lostdreamr-blog1

[lostdreamr-blog1]

DAYLIGHT! | JOE BURROW⁹

ev's notes: everything will be under the first tag on this post -> ( daylight | joe x kelce!reader ). feel free to send in asks in my inbox, your thoughts are always the reason why series are so fun!!!

⟢ ┈ summary | the youngest kelce has always been somewhat an enigma.

growing up in the shadow of two of the nfl’s biggest personalities, she’s always managed to keep a lower profile, content to let jason and travis soak up the spotlight while she carved out a quieter existence. sure, she’s been spotted at games, made appearances on new heights, and endured the occasional media curiosity that comes with being a kelce—but for the most part, she’s kept her world private. not by accident, either. she’s built a life outside of football, outside of the noise, and she’s been just fine staying in her lane.

until joe burrow happened.

joe has always been a little different from the rest of the league—sharp, calculated, the definition of cool without ever having to try. he’s got that rare ability to command a room without raising his voice, to keep the world at arm’s length while still making everyone want to know more. his private life? practically untouchable. he’s never been one for high-profile romances, never the guy caught slipping up or getting messy in the media.

which is why when the rumors start—quiet at first, then deafening—it doesn’t feel real. the youngest kelce and joe burrow? people don’t know what to do with that information. because on the surface, it doesn’t make sense. she’s spent her whole life avoiding the spotlight. he lives under it.

and suddenly, the girl who never wanted the attention is at the center of everything.

⟢ ┈ playlist

here are the fics i posted before making this an official series: hard launch, first kiss

fics

chapter one | the youngest kelce has spent her whole life navigating the chaos of her famous last name, always lingering in the background while her brothers took center stage. but when travis falls for taylor swift, she suddenly finds herself feeling like a third wheel in her own family. and after your heartbreak with an nba player, you never thought you'd find love again.

chapter two | after running into your ex, you and kylie have some reflection time. joe realizes that his hook-ups aren't fulfilling, but ja'marr reminds him of who he really is underneath all the hurt.

chapter three | you try to move on from a past relationship finds yourself caught between a safe relationship with a new football player and a magnetic attraction to joe burrow. kylie tries to guide you towards stable relationships but you struggle with the lack of passion and excitement in your current romance.

blurbs

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 9

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6 Ch 7 Ch 8

Marley’s ears rang in the deafening silence. It took some effort to open her eyes, but when she did, her heart rate skyrocketed. Rolling hills of lush green went as far as the eye could see. Any other time she would’ve found it beautiful, but panic was slowly starting to consume her.

Move, Marley. We have to move.

She willed herself to sit up, making sure nothing was broken or missing. The parachute attached to her was slightly blowing in the breeze, drawing unwanted attention, letting the enemy know she was here. Wherever here was.

Cut the parachute and hide it.

Her hands shook as she fumbled with the straps, slashing at them with frantic urgency. The fabric of the parachute twisted in her hands, but there was no time to fold it neatly. Her eyes darted around, trying to see if there was even a spot to hide it. A small, wooded area in the distance grabbed her attention. Without a second thought, she bolted towards it, breath ragged and heart racing.

Was anyone watching? Had they seen me fall?

Her legs burned as she reached the edge of the trees, heart hammering in her chest. She ducked behind a thick patch of underbrush, praying for a moment of peace. The world around her was unnervingly quiet. The ringing in her ears had faded, but the deafening sound of her heartbeat filled the void. There was no time to rest. She couldn’t afford to stop now.

Cautiously, she peered out from behind the leaves, scanning the landscape. It looked peaceful, serene, like something out of a movie. But beneath that calm, she knew, was the ever-present danger of being hunted. She had been shot down over enemy territory, and if she didn’t move fast, she would be captured or worse.

Marley pulled her jacket tighter around her and checked her sidearm. It was there, a comforting weight against her ribs. She wished she had more than just the pistol. Anything more substantial would make her feel less vulnerable. But it was better than nothing.

Think, Marley. Think.

She couldn’t afford to get caught. Not with the Germans in control of this part of France. And certainly not with the rising dread creeping into her chest. Her mind drifted briefly to her brother, knowing he was probably losing his mind right about now. But she made him a promise she was going to keep. And Gale. Fuck, she had just started to get somewhere with him and now she was taking a stroll across enemy lines.

Marley shifted her focus back to the woods, scanning the ground for any signs of movement. But there was nothing, just the rustling of leaves in the wind. She exhaled and took a tentative step forward, careful not to make a sound.

The sharp crack of a twig in the distance froze her in place.

Dammit.

She sucked in her breath, heart racing. Her eyes darted around, searching for any movement. There it was again, the unmistakable crunch of boots against the earth. But they weren’t from the direction she had come.

No, no, no.

Her pulse quickened. She was not alone.

Marley ducked lower into the bushes, panic now climbing its way up her throat. She had to make herself invisible. Tears started forming in her eyes, blurring her vision around her.

There is no crying in war, Marley. Get it together.

 She watched the edge of the woods, praying whoever was out there wouldn’t spot her.

She could hear the footsteps getting closer, now unmistakably purposeful. Someone was hunting her. A German soldier, no doubt. She was exposed, and it would only be a matter of time before they found her.

Fucking think! Staying here is not an option anymore.

Marley glanced to her left and saw a small creek running through the woods, its murky water winding through the trees like a lifeline. It wasn’t much, but if she could make it to the creek, she could follow it out of sight.

Without another second of hesitation, she scrambled for it, keeping low to the ground. The cool air hit her skin as she quietly slipped into the shallow stream, her boots slipping on the wet rocks. She held her breath as she pushed herself into the mud and brush up on the side of the creek, face covered and her body hidden beneath the water’s surface, waiting for the footsteps to pass.

Dear, God. Please let there be nothing in this water that will eat me.

Seconds stretched into minutes. She didn’t dare move. The sound of boots grew louder—closer. Then, just when it felt like her heart might stop from the anxiety, the footsteps halted. She held her breath, praying they hadn’t seen the ripple of water she made when she first got in.

A voice, gruff and foreign, echoed through the trees. She couldn’t understand the words, but the tone was clear. He was speaking to someone. Her instincts screamed at her to keep her head down and stay still, not to give away her position. The sound of movement stirred in the woods, but it seemed to be moving away from her.

After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps faded into the distance, leaving only the rustling of leaves and the steady trickling of the creek.

Marley let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Her body was numb from the cold, but she couldn’t afford to linger. She pushed herself out of the water, silently cursing the sound of the squelching boots as she moved.

She needed to keep moving. She needed to get out of there.

But as she turned to face the creek’s winding path, a figure emerged from the trees ahead.

She froze.

It was a woman dressed in tattered clothing, who looked just as startled to see Marley as she was to see her.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Marley’s mind raced.

Who is she? What side is she on? She looks smaller than John, so I could take her.

The woman spoke in a hushed, urgent tone, but the words were unfamiliar, the accent thick with something Marley couldn’t quite place.

I should’ve learned German.

Her pulse skipped, but before she could react, the woman’s gaze dropped to the side as if listening for something. Her eyes widening as a soft sound of footsteps reached their ears. Without a word, the woman jerked her head toward the thicket.

Marley didn’t need to be told twice. She followed the woman, moving quickly but quietly, as they ducked deeper into the woods.

After walking for a short while, they came to a small, hidden cabin tucked among the trees, the door cracked open. The woman looked at Marley again, giving her a small nod before entering. Marley hesitated for a split second, then followed, closing the door softly behind her.

The story of Hansel and Gretel played through her mind.  

Inside, the cabin was dim, with a small fire burning in the hearth. The air smelled of wood and something faintly metallic, but it felt safer than the open woods. The woman motioned for Marley to sit, and she did, cautiously, watching her every move.

Then, the woman spoke again, her words slow but deliberate.

"Are you American?"

Marley nodded, hesitating. "Yes. I... I need to get back to England."

The woman’s gaze softened. "You’re not the first," she said quietly. "We’ve helped others before."

Marley’s heart skipped a beat.

Maybe, just maybe, she had found someone who could help her after all.

Tag List: @probabydeadbynow, @affabletimelady, @gilli-vanilli, @bellesdreamyprofile

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 8

A/N: The story is starting to pick up. I apologize in advance...

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6 Ch 7

War felt both fast and slow at the same time. The missions were increasing, but their impact seemed less and less significant. The days bled into each other, with the distant promise of an end becoming a fragile hope instead of an expectation. The thought of surviving long enough to see the war over had shifted from something they all believed in, to something they silently clung to in the quietest moments.

The bombers complained about their own struggles: cramped, vulnerable machines and perilous skies, but in truth, their missions were fewer than the fighters'. The fighter pilots like Captain Egan had it worse, running constant sorties with barely a break between them.

Marley had woken up that morning with a sense of quiet excitement, eager to get back into the sky. It had been a little over a week since her last mission, and while she was glad for the rest, the feeling of being grounded had started to gnaw at her.

The morning air was crisp, as it usually was at this hour, but today it had a particular clarity, the kind that made the world feel sharply defined, as though everything had been polished overnight. The sky above was an endless canvas of blue, with barely a cloud in sight. It was the kind of morning that promised perfect flying weather—a calm, clear day that felt like an invitation to take to the skies.

She quietly pulled on her flight gear, each piece fitting into place with a sense of routine and certainty. Her hands moved with practiced precision, though a small part of her was already thinking ahead to what the day would bring. The war was grinding on, the missions becoming more frequent, but the end—whatever that would look like—still felt too far away. It was a thought she pushed aside.

As she stepped outside, the cold air bit at her skin, but the invigorating chill helped clear her mind. She glanced toward the runway, where she knew Sparky would be preparing his own plane. They’d be flying together again today, and the thought of it brought a small smile to her face.

Marley took a step towards her plane and then hesitated. Her brothers’ rants on not saying goodbye were playing like a monologue in her head. Letting out a sigh, she switched directions and walked to her brother’s bunk.  

It was still dark inside when a knock on the door pulled Major Egan from his restless sleep. He groggily turned to check the time, his eyes squinting against the faint, early morning light creeping through the window. “Who the hell is knocking this early?” he muttered, pushing himself out of bed with a sigh. As he stood up, Major Cleven stirred awake as well, rubbing his eyes.

John opened the door and found his younger sister, Marley, standing there in full flight gear. “Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” she teased, stepping past him into the shared quarters without waiting for an invitation. Her arrival had ruffled Gale, who was sitting up in bed, and she couldn’t help but notice his bare chest. Marley quickly looked away, a faint blush creeping up her neck as she redirected her attention back to John.

“Already heading back up?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Marley gave a quick nod. “Yeah, they said it’s supposed to be a routine flight. Nothing too risky. I figured I’d stop by to say goodbye before you start complaining all day.”

John grunted but said nothing. Her gaze flickered over to Gale, who was now standing beside the bed in only his boxers. John saw her eyeing her his friend, and he snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Quit checking him out while he’s getting dressed and tell me about the mission.”

“I don’t know much,” Marley replied, momentarily distracted by the familiar, comforting atmosphere between them. “Just a quick hop over France, then back. I think another group’s making a drop somewhere, but they didn’t give us the full details.”

John’s eyes fell on the scar on her head, a reminder of how close they’d come to losing her in the past few weeks. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, something he did when he was worried. Marley had just been cleared to fly again after a head injury, much to his displeasure.

“Just be careful, Mar. Please,” he said, his voice soft but filled with the kind of raw concern that only family could bring out.

She leaned in, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace, holding him longer than usual, as if to reassure him that everything would be okay. “I always am,” she replied quietly, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

Reluctantly, she stepped back and turned to Gale. “Try to keep him in line while I’m gone.”

He chuckled and nodded his head, pulling her into him. He gave her a quick kiss on the head and let go. “Keep your head up and eyes open. They won’t know what hit them.”

She smiled, the warmth of his words calming her nerves, before turning back to her brother. “I’ll see you boys later.”

She walked to the door, leaving behind the faint scent of her flight suit and the heavy, bittersweet weight of her goodbye. As she closed the door behind her, John slowly sank back down onto the bed, the quiet pressing in on him.

“You ever get that feeling,” he said to Buck, his voice barely above a whisper, “that something bad is about to happen?”

Buck didn’t answer at first, but he didn’t need to. He knew exactly what John meant. Marley had never come to say goodbye before. That, combined with the fact that the mission seemed "easy"—too easy—had his instincts on edge. It was a feeling that every soldier had experienced at least once in their career, that nagging premonition of a storm on the horizon.

The two men sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, they got up to start their day, but neither of them could shake the sense of unease that hung heavy in the air.

The day dragged on, the hours blending together as the constant hum of war seemed to fill every corner of the base. The talk of another mission was already floating around, carried by whispers between the pilots and ground crew. Everyone knew it was coming—it always was. There was always another target to hit, another sortie to fly. Some of the men seemed to relish it, the adrenaline, the thrill of the skies, but for others, the joy had started to fade long ago. The reality of what they were facing, the possibility of being shot down in enemy territory, had a way of souring the love of flight. No one who had survived a crash in hostile land ever looked at the sky the same way again.

John had been granted a few days' leave—an unexpected reprieve in the middle of the madness. It was rare, but when it happened, it felt like a small victory. He was already thinking about what to do with the time. London. The very thought of it seemed surreal. He’d never imagined he’d have the chance to visit the city, let alone during a war. But now, with a few days to himself, the idea was enticing. Missing one mission wouldn’t be the end of the world, he reasoned. He figured he’d ask Marley if she wanted to go with him.

But as the hours wore on and the sun began its slow descent, the thought of the mission still hung in the air like a weight. The fighters had left hours ago, and everyone knew that the flight there and back should have taken time than that.

John glanced at his watch again, brow furrowing. The silence between him and Buck in the jeep had grown heavy. The two men sat in the front, staring out across the airfield as they waited for the planes to return. The noise of the base had died down somewhat as everyone went about their business, a quiet that felt almost unnatural in the midst of the chaos. But something in the air was different today—there was a stillness that set John’s nerves on edge.

Another hour passed.

John exchanged a look with Buck, but neither of them said anything. They didn’t need to. The longer they waited, the more certain they became. There was a gnawing suspicion creeping in, a feeling neither of them wanted to acknowledge but couldn’t ignore.

The planes should have been back by now.

"Maybe they're delayed," Buck offered, his voice low and flat. He didn’t sound convinced, and John knew it. Both of them had seen enough to recognize when something wasn’t right.

"Yeah," John muttered, glancing out over the runway again, scanning the horizon. The airfield was quiet, too quiet. No distant rumble of engines, no shape of fighters returning through the haze of twilight. Just the occasional rustle of wind against the grass.

As the minutes ticked on, that gnawing suspicion became a quiet certainty.

John’s stomach tightened. With every second that passed without word from the fighters, his gut twisted with something darker. The realization was slowly setting in, heavy and undeniable.

The planes hadn’t come back.

Tag List: probabydeadbynow, affabletimelady, gilli-vanilli, bellesdreamyprofile

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 7

A/N: Hoping to get more chapters out this winter break! Thank you for reading!

Word count: 2k

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6 Ch 8

When the guys returned, they were greeted by Marley Egan lounging casually in the jeep. It was a refreshing change to see the younger Egan waiting on the runway, and many of the guys felt a comforting sense of normalcy in her presence.

As the two Majors approached, smiles spread across their faces at the sight of the young pilot, alive and well. Bucky couldn't help but tease, “Why is it that I’m a nervous wreck waiting for you, while you’re here like we just popped out to the store?”

Marley shrugged with a playful grin. “I’m not as big of a baby as you are.”

John gave her a gentle nudge, chuckling. “Whatever, Marley.”

Once they climbed into the jeep, Marley remarked on how tan they looked. “Being stranded in the desert will do that to you,” Bucky replied with a smirk. She started the engine and steered them toward interrogation.

“They didn’t throw you a big welcome party?” Marley mused. “I figured it’d be a huge deal to have American pilots on their soil.” Her question was valid—flying the path they took was risky and unprecedented, especially since nothing had gone according to plan.

“Let’s just say the plan sounded better before we took off,” the blonde replied, glancing at Marley as she drove, trying to gauge if something was off. The only visible change was her hair, which was down, cascading around her shoulders. He knew the group would’ve had to go on at least one assignment while they were gone.

“What did the fighters do while we were gone?” John asked, echoing the curiosity that lingered in the air.

Marley bit her lip, knowing they’d find out soon enough. “We went on a small night flight with our RAF pals. Nothing major since then. They still haven’t sent replacements, which means no big flights for now.”

The two men exchanged glances, sensing she was holding back something. But with her cheerful demeanor and the fact that she was moving around fine, they didn’t think anything too bad could’ve happened.

Marley pulled up outside of the building and stopped the car. Both men got out, thanking her for the ride. Her brother walked right inside, but Gale paused. “You really weren’t worried about if we made it out or not?”

Marley smiled, “I bribed one of the navigators into knowing who made it to Africa.” Gale laughed and followed his friend into the building.

Marley made her way back to her plane, where Lemmons was busy addressing a few last-minute issues. “How’s she looking?” she asked, surveying the work.

Lemmons looked up with a grin. “Almost done. Should be ready by the time you’re cleared. Speaking of which, how did your brother take the news?”

Marley ran a hand through her hair, the weight of his concern evident. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to tell him.”

Lemmons shook his head, his expression serious. “He deserves to know you almost died.”

Marley rolled her eyes, brushing off the gravity of his words. “I didn’t almost die.”

He scoffed, crossing his arms. “You wouldn’t know—because you passed out in Sutton’s arms! It took two of us to carry you to medical. I even had to throw away that uniform; I couldn’t get your blood out of it.”

Marley’s expression softened, the reality of the situation hitting her. “Okay, maybe it was a bit more serious than I thought,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But how am I supposed to tell him? ‘Hey while you were gone, I was shot at and almost didn’t live to tell you about it. Let’s go grab some lunch.’”

Lemmons shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know but he’s going to find out soon. I don’t think you realize how many people were involved that night.”

Just then, they turned to see a jeep rolling up. John and Gale stepped out, their eyes drawn to her plane.

“That’s a lot of new bullet holes,” John remarked, studying the damage. Gale’s gaze was fixed on Marley, and he noticed her telltale sign of nervousness as she twirled the ends of her hair.

“The night raid was a bit tougher than we expected,” Marley said, trying to downplay it. “A few scrapes here and there, but we landed okay.”

Lemmons shot her a disapproving look, haunted by memories of that night. He knew all too well that “okay” was a relative term.

Gale had concern etched across his face. "Are you injured?" John tore his gaze from the plane, his attention shifting to his sister. A heavy sigh escaped Marley’s lips; she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide the truth much longer. She opened her mouth to explain the situation, but before she could speak, someone sprinted up, urgently summoning the two Majors.

John shot Marley a look that promised she wouldn’t escape scrutiny just yet. Gale cast one last glance at her, reassuring himself she was okay, before climbing back into the jeep. As they drove off, Marley sighed in relief, knowing she had a little more time to dodge their questions. The thought of hiding for the rest of the day crossed her mind, but she dismissed it—she knew that wouldn’t end well.

“What else needs to be done before my plane is ready to fly again?” she asked Lemmons, who shook his head in exasperation but began detailing the repairs still in progress.

Marley stayed with him for about half an hour before heading back to the mess hall for lunch. On her way, she felt a wave of lightheadedness wash over her. She tried to push through, telling herself to keep moving, but soon the world around her began to darken.

Sparks rushed toward her as her pace faltered, concern written all over his face. "Hey, are you okay?" he called, but all she could hear was a loud ringing in her ears. He gently guided her to the ground, hoping that sitting would help, but as her face drained of color, he realized she needed medical attention.

***

A little while later, in one of the buildings, the higher-ups were concluding a meeting. The two Majors emerged to find Captain Sutton waving them down. “Has Marley told you what happened earlier this week?”

Both men shook their heads. Sutton’s tone was calm but firm. “Don’t panic—she’s currently in medical after passing out a few minutes ago. It’s a consequence of not following orders.”

John’s heart dropped. “What the hell happened?”

Gale noticed the relaxed demeanor of the captain; it reassured him that Marley wasn’t in imminent danger. They climbed into the jeep as Sutton began to explain.

“She was shot at during our night flight. The incredible part? She flew like nothing was wrong. It wasn’t until I pointed out the blood that she realized she’d been hit—a bullet grazed her head, enough to cause significant bleeding. At one point, it was touch and go, but she pulled through with a few stitches and a concussion. The docs grounded her for a week and told her to take it easy. Clearly, she didn’t take that last part to heart and pushed herself too hard today.”

The gravity of the situation settled heavily on the two Majors as they absorbed the news.

Marley woke up to Betty sitting next to her, shaking her head. “When we said don’t push yourself, this is not what we meant.”

The pilot looked around and realized where she was. “Oh god. Tell me John doesn’t know.”

Yelling outside the building could be heard and Marley knew her brother was pissed. “Go easy on him. His baby sister is in a hospital bed nursing a concussion he didn’t know she had.” She knew Betty was right but facing him still wasn’t something she wanted to do.

Her brother was let in and he made a bee line for her bed. “What in the actual fuck, Marlene? You were shot and didn’t think to tell me?” Marley looked down, trying to avoid his pissed off glare.

“This is the time you say something!” he yelled. Betty stepped forward, pointing a finger at John.

“I understand how worried you must be, trust me I do. But there will be zero yelling in here as there are other patients trying to heal. Your sister being one of them.” With one last glare, she walked away giving the two siblings privacy.

John looked down at her, shaking his head. “Talk to me, kid. For once, I need you to tell me the whole truth.” He settled onto the edge of her bed, concern etched across his face.

“To be honest,” Marley admitted, fiddling with the edge of her blanket, “I don’t remember everything.” She glanced around the room, searching for the right words. “Unless you want to explain this to Gale, I suggest you go grab him.”

Her brother sighed, understanding the urgency, and stood to fetch his friend—the one pilot who had somehow managed to worm his way into her heart.

When John returned, he settled back onto the bed while Gale leaned against the wall behind him, arms crossed and expression serious.

“The flight sucked. Night assignments aren’t about precision at all but trying to do the most destruction. You can’t see anything until it’s too late which is why my plane was sprayed with bullets.” She paused trying to recall the events. “I don’t remember being hit. I didn’t know anything was wrong until Sparky and Lemmons rushed towards me. After that everything is a blur. I was told I had lost too much blood at one point but managed to make it through the night. Lemmons and Sparkes made sure at least one of them was there with me until they released me.”

Both men were silent, processing the entirety of the situation. Gale looked up at her head and realized why her hair was down. Neither of them had noticed the clean row of stiches. It was another scar to add to the collection.

John ran a hand through his hair, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t lose you, Marley. I can’t fucking lose you.” Marley leaned back, closing her eyes as she absorbed his words. She knew how fragile he was—how completely unhinged he would become if anything happened to her. That knowledge was part of why she kept the truth from him. If he believed she was okay, he’d rest easier at night.

Betty walked back over to the group, “Unfortunately, you are sleeping here tonight seeing that you can’t follow simple instructions. The cot next to you will be free tonight.” And walked away.

“I can stay. Make sure your ass actually stays in bed.” John took his shoes off and hopped in the bed next to hers. Marley shook her head, avoiding a glance at her brother.

Gale looked at the two of them and smiled a bit. “I’m going to head out and grab some food for you both. Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.” Bucky waved a hand at him, making Gale chuckle. Marley opened her eyes in time to see Buck wink at her, making her cheeks flush.

Once Gale had left, Marley heard the bed creak next to her, signaling her brother had moved some. “Promise me something, Mar.”

She rolled onto her side, silently encouraging him to continue.

“If things get rough out there, promise me you’ll fight like hell to get back here. I know the risks we take are real, and I can’t pretend they won’t catch up to us. Just… don’t ever give up.”

A single tear slipped down Marley’s cheek, a stark reminder of the close call she’d faced just days before. She met his gaze, her resolve steady. “Only if you do the same.”

A/N: Thank you o much for reading!!

Tag List: probabydeadbynow, affabletimelady, gilli-vanilli, bellesdreamyprofile

[lostdreamr-blog1]

After a year of writing this story, the end has finally come!!!

A Ghost Playing Hangman {J.Seresin} Masterlist

Summary: Ghost was one of the most recent graduates from Top Gun quickly making a name for herself. When she gets recalled with the best of the best, she realizes her work is cut out for her if she wants to make the team. And one of her biggest obstacles is a blonde hair pilot with the world’s most annoying smirk. Will she make the team? And if so, at what cost?

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Nine

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Eleven

The End

[lostdreamr-blog1]

A Ghost Playing Hangman {J.Seresin} The End

Warnings: mentions of death, swearing

A/N: The end is finally here! Thank you for reading!

Series Masterlist

All Jake could see was smoke. At the speed both planes collided, there was nothing but smoke and debris in the air.

“Hangman, was there a chute? Was a chute deployed?” Jake heard the near-panic in the voices over his headset but couldn’t answer. He was too far behind to see if you ejected before impact and too high up to see if you were in the water.

“Hangman, answer.” He shook his head in shock. “I—I don’t know. I couldn’t see.”

He replayed what just happened, over and over to see if maybe he missed something. But the silence on his headset told him everything he needed to know.

Jake maneuvered the plane back to the carrier, landing as if he were on autopilot. The crew around him celebrated a successful mission, but nothing about what just happened felt like a victory.

He sat in his plane until he heard a knock on the dome. Bradshaw had climbed up and was waiting right outside for him. With more force than was necessary, he took his helmet off and flung it by his feet.

This was why he didn’t get close to people. This was why he refused to let anyone in.

After opening the top of the plane, the cheers he had heard became something that would haunt him at night.

“Has there been any word yet?”

Bradshaw’s face was a mask of concern, but there was no time for words. Jake shook his head, his throat tight with unshed emotion. He couldn’t find the words to explain what had just happened. Instead, he focused on the dull roar of the carrier’s operations, the rush of adrenaline still pulsing through him, mixing with dread.

“No word,” Jake finally managed, his voice a low rasp. “I… I couldn’t see if she ejected.”

Bradshaw’s expression darkened, a storm brewing behind his eyes. “We have to get a search party out there. If she’s in the water—”

Jake cut him off. “We don’t even know if she made it out!” The words came out sharper than he intended, fueled by frustration and fear. “We can’t risk more lives trying to find her if we don’t even know if she’s alive.”

Silence settled between them, heavy and suffocating. Each heartbeat felt like a countdown, ticking away the moments they could have spent saving you.

“I can’t—” Jake started, but the weight of his own past decisions loomed large, echoing the mantra that had haunted him since the beginning of his career. He’d kept his distance from everyone, convinced that it was safer that way. But now? Now he felt the stark loneliness of that choice.

The sound of the deck crew working below broke the stillness, the cacophony reminding him of the harsh realities of their world. He needed to pull it together. For you. For the squadron. For every pilot who had ever risked everything. He wouldn’t let Ghost become another statistic.

He climbed out of the cockpit and onto the deck, the air thick with tension. The crew was still celebrating the mission’s success, but it felt hollow. No one knew yet about the potential loss hanging over them. The camaraderie felt tainted, like a party thrown in a graveyard.

Bradshaw stood next to him, unsure what to do. His focus turned when Maverick approached. “Hammer is sending out a few rescue boats in case she made it out before impact.”

Both men could hear the small bit of hope in Maverick’s voice, but his body language betrayed him. It was doubtful you had made it out of there in one piece, especially with no evidence of a chute.

The rest of the team kept their distance, knowing the three men standing together would take this loss the hardest.

In the distance, two rescue boats skimmed over the choppy waters, their bright orange hulls a stark contrast against the gray sea. Jake’s heart raced, hope flickering like a dying ember.

“C’mon,” Bradshaw urged, gripping Jake’s shoulder. “Let’s get down there.”

As they moved to the edge of the deck, the noise around them faded into a low hum. All that mattered now was the sight of those boats. Each second felt like an eternity as they scanned the horizon for any sign of you.

“Please,” Jake whispered, more to himself than anyone else. “Please be safe.”

He could feel the weight of Bradshaw and Maverick beside him, their shared worry binding them in an unspoken vow to find you. But as the boats grew smaller on the horizon, doubt crept in like a shadow, chilling him to the core.

“Hangman,” Maverick said, breaking the silence, “we need to prepare for the worst.”

Jake clenched his fists, the frustration bubbling back up. “I won’t believe that until we know for sure.”

Maverick nodded, the understanding in his eyes matching the gravity of the moment. “Then we fight for her. We keep searching until there’s nothing left to hope for.”

Jake took a deep breath, grounding himself. “Yeah. We do that.”

And as the boats sped away, their hearts synced in a rhythm of hope and dread, he silently vowed to face whatever came next.

***

Weeks passed, but each day felt heavier than the last for Jake. He’d replayed the moment in his head a thousand times—the planes colliding, the smoke, the silence over the radio. The gnawing ache of not knowing had carved out a hollow space in his chest, and his once-confident persona had crumbled.

Every night, he would find himself on the deck, staring at the horizon, hoping for something, anything, to change. The group was stationed on the carrier until the last bits of the mission were cleaned up and their services no longer needed.

The days dragged on, each one slower than the last, leaving Jake feeling trapped—like he was drowning in the endless expanse of the open sea.

But then, on a quiet evening when the sun had just dipped below the sea, there was a crackle over the radio. One of the communications officers had called out that he had something, making a few of the pilots rush to hear.

Jake barely registered it at first—just more background noise in the fog of his thoughts. Until one word broke through:

“Ghost.”

His head snapped up, heart pounding in his chest. He fumbled for the radio, almost too afraid to hope.

“Say again, repeat that transmission,” Maverick’s voice cut in, tight with tension.

“Ghost,” the voice came again, clearer this time. “This is Ghost. I’m alive.”

A beat of silence. Then chaos.

Jake legs almost gave out in relief as the rest of the crew scrambled. Bradshaw was already there, wide-eyed, with a hand gripping the edge of the console.

“Where the hell are you, Ghost?!” Jake demanded into the mic, his voice rough with disbelief.

There was a pause, a shaky breath on the other end, and then your voice came through, weak but steady. “I’m on an island. Ejected before impact. Water was rough, but I washed up here. Rescue… took some time.”

Jake sank against the wall, his legs barely holding him up. The weight of the past weeks lifted so suddenly, it left him dizzy. You were alive. You’d made it.

“Coordinates?” Maverick asked, all business now, though Jake could see the relief in his eyes. The crew scrambled to prepare for a rescue mission, but all Jake could think about was you—alive, breathing, after everything.

The next hours were a blur. Rescue helicopters were deployed, the island located, and the team readied for the extraction. Jake refused to wait on the sidelines. He needed to be there.

When the helicopter finally touched down on the beach, Jake was the first one off. He sprinted across the sand, heart in his throat, until he saw you. You were sitting against a rock, wrapped in a blanket, bruised and battered, but very much alive.

You looked up as Jake approached, a faint smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “Took you long enough.”

Jake didn’t say anything. He just pulled you into his arms, holding you tightly as though he feared letting go might mean losing you all over again. You rested your head against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart, and for the first time in weeks, Jake felt whole.

“I thought I lost you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves crashing behind you.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” you replied, your voice hoarse but filled with the same resilience that had always drawn him to you.

The rescue team hovered nearby, giving the two of you space. Bradshaw and Maverick watched from a distance, sharing a knowing look. They had been prepared for the worst, but sometimes, hope was rewarded.

As the helicopter lifted off, carrying you and the team back to the carrier, Jake sat beside you, fingers brushing against yours. The horizon stretched out before you, the sky painted with the soft glow of a setting sun. For the first time in weeks, Jake felt like he could breathe again.

“I am so unbelievably mad at you,” Jake said, finally breaking the silence. “But having you here in my arms almost makes me forget about it.”

You turned your head to look at him, eyes soft with gratitude. “I’m sorry. The past caught up with me. I had a lot of time to think on that island with the small boat crew that rescued me. I realized my greatest fear wasn’t exactly me dying. But me not being able to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Jake pulled you closer and placed a kiss on the top of your head. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You aren’t ever leaving my sight again.”

 Back on the carrier, the crew erupted into cheers the moment they saw you both step off the helicopter. This time, the celebration felt real, untainted by grief or fear. You had defied the odds, and now the squadron was whole again.

Later that night, as the stars glittered above the quiet sea, Jake found himself back on the deck, but this time, you were beside him. The silence between you was comfortable, no longer heavy with unspoken fears.

“I guess we’re not as invincible as we thought,” you mused, leaning against the railing.

Jake smiled, a rare softness in his expression. “Maybe not. But we’re still here.”

You looked at him, your eyes reflecting the same determination and strength that had kept you alive. “Yeah, we are.”

And in that moment, Jake realized something had shifted. He wasn’t alone anymore. He had let someone in, and despite all the risks, it felt right.

As the night stretched on, the weight of the past weeks slowly faded into the background, replaced by the steady hum of the carrier and the comforting presence of the one person who had come back from the brink.

The ghost of loss that had haunted Jake was gone. You were home.

And for the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

A/N: Wow. After a year of writing this, it has finally come to an end. For everyone who has read, commented, liked this story I cannot thank you enough for sticking around. An epilogue will be coming soon to give you all the complete and happy ending of these two. – Chelsea

Tag List: @blue-aconite @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @rosiahills22 @dempy @rebekahjonesx @luckyladycreator2 @fangirling-4-ever @multi-fandom5 @coyotesamachado @callsign-blue @justanothermagicalsara @devvbabyy @elicheel @inky-sun

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Pinky Promise 4

Word count: 1.7K

Pairings: Jake Seresin X Reader

A/N: Round 4 of Pink Promise! Part 5 is in the works now! Thanks for reading!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

When Jake received the text, “Want to get drunk tonight?” on a Wednesday, a heavy feeling settled in his stomach. Something must have happened. He leaned against the cool countertop of his kitchen, weighing his options. The last time he saw you, time had slipped away unnoticed, and now it had been over a week. He fired back a quick reply, “Name the place and I’ll be there.”

He showered and changed out of his work clothes, heart racing as he waited for your next message. He hoped he could talk you down from whatever ledge you were teetering on and still make it home at a reasonable hour.

Jake drove to the small bar on the outskirts of town, a spot you chose to avoid running into other pilots. You didn’t dislike them; you just didn’t want to put on a show for Bradley’s sake. As he stepped inside, he spotted you immediately, alone at the bar. Your profile told a story that made him stop in his tracks. The dark circles under your eyes and the way your hair lost its usual shine spoke volumes. But it was your defeated posture that cut him the deepest—your shoulders hunched as if you were trying to disappear.

A sigh escaped his lips as he chastised himself for not checking on you sooner. He slid onto the stool next to you. “Hey, darlin’. Sorry if I made you wait.”

You looked up, a flicker of light returning to your eyes. “I haven’t been here long. How was work?”

“Same as always. Your brother has been more moody than usual,” he replied, signaling the bartender for a water.

You chuckled softly. “Natasha turned him down. He’s not taking it too well.”

Jake raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn’t known Bradley was interested. “Did he say why?”

“She gave him some excuse about not wanting to mix work with pleasure or some bullshit like that. He deserves better anyway.”

A comfortable silence settled between you for a few moments before you broke it with an unexpected question. “You ever think, ‘Man, I suck’?” You took a long sip of your drink, completely unfazed by Jake’s water.

He smirked. “Not particularly. I know I’m one of the best, so there’s not much room for doubt.”

You rolled your eyes. “That was such a bagman answer.”

Jake chuckled, but his expression turned serious. “I do have days I question why I’m still doing this. I love flying, but the risks are starting to feel bigger than the rewards.” He leaned back, hoping his honesty would coax you into sharing what was weighing you down.

When you finished your drink, he leaned closer. “What’s going on? It’s been a while since you’ve been out during the week.”

You turned your gaze to the empty glass, avoiding his eyes. “You’d be surprised how many times I drink during the week. But I think I’ve realized recently that I’m not built for med school.”

Alarm bells rang in Jake’s mind. “We’ll talk about the drinking in a minute. What’s happening with school? I thought things were going well.”

You signaled the bartender for another drink, and Jake slid his water toward you. “It’s not what I thought it would be. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s just… not something I enjoy.”

Before you could reach for your new drink, Jake intercepted it. “Let me guess: instead of asking for help, you decided drinking was the better option?”

You nodded, your defenses slipping away. Why be responsible when it was easier to forget?

He sighed, “Did I ever tell you how much I hated flight school?” you shook your head, prompting him to continue. “I was excited to be a pilot. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember. But when I got into the schooling side of it, I was crushed. I nearly quit a few times, but I told myself to push through. I kept thinking the freedom to enjoy what I love would be waiting on the other side.”

You slowly nodded your head at his admission. “I made the mistake of telling Bradley I hated it a few weeks back. He didn’t give me any fuzzy words of encouragement.” Jake clenched his fists, anger simmering at Bradley’s judgment. He knew how much your brother’s words affected you, no matter how much you tried to brush them off.

“Listen, sweetheart. I know you love your brother, but when stuff like this comes up, you need to reach out to me. I will never be too busy for you. I pinky promise.” He extended his pinky, a hopeful smile breaking through your somber expression.

“One of my greatest achievements will be having a big bad Top Gun pilot pinky-promise me,” you said, hooking your pinky with his and squeezing it lightly.

For another half-hour, you both sat at the bar, laughter mingling with the bittersweet confessions. When Jake finally stood to leave, he insisted, “I’m driving you home. It’s dark out, and I’d rather not take any chances.”

You opened your mouth to argue but quickly realized it was futile. With a resigned nod, you followed him outside. The night air was cool, but Jake’s presence felt like a warm shield against the world.

He opened the truck door for you, a small gesture that sent a ripple of warmth through your chest. As he gently closed it once you were inside, the moment felt almost too perfect, like a scene from one of those old movies that made you cringe. And that’s when your thoughts began to spiral.

You wanted to convince yourself that your troubles began and ended with school, but deep down, another darkness gnawed at you. It all felt so blissfully normal during your last study session at Jake’s apartment. The aroma of his homemade pasta mingled with the faint sound of an old movie playing in the background—one you secretly loathed, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care. You sat there on the couch, sharing bites and laughter, and thought, “Damn. If only I could have this every day.”

That’s when the drinks had returned, and the recluse lifestyle set back in.

Falling for Jake wasn’t supposed to be on your radar. He was everything your brother loathed—everything you thought you shouldn’t want. With his polished career and a social life that sparkled with ease, he seemed to glide through life. You, on the other hand, felt like you were sinking, caught in a riptide of your own insecurities.

As Jake parked and walked you to your door, you couldn’t help but admire yet another annoyingly perfect trait of his—how he always walked you to the door, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You’ve been awfully quiet this whole ride here. You sure you’re okay?” His voice was low and laced with concern. He glanced down, catching the way your fingers nervously toyed with the hem of your shirt.

You hesitated, torn between the urge to unload the weight of your heart and the instinct to keep it all bottled up. “Just… a lot on my mind,” you finally admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Want to talk about it?” His eyes searched yours, and in that moment, you felt the walls you’d built around yourself begin to crack, revealing the tangled mess of emotions you’d been trying so hard to suppress.

You looked away, the cool night air brushing against your skin, and realized that perhaps, just maybe, letting him in could be the first step toward something beautiful—or the beginning of yet another spiral.

The mature thing to do would be to lay it all out there, to let him in on the storm brewing inside your head. But maturity had never been your strong suit. “I think it’s a conversation for another night,” you said, forcing the words out as you unlocked the door and stepped inside. You turned to find Jake’s gaze heavy with concern, and your heart sank a little.

“I promise I’m fine, and it’s nothing.” You flashed a small smile, but it faltered under the weight of his skepticism.

“And when I leave here, are you just going to ignore me and slip back into that shell you’ve been hiding in?” He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, exuding a mix of frustration and genuine worry.

You felt the familiar urge to run, to dodge the uncomfortable truth. You’d always sidestepped conflicts, always preferred to sweep emotions under the rug. But before you could catch yourself, the words spilled out. “I think I’m falling for you.”

It was the kind of confession that felt like a punch to the gut, and before you could process the fallout, you slammed the door in his face.

Silence filled the space, thick and suffocating. You leaned against the door, heart racing, half-expecting him to knock again or shout something—anything. But the only sound was your own breathing, rapid and shallow. What had you just done?

You were spiraling again, your mind racing through all the ways this could end badly. You pictured Jake standing there, processing your words, his expression shifting from surprise to hurt.

Why did you always have to make things so complicated?

After a moment, you heard a soft knock. Your heart thudded in your chest. “Hey,” Jake’s voice came through the wood, calm but tinged with confusion. “Can we talk about this? Please?”

You hesitated, grappling with the tumult of emotions. Part of you wanted to open the door and let him in, to unravel everything you’d kept bottled up. But another part, the one that had always chosen the path of least resistance, screamed at you to keep it shut.

What if you had just ruined everything?

A/N: Somehow this turned into a mini series...thoughts? Do we think Jake will feel the same? Part 5 in the works :) Thanks for reading!!

Tag List: @rosiahills22 @sunlitsunflowers @dempy @mamaskillerqueen @luckyladycreator2 @atarmychick007 @my-soulmate-is-mycroft @topguncultleader @alilstressyandlotdepressy @avengers-fixation @chaoticcassidy @alldaysdreamers, @hotch-meeeeeuppppp, @mrsevans90, @spidey-d00d, @rororo06, @lilstarfish88, @jasmine-in-the-night,

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 6

A/N: finally got another chapter out. The next one is already half written! Thanks for reading!

Word count: 2.1k

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 7 Ch 8

With the sun blazing overhead and no missions scheduled, the pilots of the 100th found themselves lounging outside, a rare moment of relief in a world that had grown increasingly dangerous. Laughter mingled with the distant hum of planes as they basked in the rare downtime.

“Hey, if I died and left you a letter, what would you want in it?” Marley asked, chewing on the end of her pencil, her gaze lost in the sky. She leaned against her plane, surrounded by other pilots, the camaraderie a comforting backdrop to her darker thoughts.

The expressions she received were a mix of disbelief and concern. “Why the hell would you even ask something like that, Mar? You don’t get to die,” John shot back, shaking his head, though a flicker of worry crossed his face.

Marley pointed the eraser, chewed and battered, at him. “Looks like you’ll be surprised then. Maybe I’ll start the letter off with a joke.” She grinned, but the tension in her voice was palpable.

Buck watched their banter, a small smile creeping onto his face as he admired Marley’s knack for getting under John’s skin. Yet, the lightheartedness was short-lived; the gravity of their situation hung in the air. Each mission had become a gamble with fate, and everyone was painfully aware that the odds were shifting.

“Come on, talk some sense into her,” John pleaded, shifting his focus to Buck, hoping for a lifeline.

“Hey, Doll,” Buck chimed in, his tone light. “How about we put the letters aside for now and enjoy the sun?” Marley looked up, twirling her pencil as if trying to weave together her thoughts.

“What happens when we get called for a mission and the letters aren’t done? John was just complaining about me not saying goodbye before flying. If I don’t come back, what’s he going to have? A half-finished letter? I figured if he gets all torn up over a simple goodbye, at least he’d want something to hold onto. Plus, I was writing one for you, too.”

Buck sighed, glancing back at John. “She has a point.”

John scoffed, rising from the ground. “I’m going to find something better to do than this.” He pointed at Marley, a smirk creeping onto his face. “I want you to write the real story of what happened to Ma’s favorite vase. I need proof it wasn’t me.”

As he walked off, Marley shook her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Damn, he got me there.” Gale, sitting nearby, chuckled at the Egan sibling antics and shifted so Marley could lean against him instead of the plane.

“Have you thought about what you want after this?” Gale asked, his tone soft as he studied her expression, trying to gauge the weight of her thoughts.

“I want what every girl wants: a house, a husband, and kids,” Marley replied, her voice drifting into a hopeful daydream. “I just needed a little adventure before settling down. But if we make it out of this, I want something simple and safe. And John can’t be too far from me either. Not that he’ll let me out of his sight after all this.” A gentle smile settled on her face, one that grew when Gale asked where he fit into the picture.

“Well, you can either live down the street, wondering about what could have been, or you can be under the same roof as me, thanking the stars we both made it back safe.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face, planting a soft kiss on the top of her head—a simple gesture that sent her heart racing.

“All the things I could’ve had, huh?” He teased, laughter bubbling up as he pulled her closer. “John isn’t the only one who’s never going to let you out of his sight. I promise you that.”

*******

Time slipped away too quickly, and soon the moon rose, casting shadows that whispered of new challenges ahead. Followed by sun rays hidden behind a thick blanket of fog.

“That’s not fair. I’ve always wanted to see the desert,” Marley complained over breakfast, her voice lively as she listened to John and Gale discuss their new mission.

John rolled his eyes, exasperated. “I think you missed the part where we’re in enemy territory for twice as long and damn near running out of fuel.”

Marley waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, but if you look past that, it sounds like an exciting flight!”

Buck couldn’t help but smile, even though the mission ahead filled him with dread. He never imagined he’d be flying to Africa, and the thought of Marley’s enthusiasm was a refreshing contrast to their grim reality.

“What do they have your group doing while we’re gone?” Buck asked, curiosity lighting up his face.

She shrugged, trying to mask her own unease. “Haven’t been told yet. But it can’t be anything exciting when they’ve got all of you headed to a different continent. Maybe we’ll even get a week off.”

Both men paused, confusion etched on their faces. John was the first to break the silence. “You haven’t been briefed on flying backup?”

Marley shook her head, her brow furrowing. “Not that I know of. But that doesn’t mean other fighters won’t be joining you. We’re still shorthanded after the last assignment.” Her squadron was down four pilots, and the loss still stung. The three of them had finished up breakfast and made their way out of the mess hall.

Unease settled over the trio as the fog outside thickened, putting a halt over their conversation.

“Marley! Let’s go!” Sparks yelled out for her, as he jogged towards one of the buildings.

As the call for a meeting came, Marley was unaware of the brewing storm involving the B-17s. She quickly said her goodbyes, urgency propelling her forward, already late as she dashed after her group. To her dismay, they weren’t getting a break; instead, they were heading out that evening on a small mission to assist the RAF with a night raid. Reports indicated increased enemy resistance, and Marley’s group drew the short straw.

With the B-17s roaring to life, she hoped they both made it back in one piece. Sparks nudged her shoulder, curious about her thoughts.

“Just a bad feeling about this one,” she confessed, her stomach twisting.

*****

Night enveloped them as the P-51s idled on the runway, waiting for the green flare. Marley tapped her fingers anxiously against the side of the plane, her heart racing as the countdown to takeoff loomed. She struggled to focus, knowing that lives were at stake—not just in enemy territory but on the journey ahead.

A green flare shot into the sky, igniting a flurry of motion among the six fighter pilots. It didn’t take long for them to rendezvous with the RAF, and even less time before enemy fighters began weaving menacingly through their formation. Marley hadn’t flown a night mission in ages, and she was quickly reminded of how disorienting the flashing lights and missiles could be.

Each flight was a deadly dance, with the minutes stretching into what felt like hours. For every move she made, an enemy plane seemed poised to counter it. The impact of their efforts felt minimal against the chaos, but she knew that without their presence, the bombers would surely fall like dominoes.

Adrenaline surged through her veins, dulling any aches from the intense speed of flight. It was only when bullets peppered the front of her plane that the reality of her situation began to sink in. Yet, the rush overshadowed any pain—until she landed.

As she stepped out of the cockpit, Sparks was already rushing toward her. “Marley, sit down!” he shouted, urgency ringing in his voice. “I need some help over here!”

She shot him a confused look. “What are you talking about? I’m fine.” But his gaze flickered upward to her helmet, and she instinctively pulled it off. A warm, sticky substance coated her fingers. Glancing down, her heart raced as she realized it was blood.

Mechanics hurried over, one of them being Lemmons. “Oh, hell. We need to get you to medical, Marley.”

The adrenaline began to wane, replaced by dizziness as the reality of her injuries set in. She felt blood dripping down the side of her face just before her vision blurred. Sparks caught her just as she started to pass out, and with Lemmons, they hurriedly carried her toward medical.

Betty looked up from her workstation when the door burst open. “What’s going on?” Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Marley limp in their arms. “Put her on the bed!”

Several other nurses rushed out, immediately springing into action upon seeing the state of their friend. They knew it was rare for fighter pilots to end up in their care, especially the younger Egan. One nurse shouted that they needed to wake the doctor, while others began cleaning the blood from Marley’s head and face.

“What happened?” Betty asked, glancing at Sparks, who had his hands on his head, visibly shaken.

“Captain Sutton, we need details!” she pressed. Sparks eyes met hers, and he shook his head, frustration evident.

“We took heavy fire up there, but she didn’t say anything. She landed and got out of her plane just fine. It wasn’t until I told her to sit down that she realized something was wrong.”

At that moment, the doctor strode in, instructing Lemmons and Sparks to step outside so he could work. Betty assured them she’d provide updates as they came.

Once outside, the two men leaned against the wall, tension hanging thick in the air. Lemmons stared at Marley’s plane, shaking his head in disbelief. “She shouldn’t have been able to land that.”

Sparks sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, exhaustion creeping in. “Egan’s are invincible. At least, this one is.”

Lemmons inhaled sharply. “Bucky is going to kill her when he finds out.”

All Sparks could do was nod, worry etching deeper lines on his face as they waited, knowing the battle was far from over.

******

A few hours had slipped away like shadows as Captain Sutton dozed against the building, the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. Betty spotted him there and approached, her heart racing with a mix of relief and concern. She gently tapped his shoulder, stirring him from sleep.

“Is she okay?” Sutton sprang up, his eyes wide with fear.

“She’s fine,” Betty reassured him, raising her hands as if to calm a startled bird. “A few stitches and a decent concussion, but she’ll pull through. The doctor says she’s grounded for a week, though—that’s going to be a challenge.”

Sparks raked a hand through his tousled hair, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Oh, thank God. All that blood made it seem a lot worse.”

Betty’s heart sank a little; she knew there was more to the story. The chaos of the emergency room still echoed in her mind—Marley had lost two units of blood and her pressure had dipped dangerously low, nearly sending her into cardiac arrest. It had taken a small army of medics to stabilize her, and even now, she needed time to recover.

“Let her rest here tonight. You can see her in the morning. It’s late, and you need to get some proper sleep before you end up in the bed next to her,” she said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Sparks nodded, gratitude softening his features. “Just make sure she doesn’t leave without one of us. I don’t trust her not to pull a stunt.”

Betty chuckled lightly, “Trust me, we all know the kind of trouble she gets into. Get some rest, Captain.”

As he walked away, she watched him go, her heart heavy. The pilots faced the dark realities of war every day, but she’d never worried much about Marley—fighter pilots seemed invincible, untouchable. Yet as the memory of her friend, bloodied and carried in like a fallen star, flashed through her mind, the illusion shattered. No one was safe from the horrors of conflict, and the weight of that truth settled like a stone in her gut.

A/N: Thoughts? Likes or dislikes? Thank you for reading!

Tag List: probabydeadbynow, affabletimelady, gilli-vanilli, bellesdreamyprofile

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 5

A/N: Sorry for being MIA. Here is an extra extra long chapter for ya!

Word count: 7.4K

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4

Ch 5

As the days went by, the 100th were starting to understand the harrows of war. Their latest mission had been one where they were hit hard, losing more friends in the process. Between them and the fighter pilots, it seemed like the numbers were falling faster than the military could replace. There was no healthy way to manage that kind of stress and loss, drinking became a coping mechanism for most.  Which is why Marley was currently getting ready to go out that night alongside Betty.

“There have been rumors that your brother is single. Any chance that they are true?” Betty was taking the curlers out of her hair, trying to get as dolled up as she could.

Marley let out a hum of confirmation. “Also has herpes too. I’d steer clear if I were you.”

Betty scoffed, hitting the girl on the arm. “Oh stop. Keep saying things like that and the poor guy won’t have a lady within ten feet of him.”

Marley chuckled, fastening the last button on her uniform. “Serves him right. It took nearly a week for the guys to even look my direction after the threats he handed out.”

The two of them headed out to the pub that wasn’t too far off base. It was one that both the US and RAF frequented, having felt losses on both sides. Even with the mutual understanding of war, it didn’t mean they were understanding of each other.

When they arrived, Betty found some of the nurses from base and bid her friend adieu for the meantime. Marley, on the other hand, grabbed a beer from the bar and went to find her brother. It didn’t take much searching on her part when she heard yelling coming from a card table. Money, drinks, and cigarettes were going around the group of B-17 pilots, none of them giving a glance to the other end of the table.

She made eye contact with Buck first, the blonde motioning with his head for her to join them. Bucky saw her after Biddick moved over a seat to allow her room to sit with them all. “I think Marley is going to be my good luck charm this next hand.” Bucky glared at Biddick, making the pilot smirk as he got under the Major’s skin. “Maybe she can kiss my cards or somethin’. Really seal the deal for me wining.”

Marley chuckled at the balls this guy had to rile her brother up in front of everyone. Others seemed to find it amusing as well, biting back smiles so Bucky wouldn’t turn on them as well. She put a hand on his shoulder, keeping him from lunging out of his chair. “It’s a joke, John. Calm down before you get us all kicked out.” He relaxed back in his chair, sending one last glare to his so-called friend.

“You know, I rather admire you Americans.” One of the British officers cut in, making the group turn their attention to him. It was something about the tone he used that rubbed Marley the wrong way. She had worked alongside the RAF back at her other base, never having an issue with them. These ones though, seemed like they wanted to start some sort of pissing contest. “You’re all up there in broad daylight, seeming oblivious to the downsides.”

Jack Kidd shook his head, quickly defending his group. “I don’t understand what you are saying, Captain.”

The British officer smirked back at him, “Never mind old boy. One for the higher-ups.” He took a sip of his drink and continued, “It’s a question of philosophies. We bomb at night because it doesn’t matter what we hit, as long as it’s German. But bombing during the day is suicide. And clearly you are all lacking replacements as they are letting female’s join you lot.”

Marley took a sip of her beer, waiting to see how it all played out. This wasn’t the first time she had be looked down upon for being a female pilot and it surely won’t be the last. But the boys around her are experiencing this for the first time.

Bucky shook his head, “Someone seems threatened.” He had a calm exterior, not letting the Brit seem like he cared. But everyone around him knew he was a ticking time bomb.

“Nothing to be threatened by Major. I could foresee in the future American strategy adjusting due to the unfortunate losses you’ll no doubt continue to suffer. Math’s.”  Marley rolled her eyes at the condescending tone he had, but her brother seemed confused at the last part. “Math’s?” He repeated it in a horrible British accent.

The groups went back and forth tearing each other’s strategies apart, but Marley tuned them out. It was always the same no matter where she went. With two different approaches to war, everyone believes theirs is the best. That they will be the reason to end the war. Realistically, they would be lucky if even half of them made it to the end with the way things were going.

It wasn’t until the egotistical Brit mentioned the P-51’s, did Marley give him her attention.

“The 100th have made a name for themselves throughout Europe. Bombing in large groups during broad daylight will do that for you. But the P-51’s having a female amongst them have nearly made them a laughingstock. I think I would rather fly alone out there than have the likes of her defending me.”

Buck was confused when Bucky didn’t defend his sister. With how close the two of them were, he figured he’d have to be holding him back from an all-out brawl. But what confused him more was the smile Bucky had plastered across his face.

Until he looked over to the younger Egan. Her eyes were sharp, making even the arrogant Brit across from them look away from her. The smirk on her face was one he’d seen too many times from his best friend, letting him know shit was indeed about to go down. And for once, he couldn’t wait to see an Egan in action.

“Tell me, how many targets have you actually hit? Or better yet, how much action have you seen? Because to me, it takes more effort for me to do my hair than fly a plane at night aimlessly dropping bombs.” Buck admired her ability to throw back at him without making it seem like his words got to her.

The RAF pilot did not share that admiration in the least bit. Before he could say anything back, Marley held up her hand, silencing the man. “Until you’ve actually done something productive in this war, keep your dick in your pants. Because I promise you it’s the smallest one here.”

Buck chuckled and leaned back in his chair, taking in the beauty that was Marley Egan. The flick of her hair dismissing him was the cherry on top, making the man across from them red in the face. “Who do you think you are to talk to a man like that?”

The table tensed at the clear misogynistic comment, but the female pilot surprised them and snorted. “Someone is overcompensating. Maybe you should go back to your Math’s.” She turned to her brother, “It was math’s, right?” Bucky nodded his head with a smirk. “Apparently there is more than one. Who knew?”

That seemed to be the last straw for the RAF pilot as he and the others started chirping about taking things outside. It didn’t take much convincing for the Americans to agree, nearly bouncing with joy as the group headed out the back door.

Marley watched as Biddick practically begged to be the one to take a shot at the British asshole, noticing Buck standing near her. “You didn’t want to throw your name in there? Something tells me you would be good when it came to a fight.”

Buck put his hands in his pockets, watching everything unfold. “As much as I wanted to slug him for the way he was treatin’ you, Biddick said he would owe me one. I’m more surprised you weren’t itching to get in there.”

He turned to look at her as she shrugged her shoulders. “With my luck we will have to fly out tomorrow. And flying with a bruised hand isn’t fun.”

His eyebrows rose at that comment, “You know from experience?” The smirk returned on her face and that told him everything. “There is a reason we are called fighter pilots. Not everyone gets to fly in a boat like you.”

Buck smiled and shook his head. Biddick had the RAF pilot down in one shot, signaling the night was coming to an end. “Kind of wished there would’ve been more of a fight. Too much talking for him to go down in one.” Bucky said, joining the two pilots.

“I’ll go a few rounds with you.” Buck took a strategic step forward at the younger Egan’s words, trying to place himself between the two of them. There was no doubt in his mind the two of them would start swinging for the fun of it.

“Three bucks says you can’t touch me.” Bucky was cracking his knuckles and Marley laughed. “Make it five and you have a deal.”

“I’ll buy you both a drink next time we are out if neither of you do this.” Buck had almost a pleading tone, making the two siblings’ step back from each other. Bucky threw an arm around his friend, “Live a little, Buck. A few bruises never killed anyone.”

Buck shook his head, “I don’t want to carry your ass all the way home after losing. I think the drinking is causing you to gain some weight. Gettin’ hard to lift you.”

Marley smiled, watching the two of them interact. The more time she spent with them, the more she was starting to understand their dynamic. Buck was someone her brother needed to ground him. And if she had to bet, Buck needed her brother in order to see a brighter side of living. While she didn’t know too much about the blonde pilot, something in his past had made him guarded.

“You coming, Mar? Don’t have all night to wait on you.” She picked up her steps at her brothers words and joined the pair as they decided to walk back to base, dragging out the night before dealing with tomorrows problems.

***

Today was the day both the 100th and the fighters were headed out on the same mission. The morning started like every other flight day. Wake up, eat, brief, preflight checks, and take off. But it was the first time both Egan siblings were experiencing it together.

Marley had taken to eating with her brother and Buck when the group met in the mess hall. It was an easy habit she formed, basking in whatever familiarity she could get while being away from home. But today was different and the older Egan picked up on it immediately.

“Why is she sitting over there?” Buck glanced to the direction his friend was looking at and saw what he was talking about. They had both sat down to eat their breakfast and Marley was currently a few tables down, deep in conversation with her squadron.

“Maybe she didn’t want to deal with you this early in the morning.” The blonde knew it had something to do with her routine. Everyone had one on flight day, some call it superstitions. But seeing as this was their first flight together, most chances were they would not be a part of her morning.

“I’m gonna say something.” Bucky went to get up until his friend said, “Leave her be. You stress her out enough as it is.” John turned his attention back to the blonde, eyebrows raised. “And how would you know that?”

The two pilots had started to talk more the longer they were at the base. What started as small talk here and there has morphed into deeper conversations, entrusting the other with secrets they wouldn’t want to get out. It was almost therapeutic, the way they could drop the walls around each other. But neither were sure how the Major would feel about his best friend and little sister becoming more than casual friends.

So, instead of telling the truth, Buck shrugged his shoulders, “Common sense. The two of you seem to get under each other’s skin at times.”

The older Egan huffed and shook his head, “Have you met her? The kid needs to be on a leash or something.”

Buck smiled and shook his head at the comment, thinking the same could be said about him.

The 100th found themselves in the briefing room, going over their mission for the day. Bombing German U-boat pens in Norway with Major Cleven leading them was the hefty task that laid ahead. But after the happy demotion from air exec. a few days earlier, Major Egan found himself flying with his boys again.

Before, John Egan would only worry about one thing at a time. When his sister flew, he worried about her getting back in one piece while he waited at the airstrip for her return. When the 100th flew, his focus was on his men and the mission at hand. Wanting to make sure they made positive impacts in this war and living to talk about it.

But never did he have to worry about both at the same time.

Buck picked up on the nervousness of his friend next to him. The brunette couldn’t sit still, constantly fidgeting with his hands and knee bouncing. As much as it was getting on his nerves by drawing his attention away from the briefing, he didn’t have it in him to tell him to stop.

The blonde pilot didn’t want to admit it, but he had more nerves this mission than the one before. They all knew there was some form of air support for them on these flights, but there was never a reason to know the people behind them.

The briefing went faster than either pilot wanted, but soon they found themselves waking out to their planes. The buzz of excitement on mission days has slowly dwindled down to nearly nothing. It seemed only the new crews that were fresh out of training wanted to go up.

“First day back up and it better not be your last.” Buck threw the comment out to try and pull his friend out of his thoughts. He hadn’t said much since they left the briefing and knew it had to do with his sister.

“You won’t be able to get rid of me that easily.” Bucky gave him a smirk but turned his attention back to the airstrip. He wasn’t sure if the fighters were done with their meeting, but he needed to see his sister before they all took off.

“Does she know you’re headed back up there?” Bucky knew he should’ve told Marley about the well-earned demotion before today, but he didn’t want her focus to be off if she knew one of the planes she’d be protecting was his.

“Nah, I thought it would be a fun surprise sharing the skies.” Cleven shook his head and asked, “Just like the surprise of her being a pilot?” John went to answer back when he saw the familiar braided hair walking up to her plane. “I’m going to fucking kill her.”

Buck watched as he ran off towards the one person who was going to put his friend into an early grave with the decisions she was making.

Marley!” The girl turned at the call of her name. Her brother running towards her, a task she didn’t know he could do.

“We are about to set some damn ground rules.” Her eyebrows rose at the demand. “And why would we do that?” She had a good feeling she knew why but wanted him to confirm it.

“You can’t keep going on these missions without so much as a goodbye. I thought I raised you better than that.”

“John, you ever think there was a reason for that?” He stood there, waiting for an answer.

Marley sighed and looked down the runway of planes getting ready to take off. “A goodbye is something final. It’s accepting the fact that I might not make it back to say anything more. I guess leaving with things unfinished gave me a good reason to come back.”

Bucky didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t sure if it was the war or simply time that had matured his sister, but he didn’t like it.

“I need you to stop looking out for me. I’m a big boy and can handle it. But what I can’t handle is seeing you get into that plane and pretend like we aren’t in this god damn war together.” He watched as Marley looked back to him and then looked down.

“I really thought going to war together would be more fun than this.” Bucky snorted at her comment and pulled his sister into a hug. “It’ll be more fun when we make it out of this together.” He pulled back and Marley asked what he did all day when everyone was on a mission. This time it was his turn to avoid eye contact.

“Well, I used to sit around and make sure I could count high enough to be able to count the planes coming back in. But, uh, now I don’t have to do that anymore.”

Marley sighed as she put the pieces together, something that surprised John. He thought she would be more upset with him holding back information. “I thought it would just be Gale up there I’d have to look out for. But now I’ll try my hardest to watch out for you both.”

Before he could respond, one of the guys from his crew was yelling at him to get a move on. He turned back to his sister before he walked off and said, “Make it back in one piece, will ya. I don’t need Ma flying all the way out here to kill me. Doesn’t make for a good story going out like that in a war like this.” Marley laughed and got back to her preflight checks.

Footsteps were heard drawing near her as she looked at something under her plane. Figuring it was her brother she yelled out, “Last I checked, you know nothing about P-51’s, John, so you’re just going to get in the way. Hell, I’d be surprised if you even know much about your own plane.”

The chuckle she heard came from someone that was in fact not her brother. Marley popped her head out from under her plane and saw Major Cleven leaning against the wing.

“Ah, sorry about that Major. There is no doubt in my mind you are well versed in all thing’s bomber planes.” Buck couldn’t help but smile at the lopsided grin she gave him.

“I do know a thing or two. Can’t say much about your brother, though.” He glanced over her plane, seeing the bullet holes patched up from her last mission. “How are you feeling?” His eyes made his way back to hers and couldn’t help but notice something different in them.

“Will be more excited when this mission is over. But the plane looks good. They fixed her up better than I could’ve wished for.” He watched as she spun the little bit of hair from the end of her braid around her finger. Her voice was steady and posture strong. She was the picture of calm. But that little gesture showed him a new part of her that he would lock away for safe keeping. Marley was nervous just as her brother was and he hated that there wasn’t much he could do about it.

Planes were starting up and the blonde knew he needed to get back to his crew. “Stay safe up there, Mar.” He gave her shoulder a light squeeze and walked off.

“Hey Cleven.” He turned around at her voice. “Do me a favor and try not to get shot down.” He gave her a small salute, “Yes ma’am.”

 It wasn’t much longer until Marley watched as the 100th started flying out. With her group being faster, they would take off a little later to allow for the best defensive strategy against the Luftwaffe fighter planes.

With it being their first mission together at the same base, she felt weird with how the timings were different. Watching the small dots in the sky disappear while she sat in her plane only made the nerves grow higher.

Marley wasn’t good at too many things, but flying was something she took pride in. She seemed to have a natural skill for it, as well as a passion. It was why she was able to pry her way into this war. While it was technically a job, she loved every bit of it and the freedom of flying in the wide-open skies. But sometimes that love faltered when she saw fellow pilots getting shot out of the sky.

It was turning into a normal occurrence, seeing the small P-51’s with fire coming off the back of them. Or the plane spiraling out of control, hoping that the reason was because the pilot bailed. The only thing Marley could do was pray neither of those things happened to her.

A flare went up, signaling it was their time to go. The plane sped down the runway right after a few of her fellow pilots, effortlessly making its way into the sky. It wouldn’t take long before the group caught up to the 100th, indicating the start of another harsh mission. It was an eerie feeling for Marley, flying headfirst into deadly dogfights without hesitation. Especially after the rising amount of enemy fighter’s last mission.

Just as the higher ups had planned, the P-51 fighters met up with the 100th as enemy pilots started their attack. Marley gripped the yoke of the plane tighter, trying to visualize the best path for her to take. The mix between the three different groups were starting to blend together, making it difficult for a clear route.

But as soon as she saw one of the B-17’s fall from the sky, instinct took over and she forced her way into the chaos.

As soon as the flak stopped around them, Buck knew the hardest part of the mission was upon them. The skies were unnaturally quiet, causing all the men to tense up. “Make sure all the guns are loaded. They will be here any second now.” Major Cleven tried to get his men ready as the inevitable was about to happen.

“Enemy fighters 3 o’clock!” One of the men yelled out, signaling the beginning of the uphill battle. Gale almost felt helpless, keeping the plane in the air as the men around him fought for all their lives. With as big of a formation as theirs was, there wasn’t much room for movement or evasion. He simply prayed they weren’t targeted, and that air support would be there soon.

“P-51’s just joined the fight!” Buck wanted to feel some relief but knowing that Marley was in that group made it challenging. At least the smaller planes would be able to escape fire if needed. He watched as the P-51’s skillfully weaved in and out of their group, making it look more like a dance than a dogfight.

“Anyone have eyes on Marley?” Buck looked around at the traffic in the sky but couldn’t see her. Not that it was easy to see much of anything with gunfire and smoke filling the air.

“They all look the same, Major. the only thing I can say for certain is how many get shot down.” Buck slightly shook his head at those words, not doing a damn thing to reassure him.

“Keep your eyes peeled. Try not to cause any friendly fire.” The last thing any of them needed was one of the bombers shooting down one of their own.

Buck’s grip on the controls never let up until they were past the drop site and on the safe part of the route back to base. Both sets of fighter pilots had since left, having completed their tasks as well as they could. But Buck couldn’t get his mind off the younger Egan.

He didn’t want to admit it, but more P-51’s had been shot down this time around than they had seen before. The enemy had upped their resources while their side seemed to have stuck to the same numbers. Statistically speaking, odds weren’t in their favor.

Buck shook his head at his thoughts. The war was already tough enough as it is, but Marley Egan was making things harder by having him worry about her well-being. How the hell he was supposed to make it to the end like this was something he wasn’t sure of. But what he did know was that his feelings for the female pilot were slowly growing and there was no way to stop them. If this war wasn’t going to be the death of him, she might as well be.

***

As the B-17's landed back at base, both Majors were looking for Marley. The only issue was the fighters had landed over an hour ago and they were currently being forced onto the back of a truck and into interrogation.

Bucky's eyes met his friend's, and it was clear neither one of them had gotten anywhere with finding her. "I counted six P-51's. But I can't tell which one is hers." John quickly looked over at the planes after the blonde had mentioned the numbers. "Shit."

The truck they were both in started moving away from the airstrip, leaving the two Majors more nervous than before the mission. Buck saw the hard look on his friends face and knew there wasn't much he could say to make things better. Four planes didn't come back, and they saw firsthand why.

Bucky kept replaying the mission over in his head. It had been a while since he'd been up on the observation flights, but today seemed worse out there than before. The numbers increased on every aspect. More Luftwaffe fighter planes, more planes falling from the sky, and ultimately more deaths. But was his sister part of those numbers?

Before this mission, Bucky didn't pay too much attention to anyone else in the sky besides his men and whatever enemy plane was trying to take them out. Today was different, having him watch the small P-5l's coming to their aid. The way they skillfully maneuvered in the sky made it look like a dance between the two different fighter groups. It almost made him proud knowing his sister was one of those skilled pilots. Almost.

Both Majors had to turn off any emotions surrounding the younger Egan as they walked into the interrogation room, making sure they covered every detail they could remember. The mission took a slight turn, having their navigator find a new path home to make sure Biddick landed safe and out of enemy territory. Another reason why it took longer for the group to get back.

Buck and his crew were done before his friend, giving him the chance to find out what happened to their counterparts. Knowing there was a chance he was going to have to act as the levelheaded one if something had happened to Marley. His first thought was to check medical, hoping if she was in there it was for something minor.

Betty was in there, refilling some supplies when she saw Major Cleven walk through the door. The usual stoic pilot had a sense of urgency today and she had a good feeling she knew why. She watched as his eyes passed over all the beds trying to figure out if he looked relieved or worried. "How can I help you, Major?"

His eyes moved from the beds to the blonde nurse walking towards him. "You haven't seen Captain Egan, have you?" Betty shook her head, "Captain Sutton would be the one to ask. We haven't heard much from their group."

Buck knew what meant. When a P-51 gets shot down or a pilot was hurt, most chances where they never made it in here. He let out a deep breath and thanked her. The mess hall would be his next stop to see if any of the other fighters were there. "Major! When you hear something, could you let me know? Usually, she comes by to show me she's okay, but I haven't seen her yet."

His heart nearly stopped when he took in those words. Four planes never made it back and the pilot didn't make it by to see her friend. It was too early in this war for something to happen to her. All he could do was nod his head as he walked out.

Luck continued to run out as Bucky jogged towards him. He could see the worry on his face and knew what he was about to tell him wouldn't ease that. "Not in medical. Betty said to ask Sutton what happened."

Bucky ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, "Fuck. I don't like this. She never should've followed me out here."

There wasn't much he could say to calm his friend. They were both out there. They saw what it was like in the air and knew it took a whole lot of skill and luck to make it out of it alive.

The pair made their way to the mess hall and saw a few men scattered about. Usually after a mission everyone went straight to drinking, most not having a stomach for food after what they had been through or seen. Which made it easy to spot the other captain sitting with what they assumed was the remaining pilots from their group.

John moved at a fast pace when he clocked the man he needed, forcing Buck to nearly jog after him.

"Tell me she isn't dead. Tell me you aren't sitting here eating as her plane is in the ground somewhere." His tone came out sharp, clearly looking to take his frustrations out on anyone he could.

Captain Sutton already knew the oldest Egan would be coming to find him. And from the few interactions they've had together, he knew not to take things too personal. So, when they words flew out of the Major's mouth, Sutton took a sip of his coffee and calmly turned to him.

"Had a little mishap. Should be flying back soon from another base in England."

John had a sense of relief hearing she wasn't a POW or worse, but after being wound up tight since they landed, it wasn't enough to settle him down. "What kind of mishap? Is she hurt?"

Sutton shook his head, "All I was told is that she had engine problems and wasn't going to make it back here. They gave her new coordinates and orders to fly back when the plane was fixed. You can stand there and berate me as much as you want, but that is all the information I have."

John ran a hand through his hair as Bucky thanked him for the update. They both knew this was the best-case scenario, but until she physically landed back at base, there was still an ounce of doubt.

Sutton watched as the two Majors processed that information, seeing them both still tense. It wasn't lost on anyone that Marley had become someone important to Major Cleven. The two of them seemed to click instantly, whether it was as friends or more. Which is why he decided to add, "Marley is one of the best pilots I've seen. She's levelheaded and has some crazy talent. There is a reason why she broke down so many barriers and became an active female fighter pilot. I know it's hard but have some faith in her. If there is any one of us that is going to make it to the end of this war, it's her."

The two Majors nodded their heads and thanked him. John turned to walk out the mess hall without another word, but Gale stayed behind for a minute. "How bad was it up there for you guys?"

Sutton let out a deep breath. "The more we go up, the worse it seems. Not too sure what the higher ups have planned, but something needs to change. We are losing too many good people."

Gale could only nod his head. What he said was true for both sides. Too many planes kept falling and he wondered when they would run out of replacements. "We are going out tonight if you want to join. Try and get our minds off today."

The captain gave him a quick nod and Buck left to go find his friend.

***

The day dragged on and soon the sun was setting along the horizon. No one had heard a thing about Marley, but they held onto hope that she would be landing soon. For once, Bucky had to drag the oldest Egan out to where the 100th was drinking.

It was an eerie sight, seeing the lone jeep next to an empty runway. A few people had tried to coax the Major into coming in, but he wasn't having it. Buck could only pray nothing happened to Marley during this war. Because if this was how John reacted to the delayed arrival, he could only imagine what a loss would do to him.

"She's coming back. You sitting here waiting is not going to speed that up." Buck watched as his friend shook his head, "Not in a partying mood, Buck."

"No one said anything about partying. Just a drink or two while we pass the time. You know she is going to be pissed if she sees you out here while everyone else is inside." He watched as John slowly nodded his head.

"Fine. But I'm coming out here every hour to see if she's landed. Knowing her, she's going to head straight to bed without letting us know she's back." Buck knew he had a point. With her track record of running off without so much as a glance, it wouldn't surprise him to see her plane sitting there in the morning without a heads up.

John started the jeep up and went to drive off until he heard the sound of a plane in the distance. The pair stood up and watched in silence as a P-51 made their decent to the runway. Neither moved until it shut off and the familiar braid popped up when getting out of the cockpit.

"Thank god." Was heard as a near whisper from Major Egan as he watched her climb down with zero assistance.

Marley greeted the two Majors with a smile. "Fancy seeing you here this late at night. Almost makes me wonder if you've been sulking out here all day."

Bucky scoffed but the blond had to cough to cover up a laugh. "What happened Marley?" She continued to walk towards them, taking her flight jacket off. "I'm good. Thanks for asking."

She didn't miss the eye roll her brother gave her but shrugged it off. "Can we walk to the mess hall? I haven't eaten since this morning." The two nodded their heads and the trio started walking.

"As you both know it was a complete shit show up there. It was like we would shoot one down and three more came at us. It didn't really seem like we were making much of a difference with how many enemy fighters were up there." She ran a shaky hand through her hair. Something Buck picked up on but knew her brother missed it. Today shook her up more than she was letting on.

"Out of nowhere, the side of my plane was sprayed. Luckily it was near the end, and I was able to steady it out without having to eject. I was given new coordinates to a closer base and landed right outside of the runway. Took them nearly all day to fix up the plane but got interrogation out of the way there at least. Now I'm here."

They walked into the mess hall, the two boys trailing her as she grabbed a few things to eat. Neither spoke a word until they sat down, occupying the only table in the building.

"How are you, Mar?" Gale knew her brother was still processing things and tried to get some more information out of her.

She took a bite of an apple, buying herself time to formulate an answer. She'd be lying if she said today didn't shake her up. Feeling the bullets hit the plane and then watching as she slowly lost control of it, was enough to give her nightmares. But she couldn't tell her brother that. It was clear as day he worried enough about her as it is.

So, instead she swallowed the piece of apple and shrugged her shoulders. "It sucked taking this long to get back. And the guys there were not nearly as welcoming as the ones here. But it sure beats becoming a POW."

Buck knew that answer was brushing over how she really felt. But what he wasn't expecting was her brother to also pick up on it.

"Want to give me the real answer and not the bullshit one?"

Marley's eyes snapped up to her brother's, clearly surprised at his question. She looked down and bit her lip. Confidence fading.

"I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on." John's voice had a bite to it, and Buck knew she wasn't going to respond well to it. They were more similar than they each believed.

"I never asked for your damn help, John." She stood up causing her brother to do the same.

"Sit your ass back down. We aren't done talking." The eye roll she gave him back only caused things to escalate.

"I say we are." She started walking away, making her brother follow. Buck quickly jumped in between the two and gently pushed the oldest Egan back. "Not now. Give her time to recover from today. She just got back."

John didn't put up much of a fight. As much as he wanted to push the issue of his sister keeping things from him, Buck was right. Today was hard on everyone, but they've had hours to recover. She had been back for less than thirty minutes.

They heard the door of the mess hall shut and gone was the youngest Egan.

"I need a damn drink." Buck gave John a single nod and the two of them went the opposite way of Marley.

***

Marley had quickly showered, taking advantage that the girls were out with everyone else. It didn't take long to wash off the day and put on more casual clothes. She toyed with the idea of meeting everyone out, but the interaction with her brother had her cautious. It was a long ass day, and her fuse was already short. She didn't think getting into a fight in front of everyone would be good for either of them.

But she knew she needed to see her team, or what's left of it, and Betty. Today was hell for everyone and she needed to remember that. So, she put some shoes on and started the long walk to the Officers Mess.

The air was nice and crisp, almost considered cold. Marley forgot to bring a jacket, but the chilly breeze was a nice reminder that she was in fact still in once piece and back in her temporary home.

Today was a brutal reminder that getting close to people out here was dangerous. Marley considered it a wakeup call, knowing she needed to start putting some distance between her and the blond Major. While things hadn't progressed beyond a friend stage, she knew that giving it more time could potentially cause heartbreak. He was someone she could see herself falling for, but war was a selfish thing. War would take anyone and everyone from you without any remorse. Only fools would hold onto hope out here.

Before Marley could reach her destination, sirens went off, signaling a possible air raid. It was one of the last sounds she heard when fleeing from her original base not too long ago. Men ran from buildings, seeking shelter in the bunkers they had throughout the base. But Marley could see the smoke in the distance, and knew they weren't in any danger.

Captain Sutton saw Marley and let out a sigh of relief. When he saw Major Egan chugging his drink earlier, he assumed she was back but didn't know in what shape. Seeing her walk on her own was a promising sign.

"Reminds me of old times." Marley turned her head and saw Sparks walking up to her. A smile crossed her face, and she gave him a quick hug. "Glad to see you made it back. I heard we lost more this time around."

All he did was nod his head, not wanting to talk about the friends they continued to lose. "You make it back okay?" She gave him the same nod in return. Neither pushing the other for more.

The two Majors were rushing outside with the rest, praying nothing would happen to their base. But as they reached the bunker, they noticed none of the fighter pilots had made their way to the bunkers.

"The hell you doin', Mar? Get down here." Marley shook her head at her brothers demand and sat on the ground outside looking out at the sky. "Too far for us to be hit."

Bucky made eye contact with his friend, neither knowing what to do. It wasn't often air raids happened this close to base, but they sounded an alarm for a reason.

"Marlene, I swear to god if you made it back just to get taken out by an air raid we had warning about, I will bring you back from the dead and kill you myself." Sparks chuckled as he sat down next to his friend. "Overprotective much."

Marley sighed and nodded her head, "You have no idea." She looked over her shoulder and saw both Majors attention on her. "We got these all the time before we were actually hit. Trust me, this one is too far to do any damage. Think of it as fourth of July and some really expensive fireworks are going off."

Buck hated the way his heart clenched at her explanation. He watched as she laughed with her friend next to her, not having a care in the world while the rest of them held onto a small shred of fear at what was happening in the distance.

"She's lost it. That's the only explanation I have for it." Bucky looked on as his sister was lounging in the grass, watching the bombs go off as it was some sort of show.

"Leave her be. She's happy." Bucky turned his attention to his friend after that statement. There was a moment of silence before John said, "Just promise me you'll look after her."

Gale looked at his friend confused, "What are you talking about?"

John looked back over to his sister, small smile on his face as he saw her throw her head back and laugh. "As much as she thinks I don't see things, I do. So, do me a favor and don't hurt her. She's been through too much already." 

Instead of arguing that there was nothing goin on between then, Gale shrugged his jacket off. "Marley!" Her head turned at the sound of her name being called. Buck tossed her his jacket and she caught it with ease. "It's too cold out here without it." She slipped the warm jacket on and thanked him. He answered back with a wink, not missing the way her cheeks had a tint of pink to them. 

War might be ruthless and hope was a foolish thing, but love always manages to overpower, making you feel invincible.

A/N: Thoughts? Thank you for reading!!

Tag list: @probabydeadbynow

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Thank you for the rec!!! 🩵🩵🩵

𝑗𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖.

annoyed

not just pals

by @thewulf

the one i want by @seresinhangmanjake

good in bed by @honkytonk-hangman

cowboy up by @allbark-no-bite

love grows (where the mustache goes) by @aemondvelaryon

you've got the real thing right here by @birdy-bat-writes

LIEUTENANT SMITTEN by @maiiiwrites

the hangman special

heat to boil

by @hangmanssunnies

pinky promise by @lostdreamr-blog1

infirmation by @roosteraloha

kiss me more by @witchwyfe

what you do to me by @youvebeenlivingfictional

so it goes by @purelyfiction

before bed by @punishereditz

not you again by @scandinavianfairytale

it comes with perks by @frost-queen

twenty-five going on forty-seven by @sehnsuchts-trunken

fast like rain by @mothdruid

urban cowboy by @bradshawssugarbaby

[lostdreamr-blog1]

To everyone who reblogs one of my fics, thank you thank you thank you! There is nothing worse than writing something, especially in a new fandom, and feeling like it isn’t worth the read. Writing and sharing is scary sometimes. The reblogs are what keep me going 🤍

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Me, all the time

please please please please reblog if you’re a writer and have at some point felt like your writing is getting worse. I need to know if I’m the only one who’s struggling with these thoughts

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 4

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 5

Ch 4

The group was quickly hauled off into interrogation, leaving little to no time to process what happened. It was the same routine with every mission, never deviating no matter the number of remaining pilots. Marley learned early on that she needed to turn off her emotions until after all the facts were given. There was no time for tears in the middle of a war.

The interrogation room was built for teams of men. With the B-17’s holding 10 crew members, the tables had enough seats to accommodate them. So, when each P-51 pilot went to their own table, it showed the others how small they appeared. They often overlooked the fragileness fighter pilots can be when their planes prove to be some of the more superior ones in the sky. But seeing the individual pilots surrounded by no one but themselves, pity almost seemed to be thrown at them.

Bucky stood with his back against the wall, near the table his sister was at. None of them knew what their mission was, but clearly something went wrong for three pilots to not return. He needed to know why for a few reasons. One, to relay to the boys’ changes from the enemy that could impact their future missions. And two, to know how bad it is when his sister gets sent off. The constant battle between Major and brother was soon becoming an issue.

He stayed close by as she started recalling the details of the mission, providing support while staying out of her way. She had made it clear this morning when leaving without informing him, that she was her own person who didn’t need the support of her brother to get through tough situations. But he planned to be there in case the independence faltered.

Listening to the way Marley talked, it worried him with how different she was. Gone was the cheerful and free-spirited sister he had grown up with. In her place was a level-headed soldier who could recite facts about a mission that got three of her teammates taken or killed.

Before he could dwell on the change too long, she was done with her part of the interrogation and stood up to leave. If she was surprised to see her brother standing close enough to hear, she didn’t show it. Instead, she had schooled her face into a look of indifference. Something that was bound to haunt her brother in his sleep.

Buck had waited for the Egan siblings outside, wanting to see for himself how the two of them were. Marley was the first one he saw step out of interrogation and the blank look on her face didn’t tell him too much. He had only known her for a short time and while she seemed to be a carbon copy of John. He wasn’t sure how she handled stress. Bucky threw jokes around and shots back, not wanting to feel anything. The nights starting to get more frequent where he had to help his friend back to their bunk safely.

But Marley at this moment looked void of any emotion. The tears from earlier were long gone and in their place was a face that wasn’t going to falter.

Bucky stepped out close behind his sister, running a hand through his hair. Buck could easily see how much that situation got to him and wondered how bad it was.

“You okay, Marley?” Buck asked her while keeping his eyes on his friend. She nodded her head at him while Bucky shook his. He had a feeling things would play out like this, he just wasn’t sure what to do about it.

“Why don’t we get you somethin’ to eat? Let you settle back down from this mornings run.” Buck kept his tone light, not trying to seem like he was forcing the idea on her. He learned with Bucky that the second you demand something, he will do everything in his power to do the opposite. And if had to bet, Marley was going to be the same.

“I think I’m going to take a shower and get out of this flight gear before I do anything.” Buck looked to her brother to see how he would react to that answer, but he didn’t say a word.

The two men walked her back to her bunk, no one saying a thing. Marley was trying her absolute hardest to not have a second breakdown. Especially since her brother now knew exactly what went on up there. Bucky knew if he opened his mouth, he would be yelling at her for a number of different things. The main one was for joining the damn war as a pilot. And Buck was in foreign territory, not knowing what toes he could step on if he led the conversation. So, the trio remained silent.

Once they arrived at their destination, Marley gave them a slight nod in thanks. Buck looked to his friend and saw he was going to let her walk in there without a single word. He sighed and said, “We will be down at the mess hall if you want to join us after.” His words stopped her for a second, hand hovering over the doorknob. “Thanks.” It was a quiet reply, but words were clearly the goal with the Egan siblings. Buck offered a small smile and turned back to Bucky after she shut the door.

“How bad?” The two started walking to the mess hall, now having to set up camp there for at least an hour. They weren’t sure if the younger Egan would show up, but they wanted to give her a chance.

Bucky ran a hand over his face, “There were more enemy fighters this time which makes me nervous for when we go back up. Seems like they are pulling more of their resources to the air. Something we need to start planning for.”

Buck slowly nodded his head at the answer Major Egan gave. While he had only gone on one mission so far, he got a good look at how bad things could get. Or so he thought. “And Marley?” He needed the brother answer as well.

“I don’t know, Buck. The way she just turned things off was concerning. It was like my sister was shoved into some far away corner and was replaced by a soldier. And I know what you’re going to say. That we are all soldiers. But that wasn’t Marley in there. It-it was like a shell of her. And I feel like the longer she is out here, the more that shell is going to take over.” Bucky shook his head, recalling what happened in there.

Buck wasn’t sure what to say to that. He knew this was Marley’s 9th mission and that this isn’t the first time she’s lost people. This was a fraction of the losses compared to what she told him that night. If she was able to bounce back to her normal self after that, he wasn’t concerned. Honestly, he hoped he could do the same once he starts headed up there more.  But her brother didn’t know that.

***

Marley walked into her bunk area; thankful the girls were working. She needed time to process what happened without the worry of someone seeing her. Grabbing a clean uniform, she walked to the showers and started trying to scrub away the losses from today.

The mission was supposed to be simple. A short flight to France to provide support to a small group of bombers. The target wasn’t even high profile, but more of an inconvenience for the enemy. So, when double the amount of Luftwaffe fighter planes headed towards them, they knew the stakes had been raised.

In all honesty, only having three of their planes shot down was a bigger win than they wanted to let on. Even half of the B-17’s was still standing when they got out of enemy territory. But losses still hurt, and the war seemed to be evolving at a rapid pace. She just hoped the US could keep up before too many of them were lost.

The water from the shower soon ran cold, signaling that it was time to get out. One of the main things she missed from back home was long, hot showers. The ones that make it feel like your skin was borderline burning. The water at base never seemed to get above lukewarm.

Marley knew she needed to put on a brave face for her brother. The way he acted walking her to her bunk highlighted the fact that her not being okay will affect him more than her. So, she looked herself in the mirror and nodded her head. I can do this. A small mission never hurt anyone. Well… it hurt three people. She shook her head, not the damn point. We are fine and there is zero reason to act otherwise.

She made sure to repeat those thoughts as she got dressed and headed to the mess hall to meet up with her brother and Buck. Those thoughts started to deviate as the thought of the blonde pilot was brought up. How he managed to become best friends with her brother still confused her. The man was quiet, observant, and calmer than most. All things opposite of John.

But even with him trying to remain a shadow, he still caught her eye. He was confident, he was caring, and he was bound to be trouble.

Marley had made herself promise to not fall for any man during the war. After the carnage of the first mission she went on, it was a wakeup call she needed. Getting close to people out here was dangerous, not knowing if they would make it back.

But when she walked through the doors of the mess hall and was greeted with a gruff “hey doll. I saved you some food.” She knew that promise was going to be broken.

A/N: Thank you so so much for reading! As always, my tags and inbox is always open for you :)

-C

Tags: @probabydeadbynow

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future G.Cleven Ch 3

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch4 Ch 5

Ch 3

A gentle shake had Marley nearly jumping out of bed. Betty was standing over her, robe wrapped around her body, trying her hardest to wake the pilot up without waking the others. “Captain Sutton just came by and told me to get you. Looks like ya’ll are headed out this morning.”

Marley let out a deep sigh and nodded her head. “Thanks, Betty. Sorry you were woken up so early.” She didn’t have to look at the clock to know it was before sunrise. Mission days always started the same and it was clear that a change of location wasn’t going to change that.

“It’s no problem.” She paused for a few seconds, trying to figure out the best way to say goodbye without actually saying it. “I better not see you in medical later. As much as a few of us would love to see your handsome brother around, something tells me he wouldn’t do well with you hurt.”

Marley chuckled as she got out of bed and gave her friend a hug. “I’ll see you when I get back.”

The base had a different feel to it this morning. Majority of the men and women were still asleep, not knowing the small group of fighter pilots were getting ready for a mission so soon after getting there. It made Marley feel on edge as she walked to the mess hall to try and eat whatever would stay down. Their base prior had a few different squadrons housed there, making go days loud and energetic from the moment feet hit the ground.

But with only ten of them here, the base stayed in a state of slumber while the group made peace with whatever God they prayed to.

Marley walked into the mess hall to find a handful of kitchen staff working and most of the pilots sitting at two tables next to each other while the rest stayed empty. Grabbing a plate of food, she sat next to Sparky, thanking him for the wakeup call. “Not a problem. Have any idea where we are flying today?”

She shook her head, “No idea. Can’t be too big if the 100th aren’t headed out.” While the P-51’s mainly provided air support for the bombers, they quickly realized that when the 100th wasn’t called out, the mission was typically a shorter one. Or at least they hoped.

The morning went by faster than any of them would’ve wished for and before too long, the planes were being fueled and preflight checks were under way. The sun had started peaking over the horizon, signaling the day was taking charge and soon the base would be buzzing with life.

Sparky walked up to her plane and watched as she finished her checks. “Are we just going to ignore the fact that your brother has no idea you’re flying today?”

Marley hummed in response as she ran her hand across one of the wings. “If I had told him, I would be getting a lecture right about now and another one when we get back. By not telling him, I have now reduced the amount of nagging to one sitting. Call it time management.”

Her friend shook his head but didn’t argue. He learned that when she had her mind set on something, there was nothing anyone could do to change it. “Be safe out there. I know it’s a short flight to France today, but you know things always seem to go bad on the easy ones.”

She gave him a small smile and told him to do the same. He gave her a small boost into her plane and tapped the side of it as he walked back up to his. The small group of ten was ready to take off all before anyone had left their bunks.

John Egan took pride in knowing what was going on at the base. His job title made sure of it. So, when he heard the sound of planes starting up at the ass crack of dawn, he sprinted out of bed. Standing outside in only his boxers, he watched as all ten P-51’s took off without hesitation. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be shocked, scared, or angry at the fact that his little sister just flew off on a mission without so much as batting an eye in his direction.

The door opened behind him, and Buck stepped out with at least more clothes on than his friend, extra jacket in his hands. “Might want to get dressed before the guys see you. You’ll never hear the end of it.”

Bucky took the jacket, not taking his eyes off the dots in the sky. “She didn’t tell me.” His words were quiet, but Buck heard them clearly. He had a feeling the younger Egan didn’t wake them up so they wouldn’t worry as much. But she didn’t realize how much that would piss off her brother.

He took a small step back when he saw Bucky shake his head. “If she makes it back in one piece, I’m going to make sure she’ll never fly again.”

“When. When she makes it back.” Buck tried to keep things positive, but he knew it was a lost cause in this moment. Because right now, it wasn’t Major Egan standing outside watching the planes get smaller. It was big brother Egan who didn’t get to say goodbye to his baby sister.

Bucky was on edge for the next few hours. Some of the guys tried to lighten the mood but nearly had their head chewed off by the Major. Soon, everyone but Buck had left him alone.

The two of them were sitting in the jeep, eyes in the direction the P-51’s left in. Neither of them had said a word for the past half hour, making Buck antsy. John Egan always had something to say no matter the situation. Most of the time you couldn’t get him to shut up long enough to get a word in. It was one of the reasons why the two of them worked well together. Buck was never one for the spotlight.

But with brunette silent, Buck felt like he needed to say something. “She’s going to be fine.”

Bucky shook his head, “First she didn’t tell me she followed me into this damn war and now she’s runnin’ off on missions without so much as a wave. I deserve better than that.”

He agreed with his friend, not liking the way things happened this morning. They all knew what could happen out there and robbing your family of one last goodbye is something that will haunt a man.

Conversation stopped as they both saw the first plane come into sight. Bucky got out of the jeep and counted each plane as he was able to see them, praying one of them held his sister.

His jaw clenched as he counted and counted again. “Am I blind or is that only seven planes?” Buck wished he could’ve corrected him, but he too counted three less than what should’ve been.

Each plane landed without issue and they both had to wait until the fighter pilots jumped down. The grounds crew rushed out to assess the damages, already trying to work on what needed to be fixed.

After what felt like ages, Bucky’s shoulders dropped with relief as he saw the familiar braid jump down from her plane. “Go easy on her.” Buck’s voice drew his attention.

“Like hell I am. She deserves everything I’m going to give her.” Bucky went to walk towards her when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned and saw his friend giving him a somber look. “Only seven planes came back.”

And it was like cold water had been thrown on him. Bucky was so wrapped up in his sister making it back, that he didn’t think of the pilots who didn’t. Three teammates were lost, and he didn’t know how close they might have been or if she saw it happen. While no one wanted to become a prisoner of war, it was still a chance of possibly surviving.

Now, instead of walking over there to chew her ass out, he needed to make sure his sister was okay.

As he got near her, he could see a faraway look in her eyes. It was like she was physically there, but her mind had escaped to some place dark. He took that moment to look her over, making sure there were no injuries. A quick glance at her plane showed bullet holes riddled throughout the structure.

Each piece of information he was learning had the grip on his heart tightening. Never would he have wished this life for his sister, but he knew he needed to learn to cope with it for both of their sakes.

“Come here, Mar.” His voice seemed to snap her back to reality, shocking her with how close he had gotten without her noticing.

Marley shook her head, tears already pooling in her eyes. “If I do that, I’m going to have a breakdown on this runway, and I really don’t want to ruin my mascara. I didn’t splurge and get the waterproof one.”

Bucky gave her a slight smirk, “When have you ever known me to listen?” He didn’t give her a chance to back away as he tightly embraced her.  

And there the two Egan siblings stood. One, feeling like the world was crumbling around her. And the other, holding his entire world in his arms.

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven Ch 2

Ch 1 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5

Next chapter is here! Thanks for reading :)

CH 2

The 354th fighter squadron had settled into their new base with instructions to act civilly. The men were split up into different houses that had extra bunks while Marley was housed with the nurses. They were welcoming of the pilot and excited to have another Egan on base. Bucky had always been good to the nurses, trying to accommodate them as best as he could. Which helped Marley make friends easily.

One of the girls stood out the most to her though. Betty was from a farm down in Texas who joined the war efforts as a nurse to get away from the small-town life. Even though life on a military base wasn’t glamorous, she loved every minute of it spreading a sort of joy throughout the girls. Which is why Marley seemed to gravitate towards her. It was clear to them both that they were meant to become friends.

Word spread fast that the female pilot was Major Egan’s sister. She was now untouchable as Bucky had zero issues putting his men in place. Buck on the other hand was intrigued by the girl. It wasn’t every day they found a woman who could out fly them in a smaller and faster plane. But she was just as loud and outgoing as the other Egan. Something he learned quickly when she joined them that evening at the Officer’s Mess.

Marley walked into the crowded building, immediately finding her brother and his blonde friend by the bar. “So, this is what the bombers do for fun?” Bucky threw his arm around his sisters’ shoulders. “You fighter pilots only wish you had this much fun. Lucky for you, you now get to experience the true perks of war.” Marley rolled her eyes, “Yeah, lucky our base was bombed.” Buck had a small smile on his face as he listed to the two go back and forth.

“What made you pick P-51’s?” Marley turned her attention to the other man that was with them. “I was never one for team sports. Plus having nine other lives on my hands isn’t something that interested me. If I go down, the only person I have to blame is myself.” Bucky scoffed at the answer. “You and Buck will get along great. He doesn’t do sports in general.”

Before Marley could ask why, a new song started up. Her eyes lit up as she turned to her brother nearly bouncing with joy. “You know what this song is missing?” The matching smile made Buck shake his head. “Dear god.” He watched as the siblings danced their way up to the stage, taking the one mic and singing the worst possible version of the song. Neither of them was on tune, but something about the enthusiasm they sang with had everyone in the room laughing.

As the song ended, the two of them took a bow and made their way back to the bar. “See! I told you that song was missing vocals.” Bucky clapped his friend on the back and took a long swig of his beer. All Buck could do was shake his head.

***

The night went on and Marley found herself a little too sober for the men around her. It was one of the few traits she didn’t share with her brother and that was her dislike of alcohol. She would drink a beer maybe two, but the appeal wasn’t there. So, she slipped out the door as her brother was distracted with retelling some story about a unicorn.

The base outside was quiet with the higher ups planning or sleeping while the rest of the men and some women drank as if they wouldn’t make it through tomorrow. For some of them, it might very well be their last.

Not wanting to head to bed yet, Marley climbed up on one of the B-17’s and sat with her legs hanging over the edge. The sky was dark for once. Back at her base, flak could be seen littering the sky at all hours of the night. The Brits always ran their missions during the dark hours, making clear skies like this few and far between. She took advantage while she could and leaned her head back, taking in the cluster of stars.

It didn’t take long before footsteps could be heard and then the sound of metal groaning as weight was put against the plane. “This seat taken?” The gruff voice of Buck Cleven filled the air, surprising her a bit.

She motioned to the spot next to her and watched as he gracefully sat down. “What brings you out here, Major?”

The blonde-haired pilot leaned back on his hands and replied, “Thought I would turn in early but saw someone sitting on my plane. Wanted to make sure no funny business was going on.” Her laugh in turn made him smile. It was a sound he could see himself getting used to.

“Well, Major. I am happy to report that there is indeed no funny business going on here. Although I had no idea this was your plane. I can get down if that makes you more comfortable.” When he shook his head at her, she mirrored his position and leaned back on her hands, resuming her star gazing.

“Do you know any constellations?” It was her turn to shake her head. “Can’t say I do. But I do enjoy making some up. Like that one over there kinda looks like an angry cat.” Buck chuckled at the response and decided not to show her the ones he knew. Her version of constellations seemed more entertaining.

The two sat in a comfortable silence for a while until Marley asked, “Have you been up yet?” There was an underlying meaning to her question and Buck picked up on it. The words themselves were simple but what she really wanted to know is if he knew what was waiting for them up there.

So, he let out a breath and nodded his head. “Last week was my first mission. Was more of a wakeup call than anything.”

Marley tore her gaze from the stars and looked at him. She saw the way his jaw was clenching, muscles not as relaxed as before. It was clear the mission didn’t go as planned and the harsh realities met him head on. “I’m sorry to hear that. Seems like it’s the same no matter what kind of plane you fly.”

He sighed, “Bucky was here a few weeks before the rest of us. I was angry at first when he didn’t clue us into what it was really like. But the more I thought about it, the more I knew there was no words to even describe what it’s like flyin’ those skies. We lost too many good men that day.”

All Marley could do was nod her head. She wasn’t lying when she said it was the same for them as well. “I didn’t tell John what was really going on for that exact reason. Once I got my wings, I had plans to write him. Tell him how hard I worked to get the position I did. But the first mission went by, and I knew if I told him I was a pilot, he would lose it. Our first mission we lost 14 fighter pilots. 14 planes went down in the matter of seconds, and it felt like a slap in the face. So, I kept the secret to myself and prayed for both of us that nothing would happen. Damn air raid screwed that up for me though.”

 Buck had turned his full attention to the girl, noticing for the first time the scars that peppered the side of her face. How her brother had missed that earlier, he didn’t know. But it was clear she had seen more than what any of them would’ve wished.

“How many missions have you been on?” He watched as she bit her lip, making him almost nervous to hear the answer.

“Would you accept ‘too many’?” Marley had a small smile on her face, trying to lessen the tension in the air. Another trait her and Bucky shared. The day Bucky was in full serious mode was the day he knew things had gone to shit. Marley seemed to be the same.

“I’ll accept whatever you want to tell me. I know that question is personal.” The girl saw a sliver into how good of a man Gale Cleven was. A gem that needed to be locked away for safe keeping.

“Eight so far. Our group started a little bit before yours and can fly more often. Not having to replace an entire crew when we go down, unlike the 100th.”  There was a short pause, “I hate to ask this of you, but can you keep that last bit of information from my brother? I’d like to keep him naïve as long as possible.”

Buck nodded his head without hesitation. “Bucky doesn’t need to know we talked at all. I know there must be some added stress to your days now with sharing a base.”

The snort that came from Marley had him chuckling. “That’s putting it lightly.” She sighed, “Bucky spent his whole life looking out for me. Just this once I want to be able to look out for him. Even if that means keeping him in the dark for as long as possible.”

And just as Marley learned how good of a man Gale Cleven was, he saw the same of her.  

A/N: Thoughts? Likes or dislikes? Thank you for reading!

-C

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Outrun the Future - G.Cleven

New fic is here! Updates to come. Let me know what you think! Tag list and inbox are always open for you :)

Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5

CH 1

Major John “Bucky” Egan was called into Col. Chick Harding’s office for a meeting that was being held far too early in the morning. It wasn’t news to anyone that if they didn’t have a mission to fly the next day the entire 100th bomb group was out drinking late into the night. Which is why Bucky was sporting a pretty nice hangover, trying his hardest to make it seem like he was paying attention.

“I don’t know if you are aware of the air raids that have been happening across England, but a few airfields have taken a hit.” Bucky heard the words coming out of his CO’s mouth but wasn’t understanding why he needed to hear them. Until he said, “One of the bases nearby was hit hard, forcing the fighter pilots to retreat and regroup. Our base is big enough to house some of them and their planes until that base or another is back up and running. I expect nothing but welcoming from you all when they get in this afternoon. We may fly different planes, but we all have the same goal. Am I understood?”

The Major nodded his head and was dismissed shortly after. With news like this he needed to let his boys know. It wasn’t every day that fighter pilots and bombers would be bunkmates. Looking at his watch, he knew most of the guys would be down at the mess hall eating breakfast, getting ready for whatever the day might bring.

He was soon proved right as he walked in and saw his best friend Major Gale “Buck” Cleven sitting with a group of pilots. “You will never guess what I was just told?” Bucky sat down in between Buck and Biddick, catching the attention from the table.

“The war is over, and we get to go home?” Biddick smirked as DeMarco scoffed. “I haven’t flown enough missions for this war to be over. How am I supposed to have ladies fallin’ all over me when I bring back zero medals or scars?” A few chuckles were thrown his way as Bucky shook his head. “I wish it was that easy. No, apparently an air raid took out a fighter base nearby and now our B-17’s gets to share a runway with P-51’s. I was told to play nice.” One of the guys asked when they would be here. “Sometime today. Harding wasn’t specific with the time.”

Buck chuckled, “Wasn’t specific or you weren’t listening?” The brunette waved a hand, “Doesn’t matter.”  

***

Afternoon roll around and the boys couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces as the P-51’s started landing. While they heard stories of the work they do and see them every now and then on missions providing air support, this was a new experience. Many felt like kids seeing a new toy for the first time.

The group wasn’t a large one, about ten pilots altogether, but they looked fierce as a group. The base was able to accommodate some of the fighters, but the original group had to be split up between different bases, only to meet back together for missions. It was the quickest solution the higher ups could come up with.

The two Major’s drove up to the runway as the last of the planes landed. “We know anything about them?” Buck asked his friend as he assessed the different pilots getting out.

“Nah. Probably cocky sons of bitches though. You know how fighter pilots can get.” Buck chuckled, “Cockier than you?”

Bucky shook his head and smirked, “They only wish.” His attention was pulled back to the runway as he heard someone ask if one of the pilots was a girl. Clearly, he had to be seeing things as one of the pilots was walking his way, dark brown hair pulled back into a braid. Since when did the US Military let women fly planes into the most dangerous area on the planet?

Buck let out a low whistle, “Wasn’t expecting that.” Neither of them could take their eyes off the girl as she was joking with one of her fellow fighter pilots. It wasn’t until Bucky heard her laugh that his blood ran cold. “I’m going to fucking kill her.”

Buck whipped his head over to his friend as he heard those words. “Easy now. You don’t even know her.” Concern was quickly replaced with confusion as he saw how tense the brown-haired Major was.

“Oh, I can do whatever the hell I want. Because that pilot right there is my damn sister.” Buck was frozen in place as John Egan stormed off towards the girl, putting him a few steps behind. Many thoughts were running through his head, but one pushed its way to the front. If his sister was anything like him, a fight was surely about to breakout.

Captain Marlene “Marley” Egan knew who resided at this base, making her nerves spike as soon as she landed. You see, she never liked being left out or left behind growing up. Being a few years younger than John, she always found herself chasing after him in order to be included with whatever he was doing. This unfortunate trait led her to enlist and slowly breakdown barriers in order to become a pilot like her older brother. Egan’s don’t back down from a fight which is how she forced her way into this war.

All the confidence went out the window as she saw her brother heading right for her. “Do me a favor and make sure you send my stuff back home to Ma. But let her know it wasn’t the war that killed me.” Captain James “Sparks” Sutton was walking next to her and knew exactly what she was referring to. They were warned ahead of time that the air exec. of Thorpe Abbotts was no other than Major Egan who had zero idea his little sister followed him into the war. She thought surprising him was the best way about it.

“What in god’s name are you doing here, Marlene?” If steam could physically come out of people’s ears, Marley knew her brother would have it.

The words, “I heard Europe was beautiful this time of year” slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it and knew it was the farthest thing she should’ve said. Sparks tried to cover up a laugh with a cough but was unsuccessful and earned an elbow to the side from the female pilot.

Bucky opened his mouth just to close it, as he figured out what to say. At this moment he was struggling with being a Major or big brother, thus causing a delay in his response. Buck, on the other hand, was finding the whole situation amusing. It was clear as day that the two pilots were siblings from their looks all the way to the witty remarks. He knew his friend was going to be arguing with a younger version of himself. And he couldn’t wait to see it.

“You have five seconds to think of a better answer before I pull whatever strings I need to in order to get you sent back home.” His words were calm, but Marley knew if she didn’t comply that he would lose it on her in the middle of an air strip. At least this way there would be witnesses.

“You didn’t think you could leave me behind, could you? Your letters made it seem like you were going to be making a difference in this war and I wanted to be a part of that. And here I thought you would be happy to see me.” She looked down as she said the last part, knowing what heartstrings to pull on. John Egan may act like the big bad brother, but his one weakness was standing in front of him.

Which is why it didn’t take long for him to fold. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “I am glad to see you, but this is a damn war zone, Mar. This isn’t some game. What the hell am I supposed to tell Ma if something happens to you?” He didn’t miss the slight wince at the mention of the two’s mother.

“Ma knows you’re here, right?” Marley bit her bottom lip as she contemplated how to answer. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know her daughter was aiding in the war. Just the job title might be different.

“Yeah, she knows I’m here.” It didn’t take a genius to know there was more to that. Bucky squinted at her, trying to understand. “What does she think you’re doing?” He knew he asked the right question as she turned her head to focus on the planes.

“She might think I’m a nurse.” Bucky let out a sigh and surprised his sister as he pulled her in for a hug.

“It’s damn good to see you, Mar. But you know she’s going to pissed at us both.” They pulled apart and Marley nodded her head with a smile, “It was always more fun dragging you into trouble with me.” Her brother lightly pushed her shoulder, causing her to bump into the other fighter pilot.

“Now that all of that is out of the way, this is Sparky. He went through flight school with me. Sparks this is my brother John.” The fighter pilot held out a hand for the brother. “Captain James Sutton. May I be the first to say that your sister is a damn handful. Never knew someone to stir up as much trouble as this one.”

Bucky chuckled, “Looks like nothing has changed then.” He looked over his shoulder and motioned for his best friend. “This is Buck. Started it all together in the beginning and hasn’t been able to shake me since. Buck this is my baby sister Marlene.”

Buck held out his hand for the girl and she gladly took it. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Her face pulled into a look of disgust. “Marley is fine. No need with that ma’am shit.” A small smile formed on his face as. “My mistake, Marley.”

He watched as her head tilted to the side, looking like she was trying to think of something. Her fingers snapped as she got it and said, “You know, he looks an awful like our friend Buck back in Wisconsin.” This time he laughed. The two Egan siblings in one place was going to be nothing short of trouble.

A/N: Thoughts? Likes or dislikes? Thank you for reading!

[lostdreamr-blog1]

Just finished Masters of the Air and how could I not write a series about it? Let me know if you want to be tagged in it! First few chapters to be out this week.

Disclaimer: while I have tried to stay close to historically accurate, this fic will have some changes to it to fit the story.

Summary: When John “Bucky” Egan got the news that Thorpe Abbotts would have to share their base with P-51 fighter pilots he was excited. To be working hand and hand with the guys who tried to help get them to their targets was something he didn’t think would happen. But all that came crashing down when his sister stepped out of the cockpit of one of the fighter planes.

Gale “Buck” Cleven went into this war with one goal in mind: bring the war to hitlers doorstep and live to tell about. But when his best friend’s sister shows up in a P-51 claiming to be a pilot, he knew he was in trouble.

Many challenges lie ahead for the trio as they figure out how to survive this war together. But one thing’s for certain, history is about to be written no matter who makes it home alive or not.