Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing but the original characters and the situations the characters find themselves in. Thanks so much for continuing to read and giving me feedback on my work. It's muchly appreciated, and I do read every review you send me!

Hey, this has been sitting around for almost a year, unfinished...so if you like it and want to read more let me know. If not it will just be a two parter and I'll leave it at that. Thanks!

Start of Something

In retrospect there were signs he should have picked up on. A bunch of little things that, had he really stopped to think about it, would have clued Jake 'Hangman' Serein to the fact that his alpha inhibitors weren't working the way they were supposed to. The biggest clue, realized far too late, was the fact that Jake had finally figured out that morning why Bob 'Bob' Floyd fascinated him so much.

From the start there had been something about the W.S.O. that had rubbed Jake the wrong way. No, that wasn't accurate. Not in a wrong way-just a weird way. Basically, he'd had no reason to be interested in the other man, but had found himself thinking about and watching Bob way more than made rational sense. Or no sense right up until that morning's big reveal.

Bob, Jake realized, was an omega. A rarity in the Navy, much less in Top Gun.

They were both on blockers, as the military required. Required and provided their service men and women with the best inhibitors money could buy. One of the side effects for alphas, as it happened, was a decreased sense of smell, making it harder for them to identify other alphas or omegas that way. A pain, yeah, but not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things.

It had never really bothered him since usually Jake was pretty damn good about picking out an omega from the crowd. Somehow, though, Bob hadn't so much as made a blip on his radar right up until the other man had passed by him at breakfast and Jake had gotten a whiff of the sweet scent that said omega to him.

The man might be a little odd, but Jake didn't figure Bob was the sort to use strawberry and vanilla cake bath products. Well, unless he was pranked, which he hadn't been to the best of Jake's knowledge. Either way Jake had a thing for strawberry shortcake, so that scent change had definitely gotten his attention. And increased his interest in the boy scout W.S.O. with surprisingly dry wit.

But yeah, that was the biggest smoking gun that might have saved Jake and the others a lot of pain, embarrassment, and cursing later if only Jake had put two and two together. Dammit.

Instead, the realization didn't come until Jake found himself being held back from ripping Rooster's goddamn head off, the other alpha similarly restrained.

Nothing they'd been saying should have set them off this way. Trash talking might be something Jake had an unofficial PHD in, but he hadn't been trying that hard to get under the underachiever that was Rooster's skin. They'd just been needling each other like usual, right up until the barbs suddenly seemed a lot harsher and cause for rage. For retaliation. Suddenly Jake found his blood pressure skyrocketing, his higher brain functions taking a back seat to his alpha subconscious, which said to end this motherfucker who was challenging him. Daring to think him the better man and alpha.

A small portion of Jake's still working brain realized what was happening as he struggled to get free of the others. Recognized what was going to happen and was equally horrified and afraid of what he was about to do. But that part wasn't in control. Not remotely.

Torn between terror and rage Jake squirmed furiously against Yale and Fanboy's hold right up until Bob was suddenly in front of him, the omega's hands coming up to cup either side of Jake's face.

"Easy there, Cowboy. You don't want to hurt me, do you?"

Freezing immediately, Jake shook his head automatically. This was an omega in front of him. He would NEVER hurt an omega.

"That's my good alpha. Now let's get away from Rooster, okay. Just you and me."

All attention on the pretty omega, Jake only half heard Bob tell the others to let him go. He was too busy focusing on how perfect the other man's hair part was. And how much he was looking forward to messing it up now that his hands were free.

"That's it. You're so good. You know how strong and powerful you are. You don't need to prove anything by getting into a fight with that silly Rooster. Now come on, away from everyone else. Just you and me."

Bob's soothing voice and firm hands were grounding, a connection as the omega stepped backwards, leading them away from the others. Jake followed every step, not wanting the space between them for even a moment. He would have growled over even the small distance-not to mention the fact that he sort of wanted to stay with the others a little longer so that they understood, absolutely, who Bob had chosen as his alpha-but he also got that Bob was shy. Quiet. His omega wouldn't want an audience when he rewarded Jake for being so much stronger and better than stupid Rooster. Who would never, ever deserve an omega of his own.

But want was pulsing hard through his veins, so Jake figured he'd just speed up the process and walk faster, forcing Bob to stumble back until the omega's back hit the wall Jake had been directing them towards.

Perfect.

They were the same height, which Jake most certainly liked as he leaned in closer to those pretty, bitten at lips. He couldn't wait to sink his own teeth into them.

But Jake hesitated for a moment, over thirty years' worth of training coming into play to battle back the raging hormones that were fogging up his brain and currently making his decisions for him. His mama had installed in him a code when it came to omegas and how a gentleman treated one. A code he'd never broken, knowing to do so would break his mama's heart. And Jake loved his mama more than anyone or anything in this world.

Consent. Verbal consent was needed. Never assume. Never take what wasn't freely given.

Biting down hard on his own lip, using the pain to help him focus more, Jake drew back a little and stared into the big blueish green eyes that looked back at him, eyes slightly dilated behind the clear lenses of Bob's glasses. Those eyes met his gaze without any fear, Bob's hands still on his cheeks. Nonverbal cues said they were a go, but still...

Jake all but had to bite the words out through grinched teeth, but he managed it.

"Can I kiss you?"

A look of surprise, then a small smile that Jake instantly fell in love with, it was so adorable.

Bob nodded. "Give it your best shot, Cowboy."

A challenge. Consent and a challenge. Two of his most favorite things in the world.

Now a smart man, when it came to kissing, took his time and learned what his partner liked before taking things further. If you fucked up the kissing, your chances of actual fucking decreased dramatically. Or at least that was the case if you preferred someone with brains, which Jake did. Stupidity was one of his biggest turn-offs, in fact. He liked a partner with high standards, liked proving that not only could he reach whatever bar they set, but set a new one.

He was going to ruin Bob for everyone else before he was done.

Goal set, Jake went about learning everything there was to know about how Bob liked to be kissed. How firm, how soft. How fast, how slow. What made the omega sigh and open his mouth more, and what made Bob shudder and gasp in obvious want and need.

And while he used his mouth, teeth, and tongue to find out just what made Lieutenant Robert Floyd melt to the point where the other man had to wrap his arms around Jake's neck for support, Jake enjoyed himself immensely.

)

Fuck, the man could kiss. Like seriously, Hangman was a Top Gun level kisser. Not that Bob had any intention of ever telling the arrogant ass that. That was never going to happen. But in his head, at least, Bob's hormones were discussing building a shrine to the man. Hangman would go down in infamy for the kissing alone. And that was even before Bob factored in the very delicious body pressing him up against a wall so that he could feel every inch of him. EVERY inch of him. Inches Bob really, really wanted to get more intimately acquainted with. Inches that had his hormones also planning the names of the babies he wanted the bastard to plant inside him ASAP. Because they should totally get naked and reproduce. There was no one better for the job. It would be a service to his country, to provide this man with offspring.

Who cared that Hangman was one of the most arrogant, smug, egotistical asseholes Bob had ever come across, which was objectively saying something since he was Top Gun who'd been surrounded by fellow Top Guns for years. No one did cocky assehole like an alpha in the military. Proven fact.

Fuck. He needed his brain to start working again! What was he thinking?!

Thank all the deities in the world that he was almost thirty, and not in his early twenties or younger. Otherwise, if he was being honest, Bob was pretty sure he would be trying to rip the man's clothes off instead of just holding on and enjoying the ride. It was pretty obvious all their suppressors weren't doing their job, which was how they'd gotten into this situation, but his next heat was far enough away that most of his brain cells were-

Eyes all but rolling into the back of his head when Hangman's lips drew the lobe of Bob's left ear into his mouth, Bob's eyes instead fluttered closed as he hung on for dear life. Fuck. Oh fuck. He had a thing about his ears.

Moaning like a porn star and not giving a shit, Bob whined more encouragement, then all but purred with pleasure as the man turned his experimentation skills to a new part of Bob's body. As in his neck.

Damn. He felt like a brand-new fighter jet Hangman was putting through its paces for the first time. Experimenting, finding out what his limits and upgrades were...

Logically Bob knew he shouldn't find that mental comparison remotely complimentary or erotic...but he did. He really, really did. Fuck.

How long their commanding officer tried to get their attention Bob would rather not think about. Bob was lost in his own little world of sensation and pleasure right up until Hangman set him free and started growling in a not at all sexy way.

Okay, it was still sexy as fuck, especially when Hangman stated that Bob was his, but Bob's brain was still just enough online that he opened his eyes and was mortified to see their captain standing a meter and a half away, watching them with a complex set of emotions flashing across his face. Mav obviously was not sure what he was looking at or how to react to it.

Normally, overprotectiveness from an alpha annoyed Bob, but in this case, he was okay with Hangman whirling around and acting as a human shield between him and Maverick. He'd rather Maverick not see him blushing like an idiot.

"Easy, Hangman. Settle." Maverick's hands were up, but his tone was very much alpha male to alpha male. Bob could feel the impact of it in the way Hangman's bearing became more military than alpha. "Bob. Medical's ETA is five to seven minutes. They're bringing meds to help."

"I'm good." Bob managed to choke out, the heat in his cheeks making its way down his neck and towards his chest. "He's just being...affectionate. I'll keep him distracted."

"I can see that." Pause. "Call if you need extraction."

"Yes, Sir."

Maverick took a moment more to make sure he was reading things right, then the older man inclined his head and walked off to presumably check on the others.

"Mine. Not his." Hangman grumbled, what could only be described as a pout shaping those sculpted lips of his as he turned back around to face Bob. There was also a look in his eye as he very explicitly eyefucked Bob that made it clear he wanted confirmation that he was right.

Bob blamed his hormones one hundred percent for the fact that he immediately stated that yes, he was Hangman's.

But that earned him more kisses, which was a win in Bob's books as he wrapped himself around the other man like a vine. Sadly, he couldn't remember ever being kissed this well or thoroughly, and he was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

There was, after all, no question in Bob's mind that Hangman was going to mock and make inappropriate comments about this later-or worse, expect sexual favors on the downlow because he assumed Bob was just that desperate, and would give it up without expecting anything in return. Give an alpha an inch, especially if you were an omega, and they expected you on your knees with your mouth open on command.

And didn't take being told no nicely.

Hangman's lips and then teeth going back to work on his neck was enough to distract Bob and give his hormones principal control again. Probably for the best, especially since Hangman was enjoying it so much that he didn't even notice when a medic sidled up to inject him with a shot of something that put the alpha right out.

It was hard not to be sorry it hadn't taken the medic just a little longer to arrive on scene.

Ah, well. All good things had to come to an end.

Now he just had to wait and see what the price was.

)

It was late, and only getting later as Jake stood in the hallway, calling himself every version of coward and idiot he could think of. And all his brothers were older, so he knew a lot of put downs. In English and Spanish. But if he didn't get his ass in gear Bob would already be fast asleep by the time Jake got up the courage to knock on the omega's door and wouldn't that just piss the man off that much more, being woken up. Bob already had plenty of reasons to want him dead. Or at least horribly, permanently maimed. Which he deserved.

Especially since when he wasn't thinking about what a horrible person he was Jake found himself thinking about how surprisingly hot Mr. Adorkable was. His hormones had done a number on him, but Jake's memory was pretty clear when it came to Bob's smell, taste, and kissing skills. The man had surprising game and-Fuck.

Better to just face the music.

Squaring his shoulders, and taking one last deep breath for courage, Jake took the couple of steps needed to get to Bob's door and knock.

And okay, maybe he was hoping that the W.S.O. wouldn't answer.

But of course fate was not remotely on Jake's side, the door opening moments later to reveal Bob, hair wet and slicked back due to his recent shower. He wasn't wearing his glasses either and damn-

"Why don't you do that to your hair normally and wear contacts?" Bob had gone from adorkable to hot, and Hangman didn't think it was the leftover hormones doing his thinking for-fuck.

Jake's roving gaze settled on the bruising on Bob's neck. More disappearing into the simple white T-shirt Bob was wearing with black pajama bottoms.

"Shit. I'm sorry."

"What?" Brows drawing together, Bob looked very cute in his confusion.

"Fuck. I am so sorry. I can't believe I-there's no excuse." Fuck it. He was going to own up to this. "Bob-I'm so sorry. I have no excuse, and I don't expect you to forgive my behavior in the slightest. You want to take a swing at me, go ahead. I have it coming. I should have been stronger, had better control. You shouldn't have had to let me...I owe you for what you did, and any way I can make it up to you, you just have to say."

Bob probably wanted him gone, and never to see him again. If there was a way to make that happen, Jake was prepared to take those lumps. He'd behaved inexcusably and-

"You...you came to apologize to me?" Bob did not know what to do with that news. This was not how he'd thought this would go-and this was a sincere apology. He'd had plenty of the non-sincere kind over the years. He knew the difference.

But alphas didn't apologize to omegas like this. Or at least not to him. And this was Hangman-what the hell?

That his apology seemed to shock Bob...well fuck, did that say something about what the omega thought of him or what? Fuck, and the way he'd been treating him, not realizing that he was an omega...

Hands tightening into fists, Hangman belatedly remembered that he hadn't come empty handed. Might as well get that over with too. Especially since he'd agonized over what to get in the first place.

"This is for you."