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]

"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?"

[notjustaface]

"Sure..." He scrubs both hands down Murdock's back - scritching gently. There's not much else to say, but he knows it'll come back up again.

Ultimately, he'll do what Murdock needs him to do.

[notthatcrazy]

He always does in the end.

"You know I want this too, right?"

[notjustaface]

Nodding slowly, not entirely sure if he even believes it, Face answers a quick; "Yeah. I know."

Before turning back into the warmed water with his eyes closed.

[notthatcrazy]

It's not gonna do much good to discuss it further right now. He stays quiet as they go through the rest of the shower routine.

[notjustaface]

It just feels like they're already running out of time - soon enough they'll be back on the run with no stability, no sense of self.

"You're quiet..." he sighs, wrapping a dried arm around Murdock's shoulders as he takes the initiative of toweling off his partner's hair. "You mad at me?"

[notthatcrazy]

He dodges away from the towel, shaking himself dry like a wet dog before finally giving in.

"Nah, of course not. Why would I be?"

He just doesn't trust himself not to push the issue too far if they keep talking about it.

[notjustaface]

"I dunno..." he lies, rubbing the towel a little more gently before he leans in and brushes a kiss on his warm shoulder.

"You know I love you, right? I wouldn't do anything you didn't want to do."

[notthatcrazy]

"I know, babe."

He leans back against him, the feeling of warm terrycloth against his skin strangely comforting.

[notjustaface]

"Hungry?" He asks, a little eager to change the subject to something less heavy. "I'm sure there's some Chinese in the fridge that's still good."

Leaning against him right now makes it okay, no matter what. He can cope.

[notthatcrazy]

"Hmm. I could eat."

He wraps an arm around his waist, starting to relax again.

"Maybe a movie?"

They never actually got around to scavenging a used TV, but they've got a laptop and a handful of old DVDs.

[notjustaface]

"Sure... set it up, I'll heat up something."

It's a comfortable time, and he's gotta admit it's nice to have time to be comfortable and just exist.

He tosses the damp towel in the hamper and kisses Murdock's ear before letting him go. "It'll be fun."

[notthatcrazy]

"Sure thing."

Once they're settled, he picks out a DVD from his secret Pixar stash and starts it up, waiting until he hears the tell-tale beep of the microwave to press play.

[notjustaface]

Half-dancing, letting his tired mojo work back up from where it was when he left the bar, Face returns to the bed with a pair of plates and a soft smile on his face.

"You have your choice of noodles or rice, both with chicken and spicy sauce." He can't remember what they actually ordered any more, mostly because Murdock's method of food selection tends to involve a random number generator.

[notthatcrazy]

The more random, the better.

"Noodles, please."

He immediately presses close against him as he hands him his plate and settles in beside him.

[notjustaface]

Plate with fork dispensed, Face is content to curl up close against him with his rice - brushing a slightly greasy kiss to his cheek after the first bite.

"What's on the player tonight?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Finding Nemo."

He gestures to the screen, where a group of animated fish are gathered.

"... I always forget this one starts off sad."

[notjustaface]

"Nothing quite like good old fashioned Disney parental death to kick off fun for the whole family," he smiles, but admittedly... it's a bit sad.

"This is why we don't live on a reef."

[notthatcrazy]

"Sure, that's the reason."

He nudges him affectionately, taking another bite of noodles.

[notjustaface]

"Well that and we're not fish..."

Which is secondary, clearly.

[notthatcrazy]

"That would make it harder."

He's thinking of half-forgotten past conversations as he chews a bite of chicken thoughtfully.

"It'd be nice to live by the ocean, though."