Summary: Hangman comes home to his on-again-off-again partner after Coyote’s G-Lock and Phoenix and Bob’s bird strike induced punch out.
Warnings: Angsty AF(sorry), with a fluffy cheeeeeesy ending - singular use of y/n
Pairing: Jake Seresin x Reader
Characters: Mentions of Coyote, Phoenix, Bob, Rooster, and Maverick
Word Count: 1372
A/N: This is angsty with the cheesiest ending – sorry not sorry
“Jake,” You called out, hearing the door close, “Babe, is that you?”
“Yeah, doll. It’s me.” You could hear the defeat and exhaustion in his voice.
“I’m in the kitchen.”
He didn’t speak again, but you could tell by the heavy footsteps that he was headed toward you.
You weren’t expecting to see him tonight. Since his first round at Top Gun, you had been in an on-again-off-again relationship with Jake Seresin. The moment he stepped into The Hard Deck all those years ago, you knew it was all over for you. You fell in love with him. You weren’t delusional; he was a naval aviator- he wouldn’t be around long, but that wasn’t going to stop you from falling in love with him.
Jake would still visit a few times a year when he was on leave; he’d even asked you to come to his family’s ranch in Texas a few times. But you weren’t in any kind of serious relationship.
Strong hands wrapped around your waist as you stood in front of the kitchen sink. He kissed the top of your head before leaning to rest his chin on your shoulder.
“Everything okay?” You asked, turning the kitchen sink off.
Jake was never this needy when he first came home. Well, not unless something horrible happened. Considering his job, it was always a possibility. But you also knew that there were many times that he couldn’t tell you what was going on.
“Just a long day,” He murmured. “And all I wanted when it was over was to see you.”
“Want me to order dinner, and you can tell me about it?” You turned in his arms to face him.
He nodded, “I think I’d like that.”
“Your usual?”
“Please.” He kissed your forehead. “I’m gonna go shower while we wait.”
You stretched up on your tiptoes and kissed him. His rough, calloused hands found their way under the hem of your shirt as he pulled you impossibly closer and deepened the kiss. That man could kiss you breathless in two seconds flat, and he enjoyed every moment of it. You broke the kiss only when the need for air became too much to ignore.
“Go shower,” You smirked. “If you don’t go now, dinner is never getting ordered.”
He laughed, kissing you chastely. “Yes, ma’am.”
########
You had agreed not to talk about the heaviness of the day until after you were both done eating and could devote all your attention to him. His phone had gone off a handful of times, all Dagger Squad members seeming to check in? It was hard to tell, but you started reading between the lines when Bradley texted you to ensure that Jake was with you and not home alone.
“Babe, I hate to ask this. But does your bad day have anything to do with the reason Bradley just texted me to make sure you weren’t alone?”
“Yes,” He let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know if I should be worried or impressed that he has your number.”
“All of Dagger Squad does.” You chuckled. “How do you think I keep track of you when you’re not here?”
“Valid point.” He turned and laid his back across the couch, his head on your lap.
“Talk to me, babe,” You ran your fingers through his hair, his eyes closed at the contact.
“I almost lost Coyote today.” He spoke softly. “He was in G-lock.”
Your heart sank. Javy was Jake’s best friend and wingman. They were practically inseparable from when they first arrived on North Island as Top Gun cadets.
When he opened his eyes, he had a thousand-yard stare, “Then Phoenix and Bob had to punch out because of birdstrike.” He continued.
“Oh, babe,” you cooed.
“This was all within minutes of each other.” He continued. “I had to sit in the Ready Room and listen to Maverick call it out over the radio. Over and over, he called out Coyote’s name just to try and pull Javy out of it.” He let out a deep breath, “He almost wasn’t in time.”
“But he was,” you reminded him.
“But what if he hadn’t been?” He questioned. “What if Phoenix or Bob weren’t able to eject in time? It’s happened before. That’s how Rooster’s dad died.”
You had heard the story of how Rooster’s dad died, as well as a few other pilots in the Top Gun program. It was heartbreaking, and every day that everyone came home was a day you were extra thankful for.
“Jake,” You spoke softly, cradling the side of his face. He turned into it and kissed the palm of your hand. “You can’t let yourself live in that thought process. Accidents happen, and you can’t keep reliving those moments. But you can keep the people you care about the most close to you and remind them every day how much you care.”
He was quiet for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. You weren’t oblivious to the fact that most people never experienced this side of him- the kind, caring, actual human side. A part of you always hoped he would share it with the rest of the world, but that wasn’t likely to happen.
“I guess I don’t do a good job at that,” He spoke so softly you weren’t sure you were supposed to hear.
“Vulnerability is courageous in its own way,” You encouraged, moving your hand to rest on his chest.
He chuckled softly. “And dangerous.”
“At times,” you nodded, smiling at him.
He reached out and grabbed your hand in his. He intertwined your fingers and pressed a kiss to your knuckles. “You know that I love you, right?”
You were shocked by the concern evident in his expression, as if you may actually doubt his feelings for you.
“Jacob Seresin, I question many things in the world; but the fact that you love me is certainly not one of them.” The smile that stretched across his face could have lit up the night sky.
“After this mission, I have no idea where they’ll send me next.”
“It won’t matter. You always find your way back here.” You squeezed his hand softly.
“What if we didn’t have to worry about it?”
You looked at him with a scrunched forehead. There was no way this man was considering leaving the Navy, so what on earth could he mean.
“What if you and I never had to worry about where I was stationed. You could come with me.”
“Jake, the only way that would happen is if we were married.” You pointed out the obvious.
“I know,” He looked down at your intertwined hands. The man, confident in everything he does, finally came across a situation that made him nervous.
“Oh,” You let out a heavy breath, completely caught off guard by the direction of the conversation.
“I always knew that this was what I wanted, to marry you.” He spoke again, “I honestly thought I’d ask in a different way. Probably at the beach or back at home on the ranch. But I’ve wanted to ask you for a while now.”
You already knew the answer to his unasked question. It was always going to be yes. “You haven’t asked me a question, Jake.”
He laughed and rolled off the couch before kneeling in front of you. You had to bite your lip to keep from laughing.
“Will you (y/f/n) (y/l/n) marry me?” The tone in his voice and the smile on his face were more confident than a moment ago. He knew the answer. You would haven’t have pushed him to ask the question if you were going to say no.
A giggle escaped your lips as you nodded your head, cheeks hurting from smiling so wide. You leaned forward, wrapping your arms around his neck, and kissed him.
He pulled back, still smiling down at you. “You haven’t answered my question.”
You rolled your eyes, still smiling, as he turned your statement around on you.
“Yes, a million times, yes.”
He smiled, thrilled with your answer and satisfied he could turn your sarcastic response back on you. He closed the distance between the two of you and kissed you breathlessly.
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Summary: Loosely based on the Brett Young song Can’t Sleep Without You
Warnings: Mentions of alcohol, implied smutty ending (not written), mostly unedited so please ignore the typos
Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Wife!Reader
Word Count: 690
A/N: Meh, this isn’t my best work. But I’ve been struggling on the writing front and wanted to get something out.
“Are you mad? You look mad.” You asked timidly, sitting in the passenger seat of Jake’s truck.
“I’m not mad.” He responded softly.
“Your jaw is clenched, and your face is screwed up like your mad.”
“I’m annoyed, not mad.” He tried to clarify.
A few moments of silence passed between the two of you. Each time you drove under a streetlight or a car passed in the opposite direction, you could see the lingering frustration on Jake’s face. You knew that he had had a long week at work and the last thing he wanted to do was bail you out of trouble.
You and Natasha had gone out to The Hard Deck, and Bradley and Jake had declined the offers to tag along, leaving it to a girl’s night. One thing led to another; both of you had drank more than you should have. When a pair of guys wouldn’t take no for an answer from you and Phoenix, you resulted in something other than words. A thrown drink and a punch to the face later, they were both thrown from the bar, and Penny called Bradley and Jake to come to pick up their wives.
“You still look mad.” You muttered.
“I’m NOT mad! But I will be if you keep asking!” Jake raked his hand over his face. “I’m sorry.” He spoke again, this time in a softer tone. “I’m annoyed with how disgusting men can be and that I allowed myself to put you in a situation where I couldn’t protect you. I know you’re a grown woman who can care for yourself. But as your husband, it kills me to know that something like this would have never happened if I had just been there with you.”
He reached across the center console of his truck and laid his hand on your thigh.
“I know you had a long week. I’m sorry Penny had to wake you to come get me.”
This made him chuckle, “Oh babe, I can’t sleep without you. Even if I tried, I would just toss and turn, waiting for you to come home.”
“Jake, you know I would have stayed home if you would have just asked.” You said, intertwining your fingers with his.
“I know,” He pulled your intertwined hands up to his lips and kissed the back of your hand. “That’s why I didn’t ask. I meant it when I told you to have a good time tonight. As long as I know I’m the one you’re coming home to, I’m happy. You work so hard and spend too much of your time doting on me. You deserve a night out, especially a girl’s night.”
He pulled into the driveway, letting go of your hand long enough to throw the truck in park and remove the keys from the ignition.
“Can you do me a favor?” Jake asked. “Next time, let Jimmy or Penny know what’s going on before it gets to the point of drink-throwing. Call me or text me. Hell, you could call Bradshaw if that would help.”
You giggled. “So the next time I need help, I should call Bradley?”
Jake shook his head, smiling; he knew what you were trying to do. He leaned forward and kissed you chastely. “I’m being serious,” He said, resting his forehead against your own. “I was worried when I saw Penny calling. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”
“I promise,” You murmured, “I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“I worry about you every time you’re out of arms reach. It’s my job as your husband.” He chuckled, “You realize how accident-prone you are, right?”
You rolled your eyes, “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
Before he could speak again, you closed the distance between you and kissed him. You nipped at his bottom lip, begging to deepen the kiss. Your fingers threaded through the hair at the base of his neck. His hand cradled the side of your face. You didn’t intend for it to turn into anything, at least not at first.
“Take me to bed, lieutenant.” You whispered once the kiss broke.
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Summary: Rooster gives Hangman dating advice with a twist. Reader explains her relationship with Hangman to Phoenix. Heavily based on the Forest Blakk song “If You Love Her” ft Meghan Trainor.
Warnings: Angsty, bad writing(?), super cheesy, moments of reader’s self-doubt (I’m sure I’m missing some warnings here)
Pairing(S): Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader// Hangman x Rooster!Friend // Reader x Phoenix!Friend // Rooster x Phoenix – mentions of past Hangman x Phoenix and past Rooster x Reader
Characters: Jake “Hangman” Seresin, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, mentions of the rest of Dagger Squad
Word Count: 1807
A/N: This was a whole new style of writing for me. Thank you to Forest Blakk for basically writing this for me. Some how this song just ended up on loop for me at work one day and the scene between Rooster and Hangman just made itself crystal clear in my mind.
(Reader POV)
The Hard Deck was packed tonight. There was no special occasion or event, just another Friday night. All of Dagger Squad was there. Bob and Coyote were currently killing Payback and Fanboy in a game of pool, Rooster and Hangman were throwing darts, and Phoenix sat at the bar catching up with you.
You weren’t sure what happened on the mission; ever since they came home, they all seemed to be getting along like they were lifelong best friends. But you knew better. You’d been around since the beginning – through all of their cadet times at Top Gun and since they came back again. Natasha Trace was one of your best friends, and Jake Seresin was your boyfriend of six months.
“Wanna go for a walk on the beach?” Nat asked you.
“Sure!” Thankful for the idea of taking a break from the noise and a chance to speak to her privately. “Let me just tell Jake really quick.”
“I’ll meet you out back.” She agreed.
You pulled yourself from the bar and found your way toward the boys playing darts. Rooster was focused on the board, and Jake seemed lost in thought. When he noticed you approaching, he broke into a cheek-splitting grin.
“Hey babe,” He greeted you with open arms.
6 months and you still felt like the rest of the world melted away when he looked at you like that.
“Hi,” You beamed back, leaning into his chest. He kissed the top of your head.
Rooster cleared his throat.
“Hey Bradley,” You greeted.
“Hey,” He smiled back, the smile not quite reaching his eyes. “Y’all want a few minutes?”
“No,” You shook your head. “Just came to tell you that Nat and I are going for a walk on the beach.”
“Everything okay?” Jake asked, concerned.
“Yeah, just want an escape from the noise for a few minutes.”
“Okay,” Jake nodded, “Just be safe.”
“I promise to not fall into the ocean,” You chuckled, leaning up on your tiptoes to kiss him.
You pulled away, a smile still on your face; Jake winked at you and made your way toward the back deck. As soon as you closed the door behind you was an instant relief – the sea breeze on your face and the sound fading away. Natasha smiled back at you and wrapped her arm in yours.
“You know that I love you, right?” Nat spoke, not waiting for a response. “But, can we chat?”
(Hangman POV- 3rd Person)
“Can we talk?” Rooster said, leaning against a chair.
“This doesn’t sound good,” Jake responded.
“It’s just that I know you, and” Rooster hesitated for a second. “I want to give you some advice.”
“Unsolicited advice is always great,” Jake laughed.
“Just listen, okay?”
Jake nodded, realizing that Rooster was serious.
“If she gives you her heart, which she clearly has, don’t you break it.”
Rooster closed his eyes for the briefest moment, Jake noticed something was off.
“Let your arms be a place she feels safe in.” Rooster continued. “She always has trouble falling asleep, and she likes to cuddle under the sheets. She loves pop songs, dancing, and bad trash TV.” He paused for another moment to make sure that Jake was still listening. “There are still a few other things. She loves love notes, babies, and giving gifts. She has a hard time accepting compliments. She loves her whole family and all of her friends.” He took another deep breath, “Most importantly, on days when it feels like the whole world might cave in, stand side by side, and you’ll make it. She’s the best thing that you’ll ever have. She’ll love you if you love her like that.”
A quiet moment passed between them. Jake’s mind was thrown in a hundred different directions. Not sure which questions to ask and what conclusions to draw without any specifics. How much of the back story really mattered? Everything Rooster was saying was true. Jake loved her in a way he never knew possible.
(Readers POV)
You and Natasha had stopped at the edge of the soft sand, and stretched out in front of you was the dimly lit ocean and the sound of crashing waves nearly drowning out the nagging thoughts in the back of your mind.
“The phrase can we chat is awful,” You tried to joke.
Natasha laughed, “Sorry, and I’m practically dragging this out.”
“Come on, it can’t be that bad. What’s going on?” You asked.
“It’s about Hangman,” She grimaced, “It’s just, I just,” her stutter was concerning you.
“What about him?”
“Well, I know you, and I know him. But I see the two of you together,” She hesitated with a smile, “I don’t know how else to say it besides that you are obnoxiously in love.”
You laughed, “Is that such a bad thing?”
“No,” she shrugged, “At least until he breaks your heart. And we both know it’s only a matter of time until that happens.
“Maybe, maybe not?” You shrugged. “Let me try to explain,”
Nat nodded, willing to hear you out.
“His arms are where I feel the safest; he never says no to cuddling under the sheets or gets upset with my obnoxious music and terrible dance moves.”
Nat laughed, “They can be pretty awful,”
“Hey!” You smacked her playfully. “He understands my deep love for my family and friends and accepts that sometimes they will be my priority. He keeps all the ridiculous love notes I leave him and leaves his own for me.” You hesitated before going on. “And you know me, I’ve rarely felt comfortable in my own skin, and no matter how much self-doubt I let in, he always says, ‘You’re perfect to me.”
“Cheesy,” Nat chuckled,
“On the worst days, the days that feel like the whole world might cave in when we stand side by side, it actually feels like we’ll make it.” You paused for a moment smiling to yourself; in vocalizing all these things, you realized how much you truly loved him. “Honestly, he’s more than my best friend, forever and then some. No matter what, I’ll choose him over and over again.”
Natasha squeezed your arm reassuringly. “He never made me feel that way,” She spoke softly.
The comment didn’t take you by surprise. None of you had outright spoken the words, but you knew Natasha and Jake had a history. But you were a firm believer of ‘what’s in the past is past. “But Rooster does,” You mentioned with a smile.
She nodded, “Yeah,” she smiled, “Yes, he does.”
“He never did with me.”
“Wait, what?” She exclaimed. “I mean, I always suspected, but I.”
“It was a long time ago,” You stated, cutting her off, “We’re both past it. But it just goes to show you that the right person makes a world of difference.”
(Hangman POV- 3rd Person)
“How do you know all of this?” Jake finally asked, “This all seems a little too specific to be general advice.”
Rooster closed his eyes, “Because I didn’t do these things,” He opened them and looked Jake right in the eye, “and it cost me everything I ever thought I loved, including her.”
“What?” Jake’s jaw dropped in shock. He thought it was possible that you and Bradley had some kind of past, but it was never an issue, so he never pried. If it was important, he trusted you to bring it up.
“It was a long time ago; we’re both past it.” Rooster stated, almost emotionless. “I grew up a lot after our relationship. Mave made sure that I knew full well that I blew it. But it just goes to show you that the right person makes a world of difference.”
Jake took a moment to try and collect his thoughts, choosing his next words carefully. “Whether you believe me or not, I will not break her heart.” He gripped his pool cue, almost as if it gave him the confidence to finish the conversation. “She is more than my best friend, forever and then some. No matter what, I’ll choose her over and over again.”
“That’s all I could ever hope for both of you,” Rooster smiled.
(Reader Person)
“Does Bagman know about you and Rooster?” Natasha asked.
You laughed at the name; she only ever used it if she was trying to lighten a situation, “It’s never been a secret, but we’ve never talked about it either.”
“We should probably go back inside and check on them then.” She turned the two of you to start walking.
“Oh lord, what is Rooster doing?” You rolled your eyes.
“Eh, I can only guess how he went about it; but he basically intended to make sure that Jake knew not to break your heart.”
You rolled your eyes. “Great,” you huffed.
The relationship between you and Bradley didn’t end with you hating each other. It was one of the mythical mutual breakups. You weren’t what he needed at that point, and he couldn’t give you what you wanted emotionally. You never stopped considering him a friend, and he frequently stepped up in an older brother kind of role in the last few months, but this was a whole new level.
(Hangman POV- 3rd Person)
The creek of the back deck door opening stole Jake’s attention. Without a thought, he silently handed his pool cue off to Rooster and walked straight toward her. Even in a packed bar, his determination propelled him quickly through the bar.
She caught his movement in the corner of her eye and turned towards him, smiling at him like he had hung the stars in the sky. It had only been a few minutes since the last time they saw each other, but in that short time, through deep conversations, they saw each other in a new light.
When he was within arms reach, he wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, pulling her impossibly close, and her hands settled in the small of his back. His lips crashed into hers, and he kissed her breathlessly.
He pulled back just enough to look at her and cradle her face in one of his hands. She closed her eyes, leaning into it and kissing his hand’s palm.
“I love you.” Jake confessed, “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
She knew; of course, she did. But this time, she saw something different when she looked up into his emerald green eyes. Unadulterated love and devotion.
“I know,” She smirked, trying not to inflate his ego too much. “I love you too.”
He kissed her again, and the crowd in the bar cheered.
She pulled away laughing, embarrassed by the attention.
“Guess I forgot we were surrounded by people.” Jake laughed.
“Just another night at The Hard Deck.” Coyote joked.
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Characters: Brief mentions of Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Penny Benjamin
Word Count: 1,125
A/N: Just something super cheesy steaming from the Brett Eldredge song Mr. Christmas – honestly I’ve just been struggling to get into holiday spirit myself. Usually a little Brett Eldredge is prefect for getting my in the spirit and that’s just not doing it this year.
Text me when you pull in, please. I have a surprise for you. That was the message you received from your husband when you told him you were headed home.
He had been acting weird since Thanksgiving, and just when you thought he couldn’t get any weirder, he had practically begged you to spend the day with your uncle Pete. You were overdue for a bonding day, so you didn’t object.
The situation got even stranger when you overheard him making arrangements with Natasha and Bradley to meet at the house when you were gone. Part of you wanted to be worried. But Jake had never given you a reason to question your relationship or him, so you wouldn’t do him or yourself the disservice of not trusting him. But that certainly didn’t reduce your anxiety as you pulled into your driveway.
You didn’t want to wait for a response, so you picked up your phone to call him instead of texting.
“Babe, is everything alright?” Jake answered the phone, worry unmistakable in his tone.
“I’m fine, just sitting in the driveway,” you replied, turning off your car.
“Shit, did I miss your text?”
“No, l didn’t want to wait any longer to hear your voice.”
He chuckled, “flattery will get you nowhere, Mrs. Seresin.”
You hummed happily, “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being called that”
“I’ll be right out, Mrs. Seresin.” you could hear the smile in his voice.
Your relationship was controversial in your family and group of friends. You had been together for over a year but married after just ten months of dating. You and Jake felt it was right, but everyone else was hesitant that you were rushing into something that neither of you understood.
This was your first holiday season as a married couple, and it was nothing like you had expected. You went from living in a state with four seasons to San Diego, which only had one. Seventy degrees didn’t really scream Christmas season to you. Leaving your usual holiday cheer virtually nonexistent. You cohosted Thanksgiving with Penny and thought that it would never end when usually that is something you would have lived for. One night at The Hard Deck, your uncle Pete asked when you were going to start decorating for your favorite holiday. When you responded with a shrug and a simple comment about not feeling up for it, Jake knew he had to do something to cheer you up.
Turning off your car, you were unplugging your phone and tossing it into your purse when your car door opened. Jake was dressed in your favorite gray sweatpants and a Hard Deck t-shirt, with a Santa hat dawning his head.
“Hey baby,” He smiled, stretching out his hand. “Did you have a good day with Mave?”
You took his hand, climbing out of the car. “I did. We went to the beach for a while, and Penny joined us for dinner. It was good.” You reached on your tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you for insisting I go.”
“I’m glad you had a good day.” He closed the car door. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Jake,” you practically whined.
“I know, I know, you hate surprises. But I think you’ll like this one.” He grinned.
You stared up at him, trying to be angry or annoyed, but you weren’t. As much as you hate being surprised, Jake’s surprises tend to be your favorite moments.
“Did you go through the Christmas boxes in the garage?” You asked, flicking the ball of the Santa hat.
Jake laughed, “No, this was Rooster’s doing.”
You found yourself skeptical as you approached the walk-up to the door.
“Do you trust me?” Jake asked, pulling you to a stop.
“With my life.” You replied without hesitation.
“You have two choices- I can blindfold you, or you can let me carry you into the house.”
“Um, what?” You exclaimed, confused.
“You said you trusted me.”
You laughed, “that was before you gave me two creepy serial killer options.”
He raised an eyebrow at you.
“Fine, fine.” You raised your hands, laughing. “Blindfold.”
“Really?” He pouted. “Guess you’ll have to wait here while I find one.”
“If I only had one option, why did you give me two?”
“Well, I thought you’d only need the one.”
You rolled your eyes, smiling at your dork of a husband. “Fine, you can carry me.”
Jake picked you up bridal style and situated you in his arms. You kissed his cheek, just thankful to be so close to him. You knew he didn’t want you to peek at whatever he’d spent the day doing, so you buried your face in his neck, closing your eyes. Whatever it was, you knew he meant well. But that was the thing about your husband - he always has good intentions; he just might be terrible at showing that sometimes. Especially when it comes to his teammates.
He jostled you around as he navigated opening the door; you could hear soft Christmas music playing in the background. “I’m gonna put you down now. Open your eyes.”
You felt your feet hit the ground, Jake’s hands on your waist steadying you. Opening your eyes, you looked around the living room. A Christmas tree was tucked in the corner, beautifully lit with red and white balls. Green and red garland lined the banister of the stairs and the arch between the living room and kitchen. Stockings hung over the fireplace with your names written across them.
“Jake,” You beamed, “You did all of this?”
“I had help.”
“Nat and Bradley?”
He chuckled.
“You didn’t hide that part very well.” You turned, looking up at him.
“I didn’t care about that part. I just wanted to do something to cheer you up.”
You leaned up on your tiptoes and kissed him chastely. “Mission accomplished.”
The song faded into a new one, one that you loved. That’s when you realized that he had set up your vinyl record player and had your favorite Christmas album playing.
“Inspiration?” You asked, pointing to the vinyl player.
“Babe, you played this song on repeat last year.” Jake laughed, pulling you closer. “I think it still plays in my sleep.”
“I have zero regrets.”
“Considering how much you love all of this.” He pointed to the decorations and lights. “Not to mention how many times I listened to this man’s albums last year, I knew I needed to do something to help you get in the holiday mood. What does he say? Turn your heart to red and green instead of blue.”
You giggled, “Guess that makes you Mr. Christmas.”
“I’ll make your spirit bright,” He closed the distance between you, kissing you.
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Warnings: Cheesy, predictable, cheesy, mentions of marriage, oh, and uh, cheesy.
Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Reader, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x Penny Benjamin
Characters: All of Dagger Squad, Penny Benjamin and mentions of Amelia Benjamin
Word Count: 1422
A/N: To those that celebrate – Happy Thanksgiving! I’m incredibly thankful to be a part of the TGM fandom and for all the love, support, and encouragement I have received from each of you. With that said, this is honestly mostly dialogue. Sorry I’m advance. Still, I hope you enjoy the precious moment play out.
“It smells good in here,” Maverick called out, leading a train of boys into the house.
“Don’t you dare,” Phoenix jokingly smacked Coyote’s hand away from the plate of deviled eggs.
“Hey,” Rooster stopped when he made it to Phoenix, he bent down and kissed her.
“Did you have a good game?” She asked him.
“Yes, did you enjoy losing?” Jake joked before Rooster could speak up.
You laughed, “You’re a sore winner.”
Jake bent down to kiss you, “Hey baby, you surviving in here?”
“Yeah,” You nodded, “Penny let me turn the thermostat way down to help my mood.” You laughed.
“How cold is it normally on Thanksgiving where you’re from?” Coyote asked
“Usually in the high 30’s, maybe the low 40’s.”
“Nope, too cold” He laughed.
“The thermostat is only at 62.” Penny pointed out.
“Tolerable,” Maverick shrugged. “When do we eat?”
“20ish minutes?” You spoke, “The bird is resting; it needs to be carved still.”
“Oh!” Jake raised his hand, “That’s an actual job for me.”
Everyone laughed.
“Maybe it should be the man from Montana, not Texas?” Payback piped up.
“Oh no,” Bob threw his hands up in defense. “I can assure you Texas has meat carving over Montana.”
“Who knows, maybe this is that one thing that Hangman is bad at?” Rooster joked.
Jake laughed, “I still haven’t found that one thing I’m bad at.”
“Y/N, is he bad at anything?” Penny winked at you.
You blushed and shook your head, “Not a thing,”
“You know there isn’t much of a difference between being bad at something and not good at something.” Rooster explained, “So if he’s not good at something, that could qualify as being bad at something.”
“You are grasping for anything, aren’t you?” Jake laughed.
“Give the girl a chance to answer,” Rooster chided.
“My answer remains unchanged,” You smirked, leaning into Jake’s chest. Your cheeks were so hot from blushing they nearly hurt.
“You’re embarrassing the poor girl,” Phoenix softly smacked Rooster.
“Alright, everyone out.” Penny clapped her hands. “Except you, you and you,” She pointed to you, Jake, and Rooster.
The group filed out of the room one by one. You knew why you and Jake were staying behind but were unsure what Rooster had to do. Penny slid the pocket door closed and immediately got a giddy look on her face.
“Do you have it?” She asked Rooster.
“Huh?” You looked at Jake, confused. He laughed and kissed your temple.
“Here,” Rooster pulled a small box out of his pocket.
Penny opened the box, smiling as she examined the content.
“See, you wouldn’t have won if I didn’t have this precious cargo in my pocket.” Rooster joked.
“Uh-huh, sure.” Jake rolled his eyes.
“Look!” Penny turned the box to you.
Your jaw dropped. Inside the box was a beautiful gold engagement band with six small diamonds split around one larger. It was a dainty but elegant ring.
“It’s beautiful, Rooster,” You smiled at him, Natasha was your best friend, and you knew she would love this. “Babe, is this why you were asking me all these weird cryptic questions the last few weeks?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, smirking, “I couldn’t exactly tell you what he was planning.”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I can keep a secret.” You pouted.
Jake set the knife down and looked at you with a serious expression. “Baby, what are the exceptions for who you can share secrets with?”
“Your husband and your, oh,” You stopped for a second, “your best friend.” You trailed off.
“Wait, he’s not your husband.” Rooster pointed out.
“Yet,” Jake mumbled.
“What do you mean, yet?” Penny directed at Jake.
“It’s not a secret. It’s just a matter of when, where, and how.” Jake shrugged.
He wasn’t lying. There had been many conversations, some joking but some serious. You both knew from the moment you met that that was it. You were staring at your forever. You didn’t want it rushed or in some cliché way.
“Thank god I didn’t lose that bet.” Penny laughed.
“What bet?” Jake asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Her and Mave bet that your trip to Vegas a few weeks ago was to get married.”
“Why would we go to Vegas to get married?” Jake was confused.
“We would do it with all of you and our families.” You added.
“Well, y’all have been going at it like rabbits, so we assumed you were probably pregnant at this point.” Rooster laughed.
Penny smacked him in the arm.
“You and Mave aren’t married, and you tell each other everything.” You pointed out.
There was a knock on the pocket door, “I’m withering away out here,” Coyote joked.
Rooster quickly closed the box and slipped it back into his pocket. Penny opened the pocket door and started handing dishes out to be placed on the table. You rushed around, ensuring everyone had full drinks, and nobody was taking liberties with the seating arrangements. Once Jake was done cutting the turkey and carrying it into the dining room, everyone sat around the table.
“I’m not going to give some lengthy speech,” Mave spoke as everyone sat down. “I do, however, want to thank all of you for everything over the last few months. We’ve had our growing pains, learning, and adjusting as a squad. But most importantly, growing as a family. Each of you means more to me than I can ever express.”
“Here, here,” The group cheered, raising their glasses.
Dinner flew by in a delicate blurt of laughter, love, and gratitude. Once you were full, you picked up your wine glass and leaned back in your chair, silently observing your new-found family. Their banter and laughs brought a smile to your own face.
Jake positioned himself closer to you, sitting back in a similar fashion with his arm stretching out across the back of your chair. You laid your head on his shoulder.
“Thank you for this,” You spoke softly.
“You did most of the cooking,”
“Not that; I mean all of them and for letting me be a part of this family.”
“I should be the one thanking you for putting up with all of us, especially me.”
You turned your head to look up at him, “yeah, you’re pretty hard to deal with.” You smirked.
“I love you,” He smiled back.
“And I love you.”
He kissed the top of your head.
Rooster cleared his throat, “Before Mr. and Mrs. Bagman gets all wrapped up in each other,” he pointed at you and Jake, “I wanted to take a moment while we are all here to say a few things.”
“Ooohhh,” Mickey cheered.
“Speech time,” Ruben beamed.
“I wanted to echo some of the things Mave said and say thank you to the team. We’ve been through a lot in the last few months with missions and finding a new normal with balancing inter-team, relationships, friendships, and family.” He looked over at Natasha and interlaced their fingers. “I want to thank you for all your acceptance and encouragement with this relationship. The uranium mission really reminded me of how fragile life is.”
Phoenix smiled back at him. She had a way of getting lost in his gaze like he was the only one in the room.
“Nat, my love, my best friend. I have to say that I am incredibly thankful for you. Your patience is an art form that I’ll never comprehend. You love me unconditionally and far more than I deserve some days.” Rooster choked up, his voice thick with emotion as he fished the small box from his pocket. “I couldn’t imagine my life without you. Would you allow me the honor of being your husband?”
He set the open box in front of her, and she covered her mouth in awe. Natasha was usually good at being able to reign in her emotions, but not at this moment. Happy tears filled her eyes, and she nodded.
“Yes, a thousand times yes.” She agreed, throwing her arms around his neck.
The room erupted in cheers and clapping as Rooster slid the ring over her ringer. You had managed to get her actual ring size, so there would be no need to resize it. Rooster had really relied on Jake to get the details from you, and it seemed to pay off. Silent, happy tears streamed down your cheeks as you looked at your best friend and her fiancé. Thankful that you got to be a part of that moment and all of their lives.
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Warnings: Fluff, cheesiest fluff, Softy Jake(is that a warning?)
Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader
Word Count: 676
A/N: This came from watching a scene from the Yellowstone season premier and my morning commute jam session the next day. The song Jake sings is called Holy Water by Brett Eldredge
“Dance with me,” Jake begged, standing in front of you.
You were leaning against a railing of the arena of the Seresin family ranch’s barn. His parents had hosted a barbeque in celebration of Jake’s homecoming. Looking out over the arena, you watched couples laughing and dancing to country music playing in the background.
“No way, I’m a terrible dancer.” You laughed.
“Baby, everyone can dance to this kind of music,” He gestured to the handful of couples dancing in the background.
He was dressed in a plaid shirt with wranglers and cowboy boots. It was quite the look for Jake Seresin. You had seen pictures, but nothing had prepared you for the sights you would see when you finally visited his family’s ranch.
He picked up the cattle rope next to him. “I guess I could make you,” Jake smirked.
You raised an eyebrow at him, “And how would you do that?
He let out some of the rope and skillfully tossed it over your head before gently pulling it tighter and pulling you closer.
You threw your head back, laughing. That was not a move you would have expected. You caught a glimpse of his parents watching the exchange, smiling and whispering to each other.
“Guess I have no choice now,” You smiled.
Jake beamed with fake pride, pulling the rope free and letting it drop at your feet. “See, I knew I could make you.”
He held out his hand, and you graciously took it and let him lead you to the arena where the other couples were dancing. You weren’t being modest when you said you were a terrible dancer. You had two left feet and couldn’t even manage line dancing.
Once satisfied with your position, he pulled you in close, “I won’t let you fall,” He whispered the promise in your ear before resting his hand on the small of your back. You rested your hand on his shoulder, and he squeezed your still-held hand with a reassuring smile.
To no surprise, Jake could dance, and he could lead you without any hiccups. You swayed along with the tempo and never missed a step, even when he twirled you.
A new song kicked on. A sliver of you hoped it was fast so you could skip this, but you knew it wouldn’t matter the song’s tempo. Jake wanted to dance with you, and he was going to make it happen. You wanted to be grumpy that he was making you dance, but you couldn’t fight the dopey smile on your face.
As the melody of the new song filtered in, you recognized it as one that played in Jake’s truck regularly. He hummed along with the tune. You stepped a little closer, losing most formalities as you laid your head on his shoulder, his hand slid a little lower, and your eyes closed in the comfort of the moment.
“I’ve been on the verge of breaking” He sang the lyrics softly in your ear. “Couldn’t find my way outta here. I saw you standin’ there, waving’, makin’ all this hell disappear. You are my holy water; you are my river deep. Wash me away and take my higher. ’Cause somethin’ bout your love just set me free.”
Before he finished the chorus, it couldn’t even be called dancing anymore. It was mostly just swaying as he held you close and sang soft enough for just you to hear. It wasn’t uncommon for him to sing to you. Mostly in quiet moments, when you were cuddling on the couch or sitting together at Breakers Beach.
When the bridge came, he changed the lyrics like he always did, “I got used to breaking hearts, watchin’ worlds fall apart. Didn’t know I needed you. But now I do, now I do.”
“A heartbreaker no more,” You chuckled.
You could feel him smile against the top of your head, “You are my holy water; you are my river deep. Wash me away and take my higher. ’Cause somethin’ bout your love just set me free.”
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Warnings: Death – no way around it. There is no explanation of how the death occurs.
Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader! Mitchell Niece
Characters: Brief mentions of Admiral Solomon “Warlock” Bates, Warrant Officer Bernie “Hondo” Coleman, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and Penny Benjamin,
Summary: Hangman dies on a mission. Part of this is the death notification, the rest is reading of the death letter- the letter military members write in case they die on deployment.
Word Count: 1,606
A/N: This was written from inspiration from the Brett Eldredge song Where the Light Meets the Sea. It’s beautiful, if you’ve never heard it, you should definitely give it a go.
Eight Days Ago-
You were sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee while looking through your planner to see what was on the schedule for your day. The team was due back from their latest mission in two days, and you wanted to get as much done as possible before your husband came home.
The ring of the doorbell pulled you from your focus.
Looking at the clock, you were thrown off by who it might be; it wasn't even nine o'clock yet. You wrapped your cardigan tighter around yourself before opening the door.
"Admiral Bates," You spoke, surprised by the man standing in front of you. "Hondo," you barely whispered.
A thousand thoughts flashed through your brain as you looked at the men in front of you. The air in your lungs felt like it was on fire as you exhaled.
"Hey, kiddo," Hondo spoke softly, sadness seeping from his voice.
"Come in," You stated out of muscle memory. You stepped to the side to give them room to come in. You were trying desperately to keep it together, thinking of all the reasons a commanding officer would be at your home.
Hondo closed the door as they stepped into the entryway. Suddenly you felt like the entire weight of the world sat on your chest, unable to breathe in or out.
"Mrs. Seresin, I wish I was here under better circumstances." Admiral Bates stated. This was the first time being called Mrs. Seresin that didn't make you smile. "The commandant of the Navy has entrusted me to express his deep regret that your husband, Jacob, was killed in action on the third of March. The commandant extends his deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss."
You stared at him in disbelief. You opened your mouth to speak, but no words came out. Looking at Hondo, you sickly hoped this was just a terrible joke.
"I don't," Words finally started to come out, "I don't understand. Jake is fine. I'll call him. You'll see." You tried to sound strong in your belief. "Jake is fine." You repeated to yourself.
Another knock came from the door behind Hondo. No one moved, but the door opened. For the briefest moment, you hoped it was a joke and Jake was coming through the door. But it was your uncle's girlfriend, Penny. She lived across the street and probably saw them pull in.
"Hondo?" Penny spoke with a question in her tone.
Hondo's face twisted up and he shook his head at Penny. She looked between him, Admiral Bates, and you. She came to you and pulled you into her chest. You buried your face in her shoulder and began to sob hysterically. It wasn't a joke. Your husband was really gone.
Today- Hours After the Funeral-
"Are you ready for this?" Mave asked, holding an envelope in his hand.
You nodded. It was the death letter. Jake had spoken to you about it a few times. Explained that it had evolved over time and promised he wouldn't ever make you read it. In reality, it was a silly promise; he had no control if you had to read it. But you made him a promise; if he died while in the line of duty and you received the dreaded letter, you would wait until after the funeral. Wait until all the public grieving was over, and you could finally take the time to yourself.
"This came with very specific instructions," Mave explained. "The note said to give it to you after the funeral and send you to his favorite place to read it."
Penny handed you the keys to the bar, "Just lock up before you leave. If you need a ride, text me." She smiled solemnly.
"Thank you," You mumbled back. "Really, I don't know how I would be making it through this without the two of you."
Mave pulled you into a tight hug. You knew this was hard on him. He'd already lost his wingman once. Sadly, he knew the steps you'd need to take and held your hand through the process. When you let go, you wiped at the tears pooling under your eyes.
"I'll see you guys in a while." You spoke again, softer this time, trying to keep your voice from breaking.
Penny kissed your temple and turned away. When you and Jake first started dating, she always ensured you knew this was possible. The job was dangerous, and death was sure to follow them.
It was a short drive from the house to The Hard Deck. You were thankful for that since the further you drove from the house, the more tears welled up in your eyes. You pulled into the parking lot at the bar and took a deep breath. You knew he wouldn't answer, but you just wanted to hear his voice, so you picked up your phone and pressed the icon with his face.
"It's Jake, you know what to do. Probably won't call you back, so save yourself some time and call my wife." You chuckled at how accurate the statement was.
You opened the car door and stepped out. The thick scent of salt water and the cool breeze overtook your senses. You passed the bar and headed straight for the beach behind it. You were thankful that it was secluded and only open to military personnel. It meant you were less likely to get caught bawling your eyes out by a passer-by.
You kicked off your shoes when you got to the edge of the sand, picking them up in your hand to carry with you. When you made it to the edge of the water, up just enough that you wouldn't get caught in the waves when the tide came in, you sat down. You had on Jake's favorite Navy sweatshirt and yoga capris. A soft breeze kicked up, tousling your hair and wafting the scent of Jake that still lingered on his sweatshirt.
Without another thought, you opened the dreaded envelope.
My love,
I hope this letter never makes it to you. I hope you never have to read this or feel the heartache that comes along with it. The first time I wrote this after we got married, I swore that I would do everything in my power to be sure that you never had to read one of these. But if you did, by the end of it you wouldn't doubt for a second how much I love you.
The letter should have been delivered with specific instructions, so you should find yourself where the light meets the sea, at Breakers Beach. It was my favorite spot to visit, even before I met you. Though I never thought I could love the place more, you said yes to my proposal there, and became Mrs. Jacob Seresin in that exact spot. That's when I realized heaven could be a place on earth.
You smiled to yourself, remembering the first month after you married. Jake refused to call you anything but Mrs. Seresin. You belonged to him, and he wanted the whole world to know it. You didn't mind, each time he said it you would smile like a giddy schoolgirl and beam with pride.
By now, I imagine my voicemail is half full of hang-ups from your calling. I wish that I could answer when you call.
I know that we had big plans with life and I'm confident that I won't be able to find the words to express the pain it causes me at the thought that we won't be able to do them together. I hope you know you are not alone just because I may not be physically by your side. I'll watch over you no matter where you go or what you do.
Words have always failed me when it comes to telling you how much I love you. From the first time you beat me in a game of pool at The Hard Deck, I knew that my life would never be the same. I would either love you or be pining for you until the end of time. With the whispers between Phoenix and Penny, I thought that you would never give me a chance. There's no easy or less cheesy way to say this – but you changed me without even trying. I wanted to be a better man to be worthy of your attention. When you refused to go out with Hangman but accepted a date with Jake, I knew I could never go back to the man I was.
He wasn't wrong; Penny and Nat had both spent countless hours telling you all the horror stories of Hangman. The one constant that you found was that none of the stories were about Jake. You played hard to get for a while before you agreed to go on a date with Jake.
Your ability to call me on my bullshit with just a look or the way still to this day that my heart flutters a little when you say my name. I'm not sure I'll ever understand what I did to redeem myself and make myself worthy of you.
I hope every time you hear the air cracks of a jet engine or see a contrail in the sky, you smile and think of me. I'll paint you pretty sunrises and sunsets every chance I get.
I hope you know that I didn't want to leave you. But I'll always be here, in this place, where the light meets the sea.
I love you, always and forever.
Yours,
Jake
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
Summary: Jake gets tricked into going to The Hard Deck to help decorate. Unspoken feelings are finally addressed. (I’m terrible at these)
Warnings: I’m sure I’m going to miss a few here- singular use of Y/N – but it’s there, mentions of deceased parent, cheesy, and if you squint there is a bit of angst.
Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x BenjaminNiece!Reader; Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Natasha “Phoenix” Trace
Characters: Jake Seresin, brief appearances by Bradley Bradshaw, Natasha Trace, Penny Benjamin, and Jimmy the bartender
Word Count: 2,290
A/N: Just something cheesy and cute for the start of the holiday season.
Christmas music played loudly from the speakers in The Hard Deck. If your Aunt Penny was around, she would have disapproved of the volume considering the bar wasn’t open yet. Thankfully, she wasn’t; Penny had left you all of the Christmas decorating. You grew up on a Christmas tree farm, and Christmas had always been your favorite holiday. But this was your first one in San Diego, and she could tell you were missing home.
When you had asked permission to decorate her pool house that you were living in and the main house, she wasn’t prepared for it to look the North Pole had vomited Christmas in all of the shared living spaces. And when you asked if you could decorate the bar, the hesitance on her face was impossible to miss. With a promise to keep it limited, she handed over the bar credit card with a smile.
It was Saturday, technically your night off. Still, you wanted all the decorations to be perfect before you met up with Natasha here later. Doorframes were wrapped with garland and lights; tabletop trees and holly wreaths were alternated between tables. You had found a cute sign that said ‘Meet Me Under The Mistletoe’ with artificial mistletoe attached that you hung near the front door.
You were on a ladder securing ribbon and light-wrapped garland on the pillars separating the pool table area, singing out the lyrics of one of your favorite classic Christmas songs. You thought you had heard someone say your name, but the bar was closed, so you dismissed it and continued to belt out the lyrics.
“I won’t ask for much this Christmas. I won’t even wish for snow; I’m just gonna keep on waiting underneath the mistletoe.”
“I don’t see any mistletoe,” you heard a voice again, though this time you recognized the southern drawl and soft chuckle coming from underneath you.
You yelped when he startled you. This made him laugh harder. You wanted to be angry, but his glowing eyes, dimples, and kilowatt smile made it nearly impossible. Calling out to Siri to turn off the music, the bar was suddenly too quiet.
“It’s up there,” You spoke, nodding towards the front door and climbing down the ladder.
He held up his hands in defense, “Huh, I must have walked right by it.” He looked directly at it, then back at you. “You know, you shouldn’t be up on a ladder like that when no one is around. It’s dangerous.”
“Careful, Hangman, that almost sounds like you care.”
You and Jake had bantered back and forth since the first night he showed up at The Hard Deck 6 weeks ago. Before their mission, it seemed like mostly harmless flirting, sometimes just to get under the skin of Bradley, a brother figure to you. But something had shifted since they came back from wherever they were and learned that the detachment had become a permanent duty station. Longing looks, intentional conversations, and sometimes even lingering touches when you handed him his drinks or took a pool cue from him.
He ran his hand roughly across the back of his neck like he had just been caught doing something, “Well, you know, I,” He cut off, clearly coming up short of a response.
You bit your lip, a little disappointed that he couldn’t come up with a clever comeback. Looking down at your watch, you noticed it was just after 3PM. “Did you need something?”
“Actually, I was sent here to help you.” He spoke with a question in his tone.
“Um,” You raised your eyebrow at him.
“You don’t need help, do you?”
“Not really,” You shrugged. “I just need to finish these last three pillars. If you want to help, you can.”
Jake smirked, “Is Christmas karaoke part of the deal?”
You rolled your eyes, “I thought you didn’t like karaoke?”
“Oh, I don’t plan to participate.”
You threw a strand of garland at him, “Then absolutely not,”
“How about you supervise, and I’ll hang these?”
“Sure,”
He stepped back so he could examine the already completed pillar. He wasn’t going to need your direction for what to do.
“Does Penny always decorate the bar for Christmas?”
“No, definitely not. She barely decorates the house. This was all me.”
“I should have guessed.” He laughed, “Mave said when he came home, it looked like Christmas had thrown up at Penny’s place.”
You laughed, “That sounds pretty accurate. It’s my first Christmas away from the tree farm.” You finished solemnly.
He looked down from where he was working, “You lived on a tree farm?”
“Sure did. My dad bought it when he got out of the Marine Corps.”
“I’d think that would make someone dread Christmas decorations.”
“Not at all; well, I guess not for my family or me, at least. November 1st was always decorating day.” You smiled to yourself, “Some years if I got to my dad when he was in a really great mood, I could get away with decorating on Halloween.”
Jake laughed. “How does he feel about having to decorate himself this year?”
“He actually passed a few years ago.”
His face fell, “Shit,” Jake apologized, “I’m so sorry; I shouldn’t have asked.”
You held up your hand to stop him, “No apologies, really. It does my heart good to talk about him.” You smiled, “If he was still alive, I probably wouldn’t be here. But, if I was, he’d probably make me come home for a special trip just to decorate.”
“Were you two very close?” He was still looking down at you, so you could see the earnest curiosity on his face.
Nodding, you smiled at your memories, “He was my hero, therapist, and counselor. It sounds so cliché, but he was my best friend.”
The two of you fell into easy conversation. He asked about your dad and your favorite holiday traditions. And you returned the asks. He shared his experience with his first Christmas on a carrier.
It was a different side of Jake, one you’d never seen but found yourself in raptures with. The way he lit up when he talked about his own family, especially his parents. The genuine curiosity in his expression when you spoke of home. None of the typical characteristics that you’d grown to expect appeared. He was kind and attentive.
Jake climbed down the ladder and stepped back, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you. He was so close you could feel the heat radiating off him. He looked up at the finished pillars, admiring his handy work.
“Not bad, Hangman. Not bad.” You nodded, smiling at his work.
“You know, you can call me by my name.” He spoke softly, almost too softly.
You turned slightly, catching a glimpse of him, taking in your awe at the decorations.
“Thank you for your help, Jake.” You spoke his name.
There was something about the way his name just rolled off the tip of your tongue like it was the most natural thing for you to say. The corners of his lips pulled up into a soft smile. Whatever you were feeling from saying something so simple, he was undoubtedly feeling too.
“Oh, hi there,” Jimmy spoke, coming from the stock room. He looked around the bar, “Wow, (Y/N), this place looks great.”
Before he finished his sentence, you and Jake had backed away from each other.
“Thanks, Jimmy!” You beamed, “We are just finishing up here.”
Looking at your watch again, you noticed it was just after 4PM. The bar would be opening soon, which meant Penny would be here soon too.
“Can I help clean up?” Jake asked.
You turned to answer him, not realizing he had stepped closer. You found yourself within a paper-thin distance from him. Your hands landed on his chest, and his arms instinctively closed you in to keep you from falling backward at the sudden contact. You should have moved apart as soon as your bodies were capable of moving. But you found yourself lost in the golden green eyes looking back at you. The hands on the small of your back keep you close to him.
Something was happening. A shift in the unspoken friendship the two of you had developed. His eyes held so many questions; you could only imagine yours mirrored his. You heard the stock room door swing closed, pulling the two of you from your trance.
“Uh,” Jake said, releasing you, “Where does the ladder go?” He asked.
Giving him quick instructions, you watched as he folded it up, walking away from you. The room felt like the temperature had dropped ten degrees, and you could have sworn that your skin was tingling from where his hands had just been. You took a deep breath and tried to shake out your mind.
Clean-up went quickly. You mainly had been cleaning up as you went. After putting the scissors, tape, and tacks in the office, you locked the door and went into the stock room to let Jimmy know you were leaving. He again complimented you on the decorations and wished you a good night off before you left the room.
When you walked back to grab your purse from the bar, you were surprised to see Jake standing there waiting for you. He hadn’t said goodbye, so you shouldn’t have been surprised. Your face betrayed you, lighting up when you saw him.
“You’re still here,” You smiled at him, your voice betraying you as much as your face just had.
He smiled, nodding. “Have to make sure you didn’t any more help. I’d hate to report back that I left you with more to do.”
This made you laugh, “Everything is all set. I was just getting ready to go back home. I don’t work tonight.” You made your way toward where he was standing by the front door.
“You don’t?” He questioned, almost seeming disappointed. “I thought you worked every Saturday.”
“Almost. Penny gave me this weekend off and told me I needed to take a break.”
“You do work a lot.” He agreed.
“You come here a lot.” You laughed. “Though I can’t say that you drink a lot. Half the time, you aren’t drinking.”
He shrugged, “What if I said I came here to see you?”
Your breath caught in your throat, thinking back to all the nights he’d been here since he came back from the mission. He often stayed later than the rest of his team, and on slow nights, he’d sit at the bar and talk to you.
“You know, if you took a step to the left, you’d be under the mistletoe.” He observed in a near whisper.
Without hesitation, you stepped to the left and looked up to ensure you were standing under it. He chuckled softly when you looked back at him and stepped towards you.
His lips were on yours. They were smooth and warm as they molded against your own. His hand rested on the side of your neck and the other on your side, holding you close to him. Your arms wrapped around his waist, wanting to be as close to him as possible.
“Oh, thank god,” You heard Natasha’s voice from behind Jake.
Your kiss broke, but neither of you moved to pull yourself from the other, looking at your mutual friend only to see Bradley and your Aunt Penny had arrived too.
Bradley’s smile stretched from ear to ear, “I told you it would work.” He high-fived Natasha.
“You put mistletoe in a bar?” Penny laughed, pointing at the sign.
“Bet you didn’t think it would have that result,” Natasha laughed.
You and Jake turned back to each other. He kissed you again, chastely, this time considering the audience.
“Okay, okay. We get the point.” Bradley cleared his throat. You could hear Penny laugh as she walked away.
Jake released his hold on your neck, allowing you to rest your head on his shoulder, and pulled you in tight. Natasha had turned curly into Bradley’s side and his arm wrapped around her shoulder, holding her in close.
“We couldn’t handle the pining anymore.” Nat finally offered.
“Mave told me you’d be here decorating,” Bradley added.
“So, I suggested Jake come help.”
“And I told him that I was supposed to, but something came up.”
You were amused at Nat and Bradley’s ability to finish each other’s sentences.
Jake laughed, “I assumed it was just an excuse to get me out of the house.”
“That was just an added bonus,” Bradley admitted.
The four of you laughed.
“I got lectured for being on a ladder alone.” You rolled your eyes with a smile.
“In my defense, she was lost in her own world, anyone could have scared her, and she could have fallen.”
“You mean like you scared me.” You pulled back to look up at him.
“Yes, but I would have caught you.”
“Look, their first fight.” Natasha fake-cooed.
You rolled your eyes.
“I would have trusted you to catch me.” You confessed.
“Mushy,” Bradley coughed. “Can I assume girl’s night is canceled, and I can have my girl?”
You looked up at Jake with near certainty that he’d agree.
“Yes,” Jake answered for you, looking back at you. “I’m not ready to let this one out of my arms.”
Natasha’s smiled in approval.
Bradley patted Jake’s arm, “We’re out of here before I throw up at all this mushy love-sick stuff.” He turned them to start back out the door, “Hey, Hangman,” He called back, “Don’t break her heart.”
Jake nodded back to him, “Wouldn’t dream of it, Rooster.”
You smiled, burying your face in his chest. Content didn’t begin to explain how you were feeling.
A/N: If you’ve made it this far - thank you so so so much for reading! My Masterlist can be found here. All work is also available on AO3
