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You lie in bed remembering stepping out of the helicopter, your bags tossed out and the  bird in the air so quickly it's like the pilot was never there.

"Still think this was a good idea?" Bucky'd asked as if anything about this might have changed your mind.

Impressed by the private landing pad on the highest deck but already aware of the delights that were undoubtedly waiting below, you'd just smiled and gave his cheek a pat. "Come on."

Bucky grabbed both bags and you'd led him down the steps and onto a massive deck of beautiful pale wood lined with low white couches at the far end, blinding in the bold sun. Beneath the overhang was a large wet bar, with glasses already set out and an ice bucket, the neck of a champagne bottle greeting you.

"Please miss. Allow me"

You'd both looked behind you, startled to find the old butler Oeznik coming up from the center stairwell.

Poor thing, you'd nearly toppled him, throwing your arms around his neck but you really did adore that wonderful old man.  He'd just laughed and hugged you back welcoming you aboard.

You thanked him but no sooner had he offered had you forgotten all about his hospitality.

Your back had been turned when you heard your name said with the soft accented voice that you had missed, craved and imagined for so many months...

"Helmut." You will never forget what it felt like to turn and find him.

He stepped from the shadows and into the sun and you can still feel the way you'd bit down on your bottom lip to keep from crying.

Those eyes, that hair, his smile; so subtle and sly. You'd nearly forgotten that you could in fact go to him. He wasn't just a man made up from your lonely daydreams but flesh and blood and so perfectly made.

It took him drawing his hands from his pants pockets— linen pants of all the casual things— to break the spell.

He'd opened his arms to just the right size for you and there was no holding back then.

What had it felt like? You try to remember now, but it's useless. You can remember him pulling you in as though he couldn't stand another second without you close. You'd closed your eyes inhaling his scent as he touched your face and hair, his fingers brushing along your neck and shoulders. It's so lovely and primitive the way touch and smell can become the thing that reunites and reacquaints us. You were like two animals in the wild and you'd gasped at the feel of his face gliding against yours, and his arms so tight around you until he'd pressed his forehead to yours whispering things you couldn't understand as you held onto his forearms giving in to the thin line of tears that fell from your eyes. It was an unexpected moment of reconnecting. You knew you'd missed him, but this was so much more. You'd felt ready to submit to every command so quickly it honestly surprised you. The warm touch of his face against yours, his breath along your neck and finally his lips meeting your own was and will always be your first experience with what people describe as coming home.

And then he'd pulled back, looked you in the eyes and simply said "Hello"

You couldn't say anything back. You just watched him look past you and saw how his expression changed. You still can't place it... "James." The way he said his name. God it was so beautiful. You'd turned in Zemo's arms and saw the look on Bucky's face. There were tears in his eyes that you're not sure he was even aware of.

"Zemo"

"How was the ride?" He'd asked politely.

"Fine."

Pleasure Remains the Same -Helmut Zemo(eventual winterbaron) x ReaderWhere stories live. Discover now