Anniversary

[notthatcrazy]

It's early, and the sun is just starting to filter in through the blinds as he wakes. He's always been something of a morning person, when he sleeps at all, and though he's gotten better at resting during the night he still has his morning routines.

Leaving Face to sleep a while longer, he slips away to the kitchen for breakfast. He briefly takes note of the calendar on the wall, but it's not until he's poured himself a bowl of cereal and settled in for morning cartoons that the significance of the date sinks in.

Ten years. It's been exactly a decade since Mexico. Since his life was immeasurably changed for the better, despite the hardships and roadblocks along the way.

He'll have to mark the occasion with the others later, but right now there's only one place he wants to be. His breakfast finished, he returns to the bedroom, slipping back under the covers next to his still-sleeping partner. Not wanting to wake him, he contents himself with pressing against his back, letting his fingers trace the tattoo on his bicep before coming to rest on his chest. They've come so far, but sometimes he still wishes he could somehow telepathically communicate the depth of everything he feels.

I love you and I won't ever leave you.

He doesn't even realize he's whispered the words out loud until he feels Face stir in his arms.

Comments

[notjustaface]

With his best 'who, me?' innocent look, he really can't even claim that he doesn't think he's at least a little bit awesome. But, still...

"Nah... now you... you are the one who can fly anything from a kite to a jumbo jet you built out of spare parts. That's pretty amazing."

[notthatcrazy]

"I have my moments," he allows with a grin. "But that doesn't mean you're not."

And he doesn't quite know how to say 'You've been through things that a lot of people couldn't handle, and you're still here trying to make things right.' In lieu of the right words, he lets his hands trail down his back, pressing kisses against his shoulder.

[notjustaface]

The touch, at least, is something he can handle - warm skin against skkin telling him what he can't say.

"Mmmm." He murmurs soft agreement, kissing along the curve of his ear. "I love you, you know that right?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I know. I love you too."

He sighs happily at the kisses.

"It means a lot that you don't mind dealing with my issues."

He knows he's sensitive, and that his emotions can complicate things at really awkward times. It means the world to him to have someone who accepts him and loves him as he is.

[notjustaface]

"Hey..." Face's eyes darken slightly, a little more serious than before; "you're not the only one with issues here. Mine just dress up nicer."

Because apparently it's more socially acceptable to chase women than have an invisible dog.

[notthatcrazy]

"That's part of love, though. Understanding each other's flaws."

He smiles softly, continuing to rub his back.

"... I just remembered we never did try that body paint."

[notjustaface]

He's sure that transition makes sense somewhere in Murdock's head - and he's not about to dissect it. Face only grins wider and shakes his head, brushing a kiss to his temple.

"You saying you want to paint my flaws?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I'd rather paint your good parts."

He pauses to consider this.

"That sounded dirtier than I meant it to."

Either way, it's still true.

[notjustaface]

"Just between you and me?" He leans in and whispers against Murdock's ear, grinning madly; "Pretty sure they're one in the same."

It's their kind of dirty talk. Sort of. Kind of.

At least he's pretty sure it's dirty. And if it wasn't before, it is now.

[notthatcrazy]

He's pretty sure he was trying to make some sort of important point, but it doesn't seem to matter anymore as he laughs.

"What am I gonna do with you, huh?"

[notjustaface]

Face has been up less than an hour, any important point is lost on him beyond loving and being loved.

The seriousness dissipating, he pushes up to look him in the eye before answering; "Anything you want, man."

[notthatcrazy]

"Hmm. Anything is a lot of things."

... That also made sense in his head.

"I think I'll keep you."

[notjustaface]

"Among other things." He bends in and presses a kiss to the tip of his nose.

"But I'm glad you will."

[notthatcrazy]

"Among many, many other things."

He grins up at him, nothing but love in his eyes.

"I meant it about the body paint, though. We should try it."

[notjustaface]

Face is rather fond of those other things, honestly.

"Mmm..." he half-groans, kissing him again; "does that mean I can lay here while you do things to me?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Maaaaybe," he teases, drawing out the first syllable. "Was kinda hoping to have you do things to me first."

[notjustaface]

"Oh... well... you are the artist, I am simply a canvas..."

He's teasing, of course, and enjoying himself just a little too much.

"Anything you want, baby."

[notthatcrazy]

"It's been a while since I finger-painted," he admits with a chuckle.

"You tired? We can wait a bit..."

[notjustaface]

There's a joke in there somewhere involving fingering, but even Face won't go there before noon.

"Me? Tired? Never." He murmurs, pressing another soft kiss against Murdock's lips and then his chin. "Never too tired for you."

[notthatcrazy]

Far be it for either of them to sully the moment.

(Besides, he's gotten quite used to that kind of fingering.)

"I did kinda wake you up early though."

It could be worse. It could have been Hannibal waking them both up.

He rolls them both over until Face is settled back on the mattress, still holding onto him.

[notjustaface]

It's easy to let his hands rest at Murdock's hips - holding on to him with a warm smile.

"You let me sleep in, I mean... the sun's up and everything."

He's gotten so used to waking up before dawn even eight o'clock feels pretty damn nice.

[notthatcrazy]

He sighs as he leaves a trail of kisses down his shoulder, lingering on the scars that occasionally mark his skin.

"Dunno how much longer we've got 'til we have to get up."

[notjustaface]

Unfortunately, they never do. Hannibal's timing seems more erratic with each job that goes the slightest bit awry.

"Better have fun while we can, then?" He smiles wider still - lifting his hips just enough to bounce Murdock's heavy frame.

[notthatcrazy]

It's slightly worrying, but the movement takes his mind off it and gets an honest genuine giggle out of him.

"I see something's woken up."

[notjustaface]

The giggle is far from enough to deter Face's advances.

"You're making the assumption it goes to sleep and doesn't exist in a constant state of readiness."