Chapter Text
Usually, it was Phoenix to blame for the ideas that lead to Jake’s misery. This time it was Bob to blame, and he made sure the other blonde knew his distaste by glaring at the back of his head as he sat in the backseat of the Bronco as they drove into the middle of nowhere in search of a pumpkin patch.
Bob had suggested while they were all piled in Rooster’s living room for Thursday night football that there was a fall festival going on a few hours away. Jake wasn’t interested more invested in the Cowboys game. He should’ve known better when Payback pulled out his phone aggressively typing.
Payback was such a tough guy when they first met, but after the mission and when the Navy established them as their own strike team the tough guy act melted away. Payback was actually a mother hen and unashamed about his love for others. At first Jake felt smothered, one he hadn’t expected to be included in Payback’s care circle, and two he had never really been cared for.
He didn’t change, that would’ve been weirder than remaining an asshole, but he stopped being an active asshole to them.
He was debating his stance on this as they all clambered out of the two trucks the dirt already getting onto his jeans. The pumpkin patch turned out to be an entire festival with apple picking and a corn maze, and Jake’s pretty sure he saw a hayride going in lazy circles in the distance. He had to admit it was nice, but a bit of homesickness tinged his joy reminding him that he hasn’t been back to Texas in three years.
The other bane of today got out from the driver side of the Bronco his Hawaiian shirt swapped out for a ridiculously soft looking maroon sweater pushed up to his forearms. Once he and Rooster stopped actively trying to ruffle each other’s feathers it was far too easy to notice his massive crush on the other man.
Sue him, but Bradley was a downright wet dream when thinking about it. He owned a house, he was a well decorated Naval pilot that even challenged Jake, he was one of the most attractive men Jake has ever seen even with the mustache. The list goes on and on; he can play piano, he likes dark beer, he can dance, he loves hiking, he loves football, he can surf, etc.
Said wet dream was now hunting down apple cider dragging a laughing Bob behind him as the rest of the team made their way towards the hub of activity. He followed behind the team taking in the various carnival games stood around and large cutout pumpkins and cartoon ghosts. He nearly collided with Fanboy as they all stopped at the axe throwing booth.
An ensuing argument followed on who would go first and what the bet would be that Jake couldn’t help but laugh at. He wonders what they look like from the outside.
Someone bumped elbows with him, and he looked up meeting Rooster’s smiling gaze, “Not getting in on that?”
Jake tried to stifle the blush as he accepted the drink Rooster handed him, warmth blooming when he saw he didn’t bring anyone else a drink. He shook his head, “I’m just here for the corn maze.”
Bradley’s laugh made the blush rise again his ears heating up as he leaned into his ear, “I’ll tell you a secret…I’m terrible at mazes.”
His shock overpowered his embarrassment, “Why am I surprised? You got lost at Wal-Mart last week.”
Bradley turned to face him, and Jake mirrored him his hands on his hips daring Rooster to argue. “Those places are the worst and all of them are different! Why are they different, Hangman?”
Rooster’s actual irritation at this was what made Jake crack his laughter making him bend at the waist trying to catch his breath. Rooster smacked his arm, “I’m serious, you dick.”
“I know you are, Roo, that’s why I’m laughing,” he laughed harder at the honest to God pout on the mustached man.
“You’re the worst,” he bumped his shoulder into Jake’s with a smile on his face that made Jake’s heart stutter.
The afternoon flew by the dagger crew trying every single game they would let them play and eating way too much carnival food for people who are flying in less than two days. Jake was currently munching on a caramel apple as he watched Rooster and Phoenix run through the rows of pumpkins dodging small kids in their hunt.
Jake had found a reasonably sized and smooth pumpkin pretty quickly placing it in the wagon Bob had produced early on leaving him to follow the other oversized toddlers on their Charlie Brown level hunt.
Bob was the first to return brandishing the smallest pumpkin he could reasonably carve with a proud smile. He accepted the laughter with a theatric bow joining Jake in his silent observation of the others the silence comfortable. After a couple minutes Bob bumped his shoulder, “So, Rooster, huh?”
His tone was knowing, and Jake backtracked his voice squeaky, “Rooster?”
“Yeah, Rooster. We going to address the mutual pining trope we have going on?”
“Mutual pining?” his voice cracked with how high it went.
“I’m not entirely sure which part of this is surprising you the most, but I’ll drop it. I will warm you that Phoenix knows too,” he bumped his shoulder again before walking off the help said pilot with the large pumpkin.
He had thought he was hiding his crush pretty well. He was a thirty-year-old man not a fifteen-year-old girl, it isn’t like he was doodling Jake Bradshaw in his notebooks. If anything, it would be Jake Seresin-Bradshaw…oh no maybe he was a little obvious.
He looked back up his eyes automatically gravitating to where he saw Rooster last finding empty space instead. A surge of mild panic he had been fostering since the Mission surface as his eyes darted around the field. Two hands grabbed his shoulders and shook, and he would deny the noise he made being a shriek till he died. The apparent attacker in question burst into laughter and Jake felt his tension melt away as he recognized Rooster.
The brunette was bent over his hands on his knees as he wheezed out a laugh his eyes bright in the setting sun. Jake shook his head trying to dislodge the thoughts bubbling to the surface. “We don’t need another stealth pilot, asshole.”
Bradley smiled up at him but arched a brow, “I called your name like three times, I was worried you got disconnected from your satellite.”
Before he could retort Phoenix jumped onto Rooster nearly taking both of them to the ground. The team laughed as they watched Rooster try to pry off the smaller pilot who has decided to keep her death grip.
“We’re going to try to corn maze, who’s down?” Fanboy offered to the group, three hands raising.
Rooster stopped struggling instead casting a desperate gaze to Jake who rolled his own, “Me and Roo are going to try out the hayride before the sun sets.”
Phoenix leaned up and whispered something into his ear and Jake watched with fascination as a blush bloomed across his cheeks. She jumped down running off to join the other guys leaving the two of them alone.
“Did she tell you to push me off the tractor?” he walked off towards the tractor in question avoiding the tension building between them.
The tension wasn’t new, but it felt less like they were going to punch each other, and it made the butterflies in his stomach turn into a swarm of bees. The hayride was nearly full, but he and Rooster managed to fit in the back. They were pressed together Rooster a long line of heat along his left side.
When he turned to face him, Rooster was already looking, and Jake cursed their height difference having to look up even while sitting.
“Thank you for the save again, Jake,” Rooster said.
His smile was softer than Jake had ever seen it and he had a breathtaking moment when he realized that smile was for him. It was a thank you for more than just his clueless corn wandering.
“I’m sorry I was such a dick to you,” his words felt rushed, “and I should have never brought up your dad.”
“I shouldn’t have hidden it from you guys,” his brown eyes were sad, and Jake felt like he was losing him.
Don’t think just do, Hangman. “I knew Mav was going to pick you and I was so fucking scared. You’re the best pilot I’ve met but you weren’t flying fast enough. I needed you to get back even if you hated me afterward. I would rather live in a world where you hated my guts than one without you in it.”
For a long moment they just look at each other. He watched the emotions flicker across the brunette’s face in rapid fire as he held his own breath. Bradley’s eyes flicked down to his lips before his own quirked upwards in a smirk.
“You think I’m the best pilot?” he could hear his smile in his voice.
Jake groaned before reaching up and pulling Bradley down to connect their lips. The kiss was deep both men releasing the tension in their shoulders. Jake nipped at his bottom lip before pulling back making Bradley chase his lips.
“Calm down, big guy, there are so many kids around here,” he laughed as Bradley growled.
Bradley wrapped his arm around his shoulders, pressing a kiss the top of his head, “Well you can’t get rid of me now, Seresin.”
Jake doesn’t think he minds or ever will.