Song Prompt from Unclaimed Love Songs: Breathe by Faith Hill
Word Count: 100
Summary: There is peace after the storm has passed.
His fingers traced the length of your arm, circled your wrist and dragged back up to brush the hair from your neck where his lips claimed skin over and over, causing you to stir with a breathy laugh.
“What are you doing,” you asked.
You stretched your legs, arched your back and he curled in around you, arms circling your waist.
“Enjoying,” he answered.
You sank into his kiss, slow and hot, and pulled the sheets back over, hands trailing low.
The sunlight peeked through the window curtains, the world beyond the glass alive after the storm the night before.
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
A/N: This is so cheesy and basically wrote itself. I debated posting it, might delete later. I hope you enjoy it.
Jake’s arms were wrapped around your shoulders, your back pressed to his chest, and your hands holding onto his forearms. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head as you watched your brother and sister-in-law load their two kids into the truck.
“I want one,” Jake spoke, breaking the silence.
“Babe, you just got a new truck a month ago.”
“Not the truck,” he laughed.
You looked up and followed his gaze, your six-month-old niece giggling in your brother’s arms. “A baby?” You asked, shocked.
He smiled, the breathtaking kilowatt expression that exposed his dimples and crinkled his eyes. “Yes,”
“Oh,”
This was a conversation you had both had a dozen times. You’d never wanted kids before you met him. You had a rough past; you never felt stable or safe enough to consider having a baby before you met him. But Jake came in like a wrecking ball. Every boundary or plan you had set dissolved without a second thought. He didn’t push them or tell you anything negative about your plans. They just no longer mattered. He was safe. No matter where you were or what was happening in the world, he was your home, peace, and sanctuary.
“Babe,” He spoke softly, kissing the top of your head again, “hey,” he whispered, “look at me.”
You pulled back and looked up at him, and he wiped the pooled tears from under your eye. You hadn’t realized you had started to well up.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Shaking your head, you smiled, “s’not that,” you kissed him chastely. Hoping he’d let it go.
“Hey, talk to me,” He soothed, his hand cradling the side of your face.
You leaned into it, kissing the palm of his hand. “Just never thought I could be this happy. Happy enough to actually want to have a baby with you.”
He chuckled and kissed you again.
“Get a room!” Your brother yelled from the truck window smiling at the sight of you and Jake.
You pulled away from each other, both laughing. Jake’s hand coming to rest on your lower back, keeping you tucked into his side.
“Go home then!” You shouted back.
“Yeah, we have a baby to make!” Jake shouted.
You buried your face in his chest. Laughing and blushing. Your sister-in-law cheering in the background.
“Bout time!” Your brother yelled back. “Love you guys!”
“Love you!” You yelled back. Both you and Jake waved as they pulled down the drive.
“I like him,” Jake smiled, referring to your brother.
“He likes you too. Which is pretty impressive.” You agreed.
Silence passed between the two of you for the briefest moment as you watched your brother and his family slip down the road.
“I can’t believe you just told my brother we were going to make a baby.” You laughed again.
“Well, we are, aren’t we?” He shrugged.
“Yes, but you basically just told my brother to leave so we could have sex.”
“And?” He smirked
You rolled your eyes, smiling. It was a pointless, silly argument that you’d never win. “Take me to bed, Lieutenant.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed you by the waist and threw you over his shoulder, a gentle swat on your butt.
“Jake!” You exclaimed, laughing.
It was going to be a long night.
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: Reader is a terrible pool player. Jake "Hangman" Seresin teaches them they just need the right partner. (I’m terrible at these)
Warnings: Cheesy, terrible writing, (I have no idea what this turned into, it’s not what I planned to write)
Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x Reader (Only one use of Y/N)
Characters: Jake “Hangman” Seresin, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Javy “Coyote” Machado, Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, Robert “Bob” Floyd. Mentions of Penny Benjamin, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell,
Word Count: 3,055 (Sorry? Not sorry)
A/N: This started off as one thing and sort of took off into its own thing. Not the best thing I’ve ever written, but clearly it wanted to be written. Also know very little about pool, so if these details are wrong – I would love to know!
It was your night off, but you still found yourself hanging out at The Hard Deck. You'd worked for your aunt Penny for almost two years and frequently spent your off time at the bar. It felt like home even though you were twelve hundred miles away from your actual home.
A week ago, a new round of aviators returned to Top Gun for some special assignment. They were even more competitive than you were used to from the other pilots, and almost all seemed to know each other personally. When you asked Penny about it, she said they were all previous graduates, most of them at the top of their respective classes. At least, that's what Pete had told her. You still weren't sure what you were supposed to call that guy – he said it was okay to call him Pete, but everyone in the bar referred to him by his call sign.
Dagger squad had been in every night since they arrived at the base. You had warmed up to a few of them. Phoenix was all-around amazing, Coyote made you laugh, and Bob was the sweetest aviator you had met since you started. Rooster was well-rounded – funny, kind, and caring; he reminded you much of your older brother, except your brother could not play the piano. Then there was the gorgeous blonde green-eyed aviator that seemed to be the cockiest of all- Hangman. His southern drawl and kilowatt smile could make you weak in the knees if you let it.
Most of the squad was in The Hard Deck tonight, except for Coyote and Hangman. You'd be lying if you said that you didn't notice, but you didn't let their absence stop you from enjoying your night off with the squad. It was Bob's shot in the game of pool you were playing; it was Phoenix and Bob against you and Rooster. You weren't losing terribly, but that was only thanks to Rooster's skill set.
Penny waved at you from the bar, catching your attention. "Be right back," You excused yourself, handing the pool cue to Rooster.
"A bit preemptive," She smiled, pushing a tray of alcohol toward you. "I'm happy to see you enjoying yourself. It does my momma heart some good. You work hard." Penny was a family friend; you had always known her as 'Aunt Penny' growing up, so when your mom called her and said you needed a fresh start, she offered you a job and a place to stay. She wasn't quite old enough to be your mom but was there any time you needed her.
"Thank you," You smiled back at her, "They are pretty great." You looked back over your shoulder at them. Rooster held the pool cue up in your direction with a smile.
"Go," Penny said, "take the tray with you."
You picked it up and carefully carried it through the crowded bar before setting it on the table next to where you were playing.
"We always have to wait in line," Bob almost whined.
"Perks," You shrugged with a smile before handing him a full beer.
Rooster exchanged the pool cue in his hand for the beer you were giving him. "Thanks," He smiled down at you.
"This is my preemptive request for forgiveness when we inevitably lose this game." You laughed.
You walked past him and leaned against the table, examining your shot options; none of them looked easy. The bell above the door rang in the background, alerting the bar to new patrons. Walking around the table, you tried to get a different angle for a shot you thought you might be able to make.
The change didn't make a difference, so without any more delay, you bent over the table and took the shot. When the white cue ball made an impact, it barely budged the solid-colored ball. Your head hung in disappointment as you turned around.
"Hey, it's okay." Rooster squeezed your shoulder, trying to cheer you up. "You'll get it next time."
Rolling your eyes, you laughed, "I think I'm running out of next time."
"Well, well, what is going on here?" It was a deep smooth southern drawl coming from behind you. You bit your lips together to prevent a smile from creeping onto your face.
"Bagman," Phoenix replied bitterly. Hangman rolled his eyes at her remark. "Hey, Coyote." She sounded more pleasant when she greeted his cohort.
You had turned around, looking at him now, surprised to see he was also in civilian clothing; the whole team was tonight. His dark blue T-shirt clung tightly to his chest and biceps, accentuating his muscles.
"Hello, beautiful," He winked at you.
"Hey," You smiled back at him.
"Want our table?" Omaha asked Hangman. "We're heading out for the night."
"Coyote, wanna play?" He asked.
"I might finally win, so sure," Coyote smirked.
"We will hold it for you while you go to the bar," Fritz spoke.
With the distraction of Hangman and Coyote gone, your game resumed. Phoenix and Rooster had both lined up and shot perfectly. Pool was a game you clearly did not have the skill set for. Bob was lining up his shot when they returned to their table.
"I have got an idea," Hangman spoke, coming back to stand next to the tables.
"This outta be great," Rooster rolled his eyes.
"We'll play the losing team." He spoke again.
"Oh no," You spoke up, "After this, I am definitely done. You've already endured enough losses on my behalf." You finished looking at Rooster.
He smiled at you, opening his mouth to speak.
"Partner switch," Coyote spoke in the background, cutting off Rooster.
"I'm sure I can turn your luck around," Hangman looked at you. "You just need the right partner, and I can promise you that isn't Rooster."
He was arrogant, that's for sure. But you had seen him play pool far too many times now. He was damn good at it.
"Um," You hesitated, wanting to take him up on his offer, purely to spend time with him, but you didn't want to hurt Rooster. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"No, he's right," Rooster spoke, staring down Hangman. "let's do it."
"Well, why don't you wait and see how bad I am before you even agree to this." You spoke.
"It won't make me want you any less," Hangman smirked.
"It's your shot." Bob broke into the conversation.
"Great," You groaned.
You picked up your glass, still half full, and downed the liquor before turning to the table. You could feel everyone's eyes on you as you stared down the table, looking for a shot. There were fewer balls this time, making it easier to see the possibilities. You wanted the attention to end, so you lined up the easiest shot you could find. It was worse than your last shot. The cue ball barely tapped its intended target.
"See," You turned, looking at Hangman, "Bad doesn't begin to cover it."
He smirked, a twinkle of mischief in his emerald-green eyes, "No," He stepped closer to you, reached out, and tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear, "I can work with that."
Your cheeks flushed, and you couldn't hide the gasp that escaped your lips. Your head was getting foggy. There should be no way one man could have that kind of effect on you. But here you were, weak in the knees and stomach in knots.
"I think I need another drink." Rooster grumbled before walking away.
"I'll be over here," Hangman stepped backward, still looking at you, "waiting for you."
You turned your back to him, trying to clear your mind, his words said one thing, but his eyes and body language made them seem like they meant something else. Phoenix wore a look of disappointment on her face. You could only assume it was due to the exchange she had just watched.
Standing there silently, you watched absentmindedly while the game finished playing out. Groaning each time your turn came. You could feel Hangman's eyes roam over you every time. It seemed like once the initial trash-talking between the group had passed, everyone settled down, and the laughter resumed. When Bob sunk the final ball to end the game, you felt a combination of relief and nervousness.
Before the other game could start, you returned to the bar to get another drink. You'd never been a big believer in liquid courage, but if there was any time to start believing in it, that would be right now. You exchanged a quick conversation with Penny before returning to the pool table. Rooster and Coyote were racking the balls while Hangman leaned against a stool watching over them.
"Alright, Hangman. I hope you are prepared to lose what I can only assume is a perfect winning streak." You said, coming to lean on the table next to his stool.
"Stop," He grinned, turning to face you, "Please, call me Jake. I've lost before, only on rare occasions involving illness or fatigue."
You rolled your eyes, smiling back at him. "Well, Jake," You emphasized his name, "I hope you'll forgive me when you lose."
"You want to break?" Coyote turned to ask you.
"Uh, that's an awful idea," You turned to look up at your partner, "Jake, please don't make me."
He laughed; it was a beautiful sound, "I'll never make you do anything you don't want to." He moved off the stool and headed towards the table.
And just like that, the game was on. True to his word, Jake never seemed to get upset with your awful skills. Occasionally he would help you with your shot by standing next to you and pointing easy ones out or changing your grip on the pool cue. Each time he came to your aide, he seemed to get closer, and his hand would linger a little longer. With his help, you did hit a few balls, they didn't go into a pocket, but they did at least move an inch or two.
The game seemed to fly by compared to the previous rounds. Before you knew it, only a few balls were left on the table, and it was your turn.
"You just need a little more oomph in your shot, that's all," Jake spoke, coming to stand next to you. "Here, let me show you," His hand slid down your back sending shivers up your spine. "Here," his voice was soft as he leaned over you, his hand laying on top of yours as you gripped the cue.
You couldn't focus on a single thing he was explaining, distracted by the heat radiating from him, engulfing every inch of you he touched. Your body reacted to his instructions, and you watched as the ball sank into the pocket. The clatter was enough to snap you back into the moment, turning to look at him like a giddy schoolgirl. When you turned to look at him, he didn't step back; you found yourself chest to chest with him, your breath hitched in your throat as you smiled up at him.
You could hear chatter between Rooster, Coyote, and the rest of the squad in the background. But it all sounded like a dull rumble as you looked into Hangman's eyes.
"See," He stated, grinning down at you. "You just needed the right partner."
"You probably could have done that earlier in the game," You countered, trying to hide the effect he had on you.
"Yes, but then you couldn't say that you sunk the winning ball." He beamed with pride.
"We won?"
He nodded in response, taking the pool cue from your hand and laying it across the table behind you.
You didn't know a single pool rule other than hitting the ball in the hole. You always counted on someone to tell you if you were aiming for a stripe or solid color. You turned your head to look at your opponents. Rooster already had his back to you and was focused on talking to the rest of the group.
"We're playing Phoenix and Bob," Coyote said, pulling your attention back to the room. "Table's yours."
You turned back to the aviator still pressed against you. The longer you looked into his emerald green eyes, the foggier your head got. "I think I need some air." You spoke softly, unable to catch your breath.
Jake took half a step back, letting you pass him. His hand reached out to grab your own, interlacing his fingers with yours; he led you towards the back deck. You didn't object or pull away, just let him lead the way. If you were honest with yourself, you would have followed him anywhere he led. If you were more coherent, you would have noticed the gaze of his entire squad and your aunt, Penny, following your motions.
There wasn't a word exchanged between you until you passed the deck and were well into the sand, "where are we going?" You giggled.
He chuckled, "away from the noise. Here is good."
You half expected him to drop your hand; instead, you sat down on the sand. The soft breeze tousling your hair and the smell of salt in the air.
The whole night had taken a turn you weren't anticipating. Sure, Jake had been flirting with you since the night he showed up at the Hard Deck, but you assumed he was like that with all the girls. You hadn't witnessed him flirting with other girls, but surely, he was? Your head was swimming in thoughts. There was no space between you; if you were sitting any closer, you would have been sitting on his lap. You leaned your head onto his shoulder; you knew you should say something but didn't know what.
"Jake," You spoke his name softly.
"Yeah, doll?"
You smiled at the term of endearment, "I'm a babbler; if you don't say something soon, it's going to happen."
He chuckled, "I don't think I'd mind that one bit." He picked your intertwined hands up and rested them on his thigh, his thumb rubbing circles against the back of your hand. "I've never met a woman like you. All the places I've been, no one has captivated me like you."
"I'm not sure how to take that."
"It's a good thing, I promise." He paused for a moment; you weren't sure if it was for dramatic effect or if he was thinking of what to say next. "You're beautiful and intelligent, sarcastic, and witty enough to not only put up with me but do it right back."
You laughed, realizing he probably hadn't met many people, especially women, that could hold their own against him. Most were probably too captivated by his charm and good looks. Though, Phoenix did a pretty good job.
You weren't going to tell him that it didn't matter what came out of your mouth, snarky, witty, or otherwise; you were still weak in the knees every time he spoke.
"I'm sure you say that to all the girls, Hangman." You spoke, trying not to inflate his ego.
"I wish I could say that I did. But you are the most exquisite person I've ever interacted with."
You were thankful the only light around you was from the moon. It was dim enough that he most likely would not be able to see that your cheeks were burning from the blush.
"Did you just call me exquisite?"
He laughed, "yeah, I guess I did." He picked up your intertwined hands and gently kissed your knuckles. "I mean it, though."
You pulled your head back to look at him; while the lighting was dim, you could see the sincerity in his expression. The cocky charade had fallen, leaving a vulnerable Jacob Seresin in the pale moonlight. A beautiful sight that you were confident not many people had been blessed enough to see.
Before you could lose your gumption leaned up, pressing your lips to his. It was a chaste but sweet kiss and all the invitation he needed. He had a hold of your hips in one fluid motion, and you were straddling him on the beach. Jake's hands lingered on your hips under the hem of your shirt, the heat from his skin burning against your waist. Your fingers threaded through his short hair, grounding you through the fury of passionate kissing.
You were breathless when the kiss finally broke; you buried your face into the crook of his neck, trying to catch your breath.
"That's probably not what you had in mind when you said you needed air." Jake joked.
You kissed his neck, "the opposite, actually." You pulled back to look at him. "I expected to come out here alone. Clear my head, listen to the waves, maybe actually catch my breath." You chuckled.
"I mean, I can go inside." He raised an eyebrow at you, unable to hide the smirk on his face. He kissed the pulse point on your neck before kissing your jaw, "but only if that's really what you want."
"Don't you dare."
He kissed you again.
"Hangman," You heard Coyote yelling.
"Y/N" Rooster yelled. "We want a rematch."
You pulled back to look at Jake, hesitant to leave this setting. You were too happy at that moment, afraid you'd never experience it again.
"I promised I wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to," Jake spoke softly, rubbing his hand soothingly across your back. "I'm happy to ignore them if that's what you want."
Shaking your head, "We should go." You agreed reluctantly, climbing off his lap.
"Let me help you," He stood up, reaching out his hands.
You took them graciously.
"You know they're going to be a nightmare to deal with now, right?" Jake spoke, intertwining your hands again.
"Natasha is going to hate me." You muttered.
"Not a chance; Phoenix loves you. We all do."
You looked up at him, smiling, holding on to his forearm with your other hand, stabilizing yourself as you made it to the deck. "Are you ready for this again, partner?"
He grinned, "I was born ready. You are, too, now that you have the right partner." He bent down and kissed you one last time before re-entering the bar.
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
