Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT TWO - PART NINE

Cheers! 

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Before he knew it, it was the night before his final exams. Before he knew it, he was sitting the exam, Grace a row in front of him, Nat at the very back and Jake and Javy next to each other at the front. Not that it would change anything. They would all have to do the exam on their own anyway.

Before he knew it. Everything was over. And he was standing in his dress whites, ready for his graduation. Ready to receive the Annapolis ring and his first orders, just like his father all these years back.

Standing up there, waiting for the official ceremony to begin, Bradley realised that six years were six years. Ice looked a bit different, not much, but he was older. He seemed tired, exhausted even as his gaze fell on his daughter, causing Bradley to swallow. Something wasn't right, other than Grace and him refusing to talk to them.

Bradley knew that Grace received post cards from them on a somewhat regular base filled with a few words about how they were doing and ended with the plead to call them. He received them too, not as regular as Grace and certainly not filled with anything about them. It was more Maverick expressing that he hoped he was alright and doing well. Telling him that he would always have a home with them should he ever decide to come back. His room would wait for him. His place at the table ready to be used again.

Bradley had never asked Grace about her post cards, about how they were doing at home, if everything was alright after all, but now he knew that something was off, that something wasn't right. He wanted to go over to her and asked, right now in that moment, if she knew, if she had an idea what Ice was hiding from them but then the ceremony began, and Bradley was one of the first to walk up to receive his degree, his ring and his first rank in the navy.

"It's good to see you, son." Ice told Bradley, quietly, as he handed the ring over, which caused Bradley's jaw to clench. He had tried to contact him multiple times over the years, Maverick had tried too, but he had always shut them out. Ice wasn't even there to witness the great fallout. He wasn't even there to see it all happened.

"Sir." Bradley replied, unsure about himself suddenly, as Ice got hold of his lower arm for a moment.

"Let us talk, after the official part. Please." Ice said to him, which caused Bradley to give a sharp nod just like Grace always did. One sharp nod and nothing else. He could listen, after six years, he would manage to listen for a few minutes. It was his decision if he wanted to walk away after.

Eyes were on Grace and her father, as she walked up to him next, her expression frozen just like his own, as she saluted. Waited for him to offer the ring and let her go.

I am the creature you created by your absence. Is this enough, father? Have I proven myself to you? Am I finally worth your time? Do you love me now? I am a pilot now, do you really need four stars for you to respect me?

"Thank you, Sir." She said instead, before shaking his offered hand stiffly. The cold metal of their rings clashing. Like they always clashed.

I am your creation, and you can't stand to look at me, daddy. Frankenstein I am your monster. But you are the evil doctor that punished me with existence. It's all your fault. Everything is your fault.

"Gracie." He stopped her from walking away and for a moment she thought he would tell her that he's proud of the woman she had become, that he's glad to see her and that he wants her to come home more often, but he said nothing like that.

"I will give you four stars one day if that's what you want, God knows I won't be able to stop you once you got your eyes set on a goal but be aware that they don't change who you are. Don't be surprised when they turn out to be a waste of time." He told her, only for Grace to look into his eyes. Her ice blue eyes that burning with a dangerous fury, just like Maverick's eyes.