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[notthatcrazy]

Face had stayed awake after outlining his plan, long after the others had drifted away to catch what rest they could. Murdock knew that the responsibility was weighing heavily on him, particularly coming so soon after the reveal of Morrison's betrayal. He found him still looking over the three plastic cups, mentally going over the details of the plan.

"Who has the most to lose from this? Me," he'd pointed out to him. "And I trust you."

"Yeah, I know.. but you're crazy."

"Not that crazy."

Eventually he coaxes a genuine smile out of him, and he pulls him away from the table. "C'mon, you're not gonna do us any favors stayin' up all night."

Face follows him without too much protest, stopping short when he reaches their makeshift sleeping quarters. "What is that?"

"What, that?" Murdock grins, picking up the small stuffed hippo. "Found it with the dolls. Must've gotten mixed in with the wrong shipment."

Face just shakes his head as Murdock pulls him down to sleep, still humming his faux-operatic tune. Eventually, the soft singing changes to a more melancholy melody.

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[notjustaface]

Today there is no black or white... only shades of gray.

He follows along almost reluctantly, watching the bounce of the fluffy hippo on Murdock's shoulder until it rested between them in the nest of blankets and packing material that was serving as a quiet place to get some rest. Sleep was questionable at best, but they were on the jazz... sleep could wait until payback was rendered.

I trust you.

The words weigh more heavily on him than any of his doubts of competency - when it comes down to it, Murdock has always trusted him... and how many times had he been unworthy of that trust?

"Tired?" He asks casually, rocking his shoulders into a comfortable groove.

[notthatcrazy]

"Not really," he admits. "But it's better than stayin' awake and watchin' you worry."

[notjustaface]

He half-smiles, caught in his own thoughts. It's a heavy cowl to wear, making the plan for what's probably the most insane gambit he's ever considered.

"Hey, someone's gotta keep me company and I don't think the hippo's a very good listener."

[notthatcrazy]

His sleep patterns have been kinda messed up since he detoxed from the meds they had him on at the hospital. They'll have to make arrangements for that sometime soon. Assuming they all survive.

"You'd be surprised," he jokes.

"You know I'm here for you thought, right?"

[notjustaface]

As terrified as Face had been through that - subtly, but worried no less - he almost feared the fix more. Knowing he'd have to be the one responsible.

Surprised? Probably, but he's told his secrets to worse things. Pillows and letters turned to ash can be pretty satisfying.

"I know," he replies quickly, staring up at the metal above them. "You're pretty good about that."

[notthatcrazy]

It wasn't any easier to go through than it was to watch.

"You wanna talk any more, I'm here."

[notjustaface]

To be sure, withdrawl's a bitch - when it comes with hallucinations and mood swings, even more so.

He shakes his head, turning onto his side to press close. "I don't want to think about it right now."

[notthatcrazy]

"'Kay."

He squirms, trying to get a little more comfortable before giving up. They've had worse accommodations in the past, he's sure, but none immediately come to mind.

"Think Hannibal managed to talk some sense into BA?"

[notjustaface]

When an Army cot in Baghdad is sounding good, you know it's not exactly 2-star digs. Still, it could always be worse.

Guiding Murdock's head against the inside of his shoulder, Face murmurs; "If he can't, nobody can."

[notthatcrazy]

"We're gonna need him on this one."

It's not that he thinks he's a violent thug - underneath the gruff, tough exterior BA's one of the kindest men he's ever met, until someone gives him a reason not to be. But it's just not like him to not stand up and fight for himself.

[notjustaface]

Prison changes people, finding out that everything you know is a lie and that your own country's betrayed you has much the same effect. He doesn't doubt that Hannibal will find a way, he always does.

"I can't guarantee that nobody will die," he replies somewhat grimly, looking down at the curve of Murdock's head; "except the General."

[notthatcrazy]

The realization that they were set up by one of their own shocked them all pretty badly. He knows Face is generally slow to trust people, which only makes it worse.

"It'll work."

[notjustaface]

He still stands by his resolve to pull the trigger - and almost feels cheated that he didn't get the satisfaction of being the one to do it.

"Murdock..." he strokes gently over the shaggy hair at the back of the other man's head, letting himself enjoy the simple rhythm of it. "You're too trusting."

[notthatcrazy]

He kind of is. But he knows he's right this time.

"It'll work because we're gonna make it work."

That could apply to a lot of things right now, really.

[notjustaface]

He likes to think of it as innocence - not quite naivety - but really, he doesn't know how they're going to make anything work.

Wing and a prayer, baby.

Snatching the soft plush with his free hand, he drags a foot over Murdock's nose and replies; "You have way too much faith in me."

[notthatcrazy]

It's kind of fitting how they've ended up here - Face, with his longtime habit of keeping everything at arm's length, and Murdock with his insistence that things will work out.

"You trust me to keep us in the air, I trust you to get us outta this."

[notjustaface]

He looks down the slope of his nose until his partner goes blurry, then traces the fleece foot down to his chest.

"Not just this."

It's the truth, he's got a history a couple miles long of mistakes he's made. Most of which have probably broken a heart.

[notthatcrazy]

"Ain't expectin' happily ever after right away, babe."

They'll get there eventually. It'll take a lot of work, but they will.

(...Granted, their idea of happily ever after may involve a lot more explosions and potentially lethal situations than most people's.)

[notjustaface]

It's a life...

Of course, he also doesn't really believe that they'll make it there.

"It's not exactly a fairy tale." Fairy tales probably wouldn't involve him teasing Murdock's chest with a stuffed animal.

[notthatcrazy]

He probably also wouldn't be enjoying it this much. Life. It's weird.

"Never said it needed to be."

He's going to keep believing in you, Face. Whether you like it or not.

[notjustaface]

"What, uh..." He chuckles slightly, drawing the toy over his skin again, enjoining the way it gave his lover goosebumps. "What should it be?"

[notthatcrazy]

"An action-packed emotional thriller with the occasional love scene."

He grins, squirming at the touch. "You're ticklin'."

[notjustaface]

"I think I can handle that... Maybe throw in a little softcore porno?"

He draws the tickle lower, tracing over the waistband of Murdock's pants. "With a special kind of tickle."

[notthatcrazy]

"You are incorrigible."

He leans in for a soft kiss.

"But seeing as we just met the hippo, he probably shouldn't see this."

[notjustaface]

Incorrigible... Irresistible...

He easily smiles against the gentle press of lips, letting his tired body get lost for a moment before tucking the toy behind Murdock's back and embracing him.

"Mmm, he's more innocent than I thought."