#idk what th emilitary did during covid except that in australia they door knocked people to make sure they were home lmao

[blazingstar29]

It fucking sucks for everyone involved. Mav knows that and the longer this apocalyptic (that's how it feels, at least) goes on he also knows the harder it is to follow the rules. But he knows that it means it keeps Ice safe, that's all that matters. The treatment is rigorous enough, but their self-enforced isolation abolishes their creature comforts. No late night cuddling, morning forehead kisses.

Taking leave for treatment cut out a lot of Ice's contact with the general public, but for Mav his world keeps ticking. The Darkstar is a year away now, from being finished and it's all coming down to crunch time. The supply chain market is affecting even military orders from suppliers, the dead line feels like it's getting extended every week. It means that every day he's out dealing with people whilst the rest of the world is locked up. He's metres away from people, masked to the nines and face shielded.

He's this close to showering in Dettol. Because of his exposure, he and Ice made the decision three weeks ago that whilst Ice underwent another round of treatment it's better that they not risk Mav carrying something into their home. It's left Maverick confined to his barracks. The mess hall is...other wordly. He's never seen it so empty. Every where is empty, sectioned off.

It's wearing his patience thin. Maybe that's why he lost his shit.

They're young, maybe with young parents and young grandparents and over all boringly healthy family. Maybe they just couldn't take the dystopian world anymore and just needed to talk to someone without a mask. Maverick doesn't care.

Two of them in the common room, masks down. A half metre apart. Maverick walks past, tired, missing Ice and just at the end of his tether. He falters, doesn't recognise them. Maybe the anger forces their identities from his mind.

"Are you fucking stupid?" He spits, feeling his breath fill his N95 mask. "Are you fucking stupid?"

The ensigns jump apart and pull their masks up but it's too late.

"If I see you doing that shit again you are gone. Do you understand me?"

They nod joltingly. But it's not enough. He's angry.

"We are the gold standard. The fucking NAVY. I'm on the phone every fucking night with Admirals, congressman. The country is looking to us to see their patriotic fucking aviators doing the right thing. I get this is hard, believe me. I'm here, protecting my husband by isolating from him as he undergoes cancer treatment. I don't want to see this shit ever again. You transmit the virus, and they die, it's on you. You carried it, you killed them. Get to your fucking barracks."

The ensigns scram and he's left breathing hard, tears pricking his eyes.

That night he's sending a voice message to Ice when his husband sends a message first.

I: I heard you lost it today.

"...The supply- Yeah I did," he continues in the voice message. "Couple of ensigns standing close without masks on in the common area. Told them they'd be gone if I caught them doing that shit again."

He sends a message and waits for Ice to hear it and text back.

I: Yeah no, Hollywood caught wind of the whole thing. Test, isolate, come home. Just for a while. We can forget the word for a while.

M: I will when you finnish immunotherapy. I'll take leave, let Hondo watch the darkstar for me.

I: We'll watch the world burn together

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inspired by this post by @fist-of-the-fleet

paraphrased quotes from tom cruises covid rant if yal couldn't tell