in his own little room again ((nexus_crossings continuity, for chatnerd, but open))

[shieldborne]

God'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.

Comments

[shieldborne]

The leather cat guy. Steve wants to laugh at that, because it's not inaccurate. He also kind of wants to tell Peter that the kid's name is Adrien, but that would be a betrayal of trust. "Chat Noir, yeah. He's a nice kid. I've seen him in civilian gear, too. I think you'd get along. You all keep busy schedules, though. If you get a chance to talk and compare notes and be friends, it'd be good, but even if that never happens...you know, better to have it and not need it than to not have it and wish it was available."

"Well...I'm not a good cook, but I can usually handle pancakes," he says. "On that note, you want to see the kitchen? I didn't want to keep anything too perishable in stock so it's a lot of packaged stuff and frozen stuff. I still need to get a toaster, but there's a microwave."

[websnextdoor]

With his coffee gone (and Steve might regret sugaring and cafeinning the spider child soon) Peter digs into the package of cookies with a fervor. They're so good even if they're processed junk food.

You don't say no to a cookie.

"Suhh!" Don't talk with your mouth full, Peter! He hops to his feet with a handful of cookies to munch on while they take a look around. In between bites he even manages, "I know how to work the microwave at least."

[shieldborne]

Steve has noticed Peter responds to junk food with markedly more enthusiasm than fruit. He shouldn't be surprised; no one considers a balanced diet if they just plain aren't getting enough calories to begin with. He'll tailor his approach some, as needed.

"If you didn't know how to work a microwave, I'd worry," he tells him. "Considering the level of technology you've been playing with in your spare time."

His eyes sparkle. The walk to the kitchen is short. They pass a supply closet on the left and the door to a men's room and a ladies' room on the right, and then there's a left turn into an industrial-sized kitchen with a walk-in fridge/freezer, two ovens, one of which has a range on top, and a microwave. There's no dishwasher, but there's a double sink, and steel countertops that seem to have been cleaned rigorously. "I think I need some more shelves for cookware," Steve says, pointing to one set of shelving along the wall that contains mostly packaged snacks and a few plates and cups. "Or a hanging rack or something. But if most people are just going to use the microwave that's not urgent."

[websnextdoor]

He's a teenage boy of course his interest in junk food pales in comparison to anything and everything else. Not to say the fresh fruit wasn't also a hit but he's not used to having that as much. Besides, it's not as though one can just pop an orange into their mouth whole like one can a cookie. Steve's going to find it almost impossible to keep Oreos in this place for longer than a day.

That much is for certain.

"Okay but like, better than 'nuke it on high until it's molten' work a microwave kind of a thing. Is what I mean." Just because one can make things edible by using a microwave doesn't mean they can make it good.

"A hanging rack or one of those work tables with the shelf built in underneath would be real space efficient, but at least in my case I don't need anything fancy to make a cup ramen."

[shieldborne]

Maybe he can sneak some granola bars or something in there, too. He can't blame the kid, though. There's nothing quite like an Oreo cookie. Steve's a fan. Granted, the recipe has changed over the years, but they're still pretty good.

"I know not to put tinfoil in them," he says cheerfully. "And that it takes about three minutes on high before an egg explodes in one."

He gives him a thoughtful nod and goes to the refrigerator to retrieve a bottle of juice from within. He offers one to Peter wordlessly, then pulls a little notepad out of his pocket and scribbles in it: work table/island with lower shelves.

"I'll show you the upstairs, if you want. I'm going to put a couple separate rooms and bunks up there. If you have suggestions, just let me know?"

[websnextdoor]

"I figured out how to make plasma in one of these things actually. No idea if or how I could do anything cool with that info, but it's pretty neat nonetheless."

Peter gives the microwave an affectionate pat. Thank you, plastic friend, for warming his foods and providing him with quick sustenance. Ooh, juice. Score. He offers Steve a quiet 'thanks' before it's immediately being opened and sampled. He should probably watch how much he's drinking. No one needs to make a restroom break while they're on patrol. It's just awkward.

"Uh. Might want to hit up a thrift store or the like and get some basic clothes folks can borrow in case their own are bloody or wrecked? I don't know, this is already like. Way more than I could have ever even thought of. You're really going all out on this huh?"

[shieldborne]

"You made plasma in a microwave?" Steve stares at him for a moment, trying to decide if that's crazy dangerous or just normal teenage shenanigans. After a moment's consideration, he decides it can't be any more dangerous than playing with a PINpoint and smirks. "Did the microwave survive?"

He snaps his fingers and nods at Peter, grabbing for his notepad again. "Yes! Thank you, that was one of the things I meant to do. Hadn't gotten to it yet, but that's a good idea."

And not just that, but maybe a few extra sweaters or coats, because the weather's getting cold, and newcomers might not be prepared for that. He shrugs at Peter's comment, casual and modest. "I needed a project. And it'll be good to have a safe house for myself, here, too. I was staying in one of the hotels."

[websnextdoor]

"Oh yeah, I'm not sure how many more times I could do it before it didn't but--yeah it's still at our place. I can show you how t'do it here too if you want to see."

Because whats a bit of mad science between friends right?

"All we need is a bag of seedless grapes." R-really? But Peter's grinning and turning back to his juice.