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scratchandplaster · 3 months ago

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Stack The Deck - Saint Elliot

CW: Elliot being an opportunistic little shit, toxic relationships

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Cups piled up on the foldable table next to the couch, a skyline of liquors and spirits next to them. Elliot plucked the tablecloth neatly over the corners. It looked great, though nobody knew for how long. In a few minutes, the first guests were about to arrive and with them the reason for his detour into the unknown.

He had been the first to appear at Sahra's doorstep and offered to help prepare the living room while they caught up. Like her invitation, the reason for his attendance surprised Elliot - in a way that should've worried him more than it did.

"Oh, and I need to give you a fair, I wouldn't call it a warning, but still," Sahra stammered and put a bowl of chips down, "She has her special kind of humor, so just…"

Lie there and take it?

"…don't think that she's serious about it or anything!"

"When that's all it takes for the Philharmonic to treat me to a seat, your friend can tar and feather me all evening. Seriously, if she's into that."

Sahra's proposal had sounded a bit unappetizing to Elliot, at first. Radio-silence had taken over since their graduation, sometimes proximity was the only reason to keep contact, until she made the first step. He was always willing to work hard and climb the ladder, an ethos as thankless as it was childish.

On the contrary, Sahra made the rounds rather frequently.

Naturally, Elliot would rather bite his tongue off than admit the slight twinge of jealousy whenever reading yet another feature article about Sahra's performances. Caught between angry customers whining about gas prices and spreadsheets, maybe this Amber could really be the steppingstone he desperately waited for.

"I can't promise you anything," Sahra turned around, nervously chewing on her lip, "but I'll give you three guesses why I am where I am."

"Because you're qualified, I hope?"

"Of course," Sahra replied bemused, "but sometimes a few links grease the gears."

"Thank you for the opportunity, then."

"Thank Amber, when the time comes." Or her father, financing half of the philharmonic's budget. "I hope you leave a good impression with the board members, our current guy is just… Ugh, don't get me started."

The audition started next month. Sahra was right, it didn't hurt to give it a try.

--------

The night passed by quite differently than expected. Not only were Sahra's friends the kind of personalities Elliot usually avoided like the plague, they also were not ashamed to show this fact off.

As soon as all formalities had been provided, Rhys, a long-term student of mechanical engineering and incredibly proud of it, demanded a round of poker. Real money as wager, that goes without saying.

Elliot considered him to be joking, at first. What pretentious fuck would actually suggest that? His decision to decline made him unpopular quicker than one could say "trust fund baby", a rough start to a night he couldn't wait to be over already.

Sahra, also in no position to finance their games, meanwhile kept herself busy with the drink supply.

"Anyone else?" she asked, empty bottles of wine in her hand with labels Elliot didn't dare try to pronounce.

The reason for his farce, however, kept herself in the center of the group to sprinkle insults like glitter among them. Mostly about Rhys being a sore loser and his girlfriend Liz, a woman as sharp as a marble.

Awkward. If nothing else, Elliot thought, this is awkward.

"I'm out," Amber sighed. Cutting her losses early, she shifted and slipped towards the corner he silently took a seat in. She kept her eyes on the game, but not without pursing her lips at every stupid joke coming from its direction.

"So you're an old school friend, huh?"

The chance he waited for. Elliot cleared his throat and switched over to the offensive: "Yeah, we met in summer music camp."

"Music camp? Wow, that explains why you're such a party animal, huh." She wordlessly mustered Sahra flitting from room to room. "Was she always like that?"

Busy uncorking another bottle for her friends? With every second, the little voice at the back of his mind doubted that they were even that.

"The mom of the group," Amber explained, as if they were all unable to stand and top up their drinks themselves. Nothing too surprising, though, especially when most of them only found an amused grin when hearing about Elliot's days in the office.

"Yeah." He insistently tried to return her attention, "How did you guys meet?"

Amber shrugged. "Here and there. They all came around one day, and we're hanging out ever since."

"That's nice." Ice cubes sloshed against the walls of his cup.

Well surrounded from all sides, Elliot had never felt so alone in his life. Better that nothing, right?

Minutes stretched into hours of draining small-talk, and minute per minute, Elliot's hopes of sneaking into this circle for certain benefits kept on dwindling. Suddenly, a shrill laugh ripped them from their chat. Liz waved her phone from side to side, short flashes of an auditorium clear to everyone around her.

"Oh my god, that's you!" she exclaimed and jumped up and down on the couch, like she just won the lottery. Seconds later, the scattered group gathered around Liz to catch a better view of the video.

This all too familiar scene stirred Elliot awake. Oh, fuck.

Not his recitals. His elementary school had taped one or the other, used in its online promotions in exchange for free lunches. Evelyn had always known how to bargain for her son.

"Wait! That's from years ago, I-"

Behind the screen, the boy gave a little bow, music sheets nearly slipping out of the folder he had tucked under his arm.

"Good evening, my name is Elliot Ribera," he chirped, "Today, I will be performing Cimarosa's Sonata No. 42 in D Minor for you."

Seriously?!

Then, he bowed again, nervously eyeing the audience to his left. Where Mom sat.

Memories came over Elliot in a flood: how nervous he had felt playing in front of maybe thirty people, how the sheets refused to flip, how his legs couldn't even reach the pedals-

"Aww, so cute," Rhys pouted. The clip showed them nothing Elliot had to feel embarrassed about; besides a rough start and a few missed modulations, yet his face still blushed red in humiliation.

"So cute," Amber parroted behind him and tapped the bridge of her nose, "Maybe you want to show us a video of your talents now - if you count snorting lines off Liz' tits as that."

Pixels of Elliot's past self chinked Cimarosa all throughout Sarah's house. Yes, this was awkward and so much more.

Yet, out of nowhere, the tension broke with Rhys' dirty laugh. If anything, these friends', if one could even call them such, had in common was the dislike of one another.

Enough now. Enough underhanded jabs, enough shallow gossip. Elliot was about to excuse himself, because of a headache he thought up, when Amber linked arms and swooped him to the side.

"I have an old box like that at home," she whispered in his ear after the rest got busy with another round of poker. Of course, she does. "How about a private performance?"

--------

Escorting her home was one thing, yet performing by hook and crook to maybe somehow let her connections help him gain an advantage suddenly felt natural to Elliot.

Trying to ignore how massive the house she had led him to was, he quickly spotted the promised piano at the back of the living room. Wiping over the old wood felt so familiar. Why not strum a bit for her?

"Alright, Amber," he smiled and lifted the piano lid, "What would you like to hear?"

The lady of the house faltered, half-up the stairwell to the first floor already, and looked back at him in bewilderment. A long pause stretched out between them, until her face finally twisted into confusion:

"I kinda don't care for the music thing you got going. Sorry, I guess."

Didn't. Care. He should have stayed home today, should have saved himself from this complete disaster.

"Okay…" Perhaps she just needed some idiot to bring her home safely. "Then that's the part where I say goodnight. Anyway, it was such a pleasure meeting you."

"Oh, was it?" she barked, irritated.

At this, Elliot was speechless. The one chance he had tonight never existed to begin with, a big ruse that leeched any kind of patience left in him. And now, this.

Amber leaned on the handrail, focusing on her guest down at her feet: "So, the whole night you suck up to me and when I give you a free pass you'd rather just piss off?"

Free pass? Not this again.

"No. God, no, this is not what I wanted-"

"But you want something. You all do. I don't mind, but don't you even have the courtesy to fuck me for it? How boring. Looks like we both don't get what we want tonight."

She looked offended, Elliot realized, offended that he didn't use her in a way she liked. To prostitute himself for a better likelihood to perhaps get a part?

Thank you, Sahra, but I waive.

"That's fine by me." Elliot slipped back into his jacket, voice firm: "But to be clear, I'm not-"

Her eyes widened. In the blink of an eye, her face turned pale and Amber collapsed on the stairs.

Elliot jumped forward, barely catching her before hitting her temple on the banister. Shit! Both his arms wrapped around her shoulders, struggling to slowly pull her to the floor and always careful to protect her head.

"Hello?" Elliot laid her down and lifted both her legs up over his shoulder, "HELLO?"

Never meet up with old schoolmates again. Never, never, never!

After a few grueling seconds, Amber's eyes fluttered back open. She coughed, once or twice, and growled weakly: "Not again…"

"Should I call someone?" Elliot's heartbeat danced on his tongue, too scared of letting her go, "Do you need an ambulance?"

"Yes. No. It's just this blood pressure thing I've got." Rolling her eyes, in annoyance not distress, it was her turn to be embarrassed about nothing now.

After making sure her consciousness wouldn't leave him again, he ran across the room and back to her. From off the couch, Elliot had swiped a few pillows and stuffed them under her head and knees. More and more, Amber found her voice despite the scare still shaking her to the core: "Don't you dare take a pic."

He halted, then scoffed. "Why would I? What the hell is wrong with you people?"

Strangely, she just snickered. Chortling at first, until it turned into full-blown giggles, like her request wasn't disturbing enough.

"That's not funny, Amber." Elliot ran a stressed hand through his hair, "Someone needs to have an eye on you."

"Good luck with that. Chase went out, and my parents won't come back until next week."

Great, fucking stellar. He knew what he was about to demand from himself: "I don't want to leave you alone tonight."

"Really now?" Amber squinted over to him and raised one eyebrow. "I'm fine, dude. Probably."

"Not if you might faint again."

Amber didn't mind his objection, suddenly, and gave a short nod. He helped her up onto the couch to settle down beside each other. In the soft light of the chandelier, Amber appeared much smaller. Frightened, maybe.

"The house gets so quiet at night."

Perplexed, Elliot gave her more space to study the carpet fibers intensely. She was a lot gentler when alone and none of her minions swarmed around her. Cute, he might say.

"Is Chase your boyfriend or…"

"Brother," she clarified.

"Got it." Lucky him, nobody would beat him up for coming home with her. That's what he got for messing around, so he might as well make the best out of it.

"You looked disappointed there for a second, Elli!" she cackled. Not nastily, not dismissively. And though Elliot only rolled his eyes at the nickname, he thought that this cheesy side fit her quite well.

It would stay the only jab in the following hours, as minutes turned into hours again, this time drifting past like a dream. Elliot didn't play for her that night, a temporary goodbye at dawn forcing them apart, but promised to meet her again the next weekend. After all, they wanted to make up for the rough evening.

A decision Elliot never not regretted.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Thanks for reading 🤍 [Masterlist]

Taglist: @whatwasmyprevioususername, @canislycaon24

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jackiequick · 2 years ago

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You’re just jealous [Jake x Amber]

Jake Seresin x Amber Kazansky fic

Top Gun Maverick AU, TGM x OC, Hangman x OC & etc

Continuing of the last fics

Warning: Fluff, Angst, two full blown total idiots in love who want to just kiss each other and a few misspelled words haha. Sorry if it’s kinda long tho <3

Jake was always a simple man with a plan and sometimes his plans get two huge, even sometimes worsens the ego he hate to admit he has. The man doesn’t even realize when it happens, especially when it involves a lucky lady he’s attractive to. When he feels that toothy grin creeping up on his face, he just know he’s got it bad for you. So imagine what happens when his plans for a simple return to Top Gun and become possibly a frontline teammate gets throw off course due to the young blonde woman who he met two days ago at the bar becomes an interesting target to keep an eye for while his time here? It’s difficult!

Especially with him knowing she hasn’t just caught his eye but plenty of his so called teammates! More importantly his friend Coyote and Rooster. Hangman wouldn’t say he’s jealous but it clear that he wanted her to notice him just as much as Amber is noticing them. Currently he’s sitting nears a table against the wall glancing up at Amber laughing to something Rooster said, touching each other’s arms, being all sweet and charming with each other. At the same time another young woman came up to the pair, who he recognized as Mitchell walking past them catching Rooster’s eye as he run to catch up with her, not before hugging Amber goodbye. Jake even noted the sigh that escaped her lips once Rooster left her alone in the hallway.

Hangman eyes widen and muttered, “Oh so now he has two woman under his radar?! Just pick one, god damn it! Hell next thing you know, he will be after me next!” Jake kept mumbling about this thoughts as more came into focus, hating how much he was getting fumed over this. It was simple, he wanted one girl, and that was Skysolo, he just needed to impressed but still couldn’t fight off this feeling of this Bradshaw jealousy. So he decided he was gonna use it against him with the newfound information he got with Coyote earlier. He didn’t even noticed the said one woman came into his view until she cleared her voice, “Uhhh, hello?”

She saw the way Hangman snapped out of gaze from looking out into the hallway up to her eyes with a soft smile that laced his lips. God, she can stare at those lips, most importantly his eyes for days on end, she wouldn’t lie when she said she had a crush on the pilot. Her father and uncle always said, ‘Dating a pilot is a rough business, sweetheart. They are tough, get jealous especially with their ego getting in the way and they don’t always stay in one place. Yet they are charming, gentle and sweet.’ So hell yeah, Amber Nic was all in to risk her heart for Hangman. Jake took a moment to respond, “Hey darlin’…h-how are you doing?”

“I’m fine. Just collecting notes for today’s session. You arrived early.” She smiled taking a seat next to him.

“Yeah I decided why not come early and get a good seat for the show. Where would you be seat, my dear?”

She blushed slightly at the nickname, leaning into his shoulder, “.. huh? Maybe I’ll be seated right up front to notice all of you.”

“You can sit next to me.” He replies, gently slipping his hand onto of her giving it a gentle squeeze.

“And Coyote?”

“He will be seated on my left side.”

“Hmmmmm I’ll think about it.”

They noticed how alone they were at the moment. Jake decided to take a chance and ask her out before anyone else got the chance to do. He cleared his throat, “Hey i know we just met..a few days ago and your the big boss’s daughter. B-but I’ll um, I’ll like to take you out something. Dinner and a walk by the beach?”

She smiled rose filled cheeks and nodded loving the idea, “I’ll love that, sweetheart. Maybe if your lucky, tomorrow night? I’ll be free.”

“And if today goes well..can we get a teased for tomorrow night?”

“Let’s see how it goes first, Hangman.”

“Alright, Miss Skysolo.”

And just like that, class started with Maverick teaching and Amber taking notes to send later to Iceman and the rest of the chiefs, keeping an eye on the aviators skills. As training went back and forth in and out of the classroom. The sessions was long and tedious but worth it, hell Amber even got to fly in one of the planes for betterment of her reports. That was until the team broke off, refusing to work as a unit and learn the main lesson from the beginning of this mission. Even worse, Jake dropped a bombshell that fired her up as Maverick yelled to focus and knock it off. Jake turned to Bradley smirking wanting paybacks for the looks and ways he’s been acting during training, especially with the woman in charge.

He decided now was a moment to rile him up, “This is comeback son! Anyone in this room can see itself, a man like Maverick files with ease and confidence but this mission is nothing he ever seen before.”

Rooster scoffed, “What’s supposed to mean? I know I’m flying my best and doing whatever need to done around.”

“Yeah even playing teacher’s pet. I’ve seen the strong looks you give to Skysolo and Maverick here! High chance it won’t go anywhere playing favorites on the field.”

“You got a problem Hangman, take it outside! I am no teachers pet and they aren’t treating me any different from you.”

He scoffed letting out a drawl, “Cute. But let’s be real, it’s no surprise Maverick used to fly with Rooster’s old man. And how his old man was friends with Amber’s old man, so of course you want something out of it.”

Maverick tried cutting him off telling him to knock it off and Amber stayed silent fuming, turning not piercing ice cold but like a fiery hit that would keep you solo in the skies without any air to breathe. “Hangman, Rooster that’s enough!” She shouted loudly but without a second to separate the conversation both men argument grew and punches were ready to be thrown out having everyone up front, even her, trying to separated both men. It went as far as a solid elbow in the chest being thrown from Amber herself onto both men who stumbled backwards. No one expected it as Maverick dismissed everyone. Bradley running off finding a familiar face in the hallways right before seeing Amber who glared at him.

She huffed, “Seriously?!”

“You heard what he said?! We all did!” He growled.

“He was just being a jerk about it.”

“Did you tell him or anyone about that?”

“Of course not! I kept that secret under lock and key, we all did. Bradley..Rooster i love you and your my friend, i would never say anything that hurt you. You know that…”

He sighed rubbing his face, “Yeah..your right. Sorry. It’s just, Hangman doesn’t change and never does. His ego is huge…”

“..most pilot’s egos are hugely impacted and impulsive. You go calm down and I’ll handle this..”

Just then, Jenny Mitchell ran up to the pair yelling gently, “I heard what happened from down the hall! The shouting was..something else. You two alright?” She looked at them with concern written over her face squeezing Rooster’s hand and smiles at Skysolo. They nodded.

Rooster walked away with Jenny holding his hand gently onto a space far away from the classroom to talk, Amber on the other hand stormed off finding Hangman sitting outside the building on a bench, head on his hand bitting his lip. The heat was in the air. She sat down next to him, “You. Are. In. Big. Trouble. Lieutenant.”

He looked up at her, leaning back bitting his lips and running a hand though his hair. “I screwed up. But i know I’m right.”

“Oh god..”

“Rooster isn’t cut out for this mission! I am! Not him! He’s playing stupidly the teachers pet card and has history with Maverick and it is clear as day he can’t focus up there for shit. He has this head up in the clouds and fear is gonna come bitting him in the ass if he doesn’t focus.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Bullshit?! You know I’m right, Amber! Come on!”

“Of course you are playing that card! Maverick and Rooster got history, Jake. I can’t explain it and tell you, even if I tried. Yes you got a point about him freaking out up there but there is something else…what is it?”

“I don’t know what your talking about.”

“Yes, you do. Something else is eating you up when it comes to Rooster, what is it?!” She stood saying the last part.

He looked away taking a bite out of his cheek and looked up at her, “It’s nothing. I’m just pissed off that..that’s all!”

“Just say it! What are you? Jealous?!”

“Ha! Jealous of what?! Who?!”

“ROOSTER! BRADSHAW! Are you jealous of him?”

It was his turn to stand up huffing, “I. Am. Not. Jealous! Especially not of freaking Bradshaw! ”

She scoffed half smiling and sighed shaking her head, “You’re just jealous of him! When you clearly shouldn’t be when you are just as good! Even better in the skies than he is!”

“How do you know that?! You don’t even know half it!”

“Cause I read your files, stupid! You fly just as good, matter a fact just as great to navigate a plane like your instructor or even my father, you could be legendary if you wanted to, but you are being held back by jealousy that you should not even be feeling!”

The tension was rising and feelings were beating each other roughly. Jake was completely taken back by her words and the potential he sees in her, knowing she might not be able to say that in there because of her role to this mission. Damn, she cares and so does he. He stood there looking down at her like a deer in headlights in awe of her expression and sighed, still angry but now less.

He saw the fire in her eyes and he could’ve said that he found seriously hot but he was half scared of a slap to the face. “Damn..anything else?” He merely said getting closer, his chest puffing staring down at her lips.

“Are you jealous of him..?” She asked getting even closer, staring up into his glossy eyes.

“A bit. Yeah I am. It’s all because of you.”

“M-me?”

“Yes, you! The way Rooster looks at you..it makes me jealous, okay. Because i look at you the same way…i-i can’t believe I’m saying this…I want you, damn it!

Amber bite the inside of her cheek, “..I-I um..ugh damn it Hangman. You just made it worse.”

His eyes widened, “Why?! How did I make it worse?”

“Because I want you too, god damn it! I wanted you the first day i saw you!”

“So why didn’t you say anything me?!”

“Because i thought you didn’t want me back or even cared to think of me that way!”

“Well shit…you were the first woman to make me excited and interested in seeing someone at the same time, because now i did want you! I think I have feeling for you!..I can’t believe I just said that out loud..”

It’s like the world gone silent for her, for both of them. They’re ears were hot and heavy, both chests huffing high, the pair stood even closer to each other barley a inch away from holding each other’s hand. She stepped back and thought for moment, ‘Hangman got feelings for me?!’

It wasn’t what she was expecting from him, at all. Hell he wasn’t expecting to say that out loud himself. But she responded anyway, “If you want me, Jake. Really want me as much i as I do. Then prove it. But don’t go storming in that room fighting against him or your teammates…cause…because you already had me…I said yes to that date, remember!”

“Yeah i do, of course I remember that and I’m glad I finally did ask you..but i just had to prove to Bradshaw and to myself back there…I’m so stupid..oh god..” He said, hating to admit him looking down at her.

“You already have and you didn’t have to prove it anyone expect yourself that what we have so far, is worth my time..”

“...damn..now i see why you were chosen for the job, you see a lot in people..darlin’ how do i prove it? Because you are worth my time..”

“I-i..just…be the charming, sweet, fumbling guy that made me smile from day one…”

He broke into a slow smile hearing that, “You think I’m charming?”

“Oh my god.” She said rolling her eyes, half smiling then walked away onto the streets to her car.

Hangman yelled from his spot like a complete idiot with a sigh, “Hey! A-Hold on darlin’ we can talk!”

“I’m still mad at you for what you did today, but at the same time i swear I could kiss you right now...” She shouted hallway down the street, with him following behind her.

“Please do, kiss me..!” He now half smiled saying that, deep down still feeling bad, “..only if and when it feels right…”

“No, I mean I don’t care how bad I want you, after what happened I don’t know what to think…I still care, I really do!”

“You ain’t the only one who’s upset here, Amber! So am i, but I can’t stand here and not say that I’m dying to kiss you..and I’m sorry for what I did..”

“I-i know you are, whatever it is that is going on between us or anything will have to wait. Got it?” She yelled turning back at him pointing around, “How we feel right now, it doesn’t make up for that stunt.”

“You’re right, yeah our first kiss or whatever will have to wait! But i will wait until the storm leaves..but you should know i am very sorry..I’m sorry okay, i was a total jerk! I screwed up because i was trying to impress you..What do you want me to do about it?” He yelled back admitting to his second mistake.

“Um..just change your behavior for tomorrow please, that’s all I’m asking for now, it will be a new day and we will see, if we make it to that date tomorrow…”

“Tomorrow is a new day..I will make it up to you! I promise…”

“..we will see about that. Bye, Jake.”

She heading down the street as her anger melted away hearing all of this. Amber rolled her eyes, figuring out at that moment how much a handful her favorite Lieutenant really was, he has become something else over the days, you can only start hoping what tomorrow must hold. Jake ran off to tell Javy everything he could about what happened and wondering how his southern romantic, so called now charming side can fix this. He knew he screwed up big time and made a few mistakes but there are always options for certain better things to happen.

Arriving to her car, she sighed looking at the dashboard, looking out at the horizon checking her phone to see missed calls and text messages from her father and uncle knowing she will need to respond tonight. Maverick needed to find a way to turn this shit around sooner or later, make this team into an actual one. She texted him as the two of them came up with a plan worthy of bringing this crew of individuals into one clear unit.

Amber went home to speak with her father who was waiting for her in his office. Iceman stayed in his office until she came home, moments like this he didn’t talk too much due to being tired. But he still made the effort to do so.

“There you are dad…” She said and before she could say another line she read the screen on the computer. It read ‘Maverick told me all about it. Especially the fight. We can turn this around with a few team activities.’

She smiled, “How does a day on the beach for everyone sound?”

This time he response using his strong solid voice, “Sounds perfect.”

Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoy the story so far <3 Did you like it? Tell me what did you think about. ;)

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @t-nd-rfoot @eagerforthesky @mandylove1000 @topgun-imagines @mcbident @raphroseybeanpie @yetanotherwells @happilycameron @msrochelleromanofffelton @gcthvile @rooster-84 and etc

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