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It’s been a year since the mission that brought them together. For years, Bradley and Jake had danced around each other, all testosterone and peacocking whenever the other one was in the vicinity. Both afraid to take the first step. Because even in the modern era, being a gay man in the navy was still dangerous. Neither he nor Jake came out before this, not to their family, not to their friends, and certainly not to each other.
Every time their squadrons were stationed close to each other, they would tease and annoy the other, tugging on each other’s pigtails some might say. There would be longing looks when the other was looking the other way. But that was all they would do, resigned to the fact that their feelings would not be returned and were both equally content pining from afar.
The universe had other plans for them however. Ten years after they first met at Top Gun, they were called back again. This time, it wasn’t for dogfighting maneuvers. This time, there was a mission so impossible Maverick had to be the one to train them.
They danced around each other all the same, much to the frustration of everyone around them. They were blissfully unaware of how their friends just knew they wanted each other.
Being so close to each other for more than a few days at a time just served to increase the pressure building between them. They were so high strung that the tension could be cut by a butter knife at this point.
Both men were focused on the mission and focused on getting home in one piece. So no matter how high that pressure was, they still didn’t act on their feelings.
But a dam was a dam. No matter how much you fortify it, there would be a breaking point. And for Jake, that breaking point was listening to the final communications from the F-14 and hearing Bradley’s voice over the comms, panicked and afraid.
Jake, for the first time in his career had disobeyed orders and flew his plane to provide support.
And Jake, for the first time, acted on his feelings. After the initial celebrations, and all the pilots had to have their mandated medical checks, Jake had gone to Bradley’s hospital bed and kissed the other pilot.
“You can punch me for that if you want. I mean, it’s not everyday your rival kisses you. But fuck it Bradshaw, I thought I almost lost you, and I … I can’t…”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Bradley growled a low, “Anybody say you talk too much Seresin?” and leaned up to kiss him back.
That was a year ago, and since then they have been reassigned back to their squadrons. Long distance was hard, but every time they were on land and got some days off, they would do their best to meet up.
It was Jake who usually came over to Bradley’s apartment. Usually because he was a lot more impatient than Bradley was.
It was also Jake who brought up living together. And it was also Jake who looked at housing options off base, so they can have a place they can call home no matter where they were assigned.
So here Bradley was, in the shower, washing away the gunk of the day. He and Jake had just moved in their boxes that day. It was a humble 2 bedroom apartment. The windows were huge and they had a nice view of the ocean. It was on the 6th floor, the top floor of the building. And while the view was breathtaking, Bradley was done bringing up boxes up the stairs.
He took the chance to shower while Jake was putting together their Ikea dining table. It was a long day and they were both tired, but it was worth it. Jake was worth it. Their life together was worth it.
Bradley smiled and turned the shower off. He toweled himself off and skipped shaving that night. He was just so tired, he wanted to hold Jake and fall asleep on their new bed.
“Had a good shower?” Jake asked as Bradley stepped into the dining room.
“Yeah,” Bradley said, towel still on his head, and he was still toweling his wet hair. He went into their shared bedroom and emerged later sporting a pair of boxer shorts. “The dining table’s starting to look good,” he praised as he looked at his boyfriend’s handiwork.
Jake looked up at him, nail between his teeth. “What can I say? I’m a genius,” he said with a wink.
“Nobody taught you to not talk when something’s in your mouth?”
“Oh I know you like it when I talk with my mouth full,” Jake said with a knowing smirk as he hammered that nail into the wooden table.
Bradley rolled his eyes. “You have no shame Jake Seresin.”
“I know, and you love me for it,” Jake said, waggling his eyebrows.
Bradley laughed and shrugged. “You know me too well.”
Jake chuckled and went back to work. He hammered down another nail and Bradley delighted in watching his boyfriend work. It was a guilty pleasure of his to watch Jake work. Whether it was discussing flying routines, or flight maneuvers, or plane mechanics, or just regular old housework, Jake was always focused. Brad loved that about him, loved the passion in his green eyes when he talked about something he was invested in.
“Hey Brad?”
Bradley looked up and noticed that Jake was feeling around the floor for something. “Can I borrow your eyes for a sec?”
Brad came closer. Of course he was going to help. But he couldn’t help but tease Jake for it. “We need good vision to be pilots, should I alert the Navy of your early retirement Hangman?”
“Shut up,” Jake grumbled, cheeks flushing a slight pink. Bradley frowned slightly. His boyfriend looked nervous. Was he ok?
“What are we looking for?” he asked, starting to get concerned.
“Something small, I know it’s here somewhere.” Jake’s answer was weirdly vague and that made Bradley frown in concern.
“A nail? Did you lose one?”
“No not a nail.”
“Housekey?” Bradley asked as he straightened himself up and started looking around the boxes, pulling some up to check the contents. “You gotta give me something more to work with Jake.”
Jake had gone down on his knees and was patting down the floor. “I know, it’s stupid. Don’t know what I’m missing.”
Then Jake, still on his knees, slowly turned around so he could look at Bradley. His eyes scanning the area around and behind Bradley. Then his eyes brightened up and a wide smile spread across his lips. It wasn’t the trademarked Hangman grin, it was a smile that was uniquely Jake, when he was being sincerely happy. “I know what I’m missing!”
He reached out and gently took Bradley’s hand, and Bradley could feel time slow down to a stop.
He looked down at Jake kneeling on one knee in front of him, Bradley’s hand in his. He wasn’t… was he?
“I know what I’m missing. Got a good career, got a couple of kills on my belt,” Jake said, his thumb gently running over Brad’s ring finger. “But it’s not enough. It’s never enough. I’m missing something. And now I know what I’m missing in my life. And that’s you Bradley Bradshaw.” He looked up at Bradley, green eyes wide and hopeful. He reached back into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. “It would be my greatest honor to be your husband Bradley, if you’ll have me.”
Bradley didn’t know when it started, but his eyes had flooded with tears. He couldn’t help it and he ended up laughing as he looked at the box in Jake’s hand.
“Is that a yes?” Jake sounded just a little bit nervous.
“Of course!” Bradley said, beyond his tears and his laughter. He plucked the box from Jake’s hand and pulled the ring box out of it. “If only the box was actually open,” he said as he opened the box to take the ring out.
“I was nervous ok?” Jake muttered, flushing red now. He slipped his arm around Bradley’s waist. “That’s a yes right? You’re saying yes to marrying me right? I’m not hearing things?”
“Yes of course Jake Serensin. I will marry you,” Bradley chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Jake as well and pulled his boyfriend close to press a soft kiss on his lips.
He loved him. He pined after him for over a decade and Bradley wouldn’t let him go for anything else. With the ring snug on his finger, Bradley knew he was home.