#iceman and rooster's chapters specifically
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thebahwrites · 2 years ago
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Should I keep my tissues ready ?
I can neither confirm nor deny this, please come back within 4 to 8 business days (I don't know how long it'll take me to finish posting the interlude) I DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY--
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justalonelyslytherin · 2 years ago
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Legacies - Series
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Series summary: Growing up as the Admiral's Daughter Ana knew two things: she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps as a naval aviator and she wanted to do it on her own. Not as the Admiral's Daughter but as Ana Kazansky, or rather Lawson as per her mother's maiden name.
Returning to Top Gun for a special detachment proves to be much more complicated than she had anticipated. Between the shifting relationship with one certain colleague, the nearly impossible mission parameters, and her father's illness things are becoming hard to handle.
Pairings: Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x Ana Theodora "Teddie" Kazansky, Callsign 'Ghost'
Additional characters: Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw, Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky, all other canon characters involved with the mission, brief appearances of other Kazansky!OC's
Warnings: see each chapter for specific warnings, slow burn, enemies to lovers-ish, canon character death, talk of death and dealing with the loss of a loved one, cancer/sickness, canon level violence, military inaccuracies
Notes: This is not intended to be us navy propaganda in any case. I have no connection to the us navy (or the military in general) & I do not condone their actions. I simply fell in love with tg:m & the characters and want to indulge in my fantasies about that series. While Ana technically is an OC, some might still consider this in the realms/lines of also being able to be considered a 'Reader' (different peeps have different lines where what becomes one and the other) which is why I decided to tag this story as both reader & oc
A/N: I have to thank @writercole a thousand times for helping me sort out the plot!
The name of my OC is inspired by @icemankazansky86 "Russian Iceman Kazanskys Headcanons" who graciously allowed me to name her after Ice sister & grandmother
The header is made by me, and all the dividers were made by the lovely @/firefly-graphics
taglist: open, message me or comment to be added, will be put as reblog
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
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oathkeeperoxas · 2 years ago
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TOP GUN / Icemav fic recs
After recently bingeing so so many fics in the TOP GUN and specifically the icemav tag, I bring to you all a selection of some of the finest below. Many many more are so very good, but there’s only so much I can fit in one post, so I’ve tried not to duplicate authors. If they’re on here, please check out an author’s profile and also give their other works some love!
The Next Step https://archiveofourown.org/works/4229682 by thedevilchicken
When he takes a job as an instructor, Maverick has issues to deal with. Ice shouldn't be the one to help him.
Posted in 2004!! Icemav shippers are the real ones, this fic has layers of guilt and grief and shower sex and complicated relationships and is so so so chewy.
Twice the Speed of Life https://archiveofourown.org/works/39694146/chapters/99373488 by Winterotter
Maverick spends the weekend with Iceman after training Rooster and the rest of his Top Gun class, and things take an unexpected turn. An AU set after the events of Top Gun: Maverick. Beware spoilers for the new movie in this fic.
Icemav get together after the events of TGM what can I say but yes. Ice’s trauma and PTSD is handled so well, and the way that Mav and Ice are FRIENDS has just. It’s got me. I love when they are friends with each other as well as loving each other 🥺
Fire or Clear https://archiveofourown.org/works/21742234 by weshes
Ice peeled his shades off and looked at Mav, and the smirk grew just a tiny bit. "You've got a little something on your face." He gestured to his own face, the side of which was perfect and unbruised, unlike Mav's. He knew this from a long, wincing examination in the mirror that morning. But at least his eye was open and working now, and he could roll it at Ice, so small mercies.
HURT COMFORT MY BELOVED!!!! Again, Icemav are such FRIENDS here and I love that for them, the hurt/comfort goes both ways and is so delicious, oh and the sex is hot af too
A Shared Cup https://archiveofourown.org/works/24314623 by @susiecarter
It was only a training exercise. It was only supposed to be a training exercise.
Literal agony trying to choose just one fic from this author when they’re so so so good. Reccing this one as I've already rec'd the (incredible, amazing) gift I received from this author!! This is rivals to lovers, accidental soulbond, telepathic sex… what else could you want from a fic. The accidental soulbond and the way it shows how focused Ice and Mav are on each other even in the beginning of their time together at TOP GUN ohhhholyyyy shit. Yeah that’s the good stuff
Lead Me On (To The Other Side) https://archiveofourown.org/works/20485757 by @boasamishipper
Goose talked to him most nights. His choice of conversation was normal — movies he’d seen, music he liked, stories about his wife and son — and sometimes Ice almost forgot that Goose was dead at all.
Ghost!Goose acts as icemav's matchmaker. Cracky premise, heartbreakingly amazing fic.
Walking into the sky https://archiveofourown.org/works/44164918/chapters/111057325 by @kerbyfullyloaded
Pete Mitchell was fourteen when his daemon settled. It took him a few years to join her in the sky, wings on his chest and steel all around him.
Daemon AU fuck yes!!! The daemon and human interactions here are sooooo much, the way they add so much flavour to the retelling of the og Top Gun is so very very good!!!
Dreams of Impact https://archiveofourown.org/works/42588693/chapters/106977687 by @icemankazansky
Maverick's trip in Darkstar takes him further than he ever imagined possible.
Another author which was almost impossible to choose just one fic from. This dimension hopping story about how Maverick’s flight in the Darkstar shows him what could have happened if things went a little differently in the 90s blew my socks off!
All In https://archiveofourown.org/works/19849111 by @icemankazansky
An A/B/O retelling of Top Gun. Maverick, an alpha, meets Ice, an omega, at TOPGUN, and knows instantly they're mates. Then there are complications.
I had to include this series because omega!Ice has me by the throat I will NOT lie… the little moments throughout this make my head spin, they are so in love!!!
Like a thursday https://archiveofourown.org/works/23324872 by @academicgangster
Hey, you get dumped or somethin'? I won't tell.
When I say I cried. This was written pre-TGM release and has MCD, but is written so heart breakingly perfectly because of it.
Am I your baby tonight? https://archiveofourown.org/works/46775455 by jiangwanyinsimp
Five times Iceman thought Maverick was sweet-talking him but it was one of their vehicles, and one time Maverick actually was sweet-talking him. Or, a glimpse into thirty years of marriage.
Soft, sweet, perfect.
Vortex https://archiveofourown.org/works/28000056 by @m-madeleine
Ice loses his ring, Maverick finds it. Things get interesting.
The complicated relationship and the back and forth here!!!! So much going on!!!!
Honey Lungs https://archiveofourown.org/works/43471734 by ReformedTsundere
"Did you want a drag?" Maverick's eyes snap up to Ice's and he sees a crease of confusion there, probably trying to work out why Maverick had been staring so intently at his lips. Even though Maverick is sure he's said he doesn't smoke before, saying no would only inspire more questions, so Maverick swallows instead and tries to smile. "Sure."
Well you see. The thing is, I am not immune to icemav smoking.
When We Get Around to Talking About It https://archiveofourown.org/works/41275461/chapters/103487754 by @compacflt
Goose has been dead for a week and a half when Iceman loses his first wingman in a dogfight with six Soviet MiGs over the Sea of Okhotsk. Goose has been dead for thirty years when Iceman loses his second wingman to a surface-to-air missile on the tail-end of a mission he's responsible for: he's sent his family on a suicide mission to destroy a uranium enrichment facility in Siberia. This is the story of those thirty years in the middle. (Or: Tom Kazansky rises through the ranks while trying to stay a good man. If he ever was one to begin with.)
I can’t have an icemav rec list without including this fic, THE icemav fic of all time!!!! I adore slice of life, definitely my favourite genre, so getting 30 years of icemav development and love and ups and downs written as perfectly as they are here obviously catapulted this up into being my fav icemav fic. Please give it (and the sequels) some love!!
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footprintsinthesxnd · 2 years ago
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To Hell and Back | Prologue
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Masterlist Next Chapter
Synopsis: The Agency was a task force set up to fight against the evil in the world and to protect its citizens from harm. But evil has a way of always coming back. Agent Mitchell and his team of elite agents have been fighting against Iceman’s criminal activities for years but when a member of their team is brutally murdered and the entire human race is threatened Agent Mitchell takes this personally and he’s out for revenge.
Warnings: guns, fighting, swearing, images of gore and violence, there will be smut, high speed car cases, classified information, torture, murder, character death, 18+ minors DNI. Thank you @a-reader-and-a-writer for proofreading for me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Berlin August 2021
As an agent you swear an oath to serve your country and protect the citizens from harm. You all knew the risks when you joined the Agency but this was something else. Agent Floyd had been murdered in cold blood, he had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time or that was what you had all been told. But ‘it was a tragic accident’ and ‘we’re sorry for your loss’ didn’t cut it. No, you'd wanted answers from an agency that always sought the truth and they weren’t giving you many. You all knew who was to blame, it was clearly written in the way everyone spoke, in silent whispers in the corridor, behind closed doors in board meetings. Everyone knew who had murdered Bob Floyd but they wouldn’t tell his team, the agency knew better than that.
When you join a team of elite agents you're not just a team but a family, working in unison, each playing their part like a well oiled machine, each member knows their role and without them the team would suffer. Bob Floyd had been a technician and analyst, he solved the problems, hacked encrypted systems, provided the team with fake identities. He’d been at the center helping everyone and without him the team was lacking. There was only so many fuck ups you could make without a technician to clear up the mess and that was where the Dagger Team was struggling.
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The Dagger Team was a tightly knit group, made up of the best of the best agents that the Agency had to offer. Pete Mitchell aka Maverick was team leader, with years of experience under his belt as a field agent on missions and undercover, he knew all the ticks of the trade. Natasha Trace aka Phoenix was the seductress, she could talk or bribe her way into anywhere, covert parties and government buildings. She had a specific skill set and she used it to her advantage, manipulating anyone she needed to and with Bob’s help Nat could go anywhere. Bradley Bradshaw aka Rooster brought the muscle, he was a skilled agent with plenty of experience with difficult missions. He was ex-Navy and his skills had become very useful on more than one occasion. Jake Seresin aka Hangman was an ex-CIA agent. He’d never been one to follow the rules and often enjoyed playing by his own. He was a valued team member and he always managed to find a reason to blow something up. You were the brains of the operation, the level headed one who managed to keep the team calm and united during difficult situations. There had been plenty of times when the team had relied on you to come up with a plan B. Then there was Bob, the center of all operations.
The Dagger team was one of the most highly valued teams that the Secret Missions Agency had. Not being a government acknowledged Agency meant that you could often do things and go places that were outside normal boundaries of law and that was what had led you on your latest mission. To capture and gather information on Iceman. Iceman had been a thorn in the Agency’s side for many years, having been in charge of terrorist organizations, heists and murders. He was known worldwide for his deeds.
The Agency had a tip off from an inside agent stating that Iceman would be in Berlin for a short few days, that would be their window of opportunity. You’d landed in the private jet on a runway just outside of Berlin and were collected by a private operator who was going to take you to your hotel. The plan was to try and intercept Iceman at the German Opera Berlin.
You’d been dropped off at the hotel, there had been a mix up with bookings and the manager had apologized profusely so it left you sharing two rooms. You and Nat decided to share the smaller of the two rooms, while the boys all piled into the large room.
You sighed, flopping down on the bed and laughing as Nat surveyed the room, her high heels clicking against the tiled floor. You could hear the boys bumping and banging around the room next door and you knew there was a fight for the beds.
“I’m surprised you and Mav didn’t want to take this room,” Nat smirked, absentmindedly running her hand down the silk curtains. You snorted rolling onto your stomach so you could face her.
“What do you mean?” You tried to keep your face plain and emotionless, you’d been trained to keep a storied face but whenever it came to Mav you had a job not to smile. Nat laughed again, “it is so obvious how you looked at him. A blind man could see it.” You propped yourself up on your elbows opening your mouth to defend yourself when there was a light tap on the door.
Nat strolled over, throwing the door open and revealing a nervous looking Bob, he gave you a small smile.
“Hey, I’m just popping down to the bar to grab some drinks. Do you both want anything?”
Nat smirked at him, rubbing her finger over her lips as she thought. “We will take two large white wines please, Bobby.” You watched as Bob blushed at his nickname, smiling nervously.
“Of course.” He scurried off down the corridor and Nat closed the door triumphantly.
“You’ve gotta stop playing with him, Nat. The poor guys like putty in your hands.”
Nat sat down beside you, running her hand through your hair.
“I know, isn’t it fun?” She laughed, pushing herself off the bed and heading to the bathroom. “I’m going to shower.” She’d declared before disappearing.
You lay back on the bed again, eyes heavy as your lids dropped slowly. You’d only recently come back from another mission and with a quick layover in New York you’d been off again. It couldn’t hurt to catch a few hours right?
Nat shaking your shoulders roughly caused you to jump up ready to defend yourself.
“What’s going on?”
“They’ve taken Bob.” Nat's voice laced with worry as she grabbed both your bags in her hands.
“Who has?” You rubbed your eyes, trying to brush away the blurry sleep.
“Iceman.”
The team gathered in the lobby, waiting for Mav’s instructions. He ushered the group out to the higher car, his face stoic and emotionless, letting nothing show.
“Mav, what’s the plan?” You asked, leaning over to the front seat and talking softly to him. Mav shivered slightly at this interaction, turning to face you.
“We’re gonna get this son of a bitch and we will get Bob back. I promise.”
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Maverick wasn’t a man for breaking promises but stood here watching as they brought Bob’s body down from where it had been hung, Mav couldn’t help but feel like he’d failed him. They hadn’t stood a chance against Iceman’s team and Bob had ultimately paid the price. They had mutilated him, touring him with an inch of his life before hanging his lifeless body up on the rafters behind the set of the opera house. Jake and Bradley had cut Bob’s body down, laying him gently into the body bag. Mav watched as you tried to console Nat who was sobbing uncontrollably.
“He won’t even have a proper funeral,” she’d cried and you’d held her even tighter.
It was part of the contract that you’d signed when joining the agency, that if you were caught or killed then the Agency and US government would deny all knowledge of the operation or your existence. Your life and work are forgotten, brushed under the rug like some kind of inconvenience.
“We’ll give him a proper send off. I promise.” Mav said to Natasha who looked up at him with tear stained cheeks.
“I’m sorry if I don’t believe you Mav. Your promises don’t seem to mean a lot at the moment.”
He knew that she was just hurting but the pained look that Mav wore told you he’d felt that too and he blamed himself.
You’d buried Bob on the outskirts of Berlin, in a quiet wooded area where he could finally rest. His grave left unmarked as if he’d never existed at all but he’d existed to you, to all of you and he’d continue to live on through all of you. When a member of your team is brutally murdered you don't lie down and give up your fight until the last man and that is exactly what the Dagger team would do. Iceman didn’t know what would hit him.
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Taglist: @callsign-phoenix @a-reader-and-a-writer @sunlightmurdock @topguncortez @bradleybeachbabe @flyboyjake @t-nd-rfoot @imjess-themess @mayhem24-7forever @green-socks @callmemana @wkndwlff @averyhotchner @callsignmaverick5 @maggiescarborough @ssprayberrythings @airedale17 @smoothdogsgirl @xoxabs88xox @luckyladycreator2 @abaker74 @elenavampire21 @classyunknownlover @okiegirl24 @flashyourgreeneyesatme @topguncultleader
If you’d like to be added to this series taglist please comment or fill in my taglist form
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meikadonnelly · 1 year ago
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{introduction}
hii, i'm mimi, i'm 17, from australia and i write fan-fiction one shots, head cannons and multi part stories. my favourite bands are motley crue and guns n roses. my favourite members are nikki sixx and izzy stradlin.
you can find my masterlist here!
i also have an edit account on tiktok. i’m not the best editor by any means but i’m giving it a go 🫶🏻 : @terr0rtw1ns
{who i write for}
motley crue
^nikki sixx * ^tommy lee * ^mick mars ^vince neil
guns n roses
^izzy stradlin * ^duff mckagen ^slash
metallica
^james hetfield ^kirk hammett
one direction
^louis tomlinson
^niall horan
^harry styles
^liam payne (requests closed for now)
top gun / top gun maverick
^bradley bradshaw | rooster * ^pete mitchell | maverick ^nick bradshaw | goose ^tom kazansky | iceman ^jake seresin | hangman
twisters
^tyler owens
bleed for this
^vinny pazienza
scream franchise
^stu macher
^billy loomis
{notes}
+if a story has any mature themes, they will be named with a trigger warning for reader safety.
+i know much more about certain people which means their chapters will most likely be more detailed, and this is why for some bands/movies, i do not write for all members. this doesn't mean they won't be included in other member's chapters. (people who i believe i will be better at writing for will have a star next to their name)
+as said before^, certain people will have a stronger storyline to others, however, this doesn't mean that I will only put effort into some and not others.
+the more detail in the requests, the better, as i want to create a clear and accurate piece.
+i write all types of fan-fiction, whether it is angst, fluff etc. keep in mind that i may turn some requests down if i am not comfortable writing it for you.
+i do not write male x male or female x female. this is not because i’m against it in any way. it’s purely because i have no idea how to write it 🤷‍♀️
+i also have preferences on what i do and don’t write. i will not include r&pe. i will not write a fic where the reader is under 18 and the other person is over.
things i will not write:
r&pe kinks
ins£st kinks
extreme pain kinks
p!ss/sh!t kinks
major pain kinks
a fic where the chosen person dies.
a fic where the chosen person purposely assu&lts the reader or anyone.
breeding kink. (this one is only to a certain degree. i do include unsafe sex in my fics and any kinks that include that, however i won’t specifically write that the reader or chosen person is doing it to ‘breed them’).
extreme age gaps (like 18 x 65 etc)
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xihe1874 · 2 years ago
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Pairing: Iceman/Maverick, Rooster/Hangman, Carole/Goose
Rating: T
Word Count: 3015
Completed: No
Additional Tags: Angst, Fluff, Angst with a Happy Ending, Time Travel Fix-It, Pining, Ice's funeral mentioned, Goose's death mentioned, but everyone will live, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Cigarettes, Father-Son Relationship, Mother-Son Relationship, Basically Bradley goes back to 1986 and fixes many things
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Maverick tries his best to suppress a yawn and fails miserably. Yeah, he is in the Navy. But who says that every pilot is an early bird? Getting up before seven is always torture. And waking up fifteen minutes earlier only to pick up that lad who is now staring at Goose with wide watery eyes? Definitely not worth it.
Even worse, he can’t even fly until the afternoon. A theoretical demonstration by a civil instructor, as he has heard from the gossip between Hollywood and Wolfman. Sounds like shit already.
Maverick never sees the point, as there is abso-fucking-lutely nothing “theoretical” about flying a jet. You climb in, caress the panel and the handle; you whisper, ‘You got it, Mav’; you exchange quips with Goose, then you fly. It’s almost instinctive, and he doesn’t need to know how the countless gears mesh with each other or why air flows on the surface in this specific way. The jet is just the mechanical part of himself, an extension of his heart and soul.
And the civil instructor is certainly a boring nerd who wears presbyopic glasses and knows nothing other than useless jargon. A total waste of time if you ask him. 
They should be allowed to fly from day one, Maverick thinks as he watches Goose speak softly to Rooster (“No, it’s OK Rooster, really. You don’t need to apologize for calling me dad again. I know you were still half awake.”). Then he can make that Iceman shut his stupid mouth. The better pilot? His ass. As soon as Iceman sees Maverick fly he will regret all that prodding, like the pen-spinning to show off his Annapolis ring or the provocation at the O’Club that made Maverick’s heart race with anger. God, just the thought of the other’s twinkling blue eyes increases Mav’s pulse. He hates the blonde idiot like that. 
Speaking of blonde… Maverick adds a new accusation against Rooster in his heart. Such a golden opportunity last night, and he had to ruin it with his sudden appearance and weird behavior. That girl is totally his type - gorgeous blonde hair, bright blue eyes, calm temperament, slightly older and probably more mature than him, and a sharp smile. He was this close to the microphone, and he is pretty sure that once he starts to sing, no one will resist his charm. Now it all crashed and burnt because of Rooster’s stupid ass. 
Will he meet the girl again? He will curse Rooster forever if he fails to do so, no matter whatever sad backstories that brunette has.
The said brunette is now lingering at the front door of the motel room and refuses to leave. Seriously, what is his problem?
“Rooster?” Maverick asks, glancing at Goose, who shrugs confusedly. “Come on. Viper said yesterday that whoever is late must do one hundred push-ups, and we still need to grab breakfast.”
Rooster turns around to stare at him, something akin to panic in his eyes. 
“Viper?”
“Commander Metcalf. I thought you knew that he is our instructor…?”
Rooster takes a deep breath and shakes his head slightly. When he looks at Mav again he is obviously calmer, if not a bit forced. “Yeah, of course. Still getting used to the fact that we will be flying against such a big name.”
He is so weird, Maverick decides. 
They are at that small place across the road, and Rooster keeps peeking at Goose when the other is chewing his shredded pork and beans burrito.
“So, um, Goose? You like beans?”
Goose turns slowly to face Rooster, his half-eaten burrito held in hand.
“... Yeah?”
“Like, all kinds of beans? Black beans? Pinto? Do you like them steamed? Baked? Or…”
Goose’s confusion is so evident that it almost makes the whole thing more hilarious. “Well, I… I prefer black beans. And, well, steamed and baked both sound great, I guess…?”
“You like burritos in general? Cuz I remember… I mean, I saw you order that without looking at their menu.”
Goose raises his hand, probably to scratch his head, and then seems to remember the burrito. Maverick catches his eyes and raises an eyebrow, signaling dude, I have absolutely no idea what is happening either, and not gonna help you; you deal with this curious burrito addict by yourself at the same time.
“Burritos are not bad. But honestly, nothing can hold a candle to cookies made by my wife. You should try it sometimes, Rooster. I still have some with me at the base.”
An apparent attempt to change the topic and lighten the mood. But Rooster turns away to rub at his eyes, and when he speaks again, there is a tremor in his voice.
“Yeah, yeah, sure. Thanks.”
So. Fucking. Weird.
As they walk into the base, Maverick murmurs to Goose when Rooster’s attention is caught by the line of F-14s shining under the morning sun.
“He is not a spy or something, is he? Cuz we will be in deep shit if he is, and that’s too much trouble, even for us.”
“I don’t suppose so.” Goose stares at Rooster’s figure. “He only asks questions about some food anyway. Unless the enemy is developing burrito missiles.” He chuckles at his own joke.
Only the first line of seats is available when they enter the classroom. Maverick swaggers along the aisle to the front, feeling everyone’s gaze on him, especially the one from a specific blonde. 
Ready to get your ass kicked? He doesn’t say that aloud, and Goose should be proud of him.
Bradley hesitates for a second, then sits on the other side of the aisle. He recognizes all the young faces in the classroom instantly. 
Wolfman, wearing his cowboy hat and whispering in Hollywood’s ear (They showed up at the door of the motel room where Bradley was staying when he had refused to pick up Mav’s countless calls, and Bradley slammed the door at them so hard that he sprained his wrist. Much later, he learned from the headlines that they stayed in the Navy and got married on the same day when DADT was repealed).
Chipper and Sundown, reading some manuals (Bradley heard from some of his Top Gun classmates that they became commercial pilots after ten years in the Navy and remained best friends).
Slider, pulling down his aviators a bit to gaze at them (He has become another family member as well as Bradley’s secret informant of the update on Mav and Ice throughout the years). And, of course, Iceman, who is facing forward and also wearing the aviators, his expression perfectly neutral (Mav saluted to Ice’s picture, his eyes bright with unshed tears).
His dad is laughing at some of Mav’s witty remarks, and there are small wrinkles around his eyes. Under the morning sunbeam Goose’s eyes look like warm honey. A shade lighter than his own, and Bradley adds this precious detail to his list. Photos back then really did a lousy job at reflecting colors, faded or not.
He feels dizzy, like someone caught in a whirlpool. The tides of time are washing through him with such forces that he almost forgets everything else for a second. 
Almost.
Right. 
Viper will be here soon, and Bradley doesn’t think he can easily talk his way out of this one. He knows Viper, and to fool that cautious officer is much more difficult. 
Can one get a dishonorable discharge in a dream or…? Bradley thinks as he stares at the F-14s. Or this is not a dream, and he somehow gets back in time.
God, he is starting to slide into madness, isn’t he?
“Gentlemen.”
Everyone stops talking at once as Viper walks to the front. He turns around, and his piercing eyes immediately land on Bradley, who tries hard not to fidget in front of his loving but stern grandpa.
Don’t think; just do.
Viper opens his mouth, but Bradley beats him to it.
“Sir. I am wondering whether I can have a word with you.”
The Commander gazes at him for a while, and every second seems like a year. Bradley holds eye contact and prays that he can convey all the desperation to convince Viper. 
He doesn’t know how, but by some miracle, it works.
“OK. Jester, Charlie, please take over for now.”
Bradley follows Viper to the door, brushing past Jester and Charlie. He hears Mav murmur to Goose and steals a final glance at the relieved face of his godfather. 
Viper closes the door and gestures to Bradley to take a seat. He then sits down behind the desk and stares at Bradley without a word. A way to wear him down.
“Sir.”
“You’d better have a damn good explanation, or you know the consequence.”
Bradley’s memory of the day when his dad died has become very vague. However, he still remembers how Viper kneeled before him and promised to support them as much as possible. The old man has kept his promise. He has loved Mav as his son and Bradley as a grandchild. 
He will understand, and honestly, Bradley doesn’t know how to explain his sudden appearance other than telling the truth.
“I do have, sir. It’s just… It may sound a bit crazy.”
Viper raises one eyebrow.
“Believe me, young man. I have seen enough crazy shit, and your story won’t surprise me.”
Wanna bet?
“Well, I am Bradley Bradshaw, Lieutenant Bradshaw’s son. And I, um… I come from the future.”
Bradley would find Viper’s expression quite amusing if his stomach weren’t twisted with extreme anxiety now.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The year 2022, to be specific. I was sent by the Navy on a mission, and Maverick was the team leader. He tried to save me from a missile and got shot down. Then I got shot down because I wanted to save him. The next thing I know, I was lying on a club’s ground in the 80s and….”
“Please stop.”
OK, now Viper looks furious. Even though Bradley has spent hundreds of weekends with Viper’s family and knows the old man is a big softie behind that austere mask, he barely manages to stay composed.
“I didn’t expect that you had regarded it as a joke.”
“It’s true! You have to believe me, grand… I mean, sir. I thought it was a dream, but it all seems so real, and it continued even after I woke up this morning.”
Viper reaches out for the phone on the desk ( God, that looks so old ), probably to call someone to drag Bradley away and sentence him to death. Bradley begins to sweat and blurts out the first things that come to his mind.
“No, no! Please, sir, I… I know about Duke Mitchell.”
Viper stills. Bradley inhales and continues.
“I know you flew with him before, VF-51, the Oriskany. And in the Vietnam War, his jet was hit, and he could’ve made it back. But he stayed and saved three planes.”
Viper narrows his eyes and slowly withdraws his hand.
“This is top secret. May I ask how you get to know it?”
“ Bradley? You OK?”
Mav set the cup of iced chocolate milk on the desk before him. Bradley wanted to tell him to stop doing that - he would be 15 next month, and he was no longer a child.
“Fine.”
“You are moping, buddy.”
“’m not.”
“You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“What’s the point?”
“Pardon?”
“My dad. He died because of a training accident. What’s the point?”
Maverick tensed. He took a deep breath and tentatively raised a hand to touch Bradley’s shoulder.
“Bradley.”
“It’s just… He didn’t even go to war and was not a hero.”
Maverick was silent for a long time. Bradley stared at the drops of water around the glass cup.
“My dad, his name was Duke Mitchell, a Navy pilot too, and he went to the Vietnam War.”
Bradley turned to look at Mav with wide eyes. His godfather had never discussed his family, and Bradley almost forgot that Mav was technically not a Bradshaw.
“He flew with Viper once for VF-51, the Oriskany. During the war, his jet was hit, but he didn’t return to the base. He stayed and saved three planes before going down.”
“See, that’s what I mean! Your dad is a hero, and….”
“Let me finish, Bradley. That war happened over the wrong line, so the Pentagon covered it up and never told us. I grew up thinking my dad was a traitor or something until Viper told me the truth. My point is wars aren’t always noble and glorious, Bradley. Actually, if you go and ask Ice, he will tell you that they seldom are. Dying in a war is not something that you should dream of. It should be something that you try your damn best to avoid.”
“But…”
“I know many will tell you otherwise. But don’t you listen to them, Bradley. Going to war is far less important than going back home afterward.”
Bradley slowly nodded. 
“And also remember this: Goose is a hero. The Navy improved the ejection system after our accident, saving hundreds. And… he had saved me. So many times. If that doesn’t count as a hero, I don’t know what does.”
“I miss him.”
Maverick moved closer to hug him tightly.
“I miss him too, kid.”
Bradley was too focused on steadying his breath to notice the trembles in Mav’s shoulders or how Mav bit his lips so hard that he must have drawn blood.
“Maverick told me that, sir.”
“That’s bullshit.” Viper shoots a disapproving look at him. “That lad himself has no idea about all this.”
“He told me ten years from now. And I also know about you, sir. I know you and your wife have two sons, Lucas and Robert, and a daughter, Jamie, and all of them are cat lovers. The second Saturday of each month is your family day, and you will have dinner together no matter what. I also know….”
“Wait. How do you… Who sent you? You have been stalking my family or what?”
There is now anger and a trace of fear in Viper’s voice, and Bradley doesn’t blame him. The whole thing is so bizarre.
“You are like a grandpa to me, sir. And I have spent a lot of time with your family.”
Viper pins him with his intense stare, searching for abnormal signs on Bradley’s face.
“Why would you spend time with my family and me?”
“Because…” Bradley clenches his fist hard. “Because my dad died. He died in a training accident here, at Top Gun, this year. He hit the canopy when ejecting. And my mom had been in a bad state ever since. She died when I was sixteen. Maverick literally adopted me.”
Viper is still looking at him, his face totally unreadable.
“Please, Grandpa. Please. You can’t send me away. I have to do something now that I am here. I can’t watch him die again. Please.”
The old man stands up and walks to the window. Through it, Bradley can see the hall where others are now listening to Charlie’s lesson. He can hear vaguely that Maverick is bragging about his encounter with the MiGs. Ice apparently makes some unimpressed remarks because Goose turns around immediately, his face indignant and defensive. Young and alive.
“Have you thought about the consequences? What will you change, for example?”
Back to the Future came out last year, his useless brain suggests.
“I… I have, actually. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. Honestly, I have no idea what will be changed and what will not. Maybe my presence here has already changed a hell lot of things. And I don’t know whether I can return to my time.” I don’t know what is happening there. Will Mav be safe? Will Hangman come to him? He will. At first glance, the man may seem like an asshole, but he cares for others. Will.. will he think of Bradley when they make their way back? Will Jake mourn for him? “I just… I want to try. Even if I fail. I want to try.”
Viper is staring at the young pilots, now laughing loudly at some antics of Mav and Goose.
“All right.” He murmurs. “All right, I will help you.”
Bradley can’t believe what he has heard.
“Sir?...”
“Your identity?”
“What?”
“Your fake identity. You haven’t told them who you really are, have you?”
Bradley blinks once. Twice.
“No. I said I am an intern here.”
“Your call sign?”
“Rooster.”
“That’s your true one, isn’t it.”
“Yes, how do you….”
“The same family as Goose.” Viper turns around to face him, a smile dancing around the corner of his mouth. “And your alias?”
“It’s, um, Jake. Jake Bradshaw.”
“Jake. You made that up?”
“No, it’s….” Bradley really hopes that Viper could look somewhere else. “It’s the name of a… friend. We attended Top Gun together, and he was the standby pilot of our mission.”
“A friend, huh?”
Bradley suddenly feels ill at ease. He coughs and desperately wants to change the subject.
“So, um, what should I do from now on, sir?”
“You just…” Viper walks past him to open the door. “Intern.”
He is pretty sure that the old man winks at him.
“Charlie, sorry that I have to interrupt you for a second. Gentleman, meet Jake Bradshaw, Second Lieutenant, call sign Rooster. He is an intern at Top Gun. Mav and Goose, you will be his mentors from now on.”
“God, I feel sorry for the kid.” Slider whispers to Ice (in a pretty loud voice), who just snorts.
“Hey, you shut up!” Goose stands up and walks to stand beside Bradley, draping an arm around his shoulder. “We will teach Rooster a hell of a lot of great things. Right, Mav?”
“Damn right. This Rooster here will blow you all away.”
Bradley is grateful that everyone is looking at Goose and Mav, or he will not be able to explain why his eyes suddenly water.
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wr1t3w1tm3 · 1 year ago
Text
SEAWOLF - Part 1 - Chapter 2
Tuesday - May 18th
Words: 2,771
Estimated Read Time: 12-15 min.
TW: Brief mentions of blood and brief allusion to panic caused by a traumatic experience.
It ends up taking five hours for him to reach Maverick’s hangar. For miles down the gravel back road he follows the wide swaths cut by large tire tracks earlier that night. The hangar door is closed. When he pulls up next to the hangar, his SUV is the only car. Walking through the dust to the side door, he notices a lime green post-it note, which reads:
Ring the doorbell then come in. Unlocked.
There’s a ring doorbell mounted next to the door. He presses the button, it’s lit by a blue circle for a moment, then it dings out a little song and he enters. As soon as he opens the door, he’s hit with the overwhelming stench of industrial cleaners and the harsh hangar lights.
Inside is almost immaculately clean. Maverick was never one to be messy, but he also didn’t have any specific method to his “madness” He kept his magazines, books, NATOPs and anything made of paper and bound stowed within the coffee table set up in his “living room”; and he kept his tools all over the hangar without any rhyme or reason. Roosters Ford Bronco - the same one Goose had back in the day - is parked against the hangar door.
The smell begins to dissipate as he gets closer to the fans set up in a triangle between the Mustang, the camper, and the line of tarp draped bikes. The trailer door is wide open, and a brunette in a black t-shirt and ripped up jeans steps out. There’s a paper towel roll tucked under her arm, a mop in one hand and its bucket in the other. 
She puts the pedal to the metal, booking it towards a mass of towels he notices on her approach. “You Theresa?” He calls. 
She nods, panting. The bucket hits the ground with a plunk and the mop clatters down with it. She stands, rubbing her back as he approaches. “And you’re Ice…man?”
He nods, sliding his aviators into the crook created by his unbuttoned top button. “Tom Kazansky. Callsign, Iceman. Everyone calls me Ice.”
Her hand shake is firm, but when their hands come together, hers are shaking. Maybe from the adrenaline, but when he tries to look her in the eyes she maintains contact for only a couple seconds before she drops it and motions to the bucket. “I was, uh, just cleaning up. They gave me to okay to clean up.” 
“The cops?” Ice asks, surveying the hangar. 
“Yeah,” Theresa picks up the mop and nudges the towels out of the way with her boot. 
Ice smiles gently. “Are those Mav’s old boots?” 
Theresa shrugs. “Probably.” He steps closer, but she refuses to look up. The mop swipes away at the floor, taking with it the remnants of red from under the towels. He glances at them himself. The bottom ones seem to be completely blood soaked. 
“Where are Maverick and your father?” 
Theresa rolls her shoulders, then shudders. She kicks the towels a little further, mopping that up. She starts humming something he vaguely recognizes from the radio. He steps with her, then suddenly she turns, grabbing the bucket and mop and marching towards the Mustang. There’s a similar, though smaller, mound of towels there as well. The path over is lined with muted bloody stains.
Ice stops a couple yards back and repeats his question. “Where’s your dad at, kid?”
Again, Theresa shrugs. But she speaks “Uh… I dunno. They disappeared before the cops showed up and they couldn’t find ‘em.” 
She dunks the mop in the bucket again. It slaps and some slips over the side, onto the floor. It makes a wet squelch against the concrete when she sets it down and the fibers scratch a bit as they glide over the floor. “Are they looking for them?”
“Oh, uh… the cops?” she chuckles uneasily, replying with a shrug “nah. They’ll keep an eye out for ‘em but they aren’t too worried unless they don’t turn up by tomorrow.” 
Ice steps forward. Theresa glances at him then takes a step back, mopping up where there definitely wasn’t blood before. He broaches the next question with a little more delicacy “Do you know where your dad and Maverick are?”
“The Hard Deck?” She suggests with a shrug and uneasy chuckle. Realization dawns immediately. The boots Theresa’s co-opted squeak as she walks.
Ice slides his hands into his pockets and clears his throat. “What, ah, what do the cops think happened here?”
“Rabid animal attack.” Theresa’s response is to fast. Too perfect. 
“You said it was a wolf, right?”
She pauses, glancing at him. She cocks an eyebrow, not unlike Mav when asked a stupid question. Then she turns back to her mopping. “Yeah. Big black one.” 
“What else did you see?”
“Not much,” again, too quick. Too rehearsed. “It got Mav, then it go Brad.” 
“And they both disappeared after they got bit?” 
Theresa stops, taking a deep breath as she rights herself. She nods curtly, “Yeah,” she drops the mop in the bucket and hoists it up, headed towards the trailer. 
“So what’d you tell the cops?” Ice calls. There’s a coolness in his voice that irks Theresa.
But she plays along. “That Mav and Brad got attacked by a big black wolf and that I hid in the plane.” 
“And that they disappeared after they were attacked?” 
She nods, setting the bucket at the trailer steps. Ice stops a couple yards away again. His khaki’s are crisp, his shirt is ironed. He looks well rested, despite the hour. Theresa is running on a RedBull and and looks like it. She imagines that she looks cooler than she does, staring Ice down, but she can feel the grease slicking her hair back and it does not feel pretty. 
He sighs, taking one step closer and asking quietly “What color where they?”
Theresa blinks, trying to wake herself up. “What color where… who?” 
She takes a sudden breath. Ice sighs, pressing “What color where the wolves?”
“The… black one?” Theresa slides back a step. Her back is practically against the trailer now. Ice shakes his head and crosses his arms. 
“What color fur did your father and Mav have after they shifted?”
Theresa balks like she’s about to throw up. The mop clatters against the wooden steps, then it hits the floor. It echoes through the hangar. Ice’s ears ring a bit. It fades within a moment, giving Theresa enough time for realization. 
“Can you drive Mav’s Jeep?”
Theresa doesn’t respond at first. One hand slowly drifts to her chest, where it feels her heart racing. The other reaches back for the trailer, and once it makes contact she leans back against it. Ice takes another step forward, repeating himself tersely. “Can you drive Mav’s Jeep?” 
She swallows hard, but she nods. Ice nods, stepping back. “Good. Go ahead and grab the keys kid, then follow me. Slider’ll get in soon and we need to have Mav and your dad wrangled by then.” He starts towards the door, but he only hears his footfalls. He turns back after a few steps, and Theresa simply stands there, unmoving. Her mouth slightly agape. 
“Come on kid,” he puts on a small smile and tries to sound cheerful. “Grab the keys. It’ll be fun.” 
She seems to snap out of it, shaking her head a bit violently. She steps up into the trailer. Ice listens to her search around for Mav’s keys. The search is by no means silent, but she doesn’t say a word otherwise. The shock should wear off soon. She’ll be fine then. 
“Oh!” He calls back. “Make sure to grab them each a change of clothes!”
They don’t have to go far. Approximately a mile from Maverick’s hangar and equidistant from the runway is a large collection of rocks. Hiding amongst those rocks are two wolves: one black, one hazel. 
Ice approaches cautiously, dimming his lights once he spots them. Theresa’s eyes aren’t nearly as well adjusted. Luckily, she’s far enough back that her lights don’t startle them. 
They were resting when they arrived. Both still shifted. For a second, a pang of… anxiety strikes him. What if they attack Theresa? She’s in an open Jeep after all. 
No. They won’t. They’ve had nearly five hours to come to terms now. Besides, he’s in front. They won’t attack him. He’s familiar. Wolf and friend.
Theresa shuts off the Jeep. The dying headlights catch the hazel, almost dirty blonde wolf’s attention. He’s huge. Easily ten feet from snout to tail. He probably weighs about what he did before, and Rooster was a pretty big guy by all metrics. 
“Easy. Easy.” the hazel one - Rooster - growls. Theresa, halfway between the SUV and the Jeep, stops dead. She looks like she’s just seen a ghost. The black one turns his attention to her. ���Whoa Mav,” Ice glances back. He reaches one hand out in front of him, and gently calls back to Theresa “get in my car.” 
She doesn’t move. She can barely breath. All she can see is an eruption of black and hazel fur as bodies contort and someone screams. Mav. She thinks its Mav’s scream she hears. The desert wind whips up and the sand swipes her arms and face. 
Tears start to fall. The stinging only makes them worse. Ice turns back to the wolves. Now he was gonna have to get both wolves into the SUV without any help. 
Well, maybe… “She’s alright,” he assures them, turning to Maverick first. “You didn’t hurt her. She’s just… tired.” He just told them she was fine. He can’t admit that she’s scared. Not now. 
Bradley takes a step forward. Ice pivots right at him. “Whoa, Rooster. No. No. She’s fine,” he glances at Mav “you’re both fine, but you’ve got to come with me. We’ve gotta get you shifted back.” 
The black one - Maverick - takes several cautious steps towards Ice’s hand. Once he’s within a few feet, he takes a wiff. Ice smiles. “Yeah, that’s it Mav. Easy.” 
Maverick seems to smile, and with a little yip he closes the distance between himself and Ice. He pops a squat right in front of him, slinking the last few inches. Mav nudges his outstretched hand, begging for pets. 
Ice’s smile only gets bigger, and he obliges, running his hand over Mav’s head a few times, following his stroke behind the right ear and giving a nice scritch. It almost looks like Mav smiles as he snuggles up against Ice’s legs. He’s absolutely beaming. “There ya’ go, Mav. Thats better, isn’t it? Figured you didn’t wanna be stuck out here all night, huh?” He crouches down, scratching behind both of Mav’s ears “Yeah. You don’ wanna be stuck out here, do ya? Do ya?” 
Maverick yips. Suddenly, Bradley barks, once, then whines. Ice chuckles, shaking his head. “Yes, you too, Rooster, I have two hands.” 
Rooster starts walking, but not towards Ice. Both Mav and Ice watch him start towards Theresa. She sees him, and slowly starts to back up. But every step she takes is matched by the wolf. He’s huge. He’s getting bigger. Getting closer. 
She’s gotta hide. Something inside is screaming at her. The screams echoing in her head don’t help anything. She’s able to shake them off. For a second, her head is clear.  She turns and bolts for the Jeep. 
Okay, not that clear. 
“No! Bradley!” 
Maverick’s off in a flash. He intercepts Rooster as Theresa makes it to the Jeep. Rooster growls, looking past him at the Jeep. Maverick glances back and matches his growl. They’re locked in this stand off until Ice closes the distance. He sprints the whole way. Theresa’s in the Jeep, thank god, and she’s got it on. But she’s still got open windows. Rooster or Maverick could easily get in that way. 
“Easy, easy guys.” He goads. He crouches again, trying to get on their level. It’s awkward, since they stand so high off the ground. “Come on. Let’s go.” He motions to the SUV. “Slider’ll be here any minute, and we’re gonna get this all figured out, alright?” 
Rooster seems calmer. The growling stops. Theresa’s sobs replace them. Ice glances at her. She’s got her knees pulled against her chest and her forehead resting on them. Great. She’s of no help right now. 
With a sigh he starts towards the SUV, but backwards, to keep his eye on Maverick and Rooster. Once he reaches it, he pops the middle door. “Come on guys. We’re gonna go back to the hangar and get this all figured out.” 
They hesitate for a couple seconds. Rooster glances back at Theresa. Ice nods, “She’ll follow us back.” 
Maverick sneezes, but without further protest pads over to the SUV. He climbs in easily, but he looks tired. He lays down on the seat, taking up nearly the whole back bench. Ice turns back to Rooster. He’s moved a bit closer, but he’s still got a lock on Theresa.
Ice meets him where he’s at, crouching down and petting him a few times. “Yeah, I know Roo. She’s a little upset right now,” Not scared. Not now “but she’ll be alright. We’ll get this all sorted out once we get to the hangar, alright?” Rooster sighs. “Hey. Hey. Everything’s gonna be fine. It’ll all get figured out once we get back to the hangar, okay? Come ‘on.” he stands, starting towards the SUV. 
Rooster glances back at Theresa once more, and after a moment he - almost reluctantly - follows Iceman back to the SUV. Once he’s in, Ice shuts the door and gets in, pulling up next to Theresa. 
She’s been having a moment. Her eyes are red, and there’s wet spots on her shirt collar from where tears escaped her hands. She sniffles on their approach, trying to seem more put together. 
Ice still practically scowls at her, and everything he says sounds like an order. “Head back to the hangar. Slider should meet us there.” 
She nods, pursing her lips. Ice sighs and rolls his window up, rolling back towards the dirt road they took out. Theresa… Theresa hesitates for a bit. It’s not like she’ll get lost, she can see the hangar from the pile of rocks. She… she just needs a minute. 
What the fuck happened? She tries to wrap her head around it. First, some big black wolf appeared and got Mav. Then Mav… Mav turned into a big black wolf and attacked Bradley. Then… then Bradley must’ve turned into a wolf and they both must’ve run off when the EMT’s showed up. 
Were… were they werewolves now? That… that… I should’ve had that on my 2021 Bingo Card. She doesn’t know what she feels, but it’s not pleasant. It’s a whirl wind of fear, yes, and anxiety. She’s gotten a major… spine tingle, for lack of a better word, as her mind replays Maverick’s… shift? Is that what he called it? She’s not sure, but it sounds right. 
The fact that Tom Kazansky - who she knows is Commander of the US Pacific Fleet the same way she knows that the sky is blue and Taylor Swift sings about her exes - is one of these… werewolves. He’s a werewolf. Since when did they exist?
She combs her memory for the handful of times they’d even been in the same room with him. She did meet him briefly at some ball thing she had to attend for Roosters squad. He’d seemed normal. And… the Slider guy he mentioned. She thinks she’s met him. Something to do with an unofficial “class reunion” for Maverick sometime that summer. He might’ve been out at the hangar at one point. He’d seemed completely normal too. 
How many werewolves where there? How dangerous where they? Part of her wanted to geek out but a larger part was scared and betrayed. She felt paranoid, and she hated it but… I’m not wrong. She told herself.. If… if werewolves existed… what else was out there? Vampires? Witches? Ghosts? Demons? Fuck, it was Supernatural, but real. Was that a true story then? No… their werewolves worked differently. Unless… unless that was what they wanted you to think!
She’s lost in her own fears long enough for her tears to dry and a small plane to pass overhead and land at the hangar. The dust it kicks up stings her face and drags her back to the hellscape she’s woken up in tonight. She begins to cry again, and with a sniffle, tucks her knees to her chest and watches the hangar.
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wishfulwithwine · 2 years ago
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Ghost Rider - Chapter Two
Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x pilot female reader
Summary:
You lived up to your callsign, Ghost. You hid and then scared the crap out of people in the sky. As an incredibly decorated officer for your age, you were called back to Top Gun for a dangerous mission. Despite your best intentions, the people on this mission - specifically one - would do their best to get you out of hiding, getting you out of your comfort zone of the shadows and into a lively world.
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS 18+. INVOLVES EXPLICIT/NSFW CONTENT. PLEASE DO NOT READ IF MINOR.
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“Why the hell are you doing pushups, Maverick? I thought you got everyone” Hangman asked. The sun was setting and Maverick had just come out to finish his pushups after Rooster had finished his. The group had waited around outside while the last of the group finished out pushups. Phoenix had waited for Rooster, and then the rest of the 10 pilots had waited around discussing today’s flights. 
“Not everyone” Maverick gritted out, annoyed. The group raised eyebrows, looking around to see who they missed. Whoever it was wasn’t coming forward. Hondo nodded in agreement, as he counted out the pushups for the captain. 
“Everyone’s here. Who are we missing?” Coyote asked.
“Ghost” Maverick replied, and after the initial shock of hearing that callsign, everyone looked a bit confused.
“Lieutenant Ghost? She’s here? Did she get here late?” Hangman asked, surprised. He heard the rumors, as well as most of the group, about the female lieutenant with the callsign Ghost. She was legendary. 
Maverick sighed, going through his pushups with some sweat. 
“Who was she flying with?” Phoenix asked, as the rest of them had to fly in teams. 
“Lieutenant Commander, and no wonder you all can’t beat me. You can’t even see she’s been here the whole time” Maverick said, as he finally finished his pushups and rose to his feet, causing many of the group to look down at their own. Maverick rolled his eyes, annoyed at the group for not being more observant as well as himself for not beating Ghost, subjecting himself to 200 pushups. 
Hours Earlier: 
In the list of the order of flying, Hondo told you you’d be flying last and surprisingly by yourself. Last place gave you the ability to analyze everyone’s fighting tactic, and being alone, well that’s where you worked best. You were great when you needed a partner, that was for certain. There was no denial of your skills with team members, but you were confused why you weren’t put with another person to dogfight Maverick
This surely wasn’t done by accident, however. Hondo told you your place on the list quietly when no one was nearby, as to not inform the other pilots in the room. This had Admiral Simpson written all over it, and you wanted to know why. As you walked down the halls of Top Gun, by all the photos and awards, you made your way to Cyclone’s desk.
“Admiral Simpson” you stated, standing erect and stiff outside the door of his office. It was open, so you looked at the board behind him when he looked up to you from his paperwork on his desk. 
“At ease, Lieutenant Commander. Close the door and come sit” Cyclone said, as you obeyed.
“Let me guess, Y/N, you’re wondering why you’re at the end and not flying with anyone?” He asked, and you nodded, daring to sit back a bit in the chair to get more comfortable.
Him calling you by your first name didn’t phase you anymore. The first time he did it, you barely remembered that day. The whole day was a blur, but shaped your life’s perspective indefinitely. After that day, Cyclone took you under his wing - well as much under his wing as he could with his strict personality. Admiral Cyclone was not one for favoritism, but you were different.  
“I wanted you to teach this class, but Iceman put a request for Maverick, and he has had many more years of experience. Also, you’re around the same age as the lieutenants out there, and everyone decided it was best for him to teach” Cyclone said, looking out the window, and you nodded, understanding. You wanted to ask more questions, but you knew better than to interrupt him.
“A few of the admirals and I will be watching how you square up individually against him. He’s going to need replacing on his usual missions soon. People are fed up with his attitude and absolute disregard for rules. Think of today as a test. You do well against him, there will be a lot more significant opportunities in the future” Cyclone said, turning his gaze towards you.
“Permission to speak, Ghost” Cyclone said, seeing the look in your eyes.
“Permission to speak freely, sir?” You countered. Cyclone smirked, but nodded.
“You want me to be the next Maverick?” You asked, hoping you were understanding clearly.
“I know you can do it. You’ve got the flying skill, but you’re calculated. You take risks, but nothing incredibly ridiculous like the shit he pushes. He takes risks, and then pushes. You push just the right amount, and you make sure to get the data to back it up. You don’t do anything blatantly disrespectful. Today’s just going to be one test out of probably many in the future, but I figured since you both were here, let’s show people what you can do. You’re on a lot of higher up’s radars, Y/N” Cyclone stated. You smiled softly.
“Alright then, I need to go watch him fly. Thank you for this opportunity, Admiral” you said, and he gave you a smile, before focusing back on his paperwork.
Sneaking into the large watch room, there was already commotion, everyone focused on those flying. Luckily for you, it seemed that they were just getting started, as you took a seat in the furthest corner of the room with a good view of the windows as well as adequate hearing of the coms. 
Watching someone fly was like staring straight into a mirror of the person’s personality. The way they glided, how they interacted with their fellow pilots, the attack and defensive measures used all were drawn from the personality of the pilot. Most of the pilot’s actions didn’t surprise me. Hangman left Phoenix and Bob out to dry, but when he got in trouble, tried to call out across the burned bridge. Rooster let his emotions get a hold of him with Maverick, but protected his team when he cared about them. 
Why were you thinking it was admirable and attractive that he did that? Why was Rooster on your mind like that? Come on Ghost, get your head in the game. 
You could see the frustration growing on every pilot’s face as Maverick beat them all, one by one, most of them twice. The exhaustion from the heat and being in the planes all day, as well as the pushups, was wearing everyone down. 
However after the final dogfight battle between Maverick and Rooster - well Hangman was technically there, but the fight was really just between those two - even Maverick was emotional. You tried not to show your smirk, hearing the coms come in. He let Rooster into his head, but unfortunately for him, it wasn’t the last flight of the evening.  Maverick couldn’t have known how big this dogfight might cost him.
“One more…. Ghost? By yourself?” Maverick asked, confused. Clearly he didn’t spend enough time looking over the list of dogfights that Hondo had passed him. He had heard of Ghost, clearly, but this was suspicious.
“Yes sir” You said, flying. 
You knew he liked to lay low, then pull up and surprise attack. He’d done that on most of the dogfights today, so you planned accordingly. His emotions were off, so luckily for you, he fell into his usual attack strategy. You wouldn’t fall victim, unfortunately for him. You were smarter than that. 
“Where are you, Ghost? Am I going to have to chase you out of hiding?” He asked, searching for you. 
He was surprised, and impressed, that you had hidden from him. None of the other pilots had been this good, or maybe he was off his game due to the last dogfight with Rooster. 
There was silence on the other side. He raised an eyebrow, although he knew you couldn’t see it, as Maverick flew around, sweeping his eyes over the terrain and sky for you.
Then, suddenly, your plane zoomed up past him, startling him, and then did a 360 loop around to fall behind him. He flew to the side , trying to get you in your loop, but you were able to still get tone on him, despite being mid- loop and upside down.
“You’re dead, Maverick” He heard on the coms, recognizing Warlock’s voice. Why was Warlock listening to this dogfight? Was Cyclone there too now? To his knowledge, they weren’t planning to be there for any of the lesson today and he hadn’t heard them before. This was suspicious. 
“Good job Ghost. Really surprised me” Maverick admitted, reminding himself that he was supposed to be teaching these students. 
“Thank you, sir” You replied, cordially. Guess you’re not a talker, Maverick thought. 
“Wanna go again?” He asked, not yet ready to accept defeat from his supposed student. If he was supposed to be teaching, he needed to learn more. You clearly weren’t giving him much to go on. He started flying quickly to you, on your tail.
“Yes, sir” You said, flying quickly and defensively.
In the watch tower, Cyclone smirked, looking over to Bates who had a similar expression. 
“If she survives this mission, she’ll have her pick of assignments” Bates stated, watching your plane soar through the air.
“She deserves it” Cyclone said, in a soft tone as he reminisced about the past. 
Maverick could barely stay on your tail, as you made sure to fly just above the hard deck, maneuvering around the mountains and torpedoing your plane around. It wasn’t long before you had gone around a large mountain, and out of his range of site pulled up steeply at a sharp incline. Since he couldn’t see you past the mountain, Maverick assumed you went in a certain direction straight. When you watched him follow the straight path and had gone enough distance ahead, you dove down, doing a one 180 turn down and pulled behind him. It was a twist on the usual break and pass maneuver. 
“Shit!” He cursed, when he saw you behind him, coming down from your up-down maneuver, and get on his tail. He did his best to shake you, but he still heard the tone. 
There was no commentary this time from the coms, and still nothing from you. 
You were a different kind of pilot, Maverick thought as he reviewed in his head what just happened. Silent but deadly. Ghost is a great callsign for you. 
As you two landed, you saw Hondo waiting for Maverick, as well as some of the other pilots walking around. Before Maverick had even a chance to talk to you, you got your gear, and walked quickly inside. 
When you got back to your living quarters, you were thrilled to wash away today’s grime and sweat from being in the plane under that hot sun. You were lucky to not have done pushups like everyone else or stayed in the plane all day like Maverick, but you were still pretty gross. Every time you went to the communal bathrooms, you had managed to avoid the other pilots.
You put on some civilian clothes, a pair of ripped denim shorts, a plain tshirt, flip flops and your black leather jacket, and went out to get some dinner at the Hard Deck. After a long day, you expected at least some of your fellow pilots to be there and by now, after seeing Maverick do pushups, they were probably going to be on the lookout for you. You rolled your eyes, as you got an uber to the bar.
It was just as you predicted, with a few people you recognized from class drinking their pain and playing some pool. As soon as you walked through the door, you felt eyes on you, but you purposefully didn’t look around the bar for them as you sat down in an empty booth. You decided to not bring them to you, they’d come if they figured it out, and got a whiskey - to celebrate your successful “test” - and a burger. You didn’t see Penny around, just some other waitresses, which by knowing Penny, she’d be out on the boat. You could still feel the stares on you, but you wouldn’t engage unless they did, and decided to do some mindless scrolling on your phone. 
Hangman was on an intense lookout for this mysterious Ghost. So was the rest of the group, but Hangman was analyzing every person who came through the door. After hearing how Ghost beat Maverick, he looked through all the class photos of Top Gun to find her.
“Think I found her. 9 o’clock. Leather jack babe with long legs” Hangman said, looking over in your direction, letting out a low whistle. The group - Bob, Coyote, Fanboy, Payback, Phoenix and Rooster - looked over to you, seeing as you sat down in a booth and ordered, before going to check something on your phone.
“She’s gorgeous. How didn’t we see her in class?” Phoenix asked, as everyone all but checked you out.
“Just like how you didn’t see me with you guys when we were here the first night” Bob said, shrugging his shoulders.
Rooster stared, trailing his eyes up and down your body, taking in your long tanned legs, y/h/c hair, and gorgeous face. There was something about you that enticed him but also kept him frozen in place. You were naturally gorgeous, an effortless beautiful that he couldn’t take his eyes away from you. 
Unfortunately for you, Hangman had decided he had enough analyzing you from afar, so he strolled over, which inevitably brought everyone else along. Hangman’s cocky strut he did as he walked over made Rooster roll his eyes. 
“Ghost! Congratulations on the only one beating Maverick. How’d you do it? Why were you slated to go alone?” Hangman asked, inquisitively, as he sat down directly in front of you in the booth. You could tell you had really ruffled his “feathers”. You looked up slowly, raising an eyebrow at him before looking at the rest of the group. They all were waiting for an answer as they all began to settle into the booth. Rooster sat down next to you, while Hangman and Phoenix sat across, with the rest pulled up chairs. You looked back to Hangman, eyebrow still raised with a face that told everyone you were already pretty bored of him. 
“Hangman, is it? The only thing you need to beat is your ego, don’t worry about Maverick” You stated, as the rest of the group laughed loudly, especially Bradley. He was in over his head, Rooster thought thinking about you. Beauty and brains, lord help me. 
“For why I was alone, ask Simpson and Bates” You added with a shrug, pretending you didn’t know anything else, before the waitress set down your whiskey.
“You must’ve just had a lucky shot” Hangman said, trying to get himself hyped back up. The fact this girl beat him - and everyone else - didn’t sit right with him, especially if he was going to get the position of team leader. He wasn’t the best, and he was annoyed. 
“Lightning doesn’t strike twice” You said, taking a large sip of whiskey, watching their expressions as they realized what you were saying.
“You killed him twice?” Coyote asked, all but trying to hold his jaw up. 
You could feel Rooster’s direct stare at your face, heating you up but you held your facade while looking to the rest of the group besides him. You nodded, still sipping on the whiskey.
“He wanted a rematch” You replied shrugging your shoulders. Now, Phoenix had broken out of her shock and smirked. Rooster made you look at him then, raising his bottle to your whiskey glass.
“Thank you” He said softly with a smirk on his face, as if just for you to hear, as you clinked glasses. You gave him a soft smile, and you could’ve sworn you saw something flash across his eyes.
“I think I like you” Phoenix said, raising her beer bottle to cheers you, as the rest of the group, even Hangman, clinked your whiskey glass. The waitress then put my burger down, and everyone else - upon seeing your food - started ordering from the waitress. 
“So is it true you’re an Ace?” Hangman asked, clearly trying to get more information from you.
“She clearly has her mouth full, Hangman, or did your parents raise you without manners?” Rooster shot at Hangman. Hangman rolled his eyes, but you gave Rooster a gracious smile before nodding at Hangman. 
“Do you need a ride back?” Rooster asked, as you both waited to pay your tabs. It didn’t take long after everyone had finished their meal before everyone started to head home. Everyone else had left as you two were waiting while the waitress finished up some other people’s tabs.
“That would be nice, thank you” You replied, smiling. Why were you feeling like some love-sick school girl? This wasn’t typically like you. Blame the whiskey. 
“Here, I’ve got it. You beat Maverick twice, made my damn day” Rooster said, quickly handing his card over to the waitress when she came over for your tabs. You raised an eyebrow at him, but not arguing. 
“You did the heavy lifting by really throwing him off his game for me” You admitted, not understanding why you were being so kind to him. No feelings, remember? Was it the alcohol? No more whiskey when you’re around Rooster. You didn’t feel too drunk, but maybe it was just enough to weather your facade. Who knows what you’d do with tequila…
Rooster’s eyes flashed something before he smirked at you. 
“So, you owe me then, is that right?” He said, a teasing element in his tone. Was his voice lower? Why is it affecting me? You felt heat in your core, with his eyes on you like that, raking over your body.
Do not engage.
You listened to your thoughts, keeping your mouth shut, but you couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as you raked your eyes over him while he paid the bill. As soon as he turned back to you, he knew that you had been staring at him, but you didn’t seem ashamed.
“Ready?” He asked, tilting his head to the car. You nodded, following him outside to his Bronco. You couldn’t hold back your smile as you looked over the car, and Rooster looked at you curiously.
“You like?” He asked, testing his theory.
“She’s a beauty, Rooster. Real classic” You said, running your hand along the side before Rooster held open your door to get in. “Thank you” 
“Just trying to be a gentleman” He replied, with a smirk and even dared this time to add a wink. You rolled your eyes, but inside you were heating up. You watched as he got in the car and started to drive. His hands, you noticed, were massive, and his thick bicep was almost pushed against you as he leaned his arm on the middle console.
Snap out of it, Ghost.
He could tell you were staring at him, and if he didn’t want to focus on getting you home safely, he would’ve stared right on back. However, Bradley glanced at you, locking your eyes together. There was something there, something electric he was feeling. He watched as you bit your lip, before looking away at him and out the window. Focusing back at the road ahead of him, Rooster shifted in his seat, his pants suddenly becoming tight with the thoughts of you biting his lip.
What the hell is going on with you, man? You seriously just met this girl and she is your competition here.
By the time he pulled up to the housing, there still wasn’t any talk between you two, despite the numerous glances back and forth. You turned your body to face him better.
“Thank you for the ride, Rooster” You said, with a soft smile.
“No problem. Let me get your number so you don’t have to use uber anymore” He said, and you nodded, as he gave you his phone to enter your number in.
“So you’ll be my personal uber?” You teased, before your brain could stop the words from coming out. Your guard was seriously failing around this man.
“I’ll be your ride anytime you need, day or night” He said lowly, leaning over slightly so his lips were right next to your ear, his breath on your neck. You involuntarily shivered, looking up at him from your gaze on the phone, staring directly into his warm brown eyes with pupils that were blown. You watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat while he gulped, and you were overwhelmed by the scent of his cologne - woodsy with a hint of spice. Perfectly him.
As he put his hand on your thigh, Rooster heard your breath hitch. Those beautiful y/e/c eyes were staring all doe-like at him, and he couldn’t help himself but lean in closer.
“Thank you for the ride” You whispered out, finally snapping out of the spell he seemed to have you under, before moving away and getting out of his car. 
You forced yourself not to run back to your housing like a scared chicken, and walked back slowly, looking back to see Rooster watching you.
Giving him a small smile, he smiled back, not a large one but just enough. 
He waited till you were safely inside before he left. 
What the hell just happened? 
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dragon-kazansky · 2 years ago
Text
I get a kick out of you
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Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky x Reader
Platonic! Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell x Reader
[Masterlist]
[Previous Chapter] - [Next Chapter]
Warnings: This chapter changes points of view a bit. Between Mav and Rooster, Ice, and Reader. Prepare to read a lot of the mission dialogue.
30 years later and Maverick is back in Top Gun. This time to teach it. It’s his turn to deal with his past, but it’s going to be OK. You’re there to help him. Both of you have someone to look out for.
Admiral Tom Kazansky and yourself are still going strong. Married life is treating you well, but his health is taking a turn. Tom wants to do his best by Pete, but some things are out of his hands.
They both need you now more than ever.
Word count: 2.7k
Chapter Seventeen - Talk to me, Goose
♡♡♡
Maverick had kissed Penny at the end of the night and taken you back to his place. You waved to Penny as you left and told her to call you if she needed to. She just told you to look after him. You nodded.
You spent the night at Maverick’s place, sleeping on the sofa like he used to do when he stayed at yours. It was comforting.
Maverick woke early the next morning. They had to be on the boat in an hour. You woke up to see him off, which he was thankful for. You smiled softly and reminded what you said yesterday. Not goodbye. See you later.
He repeated it to you before he left.
When he was gone, you had texted Tom.
You: He’s gone.
But you knew it was too early for him to see it yet. You tried to get on with your day without worry, but it wasn’t going to be much use. You would worry until the moment you heard they were all safe and sound.
You made breakfast and tried to watch TV, but you couldn’t focus on it.
Your mind was busy thinking of your boys.
♡♡♡
Maverick looked out to sea.
They were way on their way now. Soon he would have to choose his team and go pull of a few crazy stunts to keep the world safe once again. He had a choice to make and all he could think about is the conversation you had with him in the bar.
You would never forgive him.
Your disappointment.
Bradley.
“Talk to me, Goose.”
He listens to the sound of the water. He feels the wind on his face an in his hair. He thinks of Goose. If only he was here.
“Captain Mitchell!”
Pete turns around to see Warlock behind him.
“You’re where you belong,” Warlock tells him.
You had said the same thing.
“Make us proud.”
Maverick turns back around when the platform lowers. It’s time. He steps on it and heads up to the deck.
♡♡♡
“It has been an honour flying with you.” Maverick tells them, looking over the pilots in the room. 
This is the day they have all been training for. 
“Each one of you represents the best of the best. This is a very specific mission. My choice is a reflection of that and nothing more.”
Cyclone turns to him. “Choose your two Foxtrot teams.”
“Payback and Fanboy. Phoenix and Bob.”
“And your wingman.”
The silence in the room is heavy. But Maverick knows who he wants up there with him. He can’t let you down. He can’t let him down. 
“Rooster.”
Bradley lifts his head from its bowed down position and looks at Maverick.
“The rest of you will stand by on the carrier for any reserve role that’s required. Dismissed,” Warlock says.
Bradley feels stunned.
Hangman, a little disappointed.
Phoenix and Bob, nervous.
Fanboy and Payback, focused.
This was it.
♡♡♡
“Your target is a clear and present threat. A secret uranium enrichment site under rogue state control. It’s an underground bunker, tucked between these two mountains. Your route of ingress is heavily defended by surface-to-air missiles backed up by fifth-generation fighters.
Once your F-18 strike team crosses the border, Tomahawk missiles from the USS Leyte Gulf will launch a synchronized strike on the enemy airfield here. This will knock out their runway. But you’ll have to contend with any planes already in the air. The moment those Tomahawks hit; the enemy will know you’re coming.
You time to target will be two minutes and 30 seconds. Any longer than that, and you will be exposed to any aircraft the Tomahawks may have missed.”
Warlock gave the brief.
“This is what you’ve all been training for,” Cyclone says. “Come home safely.”
That’s what Maverick had trained them for.
♡♡♡
Rooster walks across the deck. Jets were being prepared for take-off. Soon, he would be up in the air with Maverick. There wasn’t enough time. Enough time be ready. Enough time to think. Enough time to mull over the fact Maverick had chosen him.
There wasn’t enough time to apologise to you.
Rooster comes face to face with Hangman who looks at him.
He half expects a comment about Maverick’s decision, instead he gets something else.
“You give ‘em hell!” Hangman shouts over the sound of a helicopter.
Hangman walks on.
Maverick is checking his jet when Rooster approaches him. Rooster calls out to get his attention and he turns around to give it.
“I... I just want to say-”
Bradley is interrupted by a loud radio.
There wasn’t even enough time to do this, it would seem. Everyone on the deck runs to their positions. It was time to prepare for take-off.
“We’ll talk when we get back,” Maverick told him.
Rooster nods.
Right. When they get back. They would both come back and have that talk. 
Rooster turns to leave, but Maverick calls him by his name. He turns to look at Pete again.
“You got this.”
Bradley could almost hear you saying those words too. You believed in him, just like you did with his father. Maverick believes in him too.
What Bradley didn’t know was that Pete wasn’t actually expecting to come back. He would lay down his life for Bradley if it meant he got to come back home. You wouldn’t lose another Bradshaw. Just a Mitchell, if he could help it.
You’d be angry, but he’d do it.
♡♡♡
Canopies down, jets cleared. It was time to get in the sky.
“Dagger One, up and ready on Catapult One.” Maverick.
“Dagger Spare standing by.” Hangman.
“Dagger Four, up and ready.” Payback and Fanboy.
“Dagger Three, up and ready.” Phoenix and Bob.
“Dagger Two, up and ready.” Rooster.
“Send them.” Cyclone.
Jets fired up. Signals given. They take off, one by one. The Dagger Squad are airborne. No going back now.
♡♡♡
You sit by the window of Maverick’s housing. You’re metaphorically biting your nails with anxiety. If only you had a crystal ball that could see into the future and show you, they would come home safe and sound. Only then would you be able to rest easy.
It was because of this feeling that back in the day you walked out on Ice. He had been deployed, and when he came home you had gone. You couldn’t handle the fear and the waiting. The uncertainty of him coming home.
That was the worst mistake you had ever made. You had regretted it but hadn’t gone back. It was because of Top Gun that you got your second chance.
It would be because of Top Gun you lost Maverick and Rooster if anything happened. They were being asked to do the impossible. Well, it had been impossible. Maverick showed them it could be done, but there was no more training. They had to do it for real.
Your phone lights up. You look away from the window and at your phone.
♡♡♡
Tom was sitting in his office. His computer was off. He promised he wouldn’t secretly work behind your back. No, his office brought comfort to him. Here he was surrounded by his achievements. Proof of the things he had done in his career.
He was thinking about you.
Tom knew today was the day. Therefore, you’d be worrying. Probably alone because he wasn’t there with you. However, he could change that for you. One message to Penny and you have company, at least.
He had to message you too. He needed to know you were doing okay.
Tom: Talk to me, honey.
You took a moment to reply, but when you did, he smiles at his phone.
You: I need you.
His heart yearned to be there with you, but Penny was the next best option. You shouldn’t be alone when a mission like this is happening. You need your boys safe and sound.
Tom: I have sent backup.
He chuckles to himself. He can imagine the confusion on your face when you read that.
♡♡♡
You frown at your phone. What did that mean?
Before you can even type out your question, someone knocks on the door. You had been too busy on your phone to see anyone walk up to the house. However, when you go gaze outside, you recognise the car sitting out there.
You hurry to the door.
Opening it, you come face-to-face with Penny.
“Tom sent you, didn’t he?”
Penny smiles softly.
“I think we could use each other, to be honest,” she replies.
You smile and let her in.
As Penny head inside, you lift your phone and type a response to your husband.
You: Thank you.
You tuck your phone away and follow Penny into the living room, needing the distraction she’ll bring you.
It’s going to be a long day.
♡♡♡
“Enemy territory up ahead. Feet dry in 60 seconds. Comanche, Dagger One. Picture.”
“Comanche. Picture clean. Decision is yours.”
“Copy.”
Maverick looks back at Rooster’s jet. No going back. Just onward. Rooster can do it. Maverick knows he can.
“Dagger attack.”
The Tomahawks are airborne. They fly right over the Dagger squad.
Now it really is too late to go back.
“Daggers, assume attack formation.”
The jets line up perfectly.
“Dagger set. Proceeding to target. Two minutes and 30 seconds in three, two, one, mark.”
“Two mark.”
“Three mark.”
“Four mark.”
The time is set and counting down. 
“Going in,” Maverick exhales.
Left. Right. Left. Right. So close to the ground, but under the radar. They pass the first SAM site.
“Looks like we’re clear on radar, Mav,” Phoenix says.
“Let’s not take it for granted,” Mav replies.
More SAMS up high.
“We got two minutes to target.”
“Copy. We’re a few seconds behind, Rooster. We got to move.”
30 seconds until those Tomahawks reach the enemy airstrip.
“Dagger, Comanche. We’re picking up two bandits. Single group, two contacts.”
They weren’t supposed to be there.
“Comanche, what’s their heading?” Phoenix asks.
“Bull’s-eye 090, 50, tacked southwest.”
“They’re headed away from us. They don’t know we’re here,” Rooster says.
“The second those Tomahawks hit the air base; those bandits are gonna move to defend the target. We have to get there before they do. Increase speed.” Maverick states.
Phoenix follows Mav right away, increasing her speed too.
Rooster looks up at the SAMS above. While Maverick and Phoenix carry on at a faster pace, Rooster does not. Meaning Payback can’t move faster. They’re behind schedule now.
The Tomahawks hit enemy base.
The bandits switch course to go and defend the target.
“Come on, Rooster. Bandits inbound. We got to make up time now. Let’s turn and burn.”
Meanwhile, Maverick and Phoeniz are way ahead. They fly through the pillars of a bridge with ease. They’re so close.
“Guys, we’re falling behind. We really gotta move.” Fanboy shouts.
“If we don’t increase our speed right now, those bandits are gonna be waiting for us when we reach the target.” Payback says.
Rooster breathes heavily.
“Talk to me, Dad,” he whispers.
“Come on, kid, you can do it.” Maverick mutters, hoping Rooster would pull through.
He can do it.
Maverick knew it.
You knew it.
His dad would have known it.
Rooster just has to believe it.
“Don’t think, just do.”
Rooster hears Maverick through the radio.
Bradley exhales deeply and narrows his eyes.
He can do it.
Rooster punches it and off his goes. Payback is in shock as he tries to keep up.
“Jesus, Rooster, not that fast!”
“That’s it, kid. That’s it,” Maverick says.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
Rooster is flying!
“Damn, Rooster, take it easy!” Fanboy calls out.
Dagger two is re-engaging.
Hit your target and come home.
Thirty seconds to target.
“Bob, check your laser.”
“Air-to-ground check complete. Laser code verified, 1688. Laser is a go!”
Rooster and Payback fly through the bridge Maverick and Phoenix had gone through before. Fanboy freaks out in the back.
“Phoenix, stand by for pop up strike.”
“Dagger Three in position.”
“Popping in three, two, one.” 
Both Maverick and Phoenix fly right up, narrowly missing the mountain side. Theu invert as they pass over the top and turn back up right as they decline down the other side.
“Get me eyes on that target, Bob.”
“Dagger Three. Stand by, Mav.” Bob says, through clenched teeth. He’s aiming.
“Come on, Bob, come on.”
“Stand by.”
The target locks beep.
“I’ve got it. Captured!”
“Target acquired. Bombs away.”
As soon as Maverick has fired, both jets pull up and make the steep incline over the next mountain. This one is the tough one.
“We have impact! Direct hit. Direct hit!” Bob confirms.
Miracle number one.
“Dagger Two, status.” Maverick calls.
“Almost there, Mav. Almost there.” Rooster replies.
Rooster and Payback have inverted over the first mountain wall. Making their way down to the target. Unfortunately, something is wrong with Fanboy’s laser.
“Deadeye. Deadeye. Deadeye.”
“Come on, guys, we’re running out of time. Get it online!”
They’re closing in on the target. Rooster needs that target confirmation for an accurate firing line.
Meanwhile, Phoenix, Bob, and Maverick are fighting to stay awake as they got further up the mountain side. They are approaching 10G.
“Get it online!” Payback calls.
“No time. I’m dropping in blind.” Rooster states.
“Rooster, I got this.” Fanboy yells out.
“No time. Pull up,” Rooster orders.
“Wait!”
“Bombs away! Bombs away!”
Rooster drops his bombs, and they fall into the hole Maverick’s bombs had made.
Now Rooster and Payback follow Maverick and Phoenix’s route up the mountain.
The bombs go off.
“Bull’s eye, bull’s-eye, bull’s-eye.” Comanche calls.
Miracle number two.
“Now they’re in coffin corner,” Cyclone says, as everyone around him celebrates.
They still have to get home.
♡♡♡
Penny hands you a coffee and sits down with you by the window. You’re looking out again, eyes focused on the streets. It’s rather quiet out there. It feels strange watching cars go by, or the odd person.
They have no idea that somewhere out there, right now, are naval officers on a job to protect them from enemy threat.
They have no idea that friends of yours are risking their lives for them.
“Hey,” Penny calls out to you. You turn to face her. “Don’t go down that road.”
“What road?” You ask.
“That road your mind is taking you to. I’m worried too, but we have to stay positive. You and I both know Mav.”
You smile.
“Yeah, we do. But even the best can lose sometimes.”
Penny places a hand on your arm and gives you a small squeeze. You turn your eyes back to the window and look up at the sky.
You have no idea that they have hit their target yet. You also have no idea about what’s about to happen with them. Though, you do know when it comes to dogfighting, they’re all skilled in the art.
“Talk to me, Goose,” you whisper. “Tell me your boy is safe.”
You close your eyes and rest your head against the window frame.
“Tell me Maverick is safe.”
♡♡♡
Maverick and Phoenix fly above the hard deck and the SAMS lock on. They are now open to attacks. It’s time to do that pilot shit.
Smoke in the air!
“Phoenix, break right.”
“Emergency jettison. Dagger Three defending.”
“Here comes another one!” Bob calls out.
“Dagger One defending.”
Rooster and Payback fly over the mountain top and above the hard deck. More SAMS lock on. Now they are also open to attack.
Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air!
“Break right, Payback! Break right.”
“Breaking right!”
“Oh my God, here they come!”
“SAM on your six, Rooster!”
“Deploying countermeasures.” Rooster hits a button.
Flares fly out.
“Negative contact.”
“Dagger One defending.” Maverick swerves and hits his own button.
“Talk to me, Bob.”
“Break right, Phoenix! Break right!”
“Mav! Nine o’clock! Nine o’clock!”
“Rooster, two more on your six.”
“Dagger Two defending.”
“Payback, SAM on your nose.”
“Dagger Four defending.”
“Rooster, tally, seven o’clock!”
“Talk to me, Bob!”
“On our six!”
“Dagger Two defending.”
“Phoenix, break right!”
“I see it!”
The sky is full of SAMS chasing jets. The radio is full of chatter. Jets fly across the sky, firing flares and watching out for each other. It’s chaos up in the sky.
“Dagger Two defending.”
Rooster hits his button, but nothing happens.
“Shit, I’m out of flares!”
“Rooster, evade, evade!” Maverick looks back.
“I can’t shake ‘em! They’re on me! They’re on me!”
Maverick does the only thing he can do in that moment. He breaks, pulls upward between Rooster and the missiles, and shoots his own flares, being hit in the process
His plane goes down.
♡♡♡
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