OOM: Orpheus

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve puts down his cup so he can hang his jacket, grab some towels and take off his damp clothes.

"Sorry about that, down by the lake," he says again. "I've spent enough time in the woods lately that they shouldn't seem strange to me."

Comments

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"This one will be all of you," Steve says softly as his pencil scratches on the paper.

[golden_lyre]

"How often do you draw me?" Orpheus asks.

It's partly wanting his ego stroked, yes, but he's genuinely curious.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shrugs. "Depends on how much down time I have. every couple days, maybe?"

He scoots back to the foot of the bed and pushes back the bedding so he has an unobstructed view.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus nods. "Do people ever ask you about it?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Sometimes. I tell 'em it's practice. Musculature studies or somethin'."

He glances up with a smile. "I draw the guys a lot, too. They're used to me now."

[golden_lyre]

"Could I see some of those?" Orpheus asks, smiling.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Absolutely." He smiles back and bends over the current drawing.

[golden_lyre]

"Will you tell me about them? Your men?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve chuckles. "Well, you know Bucky. He's the sharpshooter.

"Then there's Dugan. He's another big Irishman," he flashes a smile at Orpheus, "though he's from Boston. A Southie, he says.

"Then there's Morita, our communications guy. He's from Fresno--a Nisei. He can make any piece of electronics talk to him.

"Jones is the languages guy. German and French. He was wasted as a cook in the regular Army, but that's segregation for you. We're putting him to better use, now.

"Falsworth was a paratrooper and he plans our jumps and pick-ups. He's actually English nobility but you'd never know it.

"Then there's Dernier. Munitions. He was French Resistance before HYDRA got him. I can't understand a word he says but he makes explosions into poetry."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles as Steve talks. "Why wouldn't you know he's nobility?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"He doesn't make us call him 'my lord,' for one thing--unlike the only other member of English nobility I've met."

[golden_lyre]

"It's a title of respect," Orpheus points out.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"He just wants us to call him Falsworth.

"I don't make them call me Captain, either."

[golden_lyre]

"Why not?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"It doesn't seem necessary. We're different branches and ranks and even countries, but we're a team. We're on even footing.

"They tend to call me Cap, though. I like it."

[golden_lyre]

"But you're still their leader," Orpheus points out.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yeah," Steve says quietly, bending over his sketchbook, "I know.

"You know how some people have rank and they're ... it's like they're scared of it? So they yell and they bluster and they never really know how to lead.

"I don't feel like I have to insist on being respected. They just do."

[golden_lyre]

"Well, yeah, that's the way it's supposed to work. But it doesn't mean you're on even footing."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Even enough," Steve says quietly.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus shakes his head, laughing softly. "If you say so."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I do."

He straightens up and rubs the back of his neck, then turns the sketchbook so Orpheus can see it. "What do you think?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus leans forward to take a look and kisses Steve. "Lovely."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles and kisses him back, with a soft murmur, "This one stays here," as he could never explain a full-length male nude portrait to his superiors.

[golden_lyre]

"Good idea," Orpheus says with a smile, kissing him again before laying back.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve puts his book on the floor and follows Orpheus down, softly kissing him.