Prologue
I lean against the bar, sipping on the cheapest beer that the Brass Monkey offers. My eyes scan the crowd, trying to pick out someone to target tonight. I knew that it isn’t the smartest idea to steal from the pockets of the citizens of Madripoor but I had no other way to get money. I had tried searching for a job but no one wants a disowned Stark in their business, they all think that I’m like my family. I feel eyes on me so I double back and try to catch who is looking at me, instead of finding a pair of eyes I spot the most beautiful man I have ever seen. His hair is parted to the side and slightly slicked back, his purple turtleneck suits his pale skin, his pants hug him in all the right places. I look him over … once … twice … thrice, my eyes wander back to his face. A smirk plays at his lips and his gaze is on me, I realize I’ve been caught so I turn to the bar and sheepishly sip from my beer.
“You know it’s rude to stare.” A heavily accented voice comes from directly behind me, I turn to see the man that I had been eyeing up. ‘ He’s even more handsome up close.’ I shut my thoughts up before they can go any further.
“Please forgive me, I never intended to stare.” The man chuckles lowly, stepping closer to me.
“If it was anyone else I would be offended but you .... you intrigue me.” I raise my eyebrow at him, “Unlike most people do, you don’t throw yourself at me. You gaze from afar so the other person has to make the move, you’re too shy to make the first move aren’t you, Stark?” my insides churn at the use of my last name.
“Perhaps you are right. Tell me, do you pick up people by profiling them at a club?” He chuckles shaking his head.
“I didn’t mean for it to sound like profiling. I’m just pointing out what I noticed.” Once again he steps close to me, I step backwards until my back hits the wooden bar behind us, he puts his hands on either side of my hips trapping me against the bar. “So tell me, what is a Stark doing in Madripoor?” His hot breath hits my neck, for a second I think my knees are going to give out on me.
“That is no of your concern …” I pause realizing I don’t even know this beautiful stranger’s name.
“Apologizes, I never introduced myself. Zemo, Helmut Zemo, Baron of Sokovia.”
“Did you just slip the fact that you are a Baron into a sentence?” We both chuckle. For the first time since he’s come over to me I look into his eyes, my insides melt under the gaze of those beautiful chocolate eyes.
“Yes I did, I don’t see the use of having the title if I can’t flaunt it.” I nod in agreement with the statement. I take one more sip from my beer before setting the now empty bottle on the bar behind me. “So Stark-”
“Tobias or Toby will work just fine.” I cut him off, getting tired of hearing that god forbidden last name.
“Tobias, why are you in Madripoor? Why aren’t you in New York with your brother? Shouldn’t you be a part of the family business?” My stomach twists into a knot at the word family.
“You won’t give this up, will you Zemo?” He shakes his head, I sigh but give into the questioning. “Madripoor is the only place I thought I would be accepted after…”
“After what?”
“I guess the news didn’t reach Sokovia. I got” I lower my voice so only the Baron would be able to hear what I say next, “disowned because my brother slipped up.” I clear my throat and continue at a normal volume. “I decided that Madripoor would be the best place to get a fresh start. Unfortunately for me, no one wants a Stark here… especially after I had been ya know.” He nods in understanding. I think ‘ to hell with it! Let’s just get all off my chest now.’ “Truth is I was struggling when I was ‘a part’ of the Stark family.” I make sure that I put air quotes around ‘a part’ so Zemo understands the dynamic I had with my ‘family’ while growing up. “So when I got kicked out, I had nothing to live on. One of my friends gave me some money and told me ‘go out there and get a fresh start.’ I tried to get a fresh start but it’s hard to do that when it seems as though the world is against you. I’ve been surviving in Madripoor for…” I quickly count how many years I've been here in my head. “Roughly 12 years.”
“And how have you been surviving? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Like I said, no one really wants my face in their business so I’ve made it through by pick pocketing and stealing. And yes I know it’s a dangerous way to live when everyone here will not hesitate to kill you if you so much as look at them wrong, but a man’s gotta live somehow.” I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly. It wasn’t until now that I realized Zemo had sat me down on a bar stool and was hovering above me while listening intently.
“So you’ve been struggling these past years?”
“I wouldn’t call it struggling.. More of scraping by.” He has an interesting look in his eyes while he looks me over a few times. “Why are you asking all of these questions?”
“I'm asking these questions because I have a proposition for you.” I lean forward of the bar stool,
“I’m all ears, Baron Zemo.” I can see his jaw clench in the dim club lights. He mutters something in another language before getting back to what he was saying.
“I can provide for you; an apartment, food, a lavish lifestyle, anything you wish for I will give you.” He pauses as if to try and find the right wording for what he is going to say. “In return you do what I ask of you.” Blood rushes to my cheeks as I realize what he is proposing.
“So you are proposing to be my sugar daddy?” He gives me a half nod. I break out into a wide smile, “You have no idea how much easier you just made my life.” I open my arms but I’m hesitant to wrap them around the man towering over me. He gives me an approving look and I jump off the bar stool and wrap my arms around Zemo, his chest vibrates against mine as his laughter fills my ears.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I nod vigorously. As the information of what just happened settles in my mind it feels as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
~ * ~
That was 10 years ago, I sigh sitting on the windowsill of the lavish apartment that Zemo had bought for me after we had made and signed a contract. 2 and ½ years into the relationship… contract.. thing Zemo had disappeared without so much as a goodbye. I have no idea where he went and if he’ll ever be back.