Built A Better Bear (For Love!)

[notjustaface]

He's been trying, and he knows Murdock has been trying too, but the longer the rift between them continues the more Face feels like it'll never end.

The idea had come to him watching Murdock fret over a small pile of stuffed animals at a thrift store - again - coming back empty handed when none of them "fit" with his current plush posse. Something special, something they could do together where there was no pressure to be romantic, but Murdock would know that he meant it as a genuine gesture.

Which is exactly what had led him to The Build-A-Bear workshop on a Saturday morning when it was overrun with children and exasperated parents with Murdock staring out the windshield as they pulled in.

"Surprise?" He smiles softly, looking at him from the driver's seat as he nervously taps his rings against the steering wheel - still getting used to the weight of wearing them again, if nothing as a reminder to himself.

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

"Really?"

It wouldn't make sense to anyone else, but it's the perfect gesture for the situation - there's no pressure, and it shows he's really thinking of how to make things right.

[notjustaface]

He turns off the motor and pocket's the keys.

"Unless you'd rather go to the Chinese restaurant around the corner?" His smile takes on a more easy, practiced lightness.

"Think it's time your little ragtag group of stuffed animals had themselves a leader that was built for it."

[notthatcrazy]

"You gotta make one too."

You can't go to a place like this and not bring someone home. That's like... a rule.

[notjustaface]

He rolls his eyes, with affection of course, but concedes with a shallow laugh.

"Sure, man. Why not. My bear can be the one that watches your bear's back."

[notthatcrazy]

"You got that right, buddy."

As they head for the entrance, he's thinking this is going to be an even bigger gesture of reconciliation that he thought. The place is full of kids running amok with their new furry friends.

[notjustaface]

Face tells himself if he can handle insurgents, a couple birthday parties worth of kids are no big deal. Of course, he had a gun then.

Walking close with just the tips of his fingers against the back of Murdock's jacket, as close as he lets himself get these days, he's more than happy to walk him into the line of fire.

It's a good thing, doing something creative together that Murdock enjoys. Just like something out of one of those self-help books Hannibal had "helpfully" left out by the sofa for him.

[notthatcrazy]

He's happy enough that he can let himself take him by the hand, pulling him along in the wake of all the chaos.

"See anything you like?"

[notjustaface]

Reveling silently in the embrace, Face twines their fingers and squeezes gently before looking at him with a smirk.

"I like you."

[notthatcrazy]

He rolls his eyes right back, smiling at the somewhat awkward but sweet remark.

"I meant of the cute, fuzzy toy persuasion."

[notjustaface]

"Ahh... cute. Fuzzy..." He scans over the assortment of animals until a camouflage furred teddy bear,

"What about that one?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Perfect."

Looking around the shelves, he spots a bear with an eye-searingly garish multi-colored swirl pattern.

"Oooh..."

[notjustaface]

"Oh man..." he murmurs, stifling a laugh.

"All right, go get 'em, Tiger."

[notthatcrazy]

As they pick out their respective plush, a uniformed attendant manages to extricate herself from the horde of children to come over and assist.

"Anything I can help you with...?"

From the sound of things, she's not especially used to seeing grown, childless men in her store.

[notjustaface]

"Yeah... we're uh..." he holds up his camouflaged unfilled husk of a bear; "we're building."

It's no big deal, really - he's done far worse things than buy a custom teddy bear. That said, he's quick to ask; "Do you have anything in the way of a military uniform? Maybe Army?"

[notthatcrazy]

If she thinks it's weird, she's certainly hiding it well.

"No problem!"

As she leads the way to the racks of tiny clothing and accessories, he leans in to whisper "You're doin' good."

[notjustaface]

Giving him another fond squeeze, Face lets himself brush a kiss to his temple before responding; "It's worth it."

Separating, he heads for the fill machine to get a generous dollop of fluff into his bear.

[notthatcrazy]

The little set of camo fatigues is kind of awesome - the ensemble even comes with a set of miniature dog tags.

"He seems sweet," the clerk says as they separate.

"He can be."

[notjustaface]

He tries, at least.

Face gestures for him to come back toward the machine; "Come on Rainbow - let's stuff you good."

[notthatcrazy]

"Not the context I'm used to hearing that in." he quips under his breath.

But hey, that's a pretty good name.

[notjustaface]

He can't hide his grin, but his laugh is tapered to a soft snort into his wrist as he picks out a big pink heart.

"Putting yours in uniform too?" He asks, pressing a kiss to the plastic heart before holding it out to Murdock between his index and middle finger.

[notthatcrazy]

Okay... that's just ridiculously cute.

"Nah, can't have the patterns clashing."

He picked out a plane t-shirt and shorts combo for the brightly colored bear, complete with tiny baseball cap and sneakers. He did manage to get a set of the tiny dog tags, though.

[notjustaface]

"He can be on a weekend pass." Face lets himself laugh, jamming a smaller red heart into his bear before heading to sew him up.

"I'm sure I can get my hands on a set of stripes to make sure the others know he's an officer."

[notthatcrazy]

"You're really gettin' into this," he chuckles, toting his own stuffed and fluffed teddy. "Never thought I'd see the day."

[notjustaface]

Leaning in close, he half-shrugs.

"It means a lot to you, and you mean a lot to me." He presses a kiss to the bear's head before finding his uniform to make him a little less naked.

[notthatcrazy]

"I know."

He chuckles as they get the bears ready, talking under his breath to them about exactly what they've gotten themselves into.

Don't mind the grown man talking to his toys, folks.