OOM: Orpheus

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve manages to get up the stairs without stumbling too much, and to their door without falling over his own feet.

The drinks he takes from the bottle don't help.

When they get to their door, he leans on the wall to stay upright while Orpheus gets his key.

"Used ta be a lightweight," he tells the wallpaper.

Comments

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus strokes a hand slowly down Steve's back over and over.

"Nothing to be sorry for."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Sex is supposed to be happy and fun."

[golden_lyre]

"You didn't need happy and fun."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles to himself a little and traces over Orpheus's collarbone with his thumb. "I didn't even know what I needed. You knew."

[golden_lyre]

"I've been where you are," Orpheus says quietly, kissing his forehead.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve is quiet a moment or two.

"Did your best friend die because you failed him? Because that's where I am, Orpheus. Bucky really needed me to save him, and I failed him."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus is quiet even longer.

"Yes," he says simply.

Because Eurydice was his best friend and more, and he failed her.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve falls quiet again. The Atlantean has sweated out of him and he wishes he still had that sweet, cold fog around him.

He whispers, his cheek pressed to Orpheus's chest, "I told him to take my hand. He was reaching for me when he fell. He... he screamed. I've never heard anything like it. I hope I never do again."

He inhales slowly.


[ooc: Heading home. Back on shortly.]

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus holds him a bit tighter, fingers carding through his hair, stroking down the back of his neck.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"We got the guy we were after, but it's cold comfort right now."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus kisses his hair again. Tentatively, he starts to hum. Just a little bit of comfort, just to make it easier.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve sighs and closes his eyes.



He whispers, "I don't know if I can do this anymore without him, Orpheus."

[golden_lyre]

"So don't," Orpheus suggests quietly. "Stay here until you can. Or come back with me."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve eyes sting.

"I want to stay with you," he whispers.

[golden_lyre]

"All right," Orpheus says, giving him a squeeze. "Come with me, then. We'll go to Cuba."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Is it okay if all I want to do is sit on the beach and watch the ocean for a while?"

[golden_lyre]

"Yeah, that's fine," Orpheus says quietly. "That's just fine."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Thanks."

Another pause, as Steve traces the divot between Orpheus's collarbones.

"Phillips is sweating Zola--was sweating Zola--for information when I left. We should have Schmidt's location before long."

And that means big things are coming, but he leaves that unspoken.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus nods.

"Stay with me as long as you need," is all he says.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Thanks."

He idly draws a long spiral on Orpheus's chest with a fingertip.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus slides a hand slowly up Steve's arm.

"Of course," he whispers.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve says slowly, "If anything happens--if I don't come home--I want you to know you've made me happier than I ever expected to be. And that's... that's amazing to me. You're amazing."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus doesn't give him any of the meaningless platitudes of how he's going to come back and everything will be fine.

He just kisses Steve's forehead and says quietly, "Yeah, I...I feel the same."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Well.

That brings the first genuine smile to Steve's face in days.

He tucks his head against Orpheus's neck and whispers, "Good."

[golden_lyre]

"I'm glad you're staying with me," Orpheus murmurs, and he doesn't say, 'I always want you with me. I miss you when you're gone.'

But he thinks it.