Winter Soldier - the Smithsonian

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"This isn't freedom. This is fear."





Once he's returned from rescuing the Lumarian Star and debriefing with Fury, Steve needs... something. He's not sure what--a reminder, maybe, of what he's fighting for. Who he's fighting for.

As soon as he's changed into his civilian clothes, Steve calls Orpheus.

"Sweetheart, can you meet me at the Smithsonian? I think I'm ready to see the exhibit now."

Comments

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus has sort of been expecting this since Felix came to stay with them. And it isn't like he has any sort of pressing schedule at all, so he just says, "Yeah, of course. Now?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yes, please. I'm on my way now."

[golden_lyre]

"Twenty minutes?" He's already packing up his guitar.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Meet you in the Air and Space museum. I love you," he adds, because it seems to him he hasn't said it for a whole twelve hours and Orpheus may need the reminder.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus laughs softly. "Love you too." And then he hangs up and makes his way to the museum.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve is waiting for him at the front entrance, his hands in his back pockets and his baseball cap pulled low to hide his face.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles when he sees him and greets him with a quick kiss. "Hello, lovely."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Hi," Steve says and kisses him back. "Missed you."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus loops his arms around Steve's shoulders. "Missed you too," he murmurs.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve holds Orpheus by the waist, his eyes closed, for a moment or two, and then pulls away with a soft sigh. "C'mon. I've bought tickets already. We just need to get in line."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus kisses his cheek as he pulls away. "All right," he says, keeping an arm around Steve's waist. "You ready for this?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nods. "How hard can it be?" he murmurs. "It's just the war."


[ooc: Bedtime.]

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus just nods as well, tightening his arm around Steve a little.


[ooc: Goodnight!]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve moves them into the line of people waiting to get into the exhibit. He keeps his head bowed enough to cast his face in shadow beneath the bill of his cap.

Sometimes he's fine with being Captain America. Sometime he'd just rather be a guy called Steve. Right now is one of those times.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus lets his hand rub over Steve's back slowly as they wait in line.

"So," he says with a faint smile, "how was work?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles too, though his is a bit grim. "Successful," he says, "though Fury showed me something after that I'm not too happy about. I'll tell you about it at home, though."

[golden_lyre]

He nods, fingers tracing idly along Steve's spine. "Whenever you want to, lovely," he says.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve leans his head on Orpheus's shoulder. "Good to be home," he murmurs, and the line shuffles forward.

[golden_lyre]

"Yeah, it is," Orpheus murmurs into his hair, pressing a kiss to his scalp.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles, closing his eyes.

"King of nervous about this exhibit," he says quietly. "I don't really know why."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus moves his hand to the back of Steve's neck, rubbing slowly.

"Because of what it might say about you, or because of what it might say about people you love?" He's seen both sides of it himself.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Mostly what it might say about the people I love, I suppose. I mean, it's the Smithsonian and they'll be respectful, but still... they were my team. We took care of each other. I still have to protect them, even if they're not around anymore."

[golden_lyre]

"Of course you do," Orpheus murmurs. "Who else is going to?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Exactly," Steve says quietly and raises his head from Orpheus's shoulder. "I just don't know what to expect."

He looks around at all of the other people in line. "It's popular, anyway."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus presses a quick kiss to his cheek. "With good reason," he says, smiling.