#hard deck

Her head snapped up at that, “That bastard!”  She had been played.  

She stood there on the sidewalk looking at the taillights of the truck. She could see it in her head, Coyote striding back into that bar on his long, lean legs, walking right up to Bradley, telling him how Brittney invited him in. Bradley would have no reason not to believe him. 

She wasn’t going to take this. She ran over to her BMW without taking a moment to appreciate it like she normally did.  She loved her car; she was less than a year from paying it off, and that damn Hangman threatened to take that away from her! Bradley paid half her car note.  She slowed at the gated exit, waiting for the gate to lift. That sonofabitch wanted to take that away from her, too.  She wanted to buy her own condo, but hadn’t taken into account the condo dues, and he paid those for her. He didn’t have a mortgage, he had his Mom’s dinky little beach cottage, he didn’t have a car note since he kept his Dad’s clunker going, so it was only fair he paid some of her expenses.  She couldn’t let Hangman take Bradley from her.  

“Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!”  She smacked the wheel to emphasize each word. That damned Hangman! Bradley was the perfect boyfriend. It wasn’t her fault; a girl gets lonely when her boyfriend is gone for months at a time, and she’s free to pursue any man she wants to scratch that itch and keep those bed warmers from getting ideas by telling them about her perfect boyfriend.

Brittney marched back in Hard Deck, eyes scanning until she located that smug bastard, running a hand down Bradley’s back. Probably telling him how he was going to make it all better. Well, she was going to see about that!  

“Could you kindly unhand my boyfriend?” Brittney tugged on Bradley's arm.  

“Britt, what are you doing back here?” Bradley asked.

“Listen, Babe,” She rushed to get her side of the story out. “Don’t believe whatever Coyote told you. I didn’t hit on him, I didn’t ask him up to our place.”  

Bradley looked shocked. “Javy didn’t say anything like that...” Brittney couldn’t help but follow Bradley's gaze and saw Coyote lift his chin and raise his beer with a smug little grin.

Before she could say anything, Hangman was there with a possessive arm wrapped around Bradley.  “Yeah, Britt, Yote’s didn’t say anything, but you were saying some interesting things, do go on.”  

She stood there gaping for a moment. “Did you set me up?”

“Wasn't hard,” he admitted with an incredibly smug look on his face.

“Bradley,” Brittney began to plead, “don't listen to them. I was set up.”

Bradley snatched his arm out of her grip. “How exactly were you set up?” 

The color was rising in cheekbones and she knew he was pissed. Her Bradley was sweet and liked to please, but when riled up, he could be mean.  He was hardly around. Brittney mastered the art of acting endearing when he was, though. In those moments she let the facade slip, and she snapped, however? He'd snap right back.  She couldn’t let that happen. She tried to get control, “Bradley, now let's not make a scene.”

“Cut the shit, Britt.”  She didn’t have her sweet eager to please Bradley now, meanness leaked from his tone and it was turned on her. “You came to start something, so I want to hear how Jake set you up. Was it when he bought me a drink and revealed you didn't know what I like or where I've been for the past year?”  Do you not listen to anything I say? Was it when Jake was kind enough to get someone to hang out with you despite all your efforts to offend my squad? I'm pretty sure Jake didn't ask you to feel Javy up in public.” 

“I did not...” Britt tried to defend. She didn't feel Coyote up. Did she? She didn't remember exactly, but she had a tendency to touch when she was feeling flirty and he was so damn pretty.

“You had your hands all over him!” Bradley snapped back. 

She might have been touching Coyote, but she wasn’t going to take Bradley’s shit. “You mean like Hangman had his grubby little hands all over you!” 

“Jake doesn’t have anything to do with this.” 

“Are you kidding me?! He’s been stuck to you all night.  He’s stuck to you now.” She reached out and pushed that blond in the chest, trying to shake him off her boyfriend.  He didn’t budge. 

“I’m not going anywhere, darling.”  He winked at her.

“Bradley,” she whined, frustrated, “he's trying to break us up.  He told me so the last time we were here!”  

She saw the change hit Bradley’s face seconds before he went rigid and wrenched himself from Hangman's hold. She could turn this around. “This little twink said he wanted you for himself.”

“Don't call him that!” Bradley snapped loudly and hard enough to turn heads. She wasn't in the clear yet, but she wasn’t going back down.  

“Why shouldn’t I? It’s true!” She gestured to Jake. “ He’s trying to make me look bad so he can have you all to himself!”  

For the first time, she saw Hangman’s cool slip. She had him now.

“Is it true, Jake?” Bradley asked in his earnest way with his big brown eyes. “Did you set out to break me and Britt up?”

And just like that the asshole was back.  His spine snapped straight.  “Not something I would deny, Roo.” 

“So you found out about my pathetic crush and decided to fuck with me some more.”  Bradley sounded crushed and Britt was ready to swoop back in and lead him out, while she had the upper hand until she processed his words. She stilled the hand reaching for Bradley. “Why would you do something like that?”  

Hangman got in Bradley's face, bravado intact. “Simple. I want you for myself.”

Bradley snorted. “Since when?!”  

“Since forever.  Since I lost my nerve during that bird strike over the Atlantic and you talked me through it, talked me back to the boat. Never teased me. You were kind to me. I thought I was special and I found you were kind to everyone. Just the best person I ever met.  Far too good for someone like me.  Yeah, I’ve been a dick to you. I wanted you to hate me. Needed you to hate me.  Found out you had a girl and it made it easier knowing you were happy, knowing you were loved like you deserved, but then I met Brittney.”  He paused, “So fuck being noble. I might not deserve someone as good as you, but she can’t have you.”  

Bradley was buying it.  He was being sucked by this pretty boy staring into his eyes. “I love you Bradshaw, and I am going to put in the work every day to show you how perfect you are.” 

Brittney was floored.  She couldn’t believe Bradley was into this.  He was looking at Hangman like he was the answer to all his dreams. 

“Tough shit, Hangman. He’s mine.”  Brittney reached for Bradley only to have Hangman whip Bradley out of her reach and place himself between her and her boyfriend.  There was a moment she was beside herself, she was in a bar fighting over a man. A man who paid half her car note and half of her mortgage, since he believed her when she told him her condo dues had doubled...She needed to win this fight.

Hangman lifted his chin and squared up, “Had him Britt. You had him.”  

“That’s not your decision, Hangman.  This is between me and Bradley.  Five years we’ve been together, we went to high school together. You can’t decide to stop being a dick and buy him a beer to ruin what we have.”  

“I’ve known Rooster for over a decade.  Two tours we bunked together.  I’ve spent more time with him than you have. More importantly, I love him and you don’t. You tried to sleep with my best friend less than an hour ago. Rooster’s kind, but he ain’t stupid.”  

“That's his word against mine!”  

Bradley stepped from behind Jake, “Rooster is here and can speak for himself. Britt, it's over. You embarrassed the shit out of me tonight.” He declared. “You take me around like a show pony for your friends and family, but the moment I bring you to a celebration in honor of my squad? You’re rude to Penny, don’t know what I like or where I’ve been, tried to sleep with Javy, and ran in here to tell on yourself. I can’t believe I’ve already wasted five years on you. I’m not wasting a second more.”

Brittney couldn’t believe this was happening.  What about her car? “What am I going to tell my parents?”  

“You could tell them you’re a whore.”  Britt heard it but she didn’t know who said it.  Bradley’s squad had gathered around to witness her humiliation.  She looked at Hangman.

“You did this!” she howled. “You did this to me!”  

“I didn’t do anything to you, Britt.” He tapped his chest, “ Hangman. I just gave you the rope.”

Brittney saw red. She couldn’t remember everything that she shrieked and swore at Hangman. She remembered the sound of a whistle, the sound of ringing, and the yell, “Get her out of my bar!”

Natasha’s face was wreathed in smiles when she and another woman stepped out of the group, each getting a firm grip on her arms.  Brittney pulled her arms into her sides, failing to snatch her arm from Natasha’s grip.  

“Brittney, please try me. I beg you. It would be like an early Christmas present.” Natasha threatened her, and Britt knew she would make good on it.  

“Yeah, Britt! Try Phoenix!”  Hangman cheered.

Natasha gripped her arm while Brittney walked out with as much dignity as possible, even when Natasha yelled over her shoulder, “Hangman, your drinks are on me the rest of the month.  

Brittney collapsed, lying in the sand for a few minutes. She could barely believe this. How could she have lost so miserably? Regardless, she rolled over and lifted herself up. She shook the sand off herself and approached the bar window. 

It’s almost as if the universe read her mind, and it replied, “Believe it.”

Through the bar window, she could see Bradley, playing that same tired old song with Hangman draped across his back. 

A/N : It’s the very first time I write “smut” (it’s not much but yeah yk) and little reminder that English is not my first language !

pt.2 here :)

»» ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ««

You were untouchable.

Already by your personality, you had what could be called a bad temper. You didn’t really let yourself slacken off and even less in front of navy’s men whom you knew too well. You were endowed with an astonishing intelligence, you understood things very quickly and quite surprising but some were afraid of this intelligence. You weren't scary at all but the fact that you knew how to think for yourself had the gift of scaring some pilots. You were independent, you didn't need anyone and again, even less a man with an oversized ego like some of them. On top of that you were extremely beautiful, not pretty, beautiful. Some could qualify you as a femme fatale even if you did not like this term, you defined it as an idea established by the desire of man in women. Fuck patriarchy.

You knew very well that you had an advantageous physical and it would be a lie to say that you never took advantage of it to obtain something, of course you never played with a man's feelings but a little of flirting and charming smile never hurt nobody. Even if you could sometimes be frank you were far from hurtful. The only thing that could hurt others about you was your beauty but not your personality. Deep down inside, you slightly liked being untouchable, you liked telling yourself that you were in control of the situation. That was a rare thing for a woman in the Navy, but you were one hell of an exception. In addition to being more than special in the eyes of all unfortunately you were even more untouchable than anyone could have thought.

Even if a man had a slim chance with you, there was a whole other problem. You were a military brat but not just any. It turns out that you were the only child of the famous Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell. So even if you looked at a pilot once your head was turned, you could be sure that your father was going to take pleasure in staring intensely at the boy you had just made hope for. It was on one hand reassuring to tell you that your father was vigilant with you and the possible predators, even if in reality the real predator was you. But on the other hand it was more than annoying that he protected you as if you were made of sugar and that you were going to break at any moment. You were stronger than that and you didn't need your father to defend you, far from it.

It is true that you did not have a very stable life due to your father's job, but that never bothered you, it’s precisely thanks to his environment that you were as you are today. Being his only child, he was always more protective than other parents, he didn't want anything to happen to you. At the time you didn't realize it since you were too young but the protectiveness of your father was mainly because of the fact that you were the last family he had left. After Goose's death he was not like before but when Carole left in turn, it was too much. He no longer had anyone to rely on, he had completely let himself go and after a one night stand you arrived. You never knew your mother and she never wanted to know you, giving all the responsibility to Pete who was far from ready to be a father.

But the rest is history.

You were back in Miramar and the first thing you thought of was going to the Hard Deck, just to pop in and say hello to Penny, nothing more. You pushed the wooden door in front of you and made your way into the bar, you walked with a determined and confident step towards the bar, trying to make your way through the crowd so that you could then sit on one of the wooden stools in front of you. It was still quite early but the bar was already full to bursting, the crowd was almost suffocating but it wasn't too disturbing yet, you looked straight ahead and observed a few pilots around the pool table. Some faces were familiar which made you smiled gently while thinking about what you were going to take, still observing the bar clientele to see if there were other people you knew by any chances.

You waited a few seconds then Penny turned in your direction with a big smile, she quickly advanced towards you while she was at the other end of the bar. “Sweetie ! What are you doing here ?" She asked surprised at your rather unexpected arrival.

“Penny I can’t breathe.” You tell her out of breath, she moves away from you, laughing slightly but still leaning on the bar to be able to stay close to you, “I wanted to pass by.” You just answered her.

She leaned towards you again and took your face in her hands before placing a kiss on your cheek, she pulls away again before speaking. “Excuse me, I'm just so happy to see you, it's been so long since I've seen you ! It’s been what ? Three years ?” She asked, all excited about your arrival.

“Two years penny, only two. But I missed you too.” A laugh escaped my throat.

“Two years ! Oh my god it's been so long. Tell me what can I give you ?”

“Uhm one Mai Tai please.”

She nodded before starting to prepare your cocktail, you carefully observed her mixing the ingredients when she poured the mixture into a wide glass which she placed on the bar before adding a slice of lemon and a mint leaf, she pushed the glass in front of you and smiled at you again. You thanked her but when you took out your wallet to take money to pay her, she stopped you dead in your action by putting her hand on your wrist. You raised your head and she nodded hers negatively to make you understand to put away what you had in your hands, “It's not necessary Y/N, gift from the house.” She said, adding a wink before sweeping behind the bar.

“But penny-”

“No buts young woman !” She interrupted you, pointing her finger in front of you to make you understand that you shouldn't try to retort again.

You sighed softly in defeat and then put the wallet in your jacket pocket, which was actually your father's and took a sip of your drink, the fresh lemon juice slid down your throat but was quickly caught by the burning rum. “You’re alone ?” Asked the woman in front of you.

You put down your glass and nodded, “Dad's tired, he's staying home tonight.”

She raised her eyebrows and her cheeks turned slightly rosy at the response, “Oh no, I didn't mean it like that-”

You didn't give her time to finish her sentence when you smiled at her frustrated look and gave her a wink in turn before getting up to approach the jukebox which was not far from the pool table, so not far from the pilots. Once in front of the retro machine, you put your glass on the next table to be able to take a coin out of your pocket which must have been there for a long time, you kept the coin in your hand long enough to carefully read the proposed titles and choose properly. But when you were hesitating between two titles from the 80s, you felt a presence behind you but you didn't really pay attention to it. “Has anyone ever told you that it was dangerous to leave your drink unattended ?”

You jumped not expecting anyone to speak to you even less this close to your ear, you quickly turned around and came face to face with Lt. Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw. You opened your mouth amazed to see him there and didn't think another minute before taking him in your arms, you put your arms behind his neck and felt his wrap around your waist to respond to your embrace. You moved away and stared at him for a moment, he hadn't changed since the last time you saw each other. He wore a Hawaiian shirt similar to the ones his father wore before him and still had his famous pair of Ray-bans on his nose, and of course he still had his 70s mustache.

You and Rooster have known each other for years, you grew up together until your father took his papers away. At that time he had pulled away from you thinking that you knew about your father's actions when you were the last to know about the situation but all that is in the past, now all of that is behind you. Despite the recent events between him and your father, you found each other and rediscovered the bond you had when you were younger. Bradley is a few years older than you and he fulfills his role as big brother to perfection. Even if you don't have the same blood it's just like it, he has always been like a brother to you and even when he stops talking to you you forgave him directly.

“Oh my God ! You scared me.” You exclaimed.

“What are you doing here ?” He asked you as surprised at my arrival as Penny.

“A craving for Mai Tai.” You say, taking your glass back from the table before taking a big sip.

“You’re pregnant ?” He asked randomly.

You almost spit out all the liquid you had in your mouth after what he just asked you, “What ? No ! Are you crazy ?”

He shrugged and laughed slightly before offering you to join him and his pilot friends, you turned your head to your right to observe the pilots you had seen before. You looked back at Rooster giving him a nod before answering him concretely with a smirk, “How could I refuse ?”

He smiled and started walking towards the pool table where his friends and colleagues were, you followed him closely not for fear of losing him but only so you could easily pass through the crowd. Unlike Rooster you weren't tall and imposing, you were of average height and far from imposing in your physique, it was only your personality that intimidated people.

“Rooster ! I thought you got lost on the way grandpa.” Exclaimed a tall blond pilot with a smirk on his face.

You stared at him for a moment but no names came to mind as you looked at him, nor did you remember Bradley telling you about a blond boy. Even if the man was unknown to you, for the moment, he was one of the first pilots you saw when you entered the bar. He looked confident, even slightly haughty, but he still seemed likeable.

“Bagman.” Bradley gave him a nod, calling him what you thought was his callsign. “What a pleasure to see you.”

The would-be 'Bagman' smiles before glancing at you, “And who is that pretty thing you brought me here ?”

Asshole.

Your smile faded away in a second. Now he seemed anything but friendly, but what he didn't realize was that you were far from easy prey. You didn't even have time to retort that Bradley put his arm around your shoulders before pulling you against him, you frowned and looked up to look at the brunet who resumed speaking as if nothing had happened.

“Not this one Hangman.” He said calling him a new callsign, you assumed the previous one was just a joke.

The blond understood from your lost look that you weren't the pilot's girlfriend next to you, “And why’s that ?” He asked slowly but surely leaning towards you.

And as you were about to answer him, someone cut you off again. “Too dangerous.” Said a female voice that you recognized directly. “The kind of girl where you avoid her dad more than anything if you ask me.”

You freed yourself from Rooster's grip, walked past Hangman, not forgetting to give him a shoulder to end up taking Phoenix in your arms. You pulled away from her and looked the blond straight in the eyes with a playful look, he smiled before asking you a question. “Your dad doesn't like the navy ?”

“Worse. He’s in the navy.” You said with a smirk as the pilot's quickly faded.

“Oh." He said simply as Bradley gently patted his shoulder in comfort.

“I told you ! Now come with me to get you a beer.” The brunet said to him, shaking him slightly so that he regained his senses.

»» ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ««

The evening had gone extremely well, to be honest you had stayed more often with Phoenix than with the others but it was good to see her again after so much time. And then being the only two girls in the evening could sometimes be heavy, unfortunately Halo couldn't come because she had a date that night. But despite everything, you had a great time. Also Hangman had come to see you to apologize for the abrupt advances he had made to you, you could see he was afraid of having problems. You forgave him and with that the atmosphere was no longer heavy and awkward between you two, you even offered him a game of pool which he accepted with a big smile of winner but what he did not know was that you were unbeatable.

Several times during the game your eyes landed on a pilot that you had not been introduced to. He was sitting in a corner with a bag of peanuts on his thigh, he had blonde hair but not like Hangman's, it was darker. He wore glasses that slipped on his nose far too often, his eyes seems like a perfect baby blue but you weren't sure because of the distance between you. You stayed focused on your game but many times you couldn't help but look in his direction, he was often alone during the evening but yet was part of the group. You had spotted Rooster talking to him a few times but the one he stayed with the most was Fanboy if you remembered correctly. He spoke softly but mostly listened or observed what was going on around him.

At one point your eyes met and you gave him a mischievous smile that he returned more shyly with a smaller smile. Despite his shyness he was handsome, you wanted to know more about him. You had noticed that he did not drink beer but only water or maybe it was vodka but given the pace at which he drank this was far from possible or he tolerated alcohol extremely well. In your mind you stayed on water and you couldn’t help it and found that adorable. He seemed so kind and caring, you wanted, no needed to go talk to him.

“Who is this ?” You asked Phoenix cutting her off in her explanation.

It must have been twenty minutes since you won your game against Hangman and you were now sitting at a table with the female pilot. You couldn't help but ask her who was the mysterious pilot who intrigued you for a while now.

“Who’s who ?” She asked with a smile, leaning towards you to avoid everyone hearing.

“The one with the glasses.” You say, pointing your head towards where the blond was, he was still with Fanboy in a corner.

The woman in front of you moved away and turned in the direction you had just pointed to her even though deep down she suspected who you were talking about, there was only one person here who could wear glasses. When her eyes landed on Bob, she couldn't help but giggle softly. She looked at you before speaking. “Lieutenant Robert “Bob” Floyd, my back seater.”

“He’s cute." You confessed, crossing your arms before sinking a little further into your chair.

You were still watching Robert when your friend's laughter cut you off from your thoughts, “What ?” You asked already bored without even knowing why she was laughing.

“I can't believe it, I never would have imagined this possible. You and Bob ?” She said before leaving in an endless giggle.

You sigh annoyed and as she continued to laugh alone, Bradley came closer to you with a beer in his hands. “What’s happening ?” He asked putting his sunglasses in his Hawaiian shirt pocket.

“Y/N- she- Oh my god-” Phoenix tries to start a sentence but without success, she continues to laugh like crazy with both hands on her stomach as she was laughing so hard.

Bradley smiled at her friend's delight before turning back to you with a confused look, “I just told her I thought… Bob was cute.” You hesitantly say the name of the pilot.

No sooner had you finished your sentence than Natasha laughed even harder, “Nat.” Bradley tried to calm her down. “Nat-”

You weren't even waiting for her to calm down to get up and head to the bar without waiting another minute, you didn't understood why your friend had reacted this way. How the idea that you like the dark blond could make her laugh so much. You leaned on the wood of the bar patiently waiting for Penny to come take your order when you felt a presence to your left, you turned your head slightly to avoid the person seeing you staring. And when you thought you'd come face to face with a civilian, to your surprise the person next to you was the mysterious pilot. Suddenly, for the first time -maybe in you whole life- you felt troubled when absolutely nothing had happened. Usually you didn't liked to feel intimidated by others and even less by men, but this time you did, you strangely appreciated the fact of not being in your normal state. You didn't ask yourself any more questions and put this new feeling back on the cocktails you had drunk tonight. Without really thinking you turned completely to face the male next to you, you lean on the bar and wait for him to turn to face you too but he seems too embarrassed. You could see that his cheeks were slightly pink, which gave you a little more confidence to keep going.

“Bob right ?” You asked in a soft and gripping voice, which created a feeling of well being in the boy in front of you before anything happened.

He turned slowly, uncertain and slightly lost. He looked at you for a moment before putting his glasses back on correctly with the help of his middle finger and then nodding, “Y-yes that's me.” He replied in an almost imperceptible voice.

You smile at his shyness before simply continuing, hoping he would open up to you a little more, “Y/N.”

“I know- Well I mean I heard you with the others earlier." He said, recovering quickly at the end as if he had said something he shouldn't have.

This time if your smile turned into a laugh and Bob swore he had never heard such a sweet melody, once again his cheeks turned red but this time if a feeling of warmth added to his condition, and not only at his cheeks.

“I understood, don't worry.” You reassured him by once again giving him a smile with such sweetness that could have killed him.

But when you were going to continue the conversation Penny cut you off in the middle of your exchange to take his order, he ordered a coke zero and surprisingly turned to you again. “And whatever you want.” He said before taking his wallet out of his uniform pocket to pull out some money.

“Oh no-”

“I insist.” He cut you off with a blow much more confident than before.

You shook your head and gave your order to Penny who rushed to prepare them, despite the fact that it was getting late there were still a lot of people at the Hard Deck. Once your two drinks served you did not stay longer at the bar which began to be overflowing with people wanting to order them too. The table you previously occupied with Phoenix was free again, you indicated to the pilot behind you who nodded and followed you. You settled in quickly to avoid other people taking the table, the pilot in front of you took a sip in his glass before placing it on the table between you two. He looked up and was surprised to see you were already looking at him, his cheeks turning red before he looked away and focused on something else.

Cute.

While he was looking away you smiled and took a sip of your beer before playing with the tag, “So…,” you began.

You barely had time to say anything else than the blond turned his head quickly towards you. As you were going to resume you let yourself getting lost in his eyes. They were beautiful. So delicate and sparkling. You were right, his eyes were indeed blue, as deep as the ocean.

“You have very pretty eyes.” You said casually as you turned your head to the side.

Once again Robert couldn't help but blush, he lowered his head slightly, shaking it before looking you straight in the eye, “Thank you.” He simply added.

“Why did you pay me a drink ?” You asked quickly after his answer, you couldn't help but smile at his frustrated look.

“Oh uhm… I-well I figured that was the least I could do, since that I didn't take your-your order when it was my uhm my round.” He said stuttering.

You brought your bottle to your lips without drinking from it, you looked at him attentively as you narrowed your eyes. You observed that the more he spoke, the redder he became. To be honest you thought it was extremely sexy while Robert couldn't stand the burning feeling in his chest anymore.

“No. Why did you really bought me a drink Robert-”

“Bob. Please call me Bob.” He corrected, although he honestly didn't mind hearing you call him by his full name.

“Isn't that your call sign ?”

“Is it but also my name, Robert is too formal.” He said with a sweet smile.

You nodded and continued, “Don't change the subject Bob. Why did you bought me a beer ?”

Bob sighed softly knowing full well that he was defeated and that he had to answer you once and for all, “It's just that I-I thought you were pretty and you-you looked nice so I thought that uhm that-” He began, searching for words to avoid scaring you away.

“That I would go home with you ?”

"What ? Nah, nah I haven’t thought of that. I uhm I just wanted to talk- yeah just a little talk.” He continued as if he had just thought about the real reason he had just offered you a drink.

The pilot looked at you attentively, waiting for your answer to know if the evening was going to stop soon for him or if on the contrary it had only just begun.

“Maybe I want to go home with you.” You say softly, leaning slightly towards him so that no one could hear.

Bob widened his eyes surprised at what you had just said and opened his mouth slightly but closed it quickly thinking of what to say, you wasted no more time and got up from your chair. Before you start walking, you turn to the man behind you and give him a smirk and a wink before making your way through the crowd to go dancing, which sends shivers down his spine. Bob swallowed hard, as you disappeared further and further into the crowd of customers, the pilot couldn't help but stare at how your pants made your ass look nice. He looked up directly feeling guilty even though deep down he knew you didn't mind, or so he thought. The idea of ​​joining you crossed his mind but he was far too shy to dance in the middle of all these people. His eyes then fell on the beer he had bought you, he didn't wait another second and drank at once the liquid from the bottle.

Bob was not someone who drank alcohol and he regretted changing things once the burning sensation was no longer in his chest but in his throat, he put the bottle back on the table and got up a little too quickly which caused him to almost fall to the ground. He caught himself at the table and put his glasses back on correctly before heading to the center of the bar where most of the people were dancing. The blond made his way through the crowd and looked for you even if his vision played him a few times, he found you in the middle of the crowd dancing as if no one was around you. Bob watched you intently and froze in place, watching every move you made so intently. The first thing he noticed was the fact that you had taken off your jacket, you were now in a simple white t-shirt but before he could stop himself to look, you opened your eyes that you had kept closed and your gaze fell directly on the pilot who was no longer moving, you smiled and approached him keeping the rhythm of the song playing. You took his hands in yours and reproached him next to you, as you kept up the pace Bob looked like he was having a hard time finding him. You let go of his hands much to his sadness but you quickly put them on his shoulders and leaned closer to him.

“Let yourself go !” You say practically shouting because of the noise.

"I-I don't know how to do that." He confessed, making big gestures with his hands.

"Yes you know ! Don’t pay attention to others, just look at me and listen to the music. And then, it's done !” You explained before taking one of his hands in yours and pulling him towards the center with you.

The song ended softly and gave way to "Murder on the dancefloor", as the first notes rang out in the bar you looked Bob straight in the eyes and smiled comfortingly at him before starting to move to the beat of the music. Astonishment Bob listened to your advice and let himself be carried away by the melody and closed his eyes shaking his head with the rest of his body, during all the music you never let go of his hand without really realizing it. It was as if this gesture was natural even if you didn't even knew each other a few hours ago.

You were in your perfect little bubble, neither of you realized that all the pilots around the pool table were watching you intently, “Since when Bob can dance ?” Asked Coyote amused by what he was watching.

“No the real question is since when Bob is interested girls ?” Asked Hangman with his eyebrows frowned.

Phoenix slapped him on the shoulder making him understand to shut up before rooster reacted, “Wasn’t it you a moment ago who made fun of her ?”

“I wasn’t making fun of her !”

“Yes you were-”

“No I wasn’t.” Interrupted Natasha. “I’m just too drunk and thought the idea that Y/N kinda liked Bob was crazy, but come one look at them ! He’s a little rabbit and her a real tiger but they’re really cute- plus Bob’s really nice and Y/N too-”

“Yeah you’re right you had enough drinks tonight.” Said Payback as he took the female by the shoulders to guided her outside, all the pilots followed and decided to call it a night.

When the music came to an end Bob opened his eyes again all smiles and paying no attention to anyone except the girl in front of him, he was only looking at you and couldn't look away. As you were about to speak, he crushed his lips on yours and placed one of his hands on your hip as he placed the other one on your cheek pulling you towards him. You were surprised at his gesture at first, surprised that he had enough courage when he seemed shy but you didn't think more and put your arms around his neck to stick you even more to him. Your lips moved in time with the music which made you smile through the kiss. His lips were soft just like him, your whole body was electrified by his touch and you could start to feel a warm sensation in your lower abdomen that you recognized all too well. Your hands moved in his curls but then you pulled out breathlessly to get some air, you moved slightly apart just enough to breathe but at no time did either of you remove your hands.

You breathed heavily but no one could hear it except him with the noise that was around, you raised your head to look at Bob and you observed that his cheeks but also the tip of his nose were red from to friction of your skins, which made you think again of the feeling of heat in the lower part of your body. You took the collar of his uniform and pulled him towards you to give him a simple kiss on his lips before whispering a sentence in his ear that Bob never thought he will hear one day.

“Please take me to yours and take off this horrible uniform.”

He swallowed hard and nodded quickly, you took your jacket that was on a chair and put it on before taking the blonde's hand back in yours, on the way to the door your eyes met Penny's who was smiling and shaking her head seeing you both. The pilot opens the door and the cool night air hits you suddenly which he notices, he steps closer to you and puts his arm around your shoulders to try to warm you up as much as possible.

“My car is right there.” He said pointing to his car.

Once in front of his car he opened the passenger door and you sat down thanking him, he walked around and quickly settled in his way before turning on the ignition and leaving the Hard Deck parking lot.

»» ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── ««

The trip to his apartment seemed like an eternity to you both even though he assured you that he only lived a few minutes from the bar since he was close to the base. During the ride he had set his hand on your thigh which only increased the feeling of warmth and the burning desire. Now you were both in front of the door of his house, while Bob was looking for the right key, you were clinging to his arm leaving him many kisses in the neck which destabilized him enormously but once he found the right key he turned to you and kissed you passionately turning the key in the lock. Once the door opened, he took you by the arm and pulled you with him inside without ever separating your lips from his. He then pushed you against the still open door what closed it and the noise of the slammed made you jump, you were now stuck between the wood and the pilot's body.

“Sorry.” Bob muttered between kisses realizing he might have pushed you a little too hard.

You didn't answer him but deepened the kiss to make him understand that the only thing you were waiting for was him to show you where the bedroom was, his hands went behind you and he pressed your body against his. You took the opportunity to put your arms around his neck again before he started walking with you in the middle of the corridor, he dragged you with him into one of the first rooms of the hallway and closed the door this time with his foot. He continued to walk towards the bed and tried to put you gently on it, even if his gestures remained abrupt, you sank a little more into the mattress since Bob remained glued to you. So you pulled away from him and caught your breath, “Please.” You almost ordered him.

“What do you want ?” He asked in a whisper.

“You.”

With that he kissed you again before pulling away completely from you, you leaned back on your two elbows and watched him take off his shoes and then his uniform, you moved further into the bed without forgetting to take off your shoes and starting to take off the rest of your clothes. Once both in your underwear, the man sat with you on the bed and your make out session resumed just as soon. This time it wasn't just a feeling you were really hot and the burning desire in your stomach only grew more and more, it's as if the sun had entered the room. Your two bodies were so close to each other. You could almost feel every muscle when he made a move, the only thing you could do was whimpering from the feel of his warm skin against yours. You put your right hand between your two hot bodies and caressed his abs which made him moan in turn, you were for the moment in control of the situation which you felt could escape at any moment. Normally you would have stopped things to try to catch yourself, not letting you go this way. Bob reached his hands in front of your breast before playing a bit with the lace of your white bra, then he placed one of his cold hands behind your back and grabbed your bra clip to untie it, he quickly removed it and tossed it carelessly over his shoulder. He kissed your cheek before going down your neck and took his time to go through the entirety of your skin before going down even more, enough to get to your chest. As he was about to reach your breasts he stopped.

He looked up at you, “Can I ?”

You nodded quickly biting your bottom lip not really expecting that question but you thought that it was incredibly hot. What the fuck was happening ?

“‘kay.” He said simply in a whisper before finally taking off his glasses and reaching out to put them on the nightstand next to the bed.

He moved back in front of your chest and placed a simple and delicate kiss on the tip of your right breast which made you moan softly, a sweet melody that Bob wanted to hear again. So that's what he did, he kissed your breast harder and sucked your nipple while kneading the other with the help of his hand. You couldn't hold back, your whimpers were turned into moans much to the blond's delight. You tried to compose yourself, take control of your body and reactions but Bob was like a fucking magician. You hated that, but slowly you couldn’t think of anything except his mouth on you. One of your hands worked its way through his hair before you dropped your head back, it felt so good.

He released your left breast from his hand and began to kiss it in turn, this time biting lightly on the tip of your nipple which made you moan again. The feeling was so good you couldn’t control your body and moans now, every sound coming from your mouth was controlled by the pilot. At the same time his hand, which was no longer occupied, slid along your skin and found the elastic of your panties. You felt two of his fingers go under the piece of fabric, unlike you his fingers were still icy against your hip as you were burning, the sensation of his hand so close to your core sending shivers down your spine.

He raises his head and you missed the feel of his lips on your chest already but he quickly replaced it with his lips on yours, Bob bit lightly on your bottom lip letting you know he wanted more. So you opened your mouth slowly and he took the opportunity to put his tongue through it, while you were trying to dominate during the kiss to take control of the situation again, you ended up admitting defeat and letting the male take control while the butterflies in your stomach were going to explode. You were fucked. As you felt your crotch getting wetter and wetter, you felt Bob's second hand reach the other side of your panties and pull it gently as if nothing had happened. Quickly you find yourself completely naked in front of him while he was still wearing his underwear then you felt something different deep inside you. Bob was laying kisses down your body starting with your cheek and then your neck but you were too deep in your thoughts at the time to really pay attention. You weren't used to being in a submissive position and yet Bob looked so shy at the bar but now he was confident, so confident. You felt small next to him, something you had never felt with anyone. Surprisingly you didn't mind, you were more surprised at your body's reaction to the blonde's actions. You snapped out of your thoughts when you felt heavy breathing on your pussy, you lifted your head from the pillows and looked at the pilot. You had been so preoccupied with your thoughts that you hadn't even felt him come down there.

“Can I ?” He asked once again with his big blue eyes on you waiting impatiently for you to answer him.

“Please stop asking me.” You answer with a needy and febrile voice.

He nodded and parted your legs slightly so he could put his head between them, he took your thighs in his hands and pulled you closer to him which made you laugh softly. He placed them on his shoulders and then placed a simple kiss on your clit which sent electricity through your whole body, you bit your lower lip not wanting to make too much noise but it was a failure when Bob started licking your pussy like a thirsty cat. You let the moans of pleasure that you couldn't contain any longer roll down your tongue. Once again your hands found their way into his curls as he continued to lick faster and harder, you buried the back of your head in the pillows. You had the impression that he had done this all his life, his nose was pressing down on your clit as he continued to lick up all of your juices.

“B-Bobby !” You moaned.

The blond let go of one of your thighs that was shaking without his grip and put his hand on your stomach so that his thumb could reach your clitoris and work on it. He pulled away from your crotch and moved his hand to where his head had been a moment ago, he let go of your clit and placed two of his fingers at your entrance. He got up and moved over to stand right next to you so he could see your face and kiss you, which he did before pushing his fingers inside you. Surprised you opened your mouth and grabbed his bicep which was right next to you, you looked him in the eye all the way and you could see an indelible smirk on his face.

“You’re so tight-” He whispered as he started moving inside of you.

“I- please.” You tried to form a sentence but it was impossible, what he was doing to you gave you too much pleasure to be able to say anything.

“Shh darling, let yourself go remember ?” He said as he repeat your own words from earlier at the Hard Deck.

Due to your inability to say anything, Bob took the opportunity to speed up the movements. His fingers were the perfect size, they went deep enough to find the spot that was going to make you cum. So deep in you that you were seeing stars right now, the sensation of burning in your stomach was definitely still there. He was able to hit the exact spot you wanted like as if he known your body by heart, your grip around his arm tightened and your legs were shaking so much you felt like you were going to explode at any moment. And while you felt it coming more and more Bob added his thumb again on your clit and play with it which made you cum hard on his fingers.

“Bobby !” You cried out in pleasure as your back arched.

The pilot leaned towards you pulling his fingers away and kissed you gently while you were still in a trance after what had just happened. He picked up a tissue that was on his nightstand right next to his glasses and quickly cleaned his fingers before giving you his full attention again. He leaned down and continued to kiss you, placing himself right on top of you, you put your arms around his neck to keep him as close to you as possible.

Out of breath you parted but he pressed his forehead to yours, “So…”

“It was intense.”

“Intense ?” He asked.

“Intense.” You confirm by closing your eyes a quick second before opening them again. “D-Do you want to continue or-”

“Like you want. I don't want to rush you.” He said honestly.

You kissed his lips before continuing, “Bobby I loved this moment but I think I'm too tired to continue anything.” You say shyly, afraid that he will react badly.

“No problem.” He said softly kissing your cheek before dropping on top of you making sure not to hurt you. He placed his head on the side of your neck and left a few kisses there, “Thank you for this moment.” He spoke again after a moment of silence.

“I should be the person to thank you, I didn't do anything.” You say, laughing softly before getting serious again. “Do you mind if I just take my panties back ?”

He rolled directly onto the mattress apologizing quickly, you assured him it was nothing and stood up to pick up your panties and your t-shirt. You put on the pieces of clothes and asked him where his bathroom was, he showed you the direction and you left the room. Once in the bathroom you quickly cleaned yourself with toilet paper then put it in the trash and fixed your hair by tying it in a bun, you looked at yourself in the mirror trying to realized what just happened. It wasn’t in your habits to do one night stand things but the moment was so good and you never thought you were going to say something like that but you felt a connection with the pilot. You didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow and you didn't want to think about it but you were sure it wasn't the last time you were going to hear about Robert Floyd. You scratch your right shoulder as you start laughing at your reflection. “Oh my god.” You whispered.

Yet somehow there he was. The innocent boy I grew up with, the one who took me to prom and who held me while I cried over stupid boys.

The one whose letters never came.

The one who destroyed me before I even got to give it a fighting chance.

The one who never showed up for mom's funeral.

There he stood, his dad's old Hawaiian shirt hanging loosely off his body. Aviators sitting on his very well mature face.

"Are you actually a pilot?" Hangman turns to me curiosity flooding his expression.

"Yes she is and a good one at that." Bradley beamed. "Graduated top of her class at the Naval Academy and was the first woman to finish highest ranked in Top Gun. Hangman, she could kick your ass with her eyes closed." He chuckled as Hangman backed away. "It's good to see you, Lem." I looked past Hangman to see him and for the first time in a very long time, our eyes meet. His expression softens, "you look good."

The fire grew in my stomach, I don't care how good he looks right now.

"You left me," I say coldly.

"Jeez, some unrequited love I see." Hangman mocked, "What stupid thing did you do to break this one's heart Rooster?" Bradley looked at me, a flash of pain crossed his eyes. "I left."

I chuckle, "yes you left and you never came back, you weren't there for me when I graduated from the naval academy, you weren’t there when I went through Top Gun. And most importantly you weren't there when my mom died." The people around us grew silent, Jake's smile grew sinister as he turned to face Bradley. "Damn Rooster you screwed up big time." I turned to Hangman, "and the shitiest part was that he knew all of this was happening yet he decided not to come."

"Enough Lem," Bradley's tone airing caution. "We don't need to get into this here.

I laughed.

"No Bradley, we don't have to get into this ever."

I pushed past the two, trying to hide the sobs until I had at least hit the outside seating. I didn't need him to get the better of me. I have a job I have to complete here. I have a reputation I need to uphold. Stupid boys from the past hold no meaning to me now.

You will never get used to the sound of a jet gearing up to take off. There's a special rumble that flows down to the tips of your fingers and the pace of your heart quickens and you find your brain to miraculously be absolutely silent.

"Breathe Lemon, follow the target, and do what you were trained to do." Dad's voice comes softly through the intercoms.

For some reason today my helmet feels tight and something feels wrong, what feels wrong?

"Lemon do you copy? We are going airborne." I turn to my father's plane nodding in understanding, yet I can't seem to shake the feeling that something is going to end up wrong.

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

The sky is beautiful today, but I can't lose focus on my target. Flying solo poses danger on its own, but with the parameters of this mission, dangerous flying is the only flying we are gonna know.

Steady Lem. Watch Pheonix and Bob, protect Pheonix and Bob.

"Behind you Lemon, watch behind you, Maverick's behind you." I watch my back, with Bob having alerted me of my father's whereabouts in the sky.

"Boo." Dad's jet pulls up behind us and a chase ensues, "Pheonix bear left and then pull up, and don't let him catch you." They respond with a simple Roger and we go our separate ways.

While Pheonix bears to the left I take the chance to confuse dad by pulling straight, the G's begin to pull on my body as I ascend further into the sky, "Those are some very colorful actions Lieutenant, it's such a same you learned that from your old man." I chuckle, in about three seconds Maverick is gonna lose sight of me because he thinks like I think. Going after the more challenging opponent is gonna prove a point with the Admiral.

I think it makes life even easier when the Admiral is your godfather.

"See ya dad," flipping the plane was like second nature to me now, the photos I've got of dad upside in F-14s and he has identical 0nes of me in F-18s. Traditions only seemed fair and like father-like-daughter, we both do the stupidest things.

"Damnit kid you are better than I remember." Flying down behind dad my tracker levels with itself and,

"Bingo, dad you are dead."

Cheers from Pheonix and Bob echo through my headset.

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

Back at base, the fellow pilots are surrounding the comms, anxiously awaiting the sign that Lieutenant Mitchell was really as good as Rooster says she is.

Patiently in the corner Rooster sits, twirling three different dog tags in his hand, listening silently, praying silently. He wants her to show them, he needs her to show them. He needs her to show him.

Not a day goes by that he doesn't regret leaving, not telling her where he was going.

Not being there when Charlie died.

That one he will always feel guilty for, because while he was there, he was actually there, he couldn't be there with her. So he stood in the back and he cried when he needed to and once everyone left he thanked her.

Because in some ways, after his dad died his mother was never totally the same, she was still his mom and she was there for all his life events, but in between those moments, when his mother wasn't really his mother. Charlie was always there.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Lieutenants Mitchell, Trace, and Floyd have successfully completed the exercise."

It was almost as if a blanket of Astonishment fell amongst the men, after a very long, hot day of doing push-ups on the tarmac, had she really been successful in 'killing' Mav?

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The landing was the easiest part of any exercise you ran because in the air life was in the hands of whoever the pilot believed to be in charge of the life.

But once you land you realize the craziest part of flying isn't the feelings, or the life hanging by a thread, it's the fact that no matter the problems on the ground they didn't matter. Because when you are thousands of feet in the air, problems on ground disappear.

He stood off, away from the rest as they stood on the tarmac, waiting for the victorious trio to exit their respective aircraft. Through the crowd, he saw her.

"Rooster, gear up, you're next." Dad is just trying to prove a point, but why is this bad feeling getting worse?

Apparently, there's a taglist now!