Gabriel and Martín
Part 1
There was an air of anticipation in the house. The Cats were distracted and kept getting underfoot.
Jamie kept close to Zemo; Muzzy, close to Bucky. The Cats could sense the tension that everyone was trying to keep hidden.
Zemo could also sense the atmosphere and decided that everyone needed a little relaxation, so he gathered them all together in the sauna.
After a few minutes sitting in the steamy vapour, Zemo could see everyone’s body language softening, melting, slipping into a languid drowsy state.
Sebastián stretched his arms out along the back of the wooden bench, sighing. “This was a great idea, Zemo.”
*
Back in the lounge, wrapped up in fluffy white robes, they draped themselves over each other in a contented heap.
“How long do you think before the new clones get here, Mo?” asked Jamie, his head on Zemo’s lap, his long legs over Seb’s thighs.
“I should think another 4 hours, or so,” said Zemo, running his fingers through Jamie’s hair, bringing up the strands to let out the dampness. “James, would you concur?”
“I concur,” said Bucky, one arm draped over Muzzy’s shoulders. Muzzy had put his feet up on the couch and had tucked his toes under Daniil’s thighs.
“Then, have we got time for a mammoth session?” asked Jamie, looking up at Zemo with huge doe-eyes. “Y’know, in case things change afterwards?”
“If you like, dear heart, but nothing will change afterwards.”
“Hmmmm. You say that. But things always change.”
“Did things change when Sebastián and Daniil joined us?”
“Yes, of course, but for the better.”
Sebastián. “Phew.” He wiped his brow, grinning, placing his hand on top of Jamie’s knee.
Jamie sighed wistfully. “I suppose everything changes eventually.” He stroked up and down Zemo’s forearm.
Daniil. “And everyone.”
Bucky nudged Muzzy. “Remember when you used to be such a diva, Muzz?”
Muzzy. “No.”
“All - do this, do that, get me this, get me that, fuck me now, faster, harder.”
“And.” Muzzy looked at Bucky sideways on.
“And now you’re just a pussy cat.” Bucky bopped him affectionately on the nose.
Muzzy scrunched up his nose. “A pussycat?” He blinked.
“My soft li’l furball. C’m’ere.” Bucky grabbed him around the torso, brought him closer to his chest, squeezing and tickling. Muzzy pretended to struggle, but he was grinning and rubbing against Bucky, stretching out his legs and wiggling to get his calves right under Daniil’s thighs. Dani lifted his legs to accommodate him.
Bucky. “And now look at you. Cooking for everyone, getting up early to make breakfast in bed.”
Zemo. “And what about Jamie?” He stroked his finger down Jamie’s nose. “Making cookies for Muzz? Helping with dishes. Such a softie.” He chuckled him under the chin, smiling indulgently. Jamie preened and leaned into his hand, eyes half closed.
Sebastián. “I can’t believe he ever wasn’t.”
Zemo. “Oh yes. I remember when we first met. You were very demanding. And such a mouth on you!”
Jamie opened up his eyes and sat up straight. “Me? No.” He lifted his legs from Seb and turned to sit properly on the sofa, feet on the floor.
Zemo smiled, nudging him. “Yes, indeed, kitten.”
Daniil. “I can’t believe that Jamie was ever demanding. Oh wait. Yes. I remember when we first met.”
Jamie. “Yes, but...” Smiling shyly, squirming, leaning over into Seb.
“Ach, it’s because we love you and accept you as you are,” said Dani. “Both of you,” he added, holding Muzzy’s feet where they were peeking out from under his thighs and massaging them gently. Muzzy wiggled his toes at him, smiling.
“We’d have you no other way, best beloved,” said Zemo, huskily. “Happy or sad. Demanding or pliable. Wickedly naughty or sweetly nice. You’re always our Jamie.” He turned to Muzzy without missing a beat. “And you are always our Muzzy.”
Jamie. “I like that it doesn’t matter if I’m in a bad mood or feeling down,” he said, leaning against Seb’s ribs and looking over at Zemo owlishly.
Muzzy, settling back against Bucky’s chest. “Yes. You let us be. You cheer us up, but don’t force us to be happy, if that makes sense.”
Daniil. “Yes, I agree. I have found that you just giving me the time to be with my feelings and not having to explain them or mute them has been invaluable. If I haven’t said thank you before, I do so now. Wholeheartedly.” He absent-mindedly played with Muzzy’s feet, running his fingers up and down the instep and around the slim fine-boned ankles.
Zemo. “Not at all, dearest. It is our pleasure to be here for you.”
Bucky. “Or not, if that’s what you want.”
Daniil and Sebastián nodded in agreement.
Daniil. “That is exactly right.”
Sebastián. “Everyone changes when they are comfortable with each other and no longer feel the need to be other than who they are.”
Jamie, thoughtfully. “I wonder if these new clones will change our dynamic.”
Zemo. “If they want to stay, that is.”
Bucky. “They may not want to.”
Zemo. “They may have lives of their own.”
Daniil, softly, almost to himself. “But are they really lives of their own, if they don’t have their own memories?”
Zemo, also softly. “Maybe that is something we can help them with.”
Daniil. “I’d like to do that.” He looked over at Zemo, smiled shyly.
Zemo smiled back. “I’m sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion.” He looked around at his perfect little squad. Slapped his hands on his thighs. “Right, best beloveds. Let us get clothed and then we can put the kettle on and have some tea.”
He rose fluidly from the sofa.
Jamie stood and stretched. “I’d like a strawberry milkshake, please,” he said, moving to the door.
“Of course,” said Zemo, as everyone stood and wandered out.
*
Part 2
Gabriel and Martín were making preparations on the jet on their way to Zemo’s.
Martín was looking over some information he had just received. He stalled. Read it again. Looked up at Gabriel.
Martín. “Those clones that we are on our way to see…”
Gabriel. “Yeah?”
Martín. “Two of them are not clones.”
Gabriel. “Come again?”
Martín. “You know one of them is actually Sgt James Bucky Barnes. The original.”
Gabriel. “What! Fuck.” A pause. “Wait. Don’t tell me, and one of them is…”
Martín. “Actually Baron Helmut Zemo.”
Gabriel. “Holy cow.”
Martín. “Chloë must have known this before sending you that text.”
Gabriel. “Yeah. Let’s get her on the phone.” Gabriel pulled out his phone. Tapped away for a few seconds, a puzzled look forming on his face.
Martín. “What’s wrong? Can’t you get through?”
Gabriel. “I’m getting the ‘unavailable’ icon.”
Martín. “OK. But, intel says she’s there.”
Gabriel. “Then let’s pay her a visit. I want some answers.”
Martín, pressing the intercom. “Pilot. Change course, please. Reykjavik.”
*
Part 3
Zemo had just finished dressing, when he got the call from Oeznik saying that the jet had changed course to Reykjavik. Oeznik also sent over the data he had received pertaining to the ZemoClone and the BarnesClone that were on board.
Included in the data stream was information on a female British agent code named Chloë, and a rogue geneticist who fled Philby’s lab in the Alps when she discovered he had accepted an order from a certain Hydra operative.
Zemo read it over quickly, then called the others to the conference room downstairs. No one was visiting today. They had time to sift through this information together.
*
In the conference room, Zemo brought up a video clip of two familiar looking gents boarding a small jet.
Sebastián, looking at the video, nudging Bucky: “Hey, Buckaroo. We’ve found another you.”
Daniil: “But not exactly.”
Zemo: “Let us also see what intelligence Oeznik has sent over.”
Daniil brought up the information from Oeznik on the second monitor.
Bucky zeroed in on the face of his clone.
Muzzy: “Oh, I like his long blond hair.”
Bucky, grumbling: “Who’s he supposed to be? Thor Odinson?”
Daniil, reading: “His name is Gabriel Black. Professional surfboarder.”
Bucky snorted: “Professional surfboarder. Is that even a real job?”
Muzzy, leering: “Can we keep him?”
Daniil: “Yes. He looks very… mmm… trustworthy.”
Bucky snorted again. Then said: “I suppose you want to keep the ZemoClone, too.” He adjusted the view to focus on him. “What’s this one called?”
Sebastián, looking over the intel: “Martín Clare. Vintner. Got quite a nice vineyard in Spain. Does a decent Tempranillo, apparently. We should get him to bring over some cases.”
Jamie: “Oh, he looks like a teddy bear. A teddy Mo. I like his curly hair. And look at that beard. It’s even fluffier than yours, Seb.”
Sebastián, stroking his own beard: “It does look rather fetching.”
Jamie, leering: “I wouldn’t mind keeping him.”
Daniil, nudging him in the ribs: “I bet you wouldn’t.”
Jamie and Muzzy giggled together, tails entwining.
Bucky interrupted their smutty banter. “Who’s this Chloë? There doesn’t seem to be that much info on her.”
Zemo. “Ex British Secret Service, by all accounts. Her mother was incarcerated and brainwashed by Hydra. They then tried to use her mother to obtain intel from Chloë. It backfired drastically. Chloë developed techniques to reverse Hydra brainwashing and retrieve lost memories. She was invaluable to Britain in their fight against Hydra.”
Daniil. “Oooh. That sounds really useful. She’s able to retrieve memories.” His face lit up.
Zemo. “Indeed. I think I would like to meet her.” He paused, took Daniil’s hand. “Dear heart, do you think you would like her help?”
Daniil smiled, put his hand over Zemo’s, leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “You are sweet to ask. But no,” he patted Zemo’s hand. “I actually don’t think I do.”
*
Part 4
On the jet, just before they were about to land in Reykjavik, Gabe’s phone lit up. There was a text from Chloë.
*Apologies. Have been incommunicado w rogue geneticist. Am forwarding details, then going back in. Will speak w u tomorrow*
Gabriel showed the message to Martín.
“OK,” said Martín. “Let’s look over this data.”
“I’m knackered, Martí,” said Gabe. “Let’s get to the hotel and do it tomorrow. There’s no rush, is there?”
Martín smiled. “Sure. We can also ring this Baron Zemo from the hotel and schedule a meeting, y’know, like normal people do.”
Gabriel smirked. “Are we normal people now, then?”
Martín. “I’ll only be normal again after a bath, a good meal and a decent night’s sleep.”
*
Part 5
A few days later.
Bucky’s hip pocket started ringing. “Incoming.”
Zemo tilted his head inquiringly. “Hmmm?”
“Cameras picking up a jet landing at the little airfield in the next village over.”
Jamie: “Can we see?”
Zemo: “I don’t see why not. Let’s adjourn to the computer suite.”
Once there, and settled around the three large computer monitors, Bucky brought up the camera feed on the central screen.
Bucky: “Let’s have a little look-see, then.”
He showed a clip of two men disembarking a small jet.
Daniil. “Is this live?”
Zemo. “Yes.”
Jamie: “Can we get closer?”
Bucky, fiddling with the controls: “Hang on a min… Here we go.” Bucky rewound and zoomed in on the faces. “Close-ups reveal it’s you and me, again, Hel.” He smirked.
The video feed showed the duo getting into a car parked on the tarmac.
“If they head straight here,” Bucky said, “we’ve got about half an hour.”
Everyone shared a look. Bucky grunted.
*
Part 6
Zemo walked into the sunny reception area from the study. Everyone was seated casually around the large low coffee table: dark mahogany, polished to a deep shine.
Bucky looked up.
“The perimeter guard tower has them approaching down the main road,” said Zemo to the group.
Jamie and Muzz sat up, swivelled their ears. “They are coming through the main gate right now.”
Bucky and Sebastián cocked their head. “Yep. They’re coming down the driveway.”
Zemo clapped his hands. “Let’s put the kettle on, and get out some refreshments.”
Muzzy and Daniil got up and wandered through into the kitchens. “Let’s get out that lovely silver tray,” said Muzzy.
Jamie got up to hug Zemo. He peered into his face. “I feel a bit nervous.”
Zemo stroked his hand up and down Jamie’s back. “There’s no need, my Jamie. All is unfolding as it is meant to.”
“I think I’ll be alright once I’ve sniffed them.” Jamie stopped and turned his head to the doorway. “They are pulling up outside.”
Zemo extricated himself gently from Jamie’s embrace. He kissed him on the forehead. “Why don’t you go and help in the kitchen, while I greet our visitors.”
“OK,” said Jamie, loping off after Muzz and Dani.
Zemo adjusted his jacket, ran a hand through his hair. “How do I look?” he asked Bucky and Sebastián, lounging unconcernedly on the large curving sofa.
Bucky tilted his head and gave him a look. Seb nodded and gave him a thumbs up.
“Thank you for your excellent remarks,” said Zemo, moving into the hallway.
A car door slammed. Two shadows moved up to the doorway. The bell rang.
Zemo opened the door.
“Mr. Clare. Mr. Black. We’ve been expecting you. Do come in.”
“Baron Zemo, I presume?” asked Martín.
“Indeed,” said Zemo, allowing them into the hallway and closing the door behind them. They hovered in front of Zemo, looking around the vast gleaming atrium.
Gabriel brought his attention back to Zemo. “Call me Gabe,” he said, offering his hand.
“And I’m Martín.”
“A pleasure,” rasped Zemo, shaking hands warmly, a characteristic confident smirk on his face. He indicated the way to the first reception room, and ushered them further into the house. “Can I offer you tea, coffee? We have madeleines or biscotti.”
“Delighted,” said Martín, moving along.
The others were waiting in the sunny reception room. Bucky and Seb were lounging on the ends of the long curving couch, affecting nonchalance, one arm each along the back cushion, legs open, taking up space. Muzzy and Jamie were between them. Jamie was sitting cross legged on the couch, Muzzy upright, one long leg crossed over the other, brushing invisible lint from his soft charcoal trousers. Daniil was sitting on an overstuffed armchair, leaning over the coffee table, arranging the tea service to his liking.
They all looked up expectantly as their guests walked in.
Zemo indicated the available chairs and chaises.
“Please sit,” he said, smiling his Cheshire Cat smile. “Gabriel, Martín, may I introduce you to James, Jamie, Muzzy, Sebastián, and Daniil.”
“Call me Bucky.” Bucky waved lazily. Everyone else nodded their hellos.
Gabriel and Martín sat together on one of the chaise longues facing into the room. They took a moment to look around and meet everyone’s gaze.
Zemo sat himself gracefully onto a stiffbacked tapestry-upholstered chair, crossing his long slim legs, resting his arms on the sides, watching.
“Tea?” asked Daniil, half rising to indicate the fine selection of refreshments on offer on the coffee table.
But he was unfortunately ignored, because just at that moment, Gabe’s eyes fell on Jamie.
“Holy cow,” he said. “You’ve got those cat ears.”
Jamie smiled, without showing teeth.
“Yours are different,” said Martín admiringly to Muzzy. “Exceptional.”
Muzzy rotated his ears, watching the expression on the guests faces. They were agog, stalled for a long moment, drinking in the sight. Then they visibly shook themselves.
“Extraordinary,” said Martín.
“I’ve seen a few people with the cat ears in Paris and Japan,” said Gabe. “But they weren’t clones.”
“And also Madrid,” added Martín. “But none with the tails. They are exquisite.”
“You’re different types of clones, aren’t you?” asked Gabriel.
Jamie smiled, now choosing to show his wickedly sharp teeth. He got up and stalked over to sit by Martín. Muzzy rose fluidly and went to sit by Gabe. Very close. Tails entwined behind the guests. The Cats placed one of their hands lightly on the top of their chosen guest’s thigh, peering into their faces. Intense eye contact. Little hypnotic purrs. The guests couldn’t seem to look away.
Zemo and Bucky threw a quick glance to Daniil and Sebastián. They also seemed spellbound. They hadn’t seen this side of Jamie and Muzzy before. Zemo felt inordinately proud. He smirked over at Bucky, who nodded sharply, suppressing a grin.
Jamie looked intently at Martín: past the curly hair and the full beard, noted the flecks on the deep brown iris, the characteristic freckles and moles, the fine bone structure, the pattern of his heartbeat. Inhaled his scent: minute particles giving him a wealth of information. Muzzy did the same as he investigated Gabriel. He ignored the long blond hair, the freshly shaved patch of skin on his chin; noticed the variable blues in the irises, that particular freckle on his forehead and the little smattering of them on his left cheek near his ear, his corded muscles, his blood pressure.
After a long moment the Cats broke eye contact, and turned to face the room.
“They do look like you,” said Jamie. “But they smell different. What do you think, Muzz.”
“Yes. And their auras differ.”
Muzz and Jamie shared a look, untwined their tails.
“We know them now,” Muzzy said.
“We could tell them from you, even if you were all naked and shaved,” said Jamie.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Sebastián, semi-seriously.
“Interesting,” said Martín, looking at Gabe, who nodded thoughtfully.
“Very much so,” said Gabe, looking back at Muzzy intently.
Jamie and Muzzy rose in unison and returned to their seats. Jamie couldn’t help swiping a madeleine as he passed the coffee table.
Zemo coughed softly, suppressing a smile. “Cherry blossom tea?” he asked, turning to Gabe and Martí, sweeping out his hand to indicate the goodies on the silver tray.
Pretty soon everyone was balancing drinks and little plates of cakes on their knees, discussing their unique predicament.
Gabriel took a sip, then said. “I was found by Chloë quite by accident. I had no idea about any of this. I was quite happy, living my best life, so I thought, surfboarding around the world.”
Bucky suppressed a snort. Gabe ignored it, continued
“I was in Japan for a competition and Chloë happened to be there on holiday. She approached me and seemed to think I was you” - he looked at Bucky - “on some undercover mission. We got talking, and the rest is history.”
Martín added “She found me by visiting my vineyard for a tasting session. I’m not so sure now that it was just a happy accident.”
He continued “Chloë has intel on our ‘creator’. One Venus Escobar. She calls herself a ‘collector’. She has made 20 clones - 10 of each.”
Gabriel. “She has an apartment in Canada, set up with video surveillance on all of them.”
Martín. “And a half completed home-made cloning lab of her own.”
Gabriel. “Goodness knows what might have happened if we hadn’t found her when we did.”
Zemo, softly, horrified at what his original selfish narcissistic whim could have started. “The world could be overrun with clones.”
Martín. “And she had a little BarnesClone of her own, called Chris Vance.”
“Great,” interjected Bucky sarcastically. “Another one.”
Martín, comfortingly. “He’s now running a martial arts centre for kids in Portland, Oregon.”
Gabriel. “Plus there’s us, and we’ve found and rehabilitated 6 more.” He took out a dossier of folders, passed them to Zemo.
Martín. “And we’re in the process of visiting the others.”
Gabriel. “But you’re not part of that collective, are you?” to Seb and Dani.
Sebastián. “Not at all.”
Daniil. “We were made by Philby, to order.”
Sebastián. “By the Countess Brigadier.”
Daniil. “The late Countess Brigadier.”
Gabriel. “We’ve heard of her.”
Zemo, scanning through the dossier and then passing it to Bucky. “So all the others were made by this collector?”
Gabriel. “That we know of.” He waited while Bucky flipped through the folders and passed them onto Seb.
The dossier contained files on each of the clones found and rehabilitated so far. All perfect replicas of Zemo or Bucky, but with different hairstyles or colouring: some with moustaches, some clean shaven, some with glasses, some not.
ZemoClones included:
Cary Edwards - Art Gallery owner, Milan. Blond. Aryan. Shown wearing a light tan suit, paisley cravat and wide-brimmed hat.
Frank (Frankincense) Olivers - Voice over actor, voice of audiobooks. Slim. Pale. Short hair. Moustache.
Malachi Warshowski - Translator, polyglot. Very Euro-chic. Metrosexual.
BuckyClones included:
Lloyd Llewellyn Webster - Artist, tattooed, skinny. Shaved sides of head.
Morgen Früh - Librarian. Glasses. Short curly brown hair.
Leo Benedict - Horse trainer, racehorse breeder, stud farm owner. Sleek black hair, tied back in a ponytail. Cowboy hat.
Chris Vance - Short hair, clean shaven. Now runs the Jade Dragon martial arts school for kids.
Gabriel spoke while the dossier was passed to Daniil. “Now that the apartment in Canada has been found, we know the location of the remaining clones and are in the process of rehabilitating them.”
Daniil looked up and smiled, nodded pleasantly.
Gabriel. “Well, it seems you have no need of us.” He slapped his thighs and stood.
Martín. “It’s been an absolute pleasure meeting all of you.” He drained his cup, then stood also and made eye contact with everyone.
“Likewise,” said Zemo, rising to shake hands.
Gabriel. “Please take my info, in case you want to get in contact.”
He hastily scribbled down a phone number, and passed it to Zemo, who took it graciously. He didn’t have the heart to tell him they already had this number.
“And you must take this number,” Zemo said, scribbling a note of his own and passing it over, along with the dossiers. He was rewarded by a widening of Gabriel’s eyes.
“We don’t have this number,” he said.
“Take it as an indication of our trust in you.”
Gabriel smiled widely. “If you ever need our help with your endeavours, don’t hesitate to call.”
Zemo. “And we are here, if you ever feel the need to call on us.” He paused. Looked intensely at Gabe and Martí. “How are you for funds? I can set up a little trust fund for you, if money is an issue.”
Gabriel. “That is exceedingly generous, Baron. Thank you.”
Martín. “Yes indeed, any funding would be invaluable, until the clones get on their feet.”
Zemo. “Think nothing of it. It is my pleasure.”
Martín. “Thank you, again. That is much appreciated. You must visit the vineyard when you get a chance.”
“That would be delightful,” said Zemo, showing them to the door.
Zemo wandered back into the reception room, to find the guys deep in conversation.
Daniil. “You know, this is going to sound weird, but I thought I was going to be instantly attracted to them, like I was with you. But I wasn’t.”
Sebastián. “I know exactly what you mean. I thought I was going to have to stop myself from jumping on them. It’s more like they were brothers to me.”
Daniil. “Yes. Similarly looking, like cousins or something.”
Sebastián. “But no sexual chemistry at all.”
Daniil. “None.”
Muzzy, sighing. “Me too.”
Jamie. “And me.”
Daniil. “I’m glad they have their own lives and don’t have to live with us. Is that wrong of me?”
Zemo. “Not at all.”
Bucky grunted.
Daniil. “Do we ever want to meet the others?”
Zemo. “I feel no pressing need at the moment. Do you?”
Daniil. “Not really.”
The others nodded their agreement.
The next week, an invitation arrived from Gabriel to a surfboarding event off the Gold Coast, Australia. Closely followed by a crate of wines from Martín’s vineyard, with an invitation to visit for a wine tasting at a time of their own choosing.
***