Christine Vargas was one vial away from becoming a Flag Smasher until Baron Zemo crushed her chances, only to offer her the world instead...his world.
True love comes at a dangerous price, but it's one she's willing to pay if it means another day wi...
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Fading in and out of awareness, having lost track of the days, Christine tried to stay awake long enough to say thank you to the Baron who seemed to be there every time she opened her eyes, but the fever would not let her. All she seemed capable of doing was moaning for water before falling into a deep sleep again and again until finally, after his unending care, she was able to rest peacefully.
The next morning after that long fitful night, Christine woke to find herself in the Baron's large bed and him asleep on the chair across from her.
"Zemo?"
He opened his eyes and stared at her for a moment almost as if he didn't trust that this wasn't a dream. When she tried to get out of bed, he sprang up, rushing to her side. "No no no, you must rest." He said gently pushing her back down and she let him because it was taking all she had to stay up on her arms.
"What happened?" She asked, sinking back into the pillows. She let him pull the blanket over her body dressed in no more than her underwear and t-shirt. "I remember sitting down to eat with you at the table and not feeling well, and then nothing really."
The look of concern on his face worried her. Was she really that sick? She did feel strange, like her body was not her own, and she was stuck floating just above it. For a young woman who hadn't had so much as a cold in the last few years, the feeling was awful.
"It took you quickly but your fever broke in the night. It's nothing too serious like what goes on in the camps."
She looked up at him again realizing what he meant. Mama Donya's loss still hurt.
"Can I have some water please" She managed.
He was off before she could ask twice holding a cup of ice instead of water when he got back. "Better for your stomach. Too much, and it all comes back up again." He said apologetically as he sat beside her.
Christine thought to protest, but the moment he touched a cube to her lips she opened her mouth and sank into the cold relief of it. "Wait, did I... oh god did I puke on you or like... all over? Or something?" She was speaking awkwardly around the ice in between crunches as she stared up at him, looking far more embarrassed than she should have.
Zemo laughed and shrugged. "I have a lot of experience taking care of people."
Mortified but well aware of the fact that she couldn't change what already happened, she focused instead on what he'd just said. "You? When would you have taken care of people?" She smiled with the shrinking cube tucked in her cheek.
The change in his eyes surprised her. There were secrets there to be sure...
Focusing on her again he offered a second piece of ice which she accepted. "In another life" He answered running his thumb over her lip to catch the thin stream of melting water. She saw the way his attempt at a smile faltered and chose not to press him.
