Learn the Steps/Wear My Ring

[notjustaface]

It's an ambitious plan, but then again most of theirs are and it's not exactly the first time they've infiltrated a cruise ship. They can only hope it goes better than the last.

The day before departure, Face has procured uniforms for Hannibal and BA (porter and security respectively) as well as full vacation wardrobes for himself and his - well, for the duration of the trip - fiancee. He'd never heard of it, but apparently one of the big liners had set up a running gig performing bulk gay weddings at sea - symbolic, of course, but according to the CEO big business and always busy.

The "lucky couple" would be posing as soon-to-be newlyweds as the team investigated a known smuggler that had booked passage under pretense even more flimsy than theirs. If they caught her and her partner in crime, it was one more underworld link severed and a significant paycheck they pretty much needed to stay afloat given the expenses they've managed to rack up.

Still, there were things they had to do to prepare for the trip.

Knocking on the door to their shared hotel room, Face flashed his best smile; "Knock, knock - I hear you're in here all by yourself."

Comments

[notjustaface]

"Oh!" His face shifts, colored with amused surprise. "You mean like moves. Sure, I'll dance with you."

Shaking his head, he wraps a steady arm around Murdock's waist - stroking over the back of his t-shirt. "Any time, babe."

[notthatcrazy]

"Haven't done this in a long time."

He pulls him into a brief hug.

[notjustaface]

"No problem, guessing you haven't danced with a guy either." He murmurs, pushing up on his feet before offering his hand, smiling down at his partner.

"I'll take the lead."

[notthatcrazy]

"You've made me the happiest girl in the world."

He stands, taking his hand.

"Be patient with me, okay?"

[notjustaface]

The joke makes him smile, sure enough, and he pulls Murdock closer.

"Yeah, well, you're mine." He chuckles, letting one arm loop easily around his back as he pulled him to his chest, twining their fingers together. "We'll take it slow."

[notthatcrazy]

"You got it."

It's nice, being this close, and he pushes the rest of his worries aside for a while.

"There should be music for this."

[notjustaface]

"We don't need music," he murmurs, guiding Murdock's hand to his shoulder and then taking the other and tucking it close to their bodies. "Just follow me, I've got you."

[notthatcrazy]

"Always have."

There's a few missteps, but it's pretty easy to follow his lead as they move to an unheard rhythm. They've always worked well together, and this is no exception.

[notjustaface]

It's the little things, like the absolute certainty in Murdock's voice, that warm him but also terrify him - he's just not used to being sure of anything that he didn't have control over.

Still, he shakes his head with a soft smile and leads a slow, simple box step. Gradually, he pushes a little faster - letting Murdock adjust to a more uptempo beat.

"See, not so hard?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Nah, not really."

He lets himself adjust to the quicker tempo briefly before joining back in.

"Where'd you learn how to do this?"

[notjustaface]

He chuckles slightly, shaking his head. For anyone else, he'd make up some romantic story - but Murdock understands.

"Military school, we did a week of ballroom dancing when I was a teenager. Then it was just a matter of perfecting it."

He complicates it with a slow spin, and then leans Murdock back before brushing a kiss across his lips.

"You'd be amazed how easy it is to seduce someone on the dance floor."

[notthatcrazy]

Tricky, but he manages to keep up.

"Dedicated to your craft, aren't you?"

Just exactly what that is is left unremarked on.

[notjustaface]

"I utilize the skills I have." He replies, letting the quiet linger between them.

"I was a con artist before I was a soldier, you know that."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah, I know."

He's had time to get over some of the jealousy when it comes to Face's scams. He just wishes he could understand that he doesn't need to be anyone but himself around him.

But he knows him well enough to figure that would probably just worry him more.

[notjustaface]

"Just feel the music," he lets himself sway to a moderate waltz, humming a snatch of something he can't remember the name or origin of.

"Your body knows the rhythm and your lead knows the steps."

At least, the ones that aren't occasionally stepping on his foot.

[notthatcrazy]

Oops.

"Always happy to follow in your footsteps."

It's strangely soothing.

[notjustaface]

Contentedly kissing Murdock's temple, he adds in another somewhat more elaborate step, taking them from a junior high box-step to something more acceptable for a wedding.

"You're a natural."

[notthatcrazy]

"Helps to have a good partner."

As with most things in life. It's not something they get the chance to do often, what with all the running and hiding and the occasional shooting at people and blowing stuff up. He's going to enjoy it while it lasts.

[notjustaface]

"Only the best for my baby." He murmurs, slowing their pace until they're just comfortably swaying to the beat of the music that still isn't there.

"This is okay, right? I mean, it's not hurting you?"

He knows he's mostly clueless in that arena - but he's learned to be okay with asking if he's doing something horribly insensitive. He's learning.

[notthatcrazy]

It's appreciated. Albeit misplaced in this particular situation.

"It's fine. Why would it?"

[notjustaface]

He half-sighs, and he thinks it might be relief.

"I dunno, man... just sometimes wonder what you're not telling me."

[notthatcrazy]

"What are you talking about?"

He sighs.

"That I wish this could be real? I didn't think that was exactly a secret."

[notjustaface]

And there it is in black and white. He was almost hoping it'd go unsaid and he could continue playing deaf - but he's got his reasons to not just let it happen.

After a long and awkward pause, he presses a kiss to the top of Murdock's head and offers; "Maybe after the job is over we can hold on to the rings for a while... see what happens."

[notthatcrazy]

He was kind of planning on hanging onto his already.

"Temp... we are so far from a place where we can even think about settling down. I know this."

He kisses him softly, holding up his hand where the silver band catches the light.

"Having this means something, even if it ain't what it means to most people."

[notjustaface]

"I'm not goin' anywhere, man." He mutters against his lips, meaning it as much as he possibly can.

"You're stuck with me until you can't stand me anymore."