The Metropolis Not!Vengers in... Location, location, location!

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here]

Steve wakes up slowly, happy and warm and content enough he's not sure where he is at first. The clues he gets initially aren't helpful because they're such universal parts of his life, as far as his hindbrain is concerned, that they're just a part of 'how he should wake up'.

There's a warm body up against him, deep brown hair pressed up against his nose and mouth that smells like home, a ratty old mattress beneath him that's too firm for anyone but someone like him--

And a metal arm across his stomach. Huh. That shakes some things loose.

It doesn't halt the grin on his face, though. That's... probably never going away, or at least it won't be budging anytime soon (probably until Jim looks at him, disgusted, and tells him to 'stop lookin' like a loon'). Instead, he just reaches over to grab his phone from the the bedside table (amazing the things that survive a plain crash when they're kept in the right pocket) and peers at the time.

Huh. Nearly two. That's fair. But--

"Hey, sleepyhead. You get some good rest?"

Comments

[kolodnoykovki]

Trailing behind, Jim did his usual poking and prodding as he found things. "No. I was usin' bar soap for a long time 'til I decided to actually try some of these things. ...And did you forget I told Lois to bring you some sketchbooks and pencils?" he teased, but picked up a bottle with an apple on the side and took a sniff.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Didn't forget," and he leaned over to sniff at the bottle himself before pulling back. "Just don't know when they'll be back and my fingers are itching already."

Then he picked up a pack of Ivory bars.

"Can't go wrong with this, I figure."

He peered around to take a look at the shampoo and conditioner bottles before grabbing the the cheapest one near the corner of one of each.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I use one of those both-in-one-bottle things." It was just easier than two steps - made more sense to him. "You can use my toothpaste. Just gotta get your own brush."

And maybe it was slightly sneaky, but he put his hand at the center of Steve's back, just for a moment.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Jim could probably feel some of the semi-manic energy settle at the touch, the muscles relax, his shoulders visibly sink at the touch.

"Yeah, I think those are in the next aisle over."

[kolodnoykovki]

Feeling Steve react, he repeated the gesture, this time rubbing up and down, even tugging Steve just slightly closer while they were in relative private. Enough for his chest to touch Steve's arm. "Take it easy," he murmured.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

His eyes dropped a little and he stilled further.

"I'm all right" he said, voice low. "Promise."

He gave Jim a crooked smile.

"Just... excited. Happy."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Everything's okay, Stevie." His thumb made little strokes against Steve's back. "Back where you should be."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

The smile was a little brittle even as he nodded.

"Yeah. Guess I just... never thought I'd be there again."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I... didn't think I would, either," Jim exhaled, but then he nudged him on - slow, gentle, but not trusting this conversation to these surroundings.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He nodded and headed down towards the toothbrushes, grabbing one and tossing it in the bin.

"Anything else we needed?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Milkshakes," he said. "Then we can head to the sports place and the secondhand store. Unless you wanna find an art store somewhere in the middle."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He shook his head.

"The sketchbook here's all I'll need for a bit," he said as he started towards the front register.

"So milkshakes and sports place and secondhand store." Then home.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Sounds right," he nodded, wandering along behind, but sneaking two little items into his hand. Things he paid for quickly at the other open register with what cash he had, then slipped into his pocket.

When Steve got his bags, Jim took one, then walked with him toward the door, a slightly smug look on his face.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve let him take the one and looked back at Jim as soon as they were outside the shop. He raised an eyebrow at the smug expression before gesturing for Jim to lead.

"I'm assuming you know where the milkshake place is from here."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Unless they moved it since yesterday," he answered, and nodded for Steve to walk with him. "Can't believe you just... appeared at the window."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He blushed just a little, because, well--

"We came in flying. And... it's not like she was dressed for the front door. That alley's damn convenient. I'm assuming that's half of why he decided to take that apartment, considering."

[kolodnoykovki]

"I think so, too." He guided Steve to a crosswalk. "It was just... Christ it was strange," he sighed. "Working meant I wasn't thinking about it too much, but it was all... hollow."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He didn't ask for clarification. Instead, he just bobbed his head in a firm, quick nod.

He knew. He'd felt it himself.

There were a lot of reasons he'd sent that plane into the water, and not all of them were heroic.

[kolodnoykovki]

With no warning, he grabbed Steve's arm and dragged him into an alley. It was empty except for the necessary dumpsters, a few blown pages from the newspaper, and them - and then he grabbed hold of Steve as tight as he dared, a light shiver of his own going through him. Safe. He was safe.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve startled for half a second before Jim's arms were around him and then he wrapped his arms as far around the other man as he could being held so tight and let his head drop to Jim's shoulder and pressed his cheek to Jim's.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Don't fucking do that to me again," he half-gasped. "Not... not now that we know."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He closed his eyes and felt himself nod more than he'd meant to do it.

"You're here. I don't... I won't. Ever. I promise."

He gave a squeeze.

"To the end of the line. I promise. I swear. You and me, to the end of the line."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You'd better. You had seriously better." He clung for a few moments more before leaning back and swiping at his eyes. No, he hadn't teared up. Not him.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve looked down to catch Jim's eye.

"Promise me the same." He swallowed, because he'd done his best, he'd tried not to pressure, not to ask for anything. But he needed that. He needed to hear it.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'll do my damnedest," he promised, meeting Steve's eyes. "I don't want to be without you again."