OOM: Orpheus

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

The Bar, for reasons best known to herself, has given Steve a room that could be a renovated warehouse loft in New York. There's exposed brick and lots of bookcases--which Steve has begun to fill--and a shelf for his record player and vinyl albums. The tall arched windows open to a view that could be Manhattan at nighttime, if you didn't know you were at the end of the universe. The bedding and upholstery are faded, Cape Cod-type shades of cream and red and blue, as if someone left them out in the sun during a long, lazy summer.

Steve gets another key from the bar and stands in front of the door for a few moments, breathing deeply, before he lets himself in.


[ooc: Adult content warning.]

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[golden_lyre]

Orpheus took a good look around the room before his shower. It felt like Steve, and at the moment, that felt comforting if unfamiliar. He took his time in the shower, and has just come out of the bathroom, towel around his waist, when Steve comes in.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve stops short at the sight of him.

It takes a moment to remember to speak.

"Hi," he breathes.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus can't help smiling at his reaction, the expression less smug and more sincere than it might otherwise have been.

"Hi," he says in return.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve remembers himself and closes the door.

"You know," he says hesitantly as he crosses to the closet to hang up his jacket and put away his knapsack, "we don't have to do anything but go to bed, if you just want to sleep."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus tilts his head. "Is that what you want, lovely?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve turns back to Orpheus. "Oh, no, darlin'," he says softly. "I want to stay awake for a good long time."

[golden_lyre]

"Good," Orpheus says with a smile. He starts to reach for Steve and then pulls his hands back. "We should probably take care of this first..."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve takes his hands and gives them a gentle squeeze. "Stay right there. There's a little first aid kit in the medicine cabinet."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles a bit more, and he doesn't quite stay where he is, moving instead to perch on the bed.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Close enough.

Steve returns from the bathroom with the kit, and sits cross-legged on the bed. "Hands, please."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus dutifully presents his hands, eyes on Steve's face.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve takes one and begins to clean the fingertips with antiseptic, with a soft, "This will sting a little," as warning."

[golden_lyre]

"I know," Orpheus says quietly. "Not my first rodeo."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve chuckles. "Part of the whole package, honey." He picks up Orpheus's other hand.

[golden_lyre]

It may be worth noting that Orpheus' fingertips are not quite as bad this time as the last.

"So you're always going to warn me when you have to bandage me up?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yup. I'm always also going to do kiss-make-better."

[golden_lyre]

He smiles. "Some things never change."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Some things never should."

[golden_lyre]

"No, they shouldn't," Orpheus murmurs, leaning forward for a quick kiss.

"Do you still think we can do this? Make this...last?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve frowns as he begins bandaging.

"Yes. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. That hasn't changed. What I don't know is what that will mean."

[golden_lyre]

"We can figure that out," Orpheus assures him. "It can mean whatever we want it to."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Just living together when we can?"

[golden_lyre]

"Is that what you want it to mean?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve shakes his head. "I don't know what else there is for us."

[golden_lyre]

"That's not what I asked, lovely."