the way he loves you
Summary: The Dagger Squad starts to notice the subtle ways Jake Seresin shows his love for you, from quiet moments at home to stolen glances at the Hard Deck. As each of them pieces it together, they realize Jake isn’t just Hangman—he’s yours.
Warnings: use of Y/N, she/her, fluff.
Word count: 1121 (oops i got a bit carried away)
A/N: someone reposted my last “curious gazes” and requested one with all the daggers, and i’ve been thinking about it ever since. i finally got time to write it so i hope you enjoy, i’ve been loving these!!
***
Jake “Hangman” Seresin had a reputation for being bold and larger than life. To most, nothing more than a cocky, overconfident pilot, the kind of guy who never seemed to take life too seriously. But when the Daggers met you, they began to see a side of Jake they’d never expected—a side that made them realize there was far more to him than they ever realized.
And it happened in little moments, each one chipping away at the image of Hangman and revealing Jake.
***
Phoenix
Natasha had always been sharp. She could read people easily, and Jake was no exception. She’d noticed the changes in him before anyone else: how he wasn’t as quick to boast, how he lingered on his phone more often, smiling at something no one else could see.
Still, it wasn’t until that night at the Hard Deck that she put the pieces together.
Jake walked in with you by his side, and Natasha immediately noticed the way he looked at you. It wasn’t the casual charm he used on everyone else—it was softer, almost reverent.
“Guys, this is Y/N,” Jake said, his voice filled with a kind of pride that made Natasha blink in surprise.
You smiled and waved, introducing yourself as Jake’s girlfriend, though you didn’t need to. Natasha had already figured it out.
She watched as Jake stayed close to you all night, not in his usual attention-seeking way, but quietly, as if he couldn’t bear to let you out of his sight. When you laughed, he leaned in just a little closer. When you spoke, he listened like your words were the most important thing in the world.
Later, as Jake brushed a strand of hair out of your face, his fingers lingering on your cheek and a soft smile, Natasha smirked and leaned over to Bob. “He’s gone.”
Bob
Bob Floyd noticed it in the details, in the quiet moments that others might overlook.
When Jake and you invited the squad over for dinner, Bob didn’t know what to expect. He’d never pictured Jake as the hosting type, but as he stepped into your cozy home, he could tell this was different.
“Make yourself at home,” you said warmly, handing Bob a glass of sweet tea.
Jake was in the kitchen, wearing an apron—an apron, of all things—as he stirred something on the stove. Bob couldn’t hide his surprise.
“You’re domesticated, Seresin,” Rooster teased, leaning against the counter.
Jake smirked without looking up. “Happy wife, happy life,” he said easily, earning a laugh from you.
“Not your wife yet,” you teased.
“Yet,” Jake said, glancing at you with a grin and tossing you a wink that made Bob’s chest ache with secondhand fondness.
Bob noticed the way you moved around each other, wordlessly passing utensils and dishes, finishing each other’s sentences. There was a quiet rhythm to it, a kind of unspoken understanding that came from deep love and trust.
When dessert came out, Jake set the plate in front of you first, brushing a kiss to your temple. Bob caught the way you smiled, the way Jake’s hand lingered on yours for just a moment longer than necessary.
Bob glanced at Phoenix, who raised her eyebrows knowingly. “That’s love,” she whispered, and Bob couldn’t agree more.
Rooster
Bradley Bradshaw noticed it during a pool game at the Hard Deck.
Jake had always been competitive, but tonight, he wasn’t playing to win against the squad—he was playing to impress you.
Every shot he made, he’d glance over at you, his grin widening when you clapped or cheered. But it wasn’t just the showmanship that caught Bradley’s attention. It was the way Jake handed you the pool cue, guiding you through your shots with a patience Bradley hadn’t thought him capable of.
“Am I doing this right?” you asked, laughing as you tried to line up your shot.
“You’re perfect,” Jake said softly, his voice so low that only you and Bradley heard.
Bradley rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the grin tugging at his lips. “You’re whipped, Seresin.”
“And happy about it,” Jake shot back, winking.
Bradley couldn’t argue with that.
Payback & Fanboy
Fanboy and Payback noticed it on the beach.
It was a rare day off, and the squad had decided to hit the sand for some football and relaxation. You’d tagged along, sitting under an umbrella with a book in hand while the others played.
Jake kept sneaking glances at you between plays, his grin growing every time you looked up and smiled.
When the game ended, Jake jogged over to you, dropping to his knees in the sand beside your chair. “Having fun?” he asked, brushing sand off his hands.
You smiled, closing your book. “Always, when I’m with you.”
Mickey nudged Reuben, jerking his chin toward the two of you. “Look at him. That’s not the Hangman we know.”
“Nope,” Reuben said with a grin. “That’s Jake. Big difference.”
Coyote
Javy had known from the beginning.
He’d been there when Jake first mentioned you, his voice tinged with something Javy hadn’t heard before: vulnerability. He’d watched as Jake navigated the early days of your relationship, unsure of himself in a way that was both endearing and rare.
At a barbecue one weekend, Javy pulled Jake aside, nodding toward you as you chatted with Phoenix and Bob.
“She’s good for you, man,” Javy said.
Jake nodded, his gaze fixed on you. “Yeah. She is.”
“You ever gonna tell her how whipped you are?” Javy teased.
Jake smirked. “She already knows, no need to say it.”
The Moment They All Realized
The squad’s collective realization came during another gathering at your house.
It was late, and the group was sprawled across the living room, laughing and swapping stories. You were in the kitchen, tidying up, when Jake disappeared without a word.
A few minutes later, he returned with a dish towel over his shoulder, carefully carrying a handful of freshly washed glasses.
“Need a hand, sweetheart?” he asked, walking straight to you.
The room went silent as the squad watched him press a kiss to your temple before helping you dry the dishes.
Phoenix broke the silence first. “Holy shit. He’s a househusband.”
The room erupted in laughter, and Jake looked over his shoulder with a smirk. “Jealous?”
“Absolutely,” Natasha said, grinning.
As the laughter died down, Javy raised his beer. “To Y/N,” he said.
You looked up, surprised. “To me?”
Javy nodded. “Yeah. You turned Hangman into Jake. And we love you for it.”
The squad cheered, and as Jake’s hand found yours, you squeezed it, your heart full.
Because while Jake might not have always been the loudest about his love, the people who mattered most could see it clear as day.
