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]

"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."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve nodded back and, glancing sideways to make sure that they were out of sight, leaned forward to press a kiss to Jim's temple.

[kolodnoykovki]

But it was a kiss to the temple that was swiftly followed by Jim catching Steve's lips in a kiss that was heavy with desperation.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve leaned into the kiss, pulling Jim against him, just as desperate.

[kolodnoykovki]

His hand was tight against Steve's back like he never had held on to a woman's, trusting Steve's strength. There was still some worry that he'd wake up and not know where Steve had gone. Or, worse, that he'd wake up to find Steve gone cold against him, no longer breathing, heart beating its hiccuping beat. "No more disappearing," he gasped against Steve's lips when he finally had to breathe again. "For either of us."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Never letting you go," came the reply, breath a little short and voice soft, rough. Jim had heard that determination in him before, but it'd always been directed elsewhere. At the war, at defending folks who needed it, at bullies. Now, it was directed against the world, Jim the focus of it all, and his will was as iron as it ever was.

He'd rip the world apart if he had to. For Jim, he'd tear it all down.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Never," he agreed roughly, holding Steve against him. "Fucking never." He'd already made up his mind. He was staying right here, with his friends, with the person he loved...

He took a slow breath. "We... we should go."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He kissed his forehead this time.

"Milkshakes," he said firmly.

[kolodnoykovki]

Nodding, he took a step back - but slowly. He wasn't sure how all this would go, but right now, a part of his mind demanded to see a hint of Steve's yellow hair, or that sideways smile just to be sure that he was alive. "Milkshakes," he agreed quietly, squeezing Steve's hand before making himself let go.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve leaned in and down to take a soft kiss on the lips. Then he was treated to that crooked little smile.

"We're going to end up running home just so I can kiss you more."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Idiot," Jim laughed, but settled his hand at Steve's waist for one more fleeting moment. "We gotta get you some clothes. Even though that shirt looks almost as hot on you as one of mine used to."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Milkshakes, clothes, and then home," he agreed with a little grin of his own.

He pressed his body against Jim's hand.

"And you get to pick some of it. The clothes, I mean. After all, you're the one lookin' at me."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Think I'm gonna call in while we're having milkshakes and take a couple days. Tell 'im we had a family emergency and I'll need some time..." He slid his hand around to Steve's back before stepping away. "Gotta have some time with just us."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"I could do that."

Then the tips of his ears went a little pink.

"Gotta... get the new bed in and all. Make sure it works for us."

[kolodnoykovki]

And then-- "...Occurs to me we don't have sheets. Gotta get those tomorrow."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Tomorrow, definitely," he agreed before glancing at the street. Then he breathed in deep.

"You good?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good," he exhaled. "Milkshakes?"

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Gotta show me the way, Jim," he said before tugging him out of the alley and back onto the sidewalk. He took a moment to check the bags that were looped on his arms, but everything looked to be in order.

[kolodnoykovki]

Bags intact on Steve's arm and on his own, and he tugged his arm down toward another crosswalk. What was a few blocks' walk for the two of them. The milkshake place was a little spot with a drive-thru, a small dining room, but a much larger outdoor space with picnic tables under an overhang. The menu was extensive to say the least, and Jim looked at it with a smile. "Here we go."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Any recommendations on the milkshake? Other than your usual, of course."

Lemon wasn't his favorite, but he wasn't opposed.

[kolodnoykovki]

"Lois had some kind of chocolate coconut thing," he said, "and she liked it, but I guess I'm more for fruit flavours. I think there's a list over there..."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

He looked at the list and pointed at what seemed like an obvious choice for him.

"Banana Fudge. Without a question. You sticking with lemon?"

[kolodnoykovki]

"Yep. I was feeling bad the last time I had it. Wanna see if it's as good as it should be when I'm feeling good. Get the large one. The cups are huge and they come with whipped cream and a cherry on top."