Post-Pardon: Home Is Where The Heart Is

[notthatcrazy]

It's been a long five years since their escape, and thanks to several high-risk high-reward jobs from higher-ups who wanted to maintain plausible deniability if things went wrong, the A-Team had finally earned their freedom.

It's been a bit of a rough transition, truth be told. None of them are quite sure where to go from here. B.A. had responded by heading back up north to visit his family, and Hannibal was still talking about starting some kind of private security firm. As for the two of them, it had taken a while but they'd finally managed to find a beachfront home that wasn't too hemmed in by development. The terms of their pardon included a fairly generous settlement which, combined with a few clever investments Face had made, meant they wouldn't have to worry about money for quite a while.

Now they just have to figure out what to do with themselves.

"Close your eyes." He sneaks up on his partner from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist. "I got a surprise for you."

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

"That's good. It'll do you good to get out workin'."

He takes a deep breath, stretching his legs out.

"Just think... no more aliases, no more fake IDs..."

[notjustaface]

Chuckling under his breath, Face leans against him with one eyebrow cocked; "I'm not sure I even have civilian ID in my real name."

It's certainly been a while.

[notthatcrazy]

And if that's not an invitation for a kiss, he doesn't know what is.

"It's gonna take some getting used to."

He sighs, nuzzling his neck.

"God... we have a real life."

He's wanted this for so long it feels strange to actually have it.

[notjustaface]

As always, a kiss warms him - drawing him to nuzzle right back.

"Scary, isn't it? I keep waiting for MPs to show up at our door."

He half-laughs again; "I had to file a change of address for the first time since I entered the military."

[notthatcrazy]

He chuckles.

"Guess we're gonna be lookin' over our shoulders for a while yet."

It'll sink in. Eventually.

"Seriously though... you okay?"

[notjustaface]

He nods against Murdock gently.

"Yeah, yeah..." he looks up, flashing a bright, blue-eyed smile. "I'm, uh, more worried about you to be honest."

And it's the truth, getting him set up with VA and a counselor and everything is all well and good - but adjusting to civilian life (after deciding that no, they'd rather not reenlist - thanks very much) is no easy task.

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah... I guess I can see why."

It's a big adjustment, but his counselor seems like a good one and he knows there's options now, should it ever get to the point where they need them. Hell, just being able to get his meds legally is a step up.

"But things could be a lot worse."

[notjustaface]

"I'd say we're pretty damn close to perfect."

Nothing's wrong... which is why the tingles in the back of his neck won't stop. He's ready for something to happen.

"You really okay with me working so soon? There's one of those touristy bars in town."

And a processing plant that needs an overnight guard. And few slightly more depressing options.

[notthatcrazy]

"Yeah.. yeah, I think so."

He nods.

"You've never been the type to take well to sittin' around. Besides, I got our girl here to keep me company."

[notjustaface]

"Our girl..." he echos with another gentle, almost uneasy laugh. He can't help it, there's been an awful lot of 'ours' in the last decade but it's always been the team... now it's just the two of them.

Not just for a month either.

"And working at a bar like back in Montreal?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Yep. Our girl."

They still keep in touch with the others, of course. You don't go through something like that with someone and just say 'okay, bye' when it's over. Hannibal's hinted he might even have some legit, for-real work for them down the line, though somehow Murdock thinks he'd be rolling his eyes a bit if he could see them right now.

"You seemed to enjoy it. Long as I get to stop in for a visit every once in a while."

[notjustaface]

Brushing a gentle kiss against Murdock's stubbled jaw, he lets out a soft murmur of approval.

"You know you're always welcome where I'm at." He's been a good guy, not that he hasn't had a few close calls and a whole lot of temptation - but in the end he's always come back home.

"No secrets."

[notthatcrazy]

He can't really ask for better. He's tried to make it clear to him over the years that whatever happens, they'll get through it as long as they stick together. He still hasn't forgotten how scared he was when he'd tried to run off.

"I can't believe Montreal was that long ago..."

[notjustaface]

It's that fear that keeps him in check, though. And part of him will always believe that Murdock deserves better - someone he knows for sure won't ever hurt him.

"The years went fast..." he murmurs, offering a dry smile that plays to his realization that they're getting older - he's getting older.

[notthatcrazy]

"Mmm, that they did."

He reaches for his hand again, looking at the rings he still wears.

"You still thinkin' about makin' these official?"

[notjustaface]

He takes a long moment to consider the thought, twining their fingers together with a gentle squeeze.

"No reason we can't." It's legal, and mostly recognized now - at least where they're at. And they've more or less made it clear they're stuck with each other for the long haul anyway.

[notthatcrazy]

"It'd be nice... just friends and family, not havin' to prove anything to anyone."

No secret identities, no international gun-runners to bust...

[notjustaface]

"Family..." he chuckles under his breath, letting the irony of that one settle in. If he had family, they probably wouldn't even come.

Still, Murdock's got a point.

"Yeah, it would be."

[notthatcrazy]

"Chosen family counts," he points out.

"We can think on it while we settle in first."

[notjustaface]

Working on arm our his back, Murdock squeezed him tight and brushed a kiss against his cheek.

"Not much to think about," he says with an easy breath; "just pick a date and get the ball rolling, you know?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Just don't wanna make too many big changes too fast."

Not that it would really change much about their day to day lives... it just feels like a big change.

[notjustaface]

Definitions are important - and making that jump from boyfriend to fiancee to husband is a pretty big, even if it doesn't change much between them or to those around them.

"Maybe give it a year or so?" He offers, "Give us a chance to settle in?"

[notthatcrazy]

They never even used the word "fiance" before except for the cruise, where Face could rationalize it as part of their cover.

"Sounds like a good deal."

[notjustaface]

It's a hard word to spit out, it means setting things in stone where they're a whole lot less likely to be changed than when they're just dating.

You know, like they have been... for years... in so much as their relationship could ever be called "dating".

"My fiancee..." he says with a tilted half-smile betraying how difficult it is to say it out loud.

[notthatcrazy]

It's been a long, gradual process of making things permanent.

"I like the sound of that."