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Hangman was an asshole.
Everyone knew that. It was a well established fact at this point, so Phoenix really shouldn't have been surprised.
The thing was though, she'd always taken Hangman to be the kind of asshole who knew where the line was, as much as he threatened to step over it at times.
The two of them had been stationed together enough times that they could almost be considered friends, and Phoenix had been witness to Hangman being a dick more times than she could count. But she'd also seen Hangman flirt more times than she could count, and had seen that Hangman knew how to take no for an answer, and would back off when someone genuinely told him they weren't interested.
For some reason, Phoenix had assumed that meant Hangman wasn't as much of a dick as he portrayed himself.
Phoenix had assumed that he was respectful of those kinds of things.
Most importantly, she had assumed that she could trust him with her new backseater.
She had assumed he wouldn't be a filthy cheater.
But clearly she assumed wrong, given how she just caught Hangman making out with Rooster behind the gear shed, like they were in high school again.
The two sprung apart, clearly embarrassed to have been caught, but Phoenix didn't give a shit if they were embarrassed.
Phoenix saw the moment Hangman clearly realised what was going through her head, because he was smart enough to back up a few paces.
"Phoenix, I know what your thinking–"
"What?" Rooster questioned.
Ha! As if he didn't know why she was angry.
Honestly, if she had expected better from Hangman, then she really had expected more from Rooster. He was supposed to be the kind one. But what kind of asshole makes out with your team mate's boyfriend?
"Really, you've got the wrong idea Phoe–"
"Wrong idea!?" Phoenix growled.
"Trust me! There's an explan–"
"How could you do this?! Trust you?! I did trust you! I can't believe you would do this to him!"
"Just let me explain–"
"And to have the gall to just do it where anyone could walk in!? Do you have no shame?"
"Wait, does she think–" Rooster tried to cut in, but it only prompted Phoenix to whirl around on him.
"And you!" She shouted, "He's your friend! Why would you do this to him!?"
"Wait, I haven't done any–"
"God, I can't believe you tw–"
"He knows! Bob knows, Phoenix!" Hangman finally shouted.
"What?" Phoenix said, looking him dead in the eye.
Hangman matched her gaze.
"I promise, he knows, and he's fine with it."
"Oh sure, like I'm just going to believe you! Why would you be hiding back here if he knew?"
"Well that's actually on Roo. Someone is a little desperate." Hangman laughed, only to get elbowed by Rooster.
"You weren't complaining," he muttered.
Phoenix scowled at them.
"But yeah, Bob knows. He's totally cool with it. More than cool with it, actually–"
"Bullshit. Why would he be cool with you kissing other guys while you're dating him?" She cut in.
"Well, he'd be cool with it because he also wants to kiss our dear Rooster here," Hangman said, smirking as he patted Rooster's cheek, only for him to shove him away.
"How do I know you're not just lying because you know I'll kick your ass?" Phoenix asked suspiciously, although she did find herself believing him.
She could see Rooster was blushing slightly, and... well, she wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe both of them.
She would kick both their asses if they were going behind Bob's back, but they were her friends. She wanted to believe they wouldn't do something like this.
"You could call him," Rooster suggested, "He'll confirm it."
"Or we could show you." Hangman said, seeming more confident now, like he knew what Phoenix was thinking, which pissed her off.
"Show me?" Phoenix asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Reckon Bob is probably at the Hard Deck, or in the locker room. We can head on over and you'll see for yourself just how much he enjoys kissing Rooster. It's a great show."
Rooster nudged Hangman again, "Jake, stop, just have her call him."
'You know Bob would lie on the phone,' the lingering doubt in Phoenix's mind whispered, sounding a hell of a lot like the friend who had uncovered Phoenix's ex cheating while she was deployed. 'If he knew he was saving Hangman's ass, he'd lie.'
"No, I want to see it." Phoenix said firmly.
Bob wouldn't be able to lie to her face, even if Hangman could.
Rooster groaned, while Hangman just smirked.
He clapped his hands together, "Ladies first," he gestured.
"Shit before the shovel," Phoenix replied.
Hangman only smirked more as he left first, catching Rooster's wrist as he did and tugging him off after him.
Phoenix followed them over to the Hard Deck.
Luckily, Bob was in fact there, and he hadn't spotted the three of them enter, too busy talking to Penny.
Hangman squeezed Rooster's shoulder briefly, "You're up."
Rooster huffed, glaring briefly at Hangman, before he caught Phoenix's eye, and resigned himself to what was happening.
Phoenix made to follow him over, but Hangman stopped her.
She shoved him off, and he stepped back.
"Watch from here. Bob lights up like a firetruck when Rooster kisses him, you'll be able to see it."
Phoenix side-eyed him briefly, but quickly turned back to where Rooster was wandering up to Bob.
To her surprise (and relief), when Rooster stepped in for a kiss, Bob leaned up into it, meeting him halfway and, like Hangman said, blushing something fierce.
She obviously couldn't hear what they said from across the room, but she could see Bob's smile, and how the kiss was something familiar.
She also saw how Bob looked around behind Rooster, clearly searching for something, before his eyes landed on Hangman and he smiled more. He waved when he spotted Phoenix, and that was clearly their cue to head over.
"Hey guys, what took you so long?"
"Me and Roo got carried away behind the gear shed," Hangman said easily, sliding his arm around Bob's waist.
"Again?" Bob asked, slapping him lightly as he went to kiss his neck.
"What can I say, he's insatiable."
"Oh shut up Bagman," Rooster cut in, "You wanted it just as much."
Phoenix could see it now, the three of them. She was happy for them.
Mostly she was just relieved. Relived Bob wasn't getting hurt, relieved her friends weren't cheating bastards.
There was one thing though...
"How come you didn't tell me you were banging both of them?!"