"Running isn't exercise, it's just fun. And useful. Someone like you probably needed that skill when you were younger, huh?" He had, but it hadn't been possible. One of the reasons he got beaten up so often was because he couldn't actually run away. Of course the fact that he wouldn't even consider running was the other main reason. But it made him wonder if Charlie had ever suffered that sort of abuse.
Steve smiled a little and nodded at the sentiment about the changing times. Many things in the present day were different in a bad way, but some things made him happy. The freedom for people to be who they truly felt they were and to live that life without fear was one change he heartily approved of. No one should be forced into a role that they hated. He'd fought more than one war to prove that point. But Charlie's frank question had him blushing, the man's hand a pleasant warmth on his arm. The more he got to know Charlie, the more comfortable he was, especially with being touched.
He had to laugh at the rather overdone flirtation, taking a risk and running his fingers through Charlie's hair, curious. But about what, exactly, he couldn't have said.
"Judging by the two men currently topping my 'I shouldn't be thinking those kinds of thoughts' list, no. Adorable and short don't fit either one of them. But it doesn't mean I couldn't be convinced to give a cute little man a chance." Steve fell quiet for a moment, debating with himself, but Charlie seemed to invite confidences. He gave a slight shrug and just put it all out there, "There's a woman I loved, still love I think. Even considering sleeping with someone else of the same gender leaves me cold, but I can't be with her like that, at least not at the moment. I mean, she is here, which should be impossible, but this place . . . It wouldn't be possible to just be us two, you know? And I don't think I could handle sharing her, not that way." He shrugged a little, "The idea of sleeping with a man takes away a lot of nerves and solves the other problem as well. I'm going to have to do it at some point and I have a feeling my window of grace is quickly shrinking. I can't put things off much longer Charlie, and I'd rather not embarrass myself with someone who has a lot of comparisons."
Definitely one of his more selfish reasons, but at least he was honest. Steve didn't have any illusions about himself anymore. He was confident he could function with at least a couple of men, one of whom might actually jump at the chance, and he was just trying to screw up the courage to broach the subject. Awkward as that was likely to be, he had to lose it sometime, and better it be with someone he at least felt attracted to on more than a physical level.
no subject
Steve smiled a little and nodded at the sentiment about the changing times. Many things in the present day were different in a bad way, but some things made him happy. The freedom for people to be who they truly felt they were and to live that life without fear was one change he heartily approved of. No one should be forced into a role that they hated. He'd fought more than one war to prove that point. But Charlie's frank question had him blushing, the man's hand a pleasant warmth on his arm. The more he got to know Charlie, the more comfortable he was, especially with being touched.
He had to laugh at the rather overdone flirtation, taking a risk and running his fingers through Charlie's hair, curious. But about what, exactly, he couldn't have said.
"Judging by the two men currently topping my 'I shouldn't be thinking those kinds of thoughts' list, no. Adorable and short don't fit either one of them. But it doesn't mean I couldn't be convinced to give a cute little man a chance." Steve fell quiet for a moment, debating with himself, but Charlie seemed to invite confidences. He gave a slight shrug and just put it all out there, "There's a woman I loved, still love I think. Even considering sleeping with someone else of the same gender leaves me cold, but I can't be with her like that, at least not at the moment. I mean, she is here, which should be impossible, but this place . . . It wouldn't be possible to just be us two, you know? And I don't think I could handle sharing her, not that way." He shrugged a little, "The idea of sleeping with a man takes away a lot of nerves and solves the other problem as well. I'm going to have to do it at some point and I have a feeling my window of grace is quickly shrinking. I can't put things off much longer Charlie, and I'd rather not embarrass myself with someone who has a lot of comparisons."
Definitely one of his more selfish reasons, but at least he was honest. Steve didn't have any illusions about himself anymore. He was confident he could function with at least a couple of men, one of whom might actually jump at the chance, and he was just trying to screw up the courage to broach the subject. Awkward as that was likely to be, he had to lose it sometime, and better it be with someone he at least felt attracted to on more than a physical level.