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Wings of Gold

Chapter 29: what is he?

Summary:

Jake really doesn’t know how he ended up in this situation.

Notes:

Hello my darlings! I'm sad to say that we're nearing the end! However, this does not mean you've made it out of the woods quite yet ;)

As always, let me know what y'all think in the comments!

Enjoy
ash(they/them)

Chapter Text

Jake really doesn’t know how he ended up in this situation.

 

All he knows is that he’s quite content to stay in his mate’s lap. The scent of sea salt and vintage cologne straight from its source, even a little sour from distress, is making him drowsy.

 

Don’t get him wrong, Jake is still vividly aware of the other pilots in the room. He can hear the current conversation they’re having about what to do.

 

What to do about him .

 

The thing is, Jake is tired .

 

He just wants to sleep.

 

So, he does.





Bradley could have cried at the sight of his godparents.

 

It doesn’t escape his notice that the other aviators, especially Fanboy, snap to attention at the sight of them, but Bradley himself sags with relief.

 

Jake had fallen asleep around ten minutes ago, the purrs rumbling through his chest vibrating them both.

 

Bradley did hear a stray comment from Fritz about it as they waited, but he was quickly shushed back into silence.

 

This may have been for the best judging by the look in Ice’s eyes when he comes through the door.

 

It’s been a long time since Bradley has seen Ice have to fight himself and his instincts like this. So long that Bradley can’t even remember when the last instance was. It appears that while Bradley’s head was stuck in his ass, his godparents had taken Jake in as their own.

 

He is so grateful for his godparents.

 

At the least, when Bradley failed, his boy wasn’t alone. Not recently, anyways.

 

Maverick had immediately rushed over to Jake. Much like Bradley himself, Mav had tunnel vision where the blond was concerned.

 

The captain’s hands flit over Jake, always just shy at touching him before he turns his concerned and questioning gaze to Bradley.

 

“He’s just asleep, Mav. I think the adrenaline finally wore off.”

 

Before Maverick can question him further, Ice’s voice rumbles over the room.

 

“What the hell happened here.”

 

It wasn’t a question. It was a demand for answers.

 

Answers it looks like none of the other aviators were willing to give at the moment.

 

There’s a brief flash in the COMPACFLT’s eyes before the older man growls . Bradley’s own life flashes before his eyes, he can’t even imagine what his squadron, especially Fanboy, are feeling.

 

Living room. Now.

 

Needless to say, Bradley doesn’t think he’s ever seen the Daggers move that fast before.

 

Bradley looks up at Mav, unsure what to do. Jake was still sound asleep in his lap, and even that slight shift to look up pushed a whine out of the Avian.

 

“It’s okay, Baby Goose. We’ll just stay here.”

 

Bradley nods at his godfather and settles back in as the captain runs a hand through Jake’s hair.

 

A long night indeed.





Tom looks over the group of aviators scattered throughout the room.

 

Not a single one will meet his gaze, but Mickey looks especially fidgety.

 

Still, Ice turns to Trace who has taken up space in the corner. He’s well aware of her general disdain towards Jake, so the stench of guilt coming off of the female pilot piques his interest.

 

“Trace. What happened.”

 

The young woman seems to grapple with her words for a moment before sighing.

 

“We were playing Cards Against Humanity. Everything was going well too! I thought we were all having fun…”

 

Ice raises an eyebrow.

 

“Thought?”

 

Before Phoenix can start speaking again, one of the WSOs on the floor, Fanboy, cuts her off.

 

“It was my fault okay! I- I just wanted to know why . I didn’t realize tha- that… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

 

“That there was a reason why Jake would lock his bedroom door to keep prying eyes out ?”

 

To the WSOs credit, he does appear to be genuinely sorry about the whole situation.

 

Still, while Ice isn’t the one he needs to be apologizing to, he feels generous enough to help the WSO learn. He continues on.

 

“Are you sure I’m the one you should be apologizing to? I’m not the one whose trust you broke, nor am I the one whose locked bedroom you raided.”

 

Ice tilts his head as the aviator looks to be on the verge of tears. Such a shame that his pre- his subordinate lacks so much self control.

 

“I didn’t know .”

 

“Lieutenant Garcia. I believe you may be missing a point here. If you were supposed to know , you would have.”

 

A brave soul, Omaha, decides to speak up.

 

“I’m sorry, but are just going to gloss over the fact that Seresin has fucking wings ?! Anybody else freaking out over that?! What is he ?!”

 

There are murmurs of agreement throughout the room as the other aviators calm from their initial shock and have officially moved on to freaking out.

 

Eyes narrowed in on his new target, Ice goes to speak, but surprisingly a quiet voice cuts him off.

 

“He’s Avian isn’t he?”

 

One Callie “Halo” Basset speaks up from her place on the couch.

 

Pleasantly surprised, Ice tips his head at her in a short nod.

 

“You are correct. May I ask how you know that, lieutenant?”

 

Halo shifts, a bit uncomfortable in the spotlight, before answering.

 

“My sister, sir. A raven, if my family is correct. She’s settled with her mate in Australia.”

 

That has Ice thinking for a moment.

 

Ravens are rare, and there’s only one raven he’s ever known of…

 

“Chrissy, correct?”

 

Surprise flashes in the young aviator's eyes.

 

“Y- Yes, sir.”

 

Suddenly there’s an added weight to her gaze. A question Ice is willing to answer. He feels his own gaze soften before he speaks.

 

“Go ahead and ask, Miss Basset.”

 

Ice watches, amused, as Halo appears to steel herself before responding.

 

“Are you Avian as well, sir?”

 

He smiles.

 

Ice keeps a careful eye on the room as he shrugs off his jacket, and begins unbuttoning his shirt.

 

“If there are any questions, I believe it best to ask them now. You’ve already not just upset, but traumatized one of your own. This discussion will be the deciding factor in whether I keep this squadron together or not. Which, may I add, will most likely harm Jake further than you lot already have.”

 

Pulling off his button up, Tom doesn’t bother with taking off his under shirt. His mate may complain, but he cuts holes in the backs of them for a reason.

 

There’s a ripple of gasps throughout the room as Ice spreads his own wings, and he can’t help but preen under the extra attention. He does feel a flicker of annoyance as his wings are stopped by the walls of the apartment only halfway through unfurling. He may just tell Jake to give up this space entirely since the poor boy doesn’t even have room to stretch.

 

Reuben steps up first.

 

“Why was Hangman stealing our clothes?”

 

Ice gives the pilot a sharp look.

 

“Stealing, was it? Were your items not replaced before another went missing? And did that not strike you as odd for a thief?”

 

The pilot’s eyes widen as he realizes his poor word choice, but Ice barrels on.

 

“Just something to think about, lieutenant. To answer your question, though, Avians tend to instinctively keep the scents of those closest to them in their nests. A place in the nest is an honor. One you all seem to have taken for granted. No one is allowed in a nest except for mates and family , the group of people considered flock by the Avian.”

 

The admiral lets that thought sink in for the group. He hears the breaths being caught in throats and sees the eyes start to widen around the room.

 

“Somewhere along the way, somehow during your mistreatment of him, Jake started to consider this squadron his flock. He started making sure everyone was taken care of before himself. Normally, I’d say it would be impossible not to notice, but, as oblivious as you all seem to be, I’ll say you haven’t. You are supposed to be the best of the best. Maybe we should rethink that title, no?”

 

Omaha chokes on a sob.

 

“The oranges.”

 

Fritz looks up at the ceiling to keep his tears at bay.

 

“He- fuck - he’s been giving me his lunch. I always forget mine, but he started dropping his tray in front of me a while back.”

 

Yale curses under his breath.

 

“He counts us. I always thought he was just sizing up his competition, but-”

 

Javy finally speaks up from the back wall. His fury had simmered down to a more manageable anger throughout the course of the discussion, and his arms finally uncross.

 

“He was making sure everyone was accounted for and safe. If someone was missing he’d track them down just to make sure everything was okay. Jake has been mother henning you assholes for months now, and it takes an invasion of his privacy and an ass chewing for y’all to realize it. Best and brightest my ass.”

 

Ice raises an eyebrow at the group as Javy brushes past them to get to Jake’s room, done with this conversation.

 

“Stay here or leave. I don’t particularly care at the moment. But , whether I disband this squadron or not, I expect every single one of you to apologize to Jake. A sincere one. We can smell when you’re not.”

 

With one final look around the room, Ice turns towards Jake’s room.

 

He has a kid to check on.