You mumble through another yawn, feeling your body craving sleep after that relaxing bath. "I blame you, Helmut." Pointing to him, you try your best to glare at him, but the sound of Zemo laughing makes it impossible.
Motioning to the sofa, Zemo rests his hand on your lower back in an attempt to guide you to the said sofa before you fall over. "Now, I'll be right back, I promise." He mutters as you pull on a cushion, burying it beneath your head. Leaning down, Zemo gently brushes your damp hair out from your face, taking a moment to admire how truly beautiful you are and kisses your forehead delicately.
"You are joining me, right?" You mumble through thick sleep, not even able to open your eyes to see Zemo nod as his heart melts.
"Of course, liebling. But I must change first." He assures you before retreating upstairs, knowing there's a fair bit of mess to clean up.
Whilst occupied in the bathroom and you in a deep sleep, neither of you hear the doors opening in a panic.
"Oh thank god." Sam sighs in relief to see you curled up on the sofa, not taking into account the robe you're wearing.
"Where's Zemo?" Bucky tenses up as he scours his peripheral where Zemo is nowhere to be seen. "Check on Y/n. Make sure she's not been given anything."
Rushing toward you, Sam pauses at the sound of footsteps approaching the main living space of the apartment.
"Ah, I was wondering where you two might've been." Zemo walks in, wearing a matching robe to yours as his hair is slicked back. "Did you have a pleasant adventure?" He smiles at the pair who only glare back in response.
"What did you do to Y/n." Bucky snarls, encroaching on Zemo's personal space.
"Nothing." Zemo answers, holding his hands up. "She could barely keep her eyes open so I insisted she took a nap." He explains, glancing over to your sleeping form, remembering how mere hours ago you were screaming his name.
"I doubt that." Sam comments, kneeling down in front of you as he shakes you lightly. "Y/n, come on." He mutters, causing you to stir.
"Helmut?" You whisper, unaware of Sam snapping his head around to Bucky and Zemo.
"Did she just?" Bucky doesn't even finish his question before Sam nods. Averting his focus back to Zemo, Bucky can't stop his frustration from rising. "What did you do to Y/n." He asks once again now clenching his fists tightly.
Opening your eyes, you rub them quickly at the sound of commotion. "What's going on?" Sitting upright, you blink a few times to see both Sam and Bucky standing by Zemo with heavy frowns. "Hey guys." You wave, covering your mouth as you yawn again.
"How long has this been going on?" Bucky demands, evidently disappointed as he looks over at you.
"James, please calm-" Zemo starts, but Bucky grabs the empty whiskey glass beside him and throws it against the wall, causing you to jump whilst Zemo remains stoic.
"How long." He asks again, not daring to take his eyes off of Zemo.
"Since Madripoor." You speak up, keeping your eyes trained on the ground as you tug on your robe. "Bucky,"
"I don't wanna hear it." Bucky cuts you off. "We can talk about this tomorrow." He sighs and heads back out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
"I'll go talk to him." Sam comments. "I, I don't agree with whatever this is, but I trust you Y/n, and Bucky does too." He nods to you before following after Bucky, leaving you and Zemo alone once more.
"Y/n," Zemo starts, but you can't help but crumble.
Tears start to fall from your eyes without hesitation as you curl up on the ground. Zemo sits beside you, wrapping his arms around you and turns you into his chest. "It's going to be alright, liebling." He hushes you, running his fingers through your hair.
"What if they won't forgive me, Helmut?" You hate to imagine what could happen, but you knew your actions would have eventual consequences.
"Oh, Y/n," Zemo sighs, wiping away your tears. "I know they'll come around. They're your friends after all." He admits, not adding the fact he might not be around for much longer. "Come, let's go to bed, yes?" He suggests and helps you to your feet.
Walking together in silence, you enter his bedroom again only to see the bed made with fresh sheets.
"Did you?" You look up at him to see a light blush crossing his cheeks. "You knew I'd end up back in your bed, huh?" You joke playfully, listening to Zemo chuckle whilst he shakes his head.
"I didn't know, but I'd hoped it would be the case." He shrugs his shoulder before pulling the sheets back and climbs in alongside you. "Now, whatever the morning brings, we'll face it together." He whispers into your lips before kissing you softly, never wanting to forget any of these moments with you.
Pulling away, you sigh. "You promise?" You whisper, just about making out his expression in the moonlight.
"I promise." He smiles at you once more before you bury your face into his chest, falling asleep within minutes whilst he remains wide awake. Zemo knows there are watchful eyes never leaving him and won't until he's back where he belongs, without you by his side.
t a g l i s t (thank you for the support!) link in my bio and at the top of this piece to add yourself☺️(if your user isn’t tagged, it’s because nothing comes up sorry!)@bissstuff @psychicforest@lourightm@mywinterwolf@justsomedreaming @stanlux17 @smokeandnailz @supermoonchildbroski @xrosegoldwolfx@courtneychicken@marvelsangels@supraveng@tommy-lee-81@smilexcaptainx@fandom-princess-forevermore@sarge-barnes-sir@pleasantlysecretdream @decaffeinated-fangirl @howdyherron @kirby-boo @florencxs@eldahae @handmesomecoffee @hi-my-name-is-riley @dev1lbella @thanossexual @alissaginger @sambucky8@notbrooklynsblog @nikkixostan @cosmiccaptian @adoreyou976@sarcasticallywitty15 @multi-fandom-princess07 @16boyfriends-and-me @courtneychicken @mackevanstan80 @torchwoodoctor @pleasantlysecretdream @yougottalovefandoms @magicalxdaydream@soccer-100000 @tenaciousperfectionunkown @talksoprettyjjx @btsonthedaily @jessyballet @katiaw2 @buckyswildflower@lucrea @weenersoldierr @katiaw2 @lucrea @amelia-song-pond @bluelakeee @dottirose @emilytheukuleleplayer @5-seconds-of-mendes @rudystilins @bookfrog242@wild-rose-35@fleurlovesbucky@iiclarixa @soldierstucky@twinerd14@lieswithoutfairytales@ateliefloresdaprimavera@teenwonder@weenersoldierr@nobody-will @ilikemypolarbear @rottenstyx @original-in-itself @sebby-staan @bbl32 @lyoongx @iilwjbb @siriuslyslytherin @chazubagi @youngmarveltastypersona @iamninaannaisreading @marry-me-calum-hood @original-in-itself @clownerlyluv @emilyprentisslittlewhore @amelia-song-pond
Being without your lover was torturous enough, but the constant memories of how his fiery touch felt continuously took over your every thought, leaving you shattered and in ruins.
It didn't matter how many times or ways Baron zemo had touched you it always caused you heart to flutter and stole your breathe away. The effect he had on you was supernatural.
Every touch was like the first time, a seduction that would begin with just the slightest glance or whisper. A simple graze of his flawless hand along your shoulder, a sweeping brush up your back. A soft kiss to the top of your forehead. Or the way he placed his warm arms around your waist to cuddle you. He made you feel like there was no one else left in the world. As if, only he knew what you always longed for. You were designed for him. You were his goddess, and Zemo.. only he knew how to truly worship you.
Just seeing the Baron looming closer would have you on the edge, It would set you ablaze. The anticipation would relentlessly build, the deep yearning to have the weight of him on your body, to feel all of him. To feel the sensual caress of his commanding, yet supple hands tracing your exposed skin. How his angelic fingers would seemingly get lost in an unending labyrinth while stroking through your satin soft hair. How he'd make time stand still by exploring every crevice of your smooth flushed neck. The intense emotions he brought out would always overwhelm you with how irresistible he was, how much power he truly had over you. Everytime he would leave you stricken, and have you seeing visions.
How each of his entrancing fingertips would provocatively dance across your aching core, buring his mark into you, as if to brand you. To claim you as his, and his alone. How his broad shoulders and alluring arms gleamed as he would lift you up and thrust you into his bare chest. The feeling of his deep breathes vibrating against your heart would surround you like an invisible force.
There was a devouring and all consuming need you felt, even from the smallest push of his exquisite lips upon yours. It was purely bewitching and powerful, much like the Baron himself. You felt starved to feel his delicious lips grace your skin. To feel them ravish every inch of your body and have them break you at the seams with crazed pleasure.
With just the slightest tickle of his delicate tongue, you'd be lost in fantasies of howling his name aloud into the night sky.
The way Zemo would make you shiver as he slowly drew his broad porcelain palms along your calves and up your thighs. The blinding sensations in your center from the stubble on his cheeks as it brushed your trembling torso. How your heart would forcefully pound behind your breast as he'd tighten his grip. Your hunger for him would only get stronger when his captivating dark eyes would meet and melt into yours.
Zemo would make you drunk with lust, lost in his dominating grasp as his own wicked and primal passions would take over. When his entire essence would finally envelop you. He felt like a fever, a blistering heat deep inside you. He would take you over completely, sending rhythmic pulses of ecstasy throughout every part of your frame. Crashing shockwaves would engulf your entire being, leaving you gasping for air and madly quivering for him.
Every caress echoed in your mind.
Every kiss was a searing inferno.
Every touch burned deep sensual scars within you.
Every move was purely orgasmic and unmistakable, it was sheer magic..
There was nothing, or no one that would ever come close. No one who could completely unravel you down to the deepest depths of your soul the way that Baron Zemo could. If only you had him now, if even, just for one more night...
Summary: In order to get information on the serum, you, Bucky, and Sam along with Zemo have to go undercover in Madripoor. So, you have been given the role of acting as Zemo’s love interest but with an already somewhat flirty relationship where will this go?
Reader: Gender neutral
Word Count: ~6k
Warning: None, mainly just follows episode 3 of TFATWS. Just fluff and some teasing
“James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone.”
Unfortunately, Zemo neglected to inform yourself and Sam of your roles in this plan of his. Before you could ask, the plane landed and Zemo ordered a car whisking all four of you away to a city an hour or more away from Madripoor.
You stepped out of the sleek black car and eyed the quaint tailor shop squeezed between two other buildings. The front of the shop appeared to be in poorer condition to the other surrounding buildings. The brick faced wall crumbled, the windows had iron bars, and the large sign hanging over the door was missing a handful of letters. The only indication that it was a tailor shop was the vintage pictures from different eras of men in waistcoats and suits as well as a fully dressed mannequin in the window.
You looked left and right to see the cityscape of shops, apartments, and restaurants, however at this late hour very few were opened in this part much like the shop in front of you. Not another soul in sight.
Zemo, however, didn’t seemed bothered by the closed sign hanging on the front door as he strolled up.
You turned to Sam and Bucky on your left who looked just as confused as you were. You leaned towards Sam who stood the closest to you. “Do you have any idea what we are doing? I thought we were going to Madripoor?”
“You and me both,” he muttered.
Zemo gently knocked on the door. In an strange pattern, you realized. He stepped back and waited. In seconds, the door opened revealing an older woman. Her grey hair pulled back into a low bun as glasses hung around her neck on a golden chain.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of Zemo. “Helmut! Oh, it’s so lovely to see you.”
Zemo grinned at the woman. “And the feeling is mutual, Naomi.”
Her eyes drifted past his shoulder to you, Sam, and Bucky. She squinted her eyes then leaned in to Zemo. A few hushed words past between them then she looked back at the three of you as a wide smile graced her lips.
“Well, come in, please. It’s a bit cold to be standing out here.” She moved aside ushering Zemo in.
You, Sam, and Bucky shared a look. You exhaled loudly then stepped up first walking into the shop. You smiled as you passed the woman. “Thank you for helping us.”
“Oh, nonsense. Anything for Helmut and his friends.”
Friends?
Walking in further, you were taken back by all the fabric material and the mannequins adorn with high end outfits. A rich oak wood covered the room, with spotless floors. Button ups of every color hung on racks while trousers were neatly folded on hand carved tables. It was a sharp contrast from the outside. You walked up towards a mannequin dressed in an all-black suit. You ran your fingers over the material. It was silky and soft to the touch. In other words, very very expensive.
“Ah, you have a good eye.” Naomi stood next to you. She was a head shorter than you and you wondered if her posture was part of the reason. “This suit was customized by a client of mine. She wanted a suit for a party but also for practicality. The jacket and the trousers are woven with Kevlar.”
“Kevlar?” You asked in surprise.
Naomi smirked. The deep crinkles around her eyes more evident. “Of course.”
Now, you began to understand how Zemo knew this woman. She wasn’t just a simple seamstress with a shop, no she dealt in the underground.
She spun around and walked towards Zemo. “Now, what can I do for you today?”
“I need three suits.” Zemo stated simply. “Preferably within the day. I know it is short notice, but I will pay the necessary rush fees.”
She tsked and wagged her finger in Zemo’s face. “Only for you, Helmut. But, know it’ll be double the price.”
“Of course.” He smiled.
“Good,” Naomi looked around before her sights landed on Sam and pointed at him, “you, first.”
Sam who was staring at the wall of expensive fabric, all the different patterns and colors he never imagined, craned his head over to see Naomi’s sharp eyes on him. He pointed to his chest. “Me?”
“Yes, you. Am I pointing to anyone else?”
He chuckled at the older lady’s antics. “No … no, I guess you’re not.”
Naomi gestured for him to follow over and to stand on pedestal so she could take his measurements. Sam obeyed. Naomi pulled out a rolled up tape measure out of her pocket then began the process.
You watched off to the side snickering to yourself when Sam squirmed when Naomi brushed over a ticklish spot causing her to glare at him.
“Stop squirming,” she hissed.
“Right, sorry, sorry,” Sam cleared his throat standing perfectly still now.
A presence appeared behind you. You peered over your shoulder to see Zemo next to you as he stared at Sam.
“So, are you not getting a suit?” You asked remembering he only said three.
Zemo raised an eyebrow. “Is my outfit not good enough?”
Your eyes raked over his clothes. The maroon shirt with an embellishment of a piece of fabric that curved across his body starting from his shoulder to the opposing waist; the black trouser that fitted him well; matching black boots in which the trousers tucked into; and the show stopper itself was the trench coat with the fur lined collar. It was an attention grabber for sure.
“I guess it is.” You paused then muttered jokingly, “Although, the fur is a bit much.”
He chuckled. A beautifully deep rumble. “Of course.”
You huffed through your nose. “So, are we going to have outfits as bold as yours or will we be blending in?”
“A bit of both.”
“Great.” You murmured sarcastically.
You looked back over to see Bucky up on the pedestal getting his measurements while it was Sam’s turn to snicker and laugh as the super soldier desperately tried not to move.
“Don’t worry,” Zemo’s deep voice resonated right next to your ear. You tensed up as your heart leapt into your throat. “You will not have a fur coat.”
You jerked your head over to him to see his eyes sparkling with a certain glee then he walked away towards the rest of the group.
Damn, that man.
You were an Avenger, have been for years. You joined the team a little bit after Sam which was one of the reason why the two of you were so close. However, being an Avenger didn’t last very long. Sokovia Accords happened, along with trying to find and clear Bucky’s name, and next thing you knew you were on the run.
Thanks to Zemo.
But, you didn’t have a burning hated for the man. You hated that he used Bucky, but not that he split the Avengers by revealing the truth of how Tony’s parents died. In your eyes, it was inevitable. Tony and Steve were strong headed people that were bound to clash, and did so on occasion, so this was all boiling from the beginning. You simply wished that they could have made amends sooner.
Because there was Thanos, the snap, and the five years.
You were part of the half that lived. Both a blessing and a curse.
Which meant, you could also sympathized with Karli and her movement. However, the way she was going about it and with her stealing the serum was something you couldn’t support. All because of this you were now in the company of Helmut Zemo once again wondering how your life ended up this way.
So, was Zemo flirting with you?
And, did you happen to also joke and flirt with him back on occasion?
And, was there also a morbid curiosity of what would happened if you kissed him here and now?
You would have to say yes to all.
“Hey, it’s your turn.”
You snapped out of your thoughts. Naomi was starting at you expectantly while Sam and Bucky smirked. You bowed your head in shame as you shuffled up to get your measurements done. You were move well behaved compared to Sam and Bucky which upset them. They wanted to see Naomi scold you as she did with them. Naomi quickly finished and stood up, but before you could hop off the pedestal Zemo approached.
“Make their suit maroon,” he announced.
Naomi looked over to him and smiled, “Of course. Anything.”
“Maroon?” You twisted around and stared down at Zemo. “Why?”
“Is it not obvious?” He cocked his head.
“You have to play his date,” Bucky muttered not hiding his disgust.
“What?” Your eyes widened.
“James is correct.” Zemo passed over a fold piece of paper to Naomi.
She opened it and nodded as her eyes skimmed down the paper. “Easy. I’ll get some help and these should possibly be done around tomorrow afternoon. Please help yourself to my apartment upstairs.”
Naomi hobbled away through a door on the right leading to a basement. It slammed shut behind her and the sound locking echoed in the quiet shop.
“What did you give her?” You asked.
“Plans for your suits,” he answered as if was completely obvious.
“Okay, then what about this whole ‘playing parts’ thing? You never really went into detail.”
“Well, Sam here is to play Conrad Mack, a man also known as the Smiling Tiger while James will play his old role of Winter Soldier.”
You crossed your arms. “And I’m the side piece?”
Sam snickered.
“Well, I wouldn’t use such terminology, but yes unfortunately you will play my lover.”
“There isn’t some other role to play like Smiling Leopard or something?”
“It would be best to draw less attention with multiple aliases. If multiple people of high ranks got together then more guns than eyes will be on us. To be less conspicuous, you will play my partner. Simple.”
You huffed. “Well, if the Baron says that is what I have to do then I guess I will be the side piece.”
You jumped off the pedestal and strolled towards the door Naomi gestured would lead to her apartment above. You walked past Zemo and patted his chest. Your eyes connected with his warm chocolate ones. “You better buy me all the champagne I want then.”
He chuckled. “Of course, love.”
You walked away shaking your head while Sam and Bucky groaned in disgust. You laughed at their childish actions as you headed up the stairs.
Hours later, as the sun rose, you were relaxing in a plush chair with your feet kicked up on the coffee table. Sam and Bucky were asleep on the couch and a chair respectively. It was already the next day, but you couldn’t sleep. Thoughts about everything swirled around in your head. And there was also the problem of leaving Zemo unattended. So, you promised Sam that you would watch over the Baron as he and Bucky took naps to prepare for whatever tonight might bring.
Zemo slept in the only guest bedroom in the apartment. He kept the door open for you to keep an eye on him. The only condition Sam made with Zemo before either of them fell asleep. You mindlessly stared at the foot of the bed while you played with one of your pocket knives. Flipping and performing small tricks as you delve deeper into your mind.
Such as, what did you truly feel for Zemo?
You couldn’t deny the attraction you felt for him. Let alone, ignore the flirty banter the two of you occasionally have. But, he was also the enemy. He did unforgivable things, hence his lifetime sentence. Yet, he was also a family man who lost it all.
You internally groaned. There is something seriously wrong with me.
“So, I see you have been given the task of babysitting me?”
The voice startled you. Instinctually, you leapt up gripping your knife preparing for a fight. Your eyes darted around the room and landed on Zemo standing in the living room. Clearly awake and out of his room.
So much for watching him like a hawk. Sorry, Sam.
You lowered your hands. “Sorry, you scared me.”
His eyes fell to your knife then reconnected with your eyes. Turning away, he strolled towards the kitchen, “Coffee?”
“No, I already had some. I made a pot earlier.”
He nodded and continued to make himself a cup. “You still have not answered my question,” he called out.
You pocketed your knife and walked towards the kitchen then leaned against the archway facing Zemo. “Yeah, I’m watching over you for the time being.”
“It could be worse.” He noted. He slowly spun around with a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. “James could be watching over me.”
You snorted. “Yeah, I bet the two of you would have lovely conversations.”
He laughed once and took a sip.
You crossed your arms as you stared at Zemo. Your eyes trailed up and down and simply watching all of his tiny movements. The way his fingers curled around the mug and tapped it; the way he rocked side to side; the way his chest rose and fell. But, as you stared longer your mind began to wonder again. How your paths crossed, how you both had missions you believed in, how his hair would feel under your fingers –
Wait. What?
“You know you and James have an unfortunate habit of staring,” Zemo commented.
You blinked snapping out of your thoughts. “Huh?”
Zemo shook his head trying to suppress a smile. “You and James tend to stare. However, James stares when he is angry. You stare when you are confused, and when your mind starts to drift off.”
You dropped your arms. “You figured that out in the two days of being with me?”
“It’s not hard. People are much more simpler creatures than most think.”
You twisted around. Your back now pressed against the thin wooden archway. Your eyes wondered over to Sam and Bucky. “Yeah, I think you’re right about that.”
He strolled over to you. His eyes followed your eye line to see the two soldier sleeping. “You care for them deeply,” he noted in a low voice.
“I care about a lot of people.”
“And what of me?”
“You?” You turned your head to see how close Zemo stood.
Zemo surprised him when he asked the question. He didn’t mean to say it out loud. But, he couldn’t deny his attraction, or how you looked at him less like a monster and more like a person. He licked his lips, “Yes, me.”
You tilted your head as you stared into those brown eyes. It sucked you in. Much like everything about him. His captivating presence, his soothing voice, his charisma and politeness.
“Well, Baron, we’ve only known each other for little over a day. I say if we get out of Madripoor alive then I’ll think about it,” you joked.
He chuckled. “Of course.”
Sam stirred awake seconds later. He pushed himself up as he rubbed his tired face. He blinked a few times before his droopy eyes landed on you. You smiled at him, “Morning … or afternoon, whatever you prefer.”
He offered a lopsided smile. “Mornin’.”
“Get enough sleep?”
“God, no.”
You laughed.
Sam looked to you and Zemo. Zemo now stood a couple feet off to your side, much farther than he was moments ago. “Any trouble?” he asked eyeing Zemo.
Zemo raised his empty hand in defense. “I have done nothing.”
“He’s right, Sam” you said. “He’s been asleep just like you guys. He just got up too.”
“Good,” Sam stood up and walked towards the kitchen. “You can go get some rest now if you want I can watch over him.”
You nodded knowing you’ll need the rest for tonight. You shuffled towards the couch when Zemo spoke up. “The guest bedroom is available. Probably more comfortable to rest in a bed than a couch.”
You glanced over your shoulder to him then over to the open bedroom door. You shrugged then changed course to the bedroom. Shutting the door behind you, and with the window shades pulled down, it was fairly dark. A nice way to trick your brain into hopefully sleeping soundly.
You kicked off your shoes then crawled into bed. A deep sigh left your lips. You definitely needed this. More than you realized. You rolled over snuggling into one of the pillows. Inhaling, a smell wafted into your nose. A musk. An expensive musk. Zemo’s cologne.
Trying to bite back a smile, you snuggled further into the pillow as you dozed off with thoughts of Zemo.
What felt like minutes later, someone gently shook you awake. “(Y/N),” they whispered.
You groaned and rolled over. Cracking open your eyes, you saw Bucky standing over you.
“Fuck, Bucky, what time is it?” Your voice groggy.
He smiled, “Not sure, night time though. Our suits are done and we getting ready to go.”
You dragged yourself and rubbed your eyes. “I need another three hours.”
“You and me both,” Bucky mumbled. “Anyway your suit is on the edge of bed so get dressed.”
He then awkwardly shuffled out closing the door behind him.
Your eyes slid over to the empty space to see a suit on a hanger along with black dress shoes. You hopped off the bed and got a better look. The jacket and trousers was the same color as Zemo’s shirt. A beautiful rich maroon. The under shirt was a black button up with a thin black tie to match. A black handkerchief was also tucked into the breast pocket of the jacket. However, the only peculiar thing was something silver that twinkled in the dim lighting. A pin hooked on the tie. A bird, no, a dove. A simplistic dove pin.
Was it a touch from Naomi? Or from Zemo? A part of you hoped for the latter.
A giddy smile twitched on your lips.
Outside the guestroom, Sam adjusted his collar. He felt utterly ridiculous in his suit. The colors were nice, but the ostentatious pattern wasn’t his cup of tea. Bucky also looked displeased with his suit, or if it could be called a suit. It was more of a uniform, an outfit bred for battle. The most notable aspect was the sleeveless left arm to show off his black and gold vibranium arm. It all left a sour taste in his mouth.
“Stop fiddling, Sam. You look fine,” Zemo stated trying to suppress an eye roll.
“Well, I feel ridiculous,” Sam huffed.
“I think you look great.”
The three men glanced over to you. You strolled out of the bedroom with your maroon suit that hugged your figure perfectly. However, instead of buttoning your top buttons you left them undone as your black tie hung loosely around your neck. The dove pin twinkled under the fluorescent lights.
“Damn, you looked amazing, (Y/N).” Sam commented while Bucky nodded in agreement.
You laughed. “Thanks, Sam.” You shoved your hands into your front pant pockets. “So? Are we all good to go?”
Zemo couldn’t look away. You looked better than he imagined. He was having thoughts he hasn’t have in a while. Not since you showed up in his life. His eyes fell to the pin on your tie. A dove. It was a lovely touch by Naomi. One he wished he thought of. He cleared his throat, “Yes, we are good. Let’s go.”
You nodded and made the first move to leave. As you walked by Zemo, you leaned in and whispered, “Just know that if you do get too handsy I still have my knives.”
Zemo stared stunned.
On the way to Madripoor, Zemo repeated how you all have to stay in character no matter what happens. You would get the information you needed then leave. An easy in and out mission.
Hopefully.
In the car ride, Bucky sat in the passenger seat while Sam, you, then Zemo crammed into the backseat. Motorcycles flanked the car as the car made different twists and turns to get to lowtown. The driver said nothing the whole time but continued to give you an odd look. Without saying anything, you wrapped your arms around Zemo’s arm and rested your chin on his shoulder. Zemo tensed for a moment of surprise before slowly relaxing.
You whispered into his ear. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
He peered at you in his peripheral. “I do,” he mumbled under his breath.
You laughed lightly then spoke louder enough for all to hear. “Helmut, what are we going to do after all of this?”
Following your lead, he said, “Whatever you wish.”
The driver’s eyes stopped burning through you. Your little act worked. For now. Instead of pulling away, you adjusted your head and laid your head more comfortable on his shoulder. Your heart raced. Both from close proximity with Zemo and with what may lay ahead.
You unconsciously squeezed Zemo tighter.
Zemo could feel your raging heartrate, could hear the way you tried to breath slow even breaths. You may have done multiple missions, but it doesn’t mean you never got over the jittery nerves. Zemo craned his head and whispered lowly in your ear, “You have nothing to fear, everything will work out fine.”
“Don’t jinx it.” You murmured.
He huffed through his nose. “I did not think you were into that sort of thing.”
“Not entirely, but it’s best not to tempt the universe.”
He chuckled. It rumbled in your ear and throughout your body.
When you reached your destination, in an underground tunnel, Zemo stepped out of the car. He turned around and held out his hand towards you. You smirked and accepted his gesture.
“A true gentlemen,” you teased.
“Only for you,” he quickly replied as he kissed your knuckles.
The door shut behind you and now all four of you stood in lowtown of Madripoor. The driver put the car in reverse then muttered, “Have fun.” Then drove away.
“Please, follow me. I know where we can contact Selby. A bar not too far from here,” Zemo stated and took the lead.
However, he never let go of your hand. He easily intertwined his fingers with yours as he walked towards the destination. You quickly matched his pace and stood side by side with him. Glancing over your shoulder, Sam and Bucky took up the rear end.
Sam raised an eyebrow at you. A way of saying ‘are you good?’
You nodded then jerked your head to Bucky. ‘Is he okay?’
Bucky’s eyes bounced around counting the number of people, noting all the guns and weapons, and spotting any suspicious people. Or at least more suspicious in a place like this.
Sam looked over to Bucky then back to you. He shrugged. ‘I guess’.
You looked back in front of you. Out of the tunnel, it opened up to a busy packed street. Bars, shops, restaurants tightly packed into a small area. Neon lights flickered everywhere grabbing your attention. People dressed in bright colors with odd accessories or simply in all black. Guns hoisted on shoulders as people eyed each other with hesitation.
Zemo was right. You would blend in and stand out.
You squeezed Zemo’s hand at the sight of all the guns. One wrong move and chaos would erupt.
Zemo’s thumb gently rubbed the back of your hand. He whispered, “You must relax.”
“Easier said than done.”
“No harm will come to you, I promise.”
You scoffed as you looked to your right seeing a shop filled with semiautomatic guns. “An odd thing to promise in a place like this.”
“We just have to play our roles and get our information. Once we do that, we are out of here.”
You laughed once. You turned your head looking at Zemo. An evil thought planted into your mind. A wolfish grin spread over your lips. “Are you saying you want me to make out with you right here?”
Zemo chocked back a noise.
You laughed wholeheartedly throwing back your head. “My, my, Helmut.”
Zemo loved hearing his name roll off your tongue.
You smiled at him with a cheeky grin. “Was this your plan all along? To have a reason to have your way with me?”
Zemo’s cheeks flushed as words evaded him.
You laughed again shaking your head. You patted his chest. “You’re so sneaky.”
“I –“ he cleared his throat “- that was not my intention. It was the most reasonable role to lessen suspicion.”
“Uh-huh.”
Zemo couldn’t believe how easily you flustered him. Especially, since he knew you could be flustered by him. He enjoyed entering your bubble and hearing how your breath hitch. Small signs that he noted. But, the moment you flipped the script, Zemo felt like a teenager again dealing with his first crush.
Luckily for him, the bar in question finally appeared in sight. Zemo unconsciously pulled you closer as all four of you pushed through the crowd. You looked over your shoulder to see Sam and Bucky trying to make their way through.
Zemo stated loudly in Russian, “Ready to comply, Winter Solider?”
Murmurs of the Winter Solider spread like fire.
You instantly had a bad feeling about all of this.
Together, you reached the bar. The bartender nodded to Sam and Zemo. His eyes glanced over you. You choose to ignore him as you clung to Zemo. Zemo expressed how he had business with Selby to answer any questions the bartender may have. But, the bartender nodding thinking nothing of it, he simply turned and asked Smiling Tiger if he would want the usual. Sam nodded. He clearly looked just as uncomfortable as you felt. Bucky scanned the area waiting for something to go wrong, waiting for impending orders.
The bartender returned with a … questionable drink for Sam. You scrunched your nose as he put raw snake parts into a shot glass. Zemo, on the other hand, almost mockingly said, “Ah, your favorite, Smiling Tiger.”
You snorted trying to maintain your composure.
The bartender also placed two shots for you and Zemo. You gladly picked up the glass. You cheered with Sam then Zemo and downed it.
You really needed that for your nerves. And especially for what happened next.
A man eyed Zemo. You spotted him from across the bar. Someone whispered to the man before he approached Zemo. His eyes steely filled with determination. But, before he could step any closer, you whipped out a knife and pressed the tip under the man’s chin. The man froze with his hands raised.
Swallowing, he stated, “I got word from on high. You ain’t welcome here.”
You cocked your head glancing to Zemo.
Zemo calmly replied, “I have no business with the Power Broker, but if he insists, he can either come and talk to me or,” Zemo gestured to Bucky then to you. “Or bring Selby for a chat.”
You lowered your knife and the man backed away. You pocketed the knife hiding it back in one of your many spots. “Power Broker?” You asked.
“Every kingdom needs its king. He is judge, jury, and executioner.” Zemo answered.
“And you know him?” Sam asked.
“Only by reputation.”
“How nice,” you mumbled sarcastically.
Soon, you began to notice how people eyed your little group. Hungry eyes landed on all of you, but especially on Zemo. You whispered into the shell of Zemo’s ear, “I think we’ve got trouble.”
A man started to approach.
“Not to worry,” Zemo said. He glanced over to Bucky. Bucky met his gaze then Zemo gave him the order: attack.
In seconds, Bucky was fighting people left and right. It was astounding. You almost leapt in to help when Zemo grabbed your arm and guided you back to him. Your back pressed against his chest as he whispered, “Do not move. We need to stay in our roles. And he is more than capable of handling himself.”
He was right.
Thankfully, the fight ended fairly quickly with a confirmation that you could all met with Selby.
Lead down back hallways, through twists and turns and past armory of guns and container probably filled with drugs, you entered in a small den. A restaurant of sorts. Artifacts lined the walls in glass compartments as guards lingered around with guns resting in their hands. All of you were lead to a woman reclining on a couch.
She didn’t seem all too pleased with your sudden appearance.
Sam decided to stand next to Selby while Bucky stood opposed to him. Zemo plopped down in the only chair across from Selby while you perched yourself on the armrest next to Zemo.
“Well, who is this?”
After tearing your eyes away from the guards, your eyes fell on the woman.
Selby continued, “I know everyone here, but not you, love. So I’ll repeat myself one more time: who are you?” There was a sharpness in her voice. If she didn’t like the answer, she would happily kill you here and now.
Zemo cleared his throat then gestured to you, “This is –“
“I can be whoever you want me to be.” You cut Zemo off. You knew how people like her worked, knew how to get in their good graces.
“Spunky. I like that.” Selby smirked and leaned forward. “But I did ask for a name, love, did I not?”
You licked your lips. Your eyes darted over to Zemo then back to Selby. An alias wasn’t on your top priority. You were to play Zemo’s lover and that was that. No one would bat an eye. Or at least that was the plan.
Nervous, you smoothed the front of your shirt, running your fingers over your tie. An idea quickly formed in your mind. You smiled, “Well, I go by Dove now.”
“Now?”
You peered down at Zemo. He slowly glanced up with a faint confusion written into his features. What –
You reached over and drew his chin up as your thumb swiped across his bottom lip. Your smile held a type of mischief as you tiled your head. “I’m his dove.”
Zemo’s heart pounded in his chest.
You leaned in as your nose brushed against his. Zemo froze. Chuckling, you pulled away staring back at Selby, “He doesn’t like public affection too much.”
Selby smirked, “I see.” Her eyes landed on the bashful Baron. “Well, tell me what you want Baron.”
Taking a deep breath, Zemo tried to recenter himself. “Tell us what you know about the super solder serum –“ Zemo pointed to Bucky “- and I give you him along with the code words to control him, of course.”
“It was a smart move to come to me,” she stated. “But, how about you add them into the mix and you got yourself a deal?”
“Excuse me?” Zemo blinked.
Selby pointed at you. “Yes, your precious dove and the Winter Solider.”
“Why –“
“Simple. The Winter Solider is a fine tool, but people are the backbone of this operation.” She fell back into her couch and crossed her legs. “And your dove has an edge that I like. A person to not double cross. Someone I want on my team.”
Instantly, Zemo shook his head, “No, I –“
“I am not a pawn to bartered,” you said confidently. “Besides, I don’t think you would like my company.”
“Oh?” Selby cocked an eyebrow.
Just play the part.
You leaned forward on the armrest. Your eyes never left Selby’s. With a flick of your wrist, a hidden pocket knife popped out of your sleeve into your hand. You pointed the knife at Selby.
Movements scuffled behind you as voices growled. One of Selby’s bodyguards pressed the barrel of his gun to your head. You didn’t look away from Selby. Sam tensed up readying himself for a fight. Bucky desperately tried to maintain his cool while Zemo slowly moved for his gun under his coat tucked in his waistband.
You reached over and placed a hand on Zemo’s shoulder, a way of telling him you had this. “You won’t kill me,” you stated coolly.
The man grunted pushing the gun harshly against your head. One trigger happy finger and your life would be over.
“You kill me, you lose the Winter Soldier and you’ll make an enemy of Zemo and Smiling Tiger. Two new enemies with no gains.”
Selby motioned to the guard. He dropped his gun and stepped away. Everyone momentarily relaxed.
“Greed does not suit most people. You’ll get the Winter Soldier for the information we need and that is that. And to be honest, your side of the deal is already much sweeter.”
“Are you trying to lecture me?” Selby asked. That sharp tone back in her voice.
You flipped the knife and hid it back into its place. You slid off the arm of the chair and into Zemo’s lap. You threw an arm over his shoulder and stared directly at Zemo. He offered a small nod asking ‘are you okay?’
You smiled easily despite your fast heartrate. You glanced over to Selby as your fingers dug into the ends of Zemo’s hair. He tried to suppress a groan. You said, “No, just offering some advice. And I prefer his company.”
Selby laughed genuinely. “I see why you picked them, Baron. Very spunky indeed. I do like them.”
“Glad to hear,” Zemo said through clenched teeth.
Selby happily gave you the information you needed, but nothing ever worked out perfectly for you. Maybe, Zemo did jinx it.
Sam’s phone rang. It was Sarah.
One miscalculation. One oversight. Selby barked her orders, “Kill them.”
In a strange turn of events, someone killed Selby. Not you, not Zemo, not Sam, or not even Bucky. An outside force. Bucky and Sam knocked out the guards and grabbed their guns. Each of them ready for a fight. A battle. But, Zemo had a different plan. To calmly walk out. You unfortunately didn’t have any other options so you went with the latter.
So, the four of you walked out into the streets. Chimes began to echo all around you.
“Guys?” You said nervously.
“This is not good,” Zemo muttered.
People looked at their phones then to the people around them. You all continued to briskly walk away hoping you would get out safely.
But no.
Gunshot rang out.
Sam and Bucky sprinted down the street. You ducked at the gunshots then tried to stand up, tried to run for cover, run to Sam and Bucky, when a hand clamped on your wrist dragging you off to the right away from Sam and Bucky. You were pressed against a brick wall as someone covered you. They used their body to protect you as chaos erupted.
“Are you alright?”
Zemo.
You nodded. No harm will come to you, I promise.
Footsteps echoed to your left. Your head snapped over to see two people. Their guns aimed at the two of you. Without thinking, you reached around grabbing the gun tucked in Zemo’s waistband. You flipped him over pinning him against the wall as you fired two rounds dropping them both.
You looked to Zemo. “You good?”
He chuckled at the role reversal.
You smiled then glanced around making sure no one else was sneaking up on you. Zemo couldn’t help but stare. The neon lights haloed around you. His heart skipped a beat. His eyes wondered up and down before spotting the dove pin sparkling in the colorful lights.
You looked to the left down the empty alleyway. “I guess we should go this way to avoid the crowds. You know the way, and we have to catch up with Sam and Bucky.”
Without thinking, he gently cupped your face drawing your attention.
You blinked, “What?”
Not wanting to have any regrets, something he had to learn through unfortunate circumstances, he slowly began to lean forward. His lips carefully brushed against yours. He smiled slightly at the way your breath hitched. His eyes locked with yours. He could happily drown in them. However, he wouldn’t go any farther. He needed to know if you also wanted this. He left it in your hands.
Your heart pounded feverously against your chest. Your eyes darted down to his lips, his lips that were a fraction away, then quickly jumped back up to his eyes. Blame it on the adrenaline, blame it on the single shot of alcohol, or blame it on this tension you and him always had, but you didn’t pull away. You were curious and desperate to know how it would all play out.
With the tiniest nod from you, Zemo pressed his lips against yours. A soft loving kiss. Your eyes fluttered closed. His other hand snaked around your lower back drawing you closer. The sweet kiss shifted. His mouth parted your own as he tilted his head deepening the kiss. His tongue snuck in exploring every inch of your mouth. Your knees almost buckled.
Slowly, he pulled away seeing how utterly breathless you were with your eyes wide and with your lips parted in shock. You weren’t expecting that. Your heart raced, flipped, skipped, pounded, all of the above. And worst of all, you were hungry for more.
He smiled as his thumb gently stroked your cheek. “Come. Let’s go find your friends.”
What? “Zemo –“
“We will discuss this later.”
He peeled himself off the wall and away from you. Part of you almost stopped him, hissed at you to keep him caged against the wall. Zemo strolled down to the end of the alleyway to a fork and looked left and right. You, on the other hand, continued to stand stunned at what had just transpired.
Zemo peered over his shoulder back at you. He couldn’t help but feel a bit proud at your reaction, but you did need to move. He wasted too much time as it is. “Dove,” he gently called to you. “We have to move.”
Your face grew warm as you jogged up to him. “You’re right. We are definitely talking about this later.”
He saw your heavy breathing, your flustered appearance, and the way you gripped his gun tighter. All his doing. And he knew mimicked your appearance. He thanked whoever was willing to listen that it was dark and hardly any lights down this way or you would notice his flushed cheeks. Taking a shaky breath, his eyes glanced back down to your lips then murmured to himself, “And possibly something else afterwards.”
summary: it's been years since the avengers fell apart and you've finally decided to pay zemo a visit – to give an apology for what happened in sokovia so long ago.
word count: 1073 words
A/N: honestly, this is bad and i am so sorry. i got the idea and couldn't stop myself from writing it down.
// NO SPOILERS FOR TFATWS!
Standing in front of the bulletproof glass, nothing more then a glass wall between you, you knew the decision to come here had been the right one.
If nothing else, the surprised look on Zemo's face when it was you that walked into the cell was worth the long trip, possibly even the lies you had told your team when they asked where you were going. You knew your team well by now, even scattered and in pieces as the avengers were right now, some things never changed.
And while nobody would have tried to stop you from going, even if you told them the truth, you knew they wouldn't understand why you wanted to see him.
After all, the wounds of your team falling apart in such a gruesome way were still fresh in everyone's minds, the years doing very little in the terms of anyone actually moving on from what had happened that day in Germany. And you understood your teammates, on some level at least.
Even now, looking at Zemo, both of you silent as you stared at each other, the tension visible to whatever guard was looking at you on the camera, you couldn't help but wonder just how easy it would be for you to fall back into your old mindset of blaming him for everything that had happened.
But you knew better now, as much as it pained you to admit it, the Avengers had always been a fractured team, on the verge of breaking apart any moment, all the secrets and bitterness tearing you all apart until one day you just couldn't hold onto each other any longer.
After what felt like seconds in your head, but was probably much longer in reality, Zemo finally broke the silence, his voice snapping you out of your thoughts. "You know I was wondering when one of you would come here. I have to admit I am more then a little surprised it's you, I was half expecting to see the Winter Soldier when the guards told me I had a visitor."
You stayed silent, a tiny twitch of your lips the only sign you had heard him. This had all been so much easier in your head, locked away in the comfort of your home, just thinking about coming here.
But now, when it was all a reality, you couldn't even force yourself to look up, your eyes refusing to meet his as you forced yourself to stand still in front of him. That 'strong avenger' part of your braing unwilling to show just how nervous standing here made you, even the glass between you doing very little to give you any actual comfort.
You must have looked like a fool, your lips parting more then a few times, words caught just at the edge of your throat but none of them coming out.
"I'm sorry!", you finally blurted out, the uncomfortable silence finally forcing you to break and speak up.
If he was suprised by your words, you didn't notice, his eyes only widening for a split second, an almost manic grin spreading across his face. "Oh! And what are you sorry for little Avenger?"
He was mocking you, the word Avenger spat out like an insult, though you supposed he did see it as one. You forced yourself to ignore just how hard his words hit you, lifting your head in a false display of confidence instead, for the first time since you arrived getting a good look at him.
"I wanted to apologize for Sokovia, actually. What happened after that was awful and the things you did unforgivable-"
He cut you off, a humorless laugh escaping his lips. "You really know how to apologize, must be the Avengers ego, making you believe that insulting me is a decent apology."
You found yourself biting your tongue, half tempted to snap back. Instead you just shook your head, your voice a bit harder then before.
"You know what? You're right, this has nothing to do with what you did but with what we, the Avengers did. And I know you don't care and my words won't change what happened in Sokovia, but I am sorry. I'm not sorry for stopping Ultron, in the only way we could at the time... but I am sorry for the way I left Sokovia after that, for not going back once the fight was over to help fix the mess that I was a part of creating."
This time Zemo did look surprised, and you couldn't tell if it was because you had said he was right or because of your apology. Or maybe a mix of both.
You were a little shocked by your words as well, despite thinking them over in your head for the past several months. Months ago, when you had first gotten the idea of apologizing it had been a much more general apology, a standard 'the Avengers are sorry for what they did but it was for the greater good' sort of apology. One that had spilled out of your mouth way too many times to really mean anything.
"If we are beeing honest here-", once again it was Zemo's voice that snapped you out of your head, embarresed to be caught spacing out twice already, "you or any member of your team coming there wouldn't have been enough."
It was the harsh truth of what he said that made you tear up. And what a pitiful sight you must have made, even the darkness of the cell not enough to cover the hurt expression on your face.
Zemo must have felt some pity on you because his voice was far more gentle then you could have ever imagined when he continued talking, "I am not trying to be cruel here. Your apology, while too late is appreciated."
And more then anyone else had bothered to give him, went unsaid but clearly thought by you both.
"But you must also know, that an apology, while appreciated, will never be quite enough. When people hold the power you and your team once did, making a mess and saying 'sorry our bad' won't change a thing, won't bring back a single person killed." His words weren't kind, but they weren't meant to hurt you either, you knew that.
So when only ten minutes later you left the prison, you left if with hope.
