Shadows of the Past

Memories and Mistakes

The group of aviators fell into a stunned silence as they took in the woman before them. Clad in blue jeans, brown cowboy boots, and a black T-shirt Shadow was the picture perfect example of a girl raised on a Texas cattle ranch.
"Don't worry I don't bite. I'm y/n, but everybody calls me Shadow. I'm sure Rooster here has told you that already though. So who wants to challenge me to a game of pool?"
Shadow pushed the lime down the neck of the Corona she was holding, using her thumb to plug the hole in the top as she inverted the drink to mix the taste of the lime into the sunny yellow drink. As she lifted the bottle to her lips to take a pull, the others couldn't help but notice the thin silver band that resided on the ring finger of her left hand. Rooster being the only one unfazed by his friends arrival stood from the stool he was seated on to grab two pool cues handing one to the shorter woman at his side. They made their way to the table in the corner as the others went back to conversing.

"So how did it go with Hangman the other night?"
Rooster allowed Shadow to break being ever the gentlemen, y/n let out a quiet sigh before replying
"It was alright. He didn't put up a fight when I took him to his house and helped him into bed. I'm glad you called, if you hadn't he'd probably have slept on the porch like that time after that first mission we flew together. The one right after I graduated from TOPGUN you remember that?"
Bradley threw his head back with a laugh,
"How could I forget, I think I got very well acquainted with your guest bathrooms toilet after that one."
Y/n smiled at the memory as she sank two of her balls in one shot,
"I told you guys not to do tequila shots before I left the bar, but nooo you don't listen to dear old y/n. You guys just had to push it and ended up getting shit faced. I really thought you two were dead the next morning, with you snoring on the bathroom rug and Jake passed out with his shirt halfway off on the front porch swing."
Bradley chuckled clearly reliving the moment in his mind,
"You were right, you usually are. It's really good to see you." Y/n smiled at her friend,
"It's good to see you too Bradshaw. I'm gonna go get another drink you want one?" Rooster shook his head to indicate no as he put both their cues back into the rack on the wall headed to rejoin the group.

Y/n made her way across the bar to stand in front of Penny, asking for another Corona. The two were in conversation when a new patron came up behind y/n leaning over her to order his own drink. The guy was dressed like he just stepped out of a cheesy teen beach movie with a tank top hanging from his clearly sunburnt shoulders, the board shorts and flip flops to complete the whole douchey ensamble. Y/n looked over her shoulder at the offending man who currently was busying himself in looking her up and down,
"What's your name sweetheart?" Y/n scoffed and turned to fully face the man,
"You don't want to do this kid." She crossed her arms over her chest, discreetly shifting her feet to be shoulder width apart.
"Oh I think I do, your a feisty one huh? I like that in my girls." The guy broke out in a wide grin as he reached around to cup one of y/n's ass cheeks in his hand. By this time Bradley had just turned to ese where y/n had gone when the guy groped at her, but before he even got more than a few steps toward the two y/n had dropped her hands from their crossed position to uppercut the guy across the face in true south paw fashion. She bent over the man who now clutched his bleeding nose between his hands, leveling her pointer finger straight at his face
"That'll teach you to put your hands on a woman you asshole." Rooster quickly put his hands on the small woman's shoulders and steered her toward the door, guiding her out into the night air.
"Holy shit what a punch. You okay Shadow? Did he hurt you?" He quickly scanned his eyes over her small form searching for any injuries,
"Nah just grabbed a handful, no real harm done." Rooster pulled her into a firm hug as she nuzzled her face into his chest, allowing his familiar scent to calm her pounding heart. The two didn't notice the crunching of the gravel as a third party made his way over to where they stood to the side of Roosters Bronco.
"Everything alright?" Y/n let her arms fall from their position around Bradley and turned to reply to the new voice,
"Yeah Jake everything's okay. Some guy just got alittle handsy is all. Nothing I can't handle." Hangman fixed her with a small smirk as he took in her unscathed appearance,
"That's my girl. You need a ride home?" Jake turned to gesture to his truck parked next to her own 4Runner just a few yards from where the three of them stood.
"No that's okay you just got here. I'm gonna call it a night, you boys have a good time. Tell Penny I'll settle up with her tomorrow." Rooster retreated back inside the bar while Hangman escorted y/n to her car,
"I'll take care of it don't worry about it. You sure your alright?" Y/n had just climbed into the drivers seat of her car when he reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, allowing his hand to linger for just a moment on the side of her face brushing his thumb along her cheek bone. She leaned into the touch for a split second until he gently pulled his hand away,
"Yeah I'm sure. Thanks Jake, I'll see you around."
Hangman carefully closed her door and stepped back, allowing her to pull out of the parking lot. He lingered there until the glow of her taillights faded out of sight.