Poison || Jake Seresin - TGM

07 | I ain't worried

song for the chapter
I Ain't Worried, OneRepublic

Maverick had decided that after what had happened between Hangman and Rooster that the team clearly needed some bonding. They needed to learn to work together instead of right each other.

So instead of being up in the air, he told everyone to meet at the beach.

"What exactly do you think we're doing?" Danielle asked Natasha as they walked out to the beach, seeing everyone gather by Maverick. Danielle walked up standing next to Hangman.

She glanced up at him and he gave her a small nod. Maybe that talk actually got to him.

She looked across the group at Rooster who seemed a little less tense than before. He made eye contact with her and she gave a soft smile, before looking at Maverick.

"Dogfight football." Maverick announced to everyone, holding two footballs up. "Offense and defense at the same time."

"You ready for this?" Hangman asks Danielle as Maverick continues to explain.
"Always. Why, you nervous?" she teases with a smile.

Danielle had decided that after their little argument the day before, she needed to keep an open mind, in hopes that he had heard her.

"No." Hangman shakes his head looking out at the water.
"Sure."

He already seemed in a better mood. Positive almost. Maybe he was excited about the football.

"I just wanted to make sure you were ready to lose." Hangman shrugs.
"Oh is that it?"
"Sure is."

Hangman enjoyed the banter they had going. It was different from what they had normally done. They used to always argue but it wasn't in the fun way.

"Sorry what did you say? I didn't catch that." Danielle looks at him with a smirk.
"Funny."
"Just admit you can't beat me. Even in this."

Maybe this is how it could be between them. Getting along. As long as he could stay away from getting her mad at him again. Danielle had made it very clear that this was his last chance.

"And why would I do that?" He tilts his head looking down at her.
"Hmm..let's see how many times have I beat you in a dogfight?"

Danielle laughed at herself. She partially understood why Hangman acted cocky, it could be fun. But not all the time.

Hangman noticed her new attitude, and took a liking to it.

"I see how it is." Hangman nods.
"What? Sad you can't last longer than me?" Danielle crosses her arms and everyone else begins dividing into their teams.

"Trust me, I can outlast you in many other ways." Hangman smirks as the two start backing away from each other to their teams. "Don't believe me?"

"Why should I?" Danielle calls across to him as they start getting further away.
"Care to test the theory?" Hangman smirks watching Danielle's smile fade and her cheeks go pink.

"What was that about?" Razor asks noticing her face.
"Nothing." Danielle shakes her head, looking forward.

Next thing she knew, the whistle blows and both footballs are thrown back and everyone starts running. Danielle runs to the side seeing Natasha with the ball.

"Tasha!" she yells running down to get open. Natasha spots her and throws the ball across the beach. Danielle catches it and throws her hands up.

"Touchdown!" Hondo yells as Natasha runs over to high-five Danielle.

On the other end the rest of her teammates celebrate as everyone resets. Hondo blows the whistle once again the footballs were back up in the air, being thrown from one person to the next.

They continued to play keeping score for a while, but eventually losing track having too much fun. Eventually Maverick made a touchdown and tapped out, causing everyone to start booing him as he went to sit in his chair.

But, they continued to play. Rooster threw the ball down the beach to Bob, catching it in their invisible end zone, making a touchdown. He held his arms up in the air as everyone crowded around him, lifting him up on Rooster's shoulders and chanting his name.

Danielle ran over cheering with the group, trying to reach up to Bob to give him a high five. She looked at Rooster and smiled noticing all the tension seemed to be gone.

"Nice job." Danielle yells over the other voices.
"Thanks. But it was all Bob." he shakes him on his shoulders a bit and the two laugh.

Eventually, after playing a few more rounds, Hondo caught the ball and everyone tackled him to the ground, cheering at his defeat.

As things were calming down, Natasha was congratulating Bob and Danielle stood off to the side watching everyone talk about the game.

It was nice seeing everyone together, not arguing. Specifically Rooster and Hangman. The two had seemed to distance themselves, knowing what might be best for the team.

"That was a nice play, Hart." Hangman walks over standing next to Danielle. She turns her head giving him a glare. She had clearly asked him to call her by her call sign. "Aw come on don't you think i can start calling you that again?"

"You know how aggravating you are?" Danielle scoffs with a smile growing on her face. She couldn't help it, for some reason..

"By the looks of your face, I'd say very." Hangman smirks. "I can't be that bad."
"I can't stand you." Danielle says crossing her arms, facing him now.

"And yet...you just can't leave me alone." Hangman stares down at her.

Closer to the water, Natasha stood talking to Bob and Rooster who had joined them. She looked around the beach searching for Danielle. When her eyes landed on her, she was a bit surprised to see her with Hangman. Smiling. Danielle had told her about their argument the past night and how much he annoyed her. Maybe they were getting used to each other.

"Shut up." Danielle rolled her eyes, looking out at the water, avoiding eye contact.
"I'm telling the truth. You're the one who keeps giving me chances. Chasing after me after that fight with Rooster."

"Shut up." Danielle could feel herself getting anxious. He was right. Why did she care about his so much? She could care less if he got in a fight with Rooster and was hurt afterwards. At least, that's what she thought.

"Make me."
Danielle turned to look back at him, furrowing her brows. He stared down at her with the same small smirk that's always resting on his face.
"Make me shut up."

Danielle opened her mouth to respond but no words came out. What was her problem? Hangman just chuckles. "And do it exactly how you're thinking right now."

Her cheeks flushed pink and her eyes widened. She couldn't even process any words to get out of her mouth. Which meant leaving Hangman with the upper hand, staring down at her, smirking. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.

"Poison!" Natasha called out, walking up to the two. Thank god. Danielle quickly turned to face her friend and smiled. "You did great out there."

"Thanks." she laughed, calming down.
"Let me guess I did awful?" Hangman asks, still smiling.
"You did alright Bagman." Natasha pats his shoulder. "What do you say we get some food and come back to the Hard Deck later?"

"Sounds good to me." Danielle nods, smiling. She looked back past Natasha watching the rest of the group finish talking.
"I'm afraid I've got other plans." Hangman says taking off his sunglasses and wiping off the sand that was on them with his shorts.

"You do not, Seresin." Danielle nudged him with her elbow. "You're coming with us."
"As long as you can be nice to Rooster." Natasha says crossing her arms.

"Just sit us on different sides." Hangman puts his sunglasses back on and the two women look at each other.

"Whatever works." Natasha says with a shrug. "Now let's go I need to shower." she wraps her arm around Danielle and the two walk off the beach.