Rebuilding Bonds

[notthatcrazy]

It's been a few months since Face's rescue, and everyone's still tensely looking over their shoulders. They've split up for the moment, hoping to better evade potential pursuers, but no one's exactly thrilled about it.

Face's memory is slowly returning, bits of it coming back like pieces of a patchwork quilt. There's still a lot missing, though,and it still hurts that it's gone. Which is why they're standing in a pawnshop on a dingy side street looking for a deal.

It's not what either of them want, really. They should get to have something special, something theirs. But they just...can't, right now, so they make do with what they've got. Just like always.

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

"I do insist," he replies in a mock-serious tone as he wraps his arms around his partner's waist.

"Promise I'll make it worth your while, though."

[notjustaface]

And that wave of closeness is just what he needed - warmth washing over him in a way that sex could never give, just the tender squeeze of skin against skin cuddles.

"Babe, you're always worth my while."

[notthatcrazy]

"Glad to hear it." He sighs sleepily, pressing a warm kiss to the curve of Face's neck. It's been a long day, topped off with enjoyably strenuous activity.

"What's the plan for tomorrow?"

He's not even sure if there is a plan, but he's perfectly content enjoying the afterglow for the time being.

[notjustaface]

The kiss draws out a warm murmur of approval and Face tries to shift in even closer - his hand once more finding Murdocks and clasping it on top of his own belly.

"We're probably gonna have to find another place to bunk. I don't know... gotta pull some cash."

[notthatcrazy]

Damn reality always has to intrude. But not tonight.

"What about this?" He squeezes his hand, pressing a soft kiss to his newly-acquired adornment. He's not actually sure if the whole "shotgun wedding" thing was a joke at the shopkeeper's expense or not. He'd kinda like to go through with it if they can.

[notjustaface]

It was a fiendish thing, that reality.

Smiling at the fond squeeze, it takes a long moment for Face to put together that Murdock had actually asked a question, one he didn't really know how to answer.

"It's yours..." he says, raising an easy eyebrow.

[notthatcrazy]

"You really wanna do the whole tyin' the knot thing again?"

He meant it when he said he'll marry him as many times as he can. But if he just wants the ring, that's okay with him too.

[notjustaface]

Face shrugs as well as he can laying down, a somewhat serious tone cast over him when he answers; "I might not ever remember the first time. I'd kind of like to do right."

He wants to remember, he wants things to be the way they were - however that was - and the idea gives him a bit of hope to the right direction.

[notthatcrazy]

Again with the reality. He's trying to be positive about things for both their sakes, but... he really misses how they used to be.

"I'd like that too."

[notjustaface]

"So..." he asks quietly, his free hand tracing lazy circles in Murdock's belly fuzz. "Does my baby want a cheap Vegas shotgun wedding... or should I save up for the big formal affair?"

He'd be happy with either... and they both have their merits.

[notthatcrazy]

He sighs softly. "Cheap's okay for now... Kinda wanna save the big and formal for another time, y'know?"

The hand rubbing his belly is making it hard to think too much about anything, really.

[notjustaface]

He can't help but grin, twisting just enough to brush another kiss on Murdock's shoulder as his slow circle turns into an easy tickling spiral.

"And just how many weddings do you think we need?" He murmurs sleepily, content to simply feel the familiar warm skin against him.

[notthatcrazy]

"I would like to do it using our real names at some point."

He scoots to rest his head on Face's shoulder.

"And what do you want? You get a say in this too, y'know."

Trust him, he's watched enough Bridezilla reruns to know he's not one.

[notjustaface]

"Reasonable point..." And part of him wonders just when Murdock started being the reasonable one - but he won't question it out loud.

He sighs softly, one of tenderness and not frustration, "I want..." The words don't want to come right, he doesn't really know how to say it just the right way to make anyone that doesn't live in his head understand.

"I want a normal life."

[notthatcrazy]

He can be reasonable! ... Sometimes.

Okay, it is a little weird.

"Yeah."

And they've had this conversation before, even if Face doesn't remember it, and it was just as painful then.

"I know. I do too."

[notjustaface]

Face presses a small kiss on Murdock's head, letting out a mellow sigh with more frustration than before. He's not going to rehash old wounds - just the way things are digs at him a bit. There's no telling if it will ever end.

"Mmm, you should go clean up, babe."

[notthatcrazy]

The core of what they have together is solid, he's never doubted that and he never will. It's just that everything else seems so... broken, and strange right now. And he's not sure how to fix it, or if it even can be fixed.

He sighs. "Yeah..."

[notjustaface]

Time will tell, of course there's no telling if the next job will be the last... one way or the other. Especially after the last one turned out.

"Love you." He says softly, but with meaning. "I hope you know that too."

[notthatcrazy]

"Of course I know. I love you too."

He sits up before leaning down again to kiss his forehead.

"That's one thing you don't ever have to worry about."

[notjustaface]

He can't stop his lips curling into a fond smile - nor can he really help grabbing Murdock's shoulders and pulling him in for a warm kiss before he's allowed to slink away for more practical matters.

"You're too good to me sometimes."