John can’t stop replaying the incident. The plane fine one moment, then completely out of his control. John fighting against everything to keep the PT-17 from veering off its path. Gale’s face had been neutral, but his hands tightened on the yolk, and afterwards, they shook. Afterwards, John had wanted to hold him. Take Gale’s hands in his own and keep them tucked up until they stopped shaking. He wanted to apologize, tell Gale that he was scared, shit, he’d been so scared, just not for himself. John had been so scared that Gale was going to die that his own life felt secondary. He still feels scared now and can’t even reckon why.
Source: ready for a fall, by stereobone – Masters of the Air (TV 2024) [Archive of Our Own]
Adult, pre-canon. Finally watched this – and of course I went for the BFF ship. This is a wonderful Bucky POV, and a great first time fic.