Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Jake "Hangman" Seresin, f!reader
Word Count: 966
TW: Pining, Denying Feelings, Mentions of Being Cheated on in the Past, Reader w/ First Name, Mentions of Clothes
Notes: Based on "I Won't Say I'm in Love" from Hercules.
Thank you to @green-socks for the request! 💖
Top Gun Masterlist
“Shut up, Bradshaw. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jake increased the speed on his treadmill in the hopes his rapid footfalls or labored breathing would drown out the other pilot’s words.
But Rooster just turned off his own machine and walked around to lean on the front of Jake’s as he stared him dead in the eye. “Come on, man. There’s nothing wrong with having a little crush. We’ve all noticed the change in you over the last week or so. Every time she walks into the room, you light up like a Christmas tree. You’ve got it bad. Just tell her you like her and ask her out already!”
Jake snorted loudly as he continued to speed up his jogging. “You’re way off base. I don’t do relationships. Been there, done that, and it’s not worth the aggravation. Why put in all that effort when I can walk into any bar on any given night and walk out with any girl I want? Night after night after night. No mess, no feelings, just sex. Why would I want to change that?”
Rooster stared at him in utter bewilderment for a moment before he shook his head and muttered, “Dude, who hurt you?”
Jake bristled at the remark, but he tried to casually brush it off. Rooster didn’t need to know how close his comment hit home. He didn’t need to know about the girl Jake had thought was the love of his life, the one he had bought a ring for only to come home early from a deployment to find her in their bed with her Pilates instructor.
So instead of addressing the comment, Jake increased the speed on the treadmill to the maximum setting as he huffed out, “Just get off my case.”
Throwing up his hands in defeat, Rooster said, “Fine. But maybe just consider the fact that while we have a perfectly fine, well-equipped, free workout room back on base, you drag me all the way down here every single day right before her shift so you can show off in all your post-workout glory. Or the fact you paid for my membership as well as yours so we can do that. Or the fact that you were late for a briefing last week because she switched shifts, and you hung around for an extra three hours just to see her for five minutes. You’ve got it bad and that’s okay. But I know you, and I just hope you don’t let your pride stand in the way of your happiness. Or hers.”
Rooster nodded towards the door and Jake’s eyes snapped to the figure walking through the front door. You looked just as perfect as ever in your yoga pants and “Hercules Gym” t-shirt. As you settled in behind the front desk, your eyes flickered around the room until they met Jake’s, and a brilliant smile spread across your lips.
Jake almost faceplanted as he stumbled under the glow of your gaze, but Rooster managed to turn down the speed just in time for Jake to catch his balance. Rooster raised one eyebrow as he gave Jake a very pointed look but didn’t say anything as he turned and walked towards the locker rooms. Chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath, Jake cast one last look in your direction before he followed.
Rooster had already changed clothes and left before Jake finished his shower which he was grateful for. Though the two men had squashed their old rivalry and grown closer after their recent mission together, Jake couldn’t deal with more of Rooster’s well-meaning lecturing right now. Deep down, Jake knew Rooster just wanted him to be happy, but he just wished he would leave him alone when it came to you.
Heading towards the front doors, Jake was thrilled to see you alone at the usually crowded front desks. As you heard him approaching, you glanced up and beamed when you saw who it was. “Hey, Jake! I saw Bradley leave a while ago and I thought I might have missed saying hi to you today. Did you have a good workout?”
“Always do.” He winked and flashed you a toothy grin before asking, “How are you today, Meg?”
“Oh, the usual. Overworked and understaffed, but what are you gonna do about it?” You glanced over Jake’s shoulder at something and groaned. “Speaking of which…. I’ve got to go get fresh towels out of the back. Will you still be here in a few minutes, or do you have to go?”
Jake’s mind flashed to the training session he had scheduled in less than an hour back on base and the strike he already had against him but that thought quickly faded as he looked at your hopeful face. “Yeah, I can stick around. Take your time.”
Somehow, your smile grew even wider as you nodded and said, “Great! I’ll be right back!”
You hurried from behind the counter and headed toward the back of the gym, giving Jake’s arm a soft squeeze as you passed by him. Leaning against the counter, Jake’s eyes never left your retreating form. The way you walked, the way you talked, from the moment he had met you, he had been hypnotized. And over the past few months, as he got to know you, your hold on him just grew stronger.
Because Rooster was right, although he had no idea how right he was. Jake didn’t just have a crush on you; it was so much more than that. For the first time in years, he felt the first stirrings of something deep in his chest. Something he thought he would never find again. And while he wouldn’t say the words out loud, he knew he was in love.
