A/N: Prompt: You're characters anxious or panicking about something. What do they do to cope with it? Do they stress eat or talk it out? Or both?
Rooster observed as Hangman ate another handful of peanuts. He frowned. This was like…maybe his hundredth handful. Okay, he was overexaggerating, maybe it was his fifth. It didn't matter which handful number it was, but Rooster knew something was up. Hangman never really did this. So, Rooster decided to keep an eye on him for the rest of the day.
He noted Hangman's anxious behavior, the way he kept wiping his palms on the flight suit pants, the nervous laugh. Rooster also watched Bob to see if he noticed anything, seeing as that pilot saw anything and everything. Dude could be a CIA agent for all they knew. Rooster confirmed it after he noticed Bob glanced at Hangman with a split-second concern expression crossing his face. So, Bradely finally decided to confront Hangman.
He pulled him aside into the locker room, making sure they were alone. "Hey man," Rooster started, "Everything okay?"
"Huh, what? Oh, yeah, no. Everything's fine. Why wouldn't anything be fine?" he said quickly.
Rooster fixed him with a 'don't toy with me,' expression. "Hangman—Jake-, I've been watching you all morning. Somethings up."
"Alright, fine. You got me." Hangman sighed and sank down to his bench. "I know this is going to sound stupid and silly, so you can laugh all you want." Jake took a deep breath. "I got a bloodhound puppy, and she's so cute and little, but I'm so worried about her!" When Rooster didn't laugh, he plowed on. "Like, she's so dang tiny, and what if she hurts herself, or someone dog-naps her or…" he stopped and sighed. "It's silly."
Rooster stood there. "I honestly don't think that's silly. That shows you care about her." He said, hands in his pockets. "If you need someone to talk to, go talk to Bob. He raised Eirwen, at least from what I hear. He probably knows more about dogs than anyone else does."
Hangman nodded and stood up. "Right, right. I didn't I ask the baby on board?" he returned to his usually mischievous manner, although more serious, "Don't say a word to anyone about anything." He warned.
"Promise." Rooster held out his hand and they shook on it.