So when Buck says Bucky, biting out that name that his own name hides inside, John listens and hears a choice in it: never needed John’s protection, but kept his name anyhow. When Buck says Bucky with that bit of flint to it, John makes a choice of his own: to do, with every inch of his ability, exactly as Buck asks.
“Bucky,” Buck says, voice rough.
Bucky’s there. He’s listening. If he were any more present he’d probably explode.
Source: didactic, by drylite – Masters of the Air (TV 2024) [Archive of Our Own]
Adult. I love Gale being in charge, and how desperate for each other they both are in this. Delicious.