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.]

Comments

[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."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Sometimes," Steve says as he finishes the last bandage, "I don't know what I want."

[golden_lyre]

"And the rest of the time?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"The rest of the time, I tell you." He holds Orpheus's hands to his mouth and starts the make-better kisses.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles at the gesture, free fingers stroking over Steve's cheek.

"We can find something to work for us."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I know we will." He kisses Orpheus's palms, too.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus closes his eyes. "You make me believe things I never would have before."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Oh?" murmurs Steve, the sound humming against Orpheus's wrist.

[golden_lyre]

"Didn't you know?" Orpheus breathes, opening his eyes to watch Steve's face.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"You may have mentioned it once or twice before. I still like to hear you say it."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles and leans toward him. "You make me believe in the future, lovely."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve leans closer too. "You make me at home in mine."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus presses his forehead to Steve's. "You make me believe I could be happy again. Truly happy and not just waiting to be miserable."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve closes his eyes. "You remind me I'm more than a symbol. More than a uniform. More than the fella who has to make all the hard decisions."