[oom: Orpheus]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

[Previously.]

Steve's hand hovers over the small of Orpheus's back as they go upstairs to his room. He's still not sure what happened earlier, when they tried dancing, but the more important thing is that Orpheus is hurting and it's within Steve's power to help. Maybe even make him feel better.

This, he thinks, is what you do when you care about someone. Two backs to carry the burdens.

"Do you need help undressing?" he asks when they're in Orpheus's room.

Comments

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve smiles tightly and gets to work on his other hand.


[ooc: Bedtime.]

[golden_lyre]

"Tell me about her?" Orpheus requests, though he'll understand if Steve doesn't want to.

[ooc: Goodnight!]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

It takes Steve a moment to answer. "She worked a lot. It was just the two of us after my grandparents died, 'cause my father died in the trenches when I was a baby.

"She was strong, though. I sometimes think she kept me alive out of sheer stubborness. I caught everything that came through the neighborhood--from the flu when I was baby to broken bones when I got older.

"She was a nurse in a TB ward and that's what finally got her in the end. I think she was just worn down."

He doesn't look up once while he speaks.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus watches his face while he speaks, and when Steve is finished, he leans up to kiss his forehead.

"Thank you."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve touches Orpheus's cheek. "For what?"

[golden_lyre]

"For sharing that with me," Orpheus murmurs.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve starts to gather up the supplies, now that Orpheus's hands are taken care of.

"I miss her," he says simply. "I wonder sometimes, what'd she think about me like this."

Bigger. Stronger. Healthy at last. Serving his country.

In tights.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus tucks his arm under his head to watch.

"And what do you think?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve puts everything away in the bathroom, and when he comes back he climbs into bed with Orpheus and lays his head on his arm.

"I don't know. I hope she'd be proud."

He's quiet a moment.

"I hope she'd be happy I finally look like my father."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus rests a hand on Steve's chest.

"I'm sure she'd be proud," he says quietly. "How could she not?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve kisses him. "Thanks."

[golden_lyre]

"For what?" Orpheus asks, smiling faintly.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

He presses their noses together. "For believing in me."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus wrinkles his nose. "You've never given me any reason not to."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve nuzzles him slowly. "I'm still getting used to it."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus smiles, his eyes closing, and strokes his bandaged fingers over Steve's chest.

"To being believed in?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Yup."

He sighs and reluctantly pulls back. "How are you feeling? Do you think you'll get some sleep?"

He strokes Orpheus's hair.

[golden_lyre]

"Eventually," Orpheus says, though at the moment, he leans in for a kiss. He feels he owes it to Steve to show him that none of this is his fault, or at least that Orpheus doens't hold him responsible for it.

That and he's missed this.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Oh," Steve murmurs against his lips, "oh, my, okay," and kisses back.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus isn't sure how much he can do at the moment, but right now, he isn't thinking about that.

"Is this okay?" he asks, kissing Steve again before he has a chance to respond.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve responds by slipping his arms around Orpheus's neck and eagerly kissing him back.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus chuckles at that, but the kiss he gives Steve in return is much more tender than eager.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

If all Orpheus is up to doing is necking some, Steve is good with that.

[golden_lyre]

At the moment it is. He kisses Steve like he's trying to remember how he tastes, his tongue only just teasing over Steve's lips.

And when he hums softly, there's far more affection than lust in the tune.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

It makes Steve smile, and he teases back with just the tip of his tongue.