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shieldborneGod's righteous man, Ultron had mocked to his face a few years back. Pretending you could live without a war. Steve had to acknowledge he wasn't wrong. The vision Wanda pulled out of his head, it wasn't wrong either. He is half strung-out, bone-weary, combat fatigue personified. Half of him wants to go home.
The other half? Will never be able to stop fighting, because that means having to face what's left.
Visiting the Nexus has only driven that point home, in some ways. No matter how much people encourage him to expand his horizons, take time to relax and recover, to be Steve Rogers, he's restless and adrift there, friendly with everyone but not, in the end, all that close to any. But there is one idea that's caught at him relentlessly since his arrival there, and that's the inescapable visual of kids fighting wars.
Most of them probably don't see it that way. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Men, just doing what they can, what they innocently assume any good person would do. Every time he thinks about that, it hurts. And he has plenty to do in his own world, collecting the proliferating alien weaponry across the planet, breaking up and hunting down remnants of HYDRA, and ducking the law. But here there's an opportunity for something more, something gentler, something that's not fighting and might, in the long term, keep people from ending up in the psychological catch-22 he's gotten himself into.
There's no Nexus real estate office, but there are people who have a clear idea of what land and buildings can be claimed and what can be done with them. Steve has somehow, through funds scraped together, favors called in, and contacts made, become the proud owner of what was once some kind of diner or restaurant. The building is a decent size, two floors, with a lot of the appliances and furnishings still inside it and still working. Including a jukebox, which is what he's looking at right now, outside the front of the building. He's got most of it taken apart and spread neatly on blankets on the grass, and he's methodically cleaning it bit by bit.
The long term plan is a safe house he can set up for the costumed-hero types here that have nowhere else to go if something goes wrong. The kids, specifically. He won't be able to be here all the time, himself, but he can put it together and give what he can. Fill it up with food and medical supplies, maybe put in some bunks, some security--
Well, the plans are still evolving, but it's something.
The other half? Will never be able to stop fighting, because that means having to face what's left.
Visiting the Nexus has only driven that point home, in some ways. No matter how much people encourage him to expand his horizons, take time to relax and recover, to be Steve Rogers, he's restless and adrift there, friendly with everyone but not, in the end, all that close to any. But there is one idea that's caught at him relentlessly since his arrival there, and that's the inescapable visual of kids fighting wars.
Most of them probably don't see it that way. Friendly neighborhood Spider-Men, just doing what they can, what they innocently assume any good person would do. Every time he thinks about that, it hurts. And he has plenty to do in his own world, collecting the proliferating alien weaponry across the planet, breaking up and hunting down remnants of HYDRA, and ducking the law. But here there's an opportunity for something more, something gentler, something that's not fighting and might, in the long term, keep people from ending up in the psychological catch-22 he's gotten himself into.
There's no Nexus real estate office, but there are people who have a clear idea of what land and buildings can be claimed and what can be done with them. Steve has somehow, through funds scraped together, favors called in, and contacts made, become the proud owner of what was once some kind of diner or restaurant. The building is a decent size, two floors, with a lot of the appliances and furnishings still inside it and still working. Including a jukebox, which is what he's looking at right now, outside the front of the building. He's got most of it taken apart and spread neatly on blankets on the grass, and he's methodically cleaning it bit by bit.
The long term plan is a safe house he can set up for the costumed-hero types here that have nowhere else to go if something goes wrong. The kids, specifically. He won't be able to be here all the time, himself, but he can put it together and give what he can. Fill it up with food and medical supplies, maybe put in some bunks, some security--
Well, the plans are still evolving, but it's something.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-24 12:09 am (UTC)"Mice? No, no, we're usually chasing butterflies." Adrien replied with a wry grin, though the expression shifted to something a bit more confused at the concept.
"My input? What on?"
no subject
Date: 2018-11-24 12:49 am (UTC)"Yeah, you." He reaches over and gives his shoulder a friendly squeeze, then rolls back to sit on his heels.
"I just bought this building. Remember how I was saying, about other teen and child heroes around? I'm going to get some furniture and supplies in here. Some non-perishable food, first aid kits, change of street clothes? Just in case someone runs into trouble in their own world and needs a place to lay low here in the Nexus."
"So...yeah. If you want to help me come up with ideas for furnishing it? You're welcome to come here, either way."
no subject
Date: 2018-11-24 03:55 am (UTC)"Oh." Adrien settled back on his heels, peering up at the building thoughtfully. A little surprised at the idea, but it also made sense. "I think it's a good idea. Having... somewhere to go, I mean. I'm not entirely sure what it might need yet, but I'll try and think of things that might help."
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 03:03 am (UTC)And honestly, Steve himself feels plenty vulnerable these days.
"Hopefully, no one will ever have to really use it as a safehouse on a long term basis. I'd love it if all we ever need it for is a place for a nap or storage for some kind of project, but..."
He glances at Adrien sideways, trying to frame what he's thinking in words that don't sound too horribly cynical. "But sometimes the system fails everyone, and I don't want to see minors paying the price for that."
"I'll give you a key and the security code before you go today." Adrien gets one, and Peter Parker gets one, and Steve will decide who else needs it from there.