That Lovin' Feeling

Part 1: Rise n' Shine!

The piercing ring of an alarm clock rang through the room. It slowly got louder, trashy upbeat country music buzzing with the deep tones of the clock. Nick swatted at it, stretching out his arm and fingers while trying to stay under the covers. He tumbled out of bed; the clock coming down with him. The painful metronome only stopped when it fell on top of his head. He groaned, rubbing the sore spot above his temple. Nick hesitated, swaying as he stood, leaning against his bed. 4:45 am read the clock, which he shot an angered look at. He clicked on his bedside lamp and opened the drawer beneath it. He took out gray boxers, a pair of socks, his dog tags, and a pair of silver-lined aviators.

Nick shuffled to the bathroom, yawning and reaching his arms up like a cat. He wiped his eyes and stuck an arm out into the hallway, searching the wall for a light switch. Upon finding it, he turned it on and off a couple of times before hearing muffled words and a soft thud.

"Gooseyousonofabitch...imtryingtosleep" said the tired voice

"Listen Mav, ya either get out of bed now, get ready for the day, make some breakfast, and watch the news. Or I wake you up 20 minutes before pre-brief and you scramble like every other morning. What'll it be? You gonna scramble eggs, or for your shoes?" Nick said from the bathroom. He laughed as he turned on the shower, thinking of Pete's morning routine. All the times Nick would wake him up on time, and somehow Pete was always scarfing down breakfast and tearing up their quarters for the right pair of socks.

"Stop giving me one of your speeches, Goose..."

"Fine, have it your way! I'll be done in here by 5:30. We gotta leave by 6:15. Is that good for you, sweetie?" Nick asked, teasing his roommate.

"Yes, dear." Pete yawned, the bed squeaking slightly as he stood. "I swear, you'd think the U.S. Navy could afford something more than these chintzy ass metal bed frames." He complained, poking at the cold steel.

"Yeah, you'd like somethin' fancy now wouldn't you, Mav? Big ol' house, nice shiny car. A couple a' kids runnin' around with a wife by your side? Right?"

"The same dream I've been telling you since grade school."

Nick smiled, nodding before he tugged his shirt over his head. "Are you making breakfast?" He shouted down the hall, the door to the bathroom cracked open slightly.

"Depends!" Pete shouted back.

"On what!?"

"How much am I getting paid?!"

Nick rolled his eyes, dropping his boxers and stepping into the shower. "You're a real dick, ya know that?" He called down the hallway

"Pun intended?" asked Pete, grinning.

Nick went red with embarrassment. "Cut that out, Maverick! Just make some breakfast."

After he'd finished cackling like a child, Pete got out the ingredients for two omelets. A couple eggs, some cheese, a bell pepper, an onion; the works. He shredded the cheese, diced the peppers and onions and then sautéed them. He cracked two eggs in a skillet, letting it simmer for a moment before adding in everything else. Pete grinned, sliding his masterpiece onto a plate. He snatched a fork from the silverware drawer, poured yesterday's coffee into a mug, and set it all out for Nick. "Get it while it's hot, Goose!" He said, hearing the water turn off.

"Copy that–" Nick replied, wrapping a towel around his waist, "--loud and clear!" He huffed, the steam of the shower making his breath fall short. Mixing water and a thick paste into an engraved bowl, Nick made his shaving cream. He inhaled the scent of thick pine trees, feeling his lungs fill up and his chest puff out. He took a soft shaving brush, dipping it into the bowl, and smearing shaving cream all over his face, except for above his lip. "Gotta keep the prize piece..." Nick muttered to himself, his voice slightly hoarse as he contorted his face to get a better angle with his razor. After shaving and drying his hair with a towel, Nick shot himself finger guns in the mirror. "Not too shabby, Bradshaw." He chuckled, opening the bathroom door. A harsh slap of cold air hit him, he shuttered deeply. "Jesus–"

Pete chuckled, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. A low churning noise filled their quarters as the coffee machine brewed another pot of dark caffeine.

"Your turn." Said Nick, pointing to the bathroom, the large mirror still covered in a blanket of steam.

Pete nodded, gesturing to the table before snagging his clothes off the floor and walking past his roommate.

"You really should wash those sometime, Mav." Nick hollered, glancing at the clock as he sat down to enjoy his breakfast. 6:02 am. We can make it work Nick thought, cutting his omelet into bite-sized pieces. He ate for a minute before taking a sip of his coffee. Nick instantly spit it out, gritting his teeth as coarse coffee grounds grinded out a disgusting flavor. "MAVERICK!" He shouted, standing and wincing at the awful taste in his mouth. "IS THIS YESTERDAY'S COFFEE?!"

Pete was on the floor, clawing at the bathroom counter in an effort to stand. He was laughing too hard, and instead accepted his situation and cackled at his prank. "IT'S NOT EVEN DECAF!" He hollered back, hearing a disgusted gasp from the kitchen.

"SHAME ON Y–" Nick gagged, dumping the disgusting liquid into the sink, clumps of soggy coffee grounds plopping into the sink. He drug a hand over his face, nauseously making his way to his dresser as he held a hand in his hair. Nick took out his daily clothes, the jumpsuit quietly decorated with metals, patches, and a nametag. His rank, his given name, and his call-sign.

Lt. Nick Bradshaw

Goose

He stepped to the side, closing the dresser door and tugging on his clothes. Nick yawned, fixing himself in the mirror. Before him stood a man, about six foot. He was lean, but well-built, and even hints of gym work. His collarbone was defined, his jawline sharp. Nick's eyes were a dark brown, but his hair and thick mustache were a lighter brown; nearly blonde in the sun. He smiled at himself, grabbing his aviators and sliding them on his face. Nick grinned as he put on his dog tags, glancing at his shoes to make sure they were polished. 6:12 am read the clock, making Nick panic. "Hey uh, Mav–we gotta go...like, right now!" He said, ducking into their small pantry to grab two bottles of water.

"Nooo, we got plenty of time, Goose! I just started the shower!" Pete replied.

"You just started the shower!? What are you talking about, it's–" He stopped, looking at the clock, "6:13!!"

"OH SH–" A loud thump came from the bathroom, followed by several of Pete's favorite curse words.

Nick inhaled sharply, gathering his roommate's shoes and dog tags. "Coffee to go?" He hollered, already pouring some into a thermos. He knew what Pete's answer would be, but figured he should ask anyway.

"Oh god yes–" answered Pete, tumbling out of the bathroom.

"Shoes," said Nick as he tossed the scuffed footwear to his partner.

"Thanks."

"Tags." Replied the lieutenant, repeating the same process he had with the shoes.

Pete pulled himself together, glancing at the clock. 6:16 am "aaand we have to go, nownow nowRIGHTNOW!!" He said, tugging on Nick's sleeve as he snatched the keys off of the counter. The two rushed down several flights of stairs, racing to their car, and speeding off to hangar 47.

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Author's note:

Hey readers! Thank you so much for checking out my fic!
This is my first time publishing my writing anywhere, so please feel free to give me tips or to request things to write; dm's are open! :)
This story is also in progress, and I'll keep adding to it as much as possible! Summer break just hit so studying is not a priority anymore...all we care about is fanfiction!!!