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𝕔𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕟𝕠𝕥
𝕘𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙

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✈︎

I blast my music driving to the bar all the pilots are supposed to be gathering at. Apparently this is just to "mingle" and I 100% would've skipped if Phoenix hadn't threatened me. She can be quite scary when she wants to be, I swear. And I want to see my favorite bartender, of course.

I pull into the Hard Deck and my mouth falls open as I park directly up front next to a familiar dusty blue Ford Bronco. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." My lips part and my jaw hardens. A sigh followed by a groan slip out as I narrow my eyes. Coffee is definitely not going to be enough to carry me through this. I slide my glasses to the top of my head and open my door, forcefully, making sure to ding the Bronco. "Hmmm." I smirk in satisfaction. Now I'm ready. Let's get this shit show over with.

I take a deep breath before I saunter in, the smell of beer and pool chalk infiltrates my nose immediately, and a small smile at the familiarity tugs the corners of my lips before I hear someone shout 'Bradshaw.' My teeth grind together as I try to ignore my body screaming at me to freeze and turn back now.

"Blackwood! It's about time!" Phoenix yells over to me, causing someone a few feet in front of me to falter in their steps before spinning around and a sharp intake poisons my nerves.

He stares hauntedly for a moment before lowering his sunglasses. "Lennox?" He utters breathlessly.

"Asshole." I greet with a curt nod before making my way over to the pool table where Phoenix is, not wasting a minute. "Miss me?" I smirk, fanning my arms out.

"You know I did." She grins, pulling me in for a quick hug. "Way to dress for the occasion." She chuckles looking down at my tank and jean shorts, everyone else being in uniform. Well, almost everyone.

"Guess who else is here?" I roll my eyes with a tight-lipped smile as we separate.

"Bradshaw." She glances up at him as he approaches. "This is how I find out you're state side?"

"Yeah, I just thought I'd surprise you." He cracks.

"Hmm." She hums, leaning over to take her turn at pool. She rears back, knocking Bradley in the torso with her stick. Bullseye! He grunts, folding over in pain. I bark out a laugh.

"I guess I surprised you back." She turns back to him. "You can take a guess what that was for."

"Marry me." I fawn, tilting my head as I bat my lashes at her. She smirks wickedly in my direction.

"It's good to see you." His voice strains as he looks up with a pained expression. Priceless. Maybe even worth being here, in fact.

"Can't say the same." She retorts, handing me the stick.

"Thank you." I nod to her calmly before slamming the stick down on Bradley's foot. He groans, looking up to the ceiling. "Miss me too?" I chime with a little nose scrunch, shoving the stick into his chest. "Oh, Penny!" I call out, heading to the bar.

✈︎

"Lennox, wait-" Bradley calls after the brunette, stretching his arm out as Phoenix steps in front of him.

"You deserved that." Phoenix says, crossing her arms.

"Yeah. Thanks." He sighs, rubbing his chest.

Meanwhile, Maverick, who's residing at the bar, and trying his best to leave before Bradley spots him, eyes widen as he spots the Blackwood girl heading his way.

✈︎

Penny's eyes light up as I approach. "How's my favorite costumer?"

"Pissed and thirsty." I suck the top of my teeth with my tongue, blowing out a sigh some strands of hair fly out of my face. "Tequila sunset, please." I slam down a twenty.

"Oh, that won't be necessary, he's buying," Penny happily motions to someone behind her that I don't bother looking towards.

"Consider it a tip then." I smile, my tone softening. "It's been too long. How's your daughter?" I ask, remembering Amelia was around five when I had left.

"Oh, good." She nods. "Amelia is all about school, school, school." Penny chuckles, sliding my drink over to me. "Here you go."

"Thank you." I raise my glass to her and slowly make my way back to the pool table at the same time another pilot does. Oh, fuck me.

"Bradshaw. As I live and breathe." The pilot deadpans.

"Hangman. You look... good." Bradley pauses, his comment laced with distaste.

"Well, I am good, Rooster." Hangman leans over the pool table, staring at Rooster as he takes his shot. "I'm very good." And makes it effortlessly. "In fact, I am too good to be true." Oh, please. I finally step back up onto the platform. "And who is this beauty?" Hangman's attention moves over to me as he walks over, grabbing my hand he cups both his around it before bringing up to his lips. "Blackwood, right?" Phoenix rolls her eyes, glancing over at Rooster who's jaw ticks.

"Charming." I hum, this should be good. I've heard some chatter about him through Phoenix. "That's me." I look him once over.

"So," I believe his call sign is Payback? Breaks the tension, "Anybody know what this special detachment is all about?"

"Would love to." I release a breath of annoyance. Phoenix nods, agreeing with me. Don't know what the big secret fuss is all about. A mission is a mission, they need to just tell us.

"No, mission's a mission." Hangman steps up to answer. At least someone agrees with me. "They don't confront me. What I want to know: Who's gonna be team leader?" Rooster tilts his head to the side, scoffing he rolls his eyes. "And which one of y'all has what it takes to follow me?" I snort. If anyone thinks they're gonna be leading me, they are poorly mistaken.
I didn't come all this way to lose team leader to a cocky, flattering douchebag.

"Something funny gorgeous?" Hangman grins at me.

I raise a brow. "Oh, I'm sorry, was that not a joke?" The corners of my mouth curl up slyly.

He lets out a deep chuckle. "You think you're gonna lead us? Being the only one here that's graduated number two?" Phoenix's eyes widen and I see Rooster clench his fist out of the corner of my eye. Coyote and Fanboy, the two guys Phoenix has been talking, dart their eyes back and forth.

As if I'm in thought, as I nod slowly. "Yet I can fly circles around you, Bagman." I smirk, tilting my chin up.

"Oooooo!" Coyote and Fanboy holler.

Hangman's eyes travel up and down my body. "I like her. Phoenix dear, you've been hiding this one." He smirks, glancing over at her before turning back to me. "Guess that's why they call you Lightning, waiting for your perfect moment to strike." I lift my brows, smiling proudly, taking it as a compliment no matter the intention.

"Hangman, the only place you'll lead anyone is an early grave." Rooster intervenes. I laugh into my drink as Fanboy whoo's and Coyote grimaces. Payback laughs to himself as he takes a sip of his beer.

"Oh boy." Phoenix mutters under her breath. "Look what you got started." She leans over to whisper to me. I shrug innocently, sipping my drink rather loudly.

Hangman straightens from his hunched position over the pool table where he was about to take his next turn and the amusement on his bright as he steps over to Rooster.

"Well, anyone who follows you is just gonna run out of fuel." Hangman's smile remains easily as he leans back against the pool table. "But that's just you, ain't it, Rooster?" Rooster listens in merriment. "You're snug on that perch, waiting for just the right moment... that never comes." He steps up closer to Rooster's face. Oh trust me, it comes.

There's a moment of silence before Hangman speaks again. "I love this song."

'It's alright!' blares through the jukebox as Hangman walks off. I curl up my nose- eugh, I'll definitely be forming a headache soon. I finish off my drink and leave the pool area to get another, since it's 'on the house' and all.

Who am I to say no to free drinks?

Especially at this fucking nightmare of a function.

✈︎

"Well, he hasn't changed." Phoenix comments dryly.

"Nope, sure hasn't." Rooster agrees absentmindedly, his focus more on the brunette walking off, before he makes the unthoughthnough decision to follow her.

✈︎ ✈︎ ✈︎

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

(original authors note) Ahhhh, okay wow, so much happened in this chapter omg!!! What do y'all think of Lennox and Rooster so farrr?!

Hello, hellooo in 2025!! I cannot believe this chapter was originally over 2,000 words, hello? Holy shit, lmao. So I made the decision to split it up! Idk why I didn't do that to begin with lmao, I never make chaos THAT long & there was a perfect spot to end it haha... anywayssss...

I also realized Lennox was gone for Bob's part... shucks, but that's okay lol. Hope y'all enjoyeddd <333