Chapter Text
When Jake Seresin opens his eyes the morning after a particularly brutal mission, everything feels wrong.
The first thing he notices is the oppressive ache in his body. His shoulders were tense, the meat between his neck and arms was tight. His back aches, his thoracic spine popped as he stretched out his back. His lumbar felt crunched. He rotated his pelvis, relieving some of the tension.
His last mission was rough mentally, not physically. The aches and pains his body is experiencing wouldn’t have come from the long flight he and Bradshaw went on last night.
He wonders if he strained his back out at the gym with his new strength training regiment. Though, he wasn’t at the gym yesterday because of the mission.
Jake can feel anxiety rising inside of him. However, the usual tightness in his chest doesn’t come.
In an attempt to calm himself, Jake takes a deep breath. But it felt like his ribs were stopping him from breathing all the way in.
As he stretched out his back and took as heavy breaths as he could, he felt very loose boxers rub against the sheets. That was odd. He never slept in boxers. He went commando in sweatpants because he got so cold overnight.
Wait. His bare torso was resting against the sheets. He wasn’t wearing a shirt either. Typically, he threw on some kind of t-shirt at least, if not a full on sweatshirt.
Had someone undressed him? What was going on?
With one last deep breath, he shuts his eyes. He does a mental scan of his body. His cock isn’t hard and throbbing like it is when he wakes up. There’s a soft and subtle ache, like he could get off nice and lazily, enjoying it, rather than fast and out of necessity.
Taking into account his new found back pain, he began to plan his day. He’d debrief first, then head to the gym, do some yoga before hitting the treadmill and then shower, jerking himself off.
After that, the crew had loose plans to get together, maybe play some pool or head to the beach.
Jake let out a heavy sigh, not wanting to get the day started. His alarm would go off any second now, but he still dreaded a day of debrief. Of having to sit in a room with Bradshaw and get told about all the ways they should have run the mission better.
“Fuck,” Jake sighs. At the sound of his own voice, he blinked. It was deeper than usual. He must be dehydrated from all of the talking he did over the coms.
Letting himself get used to the dim lighting in his room, he sat up slowly. Confusion overtook him while he looked around.
He noticed there were papers on the desk he doesn’t recall putting there. Photo frames up on the nightstand of people he doesn’t know.
“What the fuck?”
His voice sounded wrong. It was too baritone to be his usual voice. It felt a little rougher, less smooth than his normal sound.
He reached up, hand going to brush over his mouth. Thick fingers made contact with his upper lip. But what he felt startled him.
A mustache. Jake didn’t have a mustache. He looked god awful with any facial hair (he wasn’t going to admit that he couldn’t really grow it at all).
Was someone playing a prank on him? He whipped up out of bed, desperate to find a mirror, or some reflective surface. There was a mirror in front of the closet, letting officers check that their uniforms were in code before they left their rooms.
He whipped around, flicking on the full, sterile lights. They crackled, but Jake wasn’t focused on that.
In the mirror, his eyes stared not at himself, but at Bradley motherfucking Bradshaw.
“What the…” He trailed off, transfixed as his mouth, no, Rooster’s mouth moved in the reflection. He saw the way the man’s mustache moved with his mouth.
God, Rooster was big. In every sense of the word. His shoulders were broad, his wingspan massive. Jake had never seen him shirtless, the closest he got was the tight black shirt he wore under his flight suit.
Every part of Rooster was built. His hips and waist were taught with muscle. With a soft groan, Jake looked down at Rooster’s thighs. The muscle flexed, showing off the definition and sharp angles. Rooster’s cock twitched with interest, slowly growing in his boxers.
“No,” Jake scolded himself and the dick of the body he was in. It wasn’t the time for this.
His eyes met Rooster’s in the mirror.
Hold on. Jake had no idea what was going on other than the fact that he was staring at Rooster in the mirror as if he was in Rooster’s body. He felt the mustache, his muscles, his back against the bed.
There were a few things that could be going on. Jake could absolutely be dreaming right now, it begrudgingly wouldn’t be the first dream where Rooster was wearing very little clothes. He could have gotten some kind of concussion last night, even though he was cleared by medical. He could be losing his mind and going off the deep end.
Or, and this outcome would be even worse than losing his mind, he was actually in Bradhsaw’s body.
But if he was in Bradshaw’s body…does that mean Bradshaw is in his body?
As that terrifying realization dawned on him, there was a rapid and aggressive knock on his door.
“Shit,” he hissed, his body tensing. His heart rate spiked.
The knocking continued, getting louder and more frequent.
“Bradshaw, open up.” The voice outside the door practically growled. It wasn’t any voice, it was his own voice.
He scrambles to throw open the door, expecting to be eye level with himself. However, as he flung open the door, he was looking over the hair of someone, of his own body. Jake looked down.
His hair was a mess, ruffled up from fingers running through it.
“Let me in,” his body shoved past him, coming into Bradshaw’s room. He watched himself in a literal out of body experience, shut and lock the door.
He scanned his body, pleased at how good he looked. Still in last night’s sleep clothes, gray sweatshirts and a Navy sweatshirt, but he could still see how muscular he was. And damn, he had a nice jawline.
“Seresin,” he heard his own voice say. That was weird, hearing his own name out of his lips. But the way his body said his own name, it was Bradshaw’s canter through and through.
“Bradshaw?” He guessed.
Bradshaw, in his body, let out a sigh, both of relief but also frustration.
“What the fuck, Bradshaw.” The words felt wrong coming out of Rooster’s voice. Yet, they were still accusatory.
“The fuck, Hangman?” Jake watched Bradshaw cross his arms. “Why are you acting like I did this?”
“Oh, I bet you’d kill to be in my body.”
The look in Bradshaw’s eyes, his own eyes, was clouded and tense. It looked like he wanted to say something, say a lot of things. Instead of saying what Rooster wanted to, he went for a safer topic.
“Can you put clothes on my body?” He looked away from Jake, eyes catching a fleck of dust on the floor.
“Don’t like seeing yourself, huh?” Jake teased him, even though he felt like Rooster’s body deserved to be on display.
“Doesn’t seem fair.” Thin fingers began playing with the sleeves of his sweatshirt. “And no, not like this.”
Rooster turned, rummaging through the drawers, confident because this was his actual bedroom.
“Weird seeing my body while I know it’s you.”
Without looking at him, Bradshaw threw his uniform at him. Jake caught it easily, setting it all on the bed.
“You gonna go to debrief wearing pajamas, Bradshaw,” Jake stared at his own backside. Rooster was gripping the dresser tightly.
“I’m taking you with me back to your room.” Rooster’s voice was strained. Shit he wishes what was going on inside his head.
Jake grabbed the khaki pants, bending over to put them on. At the sound of fabric moving, Rooster turned.
“Fuck.” Jake felt a radiating pain shoot up his spine from his hips. “Ow.”
Even though he couldn’t feel the pain, Rooster cringed a long with him.
“Your body always hurt like this Bradshaw or is the universe being even more of a dick right now?” Jake had to bend at his knees deeper in order to step into the khakis. He zipped them up, avoiding brushing his hands over Rooster’s cock.
“I’m sorry,” Bradshaw whispered. Hm, Jake doesn’t remember the last time his own voice apologized for something.
“The fuck are you sorry for?” Jake slung on the black tank top Bradshaw threw at him. “The fuck happened in your plane yesterday?”
“Wasn’t the mission.” His responses are curt and it doesn’t seem like he really wants to talk about it but seeing as Jake’s shoulders ache while buttoning his own damn shirt, he kept pushing.
“Shit dude,” Jake rolled his shoulders back, hearing a loud pop. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph do you always hurt like this?”
“Yeah.” Bradshaw looked away, guilt quickly overcoming his features. “Pretty much always.”
Belt in hand, he narrowed his eyes at Bradshaw. There was more to the story.
“I woke up today, and I thought I was lucky, my back didn’t really ache and my hips felt fine.” Rooster took a deep breath. “Then I realized I was fully clothed and freezing cold when I realized something was wrong. I looked in the mirror and was surprised to see you in the reflection.”
“Yeah, felt that too.” Jake finished attaching the belt. “Let’s get you dressed for debrief, come on.”
Jake shooed Rooster out of his room and took him to Jake’s. This time, he grabbed clothes for Rooster to put on his body.
“Not that I mind seeing myself, quite the opposite actually,” Jake brushed his own hands as he gave the clothes to Bradshaw. “I can give you some privacy.”
“Okay.”
Jake turned around, looking at his dresser, staring at the picture of him and his siblings at their family ranch a dozen years ago.
He tried to take a deep breath but his body stopped him. Rooster’s eyes were on his back.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“Don’t be sorry.” Jake couldn’t imagine living like this every single day. Honestly, he was a little relieved that he could give Bradshaw a break from the overwhelming pain and aches.
“I know how bad it is, Seresin. Trust me, wouldn’t wish this on anyone.” When he heard the familiar jingle of his belt, he turned back towards Rooster. “When you live with it long enough, you get used to it.”
Jake swallowed, unsure what to do with the vulnerability Rooster was practically handing him on a platter. So he did what he always did.
“You uh, able to fly with that?” Jake was curious and didn’t have enough restraint to not ask the question. Plus, if Bradshaw was skirting around the rules, it could put himself and Jake in danger.
“And here I thought you may not be a mighty fucking ass.”
Jake waited for his chest to seize like it always did when his anxiety spiked. He shouldn’t have said that or at least framed it in a better way. God he was a fucking idiot.
“Yes Hangman. I’m not breaking any rules or anything at all. Don’t qualify for discharge with this. Check my medical records if you need to. It just makes my life more difficult.”
Jake hummed, fine with that answer. He knew how hard Bradshaw fought to fly and how he wasn’t stupid to endanger anyone other than himself.
Bradshaw looked at Jake, waiting for him to say something but instead of speaking, his mouth twitched. His right hand flew up to his sternum, squeezing his shirt.
“Chest feel tight?”
In response, Bradshaw nodded.
“Yeah, that happens. Sorry it’s happening to you.” Jake hoped he wouldn’t pry or respond at all. “Let me do my hair.”
He reached back into the dresser and grabbed the bottle of gel.
“You always get mini-heart attacks?” Despite his irritated voice, Bradshaw let Jake nudge him to sit on the bed to do his own hair.
On instinct, Jake felt a sneer come to his lips. Then, Bradshaw’s own vulnerability came back to his brain.
“I have anxiety,” he admitted.
“Isn’t that a disqualifying condition?” He heard Rooster asked. As much as it irritated him, it was a fair question to be asked. Bradshaw was dishing right back what Jake gave him.
“It doesn’t affect my flying and it doesn’t endanger anyone. It isn’t an issue.”
“Except the chest pains.”
Jake tugged on his own hair lightly as a way to show his lighthearted discontent with Bradhsaw’s sarcasm.
“Woah,” Rooster whispered, genuine surprise causing his eyes to widen.
“What?” Jake paused gelling his hair.
“Nothing, nothing. Finish up so we can get breakfast.”
Wordlessly, Jake finished making sure his own hair looked good.
“Do I need to do anything with your hair?” His voice still sounded weird as Bradshaw’s.
“Let me.” Bradshaw stood in front of him, reaching upward to ruffle his hair. It felt weird, having hands in his hair. But it felt nice, gentle.
“Alright.” Bradshaw removed his hands. “Let’s go.”
The two walk out together, Bradshaw following Jake. There were Top Gun students milling around, which made Jake chuckle. It felt like forever since he was at the academy.
The two walked with their heads up straight, grabbing quick meals from the cafeteria and grabbing a private table in the far corner to eat at. Both prayed that no one would speak to them. It would be too difficult and confusing.
But as Jake had noticed this morning, the universe was against them.
“Rooster!” He heard a booming voice before he saw someone come up to them.
It was Quake, a Top Gun instructor Jake vaguely recognized.
“Yeah?” Bradshaw looked up. Jake kicked him, because Bradshaw was actually Jake right now.
“Hey, Quake.” Jake tried to act like Rooster. He’d spent more than enough time staring at Rooster throughout the years that he could emulate him passably.
“Captain Maverick is looking for you.” Quake looked right at Jake, ignoring Bradshaw.
“Oh no.” Bradshaw looked up at Quake. “Sorry, but we got to get to debrief. We’re late as is.”
“Yeah, I’ll catch him later. Thanks.” Jake clambered out of the booth, making sure Bradshaw was hot on his tails.
Quake didn’t look too bothered, as it was usual for fighter pilots to be always on the move.
When they were out of sight from anyone in the cafeteria, Jake leaned down to talk to Rooster.
“What does Mav wanna see you for?”
“I dunno,” Rooster brushes him off.
“If we run in to Mav, I’ll need to know.” Jake doesn’t really want to run in to Mav at all, or anyone they know. “Otherwise it could blow our cover.”
“Let’s just get to debrief. I don’t wanna think about it right now.”
Rooster picks up his pace but Jake easily catches up because of his longer legs. God he wasn’t used to looking at himself like this. Was his ass always this fucking nice?
Not the time, Seresin.
“Remember,” Bradshaw says, holding his arm out to stop Jake from walking in to the debrief office. “Remember. You’re me and I’m you. So…we have to answer any questions as the other.”
“Yep. Got it.”
Their commanding officer for the mission, Cyclone, was already at wits end with these two, especially after the Daggers’ mission where Rooster and Jake both disobeyed his orders.
And now, the two men were sitting in office chairs, body’s seemingly swapped. The debrief started off fine, with Cyclone telling them about the cleanup crew and how the crew found a hidden target that was going to require another team to go out and take care of it.
As Cyclone began his performance review, Jake felt a sharp pain shoot up Bradshaw’s spine. He adjusted himself in the seat, trying to ease the discomfort. However, the pain was still evident.
Cyclone kept talking, discussing Hangman’s flying. Bradshaw sat up straight in Jake’s body and tried to wear the cocky smile had while being complimented.
“Bradshaw,” Cyclone looked at him. “You need to keep up with Jake. You’re his wingman. You can’t let him pull that far ahead of you.”
The admiral was pointing at their flight chart where Jake lost Rooster for a few seconds to avoid getting caught by passing surveillance.
Internally, Jake was beaming. Externally, he tried to mimick Rooster’s disappointed in himself face. His mustache felt weird.
“And you-“ Cyclone sharply pointed at Jake’s body. “Need to start fucking communicating with Rooster so he can at least anticipate when you’re going to change maneuvers.”
“Understood.” Bradshaw kept it short and simple. The less they said, the better.
Cyclone continued talking, but Bradshaw’s body was causing Jake to keep adjusting his legs to try and ease the tension off his back.
Across the table, he heard Bradshaw’s chair squeak. His eyes flicked over to where he could see Bradshaw holding his thighs together thightly. He rocked back and forth slightly before adjusting himself.
Oh no. Jake knew what was wrong with him.
“Lieutenants. What the hell is going on with you both?” Cyclone barked at them. “Why can’t either of you sit still? You were both cleared from medical.”
There were several beats of silence as Jake and Bradshaw tried to figure out what to say.
“Apologies, Admiral,” Jake heard his thick Texas accent come out. Damn, did he really sound like that? He didn’t realize how thick it was. “Rooster got an urgent message from Maverick right before our meeting. Said it was an emergency.”
Cyclone looked at Jake to confirm.
“Um,” Jake looked over at Rooster, who nodded subtlety. “Yes…that is correct. I need to speak with Maverick immediately.”
“If we have to suspend debrief, I understand,” Bradshaw says as Jake, feigning indifference.
They knew Cyclone hated Maverick, especially after the Daggers’ mission. But this was their only option.
“Please, Admiral.” Jake begged. “Can you contact Maverick? Quake said he was looking for me right before we came in here.”
A very heavy, exhausted sigh left their CO’s lips.
“I’ll be right back.” Cyclone dragged a hang over his face. “Don’t move.”
Tensely, Jake and Bradshaw waited until the door shut before they snapped to face each other.
“You need to tell Maverick to push the debrief back. And he will.” Bradshaw’s words were spoken with true Jake Seresin confidence.
“What do I say? What’s going on?” Jake’s heart thumped loudly.
Bradshaw looked very uncomfortable.
“I…uh…” The unconfident tone was unusual for Jake’s voice. “My mom. This is the anniversary of her dying.”
“Oh.” Jake swallowed uncomfortably.
“I was hoping to just get through the day with my head down but clearly I can’t even have that.” Bradshaw blinked rapidly to stop tears from falling. Shit Jake didn’t know his body could cry.
“I’m sorry, Rooster.” Jake was sincere.
“‘S fine.” There was a sniffle then a few seconds of silence. “Just…just tell him I’m not doing well and I need to be home right now. They won’t let me take bereavement leave but after debrief we’re getting some time off ideally.”
God, Jake felt horrible that Bradshaw was going through this in a body that wasn’t his.
“Are you?” Jake turned in his office chair to try and catch a better look at his wingman. “Doing well, I mean?”
Bradshaw didn’t answer, but the clouded look in his eyes seemed to give Jake an answer.
“It’s okay if you aren’t.” He tried to sound as little of a jackass as he could.
“I just really don’t want to be thinking about it right now.”
They fell back in to silence. Bradshaw didn’t offer anything else and Jake didn’t know what else to say to help. Or if he should even help.
Sure, he’d consider them friends but even then that only changed after the Daggers’ mission recently.
Loud shuffling sounded out in the otherwise silent room. He looked down, noticing his eyebrows were tense and drawn. Bradshaw had crossed one leg over the other, but kept shifting his hips.
“The timing of this is incredibly inappropriate.”
“Then don’t say it, Seresin.” Bradshaw was suddenly curt.
“Did you…get off this morning?” Jake cringed at his own words but they were already out of his mouth before he could process Bradshaw’s plea.
“Oh my god.” Bradshaw groaned. His forehead thunked against the wooden table so he didn’t have to look at Jake. “I told you not to say it.”
“Hey, be careful with my forehead.” The teasing helped them ease into this conversation. A middle finger suddenly raised up in the air. Bradshaw was face down on the table but his skin was flushed. “Rude, Rooster.”
“Anyway,” Jake grimaced. “I’m not saying this because I want to have this conversation at all. Trust me, I would rather talk about anything else. But did you get off in my body this morning?”
There was a drawn out guttural sound from Bradshaw, though it was muffled against the table where his mouth was resting. Then, he sighed sharply.
“I did not.”
“I figured that was the case.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Had to make sure.”
“I hate this.”
“I’m not having a blast either.” They were talking in circles at this point but Jake needed to spit it out.
He prepared himself to explain the situation to Bradshaw.
“If I don’t-“ He cut himself off. Masturbate was too clinical. Jerk off was crude. “If I don’t come in the morning, I start to get extremely restless, irritable, and uncomfortable.”
God could hear a pin drop after Jake stopped talking.
“That’s why you were an asshole whenever you were sharin bunks?” Bradshaw picked his head off the table.
“Nah,” Jake leaned back in the chair and stared at the projector screen. “That’s just ‘cause I’m an asshole.”
“Ain’t that right,” Bradshaw drawled. “Glad you finally admit it.”
“You’re not much better.”
“Oh, I so am. I am much less of an asshole than you are, Hangman.”
“Can it, Rooster. Being an asshole is justified when you have two confirmed air to air kills.”
“Will you ever stop bragging about that?”
“Maybe I’ll stop bragging when you start-“ The sound of the doorknob rattling cut Jake off.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Cyclone walked back into the room looking even more pissed off than when he left. Maverick followed behind him, face grim. “I see the rivalry continues.”
Maverick walked in, staring at Jake’s body, which Bradshaw was currently inhabiting, with a barely noticeable angry look in his eyes.
“I will excuse myself.” Standing up, Bradshaw brushed his khakis and walked across the table. Leaning back, Jake watched his own body approach him then lean in.
Bradshaw’s mouth tickled his ear.
“Mav is going to offer to come with to the cemetery. Politely decline and say that you’ll go alone tonight. He will push you but stand your ground.” Bradshaw tightly grasped his shoulder, just like Jake would. He grimaced at the slight ache. “Pretend I was an asshole.”
Jake pretended to make an upset face as he watched Bradshaw walk out of the room, Cyclone following him.
There were a few awkward beats of silence. Jake wasn’t sure what to say or how to proceed.
“I’m sorry, Bradley.” Maverick let out a heavy breath. “I am so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Jake tries to stop Maverick from having an emotional moment with him, not the actual Bradshaw.
“No, it’s not. It’s the first anniversary of your mother’s death since we started talking again and fuck I should’ve been here for you all these years, Bradley. Fuck, it’s what your parents would’ve wanted. And god, I’m here now but all those years you’ve gone through this alone.”
“Maverick…” This was violently inappropriate. Maverick should be telling the real Bradley all of this. Jake wasn’t supposed to be hearing any of this. “Can we please have this conversation later? I just…can we talk later?”
“Yeah, yeah sorry.” Maverick gave a little wave. “I’m sorry for springing that on you. Are you doing okay?”
Unsure what to say, Jake shut his eyes. He tried to imagine the pain of losing a parent, both parents. His parents were his biggest fans and number one supporters and fuck it would kill him if they died.
“I imagine it’s extra hard this year, yeah?”
There. Jake didn’t know why it would be extra hard but he knew he could play that up.
“Yeah, it is. I wanted to just put my head down and get through the day and I woke up feeling really, really weird and then I got to debrief and I just can’t focus and pay attention to what Cyclone is saying and I didn’t think it would be this hard.” Emotions welled up inside of him. Shit, he felt tears come to his eyes. But what he repeated Bradshaw’s words about getting through the day when it morphed in to his own feelings about their fucked up situation.
“Bradley…” It felt like Maverick didn’t really know what to say either. “I will get Cyclone to cancel the debrief. We can push it off for a few days. It’s fine. He owes me a favor anyway.”
“He owes you a favor?” Jake snorted. That was funny.
“Hardy-har, I know.” Maverick rolled his eyes. “But seriously, kid. I am going to get him to cancel the debrief so you can go home and take care of yourself. Ice and I are more than happy to swing by and stay with you. I can’t imagine you want to be alone right now.”
“I-” Though he tried to stutter something out, the words never came.
“Or, you could come stay with us if you need. Tom is going to drive me to the cemetery so I can pay respects to your parents. We could take you with us.”
It felt like more of a command rather than a question and Jake wanted a tsunami to hit to get him out of this situation. Rooster said to tell Maverick that he wanted to be alone.
“I think it would be best if I were alone today. I need some time to go home and settle my mind before I visit them.” Looking down, Jake bored a hole into his brown uniform shoes.
“Hey, kid. I am trying to be better and not be overbearing but Bradley,” Maverick was getting choked up so he paused. “You have been alone for so long. I don’t want you to be alone anymore. You have me and Tom. I know everyone you're close to is on deployment and I just don’t want it to be harder on you.”
Out of every single day possible that this could have happened, it had to be today? Jake was learning everything about Bradshaw against his consent in an intimate way and he hated it. This was not how he wanted to get to know Bradshaw.
Jake felt overwhelmingly devastated by Mav’s words. How long had Rooster been alone? What else had he been suffering through all by himself, no support system until just a few months back when he and Maverick reconnected. Fuck, his heart ached for Rooster. He never wanted him to be alone again.
“It’s okay Mav, I’m just very overwhelmed. I promise, I will be fine. I just want to take tonight to visit them and just be, if that’s okay?”
He felt Mav’s heavy gaze on him, assessing. He didn’t like being under this intense scrutiny again. It was too much for him to bare, even when he was at Top Gun for the special detachment but now it is so much worse.
“Fine.” Jake felt his entire body slump in relief. “If, and only if you check in with me regularly.”
“Yeah, okay,” he agreed easily. That he could do.
“Alright, let me talk to Cyclone. But first…is Lieutenant Seresin still causing you issues?”
Here we go. Just when Jake finally feels like he is catching a break, the universe gives him the middle finger.
“I just saw him whisper and you looked like he said something rough. I figured he wouldn’t pull that shit again since the mission. I thought he was past that shit, you told me yourself that you and him were working well together in the skies and only marginally wanted to punch each other on the ground.”
“No, no.” He shook his head, carefully choosing his next words. “It wasn’t anything like that. It was a snarky dig towards Cyclone. We are fine. We are good, actually. If he wasn’t I’d tell you.”
That felt like a good answer, so Jake looked up at Maverick, who was biting his own lip.
“I would, I promise. It’s fine.” Jake kept eye contact with Maverick in order to convince him to let it go. God, in any other opportunity, Jake would be ecstatic about having the chance to talk about himself in whatever way he wanted. But he wasn’t a douchebag.
“C’mere, kid.” Mav opened his arms for Jake to step into.
Hesitantly, Jake stood up, letting Maverick tightly hold him close. It was odd because Mav was several inches shorter than Bradshaw and thinner.
But Maverick held on tight, so Jake followed suit.
“Can you,” Maverick whispered. “Please play Take It Easy on the Piano for your mother? Goose always used to sing it to her whenever he could.”
“Okay,” Jake agreed without a second thought. “I will.”
“Good.” After a few more seconds, Maverick pulled back. “Let me talk to Cyclone and I’ll send Hangman back in here while I do that.”
“Alright,” he nodded his head and began to stretch out his upper body. The door shut and he heard footsteps walking back in. “Bradshaw.”
“Hangman.” It was still trippy to see his own body walk towards him. “What happened?”
Working with such limited time before Cyclone and Maverick came back, Jake repeated the entire conversation to Rooster. It was painful to watch the way that his eyes changed with what should have been said to him in the first place.
The regret Maverick had about being away for so long. Ice and Maverick going to his mother’s grave. Asking to play the piano for his mother. All of it.
“Hey,” Jake placed a hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “I’m really sorry.”
“Nah, man. It’s fine. Not like you could do anything about it.” Though he didn’t seem bothered at all, he saw how dark Rooster’s face was.
“I know, but you should have been the one to hear that from Maverick. Not some…asshole rival turned coworker you only want to punch in the nuts every so often.”
Jake was gifted a very gentle laugh. It felt good to make Rooster laugh, even softly.
“Thank you,” Bradshaw said genuinely. He tilted his head up to look at Jake, a small smile teasing his lips. “But you asked me if I jerked you off this morning, so I think that qualifies us as at least friends.”
“I’m honored,” Jake said while jokingly placing a hand up to his chest. “I don’t just ask anyone who wakes up in my body if they have gotten me off.”
The two chuckled, eyes still locked together. They were good and Jake knew it.
“Bradshaw, Hangman.” Cyclone opened the door and took a small step inside. “Debrief has been delayed by three days.”
This problem better fucking go away in three days or Jake might just commit a crime.
“Thank you, so much Admiral,” they both said in a rush.
“Dismissed.” He grabbed his file and laptop and walked out.
The two let out heavy sighs of relief.
“Keep me updated, kid.” Mav said, head poking through the door.
“I will,” Jake answered.
Listening intently, Jake waited until Mav’s footsteps had fully receded before he turned back to Jake.
“What do we do?” He asked Bradshaw. “What do you want to do?”
Bradshaw began to chew on his lower lip, just like Maverick. His fingers twitched to stop him from busting up the lips on Jake’s body.
“We can’t stay here, it’s too dangerous.” Rooster said. “Though the worst of it should be in the past now.”
“Yeah, you’re right. So what then?” Jake was wondering about getting a hotel for them, but that would be a pain in the ass.
“My house,” Rooster offered, staring out the window at the late morning sun. “We can stay at my house until this goes away.”
“Are you sure?” Discomfort began to settle in Jake’s stomach again. “I have already barged so much into your life in the past few hours.”
“I…It’s fine, Hangman.” The way Bradshaw said his callsign was soft. “It’s for the best. It’s okay. You handled the conversation with Mav really well. I’m sorry you had to go through all of this, but it’s fine. It’s just not ideal, you know? I don’t mind you knowing any of this, I just didn’t want you to find out like this.”
Like this? Jake figured he’d never find out any of this.
“It’s okay,” Jake assured him. “I’m sorry you’ve had it rough.”
“It’s how the cards were dealt,” Bradshaw shrugged. “C’mon, let’s pack out shit and get the hell outta here.”
“You sound like a real Texas hotshot.”
“‘S what happens when I have your voice, dumbass.” Yeah, Rooster was fine.
Jake leads him out of the conference room and down to the barracks where their rooms have been located at Top Gun while they were on this last mission.
The two packed quick bags in their own rooms, not the rooms of the person they were currently inhabiting.
“The fuck do we do now?” Jake asked, duffel in hand.
“I’m taking you home,” Bradshaw answered, looking up at his own face.
“Wow, I feel special now, darlin’,” he jokingly bumped the other man’s shoulder.
The words fell flat without his accent causing Bradshaw to snort.
“I will warn you though, I don’t put out until the fifth date.”
“Oh bullshit,” Rooster rolled his eyes.
“You’ll have to see to find out.” Turning around a corner, Jake threw him a usual line he used to pick people up.
“Uh huh.” It was a pretty automatic answer from the other pilot, showing that he wasn’t really listening.
Their banter had turned more into flirting, but they were so focused on getting the hell out of there without talking to anyone neither of them picked up on it.
The second Jake’s eyes landed on the rusty blue Bronco, his heart finally eased. It had been beating so hard he thought he might pass out. He knew that Bradshaw must have been experiencing chest pains but didn’t say anything to Jake about it.
“What did you mean when you said you’re taking me home?” There was an eagerness Jake had to keep uncovering more about his wingman, selfishly.
“You’ll see,” he responded, putting on his aviators to shield the bright sun.
“Oh, Hangman, these glasses do not look good on you,” Bradshaw laughed loudly.
Jake looked over to see what he looked like in them.
“Again, rude. But I think they look fine. I think you are just jealous because I have actual taste in sunglasses and you don’t.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Rooster threw the truck into drive and sped out of the parking lot.
It was the first time that Jake had been in Rooster’s iconically insufferably lovable truck. Jake had never seen a vehicle so clearly loved. The dash board had scratches in it from years of traveling, there were indents where Rooster’s hand grabbed the gear shift. Jake knows that there’s both a cassette player and CD players in the truck and there’s boxes of cassettes and CDs to prove it.
Seeing his own body in the driver’s seat was weird. The way his hands gripped the wheel was all Bradley Bradshaw through and through, but it didn’t look right. No, Rooster’s body, stupid mustache and freckled skin should be there. Plus, Bradshaw had to lower the rear view mirror to see out of it, which Jake did not appreciate.
It was weird. Jake would normally stare at himself and think about how fine he looked driving this car. But instead, he knew it was wrong because this car was Bradshaw’s and oh how he wanted to see him drive it one day.
They weren’t on the road for long before Bradshaw pulled into a hidden road, passing through trees as his Bronco kept going through the rougher street. There were a few houses scattered about, but Rooster kept passing them until he hit a secluded house, surrounded by forest.
The house was older in style, with beautiful white pillars supporting the overhang of a deck. The siding was a pale blue color, worn from the years it has seen. The garage was dented in two places.
And there was a mailbox. Jake felt his heart sink.
The Bradshaws
It was painted on the left side of the mailbox.
“This is my childhood home.” Rooster spoke softly, shutting the engine off. He grabbed his and Jake’s duffels out of the back before Jake could protest.
Jake noticed the right side of the mailbox, making his heart sink.
With love, Nick, Carole & Bradley Bradshaw
He had to look away. It hurt too much and he wasn’t Bradshaw.
“Hey,” Jake caught up to him. “Gimme my bag.”
“Nah, it’s fine.” Rooster somehow held up both bags while he unlocked the door. Shit, now he could appreciate how his body looked. This was weird, right? He needed them to be back in their own bodies. Like, this morning.
Stepping into the home, Jake took a few cautious looks around. There was a staircase on the left leading to the second floor. To the right it was an open living room, with wooden floors, an older couch and recliner, and a beautiful, well loved piano.
It was beautiful. Jake can almost imagine what it was like for the family to have lived together here. He could see the love that this house had been home to. It was so worn in yet cared for all at the same time. It was easy to see that Bradshaw had updated the house throughout the years, replacing old furniture and touching up paint. But it was still home.
“Bedrooms are upstairs, come on.”
Cautiously, Jake followed Rooster upstairs. It felt like he was somewhere special, somewhere he didn’t belong. At least, not yet.
“Here, this was my room growing up,” Bradshaw opened the door, bringing Jake inside of a large, carpeted bedroom.
The room was painted navy blue, with gray sheets covering the queen sized bed.
“It’s the guest room now.” He put down Jake’s duffel on the bed. “Let me show you the bathroom.”
The bathroom was right across the hall. There was another room, an office. Bradshaw let Jake peek his head in it. It was covered with accolades. The American Flag honoring a fallen soldier. Medals of honor. Hung dress whites. It was a collision of the past and present in the most touching way.
“And I'm in this room,” Rooster just dropped his bag in the doorframe of what was obviously his parent’s old bedroom.
The two stood there, unsure where to go from here. They were safe at least and could figure everything else out now that they were in a calm environment.
“Hey, Rooster.” Jake knew what he was about to offer could end poorly for him, but he wanted to anyway.
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to visit your parents?” He asked hesitantly. Today had been full of Jake overstepping his boundaries, and whether intentionally or not.
Rooster looked at Jake, body tense against the doorway to his bedroom.
“I can come with, if you’d like. I’m not sure if you want to be alone or if some company would be nice but I figured that-“
“Yeah,” Rooster cut him off. “Can you come with?”
“Of course.” Jake gave him a soft smile. “Let’s get changed, okay?”
“Okay,” the other man said softly. “We need to switch clothes though.”
“Shit, yeah.” The thought escaped him while packing. “Just grab whatever you want to put on me and I’ll do the same.”
“Okay,” Rooster repeated, bending down to sort through his duffel.
Jake turned to go back into his room, taking a few deep breaths. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a soft t-shirt. Reaching in, he grabbed a belt.
There was a soft rapping of knuckles on the doorframe. Rooster stood there, pile of clothes in his hand alongside a loopy smile.
“Oh god no,” Jake narrowed his eyes on a frankly horrendous shirt. “No. Do you own literally any other clothes?”
“Oh, of course I do.” He walked forward, grabbing the clothes out of Jake’s hands. “And you’re going to wear it, cowboy because it’s a family tradition.”
“Is it now?” Jake appreciated Bradshaw opening up to him.
“Oh yeah.” Rooster’s eyes were bright. Jake wanted to see what the emotion looked like on Rooster in his own body.
“Tell me about it on the way, yeah?” There was a softness Jake began to feel for the man across from him.
“Yeah,” Rooster nodded his head, smile growing into one of genuine joy. “Now get changed.”
When Rooster shut the door to his bedroom, Jake did the same. He shucked off Bradshaw’s dress uniform, making sure to fold it neatly and put his wings and accolades carefully on the dresser.
Though Jake has seen this outfit on Bradshaw more times than he can count (light wash jeans, a white wife beater, his dog tags and whatever stupid button down patterned shit he has on), it feels right on his body. He hates to admit it but Rooster pulls off whatever 80s aesthetic he’s emulating.
Being in Bradshaw’s body, he gets it.
Jake finished putting on the belt and opened the door.
“Oh fuck no,” Jake hissed out upon seeing Bradshaw standing there, shit eating grin on his face.
“Oh fuck yes.” Rooster grasped the edges of a Hawaiian shirt that he put on Jake’s body.
Clearly, it was Bradshaw’s but he put it on over Jake’s form fitting clothes. The shirt was too big, hanging loose over his shoulders.
“This is sacrilegious.”
“I look good, and now you do too.”
“Oh shove it. You’re lucky I am not putting a Stetson on your head right now.”
“I’d look good in that too.”
Fuck, Jake has to agree. He’d love to see a cowboy hat covering up Rooster’s curls, hiding them like a secret for Jake’s eyes only.
Why was Jake thinking like this? It must be the fact that he’s been saddled into very forced proximity with Rooster - and his body.
Bradshaw made sure he had his keys and wallet before leading Jake back out to the truck. Igniting the engine, Bradshaw channel surfed until he landed on something classic rock.
“So,” Bradshaw draped an arm over the back of the passenger’s seat. “My dad, ever the charmer he was, only wore button downs like these. Like, that was all he owned besides his uniforms and dress whites.”
Jake hummed, looking out the window.
“And my mom hated it. Well she said she hated it. Everyone knew she loved it. It was so…my dad, you know? Every single day, button down and jeans. Even on special occasions.”
“Like?”
“My birth, of course. Every birthday. He never got to see me graduate, but Mom knew he would be there in the stands, floral button down in my school colors on. That’s when she started to wear them.”
Jake’s heart squeezed again. Being in the car hurt his back slightly, but the seats were large enough he could cross his legs and stretch his spine.
“It was how we always felt close to Dad, you know? We’d sit at the piano and play his favorite songs, we’d visit him all the time. I’m thankful I got to learn about Dad through my mom.”
Rooster paused, chewing his lip.
“And Mav, before everything.” He let out a slow breath. “And after too.”
“Tell me about your Mom,” Jake prodded gently, looking over at Bradshaw.
“My mom,” Bradshaw says with a smile. “Was the most incredible woman in the world. Not sure how she did it, raising me by herself. Everyone says it takes a village but my mom was the village. Teaching me piano, taking me to baseball practice, helping me study for the SAT’s. Keeping Dad in my life without letting her grief overcome her.”
Tears began to form in his waterline.
“She was always so accepting of me. Of me wanting to go to the academy, of my interests and passions.”
A single tear slid down his face.
“Even though Ice and Mav had been together since shortly after my Dad’s death-“
“Wait,” Jake blinked rapidly at the new information.
“Holy shit you didn’t know?”
“I guess I didn’t,” he admitted. Jake likes that knowledge though. Loves that queer pilots had been around since before his time.
“I’m impressed because they’re so fucking obvious about it. Maybe that’s because I’ve known them since they were just kids themselves, but they’re so in love it’s gross sometimes. And it’s gross whenever they have sex and leave hickeys everywhere.”
“No fucking way.”
“Fucking way,” Rooster laughed, his fingers tapping on the back of Jake’s seat. “After the Daggers’ mission, Mav had to start wearing makeup to hide them.”
“Oh my god!” The pieces of the puzzle connected, allowing Jake to see the little moments for what they were.
The glances and banter, the softness and teasing. Their gravitation towards each other. It was everything.
“Anyway,” Rooster carried on. “Even though I knew Uncle Tom and Uncle Mav were together and my mom had no issues with that, I was scared to tell her I’m bisexual.”
Jake’s breath hitched. Fuck he hopes Rooster didn’t catch that.
“Did you not know that either? Jesus Christ,” Rooster said without any venom. “I’m out.”
“I just don’t think it ever came up.” Rooster was Rooster. His energy was unique to himself. Jake was too focused on that to worry about his sexuality. “Did you know I’m bi too?”
“Yeah, dude.” Bradshaw looked at him over his aviators. “You told me the first night we met? Remember, at that bar in New York before our first mission together.”
“And you remembered?” That was over the years ago at this point.
“Of course I did. The hottest fucking guy in the bar came up to me, whispered that he was bisexual and that I was the only handsome man in the bar but I was too straight for him to fuck.”
There is no memory of this occurring at all in Jake’s head. Of course he remembers that night, but barely. He remembers getting black out drunk…because of the incredibly hot fighter pilot that was sitting behind a piano.
Fuck, what? How long has Jake found Bradshaw attractive? All these thoughts he’s been having about Bradshaw’s body have unpacked a decade worth of severely repressed feelings towards Rooster.
Because he thought Bradshaw was straight.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Jake looked over at Bradshaw, who pushed up his glasses to avoid letting Jake see his eyes.
“Because you acted like you wanted to kill me the next morning. You were frankly a cocky asshole and acted like if I got near you you’d rip my cock off and take my balls with them.”
“I’m sorry.” He feels horrible. What if he didn’t clam up on Bradshaw? Where would they be now? “It’s my defense mechanism. When I think someone could hurt me I guard myself.”
“Seresin, I’ve known you for what, 13 years now?” Bradshaw slows the car to a stop at a red light. “I’m aware of that.”
Now, Jake is chewing on his lips.
“Listen,” Bradshaw moves his right hand to put it on Jake’s shoulder. “I don’t believe in the whole, everything happens for a reason and it’ll happen when the time is right.”
Rooster doesn’t have to elaborate. Why would his parents both die on him before he turned thirty? Why would Mav pull his papers? He was never ready for any of it.
“However.” Bradshaw gives a squeeze. “I know the timing wasn’t right for us back then.”
Jake shifts in his seat. Did Rooster reciprocate his feelings?
“But maybe it is now. Who knows?”
Stunned, Jake stares at him. He needs to know. Needs to know if Bradshaw feels the same way. If they’ve grown up enough that they could work?
“We’re here.” Effectively, pulling into the cemetery paused the conversation.
With familiarity and ease, Bradshaw drove through the graveyard until they hit the back part of it. The grass was bright and green, the sun was shining on their skin.
“C’mon.” Bradshaw removed his hand from Jake’s shoulder. “Come meet my parents.”
Jake exits the car, sheepishly following Rooster to where his parents’ graves were at. He stood next to Rooster, reading the graves.
Carole Danielle Bradshaw
Loving mother, wife, daughter
She is preceded in death by her soulmate, Nick
The words were lovely, the couple’s connection evident in the words. But what caught his eye was the year Carole died.
“Your mom passed away when you were sixteen?” Twenty years. She had been gone for twenty years.
That means Bradshaw has been alone since he was only sixteen.
“Yeah.” It’s a soft whisper next to him. “I miss her.”
Rooster rests his head on Jake’s shoulder. Jake’s eyes move to his father’s grave.
Nickolas “Nick” Edwin Bradshaw
Goose
Loving father, husband, son
He precedes his soulmate in death
Gently, Jake wraps his arm around Bradshaw’s shoulder. It’s hard to forget how young Bradshaw lost his dad.
“Do you mind if I talk to them?” He whispers up at Jake.
“Of course I don’t mind. Want some privacy?”
“Actually.” Jake felt a squeeze on his bicep. “Could you stay? If you don’t mind.”
“Absolutely I can,” he responded, bringing his left hand up to nestle in his hair and gently scratch at Rooster’s scalp.
“Hey, Mom.” Rooster starts. “Mav bought you flowers. I had to tell him about what you said.”
Jake continues to play with his hair to comfort Rooster.
“My mom always said,” Rooster’s now speaking to Jake. “That flowers were for the good times. She said that people only got her flowers for good times, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, her birthday, Christmas, promotions. Never for injuries or sickness. When she was in the hospital and dying, she wouldn’t let anyone get her flowers.”
“So on the anniversary of her death, no flowers. Of course, Mom, Mav just gave them to Ice who rolled his eyes because really, graveyard flowers aren’t that romantic.”
Every single word, Jake hung on to. He listened as Bradshaw told them what had been going on since he last stopped by, which wasn’t long because it was just his father’s death anniversary.
“This is Hangman, by the way.” Rooster lets out a sigh as Jake gently squeezes his hair. “Ma, you’d love ‘em. He’d call you miss or dear and you’d welcome him into our home with a blush on your cheeks and your heart fluttering.”
Jake’s heart starts fluttering. Hearing that Rooster’s mom would’ve liked him means more to him than it should.
“Shit, you’d love him more than me.”
“Impossible,” Jake whispered into Bradshaw’s ear.
“Dad, you’d wanna strangle him if you watched him fly. He’s worse than Mav, like so much worse than Mav.”
“Hey!” Jake tugs on Bradshaw’s hair.
“But you’d respect the shit outta him, Dad. The way he pushes me to be the best version of myself as a person and a pilot. The way he always fights for what he knows is right. His aim, too. You’d love to play him in pool, teach him all your secrets.”
Tears well in Jake’s eyes. The words were so sincere and kind. Rooster was so soft to Jake at this moment, so open and vulnerable but so loving. Jake felt like his heart was on fire in the best way.
Rooster kept talking for awhile, more stories about his missions and what he’s been up to.
“Ice and Mav are still insatiable for each other. They’re horny fuckers, Ma.” Rooster chuckles. “I can hear your voice in my head. Bradley Brian Bradshaw, you’re right god damnit but be nice!”
“Brian!” Jake spluttered with a laugh. “No way.”
“Shush.”
“Alright B-cubed, I’ll keep it quiet.”
“See Dad, you’d fucking love him.”
The chatter continued for a few more minutes.
“I love you. Both of you. And I miss you every day. I’m so lucky to be your kid. Ma, I’m so proud of being your son and calling you my mother.”
Before he could stop himself, Jake placed a kiss on Bradshaw’s forehead. Another squeeze came to his bicep.
“I’ll be good if you guys be good,” Bradshaw joked. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”
Rooster peeled himself off Jake.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered.
Standing there, saying goodbye to Bradshaw’s parents, he felt like they skipped fifty relationship steps. Of course, switching bodies causes that to happen, but it felt like he and Rooster began to see each other differently because of it.
They slid in to these new roles. Their relationship had always been very fluid, going from bitter rivals to friendly rivals back to bitter rivals to friends to whatever this is right now. Jake wasn’t mad, just a little disoriented like he had been the past day.
He thinks about their quick growing comfort. Of course, their rivalry is still a solid tenant to their relationship, which is exactly how Jake wants it. But now there’s comfort and familiarity they have with each other.
More softness and fondness. More open expressions of affection.
As they are pulling in to the driveway, Bradshaw’s phone begins to buzz violently.
“Fuck it’s Mav.” He parks the car, whipping his phone out. He sends Mav to voicemail and reads the texts.
He types back a few responses and grabs his keys out of the ignition.
“Let’s head inside.” Jake silently follows Bradshaw into his home again.
“Hey, you hungry?” Rooster asked him.
“I could eat.” Jake shrugged. He was trying to put the ball in his friend’s court.
“Pizza. We’re getting pizza.” Rooster whipped out his phone and tossed it to Jake. “Pizza Hut. Order whatever you want.”
“Alright.” Jake went and ordered three pizzas, since he knew Bradshaw and himself could obliterate a dozen slices each.
“Shit, Mac’s calling again.”
“Don’t pick up.” Bradshaw grabs his phone and sends him back to voicemail. He sent another text. “I’m telling him that I’m gonna play the piano then get dinner. I’m putting him on do not disturb. Come on.”
A warm hand grips his wrist. Jake happily lets himself get dragged to the piano in the living room. Rooster grabs the bench and pulls it out, gesturing at Jake to sit down.
“I don’t know how to play,” he admitted.
“Lemme show you.”
The two men barely fit on the bench together, since they were both large and muscular. But Rooster was vibrating with joy, home at his piano. Lifting his hands, Rooster hovered Jake’s fingers over the piano keys.
He played around for a little bit, plunking out soft melodies and random notes. Jake is transfixed at his own fingers moving so gracefully across the keys. It was different from Rooster’s hands, which played heavily and confidently.
“I coulda been a very good classical pianist if I had your fingers, Seresin.” Rooster didn’t stop playing, but he shut his eyes, letting his fingers lead him. “They are incredible. Deft, slender, graceful, everything.”
There was a blush crawling up Jake’s face at being complimented so outwardly in this way. He was used to being called hot or sexy or things like that, but this was different. These weren’t shallow flirts, trying to get Jake into someone’s bed, they were genuine and deep.
“You know Take It Easy?” Rooster shifted his hips, pressing in close to Jake.
“Well I’m running on the road trying to loosen my load,” Jake sings, Bradshaw’s own voice carrying the words. He doesn’t sing as well as the real Rooster, but it sounds acceptable.
“Hold on cowboy, jeez,” Bradshaw wriggles his fingers and hovers his fingers over the starting cords. “Alright, again.”
“Well I’m running on the road trying to loosen my load,” they sing together.
“Oh my god my voice sounds terrible!” Jake nudges Rooster to stop singing.
“No it doesn’t, shut up! Come on, let’s go.”
“I've got seven women on my mind. Four that wanna own me, two that wanna stone me.One says she's a friend of mine.” The two sing, smiles wide on their faces.
“Here,” Bradshaw grabs Jake’s hands and places them over a few keys, spreading out his fingers. “On the beat, you want to press down and hold until you hear the note die out.”
“Okay…” Jake tested it out.
“Good,” praised Bradshaw.
Fuck, Jake’s ears burned under the praise. Jake always had a thing for being praised, sue him he had an ego that loved to be stroked. And coming from Bradshaw it was even sweeter because of their rivalry, of his competence, and just him in general.
“Then, you are going to move here.” Rooster showed him the second cord. “And alternate between back and forth, okay?”
They start singing the song again, this time Jake is playing along.
“You’re doing so good, Hangman. You’re a natural.”
Jake tried not to stutter out the beginning of the last chorus.
“Come on, baby, don't say maybe. I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me. We may lose, and we may win. Though we will never be here again. So open up, I'm climbin' in
So take it easy.”
The two finished the song, both of them beaming at each other. Jake’s breath was quick. He felt heat radiating off of Bradshaw. The air was electric, each of them searching the other’s eyes. The entire day had been leading up to this moment. No, the last thirteen years have been leading to this moment.
Bradshaw leaned in, hand coming up to brace the back of his neck when the men heard tires on a rough road.
“Shit, Mav?” Jake tried to catch the car in the window.
“No, Mav doesn’t drive things with four wheels. It’s the pizza.”
Jake hears a car door shut, then footsteps.
“They can wait,” Rooster says, hands grasping Jake’s hips. “I can’t.”
Leaning in, Rooster kisses Jake, hands squeezing his sides. Jake’s lips felt smooth against Bradshaw’s body and fuck Jake wishes they were back in their own bodies because he wanted to be the one feeling Rooster’s mouth. He didn’t want to be kissing himself. He needed to be kissing Rooster.
There was a harsh knocking at the door, causing Jake to jolt in Bradshaw’s grip. Rooster pulled back to say something, but Jake wrapped his arms around Bradshaw’s neck, brushing their bodies together.
“Fuck,” he heard his own voice in his ears. Jake felt his hard on press against Rooster’s soft cock, which was now twitching with interest. Jake’s cock was fully hard and Bradshaw was suffering with the consequences.
The knocking kept going.
“One second!” Jake yelled out harshly. A pizza delivery person was not going to get in the way of this special moment with Rooster. “How long have you been hard?”
Bradshaw brushed his lips over Jake chastley.
“I mean…since I woke up this morning pretty much.” Bradshaw’s hands trailed to Jake’s back. “Feels weird groping my body.”
“I know what you mean.”
“But it went away from when Mav came in to talk to you during debrief and then it was calmer until we sat on the piano bench together.”
“And you’ve been hard since then?” A deep hum left Jake as his hands grasped the short strands of his own hair.
“Painfully so.” The knocking continued. “I should get that.”
They break apart so Bradshaw can open the door and quickly snag the pizza with a thanks before shutting and locking the door. Jake walks up to him, grabbing the three pizza boxes before pushing past Bradshaw and walking up the stairs. Thankfully, Rooster gets the hint to follow him.
When both of them hit the top of the stairs, Bradshaw grabs Jake’s collar and drags him into Rooster’s bedroom. Jake drops the pizza boxes on the dresser and presses himself against his own body. He grinds against his hard on, grabbing Rooster and dragging him into a kiss.
It was hot, mouths open and tongues meeting roughly. Jake gently sucks on Bradshaw’s tongue before pulling back.
“Bradshaw, please. Let me get you off,” Jake pleaded, his hands roaming his body rapidly. “I know you have to be pent up.”
That made Bradshaw whine. Shit, Jake wishes it wasn’t his voice he heard. This stupid body switch needed to be over soon.
“Is it weird?” Rooster asked, staring at his own body.
“Objectively, yeah but it’s fine.” Jake leaned in for another bruising kiss. He swiped his tongue against Bradshaw’s. “Think about it this way, I know what makes me feel good, so I can make you feel so fucking good right now. I know exactly how to touch me, how to make me come or how to pull back if I want to drag it out.”
A soft moan left Bradshaw.
“Please.” It was soft and desperate, just how Jake likes it. “Make me feel good, I want it. I need it.”
Jake’s anxiety began to flare. They were in each other’s bodies, Rooster was grieving his mom. Things were strange and they really should talk about what they are and what they want to be.
“Don’t think,” he heard his voice say. Now that was familiar. “It’s okay, Hangman. It’ll work out.”
“Fuck, never thought I’d hear those words coming from you, Rooster.”
“Actually, they’re coming from you,” Rooster snarked back.
“My lips, sure. But they’re coming from you.” Impatient, Jake nuzzled his neck. He began placing open mouthed kisses against his skin.
“Please let me jerk you off,” Bradshaw let out a groan as Jake’s teeth grazed his skin. He ignored Jake’s previous comment and began to run his hands up Jake’s back.
“God yes,” Jake nipped his neck one more time.
“Can I…” Bradshaw broke them apart. “I know what is going to be most comfortable for my body with how you are probably feeling right now.”
Fuck he was so considerate of Jake.
“You can be in between my legs once we switch back, though.” It was a promise for more. A promise Jake took in a heartbeat.
Bradshaw led him to the bed, helping him on the king sized mattress. Jake sat up, letting him adjust the black pillows behind his back and his hips.
“Lay back,” Rooster pressed an arm on his chest to encourage him. The pillows kept Jake’s upper body cushioned while being upright. “Good. Spread your legs so I can take off your clothes.”
“You gonna sit between my legs?” Jake drawled. “You gonna be good and let me get you off?”
“Jake,” Bradshaw keened. “Please, fuck I need it so bad.”
“God, Bradley. Let me give it to you, honey.” Jake grabbed the overshirt and threw it off, quickly discarding the tank too. “Come on, get naked.”
Jaked watched Bradley, fuck, Bradley undress hastily, yanking off jeans and socks with ferocity. He crawled onto the bed, hands coming to Jake’s waist.
“You wanna grind against my cock while I jerk you off?” Jake whispered, hands reaching into Bradley’s curls and tugging.
“Fuck, please. God, please Jake.” The whining was beautifully obscene. They hurriedly took off their pants and boxers. Bradley was on his hands and knees, a beautiful sight, but Jake saw how painfully hard his cock was.
“Sit between my legs, darlin’,” Jake patted his hard thighs.
Bradley turned around, lowering himself in front of Jake. He pressed his back against Jake, their bodies flush. It felt good to bracket Bradley like this. Bradley turned his head so he could kiss Jake.
This kiss was softer and languid. They tasted each other, got to know what their tongues felt like against each other, how their breaths felt when they combined. Jake used his right hand to grab Bradley’s hair, tugging the man away from their kiss.
“Let me touch you, sweet thing.” Jake moved his left hand inward, dancing along Bradey’s inner thigh. “Wanna hear all your noises, but first, get my palm wet.”
Letting go of Bradley’s hair, he brought his hand up to Bradley’s mouth. Instead of licking his palm, he sucked two of his fingers into his mouth, soaking them in saliva.
“Fuck, baby.” Jake groaned, tucking his face in Bradley’s neck. He gently bit the skin, then sucked it gently before licking over it. “As good as you are right now, let me touch your cock.”
That was enough encouragement for Bradley to remove Jake’s fingers and get his hand wet enough to stop any friction from hurting.
“Good, you’re so good for me Bradley.”
“Thank you,” Bradley whispered, appearing to also enjoy being praised. “Please, touch me. Please make me feel good, Jake.”
Jake peppered kisses on the nape of Bradley’s neck and reached around to grab his cock. He swiped the head with his thumb, causing Bradley’s entire body to jolt.
“Relax, it’s okay, sweet thing.” Jake gripped the base of his cock and began to slowly pump his length. Bradley whined, his head falling against Jake’s shoulder. “Let me take care of you.”
Bradley nodded, eyes glassy. Jake teased him, knuckle running alongside the vein on the side of his cock. High pitched moans left his mouth as Jake picked up his pace. Jake’s cock was hardening against Bradley’s back.
“So close, Jake. Please,” begged Bradley. “Let me come for you, please.”
Fuck, Jake loved hearing Bradley so fucked with pleasure. He watched his body shake, thighs jolting every soften. His chest was heaving with the gasping breaths he took. Sweat began to form on his forehead.
“You’re being so good for me, you sound so gorgeous Bradley.” Jake quickened his pace again, jerking off Bradley in earnest. Precum was leeking from his cock, dripping all over the forest green comforter.
This experience was going by too fast for Jake’s liking. He craved more of Bradley. More whines and moans. More pleas. He wanted to make Bradley cry from overstimulation. But he knew his own body and knew how worked up Bradley had to be right now. There had to be more. They were going to do this again Jake just felt it in his bones.
In his lap, Bradley was shaking, a string of pleas and Jake’s name falling from his lips.
“Make me come, please.” Bradley jerked his hips up to meet Jake’s hand. “Make me yours.”
“Shit,” hissed Jake. “You are mine. Come for me.”
With a cry, Bradley arched his back, come spurting out of his cock, splashing on Bradley’s chest, Jake’s hand and the comforter once more. Bradley let out one long, drawn out moan.
“Jake!” His cock was twitching but Jake slowed his thrusts, working him through his orgasm. “Thank you, fuck. Thank you for letting me come.”
“You were so good for me, honey,” praised Jake. “Kiss me.”
Bradley twisted his head to the left, catching Jake’s lips. It was sweet and slow again, with no rush in the world. Bradley’s mouth was wet from drool and Jake couldn’t get enough of it. He pushed open his mouth, pressing down on Bradley’s tongue.
“Jake,” Bradley broke their kiss. Chasing him, Jake kissed him twice more before he let Bradley go. “Let me give you a massage. Please. You’ll feel so much better in the morning. I know all of the right places to press and stretch. Then, I can suck you off nice and good in the morning.”
Jake exhaled sharply. Fuck he wanted Bradley to suck him off. And based on the way his muscles were tensing right now after he jerked off Bradley, it sounded like a dream.
“Then we can go to bed together, does that sound okay, sweetheart?” Bradley blinked up at Jake, hoping the man would take him up on his offer.
“It’s too early…and the pizza?” A frown broke out on Jake’s face. However, he was fucking exhausted.
“We both got back from an ass kicking mission. I’m impressed we haven’t been yawning this whole time, dear.” Bradley placed a kiss on his forehead. “It’s okay. I will text Mav I need some sleep and he won’t bother us at all.”
Once Bradley had said it, Jake realized that he had been fighting exhaustion this whole day. Originally, he chalked it up to the stress of being in another body. But he was right, they barely got any sleep on the mission. As much as Jake didn’t want to leave Bradley for sleep, he knew they both needed it. Especially if this body switch predicament continued. So, he agreed with the man sharing the bed.
“If we go to bed, can we face tomorrow together too, right?” Jake spoke hesitantly.
“The only way we face tomorrow is together.” Another promise Jake knew deep in his gut that Bradley would follow through on.
“Okay, yeah. That sounds really nice. Thank you.” A kiss was placed on his temple. “And a massage sounds nice. That is very sweet of you.”
“I know how nice it is in my body to get massaged,” Bradley spoke while helping Jake turn around. They avoided the come-stained section of comforter and moved to the leftmost side of the bed.
“Lay down, Jake,” Bradley ran a hand along his back, pressing into the muscle deeply.
Jake’s eyes fluttered closed. Every touch felt like his skin was igniting. Bradley was so sensitive, even when not being touched for sexual purposes.
“Good,” he praised when Jake laid down, allowing Bradley to maneuver his arms above his head.
Bradley started off by straddling him, bending forward to press between his shoulder blades. A few pops from his body startled Jake.
“Shhh, you’re okay.” There was silence from Bradley, then a small click. When Bradley’s hands returned, Jake noticed they were covered in something. With a sniff, he learned it was coconut oil.
Jake felt calloused hands rub at his shoulder blades, palms digging into the muscle. The muscles were tight, so the pressure bordered on pain. Then, Bradley repeated the motion and this time it was all pleasure.
A grunt escaped Jake as Bradley moved to his shoulders. He squeezed then pressed his fingers into the soft flesh. Bradley took his time kneading the skin, working out knot after knot.
Bradley kept going, moving to his neck, trying to release the tension at the top of his spine. Face down on a pillow, Jake was on cloud nine. Each touch was a spark of sensation, making Jake want to moan over and over again but he refrained.
“It’s okay, baby. Let go Jake, I know how good it feels.” Soft encouragement broke down Jake’s walls.
When Bradley’s hands touched Jake again, they were on his hips, thumbs digging into his tight nerves right above his ass. These hurt a little more, causing him to whimper.
“I know, it’s okay. Just a little more.” Fingers kept pressing. Once the pain crested again, Jake let out a moan of relief. “Good, Jake.”
The longer Bradley massaged him, the better he felt. He started to fade in and out of consciousness once Bradley began to hum soft tunes. Jake was too exhausted to pick up on what they were, but they were beautiful in his ears.
The way Bradley touched him was so reverent it was almost too much to handle. He felt worshiped, even though Bradley was doing his own body a favor, it was entirely for Jake. He made sure to release every bit of tension that could cause Jake pain in the morning, or stop him from sleeping. His body was warm from touches and his soul was warm from Bradley’s proximity.
At some point, his sleep became deeper, the touches fading away.
“-ke. Jake, love.”
“Hm?” Jake sighs into the pillow, barely staying awake.
“-gonna go put the pizza in the fridge then come back, okay sweetheart?”
“Mkay.”
Promptly, Jake falls asleep again.
“Jake.” Gently, Bradley is shaking him awake. “Can I clean you up?”
Sluggish, Jake nods.
“Can I hear you?”
“Yes,” Jake’s words come out slowly. “Please do. But hurry. Want to hold you.”
“Thank you, baby. I will.” As a warm rag cleans up around him, Jake falls asleep again. It doesn’t last long, Bradley wakes him up again. “Do you want me to put clothes on us?”
“Absolutely not.” It was the first coherent thing he said in awhile, making Bradley laugh brightly. “No clothes. Just you an’ me.”
“Of course, Jake. Let me move the comforter, though.”
His body is being moved, but he doesn’t mind one bit. Though he wants a kiss from Bradley before they sleep. Somehow, Jake hears Bradley shut and lock the bedroom door and shut the blinds, making the room almost pitch black.
Finally, fucking finally, Bradley crawls into bed with him.
“Hold me, Bradley,” Jake pleads softly. “Kiss me.”
Thankfully, Bradley does both. He wraps his arms around Jake, pressing their forehead together. Jake feels Bradley kiss him, so he kisses Bradley back, moving his arms. One lands on Bradley’s chest and the other goes to his back.
“That’s it, you’re okay.” Bradley kisses his forehead before tucking his chin into Jake’s hair. “Let’s go to sleep, love.”
“Already on it,” whispers Jake. “See you in the morning, Bradley.”
That earns him a kiss on the head.
“See you in the morning Jake. Get some sleep.”
By the time Bradley finishes speaking, Jake is halfway to sleep again. His body is relaxed and he feels so safe with Bradley sharing the same bed as him. This is what he has been wanting for 13 fucking years. Bradley is perfect to him, perfect for him.
For the first time since waking up in his rival’s body, Jake knows it is going to be okay. He knows they will figure everything out together. They are going to be okay.
Jake falls asleep, knowing that whatever happens when he wakes up, Bradley and him will take care of it as a team.
Sleep overcomes Jake, two bodies pressed together. They were one in that bed, two souls combining, completing each other.