Chapter Text
"It's not going to work!"
You were yelling, anger lacing your every word. It wasn't often you were angry—at least, audibly anyway. Simple glares and quick comments did the job just as easily as having a full-on meltdown. But today, it was different.
Your yelling was the only thing Bob, Rooster, and Phoenix heard as they walked into the rec room.
"Well if you just hold still, I'll make it work!"
Hangman.
What the hell were you two doing alone? The trio knew as well as the next bunch of pilots that the two of you didn't often hang out alone. Especially after training lets out.
"You think someone as great as you would be able to figure something like this out," you scoffed. They could practically hear you rolling your eyes—it was obvious that whatever this was had annoyed you sky-high.
Phoenix shared a glance with Bob. Should they be concerned?
"Did I ask? When did I fucking ask?"
Rooster was the first to turn the corner, seeing the two of you on the couch, respective controllers clutched in your hands.
You must have been playing some two-player game—one character did one thing, while the other did something else. And neither of you seemed to be able to work together to do so.
They stayed quiet, knowing you two would have another outburst. The only question was who first, and when. Rooster glanced back at Phoenix, raising an eyebrow. She shrugged, holding her hands up haphazardly as she did so. She silently walked towards the stark white couch.
"I swear to god, Y/n, if you don't push me to the door, I'll—"
Phoenix popped up beside you, nearly making you throw your controller. You looked up at her with wide eyes, your heart having jumped to your throat in retaliation.
"What the fuck?!"
"Do you guys know how loud you're being?" Phoenix asked, a cocky smile on her lips.
You rolled your eyes as Hangman spoke up.
"It's their fault. I just wanted to relax. Enjoy myself. Maybe go to the beach or go down to the bar. Play volleyball with Payback or some shit. But no. Hell no. What do I get myself into? This stupid game that I can't even—"
"—it's not stupid," you said defensively, pausing it as you spoke. You crossed your arms over your chest.
"I am not about to argue, again," Hangman groaned, tossing his remote on the cushion beside of you. "I'm out. Done. Don't ask me to play this with you again."
Phoenix eyed the remote for a moment, her smile only growing.
"May I?" She pointed to the remote, giddy to think she'd be able to play a game with you.
If Hangman was so riled up because of it, she knew it would be good.
You smiled up at her. "Go ahead. Maybe then I'll actually get somewhere."
"Oh, fuck you!" Hangman groaned, leaning against the back of the couch.
Rooster snickered and glanced at Bob.
"You staying?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
After a few more levels of getting even more frustrated than the last, you passed your remote off to Bob. Maybe he could be better at this than you. You'd been on this level with Phoenix for the past ten minutes.
You glanced back at Hangman, who seemed far calmer than just half an hour ago.
You get up from your spot on the couch and walk over to him, giving him a smile. You nudged his boot with your own.
"Thanks for playing with me," you said.
"Yeah. Don't ask me to ever do that shit again."
"What, are you saying you didn't have fun?"
As a curse came from Bob, you couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah, I dunno if I'll ever play it again, either," you said. "You'd think since you fly a jet, video games would be a breeze."
"Not the same," Hangman said.
"Oh, not at all."