[OOM: Orpheus]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

In the past twelve hours, Steve has been dressed for exactly two of them. he and Orpheus have slept, lounged, talked, necked (and more, wink wink), ate and slept some more. He's listened to Orpheus hum and even sing a little, and he's watched Orpheus sleep and stroked his hair, and felt equally happy doing both.

This has been one of the ... best days of Steve's life.



[ooc: Preemptive adult content warning.]

Comments

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus slides off him slowly, smiling over at him.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve doesn't let him go far.


[ooc: seems to be back. *knocks wood*]

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus settles in at his side, fingers trailing over Steve's stomach.

"You are going to wear me out, lovely."



[ooc: \o/]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Wasn't that the idea?" He kisses Orpheus, stroking his back. "To make you so tired you never wanted to leave this bed?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus chuckles softly. "Oh, I see. That's your sinister plan."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve laughs. "You did create a monster."

[golden_lyre]

"I thought you were supposed to be a hero, Captain."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve actually looks troubled at that. "Two sides of a coin," he says and folds his arm under his head.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus frowns a little at that expression, not sure what to say to that. This is some of what he's been worried about. That he isn't good for Steve.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Can I tell you a story?" Steve says as he brushes his fingers through Orpheus's hair. "It's ... not my story, exactly."

[golden_lyre]

"Yeah, of course," Orpheus says, relaxing into the touches.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I wasn't the first to get the formula," Steve says slowly. "Back in Germany, a member of the Nazi upper echelon named Johann Schmidt forced Dr. Erskine to give him an early version. Dr. Erskine said, when he told me this story, that the formula wasn't ready, but the more important thing was the man himself. The formula amplifies what's inside. Good becomes great, he said, and bad becomes worse.

"So I'm sure you can imagine what Johann Schmidt became.

"I think about him a lot. I know we're going to meet someday. I know I'm going to face him, one way or another. He's like...a dark half, just waiting for me.

"I know I'll never be evil, but I...I worry about being enough of a hero. What if I'm not strong enough to beat him?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus can't help laughing at that. He leans in for a quick kiss.

"Steve, if you are not enough of a hero, then there have never been any heroes."

He kisses Steve again, lightly, and adds, "And I know from heroes."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve loops his arms around Orpheus's neck. "And what have I done that's so heroic?"

[golden_lyre]

"It's not about what you've done. It's about what you are," Orpheus says softly.

He considers Steve's face a moment, fingers tracing over his cheek. "You know, the gods had lots of half-mortal children. Lots and lots of them. My grandfather can't keep it in his pants to save his life or anybody else's. But they weren't all heroes. It's not what you can do, Steve. It's what you will do.

"And you, my lovely Galahad, you will do what's right. Always."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve's eyes grow bright, and he kisses Orpheus fiercely.

"Someday I've got to figure out how to earn all this faith people have in me."



[ooc: Bedtime.]

[golden_lyre]

"It's easy," Orpheus says with a smile. "Don't change."



[ooc: Goodnight!]

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve tumbles them over and kisses him more.

"I won't," he promises and rests his head in the crook of Orpheus's neck.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus curls his arms around Orpheus, fingers carding through his hair.

"Then you'll be just fine."

He doesn't always get to pick when he acts as an oracle, and he can never see a future that affects himself. He wishes he could change both of those right now.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve kisses his neck.

"So, hey," he says after a moment, "while I was down in the bar getting lunch I got some other stuff too...should I bring it out?" He looks at Orpheus with mischief in his eyes.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus arches an eyebrow at that. "All right..."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve hops out of bed and goes to the drawer he's started thinking of as "his," and brings out a small palate of watercolor paint and some brushes.

"Easier to wash off than ink."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus laughs softly when he sees it. "You are so lucky I don't have to do laundry here," he says, stretching out across the bed.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"You can fingerpaint on me when your fingers are better," Steve offers and puts the paints and brushes down so he can get a glass of water.

"Think about what you'd like the picture to be of, too. It may not last long but it should still be something you like."

[golden_lyre]

"I'm not much of an artist," Orpheus says as he watches him go.