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The rest of the team didn’t know this, but Cyclone pulled Bob and Hangman aside before everyone met up about the mission. Once they were on the ground at NAS North Island, they were immediately summoned to his office. He didn’t give details, but he did say that he had to lay down some ground rules for them.
Which is why Bob and Hangman stood at attention at Cyclone’s desk on base. Jake shot Bob a confused look, and Bob had simply shrugged while Cyclone shuffled papers on his desk.
“So, gentleman,” Cyclone began slowly, “do you know why you’re here?”
“No, sir,” Bob answered.
Cyclone sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You two are here so I can remind you of the Navy’s policy on fraternization.”
Jake opened his mouth to speak, as they weren’t technically in violation of the policy, but Cyclone cut him off.
“I know that you aren’t technically in violation of the policy,” Cyclone said. “However, it still remains that you two do have a personal relationship and will be assigned to the same team for this mission. You will be required to maintain a professional relationship while at work, and Lieutenant Floyd will be assigned as a WSO for a different pilot. You will be flying a one-seater, Lieutenant Seresin, as you can’t seem to get along with any other WSO in the entire goddamn Navy.”
“Understood, sir,” Jake replied. He didn’t have to look to know that Bob was trying not to smile.
“Yes, sir,” Bob said in a slightly choked voice.
Cyclone nodded at Bob and then leveled Jake with a hard look. “If you so much as say a single pet name, I will send you straight back home. Is that clear? This is a serious, high-stakes mission, and you cannot let your personal lives put this in jeopardy.”
Jake swallowed nervously. “Yes, sir.”
“Good,” Cyclone said. “You two are dismissed.”
Bob and Jake saluted the Admiral and hurried out of his office. Once they were a ways down the hall and around the corner, Bob burst into laughter.
“Oh my god, Jake,” he said between giggles. “Cyclone totally has your number.”
Jake frowned. “This isn’t that funny. I don’t get to see you for months because we’re off on assignment and now I have to be professional ? I’m not a fan.”
Bob straightened up at that. “Listen, sweetheart, this is still work. And besides, I think we could have a little bit of fun with it.”
“Fun how?”
“We could make a wager out of it,” Bob proposed.
Jake grinned. “I like the way you think, Lieutenant Floyd. What are the stakes?”
Bob pursed his lips and thought for a moment. “Hmmm…how about whoever gives us away to the team first—without getting busted by Cyclone—has to do anything the other wants for an entire weekend. If Cyclone catches us, we’re screwed so let’s not let that happen.”
“Deal,” Jake said. “I don’t know why you insist on being a WSO when you’re such a stealth pilot. You’re stealing my heart all over again.”
Bob shoved him gently. “We’re literally down the hall from Cyclone’s office. Save it for later tonight.”
“Oh look who’s flirting now, Lieutenant Floyd,” Jake teased. “Also, who’s idea was it to disclose our relationship in the first place? Bad idea if you ask me.”
“It was a joint decision,” Bob sighed. “It was this or you go under investigation for ‘sexual harassment of a fellow officer’ for flirting with me over the comms.”
“I maintain that I am innocent,” Jake pouted.
Bob rolled his eyes. “Yes, that’s because we disclosed our relationship , you genius. Otherwise, Cyclone would have fried your ass six ways to Sunday.”
“I’m gonna tell my mom you said that. She’s going to be thrilled that some of my Southern charm is rubbing off on you.”
“I don’t think that’s Southern charm,” Bob countered. “And don’t say anything about rubbing off on me.”
Jake pouted. “Whatever, you’re no fun.”
“I’m plenty fun when you’re not playing with fire and pissing off admirals,” Bob huffed. “Now let’s get out of here. I think everyone is meeting up at the Hard Deck? The local bar. The one run by Admiral Benjamin’s daughter.”
Jake nodded. “Javy said that everyone is having ‘Back to School Night’ and meeting one another before we dive into training. I think your new pilot will be there too.”
“Hmm, OK,” Bob said, looking down at his watch. “Hey, Jake, guess what?”
“What?”
“We have enough time to get home and be unprofessional before we have to meet up with everyone at seven. So what do you say, Lieutenant Seresin, want to fraternize?”
“Yes, sir,” Jake said with a wink. “Let’s get out of this place.”
—
Bob and Jake first met, funnily enough, at Top Gun. For their very first hop, Bob was assigned to be Jake’s WSO because Jake hadn’t had a functional pairing with one and Bob was apparently “too quiet” for some of the other pilots.
Somehow, they clicked on their very first hop. Jake didn’t understand it any more than Bob did, and their instructors were baffled. Every time Jake seemed to get a little bit out of hand, Bob would silently reach out and tap his shoulder twice, which reigned him in.
It was easy for Jake to fly with Bob in a way he never expected. Previous WSOs always had something to say about his flying style, some kind of criticism or concern that he was putting them in danger. But Jake knew better. He would never put his back-seater in danger. It was different when it was just him in the plane, then he would be a bit more reckless, but he was never willing to truly jeopardize the life of someone under his care.
But Bob seemed to understand that. And instead of telling Jake off, he would just tap twice on his shoulder. Bob would certainly speak when necessary, but he never made Jake feel uncomfortable. To Jake, it seemed like Bob was the first person to understand that both of the people in the plane mattered. Bob cared about Jake’s safety as much as his own, and the taps were mostly to just remind Jake that Bob was there for him.
Bob stayed by his side on the ground as well. Most of the class wasn’t that fond of Jake—they really believed he was “Hangman” through and through and would leave them out to dry. Jake wasn’t a cruel person. Cocky? Sure. Irritable? Perhaps. One with high standards for his wingmen? Absolutely. But never cruel. Maybe the others didn’t believe it, but Jake had faith in his wingmen. And it felt like Bob saw that.
And when they won Top Gun and Jake saw their names etched into that trophy, it clicked for him. He wanted his name next to Bob’s forever—or at least as long as Bob would have him. In that moment, Jake looked up from the trophy and found Bob’s eyes on him, not the trophy. Jake was hopeful in a way he hadn’t ever been before.
After the celebrations had died down, Bob had found Jake standing at the edges watching everyone. Bob had asked him what was on his mind, and Jake uncharacteristically began to word vomit every single thought he had about Bob from how beautiful his eyes were, to how Jake felt like his insides were being liquified whenever Bob smiled, to how Bob was the first thing he thought of in the morning.
About midway through, Bob hauled Jake and proceeded to kiss him senseless, whispering against his lips that he had nothing to be afraid of, that Bob knew. And that Bob had Jake’s back.
After TOPGUN, the two were sent on separate deployments almost immediately, which would have broken Jake’s heart if Bob hadn’t insisted on calling him every chance he got. Bob told Jake all about his new pilot, who went by Rooster, and how Bob sometimes worried they would run out of fuel but never wanted to actually bring it up to Rooster.
In turn, Jake would tell Bob about flying with Javy and the “sick barrel roll” he triple-dog-dared Javy to do. And when Jake got his first confirmed kill, he called Bob afterward and sobbed while Bob comforted him and told him how much he loved him.
After years of sporadic leave and seeing each other when they could, they both ended up stationed at NAS North Island, and Bob suggested they buy a house. Jake actually dropped his coffee mug and splashed coffee all over the cabinets of Bob’s rental at that. Together (with a little help from Jake’s mom), they managed to find a nice bungalow to rent that wasn’t too far from base but enough that they felt like they had some privacy.
And, to Jake’s eternal delight, they were deployed together for their next deployment. Which was also what led to the disclosure of their relationship because a superior officer had approached Jake about sexually harassing his WSO. Bob laughed for at least 30 minutes after Jake filled him in on that conversation before they decided to disclose their relationship to save Jake from a court martial. Thankfully, their superior officer allowed them to continue flying together, but they both (mostly Jake) were reminded that the comms were used for official business, not calling Bob Jake’s “favorite Baby on Board.”
Of course Cyclone would be a buzzkill and break up the dynamic duo. He is so not going on Jake’s list of people he would get Christmas presents for.
—
It is 6:38 p.m., and Bob is already fussing about them being late, even if Jake assures him that they’re bound to be the first ones there. Just because they’re in the Navy doesn’t mean Jake has faith in their ability to be punctual.
Bob has to re-style Jake’s hair after being very unprofessional when they got home. He covers Jake’s eyes with one hand and lightly sprays some hairspray with the other. It’s unlikely that they’ll be out for so long that Jake will need maximum hold.
“How do I look, Baby?” Jake asks after Bob finishes.
Bob tilts Jake’s chin up and kisses him, slow and soft. “You look good. Too good to be true.”
Jake pulls Bob in for a longer, more insistent kiss. “There. That ought to hold me over. Now let’s head on out—I know you’re worried about being late.”
Bob’s eyes shine with fondness as he leads Jake out of the bathroom to get their shoes and head out the door. Jake really hopes he wins their bet so he can get Bob to agree to marry him.