We're more alike than you think

17. The Bar

We stepped into a nightclub called 'Brass Monkey Saloon' and you couldn't help but get annoyed at how crowded the place was. Zemo held you tight leading you to the bar counter. His hands around your waist should feel more wrong than it does, but you told yourself that this was just a mission, a simple job. After this you could easily go over to acting if you wanted to. The bartender took immediately notice of Sam and Zemo as he walked over.

"Surprised to see you here, Smiling Tiger" the bartender said and Sam gave him a short nod.

"His plans have changed. We are here for business with Selby" Zemo said with a little smile as the bartender looked over at you.

"And what about her, a new one to the collection?" he said with a smirk. Your hands reached for the knife in your corset, but Zemo grabbed your hands and stopped you before you ever reached the corset. He held your hands down making sure you wouldn't misbehave, and looked you deep in your eyes with great disappointment before he gave you a nod to the bartender. You turned your face to the bartender with a fake smile.

"I like to think of myself as the finale item." you said with a sugar sweet tone which shockingly made James laugh. Zemo smiled when you finally listened to him and let his hands back on your hips. He leaned down to your ear, you could feel his breath against your ear as he whispered

"Good girl"

your heart jumped a beat as you tried to process what he just called you. Your hands got warm and you struggled to keep your mind sharp. His voice when he whispered to you was gentle, yet so dark and powerful. You didn't know where to look, but luckily for you a man spoke up.

"I got word from on high. You ain't welcome here." the stranger said. Zemo immediately pushed you behind him, so you stood between him and James. It almost looked like he tried to protect you, not that you really needed it. "I have no business with the power broker, but if he insists he can either come and talk to me or bring Selby for a chat." Zemo said strictly to the guy as he went away. James asked Zemo about the Power Broker, which you knew was just to cover up, cause you knew that the both of you had heard about him before, even if he wasn't willing to admit it.  It didn't take long before another man laid a hand on Zemo and that's when you heard him ask for the Winter Soldier.

"Ready to comply?" he asked, and James didn't even blink before he walked over and grabbed that man's arm and twisted his arm.

This was the guy you knew. Emotionless, hurt and who only really found peace in a fight. You had to wonder how it must feel for him to finally have an excuse to slip up, to just relapse into old habits. The two of you hadn't talked things out, but you knew he was struggling with himself, but right now when he was fighting, that was the only thing he needed to focus on. In an absurd way, you understood where that need came from. Zemo pushed you in front of him and held your body close to him as he whispered to you.

"This, this is your teammate. His true colours."

You bet your lip to hold in a smile. Zemo tried to intimidate you, make you afraid of James but if he only knew how close you and James were in the past, he would be the one running away from you. You looked over at Sam who was in a bigger shock, before you looked back at James. "Didn't take long for him to fall into old habits" Zemo said looking over at Sam. You had an urge to join him, do it like the two of you've done it before, like in the golden days. You took out your hand, but Zemo put you right back in position. "You have to stay in character, little bird, or else the whole bar turns on us. Just look at him" he whispered to you with a smile as James let the finale guy down. He looked over at the three of us, and you could see his head spinning. He finally looked at you, and noticed how Zemo had his hands all over you. He shrugged and looked away. You wanted to say something, but you didn't know what or where to begin.

"Selby will see you now" the bartender said and before you knew it, you were on your way.