Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT FIVE - PART SIX

"Have you seen the game?" Ice asked Bradley, who shook his head, while swallowing the food in his mouth, his gaze on his father-in-law who tried to make conversation, while Maverick seemed to think about something, broodingly. Bradley had been part of this family for long enough to know that something was going on, but there was always something going on with Ice and Mav so most of the time he didn't even raise an eyebrow at their behaviour any longer. Maybe it was due to him being home, being present during most dinners and evenings which is why he noticed it so much stronger.

"No, I was caught up at work, marking essays." He replied easily, the fork in an easy hold, while he pushed the peas on his plate around, before picking some up, but he paused before he brought the fork to his mouth.

"Honestly, the only reason I'm not at work right now is because you guys forced me to come to dinner on time." He admitted and his parents knew that much, Ice was no different and neither was Grace, which is why Maverick had decided that they would have dinner every Friday at six o'clock together at the older couple's residence, no excuses excepted. Showing up mandatory.

"You don't eat enough." Ice commented and normally he would hold back with such comments, for it really wasn't his place, but he had promised Grace that he would have an eye on Bradley while she was gone, and it was true. He had lost a bit of weight since Grace had left for the pacific.

"It's hard being home without Grace." Bradley admitted after another moment. The house felt empty without his wife by his side, eating alone was more annoying than anything else and he missed the easy communication between them. Talking without words, just using looks or gestures. Now Bradley had no one to talk to other than his parents but he didn't want to intrude on their life all the time either. He just ... he missed his wife.

Maverick didn't share that sentiment. He had offered Bradley to come back home, using those exact words, but the younger aviator assured him that he was just across the backyard. For he would have liked the company, but on the other hand, moving back into his parent's house would make him feel like an even bigger loser than he already felt he was. The one member of the family that didn't quite fit after all, despite Maverick's earnest endeavours.

And once more, the house was quiet, empty.

Bradley was about to say something, to ask Ice about the storms he had heard were reigning over the sea right before Asia at the moment, but the shrill sound of china breaking caused the words to die on his lips. It wasn't an accident, for that the ceramic salad bowl flew far too far, which had Bradley glance at Maverick, wondering what the hell he was up too as the older aviator was starring angrily at Ice, who only blinked calmly, as if he had been waiting for this sudden outburst. Bradley was at a loss, for he hadn't thought that whatever was going on between the two of them would ever escalate. Even though it only escalated into broken china.

"What's going on?" Bradley wanted to know, wondering if they were fighting, but all Ice did was hold Maverick's gaze, communicating with him without the use of words, before he glanced at Bradley for a moment.

"Don't worry. This has been a long time coming." Tom said, assured Bradley while resting his hand on Bradley's lower arm to keep him calm and in place, while his eyes stayed on Maverick. Bradley wanted out, suddenly feeling four years old again, hearing the sound of breaking china again and his mother cries, thinking that Bradley couldn't hear her over the sounds of the tv.

"Oh, has it?" Maverick asked Ice with something close to a snarl, which had Bradshaw's eyes widen, glancing back and forth between Ice and Maverick. He really didn't want to be in the middle of his parents fighting about anything at all, for honestly, he had never seen them fight before. The little quarrel they had during Grace and his wedding was the closest they ever got.