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“Missed that part of the development?” Maverick said, just as confused as Phoenix somehow.
“Can we go back to the Coyote thing? I liked the Coyote thing.” Bob giggled, his cheeks burning at how easy he let out their stupid secret.
“No no no, show me your ring Bobby, I need to know if he’s fucking with me again.” Phoenix said.
Bob put his hand out that showed his equally gold wedding band, just as Jake’s, it had an intricate carving that showed the two’s favorite flowers with the words right above reading; My dearest, beloved Robert. Jake’s reading; Jacob, my love forever
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me, Hangman, how dare you say yes to him?” Phoenix laughed.
“Well actually,” Bob corrected, “Jake was the one to propose.”
“… and you said yes!?” Phoenix laughed as she yelled about the absurdity of it all.
“I’ll give you an offer, Phoenix.” Jake said, trying his hardest to talk while trying to dodge and chase Maverick. “We’ll tell you everything the second you get done with those pushups?”
“Sure.”
And so that’s what they did, not after Phoenix had to get one over on Jake by not telling him where Maverick was. Which resulted in Jake’s “death” or; suffering through two-hundred pushups with Bob and Phoenix.
Bob and Phoenix both landed before Jake, having a few minutes before Jake joined them on the tarmac, the two savored the time before the certain doom that was two-hundred push-ups.
“So,” Bob started, “I’m still a bit lost on you and Coyote, you two just on and off or something?”
Phoenix snorted at the accusation, chuckling at just how wrong Bob was.
“Far from it, Bobby.” She explained “We hooked up a year back and he didn’t get over it, I realized I was sapphic, and now me and Halo are together.”
“Oh, that makes sense, that makes a lot of sense.” He says, remembering how Halo and Phoenix seemed glued at the hip the previous night.
The two continued chatting on the tarmac; Phoenix, ever true to her word, didn’t mention a thing about Jake (other than bragging about the own she got on him but hey can’t a girl have fun?) and Bob respected her for it. He liked that in a person, someone who respects boundaries and doesn’t prod about personal life, which was the opposite of Hangman but perfectly describes Jake.
Eventually they were cut off by Hangman landing and all three were called over by Hondo to fulfill their punishment. Of course this wasn’t before Hangman had to be just a little smug about winning the bet.
The three then walked across the tarmac to where Hondo sat with a clipboard.
“Took you long enough.” Hondo shook his head, scribbling down something on his paper. “Alright, drop and give me two-hundred.” The three immediately dropped to the hot asphalt ground, practically destroying their arms for the foreseeable future. Bob couldn't help but steal glances at his husband, his life partner, his love; Jake.
He knew Jake would pull the Hangman persona right back on the second he entered a space with his coworkers he knew less, which might be a good thing for how the two needed to explain themselves the second he got back into that lounge room.
‘One-ninety-eight … one-ninety-nine … two-hundred.’ Bob thought to himself, he had finished just after Phoenix, just before Jake. He got up, brushed off the gravel that was sure to be imprinted into his hands, wiped the sweat beading on his brow and when he noticed Jake had moved onto sitting and trying his best to blow off some of the heat just by fanning himself, he stuck out a hand.
Jake happily took it, being pulled up by the smaller man. Seeing that Hondo had gone inside, and there was an absence of people able to see them, Jake had planted a kiss on Bob’s cheek.
Well, both of them had been sure there was no way a single person hadn’t heard about Bob’s and Jake’s little secret. Word travels fast in the navy, so there was really no reason to hide anymore, old habits die hard.
“Thank you dear.” Jake said, keeping Bob’s hand in his as they walked into the large base.
“Listen, Jake, if you want to pretend like the whole marriage thing is just a running joke and keep up the li-“ Bob started before quickly getting cut off by Jake.
“I think it’s time we let people know, Bobby, I’m tired of hiding.” Jake said, holding tighter onto Bob’s hand.
“As much as you know how much I would love that, we’re taking a risk here, remember that jerk back in Lemoore?”
“Of course.” Jake remembered that shit-show “But that was a year ago, I’m sure it won’t happen again, I trust most these people.”
“If you say so.” Bob smiled at the warmth growing in his stomach. “God I love you.”
“I love you too, darling.” Jake said leaning a bit into Bob. “More than you even know, honey.”
When the two entered the lounge, it felt like all eyes were on them, Bob looked over at his partner, having a nervous look on his face.
“So.” Coyote started, walking around the foosball table. “Explain yourselves?”
Bob started to try and say something before a smug looking Hangman started with his usual brash nature.
“I’d say it’s pretty obvious.” He says, throwing his arm around Bob. “Me and Bobby here are married.” Bob chuckled and pressed further into his husband.
“Okay, since fucking when Seresin?” Coyote throws his hands up, although he was still smiling, because he knew this is definitely something Hangman would do. “I didn’t even know you were married, I barely knew you were gay!?”
“Well I’m bisexual, for your information, and yes, me and Bob are very happily married.” He countered.
“He proposed Valentine’s Day 2018, and we got married September of that year, so we’ve been married for about three years and a few months.” Bob explained.
“And we got married in a forest, very romantic.” Hangman added. “We started dating while we were still both at top gun for the first time, so six years ago.”
He avoided the eye contact that Rooster was trying oh so hard to make. Maybe in another life, Hangman would still be chasing Rooster, trying to get back that sweet taste of love that Rooster had given him years prior. But simply put, that plan got put to a screeching halt in the form of a mousy, dry-humored, gentle man who could never really get sarcasm. Robert Edward Floyd.
“So why Hangman of all people.” Phoenix spoke up, and millions of thoughts hit Bob like a truck, Jake was definitely trying his hardest to not look offended. Bob could think of a million reasons why he married Jake.
He remembered all the times that Jake would wake early to bring him breakfast in bed every anniversary, even despite Bob being the morning person. He remembered how when Bob asked him on a first date he showed up to minigolf in a suit by accident, cracking both of them up. He remembered how on the night of their wedding, when all Bob wanted to do when they got home was watch a movie; Jake sat through all of ‘Friday the 13th’ with him, despite his hatred for horror.
But now, all that could come out of Bob’s lips was; “Because I love him, and he loves me.” Bob looked over at Jake; his eyes softened.
Oh.
Oh.
Just then Bob realized he was hopelessly and desperately in love with the man beside him, and he was assured that Jake felt the same. And that was a thought that scared Bob a way he had never felt before, but there was no falling out of love now, Jake had stolen his heart and he was one-hundred-percent sure he had stolen Jake’s too.
“Okay then, if you say so” Phoenix said, keeping a steady evil eye on Jake. “I think I just might be mad that Bagman got married before I did.” Jake rolled his eyes and Bob chuckled.
The daggers continued to ask their questions throughout the day, Fanboy and Phoenix asked Bob a few while the three were supposed to be talking about the mission, Coyote had asked Jake why he never told Coyote when the two had some very precious time to themselves.
Eventually the two got called into Cyclone’s office, but, turns out Cyclone had a change of heart (or navy regulation got changed who knows) and the two got off scott free. Other than a reminder that the radio is supposed to be used for mission status only, wear protection, all that, they were excused.
Bob and Jake didn’t get much time alone that day, but the two were definitely sure that the whole navy knew about Bob’s little fuck up. And that Hangman and Bob were married, word seems to travel faster than planes in the navy, and sure Bob was stressed, but maybe this would help show someone else that being queer, and being in the navy doesn’t have to be an oxymoron.
But by far, the least expected one to try and talk to Jake was Rooster, Jake had been walking out through the building. The day was about to end, he was about to go home with his husband, the one that Rooster was about to annoy him with.
“Hangman.”
He kept walking, he didn’t want to hear it, he really didn’t, so he pretended he couldn’t; Jake knew that at some point he had to talk to Rooster, but as of now, he was content on only hurling insults at him.
“Jake.”
‘So now they were on a first name basis?’ he thought to himself, he knew what Rooster was going to do. He was going to not let go of what was in the past, because that’s what he always does, doesn’t he?
“Jacob.”
That stopped him, Bob called him Jacob, there was a time when Rooster called him Jacob, now was not that time.
“Don’t call me that.” He rasped out, his throat was dry, and all he wanted to do was hide his face in Bob’s neck and not come out. “I really don’t want to talk, Bradshaw.”
“Okay, I can leave that all in the past.” Rooster stood down; Bullshit Jake thought again, but he would let him speak. “I just wanted to say; I’m happy for you.”
…
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Bradshaw.” Jake continued his walk to his car, he saw that Bob had already been waiting for him in the driver's seat. Thank fuck.
“How you feeling?” Bob said, crooked smile still on his face, Jake didn’t answer, he had simply pulled Bob into a kiss. A tad surprised, Bob had immediately kissed back, worried if something had happened. When Jake had finally pulled away, Bob asked again.
“You alright?” He asked, and a reassured grin had spread onto Jake’s face. “Talk to Rooster?” Bob had been starting up the car as Jake nodded.
“I think he might have actually changed.” Jake says. “Told me he was happy for us.”
“That's new, I distinctly remember you saying that you hated Rooster and would never not hate Rooster.” Bob chuckled and Jake scoffed.
“You know what I mean, there’s quite a bit of room for improvement, but you know what I mean.” Jake said.
“I do know what you mean.” Bob responded as the car started picking up speed.
“I’m so lucky to have you, do you know that?”
“Likewise, Jacob, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
The two eventually made it to their small home, they had seemed to be able to talk for hours, and be silent for the same time, but it felt the same, no matter what they were doing, as long as they were together.
They entered the house, connecting right to the living room, just in front of the kitchen.
“What are you thinking for dinner, darling?” Jake said, he had been searching for the cranberry cocktail, for a simple vodka cran. It was a long day, he deserved this.
“Pasta.” Bob said, absentmindedly, one thought filled his whole brain.
“So about that be-” Jake said before he was interrupted.
“I think- sorry-” Bob appologized, he knew it was a pet peeve.
“But I think I want to be a Seresin, and I know it's been three years since we married, but we're both tired of hiding.”
“I think Robert Edward Seresin fits you perfectly.”