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]

"Yeah... like us gettin' together in the first place."

He's not complaining, of course... but it's still kinda weird.

[notjustaface]

He cocks an eyebrow, letting his lips linger on the corner of Murdock's mouth.

"Like us staying together."

In retrospect, he doesn't doubt they would have slept together eventually. It's no small feat he hasn't slept with most of the people he's spent a significant amount of time with. But staying together? That's a big deal.

[notthatcrazy]

"That's not weird. That's me bein' stubborn and in love with you."

[notjustaface]

"It's special," he responds almost defensively. Nobody else had ever been stubbornly in love with him before.

"And I mean that."

[notthatcrazy]

"I know you do."

Finished with his meal, he wraps his arms around Face's shoulders.

"I think I like special more than weird."

[notjustaface]

"We are just all kinds of special, baby."

He laughs, catching himself drawn again to the movie and then back to Murdock's warm eyes.

"But it's the best kind."

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah."

He sighs, resting a hand on his partner's belly.

"It really is."

[notjustaface]

The sigh catches his attention, but not nearly as much as the gentle touch.

"We'll have a dog some day... If you want one and we've got the ability to take care of one."

[notthatcrazy]

Pets, family, a real life... it all seems so close, and yet much too far away.

His eyes wander to the bedside table, where a potted plant sits watched over by a pack of attentive stuffed animals.

As much as it sucks to want what you can't have, there's always things to appreciate.

[notjustaface]

The Bear Company Alpha (a special team in their right) watches over the healthy plant with unfailing diligence. Of course, the thought that plant needs teddy bear guardians is more than enough to amuse Face.

They'll get where they're meant to be. One way or another.

"Promise."

[notthatcrazy]

It's not like it's symbolic or anything, their two stuffed plush alter-egos watching over a needy little creature...

Okay, it's a little symbolic.

"I know."

He leans back against him, watching the antics of the tank gang as the movie nears its ending.

"Love you, babe."

[notjustaface]

Just a tiny bit.

"Mmmm..." He turns his head to nuzzle Murdock's curls, pressing a kiss in his hair.

"I love you too."

[notthatcrazy]

He rests his head on Face's shoulder, pretending not to tear up at the emotional climax of the film.

... Yes, he's a grown man sniffling at cartoon fish. What of it?

[notjustaface]

He may be a little wet in the eyes himself - he's gonna blame tiredness on the tear he wipes in Murdock's hair.

Deflecting, deflecting is good...

"You think the Dad hooked up with the blue fish?"

[notthatcrazy]

"You know, I always wondered that," he says entirely seriously.

"They'd be a cute family."

[notjustaface]

He laughs, shaking his head against his partner and holding him tight for a long moment.

"Yeah... yeah they would."

[notthatcrazy]

He pokes him in the arm again, grinning against his shoulder.

"Hey, you're the one who asked."

[notjustaface]

He can't help but smile at the push, nuzzling back against him.

"I think about that kind of thing."

[notthatcrazy]

"You think about fish hooking up?"

He's learning new things about him all the time.

[notjustaface]

"Why not? It's kinda romantic... I mean, he has to remind her every so often, but it's cute."

He'll let the pun slide. This time.

[notthatcrazy]

The pun was unintentional, but he's not gonna admit that.

"Even if they didn't hook up...they'd take good care of each other."

He smiles, pressing a kiss to the shoulder he's leaning against.

"Like a real family."

There's a running theme for the evening, apparently.

[notjustaface]

Like they do... and, though he hates to admit it, like the team does.

"We should check in with Hannibal before we go to bed." He says quietly, forcing himself to relax.

[notthatcrazy]

He instinctively rubs a hand up and down his back, a soothing gesture that's gotten them through more than one bad night.

"Yeah, I guess we'd better."

[notjustaface]

"Think I'll let you call." He replies with a soft sigh, melting just a little into the touch.

As easy as it would be to flip the switch to make it more than comfort, he's content to take it for what it is.

[notthatcrazy]

The slight flare of possessiveness he'd felt earlier is all but completely gone. All he wants to do now is make his man happy, in whatever way he can.

"Sure, hon."

He reaches for the drawer of the nightstand, digging out one of the phones they keep for this specific purpose.