#nono I'm just joking i mean that'd be great and all I JUST LOVE THIS

[maskofmilves]

XHGDGJCJGCFHXUGD MY HEART-

LOVE THIS YOU'RE SO TALENTED!

The Hard Deck - Penny Benjamin x reader

Summary: You have a crush on penny benjamin, and when your friends find out, they do everything they can to support you in asking her out! *this idea came from a request from the lovely @veganismbymelaniecavill, (I hope you like it!)

A/N: I loved this request, and I am so happy I finally go time to write it! I got my school yearbook today, and great golly my photo does not do me justice, also, why the heck does everyone have a mullet??? Anywho, I really loved penny in Top Gun: Maverick, she seemed super cool! also, on a somewhat-related note, I just realized that I was dressed EXACTLY like penny was at the end of Maverick, y'know, a white tee, light jeans, and a tan jacket. maybe top gun really is my entire personally lmao. I hope you enjoy :)

The Hard Deck, the well-known bar located conveniently on base, was a frequent meeting place for all of your friends and yourself. After a busy day of training and doing classroom prep for the mission, all you wanted to do was grab a beer and hang out with your classmates over a game of pool.

Phoenix had been the one to suggest we go to the bar after work today, and everyone exhausted beyond wit from mavericks lessons, agreed. 

You rode with rooster in his truck, sitting in the front seat, the ac on full bast cooling the heat from the beaming august sun that had accumulated in your tan uniform, “God its so hot,” you grumbled. 

Rooster rolled his eyes, “Its summer y/n,” and then went back to focusing on driving the car down the freeway. The two of you sat in silence for a while, but then rooster cleared his throat diving into more of a serious conversation, “You ever meet anyone at the bar?”

A blush crept up the back of your neck, making itself present on your face, “Well,” you said, looking out the window to avert rooster’s gaze, “There is this one person.”

And that person was no other than Penny Benjamin. Penny, with her gorgeous brown hair that despite the long hours and gruelling work at the bar, always seemed to be perfect. And her eyes, oh my god her eyes, how they were a perfect shade of blue and green, like a pool of tropical waters with undertones of gold, like a comet glimmering in the night-time sky. 

You remembered the first time Penny and you had met. You had gone up to the counter to get your group of friends a round of drinks and it felt like time had stopped when penny had looked at you.

“What will it be?” She had asked, a content grin on her face. You had tucked a loose strand of hair - one that somehow escaped from your tightly combed bun - behind your ear, “um, I’d like five beer’s please, just the regular ones.” 

Penny had smiled, “Are these all for you?” she had joked. You shook your head, still holding her gaze, “No,” you had laughed, tossing your head back, “Not all for me. Some are for my friends.”

She had smiled and gotten your beers, setting them down on the counter, extending your hand to you, “Penny,” she offered, “And you are?”

As you outstretched your arm, taking hold of penny’s gentle hand, a shiver of excitement ran through your veins, “y/n,” you said, introducing yourself, “Lieutenant y/n “Red” y/l/n.”

“Ah,” she had sighed, bringing her hand back down, resting it on the bar table, “A pilot?” she had asked, “How’d you get that call sign?”

You had laughed, your eyes folding up into delicate creases, and told the gorgeous bartender the story behind your callsign. You told her how ‘Red’ was given to you after one of your commanders had found you alone in the galley of your aircraft carrier, lips all red from eating a tray of strawberries that you had found in the dining hall. 

Penny had laughed and you returned to your friends, giving her one last grin from your spot over by the old jukebox. 

That was well over a month ago, who knew if she even remembered you, or your light and playful conversations, the ones that made you lay awake at night, grinning sheepishly to yourself at the ceiling. 

The gust of wind pouring in from the passenger window had brought you back to reality, where you and rooster were in his truck.

“So you have!” Rooster said lightly, slapping the back of your arm, “I wanna hear all about them.”

You sunk back into your seat and brought your hands into your hair, “God,” you groaned, “You are going to give it to me after this.

Rooster laughed, “As long as its not mav, I’m sure me and the gang will love whoever it is y/n,” he said reassuringly. 

“Alright,” you said, sitting up stiffly in your seat, “Its Penny.”

Roster looked to you with wide eyes, “Penny? Like as is Penny who owns the bar?”

You nodded, swallowing a grunt in your throat, “Yep. That penny.”

“Woah, I definitely wasn’t expecting that Red,” he said calling you by your callsign. 

“I like her so much but I don’t know what to do about it!” You said, just as rooster pulled into the parking lot of The Hard Deck. 

“Hey,” he said, looking at you reassuringly, “We’ll figure something out, don’t you worry y/n!”

You rolled your eyes, hopping out of the truck, “I can only imagine.”

…

As you walked into the busy bar, the music pounding loudly already despite the early time of seven pm, you noticed penny hard at work making some blue sort of drink behind the counter. She glanced up at you, a warm grin on her face. She’s smiling at me? Ahh!

You flipped up your aviators, tucking them into your hair, smiling back, mouthing her a quick hello as you followed rooster to where the rest of the group was at their usual spot by the pool table.

“Rooster. Red,” payback greeted the two of you, nodding as you approached.

You grinned, shaking your friend payback’s hand, “hey.”

“Here y/n,” phoenix said handing you a beer, “Penny sent these over for us.”

You glanced back over to penny, noticing her hair pulled back into a voluminous ponytail, her outfit of a white tee tucked into a pair of light jeans, that was casual but so gorgeous on her. 

Just as you were about to thank Phoenix, a smirk found its way on Rooster’s face, “Speaking of which,” he said, taking a drink from her beer, glancing over to you, “Can I tell ‘em red?”

You threw your head back, taking a seat on one of the chairs at your table, “Go ahead Bradley, they would find out eventually.”

“Find out what?” Fanboy asked, his left eyebrow raised.

“Well,” rooster begun, looking over to penny, “Y/n has a bit of a crush on penny over there.”

Phoenix clapped, smiling at you, “That is so great Red!”

There were some gasps, some awes and some dirty grins all thrown in your direction, but the one person who hadn’t yet replied was hangman.

“Isn’t she a tad old for your red?” Hangman asked, dawning his pool cue on the table. 

Bob shook his head, “She’s not old,” he said, glaring at hangman, “She seems like your type y/n,” he said, giving you a pat on the arm. 

“Have you told penny about your feelings?” Coyote asked, taking his turn at pool. 

“Now that’s the problem,” you said, looking at your group of friends, “I’m not sure if she likes me back.”

Rooster stood up, putting an arm around your shoulder, “Have you seen the way she looks at you when you talk to her?!”

You looked up to rooster with wide eyes, “What?!”

That can't be true?

“She’s all over you y/n,” fanboy replied, “go ask for a drink and tell me she doesn't like you!”

Phoenix threw a crinkled five dollar bill from her wallet at you, “Gin and tonic,” she said, “Lots of ice.”

A bead of sweat trickled down your brow, “Alright,” you said, half confidently half nervous, “I’ll be right back then.”

What have I gotten myself into?

You walked up to the bar and waited for penny to finish with her other customer, some young guy, likely a new recruit with short red hair, money in hand, loosely folded between your fingers. 

“Hey y/n,” penny said quietly, moving over to your spot on the table, “How are you doing?”

You looked away, and then back, remembering how rooster, one of your closest friends had told you to watch for her gaze, “I’m good. Real good,” you smiled, “And you?”

Penny smiled, “Same here, work is busy at usual, but I love it because of it!”

You nodded, not sure of what to say next, noticing how penny’s eyes were tracing your image, focusing on your hair and then your cheekbones, your neck, and then your eyes again. 

“Would you like anything?” She asked, grabbing a short glass from the stack, tossing it from hand to hand. 

“Oh yeah,” you said, “Phoenix would like a gin and tonic, loads of ice.”

Penny shook her head, “That girl and her ice,” as she scooped a tray of cubes into the cup. 

You laughed lightly and watched as penny focused on making your friend’s drink. You handed her the five dollars and got the drink, “Thanks pen,” you smiled and walked back to your friends, finally letting yourself breathe after a minute or two of holding it in. 

You handed phoenix her drink, “Now how was that?” She asked you. 

“I saw how she smiled at you,” rooster said. 

“Have you ever thought about asking her out y/n?” Bob asked you, wiping his hands on his thighs and then taking a quick drink of his beer. 

You shook your head, heat creeping its way up into your chest, “I’ve though of it, but god its been so long since I’ve asked anyone out!”

“Its easy red,” payback said, “You walk up there, and say, ‘hey, want to go out sometime?’ That’s it, its that easy!”

You shook your head, “But if I mess this up we’ll have to find a new place to go drinking guys!”

Phoenix laughed, “Is that what you're worried about?”

You stood your head, nerves creeping up through your veins, that familiar feeling of worry and fear presenting itself in your stomach, “I’m worried she wont like me back!”

“Red,” rooster said calming you, “You got this.”

“Like seriously,” fanboy said to you, “Your funny and sweet and super caring, and penny would be lucky to have you!”

“Yeah,” bob agreed, “You’re the greatest friend and you care so much about everyone!”

“That’s what I’m worried about guys,” you said shrugging, “What if penny sees me only as a friend?”

Phoenix shook her head, “She totally likes you as more than just that y/n!”

“Now you go up there and find out,” rooster said, “You can do it!”

Hangman handed you a shot glass, one with a clear liquid that was apart of the tray he had ordered, “Drink up,” he said, handing you the glass, “Get your courage and go talk to her!”

You poured the liquid back into your throat, stinging and burning as you swallowed as your friends gave you a cheer. 

“Go get her girl!” Phoenix whispered in your ear as you walked by. You gave her a nod and the walked back over to the bar. 

Your clothes felt tight, and you collar felt as if it was digging into your neck as you walked over to the bar. The song playing on the radio, some jazzy rock one from the 80’s with high pitched male vocals gave you another boost of confidence as you took your seat across from penny. You’ve got this red, you whispered to yourself just as penny turned around, wiping her hands on a towel. 

“Back already?” She asked you, her smile brings and glowing.

You stood up, “Sort-of,” you said, fumbling with your bracelet as you finally met her gaze, both worry and excitement finning your head. 

“I’ve gotta ask you something penny,” you said, swallowing hard, “or well, Ive gotta tell you something.

Penny’s hand crept over to yours that had been resting on the bar counter, holding it gently, sending a pulse of warmth through your veins. 

You looked to your hand and then back up to penny, who was trying not to smile, folding her lips inwards, “Me too y/n,” she said. 

The air was fogged with questions as the two of you gazed helplessly towards one another. What did penny have to tell you?

“I like you,” she said gently, her hands warm and soft atop of yours, “I think you’re really great and I would like to get to know you better.”

What?! Oh my gosh?

You looked up to penny, nearly jerking your hand back in shock, “What did you just say?!”

Penny brought her other hand over yours, “I said,” she repeated, “I like you y/n.”

Your eyes folded up into a smile as you set your hand atop of hers, “I like you too Penny!”

The two of you giggled, both surprised and pleased by what the other had to say, “Would you like to go out some time?” you asked, after all, that is what you came over here to do!

She nodded, “I would like that very much!”

You looked back to your group of friends at the table and grinned, to which they all clapped and cheered, which made penny and you laugh. God, you really did have the greatest friends, and now you were going out with your crush because of them!