Totally Not A Date. Date.

[notjustaface]

Things have been good, work has been good. On the whole, it's business as usual. Maybe a few more nights in, passing up a pretty girl he could have had without thinking from time to time, but after a few solid months he's back to his old self.

Back to his game. Back to good friends and one night stands with the occasional brush with death just to keep things fresh. Back to boxes tucked away neatly with minimal shaking in the back of his mind because he doesn't have to think about it.

Base housing is comfortable living for the moment, a small house split two ways with a room across the hall from his best friend that doesn't put too much of dent in his stipend. And, it's bro-night. Dinner that may or may not kill him, a movie complete with Murdock's hand-puppet commentary and a few beers. Maybe other things, if it's a good night.

He's fresh from the shower in nothing but a pair of loose shorts when he follows the familiar tang of scorched meat in the air from the tiny back patio. "You cookin', Murdock?"

Comments

[notjustaface]

"You're not some random chick I met in a bar." He sighs, slamming the back of his head against the hollow door.

"You don't deserve this." His voice drops with a low, frustrated groan. "And some day you're going to love someone who won't hurt you."

[notthatcrazy]

He believes that. Just not in the same way Face does.

"Maybe we should talk about this in the morning."

Or table the discussion entirely. That works too.

[notjustaface]

Shaking his head against the door, he slams it again, harder than before. Stupid... stupid... can't do this again.

He lets out a hard, humorless laugh. "Yeah." He swallows hard, "We'll talk."

[notthatcrazy]

"Hey. You're gonna hurt yourself." He shields his head with his hand before moving it to the nape of his neck.

"We'll figure this out eventually. Friends no matter what, remember?"

[notjustaface]

That's kind of the point, because at least a little bit of pain feels a lot better than what he's saying and why he's saying it.

But that simple touch and a flash of his stupid, understanding eyes makes him sure it was the right decision.

"I knew you'd understand." His hand finds Murdock's again, giving it a tight squeeze before letting him go. "Better than blood."

The corners of his lips tug and he knows a smile is lingering just under the surface in the stubborn way that Murdock always seems to bring out in him.

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah."

He can't help it. He has this annoying tendency to think the best of the people he cares about.

"Time to say goodnight then?"

[notjustaface]

He nods, and then allows himself the grace of a single, soft kiss that only hammers the truth home.

"I'm sorry."