#tassieshcs

(stick with me there’s hangster in here i promise-)

Instead of pulling Bradley’s papers, Mav and Ice sat down with Bradley and explained his mother’s wishes and their concerns. Really, they just had an adult conversation about it. Of course, Bradley was pissed, but more so at his mum than Maverick or Ice. Eventually he agreed, much to the older men’s relief, though Mav did feel a bit guilty about it. He knew Goose would have loved to see his son take after him.

Bradley took a few weeks to explore some other career options, he knew he still wanted to fly in some capacity. With his dads all being pilots, he’d had plenty of off the book lessons from them and all his honorary uncles. He had a knack for it. And he knew he wanted to help people. He had volunteered at his local fire-station for a few years and had acquired his basic first aid qualifications through that. But beyond that, he was lost.

Until he heard about Wilderness EMT’s. It was at at a careers expo Ice had dragged him along to after school and he really didn’t want to be there.

They wandered the expo for a while, until the first responders area caught his eye. Bradley looked through the police and fire rescue stalls first, took some pamphlets and asked a few questions, but nothing really struck him.

As Ice wandered off to look at the Navy section out of curiosity, Bradley lined up to look at the Paramedics stall. As he talked to the lady at the front for a bit, they got onto the topic of the specifics of her career. Before she had taken a job in recruitment, she had been a Wilderness EMT, basically a branch on paramedics where she was trained in search and rescue, providing medical aid to remote areas. This immediately sparked Bradley’s interest, it had the adrenaline he had been looking for, all whilst making a real difference for real people.

By the time Ice had returned, he had quizzed the lady for almost an hour and to say that he was excited was an understatement. The teen was practically bouncing out of his seat on the drive home.

‘I just need to get my general EMT certification, then do a wilderness specific training course as the basics.’ Bradley was grinning ear from ear. ‘Then from there I can do swift water, high angle rescue training and disaster response training. And a bunch of other short courses- but I can do those quickly- And that’s not even the best part!’

Ice bit his lip and kept quiet. He was happy for Bradley, of course, it was nice to see him so excited about something, but this sounded dangerous. It wasn’t the Navy, but still.

‘She said I can finish getting my pilots license and use that for search and rescue. And if I can get my helicopter license I can still fly!’ He grinned. ‘And it’s not gonna be dangerous like your job, but it’s still so cool.’

Ice nodded, still worried, but Bradley seemed serious about this. They’d already stopped him from one career opportunity, if they told him he couldn’t do this, Bradley may never talk to them again.

And as it turned out, he was dead serious about it. Within three years, Bradley had flown through his Paramedics degree, and got a job as a regular EMT. Whilst he worked, he continued with his helicopter license, and began ticking off the required courses. Another two years later, he was a fully qualified Wilderness EMT.

It had taken a while for Mav to get on board with the idea, but after seeing the fufillment in Bradley’s face when he came home after saving a life, he could help the pride that flowed through him. Goose would have been over the moon.

Bradley quickly excelled at his job, showing just how disciplined he was, both in the field and with the patients. His bedside manner was impeccable and had an incredibly cool head under pressure. He progressed fast, becoming a team leader in no time. There wasn’t as much room for advancement as there was in the Navy, but Bradley did what he could.

He loved his job and though it had one of the highest burnout rates in the country, he couldn’t see himself quitting anytime soon. He lived for the adrenaline of his work. Every day was different, he could be providing help to flooded communities, or hiking mountains in search of a missing person. It could be anything from pulling someone from an avalanche, or airlifting someone who’d twisted an ankle and didn’t feel like walking out.

And the sense of satisfaction he got after saving a life. Made him feel like he was in control. Like he could make a meaningful difference in someone’s life by getting them home safe.

Of course there were hard days. When someone died in transit, or they just couldn’t get them out in time. When their missing person just didn’t turn up. It could be traumatising, but he made sure to talk with Ice and Mav about it, or his work friends, there were so many people around him who knew how to cope. He figured it out pretty fast.

One day Bradley’s team got called to a pretty notable rescue. An F18 had gone into a flatspin during training somewhere over a mountain and the pilot had ejected. A pilot by the name of Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin. Hangman had ejected safely, but the descent through the trees had fucked up his ankle, and he couldn’t walk.

The Navy’s equipment hadn’t been advanced enough, so they had called on the WEMT’s, whom for this kinda mission was their bread and butter. (shush i’m taking creative liberties)

They found him quickly and Bradley was the one to cut him out of his parachute and bring him up to the helicopter. Just imagine Jake being half unconscious as a handsome moustachioed angel leans over him and tells him everything’s gonna be alright.

The ride back included an ever exasperated Bradley and a lovestruck delirious Hangman who had decidedly not injured his mouth and would not shut up. As they reached the hospital, Jake asked him out. Bradley surprised even himself by agreeing to it, he hadn’t been in a serious relationship in years, it could be nice to get back out there.

Ice probably drilled the 'chew your food 20 times before swallowing' thing into him as a kid and for some reason it stuck.

Hangster au where Bradley is a bartender at his local pub, and had been for a while. He’s the real slick, flirtatious type. Everyone and their grandmother loves him. He’s the guy that everyone goes to with their questions, and he really should be a manager, but he’s not quite committed enough to accept the promotion.

One night, none other than Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin came in. He hung at the bar all night, chatting with Bradley, who entertains him. Eventually he cuts Jake off, long after he technically should of, but who could blame him, the man was tipping very generously. When Jake does ask for his number, he refuses, claiming it’s a personal policy, no giving out numbers to people he’s paid to serve, or something along those lines.

Bradley assumed that was the end of it, that Jake would go back to wherever he came from, and he wouldn’t see him again. It was a pity, he thought, that Texan accent did a number on his critical thinking.

Until lo and behold, two nights later, Jake appears again. This time carrying a card box full of various doughnuts and pastries. Fancy ones at that. He gives them to Bradley as a ‘present for everyone’ , explaining that his mate Javy works at a doughnut shop, and they had to get rid of the leftovers for the day.

Bradley just raised an eyebrow, but goes along with it anyway, until he opens it, staring at the back of the box, where Jake had scrawled his number in sharpie.

Night after night Jake came in with the doughnuts (all with Jake’s phone number written on the back), and night after night he mysteriously got off with half priced pints and a generously portioned bowel of chips.

He very quickly became known as Bradshaws Doughnut man, a name that Bradley said he hated, though his ears would go a little pink every time it was brought up.

One night Jake had a little too much beer for his own good. Just enough that Bradley didn’t feel great about kicking him out at close, but he couldn’t order him an uber or something, because Jake’d never once mentioned where he lived. So once he’s wiped the benches, put the last glasses in the washer, and locked up, Bradley guided Jake out to his car.

He’d been often rough now now, the man was nothing if not persistent, so Bradley figured he wouldn’t have a problem coming back to his place for the night. Once they got back to his apartment, Jake face planted in Bradley’s bed, and was snoring within minutes. Bradley got a quick blackmail picture before heading out to set up a bed on the too short couch.

The next morning, once Jake had been breakfasted, showered and driven back to the pub so he could get his car, Bradley opened the contact he had saved in his phone the very first night Jake had brought in the pastries. After a brief moment of debate, Bradley sent a ‘hey’,

Bradley was your typical angsty teenager, but the fact that Tom and Pete weren’t his biological parents added a whole new dimension. Him and Pete were always going at each other for the smallest things, though they almost always resolved just as fast as they blew up. The tension between them reached its peak when Bradley was around sixteen, seventeen.

One day after school, Pete and Bradley had an argument, a big one. Ice was at work late that night, so it was just the two of them. Pete said something that must have triggered Bradley and within seconds they were in the middle of a full out yelling match. They both said things that they didn’t mean, and regretted saying instantly. Things along the lines of ‘fuck i wish you’d just left when you had the chance’ and ‘well if i’m such a shit parent, maybe i should have left you for a foster family to fuck up instead.’, were shouted across the kitchen bench. (of course neither of them meant this, they just had trouble regulating their tempers sometimes).

By this point, Tom had just got home from working late, and as he opened the door, Bradley stormed out, car keys and wallet in hand.

A furious Pete was hot on his heels, and he almost nocked over poor Ice for a second time, but he caught his husband in time. ‘Bradley! Bradley i’m sorry! I did’t mean it- fuck- Bradley covet back here!’

A very frantic Pete watched as his son slammed the door of his car and slammed on the accelerator, probably stalling at least once. Tom was immediately by his husbands side, confusion evident on his face.

‘The fuck was that?’ He muttered as the pair watched Bradley drive off. Pete was distraught, he knew how dangerous it could be driving in the emotional state that Bradley was in. He’d done it himself more than a few times, and counted himself lucky that he was still here to tell the tale.

‘Fuck- I- Shit-‘ Was all he could get out, his hands constantly running through his hair. ‘I-i’m sorry- i’m so sorry- fuck’

Ice sighed and pulled the wide eyed man into his chest, his fingers slowly interlocking in Pete’s hair. ‘Shhhh- hey- it’s okay. Bradley’s a smart boy. He’ll be fine.’

Mav nodded, his face still buried in Ice’s shirt.

‘What the fuck did you say to him?’

‘I-‘ Pete straightened up, his eyes still downturned in shame. ‘I told him that we shouldn’t have adopted him- shoulda let someone else take him- it- it just slipped out in the moment and you know I don’t mean it-‘

Ice sighed ‘Oh Pete- Jesus you really didn’t think that through did you?’

Mav just shook his head in shame.

To make a long story short, Bradley spent the night tearing down highways, and probably should have died but somehow he came out of it unscathed. The next morning he woke up curled in the boot of his car with drool dripping down his chin. Once he had time to clear his mind a little he made the drive of shame back home.

Ice and Mav were both at work when he got back, Bradley set about making an apology dinner, as per the family’s tradition. If you fucked up, but couldn’t find the words to properly apologise, you would make dinner. And do the washing up. No need for words. Not until everyone was ready.

It was a rule Ice had instituted a few years back, and had worked wonders in keeping the family running.

Once the older two returned home, Bradley had made all but a feast, it was an impressive sight. The relief that shone in both their faces sent another wave of guilt through the teen, and he went to say something, to apologise, but Mav quickly shook his head.

‘After dinner. Okay?’

‘But-‘

bradley bradshaw grew up thinking of his father as a larger than life figure.

sure he had a few memories here and there, but not enough to really feel like he knew his dad

mav and his mum were always talking about what a good guy nick was, how he loved his son so much, and was perfect in every way. he had never once heard a flaw about the man, bradley wanted to hear things that made his father…human

eventually bradley grew sick of hearing how much of a ‘stand up guy’ he was, nick had become sort of a standard for bradley to live up to. it was always ‘oh you look just like your father’ this or ‘your dad would have loved to help you’ that

he never told anyone, but he hand begun to resent his father, always struggling to live up to this reputation. and he hated himself for it. everyone loved his dad, why couldn’t he?

until one day after his piano recital at the end of year school showcase concert, carole came up to him, gushing about how his father would be so proud, how nick would have loved his performance, and bradley just snapped. he blew up at his mum, and when mav tried to intervene he shouted at him too, voicing all these pent up emotions.

pete and carole just stood there, in shock, as the teenage boy broke down, his cheeks flushed as he shouted at the two.

he was silent the entire ride home.

the second they pulled into the driveway, bradley stomped up the stairs to his room and pulled himself under the covers. tears streamed down his cheeks as he dreaded heading downstairs the next morning.

about an hour later, mav knocked on his door. a muffled ‘go away’ as all he got in response. pete just sighed and pushed open the door, only to be met with a pillow to the face.

‘bradley, cmon’ the pilot moved across the room and sat slowly on the edge of the teens bed.

‘fuck off mav’

pete didn’t respond for a few minutes, he just sat there, contemplating his next words.

‘did i ever tell you that your father stunk?’

bradley was silent, but he peaked out of the covers, his dark eyes staring at mav.

‘it was horrible, not all the time, but he’d forget to take a shower every now and then and stink out the whole barracks’ mav shook his head, staring at his hands.

bradley giggled, slowly emerging from the covers.

‘or his inability to take things seriously, even when it was dangerous to do so.’

‘really?’

‘yeah- it was a problem.’ mav let out a breathy laugh. ‘one time we were flying a mission, and one of the seats made a sound that was suspiciously fart like. and your dad just couldn’t stop laughing. it was fine until an enemy attack pilot managed to sneak up underneath us. fuck that was a close call, almost lost our wings that night’ mav shook his head slowly, and when he glanced up again, bradley was positively beaming. his eyes shone like stars, and mav smiled weakly at the sight.

‘look kid, i’m sorry we made you feel like you had to live up to your dad. just being you is enough, i promise. okay?’

bradley nodded, his pillow clutched close to his chest. ‘it’s okay… i’m sorry i ruined the night…you got any more stories?’

mav chuckled, ‘oh boy, do i’

ice and mav chuckling as they sorted out their stuff, ordering takeout so they could sit in the middle of the lounge and go through each others old magazines.

ice popping a bottle of champagne, and the cork sticking into the roof, where it ended up staying until they moved out.

mav inspecting the kitchen, and ice coming up behind him to place soft kisses on the back of his neck.

the pure joy that filled the two of them as they slow danced to some old ninety’s tune, ices hands on mav’s hips, mavs chin leaning on his partners shoulder.