Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Zemo entered the kitchen and set his coat on the back of the chair. “Evening, liebe. How was your day?”
You walked over to him. The one nice thing about being quite tall was that you didn’t have to go far to reach his waiting lips. Giving him a soft peck, you hummed “it was good. I finally got to look over that set of documents from Belarus this morning. There wasn’t much that I didn’t already know in it. Although, it did confirm that the push for economic and social stability in the capital, as well as the implementation of some westernized practices, was not so that the BSSR and USSR could modernize or even compete with the west - rather it was a means to draw people to settle in Minsk instead of the countryside where it would be easier for Hydra to keep tabs on anyone they perceived to be a threat…” you continued to ramble in the most analytic jargon about the historical implications you discovered.
Helmut made himself a glass of scotch, occasionally nodding along to what you said. Running out of breath you finally stop; "anyway… enough about me.”
“I like listening to what you are passionate about. You have worked hard to be so successful and so young.” You gave him a look as though you didn’t believe a word he was saying. And it wasn’t like you were that young, only a little over a decade between you two.
“How did the recon mission go?”
“It went well. I was able to get close enough to the mark to get what I needed. They make it so easy when they openly discuss their plans. You would like the cafe - perhaps later this week we will go. The agreed rendezvous is late tomorrow night; I won’t wake you.” For the last month Helmut had dedicated his efforts to helping you with your dissertation research. You had limited resources on Sokovia due to the rampant corruption the nation faced. Those few that you had access to Helmut would help translate.
Hands gently massaging your shoulders as he leaned over you. His cologne invades your senses. “This right here - I’m not sure what it means,” you would tell him, pointing to the passage.
Glancing over it for a moment, Helmut responded with the translation. “You know schatz, I’m beginning to wonder if you truly need my assistance, or if you just want an excuse for me to touch you,” he chuckled.
The fall of the country and subsequent annexation made matters even more challenging. Some unsavory underground groups had been smuggling documents and the like for a profit. With his background in EKO Scorpion and the intelligence community it was an easy way for him to spend his time tracking the materials. “It won’t just be for you, liebe. If I can recover any of the surviving artifacts and records from before the Avengers destroyed my country it is a step towards preserving my heritage,” was his justification. He wouldn’t admit it, but you knew he liked being back in the field, so to speak. You also knew that the more information he had the more cards were up his sleeve.
“Don’t forget to bring your hat and whip when you go,” you ribbed, referencing one of your favorite film series; Indiana Jones.
“Of course… Hmm. Maybe when I get back I will have to wake you. I’m sure we could put them to better use than just treasure hunting.” Helmut loved to tease you after he discovered your fondness for a young Harrison Ford. In fact, teasing and flirting with you had become his favorite pastime since your first night together.
Groaning out a laugh at his suggestive joke, you turned and headed back over to the stove. You set on a large pot of water to boil. Helmut approached the stove. “And what are you preparing for dinner this evening, liebling?” he asked, rubbing your back through your top. You knew he didn’t expect you to cook for him, but you wanted to.
“Spaghetti and a homemade sauce with spicy Italian sausage - my father used to make it when I was growing up.” You stirred the simmering sauce, letting the flavors continue to marinate together.
“It smells wonderful,” he moaned. Somberly he added “I used to make a bolognese. It was the one dish I knew how to prepare. It was my son’s favorite.” You squeezed his side in hopes to offer comfort.
“You’ll have to make it for me sometime,” you request tenderly.
His lips turned up in a soft smile. “Yes I will, liebe. I’m going to go change before we eat, I will be back shortly.” He kissed your temple before heading to the bedroom of the house you were occupying.
When the water boiled you placed the noodles in the pot and set a timer. Grabbing your phone off the counter you pulled up Spotify, queueing your “feeling it” playlist. The beginning notes of ABBA’s Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! began. Heading to the cabinet you brought down two glasses. Picking a bottle of red wine - sweeter to balance with the spiciness of the sauce - you opened it and poured yourself and Helmut a glass each.
Hips beginning to sway to the rhythm of the music, you returned to the stove. This playlist always put you in a great mood. You continued to move to the music, singing along softly. You take a generous swig from the bottle of wine still in your hand before adding some to the sauce, stirring the pot thoroughly.
Dancing through the kitchen you sing out ’gimme! gimme! gimme! a man after midnight!“ You knew you were a terrible dancer, even worse than Helmut. That didn’t stop you from partaking in the activity, your hips gyrating and shoulders shimmying.
You didn’t notice the movement in the hallway, still caught up in the song. Wine glass in hand, you attend to the stove to ensure the water doesn’t boil over. The song eventually changes over to a Boney M classic. "There lived a certain man in Russia long ago….” Excitedly, you put down your glass. You remember the choreography like it was yesterday, middle school you always danced to the song in an old video game.
Without hesitation you clapped your hands and swung your hips to the beat. Turning you notice Helmut leaning against the kitchen door. How long he’d been there, you didn’t know. Based on the amused smile he wore he clearly enjoyed watching you look like an idiot dance.
Making your way to him you reach out for his hands. Helmut followed along, albeit hesitant to move his body yet. You locked your eyes to his. Wiggling your eyebrows exaggeratedly at him, pushing and pulling his arms in time with the beat. “Come on, Helmut - dance with me!”
“I thought I was a terrible dancer? Did you not say that in Madripoor?” he interrogated without a single trace of seriousness.
“Oh you know I love the way you dance,” you giggled, still moving to the beat.
There was a glint of something in his eyes; suddenly Helmut took charge of your little dance. He twisted his hips from side to side, breaking one hand away from you to twirl you under his arm. The two of you danced like dorks, firsts pumping and hands in the air and wagging your fingers around the kitchen.
A sudden shrill from the timer stopped your movements, both bursting into fits of laughter. Turning off the timer Helmut took care of draining the pasta for you. As you caught your breath you couldn’t help but admire the man. He had spent so long seeking vengeance, yet now here he was dancing like a weirdo with you in the kitchen. His face was so relaxed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look this happy and at peace you thought to yourself. Maybe, just maybe, you had something to do with that.
“Is the sauce ready?” Helmut inquired with a lingering smile.
You took a minute to keep appreciating him before answering. “Yeah. Yeah it’s good.”