Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT THREE - PART TWO

Cheers!

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"I know we're a long way from home and that you're all eager for some shore leave, but you're still representing the Navy. You are foreigners in this country, so for the love of God, don't do something stupid. I'm looking at you there, Dyer." Bear told them, while they were sitting in the meeting room, most likely the spacious room on the entire ship. Pointing at Lieutenant Erik Dyer, who looked unimpressed while the other members of the squadron laughed.

"They call you Take-off for a reason." Bear added, before taking a seat on his desk at the front. "I don't want to know what you're all up to, just remember that getting caught will get me in trouble and that means you will have a very shitty time once we're back here. Now go and get lost." With that, they were all dismissed.

"Isn't there a song?" Jake asked as she fell into step next to Grace, who was holding onto her copy of the F-18 manual, while she was walking down the corridor to get her things, for the first shore leave since she had joined the Navy right as she turned 18 and went to the Academy in Annapolis.

"What song? Barbie girl?" Ian the Falcon Horton wanted to know, laughing at his own joke, which caused Jake to shove him playfully.

If one ignored the terrible jokes, Falcon was a solid guy and a good pilot and Take-off was the perfect WSO for him. They were a brilliant team, but Grace had already been warned to stay away from those two on a night out, trouble seems to find them no matter where they went.

"I was going to say one night in Bangkok, but now since you chirmed in, the joke seems lame." Jake replied, while Nat, who was walking in front of them, turned to look over her shoulder at Hangman.

"Was lame before." She pointed out, which had Falcon and Take-off laugh. While Jake had taken the moment to watch Grace as they were walking together. Her in the midst of them, but the expression on her face already told him that she couldn't care less about their shore leave and Bangkok.

"We can go and find a bar, get you so drunk you won't even remember your own name." Not even to mention his. Jake offered, his eyes on Grace, which caused her to glance at him after she finally realised, he was talking to her.

"I rather pass." She told him, only for Falcon to throw his arm over her shoulder.

"Oh, come on, Icarus. Even someone like yourself has to let lose sometimes." He pointed out, which had Grace rest her head back in her neck in order to look at the taller man hovering over her, while they all moved down the corridor.

"What's wrong, huh? Still nursing that broken heart of yours?" Take-off wanted to know, falling with the door right into the house, only to receive a look from his best friend and pilot.

"Man, shut the fuck up." Falcon said, as he looked at his WSO, before he stopped and reached out to get a hold of Grace's wrist, as she simply walked on instead of stopping with him. Only to then turn her to face him.

"How about that, Grace. I'm making you a deal. I will take you out and you don't have to see any of their stupid faces for the entire time. Would you like that?" Flacon wanted to know, a brought and quiet charming smile on his face, while Grace raised an eyebrow.

"Can't remember allowing you to use my first name." She pointed out, about to join Jake, but Ian still had a hold around her wrist.

"Icarus then." He allowed instantly. "I will work for the first name base."

Falcon was waiting for an answer, all their friends surrounding them, which means no matter what she would answer him, it would be the topic of the next few days.