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"And your wingman?" Adm. Simpson asks. The room fills with silence, tension rolls through the air like bolts of lightning.
"Rooster."
Bradley glances up at Maverick. They look at each other as Warlock speaks. "The rest of you will stand by on the carrier for any reserve role that's required."
"Dismissed."
In the midst of all the quiet celebration, the only thing that goes through Jake Serensin's mind is, 'Oh god.'
Everyone shuffles out of the room, and the chosen few make their way to prepare themselves for the mission that's to come. Rooster makes his way out of the room, a few steps behind the rest of the crowd. He hears distant footsteps behind him, and he knows. He knew the sound of Jake's footsteps better than he knew the rhythm of his own heart. He quickly scans his surroundings for an empty room and makes his way inside, waiting for Jake to follow.
"Bradley." He flinches at both Jake's tone and the use of his real name. The silence between them is deafening. Bradley wishes, prays that Jake will take his pride and walk out the door. Leave Bradley to his thoughts. To grieve over a life he might never come back to. But he knows this was bound to happen. Oh god, he knew. Had Jake been chosen, Bradley would've swallowed his own pride and gone to see him, especially if it meant this might be the last. Their past runs deep, like the Mariana Trench, and some things should lie undisturbed. But they both know neither of them will respect that rule, not when death is a high possibility. Not when the love of his life might never come b-
"I might never see you again, Rooster," Jake broke the silence. His brows were furrowed as he stared at the back of Bradley's head. Bradley closes his eyes and lowers his head, trying to act like his usual calm self. "Bet you're happy." Rooster joked, trying to lighten the mood, but his voice lacked the casual warmth it usually had. He turns around and leans against the table behind him. He crosses his arms and gives Jake an easy smile, like the ground isn't crumbling under him. He knew what he was walking into. This life of his might end here. He didn't want to spend it bickering with the one man who knew him better than he knew himself, even if he hated to admit it.
"I'm not."
Rooster paused. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jake caught him off. "And that scares me," Jake added as Bradley looked away, trying not to think of the weight his words have. "What if I lose you?" Jake admitted. "I don't think I know how to breathe air you haven't exhaled." Jake "Hangman" Serensin stared at Bradley like he was the only thing keeping him tethered to this Earth. Because he was is. Hangman is reckless and irrational. He'll do things without thinking of the consequences it might have on his chances of making it back home. But Jake? Jake knew Rooster would go down to hell and drag his ass back up because he was being an idiot. Jake had someone he wanted to come back to. Even if that someone no longer slept beside him or held him closely. Bradley was still, the reason Jake thought twice up there, even for a fraction of a second. So, the possibility of losing him? Jake didn't know how he'd handle it.
"Jake-" Bradley paused as he tried to think of the right words to say to him. Death had been such a familiar part of his life. His father died when he was young. He had accepted that the best he could do throughout his life, and then Iceman died. He knew his time would come as those before him had. He had accepted it the moment he sat in the cockpit of the fighter jet for the very first time. The danger of never seeing another day came with the job. But, seeing Jake's expression? That made him think twice, even for just a fraction of a second. Because Bradley could accept his own death if it meant it was for the mission. His father had, so why shouldn't he? But, God, seeing Jake fight his very being at the mere possibility that Bradley wasn't coming home? Yeah, that did it.
The silence was all-consuming. The unspoken feelings hung in the air, yet neither of them dared to grab hold of them. Jake furrowed his eyebrows at Bradley as his face contorted in pain. He pointed a finger at Bradley and opened his mouth to say something, yet nothing made it past his lips. He let out a frustrated huff before staring Bradley down. His eyes raked over the features of the lover man before him. Trying desperately to memorize him. To commit him to memory. Maybe, if Jake willed it enough, Bradley wouldn't leave him. With the tension heavy in the air, Jake closed his eyes and turned around. He heard the shuffle of Bradley behind him. Jake opens the door and slams it shut behind him, leaving Bradley in the mess of emotions Jake had brought to life once more.
Hours passed, and it was time to go. Bradley was walking down the flight deck. The sun's rays peak over the edge of the horizon. It's nice and warm. He can smell the salt in the air as he goes over the mission in his head. His eyes land on someone walking towards him. He squints and notices it's Jake. He pauses in his tracks. Bradley had looked for Jake after their conversation but never found him, and now, he was standing in front of him. He opens his mouth to say something, anything, but Jake raises a hand in the air and shakes his head. He stops in front of Bradley and smiles at him. A real smile. Not the cocky grins he gives Phoenix when he knows he's being a smart ass and a pain in the ass. No. A real one. One only Bradley had seen a multitude of times.
Bradley stares at him. His eyes drift down his face before coming back up. "You give 'em hell." Jake finally speaks with that same smile. He can't say what he really wants to, but he hopes Bradley knows. The words he wishes to speak clog in his throat as he presses his lips into a thin line. Bradley nods at him and gives him a sweet smile. One full of longing and unspoken words. They could never truly say what they felt towards each other, not after the one fight that cost them everything. They stare at each other for what feels like an eternity.
But the moment never lasted long. Time was up, and Bradley needed to leave. Jake swallows his emotions, his pride, his feelings, everything, and walks past Bradley. He gives him a pat on the shoulder, and neither of them says anything more to each other. Jake would regret never saying anything and everything when he heard the love of his life was shot down over the radio. Jake forgets how to breathe and sits with his thoughts until he hears that they picked up his signal again. Jake was gonna kill him when he got back home.