A/N: Idk if Sturgis, Harm, Luke, and Keeter were at the academy at the same time, but for this story they were. Thanks for reading!!
Harm thought Mac was overreacting. That she would realize it wasn't a big deal and start talking to him after a day. But then one day became two, two became three, and all attempts made to smooth things over were fiercely rebuffed.
Day four came and he couldn't take it anymore. When she ignored him in the break room, he followed to her office, barely shutting the door before charging, "C'mon, Mac! What is the big deal? So we tell people we're together some other way – or we just show up together and they figure it out. What's so bad about that?"
She glared up from her desk, "It's the being together part that you seem to be struggling with."
"I told you we could go together! I told Keeter I would be with you all night. What more do you want?" He threw his arms up.
Mac held hid gaze, "Maybe I am overreacting a little," she nodded her head, "but you don't seem to feel badly about ruining this for me - for us." Her eyes turned downward as she tried to hide her disappointment.
"Nothing is ruined, Mac," his voice was soft, "So we won't be in matching costumes, big deal." he shrugged.
"It's not about the costumes," she sighed, "not in the way you think." Her eyes met his. "I just wanted something that reflected us – our relationship."
His face scrunched, "So, you wanted to dress up as murdering criminals?"
Mac rolled her eyes, "No. Partners." She let out a breath, "Not some spy and his arm candy, or doomed classic romance. Equals." She accentuated the last word and his expression softened as understanding washed over him. "…equals who just so happen to be madly in love." A grin pulled at the corners of her lips as his spread in a full watt smile.
"You've never said that to me before, have you?" he perched on the corner of the desk nearest to where she sat.
"No," she shook her head, holding his gaze, "I don't think I've ever used the term madly in love before."
"Well, Bonnie," he smiled, reaching to pull her out of her chair, "I just so happen to be madly in love with you, too." Harm tugged her against him for a lingering kiss.
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"I can't be Goose," Harm shook his head, taking a bottle from the six pack he had brought to Keeter's apartment. "I promised I would go with her."
"Hey, you agreed to the bet and lost fair and square." Keeter shook his head in amusement, grabbing and opening his own drink.
Harm took a deep breath, deciding to level with his friend. "Look, I can't do it on Halloween. There's a plan and a costume and everything."
His friend leaned on the counter, "Man, I have never seen you whipped like this. Since when do you plan? Since when do you dress up for Halloween?!" Keeter chuckled, "Who is this mystery girl and what has she done to you?" He took a drink.
"I'm serious. Mac will kill me if I go as Goose! You've got to-"
"MacKenzie?!" Keeter shouted, almost spitting out his beer, "You and the Colonel?!" He clapped his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Yeah," Harm couldn't keep the smile from his features. He was starting to understand the reveal part of the plan. Seeing his friend surprised and happy for them felt good.
"You're telling me kick-ass Jarhead Sarah MacKenzie is all about dressing up for Halloween?" He shook his head, bottle at his lips, "I'm not buying it."
"It was a whole thing," Harm sighed, brushing his head through his hair, "We were going to be Bonnie and Clyde and tell everyone we're dating... I didn't realize she was that excited about it until I told her you wanted to cash in on the bet that night."
Keeter smiled, "You and Ms. MacKenzie," he shook his head in thought, "I never thought I'd see the day. Congratulations, buddy. You are one lucky son of a bitch."
"Thanks, man. So, what do you say? Can you help me out, here?"
Keeter shook his head, "I can't let you off the hook."
"She wants to go together and to her that means matching costumes." Keeter opened his mouth, but Harm continued quickly "-and don't say Meg Ryan's character from Top Gun because I tried, and it did not go over well." Harms resolve grew, and with a breath, he put his foot down. "I'm not going to spend a month in the doghouse over this. I won't do it."
"Don't make me say it, man," Keeter started.
"Say what? I can't," he shrugged, "Pick another day."
"Pendry." He was serious.
"Don't pull the-" Harm started, only to be cut off.
"The Pendry Pact." Keeter enunciated for effect.
"That was like twenty years ago!"
"And nobody has ever broken it. Not even Sturgis Turner." Keeter stated. "Are you going to be that guy?"
Harm let out a breath and groaned.They had made a pact in college. It was Luke Pendry's idea - a deal - that if any of them didn't fulfill their end of a bet, the man was to be forever shamed. He would henceforth cover every bar tab and have zero help in the lady department.
Sturgis once claimed he lost a bet on a technicality, and each night he delayed streaking around the college library (the cost of losing said bet), Luke, Harm, and Keeter walked out of the bar, pointing him out to the bartender to pay. They also told several ladies that he was not interested in women. After two nights of being shunned, Sturgis took his lap.
"No, I'm not going to be that guy," Harm grumbled. "But… can you at least give me something? I'll be your RIO, but I need leverage, something that I can use to smooth things over with Mac."
"Like what?" Keeter leaned on the island, skeptical.
"Like…" Harm ran a hand through his hair, "Let us dress up together. I can still wear whites, just give me something Mac can join in on."
Keeter thought for a moment, "Okay," he nodded, "Under one condition."
The shit-eating grin spreading across the man's face told Harm he was not going to like it.
