#capskull

VULNERABLE

A CAP/SKULL ONE SHOT

The world shook with hellfire, the sounds of thundering bullets cutting the air with not a single amount of remorse. Cold, muddy, wet, dark, these were the sensations and sights within the trenches. The sounds of agony off every makeshift pathway barely held together with rigid beams of wood. Every Mortar from a tank shook the dirt and wood, shaking the fear of collapse through every soldier's soul. One could barely see the hands gripping worn steel guns right in front of them. Down below was a man grasping at ankles, sobbing in misery “end me” he rasped in a thick German tongue. A flare shot above and enlightened the hellscape. Within moments it was very clear the man was completely missing his lower half, entrails dragged and entangled on branches and shattered shards of the beams giving sanctuary above them.

This

Was

My

Eternity

Of misery…..

………………….

Johann shot up from his slumber, cold sweat drenching his entire being; a sharp inhale filled his lungs as the visions slowly faded his eyes…but the screams, oh the screams and ringing of ears was painfully intensifying. He grappled onto his ears with clawing fingers, craving for relief from those tortuous torture filled years. Every time his eyes shut the image of slaughtered brothers spilling their life blood into the now tainted lands he use to call home.

“Hey….Schmidt. You alright my love?”

This sweet voice roared inside him, stronger than any violent memory. He felt the hand of a tired man glide across his back Johann hissed and flinched away as a familiar burn ran across his nerves.

“Oh…dear, I’m sorry…..you must have had a rough night….oh! Schmidt you’re bleeding again…” Johann looked at the blonde bed headed man as he pulled away from the burgundy sheets and rushed over to the bathroom.

“Ah…..yes….rough.” He rubbed his temples as a throbbing of exhaustion tugged a little too much on his brain. He attempted to look over his shoulder at his back, of course he saw that his blood red skin had torn and ripped in quite a few areas, well that’s what he assumed with only the assistance of a distorted peripheral vision. This was almost a nightly occurrence, the serum has destroyed his skins durability, nearly melting completely to muscle. Johann sighed heavily, then quickly tensing as even the movement of breath was tugging on his wounds.

“Not to worry, I found the med kit. Luckily, you stay stocked up on bandages so I never have to hunt them down” this sturdy built man thumped right back down next to him, clicking open the med pack as the items inside jiggled slightly.

“I have a permanent reliance on them….would be disastrous if I ran out” Johann added silently, words laced with the torment of his nightmares “thank you for your help, mein kapitan” he cooed softly as he caressed his jaw line with a delicate couple fingers. The man named rogers leaned into his touch before guiding said hand to his lips so he may place the most gentle of kisses upon his palm.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way” rogers replied with honey on his words “now, let’s get you dressed up so you don’t feel miserable for the rest of the day. I know you try to avoid it, but you do take some of you crankiness out on me on these kinds of mornings” Rogers chuckled a little as he began to dunk some cotton in rubbing alcohol. He ringed it out with a quick squeeze and grimaced “this isn’t going to be pleasant….as always”. Johann sat up tall and braced for the sting as the cotton was dabbed on his night sores. Of course, nothing was as painful as the time he injected that serum of lava, but it still wasn’t pleasant.

Rogers snuggled a bit closer to Johann’s back as a way to bring him solace that he was safe. Johann let out a moan of relief as a soothing cream was delicately massaged into him. It felt warm, and the sharp pain reduced immensely. “That’s the stuff” he whispered to himself and hung his head as Rogers worked his magic. He heard a happy hum purr from Roger's throat “of course, I can’t stand to see you in any pain…..did you have your usual dream again?..y-you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to”.

It only took those words to flash the trenches back into his being. Johann sneered “I am….annoyed that I still haven’t found the strength to get it out of me. It’s been nearly 15 years and I’m still-“ Johann gripped onto the sheets in a quick fit of anger “….in this hell. I should be better, I should be progressing, yet here I am fail-“

“Don’t you say those words around me, Johann. You are not a failure and you are not weak. Some things just stick with us forever” Rogers barked defensively; there was nothing worse to his ears than his lover disregarding himself. Schmidt glanced over his shoulder again, his eyes softening as he looked into the steel blue eyes of his love. Even though they were lit up with irritation, it was bound to the love he also felt. Schmidt sighed and gave him a little smile to ease his lover's thoughts.

“Of course, kapitan, you are right. I apologize for my abrasive thoughts on my capabilities and progress” Johann turned slightly to brush some of the golden fields of hair strands that had fallen into Roger's face. This brought a flush of joy across his face, and it made Schmidt feel that deep fuzzy feeling in his gut. He couldn’t contain it, so he placed a kiss just near the corner of his darling's lips, enticing the man that shared these moments with him. Rogers cooed and pressed his lips into his for a few sweet heartbeats. Time in moments like this almost always came to a complete stand still, but rogers pulled away before Schmidt could really feel hunger for touches that explored every inch of his skin.

“Okay, okay, you reeeeally need to let me finish or this cream is going to get everywhere. '' Rogers giggled like a schoolgirl before grabbing some of the large bandages.

“Oh, I am sorry, I would HATE to have to take responsibility and clean you thoroughly in a nice warm shower”

Rogers roared with laughter “oh goodness Schmidt, can’t you let me finish this before you start to tease me?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Schmidt hissed with seduction. Rogers rolled his eyes and pushed the first layer of bandage on just a touch rough. Johann jumped a little in Shock as Roger followed after that act with more chuckles. Clearly he was trying to get Schmidt to keep it together for a few moments. Schmidt let out a chuckle himself, which only Rogers has ever been able to pull out of him.

The next increments of time was in silence, Johann nearly was soothed back to sleep. No bandage was too tight, no push and tug was too rough, and rogers would softly sing frank sinatra in the process. If Johann could imagine a heaven for himself this would be it. He leaned into every little touch, as if he never experienced it in his lifetime, and in all reality he never really did. It wasn’t until this bright light of a man, this perfect creation of erskine showed himself, and for some reason took this drastic chance with a man so deformed the world cowered before him. Johann once again began to slip into the negatives of his existence, it was easy…too easy….

“Alright darling! All bandaged up and ready for the day? Have you decided if you will go and train this morning like usual?” Rogers asked abruptly and with such innocence.

Oh no!! I’m about to get exposed on my main tumblr!! Ahh, fuck it xD

For those who don’t know, I’m a Red America shipper(Captain America x Red Skull) and I regret nothing.

Now onto the many headcanons I have!

-I imagine it all started similarly to the fanfic by Rockofmarduk: The Right Partner. That is 34 chapters of beautiful writing(some spelling mistakes, like they spelt Yohann instead of Johann. No one is perfect though), wonderful scenes, and it’s just glorious. So check it out if you’re interested-

Now, the whole love story probably began like that. In my little marvel universe in my head, Red Skull doesn’t yeet off to Vormir, he froze with Steve and both got revived around the same time. So, they probably were still doing their thing; Skull all like “The world will belong to Hydra!” And Steve all “Not today, you bastard!”

But over the course of... idk, Skull starts getting obsessed and hell bent over learning everything about his foe. Learns all his moves, tried to find out about his past, who his allies are, everything. Why? To destroy him, of course! However, he eventually starts sort of missing the Captain when they aren’t fighting and was all like, “... If he worked for Hydra.. I would win completely. Two super soldiers in one army, the other under my control-.. Zola, time to start project: Captain Hydra!” And so the fun begins! Now, time for couple headcanons;

Red Skull hates all of Steve’s friends. He just does! Especially Bruce(that’s an inside joke with friends) Steve’s friends don’t like Johann, nor trust him. They honestly don’t understand why Steve loves that monster, but Steve is still trying to process why he does. So, he desperately talks to both parties, and tries to make them get along.

The sit fucking cute on the couch, it’s weird poses, but they’re cute. Bucky will see them weirdly sitting together, and be like; “... What are you doing?-“ “wE’RE BEING CUTE, BUCKY-“ Steve calls back, almost offended. It’s ridiculous.

Skull is the romantic one in the relationship!! He is, Steve lacks knowledge about so much, and Skull just seems so wise to him. He likes to whisk Steve off his feet with gifts, dinners, wine, flattery, he loves spoiling his eagle(nickname from The Right Partner That Skull have to Steve, I love it) Skull even has the balls to flatter Steve in front of his friends, and most of his Hydra soldiers. They’re dating in the current year, so whoever is homophobic, Skull easily kills them off. He doesn’t have time for that shit.

Steve wants Johann to reconsider his goals, and tries time and time again to talk them over with him. Johann listens, but simply can not comprehend that; they’re not gods and the world doesn’t belong to them. Steve loves Skull’s determination and dedication. His work ethic is impressive, and yet he still takes time for Steve. However, he doesn’t want the world to feel the wrath of “The Red Skull” and Steve wish he could just.. Talk to him. Schmidt loves Rogers’ leadership, his courage and spirit, though he wish the American would stop holding onto this false sense of humanity and learn to embrace the god he is. It’s all very difficult to deal with.

The two are precious, but only have a few big issues. Schmidt wanting to rule the world and Steve wanting to protect it. Schmidt wanting Steve all to himself, and Steve wanting his friends to still be his friends. Schmidt wanting Steve to eventually become part of Hydra, and Steve refusing every attempt at the conversion. They still manage to have a wonderful relationship, and do constantly address the issues. Slowly making progress!!

Johann keeps every drawing of Steve’s safe and Steve adores that so much. He praises his lover’s art, and constantly talks about how much he loves the arts. Once, he accidentally revealed how he has the ability to sing, and Steve lost it. Steve bugged him for awhile, until Johann gave in and sang along to a song, in German. He only sings and German. Steve loves it.

Skull is so insecure about what he’s become. Sure, he embraces it, but Steve still catches him looking at himself in the mirror in disgust. So, Steve made it his mission to constantly tell Schmidt how beautiful he thinks his Skull is, and how much he loves his red, warm as hell skin. It’s a hard pill to swallow for Skull, but he slowly gets used to Steve kissing him and complimenting him.

Steve at first wanted to save Skull’s humanity, and still believes he can. He accidentally fell in love with him during the process, but it’s still his mission.

The two always need to be touching. Skull has a hand on Steve’s back, Steve holding onto Skull’s arm, Skull carrying Steve. Always need to be touching.

Skull constantly tells Steve how much he looks like a god and is beautiful, yet gets slightly put off whenever Steve tells Johann how handsome and attractive he is. Skull honestly can’t believe “Erskine’s finer work” finds him the least bit attractive.

Steve can’t do a lot the Skull can; Skull can sing, dance, throw romantic dinners, and love Steve in public so easily. Steve still gets flustered when Skull holds his hand in front of the friends.

They defend each other with every fiber of their being. Skull easily gets rialed up when Steve is insulted or even looked at. He threatens everyone in the room and the jealousy and protectiveness steam off him. Steve, takes a lot to piss him off. However, with his friends constantly bad mouthing Johann, Steve snaps and raises his voice at them. “You don’t know him like I do! He’s not the monster you all think he is! He loves me and I can’t believe my own friends won’t give him a chance!!” They hate to make Steve, a sweetheart, so upset and angry. Sometimes after these breakouts, Steve doesn’t talk to them for days. He’d much rather be with Johann, who takes off all the stress and loves him for who he is.

Bucky is the only friend who is trying to support Steve’s weird decision.

Skull is the one who thinks about a possible marriage, and it throws him off for the entire day.

Zola doesn’t understand Schmidt’s decision, but gets a kick out of embarrassing Skull whenever he can. It either ends well or terribly. Still fun though.

Skull and Steve have surprisingly deep conversations at times. Normally Steve asks a question, and Johann goes on a rant. These last hours, and they quite enjoy them.

The two just want to be as close as possible, and together forever. Steve loves with Johann, but in an attempt to make Steve happy, Johann let’s Steve’s friends visit whenever they like. Though, he hates Tony’s nickname for him(“Hows it going, cherry bomb?”)

Skull still has anger issues, and my god the littlest things piss him off. Steve is there to hug him and calm him down, and he almost cries because Skull looks so cute when he’s trying to control his anger. Steve loves how hard he tries, and just helps him as much as he can.

Cuddles, cuddles are required.

I'll start by saying that I don't have "headcanons", what I draw is based on the reality of Captain America being abducted by Schmidt's men. Following the timeline of the movie, the kidnapping happens right after Bucky's fall on the train. And this Captain Hydra isn't linked to flagsmasher* or any comic representation.

The Red Skull clearly wanted Rogers in order to extract the serum from him**. But it wasn't his main objective, he aimed to hold the face of Hope and Freedom in his hands, the most prominent figure in American military propaganda, and use it against what it stood for.

By accomplishing his plan, he would have Captain Hydra as the face of his army. Seeing America's #1 soldier being redacted as a symbol of fear and the clear predominance of the States' opponents, would throw off the allies' spirit just enough.

Hydra's team of doctors and psychiatrists sucessfully erased most of Steve's memories. He doesn't quite remember who he was, he just feels echoes of Bucky, and his life in Brooklyn, but the last memories of his past life weren't positive. When Hydra found him, he was sure Bucky had died, he was depressed, near suicidal and hopeless, the drugs he was administred denied him from any form of defense, for the first time he didn't have any fight left in him. The Captain's ego death is what allowed his reshaping.

Schmidt let the psychiatrists and logopedists do their job during the first few weeks of the mental reshaping journey, interrupting when needed, and always keeping an eye on the situation.

But the Red Skull wanted (the still unnamed subject) to see him in a positive light, to recognize him as a trusted guide, and that's when their encounters started. The Subject was happy to have someone near him that didn't sport a lab coat, and was more than happy to spend time in a room that wasn't cold and white, so he accepted Schmidt gladly.

What started as curiosity for the subject became Schmidt's journey of creation. Being able to submit and mould what he, a God on earth, believed to be his former equal, only managed to feed into his complex. And like that they fell into a symbiotic relationship; Red Skull finding satisfaction in how he managed to shape him, and Him having no recall of his past, with Schmidt being his only "caretaker" in what was a cold sterile environment that he didn't realize was mandated by that same figure he trusted.

I haven't yet decided the length of the subject's period of formation, but he started out knowing nothing more than what he was thought, first by actual teachers, and then only by Schmidt.

Of course, the formation and training wasn't strictly academical. His mind had to be kept nullified, his body as well, and while those never-ending medical procedures were carried out, he started being thaught ethics, literature and language by Schmidt, who of course didn't hold back from strict and sadistics methods of correction. More than often the Subject found himself caged or bound, whenever traces of his old self would resurface, or when his response wasn't satisfying enough.

But that didn't last long as he "grew" into the soldier the Red Skull wanted him to be;

Enter Captain Hydra, just as he was supposed to turn out like, the second supreme leader of Hydra's army, stern and unwavering. Just as he was supposed to be… except for his need of closure with his guide and captor.

Somewhere near this time he learned about his past, being introduced to it gradually by the Red Skull, who was confident enough in his creation not to fear him resetting his work. He's so alienated form his past self that he doesn't mind knowing.

Grant is his chosen name, approved by the Red Skull, it was his original self's second name, it was similar enough to remind the allies that their symbol and hero was long gone, and it was different enough for him to use without the issue of echoes of his childhood resurfacing.

My art oscillates along this timeline, as I implied the last time I posted about it

Here's a redraw from a panel that called to me

Many headcanons

Red skull is 6 foot 6 while Steve is only 6 foot.

Although Steve is an enhanced super soldier red skulls’ reflexes are still better and so is his fighting form and stance. Therefore Steve can land blows but most of the time and from instinct red skull will catch and in able Steve to cause further damage.

Red skull knows debilitating pressure points.

Red skull trains Steve to be better in combat.