The Right Partner

By rockofmarduk

Chapter 13: More in Common Than You Know

Steven Rogers awoke to the sound of his cage door opening.

Lifting his head he saw the Red Skull standing above him, holding the door wide open and beckoning with his hand for him to come out. He was dressed to the nines in a black velvet smoking jacket and black silk pants. In his mouth he had a lit black cigarette holder. The Skull smiled, allowing a bit of smoke to drift out of his mouth and into the evening air. He looked like a red smoking demon from the pits of hell.

"Good evening Rogers. It's time we have a our little chat."

Still uncertain of the Skull's true motives, Steven slowly came out of his cage and waited patiently to be told where to go. The Skull seemed pleased with his response.

"It's good to see that you are learning to behave while in my presence."

"I'm only being good because I'm not in the mood to get shocked again."

The Skull chuckled as he took Steven by the arm and lead him to the couch by the fireplace, the same place were he had tended Rogers wounds the night before. Sitting down, Steven noticed a small buffet had been spread before him on the small living room table. Wine, fruit, expensive cheese's and crackers, were just a few of the good things that Steve took notice of before the Red Skull sat beside him on the sofa. Pouring himself some wine and handing another silver goblet to Rogers, Schmidt got right down to business.

"I think it's time we got to know one another better Steven. I know your government has told you nothing but terrible things about me."

"And I've seen some of those things first hand." Steven interrupted. "Like, torturing, experimenting and enslaving innocent people. Using your war machines to destroy peoples homes and lives. Do you want me to continue?"

The Skull sighed as he set his goblet down. "Alright. I'll admit to it all. But still, nobody's perfect. Not even you. But you don't know everything about me, like I don't know everything about you. Perhaps if we shared a little about ourselves, we might find some common ground to start a foundation on. What do you say?"

Steven didn't know what he was up to, but decided to play ball with Schmidt. Perhaps if he revealed a little information about himself to the Skull, then maybe he could use anything he learned from Schmidt against him later on.

"OK then, I'll start." Cap took a sip of his drink before starting. "I never knew my father. He died before I was born, in the first war. My mother described him as a man who never backed down from a challenge. Who always fought hard for what he wanted. The very minute the government called out for recruits my father was first in line. And not once did he ever show any sign of fear, not even to my mother. Apparently I inherited the same traits.

"Oh apparently." The Skull said mockingly as he took a sip from his cup.

"Anyway, my mother raised me on her own. She never remarried. She always made sure I had the best of everything, even though we didn't always have allot of money, we were happy. She was also the one who got me interested in art. She taught me everything she knew, took me to art museums, got me books about art. She even got me an art teacher, a kind old lady who lived in the same apartment as us. It was a little more expensive but she knew I enjoyed it and wanted nothing more then to see me happy. But then one day it all ended. When I was a little kid my mom came down with a serious illness. Doctors tried there best but nothing could be done. She died peacefully in her sleep. I was glad because she was no longer in any pain. I had no living relatives on either of my parents side, so they sent me to live at an orphanage."

The Skull's eyes snapped open and he stopped in mid sip. Lowering his goblet he looked at Rogers in shock.

Steven was confussed by his reaction to this.

"You lived in an orphanage. For how long?"

"I lived there until I was eighteen. I never got adopted because they all thought I was too old to be adopted. I got bullied allot when I was young too because I was so scrawny and sick all the time. I tried to stand up for myself and fight back but that usually ended with me flat on my face with nothing but cuts and bruises for my effort. I could have easily back down or ran away, but running never solves anything. But, thankfully I had my friend Bucky to stand up for me and beside me when I couldn't stand at all. He's been like an older brother to me ever since we were kids."

"Bucky? You mean the guy you risked life and limb for at my factory were we first met?"

"Yea, that's him. I'd do anything for the guy, like he'd do anything for me. I'm lucky to have him in my life."

"Yes, lucky you." Schmidt muttered, returning to his drink. Steven could have sworn he heard a hint of jealousy in Johann's voice.

"And your mother," the Skull continued, "did she love you? Did you love her?"

"Of coarse she loved me, and I loved her." Steven said, puzzled by the question. "Why wouldn't she? What mother wouldn't love her own child?

"A dead one." Schmidt said matter -of- factly. Steven was surprised by the answer he received and waited to hear more. Apparently the Skull had some family issues that hadn't been resolved yet.

"Like you didn't know your father, I never got to know my mother. She died giving birth to me. My father, who was a ruthless drunk, blamed me for her death and tried to drown me. Thankfully the doctor who delivered me also saved me from his wrath and was able to calm him down. For the next four years of my life I was beaten, screamed at and treated like garbage from the man who was supposed to love me. One day he went too far. He tried to slash my face open with a razor blade. The courts decided to take me away from my father and put me in an orphanage until my father was declared safe enough to return too. The next day my father committed suicide with the very razor blade he intended to use on me."

Stevens mouth dropped open in shock. "My god. I'm so sorry. Surely things got better for you after that?"

Schmidt laughed out load as if he had been just told a joke. "You'd think that wouldn't you. Unfortunately my life in the orphanage was nothing more then more beatings and more being screamed at. It was just like being back home. Like you I was also bullied and fought back. Not that it made a difference. Just gave them more reason to beat the crap out of me. Finally I hand enough and ran away when I was about eight or nine years old."

"Really." Steven gulped down his drink as he listened with interest. "What did you out there all alone?"

"I became a thief. I robbed from anyone and stole anything I could my hands on. It landed me in jail a few times over the years, but at least I had a roof over my head for a night. Things changed however when I tried to steal a man's wallet and he caught me at it. It turned out to be the same doctor who had saved my life on the day I was born. He remembered me and felt sorry for me. So he took me in to his home and tried to give me a life to call my own. He sent me to all the best schools in Europe. It was during this time that I became interested in mythology and discovered evidence that what we consider myth and magic to be real and close to being in our grasp."

"And that's when you went to Dr Erskine about his new formula and injected yourself with it to try and become a god." Steven finished for him.

"Correction. I became a god." Johann poked a finger into Caps chest. "And so did you. Our lives are quite similar but our paths ran with different decisions and outcomes. But still, we share allot in common. We both wanted to become more then what we originally were."

"I didn't take the formula to become a god." Steven interjected. "I took it to try and help my country, to help people in need and stop people like you from destroying the world."

The Skull sighed as he picked up some food from the table. "I can see I still have allot of work to do on you. But I do believe we've made some headway tonight. And that is why I've decide that you will not sleep in your cage this evening. Tonight you will be sleeping with me in my bed."

Steven almost choked on the piece of food he was eating and stared at the Skull. Was he really serious? For the first time ever in his life Steven Rogers aka Captain America was rendered speechless.

The Red Skull smiled wickedly at Cap's reaction and stood up. Holding out his hand to Steven he said, "Shall we retire for the night Captain?"

Steve wished he had the power to say no to the Skull's offer. But he knew if he did the Skull would just force him to his room with just a switch of that damn remote of his connected to the collar. However, if he went willingly and gained the Red Skulls trust then maybe he could find a way out of this place. Grudgingly he excepted and took the Skulls hand as he was lead to Schmidt's private bedroom.

The room itself was huge. The walls were covered in hanging red and black tapestry, with the Hydra logo printed on them. Dark purple curtains covered up what Steve believed to be the only window in the room. A possible escape maybe? A black leather chair and a small table sat on the right hand corner and to the left was a huge closet containing Schmidt's enormous wardrobe. In the middle was another room, which Steve could see was Schmidt's private bathroom, complete with a bath tube and shower. And in the middle of it was what Steve feared most.

Schmidt's bed.

The thing was so huge it almost overtook the entire room. The bed itself was covered in black silken sheets and a purple woolen cover that matched the color of the curtains. Four large fluffy pillows lay on the top of the bed and an animal fur blanket lay at the bottom. Drawers were on either side, with matching lamps and a beautiful white fur rug on the floor completed the picture. All in all the room was beautiful, fit for a king. That was probably the look Schmidt was going for.

Removing his smoking jacket, Schmidt nodded toward the bathroom. "I suggest that you take a shower. God only knows how long you've been without one. And there's a change of pajamas in the bathroom too. I doubt that you want to sleep another night in that dirty thing?"

Steven was too tired to argue and besides, he did smell a little. Though a worried thought crossed his mind.

"What about the collar? It's electrified isn't it? Won't I get the bejesus shocked out of me?"

"You have nothing to worry about. Zola designed the collar to be waterproof as well as inescapable. Your completely safe. So go enjoy your bath."

Closing the door behind him, Steven removed his soiled uniform and slid into a nice warm bubble bath. God, it felt good to get the last few days of dirt and dried blood off his body. He had to admit, Schmidt knew how to treat a guest.

(Guest! What the hell are you thinking Rogers? Your a prisoner, not a guest.) Steven thought to himself as he splashed warm water onto his face. The last few days had been the most confusing of Captain America's life. He understood that Schmidt wanted him to join Hydra, so why was he treating him with such kindness and gentleness? Why didn't he just torture him or brainwash him into joining Hydra? Why the big display? I just didn't seem like the Red Skull at all. And then there was the kiss. Was it possible that Schmidt preferred men other women and now he was actually interested in him?

Steve couldn't stop himself from blushing from head to toe at the thought, as he got out of the bath tube and dried himself off. Slipping into the white pajamas that Schmidt provided, Steven paused at the door and wondered what exactly will happen once he was in bed with Skull. Was the Red Skull expecting him to...have sex with him? Knowing he couldn't put it off any longer, Steven opened the door and stepped back out into the bedroom.

The Skull was already in bed waiting for him and smiled when he saw him. "You look much better now that your clean. Do the pajama' fit alright?"

"They fit fine." Steven said as he ran his hand across the soft material. "Exactly what do you want me to do with you in the bed?"

The Skull looked confused for a moment. "Do? Oh, I understand what your thinking. I can a sure you Captain, I have no intention on doing anything to you..."

Steven sighed with relief.

"For the time being." Schmidt continued. "I'm hopeful that in the time we have together, you will be the one coming on to me."

Steven swallowed hard as Schmidt pulled back the covers and patted the spot beside him.

"Now come to bed Rogers. It's time that you got use to sleeping with me."

Steven grudgingly climbed into bed and laid down beside the Red Skull. Turning off the lamp and plunging the room into darkness, Schmidt gentle wrapped his arms around Steven and forced him to get a little bit closer. Steven remained ridged for a moment, not sure exactly what to do in this situation.

"Relax Captain," Schmidt's soothing voice came from the darkness. "Just relax your body and close your eyes. We have a big day planned tomorrow and you need your beauty rest."

Despite his inner voice protesting against the Skull's advances, Steven did as he was told and found himself actually snuggling up against Schmidt and slowly falling into a deep slumber. Schmidt also closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Rogers soft blond hair. Before falling asleep, he muttered these words.

"Goodnight my eagle. Sleep well."