Alone Time

[notjustaface]

Alone time is rare at best, and as he clutches the co-pilot's seat of the salvaged Cessna - only a little nervous each time Murdock tries a trick - the fact that they're getting almost a whole day to themselves is more or less the best thing on his mind. They're on a job, of course - they're coming more frequently over the last few months and while the pay seems to be lower at least it's keeping them moving since their close call back in Chicago - but he'll take what he can get.

Even if what he can get is spending the night together in a lean-to in the backwoods of southern Oregon with a few sleeping bags and a cooler while they wait for the boss' call to pick up the other half of the team in northern California. It's still nice to have a little downtime.

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

"I'll take your word for it."

It's getting on toward evening as the fire crackles and sputters. It's probably time to think about what else they plan to do tonight.

[notjustaface]

Of course, he doesn't mind letting the quiet linger and allowing his brain to rattle around with nothing worse than the breeze on his skin and fire against the soles of his feet as he curls up close against his partner.

It works for them, the quiet - the knowing that for the moment nothing particularly terrible could happen.

"Think Billy took off on us."

[notthatcrazy]

It is pretty nice. They don't need to fill up the quiet time with small talk and things that don't matter.

"Probably off chasin' squirrels. He'll be back."

[notjustaface]

They spend so much of their lives together, small talk is mostly pointless. They already know what the other did all day... every day...

"I'm sure we've still got some quiet time..."

[notthatcrazy]

"Is that a suggestion?"

Again... like he has to ask.

[notjustaface]

"Maybe..." he shrugs again, sitting up and arching his back into a stretch.

"But not a solid one. I'm open to s'mores."

[notthatcrazy]

He's slightly surprised to hear the suggestion from him, but he's pleased by it nonetheless.

"Sounds good to me. Then we can cuddle up and wait for the stars to come out while we see what happens."

He... kind of has a thing about stargazing. It might need to be explored.

"Just out of curiosity, are you planning on being naked for the rest of this trip?"

He reaches for the cooler and pulls out the marshmallows and graham crackers and large bars of Hershey's.

"'Cause I don't really have a problem with that."

[notjustaface]

They've got time, and he knows he doesn't have a reason to rush. Even if the guys show up early they'll still find a way to connect. They always do.

He lets out a soft laugh, eyeing the provisions before pushing up on his feet to dig a couple acceptable sticks out of the kindling.

"I might. My tan could stand a little natural sunlight." He half-shrugs, returning to the blanket. "Knife?"

[notthatcrazy]

He hands him his. He was never a Scout, but in Hannibal Smith's unit you learn pretty fast that it pays to be prepared.

"Always knew you were a closet nudist."

[notjustaface]

His, of course, is still handily located in his pants - some several yards away. Still, he's not shy about stripping the ends of the sticks down to green wood that won't burn when skewered with marshmallows.

"Closet? Man, this is the freaking life. Letting it all hang out... nothing to hide." He's not trying to be anyone else, and it feels good.

[notthatcrazy]

'"Mmmhmm."

For as much as he's not shy about showing off his... assets, he knows Face has plenty of secrets.

Taking the sharpened stick, he grabs the bag of marshmallows and scoots closer to the fire.

[notjustaface]

Who doesn't? Especially a man that's spent his whole life perfecting the art of being someone else.

"You gotta show me how to do this right." He scoots a little closer, letting his bare knee rest against Murdock.

[notthatcrazy]

He raises an eyebrow. "You never done this before?"

It's not especially surprising, given what little he knows about Face's childhood, but it is a little bit sad.

[notjustaface]

"Generally speaking military school frowned on lighting fires and the military frowned on bringing marshmallows." He shrugs, copying the thick white puff onto the end of his sharpened stick.

"I've got the idea, I mean - stick, sugar, fire - but you seem like you might be an expert."

[notthatcrazy]

"Ah. Well, there's basically two ways of doin' it. First is to get it right down near the hottest part without actually gettin' it too close to the fire."

He spears a marshmallow and demonstrates, waiting for just a few moments until it starts turning golden brown.

"The other way to do it is to just stick in in the fire and let it burn."

He can probably guess which method Murdock prefers.

[notjustaface]

That's enough to draw a soft chuckle as he tries for the former - and ends up setting it on fire.

"Let me guess, you like yours extra crispy?" He laughs, blowing his out before poking gingerly at the charred exterior.

[notthatcrazy]

"Of course. That's half the fun."

He grins, carefully peeling back the burned bits of extinguished marshmallow to reveal the gooey interior.

"Usually, you wanna have your s'more stuff ready while it's still nice and squishy, but I think we can call this one a test run."

He pops the sticky treat into his mouth, licking his fingers. It's not exactly a clean snack.

[notjustaface]

Okay, now that's just not fair. Shifting slightly, he clears his throat and copies the motion, peeling away the burned skin and licking the sticky white off his fingertips.

"I think we need to get a line going here. Crackers, chocolate, goo."

[notthatcrazy]

"Sure, if you wanna be all organized about it."

He chuckles, reaching out to wipe a stray fleck of marshmallow goo off his lip.

[notjustaface]

Two can play the erotic marshmallow game, Murdock. Face flashes and even more broad smile and he lets out a low groan after forcing the sticky goo off the end of the stick and then licking his fingers.

"I'm a fan of organization."

[notthatcrazy]

Well that was just plain lewd.

"Well let's get the assembly line goin' then."

[notjustaface]

He wears lewd well - particularly naked.

Taking control of the situation, he tears into the box of honey grahams and leaves the chocolate in Murdock's hands.

"Rack 'em and stack 'em."

[notthatcrazy]

Yeah, he's still not letting his mind go there. Not yet, anyway.

"Can't believe you've never made s'mores," he says more for the sake of making conversation than anything as he breaks apart the components and assembles them in the right order - graham cracker square, two pieces of chocolate.

[notjustaface]

Pushing down a new marshmallow, trying harder not to light the damn thing on fire this time, he settles in with his elbows on his knees.

"When'd you start making them?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Oh, I dunno... when I was pretty little, I guess."

He sticks another marshmallow in the fire, letting it get good and crispy.

"Sometimes we'd just camp out right in the backyard."