#snapsasks

Jake stood next to the bright yellow barrels, his mind reeling. He didn't know much about storm chasing, but he knew his brother had a penchant for risky ventures. What he hadn't known was that Tyler's recent foray was more than just another daredevil stunt.

“So it does what?” Jake asked.

This wasn't Tyler's idea at all; it was Kate’s—her ambitious tornado tamer project. She’d been explaining it to him with contagious enthusiasm.

“So the silver iodine makes more rain to increase the cold pool and my polymer absorbs the moister! It essentially cuts the fuel and the storm collapses on its self,” Kate said, patting the top of the barrel with a wide, excited grin.

“It worked the first time we tested it—well, the first time with version 3.0. The initial tests ended tramaticly, and the second one didn’t work at all. But this one did—on an EF5, no less! In El Reno. I managed to get my polymer deployed before the storm wreaked total havoc. In the end, everyone was safe; the truck got wrecked, and Tyler took a steel beam to the leg, but he’s alright,” Kate said, her back turned as she removed one of the barrel covers, wanting to show off the mixture.

Jake's smile slowly faded, replaced by a hard, cold look. Anger and concern warred within him. He had been told Tyler wasn't even near El Reno during the storm. Now, the truth was hitting him like a ton of bricks.

Jake’s voice was tight with suppressed emotion as he stepped forward. “So Tyler didn’t just happen to be in the area—he was in the middle of it?”

Kate turned around, her brows furrowed in confusion. She remembered Tyler talking on the phone with someone, was it Jake she didn’t know. “He said he called you…“

Kate wasn’t naive; it was clear Tyler had kept his near-death experience from Jake. The depth of Jake’s anger was evident, and she understood why.

“He didn’t tell you.” It wasn’t a question.

“No, he didn’t,” Jake said through clenched teeth. His voice was strained with fury. “Actually he didn’t call me, ma did. I was under the impression he wasn’t even near El Reno!”

Kate frowned, the barrel cover slipping from her hand. “I’m sorry. I thought he told you. I’m sure he just didn’t want you to worry—”

She trailed off, uncertain of what else to say, unable to speak for Tyler. Jake’s expression was a mix of anger and hurt, and she understood it wasn’t directed at her.

“No, you have no reason to apologize,” Jake said, his voice steadier now. “In fact, thank you for telling me.”

Jake’s jaw was clenched, and his green eyes were sharp and cold. He glanced at the barrels, managing a strained smile as he addressed Kate with an uncharacteristic politeness.

“I’m looking forward to seeing your project in action. But if you’ll excuse me, I need to have a word with my dear brother.”

Kate watched Jake struggle to contain his anger as he marched across the dirt driveway of her mom’s house.

“Shit,” Kate muttered under her breath.

Tyler, oblivious to the approaching storm, was engaged in a conversation with Bradley near the barn. Jake seized Tyler by the shoulder, spinning him around with a violent jerk that startled both Tyler and Bradley.

“You’re a goddamn bastard, Ty!” Jake erupted. “You almost died and didn’t tell me? Or Ma? What the hell were you thinking?”

Tyler wasn't usually aggressive, at least from what Kate had observed, but she had never seen his demeanor turn so icy so quickly. He shoved Jake away to create some distance between them.

"It's no different from your job," Tyler said defensively, it was pot and kettle to him. "I was fine. I didn't see any need to tell anyone. It was like the rodeo."

"My job? What does that have to do with this? Tyler, you were nearly killed by an EF5!" Jake shouted, his voice thick with frustration.

"Nearly! Just 'nearly,' Jake! Those are the key words," Tyler retorted. He had faced death in the face so many times, the close call seemed almost insignificant now.

"Exactly—'nearly' is the problem! You never really see how close you come to death until one day it finally catches up with you!" Jake yelled back.

"You do the same! Do you have any idea how terrified Ma and Dad were when you signed up? You treat that death trap like it’s a joyride!" Tyler pressed.

Jake took a sharp breath as Tyler shifted the focus of the argument onto him, trying to make his role as a fighter pilot the issue.

"This isn't about me, Tyler. You lied not just to me but to the whole family! Do you even understand what would have happened if you had died?"

Jake couldn’t fathom a life without his brother; they were two halves of the same whole. Tyler knew him inside and out, and vice versa.

Tyler fell silent, his jaw clenching as his eyes flickered with a mix of guilt and anger. He hadn’t considered the full impact of what might have happened, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

Jake pressed on, his voice rising with urgency. “You don’t get it! Losing you would tear everything apart. I know you push boundaries and take risks, but damn it, Tyler, you have to be honest with us! We’re your family, and you can’t just leave us in the dark about something this serious!”

Jake was panting, his shoulders heaving as his words echoed across the vast Oklahoma landscape. Tyler remained silent for a moment before turning and walking away. Unlike Jake, he didn’t lash out with venomous words when things became overwhelming; he simply withdrew.

In a fit of frustration, Jake let out a primal scream, his anger spilling over. He threw his hands up in exasperation and stormed off in the opposite direction, needing to channel his rage and confusion into something, anything.

Jake’s anger flared again when he heard his twin brother Tyler’s footsteps on the wooden porch, but he refused to turn away from the expansive cornfield that stretched before him. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the field, and the stillness of the moment only amplified Jake’s fury.

“Look… Jake… I didn’t tell you because…” Tyler’s voice was strained, and he stumbled over his words. Jake remained silent, his jaw clenched as he stared at the horizon, fighting the storm of emotions inside him.

Tyler took a deep breath and stepped closer, his boots crunching on the gravel path. “You know I wouldn’t lie to you if I could help it. I wasn’t trying to keep things from you. It’s just—”

“Just what?” Jake snapped, his voice cutting through the twilight air. “You almost died, Tyler. That’s not something you just gloss over. You said you were fine, that you weren’t even close to El Reno. But I heard the truth from Kate. You should have told me.”

Tyler’s face fell, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of Jake’s anger was too much to bear. “I didn’t want to worry you. You’ve been through enough with your own deployments and—”

“Don’t you dare make this about me,” Jake interrupted, turning to face his twin, he wasn’t letting that happen again. His eyes were blazing, reflecting a mix of hurt and frustration. “This isn’t about me. It’s about you almost dying and me not knowing. You kept me in the dark.”

Tyler clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his own anger in check as Jake cut him off again. He took a deep breath, forcing his eyes to soften as he fought to stay calm.

“I didn’t want to drag you into my mess,” Tyler said, his voice measured and steady. “You deal with so much already, and I know how much you worry about everything, even if you try to cover it up.”

Jake’s anger wavered slightly as he listened, the truth in Tyler’s words seeping through his frustration. Tyler continued, “I thought if I kept this from you, I’d spare you some of that weight. I was wrong. I should have trusted you to handle it, that Ma and Dad could too. But it wasn’t about not trusting you—it was about not wanting to add to your burden.”

Jake’s expression shifted from anger to something softer, the hurt in his eyes mingling with a reluctant understanding. “Tyler, we’re supposed to share everything. If you’re in trouble, I need to know. And your problems are not a burden, never will be.”

Tyler’s shoulders relaxed as he absorbed Jake’s words, a flicker of relief crossing his face. “I guess I was so focused on protecting you that I forgot we’re in this together. I didn’t want to make things harder for you.”

Jake nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. “We face it all together, no matter how tough it gets. That’s what family’s for. You’re my twin. We handle everything as a team.”

Tyler snorted softly, and Jake cringed at his own sentiment. “God, that was cheesy.”

Tyler stepped closer, his face softening, and he reached out, pulling Jake into a hug. Jake felt the reassuring warmth of his brother’s embrace and wrapped his arms around him, holding on tightly.

“I should apologize to Rooster. I think we scared the poor guy,” Tyler said, his voice muffled against Jake’s shoulder.

Jake laughed softly. “He’s fine. Trust me, he came tracking me down afterward and talked some sense into me.”

Jake and Bradley's relationship was tumultuous from the start, shifting from rivals to friends, then lovers, to exes, back to rivals, and eventually to lovers again. They first got together after graduating from the naval academy, initially sparring as rivals until they realized their feelings ran deeper. Bradley made the first move, and their first kiss came while they were still in their dress blues. They enjoyed a few months of dancing together before they were stationed at separate locations. The distance was manageable at first, but after nearly six months without seeing each other, the strain became evident.

Jake knew almost everything about Bradley, and when Bradley was assigned to Top Gun, he became intensely focused on surpassing Maverick. This obsession strained their relationship, leading to its end. Bradley's refusal to explain his relentless drive to outfly the legendary Maverick created a rift, especially since Jake was unaware that Maverick was Bradley's surrogate father. It’s a topic Bradley keeps closest to his heart.

Despite their rocky past, Jake and Bradley still have lingering feelings for each other. After the events of the film, Coyote, ever the perceptive wingman, straightforwardly told Jake to give their relationship another shot. The Daggers all noticed the way they still gravitated toward each other, especially evident when Bradley’s remark, "You look... good," fooled no one. Phoenix, though playfully exasperated that Bradley had chosen Jake, also supported the reunion. She recognized that Bradley brings out Jake's true self, the genuine Jake Seresin, rather than the persona of Hangman.

Currently in the twin au, Bradley is in Oklahoma with Jake to visit Tyler. Although they remain cautious and cling to their safe spaces, both still a little nervous to make the move, afraid they’ll ruin their chance again. Being outside the military environment has helped them gain a bit more confidence, especially Bradley.

Now that Bradley has reconnected with him, Maverick, feeling like a weary old man, insists he's not the person to ask for relationship advice. However, he's always willing to listen to Bradley vent over the phone.

“Hangman? Really? Out of everyone?” Maverick asked, lounging in one of the mismatched chairs in his hangar.

“Mav, I don’t think you’re in a position to judge. Don’t make me call Slider—he’ll be more than happy to give examples. Or maybe I’ll call Ice.”

“Please don’t.”