Chapter Text
Your heart drops as you watch Hangman stride into the hard deck. You've been called back to Top Gun along with your boyfriend Bradley, and Jake is the last person you want to see. Rooster looks over at you trying to get a read on your expression. He knows you well enough to see the hidden panic in your eyes, but he also knows you won't allow your mask to falter no matter how anxious you are. You quickly make your way over to Bradley and sit on his lap. He wraps his arms around you and squeezes, a silent reminder that he's here for you.
You had gone to Top Gun with Jake and Bradley. While you had always gotten along with Rooster, you and Hangman were sworn enemies. Until you weren't. You remember the night it all changed.
You had just completed an exercise when you marched up to Jake and bumped your chest into his, knocking him back. Up to this point, you and he had been neck and neck for top of the class. He had pulled a particularly risky maneuver to show off and almost had to eject. On top of that, you had gotten stuck In his jet wash and barely recovered from the tailspin it threw you into. "What the hell is your problem, Seresin? Are you trying to get me killed?" You were fuming. You wanted to believe it was because he had been your wingman and he fucked you over just to impress the instructors. You wanted to believe you were angry because he had probably just cost you your top spot in the program. That would have been easier. But the nagging feeling in your chest begged to differ, and you tried your best to reason it away. Jake stared down at your flushed cheeks and heaving chest before having the gall to smirk. "Not everything is about you darlin'. Don't worry about it." But that's the thing. You did worry. And deep down you knew it wasn't anger you were feeling, it was fear. You had been scared for Jake. More scared than you had been for yourself. You leaned up to get in his face but stopped before saying anything. You looked over his expression and noted how irritating it was that his cocky fearless persona never wavered. You stood there contemplating for a second as he glanced at your lips before looking into your eyes. How had you never noticed how handsome he was? There was a split second where you felt his breath fan over your lips and before you could comprehend what you were feeling, he was smashing his mouth against yours. You hesitated for a millisecond before matching his energy and kissing him back. Your mouths met in a messy kiss filled with tongue and clashing teeth. Months of sexual tension had finally snapped and it was more than you had ever expected. You pulled back and looked at each other, knowing you were both fucked.
Jake makes his way over to the pool table and greets the rest of the group before turning to look at you. He glances at Bradley's arms wrapped protectively around you before meeting your eyes. "Bradshaw. Y/L/N." He has his signature smirk on his face but there's venom in his tone. The rest of the group looks between the three of you before sharing confused glances with each other. You give a sickly sweet smile before answering. "Seresin." You look at Bradley and give him a quick peck before standing up. "I'm gonna go get us a couple more beers. I'll be right back." Jake scoffs before looking at Bradley and shaking his head. "Nice to see you two still together. At least throwing our relationship away seems to be worth it." You freeze in place before snapping your head towards him so fast you hear your neck crack. "Excuse me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Any facade you had is gone as unbridled anger bubbles to the surface and fire fills your eyes. Is he seriously insinuating that you left him for Rooster?
Jake was gone for the umpteenth time this month and you didn't even remember what his excuse was this time. You didn't care. You had enough and you respected yourself enough to know when to leave. You had both been stationed in North Island for a year after completing Top Gun and had moved in together. This morning was your breaking point. Jake had told you he was at the Hard Deck all night when he rolled in at 3 am. You had a familiar feeling in your gut telling you something was wrong but didn't push it. But your instincts never failed you. The Hard Deck wasn't open that late, and you had an inkling of what he was doing after he left. After Jake left to do god knows what, you called Penny. "Hey, Penny. What time did Jake leave last night?" You could hear her frown as she answered. " Jake? He wasn't here last night. Is everything okay?" You sputtered out a quick "Yea, everything is fine. Don't worry about it." Before hanging up. Jake had been distant lately and you weren't stupid. You had just chosen to ignore it. You had noticed the late nights, the showers as soon as he got home, the bruises he poorly attempted to hide. But you were in denial. This proved your worst fears. Jake had been cheating, and by the looks of it, it had been months. You maybe could have worked over it if it was a one-time fluke, but this was something he had no remorse about. He didn't even care to hide it that well. He knew how easy it would be to check his story, but he assumed you were in the dark. Either that or he assumed you didn't have the nerve to confront him or leave. You weren't sure which was worse. That he thought you were stupid, or spineless. Boy was he wrong.
You and Bradley had stayed in touch and you knew he was nearby for a detachment. So as you started packing your things, you called him and explained the situation. He had been fuming and you heard his keys as he started towards his truck. He was there in ten minutes and helped you load everything into your cars and brought it back to his place. He would let you stay with him while you requested a transfer and waited for your new assignment. You took the next couple of weeks off to avoid Jake and blocked him on everything known to man. All Jake knew was he came home to an empty house, and a few months later he had heard you and Bradley were together.
"I think you know what it means, darlin'. You couldn't even wait to hop off my dick before hopping onto Bradshaws." You let out a low chuckle as your face turns to ice. You notice a momentary flash of fear in Jake's eyes before his walls go back up. Behind you, Rooster goes to say something but you put your hand up and he closes his mouth. "I don't think you want to do this here, Bagman. Not in front of all your friends." Jake should stop and he knows it. He knows better than anybody how cold and cutting you can be, but he thinks he has the upper hand. He laughs before shooting back. "Do what? I'm not the one making their way through the group." The smile that splits your face is off-putting. Even Rooster shifts uncomfortably at how you're sizing up your prey, deciding how you can make this as lethal as possible. You chuckle at the way Hangman is starting to fold under your gaze. He had forgotten just how calculated and diabolical you are when provoked. For someone who looks so nice, you are extremely intimidating when you choose to be. That's how you got your call sign, Bubbles. You had been named after the Powerpuff girl who was sweet and unassuming, right up until she needed to be lethal. It suits you, leads people to assume you're nice and non-threatening, giving you the upper hand. Just how you like it to be. "I never cheated on you Jakey," Hangman cringes at the use of your old nickname for him. Not because he doesn't like it, but because he knows it's a calculated choice meant to cut open old wounds. It works. You continue, "That was your area of specialty."
For the first time since this started, Jake's bravado falls and his face blanches. You tilt your head and quirk an eyebrow. "So I guess that answers the age-old question. You did think I was too stupid to notice." Jake starts to internally panic at the dirty laundry being aired as your teammates turn to him with wide eyes. They didn't know you two know each other, let alone that you have this kind of history. Phoenix is loving every second. It's like a soap opera and she can't wait to hear what you say next. Rooster sits with bated breath, waiting to see how far you're going to take this. Jake clears his throat, trying to backtrack. "I don't know what you're talking about." You roll your eyes so far back you're sure you see your brain. You vaguely notice Bradley scoff, but keep your eyes set on your target. "Don't play dumb now, Jake. You wanted to start this, and now we're in it. Did you really think I didn't notice? The late nights where you rolled in at 2 am and immediately took a shower and washed your clothes? The way you started flipping your phone over so I couldn't see it? The looks women would give you when we were out, before giving me the death glare?" Your voice is completely calm and even and it sends chills up Hangman's back. He's never seen you like this, especially with him. Yelling he's used to, you've always been fiery. But this is different. This is stone cold and it scares him. You circle him before continuing. "I gave you time to stop. To come forward. You kept on for months, thinking I was too stupid and naive to pick up on it. You didn't even try to hide it after a while. You really thought I wouldn't notice bruises and scratches on your skin I didn't give you? Either you're really dumb, or really arrogant. Probably a combination of both." If Jake was pale before, you're almost certain he's going to pass out now. It makes you proud to know that the tables have turned and you have control while he spirals.
Jake goes to respond but you cut him off. "Rooster is the man you think you are, but deep down know you can never be. He picked up the broken pieces of your mess and put them back together. Over time, we realized we had developed feelings. He was patient for months as I worked through the paranoia and trust issues you gave me. I won't apologize for how I chose to move on from you. So before throwing around accusations trying to slander me, why don't you just shut the fuck up?" Jake swallows hard before composing himself. Phoenix chokes back a laugh and the rest of the group has their mouths hanging open. "Y/N, can we go talk?" You actually let out a genuine laugh at this. "About what? There's nothing to say. You fucked up, and Bradley was smart enough not to do the same. End of story. If you keep on, I'll tell the real story of how you got the name hangman." Rooster chokes on his drink and you look back at him. "Come on, bubbles. Even I wouldn't do that." He says with wide eyes. You just smile. "That's up to Bagman." Jake gives a curt nod before agreeing to drop it. You turn to Rooster and grab his hand before addressing the group. "As interesting as this has been, we have an early morning and I for one need my beauty sleep. We'll see y'all tomorrow."
You're met with a chorus of goodbyes and a hug from Phoenix as she demands to know more later. You just laugh and promise to fill her in on all the gritty details. After closing out your tab, you follow Rooster out to his Bronco. He opens the door, helping you in before buckling your seat belt and racing to the driver's side. He couldn't wait to leave. You stare out the window as you pass trees and houses. It's silent for a few minutes before you hear Bradley's voice. "I'm proud of you, pretty girl. Even if it did terrify me down to my bones, I'm glad you finally got to say what you needed to." You squeeze his hand and pause before whispering. "Thank you. I was worried you'd be mad. We do still have to fly with him" He glances over at you, his eyes softening. "I would never be mad at you for getting closure, no matter what the circumstances are. I love you." You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding and feel your body finally relax. "I love you too. Tomorrow will be interesting." He laughs as he turns onto your street. "That it will baby. That it will."