𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐱𝐢 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

❝ 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 ❞









































THE SMOKE HAD FILLED THE SKY AROUND THEM AS THEY FLEW AT A HIGH ALTITUDE, GREY FUMES EXITING THE ENGINE.

Archer was trying desperately to return the control back into her hands, but it was to no avail. She could hear Rooster yell as he sat in her backseat, completely helpless and out of breath, "I'm not going without you, Fae, I'm not, I- I'll punch us out!"

She remembers telling him that she was completely pinned forward by the heavy force she felt on her body, trying to ignore the pain for the sake of both their lives. If she wasn't able to save him, she couldn't be able to live with herself.

"You need to go, Roos, you need to eject! I can't reach the handle, it's too far." Archer remembers that at this point, she had completely lost control of the yoke, but she was trying to pull it back into equilibrium.

But she couldn't.

Rooster tried to pull the ejection handles, just try to punch them out, but there was no success in doing so.

Perhaps the man was to shake hands with Death, put his hand over her shoulder, and walk to wherever she guided him.

Archer vividly recalls how she tried to get the stubborn man to punch out, at least himself, but he was too adamant on wanting to save her too, refusing to leave without her. At last, when he was able to, it was him who paid the price, with blood of his own.

But wanting to save her came with a price of bloodshed.

And she had to watch helplessly from above, having ejected out safely. But him, he had brought back a memory from a previous life, hitting the canopy and shattering his skull.

Clawing at her parachute to lower down at a faster rate then it already was going, she reached her hands down when it was no use, trying to bring his cold body some warmth.

At first, she was happy they were able to punch out, but when she saw him hit the water and not take a breath of fresh salt air, her heart rose to her throat.

He wasn't breathing.

As Faith fell down into the water, she rose back up immediately and brought his body back above the surface to lay on the parachute, crossing her fingers in her mind in hopes it would stay afloat.

She took off Bradley's helmet off, cradling his head onto her uniform now wet from the salt water. She tries to gently slap him awake, as she did the very same morning when waking him up off her couch, reminding him they were getting late for training.

"Don't leave me honey, please." A final whisper she let out, trying to keep him from going out into the cold, dark world of death, and with her, in the warmth he provided her, the warmth and sun they provided each other.

But he wouldn't wake.

































✈ ✈ ✈



FAITH BOLTS UPRIGHT IN THE MAKESHIFT BED SHE SET UP IN BRADLEY'S WARD AT THE HOSPITAL.

The tiniest tinge of the yellow sun had gleamed into the room through the sheer blinds, illuminating it without any artificial help. It wasn't too bright, but it was good enough to give Faith a view of Bradley on the certainly uncomfortable hospital bed.

His mouth was open, as soft snores escaped, a few strands of his sandy brown hair had fallen over his forehead, and Faith had to hold in the urge to move closer to him, and push those strands away, move her fingers through his golden brown locks.

He was safe.

She was too, because of him. After all, it was him who ejected the both of them out, but it was him who hit the canopy. He hit the canopy so hard, he fell unconscious and she couldn't do anything to help him, besides bring him close, and remove his helmet to hold the sleeve of her uniform to the large wound at the top of his skull.

Sitting up, she plucks the scratchy blanket off her leg, grabbing her phone and wallet to put in her pocket. Looking over to Bradley who was still asleep peacefully, she noticed the blanket had fallen off his shoulders. The room was chilly, and the remote of the air conditioning just did not seem to work.

Looking down at her phone to check the time, she was met with a bright screen and 5:23 a.m. staring back at her.

Making no attempts to risk Bradley waking up from such a quite state, Faith moves closer to him, pulling the sheets slowly over his broad shoulders. She couldn't stop herself from leaning down and placing a soft peck on his forehead, before jumping apart from him, thinking to herself, what the hell am I doing? She makes a move for the door, checking her pockets for her phone and wallet.

Closing the door to the ward in the most silent way possible, Faith closes her eyes and lets out a breath she never remembered holding in.

Shifting to the side to sit on the seats outside the ward, she runs a hand down her face, leaning her head back against the wall, shaking her head and stretching her legs out in front of her. Faith crosses her arms against her chest, eyes closed as she breathes deep breathes, letting in and out full puffs of air.

What was she doing?

She had met the guy nearly a month ago, and now she couldn't imagine life without him.

What was he doing to her?

What if something had happened to him, and it would've been her fault entirely.

What if he felt for her the same way?

What if she felt for him the same way?

Drowned in the whispers of her loud thoughts, Faith closes her eyes, drifting off into a small nap.





✈ ✈ ✈



IT WAS NEARLY AN HOUR LATER THAT FAITH HAD WOKEN UP BY A NURSE, OBLIVIOUS OF THE SPRAIN SHE HAD CAUSED HER NECK AT FIRST.

The nurse had shaken her shoulder gently, and that was enough to jolt the girl awake. Clearing her throat and bringing a hand down her face, she looked at the nurse who gave her a soft smile, "You're with Lieutenant Bradshaw, right? He's still asleep, but he's ready to be discharged. Also, the painkillers he was given were of heavy dosage, so please ensure that you're observing him for at least today." The nurse nods reassuringly, squeezing Faith's shoulder before walking away.

Faith gets out of the uncomfortable spot she had somehow slept in, hearing the cracks through her body, stretching her hands upwards, before standing up. Going into the ward, she sees that Bradley was still long asleep, looking somewhat comfortable in the bed.

She decides to quickly grab the two of them breakfast, sprinting at a medium rate into the break room where she knows some sort of breakfast material was stored.

She settled for a quick bite, a cup of coffee and four toasted pop-tarts. Faith figured she'd grab them some actual food when they leave the medical wing. Bringing the 'breakfast' back to Bradley's room, she's surprised to see the man already awake, smiling at her arrival.

"Morning, Bradshaw." Faith gives him a soft smile, and he returns it back, gently red blush coating his cheeks. Settling down on the chair beside the bed, Faith places the plate on the bedside table, pushing it in his direction, along with the steaming coffee cup.

"So, I got some good news. It seems you've recovered easily, so they're ready to let you out. But, the bad news is," Faith raises her index finger, she gives him a sheepish smile, "they've asked me to keep an eye on you, apparently, you've been on some high drugs." She chuckles at the way she enunciated the last part.

Bradley groans, slowly sitting up against the bed with Faith's support, "Well shit, Wilson, I think we have a sleepover situation at our hands."

"Hey! I can take good care of you, Bradshaw." Faith leans forward, narrowing her eyes at the smirk he was giving her.

"Sounds real good, Wilson, it seems I'll be in good health." Bradley raises his eyebrows, as his smirk widens, and Faith catches onto what he was insinuating, slapping his shoulder with the back of her hand gently.

They wrap up breakfast and finish their coffees, gearing up to head out. Faith looks around the hospital room, checking if she'd forgotten anything else.

Bradley was coming out of the bathroom, changed into a shirt that fit his broad shoulders tight. Faith finds her eyes lingering around his figure, before shaking her head as if she was disapproving of her choices, instead voicing out, "Ready to leave?" with a comforting smile.

Bradley nods, moving over to grab a few of the bags laying around when Faith asks rather loudly, eyebrows furrowed, "What do you think you're doing?" She snatches the bags out of his hands, reminding him again, "You've just been discharged from the hospital for almost cracking your skull, Bradshaw, for once, let the girl get the heavy stuff, alright?" Faith shakes her head at his antics, always trying to be a gentleman he was.

Grasping all their bags in her hands somehow, she tells Bradley, "Just wait, I'll get this stuff in the car, and then I'll come back for you." Before Bradley can oppose her choice, Faith was already out of the room, knowing she gave him no chance to argue.

Quickly sprinting through the hallways to the parking area, she places the bags in the trunk, then runs back inside for Bradley.

Walking into the room once again, she finds him conversing with the doctor who stitched him up. Bradley asked him about when he could return to flying, for which the doctor said it would take him at least an entire twenty four hours to return back to normal.

Well, it's a good thing Hurricane announced the next two days were holidays, not wanting his students to miss important classes.

Bradley seemed the tiniest bit upset about not being able to return to training, but then he felt her presence and the room, and his pensive mood turned joyful.

"Let's go?" Faith moves closer to him, holding out her hand for him to grab as the doctor says his goodbyes. Bradley stands straight at first, but his knees wobble the slightest bit, sending his weight onto Faith. She grunts at the extra weight, but lets him lean into her and send his weight onto her. He took a hit for her after all, couldn't she do this much for him?

Faith pulls his arm closest to her over her shoulder, before grabbing onto his forearm, as they walk out of the room and into the hallway. She was extremely focused on making it back to her car, but she couldn't help but lean into his warmth a little, taking the opportunity to feel his muscles subtly.

Her inner devil was smirking on her shoulder and she knew it. The entire time, she felt the burning sensation of his eyes on her, watching as she takes his weight, leading him down the way. The corners of his lips turn up as he looks down onto her. She brings her hand to his front chest, looking down at steadying steps, and feeling the warmth radiate out of his chest into her palm.

With slow and large steps, him in her support, they carefully make their way down the hallway and to her car, both their hearts beating their fastest at their closeness to each other.

Opening the passenger door to her car, Faith steps back again to hold onto Bradley's arm to support him as he sits onto the seat, closing the door when he was completely seated.

Faith gets into the drivers' seat, handing Bradley her phone, voicing out, "Play whatever you want." Sending him a short grin, before moving the car out of it's parking position.

Bradley looked down at her phone, thinking about songs to play when the screen lit up. The background was a picture of the morning after the incident with Faith's father at the bar, where Bradley held Hulk for the first time. His smile turns into a grin as he sees the photo, looking over to her with his eyebrows raised in amusement.

Fait's eyes were fixated on the road ahead, but she could feel him looking at her with that look he always had. Turning her head to see him, she finds herself admiring the smile he would always give her. Not toothy, just a simple smile, but it held so many emotions.

So many emotions both of them were completely oblivious the other felt for them.

"Nice background." Bradley mutters in amusement, as he opens her phone to open the music app, scrolling through the several choices of music to play.

Faith chuckles at the amusement audible in his voice, she doesn't even have to look over to know it's present. "I thought it's a good way to carry my boys with me wherever I go." Giving him a quick side glance and wink, she looks back to the road, completely oblivious to the flush and disbelief on his face.

They look at each other as soon as they hear the first notes to 'Playing with the Boys' play, immediately breaking into song with huge grins on their flushed faces. The two bob their heads to the music, singing along with the song the entire ride back home.