OOM: Orpheus

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Once he's in their room, Steve decides to take a shower to calm himself down.

He feels the effects of Orpheus's music all the time, but usually it's the ripples of happiness or desire or affection that wash over him. He'd forgotten -- or put out of his mind -- the downside, the gloom, the loneliness, the despair.

And most of the time, he tries not think about Eurydice. Her story would have no meaning to him beyond what he feels about other tragedies in myths, except that Orpheus loved her and it shapes everything he does, even after all this time.

He knows he shouldn't be jealous of a dead woman, but he is.

He stays in the shower for a long, long time.

Comments

[golden_lyre]

"No! Gods, no." His eyes dart to his guitar. It would be easier just to play this for Steve, but he's not sure that would help.

"Look, you said that she's always there, coloring everything, and that's true, yes. But so are you. No less than she is, only in a different way."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shakes his head, unbelieving. "Then why can't you give me today? One holiday, Orpheus. Our first Valentine's Day together."

[golden_lyre]

"I didn't think, all right? I'm sorry. I should have, but I didn't. It's not...it's not a holiday that ever meant anything to me. I didn't think that it would to you."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"It doesn't mean anything to you except to remind you of what you no longer have, you mean."

[golden_lyre]

"It's not the holiday itself that does that. It's all the...couples. Everyone with their...possibility."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Are we not a couple?" Steve pleads. "Don't we have possibility?"

[golden_lyre]

"Yes," Orpheus says and then repeats it like it's just occurred to him. "Yes. We do. More possibility than I ever would have expected. I'm just...I'm not used to that yet. I'm not used to thinking of myself with that possibility."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"God," says Steve simply and curls up on the bed.

[golden_lyre]

"I'm sorry," Orpheus whispers. "I'm sorry. I don't know what else I can do at this point."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I don't either." He pulls the blankets up over himself. "I'm cold."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus looks down at him, exhaling in a shuddering breath.

"Do you...do you want me to go?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve flips back the covers in an unmistakable invitation. "I want you to get in this bed and warm me up."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles shakily and nods, pausing to shuck his jeans before climbing in next to Steve.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shoves the towel away and presses his body against Orpheus's.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus swallows as he wraps his arms around Steve. "I'm sorry," he says again. "I love you. You know that, yes?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods against his neck. "I know."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus presses a kiss to his temple. "More than any man and no less than any woman."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve sighs and holds him tighter.

"I'm sorry I got so upset."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus kisses him again and shakes his head. "No, you...you have a point."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve strokes Orpheus's shoulder. "I do?"

[golden_lyre]

"Yes? I mean...I've not been thinking of you when I should have been."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles and places kisses along Orpheus's jaw.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus sighs and cards his fingers through Steve's hair.

"Would you...would you be upset if I didn't want to tonight?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Want to... have sex? No." He tucks his head against Orpheus's neck again. "I don't really want to, either."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus nods, nuzzling along Steve's hairline. "All right."