PART THREE:

It was softer than Murdock would have expected, if he'd been expecting it at all. Face's lips were gentle against his own, chaste, his tongue tentatively tracing Murdock's lower lip without demanding anything. It was almost sweet, Murdock would reflect later, but now his reflexes kicked in and he pulled back sharply.

"Woah, no, Face," he said, scooting back slightly on the couch. "That's not what I..." He laughed nervously again, licking his lips and rubbing his hands on his jeans so Face wouldn't notice them trembling. "I appreciate it, but I don't need that. Um. Thanks though?"

Face was staring at him intently. Well, as intently as someone who could only focus properly with one eye at a time was capable. He was still too close. Murdock could smell the scotch on his breath and it made his stomach roll unpleasantly.

Scooting closer, Face grabbed Murdock's wrist lightly. "I know you don't need it. I want to do it." He leaned in again, awkwardly pressing his lips to Murdock's before the pilot pulled back again.

"No, Face," protested Murdock, trying to get a word in while Face channelled his inner octopus and attempted to mash his face against Murdock's. "Face, stop it." There was a hard note to his voice now that made Face pull back, though he didn't relinquish his grip on his friend's wrist. Murdock's throat felt tight.

"This is exactly what I meant," he said, trying to breathe through the rising anxiety and gremlins in his head that were starting to whisper nasty things. "I don't want your drunken pity or the load you couldn't spend in some girl from the bar because you had to make sure your crazy friend got home okay." It was uncharacteristically crass for the pilot, and Face frowned. "I'm not interested in that, Face. That's what I was saying."

"I'm not doing this because I'm drunk," said Face incredulously, as though he couldn't understand why Murdock would think that. "I am drunk, but I've wanted to do this and it's only because I'm drunk that I have the balls. That's the only part where... Seriously man, you think I make out with everyone just to make them feel better? Do you know how chapped my lips would get?"

The thought seemed to fill him with genuine horror and Murdock couldn't help but shake his head affectionately as Face continued. "I don't do pity and I don't do uggos. I know that's not what I'm supposed to call them. Attractively-challenged. Differently-facialled. Whatever. You're HOT." Murdock flushed and looked down self-consciously. "You are," Face insisted. "I meant what I said about your butt. It's nice. You're nice. I just... I can't believe you don't see it. Don't you look in the mirror every day and go, like, 'Damn, check me out,'?"

"We don't all share your morning routine, Face."

"Well, you should," said Face bluntly. "I can't believe you- You saying that it's a choice between people who are high with no standards or never getting laid again, that's bullshit. BULLSHIT." He nearly shouted it. "Look at me. I'm, okay yeah I'm drunk, but I have impeccably high standards." When Murdock still looked unconvinced, he continued, "I've thought about you while jerking off."

"Jesus!" Murdock had no idea how to respond to that. "That's. Okay. Okay, Face, you are really gonna regret this in the morning, so maybe you should stop talking now."

"Nope." Face could be infuriatingly stubborn when he wanted to be. "You're hot. I would do you so good. I would lay you down by the fire."

Murdock drained the rest of his scotch. "Face..."

"Cradle you tender. Make our bodies as one." He giggled again. "Come on man, do I have to sing Barry Manilow to you?"

"Face. Why are you saying all this? I told you, I don't need it. Is this funny to you or something?"

Face sighed dramatically, accidentally huffing saliva over his chin. Wiping it off with as much dignity as possible, he replied, "It's not funny. It's sad and stupid. I'm telling you because it's TRUE. God you're annoying."

Murdock's indignant reply was cut off by a gentle knock at the door.

"Hey," came an unusually hesitant voice from just outside. "It's BA. You in there, fool?"

PART FOUR:

Murdock stood and unlocked the door, continuing to the kitchen without pause. "It's open," he called, snagging more mini-bar drinks and looping back to the sofa. It was already the weirdest, most awkward conversation of his life. May as well get everything over with in one go.

BA shuffled in, pausing uncomfortably when he saw Face before sitting himself in the armchair to the left of the sofa.

"Hi, BA!" chirped Face as Murdock tossed the Corporal a tiny bottle of vodka. Then he frowned, remembering something. "Hey wait, I'm mad at you!" His head swivelled. "Murdock, are we mad at him?" Without waiting for a reply, he turned back to BA. "What did you say to him?"

BA shifted in his seat, not really wanting an audience, especially a babbly irritating one. He looked at Murdock. "Man, I'm sorry. I said something stupid and I didn't mean it the way it came out. Didn't mean to imply... Anyway. I'm sorry."

Murdock ducked his head, embarrassed. This was really a lot of fuss. "It's okay, Bosco. We're cool."

"No we're not," argued Face. "Because of you," he pointed accusingly at BA, "he doesn't think I want to have sex with him."

BA honestly had no reply to that. "Uh..."

"I know!" said Face, misinterpreting completely. "It's ridiculous! You're so fuckable, Murdock. Can I suck your cock?"

BA stood up abruptly. "I'm going to bed," he announced, opening his tiny vodka and downing it in one gulp. "See y'all in the morning."

"Wait, no, don't go!" Murdock sounded legitimately terrified of staying alone with Face, which BA couldn't really blame him for. The conman was now draping himself over Murdock, trying to nibble his ear while fumbling hands wandered dangerously close to the pilot's crotch. Murdock was half-heartedly squirming away, looking conflicted and almost panicked.

BA took pity. Marching over, he pulled Murdock to his feet and out of Face's clutches. Before his friend had a chance to react, BA pulled Murdock forward and kissed him roughly. Murdock froze in shock before tentatively relaxing into it. BA's tongue swiped at his, the bigger man saying with actions what he could never, on pain of death, say with words.

"There," he said roughly, releasing a dazed Murdock. "Face is right. Don't be an idiot, fool." Before Murdock could formulate a response, BA was out the door, nearly slamming it behind him.

Murdock collapsed onto the sofa and put his head in his hands. Face gawped at the door as if expecting BA to return, naked with a rose between his teeth. When a few moments passed and that didn't happen, he leaned back into the sofa.

"Wow," breathed Face. He turned to Murdock. "Do you believe me now?"

Murdock moaned and shook his head. "Go to bed, Face." He stood up and stumbled towards the small bedroom, either the drinks or the kiss making his legs unsteady. Without another word, he closed the door, leaving Face pouting on the sofa.

PART FIVE:

Something felt really, really good. Floating peacefully in that cloudy stage between awake and asleep, Murdock shifted and muttered something unintelligible as his body responded to some very pleasant sensations. There was moist heat around his cock, making his hips twitch of their own accord and flooding him with the familiar sensations of arousal. His nipples contracted and he moaned as his balls were cupped and rolled. His hand drifted down reflexively, meeting with-

"Ah!" Murdock yelped and flinched backwards, his eyes flying open to see Face kneeling by his groin and looking decidedly put out at being stopped.

"Good morning to you too," said the conman, reaching forward to grip Murdock's hips and hold him steady.

"Wha?" Murdock wasn't a morning person at the best of times, and he decided he was entitled to a little slack right now as far as articulation was concerned. "What are you-"

"Shh," commanded Face, and Murdock couldn't deny that the expression his friend wore could, by some people, be described as sexy.

"I'm not drunk anymore," Face informed Murdock. "So shut up and let me do this."

He'd been propositioned in worse ways. As Face leaned down and licked a slow stripe up Murdock's cock, swirling his tongue around the head in a way that made his toes curl, Murdock decided that he owed it to his friend to let him make his point. Just this once.

END