Chapter Text
Not once in the five months since Bradley has first hooked up with Jake, he has seen him as nervous as he is now. Bradley is driving them in his Bronco to San Diego to spend the weekend with his dads. So far Jake hasn't met them - well, not met them as Bradley's dads. Of course, Jake knows who they are, even knows one of them personally. And that's why Bradley has been very careful about the facts he has told Jake about them: living in San Diego, married for almost 10 years (basically since it's legal), but a couple for more than 30 years, both in the Navy, his surrogate dads since he was 12 years old - but that's about it. He generally didn't want to be treated any differently just because he grew up with the most headstrong troublemaker and the guy who now is probably the best Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet the Navy has ever seen and additionally, he had been mad at both of them for the most part of his adult life. So there are only a handful of people who know who his dads are - Nat (who has probably also told it to Bob), a couple of childhood friends he still meets once in a while. But not Jake, yet.
And there's a good reason for that. Even without knowing who Bradley's dads are Jake has already been freaking out for the past couple of days, constantly asking Bradley what clothes he should pack, if he needs a present for them, even if he should get a fresh haircut. Each time Bradley has told him that he really doesn't need to make such a fuss about it, that they are just normal people and that he is sure that they’ll like him but to no avail, Jake hasn't stopped worrying. And that's why Bradley has decided to tell him only after they are already on their way.
It's a five hours ride from Naval Air Station Lemoore where both of them are stationed now and Bradley is pretty sure that Ice has something to do with their redeployment although Ice doesn't admit it.
Two weeks after the uranium mission, Bradley filed an application to be redeployed to either NAS North Island, NAS Lemoore, or NAS Fallon which are all directly in or in a reasonable distance to San Diego so that he would be able to drive to his dads within a day. He actually didn't think his application would be granted but only a couple of days later he had gotten the confirmation to move to Lemoore. He would have put this off as sheer luck but the following events validated his suspicion that it wasn't.
Three months after the mission, Bradley officially told his dads that he is seeing Jake. Neither of them were surprised and they didn't make a big deal out of it and so Bradley was quite open about the fact that he hated that he could see Jake personally only every other weekend and even then only for a single day, if at all.
Another two weeks later, Jake called him beaming with joy and told him that he got an offer to work at NAS Lemoore, too. Jake (not knowing that he is the boyfriend of the surrogate son of the COMPACFLT) thought it was a very lucky coincidence but Bradley immediately knew that Ice had pulled some strings. He didn't complain though and so Jake moved to Lemoore, too.
The next time Bradley spoke to Ice, he tried to thank him but Ice pretended that he didn't know what Bradley was talking about. Instead, he suggested that they come visit sometime soon because he and Mav like to get to know Jake, too. Mav, of course, already knows him because of the mission but Bradley directly understood the point that there is a difference between getting to know Hangman and getting to know Jake because even for him this difference has been huge. Plus, Ice hasn't met him at all yet. So Bradley agreed and now they are somewhere north of L.A. on their way down to San Diego.
Bradley clears his throat and glances over to his boyfriend. In his hands, Jake is holding his dog tag necklace to which he has also added a little silver cross. He is fidgeting around with the whole thing and it's obvious that he's nervous. Bradley is sure he’ll only make it worse now but he thinks it better to prepare him now than never.
“There's something I should tell you about my dads before you meet them,” he begins slowly and can immediately feel Jake’s eyes on him although Bradley is focusing on the street.
“You sound like it's something bad,” Jake replies cautiously.
“No, no need to worry, really,” Bradley tries to calm him down, placing his right hand on Jake’s thigh and stroking it gently. “The thing is they’re pretty well known within the Navy.”
“Okay,” Jake answers slowly, placing his hand on top of Bradley's and waiting for him to go on.
“You know them, too,” Bradley adds.
“You sure?” Jake asks.
“Yes, definitely,” Bradley insists.
“Okay, and this info is important because…?” Jake wants to know, still cautiously.
“Because I don't want you to freak out in front of them,” Bradley finishes his sentence. He is sure that Jake will most definitely freak out in front of them but he hopes that he can keep his reaction at least a bit at bay by telling him beforehand.
“I don't think I have ever freaked out in front of a superior, just because they are a superior,” Jake snaps back at him, obviously a bit offended.
“But you’ve already been freaking out for the past couple of days only because you're about to meet my dads,” Bradley reminds him.
“Only because I’m about to meet your dads? Just because that's not a big deal for you, it doesn't mean that it isn't for me, either,” Jake retorts harshly.
“Jake…” Bradley replies soothingly, stroking his thigh again.
“Don’t Jake me like that! You know I can't stay mad at you when you do that,” Jake complains and yes, Bradley is fully aware of that and therefore not surprised that Jake's voice is already softer again.
“I’m trying to do you a favor here, you know,” Bradley continues.
“A favor?” Jake asks back in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're about to meet the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet,” Bradley blurts out.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Bradley?!” Jake yells.
“I'm still talking about my dads,” Bradley insists, trying to stay serious.
“What does the COMPACFLT have to do with your dads?” Jake asks back, now more confused than mad at Bradley.
“He’s one of them,” Bradley elaborates.
“I don't know what kind of stupid joke of yours that is but I tell you it's not funny,” Jake complains.
“I'm not joking,” Bradley replies, now laughing.
“You really want to make me believe that you were raised by ‘the’ Iceman?” Jake asks in disbelief.
“Yes.”
“Prove it!” Jake challenges him, still not believing him.
Bradley sighs. “Unlock my phone, open my chats and look for a group chat called… ‘We love Baby Goose’...” Bradley cringes saying that out loud. The group chat name is highly embarrassing but each time he tries to change it to something normal like ‘Family’, Mav does his best to come up with an even more embarrassing name so Bradley has stopped to change it before it becomes too weird.
“Baby Goose?” Jake chuckles.
“Well, yeah, because ‘Goose’ was my father's callsign,” Bradley explains, feeling awkward and blushing.
“I know that,” Jake replies, still chuckling. “I just think it's cute.” He pats Bradley's hand which is still lying on his thigh. “Baby Goose.”
“Anyway, go into that chat and take a look at the group members,” Bradley finishes his list of instructions.
In the corner of his eye, he sees Jake actually taking his phone. Then he holds it out to Bradley who quickly turns his head to face unlock it so that Jake can use it. He silently scrolls through Bradley's phone for a moment.
“Wait a minute, that makes Maverick your other dad?!” Jake calls out.
“Well, yes,” Bradley shrugs, chuckling at Jake's outburst of realization. Bradley remembers that their coming out and wedding were quite a big topic even on national news back then although that was during the time Bradley didn't talk to either of them. They still had invited him to their wedding but Bradley hadn't been there and he regrets it to this day that his stupid pride had stood in the way of seeing them getting married. “Didn't you know that they are married?”
“I did know that but as you may remember I didn't believe a word you said until a moment ago,” Jake pointed out, shaking his head in amusement and oblivious to Bradley's thoughts.
“But now you believe me?” Bradley asks now.
“Yes, yes, I believe you now,” Jake replies. “But why does Phoenix wish you good luck with me and my biggest idol?” he then asks, apparently reading a message Bradley has just received.
“Did I allow you to read all my chats?” Bradley snaps back, not particularly thrilled about Jake’s nosiness.
“Sorry,” Jake apologizes. “But what does she mean with ‘his biggest idol’?”
“Jake, everyone knows that you stan Iceman,” Bradley sighs.
“I don't!” Jake disagrees.
“You do!” Bradley insists.
“Why does she know that he's your dad and I don't?” Jake asks and Bradley immediately knows that he doesn't like where this conversation is headed.
“Because she’s my best friend,” Bradley sighs. “And she didn't freak out about it by the way.”
“And you tell your best friend but not your boyfriend?” Jake feels hurt. Bradley can hear it in his voice.
“Jake…” Bradley sighs again.
“Don't Jake me again,” he hisses back.
“I’ve told you a thousand times that she's my best friend and that there's nothing going on between me and her, never has been and never will,” Bradley snaps and puts his right hand back on the steering wheel. He sees Jake crossing his arms in front of his chest. He can't remember how often they've already had this conversation in the last months and he guesses that Jake only brings it up now again because he’s nervous but Bradley is nevertheless annoyed.
They fall into a tense silence, neither of them willing to give up their pride but after a couple of miles, Bradley sees a gas station and pulls over. This silence is unbearable and Bradley hates to see Jake sulking. He stops the engine and turns around to look at Jake who’s still staring through the windshield.
“I'm sorry I snapped at you,” Bradley mumbles, one of his hands back on Jake’s thigh.
Jake just shrugs and doesn't look at Bradley.
“And I’m sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I just thought it would be easier like this because you were so nervous already. Didn't want to make it even worse,” Bradles apologizes. “I really didn't mean to hurt you.”
Jake doesn't answer but he puts his left hand on top of Bradley which he takes it as a good sign.
“Jake, please look at me,” Bradley continues with a soft voice and it actually works. Jake turns his head around.
“I'm sorry I overreacted - again,” Jake mumbles. “I just, I don't know, still can't get my head around the fact that you actually chose me,” he admits quietly.
“Of course, I did! I love you, you idiot, and I would never cheat on you,” Bradley smiles, fully aware that this was the first time he actually says those three words out loud.
“You love me?” Jake mumbles, his eyes growing wide.
“I wouldn't introduce you to my dads if I didn't,” Bradley assures him and now Jake smiles again. He pulls Bradley over by the neckline of his t-shirt and their lips crash onto each other.
“Love you, too,” Jake groans, kissing him in a way that makes Bradley's legs feel like jelly and his blood rush into his pants.
Bradley kisses him back just as much and Jake's hand drops down between Bradley's legs, brushing over the bulge in his pants.
“Not here,” Bradley complains although he would very much like to go on with that now.
“Backseat?” Jake pants, stroking him through his jeans.
“I meant… not here in a parking lot… at a gas station… in public,” Bradley manages to get out between sloppy kisses and a hand that feels just so good on his hard cock.
“Your backseat windows are mirrored,” Jake groans. “Nobody's gonna see us.”
“Okay,” Bradley agrees because his brain is busy with other things now and they switch to the backseat.
It's cramped although the car is spacey but they still are two tall men. Bradley is lying on his back, slouched against the door and the backseat. It's not particularly comfortable but he doesn't care. Jake is on top of him, placing wet kisses on his mouth, his jawline, down his neck while working on opening his jeans. Only seconds later, Jake yanks down his trousers and Bradley groans when he frees his cock from the tightness of all the fabric.
Jake gives him a couple of rough strokes while kissing him feverishly. Bradley can't help but immediately thrust into his hand.
“Greedy,” Jake chuckles but moves down, somehow settling down between Bradley's legs.
Without further ado, he lowers his head and takes Bradley’s cock in his mouth. Bradley feels his tongue twirling around his tip and he tries not to cry out in pleasure. He would so much like to fuck him properly right now but this definitely isn't the right time or place for it, they are in public after all. Nevertheless, he thrusts his hips again, content to fuck the hot wetness of Jake's mouth. Jake lets him do as he likes for a moment but then he grabs his hips, steadying him in his movements.
Bradley whines for a second because he would have loved to go on face fucking him but then Jake starts bobbing his head up and down while stroking him with one of his hands, spreading his saliva all over his cock and Bradley forgets what he was complaining about anyway.
Jake speeds up his pace and only a couple of seconds later, Bradley sees stars in front of his eyes and comes heavily into Jake's mouth, shivering. Jake sucks him through his orgasm, then swallows down his cum and licks his lips, smirking up at Bradley.
“I love you,” Jake whispers with a smile. He quickly kisses Bradley, making his answer just an incomprehensible sigh. Bradley can taste himself on Jake's lips and can't quite believe that Jake has actually just given him head on the backseat of his car.
“What about you? Want me to return the favor,” Bradley asks, letting his eyes wander over Jake's body, down to the bulge between his legs.
“Oh, don't worry, I can wait for tonight,” Jake shakes his head and winks at him.
“Tonight?” Bradley asks, laboriously pulling his jeans back on and smirking at Jake. “You want to have sex with me while your biggest idol is sleeping next door? No problem for me,” Bradley leers at Jake while changing from the backseat to the driver's seat again.
“That- Bradley, I wasn't thinking about that. I just-,” Jake stumbles over his words, also sitting down in the passenger seat again.
“I really should've told you earlier that I love you,” Bradley simply replies with a smirk. “Seems to plant naughty ideas in your head.”
They both fasten their seat belts and Bradley starts the engine again. This outburst of love and physical attention seems to have calmed both of them down. They lock their hands on the center console and for the remaining ride they just talk. Bradley is happy that he can finally tell Jake more elaborate stories about his childhood and teenage years because there's no need anymore to hide the true identity of his dads.