Sokovia - Heinrich Zemo's House (March 2011)

[Hollywood Heidi]

Heinrich Zemo's House

The home of Baron Zemo's father, Heinrich Zemo. One of the few rich houses outside the city of Novi Grad. During the battle of Sokovia, Zemo sent his family to take refuge with him, believing they would be safe here.

[Kristi Lynne]

Due to her success in the apprehension of Nasim al Zarif, Sophie had been transferred from England to a semi-permanent post in Sokovia. There were still remnants of Nasim's network to track down, not to mention other threats in the region. She figured MI-6 was trying to make up for its earlier rush to judgment in labeling her a murderous traitor. As she stood on the balcony feeling a chill, she wondered if she should have pushed her luck and asked for a posting near a sunny beach somewhere along the Mediterranean. But no, tonight she found herself back in Sokovia at an anniversary party hosted by Heinrich Zemo and his wife at their spacious estate in Novi Grad.

Spring was diligently trying to make inroads in this Eastern European country, but a blanket of snow still stubbornly clung to the ground. The crowd inside was noisy and raucous, so she suggested to her companion that they go outside on the balcony. As impressive as Zemo's house was, it paled in comparison to his birthplace. The architecture and the grounds were breathtaking, reminiscent of the Russian empire at its height, and no matter how many times she visited the place she was still impressed.

At the moment, Zemo was busy inside playing the dutiful son, being gracious and welcoming to the fellow employees of his "legitimate" business as well as the city's aristocracy. The few times she had caught his eye, he seemed tired or perhaps restless. She had learned long ago that he wasn't a fan of small talk and had little patience for the idle rich. But when she saw him cornered by a rather pushy patron of the local opera house, Sophie gave him a smirk that said she had no plans to rescue him from that dire situation.

Being in Sokovia had put her firmly back in Zemo's orbit. And while they kept up the charade of being co-workers, for the sake of Helen and the new baby, the two secretly continued to track the movements of HYDRA personnel and their assets. It had been over a year of long nights, hot tips that often cooled and led to dead ends, feeling threatened and endangered more frequently than was probably healthy. But she treasured every moment of it.

"Earth to Sophie," said a male voice at her side, pulling her back to the present.

"Hmm, what?"

"Where did you go just now?" he asked with a slight laugh.

"Oh, gosh, sorry. Little too much merlot," Sophie answered, raising her glass in response. "I hope you're not bored, Aidan. You know, this whole work thing, and I have to be here because of my boss."

"I accepted your invitation, didn't I? And Heinrich Zemo is said to have the most extensive collection of medieval tapestries this side of Rome."

"He does, indeed," she asserted. "And I'm sure he would love to tell you all about them." She took another generous sip of wine as she recalled being trapped in an art history lecture from Zemo's father on more than one occasion.

[DarkSideCookie]

Zemo was indeed left tired and restless from socializing with the idle rich. These people knew only like maybe thirty percent of and about him. The one person who knew at least sixty percent, and that was not his wife who, probably, went with less even, was just about to leaving the crowd, stealing herself, together with a man he hadn't seen before, on the balcony. Zemo's features remained unchanged while, on the inward, he was coming up with curiosity. Was there a secret man in Sophie's life she never mentioned? Not that she would have to, but - well, he just wondered.

Knocking down the rest of his merlot, Zemo excused himself to escape from his current conversation partner: A man who seemed to love talking about himself and the worthlessness that came with his existence. There were way too many people around in general.

As he stepped onto the balcony, joining the couple, or whatever they might be, with a slight smirk and a new glass of merlot he had grabbed from a plate nearby in his hand. "Birdy. Are you enjoying the party?" Zemo asked rather sarcastically, using the nick name he'd given her, just in case and also because he still found it amusing. He knew that she wasn't - enjoying the party that was - just like himself. They were a lot alike when it came to these things, or so he guessed at least.

Before she could answer his question, Zemo threw a subtle nod in her companion's direction. "Sir-?" Maybe this wasn't the most polite way to ask for someone's name, but, unlike Zemo senior, he didn't think much of etiquette anyway.

[Kristi Lynne]

"Birdy. Are you enjoying the party?"

"Ah, Baron," Sophie greeted, with a slight bow of her head, as anyone would be expected to do. "It's a lovely party. So much of Sokovia's high society here to celebrate your parents on this auspicious occasion."

"Sir-?"

Ah, it was already starting to feel awkward. She hadn't told him she was bringing a guest, perhaps because she didn't want to answer questions. But now he could start in on a proper interrogation face-to-face, and she hadn't had nearly enough wine for that yet. "Helmut, this is Aidan," she began the introduction. "He works in our embassy in Hungary, and he's spending a long weekend here in the city."

"I was beginning to wonder if you really existed. Sophie never talks about her work," Aidan added. "Very pleased to finally meet you, Baron!" He stretched out his hand to Zemo in greeting.

"Well, imports, exports -- it's not exactly exciting stuff," Sophie said dismissively. "And Helmut is far too high-up in the company to spend much time with me."

[DarkSideCookie]

"Ah, Baron,""It's a lovely party. So much of Sokovia's high society here to celebrate your parents on this auspicious occasion."

Zemo had to smirk at her bow and the formal greeting. Fair, everyone would expect her to while he didn't find any satisfaction in these things, even felt like he didn't deserve such attention. He'd been born with the title, so it was nothing he'd earned himself. Titles didn't mean a lot to him anyway.

"Helmut, this is Aidan,"

Ah, there was given a name to the unfamiliar face now at least. Zemo smiled friendly at the man, nodding in a greeting, still very formal, maybe, unconsciously, a bit cold even.

"He works in our embassy in Hungary, and he's spending a long weekend here in the city."

And probably with her, he added only in mind, again a slight smirk around his lips, turning his full attention back at Aidan then.

"I was beginning to wonder if you really existed. Sophie never talks about her work,""Very pleased to finally meet you, Baron!"

Zemo accepted the hand, yet in no more but a very short shake, not of personal reasons but rather an action coming from an aversion to social formalities in general. He was not the usual baron, for sure. "Pleased to meet you, too," Zemo replied with a short sideglance over at Sophie, adding with his eyes only 'you never talked about him, either.'

"Well, imports, exports -- it's not exactly exciting stuff,""And Helmut is far too high-up in the company to spend much time with me."

"That's right, yes," he confirmed, his eyes wandering back at Aidan and the smile becoming more formal again. "And how do you like Sokovia so far? Or didn't you get a chance to get a little tour yet?"

[Kristi Lynne]

"And how do you like Sokovia so far? Or didn't you get a chance to get a little tour yet?"

"Oh, Sophie's been an excellent tour guide," Aidan replied. "I didn't know there was so much to see in Novi Grad. After we had caught up at the coffee shop this morning, we went to the parliament building, and the cathedral. And we had lunch at that great place with the little pancakes...."

"Oladushki," Sophie added, having become more comfortable with both the language and the cuisine of the country since that first breakfast with Zemo and his wife. "With syrup and honey, and red caviar. Aidan's rather more adventurous with his appetite than I am."

"I told her she didn't know what she was missing," Aidan insisted. "I'd hate to think Sophie has grown up and lost her sense of adventure. I've been trying to convince her to go to the public baths with me. It's custom, isn't it, Baron? Everyone does it in Budapest."

"Which is the problem. I'm not taking a bath with half the city," Sophie declared, shaking her head vigorously.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Oh, Sophie's been an excellent tour guide,"

I bet so, he thought with actually a bit of spite, unaware where exactly that came from.

"I didn't know there was so much to see in Novi Grad. After we had caught up at the coffee shop this morning, we went to the parliament building, and the cathedral. And we had lunch at that great place with the little pancakes...."

Zemo already had had a guess which place the other was talking about when, suddenly, Sophie intervened to serve them with a name for said specialty.

"Oladushki,""With syrup and honey, and red caviar. Aidan's rather more adventurous with his appetite than I am."

He threw a quick glance over at her, slightly proud of what she had learned from him. A tour guide for the Sokovian cuisine, who would have thought? With a little smirk of amusement, his eyes wandered back at Aidan, becoming more formal once again. And just when Zemo was actually going to add something to the conversation as well, although mostly to Sophie, her companion spoke up again, making him slowly shut his mouth while his eyes wandered between the couple, or whatever they were.

"I told her she didn't know what she was missing,""I'd hate to think Sophie has grown up and lost her sense of adventure. I've been trying to convince her to go to the public baths with me. It's custom, isn't it, Baron? Everyone does it in Budapest."

"I..."

"Which is the problem. I'm not taking a bath with half the city,"

Zemo looked more directly at Sophie again while the sentence he'd been going to start, although with different words, became finished only in his head. ... am not a fan of the public and what's custom. There was something in his eyes that spoke of agreement once Sophie's met with them.

"Speaking of adventurous delicacies," he suddenly said then, turning his attention back at Aidan, with that formal smile from before, maybe even wider than before, "You have to try from the cold cuts over there. My father isn't sparing with treats, specialities that you would only find in the best restaurants." Only those who knew him well enough, Sophie one of those by now, would be able to hear the unspoken message behind this friendly offer. Yes, he wanted to get rid of this guy for some time so he could talk to Sophie in private.

[Kristi Lynne]

"Speaking of adventurous delicacies, you have to try from the cold cuts over there. My father isn't sparing with treats, specialties that you would only find in the best restaurants."

"It's true, Heinrich does have impeccable taste in cuisine as well as medieval art," Sophie added. "Aidan's very excited to see your father's collection of tapestries," she informed Zemo. Picking up on his subtle suggestion to remove her companion from the conversation, Sophie downed the rest of her wine and held the empty glass out to him. "While you're inside, could you be a dear and get me a refill?"

"Always giving orders, this one," Aidan groaned in jest. "I'll be right back."

"Thank you," Sophie said as he walked away. Once he'd gone inside the house, she looked back to Zemo with a sigh. "He's an old friend from school. Don't make it weird." 

[DarkSideCookie]

Again, Zemo's eyes were wandering between them while they went on talking to each other like a couple-to-be at least. The formal smile remained on his face until Aidan actually left, receiving merely a nod of farewell from him. Zemo turned his full attention back to Sophie only when that man was completely out of earshot, leaning on the balcony rail a bit.

"He's an old friend from school. Don't make it weird."

"And he'd like to expand that," he said matter-of-factly, calm and collected and not like one who was jealous. Well, there would be no sense to be, right? Then why was he feeling at least a glimpse of that? Zemo, however, was no one who dug deeper into thoughts like that. There was no need to. Turning his head some more into her direction, he added with a slight smirk: "In case you're not as good in decoding offers and certain activities as you are in PC stuff."

[Kristi Lynne]

"And he'd like to expand that. In case you're not as good in decoding offers and certain activities as you are in PC stuff."

"Yes, well, I've tried very politely to say 'no, thank you'," Sophie retorted to his teasing. "In four different languages, at least! Maybe if I break out the Russian, he'll know I mean business." She sighed and leaned back against the railing. crossing her arms partly against the cold but also in an attempt to close herself off. Over the months, she and Zemo had developed a partnership built on a solid foundation of mutual trust and respect. Neither of them saw a need to talk about their feelings, relationships, what happened if complications arose. What it might mean if it ended.

"Aidan wants me to go back to Hungary with him," Sophie finally uttered, her words cutting into the silence. She said it quickly and quietly lest it become real. "He thinks I could work security for the ambassador or something. Apparently he's been talking to my parents. Ever since that time I came home with a gunshot wound, they've been concerned about the...company I'm keeping."

She let her head roll in Zemo's direction, shifting her gaze from the mansion's interior to solely focus on his dark hazel eyes. Deep down, Sophie knew there was no one she would rather be sharing this balcony, this night, this moment with. But that was a silly dream of a silly girl, and she suppressed the feeling just as quickly as it rose. 

"But maybe they'd change their minds if they knew you helped get my sister and her people out of Turkey," she said hastily. It had been a huge favor, and one that she'd hated to ask of him, but he was the only one she trusted to walk into the chaos Emilia had found herself in and to bring her out safely. 

[DarkSideCookie]

"Yes, well, I've tried very politely to say 'no, thank you',""In four different languages, at least! Maybe if I break out the Russian, he'll know I mean business."

Zemo couldn't help but smirk at her remark, not so much because of the way she made it sound like it was a joke but- well, just because. He probably didn't know why himself, the wave of happiness emerging suddenly enough to be something rather unconscious. However, her next words made it disappear just as suddenly, causing his face to turn more serious and also in her direction.

"Aidan wants me to go back to Hungary with him,""He thinks I could work security for the ambassador or something. Apparently he's been talking to my parents. Ever since that time I came home with a gunshot wound, they've been concerned about the...company I'm keeping."

Zemo watched her in silence, unable to stop staring when she came to face him even, to look him deeply in the eyes. There was a strange feeling in his stomach, one he wouldn't even want to name. This was not good. And he wasn't even sure if it wasn't even better if their paths would end here. But they've become a team, friends even. And also, Zemo didn't want her to go. He wanted her to stay with him, not just in this night at this balcony, but- forever.

Zemo felt somewhat stupid for being unable to say anything before Sophie spoke up again.

"But maybe they'd change their minds if they knew you helped get my sister and her people out of Turkey,"

So she wanted to stay with him as well. Zemo exhaled a silent breath, almost unnoticeable. Although a part of him told him to let her go before feelings would actually cause chaos in his mind and heart, the other part was much stronger right now. But, for once, he was hesitant, shy almost. "But- what is it that you want?" he asked carefully.

[Kristi Lynne]

"But- what is it that you want?"

"Certainly not a one-way ticket to Hungary," Sophie countered. But when she paused to consider his question, to take in the look on his face, she realized Zemo was being serious. Like the sort of serious he adopted in mission briefings. It was in turn unsettling and heartwarming that her proposed exit could affect him so deeply. As deeply as it would have affected her.

"Oh, don't worry, Your Excellency. You won't get rid of me that easily," Sophie asserted, with a feigned casual air. "Besides, it'll take me ages to pay back what I owe you, and your wife." She truly did consider Helen and Carl like family, and she would do nothing to get in the way of that. 

"Speaking of, I managed to get Emilia on the sat phone before I came here," she informed him. "They had made it to the west coast, Izmir. Overnight crossing of the Aegean and they’ll be safely in Greece by morning." Her sister, ever the eager helper, had been working with Kurdish refugees in southern Turkey when a ceasefire broke down. Sophie had been hesitant to share the news and how worried she was. But unsurprisingly Zemo knew a guy who knew a guy that could facilitate their escape.

"I'm so sorry I put you in that position, Zemo, but I knew there was no one else I could trust. I wish you would at least let me tell the head of the Pandion Preserve that you got his people out.”

[DarkSideCookie]

"Certainly not a one-way ticket to Hungary,""Oh, don't worry, Your Excellency. You won't get rid of me that easily,"

Although Zemo was barely showing a reaction to her reply, it relieved him deeply. He really wanted her to stay. But her mentioning Helen made him push these former worries and the relief about her decision to stay push into the background. She was a friend, no more. But a friend dear to his heart. However, Zemo was glad when Sophie changed the topic of their conversation then.

"Speaking of, I managed to get Emilia on the sat phone before I came here,""They had made it to the west coast, Izmir. Overnight crossing of the Aegean and they’ll be safely in Greece by morning.""I'm so sorry I put you in that position, Zemo, but I knew there was no one else I could trust. I wish you would at least let me tell the head of the Pandion Preserve that you got his people out.”

"No. I prefer knowing someone safe rather than shaking more hands," Zemo replied with honesty, letting his eyes wander over the hand-shaking community inside for a moment, then back to Sophie. A slight smile appeared on his lips. "Don't be sorry for anything. I'm glad I could help."

[Kristi Lynne]

"No. I prefer knowing someone safe rather than shaking more hands. Don't be sorry for anything. I'm glad I could help."

Sophie nodded wordlessly. Her sister was safe, and thus the matter was settled. Anyone else would have demanded honors or medals, but his work and its results were always done without fanfare. She leaned on the railing and took in a deep inhale of the cold air, looking out over the expansive lawn and gardens.

"I still can't believe you grew up here," she mused. "It's like a...a fairy tale. Little Zemo flying a kite, riding a bike, or maybe a horse. Poor Oeznik having to play hide and week with you," she teased, nudging his arm with her elbow. "And now your son will get to do the same." 

[DarkSideCookie]

Zemo was secretly observing her as she leaned on the railing, watching the place he had grown up. Who would have thought he ended up bringing her here? Especially, because it had taken him a while to introduce Helen to this place. No, he shall not compare their relationship to the one he had with his wife. That was something completely different, as it should be.

"I still can't believe you grew up here,""It's like a...a fairy tale. Little Zemo flying a kite, riding a bike, or maybe a horse. Poor Oeznik having to play hide and week with you,"

He smiled at her words yet remained silent until she spoke up again, nudging his arm in a teasing way.

"And now your son will get to do the same."

Zemo was still slightly smiling, turning ahead to watch over the place himself now. "Yes."

He didn't say more, didn't turn his head back towards her. Instead, it seemed that Zemo's mind started to wander far away for a moment.

[Kristi Lynne]

Of course, it wasn't unusual for Zemo to go quiet. He rarely gave voice to the many thoughts that were running through his head or the emotions that were churning under the surface. But she wondered if at the moment he was preoccupied with memories of the past or worries about the future, brought on by the mention of his son. 

"You're a good dad, you know that, right?" Sophie declared. True, he didn't need validation -- certainly not from her -- but she knew the toll that Zemo's work, the real and the covert, took on his family. The milestones he had already missed, the mistakes he wished to avoid passing on to the next generation.

"Heinrich drafted you into his life-long personal war without thinking of the consequences," she observed sympathetically. "At least Carl will have a choice."

[DarkSideCookie]

"You're a good dad, you know that, right?"

Sophie's voice brought him back into the here and now, making him shake his head slightly even as if, this time, he actually hadn't notice that he'd been gone absent-minded. Zemo turned his head back towards her, facing her with a much clearer gaze now. What she had pointed out was important to him and much appreciated, but that wasn't the point of his feelings.

"Heinrich drafted you into his life-long personal war without thinking of the consequences,""At least Carl will have a choice."

Now, that was more like it. Zemo let out a sigh, barely audible. He turned his eyes back ahead, down at the place in front of them, the garden with its expensive offerings, before finally speaking up again as well. "It's getting worse. With these wannabe heroes rising, gaining more and more instruments and power... One day, they'll destroy what they think they're keeping safe," he finished with a self-made prophecy.

[Kristi Lynne]

"It's getting worse. With these wannabe heroes rising, gaining more and more instruments and power... One day, they'll destroy what they think they're keeping safe."

"Were you really expecting a subtle, nuanced approach from someone like Tony Stark?" Sophie scoffed. Ever since the billionaire playboy had turned his back on his family's weapons-manufacturing empire and turned himself into an iron-suited superhero, the rules of engagement between good and evil seemed to be changing.

"Let him have his headlines and accolades; it doesn't diminish what we've done," she stated. "One day's work in Spain and we set their operation back months, if not years. Project Centipede will not be creating any more super soldiers, and that is a good thing."

[DarkSideCookie]

"Were you really expecting a subtle, nuanced approach from someone like Tony Stark?"


He let out a quiet yet audible hissing sound at that. No, of course not. That he never had expected. Zemo had always been skeptical towards people like Tony Stark, before and after he had declared himself a hero figure.


"Let him have his headlines and accolades; it doesn't diminish what we've done,""One day's work in Spain and we set their operation back months, if not years. Project Centipede will not be creating any more super soldiers, and that is a good thing."


"They'll find other ways," Zemo replied with another self-made prophecy, his eyes still gazing down the garden underneath them. "But yes, I agree with you on our work having created major damage to their operation. But we have to continue." With a sigh, he turned his full attention back towards Sophie, stepping back a little from the railing. "We have to always be ahead of them, stop the operations that they start working on. If you're still on board that is," Zemo added a bit more quietly, a bit more insecure. He truly hoped that she was.

[Kristi Lynne]

"They'll find other ways. But yes, I agree with you on our work having created major damage to their operation. But we have to continue. We have to always be ahead of them, stop the operations that they start working on. If you're still on board that is."

"To the end of the line," Sophie confirmed. "You saved my life, Zemo. Gave me a chance to take out the bad guys without worrying about government bureaucrats or layers and layers of red tape. You gave me a purpose. So where you lead, I follow."

She wasn't going to Hungary, she wasn't going anywhere except to pick up the next HYDRA trail. She hoped that statement laid to rest any doubts that he had about her dedication to the mission. "But first, we need to talk about this coat," Sophie said, taking the deep purple lapels in her hands. "It looks like Prince married a snow leopard and joined the military. I love it! Did Helen pick this out?"

[DarkSideCookie]

"To the end of the line,""You saved my life, Zemo. Gave me a chance to take out the bad guys without worrying about government bureaucrats or layers and layers of red tape. You gave me a purpose. So where you lead, I follow."

Of course, Sophie had assured him that before, partly at least, but it was still a relief to hear it again, in a very determined way at that. Zemo eased visibly, the hard expression softening again.

"But first, we need to talk about this coat,""It looks like Prince married a snow leopard and joined the military."

When Sophie said that, examining the fabric of his coat, Zemo, at first, feared that she didn't like it. For some strange reason, Zemo attached importance to her opinion. So he couldn't help but show a sign of relief, a slight smile even, when she continued differently.

"I love it! Did Helen pick this out?"

"Oh no," Zemo replied honestly, looking down on himself for a moment, then back up at Sophie. "Actually, she hates it. She didn't really say so, but I can tell by her looks. I guess it's too extravagant for her taste." Helen was living this life with him and surely enjoyed the things they could afford, but this piece probably crossing some kind of personal border.

[Kristi Lynne]

"Oh no. Actually, she hates it. She didn't really say so, but I can tell by her looks. I guess it's too extravagant for her taste."

“Psh, as an artist, she should realize that it is a fashion masterpiece,” Sophie declared with a smirk. Talk of Zemo’s family, and the bite of the cold night air, grounded her back in reality. “I should probably get back inside and find Aidan, before he samples too much of the Sokovian buffet. We’ll talk again on Monday, yeah? There’s been some movement on the Vogt account,” she informed him. Zemo was smart enough not to allow any listening devices near himself or his family, but they never talked business in the open. It was always encoded in some way just to be safe.

[DarkSideCookie]

“Psh, as an artist, she should realize that it is a fashion masterpiece,”

Zemo had to reply her slight smirk. She probably had a point there actually. But art differed. He guessed. However, the nice and casual mood vanished a bit when Sophie continued.

“I should probably get back inside and find Aidan, before he samples too much of the Sokovian buffet. We’ll talk again on Monday, yeah? There’s been some movement on the Vogt account,”

Zemo nodded slightly, much more professional again before he confirmed: "We'll talk on Monday. I hope you two will be able to enjoy the rest of the party. And the buffet of course," Zemo added with one last smirk after all.

[Kristi Lynne]

"We'll talk on Monday. I hope you two will be able to enjoy the rest of the party. And the buffet of course."

"Perhaps the buffet has distracted him from the tapestry collection. Not sure I could take another art history lecture from your father," Sophie sighed. "I shall take my leave, Your Excellency. Again, the Pandion Preserve thanks you for your assistance with the Turkish situation. And I thank you for saving my sister. Even if she'll never know it." She laid a hand on his coat-clad shoulder and wished him 'goodnight' in Sokovian before heading back into the mansion.

[DarkSideCookie]

"I shall take my leave, Your Excellency. Again, the Pandion Preserve thanks you for your assistance with the Turkish situation. And I thank you for saving my sister. Even if she'll never know it."

Zemo gave a slight nod to her words, aware that she was trying to get back to conversing on rather a business level before she would head back inside. Still, her words of farewell in Sokovian then made him smirk a little after all. She got better with the pronunciation, a lot actually. Zemo answered in his mother language as well before turning back around towards the garden. He would remain here for another while. These parties sometimes were exhausting to him and it seemed that everyone was coping well without him right now, even his wife.


***