#the one where slider is jake's dad

[startrekfangirl2233-writes]

I Wanted to Be

A Ron 'Slider' Kerner Imagine

Description: Kids, family, all of those things that people always talk about as being the be-all, end-all, goal? Those things have never been on Ron Kerner's list. All he wants to do is fly. What happens when an old friend's little sister calls him for help?

Everything changes.

Warnings: Dead-beat dad, Mentioned Pregnancy, Mentioned Childbirth, Tooth Rotting Fluff

Word Count: 2939

A/N: This is another Discord fueled thought. @mayhemmanaged and I were talking about how we thought that Jake was either Ice's son or Slider's. I had a sudden urge to explore that thought and here we are!

AO3: Cross-posted Here!

My Masterlist

Texans have a saying or cautionary tale for nearly everything. Everything, it seems, except what you can tell your best friend's little sister when her no-good husband runs away from her and the baby she's carrying. When she'd called him, sobbing, he hadn't known what to do. What can you tell a twenty-five year old nine month pregnant woman you haven't seen in close to a decade? In the case of one Ron Kerner, mostly known as Slider nowadays, you don't say a word. Instead, you get emergency leave and hop onto the nearest transport home. 

The tiny town of Cistern is exactly as he remembers it, hot, dry, and dusty. The sole bus trundles through town just as he pulls into the solitary gas station and steps out. It feels weird being back here. As much as Cistern hasn't changed, he knows he has. A quick stop at the pump station for fuel that sloshes sluggishly into the near empty tank of the truck he'd rented in Austin, and he's off again. Driving west a ways and then north until the only things he sees are scrub and the odd glimpse of cattle. 

The turn-off to the Petersen ranch looks just like he remembers it, though the sign says Seresin now. Was that the name of the idiot who ran away? In all honesty, Ron can't be pressed to remember. All that matters is the girl waiting on the porch when the truck rattles to a stop. She looks the same as he remembers. Little Rebecca Petersen, not so little and decidedly not a Petersen anymore, but god does she not remind him still of the little thing that used to run around behind him and Danny, all knees, toothy grin and covered in freckles.

That grin, at least, is exactly the same. So is the teasing tone as she greets him as he walks up the front stairs. "Well, well, well, look at what the cat dragged in! If it isn't Ron Kerner, the big-shot Naval Aviator. What brings you back to sleepy old Cistern?" 

"You know what." He can't help the sober turn to his voice as he hugs her gingerly, not sure of where to put his arms, not when the bulge of her belly is in the way. God, doesn't he wish he'd never said those words as soon as they left his mouth, though. Because that smile is gone, like the sun hidden by the clouds.

"You're here because of Brian." Her voice is tired, so tired that Ron can't help trying to make the girl he promised he'd protect smile again.

"Naw, Becks. I'm here for you and this little thing. Only in part for him." 

It's words that he didn't know were true until 3 days later when he's standing in the maternity ward of the hospital and being handed a tiny squalling infant with a shock of honey hair and the tightest grip he's ever felt. The newly named Jacob Daniel Seresin seems to be just as enamored of Ron as Ron is of him. Say what you will about the little guy's deadbeat dad, but he made an awfully cute baby.

That instant shock of attachment stays with Ron for a long time afterward. He looks forward to receiving the letters Rebecca sends monthly, filled with polaroids of small Jake as he grows bigger and bigger. He can track every milestone on that little body from how he grows to the first tooth that comes painfully into that little mouth.

But he does not actually see the boy or his mama again for nearly five years. Things have changed considerably over that time. Ron's raked in another promotion, making him a full lieutenant. Ice met a girl and made her his wife, and to top it all off, they're both in Texas again. So on the first long weekend he gets, Ron hops into the old Ford truck he'd put together when he turned sixteen and drives straight up to Cistern.

This time, he drives up to the Seresin house to hear giggling and gets out of his truck just in time to catch a little boy in just a pair of shorts as he goes running past. It's the light dusting of freckles and toothy grin that he'd recognize anywhere which clues him into exactly who he's holding.

"Hey, kiddo. I'm your Uncle Ron. Dunno if you remember me." His voice is gruff as he turns the giggling brat upside down like he's looking for a way to turn a little robot off. Through giggles, he's gratified to hear the boy introduce himself as Jake. This time, the Rebecca he sees in the kitchen of the ranch house she grew up in and where she's raising her son is more like the happy teenager he'd left behind when he enlisted with her big brother. It still irks him that he couldn't protect Daniel. But he's going to protect Rebecca and Daniel's namesake as fiercely as he can.

"Hey, Becks. Y'missing something? I caught this little gremlin running around out there. Is this what you're looking for?" He can't resist tickling the bare tummy of the boy in his arms just to hear the musical giggles.

"Mama, Uncle Sly's here!" The piping voice of the little boy standing there all of two feet tall wearing just shorts is enough to crack even the crustiest aviator's stone heart. Rebecca's boy is a dusty, golden skinned marvel with his sun-bleached blonde hair and huge slightly gap-toothed grin. It feels like home, this place. That weekend, Ron spends more time out on a ranch than he has in years. Rebecca may have managed to keep the ranch going, but who's going to teach Jake everything he needs to know when his daddy isn't around? Anyways, that's Ron's rationale.

Soon after that, though, he's given orders. He's shipped all over the world, flying for the Navy. It seems like his star is on the rise, and while he's Lieutenant Commander and Captain Kerner in short order, he still stays Uncle Sly for one little boy who turns into a teenager back in Cistern seemingly overnight. Ron does his best to show up for all of the kid’s biggest milestones, but even he can’t hop onto a helo every time Jake has a baseball game or wins an award at school. Those weeks, Ron does his best to call and talk to the kid as much as he can.

He talks to Rebecca on the phone enough to know that the kid's struggling with something, something he won't talk to his Mama about. So the next time Ron's home, he heads to Cistern, as always with gifts in hand for the boy he loves like he is his own. Unlike prior snatched moments, Seresin Ranch is crackling with a tension Ron's never felt before. Jake's on the front porch, and Ron's suddenly struck by how grown up the boy seems, especially with how tall he is and the new manly breadth of his shoulders. 

"Hey, Kiddo." As he tugs the kid into a hug, Ron can feel some tension leave those still small shoulders.

"Uncle Sly." Something's not right. Jake's not smiling today, not at all.

"What is it, kid?" A sudden jolt of fear rushes through Ron. "Where's your mom, kid?'

"She's in there, Uncle Sly, in the kitchen. With a man who's claiming to be my dad." The rage that burns in his chest is unlike any other that Ron's ever felt before. Sure enough, when he stalks into the kitchen, it's to see the one man he'd never wanted to see menacing Rebecca ever again.

"Brian." That one word is all it takes for Rebecca's shoulders to relax. Fifteen years have not treated Brian Seresin well. Not at all. His hair is graying and greasy, he's got a paunch and he's obviously drunk off his feet if the way he lists back and forth is any indication. "What are you doing back in Cistern?"

Ron's quick to gather Rebecca back behind him, knowing that Brian Seresin would never be bold enough to try to get to her, not through him, anyway. Jake’s followed him in, as always his shadow

"Wanted my woman back, Kerner. And my kid." He sniffs, wiping away yellow-tinged mucus on the leg of the dirtiest jeans that Ron's ever seen. "S'not fair, y'know? That you got to keep her and the brat while I was off. D'she treat y'well? She's great in bed, ain't she?"

It takes every fiber in his being to not deck the man for what he's saying about Rebecca. Thankfully Jake's holding his ma, otherwise he'd have launched himself at the fool to get his share of the beat down. It’s at that moment that Sly is glad they’d sent lawyers after Brian Seresin after Jake was born because it means he doesn’t have a claim on Rebecca or Jake anymore. They have the denial of parental rights and a divorce agreement to prove it. It doesn't take much more than a quirked eyebrow to get the man to spill the entire sordid tale. How he'd lost a lot of money and wanted to claim what he believed he was owed from Seresin Ranch. 

"Call Sheriff Weatherby, Becks." When Ron finally speaks, the calm in his voice surprises even him. He sounds Ice-cold, which he guesses is what you get for spending the better part of a decade flying with the same person. "We've got an intruder on Seresin Ranch." 

It doesn't surprise him in the slightest that it's Jake who picks up the landline and dials up Sheriff Weatherby, not at all. It's hours later, once one Brian Seresin has been carted away and Rebecca is asleep, that Ron finds Jake again. The kid's sitting in an old tire swing Ron had set up years ago, rocking idly while staring up into the endless expanse of stars in the sky above. 

"So, that's him, huh? My pops, the man who walked out before I was even born?" He sounds so torn up about it, this gangly teen boy who loves his Mama to distraction and who would do anything to protect her. That's something they have in common.

"Yeah, kid." Ron doesn't try to hide the anger in his face, not now.

"Why did he come back? Why didn't he just stay away?" Ron's hand is gentle on the kid's back as he tries to think for a response.

"I dunno, kid. I wish he had never come back. Your Mama isn't the type to cry. But every time I've heard her cry it has been because of that man." The rage building in his chest causes a near imperceptible shake in his hands.

"Why didn't you ever marry Mama, Uncle Sly? You love her, I know you do. Then you can come home to us more often, can't you?" That one innocent observation is enough to have his entire world reeling. What would it be like? Having Becks to come home to? To have this kid, her son, as his own? Is he so easy to read that a teenager can tell what his most closely guarded secret is?

"I dunno kid. But enough about me. What's eating at you?" Ron's a little scared of the answer he's going to get.

"I want to fly, Uncle Sly. Like you do, like Uncle Daniel did." Jake's green eyes are all Rebecca's, all Daniel's and Ron can see the boy he loved like a brother in Jake's face. "D-d'you think I can do it?"

"It's dangerous, kid. But yeah. If there was anyone who could do it, it'd be you. You’ve got your mom’s determination and all of her support, too. Just don’t forget that you’ve got people who love you waiting for you, and you’ll be all set."

Those are obviously words Jake holds close to his heart. Because, before Ron's hit Vice-Admiral, Jake's already at the academy. He's taking Annapolis by storm, making his Mama and his dad, because thanks to the kid's prodding it's Ron and Rebecca Kerner now, incredibly proud. Ron's happy to find he has to wipe away tears when he sees his son, his son, get his wings a few short years later. Then there's another Kerner's star on the rise. His son’s.

He keeps a finger on the pulse of every deployment, every test, and beams with pride to see Jake graduate from Top Gun. That pride sits warm in his chest even as he gets a call from the one California number he'd memorized that he could never forget.

"Mr. Iceman! How're you doing?" The relationship between pilot and RIO hasn't changed over the past years. Neither of them flies anymore, but the bonds they built over 30 years ago haven't changed.

"It's about your kid, Sly." Ron can hear the hoarseness creeping into Ice's tone even now.

"What's going on, Tom?" After a life's service to the US Navy, Rear Admiral Ron 'Slider' Kerner isn't surprised to hear that Jake's been selected for a special detachment. The dad in him, though? He's terrified shitless. Nearly 30 years of loving that boy doesn’t feel like enough all of a sudden, not when Jake's going to be sent on a mission so dangerous that talking about it feels like a jinx. Even the heads up from the COMPACFLT doesn't help.

It's a tense few weeks in Texas. Ron terrorizes the base in Corpus Christi, his mind in Miramar with his son while his body is in Texas. Rebecca is equally distraught. Then Ron gets another call that fills him with sadness all over again. It is Sarah calling, "Hey Ron. Just wanted to tell you that he's gone. Tom's gone. The cancer. It came back with a vengeance. The doctors couldn't do anything. He passed away this morning."

During the entirety of the service, Ron can't help but feel like he would've given anything to see his best friend again one more time before he died. It's sad reconnecting with the rest of their 1986 cohort at the bar later. It’s even worse seeing his son stand somberly kitted out in his own whites across the way from him. He doesn’t, can’t go near him, mainly because nobody knows that Jake is Rear Admiral Kerner’s kid. But he can't help but feel like Tom would've wanted him to hug his boy instead. So that's what Rear Admiral Ron Kerner does. He hugs his son, tight, as many times as he can before he leaves. He watches from the docks as the carrier departs and waits with bated breath.

Rebecca channels her nerves into baking. She fills the house they rent off base with pastries, cookies, cakes and pies, most of which are Jake's favorites. Then it’s a waiting game. Ron calls in every favor he has in order to get more information on the mission Jake’s on, really for anything he can get. As it turns out, there is very little information that even an admiral can get. So all he can do is hold Rebecca close and pray. It’s frankly the longest three days of his life. He’s more tense than he was even during the Leyte Gulf incident, which feels like a world, a lifetime ago. That first call from Jake they get has his knees weak. The relief coursing through his system is too good to be true. So’s the first look he gets of his son when the carrier docks two days later.

The milling crowd of families lets out a roar of excitement when the first of the ship’s crew sets foot on shore. Ron wraps an arm around Rebecca, and keeps an eagle eye on the waves of departing sailors looking for aviator green flight suits. The crowd clears piece by piece and they still haven’t seen their boy or any of the aviators. They’re some of the only people waiting, and Ron can feel Rebecca’s tremors as she clutches at her necklace and rears up onto her tiptoes every once in a while. She sags against his chest and that’s when Ron finally sees their golden boy. He looks exhausted, but he’s safe, he’s home. Rebecca runs right for him first, and Ron can’t help his grin when he sees how tall Jake is in comparison to his Mama. The kid’s not shy about his love for Rebecca either. He introduces her to the aviators and then Ron’s being beckoned forward.

“And this is my pop, Admiral Kerner.” He’s got a shit-eating grin on his face and god if that doesn’t remind Ron of Daniel again.

“Hey, kid.” Ron can’t help the fond grin on his face or the amusement when he sees Jake’s squadron rise into salutes the minute they hear his title. There’s a face in his squadron that Ron didn’t think he’d ever see again. There’s also somebody nearby who he hasn’t seen in decades. 

“Baby Goose. Mav.” Ron’s nod is slight.

“Hey Sly. A kid huh?” Ron can’t resist smiling as he hugs the shorter man. 

“Yeah, Mav. I had to catch up.” Watching Becks fawn over Jake again is everything he’s ever wanted. 

“He’s a good one, you know, Sly?” As Ron stands shoulder to shoulder with Pete Mitchell again, watching their boys realize that they’re closer than they ever could have known, Ron knows one thing. He may have never intended to be a dad, but standing at the docks thirty years later, he knows he wouldn't have wanted to do anything else. 

Taglist:

@mayhemmanaged, @desert-fern, @cassiemitchell, @dakotakazansky, @sarahsmi13s, @roosters-girl

I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE MY WORK POSTED, TRANSLATED, OR PUBLISHED ON ANY SITES OTHER THAN HERE OR ON AO3 BY ME. IF YOU SEE MY WORKS ANYWHERE OTHER THAN HERE OR AO3, THEN THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND I WILL BE WORKING TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

[the-ace-with-spades]

A sitcom-like/humour fic AU where Bradley's papers haven't been pulled and he does land in USNA but he's doing everything and anything not to be labeled as the nepo baby even though he definitely is a nepo baby

This would include:

- Bradley knowing things he isn't supposed to know as a first year (plebe?) because he had inside sources (Ice and Slider) and things didn't change much

- Every single person from the personnel knowing who he is and Bradley ditching attempts to use him as a stepping ladder to meet Ice and/or Mav

- Having to listen to his crush (Hangman) making whole odes about his old man (either Mav or Ice, you pick)

- Pretending he doesn't know Slider when he comes to visit as a 'guest speaker', including when Slider tries to speaks to him, making Slider seem crazy

- Lying to everyone that he had a family emergency and that's why he was gone the last two weeks of summer training when in reality Ice pulled him out because he wanted to take him and Mav to the seaside somewhere in Europe

- When they get an opportunity to get a pilot licence along their studies, he fakes ignorance and signs up again (despite already having a pilot licence) and then demolishes everyone and gets banned from flying in the training group (*cough* Mav's influence *cough*)

- Doing the craziest mental summersaults and pretending he didn't know who Ice was when he was driving him back to the Academy and talking to him at the meet point and people saw ("Oh was that Admiral Kazansky? I thought he'd be taller")

- Hangman: So what your parents do for a living? Rooster: My dad works admin (there's a lot of paperwork when you're an admiral) and the other one is switching to research (testing planes kinda is research)

- After Ice's impromptu visit (poor Ice has the empty nest syndrome...) - some of his classmates gossiping: Did you hear that apparently the Iceman is gay? Bradley, with a fake pikachu face, even though he had literally helped Mav choose the engagement ring for Ice: Nah, not possible.

- Also, Bradley knowing that telling Jake would impress him so much but feeling absolutely physically ill whenever he thinks why and ending up not telling Jake for years (like, up until a dinner before graduation when Jake the Boyfriend gets asked to dinner and brings the Iceman a discounted pot plant that's half dying as the meet-the-parents gift and promptly has an anxiety attack on the front porch when Bradley does tell him)

- Bradley making elaborate excuses why Mav and Ice can't meet his academy friends when they're staying close to their home, to the point Mav starts thinking he's embarrassed by them

There was something else that I'm forgetting rn so might add more later

[romcomxdd]

tg headcanons pt 2

Bradley’s karaoke song, which he only pulls out when he is PISSED drunk, is ‘let’s here it for the boy’ by Deneice Williams

Jake’s is ‘Fake ID’ by Big&Rich and Gretchen Wilson

We’re gonna pretend that Despicable Me was out when Bradley was a kid. He was watching it on the couch one afternoon when first Mav, then Ice did the dad thing where they stand behind the couch and watch from afar. By the time the third one came out, they all went to the cinemas to see it, and Mav was honestly more excited abt it than Bradley.

Bob plays Minecraft to chill out after work. He’s scary good at it but usually only plays single player.

Mav tried out for his schools basketball team after people called him short, but he didn’t get in. So out of spite he joined the netball team (which was so small they didn’t have seperate gendered teams, though the majority of them were girls) and he absolutely dominated. Not because he was a dude and he had an unfair advantage but because he was so short he was the perfect centre and he would appear outta no where. So when the basketball team coach offered him a position on the team (which was doing pretty shit) he declined and stayed with the netball team until he graduated.

He still stays in touch with the team and calls them ’The Girls’ to Ice.

Nat is an absolute god at ping pong/table tennis. She’s unstoppable and most of the squad learnt pretty fast not to challenge her unless they wanted their pockets cleaned out.

Slider has a video of Ice singing ‘ice ice baby’ when he was drunk, he went full out rapper, he was impressively committed, which he uses to blackmail him whenever he wants something.

Jake has a birthmark on the left side of his back, just under his shoulder blade, and Bradley loves peppering kisses around it.

[caystar13star]

Update: I wrote it:

Ok I know it was said that originally Jake was supposed to be Iceman’s son. Let’s say he is, along with his twin brother, Tyler. They grew up mostly in Texas because that’s where their Aunt Sarah and Uncle Slider ended up when Ice started climbing the ranks. They decided as a family (Ice/Mav and Sarah/Slider) that the boys would be better off having a stable home. They did spend their summers with their dad and Mav whenever they could, and they would come visit the boys when they were on leave.

They knew Bradley, but weren’t especially close since he was several years older. Tyler was jealous of him because he lived with Ice and Mav after Carole died (he and Jake were offered the choice but Jake didn’t want to leave their school and Tyler didn’t want to leave Jake.)

Anyway, both boys were super excited about going to the Academy and becoming aviators like their dad(s) and uncles. They were popular in school, but while Jake played baseball and football, Tyler rode in the rodeo.

Tyler was good, like potentially going pro good, until he was stepped on by a bull when he was sixteen. It broke the bone in his thigh, leading to him having a rod put in to stabilize it. He woke up from surgery to see Jake passed out in Mav’s lap, and Mav crying as he held Tyler’s hand.

“Pops?” he croaked, squeezing his hand softly. “Where’s Dad?”

Mav wiped his tears and leaned over to kiss Tyler’s forehead. “He’s coming, baby. He had to wrap some stuff up in Hawaii, and I was closer so I got here faster.”

Tyler tried to figure out the look on Mav’s face. It reminded him of when someone would bring up Bradley. He wasn’t sure why he was on the other side of that look.

“Ty, baby, we need to talk,” Mav shuddered and braced himself, not ready to do this again, but he had to be the parent here. “They had to operate on your leg, sweetheart.”

Tyler glanced down, seeing the bulky cast that reached from his ankle almost to his hip. He remembered the blinding pain he felt as the bull came down directly on his thigh. He was pretty sure he’d passed out immediately.

“Okay? Am I going to lose my leg or something?” That would explain the look. Mav didn’t do pity, but he oozed empathy. He took everyone’s pain as his own.

Mav shook his head and grabbed his hand tighter. “No, baby, no! You’ll be just fine,” he assured him. “You have a long recovery ahead, but you should be able to walk and run eventually.”

Tyler sighed in relief, looking down at his twin, noticing the dark circles under Jake’s eyes. He’d been at the rodeo, with a rowdy group of his football teammates. He must have been so worried.

“Ty,” Mav called his attention back. “They had to put a metal rod in your leg. You lost some of the bone and this was the only way to stabilize it.”

Tyler didn’t understand why he sounded so apologetic. Mav must have seen his confusion and he sighed. “Tyler, you won’t be able to fly for the Navy.”

His brain whited out for a moment, like a record scratch. His whole life had been planned as long as he could remember. He and Jake. Together in school and in the sky. They already had their pilots’ licenses as soon as they could get them. They flew their dad’s Cessna regularly just to stay fresh. But the F-18 was the goal.

What was he going to do now?

Also, Tyler has no patience for Bradley’s temper tantrum after this. He didn’t come see him when Tyler was in the hospital, and that irritated Jake too.

After the mission, they’re all reconnected and Bradley and Jake come visit Tyler to introduce him to Phoenix and Bob. Tyler is sweet and welcoming to everyone except Bradley.

Days go by and Jake wakes up one morning to hear Bradley and Tyler yelling at each other on the back porch. He runs down to play interference.

“You don’t understand, Ty! I had a right to be mad!!”

“Oh, no,” Tyler scoffed loudly, “I wouldn’t know anything about having my dreams ripped out from under me and having to completely change my life plans! I wouldn’t understand that at all!”

[tgmsunmontue]

Season to Taste - 24/? WIP

Explicit Hangster - Celebrity Chef Bradley and Naval Aviator Jake Seresin who have a relationship spanning the globe before they realize how tightly bound they are to one another. Heading into this little world.

PROLOGUE/ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FORTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN TWENTY TWENTYONE TWENTYTWO TWENTYTHREE

CHAPTER TWENTYFOUR

                He loses his temper much easier when he’s tired and he’s tired a lot the first year the restaurant is open. He knows the saying burning the candle at both ends, but he’s found some way to hollow himself out and also burn the candle from the middle as well. Of course he’s a hard worker, expects those around him to put in just as much and expects the best from them, but when Vi calls him a thoughtless and heartless bastard in Italian while the film crew are still rolling he knows he’s gone too far but his brain is so fried he doesn’t even know what it is he’s done wrong. He crashes for sixteen hours and then has to go and make several apologies. Especially to Vi.

…            …            …

                “This is Admiral Kerner.”

                “Hello Admiral, this is Bradley Bradshaw.”

                There’s a pause on the other end of the line and Bradley bites his lip. He has no idea if the man he called Uncle Sli growing up will remember him. It’s been over fifteen years since he left, and longer since he’s seen him or spoken to him. But he knows how to sweet talk people and enough people to get Slider’s work number.

                “Baby Goose?”

                “Yeah. Hi Uncle Sli… you do remember me huh?”

                “Holy shit… of course I remember you kid. And as if I could forget your face on my TV every time the misses puts it on when I’m home.”

                “Oh. Sorry?”

                “No. Don’t be sorry. It’s nice to see you doing so well. Wait. Why are you calling me?”

                “Uh, I’m really sorry to ask, but I sort of have a favor to ask. Maybe a couple of favors.”

                “Okay. So you’re calling me out of the blue, after not talking to me for years… What do you need?”

                “Uh. It’s probably available to family, I was just wondering if I could know when and where your ship will be calling into port and for how long."

                “Uh. Okay. That’s… all fine. It’s information I can share. Can I ask why?”

                “My, uh, my boyfriend I guess? He’s going to be on your ship for seven months.”

                “You have a boyfriend?”

                “Yeah. So if I could know when and where I might be able to see him, I’d really appreciate it…”

                “I’m helping you organize booty calls!”

                “Uh, yeah, sorry if that’s too – ”

                “Oh no, this is perfect. Your dad would be so proud. Using all the resources available to you so you can get your dick wet!”

                Bradley rolls his eyes and pulls a face, glad he can’t be seen. Because while he’s not wrong it’s not the only reason why Bradley wants to see Jake. He hasn’t heard things like this about his dad in a long time, not since he left Mav’s. He barely remembers his father, but considering his best friend was Maverick, Ice and Slider also considered him friends speaks enough to the joking kind of personality he can imagine him having, coupled with what his mom told him. He remembers warm laughter the most, along with music. Strong arms picking him up.

                “Also, it’s kind of romantic. Your dad was always doing sweet stuff for your mom, making the rest of us look bad.” Oh. He’s never heard that before. Never imagined what kind of partner his dad might have been like and he adds it to the little list he keeps tucked away in his head. “Of course, he was also a terrible flirt, ladies flocked to him. Lucky for the rest of us all he did was flirt and he’d send them our way.”

                Okay, maybe more than he wants or needs to know about his dad.

                “Yeah, anyway Uncle Slider, thank you so much for this. Let me know what I can do to repay you… maybe come and cook you and your wife dinner?”

                “Well, I wouldn’t say no to that, she’d kill me if she found out you’d offered and I turned it down. But I have to ask… does Ice not know about this boyfriend? He could have got you the same info.”

                “Yeah, I know, but… No. He doesn’t know. I kind of want to keep it on the down low for now. We’re only just starting out… Very early days.” God, he doesn’t want to say it’s literally only weeks old, can only imagine how crazy other people might think he is.

                “No no, wait, go back. You mean I know something before Ice? Not only that you have a boyfriend but that he’s a good Navy boy…”

                “Actually he’s one of your aviators,” Bradley says, because there’s no point in not sharing that information. As soon as he sends the care packages and asks Slider to deliver them, he’s going to know exactly who it is. Fuck. He really needs to give Jake a heads up.

                “Jesus kid. Seriously?”

                “Yeah.”

                “Wow. You really couldn’t escape even when you tried huh?”

                Bradley laughs, because yeah, he guesses it might look like that from the outside, but Jake’s career doesn’t actually matter to him, other than the fact that he’s now got the background niggling worry that he’s in a dangerous profession. He finds that there’s no longer any bitterness about not being an aviator himself.

                “Well, I didn’t exactly go seeking him out. Just happens to be what he does, and well… you’re right. I’m not above using any contacts I might have to keep an eye on him and keep him in some comforts of home.”

                Slider snorts at that.

                “I’ll send you all the dates and locations. Plans change of course, but I can keep you updated.”

                “Thanks. I’ll send you some cookies or biscotti next time I send a care package. You still partial to pistachios?”

                “Oh, this just gets better and better. Yeah kid, send me something to keep me on your good side. I am all open to bribery from you.”

                “Oh, there’s one more thing. He calls me Leo. Leonardo. We met in Italy and that’s how I introduced myself, he knows my name is really Bradley Bradshaw, and what happened to my dad, but uh, he’s either completely oblivious about who I am exactly, or he’s really good at pretending he has no idea. So uh… yeah.”

                “Right. Got it. So keep it on the down-low that you’re Bradley Bradshaw.”

                “No. Not really. Just don’t announce it over the PA system?”

                “Got ya.”

…            …            …

                “Lieutenant.”

                “Admiral Kerner sir.”

                “Relax son, I’m not here for work. Just. Turns out we have a mutual friend.”

                “Sir?”

                “Bradley Bradshaw.”

                “Oh! Leo.”

                “Ah. Yes. He did say you called him that. Anyway, I flew with his old man. Was at Top Gun when the training accident happened.”

                “Oh. Yeah. He told me about that. I didn’t realize he still knew people in the service.”

                “Oh, he knows a few,” Admiral Kerner says dryly and Jake wonders who else might pop out of the woodwork. “He was forced onto a different path, and while it might have worked out for the best there are still some deep hurts there.”

                Jake keeps his mouth shut.

                “Anyway, he sent me a care package, because I get mail more regularly. However he sent this to you, care of me. So. I’m now apparently his delivery man.”

                “I’m sorry sir, I’ll ask him not –”

                “It’s fine Lieutenant. He did ring and ask first. Just… he sounded happy. It was good to hear.”

                “Yes sir,” Jake says, not really sure how he can take part in this conversation safely, if this is somehow a weird sort of semi-shovel talk given the reference he made to knowing Leo’s dead father. Does he consider Leo a sort-of son?

                “Enjoy your care package. I know I’ll enjoy mine.”

                “Oh, yes. You too sir,” Jake says, suddenly understanding that Leo must have also sent Admiral Kerner something to his liking, and yeah, if it’s going to keep his CO happy then Jake’s all for it. He takes the package and nods his farewell as he watches Admiral Kerner stride away. He’s going to look up Bradshaw in the database, have a look at whatever Top Gun class Leo’s dad was in, because it might pop up again and he’d rather not be taken by surprise again. He suspects that the whole class might be keeping tabs on Leo, whether he knows about it or not.

                “Why was Admiral Kerner talking to you? What did you do?”

                “Phoenix. Always a pleasure. Why do you automatically assume I’ve done something?”

                “Because you’ve usually done something?”

                “Haha. No. He just, uh, introduced himself I guess. He flew with my boyfriend’s old man,” Jake says, rolling the word boyfriend around in his mouth, because that’s all he can think of calling Leo. He’s never had a boyfriend before, and he finds himself smiling at just the sweet gesture of Leo sending him a care package via the fucking Admiral of all people. Stupidly sweet.

                “You have a boyfriend?”

                “Yeah… You?”

                “More trouble than they’re worth.”

                “Not my one. He sent me a care package.”

                “Through Admiral Kerner?”

                “Yeah. You want to see what he sent me?

                “Do I want to?” Phoenix asks, pulling a face and Jake laughs, in too much of a good mood to get smart.

                “Live dangerously Trace. You might get lucky and I’ll share with you…”

                “Again, do I want that?”

                “He’s a chef. I know you have a sweet tooth.”

                “A chef? Well. Why didn’t you lead with that?”

                Then they’re opening the box, and there’s several carboard boxes, written on the top what they’ve got inside. Cranberry and pistachio cookies. Chocolate chip cookies. Almond and dark chocolate biscotti. Pistachio biscotti. He shouldn’t be surprised, Leo going overboard a little seems very on brand and he has to stop himself from just smiling so widely at the gesture. God, what did he do to deserve such a sweet man doing things like this or him? His sisters are definitely right to be envious.

                “Holy shit these are good…” Phoenix says, and he looks up to find she’s already opened one of the boxes to reveal a resealable plastic bag containing the baked goods. It’s the chocolate chip biscuits and he bites one, crunchy outside, chewy inside, milk chocolate chips and there’s so much sugar he thinks he hears his teeth squeak.

                “Yeah, they’re not bad.”

                “Not bad? These are like… crack.”

                “Hmm. Maybe I just need a glass of milk for the full experience.”

                “Does he sell these? Do you think he’d make me some? I’d suck his dick if he sent me cookies like this.”

                “Well, lucky for you I’m sharing.”

                “Are you sure? If these were mine I’d be hoarding them.”

                “They’re a little too sweet for me.”

                “Your boyfriend is a chef and you critique his cooking?”

                “Everyone has room for improvement Trace.”

                “Even you?”

                “Well, no. It’s hard to improve on perfection.”

                “Perfect asshole maybe…”

                “To your perfect bitch…”

                “What’s his name, this boyfriend of yours?”

                “Leo. Funny story actually. I met him in Italy years ago, like a decade. We… uh, exchanged names, then went our separate ways. Then I was home and there he was at the farmers market my sisters sell their stuff at…”

                “Wow. That’s actually kind of sweet and romantic and nothing like how I imagined your love story might go…”

                “Aw Trace, you imagined my love story?”

                “Yeah, usually it involved conjugal visits.”

                Jake laughs.

TWENTYFIVE

[h-c-u]

Last Update: 23.01.2023

Right now, everything will be on one list, but with time - there will be separate posts for every fandom

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Hanging on Hangman - Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x younger fem!reader, PG | Hangman has a crush on the captain’s girl Ground control to Captain Mav - Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x fem!reader, PG | You’ve had a panic attack; first one in a while, and Mav was there for you. Consequences and conversations - Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x fem!reader, +18 | Maverick is a brat who bratted to close to the sun and now has to deal with the aftermath. Sharing is Caring - Pete "Maverick" Mitchell x fem!reader x Jake "Hangman" Seresin, +18 | Threesome with sub!Hangman who also happens to have a mommy kink Ways he shows you love - Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x reader, PG | Maverick's love languages and some of the things he would do for you. Showing the ropes - Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x reader, +18 | Just some good ol' phone sex with a sub!Maverick Come here, loverboy... - Pete “Maverick” Mitchell x reader, +18 | Mav’s first time being dominated by his partner. 

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

And how to come home... - Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x fem!reader, PG | TW: Miscarriage | You are having a miscarriage during the Uranium mission and you do your best to hide it from your fiancee.

Jake "Hangman" Seresin

Sharing is Caring - Pete "Maverick" Mitchell x fem!reader x Jake "Hangman" Seresin, +18 | Threesome with sub!Hangman who also happens to have a mommy kink

Tom "Iceman" Kazansky

Come fly with me, let's fly away... - Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x fem!reader, PG | Admiral Kazansky is taking you, his wife of 7 years, on a joyride in his jet. Mystery of the traveling bruises. - Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x fem!reader, PG | You always bruised easily, but lately it was becoming excessive. Until one night, the solution to your mystery hits you. The kids are alright pt 1 - Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x fem!reader, PG | You're filming some videos around the house for your unborn daughter, while your husband struggles with something. The kids are alright pt 2 - Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x fem!reader, PG | Awkward dinner at Kazanskys, where Bradley and Mav are forced to talk. The kids are alright pt 3 - Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x fem!reader, PG | You go into labor two weeks before the due date, while Ice is giving an interview on the live TV. The kids are alright pt 4 - Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x fem!reader, PG | Domestic life with Iceman and your daughter

Beau "Cyclone" Simpson

Eye of the storm pt 1 - Beau "Cyclone" Simpson x fem!reader (Iceman's daughter), PG | You can't cope with your grief and Beau is there for you. Eye of the storm pt 2 - Beau "Cyclone" Simpson x fem!reader (Iceman's daughter), PG | You're still grieving after your father's death, and Beau is still helping you cope... But you start feeling something else besides your grief. Eye of the storm pt 3 - Beau "Cyclone" Simpson x fem!reader (Iceman's daughter), PG | You start to think about other things than your father's death, and Beau helps, without even realising how much. Oh, and there is a first kiss in this one :)

Ron "Slider" Kerner

A different type of exercise - Ron “Slider” Kerner x fem!reader, +18 | You do your best to convince Slider to come back to bed, but he wants to finish a set first. Unhealthy Obsession - Ron “Slider” Kerner x stalker fem!reader, +18 | The one where Slider is obsessed with you, but you were obsessed with him first.

Aaron Hotchner

A photograph - Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader, PG | First time you realize that Hotchner has feelings for you. Painfully Healing - Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader, +18 (but no smut) | After you got assaulted, your dad’s best friend takes care of you when your parents have to leave for a weekend. | TW: Depression, Self-Harm, Blood, Cutting, Scars, ED, Rape

Tom Cruise

I see forever in your eyes - Tom Cruise x fem!reader, PG | Evolution of the relationship, ended with a bit of fluff in the end.

Peter "Bono" Bonnington

Racing back home - Peter "Bono" Bonnington x reader, PG | Bono comes back home earlier than expected. No one else can feel it for you - Peter "Bono" Bonnington x reader, PG | Rollerskating through the pit lane in the rain.

Toto Wolff

No Longer a Secret - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, PG | A series about Team Principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 team Toto Wolff, and a female journalist. It tells a story of a healthy couple, who respects and loves each other, and their journey through the highs and lows of life. Was it ever really love? - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, +18 | You fight with your fiancé to the point of breakup. And right after you throw your engagement ring at him, you go to Toto’s room... Uncertainty - Toto Wolff x fem!driver!reader, M | You’re a 3rd driver for the Mercedes team, in a secret relationship with the team principal and you fill in for Lewis during the race. The car malfunctions, you completely lose control over the steering and can’t avoid crashing. And it’s bad. A sheep in Wolff's clothing - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, PG | You accompany Toto Wolff the a after-season dinner with drivers, TPs and the most important people from each teams Bose with the Boss - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, +18 | Toto has to stay in the office late, but that doesn't mean he can't help you in different ways The Youngest Student - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, PG | You’re left without a nanny last second, so you decide to take your daughter to class with you. Teacher's Pet - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, +18 | It’s your first time being a TA, but you’re pretty sure some of the areas your professor needs help with are not in the job description. No handlebars - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, +18 | A brat being a brat by finding a loophole in the rule. Breaking the Billionaire - sub!Toto Wolff x soft!femdom!reader, +18 | Being in control can be exhausting- Keep your eyes open - Toto Wolff x fem!reader, +18 | Mirror sex. That's it.

[forasgaard]

Stitches

pairing: Neteyam x Reader

summary: Neteyam and Reader got captured by Quaritch, Neteyam got wounded and she has to stitch him back up, but then he confesses his true feelings

warnings: whump, fluff, gunshot, blood, angst, harsh language, comfort, injury, pain

words: 2.8k

Masterlist

...

"Neteyam!"

My scream echoed through the night. They shot him! It was short after the eclipse, but we couldn't go home. Neteyam, Lo'ak, Kiri, Spider, Tuk and I had spend the whole afternoon at that one lake with the waterfall. It was really beautiful. The sun had shown warm onto us and the water cooled our skin.

But suddenly, we heard a noise coming out of the bushes and Colonel Miles Quaritch and his recoms appeared. We knew that he had come back. They already almost catched us once. When we were at the old Avatar-link shack where Quaritch had died. Just last minute, Neytiri and Jake could save us. Since then, Quaritch and his team disappeared. Until now.

They broke out of the jungle, just when we wanted to go home. We were supposed to be back in the village before the eclipse. The tried to catch all of us and it came to a fight. Suddenly, someone shot into the air. We froze immediately. Then someone grabbed my arm and I started screaming. My friends turned towards me, fear in their eyes. Quaritch had grabbed me. I tried to free myself bit his grip just got tighter.

"What do we have here, hm?" He pulled my wrists into the air. Five fingers. I could hear him laugh. "You're no Sully. You're an Avatar!" His team laughed at me.

"Let her go!", Neteyam made a brave step stowards us. He had raised his bow and aimed at Quaritch's head. My other friends stood a few steps behind him. Kiri had pressed Tuk close to her and Spider stood half in front of Kiri. Lo'ak rose his knife and hissed at the recoms.

Neteyam spoke quietly in Na'vi: "No one moves, you understand?" I saw Spider nodding.

"What do you want?", Nete spitted. One of Quaritch's guys aimed with his gun at him. "Don't shoot!", Quaritch ordered from behind me. Then he purred to Neteyam: "I will let her go if you tell me where your home is."

"Never!", Lo'ak screamed at him, his grip around the knife tightened.

"Lo'ak!", Neteyam warned him with gritted teeth. The suddenly, everything happened at the same time.

"Let her go or I'll shoot!", Neteyam said harsh. He pulled the arrow farther back. It was just a thread, I knew that. The wouldn't shoot. Not yet. But one of Quaritch's soldiers interpreted his gesture wrong. Abruptly, he shot with his rifle at Neteyam. The oldest Sully boy screamed and dropped his bow in shock.

"Neteyam!"

My scream echoed through the night. The other Sully Kids gasped and Lo'ak wanted to run towards his brother.

Quaritch tightened the grip around me and screamed: "Are you mad!? We need them alive!"

Neteyam held Lo'ak back. "Run! Tell Dad! Just leave!", he panted in pain, holding his left shoulder. I pulled at Quaritch's hands but he was too strong.

"Yeah, tell Sully!", a female Avatar right next to us laughed. The had aimed her gun at Neteyam, who stood a few feet in front of us with shaking knees. My friends looked at each other for a split second. "Go, fast!", Lo'ak said and they disappeared in the woods. One of Quaritch's men put his rifle over his shoulder. "Shall we get him boss?"

"No, let them run", Quaritch grunted. "Those two are all we need. Get him!"

One guy grabbed Neteyam harshly at his armes and he let out a small whine of pain. They went with us onto a glade and the woman said something into her radio. Shortly after, two helicopters appeared over us. Ropes where let down to us and a few minutes later, we sat in the helicopters and flew over Hell's Gate. The human city.

They brought us into an empty white room. Only a table stood in the middle and on one wall was a black mirrored window. The glass door slider open and he I got shoved into the room. Someone layed Neteyam down onto the table. He was unconscious.

"We'll speak tomorrow. Get comfortable", Quaritch glanced at me and got out.

"Hey!", I screamed when he went. I slammed against the closed door, made out of glass. "Let us go, you bastards!"

My head was spinning. So much had happened in the last minutes. I turned around to Neteyam. Panicking I shook his arm. "Neteyam!"

It took a while until he was awake. Carefully, he opened it eyes but closed them immediately at the bright light. He groaned in pain and pressed his bloody hand on the wound.

"Don't" I pulled his hand away. "You'll only make it worse!"

"Were are we?", he panted. "We're at Hell's Gate, in some kind of prison or interrogation room." I voice started shaking. Neteyam made a move to sit up bit the pain let him sink back onto the table. I checked his wound. It was just a graze shot, but he lost too much blood.

"Shit!", I cursed. Panic rose inside me. Neteyam looked at me, his face twisted with pain. "I have to stitch it up.", I muttered. Or else he would lose even more blood. But how? There weren't any first aid kits around here, there wasn't even a chair in here. I sweared and looked around. No cameras, but they must watched us.

"Can we at least get some medicine and water? Damn it!", I screamed at the walls. "And blankets or cloths or something!?" I looked up at thr ceiling. Neteyam took softly my hand

"It's alright. I will be better soon"

"No!", I lupped away from him when the door opened.

The Avatar women got a bundle in her hand. She raised one eyebrow. "We're no brutes" I wanted to grab the bundle, but she let it drop right before my feet. I saw my chance, wanted to run past her but the door closed right in front of me so I dashed against it. The women gave me a mischievous smile. Furious I put my ears back and hissed at her. He gave me dismissive look and her mouth formed the word "Savages" Then she left.

I took up the bundle. It contained two blankets, two water bottles and a first aid kit. I wen back to Neteyam and put the things next to him on the table. He breathed heavenly and had his eyes closed.

"Here"  I said softly and spread the blanket over his sweathy body. I rolled the other one up and put it is as a pillow under his head. Then I opened the first aid kit. Bandages, gloves, scissors, band-aids, painkillers, needle and thread, scalpels and sanitizer. Perfectly equipped. I opened the packaging of the painkillers and gave Neteyam two of them. Then I brought  the water bottle up to his mouth. He took long sips and I supported his head with one hand.

"Neteyam", I whispered. He let his head fall down onto the blanket. I took one of those bandages, wet it with ater and started cleaning the wound on his shoulder. Neteyam suppressed a curse. He balled his hands into fists. I really hoped, those damn painkillers helped soon. "I have to stitch it up", I repeated when I was done. He turned his head towards me. Looked at me with a series face and nodded slightly. "Okay. Do it"

I had no idea what I was doing. I had never done this before. I only saw those things on movies and television. Hesitantly, I disinfected the needle and the wound. I looked at Neteyam. He had his eyes closed in concentration and beads of sweat covered his forehead. His breath was shallow and way to fast. Without thinking, I poured out all the stuff from the first aid kit, rolled it up and gave it Neteyam to bite onto it. Like they did in movies all the time. "I'll try to hurry but you shouldn't move" I said, slightly panicked. He just nodded.

I took a deep breath and scanned the injury. Then I made the first stitch. I heard Neteyam gasping and tears watered my eyes. I could almost feel his pain on my own skin.

Next stitch. Don't stop. My hands started shaking and I felt nauseous. "Almost done" I muttered more to myself than to Neteyam. Third stitch. "Everything will be okay"

I just hoped, we wouldn't lose conscious again. "It's alright, you're doing great", I mumbled words of comfortto us until I was done. Eight stitches. It took like forever.

When I was done, I put a compress on the wound. "Can you sit up for a second?" I asked carefully. "I have to put the bandage on."

With a groan he got up, I supported him as much as I could. The I rolled the bandage around his arm and chest.

I mustered my work and looked up to Neteyam's face. His eyes were half closed. "Hey, you're alright?", I asked caring and gently touched his hand. He nodded and mumbled "Water".

I gave him the bottle and he emptied it within a few sips. The he carefully swung his legs over the edge of the table, the blanket fell from his body. "Careful!", I was sacred. He shouldn't move too fast.

"It's alright", he said and forced a smile on his lips. But he clearly was in pain. My heart ached, seeing him like that. I sat down next to him onto the table, legs over the edge. We went silent for a while and Neteyam leaned softly against my shoulder. He lost so much blood! Hopefully he felt better soon.

I put the blanket back around his shoulders, and the other one over mine. It wars hard to see him injured. Normally, he was always cheerful, always wise and responsible. And he was such a good leader, he always protected his siblings and friends. Put others before him. I sighed. That was one of the reasons why I liked him so much. Even because he was so selfless and caring. I knew him for many years now, I grew up with him. We were best friends. And in the last months, he became even more than my best friend. I fell in love with him, but he didn't know. At first I was scared, I didn’t want to love him. But I got used to that feeling, even though it hurt sometimes having him so close and not could touch him or something without making it too obvious.

So I never told him. I was afraid to destroy our friendship, if I would tell him. And I wasn't even a real Na'vi, I wasn't one of them. He wouldn't probably want me anyways.

"He wants to use us as a bait for Dad", Neteyam murmured after a while. I glanced at him, surprised. He slowly started to feel better. "Quaritch?", I asked. He nodded. Neteyam wanted to stand up, but his legs trembled uncontrollably and I jumped forward to help him. We went to the opposite wall and let us slide down. I spread the blankets over our bodies. I sat on Neteyam's right side, to not hurt his injury.

"We have to warn him", Neteyam grunted. "First, you have to rest.", I warned him. I felt more like his Mom than his friend. Our shoulders touched. I put my head onto his and sighed. Neteyam slightly changed position and let his head sink down onto mine.

"How could they even find us?", I whispered into the silence. "I dunno", he muttered and I could feel the vibration of his voice hummed through his body.

"But Dad mustn't come here. That's exactly what Quaritch wants."

He swallowed and I took his hand under the blanket. I knew he worried to death about his father since Quaritch was back. Jake said, he wouldn't risk any fight with him, but Toruk Makto was such a bullhead, that he would join any fight, if someone was threatening his family.

"How's your arm?", I asked. He slightly shrugged. "It's okay. I think the painkillers are starting to help."

"That's good"

He really seemed much fitter than a few minutes ago. I closed my eyes and list listened to his breath. It was rare that we sat so close to each other. Most of the time, Spider and his siblings were around us and I couldn't even hug him, without it looking too obvious. So I enjoyed every second that I could be near him. Hopefully, he couldn't hear how fast my heartbeat was.

"That was really brave what you did earlier. Stitch me back up.", he said after a while. I had no idea how much time had passed already. I thought he was asleep.

"I think, I couldn't have done it.", he continued. His voice sounded normal again, not as twisted with pain as earlier.

"Of course you could've.", answered and squeezed his hand. "You're a Sully."

He chuckled with amusement. "You would make a good Sully too." I started laughing. "Oh, I don't think so."

I felt him changing position and I raised my head from his shoulder.

"No, I think you would. Everyone loves you", he said serious. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Your Mom hates me."

A small mischievous smile appeared on his face. It was so good to see him smile again.

"Bullshit"

"Yes she does!", I laughed quietly. He really felt better. I sighed with relief.

"She hates me because I am half human", I said. He let go of my ahdn and turned more around to see me in the eyes.

"Dad was half human. And guess what - she fell in love with him.", he teased and I had to laugh.

"Yeah, but that was probably the only time in Na'vi history and will never happen again!"

He rested his head against the wall behind him. His eyes scanned my face. "Hm, I don't think so. Look at Kiri and Spider."

"Yeah, okay", I admitted. Kiri and Spider, that was strange. They loved each other but none of them wanted to admit that. Everyone saw it. Jake even asked Kiri about him one time while dinner. But she denied it. They both denied it all the time. A little smile appeared on my face when I thabout them. They were cute together, even though she was Na'vi and he human.

"And me", Neteyam muttered. I raised my view at him. "What?"

His yellow eyes fixed me, but his gaze was different than before. It was more perceiving, as if he could stare directly into my soul. He scanned every inch of my face and I felt nervous. Heat rushed through my veins. What was he talking about? Were that the effects of the painkillers?

Then all of a sudden, he leaned forward and kissed me. I was too astounded to do anything. My mind was racing. But then I gently returned his kiss. His lips were soft and tasted salty. I felt him putting one hand on my cheek and my heartbeat skipped. He pressed his forehead against mine while kissing, only to be even closer. Then we both needed air and he let go of me. This thumb stroked over my cheekbones. I was so confused. He had kissed me!

I opened my mouth to say something but I couldn't make a noise. Neteyam's ears twitched. "I always wanted to tell you, but I was afraid that it would break our friendship. And I don't wanna lose you"

His voice was so quiet that I almost couldn't hear him. But then I realised: He was in love with me! I looked at him in astonishment. "I... Me too."

He grinned and his fangs showed. "I was always too scared.", he admitted and his hand framed my face.

"But I mean, I almost died today, so why keep it a secret?" He shrugged. I laughed. "Drama Queen!", I teased him. He smiled. "Got it from Dad"

We laughed and I wrapped my arms around him. "Argh", he howled with pain. I had touched his wound. "Oh sorry, sorry, sorry!" I immediately let go of him. Neteyam took a deep breath with gritted teeth. "It's alright. Come here"

He put his hands on the back of my neck and kissed me again. More intimate and passionate. I wished, we could stop the time.

No matter what would happen on the future, we would get out of here. Together. Nothing could separate us. We belonged together. And while we kissed there in the prison room, we didn't notice, that Quaritch stood behind the mirrored window and watched us.

"You'd better watch out, Sully. I could blackmail you.", he grunted. "I know your son's biggest weakness now."

[gryffindormarveltwilight]

All We Need - Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader - Part 3

A/N: Here is Part 3 to the Jake x reader series, sorry for the delay! Also thank you everyone who has commented and reblogged the last few parts! as always any feedback or requests are always welcomed! x

Masterlist

Pairings: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x fem!pilot!benjamin Reader

Warnings: Mentions of Death, Angst, Fluff, Naval Inaccuracies

‘Uncle Ice, what are you doing here shouldnt you be with Sarah and Daisy.’

‘We are heading to the zoo later but i thought I would check in on you first after all it is your first time back in the air.’

‘You didn’t have to Ice, Jake and I are coming over after work to pick Daisy up.’

‘Doesnt mean i cannot come check on you plus i needed to make sure Mav hasn’t been fired yet.’ I let out a loud laugh which makes Ice smile, I always thought growing up dad’s were the most protective person when it comes to there daughters but however thought that has never been the only girl born into an aviator family. Ice, Slider, all of the ‘86 team all had sons except my parents so naturally I was the daughter of the group none more protective over me than Ice though, all my training graduations, the first time i ejected due to a birdstrike every achievement in my career Ice was the first one there, it was a running joke that I was secretly his daughter.

‘Thank you Uncle Ice, but i did well up in the air and managed to shoot them both down.’ That made him smile mumbling ‘thats my girl’ under his breathe.

‘And how about the other thing.’

‘I know in my head that Loki’s death wasn’t my fault but i can’t help blame myself.’

‘Have you spoken to Jake about it.’ I shake my head to which Ice gives me a seriously look.

‘He has enough on his plate with this mission and Daisy, I cannot be another distraction. I need to focus on making sure everyone in that room comes back alive.’

‘And that you come back alive Y/N.’

‘Ice….’

‘And that you come back as well.’ He said in a stern father like tone.

‘I will try Ice but if it comes down to me or a member of that squad as team leader i know the choice I have to make.’

‘Y/N….’ I hear behind me turning to see Phoenix and Bob holding their helmets.

‘Phe, Bob how much did you hear?’ 

‘Only the stiff about the mission and you making the choices to protect the team.’ Bob replies quickly. I nod and they walk past mumble a quick Sir as they pass Ice.

‘I think you should go check in on Mav, he just went up against Rooster .’ He nods and turns away

‘This conversation is far from over but some advice about Loki, talk to Jake you may think you would distract him but if he senses something is wrong with you that will distract him more.’ And with that Iceman walked off to find Mav, i took of running down the hall to where Phoenix and Bob were standing.

‘Hey, can you guys not mention what you heard to anyone especially Hangman.’

‘Athena, is what you said true that you not expecting someone to walk away from this.’

‘Yeah, its true, but it is also true what i said, I am doing everything in my power to train you guys to come home and on the mission I will do everything in my power to make sure everyone comes home.’

‘Including you, we can’t lose you Athena,’ Bob mumbles and i pull him into a hug which Phoenix soon joins

‘I will try for you guys okay. Now whose up in the air?’ And we headed off towards the rec room both of them throwing the occasional glance at me.

After going up in the sky a few more times against various pilots and remaining undefeated it was Mavs turn to go again this time against Hangman and Rooster, listening in on the radio I could hear snide comments from Jake’s Hangman persona as i like to call it before listening to Mav and Rooster fighting in a cobra formation, I look at Phoenix who looks mad and concerned when we hear Rooster get caught by mav and sent back to base.

‘Phe can i talk to him first.’ She nodded knowing I may be the only one Rooster will actually talk to. I run down toward the tarmac where he is getting out of his plane.

‘What the hell Bradley!’ I yell and shove his chest

‘It is none of your business Y/N.’

‘The hell it is not this is my team remember and on top of that I just had to listen to my brother and uncle get in a near deathly formation both to damn stubborn to pull up!’ I continue to yell at him and before i could stop what I was saying I yelled toward him

‘Mav didnt pull your papers because he thought you werent ready!’ Bradly stops in his tracks and turns to face me anger across his face.

‘What do you know Athena.’

‘Bradley listen…’

‘TELL ME!’

‘Your Mum asked Mav to pull your papers before she passed, she was scared for you to be an aviator after what happened to Goose.’

‘She what..’

‘I was there when she asked Mav, and she begged me not to tell you so I didn’t’

‘Yeah well you should’ve told me!’ I look down,

‘I know but I was 12 years old Bradley and terrified, what did you want me to do?’

‘Tell me Y/N you were my sister! I can’t talk to you right now.’ I stood frozen as he walked away from my Phoenix looking at me confused before taking off toward rooster. Mav came running over to me followed by Jake I hadn’t even noticed tears welling in my eyes for the second time that day.

‘Athena,,,,,Y/N?’

‘I told him Uncle Mav.’ I said in a small voice before Mav pulled me into a tight hug he was speaking to Jake behind him but I couldn’t make out what was being said before I knew it I was out of Mavs arms and into Jakes who gave me a tight squeeze before leading me toward the locker rooms to grab our kit. 

‘Jake, I am sorry i kept that i was an Ace and got a promotion from you.’

‘I know and its okay but Y/N what is going on with you, up in the air you are cool calm and collected like always but the moment you are on the ground something just changes I haven’t seen you like this since we learnt Ice was sick.’

‘The mission I got recalled from, it was a tough one, and rattled me a bit, i just need to get my focus right then i will be fine.’ 

‘Y/N, lets say i believe you, you know you can tell me anything. Want to start by what happened between you and rooster.’

‘I told him why Mav really pulled his papers and that it only happened because his Mum asked.’ 

‘How did you know?’

‘I overheard the conversation when I was 12 years old.’

‘And you never?’

‘I have never told anyone until today.’ Jake nods.

‘He won’t be mad forever, he just needs to process it.’

‘Can we got get Daisy, Mav has dismissed everyone, I need to see her after today and make up for leaving this morning.’ Jake smiles and nods. As we start walking to our cars I head towards mine before Jake picks me up over his shoulder taking me towards his, causing me to genuinely laugh which in turn made Jake smile.

After a short drive where Jake was updating me on what had been happening while i was gone we finally pulled into the driveway next to Ices car, before Jake can even put it in park I jump out of the car and run toward where i see Ice, Sarah and Daisy, Daisy sees me and starts running as she jumped into my arms. Ice and Sarah smile at the sight before Jake walks up and wraps his arms around both of us.

‘Don’t the look so happy Tom.’

‘If only they would open their eyes and see it.’

After an hour we left Ice an Sarah’s we headed home. As we walked through the door I had Daisy in my arms and Jake was holding pizza and ice-cream, we headed into the lounge room where Jake put on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ knowing it was mine and Daisy favourite disney movie, as the movie went on we finished the pizza and ice cream we moved onto the couch Jakes arm wrapped around me, me curling into his side and Daisy in the middle of us. My thoughts drifted between the movie and the mission before thoughts of how at peace i was in this very moment started to drift in making me smile. What I hadn’t realised was my shirt had slowly crept up the red scar that was slowly fading on my side catching Jakes attention making him crease his brows before he pressed a kiss to my forehead. As the movie ended i moved to grab the rubbish from dinner as Jake scooped up daisy moving her to her room.

I checked my phone seeing some messages from the squad saying they all decided to skip the Hard Deck tonight which i was grateful for. I grabbed a beer from the fridge before heading to the back deck on the swing chair Jake had installed. Too lost in my own thoughts i barely heard Jake come back out before i felt him sit on the chair and hesitantly wrap his arm around me. I felt a few tears escape my eyes.

‘I lost my wingman.’ Jake straightened up tightening his grip around me. ‘Loki and I were on a routine mission when we were intercepted by three hostiles, it was a dog fight the whole way back to the carrier, I managed to take out two but before i could take out the third which Loki was going up against he was shot down, he never even had time to pull the ejection handles. I disobeyed orders to get out of there to go back and get the third jet and i did it made me an Ace and somehow disobeying the orders earned me a promotion.’ I took a breath holding in tears. ‘I shot down the enemy but not before they got off a few good shots my plane was so damaged I am honestly not sure how it was still flying enough to take down the last one. As i hit the other plane they hit me, i was forced to eject and caught shrapnel of the plane in my side. The rescue team was quick to find me but i spent just over a month in a base hospital recovering, it was touch and go for a while.’

‘Why wasn’t i told you were in the hospital.’ Jake asked with tears in his eyes.

‘I asked everyone not to tell you, the only people who know are Cyclone, Dad, Ice and Mav. And Mav and Cyclone only know cause today was my first day back in the air.’ 

‘I wish you had told me I could have helped.’

‘I wasn’t going to tell you Jake, we need to be focused on this mission, i didnt want you to be worried and distracted by me.’

He didnt respond straight away instead moving to kneel infront of me. ‘I worry about you everytime you go up in the sky as for a distraction I was more distracted when I knew something was wrong but didn’t know how to help.’

I let out a small laugh which caused jake to look at me confused. ‘Ice said the same thing.’ He also laughed before moving back to his spot beside me. After a while i drifted off to sleep felling Jake pick me up and walk me towards the bed rooms. As he put me down on my bed he went to leave, before he could get far i grabbed his hand and asked him to stay, he slid into the bed beside me. Before either of us could fully get to sleep we felt a little body snuggle between us and mumble a few words which made me a Jake open our eyes wide and look at each other.

‘Love you Daddy, Love you Momma.’ Neither of us said anything just gave Daisy a quick kiss on the head before going to sleep.

The next morning, neither of us mentioned anything and Daisy had gone back to calling me Aunt Thena, there was a slight pang in my heart but I also reminded myself I wasn’t her mother despite being the closest thing she had to one, i missed the sadness on Jakes face every time she called me Aunt again, Jake secretly wishing she was my daughter. As the morning went on Sarah picked up Daisy and Jake and I headed to work. We had been there a few hours Jake in the air with Coyote and Mav myself and the other squad member listening in the rec room when I heard my name being shouted out i turned towards the door seeing a concerned Ice holding a crying Daisy in his arms. I shoot out of my chair and run over to them. 

‘Ice whats…’

‘MOMMA!’ Daisy screams and tries to launch out of Ices arms and into mine, I could feel the stares of the squad members as I took daisy into my arms looking at Ice for an explanation. I turn Rooster had followed me to Ice, he had apologised for his outburst yesterday as had I for keeping the secret, Roosters face had confusion and  concern written all over it.

‘Rooster, I need you to get Hangman back on the ground.’

‘HANGMAN! What Athena, what the hell.’

‘NOW ROOSTER!’ Without any argument he ran to the control tower as myself and Ice headed to the tarmac Jakes plane landing minutes later.

‘Athena what the hell why did you….’ His sentence cut off seeing me holding Daisy in my arms flanked by Ice. He dropped his helmet and sprinted over to me and tried to take Daisy out of my arms. ‘No I want Momma.’ Jake and i looked confused this was the 3rd time in 24 hours that she had called me that, sure shes called me it before but never this frequently. Ice gave myself and Daisy a quick kiss on the forehead and Jake a pat on the shoulder before saying he would meet us in the rec room. Coyote jumped out of his plane seeing myself, jake and daisy before running over to us concern written on his face.

Back in the hanger all the daggers had come to see what was going on looking very confused about the scene in front of them. Before Fanboy broke the silence.

‘HANGMAN HAS A KID!’

Taglist:

@dory-98 @djs8891 @brooke-stinson

[gennyanydots]

This is love I just can’t live without Ch. 5

Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x f!Kazansky!reader (affectionately often called “Baby Ice”)

Biker!au

“This is love I just can’t live without” masterlist

Chapter summary: the aftermath of Jake being an asshole and oh, did you hear about the party tonight?

Warnings: swearing, mentions of losing a parent

Ch. 5 “Counting on beauty to kill off the beast”

Baby Ice

You spent the rest of the afternoon with Natasha grilling her about her new boyfriend, Javy, especially now that you knew he was in the same club as your dad. It was a great way to distract your brain.

“My dad do the shovel talk with him yet?” You asked. Nat basically grew up in your house. From the second you two met in kindergarten, you two had been attached at the hip. Bradley, of course, was also your best friend when you were little but it was different with Nat. Bradley wanted to play bikers all the time and played rough and sometimes you liked that but not all the time. He hated playing dolls with you and never wanted to play tea party, so the minute you found Nat you latched on especially when you found out she loved playing dolls. Oftentimes the three of you would play together so you didn’t have to choose between your two friends which worked out nicely. So for the parents who had decided they only wanted one kid , they almost always had at least two running around their house and sometimes the clubhouse, and they were grateful nonetheless. However, there was no question of where Nat’s loyalties lied when Bradley cheated. Natasha had your back. Always has.

Nat shrugs, “I’m not sure. If he has then I wasn’t told about it.”

“If dad threatened him then there’s a high possibility he also told Javy not to tell you. Or dad wasn’t the one who did it. I wouldn’t put it past Uncle Slider or Uncle Holly,” you said with a grin. “They both threatened your prom date. I thought that poor boy was going to pee his pants!”

Natasha laughs and shoves at your shoulder, “Hey now! Jeff was so nice! If they hadn’t of threatened him then maybe he and I would be married now. He took me to the dance then never talked to me again.”

“Well yeah! Poor guy feared for his life,” you said while laughing. “Now at least you found a guy who won’t pee himself in fear if he comes here to pick you up. Clearly he wasn’t scared when he dropped the food off. Which was so nice of him. Did you text him ‘thank you’ from me?”

“Yes, for the thousandth time, I told him you said thank you.”

“I don’t want him to think I’m rude!” you said exasperatedly. “I literally ran away from him earlier and that was embarrassing enough.”

“Hey, look at me,” Nat said and waits until you meet her eyes to continue. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. This is an emotional time for you. Javy probably kicked Jake’s ass for setting you off like that. He shouldn’t have said that and he was just being an asshole like always. He had no right.”

“Yeah but it’s been years. I should be over it by now…” you trail off.

Nat shakes her head, “Absolutely not. This is what we’re not doing. We’re not feeling bad about our emotions. Not only are you seeing your first big love for the first time since you broke up…”

“Only love,” you grumble.

Nat ignored you as she continues, “But you also just lost your mom. You’re in a fragile state. You can feel all your feelings if you want. I’m here for whatever you need. You want to cry all week? I’ll cry with you. You want to get mad and break shit? I’m sure we can find things to smash. It’s not like your dad doesn’t have a plethora of baseball bats or crowbars or anything. You want to go out dancing and show everyone how great you’re doing even if you don’t feel it 100% but you just want to make Bradley insane because of what he lost? Done deal. I’ll find a playlist and we can get ready to go out. Whatever you want. Whatever you need. I told Javy last week that this week was about my best friend and if he had a problem with that then tough shit but because he’s amazing he didn’t have any problem with it whatsoever and told me to tell him if we needed anything.”

You smile at Nat, “I’m really happy for you. You seemed to find a good one.”

“I did. I don’t know why he hangs out with Jake so much when there are better people to hang out with in the club but clearly he only has great taste in women,” Nat said as she laughs.

“Clearly,” you laugh with her.

You both turn when you hear a knock at your bedroom door.

“Come in!” you both said at the same time and continued laughing together.

The door opens and you see your dad standing there in his coveralls from working in the shop all day, “Well isn’t this a sight for sore eyes. My girls giggling together. Makes my old heart happy to see you two.”

And if that statement doesn’t just pull at your heartstrings. You feel guilty not being around lately for him. It’s why you wanted to spend the whole week here but is it really enough? Your mother was your father’s whole world until you came around. And now that he’s lost your mother? Sure, he has the club and his friends but you’re hours away. His baby girl. His princess. His baby ice.

You smile at your dad and roll your eyes, “You’re not that old dad.”

“Tell that to my back,” your dad said with a chuckle. “So, you girls heading to the party tonight?”

“What party?” You ask and look towards Nat who shrugs at you.

Your dad smirks, “It’s my baby girl’s homecoming party of course. Something to celebrate.”

You groan. That wasn’t how you wanted your night to go. You wanted a girls night with Nat and to maybe revisit her second option that she had listed earlier, the smashing shit one.

Your dad chuckles, “C’mon princess, you turned 21 two years ago and didn’t get to have the party I always wanted to throw you. Please let your old man have this one thing. I don’t ask for much.” He shoots you a pout, one you know very well since yours matches. Ice Man’s genes were strong.

You sigh and look towards Natasha again who once again shrugs.

“Like I said earlier, you call the shots this week. It’s your choice,” Nat says and then laughs when your dad gives her a thumbs up.

You worry your bottom lip. You’d literally be walking into a wolf’s den. There’s almost a 0% chance you won’t see Bradley. Are you ready for that? You couldn’t even handle his name being mentioned earlier.

“Well let me know what your decide, okay? I’m gonna go clean up and change. Regardless of your decision, do you two want pizza for dinner?” your dad asks pointing at the both of you.

You both nod at him.

“Perfect. I’ll order it. Listen out for the doorbell, k girls?” He asks and you both nod again before he’s backing out of your room and closing the door behind him.

You sigh and flop face first down on your mattress.

Nat lays down across your back, “Okay we got some options here: one, we stay here and hangout and don’t go to the party. Two, we go for like ten minutes to appease your father and then come back and hangout. Three, we go and stay by your uncles the whole time. Or, and this one is my favorite, four, we go and look hot as fuck and show Bradley exactly what he missed out on.”

You lift your head slightly, “What about four with three and two as backup plans?”

“Good idea, babes. We’ll need a code word just in case you want to leave immediately. I’m thinking…… avocado,” Nat said as she gets up off of you.

“Why avocado?” You ask looking at her strangely.

“When does that ever come into conversation? Plus you hate avocados.”

“They taste like grass!” You said with a grimace.

“And I will forever wonder why you confidently can compare the two. Okay, time to get up and get ready,” Nat said as she slaps your butt and stands up.

“Oww!” you yell and quickly sit up and throw a pillow at her.

She just laughs, “Let’s go times a tickin! We gotta make ourselves look even more hot!”

[startrekfangirl2233-writes]

He Didn't Have to Be

A Ron 'Slider' Kerner Imagine (Companion Piece to I Wanted to Be)

Description: Jake Seresin's always know two things: 1. How much his mama loves him and 2. How much he loves her. So it's no wonder that any man he meets that his mama is dating doesn't pass the bar. Except one. His Uncle Danny's wingman, a man he knows as Uncle Ron or Uncle Sly.

Warnings: Dead-beat dad, Mentioned Pregnancy, Mentioned Childbirth, Tooth Rotting Fluff

Word Count: 3021

A/N: This is the companion piece to my Ron 'Slider' Kerner piece I Wanted to Be, written by popular demand. In this one we see Jake's perspective on the events of his childhood.

AO3: Cross-posted Here!

My Masterlist

Jake's always known that things could have been very different. A lot of it has to do with how he's been raised. Rebecca Seresin née Petersen is the best mama a boy could ever ask for. For as long as he can remember it's been him and his mom against the world. His mom doesn't have any other family, not really, anyways. Jake knows his mom loves him, knows that she would do anything for him. But he’s never quite known if she’s actually happy. The only time he sees her smile is in the old scrapbooks filled with pictures of his mom as a kid. It’s something he wonders every time his mom leaves him in the care of old Mrs. Thompson at the ranch next door and drives away in her best dress. Will Mama finally be happy again if this date goes well? His wishes and hopes don't work though. Mama always looks sadder when she comes to pick him up than when she left.

My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone

Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run

The only time Mama doesn't look sad is when she's baking. She makes packages once a month that she fills with cookies and cakes and pictures. The weekends when Mama bakes all of the goodies is always Jake's favorite. The kitchen's always bright and clean and it smells so good. Mama always has the record player on and on those early mornings are some of his favorites. If only because Jake gets to help stir and lick the spoon. Once everything has been cooled and packed up, they get into Mama's truck and make the drive into Austin to drop the package in the mailbox. It’s Jake’s favorite part of the week because everything seems so filled with possibilities when there’s something sweet in his tummy.

Jake’s two months shy of his fifth birthday when an old friend of his Uncle Daniel's drops by. He’s about a million miles tall and intercepts Jake just as he’s running out to play with the new goat kids in the barn. Mama had tried to wrestle him into a new shirt for the visit, but like all precocious little boys, he'd wriggled right out of the constricting stiff garment and run right out the front door. Of course before he could get very far, he’s being hefted up into the sky and looking into a face he half remembers his mama showing him the pictures of. She had told him in her pretty soft voice, “This, baby, is your Uncle Daniel and this was his best friend, your Uncle Ron. Uncle Ron’s nickname is Slider. Can you say that for me, baby?”

Jake’s soon being turned upside down and it’s the most fun he’s ever had. He barely notices how the older man introduces himself, at least until he’s being set on his feet in the kitchen to see his mama smiling at this man. He can’t resist hugging his mama’s legs, piping out in a break in the conversation, “Mama, Uncle Sly's here!” Jake still remembers how he spent the rest of the weekend trailing Uncle Sly around on the ranch, following the older man as he completed repairs and helped around. He’d been given his first cowboy hat that weekend, from Uncle Sly. It has to be one of the best weekends of his entire life. 

I met the man I call my dad when I was five years old

He took my mom out to a movie and for once I got to go

The smile on his mama’s face? Jake doesn’t see it again for a long, long time.

He’s fifteen years old when he realizes that Mama doesn’t go out on dates anymore. Jake’s used to being mostly alone in the house, making peanut butter sandwiches for snack and doing his homework by himself. Mama’s usually out in the fields, working the cattle. She still smiles big and hugs Jake when she gets home though, wrapping him in her gardenia scented embrace and praising him for finishing his work. He feels bad for playing football most days, feels bad for Mama when she pulls overtime out on the ranch, feels worse when she stays up late over the dining room table looking over the bills. That terrible feeling sticks around when they start getting letters at the house. Letters from somebody claiming to be his dad. Jake staggers up the driveway one afternoon to a strange car in the drive and yelling coming from the house.

“Damnit, Brian!” Mama’s roaring at him. “You can’t come back here after all of these years and beg me to give you money. I divorced you. You owe me money. Our son is fifteen and the best thing in my life. Every penny I make is for him and only him.”

“Yeah…” The voice that slurs and sneers out the words makes Jake feel sick. “Our son, right? Where is the little brat? Would love ‘ta meet him one of these days. See if he’s actually like his ole man. Or if he’s like his slut of a ma.”

That’s when Jake’s legs give out. He’s still sitting on the porch in his dirt and sweat encrusted football gear when a truck pulls into the driveway. Heart in his throat, Jake stands up, running when he sees Uncle Slider stepping out of the cab.

"Uncle Sly." Jake sounds young, young and scared today, not anything like his affected gruff tone to impress girls at school.

"What is it, kid?" Jake knows that everything will be alright so long as Uncle Slider is here. "Where's your mom, kid?'

"She's in there, Uncle Sly, in the kitchen. With a man who's claiming to be my dad." His voice is quiet, unsure. All Jake wants is his mama. Uncle Sly’s jaw clenches and anger burns bright in his eyes as he whirls around and marches right into the kitchen. Jake follows behind him, a part of him aching to grab onto the tails of the flannel shirt Uncle Sly is wearing like he used to when he was a kid. 

"Brian." Mama sags like a marionette with its strings cut at Uncle Sly’s voice. So this is his dad. Brian Seresin. The boogey-man come to life. The monster. It’s obvious Jake is his son. The same nose sits on his face and the same blonde hair sits on his head. But while Jake is young, lithe and muscular from hours of football and tanned from the sun, Brian Seresin is greasy and stinking of liquor. 

"What are you doing back in Cistern?" Uncle Sly’s voice is a barely held back roar as he looms protectively in front of Jake. Uncle Sly pulls Mama behind his back and Jake is quick to wrap his arms around her. Was Mama always so thin? So frail? When did Jake become as tall as she is?

"Wanted my woman back, Kerner. And my kid." Jake can’t hide his disgust as Brian sniffs, wiping away snot on his mud streaked pants. "S'not fair, y'know? That you got to keep her and the brat while I was off. D'she treat y'well? She's great in bed, ain't she?"

His dad’s words fill Jake with an impotent rage. But he can’t do anything. Not with Mama clutching at him like she’ll lose him if she lets go. Jake’s not sure what Uncle Sly says to his dad, because all of a sudden he begins to spit out why he wants the money he’d been asking Mama for. Uncle Sly lets the disgusting man spit poison words into the kitchen and then finally speaks.

"Call Sheriff Weatherby, Becks." Jake’s never heard his Uncle Sly so cold, so angry as he continues. "We've got an intruder on Seresin Ranch." 

No matter what he does, Mama doesn’t move. It's Jake who picks up the landline and dials up Sheriff Weatherby. Jake and Uncle Sly stick by Mama the whole time the police are asking questions, propping her up. But after all the drama died down, when Mama is fitfully asleep in her bed, Jake’s thoughts still reel. He can’t believe that a part of him came from that! When the thoughts and questions get too loud, Jake retreats outside, to the swing Uncle Sly had set up a couple of years ago. It’s an old tire swing and Jake slumps into it staring up at the endless expanse of the stars.

He’s been feeling weird for a while. He knows it’s not just puberty. Something is eating at him, and he’s not sure why. All of the teachers at school have been pestering on and on about whether he’s decided what he wants to do with his life when he grows up. Honestly, since he was little, Jake’s only ever wanted to do one thing. He’s grown up listening to tales of the sky. But will Mama ever let him fly? Can Mama take the risk of losing him like she lost Uncle Daniel? The soft rustling sound of footsteps in the tall grass is what has his head lifting up. It’s Uncle Slider, of course it is. The minute he’s in earshot, the words are spilling out, whether Jake wants them to or not.

"So, that's him, huh? My pops, the man who walked out before I was even born?" He can’t help how his voice cracks as the unfiltered rage pours out of him with each word.

"Yeah, kid." Uncle Sly is angry too. His jaw is still clenched, jaw harsh in the moonlight.

"Why did he come back? Why didn't he just stay away?" The first touch of his hand against his shoulder has Jake sagging against him.

"I dunno, kid. I wish he had never come back. Your Mama isn't the type to cry. But every time I've heard her cry it has been because of that man." Uncle Sly’s hands are shaking as the fingers on his other hand flex with the pent up aggression still in his system. Jake doesn’t know how to respond, content to sit there for several long moments. They’re safe. He’s safe. Jake’s not sure what he would’ve done if Uncle Sly hadn’t driven up that afternoon.

"Why didn't you ever marry Mama, Uncle Sly? You love her, I know you do. Then you can come home to us more often, can't you?" He’s scared to ask that question. But the little kid in him, the young boy who’d wished for a dad every Christmas for years before giving up? That kid needs to know.

"I dunno kid. But enough about me.” Uncle Sly sounds scared or worried. “What's eating at you?"

Jake breathes in deep, trying to find the words. "I want to fly, Uncle Sly. Like you do, like Uncle Daniel did." He stares imploringly up into his uncle’s eyes. Jake doesn’t know what he’s searching for, not really. An ally? A sympathetic ear? Support? He doesn’t know. "D-d'you think I can do it?"

"It's dangerous, kid. But yeah. If there was anyone who could do it, it'd be you. You’ve got your mom’s determination and all of her support, too. Just don’t forget that you’ve got people who love you waiting for you, and you’ll be all set." Uncle Slider’s words fill him with purpose. If there is anything, anyone Jake resolves to be like, it’s his Uncle Sly. And if after he graduates and joins the Naval Academy he uses the distance to push his mom and uncle together, well that’s a secret he’ll take to his grave.

A few months later, I remember lying there in bed

I overheard him pop the question and I prayed that she'd say yes

It’s his first Christmas home when things change. Jake had staggered downstairs in the middle of the night for a glass of water and that’s when he saw Uncle Slider drop to one knee and ask his Mama to marry him.

And then, all of a sudden, oh it seemed so strange to me

How we went from something's missing to a family

Looking back, all I can say about all the things he did for me

Is, I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be

Mama and Pops are standing proudly in the stands, Pops dressed to the nines in his own Vice-Admiral dress whites the day Jake gets his wings a few years later. Mama’s crying, curled up under Pop’s arm and Jake literally shines with pride when he wraps her in his arms when he runs to meet his family after the ceremony. Jake is soon absorbed in all it means to be an active duty Naval Aviator. Deployment after deployment at first, then Top Gun. He gets first, of course, pumping the plaque in the air in his pop’s direction. It feels good, seeing his name under his dad’s twenty years later. Some time between Top Gun the first and second times, Jake lives up to his callsign and rakes in his first air to air kill.

That’s when things start to feel truly surreal. The medals are all fine and good, almost familiar in a sense. It’s the blood on his hands that Jake can’t shake. His reputation precedes him nowadays. Everybody gathers around to cheer on the only active duty Naval Aviator to get an air-to-air. But it tortures him. When he can’t sleep at night, he calls his dad. Sitting on the floor in his pajamas Jake pours his heart out to the only person he trusts to steer him on his way. It’s not the first heart to heart he’s had with his dad in the middle of the night. Nor is it the last. 

During the special detachment he wishes he could have his parents near. Even though the three weeks are rife with tension and pain, both. Attending Iceman, the legendary Iceman’s funeral, hurts. Jake hates it. He hates it even more when he sees his dad standing there in dress whites next to Mav and the others in the class of ‘86. The most recent heart to heart happens sitting in the kitchen of the house Ron and Rebecca Kerner had rented before their only child jetted off on the most perilous mission of his career. 

“You can do it, kid.” Pop’s voice sounds tired, old and very scared. “You’re a Seresin, kid. But more importantly, you’re a Kerner. You are coming home. Whether you get selected or not, doesn’t matter. There are always things you can do to improve. But the important thing is that you’re coming home.”

“We love you, kid. Remember that. Remember that your Uncle Daniel is watching over you and you’ll fly like you were born to.”

Those are the words Jake carries with him the entire long slog away from home. He isn’t chosen, and he thinks he knows why. But when he’s sitting in his jet, Dagger Spare, standing by, his heart is in his throat. He’s seen the pictures. He knows Mav was in his dad’s Top Gun class. Mav’s a living legend. There is no way he goes down like this. He gets on comms over and over again. Begging and pleading to be allowed to help, to provide cover. Each rejection feels like a stab in the back. Jake may not like Rooster much, if at all, but that’s his wingman. He has to at least try. It’s what his dad would do. What his Uncle Daniel did.

So when Rooster’s ESAT goes off again, and moving at supersonic speeds, Jake is launching - against orders, and without help. He’s off the carrier deck before Admiral Simpson can even finish barking his orders for Jake to stay put, a desperate plea to save Rooster and Mav pouring off his tongue before he can even think. It’s days later, when the carrier pulls into the docks that Jake finally breathes. He’s home. He can see Pops looming over the crowd and is running for them before he can even think, before he can even catalog the surprised exclamations of his squadron as he books it. Jake feels like a kid again, swept up in his mom’s arms, feeling like an amalgam of four and twelve and eighteen all over again, too old and at the same time too young to ever be away from his Mama’s arms. 

She’s shaking, crying tears against the shoulder of his crisp khakis, tears of joy, of relief, tears thanking every power that be, that her baby came home. When Jake pulls away, keeping his Mom close, the other aviators are looking at him in shock. He introduces his mom, first, kissing the crown of her head as she smiles blearily at the assembled crew.

“And this is my pop, Admiral Kerner.” Jake’s grinning, open and wide, a little shit-eating but more joyful as he takes in the others’ faces.

“Hey, kid.” Jake grins fondly at his old man, hugging the older man tight. 

“Baby Goose. Mav.” Pop’s looking right at Mav and Rooster. Mav’s grinning openly at Pops, but Rooster is dumbfounded.

“Close your mouth, Roo.” Jake can’t help his shit-eating grin. “You’re not the only legacy in these parts.”

Before Jake can take it any further Mama’s on him, checking on his hands, and fawning over him. Jake can’t even pretend to be embarrassed. He’s missed this. Partway through the thorough examination his mom is putting him through, Jake turns to look at his dad and Mav. He can’t help but feel thankful. Of all the men he could have ended up emulating in his life, he’s glad it was Ron Kerner.

And looking back, all I can say about all the things he did for me

Is, I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be

Yeah, I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be

Because he didn't have to be

You know he didn't have to be

Taglist:

@mayhemmanaged, @desert-fernfern, @cassiemitchell, 

@dakotakazansky, @sarahsmi13s, @roosters-girl, @chaoticassidy, @genius2050

I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE MY WORK POSTED, TRANSLATED, OR PUBLISHED ON ANY SITES OTHER THAN HERE OR ON AO3 BY ME. IF YOU SEE MY WORKS ANYWHERE OTHER THAN HERE OR AO3, THEN THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND I WILL BE WORKING TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

[the-ace-with-spades]

Trying to make myself write like a monkey pilot and so random bits from worldbuilding of this fic that are only mention or not even included (this is trans Bradley fic, for people who have not read it, but some bits are universal - I'm sorry for the rambling)

Merlin has a flight school in Nevada - this is where Bradley gets his commercial pilot licence, not long after he starts medical transition. Merlin runs it with his second wife, Nandini, who was the original owner and main flight instructor. They met through Slider, who got his commercial through her school, and they got two kids and their daughter had a crush on Bradley everyone in their family holds against her any time they meet for family gatherings.

Slider, by the way, retired from the Navy the same year as Mav started on the path to become a test pilot, and got a commercial and then airline pilot licence. Mav makes fun of it constantly.

Jake and Bradley (then pre-transition) talked extensively about their future life together and in Jake's mind, it was a given they would get married and have kids eventually, they'd just wait for the right timing or until they were at certain ranks/positions. Bradley did want all of it, he just never thought/imagined how it'd actually look with him as wife/mother, only vaguely with Jake as a dad and his own image completely avoided (kinda hard to explain but it's like a very blurry picture where his own figure would be even blurrier).

Bradley still wants to get married and have kids. Once the whole wife/mom bit became husband/dad thing, he's no longer uncomfortable about the topic. He knows being pregnant would be difficult because society sucks but he's pretty sure he's at the stage of confidence when he can pull it off.

Jake's mom is the nightmare mother-in-law people joke about. For real. She is terrible to all of her kids' partners, but she is especially terrible to Bradley (pre and after transition) because Jake is her little miracle baby.

Coyote joined Jake's squadron just as Bradley left the Navy, which means he met Jake in the middle of a heartbreak and well, that's basically why he's not the biggest fan of Bradley (even if sometimes it shows in ugly ways).

Bradley and Jake also had very different mindsets about their relationship during the break-up period of six years. Bradley had been a bit in denial and tried to force himself to move quickly, thinking that ever being with Jake was impossible (or you know, a fantasy only possible in his head...). Jake up until he sees Bradley, now after transition, at the Hard Deck, thought they were like magically destinated to be together and they'd meet again at some point. He dated some girls, mostly on Coyote's insistence, but he never hit it off with any woman, liked to say he was 'ruined for life' for Bradley and never stopped believing they'd find each other again despite the years apart piling on.

Mav and Ice renewed their vows and had a second wedding after Ice went into remission. Bradley was the officiant, mostly because Ice and Mav had a massive fight about whose witness he should be.

This is implied ?? but Ice's cancer went in remission because I imagine Bradley being there and Mav being there more often because of Bradley meant Ice'd go to the doctor earlier than in canon and had better chances given it was at an earlier stage when it was found. You know, a butterfly effect and all that.

Bradley and Ice spent weeks after Bradley's top surgery playing DCS, most often in the F-14 sim with Bradley in the RIO seat, sometimes with Slider providing commentary. As stated in the fic, Slider is the one to pop the idea and install the whole thing. Ice and Mav often play while goes through his oncology treatment and Ice often uses his puppy eyes to make Mav play as the RIO (rather than have two planes and Jester AIs)

Jake has a strange view on gender, which isn't necessarily bad, but it can be disheartening to Bradley, especially at the beginning. It's almost as if he doesn't see people's gender but who the people are (kinda like similar to not seeing skin colours??) which can be great when you don't want to be perceived/treated by just gender (like Bradley pre-transition) but can be ignorant if you do (like Bradley after transition). He is also terrible with labels and doesn't really believe or use them.

(A bit nsfw/tmi ??) Bradley chose his preferred type of top surgery based on the desire to keep the sensation of his nipples (buttonhole has a higher probability of keeping the feeling), mostly because it was a really sensitive part of his body, but ended up not keeping the full sensation on one side, which is always a possible outcome with any top surgeries, and after a few more months on T realized that his chest isn't really that sensitive anymore anyway. It's probably one of the very few things he misses.

I'm absolutely ecstatic because readers picked up on it, but Jake's been so jealous of Mav the whole time the fic's been going on and it'll continue until he realizes who Mav is to Bradley actually. You can only imagine how horrified he is when he realizes how terrible of a first impression he made on Mav.

While Mav is not a fan of Jake, Ice is trying to be very neutral. Objectively, he's not the biggest fan of Jake either, mostly because he's never going to be a fan of any of his baby boy's partners, but he thinks Bradley is an adult and should be able to make his own decisions. He also knows that a lot of people would have told him Mav is no good for him and it's not true at all so he's trying to trust Bradley's judgment.

someone please make me write, i just stare at the open document and change words in already written dialogues

[oh-surprise-its-me]

@aki-draws-things

Okay so first off I’m playing fast and loose with timelines and ages. Just know I picture Jake born in 1988 so he’s 34 in tgm.

Christopher Cameron Seresin

He’s about 5’10. Which isn’t short but good god Slider is a fucking moose.

He’s blonde af and has a collection of tattoos from above his elbow and knees, Jake loves coloring them in when he’s young. His favorite colors are light blue and green.

Two sisters, one older one younger.

Not necessarily a bad relationship with his parents just one he knew he wanted to have better for his kids. His parents weren’t exactly supportive of him being gay. They refused to acknowledge it. But it was fairly fine and didn’t cause any real issues when he was growing up.

He became a firefighter because he saw a house fire take away his grandma when he was 7. She had left a candle burning and forgotten. He got burned on the right side of his head from where he was asleep on the couch. The scars aren’t completely noticeable but if you know what you are looking for you can see them on his ear pretty easily.

Absolutely obsessed with cats. He’s gotten yelled at multiple times by Ron and his captain for going back into burned houses for pets

Literally always knew he was gay. His older sister would have magazines and he was obsessed. She would always let him take them after she got bored with them.

His younger sister was always a bit bonkers. They aren’t super close but not from a lack of trying on Chris’ part, when she leaves at 18 after graduation with a boyfriend no one is shocked.

In Highschool he was such the pretty boy. All the girls thought he was gorgeous. He didn’t really care about them but would always try to be nice when he said no to dates.

He meets Ron at age 24. Ron is 25. Chris is terrified of losing Ron when he flies. But he doesn’t actually realize that Ron is just as scared of losing him to a fire that goes wrong.

Chris LOVES dancing in clubs. It took months for him to convince the three of them a gay club in Texas in a town two hours away from where they live isn’t going to out them instantaneously. Mav ends up loving it Tom likes it until he gets jealous, Ron enjoys watching Chris be happy.

They get engaged after top gun. Chris technically isn’t supposed to know how close it got to Ron not coming home but he knows just by how Ron holds onto him when he lands in Texas with three months off.

Tom and Mav follow a month later and they all live together for those remaining two months

Chris meets Maverick and they instantly like each other. Mav and him can completely disassemble a car together and put it back in better condition.

Ice and Slider are terrified of their boyfriends when they are together, they literally don’t speak and just know what the other person needs (Ron and Tom do the exact same thing they just don’t realize it)

Jake comes into their lives in 1988, he’s barely a week old. Chris’ younger sister asked to meet for coffee and brought Jake along, she’s clearly using. She asks Chris to take Jake. She can’t do it. It’s Chris or foster care.

Chris takes Jake without a bit of hesitation. Ron comes home from meetings all day to a baby sobbing from his own withdrawals and sees Chris crying right along with Jake.

Those next few months are some of the worst, it crushes Ron to hear Jake scream like he does at night. Chris takes basically all of his time off he can, his captain fully understands and supports him the best he can. Chris is sleep deprived for months until Ron is up again for reenlistment.

Jake is 9 months old at that point and Ron only agrees to reenlist because they promise him a promotion with a guaranteed stay in one place for two years.

Ron is secretly terrified that Jake isn’t going to like him because he’s been gone so often. Slightly irrational but still a fear. It’s a stupid fear, Jake is obsessed with his other dad. He loves sitting on Ron’s lap and listening to Ron read.

Chris is also obsessed with listening to Ron read. It’s extremely comforting to him to listen to the man he loves read to their son. Son! They have a son!!

Wow can you tell I got hyper-focused and I really rambled for a while there sorry I got excited- please ask questions or please write things if you are inspired!! I’m always happy to answer!!

[tomcat-tapes]

Random Top Gun AU I thought about if anyone wants a brain rot with me

LABYRINTH AU

In which Ice is Jareth the goblin king.

A young Bradley upset with the passing of his father, and refuses to want anything to do with his stepfather, Ron, or his half sibling Jake.

One evening when his Mom and Step dad are away in a date and he’s stuck babysitting his kid brother who has not stopped crying. Frustrated and stressed, Bradley tells little Jake a tale of the Goblin King, the same story he heard from his father before his passing.

“Stop it! I’ll say the words! No I mustn’t,, I wish,, Oh I can bear it no longer! Goblin King! Goblin King! Where ever you may be, take this child of mine far away from me!”

And Jake vanished, the Goblins have taken him. Bradley was mortified, he thought they were just stories his dad made up! And that’s when He appeared. The Goblin King. He refused to give Jake back, told Bradley to forget about the child but he couldn’t. Deep down Bradley knew he loved his brother, and oh god what will his parents say? He needed to get Jake back.

“You have thirteen (13) hours in which to solve the labyrinth, before your baby brother becomes one of us,,forever.”

It was a piece of cake. Bradley walked with confidence until he realized there was no openings inside the labyrinth.. luckily a nice worm told him the trick. The labyrinth is not at all as it seemed. There were stoned hands pointing in every-which direction. Bradley pulls out a marker he had stashed in his one of his pockets, this place is so confusing, he writes an arrow in the direction he’s going to keep track of where he had been. “I’m coming Jake,”

“I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry, what could I do? My baby’s love has gone, and left my baby blue! Nobody knew, what kind of magic spell to use.”

Among the many failings in Bradley’s journey, he did meet a short cranky Goblin with the name Jester, something he found quite odd, Hester’s were supposed to be funny and he was nothing but disdain, he was however fascinated with Bradley’s bracelets. The next goblin he met was tall, shy, and enjoyed talking to rocks and making friends, he called himself Slider.

And after a run in with a bunch of Fierys they ended up in the big of enteral stench. Where the encountered yet another Goblin. Small feisty and energetic creature that looked to be a mix of a fox and a squirrel, everyone called him Mav.

Onward the party went to the Goblin Kingdom, Jester offered Bradley a peach. Once Bradley took a bite of the peach he collapsed, and he dreamed of a glamorous ball you’d read in those fantasy books. Bradley himself was dressed in layers of flowy fabric and glitter. He laughed and he danced, smiling and never wanting to wake up from it.

“There's such a fooled heart beatin' so fast. In search of new dreams, a love that will last within your heart. I'll place the moon within your heart. As the pain sweeps through, makes no sense for you, every thrill is gone, wasn’t too much fun at all. But I’ll be there for you, as the Word falls down.”

When Bradley did awake he was in the comfort of his room with foggy memories. All his cherished possessions were there. His stuffed animals, his books, his slippers and his favorite board game. The posters and playbills lining the wall, his music box and vinyl records that he was gifted from his dad before he passed. Everything was in place and as it was, but something was wrong. A little book on his desk caught his eye, Labyrinth. The words of strength echoed in his head, “you have no power over me,” looking around. This was a distraction! He needed to get out. Tearing at the posters and walls everything crashing around him. Out, out, out!

As the hole in the wall opened, Mav and Slider were there helping him out. They quickly made it to the gates of the goblin kingdom. They came across a giant metal gollum standing guard at the gates where Jester came into the rescue to defeat it! At last inside the City! Goblin guards flooded to town to try and stop the party but thankfully with the help of Slider’s rock friends it was a breeze.

They arrive at the castle, “I need to go in alone, thank you for all of your help” “if you should ever need us, for anything at all, we’ll be here.”

Inside the castle was even more twists and turns, stairwells that were sideways, and upside down, leading to one room and out another. “JAKE!” And there baby Jake sat on the stairs giggling like he’s been having a good stay inside the caste. He doesn’t notice Bradley as he begins to crawl up the stairs. “Jake wait?!” Bradley dashes down the stairwell where he ended up on the opposite side of the room from his brother. He tried again and again to no avail as the Goblin walked along the stairs as well to watch the chaos.

Finally Bradley and The Goblin King confront each other.

“Everything that you have wanted, I have done. You asked for the child to be taken, I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down and I have done it all for you! I am exhausted living up to your expectations of me. Isn’t that generous?”

Bradley was quiet as he tried his best to remember the lines from his book. The same book his dad always read, the one his dad worked hard to write and publish. His favorite story.

“Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered. I have fought my way here to the castle, beyond the Goblin City. For my will is as strong as yours, and my-“

“STOP! Wait, look Bradley, look what I’m offering you. Your dreams.”

“And my kingdom as great.”

The Goblin King became frantic, showing Bradley an orb that held his dreams

“I ask so little. Just let me rule you, and you can have everything that you want.”

Bradley thought hard, this was the part he had trouble remembering.

“Kingdom as great,, Damn. I can never remember that line.”

“Just fear me, love, do as I say. And I will be your slave.”

King Ice demanded, he was at the end of his rope and Bradley knew it. If he could just remember the line!

“My kingdom as great,,,my kingdom as great,, you have no power over me!”

The orb was thrown up in the air. And King Ice disappeared and a snowy owl is what remained. The world began to fall into itself. Everything went black.

Bradley woke up in his bed once again. Was this another trick? Was this real? He looked aver at his shelf and noticed a bear was missing. He quickly got out of bed and stumbled down the hall to his parents room where the crib stood to the side. Peering into and seeing his baby brother, Jake, lay sleeping peacefully with the missing bear in his clutches. All is well and Bradley finally breathed easy. Turning of the lights to the room and returned to his own.

His parents arrived home and for once he didn’t feel angry for once. He tidied his room, putting the books away, and the playbills in the drawer of his desk. He sits down at the desk and stares off into near by mirror.

“Goodbye, Bradley” he saw Slider in the mirror, turning around Bradley saw nothing there. He looked back in the mirror. “And remember Master Bradley, should you need us,,” Mav said solemnly. “Yes, should you need us, for any reason at all” Jester appeared looking solemn.

“I’ll always need you, I don’t know why, but every now and again, for no reason at all. I’ll need you.”

“Well why did you say so!”

Bradley turned around in his chair again and there they were his friends and other goblins he’s met on his journey. It was the best night of his life.

There was a snowy owl that sat outside the window. Watching as the small party go down. With a subtle nod it flapped it’s wings and flew away.

The return to the Goblin Kingdom, the snowy owl formed back to King Ice, and he smiled.

“Good job everyone” he greeted, “That went perfectly, I think Nick would have been proud!”

Long ago before there was Bradley there Nick Bradshaw, he found the Goblin Kingdom and had the adventure of a life time and in the end he had asked the Goblin King to do the same for his future child. Ice had agreed, it had been a long time since a human has visited the kingdom and he delighted everyone he befriended. Not only that but he also introduced Mav, a spirited Goblin, to Ice. Helping young Nick out was the least Ice could do..

Doodles below⬇️🔮

(Ft. Wolfman and Hollywood Goblins hehe)

[mollymauk-teafleak]

1am

I have had. a hell of a time at work lately and wanted to write some fluffy icemav and hangster nonsense when I got home to shield the old brain. This is for the lovely @nb-fearne who is just the best and I love dearly

Please reblog and leave a comment over on Ao3 if you enjoyed this!

--------

It's the early morning and Tom Kazansky's house hasn't been quiet in a long time. 

And he couldn't be more grateful.

--------

Tom used to hate the house being quiet. 

It had happened far too often for his liking, not so much in the early days when they had Bradley over every other weekend and then full time. Back then there would always be the sound of a baseball repeatedly thumping into the back wall or music playing loudly upstairs as he sang in the shower, the heavy footfalls of gangly teenage legs too big for the boy who wore them running up and down the stairs. 

But even then there were the gaps of silence, Maverick off on the other side of the world because he’d fucked up again, Tom staying at the base far too late because he needed to work twice as hard as anyone else, so the rumours about him would fade into the background behind the commendations and medals and career progression. 

There was the heavy silence that came after Carole passed. The silence where her laughter used to be, the gaps where she would have had a dirty joke or some soft wisdom. 

And then there was the crushing silence after Bradley left, the ringing silence that came in the wake of raised voices saying words they couldn’t take back. 

Too many times Tom would find himself standing in the kitchen, in the darkness because he’d come home so late and couldn’t even be bothered to turn on the light, Maverick off in Bosnia or Iraq, Bradley out of his reach entirely. He’d stand there and think sadly of the life he’d always wanted but knew he’d never be able to really have, though that didn’t stop the aching want. He’d think of his sister Sarah’s house or Slider’s, full of laughter and small, running feet and heartbeats in all the other rooms. He’d stand there and sigh and think how much he hated the house being quiet. 

Tom found it kind of funny now. 

The baby had started crying sometime around eleven and she was still going now it was one in the morning. The same wrenching, pleading cry, repetitive and shrill so it drilled right into the heart and stuck there painfully. Tom could sleep on an aircraft carrier where everything clanked and whirred and every slightest movement had an echo, he could sleep with fighter jets taking off a stone’s throw away, but he couldn’t sleep through this. 

Neither could Maverick apparently, his husband rolled over in bed for the fifth time in as many minutes, burying his face between Tom’s shoulder blades and groaning exaggeratedly. 

Tom couldn’t help a smile, “Can’t sleep?”

“Shut up…” Maverick mumbled, voice muffled by Tom’s back, “This is hell. I’m in hell.” 

“They’ll get the hang of it,” Tom murmured, though he had to wince as the crying soared up in pitch, “Eventually.”

“She’s so small, how can she make so much fucking noise?” 

“Well, how do you manage it, Mav?” Tom hummed, smirking sleepily and accepting the light kick to the shins under the covers. He shifted, moving so he could wrap an arm around his husband’s shoulders and press a lazy kiss to the top of his head, “Imagine what it’s like to be her. Everything’s brand new and terrifying, no wonder she cries.”

Mav sighed, relenting the way Tom knew he would, “Yeah…guess everything’s brand new and terrifying to her dads too, huh?”

Tom paused at that, stroking his thumb at the nape of Mav’s neck. It was getting longer since he’d retired, enough that Tom could properly tangle his fingers in it. 

Bradley and Jake, or some combination of the two, had been living with them for the better part of a year now and it had been everything Tom had missed. His grinning, laughing, long limbed kid back where he belonged but now grown into himself and content, even looking to start being a Top Gun instructor himself when his paternal leave was up, in an irony that made his uncles laugh. Jake Seresin too, at first painfully awkward and unsure, a young man who’d been given the one he loved and a life he’d always wanted but had been so scared it wouldn’t actually fit him. Too many times Tom had looked at the young pilot and seen a strange combination of Mav and himself, about twenty years back. 

But, like they had, Jake had softened. He’d stopped glancing around every time Tom and Mav kissed or held hands or leaned against each other as they watched TV, like he was terrified for their safety. He’d stopped stiffening when Tom walked in the room like he was stopping himself from saluting. It had finally sunk in that he was safe here, that he was welcome and wanted and loved. 

Then Bradley had come home and their daughter had arrived so, in the same twenty four hours, everything had pretty much fallen into chaos. 

Part of them being here was so Tom and Mav could help them. The larger part was because of the Californian real estate market, in fairness, but it was also so they could help them.

Tom nodded decisively and kissed Maverick’s forehead, mostly to distract him while he took possession of his arm back, “Be right back…”

Mav made a sleepy noise of protest as he burrowed into the warmth Tom left behind, “Hurry.”

Tom smiled as he pulled on an old USNA shirt and cast around for his glasses. Once he could see more than fuzzy blurs, he left Mav with a kiss to keep him company and headed down. He followed the noise to the kitchen, not just the baby cries now but two voices tight with exhaustion and frustration. 

“You’re supposed to test the temperature on the inside of your wrist-“ 

“I did, Bradshaw, I told you. But you also told me to pass it to you before she hit you in the face again.”

“I can’t give her formula that’s too hot, Jake-“

“I know that-“

Tom stepped in quickly, keeping his expression carefully neutral, like he was just bumping into them on the stairs, “Evening.”

The scene in front of him wasn’t surprising. Jake leaned against the counter, wearing a shirt that was definitely Bradley’s and a harried expression, his hair that had also been getting longer in his time away from Navy razors sticking up in tufts. Bradley’s curls were even worse, making him look like a nocturnal animal startled awake, standing there in nothing but a set of sweatpants, juggling a bottle of formula and a squirming, screaming newborn. 

“Shit,” Bradley cursed, bouncing her but almost dropping the bottle in the process, “Sorry, Uncle Tom.”

Ice shrugged as Jake moved to quickly take the bottle off him before it could fall, “I’m up and down all night anyhow…anything I can do to help?”

Jake sighed, testing the temperature again and pulling a doubtful face, “Not unless you speak whatever language she’s speaking, sir…”

Ice chuckled softly, deciding he could at least make the boys some coffee, moving to get some started, “Jake, it’s one in the morning and I’m in my goddamn shorts, when are you going to stop calling me sir? The Navy’s jurisdiction stops at our front porch.”

“I don’t think the Navy’s to blame for that, sir, you can blame growing up in Texas,” Jake gave a slightly coy smile before looking at Bradley helplessly, “I think it’s still too hot.”

Bradley winced as his daughter’s cries got louder, “Shit…”

“Here.”

Tom didn’t take no for an answer, deftly replacing the crying baby in Bradley’s arms with the mugs, “You get the coffee going, I’ll see what I can do with little miss…”

Bradley looked conflicted, a mix of relief and guilt on his face, “I…are you sure…”

Tom looked at them both, firm but understanding, “You two are running yourselves ragged. It’s okay to take five. Besides, I think I can help, I have a few tricks…”

Bradley opened his mouth, ready to keep arguing with his typical Bradshaw mulishness, but the words got lost somewhere along the way as, for the first time in who knew how long, the crying stopped. Tom had moved her onto her front, tucked up safe against his chest so his free hand could rub firm circles on her back, and finally, miraculously the wailing puttered out like an engine winding down. 

“Holy shit…” Jake blinked, stunned. 

“How,” Bradley just stood there with the mugs in his hands and his jaw on the floor, “Old man, what the fuck kind of magic is that?”

Tom snorted, “You’re lucky both of my hands are busy, Bradshaw. I told you, I have tricks.”

He smiled down at the little bundle in his arms as she squeaked and shifted. Poppy Carole Bradshaw. Her daddy’s mop of unruly curls, her papa’s sloping nose and, even at just a few months old, their stubbornness combined, God help them all. 

The world felt a hell of a lot brighter with her in it. 

“Go sit down,” Tom told Jake and Bradley gently, “Before you pass out.”

They did, collapsing onto the living room sofa like they’d both been through 9 Gs each. Tom finished off the coffee one handed, Poppy grumbling every time he stopped though he gave plenty of apologetic kisses to the top of her fluffy little head. Before too long, his boys were clutching warm mugs and his granddaughter was greedily feeding from a bottle that was finally the right temperature. 

“Seriously though,” Bradley cocked his head, sunk deep into the sofa with Jake resting on his shoulder, “How come you know all this stuff? Baby stuff?”

Tom looked at him wryly from his armchair, thumb stroking careful circles on the crown of Poppy’s head, “Ah. That would be a classic Uncle Tom story that sounds innocuous but ends up pretty miserable.”

Jake raised his eyebrows and mumbled sleepily, “There’s a lot of those…”

“Glad you’re already picking up on that,” Tom chuckled roughly, rocking Poppy gently, looking down at her so the words would come that little bit easier, “I used to look after my sister when she was as small as this. I mean…wasn’t like anyone else was going to do it and I couldn’t let her down. So I read every book in the library on looking after babies and got to work. Sarah was a stubborn little gremlin too, if it makes you feel any better.”

“So…you worked your ass off at school, got top grades, played star quarterback and raised your baby sister because your shitty parents weren’t going to do it?” Bradley’s gaze wasn’t pity but pride and Tom knew it would be so he glanced up to meet it.

“Not bad for a closeted gay Jewish kid with a Russian surname in the fifties, huh?” Tom chuckled roughly. 

Bradley laughed and Jake had that look on his face he often got around Tom and Maverick, a slightly bewildered delight, like he’d been going around speaking another language to everyone else and finally stumbled on someone who could understand him. It was achingly familiar. 

“No. Not bad at all, Admiral,” he smiled.

The boys were clearly falling asleep, even with their half drunk coffees, and Tom wasn’t about to stop them. He was perfectly content sitting in his armchair with his granddaughter finally dozing off in his arms, in almost the same instant as her dads. For a moment, he wanted arms big enough to hold all three of them. 

Tom wasn’t surprised when he heard soft footfalls creeping carefully down the stairs, trying to avoid the creaking floorboards and cursing softly at the ones he stumbled on, making all the more noise for that. He was grinning when Mav eventually poked his head around the door, hair fluffy from sleep and blinking owlishly. 

“Lucky for you, they’re completely passed out,” Tom murmured softly. 

Mav yawned, padding over to perch on the arm of Tom’s chair, something he’d done so often the leather was worn, “Knew you could do it.”

Tom shifted for him, letting him rest his cheek on the top of his head so they could admire their sleeping granddaughter, their pair of crashed out pilots. Their little family. 

“Hey,” Tom murmured softly, glancing up at his husband, saying it just because he could, because the others would have to wait until the morning but he could say it to Pete Mitchell now, “I love you.”

Maverick reached down to stroke Poppy’s curls and kissed his wingman’s silvered hair, “I love you too.”

Tom took a breath, leaning into his husband’s arms. 

He remembered when he used to hate the house being quiet. But he was learning. 

[aki-draws-things]

@oh-surprise-its-me

I hope you don't mind, please let me know if you do mind. But also know, you possibly, maybe dragged me out of writer's block so hooray!

Obviously, Chris belongs to you, I've just happened to fall in love with this adorable one, and his "so absolutely not how I imagined to meet my soulmate" first meeting with Slider 🫠

(Yes, yes, I absolutely and mostly write ice/slider, and I love them together so much...but I also love the "slider is Jake's dad" just as much, so...) (plus, multiship is the way!)

"He does have beautiful eyes."

Was the very first thought, yet Chris was vastly aware it was a very improper first thought. Like, no. For the love of God, no. You're a very well-respected professional, Seresin!

Except for the stranger he had just dragged out of that wrecked car had indeed beautiful eyes.

"Hey~"

And a very pretty smile. which shouldn't be the case because the man was most likely heavily concussed, he waved a hand, or perhaps that was his main intention. He kind of waved.

Chris found himself smiling back, kneeling by his side and holding him down when he tried to move because of course, he would try to move, right? Concussed and with most likely some bruised, if not broken, ribs, and he was trying to move and sit.

"Hold still, before you hurt yourself more."

The stranger, blinked, wide-eyed, at him, he breathed slowly, which could be because of the pain, could be him keeping himself calm, or the chest trauma. His breath felt wrong, rattling under Chris' hand.

"My savior..."

Uh... alright, that made him feel like... that felt nice. If only that stranger didn't look like death warmed up to him, of course.

"Marry me..."

Chris didn't blush. Nah, he probably pushed a strand of hair back or scratched his cheek and the red on his face was blood--- Yeah, okay, maybe he blushed, that would be a lot better.

"Ah--"

"What? Pain?"

"No, no... we can't marry. We can't because-- cause Ice-- Icey will never let a pretty angel take me away--"

He frowned and Chris swallowed. He was getting worse, he could see it, confused, disoriented. Where the fuck was the ambulance anyway?! And what on God-forsaken Earth was an Icey?!

The stranger blinked, stared straight at Chris and he forced himself to smile at him. The stranger looked kinda dazed and sad.

"Pretty angel would never want to take someone like me..."

If I was the pretty angel, Chris thought, so bloody unprofessionally but he couldn't care less at that moment, I most definitely would.

He didn't have time to say anything, not a syllable, that the stranger became unconscious and the ambulance sirens wailed through the air.

Captain Kazansky always said, from the day he saw a white hair on his head, that Ron was the cause of them. Then he met Maverick, and his white hair were now carefully hidden. Extremely well hidden.

But he wasn't angry, hell, he could never be angry, not as he felt his heart thump fast inside his chest and he crossed corridors over corridors.

Not Maverick, for once, and he thought he would feel happy. Grateful. Something.

He didn't.

Because it was Ron they called about. Because Ron had listed him as his emergency contact, of course, they were family.

Because it wasn't a flight accident, or they would've been together, and he would never let something happen, Ron was coming back to the base, Ron was--

"Ron what the hell you did this time?"

At first, Tom didn't notice the other man in the room when he burst inside, uniform and all, looking ready to throw the hat straight at Ron's face but stopping as soon as he saw the bandages. God, he needed a full report on his injuries. Before now!

Ron whined, and wiggled a hand toward him until Tom finally stepped closer, took his hand gently, intertwining their fingers.

Oh, Chris thought, from a little spot in the corner, he's taken. Well--

"'m sorry Icey..." Ron whined, not looking at his pilot. "Messed up..."

So, that was what an Icey was. A person. An extremely good looking one too.

"Actually, if I maybe speak in his defense-- hi, sorry, I'm Chris, I'm the one who got him out," he smiled, and definitely rambled. "Well... he actually got hit, it wasn't his fault."

Iceman looked at him, his hand still trapped into Slider's, he looked at him.

"Thanks. For getting him out. For saving him. Don't know what I would do without him..."

Ah, so definitely taken... but perhaps-- well, he wasn't picky, if they weren't either.

[arcane-vagabond]

more hot takes:

1) i want more fics where jake's s/o is alternative/witchy/goth. i think his type is his opposite but not in the way most fic authors think. since he's so clean cut and must adhere to military guidelines for appearance i think he'd like someone who's the opposite of him and gets to express themselves thru their looks. like i think it'd be funny for jake to roll up to the hard deck with a goth or witch in tow.

imagine them on the docks for deployment and his s/o is a witch who gives him talismans, charms, crystals, and protective spells to take with him to keep him safe that would be so cute !!!

2) jake is def bi and has had relationships with men or hooked up with some at the very least

3) jake is related to either iceman or cyclone. his mom is from texas and his dad was stationed in texas which is where he was born & grew up. when joining the navy he used his mom's maiden name to avoid and nepotism claims

4) payback is from chicago and is a die hard bears fan

5) phoenix is from ohio (i don't make the rules)

6) javy is fluent in portuguese and lived in brazil for a bit when he was a kid

1.) I think this is SUCH an interesting take, but I LOVE it. I can definitely see it. He keeps those talismans either on his person, in his locker, or by his bunk at all times.

2.) Yes. No notes.

3.) I love this. Even Slider tbh I think that’s my fave one.

4.) You’re absolutely right.

5.) On the money again.

6.) I hadn’t considered this, but I’m OBSESSED.