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peachy-panic · 4 months

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Lonely

Hi everyone, I'm alive! Have some Torley Era Jaime content.

This kind goes along with a (much happier) future piece I'm hoping to finish writing and post soon, so stay tuned for some better vibes. For now:

WARNINGS: BBU/BBU-Adjacent, hunger, the sadness of stray cats (no animals were harmed in the making), brief suicidal ideations, gun mention, implied noncon

Restless. That is how Jaime thinks of the long weekdays in the Torley house, when the boys are at school and his Keeper is at work, and Jaime is left on his own until they return home to demand his attention.

It is not that he is without work; Mr. Torley holds high expectations for his home, and Jaime strives to meet them all, even if it means double, triple, cleaning over a room he’s already scrubbed bare or taking all of the glassware out of the cabinets just to polish and arrange them again. But there are days when he finds himself with idle hands, in the time between completing his chores and his keeper’s return. That’s when anxiety creeps in. He knows it’s a conditioned thought, but it’s in him too deep to ignore. He can’t rest, can’t be useless, can’t be found being lazy when Mr. Torley comes home.

It gets lonely, though, these pockets of restlessness. He is so fucking. lonely.

Sometimes he wishes that he had permission to go out on errands—collecting groceries, making returns, dropping off suits at the dry cleaner—just so that he can have a reason to talk to another person. He was trained to believe that many domestic contracts allow for that kind of thing, but Mr. Torley has made it clear that Jaime’s place is in the house. In the month that he has been here, he has never once been allowed to step foot outside, and he knows better than to ask.

He is usually good at avoiding temptation, but on one Friday morning, Jaime is caught off guard.

He is cleaning the sliding glass doors at the back of the house when he catches a flash of movement in the corner of his eye. Jaime flinches, startled, but when he looks into the backyard, he finds that the source of the motion was a fluffy, white cat, now tucked halfway behind a thick tree root, peeking up at Jaime with obvious apprehension. Through the thick glass, he can make out a muffled meow.

It must be the same cat Kade saw last night. Jaime hadn’t seen it himself, but he overheard the argument between him and his father from the next room.

“Dad, we should keep her!”

“It probably already has a home, Kade.”

“No it doesn’t,” he shot back. “Look, she doesn’t have a collar.”

Ubidden, Jaime’s hand rose to the metal band at his own throat. Funny, he thought, how a collar is the mark of a safe home to some.

“That doesn’t mean it’s our responsibility.”

“Daddy,” Jaime recognized the edge of frustrated tears slipping into Kade’s voice. “What if she’s hungry?”

“She’s fine.”

“Can I give her some water at least?”

“Kadence.” Even from the next room, Jaime couldn’t help but flinch at the impatient tone in his Keeper’s voice. “You will not give this cat anything, do you understand me? You feed it once and it will keep coming back. That’s the last thing I need to deal with.”

“But Dad—”

“I said, do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

Without really thinking about it, Jaime stuffs the washrag into his back pocket and crouches down, putting himself closer to eye level. The cat perks his head up in response, fixing him with a steadier stare.

“Hi,” Jaime mouths, lifting one hand to wiggle his fingers in a half-wave. The cat puts a hesitant paw forward, and Jaime smiles. “Hello, there.”

Another soft meow, and then it pulls its paw back.

“Don’t go,” he whispers, struck by the sudden, urgent fear that it will dart away and leave him alone. All at once, it is Jaime’s greatest wish to keep this small animal in his sights, if only for a little while. If only to feel just a little less alone for a few minutes. It's desperate and sad, but it's true.

Jaime’s eyes flick up to the latch on the sliding door, just above his head. It would only be for a moment. Just a moment, just long enough to see if the cat will come closer. He won’t be breaking any rules—not really.

When he looks back to the cat, he sees that it has moved several paces closer, and it’s all the push he needs. Slowly, Jaime reaches up and flips the lock open. The sound is enough to freeze the small animal in place, but it doesn’t retreat. Still, he slows his movements even further as he wraps his fingers around the handle and pulls it to the side. The burst of clean, fresh air on his face is the best thing he’s felt in months.

The noise of the door startles the cat into motion again, but when Jaime stretches out his arm, his palm open, it bounds toward him instead of away. It slows its approach as it gets within a couple feet of him, stretching out its tiny, pink nose to sniff at his hand.

“It’s okay,” he whispers, keeping himself still and steady. When the tip of its nose makes contact with Jaime’s finger, the cat only jumps back for half a second before it twists its neck, pushing its tiny head into Jaime’s outstretched palm.

A sound bubbles out of Jaime’s mouth, and it takes longer than it should to recognize it as his own laugh. Carefully, desperate not to scare it off, he scratches between the small animal’s ears and elicits a soft, vibrating pur.

“Hi,” he says again through another burst of delighted laughter. “Hi, sweet girl.”

He’s not sure if he’s right about that guess, but it feels better than referring to it like an object. He decides to trust Kade’s intuition on this one. She meows up at him, and he chooses to take that as approval enough.

“Are you lost?” Jaime asks, noticing without conscious thought that his voice has risen to a pitch he only ever uses for Kade’s bedtime stories. “Do you have a home around here?”

He knows the answer before he asks it, though. The edges of her white fur are caked with mud and grime, and he can feel her spine a little too prominently through her skin.

Jaime remembers well what that kind of hunger feels like. A dangerous thought begins to take shape.

He glances at the clock in the hallway. He still has a couple of hours before he expects Mr. Torley home. That should be plenty to sneak something out. Even if it’s just some water. Jaime can clean it up and put everything away before his Keeper comes home. He never needs to know.

He flinches as the thought lands. These are the kinds of things he’s not supposed to think about anymore.

But Mr. Torley does plenty he isn’t supposed to do, doesn’t he?

He hesitates, just for a moment, before he stands, knees cracking.

“Will you stay here for a minute?” he asks, scratching under her neck when she raises her head. “If I go to get you something to eat?”

She scuttles back a few steps at the sudden movement but doesn’t run away. He will have to hope for the best.

In the kitchen, he goes straight for the plastic bowl in the cabinet that is designated for Jaime at mealtimes. He used to think about the fork scratches in the bottom when he first arrived at the house, wondering how many boys before him had eaten from the same bowl. He would never use any of Mr. Torley’s good dishes, but this serves him perfectly well as he fills it halfway with water from the tap.

Food is another matter. Jaime has never had a cat before, but he knows the basics. Normally, he would expect to find a can of tuna or two stashed away in the back of someone’s pantry, but Mr. Torley isn’t the pantry staple kind of person. He likes his food fresh and expensive and expertly prepared, and—

Salmon. In the refrigerator, there is a small strip of leftover salmon filet from two nights ago. Mr. Torley never eats leftovers, and the boys hardly touched their fish to begin with. Jaime might have allowed himself to it before he would be expected to throw it away, but this is a far better use. No one will notice it's gone. No one will miss it.

Before he can talk himself out of it, Jaime carries out the bowl of water and the strip of salmon on a paper towel, relieved to find the cat waiting for him in the same spot.

“Here you go,” he says, setting the offering on the cold cement patio. Her hunger becomes more apparent as she dives headfirst for the small piece of fish, tearing away large bites at a time. Jaime feels a pang of guilt that he doesn’t have more to offer her.

She purrs as she eats, poking her head up every few seconds to glance at Jaime—either to check that he is still there, or to make sure he’s not coming close enough to snatch away her food. He sinks into a crouch a couple feet away, happy to watch her filling her belly for the night. In the back of his mind, somewhere well into dangerous territory, he starts to think of ways he might be able to sneak her food in the future. Maybe, if he’s smart about it and he plans his meals right, he will be able to save back small portions of whatever meat they have for dinner. Even if Jaime needs to slim down his own portion, it’s not a big deal to save a little bit for her the next day. Maybe if he only keeps her fed during the daytime, Mr. Torley won’t ever see her when he’s home.

He is pulled from his planning when the cat suddenly stops eating and goes rigid. There are still a few bites left on the napkin, but she has turned her attention toward the side gate, her little ears twitching at something unseen.

It takes Jaime another second, and then he hears it, too: the low, almost silent electric hum of Mr. Torley’s car in the driveway.

He’s home early. Hours early.

Fear ices him over, but Jaime has no time to freeze. He has less than a minute before Mr. Torley will make his way around to the front door.

It breaks his heart to have to pull the last bits of salmon away before she can eat them, but he hurriedly bunches the napkin into a fist, trying to pick up the tiny shreds that have fallen on the patio with shaky fingers.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers to the cat, who has started meowing in objection. “I’m so sorry. You need to go now. You should go.”

He curses under his breath as he spills a bit of the water bowl, but that’s easily explainable enough, he supposes, if he’s asked about it, he just—

He has one foot through the patio doorway when the sound of the gate latch stops him cold. Mr. Torley never comes through the back gate. Why is he coming through the back gate?

“Stop,” Mr. Torley says simply, low and cold. Not a shout, but a single, flat syllable that raises the hair on the back of his neck. Jaime nearly drops the bowl of water with the lurch of dread that curls in his stomach. In his periphery, he sees a ball of white fur retreat across the yard and disappear.

He knows that, no matter what happens now, the last thing he should do is keep his Keeper waiting, so Jaime pulls in a shuddering breath and turns to face him.

“Put it down,” Mr. Torley says, “And come here.”

Of all the things he could have said, that unexpected directive inspires a spike of fear. Regardless, Jaime places the water bowl and the wadded napkin on the ground at his feet and makes his gallows march across the yard.

He stops a couple of feet away, keeping his eyes trained on Mr. Torley’s expensive shoes. Helpless words race through his mind, scrambling to arrange themselves into a coherent explanation, an apology, anything that might soften the blow of his inevitable punishment.

But his Keeper doesn’t ask for an explanation or an apology. He simply raises a hand to the gate latch—making Jaime flinch—and pulls it open once more.

“Get in the car,” he says.

Jaime’s eyes rise to meet his, confusion and alarm ringing through his skull. “Sir?”

Mr. Torley doesn’t move toward him, doesn’t raise his voice. He simply repeats, a beat slower this time, “Get. In. The car.”

On trembling, boneless legs, Jaime walks through the gate. He hasn’t been this far outside in nearly a month, but the terror and the strangeness of the moment takes away any joy he might have derived from the fresh air and sunlight.

Mr. Torley’s car sits in the driveway, sleek black and still humming quietly. Jaime has never ridden inside, and he hesitates a moment before reaching for the back door handle. It’s locked, much like his throat when he tries to vocalize it. Instead, he stands silent and unwillingly disobedient with his fingers clutching the handle, waiting. Mr. Torley takes his time latching the gate and walking to the driver’s side. He gets in, closes the door, and fastens his seatbelt, all before Jaime hears the quiet click of his lock being undone. He scrambles into the backseat and barely closes the door behind him when the car lurches into motion.

Jaime flattens himself against the leather seat back as they glide faster than what he’s sure is legal down the road. He doesn’t fasten his own seatbelt, too afraid in this heightened unknown to make a single move without explicit permission. His fists curl into the soft material of his pants, and he only realizes then that his feet are still bare.

Where are they going? Where is he taking him? Why isn’t Mr. Torley saying anything? The quiet feels like a threat of its own, but Jaime doesn’t dare be the one to break it. Should he? Would an apology gain him any ground? What is expected of him here: his silence or his contrition?

The lump in his throat makes the decision for him, blocking any hope of words along with the ability to draw a full breath.

That is, until, the car jets past a familiar sign on the highway, and cold acid releases into his bloodstream.

“Sir?” The words come out less than a whisper, and are met with more stony silence. Jaime grasps for another pull of oxygen and sits up further in his seat. “Mr. Torley?”

Nothing.

Jaime’s heartbeat pounds in his fingertips, his temples, his throat, his chest. It could be a coincidence. Wherever they are heading could just be in the same direction. The sign doesn’t have to mean anything.

And then they pass another sign, in bold, harsh, undeniable lettering: EXIT - WRU PITTSBURG. The car glides smoothly onto the ramp, and the dam holding back Jaime’s panic bursts wide open.

“Please,” Jaime whispers in horror as the first corner of the concrete hell comes into view. “Mr. Torley, please. Please.”

Nothing.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Jaime babbles, tears blurring the massive wall of false windows that seems to stretch a mile long. He is suddenly struck by the irrational fear that Handler Smith can see him already, that he already knows Jaime is here, is being returned, is being surrendered for early termination.

“Let me catch you back here early from a contract, even once,” Handler Smith had whispered to him a week before he was assigned. “Let me find out you’ve embarrassed me by forgetting your manners, and I promise you, you’ll wish you would have slit your wrists before ever showing up in my training room again.”

Wildly, he pictures the razor sitting out on Mr. Torley’s bathroom counter and thinks, He was right. I should have.

“Please don’t do this,” Jaime cries, tears falling openly now. In a desperate corner of his mind, he wonders if it will help. Jaime so rarely grants him the opportunity to see his tears, and he knows just how much he enjoys them. In any case, he can’t stop them now. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry, please, I won’t do it again.”

The car slams to an abrupt stop, hard enough for Jaime to jerk forward, jamming his wrist as he catches himself from slamming his face into the seat in front of him. They are stopped short of the entry booth for incoming cars, veered to the side of the road. Mr. Torley spins around to face him, making Jaime shrink back.

“What are you sorry for?” he asks, eyes hard and resolute.

“F-for—”

“For getting caught?”

Jaime presses his lips together to stop them from quivering. Mr. Torley reaches into his pocket—and Jaime has the wild, hysterical vision of him pulling out a gun and dumping his body on WRU grounds. But he only pulls out his phone, flipping the screen around to show Jaime a camera feed of the back door at the house.

“I have an alert set,” Mr. Torley says, “To monitor all exits of the house. Imagine my surprise when I was on my way home for an early weekend, and received a notification of my backdoor opening, unauthorized.”

“I wasn’t trying to get out,” Jaime rushes to assure him, shaking his head. “I wasn’t… I wasn’t going to run.”

“No?”

“No. I promise.”

“What, then?”

How much will his honesty buy him now? Is it worth anything when Mr. Torley has clearly already seen, already knows? It’s better, at least, than a lie, and it’s all he has at his disposal.

“The cat,” he whispers pathetically. “She seemed… hungry. I fed her the leftovers that would have been thrown out. I gave her water. I’m sorry.”

“And you did so thinking you wouldn’t be caught?”

The affirmation feels like slipping a noose over his head. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“I’ll have you say it.”

“Yes, sir. I did.”

“And you did so after hearing me explicitly forbid it to my own children?”

He swallows. “Yes, sir.”

Mr. Torley inclines his head toward the building ahead of them. “What do you think the people behind those doors would have to say about such abject deceit and disobedience from someone they sent out on a paid contract?”

Jaime pinches his eyes shut, shaking his head.

“Answer me.”

“I…” Jaime begins, his voice pinching. “I would be disciplined.”

“What kind of discipline do you think this warrants?”

Behind his eyelids, he sees the lash of a thick leather cord, a shock clip locked to his throat, a tub of ice cold water.

“I don’t know,” Jaime whispers.

“You don’t know,” he echoes.

Jaime shakes his head, and he can feel Mr. Torley’s stare burning through him.

Then, as abruptly as they had arrived, Mr. Torley faces forward in his seat and turns the gear shift. Jaime opens his eyes as the car rolls into motion once more, making a U-turn away from the facility.

“Well,” Mr. Torley says once they’re back on the highway. “You’ve got thirty minutes to think of a better answer.”

Jaime spends the rest of the night, and the rest of the long weekend that follows, atoning.

On Monday morning, he sees the cat again. When she catches a glimpse of Jaime cleaning in the next room over, hunched on his hands and knees, she raises one tiny paw and scratches against the glass. He forces himself to look away. And when her hungry meows come muffled through the glass panel, he scrubs harder, bending his head closer to the floor so that the scritch scritch scritch of bristles on the hardwood almost manages to drown out the noise.

After that, she gives up on coming back at all.

***

@whumpervescence @shiningstarofwinter @distinctlywhumpthing @whumptywhumpdump @nicolepascaline @anotherbluntpencil @hold-him-down @crystalquartzwhump @maracujatangerine @batfacedliar-yetagain @thecyrulik @pumpkin-spice-whump @finder-of-rings@melancholy-in-the-morning @insaneinthepaingame @skyhawkwolf @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump @mylifeisonthebookshelf @dont-touch-my-soup @whump-world @inpainandsuffering @cicatrix-energy @quietly-by-myself @whumpsday @extemporary-whump @the-whumpers-grimm @thebirdsofgay @firewheeesky @whumperfully @hold-back-on-the-comfort @termsnconditions-apply @cyborg0109 @whumplr-reader @pinkraindropsfell @whatwhumpcomments @honeycollectswhump @pirefyrelight @handsinmotion

#do no harm: jaime & sebastian #bbu #like bbu adjacent?#whump writing #whump #whumplr

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starlightshore · 5 days

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Gotta say, I love how you made so many posts criticizing people who see Chara as an abuser, yet in your own AU you depict them as a cruel, vindictive bully who tries to turn Asriel's family against her, drives her to suicide, then guilt-trips her into getting back together with them. Yet Asriel is somehow the real abuser because she's mad at them for ruining her life. I am by no means a Chara hater, but that seems a little inconsistent.

// CW: discussions of suicide, long post

wow, what an incredibly uncharitable reading of my work! thank you so much!

okay, jokey-positive aside. i shouldn't respond to bad-faith criticism like this because it's not worth my time as it's unlikely you'll actually hear me out in response. I've been online long enough to know you don't feed the trolls.

but, I'm an optimist at heart and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're actually upset with me and do want to have a civil conversation and are not just here to spew hate and drag me down.

Ask Fallen Royalty, the tumblr version wasn't handled the best as it was my first attempt at really trying to write this subject matter and I felt I didn't tackle it as well as I could have. that's something I plan on fixing with the rewrite.

that said, I have never called either of the siblings abusers.

they're flawed, mentally unwell and traumatized young adults/teens who are in no way equipped to handle the situation they were put in.

they both did awful things. Asriel packaged their trauma in a sanitized way for profit and sympathy points believing it'd benefit Monsterkind. they did so without asking Chara for permission. Then later, at Christmas, Asriel abandoned their family to go solo ruling. That's shitty! That's objectively really shitty but it's a very understandable reaction.

Asriel is taught that money is what moves the world and they believe they're soulless and a faker. That if anyone were to know their secret they'd hate them. so prevent that hurt, they cut everyone else out.

That's completely why Chara goes from "oh man I miss Asriel I wish I was good enough to have them beside me again ):" to 180 "Actually screw them for leaving me i hate them for this. i don't deserve to wallow in pain waiting for someone who can't even bother to text me back" them cutting of asriel is an understandable reaction for anyone, let alone a teenager! could they have been more gentle? yeah. could they have tried to fix things? yeah! but they're not a villain for not having the emotional maturity or foresight to handle a complex situation like that. they're like, literally 15/16 at this point of the story

chara also wasn't trying to drive people away from asriel? i really don't know what you're referring to with this aside from Chara deciding to tell the (at the time they believed) truth that Asriel is Flowey. At that point, Chara literally thought Asriel was replaced by Flowey. That they were two different people. That's not to isolate them- its to be honest with the family with this huge news. Toriel is shown not to care that her children are flowers, it would have never mattered to her as we see immediately that Chara is a flower and Toriel doesn't care.

chara also didn't drive Asriel to suicide. that's a blatant misread of the text. It's not that Asriel decided to die right after Chara decided to cut them off. and it's NOT like chara handed them a loaded gun or told them to do anything. all they did was say "don't lie to our family and don't talk to me, i don't want to be friends with you."

Asriel didn't decide to die until they felt their weak support system was breaking down. Yun wanted to be with Mew Mew, the Band broke up (Shyren, Napstablook and most recently Mew Mew quit), they made a big stupid movie that they hate (the epitome of their fake narrative on the silver screen), and because they ditched the premiere to check on chara (who was missing) their agents are pissed off.

Mew Mew then talks about how troubled Flowey/Asriel is and how being a secret flower hurt their social life. (The relationship with Flora being a strong example) like, Flowey always sabotages or loses those they care about because everyone else has their own life and they don't open themselves to create connections that last because they're running away. it's the culmination of everything going wrong that drives them to that point.

plus, it's hammered home later in Flowey's introspection that they feel horribly guilty for their actions as Flowey. parading as their perfect King when they secretly killed a majority of mosnterkind and did who knows what else is like. majorly fucked up.

i'm unsure if you forgot or chose to ignore the larger narrative or what's happened, but these things are in the story. they're both messed up individuals who have a hard time communicating their feelings -Chara literally brings up having emotional dysregulation disorder and CPTSD in the epilogue. Asriel's imposter syndrome and-gestures to Flowey) is also a clear indication that they've got some fundamental mental health issues that prevent them from understanding themselves and others.

it's a story about broken people who lash out against each other but ultimately come together in love.

they care so so deeply for each other! they're family. messing up (especially as children, teenagers etc) doesn't mean you shouldn't be written off as disposable. you're ALL capable of fucking up severely but you have the chance to grow and better yourself. you owe it to those who are willing to give that chance to do better. that's what the story has always been about.

I will admit that I plan on working on the pacing and giving chara more sweet moments so it doesn't come across as harsh -I don't want either sibling to be seen as a "villain" or """""abusive"""" as you call them. Except, yeah, Asriel is meant to be seen as an antagonist for a brief while, but that's set up Chara to come to that realization just the same as the audience should.

i hope this helped you understand what i was going for. if you wanna talk further I don't mind, but please talk to me as a real person. we're on the same page that abuse is bad. that people shouldn't treat each other so horribly. i don't excuse either of the character's interactions but i want to show empathy and understanding and that they can grow past that. i sincerely hope we can come to a shared perspective. if you wanna, i'd love to talk about i can make this message more clear, i'd love some proper criticism! i hope you have a lovely day and that you please be more considerate to how you to talk to others as I could have very easily read this anon hate/trolling.

#personal stuff #sams replies #discussion of death #discussion of suicide #ask to tag #long post

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dominimoonbeam · 2 months

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To The Edge - 6

This work is mine and I do not give consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted without my permission. I am sharing chapters as I work on this story but it is copyrighted material that I plan to rework and publish when completed.

story tags: scifi romance, hijinks in space, rogues learning to trust, violence, blood, guns, death, explicit language, so much kidnapping,

Works organized and easily found over on the patreon. <3

TO THE EDGE - CHAPTER 6.

Rory woke up slowly, disoriented and achy with a prevailing sense of being in danger flagging in the back of his foggy mind. Still…not the worst way he’d ever woken up.

“What…” he coughed, swallowed, and blinked at the room around him. His bridge. His ship. And his bounty standing there with their back to the stars, watching him. “Oh shit.”

He tried to get up from his seat, legs spasming and boots kicking at the floor, but he stayed seated. “Did you…Did you duct tape me?” He looked down at himself, squirming against the thick straps of silver. “Stardust, this is like an entire roll of tape. You couldn’t just cuff me or—”

“You could get out of them, but you probably don’t have a trick for getting out of duct tape,” they said simply.

“You’re really making me regret showing you how to get out of those cuffs. Really, I regret ever taking them off of you. I should have sedated you and strapped you to a damn cot until we—”

“Too late for that,” they interrupted. “But that’s not a bad idea… Any chance you’ll—”

“What? No. I’m not telling you where the sedatives are.” He wriggled in his seat again, getting nowhere. At least his side didn’t hurt anymore. He was sure he’d be waking up to that sharp burning pain from the stun gun. Really, he should be… “Did… Stardust, did you put the burn gel on my taser burn?”

They took a step closer, a flash of worry on their previously amused expression. “Does it still hurt?”

Rory sighed, shaking his head. “No offense, but you clearly have no idea what you’re doing. What’s your plan? Where are we going?”

Stardust perked up and flashed him a smile. He hated how impossible it was not to reflect that joy. “I’m getting away,” they announced.

He laughed. This was definitely the strangest kidnap rescue he’d ever dealt with. “Away where?”

Stardust shrugged.

“Is this a rich kid running away from home situation?” he asked, still trying to twist a hand free of the tape. They’d really done a good job taping him into place. “If you wanted attention, you already got it.” The bounty their family had put out for them was substantial. Every hunter, mercenary, and pirate would be looking for this Primer. “Don’t scowl at me like that, I’m the one taped to the fucking seat here. I saved you from pirates—”

Stardust snorted. “Like you did it out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Okay, yes, I did it for a paycheck, but I still did it!”

They crossed their arms and raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“How about you let me take you to the drop off, collect my bounty, and then you can steal a ship from one of your cousins. Hell, you can blow up your cousins for all I care, just leave me out of it.”

They turned and looked down at the control panel, checking something. He seriously hoped they didn’t break anything… “I should have taped your mouth,” Stardust mumbled.

“Hm… This is your first time kidnapping someone, isn’t it?” he asked and saw their smile from the side of their mouth.

“Knowing as much about my family as you do, that could be a great story, right? You can tell everyone else out here the story of how a Solinoh kidnapped you.” They turned toward him, sharing that smile. “Are you honored, Cosmic?”

Rory laughed darkly, shaking his head. “No, I am not honored to be your first.”

Stardust shrugged, smile shrinking but not completely gone. “I’m saving your life. You should at least be grateful.”

“Saving my life?” the question burst from him. “I’m sorry, but that’s not coming across. Did the pirates scramble your brain? Is this a Stockholm thing?”

“Fuck you.”

“Oh, there’s that classy mouth again…”

They rolled their eyes and walked past him, out of sight.

“Wait…Where are you going?” He struggled against the tape even though it was useless. “Don’t go back there. Stay out of my stuff!” He kicked and thrashed. “Fucking…duct tape!”

Rory forced himself to stop, closed his eyes, and dragged a deep breath. “Ship.”

The quiet hum of space and engines answered him.

“Ship, initiate audio commands. Code seven five nine delta three.”

Quiet.

Rory groaned through clenched teeth.

Stardust walked back onto the bridge, wearing a pair of his boots that were definitely too big.

“You disabled my codes?”

The Solinoh grinned, shoving hands into the pockets of those sweatpants he’d loaned them. He should have left them in their nasty blood-crusted clothes and locked them in the storage room until they reached the drop off. “You were out for a while. I had plenty of time to poke around, Rory Antilla. You should upgrade your security or have backups for this possibility.”

He was going to strangle them when he got loose. “Yeah… No, you’re right,” he said, sarcasm dripping off his words. “I really should have had audio enabled before you stole my ship from me. Live and learn, you know, assuming you don’t crash the ship and kill us both.”

They curled their lip at him, like he was the one being childish. “I told you. I’m saving you. You should be thanking me.”

Rory snapped a harsh laugh. “Saving me? This is you saving me? Fuck, Stardust, I’d hate to be on your bad side.”

A streak of bright light rolled across the window, spilling into the cockpit.

The ship’s automated voice chimed, ‘Docking protocols initiated.’

Rory strained his neck to try to get the right angle to see out the window. “What? Where are we docking? Stardust, there’s nothing out here but a couple of sketchy stations and criminal outposts. And just to be really damn clear, I don’t mean your family’s style of criminal element. This isn’t the luxury casinos and planetary resorts side of the galaxy.”

Stardust sighed, annoyed. “I think I’ll manage. I’ve heard about Styx. It’s an independent trading outpost.”

Rory swung his head the other way to stare at them. “Wait. Wait, wait. You can’t go on that station alone.”

“Yeah?” they asked, only half-paying attention now that their attention was focused on the console. “Why not?”

“Well, for one, you look like an escaped prisoner. Someone will probably scoop you up, thinking no one will miss you, and sell your ass to a skin ship.”

Stardust shot him an appalled look that he’d never seen on anyone born outside the Prime. “You’re gross.”

“I’m not being gross, Stardust, I’m being real!” panic was leaking into his voice now, fists curled and arms twisting at the duct tape bindings again. They were going to get themself killed.

“I’ll be okay,” Stardust pressed again, picking up one of his pistols off the console and waving it at him on their way past, toward the docking door, out of sight.

“Oh, you think my gun will be enough to keep you safe? You spoiled fucking shit! You’re going to get yourself killed and you know what, that’s fine! But you can’t leave me stuck to this damn chair. I’ll either starve to death here or, worse, someone much more competent than you will steal my ship and then it’ll be my sexy ass on a skin ship!”

They scoffed loudly, so he’d hear them over the whirring of the station umbilical connecting them to the dock. “You all think you know what you’re getting yourselves into. You and those fucking pirates… You see me and see a payday.”

“I don’t know you any better than the pirates? Star—”

The door opened and because they were barefoot he couldn’t hear them walking of the ship, but when the door whooshed shut again he knew they’d gone. “Fuck!”

Rory dragged a few breaths, fists still balled but arms going nowhere. “Ship,” he tried, voice even. “Ship, I know you can hear me.” Hear him, sure. But he also doubted it registered anything he said. Still, he had to try. “Ship, override command, return control, code… Oh shit. What was that code…”

#To The Edge #Defying Gravity #ride or die in space #audio script to chapters #adventures of stardust and cosmic #own work #clover down #dominimoonbeam

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allie-campbell-bradshaw · 7 months

Text

Chapter 6: Bet

A/N: I’m BACK! Welcome to the sixth chapter of Top Gun: Baby, a love story following Bradley Bradshaw and Allie Campbell. This story is sequential, so if you have not already read the first few chapters, please go back and do so! All links to chapters and their mood boards can be found on my masterlist. I mention this in my notes for every chapter, but just in case you missed it– I do not give permission for my work to be re-posted without credibility. If you do want to post this story to your page, please be sure that you tag my account or at least mention its original source in your post. Again, thank you for being here and I hope you enjoy :)

Warnings: mentions of sex, mentions of nudity

BRADLEY’S POV

Thank God for Sunday! Not long after she left, Emmett texted me that he was going to need the room for a few hours, which didn’t actually end up mattering because I stayed on the Bay until sunrise with some other midshipmen.

When I got back to our dorm room, Emmett was passed out naked on his bed, bare ass completely exposed as he laid on his stomach. There were 3 empty condom wrappers on his desk, and the whole room gifted the aroma of sex.

He laid there snoring as I sunk down onto my bed, finally feeling the exhaustion of pulling an all-nighter overwhelm my being. Never again! I’m not young enough for this shit anymore. Luckily for me, I was able to quickly shut my mind off, falling into a deep sleep. The best part about being this exhausted…No nightmares!

I spent most of the day sleeping. Although, Emmett was convinced I was hung over. He tried to give me a rundown of everything that happened on Saturday, but I interrupted him, claiming that I didn’t need to hear it.

Before I knew it, we were waking up to the alarm that we set early on Monday. The training we underwent in the summer allowed us to quickly spring out of bed and change into our workout wear. Another benefit of having Plebe Summer over with was that we got to wear our own workout clothes whenever we were on the track doing our own personal workouts in the gym.

Emmett and I were on the track as the sun was rising, pushing ourselves more and more each day. We decided that Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays would be track days and Tuesdays and Thursdays were muscle days.

The objective of the first year in the academy is to get big, and because of that, first year students did not have a limit in the cafeteria. They encouraged us to consume way more calories than normal, promising that by the end of your 4th year, you would be ripped. Well, that was if you were as conditioned as Emmett and I were, which almost everyone was.

Natasha promised to join us in our workouts once she gets the “all clear” from the doctors on campus. During the last week of plebe, she fucked up her knee on a hurdle, letting her exhaustion get the better of her focus as she attempted to leap over the wooden bar. For that, she was no longer the top runner for ability at the end of Plebe (a friendly competition where we see who has the best record–which she was smoking me at), having to settle for second place…She was pissed about it all!

Emmett and I were changed into our navy working uniforms and in the cafeteria by 7:30. It was flooded with people and the line to get food was nearly 20 minutes. I was modest, still allowing my appetite to catch up with my exhaustion that I haven’t fully recovered from. Emmett on the other hand was stuffing his face, claiming that he was still starving after giving a “stunning brunette” all of his energy on Saturday night.

Natasha and Javy saved us seats. They were getting a lot of shit from two upperclassmen who were standing by our two chairs, wanting them, but my two friends were spread out, their legs and feet resting on the two chairs. They sat up when they saw us and the two others rolled their eyes and walked away. I think we were all surprised to see so many people.

Our conversation started with showing each other our schedules and making a pact to sit together when we could:

Mathematics: Calculus I

M,W,F: 9:00am-10:10am

Chemistry: Modern Chemistry

T,R: 8:00am-10:30am

English: Practical Writing

T,R: 7:00pm-9:00pm

Government: U.S. Government and Constitutional Development

M: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Cyber Security: Introduction to Cyber Security

W: 6:30pm-9:30pm

Flight Training I

M,T,W,R: 10:45am-1:00pm

Natasha and I had Calculus together, the other guys opting into taking the easier math course. Same went for chemistry. All four of us were together for English and Government. I was alone for cyber security, the others deciding to take that in the spring. Of course, Natasha and Javy would join me for flight training, which doesn’t start until the second week of school. Our first week is lecture based, where we discuss the anatomy of the cessna that we would be flying as well as going over safety procedures. This would most definitely be my favorite class, and the one I was looking most forward to.

I was very anxious for the pre-assessment that we would take on Thursday. It was going to be on the cessna in the simulation room. All of us had to take it in order for the Academy to determine how they would group us in flying lessons. I’m not going to lie, I’m very fucking anxious for this exam! Since I had quite an amount of background knowledge over the cessna that he let me fly when we were younger, I felt as though the pressure to be a top candidate was on!

“Now what’s the number one rule?” Maverick said as he made his way to the left side of the airplane, Bradley walking over to the right.

“Don’t tell mom.” Bradley stated, obviously hearing this over and over again.

“Good!” Maverick exclaimed as he climbed into his white cessna.

Bradley, who was entering the 7th grade, had been begging Pete for years to let him fly his airplane. It wasn’t until that very summer when Pete gave into his adopted son’s pleas.

Pete would tell his mom that he was taking him to batting practice, when in actuality they would be in the air. Bradley loved to be in the air with his “dad”, but was aching to get his hands on the controls.

Bradley climbed in next to him and paid attention to everything Pete was saying, explaining how to take off, how to glide, how to hold steady, how to land, etc. The young boy memorized every movement Pete did with the control sticks, not wanting to make a mistake on the first day.

Eventually, the two had swapped places on the runway, with Bradley sitting in the pilot's spot, staying quiet as Pete spoke with the control tower, under the pretense that Pete was in control of the airplane.

“Copy, clear for takeoff” Pete said, giving Bradley a nod as the little boy rumbled the engine and took off on the runway. Pete only had to reach over once, to help him get the plane in the air as they got closer to the end of the runway.

It was like this almost every day from May to September, Pete not willing to let him fly during the school year when he needed to focus on his studies. It was like this every year until Bradley was a sophomore going into his junior year, when his mom’s doctor gave them news that would change their lives forever. He would spend his free time taking care of her, watching as she deteriorated until there was nothing left for the cancer to take away from him.

Pete never took young Bradley in the air after that, but they always kept the secret from his mom, not wanting her to be any more disappointed or saddened than she already was.

“Bradshaw?!” Natasha yelled from the table. “You with us?”

I looked up at her when she called me out, realizing that I had been deep in my thoughts, reliving memories of flying when I was younger…

“I-um…,” I began, struggling to find words without sounding too cocky, “I’ve flown a cessna before”.

Natasha looked at me impressed, raising her eyebrow as her eyes began to light up.

“Bullshit!” Javy interjected.

“No really man,” I began, “I did. Many times when I was younger.”

“With who?” He asked in a tone that made it seem like he was still skeptical.

My face froze as I thought of him. His eyes looking down at me and smiling as I grew up. His coaching in the airplane as I learned various maneuvers. His soothing voice assuring me that everything would be okay when he caught me in moments of mental weakness, mainly when we would talk about my dad.

I didn’t know everything I wanted to about him, but enough that I was content with the information that I had. He was born and raised in Texas, went to the naval academy, met my mom at Virginia Beach during a weekend getaway with other academy students, met his best friend and pilot of his F-14 when he was in flight school, married my mom right after he got his license, and loved being a father. When he was home, he changed every diaper, fed me every bottle, gave me a bath every night, and sang to me as he rocked me to sleep. He loved being a dad, and had planned to request a leave of absence after Top Gun so he could make up for missing the last few months of my life. I was turning three on the day of the graduation, so mom worked extra hours and came to visit him for his last 3 weeks of classes so we could be together on my birthday. That’s why we were there. A decision that was both a blessing and a curse.

“It doesn’t matter” I ended up muttering to the group, before breaking their conversation again and grazing across the room, taking in the looks of all of the upperclassmen that were now filtering out of the room as they made their way to various classes.

My eyes froze on the table that was in the far right corner, right to my 11 O’Clock…She was there. Sitting with the same two friends whose backs were to me. I could tell they were the same from their hair colors. The brunette was in a set of deep purple scrubs and the other one had her hair pulled back in the same way she did the other day, wearing light green pastel scrubs. She was the only one in a different color. Her once curly flowing hair was now pulled up in a high ponytail, she had a pink headband in her hair that pleasantly matched the navy scrubs that she had on. She reached up and gently scratched her nose, sporting a light pink fitbit that matched the color of her headband.

“Who’s she?” I asked the table, keeping my eyes on her so they knew who I was talking about.

Natasha looked over to follow my gaze and then back at me, smiling widely. I dropped my eyes from the girl to meet Natasha’s, wanting to have complete focus on the information that I could tell she had, and was willing, to communicate with me.

“Allison Campbell,” Natasha answered, “Goes by Allie. She’s a nurse on base, I briefly met her when I fucked up my knee. She just applied to medical school.”

“Oh” was all I could manage to mutter, looking up at her again. She was laughing with her friends, a clear white smile was painted across her face as she enjoyed the conversation that was occurring with her friends. Watching her facial expressions made me crack into an admiring side smirk. Her smile was captivating.

“Don’t even think about it.” Natasha stated, noting my face. I looked back at her and furrowed my eyebrows, not understanding what she was saying, “She doesn’t date midshipmen. She’s notorious for rejecting all of them that try to come after her.”

I looked back at her, with slight disappointment in my eyes.

“Sounds like a challenge to me!” Emmett yelled out.

Natasha burst into a laugh at what Emmett said, “Yeah like you think she would settle for you!”

“Not me!” Emmett responded, “Him!” He yelled, motioning over to me.

“Me?” I asked him.

“No dick head, the air,” He responded sarcastically. “Of course you! Who the fuck do you think I’m talking about?!”

I smirked at him as I stole another peak at her, before bringing my eyes back to Emmett.

“What do you think Bradshaw?” Emmett asked me, “You up for it?” There was silence as I processed what he said, thinking about all of my options. I now knew that Allison, Allie, was a hot target in the eyes of the midshipmen, and she was not interested in any of them. On the other hand, there was a part of me that wanted to take a shot. I didn’t want to be another statistic, another identity that she added to her long list of names of men she had rejected, but I also didn’t want to live the rest of my life wondering if my life would've been different had I talked to her. Wooed her. Played with her a little.

“Need some motivation?” Emmett asked, taking note of my silence, “100 dollars. I bet you 100 dollars that you can get Allie Campbell in bed with you by the time we graduate”.

I let out an airy laugh at Emmetts challenge, mentally rolling my eyes. Natasha and Javy were eyeing me eagerly. I knew it would be difficult. I knew it was nearly impossible, but what was the harm in trying? She has rejected THEM, not me. I was a different story. A different person. I am sure I had the ability to achieve something that no one else has.

I smirked over at Emmett, who had his hand extended to mine. He was smiling from ear to ear and lit up when I firmly put my hand in his, giving a little shake, sealing our newfound gamble.

#naval aviator #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley bradshaw #bradley bradsaw x reader #javy machado fic #rooster fanfic #top gun fanfiction #top gun #rooster imagine #maverick imagine #jake seresin #love strories #pete mitchell #natasha trace #natasha x reader #writers on tumblr

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dballzposting · 3 months

Note

okay this is gonna sound maybe kinda wild but i need you to bear with me here. on account of i just had this thought but i have hit post limit and you're the only person i can trust with this

videl is a whiskey drinker. you know this, i know this, everyone knows this. it doesn't affect her. she's been sneaking a little bit ever since she was big enough to reach the bottle, bc Dad said it was a Real Man's Drink and she had something to prove.

Videl does not drink to excess, but even drunk videl is not that much different from normal videl. maybe a little floppier. maybe a little less testy. whatever.

but gohan?

gohan starts with wine. it's a low alcohol content. it's refined, it's classy, it fits the image of the future he wants. and, most importantly, he wouldn't feel embarrassed if his mom found out he had a glass of wine. She wouldn't be happy about him drinking alcohol, but she would Understand.

wrong fucking move.

he has one glass. He hates the way it makes him feel. The control he's fought so hard for slips away. he melts into Dionysus' bestial embrace.

all of a sudden his instincts kick in and he's fighting for control silently in his own mind. Stone-faced and wild-eyed, he sits alone in his dark bedroom. And when Videl opens the door, he makes unblinking eye contact. For several moments, her heart freezes and she understands that her husband is truly half-alien; something wretched from beyond the stars lurks in his chest.

he says, with no emotion expressed, 'we're alive, you and I.'

and her heart resumes

she walks up to the bed and sits on her knees next to gohan. she softly touches his face, and he gently, reverently, takes her forearm in his mouth like a dog.

she strokes his hair with her other hand, and he lets go. he looks up at her with sad, sad eyes. he speaks again

'I want to hunt a rabbit. not like a man, with guns and traps and ki, but like a quick and clever creature. the claws on my hands and the teeth in my mouth.'

and then, in the dim light of the hallway, videl looks at the nightstand and sees a cup and a bottle with just enough wine missing to deduce he has had one (1) glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

and after cooking up the steak she was saving for after she won the poker tournament tomorrow to sate gohan's bloodhunger, she puts him to bed and calls up Chi-Chi.

(I don't have an ending for this i just think that most aliens in dbz, saiyans especially, have a really low alcohol tolerance for reasons that would take forever to explain, and that gohan especially would be weird bc he has had so much training specifically to deal with his instincts and emotions, and that alcohol would interfere with the execution of that training but not the understanding of it)

thank you if you took the time to read this!

Hey I think I need to answer this now like right now becos it was sent tonight and there is no way that this will be permissible tomorrow.

OK WElll let's see here let's break this down. Have no fear audience members we will get throuhg thsi

OK first of all

youtube

im sleepy let me think about this one.

You Have Hit Post Limit Yet Again.

Videl drinks whiskey the same way she smokes cigars ok got it. She's always been able to detect on some level the vacancy in her father where his spine should be so she's always known that titles like "Real Man" were empty aesthetics and that she herself captured the REAL ideals without having to boast it. But at some point she has to say something to give people something to listen to when their eyes fail them. She drinks that whiskey and she doesn't need to but she's damn good at it

Wine "fits the image of the future [Gohan] wants" ... It's a future that has the luxury to build itself on levels of social games like aesthetics and class and propriety ... it has the luxury of peace. Plus it's a fun fruity color. Lol.

THE IDEA THAT ONE (1) GLASS OF WINE JUST COMPLETELY FUCKING UNDOES HIM ?

He's had to fight for control and this control just puts its hat on and walks out the frontal cortex at the slightest flavor of alcohol. Like Ok I'm out. Bye

OK like actually everything about Gohan & Videl's relationship and interactions is completely the notion of Wearing Class on top of Beastliness. A dapper hat and bloody fangs. Vampires in the city. Complex mammalian social interactions being the most phylogenetically recent adaption to the nervous system and it necessarily has communications with the "lower" systems and making sense of the whole system is what makes us human. In my earlier post today I almost said something about Videl marrying the knives of intellect with the force of shadows but i coudnt figure out how to phrase it. I still can't. My point is that I think that this ask will cohere going forward but let's find out

He would sit there stone faced in the dark willing the moment to pass that is so Goahn ...

She literally would understand perfectly and she would give him her arm. He's an alien and something beyond the stars lurks unarticulated yet thriving in his being and she would see that and duely freeze as a human ought but she would feel like "FINALLY something that fucking MAKES SENSE" like she would get it

Because she KNOOOWS that she's gonna win the poker tournamnet. Gonna be honest. I think that it's gonna be Krillin's lucky night. Unless it's a woman-only tournament. Then I'm thinking that Bulma almost wins until A18 smoothly takes over at the last second. But Videl wins the other times. We just can't all be winners allof the time....

She's cooking the steak and he's pacing like a sad dog miserably musing that "it's not gonna be enough" and she has to be like "Look how red it is. Look how warm. Pretend it's fresh-killed." and Gohan remebers when he was a little boy when he was surviving in the wild, there was this dickhead dinosaur who always tried to get at him and Gohan would slice off a bit of its tail and eat it every time he won the fight. And the dinosaur kept trying. And Gohan almsot felt bad about it but now he's understasnding more than ever that winning or losing are just the outcomes of the NECESSARY NEED TO HUNT, it was righteous and essential that he and that dinosaur continuously engaged with each other and the dinosaur had no choice by nature. so he doesnt feel bad anymore in fact he feels thrilled at having partaken. And he feels big for winning. And he eats the steak and Videl offers that red wine goes good with red meat and he says NO PLEASE NO GOD. NO

OK like yes in the dragon ball that we see on screen it would track for Videl to call Chichi on the phone and garner a light commiseration re: Alien Husbands without actually disclosing any details at all, and even gather some productive insight or info. BUT The Chichi that I know is like "Laura" by Billy Joel and everything is about her feelings and so we honestly wanna keep her as far from the genuine lived experience of others as possible.

I'll believe you about the alcohol thign.

Also I'm gonna interject and say that Feeling your Feelings w/o judgement and w/o needing to take action about them is so imporatant and I wish that Gohan wouldnt fight himself down so much.

But I get it like he's more than an animal he's an alien and there's nothing more primal than being the improbable lovechild of a human and an alien and he will never know if what he is feeling is "acceptable" or "alien and fucked up" and he fears it all same

EVERYBIODY SLEEP TIGHT or WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#dballz posting #dballz asks #gohan & videl

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novastories · 1 year

Text

You’re On Your Own Kid

Title and chapter inspired the song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” by Taylor Swift.

Summary: Aurora has a decision to make, but so much to look back on.

Disclaimer: This story is fictitious. All works are written by me and only posted here. Please do not copy, repost, or plagiarize on any other platform without my permission! The timeline and ages are changed to fit the story, not the movies. Some of these storylines/backgrounds are based on what I write or imagine for my Top Gun DR.

Warnings: Mild language? Mention of cancer. I never know what to put here. Just be cautious.

Word Count: 3.7k

A/N: The story is now finally getting somewhere. I’m so excited for all of you to read this chapter! Shoutout to my beta reader and editor @reginleight, who also inspired a new OC character.

Previous | Next | Masterlist

Warm air blew on Aurora’s skin as she stood in the sun with her fellow classmates, waiting to walk across the stage to receive both her diplomas from college. Today she was graduating from college with her family in the stands watching her. Her father had just flown in from one of his deployments. Amelia and Penny were there, and her stepfather, if you could even still consider him that, was absent.

After the divorce, Aurora became a rock for her mom when she needed to. Even though the twins had gone to schools across the country from Penny and Amelia, they still came back home when they could. Peyton went to the Naval Academy, and Aurora went to UVA, much to everyone’s surprise, since this would be the first time the two siblings would be separated.

Peyton had just finished his training at the Naval Academy and came just in time for Aurora’s graduation. Goose and Carole had flown in the day before, and Iceman and Sarah were also in town to watch her graduate. The only person who wasn’t there was Bradley. Bradley and Aurora had found their footing back after Christmas, as friends, but then something had happened.

Aurora had gotten word that her dad had tried to pull Bradley’s paper for the Naval Academy. Unsuccessful, but still something to note that he did it. Bradley had been mad. He was beyond furious that Maverick thought to do such a thing, and assumed Aurora took part in it, until Aurora had explained she had no idea why Maverick tried to pull his papers. Bradley was still a bit angry with Maverick to this day, but had put the anger away for his dad and his best friend.

On top of Maverick trying to pull his papers, Carole had also started getting sick. Ovarian cancer. Thankfully they caught it in time to operate. Those days had been a hard time for the Bradshaws and while grateful Carole had been cured, the news that she wouldn’t be able to have any more children was also saddening to find out. Aurora was simply thankful to still have her aunt, and would visit her often when she had moved to Virginia for college.

Although when Bradley was attending and finishing up at the Naval Academy, Aurora was finishing high school, they both still had time to write each other letters. Of course, Bradley would call in now and then but they found letters to be a better time when they were able to write about their days and send it off. After Aurora and Bradley both finished at their respective schools, they thought they would see more of each other, with Aurora going to UVA, and Bradley about to be stationed in Virginia. At least, that was what they were hoping for when Bradley finished flight school in Pensacola, Florida.

“You didn’t have to help me move into my dorm, B. You have to leave soon for flight school. You too Peyton, you literally start at the Academy in 2 days.” Aurora sighs out as she puts down a box onto her bed for the year. Bradley was right behind her, with a few other boxes, as well as Peyton who was also there helping his twin sister move into her new room.

“What, you think we’re gonna leave you by yourself, without giving you a proper goodbye?” Bradley smirks, setting down the boxes.

Peyton chuckles, “No, she thinks you’re gonna chase down any guy that looks her way.”

“Damn right I will.”

Aurora rolls her eyes but smiles at Bradley’s protectiveness. Even though they never discussed the kiss since that Christmas day, they both went back to being best friends. Little did she know, Bradley felt the same way she did. They both didn’t want to lose each other. She looks at Peyton.

“What if I can’t do this without Pey? I don’t remember the last time we were separated for this long. What if something happens and you're not here?” Aurora starts panicking. “What if I get a boyfriend and you're not here to give him the ‘I’m her brother and if you hurt her I’ll hurt you’ talk? Or worse, what if you get a boyfriend or girlfriend before I even date?”

Peyton had come out as bisexual to his family during their senior year of high school. Everyone in the family had supported him, with Aurora helping defend her brother when he started getting bullied at school. Gone was the shy girl, and out came a protective sister when she realized how much family meant to her.

Peyton laughs and hugs his sister to stop her rambling. “I will be just fine. I got the Benjamin-Mitchell blood in me. We’re fighters, we got this.”

Peyton turns to look his twin in the eye, drawing her out of her thoughts. “I’m worried about you though. You’ll be alright, Aurie? I’ll always be a phone call away.”

Touched by those words, Aurora smiles and drags Bradley in for a group hug with her and Peyton.

“Of course, I have you two to always check up on me.”

Peyton had a great time at the Naval Academy, while Aurora went through college on her own. It was a bit tough at first but she had finally found her footing once she got the hang of being on her own. While Bradley was at flight school, he had finally earned his callsign, and couldn’t wait to tell his best friend.

“Ok, it’s not my birthday, so why are you so excited for me to open this package?” Aurora sets her phone down on her apartment desk, with the camera still facing her as she was on a video call with Bradley.

“Because you finally get to know my call sign!” Bradley exclaimed excitedly, causing Aurora to gasp.

“Wait, so it’s not BradBrad? Damn I owe Peyton $20,” she teases. Bradley groans, as he was already impatient that he had to wait for the package to even get to Aurora.

“Just open it.”

“Okay fine, they should have called you Hothead because you’re so easily bothered.”

“So you’re calling me hot?” Bradley quips back at her.

Aurora rolls her eyes and sticks up her middle finger. She then proceeds to open the package and she takes out the item Bradley had sent her.

“Oh my gosh! Your callsign is Mother Hen!?” she cackles.

“Wait, What? No! It’s Rooster, dummy!”

“I don’t know. I think I like Mother Hen better,” Aurora teases. She holds up the rooster stuffed animal that he had sent her.

“That’s not gonna stick.”

“Oh, it so is!” she exclaims, hugging her new stuffed friend. Bradley took a screenshot of that moment.

After a year and a half, Bradley had finally graduated flight school. Aurora could remember that day. She’d gone to his graduation tapping out ceremony along with Carole, Goose, Maverick and Peyton. They all agreed that they would all be tapping him out, but the day of, Carole and Goose wanted Peyton and Aurora to tap him out.

“Wait, but Uncle, Auntie, it should be you two to tap him out. Why us two?” Aurora gestures between her and her brother.

“Because without you two, Bradley wouldn’t be here.” Carole simply says as Goose nods next to her.

Aurora was stunned, not sure why they didn’t just do a group hug to tap him out, but they all insisted that the twins do it. So as Aurora and Peyton find Bradley amongst his fellow graduates, she starts getting nervous. Peyton was subtly checking out the graduates while they weaved through the crowd.

They soon spot their best friend, who still was standing at attention, waiting to be tapped out. They approach him hand and hand, with Carole and Maverick trailing behind the twins, Goose capturing the moment with his camera.

“Look at this, the BAP trio, back together again!” Peyton speaks up, knowing Bradley couldn’t respond until he was tapped out. Aurora had tears running down her cheeks.

“We’re so proud of you Bradley,” Aurora beams at him. Bradley stood still, itching to hug his best friends. Aurora and Peyton then look at each other and go in for a group hug, tapping Bradley out. He instantly clung to both of them, tears running down everyone's faces.

“Thank you for being here,” Bradley whispers to them.

“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world,” Both Peyton and Aurora reply at the same time. They all look at each other and laugh, as Bradley pries himself out of the group hug and goes to hug his mom and dad, who were already in shambles, proud tears on their faces, while Maverick took over the camera to take pictures of the family.

After that, Bradley was finally stationed in Virginia, assigned to his squadron which meant Aurora got to spend a lot more time with her best friend, until his orders came through for his first deployment. It lasted six months, with Aurora already in her junior year she and Bradley relied a lot on their communication with letters. It never stopped Bradley from sending her flowers, or even small packages to her containing treats from wherever he was docked, or even postcards, while Aurora did the same, she would often send Bradley care packages to help him through deployment.

They kept in constant communication, even with them being miles apart from each other. Aurora was a bit sad when she found out Bradley wouldn’t be able to make her college graduation due to his next deployment, but she understood that.

“Psst, you alright Mitchell?” a voice calls out drawing her out of her thoughts. She looks and sees her girl best friend and roommate since freshman year seated next to her.

‘I’m fine Belmont, why do you ask?” she replies.

“You just look very deep in thought. Wouldn’t want you to miss your own graduation.”

Aurora laughs with her friend. Lucille and Aurora became great friends when they realized that they were going to be roommates. Lucille was graduating with a criminal justice degree, and going straight into law school in the upcoming fall semester. They had each other’s back throughout college, and soon became family to each other. Aurora was sad that her friend was moving all the way to California for her law degree, but was so proud of her for staying on her path to becoming an attorney.

“Aurora Benjamin-Mitchell, with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Aviation, Cumme Laude!” a voice calls out, drawing her back to the present.

There is a loud cheer as she crosses the stage, as she could spot her family from the stands, as she takes her diploma and shakes hands with the dean. She walks off smiling and waving at them, to which they cheer even louder. She laughs and goes back to her seat until the end of the ceremony.

—

“I’m so proud of you!” Penny hugs her older daughter tightly, after she had already hugged everyone else.

Aurora laughs. “Mom, you already said you were, we took pictures and everything just a few minutes ago.”

“I know, but I just wanted to say it again because I’m so, so proud of my little star.” Penny gushes as she squishes her daughter’s face. Aurora rolls her eyes, and locks eyes with her dad.

“Dad, a little help please.” she pleads to him. Maverick chuckles.

“Oh no kid, you’re on your own.”

She groans as Peyton helps pry their mom off the girl.

“Alright mom, we get it, Aurie is the favorite child.” Peyton jokes.

“Hey, I thought I was the favorite!” Amelia calls out, who was standing next to Maverick, hand in hand.

“Of course you are Ami, don’t listen to your older siblings, they’re just jealous.” Maverick leans to stage whisper to her. She giggles at Maverick’s antics, as the others roll their eyes. She looks to see her Auntie Carole, without Goose by her side.

“Hey, where’d Uncle Goose go?”

“Probably went to the car to take a nap. He’s getting really old.”

Penny smacks Maverick’s arm at his answer while everyone laughs.

“He’s getting your graduation present,” Carole answers Aurora’s question.

“You really didn’t have to get me anything, Auntie.” Aurora nervously says, thinking it was an expensive gift and she didn’t want her godparents to be giving her such a gift.

“Well, unfortunately we can’t return this gift,” Goose says from behind her.

She turns towards her uncle and gasps. Standing next to Goose was Bradley Bradshaw, her best friend in the flesh, and not on deployment like he had said. He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, pink peonies and white carnations.

Pink peonies meaning prosperity, and white carnations good luck, appropriate for graduation as well as it being Aurora’s favorite color combination.

She squeals at the sight of him before running into his awaiting arms and when he caught her, she’d truly felt like she was home. Like she had found the missing piece from today.

“Congrats princess, I’m so proud of you,” Bradley whispers into her ear. She clings on to him, never wanting to let go.

“Am I dreaming? You’re actually here?” she questions.

He pulls back to take a look at her face and smirks. “Why? Dream of me often, Mitchell?”

She smiles at him and cups his face. “Every hour, every minute, every second I breathe, Bradshaw.”

She pulls him back into a hug as he kisses her forehead. “Best surprise ever,” she whispers to him.

“Well there goes the car we got her ‘ey Pen?”

—

Carole and Goose went all out to celebrate not only Aurora’s graduation, but Peyton’s graduation as well. The twins had decided to do a joint party, like they normally do with birthdays and other big celebrations. The Bradshaws’ backyard had quite a few people. Mostly all family friends, since Aurora and Peyton’s friends had other celebration plans.

Lucille and Aurora had walked in, arms linked laughing at a joke Lucille had made. Aurora had made her rounds around the backyard, making sure to hug and greet everyone at the party. She talked a bit to Viper, who was Maverick’s old Top Gun instructor. He had made a joke saying he hopes to see her in the skies soon, to which Aurora just laughed it off lightly. She got to hear old stories from her Uncle Ice, and his backseater Slider, but her favorite interaction was when she had introduced her best friend to them.

“Uncle Ice, Slider, this is my friend Lucille. She just graduated and is headed to UCLA for law school. Lucille, this is my dad’s other wingman, callsign Iceman, and his RIO, Slider.” Aurora introduces them.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Lucille greets them, shaking their hands. “Your callsign is pretty neat. I also like slider burgers!”

The older men stood frozen as Aurora looks at her best friend in shock. She apologizes and excuses both of them, and drags her best friend away as they laugh at what had taken place.

“So, you tell your dad about what you’re doing next?” Lucille asks, as she takes a soda from one of the many coolers that were set out.

Aurora took a considerable sip of the drink in her hand before answering.

“Not yet. Think I could make a run for it before I make the announcement?”

“You try and run, I'll be right behind you following in your footsteps,” Peyton replies, coming up from behind the duo, with Bradley in tow wrapping an arm around Aurora’s waist. They had just come back from talking to another group of family friends.

“What’s the big announcement? And why haven’t you told me? You always tell me everything,” Bradley pouted at both the twins.

“Because Mother Hen, we don’t know if our dad will like what we have to say,” Aurora answers, as she chews the inside of her cheek. Nervously, she began playing around with her silver charm bracelet, adorned with a new charm Bradley got her, a graduation cap one. Bradley looks down at the girl who couldn't keep still. He knew her mind was racing but didn’t say anything about it.

“Seriously? That name is sticking?”

“Hell yeah!” Both twins answer.

“I don’t know, I'm still partial to Chicken Little,” Lucille answers as Bradley sticks up his middle finger in retaliation.

“Rory, Pey!” They turn and see Maverick calling out to them, gesturing for the twins to come up the steps leading to the house, as if it was a makeshift stage. Penny stood by him waving to them. It was time for the twins to tell everyone what was next.

“Showtime,” Peyton sarcastically mutters, as he yanks his sister out of Bradley’s arm and drags her to the crowd that was forming around Maverick and Penny, the two making room for the twins as they climbed the steps.

“Alright Pey, you first,” Penny says to him.

“What? Wait, maybe Aurora should go first.”

“Oh heck no, mom says you go first, besides you’re older!” Aurora points out.

Peyton groans, while Penny tells them to behave. He clears his throat before beginning to speak to everyone in the backyard.

“Hi, everyone! Thank you all for coming! I think I speak for both my sister and myself when I say we are so happy to see that all our friends and family are here. First I want to give thanks to our parents.”

“For we wouldn’t be here without them.” Aurora speaks up as she turns to smile at her parents, her stomach twisting in anticipation.

“And thank you to the Bradshaws for not only their hospitality, but for being the best godparents we could ask for.”

“And our best friends Bradley Bradshaw and Lucille Belmont for being our anchors.”

“Okay, stop stalling, just tell us already!” Goose shouts from his spot in the crowd, as everyone laughs and Carole tries to shush him. The twins give each other a nervous look before Peyton continues on.

“After getting my BAs in Aviation and Aerospace Engineering,” Peyton says, “I have decided to go to Technical School and become an Aviation Mechanic.”

Everyone gasps and after a bit of silence, cheers and claps for Peyton. The twins turn to Maverick and Penny. Penny had the look of a proud mom, whereas Maverick’s face was unreadable.

“What happened to wanting to be a Naval Aviator?” Maverick murmurs to Peyton.

“As much as I want to be in the skies, I think my love for Legos knew I wasn’t ever going to be in the skies as much. Plus, I love fighter jets, just not enough to pilot one. I hope you’re not too disappointed in me dad.” Peyton explains. Maverick pulls his son into a hug.

“I could never be disappointed. Just a bit shocked.” Maverick pulls out of the hug and taps Peyton’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you Pey. You’re gonna make us proud.” Penny then hugs her son and whispers something in his ears that makes his eyes almost water. He nods and turns to his sister who was beaming with pride.

“I’m happy for you, Pey.”

“Oh please, like you didn’t see that coming. I told you like a month ago.” They laugh and he pulls his twin into a one arm hug.

“And Aurora, what about you?” Maverick turns to look at her daughter. Aurora takes a deep breath and turns to the awaiting crowd. She spots Bradley in the crowd as he gives her a smile and thumbs up.

Aurora’s thoughts ran rampant in her head, her next words being the big life changer. She grabs her bracelet again as she fidgets with it in anticipation, hoping it would calm her down.

“With getting my degree in Political Science and Aviation, I have decided that-”

Aurora stills and turns to look at her parents. They smile at her, knowing her parents would support her decision. She grabs her twin’s hand and she thinks back to when she had made her decision.

“Wait, can you say that again?”

“I want you to work for me. You’ve already proved that you have the skill set to be a great asset here, and you already get along with the team.”

“But, this was just an internship, a requirement for one of my classes. Why me? You have a ton of willing candidates out there,” she turns to the gentlemen that stood in front of her.

He had a stern look on his face, serious about what he had asked Aurora. He was an older man that had white hair and stood up straight, with an expression showing he was serious. Aurora had gotten to know him and his team during her internship. He was intimidating and quiet at the same time. Everyone knew of him because he was just that intimidating. He took his job seriously, which was why Aurora was confused why he had approached her with a job offer on her last day of her internship, a few months before she was set to graduate.

“Because I see a potential in you,” he simply tells her.

“Ok, but I’m perfectly content in following my dad’s footsteps.”

He sighs “Rule #5”

“You don’t waste good,” Aurora mutters as she rocks back on her heels. She looks down at her wrist where her charm bracelet Bradley had given her sat. It brought her comfort as she thought about the situation in front of her,

She had memorized all the weird rules this man had when she worked with him for the past couple of months. No one but her brother knew about the internship. She didn’t even tell Bradley because she knew what he would say. She was old enough to finally make a decision on her own without having to tell her parents or her best friend about it.

“Exactly, and you are good. But you can be better,” he tells her, as she draws herself from her thoughts. She looks up and sees him make eye contact with her.

“So what do you say probie?” He approaches her with his arm extended for her to shake.

This was the moment. Follow her father’s path, or make her own name for herself.

“Ready to work for NCIS?”

---

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xxwritemeastoryxx · 1 year

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Chemical Reaction Ch. 4

Author: xxwritemeastoryxx

Pairings: Eventual Tony Stark x Fem!reader

Word Count: 2K

Warnings: In compairson to other things, this really tame. But mentions of bruising, 'hospital' setting, and overall angsty feelings.

Author's Note: I had half a mind not to finish this series. But the part of me that keeps saying 'write it for yourself' is very loud and I can't block her out. Plus Im hoping tht after some time away from it, ya'll will suddenly flood it. Either way, I'm writing it. Also! I'm implementing a library method to hopefully make it so Tumblr won't force you to miss something! So be sure to follow @xxwritemeastoryxxlibrary and turn on notifications 💕

I do not and will not ever give permission for my fics to be copied and posted on other sites. Don’t do it. Don’t be that person that ruins it for me and everyone else.

Feedback gives me life and motivation for future things. While likes are appreciated, reblogs are gold. Seriously, if you enjoyed this in the slightest, please reblog ♥

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Tony’s thumb gently rubbed over the small double helix segment that was now embedded in Y/N’s skin. The same one that matched his that had shown up out of nowhere in the last several hours. One that he had tried to remove from his skin several times before finding its twin on her wrist.

Each time his thumb moved over the marking, he hoped in some way it would vanish. But after several minutes of trying, it was evident that both marks wouldn’t be leaving any time soon. And as disbelief vanished and reality set in, Tony knew that this had everything to do with the component.

It was proof that the component had altered both of their DNA without needing to look at the results of the bloodwork. Proof that the both of them currently had something they had no understanding of running through their veins.

“What did we get ourselves into?” The words were more to himself than to Y/N. He was sure that Y/N couldn’t hear him with her current sedation.

He closed both of his hands around Y/N’s, holding her hand tightly within them. Even with holding her hand for the few minutes that he had been, her hand was still cold in comparison to his. How differently her hand felt in comparison to the week beforehand.

Tony may have been grabbing her hand to stop her in her haste to get started on deconstructing the gun, but her hand was warm. Now, her circulation was poor enough that her extremities were growing colder by the minute.

After another moment, Tony opened his mouth to say something else before closing it rather quickly. He didn't know how to do this. He didn't know how to sit beside someone in a hospital bed and not just simply stare at the person. He didn't know how to speak to Y/N without it feeling off in a way.

Tony believed his words would go unheard if he spoke to her. With that belief it felt pointless to try to tell her anything. To tell her how guilty he felt. To tell her how sorry he'd been about the whole situation.

"I-" A sigh passed his lips. How could he easily talk to her, insult her, give her nicknames and work with her, but not get the words out now? "I know I'm not your favorite person to be around. But I need you to wake up. Wake up and kick me out of the room. Anything is better than seeing you like this." His eyes flickered to the monitor above her bed. A thought crossed his mind and he couldn't stop the words from spilling. "Or don't because I can sit here and talk your ear off with…useless ramblings since there's no definite way to prove you are listening. I can spill all my darkest secrets and wouldn't be able to tell a soul."

His head bowed down, his eyes moving from their hands down to the marbled floor beneath them. "Please wake up sleeping beauty." The words had barely been a whisper.

“Blood analysis is back.” Natasha said walking into the room a moment later

Tony hadn’t moved to remove his hands or even lean back away from Y/N. He simply lifted his forehead and looked over at Natasha. “Let me guess. Anomalies throughout both of them. All of them similar to the readings JARVIS had taken?”

Natasha’s eyebrow raised. “If you already knew, why have the analysis done?”

“Validating theories.” He gave a slight nod of his head before looking towards Y/N. “Was it similar to what Hydra had for the two hostages?”

Natasha walked further into the room, coming to a stop beside the bed. Just as she had done every time she came in to spend time with Y/N, she took in every detail of her to see if there were any noticeable changes. But every time she did, there were hardly any.

More discolored bruises as her body attempted to heal. The endless beeping and noises from the machines around them. And the monitors showing everything she was hooked up to was keeping her stable.

“Eerily similar.” She noted as she took a hold of Y/N’s left hand. “However Y/N’s samples aren’t anywhere close to being as fatal as the woman's was at this time frame. Hours after the blast, they declined at the same rate.”

“Shows that there are differences in our cases.” His hands had subconsciously squeezed in comfort.

"Based on Day 8 notes, which is where we're currently at, she's holding steady. Her scans from this morning are showing progress from her bones healing to her blood pressure rising in the right direction." Natasha's thumb gently ran over the back of Y/N's hand. "As long as she stays here, she's slowly getting better. Trying to move her anywhere seems like taking several hundred steps back."

"Then we don't move her until she's stable enough to not trigger a decline." He gave a nod of his head.

There was hope building within him. Hope that was trying to snuff out the guilt that had filled him since waking up and seeing Y/N in her bed. Hope that maybe she would survive what the component had done to her.

“You, on the other hand,” She looked over at him. “have healed at a slower rate than the man. But given the proximity that you two had been in, it makes sense.”

A huff of a chuckle passed his lips. “Not surprised by that either. Though it doesn’t explain why one of us is currently up and about and the other…”

He still couldn’t bring himself to say that Y/N was struggling to survive. He couldn’t allow himself to even begin to think that she wouldn’t make it another week. But if her levels were a lot steadier than the information they were currently working with, all the more reason not to say it at all.

After a moment, Tony shook his head, getting rid of the thoughts in his head. “She shouldn’t be in this bed.”

Natasha watched as Tony’s eyes scanned Y/N for the hundredth time since she stepped into the room. She noted how at times his eyes would glass over for a moment before he’d blink back the emotions that were building up within him. She also hadn’t missed the way Tony hadn’t let go of Y/N’s hand or the way every few moments his hold would tighten before loosening up.

She knew how much Tony and Y/N bickered every time they needed to work together. When they weren’t fighting, they were like two kids in a candy store, but with science and tech. She’d seen several times while coming to visit Y/N where she’d stun even Tony with her ideas or details that worked better than Tony’s. Natasha had also known the pair to have the briefest moments between them where they laughed and enjoyed their time together.

And much like everyone else in the place, Natasha witnessed the way they threw a past event in each other’s face. It was surprising that the two never actually said what the event was. But the tension and the hurt in their voices afterwards proved time and time again that before becoming an Avenger or even an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., the two had been more than acquaintances that fight whenever they are forced to work together.

But this, how she currently saw Tony, was something Natasha believed she had never seen before. Natasha would have thought Tony would be down in the lab already scouring for a way to help Y/N. He would be neck deep in the research of the component to find the answers to the questions he had asked several hours ago. Yet he hadn’t left the med bay since he had woken up.

He hadn’t eaten or cleaned himself up. He had still been in the set of med bay scrubs he’d been wearing while recovering and his beard hadn’t been touched up to its normal shape. Any other time Tony would have been up, out of the med bay, and in his normal attire and cleanliness. He may have looked healthy, but Natasha could see how this was haunting him.

“It’s not your fault Tony.” Natasha said as she gave Y/N’s hand a gentle squeeze before bring it down to rest on her stomach. Her fingers slowly moved out from beneath Y/N’’s fingers as she moved her eyes towards the monitor beside her bed. “You didn’t do this to her.”

Tony scoffed. “No but I was too busy arguing with her to notice what was going on right under our noses. If I hadn’t-” His mind instantly went to the conversation before the blast. The things he had been saying to her were nothing she hadn’t heard before. But it was the one insult he was about to toss at her that weighed the most and the words didn’t even fully leave his lips. “Before the component went off, I practically told her that she was no better than Hydra.”

Tony leaned in closer to Y/N, placing his elbows onto the bed beside her, his hands never letting her hand go. His eyes moved over her face again, hoping that Y/N would give him some kind of sign that she’d make it through this. That she’d wake up and beat the current odds they were faced with.

“It was the heat of the moment, Tony.” Natasha’s eyes hadn’t moved from the monitor. Her eyes may have been taking in the information from the monitors, but she hadn’t missed the guilt that Tony’s words carried. “For as many times as I’ve heard you throw rocks at her, she continuously stood her ground against it.” Her eyes moved towards Tony. “She even threw a few of her own.” The slightest smile pulled at the corner of her lips. “She’ll wake up and throw bricks this time.”

Her words caused them both to chuckle. Tony shook his head before resting his chin on his and Y/N’s hands. Against his skin he could feel the warmth his hands had helped to warm hers up. But they were still colder in comparison to normal.

“I expect those bricks to hurt like a bitch when she does.” He looked over at Natasha.

“As long as I get to watch when she does.” She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. In return, Tony rolled his eyes before turning his attention back towards Y/N. Again, she watched as Tony took in Y/N’s appearance. “I usually would wait and try to pry it out of her, but seeing as she isn’t currently talking, what happened between you two?”

An exaggerated sigh passed Tony’s lips before blowing a raspberry. “The better question to ask is what didn’t I do? You got a few more hours to spend visiting? There’s quite a list.”

“Summarize. It would make it so we’re not in here for another six hours.” She said with a tilt of her head.

“In a few sentences?” He took a moment to think of the simplest way to explain his long lists of acts against Y/N throughout their past. “I all but ripped out her heart and stepped on it before handing it back.”

“Sounds like you ran away from something.” She noted.

His hand once again tightened around Y/N’s for a moment. “Ran and hid behind a wall when all she wanted was to be there for me. I don’t blame her for hating me.”

A huff of a laugh passed her lips. “Something tells me she doesn’t hate you. Not in the way you may think. That wall you put up-” Her eyebrow raised slightly, catching Tony’s attention.

“What is it?”

“Did you see that?” She asked as her eyes stayed locked on the way Y/N’s hand rested on her stomach.

“No.” He said with a shake of his head as he looked down at the hand in question. Just as he had, Tony caught exactly what Natasha had noticed moments before.

At first both of them didn’t believe their eyes as they watched her hand. But a moment later, they watched as Y/N raised her pointer finger slightly before it fell back against the blanket beneath it.

For the first time in a week, Y/N moved her body on her own.

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bellaireland1981 · 1 year

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Stubborn Hearts | First Deployment

Summary: Part of the Stubborn Hearts Universe! Sunshine and Bradley have a wedding to plan. Anxieties and some old feelings bubble when the Navy surprises Bradley with a 6 week deployment. Bradley and Sunshine navigating their first deployment together.

Word Count: 10156 -- do we really expect me to have self control??

Warnings: Fluff, bit of angst if you squint, kissing.

Pairings: Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Mitchell! Reader, Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Mitchell! Reader (Platonic), OC Shay Benjamin, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Penny Benjamin, Dagger Squad

A/N: A/N: I do not give permission for my work to be copied or posted on other platforms. All OC’s belong to me but I do NOT own Top Gun Maverick characters. Reblogs and comments ALWAYS welcomed! THANK YOU as always to @waywardodysseys for letting me bounce ideas and for reading and editing for me!!

Immediately after returning from Big Sur, you launched into wedding planning mode. Neither you nor Bradley wanted a long engagement. One thing you both new well was that deployments came out of nowhere and rather than have your wedding derailed, you’d both agreed to keep it simple, keep it small, and make it happen that year.

“Have you thought about where you want to have the wedding, Sweetheart?” Your Aunt Sarah asked over brunch later in the week when you’d returned with Bradley.

“We want to keep it small and not have to wait a million years for something to be available.” You replied, “Other than that? No ideas… Do you have any ideas?”

“Well…” She said, “Both you and Bradley love flying, so you could have it at Mav’s hangar… the wedding itself could be outside and then we can clear the hangar of planes to decorate for your dinner and dance. Or, there’s always the backyard here. It’s big enough to accommodate everyone. Bonus is that neither place has a waiting list.”

“We could also set up the actual ceremony on the beach behind the Hard Deck and close the bar for the night to use for your reception.” Penny offered.

“I love all of those suggestions!” You exclaimed, “Let me ask Bradley and we can let you know! Thank you !”

“Have you talked about when you want to get married?” Aunt Sarah asked.

“As soon as we can get something planned and for it to be what we want it to be.” You replied. “Honestly, we’d both be just as happy eloping.”

“Absolutely not!” Both Penny and Sarah exclaimed.

“And that’s why we’re not” You laughed.

“One thing we can do immediately is dress shopping!” Aunt Sarah said.

“I was hoping you’d both want to go with me.” You replied, “Could use some stand in moms.”

“We would love nothing more, Kiddo.” Penny said, “I’m available this weekend if that works for you both?”

“Yes! I’m going to ask Shay to be my maid of honor and Nat to be my bridesmaid.” you replied, “I’ll see if they’re free too.”

“That’s perfect.” Aunt Sarah said, “I’ll get us a reservation at the cute bridal boutique downtown.”

“I can’t wait!” You said, everything starting to feel really….real.

After brunch you headed back to your house. Bradley and Jake were playing some video game when you walked in. Not surprisingly it was a flying game.

“Hey, Sunshine!” Bradley said, smiling when he saw you, “Did you have fun?”

“I did!” You replied, “We started talking about wedding ideas.”

“What did you ladies come up with, Sweets?” Jake asked, “Are we hitting up Las Vegas?”

“Nope, that got an immediate ‘Absolutely not’ from both of them.” You laughed, “They had really good ideas for venues though.”

“Where did they suggest?” Bradley asked, pulling you down to sit on his lap. “Nothing that requires an obnoxious wait, right?”

“Nope…. All of these options are wide open and available as early as tomorrow.” You laughed. “Although, we need a little longer than 24 hours to pull together a wedding.”

“Sunshine, I’d marry you right this minute at the courthouse or in Vegas.” He replied.

“I know, Roo. But I think our family wants to be there with us.” You replied.

“Damn straight!” Jake added. “Try and keep us away.”

“Ok, so venue options…” You said, “Aunt Sarah suggested her backyard, or Dad’s hangar since we’ve both grown up around planes and are both pilots. Penny offered the beach behind the Hard Deck and then she’d close the bar for us to use the Hard Deck for the reception.”

“Those are all fantastic and fitting.” Jake commented, setting his controller down, the game forgotten.

“I like the idea of the Hangar or the beach.” Bradley said. “What are you thinking, Sunshine?”

“I love the idea of using Dad’s hangar. It just feels like it’s the best fit for us.” You replied. “It makes it feel like even those who can’t be with us will be with us… “

“A tribute to dad and Ice?” Bradley asks, kissing the side of your head. “I think it would be perfect.”

“And our moms too.” You add.

“Let’s do it.” Bradley said, “We can call Mav right now and ask him. I’m sure he’ll say yes though.”

“I know he will. He’ll love it.” You replied.

“Ok venue…check.” Jake said, “What’s next on the list? Operation Bradshaw Wedding is in full effect.”

“I love you, Jakey” You replied, laughing.

“Love you too, Sweets.” He answered, flashing his signature smile your way. “I’ve gotta make sure my favorite new baby sister has the best wedding ever!”

“How many new baby sisters do you have, Hangman?” Bradley teased. He actually loved that Jake was so protective of you. He knew no matter what, Jake would be there to take care of you if he wasn’t.

“Just this perfect ray of sunshine!” He said proudly.

“I have to call Shay and Nix to see if they’re available to go dress shopping this weekend with Aunt Sarah, Penny and me.” You said, “I’m asking Shay to be my maid of honor and Nix a bridesmaid… or maybe I’ll just call them my wingwomen!”

“That’s perfect, Sunshine.” Bradley said, then leaned in and whispered to you to hop up. You obliged, moving next to him on the couch, eyes curiously following him as he stood up.

He went over to his flight bag and pulled something out then came back over to the couch. Instead of coming back to where he’d been, he walked around to the other side where Jake was sitting.

You had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing as soon as you realized what was happening. Bradley stood in front of Jake before he very dramatically dropped to one knee. You quickly pulled your phone out to record this moment.

“Hangman, much to my surprise, you’ve become one of my closest friends. You’ve had my back and saved my life… Nobody I trust more to fly with. There’s also nobody I’d want more standing with me as I marry my Sunshine. Will you do me the honor of being my best wingman?” He asked, holding out a set of his wings from his flight uniform.

“Wow…” Jake said beaming, you could see a sheen of unshed tears in his bright green eyes, knowing that even though Bradley had been a goofball about it, this meant the absolute world to Jake. You also know that Bradley was sincere. “I would be absolutely honored to be your best wingman, Rooster. Thank you.”

He accepted the wings from Bradley. Both boys stood up and did the typical bro hug, pounding each other on the back.

You stopped recording and had to wipe away your own tears that had started to fall. Your two favorite aviators turned to see you with tears on your face and held their arms out to pull you into a big group hug.

“That was the sweetest best man proposal ever.” You gushed.

“Have you seen many of them, Sweets?” Jake joked, pulling back.

“Well…no, but still the sweetest.” You defended. “Who are you thinking for your second wingman, Roo?”

“You already stole Phoenix,” He replied, giving a mock pout. “I’m going to ask Bob. I’d ask Mav but he’ll be doing Father of my beautiful Bride duties.”

“I think Bob is perfect.” You replied. “Dad would happily do double duty too, so it’s up to you.”

“He would, but I want him to be by your side.” Bradley said, “It’s important.”

“I love you, Roo.” You said stealing a quick kiss.

The next day you met up with Shay and Nix at the Hard Deck for lunch. Penny let the three of you meet at the bar with takeout so you could ask them to stand up in your wedding. You managed to pull together small gifts for them with notes asking them to be your Wingwoman of Honor and Wingwoman.

“What are you guys doing Saturday? Any plans?” You asked them when you had all finished eating.

“Nothing that I know of.” Shay said, “Jake hasn’t said anything about us having plans.”

“Just catching up on laundry and stuff around the apartment. Nothing that can’t wait.” Nat replied.

“Would you be interested in going dress shopping?” You asked

“Oh my God, of COURSE!” Shay exclaimed

“Absolutely!” Nat said.

“Perfect.” You replied, then pulled out their gifts and handed them to them. “These are for you guys.”

You watched as they opened them, both with very curious looks on their faces. Shay pulled out the card first, reading it. A smile immediately plastered to her face. You glanced at Nat who was also reading the card first, her smile mirroring Shay’s.

“Y/N!” Shay giddily replied, “This is adorable. I will definitely be your wingwoman of honor. Thank you!”

“Thank you for all of your support since I moved back and for being such an amazing friend” You replied.

“I am so down to be the co-wingwoman.” Nat beamed, “I’m so honored to be included, Y/N. You two are my only really good female friends. I’m always surrounded by the boys!”

“Before moving here I didn't even have any real friends so I can’t thank you both enough for being my people. I don’t know how I’d have survived the last six months without you.” You said.

“You’re stuck with us for life now.” Nat assured.

“Who is Bradley asking?” Shay asked.

“OHMYGOD you both have to watch this video!” You pulled out your phone and found the video you’d taken of the Best Man proposal.

They watched as Bradley dropped to his knee and asked Jake to be his best Wingman and you teared up all over again.

“That.” Nat said, laughing and wiping her eyes, “Was the best thing I’ve ever seen. You need to show that at the wedding.”

“It was the sweetest.” You gushed. “It meant so much to Jake. I know he came off as a total asshole to you when y’all first met, but he’s really got the biggest heart of anyone I know. He just built up walls to protect himself.”

“He’s definitely let his guard down the past several months and has let us see the real Jake.” Nat confirmed, “He has changed a lot. I think that’s in part to the mission and everything that happened, but it’s also meeting the two of you. Falling in love with you, Shay….that’s been a huge influence in his change. And having you, Y/N take him in and love him unconditionally as your adopted big brother… damn, you gave him a whole family.”

“I one hundred percent agree with that assessment.” Shay said. “I love that the squad gets to know the Jake I’ve known since the first time meeting him.”

“There shouldn’t be tears when talking about weddings!” Penny laughed, coming over to your table. “You three are a sentimental group today.”

“Just talking about our men!” You replied, “We’re set for dress shopping on Saturday, Pen!”

“Perfect.” She smiled warmly. “I’m looking forward to it. Amelia asked if she can tag along too?”

“Of course!” You said immediately. “She’s always welcome to join us!”

“I’ll let her know.”

____

By the time Saturday rolled around you were a bundle of nervous, excited energy. You couldn’t wait to find your perfect dress and watch the girls find their dresses. You decided on navy blue and rose gold for colors so you’d decided to give them free reign on styles of dresses within the color scheme. You wanted them to be comfortable and not wearing a dress they hated.

You arrived at the boutique mid morning. Penny arranged for you to have Mimosas as you dress shopped. You’d given the owner of the shop a rough idea of what you were looking for and she pulled a bunch of dresses for you to try. The first several dresses, while very pretty, weren’t what you were looking for…they didn’t feel right.

“Don’t get discouraged, Sweetheart.” Your aunt said, “It’s here. We just need to hunt it down.”

“I guess I didn’t realize it would be this … frustrating.” You complained, “I’m not overly picky about style and dresses, so I figured I’d just find the perfect dress without much effort.”

“It’s different when it’s your wedding dress, Kiddo.” Penny added, “You’re supposed to be picky.”

“They’re right!” Shay added. “We’ll find it with you, Y/N. We’ve got plenty of time.”

“And if it’s not here, or not already made, we find someone who can design and bring it to life.” Nat said.

“That would take too long.” You sighed, “We want to get married before the end of the year.”

“Then let’s get you into some more dresses and see what shakes out.” Your aunt replied.

“Here are some more that I think you’ll love.” The boutique owner said, bringing in three more dresses. “The first two that I put in the fitting room are perfect. We wouldn’t need to special order either of them and I have a feeling neither will even require alterations. But most importantly I believe these two are everything you’re looking for.”

You had to admit the dresses were absolutely stunning hanging in the fitting room. She helped you to get into the first dress, zipping it up once you were in. You turned, looking in the floor length mirror and gasped. It was everything you’d ever imagined in a wedding dress. It was an a-line fit with applique and lace that flowed perfectly. It was a simple tank style scoop neck front with a low back.

“This is… perfect.” You whispered, tears brimming in your eyes.

“I have to agree.” She said, “Let’s have you step out and show your group.”

You carefully stepped out of the fitting room, beaming in happiness.

“What do you think?” You asked, stepping onto the small podium in front of mirrors.

“Oh, Sweetheart.” Your aunt said, tears filling her eyes, “It’s perfect. You are absolutely beautiful.”

“That is definitely the one, Y/N.” Phoenix said, “You’re so beautiful.”

“Bradley is going to melt when he sees you.” Shay added.

“Your dad… he’s going to cry the whole way down the aisle with you.” Penny confirmed.

“This is definitely the dress.” You said, wiping tears from your eyes.

“Are you thinking you’ll want a second dress option perhaps?” The lady helping you asked. “Many of my brides opt for a separate dress to change into for the reception.”

“Our wedding is so small and intimate,” You said, “I don’t know that I need a second dress…”

“You should try the other one on.” Your aunt suggested, “You never know. And you might find you want something different for the reception.”

“Ok, I’ll try it on. While I do that though..” You said, looking at Shay and Phoenix, “You two go find dresses.”

Both playfully saluted you and then popped up to go look through bridesmaids dresses.

You followed the lady back into the fitting room and she helped you out of the current dress and into the second option she’d picked out. This one was a satin gown in an a-line with spaghetti straps with a lower cut neckline and thin straps that crossed at the lower back. Honestly, it was breathtaking as well. You loved it.

“Ok… I wasn’t really thinking of a wardrobe change before the reception, but I might be now.” You said.

“I had a feeling you’d be swayed.” She smiled knowingly.

You stepped out of the room to where your Aunt and Penny were seated and they both gave you a smile that said they knew you’d be going home with two dresses.

“It’s perfect for the reception.” Penny winked, “This one is on me, Kiddo.”

“Penny, that’s way too much, I can’t ask that of you.” You exclaimed.

“Kiddo you didn’t ask, and I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer.” Penny replied.

“And I made your uncle a promise that we would buy your wedding dress.” Aunt Sarah said, smiling tearfully at you. “He knew you’d be marrying Bradley…and he told me to make sure to get your wedding dress. His exact words were, ‘Maverick can pay for the rest of it, but I get to buy my Little Bird her wedding dress.’”

You wiped the tears, now freely falling from your eyes. Your heart still had an enormous hole the size of your Uncle Tommy in it. Sometimes it hit you more than others, that your uncle really was gone. This was one of those moments.

“Oh, Sweetheart.” Your Aunt said, putting her arms out. You stepped off the podium by the mirror, straight into her arms, accepting the much needed comfort. “He’d be so happy to see you this happy and to watch you live your life. He is watching over you and smiling ear to ear, Sweetheart.”

“Thank you” You whispered, stepping back carefully and wiping your eyes, “I love you both so much.”

“We love you too, Kiddo.” Penny said, offering a loving smile. You may have lost your own mom at a very young age…too young to really remember much… but you’d been blessed with amazing women in your life to fill that role.

“We’ve found a selection of dresses!” Phoenix said coming back with Shay, and several dresses in hand between the pair of them. “Holy Shit you look HOT!”

“Bradley is going to possibly need a defibrillator for that one.” Shay agreed, “So, are you going with a wardrobe change then?”

“I am.” You smiled at your friends. “It was decided for me. I can’t wait to see your dresses! Wait until I’m changed and back out!”

You headed back in to change out of the gown and into your regular clothes before sitting with Penny and your Aunt to watch the girls try on dresses.

In the end, they both went with dresses in navy blue. Phoenix opted for a chiffon, v-neck, spaghetti strap, A-line dress with a split up the side. Shay went with an illusion lace scoop neckline and sweetheart bodice, with a full chiffon skirt, a side slit and pockets.

Shay and Phoenix placed orders for their dresses. The owner of the boutique put a rush on their dresses so they’d be in within a month. Your own two dresses would be steam cleaned and pressed and ready for pick up within the week. With dresses taken care of, your group headed out to lunch before you made your way back home.

“Babe!” You called, coming into the house. Both Bradley’s Bronco and Jake’s truck were out front so you knew they were home.

“Hey, Sweets.” Jake said coming into the living room from the kitchen. “How did dress shopping go?”

“Perfect!” You gushed, “I said ‘yes’ to the dress… twice!”

“The same dress?” He asked, confused.

“Nope” You laughed, “I got two dresses. One for the ceremony and one for the reception.”

“Very nice.” He replied, “I’m glad you were able to find your dress, Sweets. Girls have luck too?”

“Yup!” You answered, before pausing to really look at him. Something was off. He was smiling but it wasn’t reaching his eyes. “Jakey, is everything OK?”

“Yeah,” He responded, unconvincingly, “Everything is fine Sweets. I’m going to head over to Shay’s for a bit now that y’all are done shoppin’. I’ll be back later.” He stopped in front of you, dropping a kiss on your head and giving you a quick hug before he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

You stood where you were for a moment, trying to piece together what just happened. The fact that Bradley was still MIA in the house on top of Jake’s weird behavior, you knew something wasn’t right.

“Baby?” You called, walking further into the house. A quick peek into the kitchen revealed no fiance, so you headed for the bedroom. “Bradley?”

“I’m in here, Sunshine.” he finally responded, quietly, his voice wavering a bit. You opened the door to your bedroom to reveal Bradley sitting on the bed, his head in his hands, shoulders slumped.

“Baby, are you OK?” You asked worriedly, walking in and dropping down to your knees in front of him, your hands on his knees. “Roo… what’s wrong?”

“Jake and I got a call…” He whispered, you could see he was struggling with getting the words out.

“From base?” You asked, a sinking feeling settling in your gut.

“Yeah. Admiral Simpson called.” He answered, “We have orders for a 6 week deployment with a special mission. Coyote was called too.”

“Fuck.” You said, getting up and sitting down next to Bradley. “Well… this sucks.”

“It does indeed.” He sighed, “Sunshine, I know this is the worst timing. I’m so sorry. “

“No… nope,”You replied, snapping out of your shock. You turned so you were facing Bradley, “Baby, look at me.”

Reluctantly, Bradley lifted his head, turning his body to face yours. Once he finally made eye contact you could see the red rims around his eyes and knew he was struggling to keep tears back.

“Bradley Nicholas Bradshaw.” You said, “You’ve worked too long and too hard to be the amazing damn aviator that you are. You’ve dreamed of this career and you love your job. I am SO fucking proud of you and all you’ve accomplished. I will never begrudge you doing your job. I came into this fully knowing what life is like when in a relationship or married to a Navy Aviator. You never have to apologize for doing your job.”

You paused to make sure he was really listening to you.

“Does the timing kinda suck?” You asked, “A little… but we both know it could be a whole lot worse. It’s a 6 week deployment with a mission… 6 weeks will fly by. We can facetime and text or email when you’re able on the ship. We can plan our perfect wedding over the phone. When you get back, we’ll get married. Gives us something to look forward to.”

“I love you so much, Sunshine.” He replied, pulling you over closer and kissing you fiercely. “We are absolutely getting married as soon as humanly possible once I’m back in San Diego.”

“You’ll get no arguments from me, my love.” You smiled reassuringly at him. “When do you leave?”

“First thing Monday morning.” He replied, “We ship out with the carrier from the Naval Base.”

“Ok, so we still have the rest of the weekend.” You replied, “You can pack while I get some dinner thrown together for us and then we can spend the rest of the night cuddled up watching movies. Then tomorrow we can have the team over to cookout and spend time with our little family.”

“Seriously, Sunshine…” Bradley said, “How did I get so lucky and get such a perfect, beautiful woman to spend the rest of my life with?”

“I think we both hit the jackpot.” You smiled, “It’s kinda what happens when you end up with your best friend.”

“I love you, Sunshine.” He said, leaning in to softly kiss your lips.

“I love you too, Roo.” You replied, smiling against his lips. “Get packing, Flyboy. We’ve got 6 weeks worth of lovin’ and cuddling to fit in and not a lot of time to do it.”

After spending the rest of the day snuggled together and fitting in six weeks of orgasms, the two of you spent the following day surrounded by your makeshift family. Jake had returned with Shay early in the morning so he could pack and you could all get stuff ready for everyone invading. It was a much needed night with your makeshift family.

The night before deployment you spent wrapped in Bradley’s arms. This was the first real deployment for you both as a couple. The Uranium Mission had only been a few days long, but a lot had gone wrong in that short time. You didn’t know anything about this deployment or special mission and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t anxious. You’d just gotten Bradley back and everything had been going so perfectly…you were afraid the other shoe was about to drop.

“I can feel you thinking, Sunshine.” Bradley whispered, kissing your forehead. “What’s on your beautiful mind?”

“I’m just…worried.” You admitted, “Promise me you’ll do everything you can to come back to me.”

“Always, Baby.” He said, holding you tighter to him, “I will always do everything I can to get back home to you.”

“And make sure Jake doesn’t do anything stupid or overly dangerous?” You asked, already knowing Bradley would do everything he could to protect the other pilot as well.

“I promise.” He said, “And when I get home, you and I are getting married, Sunshine. It’s what’s going to keep me going for 6 weeks without my best girl.”

“I love you Bradley.” You whispered, lifting your head to kiss him.

“I love you too, Sunshine.” He replied, capturing your lips again.

The morning came too quickly. You were in the kitchen with Shay getting breakfast ready for the guys so they’d have something filling and warm to eat before they shipped out with the carrier. Bradley and Jake were getting showered and dressed in their uniforms and making sure they had everything packed.

“Something smells amazing.” Bradley said, walking into the kitchen and wrapping his arms around you.

“You ladies have been busy.” Jake said, dropping a kiss on Shay’s head before grabbing a mug down to get coffee.

“Just making sure we send our men off with a hearty home cooked meal.” You replied, “It seems it’s turning into a tradition of sorts.”

“One that I am not sad that we continue.” Bradley replied, turning you around and leaning down to capture your lips with his. “Although I could do without the whole deployment bit.”

“That’s literally your job, Roo.” You laughed, “And your own fault for being so damn good at what you do.”

“She’s got you there, Rooster.” Jake laughed, “Although, I admit, I used to be fine deploying for however long was needed, it never bothered me… now… I’m hoping the six weeks go fast.”

“Us too, Babe.” Shay said, wrapping her arms around him, “You’ll both be back to us in no time.”

“In one piece.” You clarified, leveling them both with a look before aiming it at Bradley, “WITH your planes INTACT this time.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Jake laughed. He loved how fiercely protective you were of those you loved, and he was happy he’d made it on your list.

“You crash one plane…”Bradley sighed, rolling his eyes playfully.

“It was technically two.” You sassed, “You may have had help from my dad on the second one but that landing on the carrier was classified as a crash landing.”

“Again, she’s got you there, Rooster.” Jake said, proudly taking your side.

“No injuries, no broken planes.” Shay said, “Just our two favorite aviators safe and sound.”

“Have I finally cracked the top of the list, Sweets?” Jake asked, pouting sweetly and batting his bright green eyes at you. He knew you had a soft spot for him and was using it against you.

“If it’ll make you fly safer and get you home in one piece…” You replied, laughing, “Then, yes, Jakey. You’re my second favorite currently mission bound Top Gun Aviator.”

“That was extremely specific, Sweets.” He pouted, “I’m getting demoted to lower on the list when we’re back, aren’t I?”

“Come home safely and we’ll negotiate.” You teased, “Shay, you have your hands full with this one.”

“I do.” She agreed, smirking, “But he’s worth it.”

“I’ll give you that one.” You agreed, “He is worth it.”

Once the guys had eaten, it was time to get them to the carrier. This is the part you hated the most. It had always been the part you hated with your dad too. You’d said enough goodbyes to last a lifetime already.

You stood on the deck surrounded by families saying goodbye to their sailors and aviators.

“I’ll see you in six weeks, Sunshine.” Bradley said, his voice thick with emotion. “I love you, Y/N Mitchell.”

“I love you too, Bradley Bradshaw.” You said, trying to smile through your tears, but failing miserably. “Be safe, Roo. I need you to come home. You promised I could steal your last name.”

“Sunshine, you don’t have to steal it, it’s yours.” He replied, kissing you sofly. It was though he was trying to pour every ounce of his love into that kiss. “I’ll call as often as I can and we can keep nailing down wedding plans. I’ll be home before you know it.”

“I’m holding you to that, Flyboy.” You replied.

“Stay safe, Rooster.” Your dad said joining your group. You’d had a feeling he’d be here to see his aviators off, but especially to be here to say goodbye to Bradley and provide moral support to you once he’d left.

“Will do, Mav.” He replied, turning to hug your dad. “Can you keep my Sunshine out of trouble while I’m gone?”

“I’ve been trying to do that since the day she was born, Kid.” Mav laughed, “Firecracker has always had a mind of her own.”

“I’ll keep her busy with wedding plans.” Shay offered, laughing, “That should curb some of the trouble.”

“Or create more.” Jake laughed.

“Hey!” You exclaimed, “I’m not the one getting into trouble when you’re gone, Bradshaw! YOU are the one getting into trouble when left unsupervised.”

“I want to point out that I had supervision on the last mission.” He said, defending himself.

“My dad does not count as supervision when in a plane, Roo.” You rolled your eyes, “I thought it was you supervising, but you were just as crazy as he was.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him, Sweets.” Jake promised, “No worries. Just plan the perfect wedding and I’ll make sure he’s at the altar for you.”

“Thank you, Jakey.” You replied, smiling warmly at him. You turned, pulling him into a hug. “I need you to come back safely too. I love you.”

“I love you too, Sweets” he whispered, holding you tightly, “I promise not to do anything stupid. I’ve got people to come home to now.”

After several more tearful hugs and a final kiss with your fiance, they headed off towards the gangway to board the carrier. You stood with Shay and your dad watching them walk away, taking a piece of your heart with them.

“Wow.” Mav said standing with his arm around you, “You’re right, Firecracker… this is awful. I’ve never been on this side of the goodbye before.”

“Welcome to the club, Dad.” You remarked, trying to keep the bitterness from your voice. You’d forgiven him, you truly had, but old feelings bubbled to the surface sometimes…especially times like this when you were once again sending someone you loved off on a ship.

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart.” He said softly, pulling you close to him. He dropped a kiss on your head, doing his best to offer you comfort.

“It’s ok, Daddy.” You sighed, “Guess this means you’re on wedding plan duty with me since my fiance is now unavailable.”

“Firecracker, I’d be more than honored to help you with anything you need.” He said. “Have you two eaten yet?”

“Yeah, we made the boys breakfast before bringing them here.” You replied, “Do you have to work today?”

“I do, but it’s a classroom day for a new group of recruits.” He replied, “So I’ll be done early.”

“Want to come over for dinner?” You asked, “You can see if Penny wants to come, if she’s got help at the bar.”

“Sounds good, Sweetheart.” He replied, “I’ll let you know when I’m done today and I’ll call Penny to see if she’s available.”

“Perfect,” You said, “Amelia too. We’ll make it a family dinner. Shay… that means you too.”

“I will happily accept.” She said, “I’ve got to go to work for a bit today… I tried to get the day off but my boss was being an ass. I am so ready to quit.”

“How much longer before you’re REALLY ready?” You asked, knowing she was waiting to be closer to completing her novel. “Maybe quitting would actually help you get more writing time… and less stress might help your writing inspiration too.”

“That’s what Jake said too.” She laughed, “We’ll see. Just let me know what time and what you’d like me to bring.”

“I’ll let you know the time, but just bring you…and maybe stuff to stay the night.” You replied, “Being in Jake’s bed might help a little tonight.”

“I would actually love that.” She replied, “I’m not looking forward to 6 weeks without him.”

“You can stay with me as much as you want, because honestly… I’m not looking forward to being alone.” You said, “I went from two roomies to zero.”

“It’ll go fast, girls.” Mav offered, “They’ll be back annoying you in no time.”

“Holding you to that, Dad.” You said.

_____________

The first week of deployment went by fairly quickly and uneventfully. You’d managed to Facetime with Bradley and Jake a few times. The calls were never long enough but it was good to be able to see them and hear their voices. Even with the shorter calls you had been able to iron out a few details for the wedding.

“Dad said he’d be happy to move stuff from the hangar and we could use it for the wedding.” You told Bradley, “Do we want to do the ceremony and reception at the hangar or ceremony at the hangar and then everyone go to the Hard Deck and beach for the reception?”

“It might be easier for everyone to be closer to town and with access to Ubers than to try to get everyone safely home from the hangar.” Bradley rationalized.

“Good point.” You laughed, “I’ll talk to Penny. Do you want me to wait for you to get home to find a caterer and get the cake ordered?”

“Not unless they can pull it all off in a week because I wanna marry you immediately, Sunshine.” He replied, pouting. “That's all that’s gonna get me through this.”

“Ok.” You agreed, “I will take care of it and get us a caterer and cake. What flavor do you want?”

“Can we do a layer of chocolate?” He asked, “Or maybe we just have a small cake for us to cut and then like cupcakes or something for the rest…it’s a small enough guest list, it should work.”

“I like that idea, Roo!” You replied, “Easier too if we just have a tower of cupcakes for everyone.”

“I request coconut!” Jake said leaning over Bradley’s shoulder, “Or Strawberry.”

“I got it, Jakey.” You laughed, “I will make sure you have one of those!”

“We’ve really got to stop spoiling him so much, Sunshine.” Bradley teased, “He’s becoming quite the diva.”

“He’s your diva for the time being.” You laughed, “I’m allowed to spoil my adopted big brother.”

“Love you, Sweets!” Jake yelled.

“Love you too, Jakey.” You replied. “And I love you, Bradley. Stay safe please. Only 5 more weeks!”

In week 2 of deployment you managed to iron out a caterer who also did cakes so you’d killed two birds with one stone. You did chocolate with a mousse filling for the small cake you and Bradley would cut and eat together, then an assortment of flavors in cupcakes, including strawberry and coconut for Jake.

Penny had been thrilled to have you host the reception at the bar and said she’d handle ordering the drinks and set up in the bar. Your dad had jumped in helping when he wasn’t at work with ironing out a set up for the hangar for the actual ceremony, including building a makeshift altar with an arch you and Bradley would stand under.

“What about if we talk to Frank about chartering a plane for everyone to get from the ceremony back to his airport then we charter a party bus to get everyone safely to the Hard Deck.” Mav suggested, “What way we don’t have to worry about transportation. You can send the wedding party and guests on the chartered plane and you and Bradley can take the Mustang or even your plane and fly together.”

“That’s a perfect idea, Dad.” You said, “I love the idea of Bradley and I flying together too.”

“I’ll call Frank.” he offered, “What’s left on the list?”

“I think just little stuff now. Bradley and I will need to get our marriage license when he gets home but that only takes a day or two.” You said, “We’ve got the jukebox at the Hard Deck for music, so we wouldn’t really need a DJ… CRAP! We need someone to officiate the wedding!”

“Firecracker, you know enough Naval officers, that’s not a major detail.” Your dad laughed, “We can ask one of the admirals… maybe not Cyclone though.”

“I dunno…” You laughed, “That could be funny.”

“So you have almost everything planned with a month to go….” Your dad pointed out, “Firecracker, we may need to invent things to plan or do to keep you from going crazy.”

“I don’t want the wedding to get too crazy or big.” You said, “If need be, I’ll just pick up extra charters from Frank to stay busy.”

“That’s probably a better plan.” He acknowledged.

Week three, the halfway point, seemed to be the hardest. By then you were really missing Bradley and you were feeling more anxious. Facetime calls had gotten even shorter. You got an occasional email from him letting you know he was safe, just busy. You’d sent pictures to try to help keep him from being too homesick.

“This sucks!” You sighed, throwing yourself down onto the couch next to Shay. It was the end of the 3rd week. You had three full weeks to go and both of the men had gone radio silent. “This is when my imagination gets the best of me.”

“I’m sure they’re just training or maybe in an area with really bad reception” Shay reasoned, “No news is good news.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” You replied, “I just…. Miss them.”

“Me too.” She replied, “Rather than us both sit here and sulk, let’s go bug Aunt Penny at the Hard Deck.”

“Deal.” You said, “I’ll call Phoenix and see if she and the rest of the squad will be there.”

“Perfect.” Shay replied, “We can celebrate me turning in my two week notice at the clinic.”

“WHAT?” You exclaimed, “SHAY! Congratulations! Full time writer!”

“Yup.” She laughed, “Thanks, Y/N. I’m nervous though… I’ve still got bills to pay, so being unemployed is scary.”

“First of all, you’re not unemployed,” You rolled your eyes, “Second of all, you can always move in here with us! You and Jake can share a room, or we have an extra bedroom if you’d rather.”

“That’s something I’d have to talk to Jake about.” She replied, “I don’t just want to encroach on his space like a crazy girlfriend.”

“I’d be willing to bet a paycheck…or my plane… that Jake wouldn’t mind you moving in here.” You said, “I definitely won’t be surprised when you’re planning a wedding not too far in the future here.”

“As much as I would love that…” Shay said, “I don’t know if Jake is ready for that yet, and I’m honestly perfectly happy just being with him.”

“We’ll see.” You shrugged, “Either way, you’ve got a place to land if you need it.”

“Thank you!” Shay said, hugging you. “Let’s go get drunk with friends.”

“Let’s!” You replied, laughing.

Week four brought you more charters from Frank to keep yourself busy. You found yourself getting more and more anxious the longer you were without Bradley. It didn’t help matters that you hadn’t been able to talk to him in three days. You did your best to not automatically think the worst, but you had a very overactive imagination.

“Firecracker, you know more than anyone that no news is good news.” Your dad said, “If something had happened we’d know.”

“You and I both know that the Navy doesn’t care that I’m his fiance, Dad.” You said, “Until we’re married, I’m not his family. And Jake’s POS parents would find out something happened before us too.”

“You’re listed as Bradley’s emergency contact and next of kin, Sweetheart.” Mav said, “I watched him file the paperwork myself. Jake listed you and Shay as his. Trust me, if anything bad had happened, you’d know.”

“I just…. I can’t shake the feeling that everything is going too smoothly.” You said, “Our wedding is all planned and just waiting for my groom to come home. We’ve been all smooth sailing since you all came back from the big mission. I guess…I’m just scared, Dad.”

“What are you scared of?” He asked

“I’m scared something is going to happen and I’m going to lose everything again.” You said quietly. “I feel like I’m finally living the life I’ve always dreamed of… except for not having Uncle Tommy still here. I’ve got you in my life again, I’ve got the big brother I always wanted in Jake, I’ve got actual real friends who’ve become my extended family… but mostly, I’ve got Bradley back…and not just as my best friend. I’m in love with him, and he loves me. He’s my soulmate, Dad. I’ve lived a life without him, I dunno that I’m strong enough to do it again.”

“I understand where these feelings are coming from… it’s all very valid, Sweetheart.” Your dad said, pulling you into his arms and holding you. “None of that is going anywhere though. Jake and Bradley will be back in a little over 2 weeks now. A week after that you’ll be married. I’m not going anywhere, Firecracker. You’ll always have me. And you Uncle is most definitely watching over everyone, keeping everyone safe.”

“Thanks, Dad.” You said, sniffling and trying to stop the tears from flowing.

“It’s my job…one that I’ve not always been good at… but my job nonetheless, to be here to support you when you need it.” He replied, “Come on, let’s go for a ride and to get some milkshakes.”

Week five was a little more bearable. You were in the home stretch. You hadn’t heard from either Bradley or Jake, but you kept telling yourself your dad was right and you’d know if something had happened. You decided to throw yourself into cleaning the house top to bottom so the men would have a nice clean home to come home to. You also reorganized anything you could find that needed reorganizing.

“Ok, I’m staging an intervention.” Shay said, at the end of the week while you were alphabetizing the canned goods in the pantry, “It’s time to get you out of the house. I called your Aunt Sarah and Penny. Phoenix is joining us too. We’re having an impromptu spa day followed by drinks. It’s time to get you out of this house.”

“What if Bradley or Jake try calling us and we’re unable to answer because we’re neck deep in mud or have wet nails?” You asked.

“Y/N.” Shay said, “If they happen to call, I’m sure one of the nice people at the spa will hold the phone up so we can talk to them. This is non-negotiable, Chick. You’re literally losing your mind here.”

“You’re probably right.” You sighed, “If I can’t get through a 6 week deployment without losing it, how am I going to survive a 6 month or YEAR deployment?”

“Well, let’s just hope you have a kid or five by that point so you have something to keep you occupied.” She laughed.

“FIVE?” You exclaimed, “That is a lot of Bradshaw children, Shay! Especially if they take after their dad!”

“Yeah, but you could handle it.” She said, “Besides, maybe by then they’ll have Seresin cousins.”

“YES!” You said, “We have to have babies that become best friends and cousins too!”

“I’ll let you tell Jake that.” She said, “I don’t want to scare him off.”

“Oh, I will” You promised, “And he’ll be all over that.”

“Ok, let’s go. It’s spa time.” She laughed.

The two of you arrived at the spa, your aunt, Penny, and Phoenix were already there waiting.

“Hey, Sweetheart.” Your aunt greeted, hugging you. “I’ve been hearing this first deployment is a little rough. You should have told me. I’d have talked you down.”

“I didn’t want to bother you.” You said, “You’re busy with the kids.”

“I am never too busy for my Godbaby.” She said, leveling you with a look that meant business.

“Yes, Ma’am.” You smiled.

“Come here, Kiddo.” Penny said, pulling you into a hug. “Let’s get you all pampered and relaxed.”

“Yes please.” You laughed, “Apparently I need it.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’m anxious for them to get back too.” Phoenix said, hugging you, “It sucks being on the part of the crew left behind.”

“You’d tell us if there was anything to report, right?” You asked, “I just… I’m worried something happened again and I won’t know…”

“I promise, if I heard anything I’d tell you.” She said, “They’re fine, and I know both of them will be blowing up your phones the second they’re able to.”

You all spent the day being pampered. They’d surprised you with a trial run for your wedding hair, complete with a trim and color. The stylist had curled your hair, pulling half up and pinning it back. Your veil would clip in and hang down your back on your wedding day. A makeup artist did your make up in soft natural colors, giving you just a little color but not being overstated. After the spa you’d all gone to the Hard Deck for a couple of drinks. Your aunt left after one beer to get home to the kids. Penny made her way behind the bar, leaving just you, Shay and Phoenix to grab a corner booth.

In the middle of Phoenix telling a funny story of the Daggers from their training days, your phone rang, playing Bradley’s ringtone.

“Bradley!” You gasped, digging your phone from your pocket and moving out of the booth. “Be right back!”

You tapped to answer the FaceTime call as you sprinted out of the bar to the back patio where it was quieter but there was still light.

“Hey, Sunshine.” Bradley said , smiling tiredly when you’d connected. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, beautiful!”

“Bradley!” You exclaimed, soaking in the sight of him, feeling some of the tension release from your shoulders. “I’ve missed your face so much, Roo.”

“I miss you too, Sunshine.” He sighed, “Do damn much.”

“Are you ok?” You asked, anxiously.

“I’m ok.” He assured you, “Just really tired. It’s been… a lot here. I can’t wait to get home to you.”

“We’re almost there, Roo.” You replied, “Just two more weeks. How did the mission go? I’ve been really worried.”

“I’m sorry, Sweetheart.” He said, “We were on radio silence so I couldn’t call. The mission went alright. It went according to plan, no lost planes.”

“Good.” You smiled, “I’m glad you’re not costing the US government more planes. But even happier that you’re safe.”

“Have to get home to my girl.” He smiled, “She promised to marry me when I get there.”

“Lucky girl!” You smirked.

“It’s me that’s the lucky one, Sunshine.” He replied, “Hope you’re ready for an amazing Honeymoon. Just the two of us.”

“I can’t wait, Bradley.” You said. “Everything is ready for us to get married. I just need my groom.”

“I’ll be there, Sunshine.” He promised. “You look absolutely beautiful, Y/N. Are you at the Hard Deck?”

“Yeah.” You smiled, heart melting at the way he was looking at you. “Shay staged an intervention for me today. We did a spa day with Phoenix, Penny and Aunt Sarah. Then we ended up here for some drinks.”

“Intervention?” He asked, raising his eyebrows in confusion, “What’s that about?”

“I may have had a little too much nervous energy…” You replied, “I cleaned the whole house, reorganized, and had moved on to alphabetizing the pantry…”

“Sunshine, is everything ok?” He asked, concerned, “Why so much nervous energy?”

“I just miss you, and the house is too quiet.” You sighed, “I started to get into my head, kept imagining the worst. Dad had to talk me down a couple of times. I guess now that I have you, I’m scared to lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Sunshine.” He said, “I refuse to miss the chance to spend forever with the person I love most in this world.”

“I love you too, Bradley.” You said, desperately fighting the tears threatening to fall. You didn’t want to cry while on the phone with him. “So, so much.”

“I’ll be home soon, Baby.” He said, “You’ll be back in my arms and I will never let go.”

“Holding you to that, Flyboy.” You smiled, “Be safe.”

“Always.” He replied, “I should be able to call or email regularly now until we hit port. I’ll see you at the dock in two weeks.”

“I’ll be there.” You promised. “Tell Jakey I love him and to stay safe too. And have him call Shay if he hasn’t already.”

“Will do. He was grabbing a shower first then planned to call her.” He said, “Have fun tonight, Sunshine. Drink a beer for me.”

“I will.” You promised, “Love you.”

“Love you too” He replied, before you both ended the call.

You sat there a minute collecting yourself and drying your eyes not wanting to have a tear streaked face going back in.

You sent a quick text to your dad letting him know you’d just talked to Bradley and everything was ok, then got up and walked back into the bar. Before heading back to the table, you went to the bar to get another beer.

“Everything ok?” Penny asked, “I saw you light out of here.”

“Yeah,” You beamed, “Bradley called. I wanted to be able to hear him. He’s good. Really tired, but good.”

“I’m happy he was finally able to call.” She smiled, “It’ll be nice when he’s back home playing away on the piano.”

“I can’t wait.” You agreed, “I’m going to head back over. Shay may be running out shortly. Jake is calling after his shower.”

“She’ll be relieved to hear his voice.” Penny said, “This is still really new to her.”

“She’s doing better than me I think” You laughed, “Or really good at hiding it.”

You headed back to the booth with the girls, setting your beer down.

“Be ready to run out.” You told Shay, smiling, “Bradley said Jake would be calling you as soon as he was out of the showers.”

“Thank FUCK!” She exclaimed, “They’re good though, right? All in one piece?”

“Yup!” You said, laughing, “Exhausted but good.”

“Ok!” She replied, “Exhausted is acceptable. I’m going to go outside and wait for him to call.”

Week 6 went much faster than the previous weeks. You made sure everything was ready for the wedding the following week, double checking with all the vendors to make sure nothing went wrong. Frank confirmed he’d have a chartered plane and pilot ready to get your guests where they needed to be. He also said he’d have your plane fueled and ready for you to head out on your honeymoon after the wedding. Bradley was planning that one with the help of the squad. It was a super secret mission so you had no idea where you were heading. You knew now you’d be taking your own plane though.

When you weren’t double and triple checking details, you were flying charters for Frank. You figured the busier you stayed the faster the week went.

“I can’t believe our men are finally home tomorrow!” Shay exclaimed the night before you were scheduled to be on the docks to welcome home your men.

“The last six weeks have felt like an eternity.” You sighed, plopping down onto the couch. “We got lucky too… the deployment didn’t get extended.”

“Wait… that’s a thing?” She asked, joining you on the couch. “Even when they say a specific timeline?”

“Yup” You confirmed, “I can’t tell you how many times my dad was only supposed to be gone on a ‘short’ deployment, only for it to end up getting extended. Once he was only supposed to be deployed for 6 months and it kept extending until he’d been gone an entire year.”

“That’s shitty!” Shay exclaimed, “No wonder you have resentment towards the Navy.”

“Yeah… but this time I kinda did sign up for it.” You laughed at the irony. “As a kid, it was just the hand I was dealt with having a dad in the Navy. As an adult… I chose this life.”

“Regrets?” She asked

“Absolutely zero.” You replied firmly, “I choose Bradley. I’ll always choose him. Flying is part of who he is and I love him completely. I will happily wait for him, holding down the homefront while he does his thing. I just might need to find more to keep me occupied while he’s gone.”

“What are the odds they all get to stay together to finish out their careers?” Shay asked.

“Slim to none.” You sighed, “They can keep requesting Top Gun or San Diego as their duty stations but if they want to keep promoting and are in this for life… they’ll be split and sent off at some point.”

“Well that sucks.” Shay said, “I’ve kinda grown attached to these hooligans.”

“Me too” You laughed, “But we don’t have to worry just yet. They just got reassigned to Top Gun 6 months ago as a squadron so I’m sure they’ve got a bit before anyone has to worry about relocation.”

“Let’s hope so!” She replied, “Everything ready here for them?”

“Yup!” You said, “Kitchen is stocked with all their favorite foods, the house is cleaned, all of Bradley’s Hawaiian shirts are clean and ready for him…”

“I made sure Jake’s room was all clean too.” Shay said, “Clean sheets and all.”

“I’m sure he’s loved that you’ve been sleeping in his bed while he’s gone” You teased, “At this point, for real… Please move in!”

“Let’s see how it all shakes out when they’re back.” She replied. “If Jake wants me to move in…or to get a place together… I’m more than happy to. I’m sure you and Rooster are going to want time alone when you’re married to settle in. An extra person living here might be annoying.”

“We love you guys and there’s plenty of room here.” You insisted.

“For now.” She winked, “We’ve got bets going on how long after the wedding it takes for you two to start your family.”

“Wow.” You laughed, “I’m not opposed to jumping right in. Lord knows we’ve waited long enough and we both know that life’s too short. It’s definitely something Bradley and I need to talk about though.”

The next day stood on the dock waiting for them to be dismissed and allowed to leave the ship. Your dad and Penny were there, mostly to keep you and Shay from overtaking the ship to get to your men, but also because they wanted to see the guys. You and Shay alternated between pacing and fidgeting, both ready to tackle your men the second you could.

“I see movement.” Your dad said, bringing your attention back to the deck of the carrier. The gangway was now in place and you could in fact see people starting to make their way down to the dock. Your eyes stayed glued to the gangway watching for either Bradley or Jake.

“Ugh, why can’t they just hop in their jets and meet us at the air base?” You complained, “Finding them would be easier.”

“Patience, Firecracker.” Mav laughed, “They’ll be just as anxious to get off the boat and to you both as you are for them to get off. Trust that they’re hurrying.”

“They need to hurry faster.” Shay said, now on her tiptoes to get a better view. “They need more pep in their step!”

“There they are!” You exclaimed, pointing to a pair of very familiar aviators. “Holy shit, they’re in dress whites. I’m dead.”

Your dad and Penny laughed, rolling their eyes.

“Can’t they just push their way to the front?” Shay asked, “They’re officers after all.”

“You two are hilarious.” Penny said laughing, “I’m really glad I’m here to witness this.”

“I could do without the lusting after officers in dress whites.” Your dad replied dryly.

“Not just any officer.” You corrected, “Just MY officer.”

They finally found a pocket and were able to slip past, now making double time towards you and Shay.

“SUNSHINE” Bradley called as soon as he spotted you. You took off running towards him, launching into his arms when you got to him. His arms came around you to hold you steady, your legs wrapping around his waist. “Fuck, you feel so good, Baby. I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too, Bradley.” You replied, tears steadily falling down your cheeks. You pulled away to look at him before slamming your lips against his in a searing kiss. Your arms were locked around his neck, fingers lacing together. His cover was knocked back, off kilter on his head but he didn’t care. He had his Sunshine in his arms and he was too invested in the kiss.

Finally needing air, you pulled back slightly, not enough to put real space between the two of you, but enough where you could look into his warm, honey eyes. You smiled, taking him all in.

“Welcome home, Flyboy.” You finally said, fixing his cover on his head for him. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Sunshine.” He smiled widely, “It’s so fucking good to be home.”

He carefully set you down, making sure you were steady. You both moved closer to where Mav and Penny were standing.

“Welcome home, Bradley,” Mav said, pulling him into a hug.

“Thanks, Mav.” He replied, “I’ve never been happier to get off a carrier before.”

“I bet.” He laughed. “I honestly thought I was going to have to block these two from charging the ship in search of you and Jake.”

“We were getting ready stampede everyone ahead of us.” Bradley laughed, winking at you. “Needed to get to our girls.”

“SWEETS!” Jake exclaimed, having joined the group after his own reunion with Shay. He held his arms out, “Come here!”

You laughed quickly moving into his outstretched arms. “I missed you Jakey!”

“Missed you too Sweets.” He replied, squeezing you tightly. You hugged him back just as tightly knowing this was probably the first time he’d ever had a welcoming committee upon returning from a longer deployment. Bradley too. That’s why you’d planned a welcome home party for them all at the Hard Deck the next night.

“Alright, I’ll bet the two of you want showers, to change clothes and a decent meal.” Penny said, “Not getting any of that here on this dock.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Bradley said, “And I promised my girl I’d be holding her once I got off the ship, and I wouldn’t be letting go.”

“Take me home, Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw.” You said, laughing.

“Happily, soon to be Mrs. Lieutenant Commander Bradshaw.” He replied. “I can’t wait until next week, Sunshine.”

“Me either.” You answered, kissing him.

Later that night tucked in bed, held tightly in Bradley’s arms the two of you were finally able to fully relax.

“I think I missed this the most.” You said quietly, tracing patterns over Bradley’s bare chest with your fingers. “Just being in your arms, hearing your heartbeat, being able to touch you.”

“Me too, Sunshine.” He said, dipping his head to kiss the top of your head. “I haven’t slept for shit in six weeks. I need you snuggled into me, to smell the flowery lotion you use before bed, the feel of your breath on my skin. I honestly don’t know how I survived without you for so damn long.”

“Good thing we never have to go back to being without one another.” You said, “We get forever, Roo.”

“I’m banking on longer than forever, Sunshine.” He replied, “I love you”

“I love you too, Roo.” You said, turning your head to kiss his chest. You snuggled in closer, your hand over his heart, and the two of you drifted off into a restful sleep.

A/N: Next up for Sunshine and Bradley is their wedding!!! I hope you’re still enjoying these two as much as I love them! Please let me know what you think!!

Taglist: @gracespicybradshaw @memoriesat30, @khaylin27, @snekssss, @shanimallina87 @atarmychick007 @jstarr86 @marantha @taytaylala12 @theweekndhistorybook @happylittlereader @hobiismyhopeu @krismdavis @itsdesiree86

#bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #top gun fanfiction #Miles Teller #Stubborn Hearts

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not-a-space-alien · 1 year

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K&J x MMSS 3: Kane & Valen Part 1

Hi everyone!! I'm here to post another collab with @whumpsday. It's the start of a new crossover series between K&J and MMSS. This one will be multiple parts. THIS SERIES IS 18+ ONLY. It contains adult content. Minors are NOT allowed to read, and you MUST be over 18 to ask to be added to the tag list. This particular crossover gets MUCH darker than the first two, so reader discretion is advised. Chapters will have individual warnings.

If you asked to be on the K&J x MMSS crossover taglist, you should be tagged here! If you aren't and want to be, contact @whumpsday! The tag list is opt-in and, again, 18+ only.

That all being said, hope you enjoy! This is an AU where Nick snags Kane as well as Valen for his experiments. It takes place before/diverges from Impending for K&J and after/diverges from 6M/6S

K&J masterlist

MMSS masterlist

K&J x MMSS crossover masterlist

Part 1

Content warnings: Torture, starvation, dehumanization/”it” as a dehumanizing pronoun, bondage/restraints, non-consensual nudity, rape/noncon, misgendering of a trans character (due to not knowing his gender / non-malicious)

Kane would be bouncing off the walls with excitement if he had any energy left in his body. He's leaving, that's what the hunters had said. He knows that where he's going likely won't be much better than here, he's still going to be with hunters, but anything has to be better than here. It has to. It can't possibly be worse.

He's anxious too, of course. Here, he knows what's going to happen. He has absolutely no clue what awaits him in his new accommodations. But it can't be worse. He keeps telling himself that, over and over. It can't be worse. It can't be worse. It can't be worse.

He startles as he hears the footsteps of an approaching human, unsure if this is a hunter here to torture him or a new hunter here to pick him up. He spares a glance around his barren cell, almost nostalgic after so long with it as his home. He won't miss it, not in the slightest, but it feels strange to leave.

A new man comes down into the cell, escorted by two hunters Kane is familiar with. He pushes his spectacles up his nose. "Hm, this is the new research specimen? You didn't tell me it was in a starved state as well." His voice is dripping with disapproval and disappointment. "I wanted a second one specifically because the first one is healing its wounds more slowly than is optimal."

Kane can't believe what he's hearing. This hunter wants him not starved. That means he might be fed. It's better than he'd even hoped.

But the man is disappointed. He doesn't want him, because he's starving. He knows he should stay quiet, but the thought that he might be passed over and left here to rot because of something so easily and wonderfully fixed sends him into such panic that he blurts out, "I'll heal fast, sir! If, if you feed me, it'll be fixed quickly! Easily!"

He slaps a hand over his mouth, cursing himself for jumping the gun. He should have waited, only should have only started speaking out of turn if it really seemed like the man would leave him here.

The two hunters laugh. The newcomer gives Kane a piercing, irritated glare that makes him wince. "Yes, obviously. It will be an uphill battle to get permission to feed you, though. Starved vampires are much safer. Especially you, since apparently I hear you have quite a major birth defect. The fact that you're an imperfect specimen might introduce...hmm, confounding factors. Not ideal, but better than nothing. And it certainly does make you a lot safer to keep around. The director insists safety is our utmost priority."

He turns to the other hunters. "I'll take him. Thank you for your cooperation."

The hunters thank him in turn for doing something to help make hunting easier, keeping humanity safer. They call him Nick.

Kane’s eyes sparkle with hope. This is it. He's leaving, and he might be fed. His defect is actually good for something, making him safer for this new hunter to keep around. He never thought he'd be thankful for it. This is the best thing that's happened to him in a long, long time. He scrambles to his feet, eager to follow his new keeper out of this hell. "Thank you, sir. I'll be good. Safe," he says quietly.

Nick gives him a withering glance. "It doesn't matter whether or not you're 'good.' Although it may save us all some trouble." Nick has two pairs of padded cuffs, which he asks the hunters to put on Kane's wrists and ankles. The ankle ones are long enough that he can walk, but not run.

Kane nods sheepishly at the further irritation. He can't seem to say anything right, and it scares him into silence. He needs this man not to hate him. He holds still as he's fitted with his new restraints. They don't burn, a new concept to him. Oh, this new hunter is merciful. "Thank you, sir," he repeats, even quieter this time.

He eyes the stairs at the end of the hall, concerned. He knows he won't be able to do that on his own. He's always been dragged, or strapped to the board. He supposes he can try to crawl if he needs to, but he might lack the energy for even that.

"Let's go, then," says Nick, marching him over to the stairs. He stands behind Kane, clearly expecting him to climb them on his own.

"Yes, sir." Kane gives it his best try, he really does. He starts off walking, switching to crawling shortly after, but he only makes it about one-third of the way up the two flights of stairs before he collapses. "I'm s-sorry, sir. I'm too weak, I can't do it. I'm tr-trying, please." He shakes with fear, terrified that the man will conclude him a lost cause and abandon him here.

Nick rolls his eyes. He turns to the other hunters. "Help me load this into my car, would you?"

One of the hunters grabs Kane roughly. He only weighs about 60 pounds, and the hunters are strong, so it doesn't require more than one person. Relief courses through Kane at the confirmation that he's still leaving.

"Thank you, sir," he repeats again, hanging limply over the hunter's shoulder. He’s unresisting, until he sees it’s daytime outside.

Kane starts to panic. “Wait wait wait, please, please not the sun! Please, I’ll be good, n-not the sun!”

“Shut the fuck up.” The hunter carrying him hits him over the head.

“Stop being rough,” Nick scolds. “Don’t damage my research sample. Just put it in the trunk.”

Kane calms at that. He’s not being put in the sun, at least not now. He curls up in the trunk. “Thank you, sir. Thank you thank you thank you.”

It's getting dark by the time they get to the new hunter's compound, and Nick opens the trunk. He doesn't say anything for a moment, just looming over him.

Kane likes being in the trunk. It's safe in there, no windows to let sun in. When Nick opens it, he stares up at him, relieved that the sun has now set. "Th-thank you for taking me, sir," he says awkwardly, unsure what's wanted of him. The man even said it didn't matter if he was good. "What can I do for you...?"

Nick leans down over Kane's limp form in the trunk. His manner is completely different from the detached, calculating air he had back in the other hunter's compound. "From now on, you are not to speak with any other hunters except for me. Not even if they talk to you first, not even if they ask you questions, not even if they threaten you or torture you. You can scream, you can cry, you can make all the noise you want, but not a single word to them. Understand?"

"Yes, sir. I understand," Kane answers immediately, but this rule terrifies him. He doesn't know if he'll be able to resist a direct order from a hunter to speak, he's been so trained to obedience. He definitely couldn’t resist it under torture. But he has no other option but to agree to it, so he does.

Nick smiles, showing his teeth, but it's more like a sneer. "I can't wait to hurt you. I can't wait to hear you beg me to stop. I can't wait to find out what exactly you hate the most just so I can do it to you over and over and over again. I can't wait to treat you like the monster that you are, to make you understand what pain feels like. What it feels like to be hurt and violated and drained and your body used to give others pleasure in whatever way they see fit to use it over and over and over again, not knowing when it will end, wanting to just die. Feeling your mind cracking and splintering." He has a glow of madness in his eye.

Kane shudders. The sentiment is nothing he hasn't heard before. At least this hunter is letting him know exactly what to expect, and he implied Kane would be fed. He has to hold onto that, the possibility that maybe things might be a little better here. "Yes, sir. I understand." he repeats. "I won't resist. I know my place.”

He notices fang marks on the hunter's neck. Probably from a fight, given his profession? It certainly won't make him any more merciful toward Kane, he knows. The hunters are always crueler when they want revenge.

Nick's smile fades a little, dumbfounded, as though he hadn't expected that. "You should be scared."

"I'm always scared, sir," Kane assures him. "I promise I am. I haven't stopped being scared for years." He understands what the hunter means, though. For him, getting to torture a vampire is new. But everything he's just said is a description of what his life is already like. Nothing is changing. The thought brings tears to his eyes. It's not changing. He's still going to be tortured. "I'm scared," he insists again, his voice breaking. It couldn't be more true.

Nick frowns. "Fine. That's a little better, I suppose." His face slips back into the cold, uncaring mask as another hunter approaches. "Help me move this inside, please."

Another hunter comes into his field of view, crinkling their nose at him. "Hell, you got a second one? Fuck, Nick, come on."

Nick's lip twitches. "Fine, if you won't help me I'll just do it myself." He reaches in and pulls Kane out, standing him upright but not allowing him much time to catch his balance before shutting the trunk and dragging him towards the building. "First I'll clean you off. You're disgusting."

Nick makes him stand next to the building and unrolls a garden hose.

Kane opens his mouth to say Yes, sir, then closes it before he can speak. He's unsure whether the hunter's rule applies just to speaking directly to other hunters, or speaking in their presence at all, and he decides to err on the safe side and stay quiet. Instead, he opts to nod with a "Mm-hm."

He wonders if the water will be freezing-cold like it is at his old prison. He might not dislike it so much if it isn't. But given the hunter's speech, he seriously doubts it. He's not expecting mercy, aside from that titillating promise of blood.

It quickly turns out that the water is, in fact, very cold, and the pressure blasts Kane hard enough that he falls over. He lays there as he's hosed off, moving as he needs to, to make sure all of him is hosed. He can't really be called clean, but he's definitely covered in less blood and grime than he was before. He's shivering almost violently.

Nick is unsatisfied by how Kane is cooperating and not struggling, but the other hunter is still watching him, so he can't get away with being sadistic right now. He pulls Kane up and shakes him off to get some of the water off, then leads him into the house.

A pair of women come out of the building as they come in. Kane will figure this out as time goes on, but they are, in fact, the only women who work at this branch. The field is mostly male-dominated. One of them looks absolutely disgusted. "Really?" she says, looking Kane up and down. "Jesus Christ."

"You're not allowed to do that," says the other. "There have to be two people present to have one out--"

"For your information," Nick snarls, “the director gave me permission to keep this one on a chain and not in the coffin, because it's less dangerous. It can't use persuasion. Documented and verified. So kindly fuck off with your moralistic hand-wringing."

The taller woman pushes Kane out of the way to get in Nick's face. "Don't talk to my girlfriend that way.”

"Then keep her on a leash," says Nick.

They stare eye to eye. Nick clearly wants to start hurling slurs. The taller woman clearly wants to start swinging. But eventually she snatches the hand of the petite woman behind her and drags her out. "Let's get out of here, Lex. Fuck this noise."

Kane follows, still shivering and mostly sopping wet. His eyes dart between the hunters nervously as they argue. It's never good when they're in a bad mood. He takes in the information, trying to parse out anything useful to him, but none of it seems to be. These hunters hate the one in charge of him, and vice-versa. They seemed concerned he would be dangerous, but his keeper dispelled that notion, which is good.

Then the tall woman pushes him suddenly, and Kane flinches hard, only just barely managing to keep his balance. He whimpers holding his bound hands in front of his face, but the women leave without hurting him. He looks back at the hunter in charge, anxious about what's going to happen next. "Wh-what now, sir?"

Nick scowls and doesn't answer, taking him downstairs. He makes Kane walk, and when inevitably Kane starts to fall he grabs him and carries him downstairs.

The basement has a cement floor, with a drain in the center, and lots of equipment of varying scariness. But the main thing Kane notices is the second vampire: in a cage barely bigger than its own body tucked in the corner, locked up in restraints that look wildly excessive, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, a muzzle, a metal collar, and a terrified expression.

Nick claps a matching metal collar on Kane's neck, locking it shut, and holds him by the metal ring now on his neck.

Kane stares in horror at the other vampire for a moment before blushing fiercely and pointedly looking away, bright red. She's got no shirt on, and he doesn't want to seem like a creep. She looks to be in a similar state to himself. He's never had a co-captive before, or at least, not one that's survived more than a few hours. His heart hurts knowing someone else is enduring this. Looking around the room makes him shudder: he's never been kept with the weapons before.

He gasps as the collar locks around his neck, tensing up, before realizing it's not burning him and relaxing just slightly. His terrified eyes dart briefly back to the other vampire, who wears a similar collar, before landing back on the hunter holding him by the neck. "Is it... starting now, sir?" he whimpers.

Valen watches this new vampire come in, chest aching. Part of him feels guilty at being a little relieved. With a second vampire here, maybe Nick will stop hurting him quite so much. But...he's also really not looking forward to having to watch someone else endure these horrors. This new vampire is a man, too, which makes Valen panic a little at the prospect of being in captivity together with him, but... The newcomer averts his eyes upon seeing Valen's nudity. And it’s probably ridiculous to be thinking such a thing when they’re clearly going to be tormented together by Nick. Please just don't make it worse for me, he silently begs the newcomer. I don't know how it could get worse, but please don't make it worse. He imagines this newcomer filling all their spare time by adding to Valen's misery to take it out on the one person who has even less power than him....

Looking at him now, it seems this new vampire is no stranger to such a predicament, though. He's already starved, completely skin and bones, and all his movements have a clearly practiced deference to them.

"What's your name?" Nick asks, ignoring Kane’s question.

Kane is surprised that the hunter would care, but he supposes it makes sense. There has to be a way to differentiate when leech or parasite could refer to either of them. "My name is Kane, sir."

"Wrong," Nick whispers in his ear. "Your name is Research Specimen #2."

Valen turns away from watching Nick and his new victim, tears streaming down his face. He already can't watch. He feels so guilty for just being relieved it's not him out there.

"Yes, sir. My name is Research Specimen #2," Kane agrees easily. It's far from the worst thing he's been called. He dares to hope at the fact that this hunter clearly likes humiliating him. Those ones always spend less time doing things that hurt. He doesn't mind humiliation, not anymore.

Nick smiles. "Good." He slips a muzzle over Kane's face. It's bare metal, but it doesn't burn, and it still allows him to speak. He drags Kane over to the center of the room and attaches a chain to the cuffs on his wrists, then pulls the chain to force Kane up onto the balls of his feet, arms over his head.

"Lucky you," says Nick. "Since you're such a pathetic piece of shit that can't do anything to help itself, I'm allowed to do whatever I want to you without anyone around to supervise. No need for two people around." He approaches and, in one smooth motion, pulls Kane's pants and underwear down, leaving him completely exposed from top to bottom.

Kane squeals in alarm, attempting unsuccessfully to maneuver his legs in a way that hides his junk. His heart practically stops in his chest as he really thinks now about the implications of the topless vampire in the cage.

He thought he'd experienced every kind of torture he could, but he's never been raped before.

His breathing quickens with panic. Maybe he's wrong and that's not what's going to happen. This hunter seemed to hate those gay lady hunters from earlier, after all. And he's a man.

No, in the hunter's eyes, he's an it.

He squeezes his eyes shut, his weight hanging from his wrists. "Wh-wh-what's happening?" he asks, his voice pitched with fear.

Nick smiles. There it is, the dread he was looking for. He picks up a camera. "I'm photographing your condition. For comparisons later." He starts to snap photos, circling Kane, kneeling to get better angles, and snapping at him to stay still when he makes efforts to preserve his modesty.

Nick glances up the stairs to make sure no one is close enough to overhear him before he lowers his voice and says, "And for the record, the only reason you're keeping your pants at all is because I don't want to stare at your disgusting cock all day. At least Specimen #1 has the decency to be pleasing to look at."

This elicits a choked sob from the vampire in the cage, who's turned away from Kane and isn't watching.

Kane calms down slightly when the hunter insults his body. He was wrong, he's not going to be violated, at least not like that. He stays still as directed, giving up any effort at preserving his modesty, watching the hunter circle around him. He wishes the other vampire weren't here. It turns out he does have some shame left, at being exposed in front of her.

It is abundantly clear that while what he'd feared isn't going to happen to him, it's definitely happening to her. He feels, for the first time in a long time, rage. He's resigned himself to the fact he'll be tormented, he knows he deserves it. But she doesn't.

"I'm... sorry, sir?" he says hesitantly. This is new territory, and he's not sure what to say.

Nick lets out a short, barking laugh. "Fine." He hangs the camera around his neck. "I'm going to go develop these. I'll be back later, when everyone else is gone." He leers at the vampire in the cage for a moment before mounting the stairs and exiting, turning off the light and locking the door behind him, leaving the two of them alone.

Kane does not possess the strength to support himself on the balls of his feet, hanging limply. He doesn't weigh much, but his wrists and shoulders still ache from supporting his weight.

He wishes the hunter had at least pulled his shorts back up.

"H-hello," Kane says awkwardly, though he doesn't look at her. He's mortified. "Um, I'm Kane. I guess you heard. I apologize for my appearance." He sighs. "I hate this. I'm sorry you're here too. When the hunter was picking me up, he mentioned... he didn't want me starved, so I could heal faster. Does he feed you?" he asks hopefully.

He does spare a glance at her, knowing she can't answer verbally with that thing in her mouth.

Oh god, the new vampire is talking to him. Part of Valen just wants him to be quiet, maybe it would be better for them to just not acknowledge each other...Maybe it would be nice to not be so alone in this Hell, but...Valen had long given up hope that things would actually get better for him. Every new change usually only makes things worse. He's fully preparing himself for the eventuality that the addition of a second test subject is going to somehow make everything worse for him.

Does he feed me? Does it look like he feeds me? He glances at Kane, who's waiting for an answer. Kane looks... resigned already, completely hopeless before he even got here. That scares him. Is Valen going to end up like that, too? Kane has clearly been trying to preserve some modicum of dignity for both of them, in their nude states, but Valen's eyes briefly flicker up and down the exposed form of the new vampire, to see all of him, before going red and realizing that might be making things worse.

He makes eye contact with Kane and shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to suppress the tears.

Kane sighs again, dejected. "It didn't look like it. Fuck, I want blood so bad. I'm so hungry. I haven't eaten in years." He starts to cry, the humiliation and despair too much for him to hold back. He can feel his face heat up again as she looks him over. Not only is he nude, he knows he looks disgusting, even with the hosedown.

"I wanna go home," he whimpers through his tears. He takes a minute to wallow in self-pity before taking a deep breath and... talking. He hasn't been around an equal, someone he could speak freely around, in a long time, and with no responses to interrupt him, he feels compelled to ramble.

"I hate that you're here too, but at least it's nice to not be alone, even if it's awkward that he won't let us be clothed. I was alone with my old hunters. Oh, you're probably wondering, I can't use persuasion. That's why they haven't stopped me from speaking, I suppose. My shoulders hurt."

He tries to balance himself on the balls of his feet, but he's too exhausted to manage it, and the chains pull his arms upward again. "I mean, it could be worse. The cuffs and collars the old hunters usually used were bare silver, and they burned. At least these don't burn. Is this how he's going to keep me all the time, you think? That would be awful. At least I got to lay on the floor back in my cell."

Valen doesn't know if Kane expects him to answer any of these things. He seems to be talking more for his own benefit than actually to Valen. That was how men usually talked to him, though. But it is a little bit nice to not be alone.

Hearing someone else finally say I wanna go home in that small, overwhelmed voice breaks him. He also wants to go home. He would do anything to be back with Priscus, a man he once despised, in a home he used to view as a prison. He'd been so foolish and naive. He hadn't known what horrors life was truly capable of producing for him.

Valen takes a moment to ponder the idea that he can't use persuasion....Valen had never heard of that before. Except...No, he had, there was one vampire. Kane de Sang. The pieces clicked into place. They'd only met in passing once, years ago, but it looked like the same person. How did a spoiled rich brat like that end up here, like this?

But that gives him a bit of hope, because...Kane doesn't need to be kept from talking. Valen could always feel that the hunters might be able to be convinced if he could just communicate with them. Some of them were sympathetic, he could see it, and if he could just ask for help in the right way, surely some of them would listen. Maybe Kane could do that. Maybe Kane could finally make it known that Nick was breaking the rules. Valen sobs. Maybe, maybe, maybe if Valen is very lucky and his new co-prisoner isn't a complete piece of shit, he might, maybe speak up on Valen's behalf. It seems dangerous to hope.

***

K&J x MMSS crossover taglist:

@barebarb @cc1010foxy @emcscared-whumps @melancholy-in-the-morning @pigeonwhumps @secretwhumplair @some-thrilling-heoics @t0rture-me @thecyrulik @thejinglingcourtjester @vehan-tikkun-olam-and-stuff @whuarri @whump-cravings @whump-my-heart-away @whumpycries @wolfeyedwitch

If you want to be added to the taglist, ask @whumpsday, NOT me, as Milly is the one keeping track of the taglist.

#whump #vampire whumpee #whumblr #MMSS #K&J #angst

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superzombiewho · 1 year

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It’s too late

This is from @janilee’s Post-Revelations Edward and Nikolai edit. I got permission to make a short fic. This whole thing is dedicated to them. And I give them 100% credit. I just loved the idea and wanted to do something.

I apologize if it’s bad.

But Janilee, I hope you like it. Enjoy everyone!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He had been acting unusual. Well more so, if that was possible. He kept blowing off the Russian, coming up with excuses to not talk to him, saying there was much to do. This was more unusual than their constant bickering at each other.

It was so unusual that Dempsey and Takeo noticed.

There were many nights where the two would let the Russian rant about Edward. They were slowly getting annoyed, getting sick of Nikolai’s whining and Edward’s excuses.

There were times that Takeo tried talking with the German, but he never got anywhere with it. Even Dempsey had tried to talk with him, but all he got was a, “Vhy do jou care, Dempshey?”

I mean. What were you expecting to happen? Edward actually cooperate? This is Richtofen we’re talking about. He speaks in riddles, he talks to himself. His answers never make sense and are never straight forward.

So what do Dempsey and Takeo plan? To pair the two of them up. Not even both Edward’s together or Nikolai’s together, not Primis Edward with Ultimis Nikolai, non of that.

Just Eddie and Nik together.

What could go wrong?

Nikolai was keeping watch for the undead while Edward did what he had to do in the lab. Making sure the German wouldn’t die.

“What was the point?” Nikolai would think. “It’s not like he would care.”

But the silence was driving Nikolai insane. The smell and the flickering lights didn’t help.

“Why do you ignore me?” He asked.

Edward stayed quiet. But his working paused for a bit. He shook his head and continued.

“Do not ignore me any longer, German!”

“Zhere is much to do.”

Nikolai just looked at him dumbfounded. Really? That excuse again?

“Ever since the house, you’ve hardly spoken to me, or even looked at me! You’ve even stopped your bickering at every single thing I do! What happened?!”

“Jou really don’t remember, do you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do jou remember vhere ve vere before zhe house?”

That made Nikolai stop and think. Where were they again? So much has happened, everything doesn’t make sense anymore.

“Mein Gott, jou don’t.”

Edward’s mouth turned upwards in an evil smirk.

“Do jou know vhy Edvard alvays bickered vith jou?”

Why was he talking about himself in the 3rd person?

“Did jou know zhat he had feelings for jou?”

“Why are you talking like that?”

“Did jou know zhat he never said anyzhing because he didn’t know how jou vould react?”

Memories of catching extra long glances from Edward popped in his head.

Nikolai looked at the ground.

“Jou just found out jou liked him back. Didn’t jou?”

Nikolai never looked up.

“I didn’t want to say anything. In case you didn’t return those feelings.

Edward chuckled darkly.

“Of course you could have been together. Edward loved you the moment he laid eyes on you.”

Nikolai remembers that day in France, at the dig site. He was there to bring the German doctor into questioning. He remembers the gun pointed at the man who had just finished killing his father figure, a request from Maxis. He remembers the damaged man.

“He was just scared of his feelings.”

Nikolai remembers all the times he would yell at the German man about a thing going wrong in a mission. He remembers the man cowering before him. The regret in Richtofens eyes.

He also remembers when he would pick up something heavy, muscles flexing a little, Edward would always blush and look away.

He also remembers some conversations, Edward would stutter.

“For all his cockiness, he didn’t know how to act around you.”

His memory goes back to Nikolai helping Edward when ever he got down, or when ever no one else was there to help, he would yell at the Russian.

Nikolai hears yelling in the back of his head.

‘I’m still here’

‘No’

‘Nikolai!’

“And you know Edward,” Edward walks up to the Russian and leans up to his ear. Nikolai’s eyes widen at the voice in the back of his head.

“He likes to,” Edward whispers.

‘I vas zhe nicest one. Und jou von’t even… remember’

“Run.”

‘I love… you’

#niri #cod zombies #edward richtofen #primis richtofen #nikolai belinski #primis nikolai #takeo masaki #tank dempsey

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hangmanstigerlily · 1 year

Text

The Sky, The Shore, and The Sea

I am a new writer here on Tumblr. I used to write and never post my writings....and here we are. Please let me know what you guys think!

Pairing: Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x Named OC (Callsign is TigerLily) Warnings: None at the moment, it’s just some angst and more of a drabble, there will be future mentions of death...if future parts are wanted or I post them! Jake has a serious thing for Bianca, an old friend of Rooster and Maverick. But what will he do about it? Bianca is definitely hiding her past from everyone except Rooster who knows why. Rooster tries to help get them together and of course may lead to messing up his friendship in the process. (This work isn’t done, I just wanted to see what people thought of it! Enjoy!)

Also, I do not give permission to copy this work or any of my future work! But please if you enjoyed it, reblog and let me know! I’m really nervous about posting stuff!!

“I honesty don’t know what to do Bradley” Bianca took another sip of her beer as she looked at her friend and glanced back over at Hangman chatting up a storm with a petite blonde at that bar, while he waited for another round of drinks for the Dagger Squad. She had been falling for Jake “Hangman” Seresin more everyday since she met him at Rooster’s Halloween party last year.

“Bianca! I’m so glad you could make it!” Rooster yelled over the loud music playing. He was dressed as a cheesy vampire complete with the teeth and spiderweb collar. “You look ridiculous Bradley!” She laughed and playfully hit his arm. “You’re one to talk!” He laughed as he hugged her. She had settled on dressing like a tiger, an omage to her old call sign, complete with a tail and ears. She knew of his callsign, heck she knew everyone’s callsign thanks to their almost everyday conversations but nobody knew she had ever been a pilot or have a callsign. Bianca knew Rooster from Top Gun and through a family friend, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, her herself had passed the captains test but had stepped down because of a bad mission and accident, though only Bradley and Pete knew that part. He introduced her to everyone, joining Phoenix and Bob on the dancefloor, laughing.

“Well what do we have here? What’s your name tiger?” A deep, southern accented voice cut through the surrounding sounds of the party and music. Bianca’s heart flipped slightly at the stranger calling her tiger, spinning and crashing into a strong body donned with a button-up plaid shirt, she looked up into gorgeous green eyes. His bright smile almost took her breath away as he winked. “I’m Bianca, a friend of Bradley!” She yelled at him. “What’s your name cowboy?” She said loudly, glancing up at the black cowboy hat on his head. “Name’s Jake, but most call me Hangman” She looked at him quizzically at the callsign. So this was Hangman, the cocky, self-assured pilot, the one Bradley had warned her about being a womanizer. But hell if she was gonna pass on getting close to him.

One thing she knew was that she didn't swoon easily. “You wanna dance?” She asked boldly as she continued to hold his gaze. “Thought you’d never ask darlin’.” Rooster looked at the two and hummed in annoyance as Hangman put his hands on Bianca’s hip as they danced to the music. “Jealous?” Phoenix nudged his arm. He shook his head “No, I just know that look she gave him, something I'd seen her give past guys she likes. I know her all too well and I certainly know that Hangman is going to hurt her.” Phoenix looked at them. “But maybe she’ll take some of that cockiness out of him, she seems alot different from your typical girl.” Rooster just nodded in agreement.

Bianca and Jake couldn’t seem to get enough of each other, hanging out for most of the night. He was cocky all right, but maybe that’s what she liked about him. He reminded her of how she was at Top Gun before her accident. Jake’s head was full of thoughts, mostly of Bianca. She was like a bright flame that he was drawn to. He was so enthralled by her, he walked her to her car but was confused when she didn’t try to kiss him. Even if she didn’t, he couldn’t stop thinking about her long after the party.

Jake glanced over at Bianca as she took a drink from her beer at the Hard Deck. The blonde was chatting up a storm with him as he politely responded. Sure he would take the number she offered him but lately, he wasn’t feeling like his usual self. Studying Bianca when she looked over at Rooster, he thought of nothing but wanting to capture her attention, he wanted her near him in any capacity and if that only meant as a friend, he would have to settle for that, but it still didn’t stop the rush in his system every time he heard her voice, saw her, or saw her looking at him. He took the paper, put it in his pocket and nodded at Penny and the girl. “I’m sorry…was it Monica? I’m not really interested, but thank you” He smiled again and turned away, walking back over with the four beers in his hand. Penny glanced at him and laughed slightly as the girl paid and left, no doubt feelings hurt over Hangman’s rejection.

“....maybe try talking to him about it?” Rooster glanced up at her as he played pool, realizing she may have not even heard half of what he said. She shook her head, scoffing slightly, not asking him to repeat the first part of his statement as she had been lost in thought. “Oh yeah, ruin our friendship and never live down confessing to him” She looked back over at Hangman, he flashed the blonde another one of his blindingly bright, cocky grins and slipped the paper into his pocket before picking up the beers and sauntering back over to the pool tables. Her heart did a flip as his gaze settled on her, trying her best to look slightly bored, finishing her drink. Damn him and his good looks.

“Guess who scored again!” Hangman’s words came out with a slight drawl as he passed out the beers. “Let me guess, another notch for your ever growing belt Bagman?” Rooster stated, slight annoyance seeping into his voice. “Don’t be mad because you don’t have my level of game, Rooster.” Jake chuckled and picked up the pool cue to take his turn. “Whatever” Rooster muttered and glanced over at Bianca who seemed to be lost in thought again, staring off into space. Hangman hated keeping up the appearance that he was getting girls' numbers and actually calling them but as soon as he stopped, they would know something was up. He had never cared about another person like Bianca before and it scared him to change ways so suddenly.

Bianca stood up and stretched, “I’m gonna go guys. Got to stop by the restaurant tomorrow morning before dogfight football. I’ll see you at the beach.” She hugged Bob and Phoenix first, then Rooster, and then Hangman. She was slightly surprised when he didn’t let go right away, her hands gently played with the hair at the nape of his neck, holding onto him as tight as he was to her. Her face was pressed into his shoulder and could smell the mix of spice and sandalwood, no doubt the cologne he didn’t use often. But why did he today? He felt her tighten the hug, burying his face more into her neck and hair, she smelled like her perfume, a mix of vanilla, cardamom, and a hint of coffee. She breathed in his cologne slightly, before pulling away, trying to disperse the blush on her cheek with a chuckle. “You know I’ll see you tomorrow Jake, you act like I’ll disappear before then” He smiled that brilliant smile again at her “Maybe I just like feeling you against me, darlin’.” He winked. “Sure Bagman” She waved as she left the bar.

“You know, you can just tell her right? That you love her? You’ve been like a puppy following her around. You spend a lot of time looking at her. Who knows, maybe she even likes you back." Rooster looked at him, seeing the moment that had just occurred in front of him. Hangman looked at him “I don’t know what you are talking about Bradshaw '' He shrugged and walked over to the jukebox. Rooster watched him and took notice of him tossing the paper with the girl's number on it in the trash, trying to be nonchalant about it. Liar. Rooster thought. Phoenix glanced at Rooster "you think we need to step in and help?" Rooster nodded, pressing his lips together, only knowing of one way to do that, bring up the past and push her towards Hangman, but he had to do it alone because only himself, Maverick, Bianca’s mom, and Penny knew who she really was.

He hated the idea of doing that. But he knew one way that would bring back her memories. Maverick had salvaged her plane, the Tempest and had restored it in a hangar on base. It was going to be a surprise for Bianca’s 30th birthday in December. She loved that plane, it had been her dad's and had been given to her. In her first mission though she had been shot down over the ocean and there were bad memories attached to that plane as well. Bradley pulled out his phone and told her to be ready in the morning, he would pick her up, take her to the restaurant and then he had a surprise for her. He swallowed hard as she agreed, this would hurt her and hurt their friendship, he knew it.

#topguncortez #look I finally posted some fanfiction #jake seresin x reader #jake hangman seresin #new writer #sorry if this sucks #please me merciful tumblr gods

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navybrat817 · 3 years

Text

Play by the Rules

Pairings: Mob!Steve Rogers x Female Reader, Mob!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: Steve’s secret is out. Now it’s time to talk. Word Count: Over 2.2k Warnings: Smut, voyeurism, slight exhibitionism, feels A/N: I know I said I was taking a break this weekend, but this wouldn’t leave my mind and I didn’t fight the muse. Sequel to Play Well with Others. Beta read by the wonder @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog and @eurynome827, but any and all mistakes are my own. Thank you both, lovelies! @buckyownsmylife - This is for you, darling. Mood board by @dreamslikeaheartbeat-deactivate.

I do not consent to have my work posted on any third party site or app. If anyone sees my work anywhere but here or archiveofourown under my same username, it has been reposted without my permission. 18+ Please!!! By reading this, you agree that you are at least 18 years old. Enjoy, lovelies!

Steve didn't like being on edge. It made him feel impulsive and rash. He always had a plan. But since that day, a huge wrench was thrown in the chain. And he didn't know how to handle it.

"If I were to share down the road… it would only be with you."

He knew better than to ask Bucky when and if that day would come. If they weren't best friends, he would have been staring down the barrel of a gun the moment his feelings for you came to light. Their bond saved his skin. Contrary to his reputation, Winter had a heart. It belonged to you.

"But that would be a mutual discussion and decision. She isn't a toy or prize and I refuse to let her get hurt. And if she says no, that's the end of it."

The thing was, you acted as if nothing happened. You hadn’t shied away when he came around, but you hadn’t pushed the envelope either. It was as if the moment in the office was all in his mind. It made him feel… insignificant. Like he didn’t matter to you at all.

It wasn’t your fault. And he wasn’t upset with you. How could he be? You were in love with Bucky. He was just along for the twisted ride.

Still, the nagging voice in the back of his mind gave him hope. He didn’t imagine how you looked at him when you were bent over that desk. Or the tender smile you gave him after when Bucky held you. There was something between the two of you. Whatever it was, it was special.

“Hey, punk,” Bucky said, getting his attention. “Been awful quiet today.”

“Busy and waiting on an update from Parker,” he lied. It sounded false to his own ears. No way would his partner believe it.

“You mean the update I got an hour ago?”

Steve didn’t try to correct himself as his friend chuckled. “Buck, I’m really busy. Just-”

“Come with me,” he suggested, clapping a hand on his shoulder and leaving no room to argue.

Steve sighed as he got up, buttoning his jacket as he followed. The hall was dark and quiet. He wondered if this was how some of the lackeys felt when they were led to their doom.

“Where is everyone?” he asked. “Errands, jobs, Barton has someone in the basement. I didn’t want anyone on this floor for the time being,” Bucky said, stopping at the private den and opening the door.

Steve cocked an eyebrow. No one was allowed in there except for the two of them… and you.

“Hey, baby doll,” Bucky smiled as he walked in.

You looked up from your phone, immediately setting it aside to give both of them your full attention. “Hey, Bucky. Steve.”

The Captain managed to suppress his shiver when you said his name. It sounded warm and rich on your tongue, like you were tasting something delicious. “Hey, sweetheart.”

Bucky smirked when he let the pet name slip. It felt natural. “I thought now would be a good time for us to talk.”

“I was wondering how much longer you’d keep me waiting,” you said, leaning back on the sofa.

Steve was confused for only a second before it hit him. That was it. This was… the talk. He had to play it cool and not look too eager. He helped command a city, after all. He could handle this.

Bucky went to you after the door was shut, leaning down for a kiss. He tried not to watch, but it was as hypnotic as the last time. He was a moth to the flame. Would you burn him?

“Are you going to join us?” you asked when Bucky pulled away, taking a seat beside you and draping an arm over your shoulders.

He glanced at the two of you, taking a moment to appreciate what he was looking at. It wasn’t every day that he got to see a true power couple. “If that’s what you’d like.”

“I would,” you confirmed, gesturing for him to sit in the chair across from you.

He took slow, deliberate strides as he went to join you. His presence intimidated most, like Bucky’s, but here you were. You were in the lion’s den, but he should have figured out long ago that you were the ringmaster.

“I took the liberty,” you said, nodding to the glass of whiskey on the stand beside him.

“That was thoughtful of you,” he said, taking a sip and letting the burn ground him. It was his favorite. You knew the little things about them.

“She’s a thoughtful gal,” Bucky added proudly.

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” you teased before your gaze turned serious. “Steve, I won’t beat around the bush. With your job, I know you both value loyalty and trust. I value the same. I'm loyal to Bucky because I love and respect him. I respect you, too.”

Steve took another sip. “But you don’t love me,” he whispered, letting that sink in.

You cocked your head to the side, a pensive look on your face. “I’m not a liar and I especially wouldn’t lie when it comes to feelings. I care about you. If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“You care about me?” he repeated, his heart racing as he looked at his friend. “You know that?”

“I know everything. I know what she wants and what makes her happy, like she knows for me," Bucky said. That was all he wanted. "I know people think I’m just balls deep inside her when I don’t work, but we do actually talk.”

“Sometimes we talk when you’re balls deep inside me,” you said lustfully before you turned your attention back to him. Now that image was in his mind. “Back to your original question, yes. I do care about you, Steve. Bucky understands that.”

The floor fell out from under him. It seemed almost easier at the thought of having your body when he knew he couldn’t have your heart. Hearing that you cared, at least to some capacity, changed things. It changed everything.

“If you and I are physical, Bucky will be present,” you went on as if you hadn’t rocked his entire world. “That could change down the line, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I also expect honesty and communication. Do not lie to me. Ever. If I catch you lying, we’re done. No questions asked.” A smile crept to Steve’s face before he could stop it. He loved your confidence. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“I mean it. If it’s too much or you want more, you need to tell us,” you pressed, looking at Bucky. “I expect honesty from you, too.”

“I told you Steve was the only person I would ever consider this with and I meant it,” he swore, kissing you. “And if I recall, you said the same thing.”

Steve shifted in his seat, picturing the two of you curled up in bed and discussing the possibility of having him there. The fact that you didn’t want anyone else… He was falling hard again, but he would do right by you and be honest.

“I did,” you sighed, leaning back more in your seat. “We can establish more rules and we can all take time to think it over. How does that sound?”

Part of Steve wanted to dive in and get started. It was a dream come true. But he had to think it through for everyone’s sake. And he wasn’t ready to put all his cards on the table. “Give me a couple of days to think about it. I may have some other rules or questions.”

You nodded after a moment. “Of course, you can take a couple of days. Take all the time you need.”

Bucky tapped his finger on the sofa, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Before you do that…”

Steve looked at his friend. Was this whole thing a set up to see how he’d react? A trick? No, it couldn’t be. At least, not on your part. You didn’t have a cruel bone in your body.

“I just want you to see a taste of what you’ll have,” Bucky finished, his voice deeper. "Show him, doll."

The smile on your face was innocent compared to fire in your eyes. He waited with bated breath as you toyed with the hem of your dress. He gripped the arms of the leather chair when you moved it up an inch, a rumble in his chest. You were teasing him. And he liked it.

"You do like Stevie, don't you?" Bucky asked.

"Of course, I do."

"Then stop playing with him. We have plenty of time for that later," he said, taking your hand and bringing it to his mouth. "He hasn't fully seen that side of you and I'd hate for him to lose control so soon," he added, kissing each finger before releasing it.

"I'm sorry, Steve," you said sincerely.

The blonde's gaze went soft as he looked at you. Was there a level beyond "whipped"? If there was, he was already there. "You have nothing to apologize for, sweetheart."

Smiling again, you brought both hands back to the bottom of your dress. "Have you thought about touching me?" you asked, pulling the fabric up your body and letting it stop at your hips. He swore his spirit left his body when your legs fell open. You weren't wearing any underwear.

Oh. Oh, fuck.

He shifted again in his chair, unable to look away from the prize he was so close to winning. No, that wasn't right. You weren't a prize. You were a gift. A goddess. He wanted to drop to his knees and show you with his tongue how much he worshipped you.

"Steve?"

He wanted to answer, but seeing your shining, wet cunt made his throat go dry. “I’ve thought about it.”

Bucky's hand slowly inched up your leg, grabbing and hooking it over his own to leave you wide open. “Tell her, Steve. Tell us what you’d do to her. It’s such a beautiful pussy and she’s so good to me. Always make a place for my tongue, fingers and cock.”

Steve swore under his breath, running his hand over the bulge in his pants. “I’ve thought about how sweet you’d taste… How far I could stab my tongue before you beg for my cock.”

You gasped when Bucky’s fingers dipped between your folds. “Oh…”

“I think she likes that. Keep talking.”

Rubbing his clothed erection again, he tried to keep his breathing under control. Bucky’s fingers worked the length of your slit, gathering wetness on them. “I’d make you come at least once before I give you my cock. Bet you’d be nice and tight around me. I’d make it so good for you.”

“I know you would,” you moaned as fingers breached you, making you arch your back.

Steve saw how hard your nipples were through your dress. He wanted to tear it off and feel the weight in his hands. He wanted to tease them with his fingers until you whimpered for him. The thought made him reach for his belt.

“No,” Bucky growled when he went to release himself. “You want this? Her? Then you take your days to think about it, but don’t come. You don’t get to come again until it’s in her. Mouth, cunt, I don’t give a fuck which hole you choose.”

“Oh, fuck!” you cried as his fingers pumped in and out of you. You rocked your hips in time with them, your wetness making the leather beneath you shine.

“You really want to get her going? She loves that authority. Take a good look, Stevie. Look at her. Best pussy out there… Best girl, too. Tell her how good she is.”

He wanted to take his cock in his hand so bad, fuck his fist until he spilled over. “You’re so good, sweetheart. You’ll take us both so well. You won’t know anything outside of us and our cocks. Does that excite you? The thought of being trapped between the two most powerful men in the city?”

“Please!” you cried as Bucky pressed his palm against your clit.

Steve watched, entranced, but he was making mental notes. He mentally noted the speed, the motions. He heard when your breath hitched and when you keened. He would learn how to drag every sound out of you.

“She’s close. Ready to lose it. Make her.”

“Come for me, sweetheart,” Steve growled, not recognizing the sound of his own voice.

Your head fell back as the coil inside you snapped, Bucky’s fingers fucking you through it. Your moans filled the room and Steve wished like hell he had recorded that. He would listen to it on a loop if he could.

“That’s it, baby doll. So good for us. Oh, fuck. You made a mess. So fucking pretty,” Bucky groaned once he slowed his fingers down.

You sighed as you lifted your head, your eyes dazed. Steve had to grip himself through his pants, almost coming from that sight. You looked wrecked, but not destroyed. They would bring you there soon. He was sure of it.

Bucky brought his fingers to his lips, slowly licking each one clean. “So… Still need a couple of days to think it over?”

#steve rogers x reader #bucky barnes x reader #mob!steve rogers x reader #mob!bucky barnes x reader #steve rogers x you #bucky barnes x you #steve rogers imagine #bucky barnes imagine #navybrat writes

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h2obased · 2 years

Text

Amendments (Bucky Barnes one-shot)

Pairing: Bucky x F!Reader (third person, very minimal identifiers)

Summary: It feels like everyone has a thing for Bucky's girl, so he comes up with a rule. It's fairly straightforward, although he keeps on adding exceptions, and of course things get out of hand.

Notes & Warnings:

DNI if below 18. Sexual innuendos and situations, extreme flirting, fluff, canon-typical violence.

Female reader, written in the third person with very minimal identifiers.

I do not give permission for my work to be copied/reposted/translated anywhere. I only post stories here and on AO3.

Word count: 5,575

My two-story masterlist

Amendments

The next person to hit on his girl dies, Bucky decides.

“What did I tell you, Buck? Check out the view.” Sam jabs him with an elbow. It’s always a sharp nudge; flesh or metal arm, it doesn’t matter. Sam gestures to the woman walking over to their table. “You owe me lunch for life, Barnes.” Sam continues to list everything that Bucky now owes him. Meals, favors, first child naming rights.

He doesn’t need to look away from his tattered second-hand copy of Jurassic Park to know “the view” is amazing, but he glances up anyway because his eyes are drawn to her. Since the first day. A goddamn sight to behold.

She weaves around the cafeteria tables, disguising the sleep on her face with a grin.

Bucky’s heart beats a little faster when he recognizes his navy sweatshirt on her. The large sleeve slides down her arm as she hides a yawn. He can’t blame her. At 6:00am on a Saturday, the compound is quiet and everything moves at a glacial pace. There is no rush, no cities under attack, no rogue androids or missing assassins. This weekend at least.

Steve, who organized this morning run, who sent daily texts since Monday, who insisted it’ll be good for the team to spend time outdoors like he and Sam didn’t just spend three nights in a rainforest last weekend, hasn’t even made an appearance yet. He could still be sleeping, for all they knew.

Sam’s voice booms in the nearly empty hall. “There’s my sunshine!” He points to her with an ear-to-ear smile and alternating finger guns.

“Morning Sammy.” She waves, coming around to Bucky’s side of the table.

He could count with one hand the number of people who can get away with calling Wilson that . Sam eats it up.

Bucky pulls out a seat. She puts a bag down and thanks him with a kiss, right by the corner of his lips. Close enough to be intimate, to let all six tired people in the cafeteria know Bucky’s her main squeeze, but not close enough to give Sam an excuse to start dry heaving and complaining about having to see them kiss, like he’s never seen them be affectionate before.

As if it wasn’t Sam Wilson’s great idea for Bucky to ask her out in the first place.

She tucks strands of hair back into his tangled bun, fingers soothing his scalp. Bucky closes his eyes for a second and breathes her in. Soap, peppermint, a hint of musk and wood. Exactly like his bedroom.

Her scent transports him back to that morning.

She pretends to be asleep when he asks her to get changed with him. “It’s cold,” she whispers, lips pouting as if he’s to blame for the early morning draft. She speaks to him with one eye closed, the other eye barely open.

He thinks, what a beauty.

“Put some clothes on then.” Bucky fights the urge to slip a hand under the sheets, where her bare, warm skin calls out to him. “Baby.” He kisses her shoulder instead, which is probably worse because he could never get enough. With every second he spends next to her, Bucky feels less inclined to run laps with Sam and Steve in the woods behind the compound.

“Baby.” Her voice is breathy and light. She lifts a hand in the air, trying to find him, and she nearly pokes his eye when she does. “Hmmm,” she sighs, her fingers brushing his cheek. “Baby.”

Bucky is losing the battle of wills to someone who isn’t even fully awake. He figures Steve won’t be too mad if they show up late. Sam would be there anyway.

“Buck?"

Her hands trail down his arm and Bucky swears if that hand slides any lower he’s kicking these pants off instantly and no one is stepping out of the apartment until Monday.

“Yeah?” His voice cracks; he’s been holding his breath for a while.

“I promise I will get changed but can you buy me 30 minutes please?” The pillow muffles her words and even when he can’t hear her clearly Bucky is prepared to give her anything.

Sam drags Bucky out of his daydream because that’s what Sam Wilson does. “You’re going to give an old man a heart attack with those leggings.”

It’s like Bucky isn’t even sitting between them.

“Old as in you or Barnes?” she replies without missing a beat. “And it’s only because I know you came to play.”

“You like?” Sam flexes his arm for her benefit.

Bucky amends his earlier decision: The next person who isn’t Sam to hit on his girl would have to die or lose a limb, whichever comes first.

He grunts and returns to reading. With the novel before him and her hands kneading his shoulder blades, he tunes out Sam’s shameless flirting.

“I brought you an extra shirt, in case you need it.” She pats her duffel bag. It’s the one that sits in his closet when she sleeps over a few nights a week. She used to have a smaller bag, Bucky notes with satisfaction.

“Thanks sweetheart!” Sam puts his hands behind his neck.

“She means me, jerk.” Bucky shoots his teammate a dirty look. That makes her laugh. Her arms wrap around his shoulders and chest.

Nothing amuses Sam more than getting Bucky all riled up. That is the only reason he showers her with compliments whenever Bucky is within earshot.

“You’re the best thing to come my way today, you know?”

“It should be illegal for you to wear those shorts damn girl!”

And Bucky’s personal favorite (not): “What’s an angel like you doing with a geezer like Barnes anyway?”

Today, Sam praises her leggings as if Bucky hasn’t nipped the soft curve of her thighs with his mouth.

She handles every remark from Sam like a champ. “Don’t flirt with me so much Sammy, it makes me feel things.” She continues to stand behind Bucky, who’s minding his own business as her nails scratch his chest.

From his perspective, what she’s feeling at that moment cannot be made more clear. He holds his breath as she palms his stomach, breasts pressed against the back of his head. It takes an awful lot not to flip her over his shoulder and run to the nearest supply closet.

Impressed by her quick wit, Sam cackles and shrugs off Bucky’s glare.

Bucky rolls his eyes but he can’t get mad. Not really.

Eight months ago, Sam warned him: “If you don’t tell this girl you wanna hold her hand and that she’s all you think about, that when we’re taking heavy fire in the middle of a warzone, you’re more upset about missing her than the threat of a bullet, I’m gonna lay the charm on her so thick she’s gonna forget your name.”

“She doesn’t even know my name so who’s the idiot now?” He hissed back, worried she’d notice them loitering. All Bucky had back then was a first name, place of work - second floor, admin and support services building at the compound - and favorite snack, white chocolate cranberry cookies that she nibbled on while reading a book or chatting with a friend during her afternoon break. Three o’clock Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Bucky conveniently scheduled an afternoon jog around the compound at the same time.

It would be easy enough to access her personnel files, but Bucky wouldn’t do that. He told himself he was satisfied with being in her periphery. Although Sam was right, not that he would ever acknowledge that, not anytime soon at least, Bucky longed to gaze into her eyes and feel her heartbeat against his chest. He dreamed of her breath fanning his neck as she laughed at something he said. He’d do anything to be the reason for her smile.

He can’t remember wanting something - anything this much. For a guy who’s been held against his will for decades, that’s saying a lot.

He had no qualms about having a gun pointed at his head but when it came to talking to her, Bucky felt scared and inadequate.

“What do you mean -“ Sam’s eyebrows entered the stratosphere when he discovered where Bucky spent his time when he disappeared for hours. “You’re telling me you like this person so much that you’ve done absolutely nothing about it? Let me tell you something for free buddy, staring doesn’t count.”

Sam took matters into his own hands after hearing one too many dejected sighs from Bucky who spent another afternoon running laps for nearly two hours outside the office of Administrative Services, just to catch a glimpse of her walking to a small blue car at the end of the day.

The former airman surveyed Bucky’s barely furnished room, hands on his hips. “Ok, I got it. Tomorrow morning, you’re going to ask for a desk set up for your arm.” Sam gestured to the space by the window and checked to see if Bucky was paying attention.

He needed a place to store the prosthetic when Shuri wanted to run diagnostics right? Better a workbench than under the bed or the toilet?

“Make the appointment. Ask for her, state your request, wear a nice shirt. Something blue maybe for the, uh, for those things.” Sam rolled his eyes. He made a face to offset the compliment he just gave Bucky. “Don’t just gape at her the entire time with your jaw hanging. For crying out loud, man, smile.”

He threatened to make the call himself if Bucky doesn’t show up first thing next day. “And believe me I will tell them you specifically wanted a compartment for lotion and a box of tissues.”

Bucky found himself in the admin building the next day, wondering why both hands felt clammy and wishing his metal arm wouldn’t make so much noise when he’s in distress. The Vibranium plates shifted and whirred in the background as he sat in the lobby. It’s subtle enough that most people don’t notice it, but he hears it.

A few minutes before the appointment, the door opened and she waved him in. As soon as the conversation started, he forgot why he was so nervous in the first place. She took notes, smiling when he joked about connecting his arm to the WiFi and reciprocating with a funny story about her overdue DIY projects at home.

He absorbed every detail. Her handwriting was worse than Sam’s but she’s thorough. He could tell she was good at her job. She listened to understand what he needed. When he explained the specifications for the desk, she didn’t pretend to know how Vibranium should be stored - she admitted her limited knowledge and asked him to elaborate. She invited him to provide input and for almost 45 minutes, Bucky sat comfortably, his mechanical arm stopped beeping and squealing, and he chuckled at the appropriate moments.

More importantly, he learned that she shared a flat with a close friend from college who she was not dating. Or in love with, as far as he could tell.

She surprised him by asking if he wanted more furniture for his place. Suddenly, she couldn’t meet his eyes. “Just that… I noticed most people in the team requested couches and lamps when they moved in. Sometimes art on the wall or a plant can make the apartments feel more homey. Or a popcorn maker, if you’re into… popcorn.” She paused and bit her lip, worried she might be overstepping.

The armrests squeak in protest. He'd been gripping them as he hung on to her every word.

She smoothed the page over with her palm and finally gave him an open and unassuming smile. “What I wanted to say was - we can help you pick out a few things. We just need to know your preferences. But this is all up to you.”

“We?” Living in the compound meant he didn’t need to watch his back all the time. Steve explained Stark’s stringent hiring process and background checks for all employees but that didn’t make it easier for Bucky to trust people.

Her embarrassment thawed him. “Well - me, mainly. It’s kind of a one woman team.” She tucked a strand of hair behind an ear. “But everyone thinks it’s a superb team.” She gave him a confused smile, as if she wanted to take back what she just said about herself.

“I like science fiction,” he blurted out. He once spent four days hanging by his arms in an underground cell somewhere cold, and his captors gave up trying to get information out of him. As she was about to scribble a note, he put a hand on the table. “But don’t write that down. Please.”

He heard Sam’s voice warning him. Don’t make this weird . Bucky took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Can I - can I come back after thinking about it?” He felt proud of coming up with that. A compelling and totally logical excuse to talk to her again.

Bucky Barnes might actually have what it takes to ask her out to dinner one day.

That evening Bucky studied his sparsely furnished apartment at the compound. He didn’t have much that wasn’t irreplaceable. Everything that mattered fit in one backpack. He dragged it around the world and it was ready to fall apart any day now. It’s not that he planned on disappearing again, but this practice kept him alive. Fewer possessions allowed him to move quickly from one place to another for years, hiding from everybody who needed something from him. Governments, terrorists and organized crime, even from Steve and the Avengers.

“Of course. Yes. You have my number.”

Bucky nodded. He didn't trust himself not to yell and whoop from sheer happiness. Now he had her last name and number.

There was a small package waiting for “Sergeant James Barnes” in the lobby a few days later. He recognized her handwriting immediately. The E’s that can easily be mistaken for I’s and the M that - well it doesn’t resemble any letter in the Latin alphabet. Her B is confident though, and he indulges himself in a fantasy that she’s been practicing scrawling “Bucky” in her notebook.

Clutching the box with his arm, he took the stairs two steps at a time, only stopping when he reached the floor he shared with Steve and Sam.

He set the cardboard on the counter as soon as he entered the unit. Bucky carefully pried the tape off using his steady metal hand because his right shook in anticipation. He found four paperback novels inside a paper bag and a note.

“Bucky - there’s a second-hand bookstore around where I live. I don’t know if you’ve read any of these, but they are certified sci-fi classics. According to Goodreads. Feel free to correct me.”

He closed his eyes for a few seconds and reread the message. She wanted to hear from him again.

Her name was scribbled at the end of the note. Bucky thumbed the piece of paper, fighting back a giddy smile. He immediately slipped it between the pages of his journal and placed the books next to his bed. He’s read the titles before, one of them five times, but he couldn’t wait to settle in with the books she chose for him.

He folded the brown paper bag, reciting the store’s name and address under his breath.

After three months of dating, Bucky had been strong-armed by Natasha to introduce her to the rest of the team.

“Why would I do that?” He asked his teammate. He wanted to keep her to himself; it was selfish, not to mention impossible, and Bucky knew this, but she’s now the most important thing in his life. It’s irrational, but the fact that he can’t put her in his bag together with everything precious to him, was a source of anxiety.

From their first conversation, he knew without a doubt the great lengths he’d go to protect her. To care for her. To make her feel loved and worshipped everyday.

Natasha gave him an incredulous look. “So we can keep an eye on her, dummy, when you’re halfway around the world working on a two-day assignment, dummy, especially when two days become a week for who knows why? Dummy.”

He doesn’t regret introducing her to this group of highly-skilled misfits he reluctantly thinks of as family. She fits in so well, sometimes Bucky forgets she hasn’t known them for years. It feels like it somehow. He remembers his life before her, the isolation and solitude that felt like a life sentence but he doesn’t feel the loneliness anymore.

All he knows now is the kindness of her touch, the light in her eyes - brighter it seems, inexplicably, when she sees him - and Bucky finally understands the difference between having a secure place to stash your knife collection and having a place to call home.

It tickles him, the realization that sometimes, home isn't a place but a person.

He doesn’t even regret that Natasha might be worse than Sam when it comes to hitting on his girlfriend.

Natasha and Steve are back from a two-week assignment and no one is clear on the details but when she returns from a trip and asks if people want to go for a beer and pizza, the only answer is “let’s go.”

He’s not surprised that his girlfriend receives the invitation first. “Boyfriend optional,” the text reads.

“Optional.” He scoffs and returns her phone when she passes him in the living room. She’s clearing the kitchen table even if she doesn’t have to. She insists because he took care of dinner, which is a pretty generous way of describing how he ordered food from a Chinese restaurant online.

The following day, the team meets at the bar a little after seven, and Natasha ignores all the men. “I like this, what’s this?” The woman with rich auburn hair stands next to her, brushing a nose to her temple. “You smell great.” There isn’t an inch between the two women and Bucky knows they've captured everyone's attention.

There are still a few places in the outskirts of New York where the group can enjoy the occasional drink without worrying about reporters or tourists or fans. This particular dive bar is a 30-minute drive north from the compound. The locals are used to their visits, but the women make it hard for people not to watch.

His girlfriend doesn’t help matters when she fixes Natasha’s collar, smoothing the leather slowly and singing praises about Natasha’s winged liner. Bucky doesn’t have a clue what a wing line is. He assumes it has nothing to do with the gun Romanoff’s packing but he’s not going to ask.

Natasha slaps her ass cheekily. The Russian ex-spy rests a hand on his girlfriend’s hip and raises a brow at Bucky, daring him to comment on it.

She grabs Natasha by the hips too and initiates some sort of dance, one that has nothing to do with moving in time with the music. It's about making your dance partner laugh.

Bucky is only too familiar with this move because she tries it on him back home with varying levels of success. He wasn’t comfortable with dancing. While the metal arm proved to be useful when it came to busting down doors and firing rocket launchers, the prosthetic wasn’t built for creative expression. It’s heavy. It’s not meant to be thrown in the air and waved around like he didn’t care. He could knock a person out accidentally.

She is unfazed by his reluctance. As soon as the music is on, she's yanking on his belt loops or wrapping her arms around his neck. It doesn't matter whether he’s frying bacon or screwing bolts to her door because she lives on the second floor. (Her neighbors seemed harmless, but Bucky only trusts a handful of people and only one of them lived in that apartment building, and he figures if that person moved in with him, he would breathe a little easier and sleep a lot better.)

“Terrible dancers,” Sam proclaims, and it’s meant to goad Natasha into bending low, swaying her hips, bumping into her with such energy, Bucky’s girlfriend stumbles back with an impressed laugh.

Even Steve is blushing furiously because he’s amused by all of this. He’s trying his best to not laugh, out of loyalty to Bucky. He’s supposed to be the grown up here, even though he’s just as bad as the rest of them when he gets in the mood.

Bucky amends the rule to: The next person to hit on his girl who isn’t Romanoff or Wilson will have to die.

He’s no saint. He can’t guarantee safe passage to anyone who so much as breathes next to her - the only person capable of both enraging him and bringing him back down when he's seeing red - the wrong way.

Natasha dotes on her because she doesn’t ask about field work or extraction plans and the only time she brought up stealing information around the petite redhead was in the context of fishing for details on whether Bucky had introduced other people to their tight-knit semi-functional circle before.

She says Nat wants her opinion on skincare products and whether or not ponytails are a sign of giving up on dating. They shop for yoga pants online and paint each other's nails.

Natasha tires of dancing and hands her a vodka shot. She gives Bucky an apologetic glance.

He winks to let her know she should enjoy herself. Steve hands Bucky a pool stick and he is steered to the corner where a tired pool table waits. A steady stroke and a pretty good aim can only take him so far though. Steve’s a shark. Sam’s surprisingly decent. Bucky lets them have their fun.

Besides, he is distracted by the giggling. He can’t help but raise his head when her laughter rings out. The pool table is off to the side of the bar but he has a clear line of sight to her. His hearing picks out the delighted, carefree cackling. He can tune it out, but why would he want to?

If he can sense her, Bucky knows he’s got everything he needs. Simple as that.

The boys play a few rounds on the table. Bucky is losing, predictably, and Sam is protesting some of the calls, which doesn’t shock anybody. Steve laughs them off because he wins round after round.

Natasha passes them on her way to the toilets. “I might be in love with her, Barnes.”

“I met her before you did!” Sam points out. “Get in line.”

There’s a smirk on Sam’s face that Bucky ignores. It turns into a scowl when Bucky sinks a tricky shot that threatens Sam’s second place ranking.

Even Bucky is surprised by the shot and his immediate reaction is to tell her about it. He sees her collide into a man ordering drinks at the bar.

She apologizes immediately, hands held out. The stranger must be confused, drunk, or has a death wish because he interprets the gesture as an invitation to venture into her personal space.

Bucky’s grip on the cue stick tightens. The man is stocky, tan, and dressed in a suit - definitely not local. Must be passing by after a business trip and planning to blow off some steam.

She nods at the stool next to her to let the guy know she’s got company. She’s being polite but not friendly. He is being purposely dense.

Bucky tells himself to wait. She has it under control and the last thing he wants is to break a stranger’s arm in front of her. Well, he’d like to break that guy’s face that’s for sure but he swore to keep her away from violence as long as he can help it.

“Man, take your turn or lose it,” Sam grumbles. When he realizes what’s got Bucky’s attention, he doesn’t waste a second putting his stick down. He walks away without giving Bucky or Steve a second glance.

“Let him handle it,” Steve advises Bucky. “Focus on not grabbing anyone’s neck this evening.” The tone is friendly but Steve has moved in front of him, undoubtedly to protect the entire bar from Bucky.

His jaw twitches and he is not making any promises. The dark-haired super soldier darts his eyes past his best friend to observe how Sam is handling the situation.

Some twenty feet away, Sam shakes the man’s hand. Diplomacy seems to work for a few seconds, until Bucky sees her shoulders tense again and Sam places a hand on her instead, a futile attempt to calm her down.

“Don’t tell me who I can or can’t call a misogynistic homophobic prick, ok, Sammy?” She glares at the man, defiant chin jutting out. “This asshole thinks I’m asking to be harrassed because I'm drinking off Nat’s glass? Because we're dancing with each other? God.” She paces behind Sam. “God!”

Natasha exits the toilets and in half a second she spots the huddle by the bar. Like Sam, she doesn’t waste time consulting Bucky or Steve. She dives in.

Steve sighs because now he has to protect the bar’s dubious clientele from Black Widow too. “Please.” He begs his best friend to stay where he is. He gives Bucky a desperate look before marching over to the group of people that has now grown to include a couple more men and behind them a few onlookers. It's nothing Natasha can't handle in her sleep, but they don't need the trouble.

Bucky keeps his attention on the little fireball he's crazy proud to call his girl. Now that all three of his friends surround her, she starts to understand how bad things can get for the offensive idiot and his equally dumb friends.

She turns to Bucky, as if to ask for help corralling his teammates but with a sharp breath she realizes there’s a reason he’s been asked to stay back. With a slight tilt of her head and a subtle grin, she reassures him. She’s fine.

Steve’s presence gives the strangers pause, a reason to cool down and back the hell up if they knew what was good for them. Bucky leans against the pool table, arms crossed and taking slow, deep breaths. The seconds pass and he prays that all this fuss would only amount to contempt and angry stares.

He just wants to go home with her.

Bucky likes the idea of coming home to her. It’s too soon, he figures. Things are great. He doesn’t have a reason to rush, apart from a nagging suspicion that he’s head over heels for this woman already.

He’s adjusting the sleeve over his prosthetic arm, the fabric tends to snag sometimes, when he hears it. Things are different now, but there was a time when a metal limb was the stuff of nightmares. Bucky always knew when a mortified gasp or mocking laugh is aimed at his disfigurement.

A disgusted sneer accompanying a man’s last words: “That the boyfriend? What’s wrong with him anyway?”

Bucky’s first thought is to throw the cue stick. It would pass between Sam’s and Steve’s heads and through the man’s eyes.

She is faster with her fist. The man falls back, collapsing onto his buddies, before Bucky could decide if he deserved a wooden stick through the lung instead.

“Whoa!” Sam stops her from throwing another punch. She’s ready to keep going. “Easy!” Natasha steps forward in case anyone thinks about responding in kind.

Over the commotion Bucky hears the softest gasp and it’s enough to spring him into action. She cradles her right wrist to her chest, wincing. Much to Steve’s agitation, Bucky walks over to her side, using his body to shield her from the crowd.

“Buck.” The blonde speaks with a low voice.

“Barnes,” Sam says at the same time.

Bucky blocks everything else when he reaches her. She automatically turns to him with worried eyes.

“I’m sorry!” She lets him inspect her hand. “I shouldn’t have said anything. But he was being a dick. Oh, I should’ve just…” Her voice trails off. “Baby, I’m so sorry. Didn't mean to cause trouble.”

She’s upset because she punched a guy who deserved a lot more than getting the wind knocked out of him.

Bucky’s hands tremble and his chest tightens as he checks for possible injury. “Did you curl your thumb like I showed you?”

She nods and he is momentarily filled with pride and a too familiar desire to kneel between her legs and make her scream his name repeatedly.

“Good.” His voice is thick with conflicting emotions. Lust. Fury. Worry. Impatience. All anchored by the strongest force, love. “You stood up for me,” he whispers. He caresses her wrist with his thumb.

Bucky swallows a lump in his throat. He sniffs. With her, he drops his defenses. He feels vulnerable yet free. He feels complete.

She flashes him a guilty smile. “Probably saved him a trip to the ER with this.” She gestures to her hand. The one he’s still holding on to. The one he never wants to let go of.

“Told you, you’re a lifesaver.” He brushes the hair from her face with his free hand.

She gazes at him like she’s forgotten about the bar, about the fact that Natasha and Sam are ready to burn this place down. Steve is not going to let them hear the end of this. He has nothing against starting fights, it’s his area of expertise in fact, but he has a thing about being allowed to play pool in peace.

“We should get this iced.”

“Is my hand going to be ok?”

“You’ll be fine.” Bucky chuckles and holds back a remark about what her magical hands can do. He accepts a pack of ice from Jerry, who runs the bar with his best friend Tom. It’s one of those things Bucky randomly remembers sometimes during a mission. He’s immobilizing five heavily armed goons. All of a sudden, he can’t stop laughing about Tom and Jerry owning a bar in upstate New York. Steve’s right next to him, throwing people against the wall and wondering if he’s finally cracked and lost it.

She frowns at the men Steve and Sam are escorting out of the bar.

“Let’s pick up a couple of burgers and go home, yeah?” He has a few ideas about how to keep her mind off this incident.

“We’re going home guys!” She declares loudly, and no one can do anything about it.

As they exit using the door that leads to the back alley, she tugs on the hem of his shirt. "Bucky?"

"Hmmm?" He keeps a hand on the small of her back as they walk.

She stops walking abruptly and his super human reflexes save them from bumping into each other. But this is one collision she welcomes. She grabs the collar of his jacket with her left hand. She's going to tell him something important, Bucky feels it in his gut. It's in the way she holds him close, her breathing picks up, and her eyes lock into his.

The alley is silent and in that moment, there are only two people in the world. In the back of his head, Bucky thinks about how he's never thought about marriage until now.

“I’ll get Sam and Natasha to stop annoying you. It’s my fault it’s gone on long enough.” She tiptoes and her lips brush against his cheek as she apologizes for something he never considered her fault. It's nobody's fault really.

“I just thought… they’re messing with you, and if I join in, then it makes me part of the gang. And I want to be in the gang because you’re in the gang.” She blinks at him slowly, seeking his forgiveness.

“Stop saying gang, baby, you’re killing me.” Bucky kisses her forehead and he feels her smiling against his chest.

“But I am in the gang, right?”

“We can ask Steve on Monday.” Bucky leads her to where he parked the bike. Maybe he should borrow Sam’s car instead, in case her hand hurts more than she’s letting on.

“I thought Nat ran the crew.” She gestures for him to get on the heritage model bike.

He puts the full face helmet over her head, careful not to pull on her hair. “Yeah, but I think we already know how she feels about you.”

“Uh-huh.” She doesn’t mount the bike until he reaches for his head gear too.

He offers a hand and she climbs behind him, sliding against his back, arms snapping around Bucky's waist like clockwork. She pats his leg, letting him know she’s ready. They worked out a system months ago. Bucky rubs her arm idly. He’s supposed to pat it in acknowledgement and she’ll remind him about the system when they get back to his place.

"You get hurt riding the bike, you're going to wish you'd died instead. Don't test me on that one, Bucky Barnes." She'd say something along those lines, and she'll do it before a kiss or after making him a cup of coffee.

Bucky smiles and decides, the next person to hit on his girl…well, let them try.

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