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]

"Yeah."

He keeps his voice low and gentle. He can only guess how Face is feeling about this.

"We used to stay up late, and he'd teach me all the constellations. He said as long as I knew where the stars were, I'd never be lost."

[notjustaface]

"I know where the north star is?" He offers with a soft laugh, nibbling small bites around the outside edge of the gooey mess in a vain attempt not to wear it on his bare skin.

"Probably slept through that class at the academy."

[notthatcrazy]

He's a bit lost in his own memories, but the response makes him smile.

"It's a start."

He digs into his own s'more, heedless of the mess.

[notjustaface]

Dusk is barely starting to show the stars piercing through the Pacific Northwest's nighttime veil - clouds obscuring some but not nearly all.

"Guess I always figured if I was lost there was a lot bigger problem than knowing the stars."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah, I guess so."

He looks up at the sky, glad to see that the famously damp northwest weather is holding out for them.

"I can show you some, if you want."

[notjustaface]

Licking chocolate and warm fluff of his thumb, Face lets himself lean against his partner before threading on another marshmallow.

It's cheesy, even for them, but it's a nice evening and why not?

"I'd like that."

[notthatcrazy]

Finishing his own snack, he wraps his arms around him.

"Me too."

Cheesy, schmeesy. They do their own thing.

[notjustaface]

Face appreciates the warm gesture and tilts his head to brush a sticky-sweet kiss against his cheek.

"What about that one?" He gestures up toward something that might look vaguely familiar; "What's that?"

[notthatcrazy]

He tilts his head. "Kinda hard to tell with the clouds, but I think it's Orion. That's an easy one."

He squeezes him a bit tighter.

"We should make up our own."

[notjustaface]

"Kinda like cloud watching?" He half-laughs, pointing to another faint grouping.

"We can call that one the coffee mug... see the handle there and around..."

[notthatcrazy]

He laughs, nuzzling in closer.

"Those ones over there kinda look like a rubber duck."

... He may have a somewhat overactive imagination.

[notjustaface]

He doesn't see it, but much like Billy it's usually best to roll with the things in Murdock's head. Makes for interesting conversation, at least.

Tracing his finger in a line down and then back up again he murmurs; "The used condom..."

[notthatcrazy]

He shakes his head, laughing loud and clear.

"This could lead to some interesting psychological insights."

Kinda like an inkblot test in the sky.

[notjustaface]

Echoing the laugh, though honestly a good deal more subdued, Face presses another kiss to his cheek.

"Don't analyze me, babe. Chances are you won't like what you see."

[notthatcrazy]

"Hmm."

His insecurity makes him hurt for him sometimes.

"I think you don't hide things from me as well as you think you do."

[notjustaface]

"Hide?" His eyebrow rises; "Hide, no. Not hide. Just... you know, I don't do well under a microscope."

It makes him feel uncomfortable, thinking about what makes him tick. He does what he does. No questions asked, rarely even by him.

[notthatcrazy]

He presses a soft kiss to his lips.

"It's just me, baby."

He has no hang-ups about the somewhat twisted workings of his own mind, but he can understand why Face does.

"You don't have to worry about what I'm seeing."

[notjustaface]

The kiss warms him, but cuts him all the same.

With a soft wariness, he asks; "What do you see?"

[notthatcrazy]

He looks him in the eyes, a seriously contemplative look on his face.

"I can see that you don't trust yourself."

He presses a kiss to his shoulder. "And you're scared of what you might do."

[notjustaface]

His eyes drop and he looks away a brief moment, letting out a half-laugh. The brush of lips on his shoulder takes a little bit of the sting away, but he's right.

"Yeah... well. I know me."

Forcing himself away from the thought, he points back up at the sky; "I'm gonna call that one Pilot with a Burrito."

[notthatcrazy]

"And you kind of hate yourself for it."

He takes his hand, entwining their fingers together as he looks where he's indicating.

"Aw... I think I'm flattered."

[notjustaface]

His smile falters and he lets out a soft sigh before it turns back up again.

"You should be. It's a pretty great burrito."

[notthatcrazy]

"Is this an actual burrito or a nickname for a certain piece of anatomy?"

He gives him a suggestive eyebrow wiggle before leaning in to kiss him.

"You know I love you, right?"

[notjustaface]

"Read the stars, man..."

He chuckles under his breath, accepting the kiss without hesitation.

"Yeah... of course. Never doubted that, man."

[notthatcrazy]

"See, I kinda have this theory about love."

He gives him a long, quiet look, snuggling close against him.

"And I never told anyone this before, so you're not allowed to laugh."

It's a rare moment of self-consciousness, and feels unexpectedly serious.