Chapter Text
All in all, Jake’s reaction wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
Everything started when Jake pulled Bradley into one of the many empty rooms in the innards of the carrier after his and Mav’s crash landing. With what felt like most of the crew out on the flight deck to congratulate the Dagger pilots, nobody was there to interrupt their impromptu make-out session. Following the best first kiss Bradley ever had, he finally got to put his hands on the other pilot’s golden skin and things escalated quickly. After trading messy handjobs, Jake took him to the med bay and practically shoved him onto the bed next to Maverick’s, only to promptly disappear.
They graduated to blowjobs at the post-mission celebration at the Hard Deck, a few days after they landed back on shore − ignoring each other in the meantime due to a mutual surge of panic. After that, they just kept going. Jake temporarily moved in with him for the rest of their eight weeks of leave. They had many, many open and honest conversations until they had established that they both wanted to try. Then even more to figure out what they each wanted from and needed in a relationship.
That quickly became a necessity, since, two weeks into their leave, they were ordered to Miramar to attend their – and Mav’s – promotion ceremony. They became Lieutenant Commanders, squadron leaders, and were, as such, assigned to different squadrons, the Daggers were never meant to be permanent after all.
Per Ice’s doing, Vice Admiral Mitchell continued to moonlight as a test pilot, mostly stationed at Miramar and a facility near China Lake. Bradley was incredibly happy his pseudo-dads allowed him back into their lives after more than a decade of bitter silence. After his return to active duty he regularly visited them whenever he had leave and called them several times a month. That however didn’t mean that he immediately told them about the change in his relationship with Jake. In fact, they didn’t tell anyone for almost a year, since both of them wanted to be secure in their newfound relationship first.
When he finally introduced them officially, it was a stressful experience for everyone involved. He had warned Jake beforehand about just who Mav was married to, but the shock hadn’t worn off yet. His dads, on the other hand, he didn’t tell a damn thing. Bradley was probably still the only person who could recall that dinner with anything resembling mirth.
Their first kiss had been almost two years ago, now. Since then, they had both been stationed all over the Pacific and their last times of leave had only lined up for four days, one of which Jake had spent jet-lagged to shit. His boyfriend got transferred to Lemoore for the time being and Bradley was shipped out to the middle of the Pacific once again. There he had been for the last two months, but he likely wouldn’t stay much longer. Hence his video call with Jake.
Jake who was speechless for perhaps the second time since he met him. Last time Bradley told him he loved him for the first time and now−
“I’ll have to change your birthday present.” Jake still sounded a bit dazed.
“You’ll have to− what?” That sure wasn’t the reaction he had expected.
“I had Pops pull a few strings so that our leave would line up. Already booked the resort and everything. But we can’t exactly leave the country with you heavily pregnant, right sweetheart?” Now Bradley felt dazed. God, how he loved this man. “Right, honey. I’m only eight weeks along, so the doc isn’t sure if it’ll stick yet, but…”
“But you want to try?”
“Yeah. I really hope it does. I know we only talked about this in theory before so− tell me your thoughts?”
“I’m really fucking excited, darling. Thank you so much.”
Bradley couldn’t suppress his smile any longer and was happy to see it mirrored on his boyfriend’s face. “Haven’t done anything yet.” “But you will, my love, you will. If everything goes right we have a long few months ahead of us. When did you find out?”
“A few hours ago. I couldn’t call any earlier, we just got reception again. Medical already ordered transport for me, I’ll be back at shore tomorrow afternoon.”
“Did you get new orders? Or are you on medical leave now?”
“Officially I’m on leave until a prenatal specialist clears me for duty again. But the doc here already told me that that didn’t have to be after I’ve given birth, I can be cleared for desk duty as well.”
“So you’ll call Cyclone?”
“I’ll call Cyclone. The only question is, if you will, too?” Bradley let his voice become hopeful. Jake wasn’t sure in the past, what he would do if they had kids, and this shouldn’t be a spur of the moment decision. Admiral Simpson offered Bradley a teaching position at TOPGUN after his promotion, under the condition of him getting some field experience as a squadron leader. He told him he could be a brilliant teacher, as long as he managed to get his temper under control. But he couldn’t very well fly pregnant, so they would need someone to take over the practical part of the lessons…
“I won’t leave you on your own when you’re pregnant. I’ll call him after you do and talk to my CO. Maybe they have space for both of us, with you on reduced duties.”
“You think we can wing this without calling Ice in?”
“He’s the last resort, darlin’. We’ll tell them when you’re ready, not before.”
Bradley saw the video freeze and heard the telltale crackling of an instable connection. “I love you, baby. Call you tomorrow.”
“Love you, too,” was the last thing he heard before the call disconnected. Looked like he had to wait a little before he could call Cyclone. At least that meant he had time to figure out how to best plead his case.