#Storm warning | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ofstoriesandstardust · 2 years

Text

what if you let them all in on the lie? (lt. bradley “rooster” bradshaw)

a/n: i am not lying to you when i say storm warning is the only series i’ve ever finished in a timely manner. it’s the power of cowboys. i kind of fucked up the ages a teensy bit so just.. ignore that. author oversight

summary: Rooster learns the truth.

title comes from kelsea ballerinas “homecoming queen”

main masterlist | top gun: maverick masterlist | storm warning masterlist | forget what you’ve been told | but i’ve found that time can heal most anything

folks who wanted to be tagged: @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @shanimallina87 @abaker74

warnings: swearing, death of both parents, mentions of cancer, kissing, a handful of allusions to sex if you squint, gross overuse of italics

word count: 4,108

He sighed, moving the coffee cup up to his lips as he listened to his friends chatter. They’re discussing their plans for their last day, leaving the small town early tomorrow morning.

He can feel Hangman’s eyes on him, their relationship back to being tense ever since whatever he had going on with Hangman’s girl ended. He hasn’t seen them together since he ended it with her but he assumed they were just trying to keep it on the down low, not hurt his feelings any more than they already did.

He hears footsteps on the stairs, eyes drifting to the figure of Hangman’s girl. She’s in a pair of pajama pants, Navy blue with shooting stars, and a black t-shirt with her high school’s name on it. She rubs the sleep out of her eyes, yawning as she turns the corner and her eyes lock with his own. Swallowing, he looks away, not wanting to talk to her. He can sense Jake standing up but is greeted with the sound of the front door shutting just a few moments later.

Looking back over, he watches Hangman sit back down, sighing and rubbing a hand over his eyes. He takes a sip of his coffee once more.

“The two of y’all still fighting?”

“Yes, of course we are, Em.” Hangman snaps. He almost raises an eyebrow at this, sure they were back together.

“Wasn’t asking you Seresin.” His gaze flickers up to catch Emma’s, realizing she’s talking to him. He doesn’t respond, just stretches out his arms as he moves to cross them. “Shame. Dating one of Jake’s friends severely decreased his chances of being stabbed by his little sister.”

Payback lets out a laugh. “What does Hangman’s little sister have to do with Rooster?”

Hangman- Hangman has a sister?

Tyler threw his friend a confused look. “That... that is Jake’s little sister.”

“Rooster’s been running around with Jake’s little sister.” Madison confirms as he feels his stomach begin to sink.

He’s fucked up.

“You have a little sister?” Fanboy asks, sitting a little straighter from where he’s sprawled out on the floor. “I didn’t know that.”

“I did.” Coyote says, leaning back against the couch. The group collectively turns to their attention to him.“You mentioned her once in passing a few years ago, when your Mom...” He trails off, looking around the room. “You know.”

He very much did not know.

Coyote clears his throat. “Anyways, she looks a lot like you, actually now that I think about it.”

Phoenix eyes grow wide as she turns to look at him. “Oh, you’re stupider than I thought you were Bradshaw.”

Now that’s not fair.

“Okay, no- hang on for a minute Phe, up until two minutes ago I wasn’t even aware Hangman had a sister. I thought she was his ex-girlfriend for Christ’s sake!”

Hangman makes a noise in the back of his throat. “That’s disgusting Bradshaw, this isn’t sweet home Alabama.”

“Do you blame me Seresin? The two of you haven’t gotten along since we got here!”

“I wonder why.” Emma scoffs, rolling her eyes.

“Shut up and mind your business Em.” Hangman shoots, eyes narrowing at the girl.

“You made it my business.”

“Actually, Ty made it our business when he convinced us all this was a good idea.” Lucas says, appearing in the doorway, the sound of the front door shutting following his words.

Tyler startles. “Don’t put the responsibility all on me, Madi agreed to having them here.”

She shoots her boyfriend a glare. “You were the one who came to me Ty and had I known this is how it was going to go, I would’ve told you to tell Jake to keep his ass back in San Diego.”

“Et tu, Madi?” Hangman asks, huffing out a dry laugh. She turns to him.

“Your little sister is hurting Jake, and somehow, you fail to see that.”

“No, I see it, but I don’t know why.”

“Oh that’s bullshit Jake.” Riley says, moving off the couch.

“What is going on?” He mouths to Coyote, watching the ranch hands fight. Coyote gives a half shrug, looking every bit bewildered as he feels.

“The reality is Jake, that you know exactly how you’ve fucked up. But instead of taking responsibility for it, like a man, you’re cowering your way out, pretending like you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’m not- Ty, back me up here.”

“I don’t disagree with them, Jake. I just thought... I thought that if the two of you were in a room together, after ten years, maybe you could sort your shit out.”

“Ten years?” Coyote exclaims, eyes widening as his head swings towards his best friend.

“Been longer than that at this point.” Emma mumbles.

“Maybe she’d forgive me if she didn’t have Em in her ear, talking her out of it.” Hangman shoots, words dripping with venom. It’s one of the only time he’s seen Hangman’s attacks not be carefully crafted, precise, meant to needle their exact target. It’s messy and angry and all too personal.

“You know what, fuck you Seresin. When you take off again, and you will, because that’s exactly the kind of person you’ve proven yourself to be, it will be me picking you sister back up again. You leaving shattered your sister once, Jake. I don’t think she’ll survive a second time.”

A silence settles over the room as Emma leans back against the back of the couch, tongue pressed in her cheek. “Em-” Hangman tries, voice much softer this time.

“And you know what, no one wants to say it, but it’s time someone addresses it. Your Mom is dead. Your Dad is dead. Your sister was here. And where were you?”

“Emma, you can’t-” Tyler says, but she turns to him.

“Can’t what? Say the truth? It’s about time someone did. Because I mean, fuck his sister right, if he gets to be out, traveling the world for the Navy, right? Fuck her, if it means he gets what he wants.” Emma sighs, standing up from the couch. “Go the fuck back to San Diego, Jake. Do what you do best and leave. But do me a favor this time and stay there.” He watches as Emma moves out of the room, pushing past Madison and Tyler to disappear into the kitchen.

He looks over to Hangman, who is looking down at the floor, eyes glassed over. “Jake, she’s just looking out for your sister, she doesn’t-” Lucas says as Hangman stands up, setting his hat back on his head.

“Yeah, I know.” He says, voice gruff as he slips past Riley, heavy boots sounding against the wood as he walks upstairs. He flinches as a door slams shut and he looks back to Phoenix.

“Phoenix, I am so sorry your engagement trip has been bogged down by all this petty sibling drama. I should’ve- should’ve expected this.” Tyler says, catching his team’s attention. Phoenix shakes her head.

“It’s okay.” She says softly.

“I just thought- I thought maybe they could change things. But I was wrong and I’m sorry because I know y’all came out here to celebrate the two of you.”

“No, it’s okay. Bob and I- we get it. It’s fine, please don’t worry about it.” Tyler nods absentmindedly, like he doesn’t quite believe her. Phoenix swings her head to look at him. “And how are you going to fix this Bradshaw?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll admit that I fucked up, but it’s not worth it. It was never realistic anyways.” She stares at him as he pointedly avoids her look, taking another sip of his coffee. There’s a long pause between the two of them as he continues to count the chips in the peeling paint of the ceiling.

“You’re not letting this go, are you?” Halo asks, a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Absolutely not.”

“Phoenix, how would I even begin to fix it?”

“Groveling would help.”

“Phoenix-”

She grabs his arm, pulling him to his feet. “C’mon Bradshaw, you’re gonna go grovel and explain to your girl that you’re a moron, and patch this right up.”

“Can I at least finish my coffee first?”

“No.” She says, grabbing the cup from him and setting it down on the table with a little more force than necessary. She all but drags him out of the house as he can do little but follow her, walking towards the stables.

He briefly catches the sight of her talking to Bob, still in her pajamas, as she paces barefoot. She catches sight of him and Phoenix and pauses, chest heaving.

He shoves his hands into his pockets, suddenly feeling a little silly. “Hi Cowgirl.”

You cross your arms. “You have an eavesdropping problem.”

Bob locks the stall door they had been at and moves to Phoenix, slipping his hand into hers. “We’re gonna go back inside. We’ll see the two of you in there, yeah?”

“Remember what I said Bradshaw! Don’t want to see you again till you’ve groveled!” Phoenix shouts over her shoulder as she leaves with Bob. He looks up at the roof of the stables, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

“Can’t believe I’m a grown adult being lectured by my friends.”

“Kind of think you deserve it.”

He doesn’t disagree.

“We should talk.”

You nod. “Yeah, let’s talk.” The two of you walk out of the stables, settling at a picnic table not too far from them. It’s old, the paint peeling, and he takes it as a good sign when you settle next to him instead of across from him.

“I- I should start by saying I’m sorry. I, kind of stupidly, thought you were Hangman’s ex.”

“So I’ve been told.” You murmur quietly, picking at the skin on your fingernails.

“He’s just- he’s never told us about a sister so I didn’t even- and well, I- I liked you a lot.”

It’s the first time he’s said the words out loud, really contemplated the fact that he liked Hangman’s sister quite a bit more than he originally anticipated.

“Liked, past tense?”

“Like, present tense.” He corrects, taking one of your hands. “The thought that you might end back up with him- it scared me and uh, I didn’t want to be the pawn in whatever was going on between you and him.”

“You were never a pawn. My issues with my brother remain the same but I’m not the type of person to just... use someone in that way.”

He swallows, nodding as he squeezes your hand. “I believe you. I should’ve asked, but I didn’t, I assumed, and I’m sorry.”

You shake your head. “It’s okay, I figure I could’ve said something but- when someone hurts you deeply like that, it’s just- it’s hard to explain.”

“I get it. Trust me, I get it.”

If anyone understood betrayal, and the anger that came with it, it was him.

“You know, he wasn’t here. My mom died of cancer when I was a freshman in college and he wasn’t here. He wasn’t here when I graduated from UT. He wasn’t here when Dad died. He left me alone and it’s been years and I just- He got out, got to see the whole goddamn world, and I was here, stuck in this shitty little country town, playing ranch hand until I died.” His grip on her hand tightens as he looks down at you. “I didn’t- I’m so tired of having to be the perfect one, the one to keep it together. To be the one to stay.”

“Hey, you don’t have to anymore. You’ve got quite a few good friends in there and for what it’s worth, I’m here too.”

He’s not entirely sure you processed his words as you shake your head. “Well, anyways, I’m sorry you and your friends got caught in the middle of all that.”

He shakes his head, turning to press a soft kiss to your forehead, choosing to let it go. You let him, leaning into his side. “Don’t worry about any of that. What matters to me is if this between us is still fixable.”

You look up at him. “I hope it is.”

He nods as he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to your lips. Unlike the other times he’s kissed you, it’s slow, more meaning rather than passion. The feeling he felt that first night he met you is back and he knows he’d be a fool to walk away again.

You pull away first but don’t go far, leaning your forehead against his own. “I wish we had more time.” You whisper, barely reaching his ears.

“Me too.” He presses another kiss to your forehead. “We’ll figure something out.” You look up at him.

“Yeah?”

He nods, confirming. “Yeah, if you want to put up with my dumbassery, then I’d be a fool to let you out of my sights again.” You let out a light laugh.

“Oh Bradshaw, if you only knew.”

It’s you who initiates the kiss this time, hands finding the edges of his flannel to pull him against you. He breaks the kiss, ducking his head.

“We should get inside. Shower. Start the day.”

You snort, leaning your nose into his cheek. “Yeah, showering. That’s what we’ll be doing.”

Phoenix grabs your arm as the group makes their way back inside the house, returning from their last night celebration. It was originally meant to be just their team but Bradley had asked you to come along, and Phoenix and Bob had just smiled and said the more the merrier.

Jake was noticeably absent the whole day and didn’t make an appearance the whole night.

You watch the kitchen door shut behind Bradley as you turn to face her and Bob, who are both smiling at you. “Hey, so what’re you doing a year from now?”

You shrug, slipping your hands into your back pockets. “Probably here. Why?”

Bob and Phoenix exchange a look. “Well, we wanted to formally invite you to our wedding.” Bob says, eyes gleaming with a hint of nerves.

You raise an eyebrow, suddenly struggling to breathe. “I mean- yeah, if you want me there, of course I’ll be there.” You say, words coming out in a breathless rush.

Phoenix smiles wide, reaching over to pull you into a hug. “”M so happy to hear that, because we’ve all enjoyed getting to know you.” You smile as you hug her.

“Thanks for letting me into the group.”

“Well, Bradley seems to really like you so we’d best be keeping you around.” You laugh as you turn, pushing the kitchen door open. Your friends are there and your brother is leaned up against the stove. You hop on to the counter to sit next to Bradley and smile at him as he hands you a beer from the fridge. There’s a silence as Phoenix and Bob take seats at the table that continues as you all sit there.

“We should talk before I leave, kid.” Jake says softly.

“I don’t really think I have anything left to say to you Jake.”

He sighs. “Kid-”

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that? That name was reserved for someone who cared about me, something you haven’t done in years.”

“That’s not true.”

Your eyes widen. “It’s not? Okay, did you care when you left with no goodbye? Did you care when your little sister was left all alone with our abusive father? Did you care when you didn’t call when Mom got sick or when you didn’t show up for her funeral? Is it caring, hm, to show up after more than a decade of radio silence? What the fuck about any of that is caring?” He doesn’t say anything and you take that as a cue to continue. “No, the only person you care about and look out for is you, Jake. What you fail to see about all of this, isn’t just the fact that you left. It’s the fact that you didn’t come back.”

“What would you have me done? You know just as well as I did that I was not welcome back here.”

“You could’ve called. Picked up the phone. Showed up after Dad died. Not left your 15 year old sister alone in this godforsaken house. God, Jake I know. I grew up here too. I know what it was like, but you have had chance after chance to fix things. To reach out. To say hey, I’m sorry for leaving and letting everything fall to you and carry lifelong burdens starting at the age of 15. But you haven’t done any of that. Instead, you skirted your responsibilities and left me here to carry the weight alone, to be stuck and pigeon-holed in this life I don’t want, just so you could get out. I had to bury our mother alone Jake.”

He sighs, crossing his arms. Another silence falls over the room as he thinks over your words. His voice is gruff one he does speak. “Okay, kid, I hear you and I’m sorry. I am sorry. I can’t imagine what that was like, what this has been like, for you and I would like to fix it.”

You huff, sliding off the counter. “Too little, too late Jake.” The kitchen door swings shut behind you as you walk through the house to the front door, wanting to escape to the porch swing and night air.

You all but collapse on the swing as the front door slams shut behind you. It’s not long that you’re out there alone as the screen door creaks open again, revealing Bradley. He wordlessly walk to the porch swing and you move to allow him to sit next to you. He doesn’t say anything as he opens his arms to pull you close and you take the invitation, crawling into his side.

You aren’t sure how long you sit there with him, the porch swing gently swinging from the force of him rocking it as you sit curled into his side. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” You finally say, unsure what else to say about the exchange you and your brother had had. He squeezes your shoulder.

“’S okay.” He doesn’t say anything more as he begins to rub soft circles into your shoulder. There’s another pause as you look out over the vast emptiness of the driveway and night sky. “Do you think you’ll ever forgive him?”

You shrug. “I don’t know if I can.” You whisper, a fear unfurling in your chest that you may not ever be able to forgive him. “I’ve been angry for so long that- I don't know if I know how to not be.”

He doesn’t stop his movements as he nods. “I understand.” There’s another pause as he moves you to be able to look into your eyes. “He is sorry though. Genuinely.”

“I- I just- I’m his sister. I deserved more.”

He nods again as he reaches on of his hands out to cup your face. “I agree.”

“And you know, it’s not like it’s all been shitty. I have great friends, a good job, and I haven’t hated home as much since Dad died. But I’ve always wanted more. I never got to have more because of the choices he made.”

“What’s stopping you now?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, your Dad is dead. You have no more tethers here. You could... get out. Take the chance to explore the world.”

You’re quick to shake your head. “No, I’m- My time, my chance, to have more has come and gone. These people need me and my place is here.”

He sighs, crossing his arms. “I just think you’d be happier if you stopped being afraid of taking the risk to seek more.”

You swallow, unsure about how to respond. Your chest ached at the thought of leaving this place you had so long called home, with these people who you’d known all your life. But what made your chest ache even more was the thought of never getting out. Of staying here, because he wasn’t wrong, that you were afraid. Of not seeing the world, of never knowing more than this.

“I’m terrified.” You finally admit softly, hoping the words will be lost to the night. “I’m terrified that I’m not as bright as I think I am, that I won't be as good out there as I am here, that I’ll walk way like he did, and not have a home to come back to, just like he did.”

Bradley pulls you close once more. “Don’t worry honey, I’ve got you. I’ll be right here in case you fall.”

The morning chill sweeps through you as you hug Bradley, not wanting to let go.

“This isn’t goodbye.” He whispers into your ear, as the pilots stand around you, getting their bags loaded in the cars and saying their final goodbyes. “It’s just see you later.”

You nod. “I know.” You swallow, not wanting to cry again in front of this boy you met just a handful of days ago. “Just gonna miss you.”

He pulls back to cup your face. “Hey, I’ll still be here, just a phone call away. I’ll see you before you know it.”

Last night, long after your conversation about Jake had passed, you and Bradley discussed the two of you. Where you went from here. While not ready to label things quite yet, you both agreed that you weren’t planning to date any one else moving forward. You guys had time to figure the rest out.

You had all the time in the world.

“I know.” You whisper softly as he leans down to kiss you.

Kissing never seems to stop taking your breath away. It’s full of words neither of you know how to say just yet. You cling to his UVA sweatshirt as he pulls away. His eyes flicker over your shoulder and he straightens up.

“Sorry, it’s your brother.” You glance over your shoulder to see Jake standing off to the side, eyeing the two of you with a hard look on his face. “You gonna say goodbye?”

You sigh. “Probably should, shouldn’t I?” He nods.

“Think that’d be best.”

You take a step back, Bradley letting you go. You turn, walking towards your brother, who raises his eyebrows at the sight of you. You stick out your hand, offering him a small smile. “Don’t be a stranger, Jake.” He eyes your hand as he sighs, taking it and pulling you into a hug. You blink, feeling tears sting your eyes at being this close to him after so many years. “You stay safe out there, okay?”

“Same goes for you kid. No more horse-related injuries.”

“No promises.” You whisper, squeezing his shoulders as he laughs, pulling away.

“Alright pilots, let’s hit the road. Y’all gonna miss your flight if we don’t head out.” Tyler says, shutting the trunk of one of the two cars, Riley and Lucas taking the other. Jake squeezes your shoulder as he walks towards the car, pulling Tyler into a hug. Emma and Madison come to stand behind you as Bradley jogs over, pulling you into one last kiss.

“For the road.” He whispers. You smile into his lips.

“Stay safe, Cowboy.”

He presses a kiss to your cheek as Phoenix calls out for him and he turns, heading towards the car. Emma wraps an arm around your shoulder and pulls you into her side as the cars pull out of the driveway. The three of you wave goodbye, watching them pull down the path. Madison wraps an arm around your waist as you stand there, even after they’ve driven away.

“You gonna be okay?” She asks. You shrug.

“Just hope it’s not the end.” Emma squeezes your shoulder.

“Even if it is, we’ll be here. And if not, if this is the door to the rest of your life, then we’ll still be here.” You smile, wrapping your arms around the two girls to pull them into a group hug.

“Y’all want pancakes? ‘M starving.” Madison says after a moment, stepping back from the hug, and you nod as the three of you turn towards the house. Emma keeps her arm around slung around your shoulder as you walk through the creaky screen door.

“Hey, for the record, I’m expecting my invitation to the Seresin-Bradshaw wedding.” She says and the three of you burst out into laughter, your soul feeling a little lighter.

Maybe this was it.

#bradley bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw fics #bradley bradshaw fic #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw fics #bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw fic #top gun maverick #top gun maverick fics #storm warning

204 notes · View notes