#air-exec talks

[air-exec]

Every day I pray for Nate Mann casting news

[rosiesriiveters]

My personal headcanon that it becomes Known in the 100th that no one is immune to the Rosie Effect (falling in love with him). Whenever they get a replacement, they experience this, only to realise that their competition for their huge crush on Major Rosenthal is the entire 100th.

[sagesolsticewrites]

Hi! I’d like to request a John “Bucky” Egan fic where he tries several times to flirt with the reader, but the reader is super oblivious about it and just thinks he’s being nice. It becomes something everyone on base talks about and gets invested in. Maybe other people set up a scheme to get them together or make the reader realize how he feels. Idk, just something funny and cute like that ig 😁

Thank you so much for requesting, Nonnie, I’ve been having so much fun with these Masters of the Air requests! I loved getting to write for our best boy Bucky 🥰 Shoutout to @blurredcolour’s Trust fic (an absolute masterpiece, check it out y’all!) for helping with the writers block on this one 😅 (Reminder that requests are open! Feel free to check out some of my favorite prompt lists in my pinned post 😊)

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction based off the portrayal by the actors in the Apple TV+ series. I hold nothing but respect for the real life individuals referenced within.

Oblivious

“There’s my favorite nurse!”

You rolled your eyes at the phrase that announced John “Bucky” Egan’s every visit to sickbay.

“Hello, Major,” you said, turning to greet him with a mock-exasperated smile.

Bucky clutched a hand to his heart as if wounded, a hurt expression on his face. “How many times do I gotta tell you to call me Bucky, sweetheart?”

“At least a few more times, Major,” you reply, unable to hide a smile at the usual volley of friendly banter.

Major John Egan had been unusually friendly to you since the first moment he’d sauntered in to introduce himself to the medical staff as Air Exec. Your colleagues had blushed afterward and playfully insisted that he had paid you more attention than the others, but you just laughed and shook your head, insisting that he was just being nice.

This visit was simply another instance of Bucky being friendly to you; well, that and Harry Crosby’s airsickness had gotten the better of him again and he was checking up on the navigator.

You stepped aside as Bucky approached Harry’s cot, ready to update him on the goings-on since the last mission had returned.

He threw you a kind smile before perching on the stool next to Harry.

“How’s my girl treatin’ you, Crosby?”

Harry happily told him how the base had gotten a new shipment of airsickness pills and you had slipped him a spare box for his own personal use, and Bucky’s smile grew wider and wider.

You were glad to see how happy he was at the news that his friend was feeling better, and you quietly excused yourself to tend to the other patients.

Bucky sighed as you walked away.

“She still hasn’t picked up on it, huh?”

“No, Croz, she hasn’t.” sighed Bucky, “She thinks I’m just bein’… nice or friendly or something. Which I am!” He added hurriedly, “But I just…I like her so much. I wish she’d notice.”

“She will, buddy,” Harry replied, with a comforting pat on his friend’s hand, “She will.”

Bucky headed out after a few more minutes of conversation, giving you a wink and a smile as he walked past your station.

“Bucky visited again, huh?” Rebecca, one of your fellow nurses, sidled up next to you with a teasing grin.

“Yes, Major Egan came by to visit Lieutenant Crosby,” you replied, putting emphasis on their ranks.

“You’re sure that’s all he was here for? Somehow he never shows up here without an excuse to see you…”

“He’s just being nice, Becca,” you insisted, “You know how these soldier boys are.”

“But he’s always—”

“Becca,” you cut her off as gently as you can, “I really don’t wanna talk about this anymore.”

“Alright, alright,” she held her hands up in surrender, “Bucky is an off-limits topic, gotcha.”

The conversation turned to the current hot gossip, and you idly chimed in when it seemed appropriate, losing yourself in your routine tasks.

Rebecca broke off to check on Harry again, narrowing her eyes as she noticed Harry watching you.

“Something Nurse L/N can help you with, Crosby?”

He jumped, gaze darting to Rebecca as she approached.

“No ma’am, I just…”

He scrambled to think of some excuse, but all he could come up with was: “I’m trying to think of some way to get Y/N to notice Bucky!”

Rebecca blinked in surprise, then plopped down onto the stool next to his bed, leaning in conspiratorially.

“Oh thank goodness it’s not just me! He’s been at it for months but the poor girl’s just so oblivious…”

“I keep telling him to just talk to her like a normal person, but he insists on dancing around it!” Harry instantly agreed, glad to have someone besides Jean to talk to about this. “He’s been so distracted lately. If he doesn’t do something soon, I’m worried it might start to affect his flying.”

Rebecca pressed her lips into a thin line, twisting a strand of hair worriedly.

After a few moments of quiet, she spoke up again, green eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I’ve got an idea.”

———

“Hey Bucky,” Harry said at breakfast the next morning, “I’m gonna pop down to the infirmary to visit Winks, wanna come with?”

Bucky quickly agreed— he’d been meaning to check on Winks yesterday as well as Croz, but got caught up in… well, you.

As they entered, Bucky made a beeline for Winks while Harry caught Rebecca’s eye and gave a subtle nod, which she returned, signaling her part of the plan was complete.

She had removed the step stool you always used from one of the supply closets, now hidden under one of the cots nearby. When you weren’t able to reach something on one of the higher shelves, well…

Good thing Bucky was so tall.

“Y/N, would you mind grabbing some more bandages for me? My station’s running low.”

“Sure thing, Becca!” You called, stepping away from your current station to check the supply closet.

“Becca…” your confused voice called from the closet, “Do you know where the stepstool went?”

“It’s not there?” She called back, sounding equally confused. “Let’s see, um…”

She scanned the room, putting on a good show of looking for someone who could help.

“Oh, Bucky! Would you mind helping Nurse L/N grab something from the supply closet for me?”

“No problem, Becca,” came his reply, accompanied with his trademark winning smile as he nodded to Winks and made his way over to the supply closet.

It was much smaller than he’d anticipated, and barely half a foot was all that separated you as he asked, “Alright, what do ya need, sweethea—”

The pet name was cut off by the sound of the supply closet door closing.

And locking.

You lunged for the handle as Bucky reached up to turn on the single lightbulb, both of you calling out in confusion.

“Becca! What?”

“C’mon, guys, this isn’t funny!”

Harry’s voice came through the door, clear and determined.

“Just tell her how you feel, Bucky! Your tactic clearly isn’t working!”

“I— what?” You turned to Bucky, hoping he knew what in the world they were talking about.

Bucky hesitated, but seeing as it seemed he had no choice…

“Well this isn’t… exactly how I wanted to do it, but…” He took a deep breath, twisting his fingers together in an uncharacteristic display of anxiety, “I really like you, doll. I’ve liked you since I first laid eyes on you. And I’ve tried every way I know how to tell you, but nothin’ worked, so…” He gestured around at the supply closet, “I guess it came to this? Which wasn’t my idea, by the way. Just for the record. I would never…”

His voice faltered, and you realized just how close you were to him. You didn’t remember moving forward. You were just suddenly there, so close the two of you were almost breathing each other’s air.

“You… you like me?”

Bucky couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“Doll, you think I call every pretty girl workin’ here my favorite nurse?”

You flushed at the compliment.

“I thought you were just being nice, I didn’t…”

“I mean, I was bein’ nice,” He said with a shrug, grinning, “Just not quite in the way you were thinking.”

Bucky’s eyes flicked down to your mouth, and being this close to you, he couldn’t hide the bob of his throat as he swallowed nervously.

“I’d, uh. I’d really like to kiss you right now, if that’s alright with you, sweetheart.”

You nodded slowly, “I think I’d really like that, Major Egan.”

“It’s Bucky, sweetheart,” he murmured softly as he leaned in, capturing your lips.

You may or may not have spent more than a few lonely nights in your bunk imagining what it would be like to kiss Major John Egan.

Your imaginings were nothing compared to reality.

This was magic unlike anything you could have dreamed.

Your arms wound around his neck as his wrapped around your waist, pulling you flush against him. You toyed with the dark curls at the nape of his neck as he slanted his mouth against yours, deepening the kiss. Needing to be closer, you tried to step towards him, but merely succeeded in pressing him back against the shelves.

Ordinarily you would apologize, but something like a thrill ran up your spine when you felt him grin into the kiss as his back hit the shelves, knocking rolls of bandages and boxes of gauze onto the floor.

His right hand moved to cup your cheek, keeping your lips connected as his other hand splayed across your back, pulling you impossibly closer as you arched into him.

You could still feel him grinning as he murmured against your lips, “Knew you were feisty under that good girl act.”

“Bucky,” you whined softly as he pulled away from you, chest heaving.

“Oh, now she uses my name,” he teased breathlessly, bumping his nose playfully against yours.

The two of you flinched as sunlight spilled into the dim closet, a harsh change from the dingy yellow lightbulb you had become accustomed to.

Harry and Rebecca stood in the doorway, wearing twin smug grins.

“Looks like our work here is done,” Becca said, shooting you a wink as she bid farewell to Harry with a two-fingered salute, “Pleasure working with you, Lieutenant Crosby.”

“Same to you, Nurse Carter,” Harry replied, and he turned back to the two of you, a genuine smile on his face.

“About time, Bucky.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Bucky waved off his friend’s I told you so, “You gonna congratulate me or what?”

“Congratulations,” came Harry’s mock-put-out reply, accompanied by a genuinely congratulatory clap on his arm. “You got a good one. And it only took months of unsuccessful flirting—”

“Hey, I got her in the end, didn’t I?” He squeezed you closer, grinning down at you.

Your lipstick was all over his mouth, and you’re sure the Victory Red on your own lips was in no better shape.

You couldn’t bring yourself to care, however, as he pulled you in for a tender kiss.

Which you broke for a moment to point out, “He isn’t wrong, you know, it was months of unsuccessful—”

Your teasing was promptly cut off with a “shush” mumbled against your lips as Bucky silenced you with a kiss.

[johnbrand]

On My Level

Antonio took a step out onto the balcony, hoping to get away from the commotion of the company retreat. Sometimes, working with such high-level execs was fun–Antonio often got to enjoy perks a younger Mexican-American boy could have never dreamed of. But now outside, Antonio was better able to take in view. Crisp morning air perfectly settled over the beautiful mountains and valleys below. After a few moments though, Antonio picked up on the stench of secondhand smoke.

“Tony! I didn’t know they just let anyone out here!” Jason chuckled, cupping up the end of his cigar. “Could’ve sworn this was the VIP section.”

Jason was one of the reasons Antonio hated his job. Stereotypical, privileged finance bros. They were the most arrogant people Antonio had ever met, to a point that he could not even believe they were real. It was like everything those men ever wanted came to them. Money, looks, love–it was disgusting and infuriating.

Annoyed, Antonio made for the exit.

“Stay, Tony,” Jason’s voice was more commanding than insistent. “Just perch against the bricks for a sec, I’ll be quick.”

For a split second, Antonio felt a tingle down his spine. He propped himself up against the wall, out of the window’s view. He just hoped this would be short, his turtleneck was getting warm and he already wanted another round at the breakfast buffet. A man of his fullness was hard to satiate.

“You know, Tony, I’ve been getting a real bad vibe from you,” Jason began, puffing away. “I think you’re a little too abrasive.”

“It’s Antonio,” Antonio corrected. “And is this what you really wanted to discuss?”

“Yes, Tony,” Jason let a crude grin slip. “Maybe if you simply listened to me, got on my level, your talent would be appreciated.”

Antonio wanted to go, asked his body to move, but instead it remained against the brick wall, almost as if it wished to hear Jason out.

After a strong exhale in Antonio’s direction, Jason initiated direct eye contact. “Let’s start by using your real name. You go by Tony, bro.”

With another slight shiver down his spine, Tony mumbled, “Okay.”

Jason cracked a small smile, “Let’s talk about respect too. Top of your list will be finance guys like me and you.”

Tony tried to process this, that strange sensation once again embracing him. “As in like, fraternizing with them?”

“Fraternizing, bonding, appreciating–all that good stuff, Antonio.”

“It's Tony.” Tony should have been peeved, but Jason was one of his kind, one of his bros. It was probably just an accident. Tony quipped, “That cigar isn't laced with anything besides tobacco, is it?”

A cocky smirk appeared underneath Jason’s douchey pornstache. “I think you’re the one using substances, dude. That outfit you’ve got is not our style.”

Before he could process the weird feeling, Tony felt a sense of disgust wash over him before he removed his clothes. With a subtle nod, Jason motioned to a folded outfit already beside Tony on the deck, who then proceeded to immediately strip down to his underwear.

“Before you put that on, Tony,” Jason reconnected their eye contact. “Just wanted to say those workouts are doing you wonders.”

“Uh, thanks I guess? I mean the gym is just a way to relieve stress, really,” Tony nervously replied.

Jason became more authoritative, “Don’t sound so timid, dude. If you’re gonna be a bro, then speak the language.”

Tony chuckled, shaking off the twitch. “You faggin’ out on me, bro? These muscles are for chicks only.” Covering up his perfectly athletic frame, Tony buttoned a crisp white shirt over his pecs and abs before tucking it into a suit trousers and covering those underneath a suit coat. The top was opened to showcase his tanned skin, giving just a glimpse of the glories that could be found below.

“Tony, with that combination of corporate and alpha, I’d think you are a changed man!” Jason commenting, locking eyes.

“Corporate…alpha…” Tony trailed off.

“Speaking of alpha, gotta do something about that jawline.” Jason’s voice was low enough that it was as if he was speaking to himself. “I’d say lantern jaw, small beard, and a pointed chin to match that tailored quiff I got you rocking.”

Tony absorbed the words, processing before responding, “I agree bro. There’s nothing hotter than when the ladies shove a hand through my hair while I shove this massive dick into their panties.

Jason snickered as Tony crudely cupped himself for emphasis, his facial structure stretching out into a more naturally arrogant shape. “Funny man, I thought you said smoking was the only thing hotter than a tight pussy.

After a moment, Tony produced a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it and taking that first magnificent inhale. Blowing his own cloud towards Jason, Tony lavished in the feeling of his smoke tickling his well-sculpted mirror.

“You’re so right, bro,” Tony remarked.

Jason grinned, “I always am.”

[butdaddyilovehim99]

i like to think bucky intentionally was a “bad” air exec just because he wanted to fly with his boys. no way he was bad at his job, he exudes leader and man in charge

plus the men looked up to him before he was air exec. this man could’ve told those boys to jump on one foot upside down and they would have found a way to do it

Major John 'Bucky' Egan giving orders | Masters of The Air

bonus:

[brotherwtf]

John having a wet dream about Gale guys imagine the repression

now it's easy when it's in flight school, he's young and he's horny and his new roommate looks like a fucking Hollywood actress, but imagine when he's older, he's air exec at Thorpe Abbotts and he wakes up ON MISSION DAY with come drying in his pants and the memory of his best friends petal pink lips parted in a beautiful moan

the level of anxiety and worry John must feel on that particular day, but also so much fucking shame for having dreamt of Gale like that, he sits next to him in the briefing with his cap in his lap and biting his lip because Gale's chewing on that damn toothpick like he always does and he's pouting in concentration and Johns trying really, REALLY hard to focus on Stormy talking about the cloud cover rather than Gale's lips wrapped around his cock

Jesus Christ John just being absolutely insufferable during the whole four odd hour mission, definitely one of their shorter ones for sure, freaking the fuck out because he just dreamt of Gale in a demeaning fashion and also freaking the fuck out that his best friend might die before he can come to terms with it

all he can do is sit around or pace the tower trying to ward off visions of Gale's trim waist, his always perfectly styled hair coming undone from the sweat of sex, and when he sees the first fort come back into Thorpe Abbotts air space he really shouldn't be thinking about how tight Gale must be

it really doesn't help when John's vision of Gale's sex mussed hair almost becomes a reality when he sees Gale jump from the fort, his hair pointing in every direction and sticking to his forehead with sweat. He's panting from the adrenaline, but all John can see is Gale panting from John's touches and he keeps his eyes firmly forward as he drives Gale to interrogation, fielding Gale's concerns about how tense he looks

all the while Gale has the biggest question mark over his head when cocky and brash John Egan goes bashful when he claps his hand on John's thigh like he always did to him... maybe he's just not feeling well (JOHNS HAVING A HOMOSEXUAL EXPERIENCE)

[air-exec]

John Egan, your two o’clock,,,, where the hell have you been, loca?

[elliesgaymachete]

I know we always talk about missing 22 episode seasons and filler episodes and character development but you know what else I miss about that? Low budget network seasons. I miss shows that are still in the middle of filming when they start airing, so writers (and execs) know what people think of the show before the season is over. I miss situation of the week type episode format with a subtler overarching plot that comes to fruition in the last few episodes of the season. I miss shows reusing the same locations (mostly sets on a soundstage with a few outdoor scenes) because they don’t have the budget for dozens of different places. I miss the lovable mid tier special effects, or using practical effects and costumes instead. I miss shows knowing before they finish writing the season if they’re going to get another one and can plan accordingly. I miss only having to wait 4-6 months between seasons instead of 1-3 years between seasons. I miss seasons wrapping up their arc entirely but ending with a small hook for the next season. I miss low budget network television.

[montanabohemian]

yeah my post was definitely about already seeing people whining about the plane tickets and con tickets they bought and bitching to SAG about it instead of where it belongs.

direct that fury at AMPTP. direct it at the executives.

in the meantime, support the WGA and SAG strike, don't cross a god damned picket line and if you can, help out financially (Entertainment Community Fund).

both the WGA and SAG have detailed information on their websites and official social media about what is and isn't allowed.

if i see a single one of you pissed that your faves canceled an event or a con appearance because they're striking for fair wages then imma come for you in your sleep 🔪🔪🔪

[heretoobsessstuff]

Here’s a whumpy drabble i wrote last night instead of studying for my derm exam lol

*

John paced the small confines of the tower, his heart pounding as he waited. The young lieutenant beside him watched nervously, eyes wide, as if he feared John would snap at any moment. He had to give it to the kid. He felt it too—a simmering anxiety that threatened to boil over if he didn’t see Gale’s B-17 soaring through the sky any minute now.

He lifted the binoculars again, scanning the horizon. When he finally spotted a fortress trailing smoke, hope flared momentarily before dread took hold. The fort was beat to shit, almost looked like it was staggering. It was going to be a bitch to land. But also Please be Gale, please be Gale, please be Gale.

“Incoming!” he yelled, the urgency in his voice echoing off the tower walls. Below, chaos erupted as an ambulance sped closer to the runway.

“It’s my baby!” someone shouted from the ground, and John felt his stomach knot tighter, frustration mixing with fear. He turned to the lieutenant, voice taut. “Show ’em green.”

He fucking hated this part of the job—being stuck up here, powerless to do anything else, anything that was actually useful. He couldn’t even go down to meet Gale on the runway, to ensure he was okay with his own eyes. Instead, he had to count the forts and prepare forms for interrogation. This was exactly why he despised being an air exec.

“Hey kid,” he said to the lieutenant, trying to maintain some semblance of calm, “go check on Major Cleven and come back and let me know, alright?”

The young man nodded, eager to please, and dashed inside. John let out a heavy sigh, eyes glued to the sky as he monitored for more incoming planes.

It felt like an eternity before the lieutenant returned, breathless and wide-eyed. “Sir, Major Cleven was mostly okay. He’s in interrogation now.”

“The hell does mostly okay mean? Is he hurt?” He snapped, heart sinking .

“Not majorly, sir, but he—”

“Bucky”

Crosby called behind him, swallowing hard before he spoke.

“Gale is going batshit crazy not letting the nurses touch him. We got him to the infirmary but he won’t let them stitch him up. Can you come talk to him? I think he’s pretty shaken up”

John was speeding past Croz before he was even done talking. He didn’t remember how managed to go from the tower to the infirmary so fucking fast but he could hear Gale yelling as he walked in. The sound pierced through the tension in his chest, and he pushed the door open to find Gale pacing, hands tugging at his flight suit, face flushed with frustration. Blood caked the side of his face, dripping down to his neck and John felt cold, his hands shaking as he moved closer to get a better look at him.

“Buck” John called tentatively, trying to sound as gentle as possible. “What’s going on?”

Gale’s eyes turned to him and for a brief second it looked like he was relieved to see John. But desperation took over his features immediately, voice sounding too loud in the small cot as he addressed him.

“I’m fine, John. I don’t need their damn help!” Gale snapped, his eyes wild. John felt a rush of concern; this wasn’t Gale. Gale was calm, polite, never snapped at anyone. He was always collected, unflappable. This Gale was unsettling. John felt his heart break as he watched him shake with fury. The nurses hovering nearby exchanged worried glances.

“Your forehead needs at least 10 stitches, Major. You likely have a concussion,” one of them said gently.

“I said I’m fucking fine,” Gale snapped, his frustration palpable. “John, please. Tell them I’m fine. I don’t need this. I need to—”

“Can you give us a minute, please?” John interrupted, turning to the nurses. They sighed, sympathetic, and stepped away, drawing the curtain closed behind them.

“Sit down,” John urged, putting a hand around Gale’s arm and guiding him to a nearby bed. “You’re not fine. You’re hurt.”

“I don’t want to sit—I need to get this fucking thing off me,” Gale said, agitation creeping into his voice as he shook John’s hand off himself and tugged at his flight vest but his hands trembled too much for him to be able to actually take it off. His movements were jerky and uncoordinated. John had never seen him like this, raw and unraveling.

“Here. Let me help you.” John’s voice softened, moving over to him slowly and maintaining eye contact as reached towards him. “Just taking this off, Buck. Stay still” Gale let him take over, his breaths came out harsh and panicked, eyes wide as he started at John working to unclasp the buckles. John tried to be as gentle as he could as he unbuckled the vest and let it drop to the ground.

“There you go, now lets just sit down for a second”

“No” Gale shook his head, his voice cracking, pushing to move past John.

“I can’t—I can’t just sit here. I need to go—I need to-.” He cut himself off with a gasp, breathing shallow as his body shook all over. John stepped forward, reaching out to grab Gale’s shoulders.

“Look at me. Focus on me, okay? You’re panicking. You need to breathe, Gale”

Gale blinked, momentarily stunned by John’s intensity. “I… I can’t.”

“You can,” John insisted, trying to keep his voice steady. “You can. In and out. Here”

He soothed, grabbing Gale’s hand and laying it on his own chest, trying to keep the shake out of his own voice as he took a deep breath.

“Deep breathes like me. C’mon darling”

He let the endearment slip, not giving a damn if anyone heard it. It seemed to do the trick, Gale’s breath hitched and he closed his eyes and kept his palm pressed to John’s chest, trying to pull air into his lungs.

“There you go. You’re alright”

John encouraged, voice soft as he guided Gale to a bed when he felt his knees weakening and pushed him down gently. He watched him closely as he sank down, shoulders sagging under the weight of his exhaustion as he continued to take choking breaths. John rubbed his back, up and down his arm soothingly, trying to avoid his injured head as he pushed his hair out out of his eyes and sat beside him on the bed.

Gale watched him lazily as he reached for his face, fingers grazing his jaw as he tilted his head slightly to reveal a deep gash on his head, blood seeping through the strands of blond hair. He felt a lump raising in his throat at the sight.

“Was it flak?”

Gale closed his eyes again, taking a few shuddering breaths as he shrugged.

“Don’t remember. It’s all a blur”

John hummed, lifting Gale’s hand to press a gentle kiss to his knuckles.

“You need to let them take care of you, Gale”

“I’m fine, John”

“Need to let them patch you up first and then you will be”

“I can’t—I need to” Gale started to protest weakly again so John interrupted him.

“There’s nothing you need to be doing now other than resting and letting them fix you up. You can’t do anyone any good if you’re not okay.”

Gale swallowed thickly, eyes glassy with unshed tears as he shook his head.

“I lost so many men, John. So many forts. I let them down.” His voice shook, a lone tear escaping and travelling down his cheek.

“You didn’t let anyone down, Gale. You flew that piece of crap all the way back to England. No one else could do it. You got your boys through it.” John reassured him, forcing eye contact.

“You did well, darling” He added quietly, just for Gale’s ears. Gale looked at him for a second longer before he let out a long sigh and leaned to the side, resting his head on John’s shoulder. John took his hand in both of his, interlocking their fingers.

“Now I need to get you through it, Gale. I need you to be okay”

Gale opened his eyes, eyes softening as turned to look at John and took in his desperate expression. The tension slowly easing from his features. “Okay” he whispered, sounding defeated as he lifted his head and sagged back against the wall, hand not leaving John’s.

“Just… stay here.”

“Of course.” John kept his grip strong, grounding him. He turned toward the curtain to call the nurses. “He’s ready for you.”

They stepped forward, not saying a word about how John kept sitting there holding Gale’s hand so hard like he was scared he was going to slip away. He watched as they worked quietly and stitched up the wound on Gale’s forehead and cleaned the area.

“See?” John said gently, helping take Gale’s sheepskin off and getting him to lay back and get comfortable as the nurses finished their work and told them Gale needed to stay overnight for monitoring. “All patched up. Good as new”

Gale’s energy seemed suddenly drained. He gave John small smile and sighed as he closed his eyes, finally allowing himself to relax. John sat beside him, watching him fall asleep, counting the raise and fall of his chest and finally allowed himself to breathe.

[johnslittlespoon]

Hellooo and welcome to the WOTA server's master–list of fics for the summer writing event! ☀️ We had a list of 36 summer–themed prompts to choose from and a month to write, and everyone who participated has put so much love and time into their fics; I'm so proud of how well this first server event went. 💗

This list will be updated as fics are posted, and you can also peep the collection on AO3 for easier browsing. Thank youuu to all the lovely writers who participated, can't wait for the next one! 🌈

✨ Fic List:

Only You Can Cool My Desire Prompt: 'Ice Play' / 'Too Hot For Clothes' -> by @johnslittlespoon [WC: 6K | E | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Tough And Sweet AU, Heatwaves, Ice Play, Blow Jobs, Light Dom/Sub, Teasing, Orgasm Delay] The Man I've Looked For Prompt: 'Roadtripping' / 'Seductive Popsicle Eating' -> by @amiserableseriesofevents [WC: 4K | M | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Semi–Public Sex, Romantic Fluff, Blow Jobs In A Car, Roadtrip, Gale Cleven's Oral Fixation] The One I'll Care For Prompt: 'Passing Out From Heat & Being Taken Care Of' -> by @c-goldthorn [WC: 2K | G | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Notting Hill AU, Red Carpet, Film Festival, Hurt/Comfort, Heat Stroke, Fainting, Whump] Out Of Control -> by @trashbag-baby666 [WC: 8K | T | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Modern AU, Surf AU, Angst, Hurt/Comfort] No Proof, One Touch Prompt: 'Too Hot For Hugs' / 'Sweat Kink' -> by @c-goldthorn [WC: 1K | G | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Flight School, Set In Texas, Pre–Canon, Pre–Relationship, Sweat, Play Wrestling, Hugs] I'm On The Run With You, My Sweet Love Prompt: '"I Don't Want To Move"' / 'Lake Sex' -> by @alienoresimagines [WC: 9K | E | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Fluff and Smut, Dry Humping, Boys In Love, Summer 1943, Romantic Fluff, Established Relationship] Under The Cover Of The Willow Tree Prompt: '"If You Don't Get Off Me"' / 'Summer Storms' -> by @eternallytired17 [WC: 4K | M | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Post–War, Fluff and Smut, Summer Vacation, Idiots In Love, Dirty Talk, Hand Jobs, Teasing] My Love For You Burns Like A Thousand Suns Prompt: 'Getting A Sunburn' -> by @onyxsboxes [WC: 1K | G | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Summer, Short & Sweet, Sunburn, Established Relationship] Do They Collide? (I Ask And You Smile) Prompt: 'Stargazing' -> by @counting0nit [WC: 1K | Gale Cleven/John Egan | Post–Canon, Post–War, Angst, Nightmares, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff] Summertime (And The Living Is Easy) Prompt: 'Skinny Dipping' -> by @air-exec [WC: 1K | G | Ken Lemmons/Rosie Rosenthal | Boys In Love, Fluff, Skinny Dipping] ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

[sweaterkittensahoy]

#he truly is Air Exec Daddy because hes hanging on by a thread as he loses his boys in the 100s week by week while hes on the ground praying#for their lives then wishing the wet english soil would open up to swallow him whole bc god these little demons running around giving him#migraines but theyre his little demons stop taking them from him or take him down to hell with them#anyway i love him very much#jack kidd

Are you trying to fucking kill me

Edward Ashley in Masters of the Air Season 1 Episode 7

[irregularcollapse]

i wanna hear it

🫵🫵🫵 ENABLERS 🫵🫵🫵

okay okay I maintain this is NOT a takedown and it is not hate, it is just the way I read Bucky as a character and how I interpret aspects of his behaviour! I love him so much I just think he has layers.

but in short, I don't think he sees women as people. he likes women, sure, but he doesn't respect them in the way he respects men. in that very first scene, we're shown that he's sort of dismissive toward Marge. he's even dismissive toward his own date, and sort of tries to keep her outside of the conversation and at an emotional distance. then there's Lil in the pub, and the bet for a kiss - which then is implied to lead to them having sex in a bush behind the pub. and he wonders why she's ready to move on next time he sees her??

he's briefly nice to Tatty, but she's the General's daughter and seems a bit more worldly than Lil anyway. she's probably got his number lol

the outlier is obviously Paulina, who he makes a concerted effort to connect with, but there are some little things about their conversation that I think are really interesting, like his brief indignation over her implying that he'd go to a sex worker. very "I don't need to pay for it" type beat. also though, I think it's really telling that after one (1) night of asking a woman questions and seeing her as a rounded person, he's like this is my chance to have something and tries to drag it into the daylight and get himself a wife lmao

it's in the way he says he "never set it up right" to Gale; I know we all love to talk about the "Maaaaaaarge" moment as one of jealousy, and it definitely is, but importantly (to me) it's jealousy over Gale having his life set up and having these milestones locked down. Bucky's a man in the 1940s; success in life and the mere concept of happiness would be, for him, so psychologically tied to having a wife and a family that it's almost a sense of entitlement. that's what I see him as meaning when he talks about being remembered and having something to return to - the Romantic notion of being mourned and having people who depend/rely on you. the patriarchal concept of legacy. it comes out too in his desire to be a leader, but importantly not a leader who people are obligated to listen to (i.e. Air Exec) but one who is chosen by the group (hence the whole "king of the camp" tantrum moment).

I think as well that if we go down the shippy route, any expectation that Gale casts Marge aside for him is one which fundamentally devalues Marge as a person and views her as disposable. his anger with Marge is, in my view, more over what she represents in Gale's life (security, devotion, success, happiness) than it is about the relationship.

tldr; he's a bit of a dirtbag but that doesn't make him bad yk

anyway yeah i probably have more to say but i had a busy day at work and am slightly zonked!!

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Boeing, Spirit and Jetblue, a monopoly horror-story

Catch me in Miami! I'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables TONIGHT (Jan 22) at 8PM. Berliners: Otherland has added a second date (Jan 28) for my book-talk after the first one sold out - book now!

Last week, William Young, an 82 year old federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan, blocked the merger of Spirit Airlines and Jetblue. It was a seismic event:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.254267/gov.uscourts.mad.254267.461.0_6.pdf

Seismic because the judge's opinion is full of rhetoric associated with the surging antitrust revival, sneeringly dismissed by corporate apologists as "hipster antitrust." Young called America's airlines and "oligopoly," a situation he blamed on out-of-control mergers. As Matt Stoller writes, this is the first airline merger to be blocked by the DOJ and DOT since deregulation in 1978:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/antitrust-enforcers-block-the-jetblue

The judge wasn't shy about why he was reviving a pre-Jimmy Carter theory of antitrust: "[the merger] does violence to the core principle of antitrust law, 'to protect] markets –- and its market participants — from anticompetitive harm."

The legal arguments the judge advances are fascinating and worthy of study:

https://twitter.com/johnmarknewman/status/1747343447227519122

But what really caught my eye was David Dayen's American Prospect article about the judge's commentary on the state of the aviation industry:

https://prospect.org/infrastructure/transportation/01-19-2024-how-boeing-ruined-the-jetblue-spirit-merger/

Why, after all, have Spirit and Jetblue been so ardent in pursuing mergers? Jetblue has had two failed merger attempts with Virgin, and this is the third time they've failed in an attempt to merge with Spirit. Spirit, meanwhile, just lost a bid to merge with Frontier. Why are these two airlines so obsessed with combining with each other or any other airline that will have them?

As Dayen explains, it's because US aviation has been consumed by monopoly, hollowed out to the point of near collapse, thanks to neoliberal policies at every part of the aviation supply-chain. For one thing, there's just not enough pilots, nor enough air-traffic controllers (recall that Reagan's first major act in office was to destroy the air traffic controller's union).

But even more importantly, there are no more planes. Boeing's waitlist for airplane delivery stretches to 2029. And Boeing is about to deliver a lot fewer planes, thanks to its disastrous corner-cutting, which grounded a vast global fleet of 737 Max aircraft (again):

https://prospect.org/infrastructure/transportation/2024-01-09-boeing-737-max-financial-mindset/

The 737 disaster(s) epitomize the problems of inbred, merger-obsessed capitalism. As Luke Goldstein wrote, the rampant defects in Boeing's products can be traced to the decision to approve Boeing's 1997 merger with McDonnell-Douglas, a company helmed by Jack Welch proteges, notorious for cost-cutting at the expense of reliability:

https://prospect.org/infrastructure/transportation/2024-01-09-boeing-737-max-financial-mindset/

Boeing veterans describe the merger as the victory of the bean-counters, which led to a company that chases short-term profits over safety and even the viability of its business:

https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=213075

After all, the merger turned Boeing into the single largest exporter in America, a company far too big to fail, teeing up tens of billions from Uncle Sucker, who also account for 40% of Boeing's income:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/its-time-to-nationalize-and-then

The US government is full of ex-Boeing execs, just as Boeing's executive row is full of ex-US federal aviation regulators. Bill Clinton's administration oversaw the creation of Boeing's monopoly in the 1990s, but it was the GOP that rescued Boeing the first time the 737 Maxes started dropping out of the sky.

Boeing's biggest competitor is the state-owned Airbus, a joint venture whose major partners are the governments of France, Spain and Germany – governments that are at least theoretically capable of thinking about the public good, not short-term profits. Boeing's largest equity stakes are held by the Vanguard Group, Vanguard Group subfiler, Newport Trust Company, and State Street Corporation:

https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2024-01-18-airbus-advantage/

As Matt Stoller says, America has an airline that the public bails out, protects, and subsidizes but has no say over. Boeing has all the costs of public ownership and none of the advantages. It's the epitome of privatized gains and socialized losses.

This is Reagan's other legacy, besides the disastrous shortage of air-traffic controllers. The religious belief in deregulation – especially deregulation of antitrust enforcement – leads to a deregulated market. It leads to a market that is regulated by monopolists who secretly deliberate, behind closed board-room doors, and are accountable only to their shareholders. These private regulators are unlike government regulators, who are at least nominally bound by obligations to transparency and public accountability. But they share on thing in common with those public regulators: when they fuck up, the public has to pay for their mistakes.

It's a good thing Boeing's executives are too big to fail, because they fail constantly. Boeing execs who are warned by subcontractors of dangerous defects in their planes order those subcontractors to lie, or lose their contracts:

https://www.levernews.com/boeing-supplier-ignored-warnings-of-excessive-amount-of-defects-former-employees-allege/

As a result of Boeing's mismanagement, America's only aircraft supplier steadily has lost ground to Airbus, which today enjoys a 2:1 advantage over Boeing. But it's not just Boeing that's the weak link aviation. US aviation is a chain entirely composed of weak links.

Take jet engines: Pratt & Whitney are Spirit's major engine supplier, but these engines suck as much as Boeing's fuselages. Much of Spirit's fleet is chronically grounded because the engines don't run. The reason Spirit buys its engines from those loveable goofballs at Pratt & Whitney? The Big Four airlines have bought all the engines for sale from other suppliers, leaving smaller airlines to buy their engines from fat-fingered incompetents.

This is why – as Dayen notes – smaller US airlines are so horny for intermarriage. They can't grow by adding routes, because there are no pilots. Even if they could get pilots, there'd be no slots because there are no air traffic controllers. But even if they could get pilots and slots, there are no planes, because Boeing sucks and Airbus can't make planes fast enough to supply the airlines that don't trust Boeing. And even if they could get aircraft, there are no engines because the Big Four aviation cartel cornered the market on working jet engines.

Part of Jetblue and Spirit's pitch was that they hand off the routes that they'd cut after their merger to other small airlines, like Frontier and Allegiant. But Frontier and Allegiant can't service those routes: they don't have pilots, slots, planes or engines.

Spirit hasn't been profitable since 2019 and is sitting on $4b in debt. Jetblue was proposing to finance its acquisition with another $3.5b in debt. The resulting airline could only be profitable by sharply cutting routes and massively raising prices, cutting 6.1m seats/year. With a debt:capital ratio of 111%, the company would have no slack and would need a bailout any time anything went wrong. Not coincidentally, the Big Four airlines also have debt:capital ratios of about 100-120%, and they do get bailouts ever time anything goes wrong.

As William McGee reminds us, it's been 14 years since anyone's started a new US airline:

https://twitter.com/WilliamJMcGee/status/1747363491445375072

US aviation is deeply cursed. But Boeing's self-disassembling aircraft show us why we can't fix it by allowing mergers: private monopolies, shorn of the discipline of competition and regulation, are extraction machines that turn viable businesses into debt-wracked zombies.

This is a subject that's beautifully illustrated in Dayen's 2020 book Monopolized, in the chapter on health care:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/29/fractal-bullshit/#dayenu

The US health care system has been in trouble for a long time, but the current nightmare starts with the deregulation of pharma. Pharma companies interbred with one another in a string of incestuous marriages that produced these dysfunctional behemoths that were far better at shifting research costs to governments and squeezing customers than they were at making drugs. The pharma giants gouged hospitals for their products, and in response, hospitals underwent their own cousin-fucking merger orgy, producing regional monopolies that were powerful enough to resist pharma's price-hikes. But in growing large enough to resist pharma profiteering, the hospitals also became powerful enough to screw over insurers. Insurers then drained their own gene pool by combining with one another until most of us have three or fewer insurers we can sign up with – companies that are both big enough to refuse hospital price-hikes, and to hike premiums on us.

Thus monopoly begets monopoly: with health sewn up by monopolies in medical tech, drugs, pharmacy benefit managers, insurance, and hospitals, the only easy targets for goosing profits are people:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/01/05/hillrom/#baxter-international

This is how you get a US medical system that costs more than any other rich nation's system to operate, delivers worse outcomes than those other systems, and treats medical workers worse than any other wealthy country.

Now, rich people can still buy their way out of this mess, but you have to be very rich indeed to buy your way out of the commercial aviation system. There's a lot of 1%ers who fly commercial, and they're feeling the squeeze – and there's no way they're leasing their own jets.

Stein's Law holds that "anything that can't go on forever will eventually stop." America's aviation mergers – in airlines, aircraft and engines – have hollowed out the system. The powerful, brittle companies that control aviation have so much power over their workforce that they've turned air traffic controller and pilot into jobs that no one wants – and they used their bailout money to buy out the most senior staff's contracts, sending them to early retirement.

Now, I'm with the people who say that most of US aviation should be replaced with high-speed rail, but that's not why our technocrats and finance barons have gutted aviation. They did it to make a quick buck. A lot of quick bucks. Now the system is literally falling to pieces in midair. Now the system is literally on fire:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/us/miami-boeing-plane-engine-fire.html

Which is how you get a Reagan appointed federal judge issuing an opinion that has me punching the air and shouting, "Yes, comrade! To the barricades!" Anything that can't go on forever will eventually stop. When the system is falling to pieces around you, ideology disintegrates like a 737 Max.

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/21/anything-that-cant-go-on-forever/#will-eventually-stop

Image: Vitaly Druchenok (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ECAir_Boeing_737-306_at_Brazzaville_Airport_by_Vitaly_Druchenok.jpg

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

--

Joe Ravi (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_of_United_States_Supreme_Court_Building_at_Dusk.jpg

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

[thedeviltohisangel]

All The Things I Did (6): They Say All's Well That Ends Well

a/n: greetings! some sweet morning after pillow talk, meeting col. harding and hypocrites in love coming your way this lovely evening. next chapter is gearing up to be a big one so I hope you guys enjoy a bit of cass' fallible side (which I would love to discuss more) in this way before she badasses her way through Berlin. I might have a secret Easter suprise up my sleeve so stay tuned. as usual, inbox is open for all our little blurb screaming we've doing and I have a Spook x Bucky playlist I am thinking of sharing if you guys are interested. Let me know your thoughts on this chapter, xoxo

When Cass finally stirred against his chest, pressing kisses against his heart and blinking slowly, John saw a flash of his future. Waking up with her in his arms. Watching the sunrise and kiss across her face gently. Getting to admire her wild hair and sleep warmed cheeks and the lazy smile that settled across her face as she got her first sight of him.

“Good morning,” she whispered as she stroked her fingers through his hair and obliged his puckered lips request for a kiss. “Have you been up for awhile?” John reached for his pants on the floor, producing a cigarette. 

“No. Was just admiring the view.” She plucked the lighter from his hand and brought it to his lips for him. “I’ve got to meet that goddamn CO first thing tomorrow.”

“Baby, it is tomorrow,” she giggled. His knuckles traced across her cheek lovingly.

“You’re so smart.” Cass rolled her eyes but kissed him again regardless. “You got any intel for me?” Her chin rested on his chest and his fingers tangled into her hair. 

“I met him in London before I got here. I think you two will get along. He’s a good pilot. Likes to have a fun time.” She kept out the specifics of his flirting and propositioning. No need to ruin the moment or start them off on the wrong footing. “Has a certain Clark Gable nature to him.” 

“Oh? Is that your type, Miss Cooper?” 

“My town is full of Rhett Butler’s. Didn’t have the best of luck with any of them.” Sadness flickered behind her eyes, maybe even hurt, and John wanted to throttle whoever was responsible. Cass lifted his wrist to look at his watch and groaned when she saw they would have to return to the real world soon. “I want to stay just like this. Forever.” 

“After all this is over,” he brushed his thumb over her lips, “we can. We will.” 

“You’ll come to my room when your day is over?” There was no reason a little slice of forever couldn’t start now. Besides, neither of them thought they would be able to sleep alone again after they had learned the solace of sleeping in the arms of each other. He inhaled his cigarette deeply.

“Counting down the seconds.” 

----

He couldn’t stop fidgeting with the buttons of his jacket as Colonel Harding was flipping through the file in front of him. John had driven Cass to her room, taking his time to bid her farewell, before heading straight to his meeting. Still drunk on whiskey or her, he wasn’t quite sure, but either way he was having trouble staying focused.

“You hungover, Major?”

“No, sir. That won’t come for a few more hours.” He wondered what Cass was doing right now. Certainly something more interesting. Certainly was looking beautiful while doing it. 

“Colonel Huglin didn’t think too much of your skills as an Air Exec.”

“Well, I didn’t think too much of-” John paused as a black and white photo fell from between the papers and onto his desk. It looked like Cass. His Cass. Except she wasn’t in her uniform. It looked like she was in a satin dress with diamonds framing her face. Something settled in the pit of his stomach. 

“Too much of his flying?” John met his gaze, entirely focused now. “Well, I’m not Colonel Huglin.”

“No. You’re not.” Harding followed his gaze down to the photograph and smiled.

“You’re familiar with Lieutenant Cooper?” He was looking at her wistfully and John’s fingers were twitching to snatch it from him. No other man should be looking at her like that besides him. 

“She’s quite the officer, sir. We’ve all been nothing but impressed by her work.” 

“She’s something, alright.” He tucked the photo away but John’s rage didn’t go away with it. His skin was hot and prickly. A base instinct to protect and preserve percolating at the surface. He was afraid if he opened his mouth, Gale’s upside down letter would be for nothing. There was a knock on the door which distracted him from his plotting thoughts for a moment. “In fact, that should be her.”

Cass’ head poked around the door and if she was surprised to see John, she didn’t show it. To be fair, more often than not, her face didn’t give away much. 

“Colonel. Major.” The door clicked softly behind her and John felt the whiskey from a few hours ago stir in his stomach as Harding stood in deference to her, motioning towards the chair to the Major’s left. “Sir, I was just hoping to discuss Berlin with you. Very briefly.”

“Berlin?” John couldn’t keep it in. Why on earth would she…oh.

“Lieutenant Cooper has been selected for a prestigious opportunity,” he offered around the cigar that was now in his mouth. 

“Prestigious may not be-”

“Cassandra-” And God, if she didn’t cringe herself as the familiar use of her full name whipped across John and onto her. “-I’ve heard about your work even before I got here. Seen it up close myself if you haven’t forgotten. You’re the right officer for the job.” Cass thinks she could feel John’s nostril flaring. Thinks the arm of the chair might break under his grip. Was surprised the tapping of his toes hadn’t worn a hole in the floor. She should have known he was the jealous type. 

“Lieutenant,” John emphasized her rank as he stood, “Colonel. I should go check on a few things before the day really starts.” And because he can’t help himself around her, and because he needed to let Harding know she was off limits, he kissed her cheek. “Come find me when you’re done.” Cass was frozen with her beating cheeks on full display as John adjusted his hat and disappeared out the door. 

“I thought you didn’t like pilots.”

“That’s a bit reductive, Colonel.” Her eyes drifted to the handwritten letter at the top of his pile. “Was I too late for the demotion ceremony?” He nodded.

“Major Egan is back to being a squadron commander, effectively immediately.” Colonel Harding had greeted him with the news. John had been elated. “But you wanted to talk about Berlin.” Cass nodded around the lump in her throat. She had come to tender her declination of the operation. It wasn’t worth the risk. Not when she was this close to having John in her life permanently. Not when she could have him on her arm when she went back to South Carolina. Not when he was so close to silencing those voices in her head.

“Actually, there’s nothing left to talk about. I’m grateful for the opportunity.” If he didn’t care, then why should she? What was the point of her safety if he had no regards for his own?

“Alright, then. I’ll leave you to your preparations.” She was resolved when she exited. Felt silly for even considering turning it down. Since when had she ever let a stupid boy navigate her life? Except John wasn’t just some stupid boy that had her dreaming of white picket fences and church on Sundays and sharing a lemonade on the back porch. John was a man and he was the man she was in love with. Why couldn’t it just be that simple?

----

“Well, there he is. I didn’t see you last night or this morning,” Gale said with a smile. “Thought maybe we’d lost you.” John hummed as he sat across from him and asked for a cup of coffee.

“I spent the night with Spook.”

“Did you now?” Gale thinks John looked like the cat that caught the canary. He could use his own deductive reasoning to figure out what the night entailed. “And?” He was asking if there had been any developments. If hearts had been laid bare and understandings had been reached. 

“And I’m still certain I’m in love with her. Same as I was yesterday when you asked me.”

“She say the same when you told her?” 

“Wouldn’t let me tell her,” he sighed, “told me if I said it and something happened to her on her next assignment, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.”

“Must be hard to finally be rebuked by a beautiful woman.” John rolled his eyes, knowing Gale was loving every moment of his plight. Finally, finally, Gale was able to witness John Egan unsure of his footing. The man who had no trouble flying a plane and dropping bombs and could dance with anyone or sing in a crowded social club. His best friend had met his match and he couldn’t be more elated to have the chance to witness it.

“New CO thinks she’s beautiful, too.” 

“And how did that come up?” he asked around a bite of his breakfast. 

“A picture of her fell out of a folder he was reading. Wasn’t her official photo, she wasn’t in uniform. Looked like she was all dolled up for something…” His voice faded towards the end as he remembered the way she had looked. It was akin to the feeling he had when she showed up in her red dress. Absolute adoration and curiosity at the image of her southern society side when he knew the other side so intimately well. The side that had a ring dish of bullets on her dresser. “He looked at her the way I would. I didn’t like it.”

“Now, what was it Cass said about the word like…”

“I detested it. Better?” Gale nodded his approval then caught a glance of the woman in question over John’s shoulder. 

“Was she this upset when you left her this morning?” 

“Upset?” He furrowed his brow and looked behind him to see what he was talking about. Her face was blank as she walked purposefully towards their table. John assumed it was something he did, he had a habit of fucking up, but damn if she didn’t look elegantly gorgeous stalking towards him like that. 

“You were up early this morning, Major Cleven.” John felt a shred of relief. “I can read upside down. Helping this one get himself demoted?” So maybe it was about John. 

“You got demoted?” Kidd chimed in from his spot at the end of table. “To what?”

“Squadron Commander. 418th. Sorry, Kidd.” 

“That’s fine. As long as I get my fort back.”

“About that…”

“You son of a bitch. I’m Air Exec?” Cass chuckled dryly. 

“You’re brimming with good news today, John.” Ah. So he did do something.

“Me getting back to flying is good news, Cass. I don’t know why that would upset you.” Gale held his breath. He wished he could coach John through this. Don’t question, try to understand. But Spook was a force to be reckoned with. He was happy to just spectate.

“I’m not upset. I’m…” She was struggling to find the word. The right word. Worried. Scared. Anxious. Her feelings encompassed all of it. There was no right word for the dread that she was feeling. Forever. Pulled right out from under her.

“I’m not upset about Berlin.”

“Well, maybe you should be.” Gale was half tempted to put a hand on John’s shoulder when he cocked an eyebrow and leaned towards her. Cass had crossed her arms over her chest defensively and the temperature was rising. He wished these two would stop using their brains to talk around their thoughts and feelings and just simply say them.

“And why’s that? Your job makes you happy. Leaves you with fulfillment. And you're goddamn good at it so why would I be upset?” God, her own reasons sounded so hollow in her mind. Sounded selfish and childish. Why wasn’t he raging at her? Fighting her to stand down. She knew how to handle that. How to fight back. This she did not know how to handle. 

“Because it’s dangerous.” There it was. She was mad he was back in danger. Why didn’t she just say that? 

“Then I just gotta trust you’ll come back to me, don’t I?” Gale crooked a smile but hid it quickly. “Just like how you have to trust that I’ll come back to you.” Truthfully, it would take an act of God to keep him from her. But trust was something she had been programmed to avoid in her line of work. 

“Trust,” she echoed with a defeated laugh. 

“You know, Cass, if this whole thing ended and there were only two pilots left in the sky, it’d be me and it’d be Buck. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Don’t count on it,” Gale muttered as he slipped a toothpick between his lips. She was ready to make a comment about the level of trust Gale’s comment would instill in her when she caught a glimpse of Mary walking into the mess hall.

“Hi, Mary!” John greeted her happily. He had a soft spot in his chest for the secretary. She was the gatekeeper between him and Cass’ billet most mornings and, on occasion, his source of base gossip while he waited with his bouquet of flowers.

“Major Egan, I didn’t see you this morning.” 

“Sorry to disappoint,” John answered with a grin, “Lieutenant Cooper kept me preoccupied.”

“Ignore this helion, Mary. Did word from Mr. Foster arrive yet?” 

“Another secret admirer?” he asked with an annoyed tone. He wouldn’t have been surprised if Cass had admirers falling out of the woodwork. He couldn’t blame them. He just wanted to know how many he would be competing with. 

“Partner,” she replied stoically. 

“He just landed actually, ma’am. Was coming to get you before I went to welcome him.” 

“Thank you, Mary. I’ll be right there.” John took her hand from where it was crossed over her chest and brought it to his lips. 

“Am I still allowed to come find you when my day’s over?” He was really asking if she was angry enough over his decision to keep him at arm’s length. If he had undone all the goodwill they had built up. If last night now meant nothing at all to her. 

“You can’t expect me to sleep by myself, Major.” Not when William’s arrival meant she would be leaving in the morning. Not when she knew the 100th was going to take another run at Norway soon. Not when Gale was looking at her with a message behind his eyes that the only way for Bucky to make it through this was for her to be at his side. 

John stood and met her halfway in a kiss, savoring her proximity for just a moment longer until he pulled away. “Make sure Mary knows I’m sorry about this morning.”

“I will. Try to stay out of trouble the rest of the day. Keep an eye on him, Buck.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cass let her fingers linger on John’s cheek before forcing herself to walk in the direction Mary had gone. 

“What do you think, Buck? I make a mistake asking for that demotion?” He turned back towards his friend. Maybe he should have stayed Air Exec, stayed safe, just like Cass had said. Maybe he should have said something about her going to Berlin.

“You’re a born leader, John. The men need you no matter if that’s here or up there.” 

“But, what if I need her? What if flying gets in the way of that?”

“Nothing could get in the way of the love you have for that girl, John.” The way Gale saw it, John hadn’t just been sent here to lead their boys through this, but to find Cass. To find his sense of purpose. His north star through all the fog. 

“Nothing except a fucking world war,” he muttered as he reached into his pocket for a cigarette. 

Maybe if he was flying, he could end this thing sooner. Maybe he could save her from whatever fate had her so rattled. If he could get them that future they wanted even a moment sooner, it would all be worth it. To have her safely in his arms away from bombs and secrets and the destruction that they both brought with them. 

But first she was going to Berlin and he was going to Norway and they were both fighting for that little future. A little future tucked away with green grass and sunshine and the laughter of the ones you love. 

Neither of them knew how much more blood would need to be shed to get there. How much pain the universe had in store for them. That their paths would separate and bring them back together many times over before they earned their peace. 

For now, John would settle for making it through tomorrow.

[whirlpool-blogs]

hi hi hi can we please talk about what's in John Egan's personnel file when he talks to Colonel Huglin!!!

here's what I can decipher:

CONFIDENTIAL SUBJECT: John C. Egan, Air Exec, 100th... To: C.O. Colonel... O-17548 AC After careful...relative to the 100th BG Air...subsequent impact of his ...the unit. Although John C. Egan...the first Pilot...100th BG and was...the role of Air Exec by the..., his actions have proven otherwise. a. He has...lack of respect for authority, perpetually undermining....Commanding Officer. I believe this pattern of insubordination... b. After close observation, I am...in the crews' discipline, neatness....and conduct that is unbecoming, to name but a few.... direct consequences of his leadership, or lack of his ability to take his responsibilities seriously. c. .......you will take action in retaining the reputation....appointing an Officer who will....

(screenshot of huglin's file below the cut. warning for the blood from huglin. bonus: cute little headshot of bucky)