#Ceasefire Au

[birthdaycakeplate]

Ambiguous Ceasefire AU

Everyone’s favorite trope- Megatron gets high in the medbay and flirts with Optimus ✨

(I cannot proof read this or I will die)

————————————-

“It’s processor damage, Ratchet-“

“No, it’s processor lag. Stop fretting, Prime. He shouldn’t of been drinking that slag with an injury like that.”

“It’s a common practice, stumpy. Decepticons do not have ze luxury of pain patches jou hoity-toity Autobots do.”

“This is peace time, Strika. He could have waited for me to get to him after he comm’ed for me! Overcharge interferes with medication.”

“Please don’t raise your voice, Ratchet. He’s likely very sensitive.”

Megatron made a pathetic noise of agreement. Though it was too great a chore to open his optics and see for himself who was yelling back and forth at one another over his helpless, prone form, he could at least summon the strength to wave his servo in a silent plea to be spared.

These bots sounded far too over involved, and Megatron just wanted to sleep…

He shifted to find his bearings and a tremor ran through him as a searing sensation nestled deep in his abdominal plate screamed at him in protest. He conceded with a hiss, falling back against the padded slab beneath him.

“Hey! Stop moving!”

Megatron flinched at the sudden shouting.

“Let him.” Said the thick accent.

“He has to learn his lesson.”

“But it’s not his fault- you said he was trying to numb the pain.”

‘Not his fault’.

If Megatron’s glossa weren’t impossibly heavy and he had a slice of a processor left to think with, he knew he’d be quite inclined to chat with the more forgiving of the three voices above him to help him make sense of things.

He liked having a sensible mech around.

“He’s an idiot, but he was also desperate, you two.”

Megatron took it back.

Sleep was clearly not an option anymore, nor was a moment’s peace of the burning hole in his tank keeping him on high alert.

Through sheer force of will -and the need to assert himself, especially as an incapacitated warlord- Megatron cracked an optic open to address the spinning room at large.

In seconds, the colliding world of colors and far too bright lights came into a hazy focus, morphing into a sight more arresting than his first view of the Iacon tower in 4 millennia.

Before him stood a stunningly vivid mech, painted in blues and reds, silvers and yellows, and peering down at him with such captivation.

Shielding him from the blinding light in his optics with his curiously cocked helm.

Or perhaps, Megatron thought, that was concern etched into his smooth features- rather unsure of how to behold the colossal mech laid before him.

Megatron had built an empire with… ‘physical persuasion’ and his dashing charisma, and this new recruit was clearly feeling out of his depths at the sight of his glorious leader. Even in the pathetic state he was in -which Megatron could tell by his aching joints.

He was simply too magnificent a mech.

“Megatron?” The young recruit spoke his name, and in an instant of clarity, as Energon rushed to Megatron’s helm -and with it, the euphoric tendrils of some unnamed emotion- Megatron realized in wonder and awe that this was no recruit he’d ever seen before- because the blue mech wasn’t one.

“….M-Megatron?”

He was a guardian sent by Primus. That was a halo above his angled helm.

“A holy architect of the AllSpark.” The helicopter murmured in a hushed voice. Lying there in worship.

“You are a messenger of Primus?”

Wide optics stared back at him.

“No- Megatron, you’re not dead.” That little billed helm shook.

“This is Cybertron.”

“I don’t think he thinks he’s dead and gone to the well of AllSparks.” Ratchet mumbled somewhere off to his side. Dialing in another boost of sensor blockers to rush Megatron’s sensor net and effectively muddle his already vacant processor further.

With the new surge of pleasure came another ping of inspiration, as Megatron’s sharp denta gleamed and curled back into the first genuine smile he’d fostered in ages.

The little angel looked at him, terrified.

“You are a messenger, here to give me strength to stand and weather these injuries to fight another day. I can feel myself returning to my full glory from just your presence here.”

“That would be the cortical patch.” Ratchet spoke again.

“You’re high. Feels good, don’t it?”

The angel began to shake his helm more frantically at Megatron’s blatant leering.

“I’m not a… a… u-um. I’m…”

“When I raise my sword again, fair Virgo,” Megatron’s rumbling vocalizer broke with the roughness of recharge attempting to take over him.

“Know that it is you I pray to victory for.”

Laughter burst throughout the little makeshift medbay as Strika heaved her vents empty. Ratchet struggled similarly.

Megatron did not mind the boisterous -frankly bothersome in this moment of rare beauty- laughter, as the angel’s blue faceplates turned kissably red all at once because of it.

Perhaps he was shy and unused to the thunderous sounds of war. The battlefield was always full of raucous mechs, and untouched by the appearance of a creation so pure and precious, did not know how to shelter one from it.

Megatron attempted to reach up and pacify the frightened thing by freckling each cheekplate with a gentle press of his lips to them, but found himself immediately knocked back by the weight of his own unresponsive limbs.

“Megatron!” The little mech reached out and grabbed his paw of a hand, barely able to grip one massive digit, squeezing for some kind of confirmation that Megatron was ok.

He was out, though. Giving in to the impressive cocktail of blockers Ratchet had calculated he’d fall victim to several minutes ago.

The laughter continued until Strika was on her knees on the floor, scrambling to string a sentence together.

“It’s processor lag…” Optimus reminded them.

———————————

Megatron had been subjected to the recording Strika had taken ten times over -or what little he could make of it over her deafening cackling. The wretched glitch.

Why he hadn’t permanently demoted her right then and there with his fusion cannon was entirely Lugnut’s fault, with his endless litany of loyalties Megatron needed to take into account.

He had to admit, while he couldn’t see most of what he and Optimus were up to by the end of Strika’s wheezing attack, he could not deny that that was his voice on the other end of the recording, promising his spark away to his former rival and crooning over him like he was the one bleeding out on a medberth.

Not that Megatron would be worried if he were…

At least their entire Earth teams hadn’t bared witness to the display, as they had when it’d been Blitzwing and Bumblebee accidentally confessing to one another. And that had been fairly explicit in its presentation, too.

So it could have been worse…

Optimus, with his flushed face, wasn’t looking at him like he shared that opinion anymore, though….

————

Actually, Optimus is gay as fuck right now and he wants to do that again please, but he doesn’t think he deserves it, you know how his insecurities are

[pumpkinpuffgirls]

Power of Five for Palestine!

Calling for a CEASEFIRE is the Powerpuff Way!

[robinwonder9]

Cross says CEASE FIRE NOW

You don't need my permission to repost this/use it as a banner/pfp

[winnie-illustrator]

[sunlightmurdock]

bradley bradshaw extended universe

↳ aka Katie’s Rooster masterlist

18+, minors dni. If I notice that you are an ageless / underage blog, you will be blocked

Completed Series ✓

Sub Rosa — Masterlist (completed)

After months of sneaking around, and a few weeks of not seeing each other, Rooster and Reader get a few minutes to themselves at Ice’s birthday party.

Trouble in Paradise — masterlist (completed)

After the most painful break-up of his life, Rooster is stationed in Hawaii for the next six months. Alone, away from home and hurting, he finds comfort in the arms of a stranger.

Ongoing Series

Ceasefire — masterlist

Bradley Bradshaw is in San Diego, summoned to Top Gun for the first time. Commander “Hyde” Simpson is his flight instructor, and she doesn’t have time for schoolboy crushes.

My Future in You — masterlist

Bradley’s twenty-two years old and not where he’s supposed to be. He’s supposed to be out of the academy by now. He’s mad at the world. Then, a hook up at a Halloween party changes his future even more than he could have imagined. College / accidental pregnancy au

Safe Zone (+ Jake Seresin) — masterlist

A team of elite naval aviators holding down the fort at the North Island Air Base while they wait for reinforcements after a virus sweeps the continental U.S. - only, it’s been three months and no one has shown up. Zombie au

Blow by Blow — masterlist

Bradley’s washed up before his career has even really begun. He doesn’t want to fill his father’s shoes and he doesn’t want someone else to either. Stuck in limbo, living the same way he always has, the opportunity to step up wanders through the door of his gym in a mini dress and heels that are a size too big. Boxing au.

The Parent Trap — masterlist

In which, after a couple of years of listening to Peyton and Piper Bradshaw complain about their parents’ custody agreement, Grandpa Mav’s meddling goes a little bit too far.

The Odyssey — masterlist

The tale of the arrogant classics professor and the dwindling, soon-to-be-wed heiress that was failing his class.

Ashes, Ashes — masterlist

Maverick is missing in action after not making it back from the uranium trip, leaving his estranged daughter and Bradley Bradshaw to pick up the pieces.

Aeterna — masterlist *coming Summer 24*

Eternity and the related concept of infinity. The summer you strayed from home. 70s circus supernatural thriller au.

Drabble Series’

Hey, Hot Shot — masterlist

Just us spreading our firefighter Bradley agenda — more of a series of one shots / drabbles, etc rather than a series

How you wish it could be all the time — masterlist

A masterlist of drabbles / one shots about Bradley and his dangerous entanglement with Pete Mitchell’s daughter

One-Shots

Helping Hand

So, why do they call you Rooster?

Dog Fight

Pursuit

When All is Said and Done

For Old Times’ Sake + its prequel ‘Five Stars’!

Nerves of Steel (Part One and Two)

[slv-333]

It amazes me how some of yall forget that noah schnapp stands w genocide once he got a messy bowl cut for stranger things, ik hes not the only one in the cast and lots of ppl are gonna watch it anyways, maybe cause they like the show or other actor. But bffr, yall thirsting over this dude, i wish i was that quick to forget shit abput people cause 😭😭.

I swear all it takes is a pretty face for u to turn yall heads at what he said

[nnnnnnnnnnnnnnsposts]

Palestinians that have reach out to me:

8,272/25,000 vetted by @ibtisams @90-ghost @m0hammed1

17,464/40,000 vetted by @90-ghost @noor-family

1,389/60,000 vetted by @mohammedalanqer @abdalhadiaburas

1,873/50,000 @asmaamajed2

6,716/20,000 Verified by 90ghost and @northgazaupdate @save-hijazi-family2

1,774/50,000 Verified by 90-ghost @save-salem-family2

8,104/250,000 Vetted by @90-ghost @motaz225

[mel-loly]

-From river to the sea, Palestine will be free!🇵🇸

Draw your fav character with a watermelon to show that we all are with them! :D🍉✨

[waluigimayar1973]

[Royaltytale] he'd support Palestine btw, he's evil but not a psychopath enough to support Zionism.

[sleevesareforlosers]

Haven't seen any posting about it but Feb 14, 2024, Canada, Australia, and Aotearoa (New Zealand) jointly issued a statement calling for ceasefire. Full text of the Canadian release follows:

The Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on reports of Israel’s planned military operation in Rafah. We are gravely concerned by indications that Israel is planning a ground offensive into Rafah. A military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic. About 1.5 million Palestinians are taking refuge in the area, including many of our citizens and their families. With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go. There is growing international consensus. Israel must listen to its friends and it must listen to the international community. The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed. Hostages must be released. The need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza has never been greater. Rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian relief must be provided to civilians. The International Court of Justice has been clear: Israel must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance and must protect civilians. The Court’s decisions on provisional measures are binding.  We are clear that a sustainable ceasefire is necessary to finding a path towards securing lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Any ceasefire cannot be one sided. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately. We again unequivocally condemn Hamas for its terror attacks on Israel on October 7.  Ultimately, a negotiated political solution is needed to achieve lasting peace and security. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand remain steadfast in their commitment to a two-state solution, including the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.

[just-someone-online]

Rescue Bot Elita

Okay, so a while back I had this AU about Elita being a rescue bot as you can probably tell from the title and now that I've finished rewatching RB for the umpteenth time (Did you know Cody was thirteen in season four? I swear I thought he was fifteen), I decided to brush off the old AU.

We start not with Elita, but with Ariel. She's young and unmotivated, unsure of what she wants to do with her life. One day, she ditches class to bug hang out with Swerve at Maccadam's, only to end up trapped in a fire after a bar fight gets too rough. After being saved by Chromia and her team, Ariel suddenly realized what she wanted to do with her life.

After skipping ahead a few years, we come to Ariel's academy days. She and her team train hard and excel at their classes. Heck, Ariel proves to be so good that she's taught how to scan a third mode. She's told not to tell the others how, but she immediately goes back on this and shows one of her teammates.

Eventually, she, along with her classmates Thunderblast, Inferno, Mortar, and Lifeline graduated as Rescue Force Omega-85. At first, everything was coming up roses. They were saving lives, she had met Orion Pax, and she was living the dream. Of course, this is Cybertron, and good things don't last long there.

A mission had gone horribly wrong, leaving Mortar and Lifeline dead. They knew death was always a possibility on the job, but they weren't as prepared as they thought. Inferno and Thunderblast gave up rescue work, eventually joining the Wreckers and the Decepticons respectively. Ariel retired from active duty, instead choosing to teach the newer generations of rescue bots.

Her final group of students before the war finally kicked off were the bots who would later become Rescue Force Sigma-17. She would never claim to have favorites among her students, but these guys were pretty close. Eventually, they too would graduate, but would often come to Ariel for advice. She would later be the last bot to speak with them before they went into stasis.

She wanted to call for search parties, but before she could raise the alarm, the war - which had just been a few skirmishes beforehand - finally began in earnest. She would side with Optimus and his Autobots, but she never forgot her missing students.

Millennia after Cybertron had died, Ariel - now calling herself 'Elita One' - finds her way to Earth and reunites with Optimus. Initially, he asks her to join Team Prime, but stops when he sees the scuffed rescue bot insignia on her shoulder plating. He still asks her to fight, as the Autobots need every capable fighter they can get, but he doesn't ask her to join the team.

Instead, he convinces her to take a position similar to Wheeljack and Hightide where she goes wherever, whether it's helping people or shooting cons. He also makes sure she knows of a little island off the coast of Maine. One housing the last known Rescue Bots in existence. He had no way of knowing he was about to reunite a teacher with her former students.

[robinwonder9]

Requested by @.BL00DFUN on Twitter

[talesfromgoldensidefnaf]

Drew my versions of Oswald, Sam, Hazel, and Chuck from Fazbear Frights rocking the Palestine colors and letting the flag fly!

Really looking forward to posting more with them. They're all very near and dear to my heart. And hey, my ask box is always open if you want to know more about them

[transingthoseformers]

I feel like the ariealbots end up waking up in a pile with the Deceptacon Airforce Ironhide and Rumble and Frenzy

Starscream maybe had the technicolor bitties because he got it on with the whole autobot science division. Including a visiting Brainstorm.

Sdfyu ohhhh, yes. Of course. Of course.

Also

Goddamn Starscream W, you've got game

[sunlightmurdock]

Ceasefire | 0.7 | Bradley Bradshaw x Reader

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Masterlist

Synopsis: Bradley Bradshaw is in San Diego, summoned to Top Gun for the first time. Commander “Hyde” Simpson is his flight instructor, and she doesn’t have time for schoolboy crushes.

Warnings: ex-husband!beausimpson, divorce, age gap (rooster is somewhere between 26-28, reader is 38), power imbalance between instructor and student aviator, swearing, angst

…

Rooster stares at the shelves ahead of him, brows furrowed, confused about his options. He folds his arms over his chest. The thought crosses his mind to text Javy and Jake and ask them which one to get.

He has only been in this situation once before, with his ex-girlfriend. She had forgotten a birth control pill, he had forgotten to pull out. He took her to the pharmacy, but he hadn’t really been paying attention to what she got. That was like four years ago.

Whatever brand she got had worked. He considers maybe texting her. That’s a bad idea, he’s half sure that she has his number blocked anyway.

“That’s Mommy’s friend.” Taylor tells her father as she peers around the shelf from an aisle away. Beau looks up from the dozens of different allergy medications, unimpressed and annoyed that he’s there at almost midnight because his son’s eyes are swollen from pollen.

He glances down at his daughter and then back up at the young pilot in the family planning aisle.

“We met him at the grocery store today.” Taylor explains. She’s standing there in her cartoon-dog printed pyjamas and a coat with her stuffed rabbit tucked under one arm. Really it’s too warm for the coat, but her dad isn’t sure.

“That’s nice, honey.” Beau mumbles, trying to remember which brand of allergy medication you normally give Dylan. There’s usually some at his house. One kind of medicine makes him sick, another makes him sleepy and the other works well. He can’t remember which is which.

He refuses to text you to ask. Google helps him decide. He walks to the counter, buys the little box, and turns around to leave.

“Hi!”

Bradley flinches, almost dropping the paper bag in his hands as he’s met by your daughter smiling at him. He half-wants to tuck the bag behind his back, but there’s no reason to do that.

“Oh. Hi.” He swallows, forcing himself to smile. His entire body starts to go red, he can feel it happen. He takes a deep breath.

“You’re Hangman.”

“Rooster.” He corrects softly, cheeks burning red. She nods, then squints at him dubiously.

“Do you wake people up early?” She plants her hands on her hips and looks up at him expectantly, waiting for an answer. There must be some reason that people call him that.

Rooster lifts his head and looks around, realising that if she isn’t here with you, then your technically still-husband is somewhere near by.

“Taylor, honey - come - oh,” Beau sighs, pushing his fingers through his hair. Bradley hasn’t ever seen him out of uniform before, it’s strange. He freezes on the spot as Beau heads towards them. “Bradshaw.”

“Sir.” Bradley can feel sweat beading on the back of his neck as he stands before your husband and daughter. The bag feels like it’s burning a hole in his hand, like Beau can see right through the paper.

Even if he could see what was inside, he doesn’t know about Bradley’s relationship with you. There’s nothing to worry about, and yet, Bradley’s heart is going a million miles per hour.

The overhead fluorescents make Beau squint slightly, his eyesight isn’t what it used to be— those migraines are becoming more frequent, but he’ll see an optometrist when he’s damn well ready. It’s easy to mistake his unimpressed squint for a glare.

Bradley doesn’t want your husband to hate him. He wants you, to be a part of your life. Being a part of your life means being a part of your childrens’ lives. He doesn’t want that adjustment to be any harder than it needs to be.

“Should I be expecting you to call in sick on Monday?” Beau jokes, nodding towards the paper bag in Bradley’s hand. There’s a nervousness to the way that the young pilot smiles back at him. This time, Beau squints and it’s got nothing to do with the fact he should probably be wearing glasses.

“No, sir. Just — vitamins.” Bradley deadpans. He swallows and nods, sticking with his answer. Too late to change it now. Beau’s brows furrow slightly.

Rooster doesn’t want to be talking to him. Strange. He’s normally pretty friendly. Beau remembers where he is. Ah, that’s what it is — he’s buying condoms.

“Is my Mommy a good teacher?” Taylor interrupts, looking up at him with her hands on her hips. Great, now the conversation is on you. Rooster swallows and nods sheepishly.

“Alright, honey — Lieutenant Bradshaw’s got places he needs to be. Say goodbye.” Beau taps his daughter’s shoulder. Bradley almost sighs in relief. Taylor shrugs and gives him a small smile.

“See ya.” She declares loudly. He chuckles as they both step out of his way.

“Goodnight, sir.” Bradley breathes out, stepping past them and heading towards his car. He drives back to your place, cringing practically the entire way.

Then, he tells you, and you practically double over laughing.

“Well, I’m glad you think it’s funny.” He whines, dropping down onto the couch beside you, laying his head in your lap. Instead of tensing up or brushing him off, your fingers go right to work, massaging through his curls.

“You’re the one who forgot to pull out, it’s a fair punishment, I’d say.” You reply calmly, taking a sip from your beer and absentmindedly holding it out for him to have some as you turn your attention back to your movie.

Bradley smiles as he lifts his head to sip from the bottle. He has seen dirty dancing a million times, it was his mother’s favourite movie. She loved Patrick Swayze. He watches with you in silence for a while, letting you toy with his hair.

“Y’know, I can do the lift.” Bradley announces towards the end of the movie, right as Johnny is getting fired and driving away. You look down at him. He looks up at you from your lap and lifts his brows, waiting patiently for your reaction.

You scoff, taking the bottle back from him and drinking.

“No way. Not with me. You can practice on Taylor or something, she loves this movie.” You don’t even realise what you’ve said. He just laughs and turns his head, kissing your thigh tenderly and returning to the movie. You want him to meet the kids.

Bradley stays over that night. Again on Monday, again on Thursday and Friday, whilst the kids are with Beau. It’s nice. You’re growing used to having him around. He’s growing used to you letting him stay.

Saturday is Bernie’s wedding. You’re invited to the ceremony, Bradley and his friends are just invited to the reception. After keeping him up exceptionally late the night before, you do your best to be quiet as you get up and start getting ready.

He almost makes you jump as you open your eyes from doing eyeliner and find him standing in the doorway to the bathroom, watching you. He steps forwards with a smile, pressing his chest softly into your back, kissing your neck.

“Morning.” He mumbles softly into your skin. He rests his palms on the counter at either side of you, capturing you between his arms. He tenderly kisses along your throat, up onto your jaw.

Pulling back, he watches you smile at him through the mirror and then kisses your temple.

“You look beautiful.” He tells you, resting his chin against your shoulder. You smile and playfully push him back, shaking your head.

“I’m not even ready yet.”

“Can I stay until you are?” He asks, looking at you through the mirror. Those stupid puppy-dog eyes have their answer settled before he’s even done asking the question. You roll your eyes playfully.

“You can wait in my room, and I’ll show you the finished product.” You decide. He nods, lips quirking up into a real smile. He kisses your cheek, squeezes your ass and then leaves you to it, returning to your room to wait for you.

You fix your hair up off of your shoulders and finish your make up. It’s a simple updo that allows the dress to speak for itself. It’s a deep green colour, off the shoulder with a small slit on the thigh. Just in case your ex-husband decided to bring a date.

You step out into your room and Rooster drops his phone down onto the bed, giving you his full attention instantly. He’s quiet for a moment, just looking you over. Finally, he smirks and wolf whistles.

You laugh as you step forwards, he stands up and meets you halfway, wrapping his arms around you. He kisses your hair delicately, careful not to mess it up.

“You look incredible.” He says softly, running his hands down the sides of the dress. “When do you have to leave? — Do we have time to-“

“No,” You giggle, standing upright and kissing his lips tenderly. “But I might have some free time after the reception later if you wanted to head back here.”

Rooster nods his head eagerly. “Of course I do.”

The wedding is the same as most. Beau’s standing at the front, beside Hondo. Even with as long as you’ve both been friends with him, you can’t believe he picked Beau to be his best man.

Truthfully, you just spend the day shaking hands, catching up with old friends and waiting to fall back into bed with your boyfriend at the end of the night. Not boyfriend — just… Rooster. Whatever he is.

The day becomes night fairly quickly, and you’re impressed with how close you’re getting to being able to leave.

At the reception, you lose sight of Beau and lock eyes with Bradley. You shoot him a small wink as he passes by you. He smirks and continues to his table with Jake. You continue your conversation with a friend from flight school.

“Sorry to bother you, Commander Simpson, it’s just that, um… Admiral Simpson’s kind of…” Mickey Garcia is clearly trying to say this delicately, not too sure of how to explain that he and his front seater just had to peel your husband off of the bathroom floor.

“Drunk.” Payback explains, lowering his voice.

You swallow softly and give Barbara a polite smile. You gently excuse yourself and move to stand. You motion for them to go ahead, then follow.

Beau’s propped up against the wall outside of the men’s bathroom with Lieutenant Machado trying to apparently water board him. Beau shoves at the glass and it hits the tile they’re sitting on and shatters.

You pause. He hasn’t noticed you yet. He looks half asleep already. In almost two decades of knowing him, you’ve never seen him this low. It’s your fault. The thought is squashed as quickly as it crosses your mind, but it’s still there.

“I’ve got it from here, boys. Thank you.”

Beau looks up at you from the ground. A strand of dark hair has slipped from his always neat style and is draped in front of his eyes. You’ve always told him that he looks so handsome with his hair like this.

He’s always his prettiest when he has just woken up. Stubble on his jaw, dark hair all messy and falling into his face. Beautiful. He just never lets you admire it for long.

The young pilots all nod and wander off, chatting quietly, leaving you with your husband. You sigh softly as you lower yourself down onto the floor beside him.

Outside, Jake’s plan is to get hammered. He’s sharing these plans with his friends. Phoenix groans as the second round of tequila shots shows up. Rooster is the only one of them that really pays attention to Bernie’s first dance with his wife.

A conversation with a bridesmaid who had, admittedly, tried to get into his pants earlier had revealed that the band playing was actually fronted by Bernie’s niece. Their first song was a slowed down version of I say a little prayer — an inside joke between Hondo and his new bride — backed up with slow, deep electric guitar in the background.

Maybe Bradley’s just drunk and feeling sappy, but it is beautiful. Bernie’s wife looks so elegant out there, holding onto him, beaming. Javy’s talking about the bridesmaid that keeps winking at him — Bradley doesn’t have the energy to double check if she’s the same one that hit on him. He doesn’t care. He wants this.

He wants you, beaming at him like that, dancing to a song that’s an inside joke. Maybe something from dirty dancing, not something as mainstream as the final song.

He turns his head and watches as you walk back out of the building. Walking confidently, so beautiful in your dress. Beau draped against your side, stumbling. Rooster’s smile falters. You walk Beau to the bar and order him a big glass of water.

The two of you stand there for a couple of songs, you watching as the dance floor slowly becomes busier and busier. Him sipping on his water and hiccuping occasionally.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” Beau says quietly, his voice deep and gruff. He wants to touch you, smooth his fingers through your hair like he had in the beginning. The two of you had been so affectionate back then. He stares down at his glass. “I should’ve…”

He pauses and shakes his head. There are a thousand things he could finish that sentence with, because there are thousands of things that he just didn’t do.

Beau is devastated, it’s clear, but he’s not the only one mourning your marriage. You’ll always mourn the man he was, and what could have been. But you’re not going to stand there and be stuck in that grief. There’s so much more out there waiting for you.

Knowing that there’s no way he can possibly quantify all of the should’ve’s that there are, he just sighs softly and bows his head. He leans his shoulder against yours.

“Hey, it wasn’t all bad.” You soothe, resting your hand on his shoulder. He turns his head and his heart soars, the soft smile on your lips has always had that effect on him. He smiles and nods with you. It wasn’t. You nudge his elbow with yours. “Remember New Years’ Eve when Dylan was little?”

He chuckles. That had been a real team effort. Dylan had been born with a fear of missing out, he had wanted to be included in everything.

Every new year, the two of you had to change all of the clocks in the house and count down from ten with him before his bed time so that the two of you could hand him over to a sitter and still make it to your own events.

“I’m thinking about our wedding,” Beau admits. Your smile falters, eyes closing for a moment. He’s always going to bring it back to this. You open your mouth to shut him down. “Do you remember your grandmother falling asleep under those coats?”

You laugh, pressing a hand over your mouth. You had completely forgotten that.

“And then she hit on my brother when he was putting her in a taxi.” Beau remembers, laughing again.

Rooster lifts his glass to his lips and drinks. It’s not good for his mood, watching you over there, draped against his side and laughing. He trusts you — it’s not that he thinks you’d cheat on him. It’s just that the two of you have never called it exclusive and you’re still married to that guy. You’ve got children with him.

“Do you remember when we found out you were pregnant?” Beau breathes out, shaking his head. You hum softly and lean into him. The first time had been so scary. You were on a carrier, in the middle of the ocean, eight weeks along. He was your superior officer, you were both scared shitless.

How could you ever forget the feeling of being shut in a tiny storage closet with him, using a flashlight to examine whether or not that really was a second line?

Scared shitless, but with his arm draped around your shoulders and your home to go back to together — so excited. So happy. You’ve got plenty of happy memories with Beau.

Dating him had been a blast, those first few years of marriage had been a dream. Somewhere along the way, it had stopped being that. It’s too late to go back, but you won’t stop smiling at the thought of those memories.

“I miss you, baby.” Beau whispers just so that his voice won’t crack. He swallows softly as he turns his head to look at you. You sigh softly and lean your head against his shoulder.

“I’m not coming back, Beau.” You answer him gently, sliding your hand over the top of his and squeezing gently. Your gaze lingers on his hand. He finally stopped wearing his ring. He sniffs and then nods.

“I know.”

You turn and glance back over your shoulder, Rooster’s back is to you. Everyone at his table is chatting excitedly, laughing amongst each other. If you could see his face, you would know that he’s not.

He sits there, a couple of rum and coke’s deep, watching his girlfriend giggle away with her husband. Rooster’s usually an upbeat person, he’s fun to have around at parties. He has worked exceptionally hard to not let his past turn him into a bitter person. But he’s watching you now, and he’s bitter — it isn’t fair.

Watching you with him.

Beau had his chance with you, and he blew it. Rooster would never do the same. He knows that Beau could never make you as happy as he will.

“Alright, someone needs to go dance with Rooster because he’s bumming me out.” Jake slams the rest of his tequila soda and leans back in his chair, taking up almost twice as much space as he needs with his excessively stretched out limbs. His arm extends across the back of Bob’s chair.

Rooster looks up and rolls his eyes. He folds his arms over his chest, sitting back in the chair and huffing, “I said I’m fine.”

Hangman shoots Phoenix a serious look. Either she takes Rooster to go dance right now or Jake walks up to the open bar and starts slamming shots enough to make him puke. Last time that happened, it was on the rug in her apartment.

She has recently replaced that rug. It’s not happening again. She sighs softly and stands up from her seat.

“Come on, big guy,” She grabs Rooster’s hand and tugs. He sinks his weight further against the chair, making himself harder to move purposely. She grunts as she pulls at his arm, “Let’s go.”

Jake kicks Rooster’s chair to encourage movement, waving him off. Rooster huffs again, standing up and shooting a glare back towards his roommate. He lets Natasha lead him onto the dance floor, giving her a dull look as she wraps her arms around his middle and sways with him to the music.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or what?” Phoenix asks, frowning up at her best friend. Rooster shakes his head. He plans to ignore her question, and then he sees it. Your hand on top of Beau’s, the way he’s looking at you. Rooster looks down at Phoenix.

“I’ve been fucking Hyde since the start of summer.”

“I’ll always love you for what we had, and because of the kids,” You tell Beau gently. He turns his head, eyes searching over your features. The sincerity in your voice and your eyes carves pieces out of his already aching heart, and he lets it happen. “But I’m moving on. This is it. You get that, right?”

He stares back at you. You aren’t sure if he takes in what you said or not, but you choose to believe that he did.

The band switches onto something different and your eyes widen instantly. It takes him a few beats, almost until the lyrics begin, for him to realise. You turn your head towards the band. You don’t catch sight of Rooster on the dance floor.

He pulls Phoenix in against his chest in an attempt to quieten the ‘What?’ she had just screeched out.

“Did you do this?” You ask, brows scrunching.

Beau turns around to watch the band. They’re really playing it.

“Did you?”

He looks at you and shakes his head. He didn’t, this is just the happiest coincidence of his life. He takes a deep breath and extends his hand towards you. “One last dance, baby?”

“Beau…” You sigh, taking a step back from him. He’s never going to learn. You frown at him, shaking your head. He doesn’t withdraw his hand. Instead, he offers you a smile. It’s not happiness in his eyes, though.

“I’ll sign the papers on Monday,” He decides finally, voice quiet and serious. Your lips part, lost. He’s been holding up the divorce proceedings for months and now his mind has changed over a song? — “Just dance with me. Please.”

You glance down at his palm extended towards yours, and then take your time to look around the rest of the reception. Bernie’s wedding is nicer than yours was, it’s outside and lit up with a thousand different warm lights, creams and neutrals. You were young and stupid when you got married, but this is your song.

Beau had hated it when you had first played it for him. It was in the car when you were driving back from a date, you had told him that you wanted it to be your wedding song and he had scoffed. He’d cried when you had danced with him to this song, your first time in his arms as his wife.

As you’re looking around, you catch sight of Rooster dancing with Phoenix. He’s staring into her eyes and they’re talking softly. You slip your hand into Beau’s. One last time, you suppose it would be wrong not to give him at least that — and you do love this song.

“Are you insane? — Cyclone’s wife? — Our instructor? — What is the matter with you?” Phoenix whispers angrily. Bradley’s brows scrunch as he looks right past the top of her head and watches Beau take you into his arms.

Beau leads you onto the dance floor and pulls you into him, wrapping you in his arms like he had fifteen years ago. You settle into his arms just like you did back then. He exhales an entire summer’s worth of baited breath.

“They’re getting divorced.” Bradley rationalizes, glancing back down at Natasha. As much as Natasha loves all of her boys, she has always had a soft spot for Rooster. They’ve been there for each other through a lot.

Her best friend is a hopeless romantic. She has helped him through a good few broken hearts now. Some were his own fault, some weren’t. This will be. He’s being stupid and he knows it. She steps purposely forwards, digging her heel into his foot. “Ow!”

She glares at him, “Rooster, you can’t seriously think that this is going to end well for you.”

“I’m not asking for your advice, Nix — you don’t know what it’s like when I’m with her.” Rooster mumbles dejectedly, looking past his best friend to the girl of his dreams, dancing with another man.

It’s kind of a melancholy song. I look to you and I see nothing. If you had ever tried to tell that headstrong young girl, wild and in love, that she would be standing here now and begging him to let go — she’d never have believed you.

Beau’s fingers trail upwards along your spine, coming to graze over the nape of your neck. He always holds you like this, cradling you against him like you’re oh, so fragile. You lift your head and frown at him. He stops, looking down at you. Fifteen years of feelings don’t go away that easily.

Still, he swallows and moves his hand back to where it was. As he sways you to the music, you catch sight of Rooster staring. Your heart leaps up into your throat, lips quirking up into a soft smile. You’re pleased to see him, to catch his attention.

He looks especially handsome tonight, and he’s staring right at you. He doesn’t return your smile, instead looking down at Phoenix and muttering something angrily. Are they arguing?

He turns away from you, still swaying to the music. You watch as the two of them continue to bicker. Now that you can see her face, you can tell that she’s upset about something.

From what you’ve seen of them at work, they’re really close friends. Watching now, you wonder exactly how close they are.

Some kind of light to your darkness. Colours in your eyes with what’s not there. Strange you never knew.

He spins you away from him and brings you back in. You look up at him, drawn away from Rooster for a moment. As he tucks you back in against his body, there’s a faint smile on your lips. Really, it’s just hope. That the two of you can put this behind you and come together for the kids’ sake.

Beau’s standing here, under these lights, looking into the eyes of the woman who promised to love him forever.

The grinning girl who has called him a boring stick in the mud on their first date. The same girl who managed to keep calm through an eighteen hour labour, when Beau was out of his mind with worry. The person he sees in his children’s faces every day. The only person he’ll ever love.

Rooster still won’t look at you. He’s still bickering with you. You realise what this must look like, momentarily dropping Beau’s hands, standing still in the middle of your wedding song.

“Baby,” Beau’s hands find your hips, your brows draw together sharply as you pull back to look up at him. “Don’t hit me, but…”

You open your mouth to argue, freezing as he grabs your face in his hands and pulls you in, kissing you hard. Phoenix stops moving, her eyes on you. Proving her closest friend wrong doesn’t feel good. Not like this.

“They don’t look too divorced to me, Roos.” Phoenix says quietly. Bradley’s arms drop down to his sides as he turns to check what she’s looking at. Beau’s tongue down your throat.

The only thing going through your head is that all of your colleagues and friends are here, mutual friends — you can’t throw him off of you and embarrass him like that. You bite his lip, hard, he draws back.

Over his shoulder, you catch Rooster staring again. Fuck. Your lips part slightly. If pushing Beau off of you would have embarrassed him too much, running after your younger boyfriend would probably be too much too.

“Fuck this.” Bradley mutters, just loud enough for Phoenix to hear. She frowns slightly and reaches for his hand. She’s dealt with his broken heart before, she just hoped she wasn’t going to have to do it again.

“Bradley, wait…” She sighs. He shrugs her off and walks away without a word. You close your eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath through your nose. Then, you turn your attention back to your soon to be ex-husband.

You lean in close, curling your fingers in his jacket, making out that you’re going to smooth it out.

Beau tenses as you bring yourself in closer to him. “Don’t you ever touch me again, you asshole.”

He swallows as you pull back and walk away. He’s still drunk enough to not notice that your favourite student had walked off ahead of you.

Bradley’s already getting into a car by the time you get outside, making you groan. He’s fucking gone, and you know that with what he just saw, there’s no way that he’s going back to your place.

It occurs to you as you’re standing on the steps that you aren’t sure where he lives. It’s somewhere near the beach and it’s a shared place with Jake and Javy. There’s no way you could ask one of those idiots, they’d tell everyone.

The idea strikes you. You turn around and walk back inside, looking around the tables hurriedly. You catch sight of Beau, tearfully talking to Hondo’s mother-in-law. Telling her his life story, no doubt.

Finally, your gaze lands on who you’re looking for. You exhale and hurry over.

“Floyd, you’re good at keeping secrets, right?”

Bob looks up at you with those sparkling baby blues, perpetually a deer in headlights when you’re speaking to him. He’s frozen, trying to compute for a moment why you’re speaking with him, and about secrets too. Finally, he gives you a slow nod.

“Great. So, I am about to ask you for some information, and you are going to forget that we ever spoke about this? - Clear?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Bob nods hesitantly.

“Okay, what’s Rooster’s address?”

His brows furrow slightly. He blinks a few times and purses his lips and then adjusts his glasses. You’ve never looked at him for this long before. You wonder if he’s always this fidgety or if it’s just because you’re speaking with him.

“Like… where he lives?” Bob asks slowly, raising his eyebrows at you. You can see him slowly piecing it together. Jake and Javy have been talking all summer about this mystery girl that Rooster’s been seeing. You watch him have his ‘surely not’ moment and sigh.

“Yes. Address.” You urge, passing Bob your phone with the notes app open. He takes it from you and clears his throat, beginning to type. Rooster and you. He should have guessed, he’s usually good at this kind of thing.

Music in your ears, whiskey in your bloodstream, your head is spinning and all that you can think about is those sad, brown eyes. How many years you spent with Beau, hurting and angry.

“Here you go.” Bob offers you a shy smile as he hands your phone back to you. His features scrunch slightly, letting you know that he’s just as aware of the tears in your eyes as you are. “Are you okay, Commander Simpson?”

You swallow and nod your head, exhaling through your nose.

“No. Thank you, Lieutenant.” You breathe out, pushing yourself up from the chair. You hesitate and quickly turn to face him again, “Um… about this...”

He smiles at you, lifting his fingers to his lips, zipping and making a twisting key motion. You soften, patting his shoulder gratefully.

…

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