Playing House: And It All Ends Far Too Soon

[notjustaface]

His last day at work, they'll be heading out come morning, and Face is torn between the nagging voice in his head that wants to stay more than anything and the sense of duty that tells him he has to go. In the end, it's Murdock's insistence that they go keeps him moving.

He's had a few drinks when he trudges up the stairs to their small apartment and is singing an upbeat song in French when he lets himself in - trying to keep the mood as light as he can.

After hanging his jacket, he calls out proudly; "Reste avec moi pour toujours mon amour?"

Comments

[notjustaface]

Unfortunately he'd learned that all too well - he cares, a whole lot more than he's cared for anyone before - and it scares him.

"We will," he hopes it's not a lie, for both of their sake; "just a matter of time, right?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah."

Time and a government willing to pardon their various indiscretions. But he doesn't want to think about that right now.

"How's the food?"

[notjustaface]

While his answer may not have been convincing, it's enough to let Face take a few more easy bites before he asks.

"Amazing," he murmurs around a particularly large bite, setting down his fork to breathe; "you're getting really good at this, you know?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Good at being a housewife?"

House husband, really, but that word still seems to make Face skittish.

"Y'know, I kinda don't mind it."

[notjustaface]

The word 'housewife' makes him smile, admittedly drawing an amusing if not insensitive mental image.

"Good at taking care of me..." he laughs, finishing his last bite and pushing the plate aside. "And knowing exactly what I need."

[notthatcrazy]

"You take care of me too, babe."

The meal over, he crawls back into Face's lap.

"It's kinda part of the deal."

[notjustaface]

Now that was exactly the sort of thing he needed - close proximity, weight spread across his legs and shifting closer as he wrapped his arms around Murdock's chest and pulled him close - burying his face in Murdock's neck.

"Well, I definitely got the better end of that deal..." He usually does.

[notthatcrazy]

"Hey now."

He rests his forehead against his.

"Can you not talk down about yourself tonight? For me?"

[notjustaface]

"I'm not talking down..." he replies defensively, looking him straight in the eyes up close and personal.

"I'm talking up about you. Or don't you think you're the best thing in my life?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I ain't arguing that," he beams.

"But I got a pretty good end of this deal too."

He wraps his arms around him a bit more tightly.

"And don't you forget it."

[notjustaface]

"Oui, Capitaine," he replies with an impetuous smirk, lifting one knee to slide him as close as he could against Face's torso.

"Mine."

[notthatcrazy]

"Brat."

He's still smiling though, and takes the sting out of the minor snark with a soft kiss.

"But you're my brat."

[notjustaface]

"Correct," he murmurs, pushing the kiss even deeper.

"Oh! That reminds me... Marianne, the smoking hot blonde that was into you? She wanted me to make sure you know if you ever find yourself single and in this neck of the woods again, she'd like to get a better look at you."

He grins wide, watching him through playful eyes.

[notthatcrazy]

"Next time I see the alternate universe version of me that's not in a committed relationship with a gorgeous guy he's crazy about, I'll let him know."

[notjustaface]

"That's shockingly similar to what I told her you'd say." He teases, squeezing him tight around the middle.

"And then she bet me I couldn't make a boilermaker."

[notthatcrazy]

He gasps. "Oh no, she did not."

Getting alcohol involved with Face's competitive streak is a recipe for... something. In this case, probably someone ending up under a table.

[notjustaface]

"I swear," he shook his head into Murdock's neck with a soft laugh; "she not only said I made the best boilermaker she'd ever had... she bought me two."

He laughed softly, sitting back up - still clinging to him tight. "I'm gonna miss that job."

[notthatcrazy]

"That's my boy," he grins.

"Someday, baby." He kisses him gently, trying to reassure him that they'll find a life like this again.

[notjustaface]

Reassurance doesn't come easy in the face of reality - but he's happy with the distraction of Murdock's kisses to warm him.

"Someday," he echoes, nuzzling against him.

[notthatcrazy]

"That's a promise."

He holds up Face's hand where he's still wearing his rings for emphasis.

"What're you gonna do with those when we go back, anyway?"

It's easy enough to pose as a married couple when no one actually knows you...

[notjustaface]

Honestly, he hadn't thought about it - he'd started wearing them again as a way to remember what he'd done to break that trust... to remember blood on the elevator floor when Murdock threw their mates in his face with a punch for good measure.

He'd kept wearing them on a whim, never making the conscious decision about whether or not they were posing as a couple until he was asked.

"Put them somewhere safe, I guess." He replies softly, shrugging one shoulder.

[notthatcrazy]

"I like that you wear 'em."

He knows exactly why he started, and why it's such a significant choice.

"Means a lot to me."

[notjustaface]

Nodding slowly against him, Face considers the statement a long moment before asking; "I could keep wearing them?"

It wouldn't do any harm, not really.

[notthatcrazy]

He looks him in the eye for a good long moment, letting the thought warm him.

"Would you?"

[notjustaface]

"If you want me to," he offers, the corners of his lips twisting into a half-smile.

"Who knows, maybe we could even make them official."