#jake hangman seresin x bradley rooster bradshaw | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bo0tleg · 1 day

Text

Despite being head over heels in love with Ice and Mav's dynamic in the original Top Gun, the same dynamic in Top Gun Maverick with Rooster and Hangman never worked for me. This is my attempt at voicing why:

DISCLAIMER: This was not created with the intention to offend anybody who ships Hangster/Sereshaw. It is simply my understanding of their relationship, and why it doesn't appeal to me. Opinions are like the butthole, everybody has their own. By all means, continue shipping them if you want to, this is only for fun.

Hangman and Rooster's entire relationship is based on resentment.

Unlike Mav and Ice, they have history. There's something from the past that lingers in all of their interactions, poisoning all of their words and actions.

Hangman is frustrated with Rooster, all the time. Of course, he banters with everyone, Phoenix about her gender, Bob about his callsign, but those are more 5th Grader Playground insults than anything. It's different with Rooster, and not in a good way.

When it comes to Rooster, Hangman goes straight to insult his character. He doubts his judgement, insults his way of being and flying, prods about how he needs to change if he wants to fly the mission.

With Ice, he was criticizing Maverick, not insulting him. Hangman is both criticizing AND insulting Rooster because he perceives him in a less that ideal light.

Hangman doesn't understand why Rooster flies the way that he does, and doesn't try to either. He just sees it as wrong and doesn't think twice about it. He goes straight to insulting him because he thinks that it's wrong, and that it's something about Rooster that needs to be fixed.

And Rooster is constantly exasperated because of it. Hangman prods, and jabs, and insults Rooster, but it never works. The more Hangman pokes, the more Rooster closes up, frustrated. He gets angry, pissed and becomes much LESS inclined to listen to anything Hangman is saying.

Rooster doesn't work well under pressure. And that's the only way Hangman operates.

Throughout the movie, Rooster doesn't listen to Hangman once. He might've been right about Rooster being too slow, but it only fell on deaf ears (not to say that he was right to bring up Goose's death, he was defo wrong about that one). All it causes is strife, to the point where Rooster almost punches Hangman because of how infuriating he was to him.

The entire movie, Hangman provoked Rooster to get him to stop being the way he is, because he sees it as a flaw of character. And it doesn't work.

Rooster only drops his need for playing it safe when Maverick tells him to 'Not think, just do'. Because Mav only gave him a push in the right direction, not throw in his face all of his flaws.

(Side note: This is also the reason Rooster doesn't listen to Mav in their argument, because he thinks Maverick was insulting his way of being by saying he wasn't ready. On the mission, by selecting Rooster as his wingman, he recognizes that he is ready, and that he trusts him with his life. Making him more inclined to listen to Mav once in the canyon.)

A relationship where one person is constantly frustrated by the other and the other is constantly exasperated by the former doesn't work.

Because that's how they are, and that's how they function, and it isn't going to change.

Rooster isn't going to stop frustrating Hangman because that's how he works, and Hangman isn't going to stop making Rooster exasperated because he doesn't know how else to voice his feelings.

I can see where the ship comes from, because obviously. Their homoerotic tension could be seen from space. I totally believe that they might have had a fling in the past that ended badly, and that they possibly could have hooked up at some point in the movie in the 'Hate Sex' vein of things. I just don't think it'd be anything beyond that.

They wouldn't work in the long haul, is what I'm trying to say.

They're too similar, and too different at the same time.

They're both hothead stubborn motherfuckers that couldn't come to an agreement if they tried.

And you might show me the scene where Hangman is happy about Dagger 2 hitting the target, and him being absolutely devastated when the same hornet is shot down. I recognize it, it demonstrates care. Hangman cares.

Thing is, that doesn't change anything that I said prior to that.

It's possible to resent, despise, be bitter towards and irritated by someone and still care about them. It's possible to hate them and still care. Hate them, and feel like you don't hate them all the time. Human emotion is a funny thing like that, nothing is ever black and white, always varying shades of gray.

Just because they hate each other (and yes, that is the reading I have on them, doesn't stop them from being horny fuckers about each other tho) doesn't mean they want the other dead.

I believe it's similar to the sentiment of "I hope you get everything you ever wished for, and that I never hear a word about it". Similar, but not the same, in a way I do not know how to describe. Thus, I used that to give the same vibe.

I can't see any future for them, in any shape or form. They hold too many grudges against each other, and both of them have a tendency of holding on to old (bad) feelings far too strongly. Even if they work through whatever problems they have now, new ones would emerge and they would go through the same process again and again and again.

That isn't healthy nor stable. It's not what either of them should strive for in a relationship. With that, I'd probably say that both of them need stable people that hold logic to high regard, and that are easy going (I say that in general terms, with no one specific in mind for either of them).

All that being said, this is my opinion. This is how I view them, and understand their relationship. They don't work for me because I see no logical way they could.

If they work for you, that's great! Enjoy the air gays 2.0 to your hearts contentment, I'm happy for you.

This was just a fun analysis of my vision, with no intention to diminish anyone who might enjoy them.

#top gun #top gun maverick #tg:m #jake seresin #jake hangman seresin #top gun hangman #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster top gun #rooster x hangman #sereshaw #hangster #icemav #only a lil mentioned icemav #idk if i should tag any of the ship names #im scared to post this #Im probably gonna get roasted for this #But oh well

52 notes · View notes

cowboysandpilots · 3 days

Text

Secrets of a 30-Year-Old Flyboy — ch. 1

Fake Roonix, Secret Hangster | Words: 860 | Warnings: Blood, medical stuff, sickness

Something is wrong. Bradley knows it. He’s been up in the air enough to know the G-force from his jet should not make it feel like his insides are being ripped apart.

He should really have paid more attention to how he was feeling. The heat of his skin, the dull throb in his side, the way he threw up his dinner down the shower drain and couldn’t even stomach the thought of breakfast without his mouth filling with saliva again.

Jake, who knows Bradley’s coffee addiction all too well, should have picked up on the anomaly. Bradley turning down a cup, especially one made by Jake with his signature homemade caramel and excessive sugar, is a clear sign that something is amiss. They were running late that morning and had been reeling from a fight the night before, trying to find their footing again. It should be easy; they’ve fought enough to understand how the next day should go, but that was before they decided to try their hand at a real relationship. They can’t just move on now; they had to talk about it, something that neither of them was ready to do.

Jake brushes it off when Bradley rebuffs his coffee and doesn’t speak up when Bradley spends the drive to work with his forehead pressed to the cool glass of the window. He isn’t sure that Bradley would even give an honest answer if he asked. He had learned to live with Bradley’s secrets and repressed emotions. He doesn’t bring up the change to Maverick, either. The man had made it clear that he disapproved of their rivalry and didn’t want their personal problems being brought into work.

Bradley was fine; he could push past this. He must have just twinged a muscle in his side while he was working out or turned the wrong way while he was spotting his wingman during a previous drill; it was a hazard of the job. The take-off was anything but routine, and he was glad that his comms were closed so the squad couldn’t hear the way he yelled through his gritted teeth. He just had to make it through this drill; it was the only thing running through his head. “Make it through this hop, and you can land” was almost like a mantra. Unfortunately for Bradley, that mantra didn’t keep away the vomit-inducing dizziness that came with each move of his jet. One overly sharp pain cost Bradley his concentration, and his plane dipped. He hoped no one would notice it, but of course, one person would.

The reason why they work so well, at least their sex works so well, is because Jake can pick up on every little thing about Bradley. He notices little details about everyone, not just Bradley, and that’s why he has no problem being the group’s pariah. It was so much easier to fade into the background where no one even knew he was listening or watching.

At this point, the pain was unbearable, and Bradley was sweating through his flight suit; he could feel his sweat dripping down his face and into his mask. His whole body hurt; even his head was pounding. Still, he doesn’t lift his hand to remove the mouthpiece. Instead, he flips his comms open and as normally as he can- which is not very normal at all- he requests a landing to Maverick. He doesn't even know why he asks permission, protocol, he guesses, because, with the man's bad mood, there's no way he's going to give permission for Bradley to cut out early.

Putting the planes through their paces and the pilots was not the most exhilarating thing they could be doing. A good portion of it was muscle memory, but Jake still found it kind of liberating not to worry about where someone else was. Just be able to fly and not constantly twist his seat to see if another pilot is about to take him out in a dogfight. He was so relaxed and in the zone that he was caught off guard when Bradley’s voice came through the comms. Jake frowns at the roughness in Bradley’s voice, warning bells going off in his head.

“Unless there is something wrong with you or your plane, that’s a negative Rooster,” Mav responds, voice tight.

Bradley does not want to do this. No matter how many times he's choked or failed in his career, he's never willfully packed it in. He's never admitted that he can't be in the air... until today.

"Me." He actually admits. "There's something wrong with me." His breaths come out harsh and painful, just trying to keep his eyes open. He doesn't wait for any further permission before he jerks back to the runway to make a landing. He pushes open his canopy and makes it exactly two steps on shaky legs before he feels the bile rise in his throat again. What comes out of his mouth isn't puke or yet another dry heave but blood; it's thick, dark blood that coats his chin, the front of his uniform and the tarmac beneath him before he promptly succumbs to the pain and falls to his knees losing consciousness right there.

——

Thanks for reading! 💕 Donate to my food fund if you want. 🥰

#hangster #jake hangman seresin #bradley rooster bradshaw #tgm #top gun: maverick #sereshaw #hangster fanfiction #hangster fic #rooster x hangman #icemav #natasha phoenix trace #robert bob floyd #javy coyote machado #mickey fanboy garcia #reuben payback fitch #my writing

27 notes · View notes

thedarkworldofhananerea · 2 days

Text

I'm new to this whole tumblr thing, but I have some ideas about some shots on Bradley Bradshaw or Jake Seresin, help me, we know we deserve it

#bradley bradshaw angst #mitchell!reader #bradley 'rooster' bradshaw x reader #maverick x daughter!reader #bradley bradshaw x mitchell!reader #jake hangman seresin #bob floyd x female reader #bradley bradshaw smut #top gun maverick #dad!bradley bradshaw #top gun 1986

37 notes · View notes

startrekfangirl2233-writes · 4 months

Text

Top Gun: Maverick Masterlist

Content Guide

❤️‍🔥 - Smut

☁️ - Fluff

💢 - Angst

🍬 - Sweet

📚 - Multi-Chapter

‼️ - Trigger Warnings

Jake 'Hangman' Seresin

SERIES:

Sometimes All You Need (A Getaway Car) ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬 📚 Last Updated : 02/14/2024

You Play Stupid Games, You Win Stupid Prizes (I’m Not a Game You Want to Lose) ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬 📚 COMPLETED Last Updated: 02/13/2024

Sweet Home Alabama ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬 📚 COMPLETED Last Updated : 02/17/2024

Once in a Blue Moon ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 🍬 📚 Last Updated : 01/23/2024

ONESHOTS:

I Can Be a Better Boyfriend Than Him ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 🍬

Photo Finish ❤️‍🔥 ☁️

And In The Middle of My Chaos There Was You ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬 ‼️

Red Lips, Green Eyes, You’re Mine ❤️‍🔥 ☁️

Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw

SERIES:

You Are My Soulmate ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬 📚 Last Updated : 03/06/2024

Dance Like We’re Making Love ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬 📚 COMPLETED Last Updated : 11/21/2023

ONESHOTS:

Daddy’s Little Princess ☁️ 🍬

Please Talk To Me. I need to know you’re alright ☁️ 💢 🍬

Straight on ‘Til Morning ☁️ 💢 🍬

Bookmark my Heart ☁️ 🍬

Mickey 'Fanboy' Garcia

ONESHOTS:

There's Nothing I Wouldn't Do: A Former Gunpowder & Lead Extra ☁️ 💢 🍬

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 💢 🍬

Robert 'B.O.B' Floyd

ONESHOTS:

Back to You 💢

Sex on the Beach (What a Treat) ❤️‍🔥 🍬

Sickles, Snowflakes, & Sharks ☁️ 🍬

The Cute One With the Glasses ☁️ 🍬

Javy 'Coyote' Machado

ONESHOTS:

'Tis the Damn Season ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 🍬 💢

A Hazy Shade of Winter ❤️‍🔥 ☁️ 🍬

Natasha 'Phoenix' Trace

ONESHOTS:

Firebird ☁️ 💢 🍬

Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw

ONESHOTS:

Don’t You Forget About Me Part 1, Part 2 ☁️ 💢 🍬 📚 COMPLETED Last Updated: 10/03/2023

119 notes · View notes

redfurrycat · 27 days

Text

🤠🌪️🐓The Tornado Wrangler & The Rooster🐓🌪️🤠

What if Jake Seresin, a well-known storm chaser, the best in his field, meets the most formidable Tornado the Earth has ever faced? What if this so-called Rooster Twister is in fact....more? Well, this cow-boy is about to find out: chase it and ride it. Ft. Bradley Bradshaw as the Roman Goddess of Storms and Weather's Son (& Brisket).

In honour of the new Twisters Movie.

(Tornado Pic from Freepik)

#Twisters with Top Gun characters #hangster #sereshaw #hangaroo #hangman x rooster #jake hangman seresin x bradley rooster bradshaw #I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED ABOUT THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#The 1996 Twister movie is a masterpiece of a classic and now we got to have a new version with Glen Powell.... <3 <3 #I actually watched the trailer for the first time today...don't be surprised.... I saw it through tumblr posts when the trailer came out...#but I needed to find the right time to watch it for real....which was... several minutes ago xD #And my mind went for an Hangster version with a.... TWIST. (looooooooooool)#Bradley is such a Roman deity meanwhile Jake is THE Greek god!!!#twisters movie #twisters 2024 #homemade collage #🐈red🐈furry🐈cat🐈tag🐈

23 notes · View notes

oh-surprise-its-me · 7 months

Text

I watched some rodeos today so that means I desperately need to write about 20 year old non pilot Jake being a cowboy and terrifying his New York dads. (Here’s prequel to this fic)

Chris, David, Wolfman and Lucas are all up on the fences watching. They all are used to this kind of thing. Oh the joys of growing up in Texas.

Tom, Ron, and Hollywood are in the stands. They all keep flinching when people get tossed. Tom’s nails are digging into Ron’s arm. He gasps every time someone lands wrong. He can’t believe they let their kid do this.

They’re in Vegas. All things considered a fun trip. They all took vacation time for this. Promised that if Jake used his fake ID they won’t call him on it. This is the final day of four for the rodeo.

Jake’s good. Too good. Ron can’t stand to watch him most days. Terrified that their kid is going to slam his head and not get back up.

Lucas promises him that he’ll be over the fence first before anyone else can be. Ron supposes an ER nurse is better then the paramedics they’ve got on ground.

Jake is hopping in place. He can feel the energy of the stadium, he watches them put the bull in the corral, Hell Maker is his name. Jake slides his helmet on and climbs the fence. He settles on the bull.

He hears the announcer.

“And now. Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin. He’s one of the best twenty year olds competing he’s got a real chance at winning this Frank.”

“You’re so right Shawn. His father rode in Texas circles, Chris Seresin is in the crowd tonight. We’ll remind y’all listeners that the Seresins have a long history in riding rodeo.”

Jake shakes off the nerves. He knows he’s best. He can make it twelve seconds. Has to.

As he’s flying through the air it’s in slow motion. He made it nineteen seconds. He beat the records in place. Jake is going to make his dads buy him so many drinks tonight.

He slams into the ground. He tucks and rolls. He leaps up and takes off for the siding. Makes it over right at the bull slams into the wall.

Suddenly Jake is being held in the air. He shrieks, David and Wolf have him on their shoulders. Chris and Lucas are standing grinning up at him. Chris opens his arms and Jake jumps down and into them.

“Baby you did so good. I’m so proud of you.”

Jake sees his pa and tata make their way over to him. He’s surrounded by everyone suddenly. He’s so overwhelmed. He has to blurt it out now or he’s going to explode.

“I think this is going to be the last pro competition I do. Gonna go to med school.” They all stare at him for a second. “I’m not going to stop riding. Just no more getting thrown off intentionally.”

Ron is the first to react. “Chickie thank god.” He scoops Jake into a hug. Tom hugs him from the side. Chris plucks the hat off Jake’s head and kisses his hair.

He’s then passed to all of his uncles. Lucas looks like he might cry. He holds Jake’s face for a second. “You’ll be incredible.” Jake grins at him. “Wanna be a nurse like you. Help people.” Lucas lets the tears go down his face now. David loops his arm around his neck.

Jake is grabbed by Hollywood and Wolfman, Holly is grinning at him. He passes over two hundred bucks. “What the fuck?” Wolf blushes. “We made a bet on which career you’d follow. Decided you’d get the money no matter what happened.” Jake laughs. He grabs the two of them into a hug.

A photographer comes over and asks to take a photo of Jake with his dad. Chris smiles and agrees. Women still practically faint for him at points. Ron and Tom smile at the two of them. Jake is every bit his dads son.

Jake ends up getting a trophy. He’s proud of it but is even more proud of the money he wins at slots two nights later. All of them insist he cheated. He didn’t he’s just lucky.

In his thirty’s he talks Bradley into going to the rodeo, Bradley thinks it’s insane that Jake’s dads let him do this. Jake points out Mav and Goose had Bradley up in planes when he was definitely too young.

Bradley leans over while they watch the kids rodeo, “our kids are never doing this.” Jake stares at him. They’ve barely talking marriage. Fuck, Jake wants kids with Bradley. He flushes, “okay. They’re learning how to ride horses though.” Bradley nods. He presses a kiss to Jake’s head. “Anything you want sweetheart.”

78 notes · View notes

a-reader-and-a-writer · 11 months

Text

Another Year, Another Chance

Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Jake “Hangman” Seresin, Hangster

Summary: One year ago, Bradley took a chance on a new relationship but it quickly fell apart. Now, he is about to come face-to-face with Jake for the first time since he left and he has some questions that need to be answered.

Word Count: 2786

TW: Love Confession, Angst, Fluff, Kissing

Note: This was written as part of @tgm-all4one's "It's not the plane. It's the pilot." challenge as a celebration of the one-year anniversary of the release of Top Gun: Maverick. Thank you to @green-socks and @loverhymeswith for looking this over for me! I love you guys! 💕

It seemed unreal that exactly one year ago the Dagger Squad had gathered for the first time. Standing in The Hard Deck gathered around the pool table, no one could have predicted the friendships they would form or the dangers they would face over the next several weeks. Or that they would all be back in that same spot one year later.

Bradley smiled as he watched more and more people trickle into the bar. He was one of the few guests there who recognized practically every face whether they were those from Mav’s original Top Gun class like Slider, Wolfman, or Hollywood, those from his own Dagger Squad like Bob, Phoenix, or Coyote, or those from command like Cyclone, Warlock, and Hondo. Then of course there were Penny’s friends and family, but he had gotten to know most of them over this past year as well.

Mav and Penny were currently standing near the entrance to the bar as they greeted those arriving. As Mav wrapped his arm around Penny’s waist and kissed her head, he caught Bradley’s eye across the room. His godfather gave him a loving smile before turning back to his guests. It was still crazy to think that one year ago, the two men had just reunited after over a decade of barely speaking to one another. And yet here they were, working alongside each other every day and now Bradley was going to be the best man in Maverick’s wedding tomorrow. He just wished they could have settled their differences before they lost Ice. It would have meant so much to the Admiral to see them this close again.

He was so lost in thought that he almost didn’t notice as Phoenix walked over to where he was standing and leaned on the wall next to him. Raising her beer to her lips, she muttered, “Have you seen him yet?”

Instantly, his pleasant mood soured. Taking a long drag from his drink, he responded curtly, “Nope.”

He hoped that would put an end to the conversation, but he should have known better. “He’s gonna show up.” Phoenix nudged his shoulder. “If not for you, then for the extensive list of VIPs that are here. Do you really think he’d pass up the opportunity to rub elbows with all of these high-ranking officers?”

“Yeah, well, if that’s the only reason he’s showing up, then he can just fuck off,” he muttered under his breath.

“Roo…”

“No!” He pushed himself off the wall and turned to face her. “This is his last chance, Nat. I’m done pretending I’m okay waiting for him to grow up and make up his mind. If he shows up, fine, I’ll hear what he has to say. But if he doesn’t, it’s over.”

“Woah! Someone’s got their panties in a twist!”

Bradley whirled around to see Jake strolling up with that infuriating smug smirk of his and a bouquet of multicolored flowers in his hand. His hair was shorter than the last time Bradley had seen him and he was wearing a tank top that clung to his chest, low-rising board shorts, and a pair of flip-flops. He was seriously underdressed for the evening, but damn, Bradley had to admit he looked good. Not that he was going to tell him that.

Rolling her eyes, Phoenix scoffed. “Really? The invitation said semi-formal, not semi-effort. What are you wearing?”

Jake glared at her. “Oh, bite me, Phoenix. My flight got delayed and I came straight from the airport so I didn’t have time to change. Besides, this is just a rehearsal dinner, not the actual ceremony. And Bradshaw’s in one of those ridiculous Hawaiian shirts. That can’t be up to the dress code.”

Bradley folded his arms across his chest and snapped, “You always have to have an excuse for everything, don’t you, Hangman?”

Jake opened his mouth to speak, but Phoenix cut him off. “Despite the poor choice of wardrobe, we’re glad you could make it. Who are the flowers for?”

His eyes flashed to Bradley, but then Jake refocused on Phoenix. “The bride, but I snuck in the back so I didn’t get a chance to give them to her yet.”

“Then you better hurry. They should be serving food any minute and I doubt Penny will have time to talk to you then.” Bradley grabbed Phoenix’s arm and began to lead her over toward the other side of the bar. “We’ll see you around.”

As they walked away, Bradley could feel the weight of Jake’s eyes on his back but he tried to ignore it and keep walking. When they reached the jukebox, Phoenix shrugged, “Well…. At least he showed up.”

He had. But Bradley still needed to find out why Jake was really here. Was it just for the wedding, or could it be he was here for something– someone –else too…..

After everyone had finished dinner and given their speeches, Bradley slipped out onto the deck. The cool ocean breeze felt refreshing against his skin and helped soothe the chaos currently swirling around in his head.

He had been so preoccupied with best man duties for the last few hours, he barely had time to glance in Jake’s direction. However, that didn't stop the man from being a constant presence in his mind. But then again, Jake had barely left his thoughts since the night after the Uranium mission……

Bradley had turned in early, exhausted from the harrowing events of the day. But just as he was on the edge of sleep, the door to his cabin opened and someone walked in. Bradley hadn’t reacted since he assumed it was Hangman heading to bed and he waited for the sounds of the other pilot climbing into the bunk above him. However, they never came.

Concerned, Bradley groggily rolled over and he found Hangman crouched on the floor across from his bed staring at him. But before Bradley could ask him if he was alright, Hangman surged forward and slammed his lips against his. Completely taken by surprise and still half asleep, Bradley fell backward onto the mattress and Jake followed him, climbing onto the bed to straddle him. His kiss only intensified as his hands slid up to tangle in Bradley’s curls. It was only then that Bradley fully grasped what was going on and he made a decision.

He kissed Hangman back.

The thought to do so had crossed his mind more than once these last few weeks, but Bradley had always brushed the idea to the side. After all, the two of them hated each other…. right? However, with his tongue down his throat, Bradley realized what he had felt was far from hate. He had just been too scared to admit it to himself. But now there was nothing holding him back.

He slid his hands under Hangman’s t-shirt, his fingers dancing across the hard lines of his stomach and up to his chest where they swirled through his chest hair. Hangman finally broke off the kiss so Bradley could slip his shirt over his head, and Bradley took the opportunity to ask, “Why now? What changed?”

“You almost fucking died, Roo,” Jake grunted as he wrestled Bradley’s own shirt off of him. Panting slightly, he continued, “I thought I’d lost you. That I didn’t make it there in time. So, I need to feel you. To show myself you’re really still here. That I didn’t miss my chance for this.” And he pressed his lips against Bradley’s once more.

That night had been the first of what started out as a rather solid relationship. Jake seemed different after what happened and, as the weeks passed, Bradley started to let his guard down and truly open himself up to Jake. He should have known better.

“Can I join you?”

As if summoned by his thoughts of the past, Jake hovered in the doorway behind Bradley waiting for permission to come onto the deck. Part of Bradley wanted to tell Jake to fuck off and leave him alone, but another part longed for him to wrap his arms around him and kiss him like he did that first night in his bunk. Back when everything was new and uncomplicated.

Bradley nodded and Jake slipped out to stand beside him.

“I saved one for you.” Jake leaned on the railing next to him and held out a single flower. It was the same shade of yellow as the paint on each of their helmets. “They were… they were actually all for you but I chickened out and said they were for Penny instead.”

“Yeah, well, I never really cared much about flowers,” Bradley muttered, but he took it anyway.

Jake smiled at that. “I’ll keep that in mind.” The two of them stood in silence for a while as they gazed out to the ocean, the only sounds the murmur of the crowd inside and the lapping of the waves on the shore. But finally, Jake spoke up. “I wasn’t sure if you’d even want to see me.”

“I went back and forth about it. At one point, I almost went to Mav to beg him to uninvite you.”

“What changed your mind?”

“I had questions I needed answered and I wanted to see if you’d actually show up or just bail like you usually do.”

Jake flinched but nodded. “Yeah, I guess that’s fair. But I told you last year after the mission, I’ve changed. I’m not that guy anymore.”

Bradley snorted. “Yeah, that’s what you said….. Right before you left me for a new adventure.”

“It’s called a deployment. It’s not like I just left for the fun of it.”

“You had a position here, with me, with our friends. You could have stayed if you wanted to, but you chose to leave.” Bradley looked out into the ocean, hoping Jake couldn’t see the way his lip quivered slightly or how he had to blink away the tears that were forming. “I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but I thought after the mission we moved past that. That month we spent together… I thought it meant something.”

“It did. It meant more than any relationship I’ve ever had. But that’s the problem.” Jake turned away from the railing as he ran his hand through his hair and walked over to the window. Staring at the people inside the bar, he said, “I’ve never been a ‘relationship’ kind of guy. I’m a ‘let’s have fun for a week-or-so’ kind of guy. And being with you…. It was the first time I could see myself thinking beyond that and it scared me. So when I got the opportunity to transfer, I took it and I’m sorry for that.”

Bradley let the silence between them linger for a moment before he whispered, “Did you think about me? About us?”

Jake sighed and Bradley heard his head thump against the window of the Hard Deck. “I tried not to. I thought if I could just put my head down and focus on my next mission, those feelings I had for you would go away. And it worked for a while.”

“And that’s why you stopped answering my calls and texts,” Bradley scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I should have known better than to trust you. But no. You said that we could make things work long distance. That what we had was still new but you wanted to keep exploring it. Then after a month, I barely heard from you and when I did, it was all about your latest mission or training exercises. You might have changed at first but the old Hangman came back and you cared more about your career and ego than anything else.”

The two men stood in silence, their backs to one another. Whatever feelings they had last year were still there, rippling in the air around them. Bradley wanted Jake so much it hurt. But more than that, he needed Jake to want him back just as fiercely. He was no longer willing to settle for anything less. And it seemed as if Jake might have finally understood that.

Taking a deep breath, Jake said, “You’re right. This past year I’ve been trying to chase that high from last summer. To feel that rush and excitement and adrenaline I did when I was here. And it finally hit me last week. I’m not looking for the assignment or the danger that gave me that feeling. I’m looking for the person.” He chuckled dryly, “It’s not the plane. It’s the pilot, right? And I haven’t had the right pilot by my side for a year now. I need my wingman back….. I need you.”

Bradley’s heart skipped a beat, but it still wasn’t enough. Turning so his back was against the railing, he crossed his arms over his chest. “So what? You want me to leave my position at Top Gun and get transferred to your squadron just because all of a sudden you had this great epiphany? Even if I agree to try things with you again– which I haven’t –I’m not leaving all of my friends, family, and a job I love on the off chance you don’t sabotage us again.”

“I’m not asking you to.” Jake turned to face Bradley, but he couldn’t meet his eye. “The real reason I was late tonight is because I was talking to Cyclone. Starting next month, I’m gonna be a Top Gun instructor. Just like you.”

Bradley blinked several times in quick succession. “Wh-what?”

“I’m not asking you to leave everything behind for me. I’m asking you to let me come home to you and try again.” Jake’s eyes lifted slowly until he was staring into Bradley’s eyes. “I messed up but I want to fix it. I want to fix us. And I know it won’t be like it was before, but I’m just asking for a chance. Because I fucking love you, Bradley Bradshaw. And I’m tired of trying to convince myself I don’t.”

Bradley could only stare at Jake with his jaw practically on the floor. He had considered a hundred different ways this conversation would go once he saw Jake again, but Jake confessing he loved him had never once crossed his mind. Even before Jake had left, neither one of them had used the “L” word though Bradley had considered it once or twice. But for Jake to be the first one to say it…..

As Bradley tried to absorb everything Jake had told him, Jake continued to wait, chewing on his lip as his eyes darted across Bradley’s face trying to get some idea of what he was feeling. But when he couldn’t see an answer, his shoulders slumped and he hung his head. Nodding softly, he said, “Yeah, I thought it was a long shot. But I had to try. I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding, Rooster.”

However, as he turned to leave, Bradley’s hand shot out and grabbed his. Jake’s eyes snapped up to Bradley’s face and the mustachioed man smiled. “I should hate you, you know. I should reject your offer and move on. But I can’t. Because I love you too, Jake.”

Then he wrapped his arms around Jake’s waist and pulled him into a kiss.

It felt almost like that first time on Bradley’s bunk a year ago. The same desperation and heat fueled their motions. Jake’s hand wrapped around the back of Bradley’s neck and he pulled him even deeper into him while Bradley pushed Jake back against the wall of The Hard Deck. Everyone inside was probably staring at them through the window, but neither man gave a fuck at that moment. Right now, nothing existed besides the two of them.

Jake slipped his lips from Bradley’s and began trailing kisses across his jaw and down his throat. When he began sucking on the side of his neck, Bradley moaned, “Oh god, I’ve missed you.”

Lifting his head, Jake said, “Well, I’m not going anywhere this time. I promise.” He began to lean forward again, but he looked at his watch as it made a soft buzz sound. A grin slowly spread across his face. “Midnight. Which means it’s now the anniversary of the mission. Do you remember what we did that night exactly one year ago?”

Bradley’s grin soon matched Jake’s. “I may not have a bunk handy but the backseat of my Bronco is about the same size.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Jake slid his hand into Bradley’s and began pulling him towards the parking lot. “I want to make this another night you’ll never forget.”

Taglist: @loverhymeswith, @babblydrabbly, @lorecraft, @green-socks, @heart-0n-fire, @nerdysuperchick, @tavners, @mayhem24-7forever @wildbornsiren, @hederasgarden, @ryebecca, @the-untamed-soul, @inglourious-imagines, @airhogger, @piscesvancouverite, @straightforwardly, @bonnieelizabethparker, @srry-itshockeyszn, @flyinlove, @fandomhopped, @sweetheartlizzie07, @yjwnoot, @wanderdreamer, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy, @callsign-fox, @callsign-phoenix, @shanimallina87, @forever-sleepy-sloth, @notroosterbradshaw, @dezthegeek, @blessupblessup, @cherrycola27, @phoenix1389, @nicangelinee, @smells-like-perfect-senses, @boringusername3, @petlaufeyson, @cycbaby, @topguncortez, @footprintsinthesxnd, @fantasticcopeaglepasta, @fangirlinc, @sparrows-corner, @mads-weasley, @trencher4lyfe, @merlehs, @sunshineflowerchild789, @imjess-themess, @maggie8002sq, @je-suis-prest-rachel, @tellrock35, @mak-32

#fic #tgm all4one #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #hangman #rooster #hangster #jake hangman seresin #bradley rooster bradshaw #hangman x rooster #rooster x hangman #jake hangman seresin x bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw x jake hangman seresin #top gun maverick anniversary #angst #fluff #love confessions

62 notes · View notes

a-reader-and-a-writer-for-all · 11 months

Text

Another Year, Another Chance

Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Jake “Hangman” Seresin, Hangster

Word Count: 2786

TW: Love Confession, Angst, Fluff, Kissing

Instantly, his pleasant mood soured. Taking a long drag from his drink, he responded curtly, “Nope.”

“Yeah, well, if that’s the only reason he’s showing up, then he can just fuck off,” he muttered under his breath.

“Roo…”

“Woah! Someone’s got their panties in a twist!”

Rolling her eyes, Phoenix scoffed. “Really? The invitation said semi-formal, not semi-effort. What are you wearing?”

Bradley folded his arms across his chest and snapped, “You always have to have an excuse for everything, don’t you, Hangman?”

Jake opened his mouth to speak, but Phoenix cut him off. “Despite the poor choice of wardrobe, we’re glad you could make it. Who are the flowers for?”

His eyes flashed to Bradley, but then Jake refocused on Phoenix. “The bride, but I snuck in the back so I didn’t get a chance to give them to her yet.”

He had. But Bradley still needed to find out why Jake was really here. Was it just for the wedding, or could it be he was here for something– someone –else too…..