When We Were Young (Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x FEM reader)

Chapter Eleven

I stood next to my siblings and mother, wearing my uniform despite all my wants or not. I never wore dresses and he loved to see me in dresses. But it would be disrespectful. I watch as Maverick steps forward, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. Gunshots fire, my head reels, and panic start to fill my chest. Until I lock eyes with Bradley. The man who has loved me since childhood, a man who wrote me almost every day when I went to the academy. He looked at me and offered a small sad sorta smile. My head stops and I just continue to stare at him. But then the worse thing comes into my mind. The mission. What is going to happen to him? If he gets chosen to be the mission leader, I don't know what I will do. What if he never comes back? And what about me? Should I stay? I can't do this. As soon as the service is over, I get out of there. I go home, I can't be around people. I lock myself in my room. I sit on the window seat of my room, just crying. I hear a few people try to get in. Mav, my mother, Phoenix. But the 4th person to knock on my door, I knew who it was. Bradley's sweet voice came from the other side of the door. "Come on, Daggers, let me in."

My head lifts from my head when he speaks again. "Come on, Princess, can I please see you?" I let a small smile creep onto my face. I make my way to the door and unlock it. I open it a little to see Rooster's concerned face staring back. Eyebrows knotted together, mouth slightly opened, eyes wandering around my face scanning for tears. I look into his eyes. Mine well up again. "Oh Y/n," He leads me back into my room and he sets us down on the bed. He holds me close to his chest. It's been hours since the service and I have changed into my biggest clothes. "Hey, I know your problem don't want to talk, but I just really want to know, are you gonna go back?" I look up at him and shrug. "I want to, but he is everywhere in that building. Even Maverick being our teacher will always come to haunt me. I don't want what happened when someone happen with Ghost to happen with Dad." Rooster nods and I lean into his chest. He kisses my head. "I want you to do what you need to. But just know that I will come home to you. I'm gonna fight my hardest. I hope you will wait for me." I look up at him and connect our lips. "Of course I will," I mutter after we pull apart. "I love you, Bradley," "I love you too, Y/n."

The next day was hard as hell. I had made my decision. I wasn't going to continue on this mission. I probably wasn't gonna continue in the Navy actually. I woke up that morning with a pit in my stomach. I slowly get dressed and made my way to my car. Mom tried to get me to eat something. But I couldn't, my stomach was churning too much. Bradley's gonna be upset. SO si Maverick. I walk into the front doors only to see Dad's photo on the wall. "Shit," I mutter to myself. This was going to be a lot harder than anticipated. I see Admiral Simpson walking towards me. "Oh, you are earlier than I expected. Are you ready to tell me what you needed to tell me?" He asked me. We made our way to his office and I sat down. "Sir, the fathers of my fathers death have been really truly messing with my ability to get out of my head and fly." "I truly am sorry. I truly admired your father," he muttered, probably knowing what was coming next. "I would like to resign from this mission, and from the navy in all." Simpson's mouth opened but nothing came out. Finally, he said "I will respect your wishes for this mission, but the whole Navy? Lieutenant, that is permanent. You can't say you want back in." I nod

"I know the risk. And I am ready," I say, standing. I walk out not thinking about doing anymore. As soon as I step out of the office, I run into Maverick. My heart drops to the floor. "Hey kid, how you doing?" He asks placing his hand on my shoulders. My eyes welled up but I push the tears away. "Fine," I say trying to leave. "What are you doing here with the Admiral?" I had to leave, so without answering him, I left. That night, we were going through things, as any normal family would do after a family member would pass. I was going through his office. My hand moved across a wooden board. I reach deeper into the cabinet and pull out the chessboard. Our last game fills my mind. Before I left. I sigh and look up. Mom stood at the doorway and spoke up "You know, I almost brought it to the hospital" She smiled. I let out a small chuckle "He probably would have still beat me." "Sweetie, there is someone here for you. And I really want you to talk to him." She said and Mav stood next to her. I sigh and watch him enter. "Rooster told me Simpson took over for you," I say and place the chess board in a box that was going to my place. "When did you see Rooster?" He asked. "Rooster has been coming over to check in on me all week," I shrug. "Yeah, he was the one who told me that you dropped out."

"So that's what you want to talk about?" I ask and he nods. Wow, he is terrible at small talk. "Kid, you are one of the most capable people. You are one of the only people that I know can do this and survive. Do you really want to give it all up?" He was getting so frustrated but I didn't care. "If it means me not being miserable, yes," I yell back. "I just don't understand-" "Well, how about this? When Goose died how long did it take you to get back in the sky? Look just because my dad is gone doesn't mean you have to be the one to step in his shoes. This whole tough act will get her back isn't gonna work! Of course, I miss the feeling of being in the sky. But every time I think about it, all I can think about is him!" Maverick was silent. He started to speak again but I caught him off. "No Mav, please just leave. Please." I turn my back on him, but I hear his voice talking to my mother. I stare at the horizon out of the windows and I cry.