Flashbulb Memories

Chapter 4: Sass for Bradley

Aka Jake likes to show off

OR - Sometimes you just have to bring out a toy and see if your boyfriend can spot it in the background.

Sketch, lineart, and arm placement variation under the cut

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

aDaD - #4

'Handover hugs'

This Bradley. 41. Sports broadcasting darling, journalism major from Notre Dame. Burberry campaign, ESPYS host.

They get paired together to cover Sunday Night Football. This means a season of living in each other’s pockets. Traveling each week, hotels, team visits and research, deciding on the “story” of the game, shitty coffee and late nights and banter during the broadcast and between takes. And maybe Jake has a bone to pick with how hard Bradley was on him over his career, but maybe he also doesn’t know what to make of Bradley lighting up when talking about his favorite college highlight of Jake’s, a game no one else remembers but it’s also his favorite as it was his beloved coach’s last game. And maybe Bradley wears glasses in the morning, and knows more about football than anyone Jake’s ever met.

They both love the sport, one as a fan, one as a player.

Sitting in Mav’s back yard during a BBQ after the sun goes down and it gets a little breezy? “Here Jake, don’t be stupid, put this on. I can hear your teeth chattering from across the deck.” At a carnival at night, and Jake’s a little sunburned from a day at the beach? He’s got goosebumps on his goosebumps and can’t stop shivering, until Bradley drapes a big, soft hoodie around his shoulders, and its so warm from baking in his Bronco all day that Jake just sighs and melts into it.

So yeah, everybody just gets kind of used to seeing Jake wearing Bradley’s hoodies everywhere. His old college sports hoodies or Navy hoodies, all with BRADSHAW or ROOSTER written in block letters across his shoulders.

Maybe the sight drives Bradley a little bit crazy, even when they aren’t “together” together. Maybe seeing his name branding Jake as his own, seeing him a bit swamped in them because they’re slightly too big for him, starts a slow-burning smolder in his core that he doesn’t know exactly what to do with. Maybe his hands get sore from where they clench so hard to keep from reaching out to grab something that isn’t his (yet), even if its quite literally got his name on it. Maybe his eyes track that name bobbing and weaving in amongst the crowd, and he feels even hotter than he usually does, because that’s HIS name, HIS claim.

And maybe Jake can feel those eyes on him. Maybe he shivers just a little bit more noticeably when Roo is around, so Bradley will inevitably go and get a hoodie, and shoves it into his arms, because even chivalrous he’s got to be a little bit of a jackass, and now he’s got an excuse to wear that name on his body. Maybe it sends a thrill down his spine when people mistakenly call him “Bradshaw”.

Maybe it sends a thrill down Bradley’s spine when he hears that, too.

Maybe, when they’re all lying around together watching a movie, Jake sidles up to Bradley closer than he normally would “because you’re a freaking furnace and I’m cold, deal with it Bradshaw,” and Bradley “deals with it” by stealing an arm around his shoulders with a deep, put-upon sigh and the barest beginnings of a grin that he can’t seem to control.

And maybe the Daggers and the 86 boys roll their eyes (affectionately) at these two insufferable idiots who aren’t quite as subtle as they think they’re being.

this man grew up drenched in legacy. from day one it was Goose’s son, not Bradley. his world was flight suits and aviators and sunday barbecues with Ice and Mav and the ‘86 legends like it was completely normal. of course flying was the only path. what else was there?

he grew the mustache when carole got sick not because he liked it, but because she’d smile and say “you look just like your dad”

and then suddenly everyone was saying it. you really are Goose’s boy

so he stared in the mirror and tried to see himself, but all he saw was what he was supposed to be

that’s why when maverick pulled his papers, it HURT

because without the navy, without flying, without that version of himself… who even was he?

so yeah, he makes it to Top Gun. he survives. he says “yeah okay, I did it” like it means something and it SHOULD

until one day Jake—stupid perfect Jake with his dumb green eyes—asks him what his favorite color is

or maybe it’s his favorite movie. or sport. something ridiculous.

and Bradley just blanks full 404 error

because is his favorite sport really golf, or was that just what Ice would drag him to?

is his favorite beer actually that brand, or was it just the one Maverick handed him at fifteen with a wink?

and Jake sees it

he sees him

and from that moment on, he makes it his personal mission to take Bradley to every weird restaurant, every random hobby class, every indie concert and baseball game and cooking course just to show him there’s more

more than legacy. more than ghosts.

that he gets to choose

and one day Bradley tries a raspberry sour beer and lights up

and Jake’s like “that’s it. that’s your beer. we found it”

and for the first time, he’s not being Goose’s son

he’s just Bradley

hangster, great gatsby inspired snippet, brought by too much of party 4 u on repeat

The party across the Sound flashed bright lights for the tenth night in a row. Summer bred a deep, restless urge to run until sweat dripped down lithe legs, until tailored shirts stuck to the back of men’s broad backs. The invitation sat open on the counter. 

Jake kept the lights low. Electricity prices were skyrocketing across the country, but plummeting into darkness allowed him to take in the burst of fireworks, yellow and red, little bright glitter marks cascading down the deep inky blue of the sky. 

He’d seen the display enough times to know this was only an intermission. 

A rumble of an engine coming up the drive made him pull out the whiskey. The good glasses had been shined in the afternoon, brought out to entertain the guests who’d trekked out from the city in mid-July heat. They’d played tennis in the backyard, sipping lemonade, exclaiming their joy at being by the water, and asked Jake if he knew about “a way to get into your neighbor’s grand affairs, Jake, honey, do you think we could…?” 

The engine stopped. Across the water, a live band began to play again. 

#farmboys of the ER

I want people to send me questions about The Pitt, so here’s an ask game with general questions.

Who is your favorite character?

Who is your least favorite character?

Who is your favorite recurring or minor character (i.e., not in the main cast)?

Which episode is your favorite?

Which episode is your least favorite?

Which patient/case is your favorite?

What is your overall favorite scene?

Which scene was the one that had the most emotional impact for you?

Which scene is the funniest to you?

Which character dynamic is your favorite?

Which character dynamic do you want to see more of?

Which doctor would you want to handle your care if you were in the ER?

Which nurse would you want to handle your care if you were in the ER?

If you worked at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, which department would you work for?

Would you rather work day shift or night shift?

Which character do you want to see the most in season 2?

Do you have any have any favorite ships? Which ones?

Do you have any crackships or rarepairs? Which ones?

Which friendship is your favorite?

Tell me your thoughts on [insert character A] and [insert character B]!

What are some of your headcanons for [insert character]?

If you were working on a patient, which doctors or nurses would you want to work with?

You somehow found yourself in the Pitt. What is the most likely (silly) medical reason, and would it happen during the day or night shift?

What storyline do you most want to see in the next season?

Rooster:…Can I still be Bradley with you?

Hangman: Are you being serious right now?

Rooster: No. I told you, I’m being Bradley!

Hangman: God, you’re dumb.