#fell-maverick

[torchflies]

Hi TG Fandom!

I love thinking about an AU where: Pete Mitchell is eight years old and used to being bounced around from foster home to orphanage to group home to foster home. An eight-year-old Pete who is scrappy and world-savvy and angry, just imagine a Maverick before he's Maverick — all that Maverick-ness balled up in this pint-sized Pillsbury biscuit can of whoop-ass. He runs the show wherever he goes with his loud mouth and sense of righteous fury. 

But then there's this new boy at the group home, this chubby nine-year-old blond boy with broken glasses held together with duct-tape and a big sweater with patches that covers his hands and half his face. He doesn't talk and spends most of the day hiding in his bed or reading an old Chemistry textbook that he brought from wherever he came from. Pete doesn't get him, thinks he's weird and the fact that the boy always looks so scared makes his tummy feel squirmy. 

So, he starts to sit next to Blondie, shares his food — basically the only thing of value he has, and starts talking, and talking, and talking and talking if only to fill up all the space that Blondie doesn't with his own words. Eventually, Blondie starts scooting closer to Pete, leans against him and starts to talk in a small whisper that only Pete can hear. 

Blondie’s name is Tommy. 

They grow up together in that group home, they bond to each other in a way they've never bonded to anyone else. They make plans to get out and join the Navy together one day, to fly; and they promise to never be apart or alone again.

Then Tommy gets adopted. 

Pete cries; Tommy screams. They might be teenagers now but it takes three men to get them to pry their hands off of each other. Tommy gets carried down the hallway howling, hands outstretched, yelling louder than Pete’s ever heard him speak before. Suddenly, the world is meaner and colder than it has ever been before and all he has left of his Blondie is that same scuffed up Chemistry textbook and a pair of broken glasses.

Pete runs away that night, glasses in his pocket and that heavy book stuffed into his backpack, but he never finds Tommy again… he finds Nicky Bradshaw instead. 

He starts to move on from the hope of ever seeing Tommy again… until Top Gun and Animal Night at the O Club, when Pete catches sight of the first boy he’s ever loved, hiding with shades on and a vodka glass in his hand, instead of a patchy sweater and a Chemistry textbook. 

Pete’s still a pint-sized Pillsbury biscuit can of whoop-ass and the world has changed them both into new people…

But when Iceman comes at him with bravado and snapping teeth, stinking of the alcohol that used to scare him when he was Tommy, regaling Maverick with tales of a father who loved a bottle more than him…

Pete reaches up to slip a little boy’s pair of broken glasses onto the blond’s face with a gentle, “Hi, Blondie.”

And Iceman crumbles away, leaving a crying Tommy in his place.

“Pete.”

He still says it the same way, like he's saying home.

[lexicrvg]

On a random night in 1989, Ice and Mav have a fight about their future together. Ice wants to quit the navy and love Mav in all the ways he deserves, out and proud, but Maverick doesn't let him. He knows Ice wants to climb through the ranks and get stars on his shoulder, he can't be the reason Ice misses this.

That night, they broke up. Ice couldn't bear be with someone who didn't love him just as much as he loves them, and Maverick couldn't tell Ice he wouldn't give up flying for him.

Ice quits the navy. He would've done it with or without Maverick.

30+ years go by, and their lives haven't even once crossed paths, not even at Slider's wedding nor Sundown's funeral. It seems like the universe had separate plans for them, and it stuck this way.

(They were at both of these events, but Wolfman was in charge of "Not let Mav and Tom see each other" and he always aces a task)

Until Wolf's retirement party, that is. With him being the center of attention, he gives Hollywood the most important task of his life, Wood have other plans tho, he's very easily distracted by his husband's beautiful smile and when they're least expecting it...

"Hey" Maverick says, sitting on the bar, side by side with Tom.

"Pete!" Tom opens a big smile "Long time no see!"

"Yeah, right." Mav takes a pause, looking at the other up and down. "You look great"

And he did. Being away from the navy must've given Tom 10 years of his life back.

"You look exactly the same," Tom laughs. "Like, scarily so."

Pete laughs with him, although the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. In just 2 minutes, between seeing Tom from across the room and engaging in conversation with him, Mav noticed he seems... happy.

"I think I've been time traveling in those jets," he jokes, and Tom laughs. Again.

Tom didn't have such an easy smile back then. It rubs on Maverick the wrong way.

"How have you been?" Tom asks, after taking a sip of his vodka.

Maverick did not have a good answer to that question. Miserable? Missing you every day of my life? Discharged?

"Good" it's what he settles for. "You?"

Something in Tom's eyes twitches, like he's well aware Maverick's lying to his face, he says nothing about it, and Mav doesn't give him a chance to. He spots the ring on Tom's finger and, before he can help himself, he asks:

"What's her name?" Earning yet another laugh from Tom.

"I know it's been a while, but I'm sure you remember I'm not particularly interested in women." Tom plays with his ring and adds: "His name is Grant, and he's..." Tom searches for something in the room, then points. "... right there."

Against his better judgment, Mav turns to see where Tom's pointing. He regrets it immediately. Grant is gorgeous.

He's the exact opposite of Pete. For starters, he's tall, taller than Ice, taller than Slider whom he's talking excitedly with. Grant's hair is silver, and he carries a smile that would make Mav swoon if the situation was any different.

"We met in 2001" Tom continues, smiling lovingly at his partner. "Got married in 2016, and..."

"And...?"

"Our kid came to our lives in 2019. She just turned 10."

Maverick feels like he's going to throw up. Husband and daughter. Tom had both a husband and a daughter while Pete was still in weird terms with Bradley and as single as he's ever been. It wasn't fair. He was the one who didn't want Tom and now... Now, Tom has been living a happy life with a family he could only dream of when he was in the navy, and Pete still held onto a tiny bit of hope that he would get Ice back.

It wasn't fair. Not at all. He might die of regret.

"Listen, I gotta go to the restroom, " Ice said, getting up. "You stay here! I'll be back. We have a lot of catch-up to do, " and walked away.

Mav downed the rest of Tom's drink in one go, very disappointedly realizing it was water and not vodka.

"Hey, shortstack!" comes from Ron Kerner, looking a bit tipsy, bringing Grant on his arm. "I want you to meet my dear friend, Grant!"

"Yeah, I..."

"Grant, this is Pete Mitchell, Tom's wingmen" hearing Slider refer to him as Ice's wingmen did something weird to Mav's heart. "Mav, this is Grant Kazansky, he's..."

"Ice's husband, yeah, I heard."

Both Slider and Grant giggle at this. Grown man. Giggling. "He hates being called Ice nowadays," Grant explains. "He says Iceman is someone who should stay in the past."

"Sorry, old habits." Mav opens an awkward smile.

"Can I get you a drink?" Grant offers. "Something stronger than Tom's water."

"I thought it was vodka." Mav murmurs.

Already gesturing to the bartender to bring a drink, Grant says: "He stopped drinking when our princess came to our lives."

"And yet I'm her contact emergency" Slider interrupts.

"Because you let her eat ice cream before dinner!"

And isn't this nice? Maverick thought to himself. Him, his biggest love's husband and fucking Ron Kerner all sitting together and having a nice chat!

Before he could actually throw up in front of these people, he excused himself and went to get some fresh air.

Not even 5 minutes go by before someone sits down besides him on the sidewalk.

"He talked about you." Grant says, offering Mav a glass of something that might be whiskey — or apple juice, you never know.

"Good things, I hope." Mav says, taking the glass.

Grant snorts, but doesn't answer. Awkward silence rovers between them.

"Do you love him?" Pete asks, breaking it.

Without missing a beat, Grant answers: "More than I ever loved anyone."

Something twists in Mav's stomach, but he ignores it.

"That's good. He only deserves good things."

But it went without saying. Grant knew Tom deserved only good things, hell, Ice knew it. He would never settle for less than he deserves, and that's why he's with Grant and not Maverick.

"He's lucky to have you," Pete finishes, swallowing the bitter taste the words leave in his mouth.

"I'm lucky to have him." After a beat of awkward silence, Grant adds: "You should come by to dinner."

Mav must've heard it wrong, so he waits for Grant to correct himself. It never comes.

"What?"

"Dinner at our place," Grant explains. "He'd love to get you back in his life, he treasures his friends a lot."

Friends. Right. That's what they are. No.

"We haven't been friends in a long time," not since 1986, he lefts unsaid, since we started dating.

Grant seems to think about it, then decides, "Now it's a good time to reconect. Enjoy your drink."

Then he walks back into the bar, leaving Mav and his thoughts alone.

It all seems a bit crazy for him. Ice — sorry, Tom — has a husband. And they've been together for more than twenty years. A husband who loves him dearly and isn't afraid to say so. A husband who goes to navy events just to celebrate Tom's old friends. A husband who looks like could and would kill anyone who did Tom wrong. A husband who sat down with Tom's ex and invited him to dinner just because.

Pete thinks he should accept the offer. Just to see what Tom's been up to and meet his daughter, would she like him? Would she call him "Uncle Mav"? He should call Slider and check on what to wear and say...

Oh. He doesn't know what to say around Tom. They're strangers now. The man who he once shared a house, a bed, a life, and a heart with is now a stranger to him.

The realization does something to him, something very bad. He takes a sip of his drink and decides this day could not get any worse.

Huh. Whiskey. A good one. At least Grant knows his liquor.

[unlawfulchaos]

[In a world where Bradley's papers were never pulled, so he never stopped talking to his parents]

Bradley, on the phone: Hey pops, I forgot my homework. Can you drop it off at the seminar hall? It's empty, don't worry.

Ice: OK.

Ice, walking into the full Top Gun classroom:

Bradley: EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM OWES ME FIVE DOLLARS, I TOLD YOU MY DAD WAS AN ADMIRAL

[moonagedaydream14]

i have this really vague concept of a married hangster fic but idk that it’s gonna get written. all these little scenes in my head….maybe one day I’ll figure out how to write them down and share them. just know that in my head they’ve been married this whole time.

[driftershunt]

MAVERICK DOODLES!!

[jtl07]

hi jt, finally throwing my hat into the shenanigans prompts ring 😎 here's: hangar / hanger / hangover

you can grab one of them (are they options??) or all of them (are they connected??) or twist it into something else entirely, however you want 🤩

wheee this was fantastic to play with because my brain immediately went to the universe in the long, delirious, burning blue - thanks for giving that fic love btw and for your support in general, not just for me but for so many folks as well!

“Jesus, Ava, what the hell - do you just not believe in hangers or something?”

Beatrice sighs as she makes her way through the hangar, Mary’s voice and Ava’s grumbling filling the space in a way she’s missed, a way she thought she’d forgotten. She lets the sound fill in the cracks that had formed through the years Ava had been away. Glad that she no longer has to fight the silence alone, now. Glad to have her, them, all back, now. 

At least, that’s what Beatrice reminds herself when she rounds the corner and finds Mary about to throttle Ava. “She doesn’t,” Beatrice answers, stepping smoothly in between them to point Mary towards a clothes steamer and Ava to a chair. 

Mary rolls her eyes and grabs the suit jacket and the steamer with clenched fists, muttering to herself about never letting Ava borrow anything again. 

“She should be thankful I didn’t get anything on it.” Ava’s voice is muffled and Beatrice turns to find out why: she’s face down on the desk with a manila folder tossed over her head. “Not a drop - of beer or puke.”

Beatrice chuckles softly. Leans against the desk as she runs her hand gently down Ava’s back. “How’s the hangover?” she murmurs, reaching out with her other hand to adjust the folder to block more of the light. 

Ava lifts a hand, waggles it weakly back and forth before dropping it back onto the desk. “Sure showed those kids though.” 

“Those ‘kids’ are only a couple years younger than you.” 

“Still counts.” Ava shifts on the desk, shuffles so one eye peeks out from under the folder. “Besides, you’re like their mom so.” Her hand flops again, as if illustrating her point. “Kids.” 

Beatrice rolls her eyes. “Hardly.” Can’t stop the note of fondness in her voice, though. Knows Ava’s heard it by the smirk that edges across her face. 

Something else must show because Ava sits up, the folder falling to the desk as she takes Beatrice’s hand. “What?” she asks, low and careful. 

It’s a gift - to look at her now, to look at her here, to see the brow furrowed in both headache and concern, to feel the gentleness Ava’s always saved for her; to feel safe, saved, and whole.

Again. Finally.

Beatrice squeezes the hand in hers. Answers honestly, helplessly: “You’re here.” 

Ava softens. “I am.” Uses her fingers to trace the tattoo on Beatrice’s wrist - a promise and a reminder both. Presses a kiss there for good measure. “Always.”

[highwaytothedangerzone502]

Iceman: Oh god, what happened to you?

Maverick, flight suit practically burned off, covered in blood, with a black eye and scratch marks all over his face: I fell.

[outalongtheedges]

Slider talking to Ice about Bradley’s little crush that he’s teaching at the academy

Slider: on October third he asked me what day it was

Hangman: what day is it?

Slider: it’s October third. The day of German unity!

Ice: you’re an idiot Slider

Masterlist

[mxrcusflint]

all your great loves

hangman x rooster, 3.2k, 5+1 style quick drabble

Contrary to popular belief, Jake Seresin loves hard and he loves easy. There are a handful of exes who he’s on amicable terms with, who speak nothing but praise even with the realities of the Navy. His friends – non-military for the most part – are constant in his stories, and his leaves are filled with catching up from state to state. Amongst all of that, Bradley learns, there are five distinct people who take up the significant pieces of Jake’s heart.

Continue reading on AO3

[milkyway-micdrop]

to be in awe.

[compacflt]

So one of the things that made me cry (and laugh) the most, when reading the whole series was in Debriefing when Ice has surgery and Mav kisses him on the forehead, then Ice types out “I am cured” with like no punctuation. (Because of course Ice is the punctuation man 99% of the time.)

One, Ice is actually so fucking funny with the “I am cured.” Like no one would believe how funny he actually is. (And I headcanon that Mav knows this, of course, but almost no one else believes him. Which drives him up the wall.) Two, that exchange was so simple but so loving??? Foaming at the mouth here. Especially after those crazy 30 years. So my question is, what are Ice and Mav’s kisses of choice? Forehead, cheek, regular ol’ lips, the world is their secretly sappy oyster.

I haven’t read that chapter of debriefing since fucking last October! Whoa! not sure how i feel about it .

regular ol’ on the lips :) it means something more than all the rest, it’s romantic in a way none of the others are (which is why it’s so dangerous)

okay yes re: ice being funny yes. wait wait wait let me find it in my doc hold on

here!

[kazanskyed]

"jake fell first bradley fell harder" "no bradley fell first"

you're all wrong.

they both tripped over the same stupid pebble and crashed headfirst into each other on the way to the ground.

[heavenlysphere]

Yay lesbians

[unknownersirius]

Putting the Neo Arcadia AU on pause for a bit and gonna work on a story where Iris and Colonel survive X4. :)

[stopthatfool]

hmmmm biggest mistake of Your jeep. Your teeth. The coffee that you bought me so far was making it take place 1998.... whoops... i just really wanted Bradley to be turning 15...

this just shows that i'll do anything for the birthday guy... i'll even disregard real military operations and historical events. anything for u bradley brad bradshaw

[hangmanbrainrot]

watching tgm again. sorry.