#jake x natasha | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

green-ville · 2 years

Text

Yeah I started thinking about it that night and then this happened. I hope y'all like it, this is a continuation to my earlier Phoenix x Hangman fic.

Definitely a different vibe than the first one but I also feel like it fits the characters so well?

Summary: He hadn't been picked but she had. She completed her mission but he made sure everyone came home. So why isn't he acting like himself? Natasha was curious about how much of Hangman's personality was a lie, and she as going to find out.

Minors DNI, 18+. It's smut but there's also a lot of fluff in it too. Also heavy angst. Happy ending though!!

___________________

Something had happened.

At first she thought she knew what it was. Jake hadn't been picked.

Payback and Fanboy. Rooster and Maverick. Bob and herself. The six Daggers chosen for the mission. Jake hadn't been picked and she had been watching him even as she internally swelled with satisfaction and pride. His entire personality shut down.

He was a loud man. Not verbally, she had never heard him inappropriately loud before, actually. She had never heard him scream or yell. He was loud in the sense that she could see his personality from five miles away. It was clear and distinct and so assured that there was no mistaking who it was.

Jake Seresin was an open book.

That was what she had thought.

Now, in that thirty seconds it took for his callsign to not be said, for his personality to shut down; the man was lying about everything.

This was confirmed even further, as if she needed more evidence, when she overheard him talking to Rooster. Someone he had made his feelings blatantly clear for. She overheard 'give 'em hell' and knew again. Lie. He didn't hate the man.

He didn't hate any of them.

He was hiding something. Everything.

There was no reason for him to try and hide it anymore because he had lost. He hadn't been picked. He had given his best when flying and he was sidelined.

So she watched him.

And she went on the mission doing everything to the best of her ability. Fighting for her life, for Bob's, for her team. And when Rooster was locked on and he didn't have any more flares, it was the worst feeling in the world. Her heart stopped and she almost forgot how to breathe. The most basic innate action in the world and she was struggling to do it.

She stopped breathing when Maverick sacrificed himself.

She had Bob's life in her hands and that was why she returned them home. If she was alone that would be one thing. She would turn back in a heartbeat and look for someone that had become her greatest Mentor. She owed him so much and there would be no second guessing turning around.

But she had Bob.

Then she saw Rooster break away and knew, she just knew, that he had the same thoughts she had, but he didn't have a Bob. He had guilt and regrets and he turned back for the closest thing he had to a father.

The hardest thing she had ever done wasn't going on this mission. It was returning to the carrier without a full team.

It was watching Rooster's callsign dot out of existence on her radar.

It was being successful and failing where it mattered most to her.

She left her jet, needing to get out of the damn seat and breathe in the cold air. She was dripping with sweat, it was everywhere on her and she wanted to throw herself overboard just to cool down.

Bob stayed in his seat. He may have been too shocked to move. When he got emotional, he was still. When she got emotional, she needed movement.

"Wait- wait, Phoenix, they're back! They're back Phoenix!"

She whipped around, eyes returning to the same wideness they had been when she was young. She scaled the ladder and leaned in as Bob leaned forward, over her chair.

Rooster was on the radar.

"Do you think – "

"Yes! He's got him, he has to. No way in hell he's returning without him," it was a blur of words and she didn't know how she got them out when she hadn't remembered how to breathe yet.

The elated happiness she felt? She hadn't felt that since she had had her first solo flight.

They listened in on the radio, waiting to hear Rooster's voice. They didn't get that right away. They got bogey's instead. Two of them on their tail and it was constant anxiety because they couldn't tell what was going on. They didn't have some camera following them with live feed, they only had that green screen with the three dots. Then the two dots. The one dot and the callsign of their friend.

They relaxed.

One final bogey appeared and she turned away from her jet, her ears picking up on an unmistakable noise. Unmistakable to her because she heard it daily. Several times a day. She lived for the sound of a jet taking into the air.

She lived for the sight of Jake Seresin disobeying direct orders and going to help get their team home.

She did not live for the sight of Maverick and Rooster all smiles and hugs. Everyone, deck attendants, the rest of their extended team, cheering and screaming around them. Jake and Rooster shaking hands once, and then him quietly slipping away. Leaving like no one was watching.

Natasha was watching. She always watched him.

That night they were at the Hard Deck. It only made sense because they had survived, they had kicked ass, they deserved to relax. She had seen him arrive with Coyote and it wasn't long before she didn't see him at all.

Her next action was without thought but it felt right in the same way everything she did felt right. She stopped second guessing herself a while ago.

She finished her beer. She went to Penny, the sweetheart bar attendant, and she held up two fingers. She slipped out the backdoor, sea breeze brushing against her. Small rolling waves soothing the buzz inside of her. The string lights above her allowed her to see far enough away.

Her shoes were slipped off because she hated getting sand in her shoes. It allowed her to walk silently over to his figure, sitting in the sand, arms around his knees. A foot away from the last stretch of water before it retracted.

He made no move of care when she sat down beside him, passing over his beer. He took it without thanks or any quip.

She took a sip, finding the scene to be a quiet masterpiece.

"Coyote send you?" The first thing he said to her and it was surprising how close they were. She knew that Coyote was the only one he consistently talked to, but sometimes it caught her off guard how close they actually were. Especially if he thought Coyote would send her after him.

Coyote knew Jake had left. Coyote was trying to help. Why would Coyote think to send her unless Jake talked to him about her?

She had learned so much in a single question.

"No," she answered.

"Then why are you here?"

"To ask you what's wrong."

"Isn't it obvious? I wasn't picked for a mission I thought I had in the bag. Guess you can't call me Bagman anymore."

A self-quip? This was deeper than she thought.

"No," she answered. "It's not obvious. I thought it was and then you got quiet, and that's not the Jake I know. The Jake I know would've scoffed and said Maverick doesn't know how big of a mistake he just made when he sidelined you. The Jake I saw encouraged Rooster and went after him, disobeying direct orders, just to get someone he 'hated' back. The Jake I saw got his moment to shine and still slipped away afterwards, not wanting to bask in the glory."

"You think you know me Phoenix?"

"No," she answered, soft. "Not at all. I'd like to though."

"So you can know all my weaknesses and use them against me?"

"No, because I care about you."

He scoffed. Now he scoffed.

"Don't."

"Jake, when have I ever done anything you said?"

"Don't call me that."

"It's your name."

"Stop trying to get in my head."

"Then start talking so I don't have to."

They sat in silence.

She could only handle it for so long.

"I never thanked you," she began. "So thanks."

"For what?"

"Getting Rooster and Mav back safely. I. . .When Rooster was locked on, I wanted to go help. There wasn't anything I wanted more, but I had Bob. I. . .It's one thing to risk my own life. I cannot risk his. Then I wanted to go after Mav, but. . .I still had Bob so I kept flying. I didn't turn around even though every instinct screamed at me to do it. So thank you for doing what I couldn’t."

The silence resumed, only this time, after five minutes, or ten maybe, she couldn't tell, he was the one breaking it.

"My friend, Ringer, was a WSO," words spoken just for her to hear. "Her pilot was a man named Cavalry."

She didn't fill the pause with a provoking question because that might've deterred him. She knew he needed a moment to continue speaking and she gave him the length of time he needed.

"She was like you in a lot of ways. Confident. Self-assured. She had a goal and she'd be damned if she didn't reach it."

The past tense didn't go unnoticed.

"It was the three of us. Probably the mission that got me called back here. Got me my reputation as the first pilot to shoot down three enemy planes in the last forty years. That's what I'm remembered for, which is good I guess. Better than being known as the pilot that couldn't save his friend."

He scoffed again. "I told him, I told that cocky son of a bitch exactly what to do. I got the first two, it was us against the last one, and we should've had it in the bag. It should've been smooth sailing from there, but he just didn't listen. Said he knew best, said he hated how I always told him what to do. He reengaged and I was too far away to stop it. I could only listen as Ringer talked to me, all calm and composed, asking me to tell her family she loved them. She knew, she fucking knew what was going to happen and Cavalry wouldn't listen to her either. Then nothing. It's just me and the enemy aircraft in the skies and I send him on a first class trip to hell."

He got his revenge but he would've preferred to have the person instead. He avenged his friend, but he never wanted to have to in the first place.

"When you fly solo, your only responsibility is yourself. When you fly with a team, then you have to worry about their asses and I don't need that. If I get my ass blown up, that's on me. If I get someone else's ass blown up?"

It shocked her deep how similar they were in this moment. It wasn't an exact match, Ringer wasn't his WSO, but he still blamed himself like she would've blamed herself for Bob.

"No. I can't do it. I can't go to another home and tell people I wasn't enough."

"It wasn't your fault."

"No, it wasn't, but the fucker that is at fault is dead and so someone has to take the blame, and I'm the one that came back."

Never would she have ever guessed that Jake Seresin was a victim of survivors guilt.

It was a tricky thing thinking of a response. This much trauma could not be solved without therapy and she was by no means capable of being a therapist. What she was capable of doing was stating a few honest facts she thought she'd take to the grave.

"Well I'm glad that you came back. It's been fun working with you these last two weeks. It's been fun flying with you too, 200 push-ups and all. It's especially been great kicking your ass at 8-ball."

He snorted. "You wish."

"I won that game hotshot."

"You cheated."

"I call it being tactful," she responded dryly, smirking at him. She bumped his shoulder, earning a miniscule smirk back. She took another sip of her beer, pressing on. "I may not have ever met Ringer, but if she really is anything like me, I know she'd be proud of you for keeping on. I get that you couldn't save her, but you did save Mav and Rooster."

He righted a wrong she didn't even consider a wrong.

"Why are you here Phoenix?" He finally turned to look at her, and she could see his eyes, but not the nice green of them. It was too dark for that. The yellow/orange string lights a distance away barely lit up the side of his face.

"To comfort a friend I don't know if I'll get to see again."

They got their new orders tomorrow morning. She didn't feel like leaving without saying goodbye to everyone.

"And what did I do to deserve this kindness?"

She shrugged. "You were just. . .you."

That was the most truthful honest she could have given him. He didn't have to do anything. She had been watching him since day one and it was every little thing that made him Jake 'Hangman' Seresin that pulled her in.

She raised her beer and he raised his brow. She gave him a look until he raised his beer and they clinked them. Together they knocked their heads back, not stopping until everything was finished.

Their shared train of thought was exposed by their next synchronous action. It was a simple roll of their heads before their lips were connected. Slow and nothing like their first time together. Then her tongue was slipping into his mouth and she could taste the beer on him. Just beer and nothing else because that had been his first drink of the night that had started well over two hours ago.

She angled up to get closer to him. There was an intimacy that scared her, excited her, made her want more. It was foreign to her but she had never been one to turn away from something new. He was warm even now, sitting on the cold sand hadn't sapped away his heat. His lips were warm and soft, upper lip slick from the beer.

They pulled apart together, foreheads resting against each other. Her eyes were closed, she didn't want to see if his were as well. It was a nice moment, one she never expected to share with him.

"Like I said," she whispered to him and him alone. "I'm glad you came back Bagman."

"Wherever they send you. . .I expect to read about it one day."

"You can read? I thought you were just pretty."

"I like to hide my other talents to keep people on their toes. Wait till you find out on top of reading, I can also write."

She gasped, eyes bright and shining as she pulled back. "You're lying."

"No, no, it's true. I can write. And, wait, you'll love this; I know cursive."

She snorted. "That one I don't believe."

"Yeah that one was a lie. Cursive is unnecessary and should be outlawed."

"Can't read it?"

"Nope."

"Neither can I."

Yes she could.

It was five years later. On this day in particular she was doing what she normally did; walking into a bar for an after work drink. She had travelled the world and visited many bars in her time. None of them really stuck out.

Well, that was a lie. There was one, but that was far away and she didn't expect to return there again. No bad memories there, all good ones, actually. Very good ones.

Sad ones that she missed.

She had made good friends everywhere she went, and that was who she joined up with now. A girl jumped on her back, pushing down on her shoulders, all smiles and laughs. She started recounting her day and Phoenix listened with full attention.

A protégé of her's, if you would call it that. She was on the younger side, had a confidence issue. Phoenix found her and took her under her wing and over the last few months of this deployment, she knew the younger girl liked who she was becoming.

She was called over to their friends and Phoenix encouraged her to return, she'd be there in a minute, she just wanted to get her drink. The girl ran off, joining the loud crowd of Navy men and women surrounding the dart board. Darts was the favorite over here.

She leaned against the bar, happy that it wasn't sticky, and waited patiently for the bar attendant to come to her. They nodded to her, acknowledging her presence and silently letting her know she was marked in line.

Her tongue moved the toothpick in her mouth, an unconscious habit she had picked up.

The crowd was steadily growing at this time, new but small batches of people entering to kick off their night. The noise level increased, the door opening more frequently. She remembered the time when she was in a far away bar, walking in with her friends instead of alone.

It really wasn't that these people were bad. Far from it. They were great and hilarious and she loved them.

They just weren't her team.

They weren't Bob, Fanboy, Rooster or Coyote or Payback. Not Halo or Yamaha or Yale.

They definitely weren't Hangman.

Her side was bumped and she turned to look at the bumper, but she didn't see anyone. Her toothpick was plucked out of her mouth and her brows furrowed in outrage as she turned the other way. It was the old 'tap someone on their left when you're on their right' maneuver and she despised it.

Her anger melted in a second, watching the man put her toothpick between his teeth.

"Hey there sweetheart. Miss me?"

And just like that, everything was fine again.

He leaned against the counter and she lit up slowly. Her lips pinched together and pulled up. Her pupils blew open, the lighting of the room changing with the new addition. Breathing was somehow easier and maybe it was because she put more effort in, wanting to take in all the subtle cologne he wore.

He was tall and blond and green eyed. He was strong muscles and fitted clothing. He was an infuriating smirk and his personality was screaming at her.

He was reading her like a book right now. She was feeding his ego in a way she'd never live down.

"Bagman," she greeted, the name a disbelieving whisper, copying his lean, staring up as he stared down. "What brings you to Guam?"

"Sightseeing," he answered, eyes dipping down. "And I must say, it's living up to expectation."

"Already trying to get in my pants?" She gave a low whistle, her heart not the only thing pulsing. "Starting off strong."

"It was a long flight, I have jet lag. Doctor recommends cardio to fix it."

"What can I get you Phoenix?" The bartender finally arrived, glancing to her partner as if surprised she was talking to someone new.

"Sorry, nothing today. My friend here skipped his workout. I have to go drive him to the gym."

He grinned down at her, toothpick moving in his mouth, his teeth and tongue playing with it.

The bartender bid her goodbye and went to the next customer. Someone that would actually buy a drink.

She turned around and looked back, brow piqued. "You coming?"

He looked down. "Not yet."

She snorted and grabbed his wrist. "You're disgusting."

"You love it babe."

Two beers sat to their left, two beers sat to their right. Two beers sat behind them and those weren't finished yet.

They had made it to her apartment. They had been civilized enough to get through a few drinks. That was all they managed before she ended up in his lap, his tongue doing its best to reach the back of her throat.

Every breath was his cologne. Every taste was him and beer. Every nerve was responding to his touches. His hands on her back, sliding up and down. Sometimes hitching up her shirt but then his hands slid down and it fell with them. His warm callouses ghosted her soft skin and she wanted him to just pull off her shirt already.

Her hips ground down on him, feeling him there. Hard and large and waiting.

She was soaking her underwear with all this waiting.

Wasn't five years long enough?

The air through her nose wasn't enough and she pulled back, chest rising and falling rapidly. Her cheeks were flushed and at one point he had pulled her hair from its bun. It fell around her now, stopping just below shoulder length. Longer than it had been in Miramar but having been cut in between that time.

He didn't let it get in the way, kissing the base of her neck, the little dip where her collarbones would join if they continued on.

She pulled at his hair, bringing his head back.

He looked at her innocently. "How can I help you Tasha?"

"You can stop with the foreplay. I don't think either of us need it anymore."

"Good things come to those who wait."

"People come when they do not wait," she countered.

"Oh, but I'm the disgusting one? Get your head out of the gutter. I really did just want to do some cardio before you practically jumped on me." A sigh of a victim. His intentions had been so innocent.

She ground down hard. "This might've been in the way."

"Well as long as it's there and as long as you're begging for me, I might as well kill two birds with one stone."

"You're funny. How long did that one take you?"

"Do you think I plan full conversations in my head, Tasha?" Now his hand committed to slipping under her shirt, warmth finding warmth and resulting in chills. "I'm naturally hilarious. Maybe one day you'll understand."

She kissed along his neck, scratching the ends of his hair. "Maybe one day you'll take me to bed."

"I'm sure we'll get there," he answered, hands coming to her front. Finding the buttons of her shirt. Undoing them slowly. "Eventually. This is a nice couch you have and it would be a downright shame if I didn't bend you over it first."

Her leg muscles tightened and visibly, it was subtle. He never should've seen it. He did, however, feel it, because her knees were on either side of his hips. She was sat in his lap. She was grinding down on him.

He grinned. "How long's it been since someone touched you properly Tasha?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," she whispered over his skin, nipping gently.

"I think I do know," the buttons over her chest were popping now. Cold air seeped in. "I think its been five years."

She chuckled to hide the truth. "Actually I slept with Payback six years ago – "

Her ass was grabbed and slapped.

She chuckled again, nose ghosting over his neck. "Men are so sensitive."

"We'll see how sensitive you are," he returned, pulling her shirt down, throwing it to the side. Popping the button to her pants and pulling the zipper down. "If I recall correctly, and I know I do, you get very sensitive."

And she had no doubt that she'd be a tenfold more sensitive now. It had been a while since she had done this.

"I don't know, feeling perfectly fine right now. I could probably be reading a book right now in fact."

"Then do it."

He pushed at her hips, and she faltered, sitting on her couch as he got up now. She watched him, shocked, as he walked through her apartment to a small series of shelves she had on one of her walls. He pretended to care about the books he looked at before plucking one carelessly and returning to her.

She couldn't keep the shocked look off her face as he handed it to her.

"Read it," he ordered, grinning with full malicious intent. "As I make you cum again," the word a whisper, "and again," he was grabbing her knees and twisting her. Her back went to the bottom cushions, she clutched the book tight to her bra covered chest. "And again," he finished, opening her knees and damnit, damnit, damnit.

He caged her waist in, head dipping low, lips on her exposed stomach. Chills wracking across her body because he was just so warm, so there, so fucking strong. She really did hate him.

The kisses travelled up and her heart hammered in her chest like this was her first time all over again. She couldn't figure out what the hell it was about him that made her respond so differently. She had been with others before and it was great and everything; but this made her feel like she had never been with anyone before.

Heat spread across her and he bit at the curve of her chest, the space just before what the bra covered.

"Read it to me sweetheart," he ordered, kissing at her sternum and leaving her lightheaded. "I know you can do it."

"You're an ass."

He bit at her neck hard and her head turned, giving him more room. Even so, she made a point to verbalize breathlessly, "I'm gonna have to ask you to not damage government property."

He bit harder, sucking the skin and breaking away with a grin. "Whoopsie."

"Both legally and physically you will pay for that."

"I'll make it up to you," he assured and retracted down to her waistline. Hands gripping her pants. Pulling down as her hips lifted and to hide her red face, she covered it with the open book. It was a struggle to find the first page but when she did, his fingers swept through her and she clenched tight enough to crush a watermelon between her thighs.

His tongue pressed into her when she tried to get that first sentence out. He blew cold air onto her and her voice shook with no force behind it.

"What was that sweetheart? Didn't catch the last part."

"You –" she cursed him out raw as he attached, sucking her clit in a relentless manner that sent shock after shock into her lower abdomen. Her torso was taut, her knuckles white, and she fully expected the book to tear in two at her grip.

"Keep reading Natasha," he encouraged right against her, tongue flattening directly afterwards and swiping up. "Or I stop."

"I hate you."

"Really?" He questioned lightly, shoving a finger inside her. "Is this what you do with people you hate? I'm curious to see what you do with people you like."

"Why don't you ask Payb-"

Two fingers shoved inside her and that was a stretch. It was a blissfully painful stretch combined with the sensation of him sucking her clit hard enough for her eyes to shut. The breath caught in her chest and she looked starved with how far her stomach disappeared.

The fingers curled and sliced and he licked up everything he got. He never stopped watching her and she could feel his gaze on her. It was another reason why everything built so quickly. He kept the same, not speeding up, not sucking more; he kept consistent and that was why her back arched, the book slammed into the floor, and her face broke out in a silent, desperate 'fuck, yes'.

It washed throughout her, her stomach and head and her thighs and calves. Her back lowered and her hips did a natural roll to finish it out, sweat on her forehead like she had just done all the work when the hardest task she had been given was read a damn book.

She had failed it too.

"Natasha," her name was a song on his rich voice. "It seems like you dropped your book."

She cursed him out, grabbing him by his collar and dragging him up. She wrapped her legs around him to keep him where he was and attacked his mouth, bringing his neck down with her hand. It was her turn for her tongue to go all the way into his mouth but he still managed to keep control of the situation. He kept himself propped up with one hand on the arm of the couch. His other hand grabbed her chest then slipped under her raised back, popping the clasp to her bra with a single movement.

Cocky bastard.

He pulled back, forehead against hers, chests rising and falling in sync. "That was quicker than I expected. Have I gotten better?" He posed this question while managing to convey the unspoken 'if that's even possible to improve upon perfection.'

She snorted. "It has been a while since I've done this," she admitted, eyes dancing, smile tactful. "Want to know how long?"

The card she was going to concede was going to keep her up for the rest of the night, and she couldn't wait.

"Enlighten me." His lips were on her neck now, light, playful. They wouldn't remain that way after her next admittance.

"You were there."

He snapped back to her. His green eyes burned. They burned in a way that had that pulsing between her legs intensify, already ready for the next round. If she was in a better position, she'd grind down on him.

"I did ask you to ruin me that night. After that. . .well, no one was you, so I never did it again."

She had tried to. There were times when she wanted to. She talked with a few good looking guys but then when it was the time to decide, she always decided no. There was no spark there. No desire to see them in bed. There was no interest.

They weren't him.

"Never?" He repeated.

"Never."

"It's been five years Nat."

"I can count."

"Holy shit." He kissed her again, pushing her head into the cushion below her and it was the type of kiss that you saw in movies and went 'is he trying to eat her face off?' It certainly felt that way because she could only feel him.

Her hands unbuttoned his shirt and finally shoved it off. He had to alternate hands in order to keep himself propped up but the shirt ended on the floor eventually. Then her hands were on him and she was scratching up and down his back like she had done all those years ago.

She still recalled how as the night went on back then, his back was streaked in red. The lines trailed across every muscle. The next time he took a shower in the locker room, the guys had asked him 'what the hell happened to you?'

It fed her ego. It really did.

His arm was beneath her and gravity pulled her down as he lifted up. She clutched onto him, messing up his hair in a disheveled way that still looked perfect on him.

"No one was you," he got out against her, blindly leading them away from the living room.

The words barely registered in her ears. Her focus was his mouth, his hands, the hard dick pressing against her.

"I tried to get over it, never got past drinks."

That did register in her ears.

He didn't. . .he couldn't have. . .

"Fuck, you drove me wild and you weren't even there."

She was over the bed. He crawled them across it and her head pressed against her pillows. He hovered above her and she'd combust right there just from him looking at her.

"How long's it been Jake?" She whispered, because she had to hear the answer. She had to hear him say it flat out.

His nose brushed against her jaw, down the side of her neck. "Don't you remember?" He mumbled in that low voice that sounded like he had just woken up. "You were there."

Fuck.

Her bra ended up thrown to the side. His mouth was on hers again. Her hands frantically undid the belt to his pants and threw that away, cursing its existence. His pants slackened and she was a rushed frenzy trying to get the damn slacks off. She shoved them down as far as she could and then it was up to him to get them the rest of the way off. He kicked his pants and boxers to the side and she propped herself up, watching him move. Watching the red lines already forming on his back.

She'd be adding more soon.

He crawled back to her and she pulled him down. Their chests flat against each other. Their hips against each other. She could feel him now and it was exactly like she vividly remembered. He ground down on her, tongues playing slow and carefree. Like they had all the time in the world when she had no idea how long he'd be here.

She didn't want to think about that, and when he slipped inside of her, that took all the negative thoughts away.

Tension eased out of her. Tension that had been growing for years now. It released and she was in a state of relax that she hadn't felt since everyone came back safely in the mission from Miramar.

Her nails dug into him, holding her steady with each powerful thrust. The sensations that arose from the friction and the force and the fact that it was him again after all these years.

The setting sun wasn't visible because she had an apartment facing the east, but the multicolored sky was still visible through the balcony window. She normally kept the drapes pulled because the sunrises and sets were unforgettable here. Now it was even better.

The gold and cotton candy colored wash on his sun kissed skin. The way it seeped into his ragged hair, catching all the natural highlights in it.

"God you're beautiful."

The words coming from him, right now, after years of build up? It told her he had thought about her just as much as she had thought about him. That knowledge drove her closer to the edge and he pushed them over.

The damn snap of his strong hips. The angle she was holding herself in to insure he kept hitting that one spot that made her desperate for air but unable to take it in. The way his head was hung in pleasure only she could bring to him.

It was too much and they both shuttered together. Her back arching again, his muscles turning red. A soft shake ran through her and her eyelids blocked out the world around her as she did her best to leave the imprint of her nails in his back.

When he laid down on her, the weight was comforting. His arm slipped beneath her waist and they rolled until he was on his back and she was on her stomach, on him. Her head stayed beside his, eyes remaining shut as she basked in the afterglow.

"How long?" She asked, scared of the answer but needing to know it. Her voice was dry and realistically, she needed water, but depending on the answer she got, she may just go for another five beers. Or something stronger. "How long do you have?"

His hand ran up and down her back. The other stayed on her hip, her knees securely around his.

"How long would you like me to have?"

"Don't play games with me."

"Already back to giving me orders. You know you don't outrank me?"

"Answer the question hotshot."

Even then, his response was slow and hesitant, like he was scared of her response. ". . .I got a promotion. I was allowed to pick where I ended up. I chose here."

She heard it all crystal clear, it was just a matter of not believing it.

Five years of nothing, and then he was hers? He could be hers?

She pushed up, hands on either side of his head, and looked down at him. His hands found her waist and held gently. Brown eyes on green, both with half their faces lit up from the outside world.

"If you're joking right now, I will kick you out."

"Thank God I'm not joking."

"You seriously chose here without having talked to me in five years? How'd you know I wasn't married or something?" Or just a smart individual that moved on after what was clearly a one night stand?

"I talk with Bob."

She rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous, insufferable, and too egotistical for your own good." She said this but she was smiling and happy and hopeful.

"Stop it, I'm blushing." He gave her a wink and she laughed, lowering to kiss him again, happy that she had him for the foreseeable future.

And it was a bright future at that.

#hangman smut #phoenix smut #hannix #hangman x phoenix #jake seresin #natasha trace #jake hangman seresin #natasha phoenix trace #top gun Maverick #tgm #jake x natasha #jake seresin smut #natasha trace smut

232 notes · View notes

happypopcornprincess · 2 years

Text

The Wedding Bet Date

Pairings - Hangman and Phoenix (Enemies to Lovers)

Premise - When "Phoenix" Trace made a stupid bet, she did not expect Jake "Hangman" Sersin to be thrown at her face out of nowhere. Now they are stuck together, forced to confront a past they are trying to forget.

Warnings: Major Spoilers for Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), suggestive language, mentions of sex.

Word Count: 7.6 K

A/N - I knew it! When I saw Top Gun Maverick, I just knew that something has happened between the two and that they either liked each other or slept together at least once. The way Hangman looked at Phoenix like he was daring her to say something >>>> 😭😭😭

I'm going full ballistic on this one babe, imma write this with my whole ass heart, Haenix FOREVER 😭❤

This is my first ever Top Gun fanfic, so I hope y'all like it.

This was requested Anonymously, whoever you are, thank you <3

Thank you @bradshaw-fanclub @bradshawsbaby @bradshawbaby @roostersmustache for being fabulous and producing content that can only be described as absolute perfection. This one is dedicated to you. Thank you for inspiring me <3

My Main Masterlist || Send your requests here!

Two months after the events of Top Gun: Maverick

Saturday

"All I'm saying is that you could have just called him back. He did give you his number." Bob said to Phoenix as he sipped his chilled beer.

It was a lovely Saturday evening at Robert's house with just the two of them. They were sitting on his back porch, lounging on the beach chairs overlooking the ocean and sipping beer. His girlfriend, Maria, was visiting him and had asked her to stay for dinner. And well, how could she say no to homemade enchiladas when she could smell how delicious they were?

After the uranium mission, Bob and Natasha have grown quite close. The mission made them develop a sibling-like relationship, they trusted each other with their lives. Some part of Bob will always be grateful to Natasha for saving his life. A part of Natasha wanted to protect him at all costs even though she knew he was one of the most capable ROIs out there.

"He wasn't my type." She said, placing her empty beer bottle on the floor. "Mav and Penny's wedding is in four days, you have to bring a plus one. He was plus-one material." Bob said, after Natasha didn't call back a poor sod, she had a one-night stand with. "Bob, if I had called him back and asked him to be my plus one to a wedding, he would have gotten the wrong jest." She lets out a long sigh, thinking about her one-night stand last night. She sneaked out of his place at the crack of dawn and hasn't spoken since.

"You can't do it alone, Nat. Everyone has a date. You need to have someone to go with." He speaks. "Fine! I'll go to The Hard Deck and the first guy to walk in from the door will be my date to Mav's wedding. Happy?" She gives him a fake smile baring all her teeth.

He laughed, adjusted his specs, and says, "Sounds good to me. I would love to see what frat boy or middle-aged drunkard you end up with."

"Shut up!" She pushes his shoulder.

—/—/—

Maverick and Rooster were helping behind the bar when Nat, Bob, and Maria walked in. Penny announced she would be closing the place for a week because of her honeymoon. Since then, everyone has been flooding the place.

"Remember the bet?" Bob asks her slyly.

"Yeah, yeah whatever." She mocks him.

"Look who it is!" Bradley yelled from the bar. Nat runs up to him and hugs him from the other side of the bar. "Hey, Penny!" She waves at the bride-to-be excitedly, as Bradley slides her a bottle of beer. "Hello there, Phoenix." Pete steps up behind Bradley wearing a pink apron, a towel on his shoulder, and holding a lot of beer mugs.

"Looks like domestic life suits you a lot sir." She smiles at his attire.

"Penny made me wear this," he says with a straight face.

"Isn't he the cutest?" Penny comes up behind him and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Pete turns red and ducks his head in shyness.

"Okay kids, let's keep the environment PG. Please?" Bradley shouts up and they all share a laugh.

Nat sipped her beer, thinking of how she could not have been happier for her friends. Having realized they were meant to be since Pete sneaked her on a flight back in '86, Pete and Penny were settling down without wasting any more time. Bradley finally got the family he had always wanted.

She could dream of this, right? A small, happy family, someone she could be in love with forever.

But then Bob nudges her and she is thrown back to reality. He points at the door where she could see a silhouette of a man about to enter the bar. She straightens, realizing how badly this could go south.

The door opens, and she sees a brown boot stomping on the hardwood floor. When her eyes travel up to see who the mystery man she will have to go to the wedding with is, she chokes on her drink.

—/—/—

Jake "Hangman" Sersin was not a man of commitment. As he enters The Hard Deck, he is already skimming through the crowd, searching for a girl to take home. As his eyes travel to the bar, he looks at Bradley, Pete, and Penny standing in a circle, laughing at something as they serve the drinks. He smiles looking at the lot, happy for his friends to find a place.

And then his eyes shift to Nat and Bob sitting on the bar, looking at him like deer caught in headlights. He gives them a puzzled look, walking up to them trying to figure out why they looked so horrified.

"Hey, Bob, and Phoenix. Hope you are doing well?" He couldn't help but ask that as a question.

"Yeah... I'm fine. I'll leave." Saying so he abruptly gets up from his seat, gives Natasha a pitied look, and walks away grabbing the arm of a beautiful woman sitting next to him.

"What's up with Bob? He didn't even introduce me to his girl," he asks Nat.

"Maybe he doesn't want you near her, Hangman," she says, looking him dead in the eyes like she wanted to beat him up.

"Okay, what's going on? I thought we were done roasting the shit out of each other. Why are you looking at me like that?" He points to Natasha's eyes.

"She made a stupid bet," Bradley leans over the bar, slipping on his aviators, looking at them with a mischievous grin on his face, "She said she would show up to Pete and Penny's wedding with the first guy who walks into the bar after her, and that's," he dramatically waves his hands to Jake, "you."

Natasha saw the exact moment Jake's face turned from one of absolute confusion to one of absolute amusement. He looks at her and laughs out loud, throwing his head back.

"Oh, Trace!" he chimes, stepping closer to her, "It will be my utmost honor to be your date to the wedding." He puts his hand on his heart, smirking at her.

"Whatever" she chugs down her beer and makes her way out of the bar toward the beach.

"This is going to be so fun to watch," Bradley says under his breath in a sing-song voice. Jake slides a 10 to Bradley for his beer, takes it, and runs after her.

—/—/—

Natasha looks behind her to see Jake coming toward her with a bottle of beer in his hands. "Phoenix." He nods towards her, smirking as he takes a sip from the bottle.

Natasha’s gaze lingers on his neck, and his jawline, involuntarily her mind wavering off to a very specific memory.

She is kissing him, sucking on the skin of his neck as Jake’s hands travel towards her thighs. In no time, he had picked her up and put her on the table, his hands reaching towards where she needed him the most.

Jake looks at her, realizing what she was thinking about. Before he could say something, she begins, "Look, I get that you got some girl ready for the wedding. If you don't want to do this, I'm okay with that."

Jake stills.

What did she think of him? Every girl he had interacted with since he came to Miramar was a one-time thing. They flirt with him, he shows them a good time. Then they go away ready to tell their friends about that one time they hooked up with a fighter pilot. That's all he ever was. Sometimes he thought he was hitting it off with someone who genuinely liked them. However, he would give them his phone number and they would swear they would call him and he would wait, but it was the same radio silence.

He didn't have anyone to take to the wedding, and Nat's offer wasn't that terrible. It would be a one-time thing.

Just like last time.

"Phoenix, how could I possibly miss out on this golden opportunity of going out with you? I'm thrilled." Natasha rolls her eyes.

"So, you're in?"

"A 100 percent." He smiles, offering her his handshake. She shakes his hand, saying, "if you mess up, I'll end you."

"I don't doubt otherwise" he smiles looking at her.

Sunday

It was a Sunday, and Nat had her entire day planned. Reporting to base every morning at 7 am as part of the Navy left no time for her. She planned on taking a long bath today, applying a mask, and watching a reality show to relax.

What she did not expect, was Jake honking in front of her Navy-issued house while she was in a bathrobe and a towel wrapped around her head. She didn’t have time to take it off as he was already ringing her doorbell.

So, she opened the door to see him dressed in jeans and a casual t-shirt, taking off her aviators thinking about a smart comeback for Nat.

“Don’t say something you’re about to regret Sersin.” She says. He defensively raises both his hands in front of him and replies, “I was just coming over to ask you out for shopping for the wedding.”

"What shopping?”

“I need a suit. And I guess you need a dress?”

“I have a dress.”

“No, you don’t.” he smiles, knowing Natasha won’t show up to the wedding wearing an old dress.

“Fine, I’ll buy one afterward, happy shopping.” She was about to slam the door when he held out his hand, preventing the door from closing.

“C’mon Trace, we are going together to the wedding and I need a proper suit for that, and I can help you find a dress. I grew up with two elder sisters. I know enough about women’s fashion to…”

“You need someone to help you find a suit, don’t you?” Nat chimes in. Jake closes his eyes and exhales, nodding in defeat. “Yes.” He looks at her to see her smiling, “Wait in the car, give me five minutes," she runs inside as he steps down the porch stairs, smiling to himself thinking about her smile.

---/---/---

“Come on princess, this is getting out of control!" Nat sat in the waiting area shouting towards Jake’s booth, where he was trying on his fourth suit.

Because there weren't enough days left to tailor a suit to fit Jake, for the first time in his life he was getting a readymade suit. Which is why he can’t decide which one to choose. If the black suit’s trousers fitted him like a glove, the blazer was short. He found that the vest of the white suit was too tight when the jacket of the suit was just right.

“Okay! I swear this is the last one.” He says and steps out of the trial room, too frustrated to even look at his reflection. He steps out looking at Natasha, who was sitting in front of him scrolling through her phone.

“How is it?" he asks, and she looks at him.

---/---/---

Natasha knew as irritating as he could be, Jake was a handsome man. It was confirmed to her by the light gray three-piece suit he was wearing as he stepped out of the trial room. She tried. She tried not to give him a reaction but her jaw hung open.

The suit was flawless, and it looked perfect on him.

“Damn Trace, I must be looking hot if I made your jaw drop.” He cocks his eyebrows at her. Nat tried to say something but she was rendered speechless. Finally, she managed a small, “Yeah, you look good.” And got up abruptly.

Jake’s eyebrows rose up at this, he asks, “where are you headed?”

“I… have to buy a dress. And you’re not allowed to see me in it.” “Why?”

Natasha smirks, looking him directly in the eyes, “Well, I want to see your jaw drop." And leaves.

Jake stands there until a voice from his right shakes him out of his trance. “Your wife is a feisty one. Don’t lose her.” He looks to his right and sees an old couple smiling at him knowingly. He politely smiles at them and walks back into the changing room to get out of the suit.

He’s buying it.

---/---/---

“That looks unhealthy.” Nat looks at him as he bathes his fries in ketchup. She takes a fry and eats it with a fork. They had stopped at a diner to grab lunch after shopping for the whole day.

“I’ll do 20 more push-ups to burn it out.” He says, his mouth taking a big bite of his hamburger.

“Good for you.” She says, laughing at the bit of sauce on the corner of his mouth.

“What?”

“You… you got some sauce on your face.”

“What?” he rubs off his face at a completely different spot.

“Here, wait.” Nat takes a napkin and wipes off the sauce on his face.

Jake’s heart raced as a memory of her flashed in front of his eyes.

She softly caressed his face, a moan slipping past her lips, “Jake.” Not Sersin, not Hangman, Jake. He swore as he smashed his lips on hers. He wanted her, he wanted everything she had to give. Her soft hands responded by grabbing the back of his neck and bringing him closer.

“Sersin? Are you okay?” His eyes turned back to her as she looked at him smiling brighter than the sunlight.

“Nothing, I just… I recalled something.” “What?”

“Your dress. I still haven’t seen it.” He says, desperate to divert his attention from her distractingly beautiful hands. Someone takes their manicure seriously.

“I’ll show it to you at the wedding.”

“What if we don’t match? I’m wearing charcoal, what if you show up in an outrageous green or something?"

“Sersin! I would never for my life wear green to a wedding.”

“So it’s not green.” He smiles.

Natasha rolls her eyes, “It’s lilac.”

“Lilac. I can do with that.” He mostly nods to himself and digs back into his hamburger, while Natasha eats her fries with a fork.

Tuesday

“Where. Are. You?” Nat asked with gritted teeth.

It was the Bachelor and Bachelorette of Mav and Penny. While the boys were hanging out at a bar downtown, Penny’s party was at her house. Jake was supposed to be her ride to Penny’s before heading to Mav’s party. And he was 20 minutes late.

“I’m sorry I can’t make it Phoenix.” A cracked voice came through her phone.

“Why? What happened?" she asked.

“I got food poisoning.” He speaks.

"Yeah, I'm willing to believe that Sersin. The next time you want to ditch me, make a better excuse.” “Trace I…”

She ends the call.

Natasha arrives at Penny's after taking an Uber 10 minutes later. When she entered the house, the party was already in full swing. Penny’s friends were there, and so were some of the female aviators from the base.

She finds Callie, known by her callsign 'Halo', in the lot, standing next to Penny. She was wearing a short white dress with a plastic crown and a bride-to-be sash. She looked so happy and cheery that it made her heart melt. She quickly walks to them and hugs Penny. “Penny, you look amazing!”

“Thank you so much, Nat, you too look gorgeous!" she says after glancing at the sundress Nat was wearing.

“I am so sorry for being late, Hangman bailed on me. He was supposed to be my ride here.”

“Oh, don't be silly! It's fine ” She gives her another hug and gets ushered by some of her friends. Not a second later, Halo grabs her hand and takes her to a corner. “Did you just say you were coming with Jake? Like, Jake Sersin?”

“Yes, it’s a long story.” she gives her an awkward smile.

“Are you guys dating?” she asks with wide eyes.

“No, No! I made this stupid bet and now I’m stuck with him,” she says, taking a glass of champagne and ready to get drunk.

Callie takes the glass away from her. "No, you are not getting drunk tonight.” Natasha looks at her accusingly, “why may I ask?”

"The party’s about to get wild! We need someone sober to keep us in check. And that’s you.”

“What about Amelia?”

“She’s a child.”

“So why is she holding a champagne glass?”

Both women whipped their heads towards Penny’s rebellious 15-year-old daughter, locking eyes with her.

She bolted, with the glass. And they bolted after her.

—/—/—

After As soon as Natasha and Callie had Amelia under control (two grown women tackling her in the hallway before she swallows the champagne), they began helping around the party so that Penny wouldn't have to do anything. It was a nice evening.

Penny laughed and drank as she shared stories. Nat met some of Penny’s friends who were naval aviators in the 80s and 90s. They collectively geeked over the advancements and technological differences between their planes and eras. In addition, she learned a lot about fighter planes that you don’t find in the books, things that can only be known from experience.

When it was time to leave, Nat and Amelia, the only two sober people, called Uber for guests heading to their homes. They set up the living room and guest room for people staying at their place. As she waved goodbye to the last of the guests, a familiar blue Hondo rolls up to the driveway. Bradley looks out of the window to greet Nat, “How was the bachelorette?”

“It was flawless. What are you doing here?”

“Dropping these idiots to their homes, I’m the only sober person left.” He looks behind him, and Nat follows and is met by the image of Fanboy, Bob and Payback cuddled together in the backseat.

“heyyy Natasha!” a slurred voice comes from behind her to see Callie stumbling down the porch steps. Nat helps her into the backseat after slapping Mickey’s arm to scoot over. He grumbles something in Spanish that even she couldn’t make out but makes space for Callie to sit in the back seat.

“what’s up with Javy?” she asks as she sees the six-foot-something pilot sitting in the front seat frowning at the road ahead.

“Oh, he’s in a foul mood. His bestie didn’t show up.” “Wait, Jake wasn’t at the party?” she asks, confused.

“Yeah, I called him and he said he had the stomach flu. He canceled last minute; I didn’t have any time to check up on him. I’ll drop by his house tomorrow… Wait, Nat where are you going?” he asks as she starts to walk towards the house.

“Bradley, I’ll see you tomorrow. I… I recalled something I had to talk about with Penny.” She climbs the porch steps, quickly entering the house to see everyone settled for the night. She finds Amelia talking to a girl who looked like she was in her twenties. She bids them a quick goodbye and runs to her car, ready to go to Jake’s.

He was telling the truth.

Oh my god, how could she not realize this?

He missed Mav’s party. Jake Sersin, the biggest party animal of the Dagger Squad, would never miss a bachelor party.

This was serious.

---/---/---

It was never this disastrous. He closes the bathroom, after cleaning the basin for the fourth time that day because his dumbass decided to throw up in it, instead of the toilet.

He had food poisoning before, but it wasn't this severe. His whole body was aching, and his stomach was hurting. He should have listened to Natasha when she said that the hamburger was a terrible choice to eat at 3 in the evening. He also drank three whole bottles of beer that night just to spite Coyote.

“Sersin?” He stops on his way to the bed. Did he actually hear it, or was he dreaming? She can’t really be here.

"Sersin, are you there?” Nope, that was her voice. Funny how he could recognize her voice anywhere, even high on painkillers at the moment.

“Coming.” He manages to get out and walks toward the living room. As he enters, he sees Natasha standing in the middle of the room, frantically looking around. She was wearing a cream floral dress that reached just a bit below her knees, and her hair, oh, her hair! They were loose, the top half bound in a loose bun at the top.

He tries not to remember the last time she was at his house, in a somewhat similar outfit. “Hey.” He says, remembering that she cut his call before he could explain to her that this was not a prank and that he was actually sick.

Nat looks at him, his posture, how he was leaning against the wall trying to seem cool. The look on his face and dark circles revealed how tired he was. In a loose shirt and sweatpants, he looked like he would faint.

She felt terrible for cutting off the call, now that he could see he was telling the truth. “How are you?” "fine. Just, feeling really tired.”

She steps closer to him, “Jake, I thought you were pranking but then Bradley told me you were not at Mav’s party…”

“Hey, it’s alright, you didn’t know. I don’t blame you Trace." Seeing how her eyebrows scrunched together, her face itched with worry, he said, "It's fine."

“Did you eat?” she asks, finding his eyes as he avoided them.

“Yes.”

“Sersin.”

She calls out accusingly. “What? I did. I had a banana before taking my medicine-"

“A banana?”

“-And two apples. The doctor told me not to eat anything heavy, so I had some fruits. I kind of threw up earlier-“

“You’re vomiting!”

“-would you just listen!”

“Listen to what? How horrible it is to have an empty stomach when you have food poisoning! Please tell me you drank at least 4 liters of water.”

“…”

“Jake! Oh god.” She pushes her hair back, "Take a seat, I’ll make you something.” Saying so she heads to the kitchen.

He tries to follow her, saying, “Trace it’s 11 pm. Just go home, I'll be fine!" but stops when she looks at him two seconds from popping out and engaging in a diss match with him.

“I’ll be in the bedroom.” He says and leaves, not waiting for Natasha Trace to unleash her full wrath on him.

Some 20 minutes later Nat enters his room holding a bowl and a bottle of water. He sits up straight at the end of his bed. The bowl was filled with bananas cut into small pieces and mixed with yogurt. “My mom would make that when I would get sick. It tastes better than it looks I swear.” She sits next to him as she handed him the bowl. He takes it wordlessly, staring at it as she takes a seat next to him.

When he took a bite with a spoon, he didn't know if it was hunger, but it tasted absolutely incredible. She added a bit of sugar so that it doesn’t taste bland.

"Thank you," He smiles as he scoops up a big bite ready to dive in. He looks at her, their close proximity, her body so close to him. She looked so cute sitting next to him, her face angelic in the low lamp light of his bedroom.

“It’s getting late. Can you stay here tonight?” he slips up. Realizing what he just said, his heart races. “I guess.” She smiles and agrees. She gets up from the bed, heading towards his closet. "Anything in here I could change into?” she asks looking back at him. “Uh, there are some sweatshirts you can wear”

She pulls out an old sweatshirt and some shorts and heads to the bathroom. She comes back, wearing his sweatshirt and shorts, that hung off of her. Jake thought she looked beautiful in it. If this was any other situation, he would have made a comment or two about her having a crush on him to come to his house at night. But he just couldn’t.

“I’ll sleep on the couch.” She says, searching for his eyes that were already looking at her. “Okay,” he responds, unable to find words to say otherwise. Natasha leaves, and Jake lies on the bed, trying to catch some sleep when the fact hits him like a brick.

She called him Jake.

Wednesday

The next morning, he wakes up to the blaring sound of his alarm. He shuts it off and heads out to the bathroom. He freshens up and gets to the kitchen, gets a bowl, and is about to empty some cereal in it when his eyes fall on Natasha.

She was sleeping peacefully on the couch, strands of hair escaping from her loose bun and hanging over her face. She looked ethereal in the morning light.

Jake kept staring at her and was shaken out of it when she stirred and opened her eyes. She slowly gets up and checks the time on her phone, her hair falling over her shoulder like a curtain. She had let it grow out after the Uranium mission. Her gaze then falls on Jake, standing at the kitchen counter looking at her with what she could only decipher as awestruck.

“You’re up,” she replies, smiling at the fact that he looked much better than last night. His bed hair was still there which made him look adorable. While Jake tried to find the right words to say, his heart was pounding in his chest, threatening to burst out at any moment as he tried to find the right words to say.

“Yeah, I… I slept well. What about you?”

“It was fine. I have to get going, have to report at base soon.” The statement made him look at the watch on his counter. It was 6:20. In order to wrap up all work before everyone went on leave the next day, they had to report at 7 a.m.

“Stay for coffee?” Jake says as Natasha gets up to fold the sheets. “Okay.” she smiles brightly at him. Someone is a morning person, thought Jake.

“Just make it black with-”

“-two sugars and a teaspoon of cream. I know.”

Natasha stared at him for a moment. She recalled her early days at Top Gun when every day she would run into Jake at the coffee shop on her way to the base. And he would mock her under his breath from behind as she ordered her coffee. That was two years ago.

“You actually remember that?” she asked, shocked. “Of course, I do,” he smirks as he hands her a mug filled to the brim with coffee, as he sat down on the couch. He pats the seat next to him and she flops on the couch.

“Thank you for this Sersin.”

“It’s alright… Trace.” He says her last name with hesitation, almost saying ‘Natasha’.

“Last night,” he begins, leaning back on the couch, “I’m really sorry for bailing out on you like that. I was intending to call you sooner, but my head was inside the toilet for the better part of the day-”

“Jake, it’s fine. I should be the one apologizing. I didn’t believe you and I was really rude. I thought this was some kind of prank you were pulling on me”

“Why would I prank you about me being sick?” a laugh escapes his lips.

“I don’t know, maybe because you’re a butthead.” she laughed, and not the subtle laugh she always did. She threw her head back, showing her teeth and scrunching her nose and Jake’s heart did a somersault.

“Butthead, huh, now that’s a word I haven’t heard since middle school.” he lightly pushed her shoulder. “Hey!” she pushed him back, putting away her coffee mug to spar with him with both her hands.

But Jake was quick.

He caught her wrists before she could punch him and pulled her in. Natasha yelped as her chest hit him, their faces so close to each other. Jake forgot to breathe. And so did Natasha. He leaned forward, testing waters just like the last time, and no matter how desperately Natasha tried, she too leaned forward.

His lips were soft as feathers. Unlike when Natasha's brain was fogged with lust, she was clear as a day this time. Their lips worked in sync as Jake held her from the back of her neck. Natasha slipped her hand under his shirt, running her fingers across his chest. They were lost in each other, exploring their bodies as it was their first time, so much so that they didn’t hear the front door open.

They didn’t hear the footsteps as they approached the living room, nor the sudden silence in the atmosphere.

They broke out of trance only when they heard Bob.

“What the fuck?”

Phoenix pushed Jake away and turned around to see Rooster and Bob standing in the middle room, mouths hung open. As Jake sensed the tension in the air, he wasn't sure whether to breathe or not. “How did this…” Bob began to question the situation but Natasha was looking at Bradley looking at her clothing, Jake’s sweatshirt, that he has seen him in enough times to recognize anywhere. He was picturing them in another situation. Anyone with a functioning brain would make the same assumption as Bradley.

“I didn’t know that you two…” Bob’s voice was drowned out as Natasha stood up and looked at the three men, currently undergoing a lot of revelations at the moment. “I’ll see you all at the base, I have to go” giving Jake a look he would later decipher was a look mixed with embarrassment and longing, Natasha practically ran out the door towards her car.

—/—/—

“Bob, stop doing that,” Natasha whispers at him.

Since arriving on base, Bradley and Bob had teamed up on standing away from Natasha and Jake and staring at them ominously. “How did this happen? I just want to know because I’m trying really difficult to gaslight myself into believing it was a fever dream.” Bradley joins in, coming behind Bob.

“It's… ugh,” she grabs his arm and drags him to the couch in the common room and Bradley follows. They sit down and pick up a book lying on the table, just in case it looked like they were planning a coup.

“You remember Jason?” she begins.

“That two-faced son of a bitch who dumped you over text after cheating on you with his co-worker? Yes, I remember him.” venom dripped from Bradley’s voice as he recalled how heartbroken Natasha was after the incident.

Many did not know about Jason. Bradley did because at the time of her breakup he was the one to bring her ice cream and watch the 90s movies just to curse the ridiculous plot. Bob did because she told him after watching how he and Maria were meant to be, telling him about her biggest heartbreak.

“So, two years ago, the night he texted me, I drove to The Hard Deck to drown myself in alcohol. Penny was there to look after me." she sighs, recalling the night. “It was late, there were not a lot of people in there. Jake was there.” Bob and Bradley looked at each other in surprise. “He was coming over to just chat I guess, but I did a shit job of hiding my tears. One thing led to another and... we slept together.”

The three stayed silent for a while, and then Bob spoke up, “He manipulated you into sleeping with him while you were drunk!”

“No, No! Bob, I had like two beers. I wasn't even drunk. Everything that happened, it was consensual.” She sat up looking at both her best friends.

“Okay, okay we get it. But today at his place…”

“I don’t know, I just looked at him and… just…” she struggled to find the right words, an explanation as to why she kissed him.

There was none.

“You like him, Nat?” Bradley asked softly, holding her arm. “I don't know.” she took her head in her hands and exhaled.

—/—/—

It was a long day. He tried on multiple occasions to talk to Natasha, but she kept ignoring him. Bradley and Bob didn’t make it any easier, giving him a blank stare the entire day. It was a miracle the entire base didn’t know about this till now.

He sits in his car, heading home to wallow in his grief alone. The wedding was tomorrow, and he had no idea if Nat would still attend with him, after everything that had happened. He hears a knock on the window of his seat, finding Javy there. The man squinted at the window, knocking again for him to slide down the glass.

“Care to give me a ride, Jake? I hitched a ride with Payback, but he bailed on me." He laughed softly.

"Get in." He opens the door so he can climb into the passenger seat. Their houses were a block apart, so on the way, they caught up on everything. In between his flu and the arrangement with Nat, he had no time to talk to his best friend from the academy. He told them about the bachelor party and how Fanboy and Payback got too drunk and sang three Justin Bieber songs on karaoke until Pete himself begged them to stop. They laughed with tears coming out of their eyes as he showed him the video he took at the party.

As Jake pulled up to the driveway of Javy’s house, he turned to look at him. Javy smiled at him and asked, "You like her, Jake?"

Jake’s smile dropped as he looked at Javy. How did he… “Oh come on man! You really thought I wouldn't know? I see the way you look at her. Like she hung the moon and stars for you.”

Jake turned red, and he couldn’t help but smile as his friend caught him red-handed.

"Just tell her before it's too late, Jake. You never know if you will get a second chance or not." With that, he gets out of his car and walks inside his house.

Jake sits in the dark for a while, sifting through the words that just fell out of Javy’s mouth.

He recalls the morning after when he smiled before opening his eyes, expecting Nat to be sleeping next to him, thinking about asking her out for coffee, or breakfast. And how devastated he was to find her absent, just a note left at his bedside written by her.

Thank you.

-N

On reaching the base, he found out she had taken a leave. When Nat returned, she had returned to how she had been, and their relationship had reverted to calling names and making fun of each other. He never asked her or told her about how he felt. He regretted that for God knows how long, and some part of him still does.

This was his second chance. And he has to take it.

Thursday

The Blue, a wedding venue in Miramar, was on a hillside just next to the ocean. It was a beautiful sunny day, the snowy clouds in the bright blue sky scattered like they would in a painting. The tent was set up for the reception, providing space for all 35 guests. The flower arch over the stage was decorated with beautiful blue and white daisies. The stage was cleaned and swept and set up with a mic for the wedding officiator. The aisle was white, with miniature plane charms hanging from each chair as the guests began to settle in them, all in awe of the atmosphere around them. Waiting for the bride and groom to arrive

The Blue was where Nick “Goose” Bradshaw tied the knot with Carole, and where Tom “Iceman” Krazansky said his vows with Sarah.

And today, it was hosting the wedding of the man who was closest to both of them. Fate was cruel to Pete for they were not here today. Nick being his best man would try to calm him by saying stuff like “It’s just five minutes Mav, and then you’ll be sipping margaritas with Penny in Hawaii” and Tom would just rile him up “Ten bucks you will cry like a baby watching her coming down the aisle” just to see what happens.

But as Pete looked in the mirror of his hotel room, wearing his black suit with a sad smile on his face, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He looked in the mirror at the man whose hand was on his shoulder. God, he looked so much like him. Bradley squeezed his shoulder. “They know Mav, and they are here. Both of them are.” Pete turned to give him a tight hug. It was impossible not to shed the tear he had been holding in since the dawn of the day.

—/—/—

Jake smiled at the duo, recalling how mere months ago Bradley was ready to throw hands with Pete. Now he is the one who would hand him the ring that was meant for Penny.

“Alright boys,” Pete says, wiping a tear and slapping a hand on Bradley’s shoulder, “Let’s do this.” the groomsmen got ready to walk out of the room and toward the stage.

The guests turned as the boys walked up the aisle, first Pete, and then Jake, Javy, Mickey, Bob, and Reuben behind him. They smiled and waved at people around them, some familiar faces from the base and some new. Jake looked to the officiator on the stage to discover it was none other than Hondo, their trusted 'push-up instructor' (a nickname that stuck after the dagger squad's first punishment).

The music played as everyone stood up for the bride to walk in. But it soon transitioned into “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins. In came Bradley in a crisp black suit and Amelia in a light blue frock wearing aviators, throwing flowers down the aisle while doing a whole dance routine. Everyone cheered and danced, and the boys couldn’t help but join them in the end.

Finally, Bradley and Amelia did a fist bump and took their places as the Best Man and Maid of Honor. The music changed, and Penny walked in.

He heard Pete’s breath hitch as soon as he saw Penny. She looked like an angel in the long white dress. Her dark hair was styled in a way that it was on a side. She held a bouquet of white and blue flowers, and unlike recent fashion, she wore a short translucent veil, covering her face. His gaze lingered from her to Pete, and then back again. He couldn't help wondering how two people could love each other so much, as their eyes were filled with nothing but love.

And then he saw a blur of lilac fabric right behind Penny.

Lilac.

Natasha came in view, her hair in a braided crown, holding a bouquet, and wearing that damn lilac dress. He felt warm in his chest, and the warmth slowly spread to his whole body as she neared. She was smiling at Pete, looking at how he was looking at Penny, and when her gaze turned to him, she smirked.

Jake forgot to breathe. As he took a long inhale, he realized his mouth was hanging open. His eyes found Natasha, now standing behind Penny on the stage, and she laughed at him.

Told you she mouthed.

And Jake couldn’t help but laugh himself. He now knew what Penny and Pete were feeling for each other. Because he felt the same way.

—/—/—

The opening notes of the slow song filled the air as the sun set down and the sky turned a beautiful shade of orange. Natasha took a long gulp of champagne, looking at Pete and Penny having their first dance as husband and wife.

She could describe the wedding as magical. It was magical.

Penny’s smile didn’t falter even a bit the whole day, and Pete was a blushing mess. She looked as Pete whispered something in her ear, and Penny’s jaw dropped. She hid her face in the crook of his neck as he laughed.

She has seen all her life the kind of love they shared. Her parents singing their favourite song as she sat in the backseat, her Cheerleader classmates kissing their Quarterback boyfriends after winning the game, the old couple walking down her college dorm every day holding hands, the barista from the coffee shop almost spilling the drink over herself as soon as the girl across the street came in for her order.

And now Penny and Pete.

They were true, and the cutest couple she ever came across.

She looked at the Dagger squad sitting around her, everyone lost in chatting and having a good time. Somehow Mickey and Javy had got hold of two sticks and were having a swordfight, and Callie and Neil (callsign - Omaha) were recording the whole thing on her phone, Reuben was holding on to his chair for dear life so he doesn’t fall down from laughing too hard and Maria was sitting on Bob’s lap as he rubbed circles on her back, looking at her when she was busy watching the newlyweds.

And then she found Jake, sitting next to Bradley. His hair was intact, and his blazer was open. He looked straight out of a movie. He had a soft smile etched on his face, as he looked at her.

"Bradshaw!" Amelia calls out, "I think we asked them to keep this PG.” Natasha looked behind her to see Amelia looking at Bradley and pointing toward the couple. Pete was kissing Penny and she was caressing his neck.

“Nah, I think we should let them off tonight. It’s their wedding after all,” he replied, raising his eyebrows at the girl in front of him.

She sits next to him, “so what does that make us, now that Pete and my mom are married?” Natasha now turned to the duo, looking at how the little girl was looking at Bradley with total confidence, and Bradley staring back with the same intensity. “Your adopted step-brother?” he furrows his brows as he says that.

The dagger squad sitting around him burst into laughter that instant. Amelia rolls her eyes as Bradley rubs his face with embarrassment. “I always wanted a dumbass brother. Let’s dance,” and she drags Bradley to the dance floor. Natasha watches as Bradley and Amelia dance together, and other couples join the dance floor.

“Care to dance?” Natasha looks to her side to see Jake standing by her, holding out his hand. She looks at his hand and then at his face, the smile on it. It wasn’t one of the cocky grins he did that made her blood boil, this was his genuine smile, his true self.

She takes his hand, just like he did two years ago at The Hard Deck when he took her off to somewhere she could forget the ache in her heart.

He escorted her to the dance floor, sneaking an arm around her waist and the other holding her hand. All while his gaze never wavered from hers. Natasha placed her hand on his shoulder and slowly started to sway to the music.

“How are you?” she asks him. “Great. Now that you are here," he smiles.

She laughed at the comment, scrunching up her nose. "Was that... Was that cheezy?” he asks her, heat rising to his face.

“A bit,” she says, returning her gaze to him. She wanted to remember this, him. The twinkle in his eyes, the loose tie around his neck, the texture of his grey blazer, and the small wrinkles around his eyes were adorable when he smiled for real.

Jake’s heart was beating fast, as he stared at the loose strands of Natasha's hair escaping her crown, how her dress felt under his hands, the dip of her waist, and her eyes. Oh, her eyes. He could swear that no one has ever looked at him the way she was right now.

“I wanted to say something.” Jake starts.

“Me too.”

“I am an idiot-”

“I know”

“-to not tell you this sooner. I wanted to for a long time.” He stops dancing and just looks at her.

“I-” he begins, he had so much to say.

Whenever she laughed or gave him the side eye when he annoyed her, her voice on his radio made him smile. It was her who made him feel like this, like...

Like he loved her.

But before the words passed his lips, he heard her voice, “I really like you, Jake.” And he swore he was done for right then and there.

“I really like you too, Natasha," he said, feeling giddy. Saying her name and hearing his name from her.

They smiled at each other, as Natasha gripped his hand tighter. Jake pulled her closer, their bodies flush together. They leaned toward each other in tandem, lips ghosting just inches apart as they looked each other in the eyes, and then, they kissed.

—/—/—

“I knew that was gonna happen!” Callie gasped catching Niel’s attention. They kept staring at Natasha and Jake kissing on the dance floor.

Mickey gave Reuben a confused glance and Javy nodded as he sipped his drink. Bob and Bradley looked at each other on the dance floor, smiling at the scene.

All in all, it was a happy ending for everyone.

Sequel! (Mickey Garcia x fem!Reader) || Call Out My Name

A/N - Thank you everyone for sticking with me till the end of this fic! if you liked it please let me know through the asks and the comments. Any and all requests, headcanons, and drabble requests about this AU is mostly welcome. Love y'all, Take Care!

Requests are open! Feel free to request anything.

Tag List:

@tuiccim @parkjammys @akinrawsx @asteph22 @iamthebeth @thefandomqueenuno @onlyhereforthefics @yikesdameron @savedfanfics1992 @amigaytho @hoennsficrecs @samwilson-mylove @xbuchananbarnes-deactivated @jenniweaslee @anna-phora @fluffyprettykitty @ladiesluver

236 notes · View notes

jakeseresinnix · 2 years

Photo

Hannix college AU // when Natasha Trace came back to her apartment that she shared with her college roommate, she couldn’t believe her eyes to see her high school sweetheart Jake Seresin whom she hadn’t seen in years, sitting in the living room and simply looks delighted when he sees her.

#hannix #hangnix #hannix au #hangman x phoenix #natasha trace #jake seresin #lisa apple #charlie young #college au #mygifs #hannix fanfic #ideas #set it up #splitting up together #jake x natasha #monica barbaro #glen powell

130 notes · View notes

l0velysmut · 1 month

Text

family: “why are you just sitting in ur room smiling at ur phone?”

me who’s been reading smut about fictional characters for the past 6 hours:

17K notes · View notes

military-newsboys · 2 months

Text

Mav: You all know Admiral Kazensky? As most of you may realize by now, he's my husband. Ice: Pete, Why are they all looking at me like that? Fanboy: Well, Maverick is sort of the "dad" of the team, so emotionally, this is like being told you're our new mom. Ice: But you know it's nothing like that, right? Hangman: Absolutely, do you make macaroni?

735 notes · View notes

aimee-doll-333 · 2 years

Text

Every friend group should have;

#top gun maverick #hangman x rooster #rooster x hangman #hangster #bradly rooster bradshaw #jake hangman seresin #natasha phoenix trace #pete maverick mitchell #payback #fanboy #coyote #robert bob floyd

8K notes · View notes

frost-queen · 1 month

Text

It comes with perks (Reader x Jake 'Hangman' Seresin)

Requested by: anon Forever tag:@missmelodramatic, @merlin-dahlia, @alex--awesome--22, @elllie-does-the-posts, @floatlosers, @merlieve, @queen-of-books, @glimmering-darling-dolly @denkisclown, @wildieflower, @meyocoko, @bubblybrianna, @justanothercoco, @subjecta13-thefangirl, @m-rae23, @harleyquinnswifeyfrfr, @swampthing07, @melsunshine, @panhoeofmanyfandoms, @venomsvl, @the-uncoordinated-house-cat, @rosecentury, @imagines-by-her, @evilcr0ne, @vviolynn

Summary: When you need someone to be your fake boyfriend to get you out of a situation with your ex, Hangman is the closest guy you find. What needed to be a one time thing, turned out into a long term act of fake dating. Certainly now that your dad Iceman is involved in as well. Slowly the lines of fake dating fade as Hangman becomes obessed with you, a ray of sunshine. When your ex tries to get back in your life, Jake becomes protective, finally ending those unclear lines of fake dating.

Phoenix and you entered Penny’s bar when your phone suddenly rang. Taking it out, the nametag on it made your eyes widen. You touched Phoenix on her shoulder, letting her know you needed a moment. She simply smiled, heading further into the bar to the booth were Bob, Coyote and Fanboy already were. The phone kept buzzing as you weren’t sure what to do. Panicking a bit as to say. You knew not picking up, would do nothing as he would just keep calling you.

Answering was even terrible, as you knew he’d say anything to get you to yield. Like a collective caller, kept he calling you. Looking around frantically, you spotted the first person at Penny’s bar. You rushed over to the bar, pulling Hangman back by his shoulder. – “Emergency, you’re my boyfriend.” – you breathed out, holding the phone out to him. Hangman smiled cocky. – “Well, well. If you were desperate for a kiss, you’d just had to ask Y/n.” – Hangman replied all smug to your annoyance.

“No. No! You’re not actually my boyfriend.” – you informed him hastily. Hangman furrowed his brows, frowning. – “Make up your mind girl.” – he let out confused to what was happening. You moved your phone higher up for him to notice. – “I need you to be my boyfriend and make him stop calling me!” – you called out almost frantically at how slow he was catching up.

“Right.” – He simply said, setting a beer down and taking your phone in his hand. He answered the phone, giving you a cheeky eyebrow wiggle. Hangman didn’t even listen to what the other person was saying on the phone. – “Listen bud, stop calling my girlfriend.” – he spoke through. He heard an immediate response. – “Uhm her boyfriend.” – Hangman answered, showing you a goofy look at how obvious it was who he was talking to.

The man kept blabbing in his ear as Hangman had little interest in keeping him on the phone. – “Stop calling us, bye.” – he spoke in such a manufactured voice, he could work in sales and be dealing with a terrible customer but still upholding his work voice. Hangman hung up, giving you the phone back. – “Thank you!” – you let out relieved, bending a bit through your knees out of gratitude. – “So what do I get in return?” – Hangman asked.

“This beer?” – you suggested, placing your hand on the counter by it. Hangman tsked his tongue. – “Already paid for it sunshine.” – he said with a chuckle. – “Fine.” – you breathed out. – “I’ll clean your locker.” – you took out another suggestion as Hangman thought. – “How about wash my clothes?” – he responded. – “Deal.” – you agreed it was just that. Hangman shook hands with you to seal the deal.

He picked up his beer, throwing his arm over your shoulder. – “Who was the dude anyways?” – he asked, leading you to the others. – “My ex.” – you sighed out. Hangman looked half in shock at you. – “I didn’t know you dated someone.” – he called out as you had to shush his loud voice. – “It was like 6 months ago.” – you informed him.

“And he’s still calling you?” – Hangman blurted out as you hummed with a nod as response. – “I can’t shake him off.” – you sighed out nearing the booth with your friends. – “Well good thing your boyfriend saved the day.” – Hangman winked with a ridiculous smile. – “Not my boyfriend.” – you reminded him before sitting down.

Back in the locker room, you were washing Hangman’s attire. Washing them by hand as he called them delicate and needed to be handled with care. – “Uhm what are you doing?” – Phoenix asked seeing you in the locker room as she had walked by. – “Are those Hangman’s clothing?” – she pointed out when you had pulled it up to see if it was clean enough, revealing his nametag. – “Phoenix!” – you called out startled, splashing some water as your arms lowered immediately. – “Why are you washing his clothes?” – she wanted to know. – “I owe it to him.” – you responded, scrubbing his pilot gear.

“You dared to bet with Hangman. Bold.” – she answered impressed. – “It’s not that.” – you told her with a soft sigh. – “He did something for me, so I have to return the favour.” – you explained. – “Right.” – Phoenix widened her eyes briefly in delight. – “If your dad could see you know.” – she chuckled a bit. – “He’d flip that you fell so low.” You grunted soft. – “Good thing my dad.” – you emphasized. – “Can’t see me.” – you replied bitsy. – “Ohh cold touch.” – Phoenix teased touching her own shoulder. You scooped up some water, splashing it at her to wipe that smile off her face.

Phoenix screamed, dodging away when the water came her way. Half laughing, you teasing her with another scoop as she already darted away. When you were finished up with Hangman’s uniforms, you hung them neatly to dry. You came out of the lockers, making your way out of the hangar when you got pulled aside by Rooster. He pushed you firm up against the wall. – “Are you dating Hangman?” – called out at the brink of losing his mind. – “What?” – you responded confused.

“Are you dating him?” – Rooster wanted to know with a stern look. – “What, no, no…” – you replied waving your hands across. Rooster exhaled deep moving his fingers through his hair. – “Who told you this?” – you asked curious. – “Hangman has been bragging to everyone he’s dating you.” – Rooster let you know. Your eyes widened with shock.

You pushed Rooster a bit back, to make some room for you to leave. You needed to find Hangman and you needed to find him now. Jogging out of the hangar into the open. You saw a group of people near the F16’s going over to them. The closer you got, the clearer you saw Hangman amongst them.

“Hangman!” – you shouted drawing his attention. – “Looks like my girlfriend needs me.” – he said to Fanboy and Coyote all smug. Coyote rolled with his eyes as Fanboy shook his head. Hangman turned round to you, welcoming you with a warm smile. – “Yes my love.” – he said as you grabbed him firmly by the arm, dragging him away from the others. – “So eager.” – Hangman whispered to his friends with a chuckle. You came to a stop, letting harshly go of him.

“What are you doing?” – you called out giving him a little shove. – “Au.” – Jake mouthed pretending to be hurt from your shove. – “Jake!” – you called out wanting an answer out of him. – “What?” – he replied loud, making himself taller. – “Why are you telling everyone we are dating?” – you freaked out. Jake scoffed loud, turning his head away. – “Are we not?” – he answered cocky, wanting to slip his arm over your shoulder. It made you puff annoyed, crossing your arms.

“Oh come on Y/n, don’t be such a baby about it.” – Jake said taking you by the elbow, wanting you to uncross your arms. – “It’s a joke, sunshine.” – he kept tugging at your arm, trying to be smooth and cool at the same time. – “Sunshine!” – you suddenly heard loud, making you straighten your back. Hangman’s back straightened as well. Cyclone appeared coming to you. – “Iceman wants to speak to you.” – he said firmly, making your shoulders slouch. Jake was snickering quietly at you with a little point. – “He asked for both of you!” – Cyclone made clear, making Jake’s smile drop.

You tugged on his elbow, pulling him with you. Following Cyclone inside and up the stairs to Iceman’s desk. Cyclone knocked on the door, before popping his head inside. – “They are present.” – he said to Iceman. Cyclone stepped aside, expression flat as he allowed you to walk in. – “Tell me, am I hanging?” – Jake whispered to Cyclone wanting to know his outcome. Cyclone ignored him, giving him an extra shove into the room. – “Dad!” – you said with mixed expectations, opening your arms to a hug.

Iceman got up from behind his desk, coming to hug you. – “How is my little girl?” – he asked. – “Flying and thriving.” – you told him, making him form a smile on his lips. His gaze then shifted to Jake, who swallowed nervously. Iceman got all serious. He went to sit again, gesturing for you to sit as well. Jake and you sat down, unsure what to expect. – “So you are the one dating my daughter.” – Iceman spoke. – “Dad no…” – you blurted out, waving your hands across.

Iceman observed Hangman closely as it made him move uncomfortable in the chair. – “How’s his flying?” – he asked. – “Superb… sir.” – Jake replied loudly, humbling himself immediately. Iceman glanced your way. You could only smile sheepishly at him. – “I’m a bit saddened you didn’t tell me Y/n.” – Iceman began. – “But he looks decent enough. As long as he doesn’t hurt you… or else…” – Iceman gave Hangman his death stare.

Jake swallowed again. – “Dad we’re not…” – you began wanting to explain as Jake grabbed your hand out of the blue. – “No, no sunshine, it’s okay. He knows now.” – Jake spoke upholding the image of dating. You stared confused at him, why he would even want to go on with his stupid joke. – “Jake, this is my dad.” – you said between clenched teeth to him. Making it clear that he didn’t need to mess around. – “I’m so happy for you Y/n.” – Iceman said cheery.

“The man’s happy Y/n, let him be.” – Jake said to guilt trip you. You sighed soft letting yourself fall back in the chair. Jake got up. – “Well it was nice of you to call us in, sir.” – Jake said, nudging you to get up as well. Your dad chuckled happily at his manners as you could only roll your eyes. Jake extended his hand out to Iceman. Iceman took it to shake. – “I’m not one for favours, but if you ever need one for my daughter.” – he whispered to Jake with a wink.

Jake breathed out a laugh of surprise, glancing your way. Just to rub his it more in your face. – “Now we must really go.” – Hangman spoke tapping your elbow, to get you to follow. – “Give her a kiss.” – Iceman replied. Jake’s expression dropped. – “S’cuse me?” – he blurted out. – “Give her a kiss.” – he repeated gesturing at you.

Jake looked sheepishly at you, chuckling nervously. – “Sir truly…” – Jake began wanting to talk his way out of it. – “I want to see just how much you care for my daughter.” – Iceman persisted. Hangman took your hand, pulling you closer to give a kiss on the cheek. – “Give her a real kiss!” – Iceman shouted out of good sports. Jake sighed loud with a soft drop of his gaze. You raised your eyebrow at him, curious to see what he would do. He took you by the elbow, pulling you even closer.

“Just a quick one.” – he whispered to you. – “One second.” – you responded. Hangman held his finger up to his lips, looking all smug. He lowered his finger, giving you a quick nod before he’d kiss you. Your lips touched for a split second, pulling away quick. Iceman shook his head with disappointment. – “We have to go dad!” – you called out, opening the door. Dragging Jake with you out of his office. Downstairs, you let go of Jake.

“Your joke just escalated Hangman. Now my dad knows!” – you called out panicking. – “Hey you asked me to be your boyfriend.” – Jake replied loud. – “For like a few seconds.” – you shouted back. – “You asked for this Y/n.” - Jake answered loud taking off. – “Where are you going?” – you called out to him. Jake turned around, pulling his shoulders up. It made you groan loud.

Phoenix and you were stretching before exercise. – “Boyfriend coming over.” – she pointed out, turning her torso, holding her arm by her elbow. You looked up seeing Hangman come over with the other boys. It made you look at her with a certain glance. Phoenix stopped, walking off when Hangman came near. She joined the others behind him. – “You know for a sunshine, you frown a lot.” – he pointed out, touching your forehead.

You slapped his hand away. He grabbed you by the shoulders, moving his head closer to you. – “Smile, your dad is going to watch.” – he whispered making you widen your eyes. Jake moved aside from you, throwing his arm over you as he led you to the others. Maverick, Cyclone and Iceman neared. You all followed Maverick to the beach for a match of rugby. A good team exercise Maverick would call it. Cyclone and Iceman sat down, watching the pathetic play of rugby.

Hangman and you were on opposite teams. Fanboy had the ball, throwing it at Coyote. Hangman jumped in front of him, catching the football before his eyes. He then ran with it to your side, throwing his hard on the ground. He called it out in victory, pointing towards Iceman. Iceman clapped for Hangman’s score. He then looked all smug at you. Phoenix nudged you as you rolled your eyes at him. Trying not to find it sweet. Rooster caught the ball wanting to throw it at you. You caught it, wanting to run when you got picked up from the ground.

Hangman had picked you up, making you squeal loud out of surprise. Your feet hit the ground again, as he kept his arms around you. – “Try getting out of this now, sunshine.” – he breathed out. You wriggled in his grip for freedom. When you weren’t getting any, you tried running. Hangman laughed loud, squeezing his arms tighter around you. – “Where are you going sunshine?” – he laughed out. You tried so hard not to laugh as well, not to enjoy it too, but you failed.

You stopped trying to run, laughing loud. You tossed the football over to Bob. You showed him your empty hands, showing him his attempt to stop you failed. Hangman picked you up in response, making you squeal again. He then pressed a kiss on your cheek so quick, he barely caught himself doing it. You turned round in his embrace, staring a bit at him. Jake stared back at you.

Swallowing, he let go of you, scratching his neck sheepishly. You looked blissful away. The two of you hesitantly got back into the game, questioning whether you were actually starting to like each other or that it was the drive of fake dating for a while now.

After practise, you were all exhausted. Having been playing till the sun had set. Worn out, you all decided to grab a few drinks at Penny’s bar. You went up to her bar as Jake followed. Almost instinctively. You held four fingers up to Penny, ordering beer. Jake leaned with his elbows on the counter, throwing you a smug smile. Your phone vibrated in your pocket. Confused, you pulled it out holding it to the front. Jake’s eye fell on the caller, taking the phone from your hand before you could react.

He picked up, turning around to lean against the counter with his back. – “What do you want?” – he said bothered. Your ex didn’t even have to finish his sentence when Jake spoke again. – “Listen asshole, if you call her one more time. I’ll make sure you’ll never see daylight again. You won’t see me coming. I’ll fly above your house, aiming for your pathetic bedroom and you’ll be burned to crisps in a matter of seconds.” – Jake threatened making you stare in shock at him.

“She doesn’t want you cause I’m her boyfriend. She’s mine and let me tell you ass, I don’t like sharing.” – Jake said over the phone. – “This was your last call or you’re dead!” – he angrily hung up the phone. – “Thank… thank you…” – you said astonished by how hot that was. Jake tugged your phone in his pocket.

Penny arrived with the drinks as he took them, motioning with his head for you to follow. You slid into a booth with him as the others were waiting. Hangman threw an arm over your shoulder, pushing you closer to him. It made you feel like squealing. The lines of pretend and real blurring away. Jake caught you staring at him, melting as he saw you smile like the sun back at him. He moved his head closer to you, wanting to kiss you in that moment, but caught himself just in time.

He shifted his head to the side, kissing your cheek instead. It didn’t feel satisfying, but he wouldn’t dare himself to kiss you out of the blue with everyone around. Your friends were so used to the two of you dating, they hardly had any eye for it. Not clear it was all an act, started from a joke. After an hour or two, checked Jake his watch. – “I’m taking Y/n home.” – he said removing his arm from you. He got out of the booth, taking you with him.

You said goodbye to the others. Jake grabbed your hand, walking out of Penny’s bar with you. Outside he was still holding your hand as it made you snicker soft. – “No one’s watching Hangman.” – you told him. Hangman looked at you with eyes full of affection. – “I know.” – he responded, pausing you. – “Are we still faking it?” – he asked catching you by surprise. Unsure, you pulled your shoulders up. That seemed to answer Hangman enough as he cupped your cheeks, kissing your lips.

The kiss was long, anticipating the moment till he could finally kiss you. His tender kiss moved to longing and desperation as his hands grabbed you tightly. You kissed him back, fully surrendering under his spell. The lines of fake dating having been shattered long ago.

--------------------------------------

Read more of my fics on my Masterlists!

568 notes · View notes

indynerdgirl · 2 years

Text

This ship has grown on me so I finally made a playlist for them.

#top gun maverick #hannix #top gun playlist #jake x natasha #phoenix x hangman #playlists #Spotify

0 notes

enthyrea · 2 months

Text

two commissions for the lovely @sizzlingcloudalmondspy !

the first is mav and phoenix talking about their partners, with said partners watching amusedly.

the second is jake trying to flirt with bradley by telling him he’s always loved the 80s stache, unfortunately bradbrad thinks jake is talking about his dad.

thank you for commissioning me!

commission info

405 notes · View notes

jungle-angel · 6 months

Note

Can u do more with hannix family?

Sooo cuteee!!! ❤️❤️❤️😍😍

Oooooh honey I had a thought I've been thinking about for a while and plus I've been on a terrible Lord of the Rings kick lately so this is just.......uuugh!!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

The tiny little cries on the baby monitor suddenly awoke both Jake and Natasha, the darkness still shrouding the earth and all the stars still shining bright in the winter sky. Their precious little boy, John Glen "Jack" Seresin, had been born just three days before and frequently awoke at the witching hours, very brand new to an unfamiliar world and needing alot of attention from his parents.

Jake tried to sit up but Natasha firmly placed her hand on his chest and guided him back down. "Relax Bagman, I've got this," she told him.

"You sure?" he groaned.

"Go back to sleep, he's hungry," Natasha answered.

Jake went right back to sleep as she padded off to the nursery, following Jack's cries and the high pitched whine of Jake's husky. He woke up again when he heard everything in the house go quiet. He couldn't hear the scritch of the dog's nails on the floor nor could he hear Jack on the baby monitor.

Jake got himself up and quietly crept to the nursery, poking his head in the door to find Natasha with the baby, in the rocker. He could hear her voice softly singing, something haunting and familiar to him that brought tears to his eyes when he recognized it.

"May it be an evening star Shines down upon you May it be when darkness falls Your heart will be true You walk a lonely road Oh, how far you are from home

Mornie utulie Believe and you will find your way Mornie alantie A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadow's call will fly away May it be your journey on to light the day When the night is overcome You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utulie Believe and you will find your way Mornie alantie A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now"

Jake crept his way to the rocker, kneeling beside his wife and son, trying to hold back the tears.

"You ok?" she asked.

"No my allergies are acting up again."

"You're crying and you won't admit it," Natasha teased.

"I'm sorry I can't help it," Jake admitted. "My dad took me to see Lord of the Rings when I was a kid and I still cry when I hear that damn song."

Natasha chuckled and kissed Jake. "Go back to bed will you?" she told him. "He'll be up again in two hours and there's no way we're gonna sleep."

Jake kissed her and then Baby Jack. "Love you both."

"Love you too Bagman," she answered.

#top gun maverick #jake hangman seresin #natasha phoenix trace #jake x natasha #hangman x phoenix #jake seresin x natasha trace #hannix

17 notes · View notes

green-ville · 2 years

Text

Warnings: domestic Hannix. It's all fluff.

Summary: Third installment in the unplanned trilogy of Hannix. This is the final piece and it's summarized in one sentence. A Dagger reunion after Jake convinces Natasha to do something stupid.

_________________

"You wanna do something stupid?"

"That's a terrible idea."

". . .I didn't even say the idea, but somehow I know that you know what I'm thinking."

Natasha picked up three dragon fruit, putting it in the cart. "It's a terrible idea," she repeated and moved further down the produce section in the grocery store. Jake pushed the cart behind her, eyes sparkling, forearms resting on the cart as he trailed her.

"You totally want to do it," Jake claimed.

"I do not."

"Oh yeah you do. Babe, think of the tax benefits."

She snorted, head falling so her hand could cover her face. Her smiling face.

"See?! You're smiling. You totally want to do it!"

"I do not!"

"Hey I've been thinking – "

"Bagboy, no."

"How could you possibly know –"

"Because you keep bringing it up?"

"Orrrr, you've been thinking about it too and so it's always on your mind," Jake challenged, setting the plate down in front of her. It was tsunami season (it was always tsunami season in Guam) and so their windows were shut as sideways rain hammered down on their apartment.

Jake sat beside her on the table, a plate of his own in front of him.

She rolled her eyes. "Walk me through your plan Captain. Please."

"Well I'd want to go big, but I have a feeling you'd wanna go small, so we'll settle for small but make it a big deal."

"How, pray tell?"

"We tell basically no one and drop it at a party."

"A party?"

"Yeah."

"And what about family?"

"Admittedly, I haven't told my parents about you."

She high fived him. "My parents don't know you exist either!"

"Great! We'll surprise them too."

"That's a terrible plan."

"They pay me to be pretty, not to think."

"That's the exact opposite of what they pay you to do Bagman."

He shrugged. "So, whatcha think?"

". . ."

"I just don't understand why you want to do it."

"Tax benefits, screaming 'that's my wife!' when someone dishonors you – no, I don't want you to be dishonored, I'm just looking at the brightside of a terrible situation – owe. I deserved it. For some reason we're oddly compatible and quite frankly I don't see myself with anyone but you for the rest of my life. Where you go, I'm going. Even when you get sick of me."

Her heart thudded at the last bit. She stayed facing away from him, unable to look at him right now.

"Alright fine, I lied. It's not for the tax benefits. I. . .I never gave much thought to my future outside of the Navy until Miramar. Until I met you again and we did that. . .that thing that changed me forever. Then I thought about you for five years and it wasn't just sleeping with you again, it was seeing you, going on dates with you. Doing more. Now I'm here. Now I want the next stage."

She slipped on a beige button down over her tank top. She still couldn't look at him.

"You gonna say anything or have I ruined everything?"

If she wanted to get into work on time, she should put on her pants now. Otherwise she wasn't going to stay in her clothes for long and she'd likely be late to work. Bagman had off today, he didn't have to conform to schedules.

The less smart side of her won. This rarely happened. This used to rarely happen. It won a lot more since Bagman reentered her life. She'd be lying if she said she regretted it.

Natasha pivoted on her foot, a mask of no information. She pinned him down with her stare. He was sitting on the edge of their bed, lower half covered by a sheet, upper half exposed and golden from the sun.

She walked forward and his legs naturally parted for her to fit herself between them. His hands came to her hips and her forearms rested on his shoulders, hands clasped behind his head. She looked down at him, his open green eyes. Not open in the sense they were large, rather that they revealed so much to her.

He was being honest. He was joking with the tax benefits. She had finally gotten the real reason out of him and that was what she had wanted to hear. What she had waited so long to hear.

She tortured him with silence for a few moments longer, and then she couldn't keep her grin down any longer. It slid up and she saw the hope spark inside of him, could feel his grip on her hips tighten.

"I want a ring Jake Seresin."

"It's been in my dresser since the day after I arrived in Guam."

That grin became a smile and she kissed him, slow and long. That lasted three breaths before her hips were grabbed hard and she was yanked onto the bed, a body trapping her down.

She laughed against his smiling kisses, wondering what her parents were going to think.

"Holy shit, it's Captain Mitchell!" Payback exclaimed, eyes widening. The rest of the group turned to the newcomers.

And it was indeed Captain Pete Mitchell, walking up alongside Bradly Bradshaw.

Bradley made a 'what the hell' motion with his arms. "I'm here too."

"Yeah, but given the rest of the group, that makes sense. What the hell are you doing here Captain?" Payback asked.

The rest of the group being the entire party from Miramar. Fanboy, Halo, Yamaha, Yale. . .everyone was here. Everyone but Hangman, Phoenix, Bob, and Coyote.

Maverick joined the group, smiling at them all behind his sunglasses. They were sitting outside of a bar on a patio, string lights hanging above them, a gorgeous beach scene playing before them. A volleyball net was calling their name but they were all respectfully waiting for their supposed host.

And drinking a lot in the meantime.

"I uh, received a letter from Hangman? Said if I find myself free to come down here and visit him?"

"Did we all receive the same letter?" Fanboy asked. "And why did we all listen? Like, we seriously flew 20 something hours just to visit Hangman? What's wrong with us?"

"My letter was from Phoenix," Halo said.

The group turned to her.

"What?" Rooster asked, head tilted.

She nodded. "Phoenix told me to visit her."

"But, why would she be here?"

"Her and Hangman weren't stationed here together, were they?"

"Shit," Payback cursed. "It's a funeral. That's what we're here for. Phoenix killed Hangman. He finally said too much and she killed him."

"Maybe we shouldn't all be wearing Hawaiian shirts then," Rooster said, looking down at his shirt. "Since when did everyone start wearing them?"

"You're not a trendsetter Rooster, don't even think it. These shirts are cheap and we all look great in them."

"Please, Rooster, a trendsetter? Remember when he wore jorts – "

Payback cut Halo off with an exclaimed, "I still have nightmares!"

A round of laughs circulated the group. Rooster rolled his eyes and Maverick smiled.

"You're all ridiculous –"

"Guess they just let anyone into Guam these days."

The party turned and there they were. Nope, not them. Coyote and Bob joined the group and seriously, everyone was wearing Hawaiian shirts. What was with these people?

"Bob, Coyote? Hell, Hangman trying to do a reunion or something?" Rooster asked, grabbing his hand and doing a manly hug. It was manly because it was a brief second accompanied by two rough pats on the back.

Bob got a fist bump which he seemed perfectly fine with.

"Hangman's here?" Coyote asked.

"Don't tell me, Phoenix sent you a letter?"

"Phoenix is here?" Bob asked.

"What the hell is happening?" Fanboy asked, looking around, entirely lost.

"What're you guys doing here? I haven't seen you all since Miramar," Bob said.

"What're we doing here? What're you doing here?! I didn't know anyone was stationed in Guam!"

"I'm not stationed here."

"Then what the hell are you doing here Bob?" Rooster asked, breathless with how unhelpful the younger man was.

"Talking with you."

"Jesus – Hey, Hangman!"

He finally appeared, the man that was somehow the center of attention without even being in the damn vicinity. He appeared from the walkway on the side of the bar, breaking the group norm by wearing a white linen shirt and beige pants.

Beside him, also wearing white, Natasha Trace. No one had ever seen Natasha in a dress before. It was a sun dress, hugging her chest and waist, flowing from her hips down. It was old fashioned, modest, skirt ending below her knees.

Her hair was down. Rooster didn't think that was possible.

"Oh my God. . .they're holding hands," Fanboy observed, eyes wide.

"They're not a thing. No way Phoenix lowered her standards."

"Aren't you all a sight for sore eyes," Hangman greeted, characteristic grin plastered on his tanned face. He was holding Nat's hand as they walked up the stairs to the bar, joining the others on the patio.

"Captain, thanks for being here," Nat said with a bright smile.

She was wearing makeup.

Rooster didn't even know she could do that.

"Anytime Phoenix. . .uh, what exactly am I here for?"

"A celebration," she answered. "Jake and I just got married. Let's go drink!"

"Woohooo!" Jake howled, and Coyote jumped on his back with a laugh, following them into the bar.

Bob smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah. . .It was a nice wedding. Their parents are gonna kill them."

Rooster blinked. He turned towards the rest of the group to see if they had heard the same thing he heard, and from the looks of it, yes.

Maverick broke through first and nodded. He was smiling, filled with disbelief, but smiling. "Well, I did not expect that. Did not expect that at all."

"Just wait," Bob said. "Nat's pregnant and hasn't told him yet. I'm supposed to record the reaction."

Rooster paled. "Oh my God a little Hangman. It's like all my worst fears are coming alive."

She waited for him. She waited a stupidly long amount of time. It was like the pilot was trying to piss her off. She walked faster than he could fly. It wasn't even that long of a flight, what was he doing, slowing down to let the birds pass?

Natasha checked her watch. She had checked her watch every minute for the past hour.

Her stomach cramped again and she gripped the arm rests, trying not to tear them off the chair. An eternity passed before the pain let up, and the sweat that was sliding down her pale skin was alarming considering the air conditioned environment.

The first people finally started coming through and Natasha stood. And then she tried to stand again because she fell back the first time. Acting like the incredibly pregnant woman she was, she stood, needing the armrest to stand, one hand holding her back.

God she was such a stereotype. Everyone knew she was pregnant, she didn't have to showcase it so much.

How long did it take people to walk off a plane? Were they taking time to sightsee? Did no one have anywhere important to be?

For the love of all that was righteous and holy, how slow could people –

There he was.

She smiled, raging emotions easing away.

He smiled when he spotted her, duffle bag in his right hand, a teddy bear in his left. She met him a quarter of the way there. He was able to do three times her distance giving her predicament.

"Hey there gorgeous," he greeted, setting down his bag and wrapping his arms around her. She pulled him down by the neck, hugging him as best as she could with the crockpot of a stomach in her way.

"Look at me. I'm so fat right now."

"Is this a moment where I'm supposed to deny it or support you because you're growing the heir to the Seresin name?"

She snorted, the hug ending but their arms staying around each other. His arms on her back, hers around his neck. "The heir? To the Seresin name? What is this, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets?"

"If it matters," he said, kissing her hairline. "I think you still look sexy. Lordosis and all."

She punched him in the gut and he backed away, laughing.

"You're laughing now but my water broke like, several hours ago and my contractions are so at the 'get me to a hospital' stage."

His eyes widened and she laughed.

"Are you serious?"

"Oh yeah. I need a hospital." She needed a hospital two hours ago.

"Jesus, babe, shit!"

"Let's go pop a kid out Bagman."

"You're about to have our kid and yet you're still insulting me. What a woman."

"Damn straight."

#jake seresin #natasha trace #jake hangman seresin #natasha phoenix trace #jake x natasha #coyote #bob #payback #fanboy #pete mitchell #maverick #hangman x phoenix #hannix #hannix fluff #fluff #top gun #top gun maverick #tgm

133 notes · View notes

happypopcornprincess · 2 years

Text

A series of events that happened today...

Someone requested a Hangman x Phoenix fic anonymously

I started writing keeping in mind a 2k mark

I'm on page 12 of the said fic, with a whole ass backstory, enemies to lovers, hurt comfort with a shit ton of angst and fluff.

My mind is running at the speed of 560km/hr as I research about naval aviators

I have lost all sense of reality and my sole focus is to complete this fic or fight God.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I think I'm in love with Jake x Natasha 🙂

Out on Sunday, 28 August

EDIT - I posted it it's right here, hope y'all like it 😭

#top gun: maverick #top gun maverick #top gun #incorrect top gun quotes #jake x natasha #hangman x phoenix #lieutenant jake hangman seresin #hangman #jake sersin #phoenix #natasha trace #natasha phoenix trace #haenix #top gun fanfic #top gun fanfiction #glen powell #monica barbaro #tom cruise

46 notes · View notes

lieutenantfloyd · 7 months

Text

I don't know if anyone else has posted this, but Lauren Polizzi (the art director for TGM) has a lovely online portfolio where she shares some of her creative thought processes and details from movies she has worked on. Including lots of details, fun facts, many photos of The Hard Deck, the ready room, the hangar, and a few other scenes!

Not only is it really interesting to see what went on behind the scenes, but the photos are also great references if you make any type of fanwork! Above are a few of the set photos she published and below is a link to the full post. I highly suggest checking it out!

852 notes · View notes

ereardon · 4 months

Text

Before I Knew [Jake Seresin x Reader] Chapter One

A Jake Seresin unexpected pregnancy fic

Overview: On your first night after moving to San Diego to spend more time with your brother Bob, you unknowingly have a one night stand with his teammate Jake Seresin. For the first time in his whole life, Bob has a closely knit friend group and you’re desperate not to rock the boat. But an unexpected and unplanned pregnancy upends your world, forcing you and Jake closer together, against Bob’s wishes. What will happen when you find yourself actually falling for the father of your unborn child?

Pairing: Jake Seresin x Reader; Bob Floyd x Sister!Reader

Warnings: Pregnancy, cursing, eventual smut, alcohol

Chapter summary: Y/N meets Bob's squadron, and encounters someone she thought she'd never see again; the Daggers celebrate Jake's birthday where he and Y/N have their first conversation after the one night stand

Masterlist here

You were late. Bob was going to kill you. Your brother was a stickler when it came to being on time. It came as no surprise to anyone in your family that he had gone into the military.

You rushed through the door, purse strap getting caught on the handle and you tugged it free, chest rising as you spun around, searching for Bob. He stood in the corner of the coffee shop, pristine in a khaki uniform, eyes wide behind his wire glasses.

“Hi Ducky,” he said as you tossed yourself into his arms, breathing in his familiar scent. He felt like home, even though it had been years since you and Bob had lived under the same roof. You had been barely a teen when Bob left for the Naval Academy, and his stints on land were far and few between after. His assignment to Top Gun was the first time he had settled somewhere on a more permanent basis. It’s why you decided to move to San Diego after college. All of your friends had scattered around the country – grad school in New York, policy analysts in Washington, even one friend had taken an internship with an art dealer in Miami. But you had packed up and left Tennessee with one goal. Be closer to your brother.

“Bobby,” you grinned, stepping back to admire him. Every time you saw him it was months apart and so much had changed, but also so little. He was the same Bob who had thrown you over his shoulder to win the family flag football game on Thanksgiving. The same Bob who had carried your book bag for you when you were in elementary school and he was a middle schooler and went a mile out of his way every morning to make sure you got to your homeroom class safe and sound. The Bob who always picked up, day or night, when you called. The Bob who listened to you weep about your college boyfriend who broke your heart. The Bob who took care of you when you were seven and had the flu and your mom was working a double shift at the hospital and couldn’t stay home with you.

“Ducky,” he said, dropping your hands. The familiar nickname on his tongue brought forward a flood of memories: spring weekends flying kites in the nearby park, sitting on the back of a tandem bike with Bob on a trip to Florida to visit your grandparents, the fort the two of you made the one time it snowed two feet in Tennessee in under a day in March. “This is my squad. Guys, meet my sister, Y/N.”

You tore your gaze from Bob, looking over at the table he was gesturing to, a smile plastered on your face. A beautiful brunette with pearly white teeth and a tight bun was on the far left. That was Phoenix. You had received a handful of letters from Bob talking about her. Next to Phoenix was a handsome, bulky man with a mustache in a plain blue t-shirt. Wow, he was gorgeous.

Your eyes shifted over one more, breath halting in your throat as your gaze slowly crept up. First you spotted the dog tags. Eerily familiar, but then again, a lot of military guys wore dog tags, right?

Then the chin. Ridiculously cut jaw, slight bifurcated butt chin that you had found weirdly adorable two nights before. Plump, pink lips, puckered up in a grin. You felt your heart sink. There was only one thing left. You raised your eyes to his. Clear, seafoam green. An ocean in two small orbs. He smiled as you screamed internally.

Bob’s voice drew you out of your coma. “That’s Bradley.” The mustache man waved a hand. “And Jake Seresin. Hangman.”

Jake. Your stomach did a somersault.

Last time you had seen him, you had been teetering on the edge of drunk, standing outside of the bar with one hand on the railing, the salty ocean wind licking at the sweat on your collarbone, flicking the ends of your hair up against your chin.

The next moment, his tongue was on your throat, in your mouth, fingers in your hair, pressing your body against the railing of the deck as you whimpered into his lips.

You had crept out of bed before he woke up. Just a gorgeous, tan, muscular back sticking out beneath crisp white sheets as you tugged on your short dress and called an Uber. You had expected to never see him again.

And here he was, smirking at you as your brother’s gaze narrowed.

You had fucked up. Correction. You had fucked Jake Seresin. And that was a major fuck up.

***

Bob had never been the type to have a huge friend group, or any close friends really. So the first time he called from Top Gun, giddy with excitement, you had been elated for him. Your brother deserved a tightly knit friend group.

Before you had moved to San Diego, Bob had filled you in on the group’s antics. Their flights, their wild nights out, the dynamics. But he had centered mostly on Phoenix and Rooster.

Jake had conveniently been left out of the majority of the conversation.

“Well?” Bob asked as the two of you headed back to his house in your rental car. “What do you think of the group?”

“They’re nice,” you said.

“That’s it? Nice?”

You sighed. “I’m really happy for you, Bobby. You have a good group of friends. I know that’s what you always wanted.”

Bob leaned back against the seat. You were the one person that Bob confided in. He was an open book and you could read him with one glance. Looking over, you spotted his furrowed brow, the tense way he was squeezing his knuckles together.

“Are you OK?” you asked, turning your eyes back toward the road, slowing down to take a right turn.

“Tell me you didn’t move here for me.”

“Then I’d be lying.”

“Y/N,” Bob said. His voice had taken on Big Brother™ mode. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Don’t you want me around?” you whispered.

“Of course I do,” Bob replied. “I just don’t want you to waste your life following me.”

“Living in California a waste?” you asked. “No way.”

“What’s the plan, Duck?”

“Not everyone was born potty trained and with a plan, Bobby.”

“You’re twenty-three,” he countered. “It’s time to be an adult and figure out what you’re doing with your life.”

“You sound like mom.”

“And we both know she’s never wrong.”

You sighed. “Just because you got your life together at seven doesn’t mean I have to.”

“Duck—”

You cut him off. “Bobby, please. It’s been a week. Give me a little time and I promise, I'll figure out what I’m doing. Just be my brother, OK, instead of acting like my dad.”

That silenced him. Bob had taken your father’s disappearance harder than you had. He put on a brave face. He stepped up. He became the man of the house. But that meant that he had taken it upon himself to be your brother and your dad. So even at twenty three he still saw you as a child.

The two of you drove the rest of the way back to Bob’s house in silence. Inside, you were just about to close the door to your guest bedroom when Bob’s voice floated down the hall.

“By the way,” he said, “I told the squad we’d go out for drinks with them tonight. It’s Jake’s birthday.”

You grimaced. “Sounds good.”

“Leave at nine?”

“Sure.” You closed the door, plopping down on the bed face first. You had moved to San Diego to figure your life out. And of course the first thing you had done was have a one night stand with one of Bob’s teammates. If he had been anyone else in the world you would have been able to avoid him.

What do you get someone for their birthday when you hoped you’d never see them again?

***

“Floyd!”

You turned at the same time as Bob. Bradley grinned. “Oh this is going to get confusing.”

“Here.” Natasha pointed to the bar stool next to her. “Have a seat. Boys will get you a drink. Bradshaw?”

Bradley tipped his head. “On it, ma’am.”

She rolled her eyes as you settled into the seat, crossing your legs beneath the short skirt. “So, Y/N. Bob’s told me all about his little sister. But he left out that you were coming to live here.”

“I’m not much of a planner.”

Phoenix laughed. “The anti-Bob. I like you already.”

“He’s told me a lot about you,” you replied. “And Bradley.”

“And nothing about Jake I’m guessing?” You nodded and Phoenix took a sip of her beer. “Trust me when I say, you don’t want to even go there.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

Phoenix craned her neck around, making sure the two of you were out of earshot before nodding. “Just steer clear of him. That’s my suggestion. Hangman is fun for a night. But things get messy quick. And he and Bob have a little bit of a history.”

You frowned. “What kind of history?”

Just as Phoenix opened her mouth to respond, Bradley pressed a beer into your open hand. “Ducky.”

You grimaced. “Bobby, you didn’t!”

He shrugged. “Sorry.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’m so going to eat your last Pop-Tart tomorrow just to get you back for that.”

“Fill us in, will you?” Phoenix asked.

“When she was four, Y/N became obsessed with those little yellow rubber ducks that you put in your bath.” You groaned as your brother recounted the full story. How you had thrown a fit when your mother had tried to take you out of the bath and the only thing to calm you had been to fill your bed with the rubber ducks. And how the next morning that continued, one rubber duck gripped firmly in your chubby hand as you ate breakfast, went to the park, tagged along to the grocery store, went to daycare. This continued for weeks.

You didn’t want to admit to the team that you still had a rubber duck stuffed inside your suitcase back at Bob’s house. It was a safety net of sorts.

“Sorry, Duck,” Bob said, squeezing your shoulders and placing a small peck on the top of your head.

You looked up at him. His cheeks were flushed, he had a massive grin on his face. He was happy. All you had wanted in as long as you could remember was for Bob to be happy. He took your happiness more seriously than his own. It was time you returned the favor.

“Am I interrupting?” All eyes turned to Jake. He had on a tight black t-shirt and a pair of jeans with cowboy boots peeking out the bottom. He shot a grin your way and you did your best to avoid his eye contact.

“Happy birthday, Hangman.” There was a chill in Bob’s voice, or perhaps you were reading into it because of what Phoenix had said earlier.

Jake nodded. “Thanks, man. Anyone up for a game of darts?”

Bob dropped his hand from your shoulder, following Phoenix and Jake back toward the darts board on one end of the bar. You sat back in your seat, tipping the beer down your throat, watching as they played. There was an easy banter with all of them.

You finished your beer, the darts game still ongoing. Quietly, you slipped around the edge of the room, out the door that led to the back deck.

It was quiet outside, just the sound of the waves crashing against the hard sand and the soft hum of the music as it seeped through under the door and from behind the old windows. You laid your fingertips on the wooden railing, tipping your head back toward the moon that was slung low in the sky, feeling the cool breeze dry the sweat that had started to form on the base of your neck.

“Mind if I join?”

You turned. Jake stepped out onto the deck, a beer in one hand. He approached the railing, putting the green bottle down and smirking over at you. This time you were far less drunk. You shrugged. “It’s your birthday. Who am I to say what you can or can’t do?”

He frowned. “Don’t be like that.”

“Just because you’ve seen me naked doesn’t mean you know me.”

He looked bristled. “Y/N. I had no idea you were Bob’s sister when we met the other night. If I had known, I—”

“Wouldn’t have fucked me?”

He grimaced. “You’re the one that left without saying anything.”

You folded your arms over your chest. “It’s not like you were falling over yourself to drive me home. It was better that way and we both know it.” You allowed yourself to look up. God, he was stunning. Green, wide eyes. Tanned skin, the way his forearm flexed as he gripped the railing. You could remember the way his touch felt as he dragged his fingertips over your skin. You tried to shake the memory from your mind. “Just do me one favor.”

“Sure.”

“Don’t tell Bob,” you whispered. “Let’s just forget the other night ever happened.”

Jake’s gaze lingered. “If that’s what you want.”

You pushed up off of the railing. “It’ll be better, trust me.” You headed for the door, turning around at the last moment. Jake was still leaning against the railing, watching the waves in the dark. “Jake?”

He turned, green eyes wide. There was something almost sad about him, you thought. It was a fleeting glimpse, but you saw it.

“Happy birthday.”

He smiled. You turned, peering through the glass on the wood door. Bob had his head thrown back in a laugh as Bradley pounded against the piano keys and Phoenix danced. You smiled. Your brother was happy.

You weren’t going to ruin his perfectly crafted life by saying you had slept with one of his friends. It would be easier for everyone if you and Jake Seresin pretended you had never met before.

How would they ever catch you in your lie?

Please follow my library page @ereardonlibrary as that will largely serve as my tag list. Anyone I previous promised to tag is here:

@bobfloydsbabe @blue-aconite @wkndwlff @mamachasesmayhem @mandylove1000 @djs8891 @clancycucumber230 @rosiahills22 @buckysteveloki-me @kmc1989 @gigisimsonmars @eloquentdreamer @mjisbby @shanimallina87 @seresinslady @seresinhangmanjake @blackwidownat2814 @yanna-banana @bbyvanessaa @mrsjobarnes @midnightmagpiemama @ingoaliesitrust @rockbottomphilosophies-blog @iangiemae @joaquinwhorres @boiolay @sometimesanalice @spinning-away

417 notes · View notes