𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐱𝐢𝐢𝐢 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

❝ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞 ❞







































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THE OTHERS LEFT SOON AFTER ANOTHER GAME OF CHARADES.

This time, the others won, and Hangman was back to his usual cocky self soon after that.

Faith was washing the dishes, and Bradley stood next to her, drying the dishes up with a rag she'd thrown at his face a few minutes prior. Raising her eyebrows as an idea struck her in her mind, Faith looks at Bradley, giving him a small smirk.

Bradley looks at her with his normal smirk, glancing down at her lips, unsure if she'd noticed. Faith presses her side into his, leaning into him, as he does too. Looking up to him, she purses her lips, before moving the jet to shoot water at him

Faith jumps away from him, letting out a loud laugh at the water stain on his shirt, looking up at his face to see extreme disbelief. Bradley shakes his head from side to side, throwing the rag at her, which she manages to dodge, spraying him again with the jet, as she moves behind and away from him.

Bradley stands still for a bit, mouth open in utter disbelief, before he mutters, "Oh, you're done now, Archer." And she runs around the kitchen counter, laughing loudly, him chasing after her.

They stood at opposite sides of the counter now, hands on it, smiling at each other. Bradley fakes a few jerks to his sides, making it seem like he'd run after her from any way.

Bradley jumps over the counter, sliding against it, as he comes over to her side. Faith can barely begin to go run away from him, when he hops down and catches her by the waist, pulling her into his chest. Faith giggles at the feeling of being so close to him, wrapping her hands around his.

He lets her down slowly when their laughter dies down just a little, nose brushing her hair, then her forehead as she turns around to face him, his hands tighten around her waist, as he pulls her even closer. Faith places her hands on his chest, slowly moving them up, taking the time to feel his heartbeat through his shirt, and clasping them around his neck, playing with his hair at the nape of his neck.

They lean their foreheads against each other, breathing heavily. Their eyes are closed, as their noses brush against each other's, just holding themselves close, leaning into each other's warmth.

She feels his hot breath fanning against her lips. She opens her eyes to see him already looking back to her, tilting her head at his deep gaze.

Faith knew he was so exhausted from the events of the past few days. His eyes said so. Those beautiful light green eyes she had come to adore since the first day they spent together. His hands said so, too. Usually, his touch would be so rough, yet so soft whenever he'd be around her. But today? Today, he was gentle. Light.

Tired.

Faith brings him into a hug, wrapping her arms around his neck, as he leans down slightly, grasping her waist tightly, crossing both arms over her back. He breathes into her neck, taking in her scent, lavender.

Pulling away from his grasp, Faith slides her hand down his arm, tugging his fingers into hers. She returns her eyes to his, and she knows, in this exact same moment, that she's fallen for him, and he's probably fallen too, but...

But the field of work they pursue, is so against even the idea of them.

Nearly a day ago, his death could've been on her hands. Had she just been able to fly alone that day, maybe it'd be her in his place. Maybe he would've been safe, as she was when she ejected out, unlike him, hitting his head on the canopy and ending up in a hospital bed with deep stitches in the skull. But no, instead, she watched as he sunk before her into the waters, unable to save him.

Trying to extract those thoughts out of her head, Faith slowly helps him move to the guest room he'd been staying in, right down the hallway.

As they walked through the hallway, Faith lingered her touch on the walls, finding the light switches and turning them off as they walked further towards the room, other hand still in his. Bradley leaned against her, most of his weight on Faith. She didn't mind it. His warmth always brought her safety. It brought her a sense of comfort.

They walked through the frame of the door, a further few steps bringing them by the edge of his bed. Faith removes her hand off his waist, holding him from both his shoulders to ensure he falls onto the bed. He falls straight for it, eyes completely shut the second he hits the soft mattress. He still had a tight hold on her hand, though.

Faith smiles at his sleepy state, moving forward to push his legs onto the bed and off the ground, pulling the covers over his body. He watches her as she does so, and she's surprised when she sees him looking back at her.

"I swear, you'd just fallen asleep like, two seconds ago-" Faith begins, but she's cut off by his soft whispers.

"Stay. Stay with me." He grabs ahold of her hand again, pulling her closer to him. She leans down by the bed he was laid on, capturing her gaze in his, her face right in front of his, lips just centimeters away from his. Faith takes a deep breath, bringing her other hand to brush through his dirty blonde curls hanging over his forehead, he closes his eyes in content of her soft fingers on his skin.

With a feathery touch, she brings her fingers down to his cheek, brushing her thumb against his soft skin.

Slowly, Faith nods. She moves to get up, briefly letting go of his hand, before moving around the bed frame, getting on the bed. She feels him watch her movement, as he waits for her to settle onto the bed, under the covers.

He eyes her for a moment, before pushing himself closer to her, putting an arm around her waist and his face nuzzling into her neck. Faith freezes under him for a moment, before bringing her hand up to rest on his back. He laid with his head on her shoulder, his chest to hers, just like they were on the couch hours ago.

Bradley's cheek rested against her collarbone, his upper chest touching her shoulder, as Faith could feel the rises and falls of his chest as he let soft breathes in and out. She brings her hand to his hair, giving feathery light touches to the hair at the nape of his head.

Faith's eyes slowly flutter and close, as she sinks deeper and deeper into the ocean of warmth Bradley Bradshaw gave her since the very first day they met.



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THE YELLOW GLOW OF THE SUN MADE IT'S WAY THROUGH THE LIGHT BLINDS BY THE WINDOW, SETTLING ON FAITH'S CLOSED EYES.

The sudden brightness she sensed on her eyelids made her open them, gathering her surroundings. Staring at the ceiling which was decorated with those glow in the dark airplane stickers, she smiles at the memories that return to her mind.

The giggles the pair let out as they stood on the ladder which barely could hold them two. One of their legs was on the top step, the other on the bottom, their sides pressed into each other's., laughing the entire time they were hoisted up. Later that day, they'd driven an entire hour away from her house, to a Chick-fil-a to get the chicken sandwiches, blasting '80's songs the entire time he drove on the way, and when she drove them back home.

Faith registers just exactly the position she was. Firstly, she was in Bradley's bed, technically the guest room he'd taken up. Second of all, he was laying on her, face nuzzled into the crook of her neck, chest heaving up and down with deep breathes he let out and soft snores he let out from his somewhat open mouth.

She only wished this could be a sight she'd wake up to everyday.

Slowly slipping out from underneath Bradley, Faith looks back to him, before running a hand through her hair, putting it up into a bun, and tip-toe-ing herself out of the room without a sound.

As she closes the door with the tiniest of clicks, she closes her eyes, taking a deep breath, before letting out a silent scream.

What just happened?

Lost in her own world of thoughts, she didn't realize Hulk had rushed over to her the second he saw Faith step out of the room. She remembers not to yell out loud, thankfully, picking up the furball and running upstairs to her room where she jumps to fall with her back flat against her bed.

Faith lets go of Hulk, but he ends up sitting on her stomach, not at all bothered by the rise and fall of it as she takes in deep breaths and lets them out. The only thought running through her head was, what actually just happened?

Did she actually, just spend the night with Bradley Bradshaw, someone who she knows she feels something for? Of course, they just slept.

But in each other's arms.

Actually, he cuddled into her arms.

But he was tired. He probably doesn't even remember it. Her shoulders shrug involuntarily.

But what if he does?

Oh, he definitely does, doesn't he?

Faith runs her fingers through Hulk's fur, shaking her head in denial at the rather suggestive thoughts entering her mind.

She stays on her bed, still laid, but then slowly picks the sleeping kitten off her, placing him on the bed, before she goes to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

It was another day off of training, so they could either lay in bed all day or go out for a while. Bradley needed fresh air after the events of the other day, Faith is reminded of the doctor's words to her about taking Bradley out for small walks or something like that. She'd probably take him to the beach or something.



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AFTER A LONG, HOT BATH, FAITH FINDSD HERSELF IN THE KITCHEN, HEADPHONES IN HER EARS AS SHE BOBS HER HEAD TO HOOKED ON A FEELING BY BLUE SWEDE.

She'd decided to make breakfast for herself and Bradley, having fed Hulk already. Bacon was in the pan she held right above the fire on the stove, making it extra crispy, just the way she knew Bradley liked it. She'd toasted bread as well, lathering peanut butter on it. She had also made eggs, scrambled, topped off with salt and pepper.

See, Faith liked her music loud, she'd like it when the surrounding noises weren't heard anymore, and she was deafened by the songs she'd listen to. She also had a knife in her hand as she was cutting up some fruit. So, when she was completely in a zone with the music and cutting up the strawberries, she was not expecting warm hands to wrap around her waist and pull her closer to the warmth.

Out of instinct, she freezes for barely a second, twisting her body in their hold, before bringing her hand which held the knife to the person behind hers' neck, eyes cold, though they immediately soften when she finds those hazel greens she'd always found so beautiful. His eyes had widened at her, hands up at his side in surrender as he leaned away from the sharp knife by his knife.

"What the actual fuck do you think you're doing, sneaking up on me like that?" Faith puts the knife back on the kitchen counter, yelling in loud surprise, she places a hand on her heart, preventing it from exiting her ribcage out of sudden fear. Bradley winces at her loudness, slowly backing away from her with a pout on his face.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to surprise you." Bradley shrugs, apologetic expression on his face.

Although that look immediately fades into one of utter and complete happiness as he sees cut up strawberries on the wooden cutting board, "You have strawberries?" He makes a move to grab a piece, but his hand is slapped away from it, as Faith gives him a pointed look.

"Can you at least wash your hands, before you go on grabbin-" Faith barely completes her words, when she's cut off by Bradley reaching behind her to grab the strawberries.

"Give me back my strawberries!" The second he finishes his words, the mentioned fruit is already completely stuffing his mouth. Faith was not sure if he was able to even breathe.

"I- okay, whatever." Faith shakes her head at his antics, placing the rest of the breakfast on two plates as she carries them over to put on the coffee table, Bradley follows her, hands full with the strawberries he was throwing in his mouth.

She turns the T.V on, putting on 'Brooklyn Nine Nine', specifically the episode where the gang was playing the Jimmy Jab Games. She'd started showing Bradley the series when he mentioned he'd never seen it, and she was baffled by this news, turning it on immediately with a look of disbelief and disgust directed towards him. At first, Bradley felt a tad bit jealous at the way Faith would look and have that spark in her eye whenever Jake would end up on the screen.

But soon enough, Bradley was hooked onto the show, being the one to turn it on after a long day training, or just after coming home all tired. The pair would grab pillows and blankets and make popcorn and finish entire seasons over the weekends.

After the episode had ended, and the credits were rolling, Faith looked over to Bradley who was placing his now empty plate on the coffee table, doing so herself and asking, "So, Doc told me that you should get be active instead of lying around the house all day. What do you wanna do?" She propped her elbow on the headrest, turning her body to face him, waiting for him to answer her question.

Bradley mimicked her actions, facing his body to her as he too propped his elbow on the headrest and placed his head on his palm, "I don't really know, if it was up to me, we'd just sit around and watch B99."

Faith sighs, looking at the T.V for a brief moment, before looking back to him, a spark in her eyes, "How 'bout we go out in the evening, watch the sunset, drink a few beers by the beach?"

Bradley smiles at the simple idea, liking it immediately, as he nods his head in agreement. Further, he suggests, "We should just stay here right now till the afternoon or something, then we'll grab a pack of beers and head out?"

Faith nods in agreement and sends him a small smile, appreciating the simple plan.

Hulk jumps on the couch between the two of them, walking towards Bradley and placing a paw on his leg. Faith gasps at the sight, eyebrows rising in actual surprise and Bradley freezes, looking down at the kitten with wide eyes.

Hulk makes a move to lay on Bradley's lap, laying his head on his thigh, closing his eyes with a deep breath.

"What is actually happening?" Bradley whisper-shouts towards Faith, who was giggling silently to herself at his expression of utter horror.

"Just enjoy it. And, try not to move for a while, I bet he's not gonna wake up at least for a few episodes." She chuckles out, shaking her head at Hulk's plays, who knew Bradley was absolutely terrified of him,

Faith snaps a quick photo of the sight beside her. Bradley was looking down at Hulk laid in his lap with a pout on his lips, yet complete fear in his eyes. The kitten was sound asleep, and it seemed like he had a tiny smile on his mouth, probably feeling the fear roll off of Bradley.

She lets out a loud chuckle at the photo, especially at Bradley's expression, showing the photo to him. They end up laughing at his face for long minutes.