Fins and Fangs

[notthatcrazy]

The team's had a few rough cases lately, and it's finally time to lie low and let the heat die down a bit. Face had managed to scam them a small apartment (he doesn't know how, and he's decided he's okay with that) and it's the first time in months they've stayed somewhere with a cable connection.

Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the Discovery Channel...

Comments

[notjustaface]

Now that is a little more Face's speed - and he's more than happy to listen to obscure fish facts if there's skin against skin involved.

"Yeah? Sounds interesting."

[notthatcrazy]

Ironically, his usual tendency to chatter on until someone makes him shut up is somewhat muted by the warm cuddly feeling.

But not entirely.

"D'you know the biggest shark in the world mostly eats plankton?"

[notjustaface]

"You're shitting me." His voice takes on an almost interested tone and he lets out a half laugh, teasing up the frayed hem of Murdock's shirt.

"It can't be that big..."

[notthatcrazy]

He grins, pressing a quick kiss to his shoulder.

"No shit, man. Forty feet long, with a mouth big enough to swallow you whole, and it eats little bitty things."

[notjustaface]

"Why though? I mean if you're big enough to eat anything that stands in your way, why stick to tiny stuff?"

It's a genuine question, though he's not really as curious as it might imply.

"It's got to be eating all the time."

[notthatcrazy]

"Well they're filter feeders, like whales. They'll eat fish and other little critters, but they don't go after the big stuff."

he shrugs again, happy to settle back into his arms after that little educational outburst.

"I dunno. They're pretty docile around people, so they're probably just not that aggressive."

[notjustaface]

"Mmm..." he licks his lips, rocking slightly against him.

"Man, if I was a shark..." he gestures at the TV where a guy is bleeding out after being bitten; "...I'd be one of those guys."

[notthatcrazy]

"Mmmhmm."

He kisses him again, nuzzling his neck.

"Y'know, we still don't know a lot about sharks..."

He looks him in the eyes.

"They're pretty secretive."

[notjustaface]

The gentle kiss warms him and for a moment he has to remind himself that they're technically on duty and he can't exactly let his body take over.

"Sounds awfully familiar."

[notthatcrazy]

It's never good to get caught with your pants down. Especially in the literal sense.

"Yeah... it kinda does."

He takes some comfort in the fact that he knows more of Face's secrets than anyone else ever has. It's sort of a sad, twisted kind of special, but it's significant nonetheless.

[notjustaface]

Not that he isn't capable of things with his pants still on...

"Guess it'd be pretty nice to learn more." He murmurs against Murdock's forehead; "You know, about sharks. And whatever."

[notthatcrazy]

The look he gives him is quite a bit more serious than a discussion about marine life would suggest.

"You ask, I'll tell."

[notjustaface]

And he's not about to ignore that look.

"I know, babe." He answers softly, kissing him again. "I know."

[notthatcrazy]

"I know you know."

He goes quiet for a while, content to soak in the comfort of his touch as the narrator on TV drones on about sharks in South Africa.

[notjustaface]

Quiet can only go so far, and Face's fingers seem to have a mind of their own as they trace over the slight curve of Murdock's belly - teasing at the tight, dark curls of hair.

"Love you, baby."

[notthatcrazy]

"Love you too, sweetheart."

He huffs a sigh of contentment against his shoulder as he follows his hand with his own.

"Secrets and all."

[notjustaface]

"Hey..." he lets his voice take on a slightly more serious tone; "...you know I'm not hiding anything from you, right?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I know, I know... but I also know there's parts of your life you don't like to remember."

He presses in for a kiss, warm and tender.

"Sometimes I think I push too hard."

[notjustaface]

"You don't," he assures with a firm tone.

"Now, tell me more about sharks."

[notthatcrazy]

"I try not to."

He recognizes an attempt at distraction when he sees one, but he's happy enough to accept it.

"Hmm... where to start..."

[notjustaface]

There are some things he knows are better left for when he's more emotionally available. Right now, they've both got to keep their heads on straight.

"Start with what you like best."

[notthatcrazy]

He takes a moment to consider the question.

"I dunno, man... I mean, I keep sayin' they're not just mindless killers, but they are... really good at bein' predators."

He chuckles quietly at his own contradiction.

"Sometimes I think it'd be so awesome to see one in the wild, but then I think I really wouldn't want to."

[notjustaface]

"I can see that," he nods slightly, seeing just a hint too much to identify with in a predator being considered an otherwise mindless machine.

"I'll take you out on the ocean sometime, we can get up close."

[notthatcrazy]

"Mmm, that'd be nice."

It's hard to think about the future sometimes. The uncertainty of life on the run tends to wear on him.

[notjustaface]

For Face the future is still some abstract thing - the infinite "if" always hanging over him, but slowly Murdock's teaching him to believe that there will be a "then" and not just day to day or job to job. There has to be.

"Mmmm, out on the water... just us in one of those big bass boats." He can't help but grin a little at the thought.