notjustaface | Boundaries

They were fugitives. Somehow just saving the fucking day wasn't enough - and sure, breaking out of prison was against the law but in Face's mind that didn't make it right to end up headed back into custody when they should be celebrating.

So they ran until the Colonel told them it was time to stop for a few days and get their bearings. Face was left with the distinction of scamming a place to stay - which led him to a small house by an oil refinery that had been on the market over a year with no takers.

A quick trip to the realtor's office to get the lockbox key led to a gorgeous new agent named Lynn or Linda or maybe Lori... But she was cute and unhappily married and fell right into Face's trap.

Dinner led to drinks and by the second martini he was feeling like his old self again. The Faceman... Smooth player that gets what he wants. The man that has no problem flirting, kissing her and when she starts leaning closer against him and touching his chest he's the man that leans in and murmurs against her ear; "We should go back to your place."

And two hours later, smelling of sex and cheap perfume mingled with cigarettes and gin, he lets himself out of her condo with the key and couple 'borrowed' fifties to pick up some burgers for the guys to make up for being late to their seven o'clock rendezvous.

"Dinner delivery," he grinned, knocking on the equally 'borrowed' van's sliding door.

"Took you long enough", Hannibal frowns as he takes his styrofoam box. "You're the only con who needs four hours to book a hotel room."

Face clicks his tongue, sliding in beside Murdock with a subconscious distance between them. "Hannibal, I'm hurt. Cons get you a two-star single occupancy..." He holds up the key with a self-satisfied smirk; "Artists get you a house."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

notthatcrazy

He picks at his food while the others talk, trying to make plans for the immediate future.

Somehow he's not hungry anymore.

From:

notjustaface

"Not hungry?" Face catches his eye, content with the plan to finish up eating before heading over.

He shifts his foot across the floorboard to gently tap it against Murdock's.

From:

notthatcrazy

"Nah." He really should eat something, but he's not in the mood.

He leans in just close enough to whisper. "Can we talk soon? Just us?"

From:

notjustaface

If the thought Murdock *not* hungry is enough to raise an eyebrow, the hushed whisper tells him something's really off.

"Yeah, sure thing." He replies with a hesitant half-smirk.

He sits back up and devours several fries before leaning forward to suggest; "After I'm done, me and Murdock will go see about getting the power turned back on."

The colonel seems to consider it a moment before he vetoes it; "I'll take care of that, I want you and BA to take care of the water."

Of course, what the boss says goes when it's the reasonable choice.

Edited Date: 2013-03-24 08:50 pm (UTC)

From:

notthatcrazy

"Where d'you want me, boss?"

He sounds a bit like a petulant teenager. Get it together, Captain.

From:

notjustaface

"With me." He replies simply, silent until the van pulls up in front of a small house on the edge of town, tucked away by an old refinery.

"I've got my phone on if you need me," Face murmurs toward Murdock. "This shouldn't take long."

From:

notthatcrazy

"Yes sir."

He nods as they pull up to the house. It looks okay from the outside, he'll give Face that much.

From:

notjustaface

Once it's down to the two of them, Hannibal remains tucked into the passenger seat. After a quiet moment he says; "You shouldn't sit on that anger, Murdock. I don't want our next stop to be a hospital."

From:

notthatcrazy

"We're gonna talk it out."

And by 'talk' he means 'most likely yell.'

From:

notjustaface

"He'll talk and you'll forgive him. I know you." He turns slowly, offering a stern look.

"Have you ever worked with horses?" There's a point to the statement, honest.

From:

notthatcrazy

Hannibal knows him well. He doesn't hold grudges especially well, especially where the people he loves are concerned.

"No, can't say I have."

From:

notjustaface

"Most of 'em are a lot like you... Kind, easygoing. Trusting."

He shifts as close as he possibly can from the front seat before continuing.

"Then there's stallions like Templeton Peck. Gorgeous, wild creatures that'd rather break their own backs than be saddled."

A hint of a smile crosess his lips and he adds; "The only way to keep them in line is with a firm hand on the reigns and sometimes castration."

He's known Peck a lot longer than the others and knows full and well how hard he is to control, like a petulant child.

From:

notthatcrazy

That finally gets a laugh out of him.

"I appreciate the concern, boss, though personally I'm hoping not to have to go that far."

From:

notjustaface

He nods slowly; "If you plan on continuing on like this, you need to make it clear how upset you are by his lack of self-control. It's all-right to be angry, Murdock."

Pausing a moment, considering his words carefully, he finally says; "Judging from what was said back on the freighter, you boys are taking this very seriously."

From:

notthatcrazy

And that's the thing that's difficult for him, really. Allowing himself to get mad without worrying about breaking this thing between them.

"Yeah," he says cautiously. "We are."

From:

notjustaface

Hannibal lowers his eyes and nods slowly - he'd feared as much. Not that it would divide the team, but that would only end in the pilot being broken. It'd been close enough over Sosa...

"I'll tell you a secret about working with people like him." He licks his lips, withdrawing a cheap cigar, "Expect them to make mistakes, a lot of them, but be prepared to address every single one of them because that's what he understands - results."

From:

notthatcrazy

"Right."

There's something utterly strange about getting relationship advice from a superior who knows at least a dozen ways to kill people.

From:

notjustaface

"Just don't forget, we're on your side. You and I both know he slept with a woman, and if I were in your shoes... Not that I would be... He'd end up with a broken nose tonight."

From:

notthatcrazy

That gets a raised eyebrow, but he lets it go without comment.

"Yeah, I know. He had that scent of booze and desperation on him."

Apparently it's not as hard to be mad at him as he'd thought it was. There is one thing, though...

"You know he thinks he's just doing his job."

Seduction is a tool for Face, and they both know it.

From:

notjustaface

"There's more than one way to get things done, and lines need to be drawn."

Ending the conversation, he gets out of the van to finish the practical job for the night so they can have a hot shower and a place to sleep.

By the time Face makes good on being able to talk alone, he's headed from the master bathroom shower toward a fresh pair of boxers laid out on the bed.

"Your turn, babe." He flashes a smile at his lover on the bed before leaning over him to press a kiss on his lips.

From:

notthatcrazy

He raises a hand, forestalling and further distraction from the important issues.

"We need to talk."

From:

notjustaface

Talk. Right, with the capital T that meant it was important.

"Sure," he replies easily enough, combing out his hair after settling onto the edge of the bed. "What's on your mind?"

From:

notthatcrazy

"Who'd you sleep with to get this place?"

No preamble, no nonsense, just getting it out there.

From:

notjustaface

Most guys probably would have lied, clearly Face has never associated himself with most guys.

"The real estate agent," he replies matter-of-factly. No sense dancing around the subject like he'd done something wrong. "Lynn... Lori... Lana - something like that."