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“I am terrified,” Hangman swallowed thickly before continuing, “but I think I’ll make it.”
“No way man, you’re gonna die,” Payback responded gleefully, while Coyote nodded quickly, sharing in the excitement.
“Shut up, you’ll scare him.” Phoenix barked at the two aviators, reaching out to rub Hangman’s shoulder in comfort. “It won’t be that bad.” But even as Phoenix says it, her own uncertainty was clear.
“It’s no big deal, I’m just meeting with Maverick and Commander Kazansky to ask for their blessing to propose to their omega godson - who I publicly bullied for two weeks. ” Hangman bemoaned, smacking his head down on the bar.
“Oof, you’re asking Ice and Mav?” The aviators turned their attention to Penny, who had made her way down to wipe the bar. Hearing the conversation, she shared the group's winces. Looking at Hangman with pitying eyes, she reached below the bar and gave him a fresh beer. “On the house. And good luck.”
Her unsaid you’ll need it wasn’t unheard.
But Hangman was going to push through, because he was stupidly in love with Rooster Bradshaw. And he was prepared to face literal and metaphorical dragons if it meant they could be together.
Which is how Hangman ended up waiting in Maverick and Ice’s foyer, fiddling with the cufflinks of his dress shirt. He had coordinated with Bob and Fanboy to have Rooster distracted for the day, just to alleviate the possibility of Rooster dropping in to see his godparents. Since the mission, they had all been especially close, regularly having dinner together and even clearing out a guest room that Rooster could feel as his room when he didn’t want to drive back to his own place.
“Seresin, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Ice’s voice rings out, rounding the corner. He looks around, as if hoping Rooster would also appear.
“Is Rooster with you?” Maverick adds, trailing behind his husband.
“No, just me.” Hangman replies, hoping his nervousness isn’t showing in his demeanor. He thinks he failed when Maverick cocks his head to the side, sizing Hangman up. “I actually wanted to talk to you both.”
“Take a seat then.” Ice orders, having already taken his seat in his leather armchair, perfectly embodying an alpha in command of his territory. Maverick opts to sit on the armchair’s arm, which prompts Ice into slinging his arm around Maverick’s hip.
“What’s on your mind?” Maverick asks, but his face shows he already has a suspicion.
Hangman wishes he could quell his anxiety, but he felt like he was looking in the face of death. Ice and Mav’s answer could end his future as he knows it but he still has to ask. Somewhere in his mind, he imagines his brothers ribbing him that his fear wasn’t very alpha of him but then again, none of them were married. Thinking of Rooster and a life together, Hangman willed himself to push through. “I really love Rooster. And I can’t imagine a future without him. I plan to ask Rooster to marry me.” Hangman answered, pausing briefly at the stretching silence from Ice and Mav, before he specified why he was here, specifically. “And I wanted your blessing.”
“Don’t you think this is a bit traditional?” Maverick threw out, weary of the idea of treating Rooster a bit like property.
“I was born and raised by a Marine from Houston, Texas. I can’t skirt being traditional.” Hangman joked, before changing his tone to match the seriousness of the conversation. “And more than that, it would mean a lot to me and I think Rooster to have your blessing to ask.”
“Well, you certainly weren’t easy on him when you met.” Ice starts, but his eyes have a sparkle behind them. “But I can’t say I don’t understand the competitive spirit.” Ice pauses, taking a moment to smile up at Maverick and grip his hip. “You make Rooster happy and that makes us happy. You’ve got our blessing Seresin.” Ice finishes, moving to stand.
Maverick stands and crosses the room, extending his hand out to Hangman. His grip is ironclad and his face shows no softening. “You have our blessing, Hangman. But if you ever hurt Rooster, I’ll figure out how to shoot your body into space.” Maverick asserts, with bone-chilling directness.
“Maverick, I’d lay on the rocket myself. I love your godson and he’d be making me the luckiest man in the world if he were to be my husband.” Hangman responds, hoping his answer conveys the sincerity he feels.
Maverick nods once more, before pulling Hangman down into a hug, from this position Hangman can smell Mav’s pheromones with astonishing clarity. He smells a contented omega, pleased.
Now, it was time for the real hard part: Proposing.
In his mind, Hangman wanted to rent out Penny’s bar and cover it in string lights and bright flowers to match Rooster’s Hawaiian shirts.
Or ask for special permission from Ice to propose in the Top Gun hangar, the place Hangman could pinpoint when he fell in love.
Or maybe even the beach, at sunset, where the light would bounce off Rooster’s freckles just right. And, Rooster’s eyes would be the perfect shade of amber, looking like warm maple syrup; his skin tan and glowing from many days spent on the sand.
In the end, it was all perfectly simple.
He took Rooster home after they had finished going bowling with the team, just eager to blow off steam. Hangman actively ignored the subtle looks from everyone, unsaid ‘ when are you asking’ states - instead vowing to never share a secret with them again and choose to just enjoy the moment.
He and Rooster were warm from the drinks and laughter, swaying gently into one another as Hangman walked Rooster up the walkway to his house. Rooster climbed the first step and paused, turning to look at Hangman - their height difference even more exaggerated. Before they’d even gone out, Hangman said that he couldn’t spend the night because he had a wake-up call for training with Cyclone. Rooster had lamented that that was endlessly unfair but understood that Hangman didn’t have much of a choice.
“You leaving?” Rooster asked, the edge of sadness evident in his tone.
“Yeah, baby.” Hangman sighed, annoyed that he had orders himself. There was nowhere he’d rather be than spending the night with Rooster, just drinking each other in.
“You suck - but I love you.” Rooster asserted, sighing with an over exaggerated whistle. “So good night, babe.” Rooster whispered softly, leaning down to peck a kiss to Hangman’s lips. He pulled back smiling softly, before turning to go inside.
And Hangman wasn’t sure what it was about the moment, but he couldn’t hold it anymore.
“Marry me!” Hangman blurted out, freezing at his own voice.
Rooster whipped around, eyes the size of saucers. “What?”
“I said marry me. And I’m sorry, I’m doing this all wrong.” Hangman took in a shaky breath, before bending down to one knee.
“Jake…” Rooster stared, feet rooted to the spot on his front porch.
“I should’ve said: Will you marry me? I know I don’t have the ring on me right now - it’s at home. But Baby, I love you, I want to do everything with you. I want to spend summers between here and Texas and hell if you’d have it, a bunch of little aviators gnawing at our ankles. I want to take you to every Naval ball and show off my wedding ring. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Hangman couldn’t stop himself, he was on a roll.
“So, Bradley Bradshaw, will you make me the luckiest man on earth and be my husband?” Hangman finished, suddenly feeling the anxiety wash over him. This is why you always have a plan, his mind supplied unhelpfully.
But he didn’t have long to think, before Rooster was flying off the steps and tackling Hangman flat on his back. “You are insane. And you’re gonna be my husband.” Rooster breathed out, before sealing their lips in a kiss. Hangman was close enough now, he could smell the happiness coming off of Rooster, he smelt like a happy omega.
And Hangman was happy too.
(Hangman didn’t make his wake-up call for Cyclone, but good thing his father-in-law to be was a Commander.)