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tgmsunmontue · 4 months

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It's not who you know 1/4

YEAR 1 - Non-angsty Nepo!Baby Bradley and his first year at the USNA and his head-in-the-sand approach to the nepotism and the fact that he ends up being known as the guy with the two hot dads instead...

YEAR ONE – 2001

“You don’t want us to drop you off?”

“No! I don’t need a… a Captain and an Admiral coming to my first day. It’s not school!”

“Lots of parents will be dropping their kids off. It’s the beginning of Plebe Summer…”

“Yeah well, it’s not like I haven’t been there before. I know my way around already, you know your way around! Please don’t…”

“Are you… embarrassed to be our kid?”

“Uh…” Bradley refuses to meet their eyes.

“Oh my god, you are!”

“No! No. I’m not embarrassed okay? It’s more… I don’t want people knowing I’m a legacy kid.”

“Oh,” says Ice then, expression going understanding and Mav looks confused.

“What? What am I missing?”

“Bradley wants to prove himself. Doesn’t want others to think he got in because of his… connections.”

“But… he did.”

“He also tested crazy high, he would have got in regardless.”

Bradley feels a flush of achievement at the sheer surety in Ice’s voice, proud and no-nonsense.

“But… you’re more than just a legacy kid. You know that right?” Mav asks, and he suddenly seems so unsure, like Bradley isn’t aware of how good he is.

“Yeah Mav, I know that.”

“Anyway, you’re a triple legacy kid and plenty of the brass at Annapolis already know you’re on your way. You going to pretend you don’t know half of them?”

“If I have to…”

Mav cackles then and Bradley lets out a laugh as well when Ice just lets out a resigned sigh. He needs to make a couple of phone calls. Another job for tomorrow.

… … …

“When did we become uncool? He doesn’t want anything to do with us! Maybe it’s just you that’s uncool, do you think he’d let me take him? I want to take him.”

Tom rolls his eyes, because Mav is nothing if not dramatic.

“We have to let him go. I’m sure we’ll figure out some way of keeping in touch. My parents wrote me letters.”

“Too slow. We could get BeepBeep one of those transportable phone things.”

“Calling him BeepBeep is another reason why he doesn’t want to be seen in public with us. Also, it’s a mobile, or cellphone, you’re not old so stop sounding like you are.”

“Yeah yeah, just because you have one.”

“We can get you one at the same time we get Bradley one…”

“Hmm, I feel like it would just be another way you could tell me no.”

“It would be another way in which you ignore me telling you no.”

“You like it when I don’t say no,” Mav says, turning toward him and grinning.

… … …

“Mav, where are you?”

“Uh… I took a couple of personal days?”

“To do what? Also I find it highly suspicious that these personal days coincide with the start of Plebe Summer. Tell me you aren’t stalking Bradley.”

“I’m not not stalking him?”

“Jesus Pete…”

“He doesn’t know I’m here! I’m just… making sure he arrives okay!”

“He’s an adult. He flew there, we put him up in a motel and he then caught a taxi. Shit. I still haven’t rung Sli and let him know Bradley’s going to pretend not to know anyone…”

“Oh! Don’t do it. Let Bradley cause havoc! Can you imagine some of them talking to Bradley like they know him and Bradley just… pretending they’ve got the wrong person?”

“Do you really think Bradley would be that rude?”

“Depends how committed he is to this whole ruse. And he was pretty stubborn.”

“I wonder where he gets that from…” Tom remarks dryly.

“One of life’s mysteries,” Pete replies, clearly distracted and Tom lets out a long breath and reminds himself that he loves Mav. Mantra or curse, he loves the man.

“So what are you actually doing?”

“Watching everyone arrive. I’m just parked in a car up the road and watching everyone walk in. Bradley will be easy to spot because he’ll be all alone…”

“So you’re in a car outside a naval training center staring at cadets as they arrive. Tell me you don’t also have a pair of binoculars.”

“They’re small ones.”

Tom groans and hangs up on him, glad that he did go through with getting Mav that cellphone after all. As much as the idea of letting Bradley cause chaos may be appealing to Mav, he knows better and he really needs to make that phone call.

… … …

“Welcome back to Annapolis Bradley!”

“I’m sorry sir, you must have me confused with another cadet…”

“Bradley Bradshaw?”

“That is my name sir, but I think you have me confused with someone else…”

Admiral Mackenzie blinks and frowns and then steps back.

“Sorry Cadet Bradshaw. On your way then.”

“Thank you sir. Nice to meet you.”

… … …

Tom sighs and wonders what the easiest way of dealing with this is going to be. He’d fully intended to make this phone call months ago, not leaving it until the first evening of Plebe Summer when Slider is no doubt at his busiest.

“Hey Ron…”

“Oof. First name. What did I do?”

“Not you…”

“What did Mav do?”

Tom snorts and rubs at his eyes.

“Not him either…” He won’t mention the creepy sitting in a car aspect of Mav’s latest craziness.

“Bradley? Baby Goose? He’s never any trouble…”

“Well, I think he’s going to make up for it.”

“At Annapolis?” Ron scoffs disbelievingly.

“He’s going to pretend he doesn’t know anyone…”

“Uh. But he knows everyone.”

“I’m well aware. Just… can you prepare everyone for Bradley being an idiot and pretending he knows no one?”

“Oh… I think this conversation is coming too late. Mack came into my office earlier and said that Bradley completely blanked on him.”

“Oh shit…”

“Well, at least we have an explanation. He was worried that he might have memory issues.”

“Who? Him or Bradley?”

“Either. Both? Anyway, I’ll let Mack know. As well as the others, because that could have backfired horribly.”

“I know. They’d think he was getting smart. He just… I think part of it is wanting to be judged on his own merits, but also not have anyone use him to advance themselves.”

“He’s a smart young man. I look forward to watching his career.”

… … …

“You seem to know how everything works around here…”

“Uh. I did a lot of reading in preparation for coming. I didn’t want to be taken by surprise by anything you know?”

“Smart move. You definitely seem to have caught the attention of all the instructors at least. They all know your name.” Bradley grimaces, because that’s not necessarily a good thing. At least no-one has called him MiniMav, BeepBeep or Baby Goose. There are others, but he doesn’t need his childhood nicknames coming common knowledge. “Although, I guess Bradley Bradshaw is an easy name to remember. Kind of rolls off the tongue. Brad Brad.”

Bradley lets out a sigh, resigned to yet another nickname.

… … …

Mav follows through with the other visitors. He hasn’t really told Ice or Bradley that he was planning on coming today. Unlike Ice who went through USNA Mav never really allowed himself to show too much interest, directing it all toward the flight school after doing his Bachelor degree. Now that Bradley is here though he can ask all the questions. Even the ones he’s pretty sure he knows the answers to. He spies one of the cadets with the last name Trace and wonders if this is the same one in Bradley’s platoon. Maybe.

“Hi! I’m Peter, Bradley Bradshaw’s dad. Nice to meet you.”

“Good morning Mr. Bradshaw. Natasha Trace. Bradley didn’t mention that his parents were coming…”

“Well no, I hadn’t been planning on coming. I can’t often get away from work, but I thought I’d try and make an extra effort with it being the parents day and all…”

“Oh, did your wife come with you?”

“Uh, no, I’m not married…” The young cadet looks awkward then and Mav takes pity on her. “I’m just going to join one of the tours. If you see Bradley tell him his dad Pete is here. I’ll catch up with him later. It’ll be a surprise!”

“Uh, but if I tell him then won’t it spoil the surprise?”

“He’ll still be plenty surprised when he actually sees me.”

… … …

Bradley still hasn’t seen Mav, and he knows it must be Mav, because Ice surely wouldn’t fuck him over like this. He’s heard through three others that his dad is here, and also a few comments that he looks good. Bradley hopes like hell he’s not in his fucking uniform, although everyone is fairly desensitized about uniforms looking in any way sexy when everyone is wearing them. He’s more worried about people finding out exactly who Mav is… But he can’t seem to find him in the swarm of people, everyone showing their family around. Plus Mav is short and likely knows Bradley is looking for him.

“Bradshaw! I just met you dad, holy fuck he’s all sorts of hot isn’t he?”

“Short guy? Dark hair?”

“Why? You have more than one dad?”

Bradley freezes, suddenly unsure of what to say because in his head he’s got space for three dads and they’re all very distinct people. None of whom he would ever describe as hot. Gross. God, it’s even worse than thinking of them having sex.

“I, uh, yeah… fuck.”

“Like… a dad and a step-dad, or are we talking a couple of dad’s who adopted you?”

“Closer to the second one I guess,” Bradley says, resigned, because fuck it, it’s close enough. He’s not going to get into the specifics but he guesses he can share some rough details. “My dad died when I was a little, his best friend is my god-father and he was pretty much my dad growing up. And once him and his partner figured their shit out I got another dad…”

“What about your mom?”

“She died a few years ago. Cancer.”

“Oh wow… so you really have two dads.”

“Yep. And one of them is here?”

“Yeah, he said his name was Peter Bradshaw?”

“Oh. Huh. Of course he did…”

Trust Mav to fucking come up with a cover story but not tell anyone else what is.

He doesn’t end up finding or seeing Mav for the entire day, although he does receive a couple of overly exaggerated winks from some of the teachers, as well as Uncle Slider and Admiral Mackenzie. He takes it with good grace because they’re humoring his need to try and stay as anonymous as possible, even if Mav seems to be intent on fucking it up.

… … …

“You couldn’t have stopped him?” Bradley asks, and Tom would almost call the tone whining, but there’s too much desperation there.

“I’m sorry, are we talking about the same person? Have you ever tried to stop him doing something once he’s set his mind to it?”

“Ugh, I didn’t even get to see him! What was the point?

“So he could see you. See that you’re happy and alright.” Just like that the wind seems to leave Bradley’s sails, like he has to let Mav have this. Has to be grateful for small mercies that Mav didn’t learn how to do sky writing, which he’ll keep to himself because it’s totally something Mav would want to try out. “And you should know he’s actually being fairly restrained, especially if he didn’t approach you. He did follow you out there for your first day and just watched from a car like the giant dork that he is.”

“What? Ugh. Dork, yes. Giant, no. Ugh. Why is he like this?”

“I really have no idea. Do you like the taste of whiskey yet? I find that helps.”

SECOND YEAR

#Nepo!Baby Bradley Bradshaw #IceMav #Top Gun Maverick #Top Gun Maverick Fanfiction #AU where Bradley goes to USNA #it's not who you know

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tgmsunmontue · 3 months

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It's not who you know 3/4

YEAR 3 - Non-angsty Nepo!Baby Bradley and his years at the USNA and his head-in-the-sand approach to the nepotism and the fact that he ends up being known as the guy with the two hot dads instead...

YEAR THREE - 2003 - PART 3

Bradley’s time in San Diego is now numbered in days rather than weeks and Tom helps him pack for his first extended stay on a cruiser. Tom wonders if his name was even put into a hat for a place on a submarine; unlike his relationship with Man and him, it’s no secret that Bradley wants to fly. If a carrier had been an option he’s pretty sure Bradley would have gotten that. He’s seen Bradley’s report though, knows he’s excelling in all areas, clearly determined to succeed and he’s so proud. Of course, Bradley still needs to take part in the standard summer activities, despite having grown up and having them happening around him constantly, getting dragged across the country to attend various things in his shadow.

“You know I’ll be visiting the USS Princeton while you’re onboard.”

“Yeah yeah, I promise not to have to be thrown overboard for insubordination.”

“No, that wasn’t… I was more thinking that you might find yourself hearing things about me which are going to make you want to pop someone in the nose.”

“Like what?”

“Oh god, all sorts of shit. People think I don’t know what they say behind my back but trust me, I know.”

“I haven’t heard anything!”

“You’ve not done any active service yet. Fresh greenie not even a proper upperclassman yet. You’ll hear stuff.”

The expression on Bradley’s face is equally angry and annoyed and Tom holds back a groan.

“Bradley, I’m serious. You’re really going to have to hold back if you get angry. Don’t worry about my honor okay. You’ve spent the last couple of years pretending you don’t know me and Mav at all, don’t blow your cover over something stupid that doesn’t matter. You understand?”

“Yeah. Thanks Ice. And thanks for going along with this whole thing, I know it probably feels a bit stupid some days, but it’s really nice knowing that the friends I’ve made are my friends because of me you know, not because of what connections I might have.”

“Yeah kid, I get it. Fair warning they might feel pretty pissed when they do find out though.”

“Nah, I’ve picked good friends. I reckon they’ll understand.”

“Okay. Now did you need anything else? I know Mav has been riding you hard about your flight hours…”

Mav of course has made the most of whatever spare time they’ve had and ensured Bradley built up his flight hours again so his license doesn’t lapse. Tom doesn’t think there are going to be very many other upperclassman with as much flight experience as Bradley. Talk about being overqualified. However he also knows it makes for a damn strong application so he’s supported Mav in his undertaking.

They say goodbye to Bradley on the porch, tell him they’ll see him onboard when he’s mixing with the enlisted personnel and Tom wishes they could watch him board, feels like it’s another milestone he’s going to miss. Reminds himself firmly that he’ll see him again onboard the same damn ship and he’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future to wave Bradley off on deployment.

… … …

He doesn’t punch anyone, didn’t even need the warning, wonders what Ice thinks people say about him. He’d heard them talk, but nothing more than him being brass and being very cool-headed in times of crisis. It’s all been pretty benign stuff really, and no-one had stopped talking when he entered a room or anything.

For the first time ever he puts up a photo of Ice and Mav beside his bed. It’s weird, but he can see why people don’t see Admiral Kazansky. He’s got a few copies of the photo, Slider having printed him off a bunch in thanks for forwarding him the electronic file and that is probably going to come back and bite him in the ass at some stage. Now he’s back in Bancroft, preparing to help with Plebe Summer, this time older and not being expected to have to deal with people yelling in his face while not reacting. It’s going to be a cake-walk in comparison to two years ago and he’s looking forward to it.

“You’re not meant to be in here,” Bradley says, seeing Natasha at the end of his dorm bed.

“I was sent to collect you, I have permission,” she says, hand waving away his concerns. “Let me look at that photo. Holy shit… I thought your first dad was hot, but your other dad? I mean… wow. I know I told you I like girls more than boys, but these are the type of boys that I prefer…” she says, tapping the photo. “Huh. Maybe it’s just men and women, because to be honest I don’t find anyone here very attractive.”

“Gross,” Bradley states, because he’s very firmly kept the company of his own hand when he’s been on base. His summers are probably a lot wilder than Mav or Ice think they are, but he tries to make use of every night he has home once they’re

“To you maybe… pretty sure you’d find my brother hot.”

“If I did, I wouldn’t tell you!”

“That’s because you’re repressed.”

“Rather be repressed than find either of my dads hot thanks!”

“Okay. That’s fair. And you probably won’t be too ugly once you grow into your face…”

“Wow, you really know how to flatter a guy…”

… … …

Plebe Summer starts and Bradley throws himself into being the best role model he can. He knows that in the future some of these people will be his peers, maybe even be his superior, but right now they have to get through what he still considers the hardest summer of their life. Of course hardly anyone drops out, the selection criteria is far too difficult and physically rigorous to make it something someone would easily just drop-out from without serious consideration first. There’s friendly competition and even friendlier encouragement, the brigades working together.

There’s one guy that keeps catching his eye and he’s not sure if it’s deliberate on the guy’s part, somehow magically putting himself nearly always in Bradley’s line of sight. Or whether he’s only got himself to blame, eyes just drifting to watch. Either way he’s really fucking horny and the guy is hot. Not that he will do anything, but it doesn’t stop him thinking about it.

“Now there is a guy who doesn’t need to grow into his looks…”

He silently agrees.

God what he wouldn’t do to get his hands on him.

Ah well. His own hands on his own body and his mind on another it is.

… … …

“Do I have a sign on me that says to tell me if you’re gay? Or a lesbian? Or bisexual?”

“Um… not literally. But there is the common knowledge that you have smoking hot dads and therefor okay with the gay.”

Bradley groans.

“I had another guy come out to me today. No reason. Just to tell me. Also he said he thinks we’re cute together.”

“Ew.”

“I just nodded and smiled.”

… … …

Michael Williams sighs. It’s the second… complaint? Notification? Information? Tips? Regardless, they’re both about Bradley Bradshaw’s relationship with Natasha Trace. They’ve been spied coming out of rooms together, otherwise small, dark, empty rooms like the store rooms. Fraternization. Actions unbecoming. Fuck. The kid wants to be treated like all the other kids, he’d be getting pulled into Mack’s office for a dressing down, short and sharp. Both of them would be.

Part of him wants to, still a little ticked off at the whole stunt Bradshaw is pulling. He’s not familiar with him outside of watching him last year, seeing a whole raft of his superior officers watch as Admiral Kazansky toured the campus dressed as a civilian. But also Bradshaw is good. He does everything well, more than well. And he’s cheerful and helpful and encourages the underclassmen and there had been no fault in any of his behavior.

Until now.

He walks down the corridor to Admiral Kerner’s office, nervous as he knocks on the open door.

“Sir. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course, come in.”

He does, closes the door behind him and notes the eyebrow raise and the lean back in the chair. He has his full attention.

“Sir. I need you to do a favor and make a call to your friend Kazansky.”

“Why, what’s happened?”

“I’ve got two instances of fraternization for Bradley Bradshaw and Natasha Trace.”

“And you want to do what? Tattle on him to his uncle?”

“No, I was actually after guidance on how I should proceed. I would pull them both into my office and give them a stern talking to, and a warning. Is that appropriate?”

“Bradshaw and Trace are the same rank Captain, it’s not exactly forbidden, just heavily frowned upon. The fact you have had two complaints tells me that this is more likely a case of sour grapes on whoever is complaining, so I’d be having a talk with them as well. But let me see if I can get Ice on the blower…”

Michael will never understand naval aviators and their call signs, but he stands and waits as Admiral Kerner dials, then asks to be put through. Obviously whoever it is on the other end knows not to mess with one Admiral ringing another. He listens to the one-sided conversation and watches Admiral Kerner’s face with interest.

“Hey Ice, it’s Sli. Yes, well, I didn’t think I’d be speaking to you today either. Look. Yeah. This is about Bradley. Did you talk to him about behavior?” Face curious, openly contemplative.

“Okay, so you covered that with him. Then why are we looking at two instances of fraternization?” Eyes narrowed and considering.

“No, it’s with a fellow midshipman. Also an upperclassman.” Serious.

“Yes, I’m aware it’s not actual fraternization.” An eyeroll.

“Yes, it is.” Face back to curious, speculative.

“Oh. Huh.” Surprise.

“I did think it was maybe a case of sour grapes, jealousy at his general capabilities and the fact that he’s generally well liked amongst his peers. Except by a couple apparently.”

“Yes well, he’ll be fine. We’ll pull them in and give them a heads up. Both of them. Midshipman Trace is equally talented and capable.”

“Yeah, was nice talking to you too. Will have to have a proper catchup when it’s not about work.”

… … …

Jake isn’t sure what he has to do to get the guys sole undivided attention, but he’s not going to give up trying. He’s so good at everything, competent in this easy way that turns him on in ways he’s never thought were possible, and he’s a teenager and being horny is pretty much a permanent state for him. Except when he’s too tired to even think, which unfortunately for his first year at USNA is a whole lot of the time. Either it gets easier or people just learn how to cope with everything better because Midshipman Bradshaw makes it look easy.

… … …

“Oh god, it was horrible. I can’t do it again. How do they do it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Submarines! Going under the water…”

“Uh…” Tom exchanges a look with Pete and opens his mouth. Closes it again. Bradley is back home for part of summer, having just experienced his first dive and he’s at a bit of a loss.

“Bradley. Buddy. Uh. You realize you’re in the Navy right? And that has, uh, a lot to do with the water?” Mav says.

“But I’m going to fly planes!”

“Maybe he should have joined the airforce,” Tom muses.

“You wash your mouth out right now!”

… … …

“Seriously, if I was going to fuck around I’d do it somewhere far less obvious than the fucking storeroom!”

Tom winces, because clearly Pete has heard the rumors about Bradley and Natasha Trace. God he loves the rumor mill of the US Navy, bunch of gossipers the lot of them. He hadn’t bothered mentioning anything, because he knew nothing was happening. Mav is of course mentioning it. In the worst possible way. Clearly having forgotten that Bradley came out as gay several years ago and that Natasha Trace is a woman. He’s going to need a coffee.

“Bradley! What do you mean Bradley? Don’t walk away from me young man!”

“You said we leave our ranks at the door with our shoes, so this conversation is over! And I said if!”

“I know what if means in this house, and it definitely means something definitely happened!”

… … …

“Do I even want to know?” Tom asks, taking a quiet sip of coffee.

“Mav’s scared I might be having sex.”

Tom raises an eyebrow, he’s fully aware Bradley’s been sneaking out for the last couple of years. He guesses Bradley’s now feeling mature enough to talk about it. Good.

“Are you being safe?”

“Yes.”

“Good enough for me. Don’t get caught.”

Bradley scoffs.

“I learnt from the best remember!”

“He got caught plenty of times,” Tom says dryly.

“I meant you Ice.”

“Oh.”

It’s been a long time since he’s blushed.

PART FOUR

#Nepo!Baby Bradley Bradshaw #IceMav #Top Gun Maverick #Top Gun Maverick Fanfiction #AU where Bradley goes to USNA #Hangster #creeping in there a tiny bit #it's not who you know

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