Calm Before the Storm

[notjustaface]

They're alive.

Some how, they're alive. They flew a fucking tank and they're alive in an abandoned cottage outside of Berlin.

The house crackles with their energy, but nobody's feeling it more than Murdock - clearly, he's about halfway off the rails.

"Boss, I'm gonna talk him down." Face offers, nodding to where Murdock was turning giddy circles around the living room, loudly describing the whole experience to BA again.

At first, the colonel doesn't respond, but then he nods slowly and says; "Keep his head on straight, we've got a big day tomorrow."

He nods quick acceptance - understanding the unspoken threat loud and clear, don't break him. "Come on, Murdock... time to get some shut eye." He claps his friend on the shoulder, the first honest to god close contact they've had in six months. "Let's get some rest."

Comments

[notjustaface]

It can wait until morning, all of it. But there are things he wants to know.

"Did they treat you all right, in the hospital? I want to know what it was like."

[notthatcrazy]

He's quiet for a few minutes before answering. "It wasn't too bad. They weren't nasty or anything, mostly they just get so busy you don't get a lot of attention."

For someone as outgoing as he is, that can be tough sometimes. And then there's the ECT, but even that's not really as bad as it sounds.

[notjustaface]

His fingers stroke down Murdock's arm, catching fabric until it finds his hand and cups it gently.

"I missed you..." he half-smiles, letting out a dry chuckle; "Even the puppets."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah?"

He's under no illusions about what Face likely got up to in prison - his plans most likely requiring a certain rather specific power of persuasion - but he can't get mad at him, not when so much of it was for his benefit.

"Had to leave everything behind."

[notjustaface]

His fingers lace in Murdock's amd a sleepy smile crosses his lips.

"It's replaceable. You're not."

[notthatcrazy]

"I think BA's gettin' tired of me stealin' his socks."

He plants a sleepy kiss on Face's chest.

"Can I tell you somethin'?"

[notjustaface]

The thought tugs a small chuckle out of him and he ruffles Murdock's curls with his free hand, comfortable pressed against him.

"We flew a tank today... I'm pretty sure you can tell me anything right about now."

[notthatcrazy]

"And you never did give me a shot at those Reapers."

But that's off topic.

"The first time I met you down in Mexico, I knew you were gonna change my life."

[notjustaface]

"Hey... I'm the gunner remember? Besides, things were so crazy out there I don't even remember most of it."

The lull falls between them and he lets the thought stew in his mind. Mexico... god that was a lifetime ago.

"I'm pretty sure you changed my life. I was terrified."

[notthatcrazy]

"You walked in smellin' like gas... you know that's my third favorite smell after engine grease and ozone."

He smiles. "I looked at you, and I just... had to make sure you were real."

[notjustaface]

The laugh takes him almost by surprise, bubbling over as he presses kisses into his hair and teases over the tight curls.

"Mmm, there's my crazy pilot..." he murmurs.

[notthatcrazy]

"You know it."

He catches him mid-kiss and presses their lips together, gently pressing in.

"... When did you know? I mean, I know it's been kinda a long weird trip..."

[notjustaface]

It's a question he's almost embarrassed to answer - but they both know it hasn't been long.

"There was a girl back home, a little bit after we moved into the house." He chuckles into Murdock's neck, actually feeling the flush creep up his collar.

"We were... uh... we were being intimate when you knocked on the door and I stopped - right in the middle - to answer it."

It's not sweeping musical numbers and roses... but that's saying a lot for him.

"She left and I went back to your room for cartoons and boxed wine. And it was more fun."

[notthatcrazy]

He does know, and was expecting an answer somewhere along those lines.

"That poor girl. She was not happy about that."

He chuckles softly.

"You chose me."

[notjustaface]

She wasn't the first... just the most profound.

And the one that spread some really nasty things around the base about the nature of their friendship... not that anyone really believed them too long.

"Wasn't the last time." He swallows hard and presses a kiss to his forehead.

[notthatcrazy]

"Thank you."

There's a lot they should talk about, but right now he's content with the feeling of warm skin under his hands and stubble against his cheek as they get used to being near each other again.

"What was it like where you were? I bet you had everyone charmed real quick."

[notjustaface]

The smile is easy, the sensation... not quite so much.

"I did what I do." He replies calmly. "I pulled some strings... you know; tanning salon, massages, pulling for early parole."

He shrugs with a low sigh; "Just a waiting point between Baghdad and Berlin."

[notthatcrazy]

Smooth, man. Very smooth.

"You really were tryin' to fix things."

[notjustaface]

He has his ways. He might not always like them, but it gets him what he wants.

Face nods slowly against him, lowering his eyes as he quietly admits; "Even had a job lined up at the Army hospital so I could keep an eye on you."

[notthatcrazy]

He's quiet for a while, taking in the implications of this before speaking again.

"You know what I think?"

He doesn't wait for a response.

"I think we need to go kick some ass and get those plates back so we can get started on that plan of yours."

[notjustaface]

The soft grin curling Murdock's lips almost has him believing for a minute that it just might happen... but things don't ever work out that way.

And would they even be happy like that?

"Definitely kicking ass..." he brushes his lips against Murdock's cheek, catching the rasp of new stubble. "We'll see how it goes from there."

[notthatcrazy]

He senses the doubt creeping in and quells it with a kiss. Happiness isn't an endpoint, it something to work on.

"I can live with that."

[notjustaface]

And if he keeps getting kisses like that, Face is gonna end up on a whole other track he's missed sorely.

"So, I gotta ask... how many hot crazy chicks did you sleep while I was locked up?" He grins, meaning it well... honest.

[notthatcrazy]

Murdock just gives him an exasperated look.

"Really? That's where you wanna go with this?"

[notjustaface]

"What?" He replies innocently enough, his lips stretching to a self-preservation grin.

"Come on, you can't tell me you lived like a priest out here."