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dingochef · 11 months

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Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin & Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Warnings: Swearing, Smut (MDNI 18+ Only), Oral (Male receiving), hand jobs, cum play,

Word Count: 4.2k

Summary: When Bama and Texas face off in football, Jake and Bradley make a bet that makes them face their feelings for each other.

A little fun one shot in honor of Pride month. 🏳️‍🌈

Hook 'Em

Hangman considers three things sacred in his life and will move heaven and earth to honor them accordingly. In no particular order those three things are his family, the company of his horse, Dolly, and Texas Longhorns football.

Being that he is cast around the globe at the whim of the US Navy, he has an easier time catching football games than being at home in Texas to attend to the other two. This day's worship comes early, the time difference between Texas and California meaning that the noon home game in Texas is at ten in the morning.

In the spirit of team building, he has invited the Dagger squad, a now permanent detachment out of North Island, to his humble abode to experience the glory of Texas football and have a socially acceptable reason to day drink. Today's particular game is Alabama at Texas. The invite that went out to the Dagger Squad group chat was brief but adequate.

Hangman: Texas vs. Alabama, my place starting at 9 am, kickoff is at 10 am, Bloody Marys and Mimosas on the house, bring snacks and anything else you'd like to drink. Wear orange and Go Longhorns!

Phoenix and Bob are the first to arrive, ever the devoted duo.

"I'd thought your house would be douchier. Like more bikini posters and mirrors," she says as she looks around the living room.

"Sorry to disappoint your unreasonably low expectations," Hangman answers as he accepts a six pack of Shiner Bock from Bob.

"It was the only vaguely Texan beer I could find at the shitty convenience store by apartment," Bob offers. Hangman is still a Southern boy and a good host and graciously accepts the mid-rate beer.

"Thanks, Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar is in the kitchen, help yourselves."

Coyote arrives and gives Hangman a pat on the back and heads to the kitchen with chips and dip. Payback and Fanboy are the next to arrive (do you have to go everywhere with your WSO?). Fanboy has a predictable fanboy moment over the signed Pulp Fiction movie poster in the hall by the bathroom.

The rest of the squad has filtered in by 9:45 am except for Rooster. His absence is questioned by Hangman and somehow it magically summons him to appear on the porch dressed like an abomination. Rooster appears in the doorway wearing an Alabama hat, a Roll Tide hoodie, and crimson pants that are adorned with little Alabama logos including elephants. Hangman does a once over of Rooster's ensemble and promptly renders out a verdict, a resounding,

"Nope, you're not walking into my house that offensively and obscenely dressed. Since when do you root for Bama?"

"My dad was from Alabama. Really Hangman? Are you threatened by the presence of a little bit of crimson?" Rooster jokes as he sweeps a hand up and down his outfit.

Hangman shakes his head back and forth,

"My retinas are offended on behalf of humanity for your outfit. Where the hell did you get Bama dress pants?"

Rooster responds with an eye roll of epic proportions,

"This is Alabama formal, as good as a tux and perfect for all occasions." Hangman snickers,

"You're not helping the stereotype."

Rooster looks at his watch, knowing that kickoff is quickly approaching,

"Are you going to let me in or not?"

Hangman considers for a quick second,

"You have to get rid of some of this crimson monstrosity before I allow you in."

"Fine, I'll ditch the hoodie and hat. Enough?"

"Deal, just know you're in Longhorn country now," Hangman responds, flashing the longhorn hand gesture. Rooster sprints to his Bronco and chucks the hat and hoodie on the front seat and books it back to the house. He grabs a beer and twists off the cap and finds the only open seat next to Hangman. Rooster plops down on the couch next to him and jams his bulky frame into the remaining space. Hangman looks over and rolls his eyes at the Alabama t-shirt that Rooster was hiding under the hoodie.

It might be the two Bloody Marys in Hangman's stomach, but it's likely more of his insane ego and confidence that leads him to say the next thing,

"Should we make a wager on the game?"

Rooster grins, knowing the record between the two teams in the past 10 years is heavily tilted toward the Crimson Tide,

"Sure, but you know Texas is going to lose. What's the bet? 50 bucks?" He's expecting a sum of money like usual and is slightly surprised by Hangman when he offers,

"Nah, I feel like this is my opportunity to better the world by getting rid of your pants. Texas wins, I get every piece of Bama gear you have on to do with whatever I please."

Rooster grins even wider,

"Whatever, Hangman. There is no way that Texas is going to win over Bama, so yes, I'll take your bet and the same applies to you, any Texas thing you have on is mine. One stipulation, the shirt is off limits, it was my dad's."

Jake's eyes soften for a moment, and he quickly agrees,

"Deal."

They quickly shake hands and turn their attention to the opening kickoff.

Jake tries to ignore the warmth radiating from Rooster along his body and focus on the game. He definitely tries to ignore Rooster's arm on the back of the couch, placed there after he stood up to cheer for the Alabama field goal in the first quarter.

Texas answers back with a field goal before Alabama finishes out the quarter with a touchdown. The Alabama touchdown is quickly answered by a Longhorn touchdown. Jake pumps his fist and yells,

"Horn's up!' along with the longhorn hand gesture, his exuberance sloshing Rooster's beer. Rooster rolls his eyes,

"Tone it down, cowboy, you're making me spill over here."

Jake just winks at Rooster and gives him an affectionate elbow to the side.

The Texas touchdown is the most exciting part of the second quarter, the rest of the time spent trading punts and Texas missing a field goal. The game is tied, 10-10 at the half. Everyone hops up to get more drinks and snacks.

As Jake returns to find his seat, he finds Rooster's legs sprawled out into his seat.

"Roo, scooch over, games coming back on," Jake barks.

Rooster's only response is to smirk and pat his thigh. Jake sighs and sits down on Rooster's thigh, ready to watch the game. Coyote raises an eyebrow to Jake as he stays there through the first drive, Jake shrugs him off. Rooster finally pulls his leg in, now that Jake has called his bluff. Texas adds another field goal and pulls ahead of Alabama.

It's the 4th quarter where things start to get interesting. Texas scores another field goal and Jake is using the opportunity to razz Rooster,

"Those pants are going to be mine, bird boy."

"Don't count your chickens before they're hatched, Bagman," he volleys back. Rooster has a smirk on his face when Alabama scores a touchdown and pulls ahead making the score 17 to Texas's 16. The touchdown is answered back with a Texas field goal. The game clock is ticking down and Alabama has the opportunity to pull ahead and likely win if they make the field goal they are setting up for as Rooster leans over his knees. He holds his breath as the kick sails through the air and goes wide.

"Fuck!" he swears, the sound of his curse drowned out by Jake's cheering. Texas has won the game 19 to 17. Jake looks down to Rooster where he sits defeated on the couch,

"Those pants are mine, Bradshaw! Hook 'em!" Jake is strutting around the living room as the last seconds of the game slip away.

"Alright, Roos, time to pay up," he says, the request accompanied by gimme hands. Rooster blushes and demurs,

"Yeah, yeah give me a minute." Jake shrugs knowing Rooster will eventually pay up.

The rest of the squad starts to filter out thanking Hangman for the drinks and hospitality. There is an announcement that people are invited over to Phoenix and Halo's place to watch the Navy- Army game tonight if they're interested, this being a rare year the game is played at night on the west coast. Everybody leaves to go sleep off their buzz, everyone except Rooster, as he still has to make good on the bet.

It might be the uncounted mimosas and beer in his bloodstream but there is something in his gut that is telling Rooster to take a shot. To acknowledge this dance he and Hangman, Jake, have been in since the uranium mission and if he's truthful, years before that. Jake has picked up a few empty beer bottles and heads to the kitchen, as he passes the doorway he calls out to Bradley,

"Time's up! Got to make good on the bet."

Bradley smirks and stands in the doorway to the kitchen and watches as Jake tidies up.

"You said every piece of Bama gear, right?"

he asks, a hint of mischief in his voice. Jake turns around, looking almost exasperated,

"Yes, everything, except the shirt. I wouldn't put it past your incredible lack of taste to have some ugly ass socks with elephants on them or something."

He turns back to scraping the chip dip into a container. Bradley toes off his shoes and pulls a sock off and tosses it towards Jake so it flies through the edge of his vision. Jake snorts,

"See, you don't even surprise me anymore Bradshaw. Of course you have Bama socks, you have a Bama Hawaiian shirt, too?"

The other sock sails past and lands on the floor near the other one. Jake continues to tidy up.

"Unsurprisingly, I do,"

Bradley. answers smirking behind Jake as he unzips knowing what is coming next. The pants don't fly as far as the socks but they slide close to the rapidly forming pile of discarded clothes on the floor.

"Finally, now I can get around to burning that crime against fashion," Jake leans down to pick up the pants and socks. He is wholly unprepared for the next piece of fabric that soars through the air and lands on his face as stands up. He grabs the offending article and pulls it away from himself, trying to identify what it is. A few seconds later, it registers that these are Rooster's boxers, and as awful as they look, crimson with Alabama logos in white, that means he is naked. Jake drops the clothing he is holding in his other hand. He whips his head around to look for Rooster. Rooster is sitting in one of his kitchen chairs. His hands resting on the back of his head, his arms flexed in a way he knows shows them off. Although he's pretty certain that sight is not what has caused Jake's jaw to drop. Bradley has a moment of confidence and is sitting with his legs spread, naked below the waist, and his erect cock and balls on full display for Jake, a shit eating grin on his face as he watches the emotions change on Jake's face like a slot machine while Jake's brain catches up. The look that settles on Jake's face is slightly predatory. He walks over to Bradley slowly, not breaking eye contact.

"Getting off that perch, Rooster?" he teases, voice low and husky. Bradley tries to deny to his brain that his cock twitched at the sound of Jake's voice, but for sure as shit Jake saw it and is smirking.

"I'm off the perch, but you look like you need somewhere to sit, darling," Bradley drawls, voice smooth like honey, as he pats his thighs.

Hangman is a man of decisive action, sometimes called impulsive, but now he is so sure and ready for this he's surprised they hadn't fallen into each other before now. It feels inevitable, destined even. It's that confidence that lets Jake take a seat in Bradley's lap and cradle his face as he gives him, what he hopes, is a life changing kiss. Bradley groans, low and guttural, a combination of the kiss and the friction as his dick is trapped between his stomach and the rough denim covering Jake's own hard and ready cock. Jake slips his tongue into Bradley's groaning mouth and grinds his own hard on against Bradley's.

It's Jake's turn to groan as Bradley's hands slide down his back and into jeans and under his boxer briefs to knead the flesh of his ass and pull him closer. Bradley's lips are sliding down Jake's neck, eliciting a deep sigh of pleasure. Jake is starting to feel overheated and reaches down to pull off his own UT shirt and drop it to the floor.

Bradley leans back as far as he can to get a look at Jake's chest. He brings his large hands up to skim his palms over the chest hair and circles his fingers around Jake's nipples. Leaning forward he kisses Jake's sternum and starts to suck a bruise there while he gently pinches each nipple. There is a breathy sigh of pleasure that emits forth from Jake's mouth from above where he is watching Bradley worship his chest. Just when he thought he couldn't get more turned and aching for relief Bradley's lips and tongue move on from the now apparent hickey on Jake's chest and out to lavish their attention on Jake's nipple. The wet contact on his nipple sends a zing of pleasure down Jake's spine and his cock twitches in response. Jake has his hands on the back of Bradley's head and is carding through the brunette curls at the base of his neck. With an almost pornographic slurp sound Bradley pulls off Jake's nipple, causing Jake to honest to God whines at the loss of contact, Bradley huffs out a soft laugh at Jake's neediness.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to play with your tits," he whispers out his dark brown eyes looking up into Jake's jade green ones. That confession earns Bradley another hard grind from Jake's hips. Bradley's eyes flutter closed at the contact as Jake responds,

"You've been thinking about my tits, Roo? You think about me when you jerk off?"

"All the time, think about cumming on your tits and it sends me over the edge," Bradley answers, his eyes open and meeting Jake's heavy lidded gaze down.

"Fuck," Jake is grinding his hips in a constant rythym now, "I–," he stutters as Bradley works his other nipple between tongue and teeth, "I want you to."

"Want me to do what, darling?" Bradley asks before returning his attention to sucking a hickey next to Jake's nipple. He looks upward as a hot red flush creeps up Jake's neck to his face, Jake closes his eyes and says almost too quietly,

"Cum on me, on my tits."

Bradley moans long and hard at the thought.

"We'll get there, sweetheart. First, I need to get your dick in my mouth," Bradley rasps, his face still buried between Jake's pecs. He slides his hands to Jake's hips and gives him a gentle pull to stand up. Bradley stands up with him and they continue kissing and making out for a brief moment before Bradley spins them so Jake is standing in front of the chair. Bradley slowly drops to his knees and kisses down the golden treasure trail to Jake's belt buckle. He notices it for the first time and lets out a laugh,

"You cannot give me shit for my Bama gear, when you gave a literal Texas belt buckle. It's like the worst shaped state ever for a belt buckle, can't be comfortable."

Jake is far too turned on and horny to come up with a witty retort and all he can muster up is,

"It's good luck,"

especially when Bradley nuzzles his nose and face into the hair just above the offending belt buckle.

"Lucky, indeed,"

Bradley murmurs as he undoes Jake's belt and slides his jeans and underwear down in one motion. Jake's cock springs free of the fabric and Bradley eagerly swipes at precome pooling at the slit with his finger before sliding it in his mouth. Bradley's eyes close at the taste, and he pulls the finger out of his mouth with a loud pop. Jake's eyes go wide and he sits heavily down in the chair, overwhelmed.

"Rooster," Jake whines, drawing out the o sound. Bradley huffs out a small laugh in the crease of Jake's thigh,

"You need something, baby?"

He distracts Jake even more by running tongue down his abs, one by one.

"Need you to touch me, anything," Jake pants, his hands lightly on Bradley's hair. Bradley laughs,

"I got you baby, enjoy the scenery," he is staring at Jake's cock like it's the Mona Lisa, he looks up to Jake's pleading face, "I am."

Without any warning Bradley takes Jake's entire length in one motion, the head easily slipping down his throat, his nose nestling into the curls at the root.

"Jesus fucking Christ,"

Jake pants, his chest heaving at the intensity.

"Warn a guy next time,"

he squeaks out his brain having gone haywire at the sensation and the knowledge that Bradley fucking Bradshaw is on his knees in Jake's kitchen deep throating his dick like a pro. Bradley pulls back and begins to suck Jake's cock in earnest, his hands coming up to gently cup Jake's balls in one hand the other wrapping around his dick. He settles into a rhythm, not too fast nor excruciatingly slow. As he looks up he takes in the sight of Jake's chest heaving as he pants out praise to Bradley,

"Fuck, you are too good that."

Bradley moans, the words turning him even more, Jake picks up on it.

"You like that, hearing how fucking, oh my God, how," Jake stutters out, his own words faltering as he barrells towards his climax,

"How good you are at sucking my cock. Fuck, Bradley."

The fact that Jake has called him Bradley settles in the back of his brain, something he will think about later, not now because he has Jake's cock in his mouth, finally.

"You were made to suck cock, fuck," Jake breath hitches, "I'm going to cum."

Bradley takes the warning as a sign to suck harder and he's rewarded with Jake flooding his mouth as he cums, above Bradley Jake shouts out a long moan mixed with curse words, his head going slack and tipping back over the chair. Bradley holds Jake's cock in his mouth as he swallows Jake's cum. Jake's head snaps back up,

"Did you just swallow?" he asks, face in shock.

A hot flush blooms on Bradley's face, he gently pulls off Jake's sensitive cock.

"I did, I'm nice," is all he can think of to say, a memory of a sticker from his teenage years, "Mean People Spit, Nice People Swallow", coming to his mind at the moment for some unknown reason. He holds his breath for Jake's reaction. Jake laughs,

"Forget nice, you're a walking wet dream."

Bradley lets the breath out as he stands up. Jake snags his hand and pulls him so that Bradley is standing over him, Jake's leg in between Bradley's.

Jake leans over to and takes Bradley's dick in his hand. He starts stroking it in a soft slow rhythm,

"You're dripping, baby. So ready to cum, aren't you?"

Bradley pathetically whines from the sensation and the sudden switch of the dynamic between them,

"Yes, please."

Jake huffs out a gentle laugh, not in a derisive way, but with a sympathetic tone. He leans down and takes Bradley's dick into his mouth and Bradley has to remind himself to breathe, the pleasure overwhelming even his base reflexes. Jake bobs up and down a few times more, concentrating on getting Bradley's dick wet enough to stroke him. When he's satisfied with his progress he pulls off Bradley's cock in a long slow slide. Bradley's words have devolved into moans and other sounds.

Jake's hand immediately fills in the spot that his mouth left vacant around Bradley. He starts to jerk off him rapidly and he starts talking,

"So good for me, Bradley, I've never had anyone suck my cock as good as you did."

The praise and its effects causes Bradley's brain and breath to hitch.

"Can't wait to see how good you fuck me, think you can cum on my tits like you've dreamed about, sweetheart?"

Jake practically coos to Bradley. It's the heady combination of the promise of a next time, the praise, the term of endearment, and the fulfillment of one of his dirty fantasies that sends Bradley over the edge. He forces his eyes open to watch as his long ropes of white cum land on Jake's chest hair. The downy softness of his chest hair absorbs the cum and Bradley stares, mind hazy from the orgasm, as Jake runs a finger over his nipple, collecting some of it on his finger. Bradley's eyes go wide when Jake presses the finger to his tongue and moans,

"You taste so good, next time you can cum in my mouth."

He winks at Bradley and Bradley's brain is trying to catch up to the moment Jake Seresin became a porn star, because this feels so surreal.

When Jake laughs as he stands, asking,

"Roo, you still with me?" Bradley comes back online.

"Yeah, still here," he rasps out, the enormity of what they have just done hitting him like a ton of bricks. His eyes must give him away, because Jake reaches out to take his hands in his.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jake asks kind and soft and Bradley adds "Nice Jake" to the rapidly growing pile of shit he has to figure out.

"I should go," is all Bradley can think to say, he stoops to collect his clothing pulling his hands away from Jake's, the panic rising. Jake grabs his shoulder, grounding him for the moment.

"We should talk about this, us," Jake says as he gestures to the space between them.

"Yeah, later, later," Bradley babbles out, still holding his clothing.

Jake's other hand lands on his other shoulder,

"I can hear you panicking, Bradley. You think you've fucked up…us. You –we haven't."

Bradley nods and Jake continues,

"I'd give you a hug to reassure you that is not the case, but obviously," he sweeps a hand over his come covered chest and Bradley can feel himself getting hard again as he laughs, sounding a little unhinged. He shakes his head trying to clear the thought. Jake's hands move to frame Bradley's face his thumb gently tracing the scar on Bradley's face.

"I think we both knew this was a long time coming. I really like you and I'd like to date you, like properly."

Bradley's brain flatlines, he can almost hear the unchanging tone, "What? Like a relationship?" he squeaks, his voice going high at the end.

"Yes, can I take you out to dinner?" Bradley dumbly nods again, brain still on overdrive.

"I need words, Bradley."

Bradley's breath flows out of him, relief flooding in so fast he visibly sags. He leans into Jake's hand on his face and covers it with his own,

"Yes, I'd like that a lot," he gulps some air in, "Sorry, had a little freak out."

Jake chuckles,

"I noticed. Here," he takes the clothes out of Bradley's hands and puts them on the chair.

"Come take a shower with me," he says as he looks down at his chest, "The least you can do is to help me clean up after the mess you made." Jake starts to step towards the bathroom, presumably. There is a fondness to his voice that Bradley notices and it soothes the rough edges of his brain where the panic is holding on.

"I suppose," he responds and takes a few steps and wraps his arms around Jake, bringing the blond's back to his chest. He kisses the side of Jake's neck and says into his skin,

"I really like you, too."

Jake spins around, a giant smile across his face.

"That's a good start, let's get to that shower," Jake grabs his hands and pulls him along, with a laugh. Bradley is smiling wide at the thought of something real with Jake. He has a few moments of daydreaming as Jake gets the shower ready, what a future with Jake at his side would look like. He's brought back to the present when Jake shakes some water at him. Bradley laughs and takes off his t-shirt to step into the shower. He wraps his arms around Jake and sinks into the moment and the heady high of the promise of something, together. His poetic moment is crashed in true Jake fashion, when Jake mumbles from Bradley's shoulder,

"I'm still burning those pants. Dating or not."

Bradley's only response is to laugh and get ready for the ride of a lifetime.

#top gun maverick #hangman #hangman fanfiction #jake seresin fanfiction #top gun fanfiction #top gun smut #hangster #sereshaw #hangaroo #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw smut #bradley x jake #rooster x hangman #rooster bradshaw fic #rooster

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anhaima007 · 10 months

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Bob epic team are the best segments of the show

#pop team epic #poputepipikku #poptepipic #popuko #pipimi

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lab-trash · 10 months

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A Few Hot Takes About Elite Force

Bree did not deserve to go to Centium City, nor does it make sense plot-wise

In season four it's jokingly established that Bree is becoming sort of a mom-friend, mom-mentor sort of figure. There is no way in hell that she would've allowed fucking Adam and Leo to run the bionic island. She knows those two knuckle-heads would get into trouble. Don't get me wrong, I love when Adam takes control of the situation and when he takes responsibility for Bob in that one episode, but let's face it: he is not ready for such a large role when it comes to that many kids. Dude is not equipped to be a babysitter. When it comes to Leo, while he is more equipped for the situation, he is very well established to make shit go wrong on fucking accident. We see it time and time and time again, not only in season one, but in season four (read: the whole business card fiasco). She would've known that they would've be able to handle it alone, especially when taking into account that their chaperones would've been fucking Terry Cherry Perry and goddamn Douglas Davenport! Excuse me???? No! She would have not allowed that.

Edit- Also, she just got a sister! I know that she said that the excitement was gone after having to change diapers, but you're telling me that Bree wouldn't want to be a part of her life????

Leo did deserve to go to Centium City, and it would've made more sense plot-wise (especially if they kept it mostly the same story-wise)

Leo, as we all know, gets along great with Kaz. Not only that, but he's a superhero nerd. I guarantee that if Leo just knew wtf the 'secret project' was, he would've been on board faster than the train to Downtown Welkerville. It would've been epic to see him interact with not just Kaz, but Oliver too? Skylar probably would've felt like she fit in more too, because she's definitely one of the boys (not in a pick-me way, in a nonbinary way). It would've been really fun seeing Chase trying to battle Kaz, Oliver and Leo down from playing Topple Tower and whatever other various games. Such as, for example, Leo jumping off the building for Kaz and/or Oliver to catch him before he fucking dies. I know this was more of an Adam and Chase thing, but I still think we should've gotten a prank wars episode, and since it's decidedly canon that Bree is, at best, mid when it comes to pranks, it could've gotten real fucking intense. I love the idea of Oliver and Kaz warning Chase and Leo about Skylar being really amazing at pranks, and then when they don't really notice her being weird or suspicious, they just think it was to mess with their heads (which does or does not work, depending on if you want a Sicillian situation on your hands or not) so they brush it off, only to be bested by the prank master. But I'm getting off topic. The biggest reason that I think that Leo should've gone to Centium City instead of Bree is because of Episode 9 and Episode 10. In episode 9, The Intruder,we are introduced to a character named AJ, who finds Chase and Douglas in the Mission Command (aka, the basement) by mistake. And I know that they often draw comparisons from AJ to Chase, but I think that it would work way better with Leo— Better yet, Leo and Chase. Like Chase, AJ is autistic coded, socially inept, and a tech nerd. But like Leo, he means well. He wants to be a part of the team, even though objectively that maybe shouldn't be allowed. He snuck his way into this family by running into them when he didn't mean to, when he was just exploring where he lived. AJ should've gotten bonding time with Leo. Maybe then, the common headcannon that AJ will/would become Mission Specialist like Leo once was, would be cannon. Next is Episode 10, The Rock. In The Rock, AJ makes a list ranking the most useful/gifted in the Elite Force, to the least. This causes Bree to become insecure when she's placed in the middle, leading her to attempt getting more powers by touching the Arcturian. I will always stand by the fact that this was a fucking stupid idea. But when it's Leo? This idea becomes nearly fucking genius. Leo would likely be placed in a similar place, if not lower, given that only part of him has powers. He is not bionic, he has bionics. And, y'know, he's a superhero nerd; why would he not want superpowers. He also is reckless, which would make sense why he would touch the Arcturian without really thinking about it as much as he probably should. And best of all, this could be a personal secret, instead of a secret between him and someone else, like it was with Bree and Skylar. After all, Leo already has a buffer. His arm. Leo wouldn't need to be endangered to get these powers, he already paid that tax years ago. Leo would finally have powers. Not just partial powers; real, true powers. It makes sense that he would be the first bionic superhero. Leo deserves to be the first bionic superhero.

Edit cont.- I do think that Leo would want to be in Naomi's life too, I understand that. Especially with his dad having been absent in his life, he might want Naomi to grow up with her family around. But at the same time, I really like the idea of him letting Bree have that honour. Like a bit of an emotional moment as they debate who goes to Centium City and who stays on the island/in Mission Creek, and in the end, Leo knows how much Bree's always wanted a sister and decides that she should be allowed to have that.

I have way more, but I can't remember, so this is probably the last one. Ka-Kai-Ra-Ta-Hee-Haw-Mwak-Floopie-Pazoing should've been in Elite Force

They couldn't have invited Auggie Issac back for one episode just to make it feel more like Caldera? Seriously? She is definitely one of the highlights that we get when we visit Caldera in Mighty Med, and without her, it feels disingenuous. Hell, start the episode with a quick video chat with Gus talking about how things are going in Philly and with The Domain, make the universe feel more coherent and put together. And then, if Chase and Leo/Bree see the call, they could later mention how she looks like Gus. And, not only that, but she could help save Skylar. Like, instead of Scarlett just being like 'hey muthafuckas, lemme bring you to ya girl,' it could've had this semi-dramatic, semi-emotional moment with Ka-Kai-Ra-Ta-Hee-Haw-Mwak-Floopie-Pazoing where she explains that she saw Scarlett taking Skylar away. She could've explained the whole rebellion thing to Oliver and his accompaniment. They could've had one of those cross cut scenes where it cuts between Ka-Kai-Ra-Ta-Hee-Haw-Mwak-Floopie-Pazoing and Scarlett explaining what's going on, instead of getting weird feeling, one dimensional exposition from just Scarlett talking to Skylar through an oddly shaped TV. I would've loved to see her and Skylar reunite, even for a little bit. Hell, y'know what, Ka-Kai-Ra-Ta-Hee-Haw-Mwak-Floopie-Pazoing is basically not a pet, which is implied through the numerous jokes of her not responding to things that a normal pet do, and the fact that she speaks english. It would've been epic as fuck if she was like... leading a rebellion army. That would've been so fucking awesome. But that would've been far more difficult to do, and I understand that. But the first part? Cmon, she is the heart and soul of Caldera. She should've been there.

Sorry for the super long post that was basically about nothing, but I was ranting to my friend who knows nothing about the lref universe and I wanted to share these. They're definitely the ones I'm most passionate about— not including how I think that Douglas definitely should've been indited more as their father instead of Donald, especially in Elite Force where Douglas showed up more than Donald did. And that Tasha deserves someone better (and I wouldn't exactly mind if that person were Douglas, but I've been over how I think that Douglas deserves a nice twunk)

Let me know if I should make a part two, and I might rant about a few more things they could've done to make Elite Force better.

Anyway, all in all, thank you for coming to my ted talk.

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missathlete31 · 1 year

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Nowhere to Run Chapter 1

Once the Daggers are allowed to be a permanent squadron, Maverick expects everyone to want to join. When Cyclone tells him he has one hold out, Mav decides to question the lone pilot, leading to a confrontation of epic proportions.

The Dagger Squad will never be the same

(Aka Bradley probably shouldn’t have gone on the mission and Jake states why)

In hindsight, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell should have known this was going to end badly. It wasn't that he had gone into the hanger expecting such a confrontation but he should have known that cornering any pilot, especially Jake "Hangman" Seresin was a dangerous move. So dangerous in fact that he wondered if their Dagger Squad would ever recover.

It all started when the team was called back after their three week courtesy leave from the Navy. They were told to report to Top Gun where Admiral Simpson and Admiral Bates met with each pilot and gave them the offer of joining the Daggers permanently. It seemed the Navy was impressed by what they were able to accomplish during the Uranium Mission and felt it was advantageous to keep this elite squad together. Maverick was overjoyed when he heard the news, it meant that Bradley would be stationed out of North Island, close to Maverick and Penny while also getting to stay with his friends. When Captain Mitchell was then offered to run the squadron (only in training, no more missions for him), the older man thought he couldn't be happier.

Maverick knew he shouldn't expect everyone to agree. These 12 pilots were the best of the best and had squadrons they trusted, postings they liked, or families that needed them elsewhere. He tried not to get his hopes up too much, chatting up Penny's ear whenever they had a private moment about how Payback might prefer a station closer to home, how Yale was always going to want to be on the East Coast, how Halo and Omaha might not have like flying together, how Pheonix and Bob might want to head to Lemoore, or any other excuse he could think of for each pilot. Penny would humor him each time with a patient smile that told him he was over thinking it and that he would just have to wait and see. Pete Mitchell hated waiting.

So when the day came and Simpson and Bates called him into their office, Maverick took a deep breath and waited to hear that the squadron wouldn't be happening. Too many no's, too many other squads or other plans or other choices. He was so ready to be turned down that Pete was shocked when Simpson began the meeting with a congratulations. So much so that the Captain missed most of everything else the Admiral was saying.

"-so the 11 will start and then when we find a replacement-"

Maverick zoned back in time to hear Simpson's last words, "wait" he held up a hand and tried not to smile as Beau rolled his eyes at being interrupted, "11? Who said no?"

"Lieutenant Seresin opted out of the squadron."

"Hangman? Really?" Pete couldn't contain his surprise. After the mission, after Hangman defied orders and saved Maverick and Rooster, everyone could see the way the man had changed. He was more open, less hostile, still cocky as anything but at a more accepting level. Hell Maverick was even growing rather fond of the kid. It stung a bit to think Seresin of all people would have declined working with them all. Though Maverick didn't know much about the Vigilantes, he assumed Hangman would have jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the best of the best. Pete tried not to show his disappointment, "So Seresin's going back to his old squadron then?" he questioned curiously.

"Actually" Bates drawled from the corner, "Lieutenant Seresin didn't request to go back to his squadron either."

Maverick's face turned quizzical, "so where does he want to go?"

The older of the Admirals shrugged, "he asked for a bit more time to think."

"Which is why" Simpson cut in, "we were hoping you could try talking to him."

"Me? Really?" at the flash of annoyance on his CO's face for yet another interruption, Mav gave an apologetic smile, "sorry Sir, but I mean, you think talking to me will help?"

"We are hoping he might be more forthcoming with you. It seems like the team as a whole has been much more receptive to each other since we've docked back in Miramar. If there is a hesitancy to get back in the cockpit, Seresin might find it easier to share with you than either I or Admiral Bates."

"You think he doesn't want to fly at all?"

"We're not sure" Cyclone motioned to the papers on his desk, "he passed his psych evaluation but we fear perhaps the mission was a bit more for him to work through than originally thought."

Bates nodded from the back, "And he did get another kill” the older man added solemnly, “that could be affecting him."

Maverick cursed himself for not noticing sooner. Taking a life, even in the armed services was a hard task, one that was also rare in their section of the Navy. Besides himself, Seresin was the only other active duty pilot with two to his name. While the psych evaluation was meant to look for any difficulty in the processing process, it wasn't foolproof. It could be very likely that Hangman was struggling with what he had to do in the air that day. If there was any doubt in his mind about his role or duty, as his CO and as someone that had grown to care for the man, Maverick knew he had to talk to him. "I'll talk to him this afternoon Sir" he offered Simpson.

"Good, let us know if you need anything on our end."

Maverick nodded, saluted them both and headed down to the hangars. When he arrived he was happy to see Hangman was the first to arrive, sitting in his usual seat in the front. Pete strolled down the aisle, trying to stay casual as he thought about the best way to start the conversation without seeming like a full fledged confrontation. As he got to his row, Jake looked over, offering a nod and a small greeting, "Sir" he acknowledged.

"Seresin" Mav answered back, "how you doing kid?"

The blonde shrugged, a look of suspicion in his green eyes, "fine Sir, you?"

"I'm alright-" Pete's voice died away in his indecision of how to broach the next subject. He knew the rest of the Daggers would be in any minute, so he had to ask fast, "Look Seresin, can we talk after the hops today?"

For once the blonde pilot refused to meet his eyes, instead looking nervously down at his hands,"Is something wrong?"

Pete leaned down on the desk, feeling like he was dwarfing the other pilot as Jake sank further in his chair, "I wanted to talk about you declining the Dagger squad. I was hoping we could discuss it together."

"With all due respect Sir" and Hangman was officially flushing in unease, "I made my decision on that matter."

Pete leaned back, surprised at the tone, "From what I hear from the Admirals," the captain broached delicately, "you seemed to make no decision. You don't want to join the squad but you don't want to go back to the Vigilantes either. Is it the flying Jake?" Maverick tried to move down to meet the man's eye a bit more, "are you nervous to fly another mission?"

"No" he shook his head, "I plan on going back to my old squad. I'm fine-"

"Jake" the other Daggers were filing into the hangar but Maverick didn't want to let the conversation stop right here. He knew it wasn't the smartest move but Maverick wasn't known for thinking things through, "don't you want to fly with your friends?" he continued to press, "Coyote? Omaha? Halo?"

"Of course I do."

Pete shook his head, not understanding, "Then why won't you join the Daggers?"

"It's because of you."

Of all the things Hangman had said in the weeks Maverick had known him (and it's been quite a bit from the talkative blonde), nothing had floored the seasoned pilot more than what he just uttered. He was so shocked he didn't even notice that the room had gone silent, the rest of the team catching the tail end of the discussion and was now listening with interest over the interaction. Pete cleared his throat, "I don't- what do you mean because of me? What did I do?"

"I don't trust your judgment Sir" and there were a few stunned gasps from the back of the room.

Mav ignored all the others, his eyes zeroing in on the pilot in the front row, "Is this because you were only the spare?"

Seresin moved his eyes to the floor, an obvious tell if Maverick ever saw one. When he didn't reply Maverick pushed again, "tell me that you aren't turning down an amazing opportunity because you're upset you weren't picked for the mission?"

"Wait, Bagman you're not joining the squad?" Phoenix asked in obvious surprise and then suddenly the room seemed to erupt with noise. Omaha was asking what the blonde was thinking, while Fanboy yelled about being a sore loser. Pete could see he was losing his moment, losing his chance to finally get into the infamous Hangman's head and see what the normally cocky Texan pilot was thinking. He raised a hand and looked to the rest of the room, "quiet" he ordered and everyone took their seats with closed mouths. "Jake" he turned back to Hangman, noticed the hitch in the man's shoulders, the way he was tapping his foot and playing with his fingers on the desk. "Let's go have this discussion in my office, okay? I'm fairly confident that if you really think about it, you'll see that being part of this squad would be the best place for you. I know that your ego was hurt not being picked but letting it ruin this chance for you-"

Green eyes flared up at him, an anger that he never saw in Hangman before appearing within them. "This isn't about my damn ego-"

"Jake" Coyote was standing up, the uncharacteristic display of emotions from his best friend making the other pilot instantly want to jump to his side, "we should go get some air. Sir, can you excuse us for a minute?"

"No" Jake rose too and flashed a look at Javy before motioning towards Machado's chair, "no, Javy sit, he wants this discussion then let's all have this discussion right?" He turned back to Maverick, a shark like smirk on his face, "you want to know the truth?"

"I do."

"Fine" the blonde slammed his hands down on the table dramatically, "You didn't pick me for the mission, fine. Did it sting? Yeah, it freaking did but you know I could have gotten past it if you had picked someone that deserved it instead of trying to use the spot to buy forgiveness."

At first the room was silent. Then as everyone processed Seresin’s words, the room seemed to explode again. It didn’t last long before a voice rang out louder and more pissed than them all combined. "Oh well fuck you Seresin-" Rooster began as he stood from his chair so quickly that it fell back behind him. The image of it all took Maverick's mind back to the eerily similar altercation during training. Except this time Hangman didn't look on smugly, he looked livid. "No" Jake turned around to face Bradley head on, "I'm getting this out Rooster so help me fucking God, so sit your ass down and shut the fuck up."

"I'm not going to let you talk about us like this" Bradley's brown eyes flared, no intention of backing down, "I'm not going to let you talk to Mav like this-"

"Then you can leave for all I care Bradshaw, if you're too cocky to listen-"

"Cocky ha!" Rooster looked around the room as though he was on a hidden camera show, "that's rich coming from you."

Jake shook his head like a disappointed parent, "you don’t get it."

“What don’t I get?” The other man egged on, his temper flaring, “that you’re still nursing your wounds from not being picked team leader or even a Dagger that you need to come in here and attack me and attack Maverick’s decision making?”

The blonde shook his head in exasperation, “you really don’t see it? How you should have never even been out there?”

“Screw you, I earned my place here!”

“No you were picked so Mav could win back your affections-“

Bradley looked murderous as he stared down Jake with visceral disgust, “Screw you, you asshole! Don’t even pretend to think you understand anything about our relationship!”

”You shouldn’t even have a relationship!” Hangman yelled back, his normally non-existent temper on full display now, “I’m sorry but there’s a reason that the Navy makes you disclose personal relationships with others especially your COs, to prevent conflicts of interest-“

”There was no conflict of interest!" Rooster yelled even louder, as though the higher the volume the more right he was in his convictions, "I was chosen because I did what needed to be done and got everyone home!”

”Is that really what you believe?” Jake asked despondently, “Jesus I always knew you were stubborn but I didn't think you were that oblivious. You need a wake-up call"

Rooster's eyes turned to slits, "I'll give you a fucking wake-up call-" he moved to take a step but Payback was holding his arm to keep him back. "Easy" the sidelined man urged but no one seemed to listen, their anger and emotions making them almost feral.

"Guys!" Phoenix was standing now too, looking to Maverick with a pleading expression for him to intervene. "Guys come on-"

"Yeah come on man," Billy called from the back, "let's all just take a minute-"

"No," Bradley brushed off Reuben's hand and moved to the aisle. He squared himself up facing Jake noticing both Coyote and Harvard moving to defend if necessary. Maverick though still stayed silent in the front of the room, whether shocked still or just watching how everything would proceed, no one could tell.

Hangman and Rooster locked eyes, inches apart. Bradley gave a sneer, "Okay I'll play along, let's let Hangman of all people tell me how I wasn't the right person to go on the mission. Go ahead."

"You were the only one who never made the time Rooster" Jake spoke viciously, his voice dangerously low.

"Excuse me?"

"You never made the course under the time. Not once in training-"

"I made it when it mattered!"

"Did you?" Hangman took a step back, "Maybe you don't remember but I sat on the carrier that day and listened to Payback and Fanboy beg you to speed up. Beg! And what did you do? You still slowed down!" The blonde walked away from the other pilot, pacing as he ranted to the shocked silent room, "You know what else I heard?" Jake continued, "Command, when they noticed that Payback had to rise up in the air to avoid hitting you. You know how close he was to hitting the SAMs threshold? Two feet. Two feet higher and we would have had two empty coffins to bury in the ground. No one talks about that huh? No one cares? Well I fucking care."

Before anyone could respond, Hangman turned swiftly back to his CO, Maverick shifting just the tiniest bit with unease when he was locked with devastating green eyes, "you asked us every damn day what would we tell our wingman's families" Jake reminded him, his voice sounding purely demoralized, "Well what would you have said to Payback's fiancé Jacqueline? Or Fanboy's parents Marco and Marcella? Hmm? That their fiancé and their son died because Rooster was having an existential crisis during a mission that he should have been disqualified for from the start? That he was chosen by the man that was the closest thing he had to a father growing up in a clear case of nepotism?"

Jake watched as Rooster instinctively turned to look at Payback and Fanboy, both looking pale as the truth came out. With the happiness of the mission being deemed a success no one talked about how close things came to falling apart. "You spent all of training convinced that your way was the right way Rooster, you didn't even listen to Mav-"

"And you did?" Rooster asked back incredulously, "you left everyone hanging- like you always do. Like you're known for. But I'm supposed to listen to you criticize me? You, the least team oriented man in the world?"

"I'm a lot of things and you can say what you want but I tried to do better. My last hop with Phoenix and Bob- we gelled perfectly, you all said it yourselves." Jake turned to the two other pilots, Phoenix watching him with wide eyes and a pained expression on her face, Bob with knowing eyes. "The two of you said it that last day too, 'It felt good, it felt right', you know you did, because we all listened to each other, we listened to Mav." Neither voiced an agreement but Jake just continued on with his argument, shifting to the back rows, "and Fritz with Payback and Fanboy, they were smooth and hit bull's-eye each time. They were the stronger team! Rooster was the only one who never had a successful run, who refused to even try to hit the time, who stubbornly insisted that going slower was fine."

"Fuck you-"

But Jake refused to stop now that he had gotten it going, "And how about the bombing? You didn't even give Fanboy a chance to lock on-"

"We had no time."

"You did" Hangman insisted, "It took Bob a few seconds too but Maverick waited. You didn't Rooster. You took the shot blind, a huge risk, all because you had no faith in Mickey."

Rooster's face blushed and he spun around to face the man in question, "That's not true" he told Fanboy but the man just stayed silent. Bradley turned back to Hangman, rage in his brown eyes, "I took the shot because the laser wasn't working. It wasn't Mickey's fault."

"I know it wasn't his fault."

"It wasn't my fault either asshole-"

“It could have been” Jake argued, “Rooster it was an almost impossible shot-“

“Yeah and I made it!”

”What if you didn’t? What if you going in blind, what if you not waiting, not giving Mickey a chance, meant the mission was a failure?” Hangman dropped his eyes to the floor, before he looked back at the others, “I know it wasn’t the case but does that mean we don’t talk about the risk he took out there? We don’t talk about all the ways it could have gone wrong?”

When no one replied, not in agreement or argument, Jake signed and turned back to Bradley. "How about coffin corner" the blonde edged, "was that your fault?"

Bradley paled, "what about it?"

"Dagger three and Dagger four came back with flares intact, you know why? Because you refused to even let them try to defend themselves-"

"I was protecting them you self righteous dick," he pushed into Jake's chest harshly but the other man held his ground, "I was protecting them like a good wingman does" Rooster pointed behind him, "like a teammate does. You wouldn't understand-"

Jake shook his head, "You're right I wouldn't have done what you did. I actually have faith in all the other pilots on this team. I wouldn't follow Phoenix's shadow or Payback's wing unless they called for me, unless they needed it, because every pilot in this room is the best of the best and knows how to evade. But not you Rooster, you didn't even try to get out of there, you put yourself and your team in more danger trying to cover them all and then when you really needed it, you had no flares for yourself. You forced Maverick to risk himself to save you. He was too compromised not to."

The room was deathly silent.

"And then you went back against orders, because you were too compromised to listen. You both should have never been allowed to serve together. You both could have died a million different ways. You both could have caused the deaths of other pilots on the squad as well." Hangman shifted, the last part of his argument directed right to Maverick who's green eyes looked sad at the way the conversation had turned. "So that's why I don't trust your judgment Sir," Jake began sadly, "I'm sorry but I can't."

"Seresin-"

"And the worst part" and somehow, embarrassingly, Jake realized that he had started to cry during his ranting. He wiped at his greens eyes stubbornly, "the worst part is that I want to be on this squad so badly, I want this team." He shook his head, "but I can't, it already compromised me as well.”

"When you flew out against orders" Maverick supplied gently. The blonde nodded, swallowing roughly, "I can't have that. I can't. I can't get attached to you all and then almost lose you. I can't have your relationship with Rooster mean I have to bury a friend. I need to be detached, I need separation-"

"Jake-"

But the blonde was done listening, all his fight was gone. "I don't belong here" he told the group, "and you don't want me anyway. Let me be Hangman, let me be the one man squad, it's better this way." He picked up his things from his desk and moved forward. Rooster, the only one still in the aisle, stared him down before moving to his left allowing the other to pass. Jake, for just the briefest moment thought someone would speak up, someone would stop him but they didn’t. Instead Hangman continued his walk out of the hangar as he left the best team he ever was a part of, the best chance he ever had at a family, behind.

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