It sadly turned out that Ice had to work practically the whole Friday, he even left before Jake woke up! But at least Jake could be very proud of himself because he didn't cry about it, even if he wanted to.

Bradley was extra nice to him throughout the day anyway, so it helped.

In general Bradley was almost suspiciously nice to Jake since his talk with Natasha the day before. Neither he or Natasha would tell Jake what exactly they talked about, but he's pretty sure Natasha might have threatened him in some way, or maybe Bradley was just relieved to finally talk and make up with his best friend.

Anyway Jake wouldn't complain about it.

-

It was an afternoon when Mav and Jerry were helping Bradley and Jake study in the living room, and unexpected guests showed up.

(Jake really hoped that they didn't end up having to repeat that year or anything like that. Jake thought that Bradley especially wouldn't take that well.)

Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe and Rick "Hollywood" Neven. Or according to Bradley, Uncle Wolf and Uncle Wood. Or according to annoyed Mav, stupid Furry and Holly. Both retired from Navy over six years ago, so Jake wasn't that intimidated by them.

"What part of "Don't come yet" you didn't understand." Mav was annoyed when he opened the door.

"We were in the neighborhood." Wolfe said with a sheepish smile.

"You live four hours away Dogman." Mav answered with a glare.

"Give us a break, we're leaving for the Barabados tomorrow. We wanted to see your new baby before we go. Slider already met him, so if you won't let us it will be homophobic." Hollywood whined. "Not to mention Bradley-"

He stopped once he realized Bradley and "new baby" (JAKE WAS OFFENDED!) where actually in his line of sight. "Wow, he looks like your and Ice's lovebaby."

Jake was pretty sure he might have blushed a little.

Jerry laughed and clapped his hands. "That's what I said!"

Bradley looked like he was actually trying to melt into the couch to hide.

Mav just signed heavily. "I'll make you guys something to drink. Jake and Bradley, come help me in the kitchen. Jerry will entrain our guests."

Everyone knew it was just an excuse, since Jake couldn't really 'help', and Jake felt even more embarrassed.

"What am I, your butler?" Jerry joked, but moved towards newcomers.

"Hello, smarter yet more annoying Kazansky, I read your latest article about penguins." Wood clearly took a hint, and focused on Jerry, while he and Bradley evacuated to the kitchen with Mav.

"Baby, just say a word, and I'll kick them out." Mav said to Jake as soon as he closed the doors to the kitchen. "The same goes for you Bradley. We told them not to come. I can't believe they couldn't listen to such simple instructions." He complained while shaking his head.

"Ironic coming from you." Bradley dared to comment quietly and Mav swatted his arm gently for that. Then he said way louder. "If it's up to me, they can stay. I would rather have this awkwardness over already, then just postpone it."

Both of them looked at Jake.

He hated making those kinds of decisions.

He wasn't sure if he was up to that visit, but they were already here, and came all this way just to meet him and re-met Bradley. It would be rude to make them go back.

"It's fine." He said quietly.

Bradley raised his eyebrow at him, and Mav smiled sadly.

"Honey, you don't have to force yourself. They are the ones who showed up uninvited, so don't worry about them." Mav touched his face gently. "If you're not up to it, I'll make them go away, and they would understand that. They can be tone-deaf sometimes but they are good people."

"We can say that I wasn't up to it." Bradley offered, and Jake wanted to cry. Bradley was too nice sometimes!

"I want to try." He said honestly this time. "But I'm not sure how long-"

"Okay, how about this, we'll have a codeword." Mav interrupted him. "When you feel like you have enough, say that 'Larry texted me and he wants to call." Then you will have an excuse to leave, and I'll know that it's time to kick them out. That's okay with you, baby?"

"Okay, but don't call me baby in front of them!" Jake whined a little, but he was happy with the new plan.

"Why are you trying to feed into Pop's paranoia about that plushie?" Bradley asked. "You know he'll pop a vein if this will become our codeword."

"Don't be so dramatic." Mav laughed. "It's only for today."

(It became a standard family codeword for wanting to leave or make someone leave. Ice definitely wasn't happy about that.)

-

When they returned from the kitchen with teas, Jerry was in the middle of arm wrestling with Wolfe, while Hollywood was laughing and clearly trying to make Wolfe lose by tickling him.

"Traitor, why are you helping him." Wolfe grunted, and Hollywood just showed him his tongue like a child.

"You know that if you break Mouse's arm, and he ends up having to stay with us, Ice will literally kill you." Mav said loudly.

Wolfe immediately let Jerry win. Jerry didn't care that his victory wasn't exactly clear, and just whooped.

"Coward." Hollywood laughed even louder, before getting serious. "I see you actually did get us some teas. Does it mean that we can stay?"

"For now, but any of you make one joke about my height and you're out." Mav made 'I'm watching you' gesture with his fingers.

"Why must you rob me of small joys in life." Wolfe said. "And that didn't count!"

Mav rolled his eyes, before he placed the tray of teas on the table, before gesturing toward Jake to come closer. "Jake, those are your new stupid Uncles. Stupid Uncles, met my new amazing kid."

Wolfe showed Mav his middle finger for 'stupid uncles', while Hollywood was just staring at Jake like he was really amazing or something.

"Hi." Jake waved awkwardly, even though they were standing so close to each other that Jake could touch him if he reached out his hand.

"Hi." Hollywood waved back with a smile.

"And I believe that you might have met my old amazing kid before." Mav added, shifting attention to Bradley who was standing while hugging himself under the wall next to the huge oil painting of three ships in the sea.

"I think we have met once or twice." Wolfe joked. "But I think I might need a hug to make sure it's the same kid."

Bradley rolled his eyes, but he seemed to relax at Wolfe's words, and went to hug him.

-

Jake decided that he liked Wolf and Hollywood.

He didn't have to use his codeword, even though they stayed for a few hours.

They even ended up helping them study for most of the time (without complaining unlike Jerry).

Wolf was great at explaining math, and Hollywood was very helpful with literature.

And both of them seemed to like Jake.

They decided to leave or rather do a tactical retreat, when Ice called that he would be back soon. He was very pissed, when Mav told him that they showed up uninvited.

"Wait, we have almost forgotten." Hollywood said while they were saying goodbye by their car. "We brought something for Jake."

"You didn't have to." Jake said, because it was a polite thing to say, but he was curious what could have guys who never met him before, brought for him.

"Fuck, right." Wolf said, and then he went to open the car's trunk. Inside there was a bit of a mess, so Jake wasn't sure what he was supposed to be his gift.

"He's seventeen, if it's something inappropriate, I'll kill you myself." Mav said while standing between Wolf and Jake, clearly planning to check the gift, as if he was the TSA.

"Chill, mama Bear. I swear it's not inappropriate." Hollywood said. "We would never give a minor something inappropriate." He winked at Bradley while Mav wasn't looking (because he was so focused on what Wolf was looking for), so they probably did give teenage Bradley something inappropriate before.

Wolf finally pulled out a rather small unassuming cartoon box.

Jake felt a little disappointed. Damn he was becoming spoiled.

Mav immediately grabbed that box, and opened it discreetly so Jake and Bradley wouldn't be able to see shit.

"Oh." He just said clearly surprised, then smiled at Wolf. "I guess it's fine, even if I'm sure some of those are a little inappropriate."

"Don't worry, we kept the worst ones." Hollywood said.

"Wait, no way-" Bradley made a move to grab that box, but Mav tutted at him.

"Honey, this isn't for you." Their Dad said, but he was clearly joking. "This is Jakey's present." He said and offered the box towards Jake.

"This is bullying." Bradley whined, but he was smiling, so he probably wasn't really mad

Now Jake was interested.

He grabbed the mystery box, and Mav just laughed.

Inside there were photos of Mav, Ice and Bradley.

Rather embarrassing ones, or just ones where they came out weirdly or ugly looking.

It was prime blackmail material, even if nothing was really inappropriate.

The only one that could be almost inappropriate was the photo of younger Ice without a shirt with a pink tiara on his head. He was clearly hungover and had "Ice king" written on his bare chest in blue marker. He was showing middle finger to whoever was taking that photo. In the background there was someone sleeping on the floor, and Jake was 95% sure that it was Mav.

"You're welcome, kid." Wolf said as he closed the trunk.

That made Jake realize he hasn't actually thanked them.

"Thank you!" Jake screamed, and actually hugged Wolf. He could hear Mav, Bradley and Hollywood laughing at him, but he didn't care about it at the moment.

"Welcome to the family, kiddo." Wolf whispered while hugging back Jake.

"This is seriously the best non-parental gift ever!" Jake declared, because he couldn't forget how insanely Ice spoiled him during Christmas.

"Hey, I bought you a car!" Jerry suddenly said behind Jake. He didn't realize Jerry showed up outside too.

"I know that was a second best non-parental gift ever." Jake said seriously.

"Second?! What could be better?" Jerry asked, and Jake showed him the Ice king photo of his brother.

"Okay, this is better." Jerry said after blinking three times. "I need a copy." He tried to take away that photo from Jake, but Jake wouldn't let him!

"No! This is mine!" He glared at Jerry.

"I'll buy you another car and motorcycle, if you let me copy that photo." Jerry said seriously.

"Jerry!" Mav slapped his brother-in-law's arm. "Don't teach bribery to my innocent child!"

Before Jerry could respond, suddenly Hollywood cursed very loudly. "Fuck! That's Ice's car! Fuck! Get inside! We need to go!" He screamed at Wolf.

Before Jake could blink, Wolf was in a car and they were driving away from their driveway.

The only problem was that they lived in the dead end Street, so they had to try to pass Ice's car to leave.

Ice obviously noticed his lifelong friends passing by him.

And he took a dramatic U-turn as soon as he realized who just passed him, and chased after them.

It was a bit ridiculous car chase, because both cars still followed the low speed limit for their little neighborhood street, so unlike in movies it actually took a minute for them to disappear from their line of sight.

Jake blinked a few times. He couldn't quite believe his eyes.

The rest of his family didn't seem at all surprised by what happened.

Jerry just shook his head, and Bradley rolled his eyes once again.

                Did he… did he say something to Rooster to make him want to come home with Jake? He sucks in a deep breath, stomach churning as he considers the possibilities. Okay. It could be Payback. Unlikely, given how much he can’t shut up about his wife and kids. Still. Small chance. Rooster. Unfortunately high chance if he was around and Jake was past the point of no return with regards to alcohol consumption and his brain to mouth filter with his inconvenient crush that he has sworn Javy to secrecy about. There’s also a chance Jake brought home a complete stranger, but he hasn’t done that in years.

                He lies there and moves parts of his body ever so slightly, trying to gather clues as to what he maybe got up to last night. His feet aren’t sore, so he hasn’t walked on broken glass, which is something he’d rather do than deal with the fact Rooster is in his bed. His legs feel fine, normal, maybe a little tired from the run yesterday morning, which he’s glad he can clearly remember, but it’s not anything out of the ordinary. His stomach is not great, but he’s putting that down to the fact he’s the most hungover he’s ever felt.

                He hasn’t been fucked, his ass isn’t even tender, and he’s pretty sure he hasn’t fucked Rooster. Or whoever it is lying beside him. Part of him, a large part, wants it to be Rooster because at least that would make him feel a tiny bit more okay, because he hasn’t ever really been okay with sex with no feelings. And there are definitely feelings between him and Rooster, even if they aren’t always particularly pretty ones.

                His lips feel raw. Like he rubbed them with sandpaper before he went to bed. He pauses his train of thought. Sandpaper? Or stubble? He’s spent enough time with Rooster now to know the other man sports a five o’clock shadow by lunch, and he’s never kissed him before, only imagined it, but… maybe?

                “Mmm. No. Stay…” the body mumbles, and it definitely sounds like Rooster and Jake throws himself out of the bed, toward the door to the bathroom, ignores the displeased grunt of the man he leaves behind him and pushes down the roiling in his stomach. He shuts the bathroom door and peers around, more light courtesy of the small, frosted window letting in early dawn light. He uses the toilet, washes his hands and looks into the mirror, sees his hair sticking up every which way and pulls a face. The clothes he was wearing last night are sitting in a pile on the floor by the washing basket and his brain stalls.

                Because that isn’t his washing basket. His is black, while this one is grey. It looks exactly the same, but it isn’t. He glances to the shower and blinks. None of his toiletries are sitting on the little shelf and he takes a deep breath, looks and sees a bright green toothbrush sitting in a cup. Jake’s current toothbrush is red.

                Oh fuck.

                It’s even worse than he thought.

                He was in Rooster’s bed.

                He’s in Rooster’s place.

                It’s familiar because they’re both in base housing.

                He reaches for the clothes on the floor, wondering if he can slip them on, discards the thought immediately when he realizes the clothes are wet and smell faintly of vomit. Okay then, that’s a little mortifying. He wonders if he can find some Tylenol or something to deal with the pounding behind his eyes. He needs to take the path of least resistance, and if his drunk self somehow talked its way into Rooster’s bed and Rooster let him then he’s not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

                He steps closer to the mirror, pulls it open and sure enough finds a bottle of Tylenol, takes a couple using the cup with Rooster’s toothbrush to swallow them back. He looks in the mirror than and studies himself, his lips are red and raw looking, definitely look like they’ve been chewed on and maybe rubbed all over Rooster’s face and neck. He just doesn’t remember any of it and he’s a little pissed at himself.

                If he’d known Rooster would be… receptive to Jake making moves on him he would have done so long ago, rather than dragging out whatever the fuck weird tension-laden banter they’ve had going for years. He’d always thought it was all ego, but now… now he isn’t so sure. That said he’s not going to shy away from it now that he does know. Decision made he quickly brushes his teeth, uses Rooster’s toothbrush because their mouths have clearly been very well acquainted recently. Then he heads back to the bedroom, closing the door to the bathroom quietly and easing himself back into the bed, nestling closer to the warmth of Bradshaw’s body.

                “Wha?” Rooster mumbles in his sleep and Jake feels his heart squeeze and stutter as Bradshaw’s arm goes around him again, drawing Jake close so he can wrap himself around him better. Jake lets himself be manhandled, presses a kiss to the skin of Rooster’s neck and feels the rub of stubble against his sensitive lips, finds himself smiling against his neck.

                “Shh, go back to sleep baby…”

                “Mmm. Okay.”

…            …            …

                Hangman is asleep in his bed.

                Correction.

                Hangman is still asleep in his bed.

                Hangman who had turned up drunk off his face at nearly one o’clock this morning, making no fucking sense and rambling about needing a place to sleep and it needing to be in Bradley’s bed. He hadn’t managed to get more of an explanation, but he figured he kind of owed it to him, had let him inside and instantly regretted it when Hangman had then rushed for the bathroom and vomited. Bradley had forced some Gatorade into him, made him shower and then given him a clean pair of underwear to sleep in.

                He’d planned to put Hangman on the sofa, but he’d targeted Bradley’s bed with unerring accuracy and made himself immediately comfortable. Bradley sure as hell hadn’t been willing to sleep on the lumpy sofa which is probably older than him in his own damned assignment. Decided Hangman could deal with the uncomfortable realization he’d spent the night in Bradley’s bed. The night and most of the morning, given that it’s almost midday and he’s meant to be meeting Natasha for lunch at one.

                He grabs the dirty clothes and puts a load of washing on, knows the chance of Hangman leaving wearing anything but his own clothes are slim to zero. He stops briefly to take in the sight of Hangman’s fluffy hair sticking out everywhere and looking weirdly soft, not how Bradley has ever seen him before, even when they were sharing living spaces in the past. He turns the shower, hears a grumble from the direction of the bed but ignores it. Stepping into the shower he begins washing himself perfunctorily while his mind races through the potential reactions Hangman might have when he wakes up properly.

                Then he feels a hand on his hip and he jumps, then feels lips pressing kisses over his shoulders and he opens his mouth to say… what? Something? Anything? What the fuck? His brain is fixating on the fact that not only is Hangman in his shower, naked, but he’s lathered up his hands is washing Bradey’s back. What the fuck? He really wants to ask that out loud but he also doesn’t want to piss him off or for Hangman to stop washing his back, which has been difficult to reach with his ribs bruised as they are.

                “Uh. How did you sleep?”

                “Mmm. Better than I have in a long time. Thanks.”

                He doesn’t know what to say or do with that information, or the easy gratitude. He turns, needs to see that it is definitely Hangman in his shower with him. The kiss is a surprise, and he is still for a second before he’s kissing him back, brain now racing with a whole list of other scenarios. This was not in his list of potential reactions of Hangman waking up. Never in a million years. Hangman’s mouth feels hot and slick under the spray of water, his heart feels like it’s racing as he feels Hangman’s naked body press against his own.

                His cock is half hard and it feels incredibly intimate to be showering with each other, making out, but also feel like it’s not leading to sex. Instead it feels like simply an excuse to be close and since fucking when? He wonders if he's maybe dreaming or fallen into a coma, maybe an alternate timeline. He feels like he's missing a chunk of time, or an explanation. Both really. Anything that might explain what the fuck is happening right now.

                Maybe Hangman hit his head and thinks Bradley is his… boyfriend? They finish showering and Bradley pats himself dry carefully, vigorous rubbing making the scabs bleed a little still. Then Hangman is giving him shit about his lack of hair products and he's grateful because that as least feels normal. He makes an excuse about making coffee and flees to his kitchen, leaving Hangman fixing his hair in the mirror.

                His reprieve doesn't last long, not even five minutes later Hangman playfully bullies past him in his own fucking kitchen, pressing him against the kitchen counter, his hands finding purchase on Bradley's hips, fingertips seeking bare skin under his loose tank, stroking over the thin skin of his hips and making all the hair on his arms prickle with awareness.

                Bradley has no idea what the fuck is going on. He’d thought maybe Hangman was fucking with him, that's the only logical answer his tired brain can offer. But as minutes tick by Hangman continues to be weirdly soft and domestic, asking Bradley how he takes his coffee like it’s something he wants to know, it seems like an odd prank. Still, it's incredibly fucking strange.

                Whatever the hell is happening he's more than okay to go along with it.