Thank you for this ask! BradNate was my first ship for the show and I don’t write/talk about them nearly enough. The explanation for my favorite canon moments and my favorite headcanon overlap, so it’s all kind of mushed together. Hope that’s okay!
Okay, so there are a great many canon BradNate moments that I enjoy (how much meaningful eye contact can two characters share?), so picking a favorite was difficult, but I think I’ve got it. My favorite moment for Brad and Nate takes place in Episode 3…and it’s actually two moments, but they’re connected so I’m going to talk about them both.
So let’s get started and delve into what I have taken to calling the LSA Exchange (I enjoy giving titles to my favorite shippy moments, okay?). We’ll start with Brad blatantly flirting with Nate while hunched over an Mk. 19 and right in front of Walt Hasser. Brad calls Nate over and says the following: Sir, the main weapon on your point vehicle is unreliable. Ah yes, what an appropriate exchange, wouldn’t you say? Brad has effectively communicated a critical issue and now all he has to do is inform his C.O that he needs some LSA in the same manner. Instead we get this: Given the prevailing climatic conditions, using this lubricant is like trying to buttfuck a virgin underaged Phuket whore with chalk when KY is clearly called for, sir. While this doesn’t fall under the category of “cute things to say to your crush,” but it’s flirting – the unnecessary verbosity and the delivery, it’s flirting. He pauses, looks down and up again before delivering the KY part. And Nate’s smile and little headshake in response? He totally picks up on it, but it’s right back to business with, you’ll have to deal with it, Sergeant. We have four more towns to assault through today, and I swear Brad looks kind of disappointed at that. (no, I haven’t rewatched this scene too many times, I have no idea what you’re talking about)
The next canon moment is the gateway for the discussion on my favorite headcanon. Not much later in the episode, Nate manages to scrounge up some LSA and passes it onto Brad and we get the Sir, not to get homoerotic about this, but I could kiss you line. This line is delivered as a joke and Nate laughs it off, but I really do believe that LSA meant a lot to Brad. I headcanon Brad as being really intuitive when it comes picking out gifts and selecting the best time to give them (he holds on the the Chef Boyardee until the right moment because it’s not just about his team being hungry). Idk about you guys, but the best gift givers in my life are always super thrilled when someone takes the time get something for them, even when it’s something practical. I see Brad being that way too. Nate took the time and effort get him something he needed – I headcanon that meaning a lot to Brad. Later, when they’re together, this pattern of “gift giving” continues. Nate pays attention to kind of mints Brad keeps in his car and quietly replaces them when he notices Brad is getting low. Stuff like that.
Look at me, Brad. I’m a man now, just like you. Except, I don’t look like a faggot and talk all educated.
“I’m just saying I’m surprised, is all, Brad. I mean, aren’t you surprised?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
#see this is a textbook example of sarcasm properly used#it’s taking an idea that was ridiculous to start with#and taking it further until the intrinsic wrongness of the idea reveals itself#sriously ray on the debate team must have been a menace
In Colbert’s vehicle, the Mark-19 jammed again—as it has in the two previous engagements. Hasser, who’s manning the weapon, screams, “Shit! Shit! Shit!” and pounds the roof of the Humvee, trying to unjam it. He lets out a half-crazed scream. “Raaah!”
Colbert shouts up to him, “Walt! You’re losing control of yourself. Shut the fuck up and take a deep breath.”
“This goddamn gun!” Hasser shouts. His voice cracks. “It’s a piece of shit!”
“Walt, you know I like you a lot,” Colbert says, trying to calm him. “But it’s not going to help if you lose control of your emotions. We just don’t have enough LSA to keep it lubed properly. There’s nothing we can do about it.” He adds, “I’m sorry I had to yell at you.”
— Generation Kill p. 217
lookashiny 