We're more alike than you think

15. The book

Zemo got quiet which you appreciated, but it was first now you got a question you wanted to ask him. It was a very simple question really, just where the fuck are we going? You don't know if he deliberately didn't tell us the place this Selby woman was located or if he just forgot. Anyway, it irritated you that you couldn't prepare yourself for what was coming. The only thing you knew was that this couldn't be in Europe because of the flight time, which was a relief. Your eyes turned from the window to Zemos book, trying innocently to get a glimpse of what this guy was reading.

"Do you want me to read for you? I think you would love this book."

Fuck, it didn't even take seconds before he caught you looking. You rolled your eyes at him and leaned back in your seat. You had a discussion with yourself, did you wanna play along and see where this was going? Or just keep shut? You didn't know how much more time you had on the flight so you chose to give in. In many ways, this was a form of entertainment "I don't even know what you are reading." you mumbled and tried to look like you weren't really interested.

"Das Nein in der Liebe: Abgrenzung und Hingabe in der erotischen Beziehung" by Peter Schellenbaum.. It's about delimitation and surrendering in a erotic relationship..How progress of love relationship from the beginning, with all the enthusiasm and unbound hope, through to the skrinking back to normality.. where there's less excitement to explore each other... I think you would like this. "

Your eyes popped out. Hearing Zemo talk so eagerly about this subject made you slightly at unease, just hearing him say the word.. erotic.. made you.. feel a certain way you weren't comfortable with right now. This man, Baron Helmut Zemo had been in prison for 8 years, nearly 9 and this was the first book he chooses to pick up after breaking out of prison.. an erotic relationship advice book. You moved a little bit in the seat, searching for words to say. Zemo enjoyed this, seeing how you reacted to his words.

"I'm gonna have to turn that offer down. I'm not exactly the type for romance and I find these kinda books to be a bit... desperate." you said and tried to laugh it away. You couldn't even look at him without feeling shameful.

"Oh, really?" Zemo said with a smirk on his lips. He put a finger under your chin you nodded weakly. He couldn't help it but admire your face, it was so innocent.

"Just listen," he said and went back to a different page. He secretly put his hand on your thigh as he was holding the book. You knew you should've moved it the second it landed there, but you let it be. You could lie as much as you wanted to, but it felt good and he knew it.

"What ultimately motivates every love is the shadowy presentiment that one can become a new person through devotion and surrender to a Thou. That love often turns to hate does not contradict this assertion, but rather indicates the considerable difficulties that are bound up with the process of devotion and surrender to a Thou." he said with a gentle voice. He closed his book and looked over to you, waiting for your reaction.

You knew that Zemo was playing you, but what for was unknown. He was so gentle with his words, careful, something a man with history as his shouldn't be. You quickly looked away and out the window, giving yourself space to breath and collect yourself for a minute. You thought about what he said before you opened your mouth.

"What the book is saying, or what you are saying, is that to fall in love, you would have to surrender yourself to your partner? Right?" you said and looked back at him.

"Little bit more complex than that, but yes" he said and tried to read your face. You looked at him with a little smile "That's pathetic, I thought you were smarter than this Zemo." you said and moved his hand off your lap.

"Little bird, you still have much to learn"