Bradley is asexual, and he's open about it, though mostly it's just him reiterating that "he's not interested" whenever his fellow aviators make comments.
Jake has known Beadley for over ten years, and despite Not Knowing The Lingo, he's gotten the message: Bradley Bradshaw does not have sex. Further clarification after a drunk night out: he is repulsed even by the thought of it.
He takes that to mean he doesn't have relationships, because to Jake, they come together.
He learns the difference eventually, but continues to keep Bradley firmly in the NAH category, because Jake fucking loves sex and he's just not interested in being in a relationship without one.
Except... Jake realises he and Bradley are compatible in ways he's never been with anyone else. They talk for hours, once, about everything and anything, a quarter sniping and bantering, a quarter the most delving psychological shut, and half utter nonsense that's still everything the most invested he's been in a conversation.
Bradley loves cooking but hates cleaning, Jake doesn't know shit about the kitchen but keeps everything spotless.
Bradley gets invited to the Seresin house alongside the Daggers and somehow his nieces and nephews don't even remember anyone else ā they're all just obsessed with Bradley.
The worst thing is, everyone starts to see they're perfect for each other, too. Javy starts making comments and Nat starts making Shovel Talk Is Coming eyes at him and Admiral Kazansky Nods at him once and Mav seems to hate him more than ever.
There is no Big Moment, at the end of the day. Bradley doesn't nearly die during a mission, forcing Jake to realise how much he needs him. It's just all of them hanging out as a group, Bradley doing the UGLIEST honk laugh at a joke Jake has made that no one else finds funny, and Jake realises he wants a relationship with Bradley more than he wants a relationship with sex. That he has his right hand, and his left, and his goddamn foot if that's what it takes, but at some point in his life intimacy has become talking for hours and someone who always laughs at your jokes rather than sex.
And because Jake has no impulse control and no shame, he asks Bradley out then and there, in front of God and every asshole who will never let him live it down.
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