Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT THREE - PART FIVE

Cheers to this!

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Admiral Ron Kerner had had a good day so far. Nothing out of the ordinary. No one disturbed him, no one called him, asking for a favour for once and he counted that as a full win, until there was a knock on his door, just as he wanted to call it a day as long as it was still a good one. Then chaos broke lose, at least a little bit.

Two pilots dragged a third in, that was bleeding onto his carpet and he wondered why they haven't brought him to medical first, whatever this was, he could deal with it tomorrow morning too, when someone put the guy's nose back into place, but then Commander Twight stepped in, followed by Bradley and Gracie and Slider knew in that moment, that this couldn't wait until tomorrow morning. He knew as he saw the blood dripping from Bradley's hand, ruining his carpet even more. He knew the moment Grace stepped closer towards Bradley than she normally would do.

"Why is this kid bleeding onto my carpet, Twight?" Slider asked, despite knowing that actually, he didn't even want to know. "And in just a towel."

"I slipped." The bleeding man said before Commander Twight could, which had Kerner look at him as if he was stupid, before giving a pointed look towards Bradley bleeding hand, which Bradley dared to hide behind his back upon attention being brought to it.

"Into Bradshaw's fist?" The Admiral asked, which had the guy blink for a moment. Trying to come up with a lie, which had Grace rolling her eyes, which she only allowed herself to do, because this was Slider. She would have never done so, if they would have faced any other Admiral.

"On the tile floor, Sir. Icarus and Rooster came rushing to my aid." He added and they all knew it was a lie, but if the kid decided to not try to get Bradley's ass for hitting him into his ugly face, and hard the way he looked now, it was fucking suiting Slider. He wouldn't have to punish Ice's kid that way. He just wondered why Grace was standing here too, actually he didn't. He knew Bradley, whatever that Lieutenant did, he did it to Grace and Bradley went into protective big brother mode.

"Sir." Twight then said. "If I may, from my perspective." Ron exhaled lengthy, but he did gesture at the Commander to go on.

Only to then be told the most ridiculous story he had heard in a while. A story about Bradley being violent beyond reason, which he never was, and about Grace running around in just her underwear, which she never would do.

He had to try really hard not to show his amusement about the entire thing. Even though Slider couldn't say that he wasn't confused by that the Commander was telling him, while the four pilots present were silent, waiting for orders or punishment.

Then their commanding officer rushed in, the pregnant Lieutenant Commander Grace had aimed to replace and her gaze told him that the story had more depth. The way she was looking at the still bleeding man with pity and worry, before it turned into cold and hot furry at the same time as she gazed shortly at Grace and seemingly connected the dots Slider was still working on connecting.

"Thank you, Commander for bringing this to my attention." Slider said, dismissing Commander Twight who had better things to do that to stand here and listen to this shit, with a gesture of his hand, before ordering Payback and Fanboy to bring Shiny, to medical.

Their Commanding officer that filled him in instantly even tough unintentionally about who these people were. Leaning back in his chair slightly, Slider decided to ask Nova to step out too, at least for now, which had her ready to protest, before she regained her sense, telling her that this was Admiral Ron Kerner and that she had no place to argue here. The moment she was out the door too, Slider leaned back in his seat and exhaled lengthy.