Playing House: Less Top Gun, More Cocktail

[notjustaface]

The new job isn't bad, he's only been working a week and they've already upped his hours to almost full time - working the happy hour till after dinner shift six nights a week. Somewhat as he'd expected, the tips are good... really good, and getting better as he starts to draw a regular crowd of people that are drawn to the kind of guy that does what he does.

Which is essentially being shameless.

As it is, it's almost six-thirty and he's already stripped down to his jeans and a bar towel slung over his shoulder - sweat (and just a little bit of the tequila a VIP asked to take a shot of off his abs) shining up his torso. It's kind of his element... like it or not. And admittedly, he kind of likes it... even with his rings on he's the center of attention.

"You missed your calling as a stripper." The owner smirks, handing off a pair of empty glasses to pass back to the dishwasher. "There's more money in it."

"I like this!" He protests, pouring out a double and a vodka martini. "Besides, I'm married." He holds up his finger as though she hadn't clearly seen the evidence when he applied.

"Honey, you think they care?" She raises an eyebrow toward a group of women approaching the bar - clearly ready to party.

"On it, boss."

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

"Right... locked..."

Their fingers meet as he takes the key and manages to get the deadbolt unlocked.

"Been wantin' to do this for hours," he admits as he pulls him into the apartment.

[notjustaface]

"Come home?" He murmurs, wrapping both arms around Murdock's waist and holding him tight - still smelling vaguely of sweat and booze.

[notthatcrazy]

"Come home with you."

He leans against him, sneaking his hands beneath the hem of his shirt.

[notjustaface]

The shirt clings to his skin as Murdock's hands push up under it, drawing him in closer to kiss him hard and slow.

"Mmm... best part of going home..." He sighs happily, nipping Murdock's lower lip.

[notthatcrazy]

He tugs at the shirt, leaning in close.

"Come to bed?"

[notjustaface]

Raising his hands, he lets Murdock strip away the shirt - kissing him again.

"Mmm, you drive a hard bargain..." Among other things.

[notthatcrazy]

"Mmmhmm."

He kind of likes being the one in control, most of the time. Being trusted like that is sort of touching. And sort of hot.

"We should get cleaned up."

[notjustaface]

"Or get dirty..." he murmurs against Murdock's mouth, pushing at his button-down.

Either way, a shower would be nice.

[notthatcrazy]

"Shower first," he pushes him away slightly, his voice gentle but firm. "Then we'll talk."

[notjustaface]

He might pout, but Face knows Murdock means it with all love. Stripping off his jeans and sneakers, he's not shy about working his way to the small shower/bath combo.

"Gonna join me at least? Conserve water."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah, okay."

He follows him to the small bathroom, which is almost too tiny for two people to use comfortably. He can't help thinking about the first time they shared a shower together, and how far things have come since then.

"Did you mean what you said before? The whole maybe getting a dog thing?"

[notjustaface]

It seems like a lifetime ago.

Letting out a soft groan as he turns his back to the shower head and takes the brunt of the cold spry, Face offers a smile and shrug.

"It'd be fun, you know? Maybe something sturdy."

[notthatcrazy]

"Sturdy?"

He shivers at the cold as he slips in to join him.

"You're thinkin' about not going back, aren't you?"

[notjustaface]

Turning his back to Murdock, making a show of scrubbing a hand across his chest, Face shrugs halfheartedly.

"I won't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind."

[notthatcrazy]

He sighs.

"I want the runnin' to be over too, but we can't just up and leave."

He reaches over to the side of the shower for the soap, not-so-coincidentally pressing close to Face's back as he does.

[notjustaface]

He doesn't really mean to flinch, but he isn't expecting the brush of contact either and he lowers his head into the hard spray to avoid thinking about it until he can respond a little more clearly.

"Why not? We got a good thing going here, nobody knows about our past... there's no chance of getting caught. Why keep running when we can have a real life? I sure as hell never asked to be fucking hero."

[notthatcrazy]

When he puts it like that, it's a pretty compelling argument. Still, he can't help thinking it's mostly wishful thinking.

"We'd be lettin' the others down."

He wraps an arm around him, kissing his shoulder.

"And the past has a way of catchin' up to you."

[notjustaface]

"Hasn't caught up yet." He replies, just a little bitterly.

"Honestly... I'd rather be happy and with you than worry about letting them down."

[notthatcrazy]

"We've been lucky."

He quietly rubs a soapy hand across Face's back. There's not much he can say to that other statement.

[notjustaface]

Face grunts noncommittally, pushing back against the gentle touch.

"Who says we won't stay lucky?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Are you willing to risk it?"

He continues the gentle massage

"I don't think I could take bein' separated again."

[notjustaface]

Turning to face him with stern, steely eyes, Face shoots back; "Do you think for one second I'd let that happen?"

Forcing himself to remain calm, quelling a tremor in his hand, he adds; "We're just as at risk out there running jobs for God-knows-how-long."

[notthatcrazy]

"At least we'd have the others to watch our backs too."

He closes his eyes tight.

"I really don't wanna fight about this."

[notjustaface]

"We're not fighting..." his voice softens and he wraps his arms around Murdock's wet shoulders, holding him close. "I'm not fighting."

He's just tired of not having any sense of normalcy - even in the army they stayed in one place for more than a couple days.

"I'm tired."

[notthatcrazy]

"I know."

In his opinion, they've built up enough of a reputation to at least let the jobs come to them instead of chasing them down.

"Can we talk about this more later?"