the13thsuperior-blog

[the13thsuperior-blog]

Dark Dealings // Daken + Alec + Zemo

Zemo stood in the shadows within the courtyard of his makeshift fortress as rain fell in torrents, striking the metal roofs in a cacophony. Sheet metal walls and overgrown weeds were his only glimpse of the world outside the walls of his base. True, a man like he should never fear to leave his own accommodations, but his enemies- though inferior in mind- were... advantaged in power. And so, he must wait within the confining walls of his keep. He never strayed from under the metal roof erected over the door back into his abyss. His own cell, but he chose it, so in that he found solace. A man like him must never be too careful.

After a few more minutes of enjoying the smell of the rain, Zemo returned to the darkness of his compound. He had a meeting to attend of his own making, and it would not do for the host to be late. The meeting room had been meticulously arranged into that of a comfortable den. Three finely ornamented arm chairs had been brought in with an end table to the side of each. Paintings, rugs, and other decorative items had been laid out around the room to suggest power and prestige. Nothing was too small to be beneath Zemo’s notice. This was, after all, how he managed each and every plan; with the utmost detail and precision.

He reclined himself in the armchair that faced the door, legs crossed, arms resting on the arms of the chair. He stayed in this position for fifteen minutes before the door opened and one of his henchmen announced the arrival of Zemo’s guests. The Baron watched the door, expressionless. Only time would tell if this arrangement would continue to be mutually beneficial, or more trouble than it was worth.

He did not stand as they entered, merely tipped his head in recognition. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Please, come in and sit. Refreshments will be along shortly.”

[the13thsuperior-blog]

i-do-not-act:

The Watcher did not respond verbally to Zemo’s ultimatum. He slid back into the shadows without a word. In the blink of an eye, he had vanished as quickly as he had come.  Suddenly, a flood of images flashed in Zemo’s mind. Lush, green jungles. Glowing red waves of heat. Waves crashing against jagged black rocks. Pristine condominiums and resorts attractions. Ramshackle camps and small farms. A shadowy, imposing man in a crisp military uniform. Then Zemo found himself back in his office, alone. 

Zemo had little time to react to the disappearance of his uninvited guest when the vision came to his mind. The images seemed so vivid and real that Zemo stared into the corner for a long while after, trying to determine if he’d actually visited the locations or simply saw a glimpse of them as through a window. The pistol now resting neatly on his desk, Zemo frowned into the corner. How had the alien come to be in his office to begin with? And what technology did it use to allow it to so quickly leave?

Alien or not, that technology could be advantageous. He made a mental note to find a way to capture the creature the next time, if ever, that it visited him. Even if the Watcher would not willingly divulge its secrets, Zemo was a master at interrogation. Somehow, the creature would eventually talk. of this, Zemo had no doubts.

He eventually pulled his gaze from the darkened corner and back to the plans he had been looking over previously. Regardless of his visitor’s interesting possibilities, Zemo had more pressing work to do. The Watcher would have to wait.

Watchful Visitations // Uatu and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

i-do-not-act:

Uatu’s face became deadly serious. His massive eyes narrowed and his mouth was set in a hard line. “That information is not something I can tell you.” While he knew what was to pass, Zemo could not be privy to anything that could affect how he would act in the future. Not that it would make much of a difference in the long run… 

Without taking his eyes off the alien in the corner Zemo had the pistol in his hand and aimed once more at The Watcher. “Then you have no use in being here. Speak of what you have hinted at, or leave. Staying longer without revealing your information would be inadvisable.”

Curious as he was of the information from the alien, his patience was dwindling to the point that he no longer cared. In his mind, if the alien was unwilling to speak or leave willingly, then he’d leave by other methods. He had already wasted too much of the Baron’s time; the one commodity that Zemo did not have readily available currency for.

Watchful Visitations // Uatu and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

While intrigued by the words of the alien before him, the Baron gave no indication the words provided any benefit to his mood. He lowered his pistol, resting it on the desk near his hand. His eyes remained trained on “The Watcher,” not allowing his gaze to shift. 

“What events are to come?” Zemo asked, clearly something was being planned in the future, distant or not-so-otherwise. It would not do to be caught off guard. One creature had already slipped into his presence undetected and it would not do for other events or creatures to do the same. After all, Zemo had a reputation to maintain. A reputation that depended largely on how unlikely it was to do something or be somewhere that Zemo did not already expect. The Baron prided himself on his ability to judge outcomes without the use of supernatural abilities.

Watchful Visitations // Uatu and Zemo

i-do-not-act:

“I sense a brutality in you, Baron Helmut Zemo of Earth, as well as much hate, boiling beneath the surface,” Uatu stated clinically. “I am called the Watcher. As my title suggests, I am tasked with watching history as it unfolds.”

Zemo had spent years training himself to never reveal his thoughts through his facial expressions. A study that he continued through to this day. So though the creature’s words surprised him, he did not allow the emotion to register a change. Uatu the Watcher? Zemo had heard of no such thing, but then again, the cosmos were never much interest to him in times past. Perhaps the time had come for a change of that. Clearly with alien creatures coming and making their home on Earth and with the Avengers, the time had come to look to the stars. 

“How astute of you, I am relieved the discharge of my pistol gave a clear enough indication,” the Baron offered, his voice drenched with sarcasm. “What purpose have you in watching me?”

[the13thsuperior-blog]

i-do-not-act:

“I sense a brutality in you, Baron Helmut Zemo of Earth, as well as much hate, boiling beneath the surface,” Uatu stated clinically. “I am called the Watcher. As my title suggests, I am tasked with watching history as it unfolds.”

Zemo had spent years training himself to never reveal his thoughts through his facial expressions. A study that he continued through to this day. So though the creature’s words surprised him, he did not allow the emotion to register a change. Uatu the Watcher? Zemo had heard of no such thing, but then again, the cosmos were never much interest to him in times past. Perhaps the time had come for a change of that. Clearly with alien creatures coming and making their home on Earth and with the Avengers, the time had come to look to the stars. 

“How astute of you, I am relieved the discharge of my pistol gave a clear enough indication,” the Baron offered, his voice drenched with sarcasm. “What purpose have you in watching me?”

Watchful Visitations // Uatu and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

i-do-not-act:

The bullet passed right by Uatu’s large, bulbous head, but he hardly reacted at all. His brows furrowed slightly. This one’s actions confused him. What result was Zemo expecting to obtain from another, more overt, threat. He eventually broke the silence, speaking only five words: “Such an outburst is futile.” 

His voice was bizarrely calm and chilling, with some unidentifiable accent to it. Even at a volume barely above a whisper, it reached the Hydra high commander’s ears perfectly. Everything about it, about him in general, was so clearly alien. 

Zemo’s expression gave nothing away as the creature spoke. Quiet as it was, the stillness of the room allowed its voice to carry. Zemo did not move his arm, gun still fixed on its target. It may have spoken, but that did not mean it would continue to. 

“Then next time speak. I do not have time for silent guests.” Zemo replied in an equally calm and chilling voice. “Who are you and why are you here? I would answer if I were you, the next bullet will be much closer.”

Watchful Visitations // Uatu and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

Watchful Visitations // Uatu and Zemo

i-do-not-act:

The towering Watcher did not react any further. Instead he merely continued to stare. He felt tension mounting in the air. His viewing subject was on edge. After so many millennia, Uatu had grown used to this reaction from beings all across the universe.

Zemo had plenty that still needed to be accomplished. He would not take his eyes off the creature in the room, however, that would be a mistake he would not make. It’s silence grated on Zemo more and more with each passing minute. The thing needed to speak or leave, and if it would not make the choice on its own, Zemo would have to provide the incentive. 

On his desk lay a pistol, always loaded and ready to be fired. After a few more minutes of the creature’s unceasing silence Zemo picked up the gun without looking at it and aimed just to the right of the creature’s head. He pulled the trigger once and allowed the shot to ring out loud and clear against the suffocating silence. Then he aimed the gun at the creature, and stared, waiting for the creature’s next action. 

[the13thsuperior-blog]

i-do-not-act:

The Watcher tilted his huge, bald head ever so slightly. It was so minuscule that it was barely detectable. Were Zemo to have blinked, he would have missed it. His alien eyes peered over the man, around him, and through him. Uatu watched with such curiosity. He could see all of the threads connecting this mortal being to so many others. Strings that he tugged on, although he was not aware of them. 

It was his purpose, his privilege, and his honor to observe Zemo, along with all the others. He knew what was to come. Soon. Soon he would be here on Earth: the long awaited titan. And yet with all that would change, Uatu would perform his function. He would stand witness to the life and death of every new world. 

Still there was silence. And the watching. Were Zemo a weak man, he would have imagined that the being could see through him to his soul. But Zemo was not a weak man, he had a will stronger than iron. Or so he had convinced himself of over the years. But this perplexing little creature was confusing him greatly. What was it?

It moved. Or did it? Zemo wasn’t entirely sure if he had seen movement or not. It stood in nearly the exact same spot it had been, in almost the same stance as before, but the Baron was all but certain that the thing in the corner of the room had in fact moved. But moved what? And why would it not speak? Was it mute? Zemo’s patience was swiftly running thin. 

Helmut Zemo thought that he was alone. Deep down in the recesses of his Hydra base of operations, where no one could disturb him. He was wrong, however. Someone else was there. Someone watching. The figure stood tall in the corner of the dark room, staring intently at Zemo. Its eyes were obscured in shadow under a prominent brow, but he could tell that they were fixated on his every move and action. It was completely still and silent, statue-like in its composure, as it watched.

Zemo had been spending countless hours alone in his study. His plotting and planning took work, hours upon hours of constant research, scheming. This was a chess game and he would not allow himself to be on the wrong end of the final checkmate. All things must be perfect, all things must be inline with his plan and go exactly to plan. Nothing could-

He could sense eyes on him from somewhere, a corner in the room perhaps. It was now that he regretted not buying brighter lamps, or at least more of them. Confident and fearless as it made him appear, he did not like being caught unawares. He had not gotten to this point by being sloppy. 

“I do not know who you are, or how you got in here without my noticing,” Zemo began in a calm but frigid tone. Whoever allowed this little slip up within the guard ranks would be shot promptly. In fact, Perhaps the whole of them should be dealt with. For someone to get this far in without being taken care of meant that many eyes had failed. “But I assure you, lingering in the shadows still would not be the wisest of choices. Show yourself and mercy will be allotted. Continue to hide and I cannot guarantee such a promise.”

[the13thsuperior-blog]

i-do-not-act:

The being was eerily quiet, not visibly responding to the Hydra leader’s threats. There wasn’t even the rustle of clothing or the sound of breathing. Uatu was confident that the human man would not hurt him, but he was also confident that he would attempt to make good on his threats. It made more sense for his purposes to comply with the request. It would only complicate matters. Such complications were unnecessary. After a moment, the Watcher stepped forward into the light. He stared unblinkingly at Zemo. Nothing could be allowed to interfere with his duty to observe history in the making. Despite whatever high opinion he had of himself, this creature had no notion of just how he would play into the oncoming events… 

Zemo’s brow rose as the creature emerged from his-its?- shadowy hiding place. Whatever this thing was, Zemo highly doubted it had walked through the front doors of the base, so perhaps the indolent guards were not quite as incompetent as the Baron first thought. An amusing idea, but not met with much reality. His focus returned to the matter at hand: a strange looking creature, silent and... watchful, had appeared in his private study. 

Zemo also watched the creature in silence for several minutes. A standoff of wills, to determine who first would speak. The Baron did find it rather unnerving that the being before him did not blink. It evoked an unsettling emotion within him that he was not quite comfortable with. He wondered what sort of being this was. Mutant? Perhaps, but he doubted that. It seemed far more... advanced. Yet not. An enigma. Alien? Broad enough to offer a more suitable conclusion than a human with an extra gene. 

The temptation to speak first was strong, but Zemo bit his tongue. The creature either feared his threat, or did not, and simply came forward out of courtesy. The waiting game, in his opinion, must be ended by the intruding party. And so, with great patience, he waited. Watching the watcher, with little thought of the irony.

Helmut Zemo thought that he was alone. Deep down in the recesses of his Hydra base of operations, where no one could disturb him. He was wrong, however. Someone else was there. Someone watching. The figure stood tall in the corner of the dark room, staring intently at Zemo. Its eyes were obscured in shadow under a prominent brow, but he could tell that they were fixated on his every move and action. It was completely still and silent, statue-like in its composure, as it watched.

Zemo had been spending countless hours alone in his study. His plotting and planning took work, hours upon hours of constant research, scheming. This was a chess game and he would not allow himself to be on the wrong end of the final checkmate. All things must be perfect, all things must be inline with his plan and go exactly to plan. Nothing could-

He could sense eyes on him from somewhere, a corner in the room perhaps. It was now that he regretted not buying brighter lamps, or at least more of them. Confident and fearless as it made him appear, he did not like being caught unawares. He had not gotten to this point by being sloppy. 

“I do not know who you are, or how you got in here without my noticing,” Zemo began in a calm but frigid tone. Whoever allowed this little slip up within the guard ranks would be shot promptly. In fact, Perhaps the whole of them should be dealt with. For someone to get this far in without being taken care of meant that many eyes had failed. “But I assure you, lingering in the shadows still would not be the wisest of choices. Show yourself and mercy will be allotted. Continue to hide and I cannot guarantee such a promise.”

[the13thsuperior-blog]

Helmut Zemo thought that he was alone. Deep down in the recesses of his Hydra base of operations, where no one could disturb him. He was wrong, however. Someone else was there. Someone watching. The figure stood tall in the corner of the dark room, staring intently at Zemo. Its eyes were obscured in shadow under a prominent brow, but he could tell that they were fixated on his every move and action. It was completely still and silent, statue-like in its composure, as it watched.

Zemo had been spending countless hours alone in his study. His plotting and planning took work, hours upon hours of constant research, scheming. This was a chess game and he would not allow himself to be on the wrong end of the final checkmate. All things must be perfect, all things must be inline with his plan and go exactly to plan. Nothing could-

He could sense eyes on him from somewhere, a corner in the room perhaps. It was now that he regretted not buying brighter lamps, or at least more of them. Confident and fearless as it made him appear, he did not like being caught unawares. He had not gotten to this point by being sloppy. 

“I do not know who you are, or how you got in here without my noticing,” Zemo began in a calm but frigid tone. Whoever allowed this little slip up within the guard ranks would be shot promptly. In fact, Perhaps the whole of them should be dealt with. For someone to get this far in without being taken care of meant that many eyes had failed. “But I assure you, lingering in the shadows still would not be the wisest of choices. Show yourself and mercy will be allotted. Continue to hide and I cannot guarantee such a promise.”

[the13thsuperior-blog]

falcon-captain:

“Thank you,” Sam quipped, although not sure if this was meant to insult or if Zemo was being serious. 

Zemo didn’t seem like anyone who would be anything but serious, and this scared Sam. He didn’t want to be anything like Zemo and he did not want Zemo’s approval for anything he did.

A blinding pain shot through his body. Sam felt as though every bone in his body was simultaneously breaking and, for some reason, all he could think about, was HYDRA, and Zemo. And his childhood. Every mistake he’d ever made, every bad decision, every life he’d taken accidentally, was becoming him, and consuming him in this pain and he couldn’t stop it. 

Nouä.

And then, there was sadness too, of all the loss he’d endured, all of the people he couldn’t save, and what had turned him away. Even the good memories, the ones he remembered like heavily faded dreams were consumed by pain and hatred and anger. 

@the13thsuperior

Zemo watched Sam’s reaction with mild interest. Words were powerful even in the most innocent of dialogues. In Zemo’s line of work, however, there was a significant increase in their potency. 

“What are you feeling now, Mr. Wilson?” He probed calmly. Eyes ever watchful, he monitored every muscle and vein throb that might possibly twinge. He studied Sam like a scientist might do with a lab rat. His training may have been in engineering, but his mind worked well in either capacity. 

He turned his head to look at the doctor, nodding his head to command a raise of the voltage, then returned to watch his patient. Zemo’s lip curled as he thought of the next word in the sequence, this would certainly bring about a reaction.

“Bufon.”

Birds of Prey // Sam and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

ravenmystiqued:

She took a seat, only after he had spoken, shifting to her undercover human form; her skin turning to tan from blue, black business wear replacing the uniform used for fighting. This was more diplomacy, not a confrontation, and she wanted to make that clear. Beside, people tended to listen to her more that way. “Whatever you’re having,” she smiled graciously, her mind lingering on his comment about her supposed death. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Baron Zemo. I’ve heard stories about you from all over the globe. Your reputation is quite… impressive.”

“The short answer of why I’m here,” she began slowly, her usual smile gone from her face, “-Is that I want the Avengers out of the way. I assumed that we share that wish, although I can’t be positive because mind-reading is not one of my talents. And, I also assumed you had something to do with the disappearance of our friend Mr. Wilson, and thought I would come offer my help.” 

“The long answer,” she continued,”Is that I’ve made plans to end the X-Men. Not kill them, necessarily, just end the organisation and what it stands for. They are a group of time bombs masquerading as heroes. All they do is destroy he city and take innocent lives, both mutant and human. I intend to stop that. And, quite frankly, I was hoping, we could help each other.”

@the13thsuperior

Zemo found himself disappointed when she changed back to a human form. If she were herself, she had less to hide, he reasoned to himself. She was a woman of many secrets. Helmut was privy to very few of them, though the ones he knew were influential enough, he supposed. Having power over the infamous Mystique could either be a great advantage, or too risky a move. A master of concealing his emotions in as much the way the woman before him was a master at concealing herself, Zemo’s expression remained ever blank. “I am having water, nothing more. If that is your wish, I can certainly acquiesce, but you are welcome to whatever drink you would prefer.”

“Stories of me?” He allowed a faint smirk to tug at his lips, but it did not enter his eyes. “I am sure they pale in light of those I have heard about you. You have made quite a name for yourself, Mystique.”

Her reason intrigued him, though it was not fully surprising. One thing that was no secret of Mystique was her opposition of the X-Men. As the Avengers had come alongside the X-Men in an all but formal alliance, there was no surprise, then, in her wanting them both out of the way. “What is it you require to see to your mission?” He asked as he poured their drinks, delivering hers before settling down on the seat opposite her own.

Enemy of an Enemy || Raven & Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

sonofwolverine616:

Daken did his very best to restrain his look of surprise. Despite his efforts, his eyebrow popped up slightly and his grin grew more twisted. He made a mental note to investigate Zemo’s plan in the near future. The assassin didn’t like being kept in the dark about. On the other hand, there may have been a reason his boss dropped that hint about it…

He had to weigh his options. Making Zemo angry or intentionally playing into his hands would be a mistake.

“Yes, sir,” he said calmly. Best to play the loyal crony for now and not raise any suspicion. He was certain that eventually the HYDRA leader’s ultimate plan would become clear.

“Hmmm… Sounds delightful,” the feral stalker said with a small chuckle. “I thought I had smelled someone new in the city. Good to know that my nose isn’t failing me. This ‘Fury’ should be in good company around here. How do you suggest I get his attention?”  

The nefarious expression upon Daken’s face pleased Zemo. Daken, would, of course, find such dealings amusing. It was what Zemo expected. He prided himself on his observational skills but kept his self-commendations to a minimum. Now was not the time to lose sight of the goal. 

The subject of Mr. Kiernan having come to a decent close, he moved his attentions to the matter of The Fury. Daken may well be able to hold his own against The Fury, but it would not do for the mutant to wander blindly into an encounter with the beast.

“He hides for much of the month and only seems to come out during the time of a full moon. He will keep to wooded areas for the next few days before hiding again. Central Park is where the latest intelligence says he has made his home. But tread carefully, he is smarter than he seems. I sent five men to find him, only four of them returned. I have dealt with the fifth.” He left it there, Zemo’s way of ‘dealing’ with agents who failed him in one way or another was severe. Excellence or death seemed to be his philosophy from the perspective the HYDRA agents.

Trade Secrets // Daken and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

falcon-captain:

“No kidding,” Sam managed, “Except have you considered the trend of motivations based on revenge always getting the short end of the metaphorical stick?” He wasn’t really in a position to talk back, he knew, but he’d never been able to give up the last word. Steve hadn’t been able to get it out of him, and Zemo sure as hell wasn’t going to. 

But he was finding it harder to open his mouth, much less think, as his whole body felt like it was slowly setting itself on fire. He’d been through worse, of course, but it didn’t change the fact that there was noting he could do about it. What hurt more, was that this was all his fault: allowing himself to get caught was a rookie mistake and letting Zemo get to him was an even bigger foul. 

“I will not let you use that against me…” he repeated, “It wasn’t real. It was Red Skull. It wasn’t-” Vigoare. “That’s not real. It’s not me.” He was thinking this, and yet, he was not believing it. “If you don’t take responsibility for your actions, what kind of hero are you? They weren’t my actions. Really?” Sam pulled, very uselessly, against the restraints, “It’s not me.”

@the13thsuperior

The curl of his lip shifted slightly upwards again. That Sam was trying so hard to remain alert and strong was amusing, to say the least. It would prove worthless in the end. The programming set in place by Red Skull was nearly fool proof. Which is why Zemo used the shooting and the electric shocks, as well as the codes.

“Humor suits you, Mr. Wilson,” Zemo commented idly as he signaled to the doctor to raise the level by a half again. “I will be sure to allow you to keep that. It will work for the plan.”

He watched the man as the higher level of energy began to hit Sam. Zemo took another other few steps around the metal bed before stopping. “Nouӑ.” He stated, firmly and calmly. He found it interesting that Red Skull chose to use pieces of Sam’s past as a means to turn him.

Birds of Prey // Sam and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

ravenmystiqued:

Raven took very few risks. She did not often enter into a gamble if she did not think the outcome would play out in her favour and she did not believe in coincidence. She remembered everything and everyone and she had had a long time to prefect her skill. And yet, that did not mean she didn’t like pushing limits. The game was half the fun, winning being the other, but she was confident this one would pay off. Wether it was how she anticipated had yet to be seen. 

She’d gotten in tough with Zemo through the guise of HYDRA. Her past interactions with Ophelia Sarkissian had been brief, but enlightening, and it was a name that would open many doors. And let her show off. The meeting place had been arranged previously and she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to meet with the man, no matter what he demanded.  

She got to the agreed meeting place before him, finding breaking in much easier than she expected, but Raven didn’t lower her expectations. Zemo was not one to be underestimated. She did not explore the house, despite her instincts, and instead, found a seat and waited. 

When Raven heard the door open, she rose from her seat, wasting no time, and turned to face him, “Helmut Zemo. I apologise for the false pretences…” She did not move from where she stood, but shifted from her disguise to her true form, although choosing black over her usual white uniform. “I like to get a feel for the game before I begin playing, a feeling I’m sure is not foreign to you. I owe you a congratulations,” a smile crept across her lips, “It took me weeks to find you.”

@the13thsuperior

The missive from Viper had been surprising, given his previous communications with the woman. Therefore, he approached his safe house with hidden caution. Zemo had gotten to his position by portraying his confidence. It would not do to allow a chink the otherwise perfect facade. The gun hidden safely at his back where he’d kept it all along.

It was why he never allowed his goons to enter his home before he did. Nothing broke confidence more than the appearance of fear. As he opened the door, he sensed something different. Signalling the men to remain outside, he entered in, eyes watchful. 

His brow rose at the sight of the woman in the living room. So this was the infamous Mystique. He had heard much of her through the years. False pretenses? Isn’t that what made Mystique the villain she was? He smirked slightly. “I had heard you were dead,” Zemo mused. “How delightful to find that the papers were wrong.”

He waved at the chair she’d risen from even as he walked over to the bar across from her seat. “Please sit. May I offer you a drink? Perhaps while I pour you one, you will tell me why you felt the need to seek me out.”

Enemy of an Enemy || Raven & Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

falcon-captain:

“Whatever we did…” Sam said through gritted teeth, “We did for the good of humanity. I’m sorry if it didn’t go down how you… how it… how it should have, but collateral damage was never the goal in mind.” He squeezed his eyes shut, going through the motions, trying to stay relaxed as every muscle in his body tensed. The Soviets were not kidding around. Not that he ever joked about serous things…

“We may not be perfect, but the Avengers were never out to hurt anyone. Never out to kill innocent people. There were times we screwed up, but unlike…” he paused, having trouble forming his words, wrapping his head around his sentences… his brain was on fire. “Unlike some Nazi-based organisations, I won’t.. name names… We. don’t. Not for personal gain for for some, some sick vendetta against…” Something in Zemo’s poison was meddling with his brain, making it harder to think, to rationalise. Sam found himself unable to do anything but think about where he was and listen to the sounds of the machines around him and something about Zemo’s voice. It was familiar.

“Nume.”

No. Where had he heard that before? Back. Way back. His thoughts were muddled. Red. Hydra. Snap. Brooklyn. Mob. Skull. Hydra… “NO!” Sam yelled, forcing himself to meet Zemo’s gaze, forcing his eyes open, despite whatever was keeping his mind incoherent and despite the pain… “I will not… You will not use that against me… Will not-” More to himself than anyone else, but Sam was thinking more clearly now. He knew what this was.

@the13thsuperior

“The Nazi ideal was short sighted, Hitler could not see past his own resentment. It is why he failed. Motivation is key, Mr. Wilson. This you will learn.” Zemo stalked around the metal bed on which Sam lay. The captive was struggling to think. The superior man could see this in Sam’s body language. The man’s suffering did not affect Zemo one way or the other; it did not bother nor excite. Fetishes like that were for the weak minded, was his consideration on the subject.

Sam’s increased struggles with the first protocol word caused the smallest tug at the corner of Zemo’s lip. This would not be a fight the Avenger could win. Red Skull had made sure of that. “Raise the level by a half.” He ordered without looking at the doctor.

Once again, the physician fought with himself. Though, as before, the desire to live easily overcame the draw to medical ethics. As he raised the level the doctor silently sighed. Ignoring medical ethics had gotten him and the others in the room removed from their previous positions. None of them had clean hands. 

Zemo watched as the extra energy attacked Sam, continuing the stalking circle. A slight increase of the height of the pull on his lip later, he opened his mouth to release the second of the ten words Johann Schmidt used to control Sam’s mind. “Vigoare.” This one, Zemo supposed, would bring back memories.

Birds of Prey // Sam and Zemo

[the13thsuperior-blog]

the13thsuperior:

sonofwolverine616:

The assassin sneered and raked his thin fingers through his greasy mohawk. “Yeah, more or less,” he said. “Good job on that, by the way. It’s good to see those heroes taken down a peg.” A small laugh escaped his lips. 

 “Mr. Kiernan seems… receptive to the idea of working for you. Perhaps we can arrange another meeting.”After approaching the politician and former HOPE supporter, Daken had managed to sway Kiernan somewhat. He hoped that this progress would please his superior.

Together they hoped to make the lives of the so-called “heroes” absolute hell. Separately they may have been able to cause some amount of strife, but by joining forces they could unleash havoc. It gave the hunter absolute delight to think about how they would make them all suffer.

Zemo did not join in with the laugh, but merely offered a tight impatient smile. “Mr. Wilson will prove far more useful under my control than under his own.” He added, knowing full well that Daken would have known nothing of Zemo’s plans to resurrect the fallen Avenger. Information was as valuable in their line of work as wealth. Both allowed for advantages over their enemies that could change the balance of tides.

He had not, and would not reveal the whole of his plan to Daken outright, but he had no qualms with releasing the more immediate aspects when their fruition drew near. Sam’s purpose was drawing closer, but there were more pieces needed to fully enact his plan. Pieces that had conveniently arrived on his doorstep.

The Baron had heard of this politician. His shadowy nature had piqued Zemo’s interest. “Very good, Daken.” He obliged his employee with a small praise. “Meet with Mr. Kiernan once more on your own. If his interest is further piqued, send word to me and I will coordinate the means for a meeting.”

“I have another I would wish you to approach,” he began after a momentary quiet. He reached down and slid a file folder towards Daken. “There is a creature known as ‘The Fury of Romania’ a wolf that has generated more legends and myth than fact over the last several decades. Word has reached me that he has come to New York. He is bloodthirsty and violent. But I think he could be swayed with the right motivation. He also has a particularly intriguing ability that could prove worth our while if we can gain his trust.”

Trade Secrets // Daken and Zemo