Boundaries

[notjustaface]

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."

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

"Might not be why you do it, but you can't tell me you don't enjoy it."

[notjustaface]

"Is that a little bit of jealousy I hear there?"

He chuckles, leaning closer. "Believe me, man... There was nothing to be jealous of. That was just a little sex."

[notthatcrazy]

He turns away, avoiding looking him in the eyes.

"C'mon, I've seen you pull off plenty of scams without sleeping with anyone. When you do it, it's because you want to."

[notjustaface]

"You've seen me run scams with a lot more resources, I was going in blind - man. I don't even have an ID."

He shrugs; "I did what I knew would work. It was a sure thing."

[notthatcrazy]

He lies back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"I don't know what to do with you sometimes."

[notjustaface]

"Who says you have to do anything. You're making a big deal out of nothing."

He shoots back a frustrated look that softens slightly, seeing him shutting down.

Huffing, he shakes his head and pushes up off the bed; "Whatever, man."

[notthatcrazy]

He reaches out to grab his wrist.

"Fine. I have to watch you go off and sleep with random women and you don't see anything wrong with it, but can you at least notice that it bothers me?"

[notjustaface]

Squaring his jaw, ready for more when he feels the strong grip on his wrist, Face turns back toward him.

"One, she wasn't random. She was a mark. Two, I get that it bothers you and I'm telling you it shouldn't."

[notthatcrazy]

"You wanna know why it bothers me?"

His voice is low and even, almost dangerously so.

"Every time I see you go after a mark it reminds me that sex is just this thing you use to get what you want. And it makes me wonder if this-" He raises the hand that's still clutching his wrist - "means as much to you as it does to me."

He pauses. "And I know that's not fair and I know it's irrational but it still fucking matters."

[notjustaface]

Damn it.

Fucking damn him for using that argument against him.

Face sits down heavily on the edge of the bed, as close as he dares to come to him. "You are my best friend." He says softly, looking down at his hands.

"I mean... how many guys can light someone on fire the first time they meet them and then end up gladly risking their life for them without even being asked?" He shakes his head again; "What we have is just so far beyond sex... I mean what the fuck man? I loved you well before we ever made love."

[notthatcrazy]

"I said it wasn't rational."

He looks up, and while there's still some anger left in his eyes, there's self-recrimination there too.

"That's what happens when you fall for the crazy guy."

[notjustaface]

His response was automatic, self defense to slam him with the truth and he knows it. He knows how to push buttons and win a fight, even when he's telling the truth.

"Yeah, well... you started it." He offers an almost shy smile, "I know I don't exactly follow the same standards as everyone else... but I swear, I wasn't just doing it for kicks - okay?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I started it? Very mature."

Hannibal's warning is all too clear in his mind. He'll talk and you'll forgive him. And it's true, he'd rather just curl up with him and pretend none of this is an issue, but if they don't deal with it, it'll come back to bite them in the ass eventually.

"I think you're the one who's dictated where this relationship's gone from the start."

[notjustaface]

In Face's mind he did start it - he had to go and open all these feeling things that he still doesn't know how to deal with.

"I haven't dictated anything, man. Things just happen, okay? You have feelings and I roll with them as much as I can."

Because making it the other guy's fault makes so much sense.

[notthatcrazy]

"And how many times did I back off because you weren't ready to deal with it?"

More than he even realizes.

[notjustaface]

"And how many times could you have pushed harder?" He shoots back, unrestrained. "I'm still not ready, you know? I mean... this whole thing is really weird for both of us."

His shoulders slump slightly and he adds; "Or maybe just me."

[notthatcrazy]

"I'm pushing harder now," he points out. "And neither of us are dealin' with it all that well."

He rests his head on Face's shoulder, in spite of the lingering bitterness he still feels. "It's hard for me too, y'know. Everyone else I've been with checked out way before it got this serious."

[notjustaface]

"This isn't pushing..." he sighs, "this just is what it is. And I'm not gonna question it."

He lets his fingers gently trace Murdock's hand, turning enough to brush a kiss in his hair.

"And if I'm checkin' out any way but in a body bag - you're coming with me. I don't care if whatever we're doing works out or not, you're my friend and teammate first."

[notthatcrazy]

"Can we at least set some ground rules?"

And he's still way too damn forgiving. He kind of hates himself a little bit for it.

"I'd kinda like to know exactly where we stand with the whole 'having sex with other people' thing."

[notjustaface]

The sigh isn't so much for Murdock but for himself.

"You mean so you can tell me what I'm doing wrong?" He mutters; "Sure, fine. What are you comfortable with?"

[notthatcrazy]

He huffs, pulling away from him.

"Y'know, forget it. Forget I even brought it up."

[notjustaface]

If it was someone he could walk away from, this would be a hell of a lot easier. As it is, he clenches his hand tight.

"No, I'm not going to forget it. Obviously this is a big deal for you and if it's a big deal we should address it. You thought I was out of line, I get that."

He shakes his head, looking back up him; "You want limits, I'm listening."

[notthatcrazy]

"I don't even know what I want anymore," he sighs.

[notjustaface]

"Don't give me that bullshit," he replies softly, shaking his head even harder.

"You know exactly what you want - you always have. Just spit it out."

[notthatcrazy]

He doesn't know why it's so hard. Whether it's the reminder of how often his feelings have been ignored in the past, or the fact that Face still doesn't get why he's so upset, but whatever patience he had left is pretty much gone.

"How about we start by talking about this like adults instead of trying to figure out who to blame?"