bradley “rooster” bradshaw 🏅

bartender!reader x bradley bradshaw

summary: in which bradley is about to get deployed and walks into the hard deck and strikes a conversation with a pretty bartender. she keeps him company whilst he is deployed.

a/n: dw i know this isn’t geographically accurate but please bear with me 🫶

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It was just another regular shift bartending at the Texas Tavern in Huston, Texas for Ellie Lynch. She had to restock the bar, wipe the counters, mix drinks for customers, and repeat the process over and over again. She was wiping down the counter when she heard the bell ding, signaling someone had just walked in. A tall, muscular man with the best looking mustache and sandy curly hair that Ellie had ever seen before caught her eye as he walked through the front door and sat right in front of Ellie at the bar.

“Welcome into the Hard Deck!!” She greeted him with a sweet southern drawl that sounded like music to Bradley’s ears and an innocent, welcoming smile in which he returned. “What can I get for you today, sir?”

“Hi.” Bradley said. Ellie could tell he was shy and he had a hint of sadness lingering behind his eyes. “Could I just get a coors light, please?”

“Of course.” Ellie responded and gave him a smile.

Ellie grabbed a cold coors light from the fridge, popped the bottle cap off, and set the bottle in front of Bradley. “Here you go, sir.” She said softly, looking into Bradley’s big, brown eyes.

“Thank you, darling. I have an odd question, but would you mind sitting down for a while and talking to me, I’m feeling a little low.” He asked the blonde behind the counter.

Ellie gave him a sympathetic smile and relied with, “Of course. I’m off in an hour and I know where we can go.”

“Thank you.” Bradley replied before taking a swig of his beer. “I’m Bradley Bradshaw by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Eleanor Lynch, but my friends call me Ellie. The pleasure is all mine Mr. Bradshaw.” She said to him. “So what brought a fellow like you to Huston?”

“I’m a naval aviator. I’m stationed here for the next few days.” Bradley explained. They talked until her shift was over an hour later.

After Ellie grabbed all of her things, she and Bradley walked down to the pier and sat along the side. “Thank you for agreeing to talk to a complete stranger and I bet you got a boyfriend, but I don’t care. I’m going to be deployed in a few days and I got no one to send a letter to. Would you mind if I send one back here to you?” Bradley asked shyly.

“Of course Bradley. I would love that.” She relied and grabbed his hand, interlocking their fingers.

After talking for a few hours, Ellie bid Bradley goodnight and went home. When she got home, she called her mom to tell her all about the handsome soldier she met while working. Her mom picked up the phone and all she had to say to Ellie was, “Eleanor, I think you are too young for him and far too young to be waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier.”

The next few days, Ellie and Bradley got to know each other really well. But, alas, the day of Bradley’s deployment came. She drove him to the base and hugged him goodbye. They promised to write to each other and Ellie kept that promise.

So the letters came from a naval base in California then Vietnam and Bradley told Ellie of his feelings and how it might be love, and all the things that he was so scared of.

Ellie found herself checking her mailbox twice a day, waiting for a letter from Bradley. On one particular Saturday, she checked her mailbox, not expecting to find anything since his last letter was from weeks ago, but she found a letter from Vietnam and knew it was from her Bradley.

She opened the envelope and grew teary eyed from what Bradley wrote, “My dear Ellie, I spend every day thinking about you and how I was so lucky to have ran into you before I left for this deployment. I’ve never felt this way before or towards anyone and I’m scared that it might be love. I’m so scared of love while being in the navy because of my parents. My mom and dad were so in love and then one day my dad passed away in an plane ejecting accident and I vowed to never make any woman feel the way my mom felt after my dad passed if I died. That was until I met you. I’m confessing this to you because it’s getting kinda rough over here and I think of that day of us sitting on the pier and I close my eyes and see your pretty smile. Don’t worry, but I won’t be able to write for a while. I’m not saying anything will happen, but just in case I had to confess that to you. I love you Eleanor Lynch. With all my heart and that scares me. I have to go, please continue writing to me even though I won’t be able to write back. Sincerely, your Bradley.”

Ellie cried that night. She cried because she missed Bradley and was worried about his safety. She just wanted her Bradley back.

A week had passed since she got the letter and everything felt as though it was back to normal. Well other than the fact Ellie was crying herself to sleep every night. Ellie was working with her coworker, Dusty, on a slow Tuesday with the news playing softly on the tv behind her. She was minding her business while pouring drinks when the news caught her attention.

The news headline was ‘local veterans in Vietnam found dead’. Ellie gasped lightly, dropped the glass she was holding, and gripped the bar to help her regain her balance. “Ellie are you alright?” Dusty asked, but Ellie didn’t hear him with the loud ringing in her ears. She had to get out of there. Her mind was running a million miles per second with thoughts like ‘what if they are talking about Bradley’ and ‘I hope it’s not my Bradley’. Her vision blurred as she tried to get around Dusty. When Dusty’s arms grabbed Ellie, she collapsed and began sobbing. Dusty was confused on what was happening but then he heard the news and it all clicked.

Ellie had been talking about Bradley nonstop at work, gushing about something romantic he said in his letters or the way he always addressed her as ‘his Ellie’. Dusty could tell they were head over heels for each other.

Dusty held Ellie as she broke down and drove her home. Ellie was devastated. She wasn’t eating or had any motivation to do anything. This went on for a week and Dusty and Ellie’s family were worried about her. One evening she was tucked into her bed, like she had been since noon, and cried at the thought of how Bradley said he loved her and how she will never be able to say it back.

Until she heard the doorbell ring.

Ellie was so confused on who could be at her door at this time of evening. She wiped her tears and walked to the front door. As she approached it, all she could think about was how she desperately wanted it to be Bradley behind the door, but in her mind, it was impossible because he was dead.

Ellie slowly opened her door to reveal a very much alive Bradley Bradshaw. All Ellie could do was stare at him. Was she dreaming? Was this some kind of sick joke?

“Hi Ellie.” Bradley rasped.

Before Ellie’s mind could even comprehend what she was doing, she jumped onto Bradley and sobbed into his neck. Bradley dropped his large duffle bag on the porch and caught her and with one hand on her back and the other one on her head, clung to her like he was a kid and someone was threatening to take away his favorite teddy bear. They stayed like that for a while before Bradley spoke up, “Ellie, please look at me.”

Ellie shook her head. “No, I don’t know if this is real or I’m dreaming. And if I’m dreaming I don’t ever want to wake up.” Ellie replied.

“Ellie. You aren’t dreaming. I’m back.” He said with a smile.

Ellie finally allowed him to put her down and she stepped back, finally looking at him. He looked more muscular, if that was even possible, and had slight beard stubble. But in the end, it was still her Bradley standing in front of her.

“Bradley, I thought you died.” She said, looking him straight in the eyes while hers were tearing up. “I was so sad. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Well I’m here now. And I won’t ever leave you. I would have written to you but after the mission, the admiral wanted us to be shipped back as soon as possible. I’m so sorry I made you worry. That was never my intention and I never want to put you through that again. All I could think about was you during my time over there. I would talk about you every chance I got and I kept all of your letters-” Bradley ranted.

“Bradley, shut up” Ellie cut him off. Did he hear her right?

“Wha- What?” He nervously stuttered. “What do you mean shut up-” Ellie cut off Bradley with a kiss. Time seemed to stand still as they shared their first kiss, a moment filled with innocence, sweetness, and the promise of young love. The world around them faded away, leaving only the sound of their hearts beating in unison.

“Bradley, I love you too.” Ellie said after breaking the kiss. “I was so scared I wouldn’t be able to tell you those four words in person.”

“Oh thank God.” Bradley replied. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you so much, Eleanor Lynch.”

jake “hangman” seresin x british!fem wife

soundtrack: London Boy by Taylor Swift™️

summary: the team is shocked when jake slips up and confesses that he has a wife. little do they know that he is head-over-heels for his wife and he gushes at how much he loves your accent 🤭

“I love my hometown as much as Motown, I love SoCal and you know I love Springsteen, Faded blue jeans, Tennessee whiskey”

jake seresin wasn’t the type to get tied down. in his college days at UT it would be go to a bar, dance, get a girl, go home with them, then leave. he had quite the reputation when he got into the navy, too. cocky, didn’t care about anyone but himself. so, naturally, when the dagger squad was all at the hard deck playing pool and darts, they were shocked when hangman finally let it slip.

“phoenix, how is the boyfriend? finally scare him off yet?” bradley said, jokingly. jake let out an airy laugh.

“har har,” she said to bradley then turning to jake, “i wouldn’t be laughing, you’re the single, lonely one.”

“nope, got a woman i love at home.” he said, the look of realization on his face once he realized what he had said was priceless. the squad started laughing. no, not a short laugh, bradley is rolling on the ground crying.

“yeah right. good one bagman.” phoenix said.

he decided in that moment that it was time to come clean, after four years of being married and with a little girl on the way, he let it slip. “no i’m being dead ass.” jake said.

“no way. i don’t believe you.” phoenix said.

“believe me or not.” he said, throwing his hands up in defense. “but i do. we have been married for four years and we have a daughter on the way.” jake pulled out a folded picture from his front pocket of his khaki uniform and handed it to phoenix.

“no fucking way, you’re tied down?” phoenix said in disbelief.

“yep, i’ll bring her by sometime! well that’s my cue, said too much and don’t wanna be drinking and driving because i wanna get home to my mrs.” jake yelled as he walked out of the doors of the hard deck, determined to get to his pregnant wife.

“But something happened, I heard her laughing, I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent. They say home is where the heart is, but that's not where mine lives”

“darling. i don’t think they will like me. i’m not like you guys.” you say, growing self conscious of your 7 month pregnant belly.

“sweets, they are going to love you! i promise. we have to leave in about 5 minutes!” he yells after he kisses you on the cheek and walks into the mud room.

“don’t forget to feed the animals! i’ll go out and feed the horses while you do the cows, sheep and the goats!” you yell from across the house.

“gotcha sweets!!” your lovely husband yelled from across the house at you.

(time skip to the hard deck)

“you go ahead to your friends, this pregnant lady has to pee for the twentieth time today.” you said, walking away laughing.

“be safe! we will be over by the pool tables!” jake yells as he walks towards the pool tables that all his friends are surrounding and talking.

“seresin, as i live and breathe!” bradley said, sarcastically.

“hey bradshaw!” jake said.

“where is your imaginary wife at? chicken out and not bring her? oh wait, she isn’t real!!” payback butt in and said.

“who’s not real?” you say as you waddled up to the group.

“hey sweets!” your husband drawls out with that accent you love. “we were just talking about you!”

“all good thing i hope!” you say.

“so, i guess you are real! sorry, we are all just a little surprised when bagman told us. how did you guys meet?” phoenix asked you.

“well i was at a flower festival in San Diego with my best mates and we went to a pub after that was near and jake here was there because he was stationed nearby.” you started.

“i was with javy grabbing a few beers after our training and i went up to the bar to get us another round, but something happened, I heard her laughing, I saw the dimples first and then I heard the accent. and i instantly fell in love. i knew i had to have her.” he said.

“oh don’t even! i knew i had to have you when i saw you and i heard your sexy accent.” you said, side-hugging him.

“aw you guys are so cute!” phoenix gushed.

“You know I love a London girl, I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon. she likes my American smile, Like a child when our eyes meet, darling, I fancy you. Took me back to Highgate, met all of her best mates, So I guess all the rumors are true. You know I love a London girl. girl, I fancy you (ooh)”

“when we got married, for our honeymoon we went to London so i could show him around my home city! i took him to the Camden Market and he won’t admit it but he enjoys it.” you say.

“ okay okay, you caught me. i do like it.” jake admits.

“hey jake?” you say.

“yes sweets?” he replied.

“i need a break.” you told your husband.

“okay i got you, baby.” jake said, he went behind you as you kept talking with the group and lifted up your baby bump. you let out a sigh of relief.

“thank you.” you say, breathless.

“okay!” phoenix exclaimed, “Jake is a real softy! i’m jealous because you are both so madly in love and i wish i had that with Marcus.”

“oh i bet Marcus loves you a lot!” you say, trying to convince her.

“oh no, not like how jake loves you. even the way he looks at you! i’m jealous!!” she says.

“he does not look at me in any way!” you told her. “right jake?” you say, craning your neck to look at your lover behind you.

“huh?” he says, snapping out of his daze.

“see? my point exactly!” phoenix points out.

“oh shut up jake.” you say, laughing and walking away with phoenix.

“what did i do?” jake asked himself, quietly. “what did i say?” he asked coyote, who was right next to him to witness it all.

coyote put his hands up in defense. “nope, that’s on you.” coyote then walked away towards you, chuckling.

soundtrack: Matilda by Harry Styles ™️

bradley “rooster” bradshaw x fem!reader

tw: cursing, absent parents, kissing

bradley was hanging out in his room with all of his groomsmen getting ready for his wedding that was happening in almost 2 hours when phoenix came barreling through the door looking very worried.

“rooster!” she frantically yelled out.

“phoenix, calm down and tell me what happened?” bradley asked in a calm voice to try to calm his fellow aviator down.

“it’s y/n! she is having a panic attack and nobody knows how to calm her down except you. we really need your help.” she said.

bradley wasted no time jumping out of his seat and bolting out the door and down the stairs to the bridesmaid’s room. when he got there, he didn’t waste any time getting through the door and spotting his bride-to-be. she was sobbing, shaking and having a hard time breathing steadily. as soon as he spotted her, he ran over to where she was seated and held her.

“hey darling. it’s okay. i’m here now.” he said in a relaxed voice. “try to match my breathing, can you do that for me, hon?”

y/n nodded her head and started to breath more steadily.

“that’s right. in, out, in, out. just like that.” he told the woman that was now breathing normally. “now, mind telling me what has got you all riled up before the big day?” he asked, poking her stomach, making her laugh.

“i feel really bad that i didn’t invite my family. even though they weren’t there for me back then, doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t want to be here now.” she said in between a sob.

“you can let it go, you can throw a party full of everyone you know and not invite your family ‘cause they never showed you love. you don’t have to be sorry for leaving and growing up.” bradley told y/n.

“i know. i know. i just feel like a real dick because i didn’t invite them.” y/n said with a frown.

“darling, you talk of the pain like it’s all alright, but i know that you feel like a piece of you is dead inside. you showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days. it’s none of my business but it’s just been on my mind.” he said. she was now looking up at him and he wiped the tears away from her puffy cheeks.

“you can let it go, you can throw a party full of everyone you know and not invite your family ‘cause they never showed your love. you don’t have to be sorry for leaving and growing up. you can see the world, following the seasons anywhere you go, you don’t need a reason ‘cause they never showed you love and you don’t have to be sorry for doing on your own.” bradley told her.

“you know that i love you and we are getting married! you are the best part of all my days. and please, don’t forget that. i love you so much!” bradley told her then kissed her on the lips.