#or the iced one could be pete’s

[josephtrohman]

this photo really really really doesn’t help my delusions. i feel like i’m really really going insane

[itsicecold]

my body is a machine that turns textposts into icemav posts

[maverices]

anybody else ever think about mav sending ice off with the wings ice has given to him, again and again and again over the course of decades, or is it just me

[digiblueslush]

Y’all I’m cooking a theory

So we’ve all come to the conclusion that *the prophecy* of FOB MCR DNP (and ignoring P!ATD) doing the whole shabang IS gonna happen at the LA show, but what if that’s not all? Like omg it’s just their wedding. Gerard’s officiating in the Joan of Arc fit, sister Daniel is somehow attending their wedding as a separate person, and every lesbian in the entire universe comes together as one and does that thing kinda like in my little pony where it’s super dark and them there’s the BRIGHTNESS LOVE PEACE KABOOM THINGY and then all of the world turns back to normal THATS GONNA HAPPEN. THE LES-BEAM. hatsune miku will also be there, I haven’t quite figured out her “role” in this situation yet. OMG THE BLACK PARADE GETS HAPPY I’m so smart AND THEY ANNOUNCE THEYRE UNCANCELLING YURI ON ICE SEASON 2/ICE ADOLESCENCE. We’re all serving too much cunt, so many political figures are gonna die

[compacflt]

the thought of icemav celebrating christmas together makes me a bit crazy. what do they give each other???

usually nothing . That’s kind of a big deal. in the 80s/90s they’d (reluctantly) celebrate Christmas with carole and bradley (who took that shit kinda seriously) so they wouldn’t really do anything by themselves. Maybe go out for a nice clandestine dinner just cause. After Carole dies and Bradley’s papers get pulled from the academy, ice’s low key newfound interest in celebrating christmas is one of his many many ways to try and normalize relations between him & maverick and try to improve their relationship in the conspicuous absence of the rest of their family. but yes he does make an effort—as does mav—to take advantage of holiday time to be with him as often as possible so, though their schedules don’t always line up, after 2006 they spend about 3/4 xmases together

Ice has very few hobbies besides a.) lovingly working on his cars & plane and b.) reading, so he is exceptionally easy to shop for (as most hobbyless men are): nice tie pins, cufflinks, those unnecessarily expensive hardcover books about weird random topics you find in airport bookstores, fountain pens, nautical /aeronautical themed paperweights, nice leather watchbands etc. highbrow rich guy stuff

Maverick has sooooo many stupid little hobbies that each last between 4-6 months so he is ridiculously hard to shop for— “i thought you were into woodworking so i got you some tools :)!” “uh no that was in April. im trying to learn how to make wallets now” :( so mostly if ice ever gets him anything it’s usually just an expensive dinner date in the city or cash in a blank card or a blank signed check for airplane parts for the next year. Buy whatever you want idc <3

any and all gifts are given with extremely little fanfare PLEASE don’t make it a big deal… hidden around the house with a little “merry xmas!” note attached, or shoved into each others suitcases pre-leaving-for-navy-reasons, or unceremoniously dropped into one’s lap while he’s watching tv, “here you go,” “oh, this is nice, thanks!” Et cetera. love language of gifts/acts of service, but, like, very quietly.

[im-sorry-what-ii]

Currently being so emotional over Mav and pink floyds Learning to fly

[pollyna]

The parting glass song fic au where Ice knows it's time and has everybody around his table one last time. Even Bradley is there, almost incapable of watching the man in his eyes but, after he and Mav have their dance, he asks for one. They don't move, Bradley hugs him and cries because he realised what the whole meaning of that night and he realised too that they don't have any more time. Ice kisses his forehead and hugs him back, and hugs Mav too, when he joins them.

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had

They're sorry for my going away

And of all the sweethearts that e'er I had

They'd wish me one more day to stay

But as it falls unto my lot

That I must go and you must not

I'll gently rise and I'll softly call

Good night and joy be with you all

[marvelsmostwanted]

Today in 🍂✨October surprises✨🍂

• Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of Labor Julie Su quietly assisted in winning labor rights for dockworkers, ending a strike that could have had catastrophic economic consequences. (10-4-24)

• In Springfield, Ohio, where Haitian migrants have been blamed for the disappearance of local animals with Trump claiming “‘migrants are walking off’ with geese in the town” and “they’re eating the dogs” - a lie also promoted by JD Vance, Ohio’s own sitting Senator, with no evidence - it turns out that the missing geese were actually the victims of a 64-year-old white man who was hunting illegally. (10-3-24)

• A Trump-appointed federal judge blocked Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan again after another judge reinstated it earlier this week. (10-3-24)

• Republicans and crazy Facebook uncles everywhere have spent this week spreading disinformation about the FEMA response to Hurricane Helene, including AI photos of Trump standing in floodwater and wild claims that Biden is sending money to undocumented immigrants. In reality, the Biden-Harris administration has provided substantial emergency assistance and both Biden and Harris have visited the region. Meanwhile, it turns out that Trump was the one who redirected money from disaster relief to send to ICE during his presidency. Shocker. (10-4-24)

• Seriously, though, Trump is not who you want to call in an emergency. Before allowing disaster relief to reach victims of wildfires in California, then-president Trump forced aides to show him an electoral map to see if he had voters there. He evidently intended to withhold the aid if he found out it was going to mostly Democratic voters. This would be a career-ending scandal in any other political era but alas, we are living in this one. (10-3-24)

• Finally, far-right extremist and Oklahoma superintendent of schools Ryan Walters intends to put Bibles in public schools, which is already disturbing, but in a stunning display of corruption, the only ones that meet his specifications are the so-called “Trump Bibles” that include the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. They go for $60 apiece and Trump gets fees from each one. (10-4-24)

No, wait, I’m going to say that one again:

In Oklahoma, taxpayers’ money will be used to put Trump Bibles in public schools. Their money will go directly to Trump. Not a joke!!! Not an exaggeration!!!

…Surely the voters who are still undecided are lying, right?? Right?!

30 days until Election Day.

Go to vote.org for a sample ballot, early voting dates, and more. Seriously, we have to win.

[hurtspideyparker]

The team learns about Peter's stress baking fairly quickly after he moves into the tower.

"Why does this place smell like cookies?" Tony asks suspiciously, "Pepper put an end to homemade care packages after that Cap incident."

Steve protests from the dining table. "Hey, that fan seemed totally normal. Y'know in my generation you do not mess with baked goods, that's sacred."

Natasha pats his back comfortingly as she joins the conversation.

"They came from the kid. They're actually pretty good, here."

Nat hands a still-warm cookie to Tony, who bites it curiously.

"Damn, it melts in my mouth like buttery ambrosia and still has a perfect crunch around the edges. Is that a nutty aftertaste?"

"Yes!" Peter yells from the other room, a clatter sounding before his head pokes around the wall, oven mitts still attached to his hands.

"I brown the butter, it really deepens the flavour!"

"Good on you kid. What's the occasion?"

Peter stutters, "uhhhh, no occasion. I just like cookies!"

He disappears around the corner again, and Tony sends a confused glance towards his teammates.

Steve shrugs his shoulders, mouth still full of cookie, and Natasha sends him an arched brow. Tony isn't sure what that means, but feels intimidated enough to exit the room anyway.

* * *

The baking lasts the rest of the week, until Peter comes home yelling, "I aced my calculus midterm!!!" running out of the elevator with a stapled set of papers in his hand.

"So no more baking?" Nat asks neutrally.

"Nope! Woohoo!"

Just like that the kid is gone, jumping down the hall towards his bedroom.

Tony looks at Nat quizzically.

"It was midterm week. He baked 3 dozen cookies, 2 types of muffins, and a cheesecake."

"So he stress bakes?"

"He stress bakes."

* * *

It becomes a "thing" in the tower.

Sam eats toast from freshly baked bread one morning while watching Bruce quiz Peter on his upcoming AP history test. Each slice is cut, toasted, and buttered to perfection by Peter while he explains sectionalism in the 20th century.

* * *

Bucky grates carrots while Peter mixes a bowl of dry ingredients furiously, the boy mumbling to himself non-stop.

"Has he gone insane?" Clint asks from the doorway.

"Spanish oral exam," Bucky replies.

"Ay caramba."

"Tal vez pueda sobornar a mi maestra con glaseado de queso crema..." Peter starts mumbling. (Maybe I can bribe my teacher with cream cheese frosting...)

Bucky and Clint share a concerned look.

Clint approaches the boy, "put down the spatula Pete, let's talk about this."

Peter looks up in alarm.

"In English! Just English!"

* * *

"What's up kid? It's spring break, what could you possibly be stressing about."

Today Tony walks into a full kitchen; Wanda, Natasha, and Pepper are occupying the space while Peter pours something creamy into a metal bowl.

"He's asking MJ out tonight, so he's making cookies and cream ice cream in case it goes wrong." Natasha crosses her arms when she replies to him, eyes focused on Peter's mixing.

"Does ice cream even count as stress baking? The very meaning of 'bake' is to put under heat. But I suppose it does feel wrong to call it cooking."

Peter looks up, his brown eyes large and sad like a baby cow, "I still baked the cookies from scratch."

"Yeah he's a real Nara Smith!" Wanda adds enthusiastically.

"Oookay... I'll pretend I know what that means. And since when do we have an ice cream maker?" Tony points to the fancy hardware out on the kitchen counter.

"Oh, I got that for him. We lacked a lot of the tools for basic baking recipes," Pepper informs him.

Tony ponders how ice cream machines count as a basic baking tool, and decides not to argue with three powerful women and their favourite lovesick teenager.

Peter picks up his bowl and moves it into the freezer, clearing away a couple frozen pizzas and a bag of peas.

"Should I even bother with the cones?" Peter asks with a pout.

"Pete she's gonna say yes! Also if you're wallowing in misery with a tub of ice cream we still want our cones so we can emotionally support you with a crunchy treat," Wanda says with a supportive smile.

The others nod along.

"You're right!" Peter agrees before turning around and grabbing an honest-to-god waffle cone maker, with the cone shaping kit to boot.

"Why..." Tony begins to protest, "y'know what, I don't care. Let me know how it goes kid."

The man is ignored as he moves through the kitchen to grab a banana, the women coaching Peter on his manners, flirting, and first date ideas as he exits the room.

* * *

Thor hums around the delicious treat.

"Mmm. You know young Peter, you could have a shop for your creations. Is there a Stark Industries for baked goods?" Thor asks the young lad, crumbs falling from his mouth as he chews the cookie bar.

"I didn't invent the blondie Thor. I was just trying to explain what it is, a cookie brownie! I did decorate them all by myself though," he says with a satisfied grin.

"Ah yes," Thor lifts up another blondie by the pretzel stick Peter put in the squares, attached with a bit of melted chocolate so they're shaped like Mjolnir, "now you are all worthy of the hammer. Ha! This is funny, I'm sure the others will find your talents equally amusing."

Peter picks up his own mini-Mjolnjr and waves it around, "it is I, son of Odin. Don't worry puny Midgardians, I will protect you with my mighty hammer and beautiful hair!"

Thor laughs thunderously at the impression, clapping.

Bruce walks into the room, enticed by the laughter.

"Ah! My friend, Peter has made edible Mjolnirs so you, too, may be worthy. It's delicious and hilarious. Imagine Banner wielding my hammer, ha! Ridiculous," Thor is all too amused by the situation.

Bruce gives Peter an offended look as Thor continues laughing with himself, the younger just shrugging. Bruce takes one of the treats anyways, pointedly not holding it by the pretzel stick.

"Y'know Pete, have you ever considered opening a bakery? You are quite talented. I think the Avengers alone would keep you in business," Bruce asks politely.

"Well I only like to bake when I'm stressed. That wouldn't be a very stable business model," Peter points out.

"True. Although running a business can be quite stressful, so maybe you'd have a continuous supply?"

"Hm. Efficient and unhealthy," Peter nods like it's the perfect plan.

"Wow you really are Stark's intern."

Thor bursts out into another bout of raucous laughter.

"Imagine Stark wielding my dessert hammer," Thor barely gets the words out, "Stark being worthy-AH HAHA."

Bruce and Peter share a look of wide-eyed alarm before joining in on the laughter.

They all share the moment before Bruce straightens up a bit to ask, "what are you even worried about anyways Peter?"

Peter wipes a tear from his eye, "I forgot to call Aunt May this morning like I always do and she only let me move here if I promised I wouldn't neglect her. So now I'm too scared to check my phone."

"I see," Bruce sympathizes.

"Yeah, baking is good for procrastinating. I pretend I'm being productive while also creating comfort food for after my breakdowns."

* * *

Tony steps into the dining room one afternoon to find Peter slicing apples while Steve sits across from him cutting intricate patterns into pie crust. There is an array of leaves and flowers set out on the flour-sprinkled table.

"So is the ornamentation necessary, or is Cap also developing a delicious self-soothing habit," Tony inquires.

"I was just talking to Peter about pie recipes from the 40s and he asked if I could help make his prettier," Steve smiles up at his companions, "it's actually a lot of fun, I can't say I've ever used food to make art before."

"He's a natural talent Mr. Stark!"

Tony agrees with the quirk of an eyebrow and cheeky sideways nod. He observes for a moment before asking something that's been bothering him recently.

"Pete, I gotta ask. Why baking? You inherited your Aunt's terrible cooking skills, and it's not like you're built for other domestic duties. Your room is a mess. What gives? How are you so... refined?"

Peter pauses his chopping to look up incredulously.

"It's science Mr. Stark. Baking is just chemistry! I'm great at chemistry," he says with a grin.

Tony thinks about it.

"Huh. I guess you're right. So, what has you stressed this time? Girl troubles? You get too good a grade in P.E. and Flash is suspicious? Decathlon competition?" Tony lists off some of his previous turmoils.

He hopes it's the decathalon again, those butter tarts were divine.

"Um. Can I finish my apple filling before I tell you? I'll lose motivation if you start yelling at me..." Peter says with a hopeful smile, strain lying underneath it.

Tony's eyes narrow.

"Okay so I maybe blew up your test tubes when trying to develop fire webs and Dum-E may have covered your entire lab in fire supression foam."

Tony's jaw clenches, "I'm gonna let you stew in fear for a bit longer because apple is my favourite - if this was pumpkin you'd already be squashed - but best believe I'm not done with you yet." Tony slowly takes a deep breath before pointing a finger at Peter. "Never change kid, never change."

Tony leaves, distinctly in the opposite direction of his lab, and Peter goes back to slicing apples, now with a genuine smile on his face.

[callsign-peach]

the beanery

summary: jake goes from drinking the base’s stale coffee to bringing in cups from the cafe down the road from the hard deck, and the dagger squad is determined to find out why

pairing: established hangman x female!reader

a/n: the title? has almost nothing to do w the plot, but it’s the name of the coffee shop!!

--- Javy was the first to notice, but it was only because he had gone with Jake to your coffee shop a couple of weeks ago. He had been talking to his best friend about some plans for the newest aviators, and didn’t realize Jake had an end location in mind.

“What’s that?” Bradley asked, eyes honing in on the white take-out cup that Jake was sipping from.

“Hm?” The blonde asked, pocketing his phone and looking at his wingman. “Oh, just some coffee from that new place.”

Javy took a swig of his own Thermos to hide his smirk.

“Oh? The one near the Hard Deck? Penny said the owner’s been in a few times to ask about some tax shit.”

Jake nodded absentmindedly, he already knew this information. “Yeah, they’ve got some good stuff.”

He met Javy’s knowing eye and sent him a look, and Javy was thankful looks couldn’t kill.

Before anyone else could get a word in, Pete entered the room alongside a dozen newly-adorned Top Gun students, raring to go up in the air.

--- You heard the belle chime on the door, calling out to the patron that you’d be a moment. 

Slicing the now-empty cardboard box, you slid it between the wall and the trashcan, hoping you’d remember to take it out to the dumpster before trash day. 

Walking out into the bar, you smiled when you saw your boyfriend leaning along one of the columns in the seating area. “Hey, J. How was your day?”

“Good, you?” Jake asked, thanking you as you handed him a toasted bagel with strawberry cream cheese. You almost keeled over when you found out your boyfriend’s go-to pastry at the cafe was a plain bagel, losing it when he spread pink cream cheese over it.

“I can’t believe you go for those bagels over my croissants!” You laughed, taking a sip from the iced coffee you made yourself about half an hour ago.

“Oh, what’s that? New syrup? Sauce? Lemme try.” Jake reached over for the clear plastic cup, puckering his lips over the straw. “Oh, babe, I don’t know about that one.”

Laughing, you nodded over to the dainty chalkboard wall with the featured drink. “Raspberry vanilla iced latte. You don’t like raspberries.” 

Jake hummed, face falling when his phone chirped from his pocket. “Damn, duty calls.”

Duty referred to drinks at the Hard Deck, a weekly tradition the dagger squad kept up once they were stationed at Miramar for good.

“Don’t know why you don’t just offer to have drinks here sometime. I can make espresso martinis or whatever shit Javy’s trying to make at our place.” 

Jake chewed the thought over, pulling his lip between his teeth. “Soon, I just like having my little secret barista girlfriend.” 

Scoffing, you playfully slapped your boyfriend’s chest. “Barista? I’m a full-fledged business owner, Seresin! Get it right!”

Jake laughed, pressing a kiss to your temple with a promise to be home before midnight. --- Stopping the timer on her watch, Natasha stepped into the cool air of the newest cafe in MIramar after her morning run, thankful for the air conditioning. 

“Good morning! Welcome to The Beanery, can I get anything started for you?”

Looking at the woman behind the counter, Natasha felt like she’d seen the woman somewhere before. “Oh, um, sure. Iced coffee, no creamer.”

“Any flavors?” You asked, scooping ice into the branded cup.

“Caramel?” Natasha smiled, and you laughed and pumped some caramel syrup into her cup.

“Oh, this is so much better than the base coffee!” Natasha smiled, depositing her change into the tips jar. 

“Base? You’re in the Navy?” You asked, setting some mugs out on the counter. 

Sure am. Naval aviator, originally was only here for a quick mission a couple years ago, but I guess they thought we were good enough to stick around.”

You smiled, setting the drying towel on the counter as the bell chimed for another customer coming in. “My boyfriend’s in the Navy, I’ll have to ask if he knows you.”

“Who knows! Thanks again for the coffee!” Natasha smiled as she left, taking her time walking back to her apartment and changing into her khakis.  --- “You, too?! Man, everyone’s getting coffee at the new place!” Mickey spoke as Natasha finished off her iced coffee.

Jake looked up from where he was texting you about the chocolate pastries you were experimenting with selling. 

He saw the plastic cup he had helped unpack the weekend prior, curious if his colleague had met you or one of your employees. 

“Yeah, it’s really good, and the food looked so good! I might go after work again to grab another drink.”

“Oh, I’m coming with. I need to try this coffee if you and Bagman say it’s good!” Bradley added, tossing a ball of paper at the blond man’s head.

Soon enough, the entire dagger squad was planning a short jaunt over to your coffee shop, Jake included. --- The bell chimed and took you from your thoughts, thankful for the distraction from the pastries you were trying to laminate.

“Welcome to the Bean- oh. Back so soon?” You asked, smiling as you saw Natasha walk back in, flanked by some other Navy men. “And you brought friends? Man, my confidence is sky-high right now.” 

Natasha laughed, though she missed the teasing look you gave your boyfriend as he walked in. “Sorry, I just can’t enjoy anything. These rats always have to tag along.” 

You snorted, starting on Jake’s drink absentmindedly. “What can I get you guys?”

The aviators all ordered, but when it was Jake’s turn to speak up, you smirked. “What can I get for you, Lieutenant Seresin?” 

Jake smiled, wanting nothing more than to swipe the flour off of your cheek. “Iced macchiato, extra caramel.”

“You know what a macchiato is, right? You bitch about me pouring any milk in my coffee, they’re like 90% milk!” 

You laughed as Bradley pointed to the cup, exasperated.

“Shut up, Birdbrain.”

Silently setting all the drinks at the end of the bar, you slid Javy one of the oatmeal cookies you made earlier. “Since I was out of them last week.”

“Thanks, but you know I was just going to grab some next time I was at your and Jake’s place.”

Shrugging, you watched as Bob seemed to put the dots together, silently sipping his Americano with a knowing look.

“Okay, this is going to sound really weird, but do you know anyone on base? I swear I’ve seen you before!” Natasha said, curiosity getting the best of her. 

You smiled, twinkle in your eyes. “My boyfriend’s an aviator, maybe you’ve seen me around with him? I don’t know, though. I just moved out here recently.”

Javy coughed into his coffee, trying to disguise his laugh. 

“Who’s your boyfriend?” Rueben asked, curious.

Smile growing wider, you simply nodded towards Jake. “Jake.”

“What the fuck?” Bradley asked, jaw falling open. 

Natasha and the rest of the aviator, sans Bob and Javy, all stared at the two, heads swiveling to look at the couple. “In your locker! There’s a photo of her in there, that’s where I’ve seen you before!” 

“You keep a photo of me in your locker? Cute.” You teased, coming out from behind the bar to stand with your boyfriend’s friends.

Jake blushed, offering you a sip of his coffee. “All right, all right, yes, everyone meet my girlfriend.”

You smiled, officially introducing yourself, promising to catch up more with the aviators after you heard the alarm going off for the croissants in the back oven.

“Damn, Hangman, you did good.” Rueben clapped his friend on the back. 

“Yeah, I did.” --- a/n: i like this couple idea a lot but i cannot write it i have too many thoughts going through my head so def expect more !!!!!! send requests, chat to me about this trope at literally any time !!!

[amostexcellentblog]

Iceman: All right, a song that always makes me think of you, I chose "We Kiss in a Shadow." My mother loved Rodgers and Hammerstein, I grew up hearing their love songs, but I could never imagine loving someone so passionately until I met you.

Iceman: *Soft and Off Key* We speak in a whisper//Afraid to be heard//When people are near//We speak not a word//Alone in our secret//Together we sigh//For one smiling day to be free//To kiss in the sunlight//And say to the sky//"Behold and believe what you see!//Behold how my lover loves me!"

Iceman: Every day I wake up grateful that I can kiss you in the sunlight now. I love you, Pete.

Maverick: Oh Tom, that was beautiful... Kinda makes me regret the song I picked for you...

Iceman: It's "Ice Ice Baby," isn't it?

Maverick: You know it is!

[changenameno]

Shower Head PART 1

(Complete, link to the second part down below ⬇️ )

Summary: You are at a hotel, alone. Finally to relax some, after weeks of stressful work events. Though how are you supposed to do that, when you can’t even turn the shower on? Enter Syverson…

Pairing: Syverson x Fem. Reader

Warnings: MDNI, 18+, accidental nakedness, cursing, pet names, size kink, daddy kink, unsafe sex, p in v

Word Count: 2.8 K

A/N: Okay I was in a Sy mood. Pretty much just shameless smut… Any mistakes are my own. Reblogs and comments are much appreciated! Enjoy ;) ❤️✨

 !Syverson is not my creation!

 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑

 

PART 1

 

You glared at the offending thing, certain it was mocking you at this point. Who would install a shower head up that high? No one could possibly reach and turn the damned thing on?! Because it wasn’t just hanging incredibly close to the ceiling, it was also shaped like a tap, meaning you’d have to actually turn the handle if you wanted to shower.

 

It was the second day of your stay here and up until now you hadn’t noticed the problem with the shower head. But you’d just returned from the sauna, wanting to wash the sweat of your skin. Though the most stupid construction you’d ever seen, was hindering you.

 

The first idea had been, to haul a chair into the bathroom to assist you in reaching the damned thing. The problem with that was that the only chair in the room was placed below the door handle to the adjacent room.

Because apparently you’d chosen the worst hotel there was, as the lock to the other room was broken. So whoever was staying next to yours could easily enter if they wanted to and vice versa. And there was no way in hell you’d shower if the door wasn’t blocked.

 

Bringing you to now, shivering, naked and beyond annoyed, standing in the shower and contemplating what to do next. Sighing, you shook your head, mumbling to yourself, “For Pete’s sake…I hate this.” Though you knew what you had to do.

 

Slightly squatting down, you begged your leg muscles to stay with you and then jumped up as high as you could. Though you missed, fingertips not even grazing the handle. “Damn it!” Growing more agitated you jumped again, again and again. Each time missing your mark.

 

Then on your last jump you finally reached it, ice cold water spraying down on you. Shrieking at the freezing sensation. Unfortunately the floor was wet in an instant and you lost your footing the second you were back on the ground. Making you flail about, sliding to the left, into the shower curtain.

 

Both hands desperately grabbing at the see-through material in a last attempted to stay upright. Though you’d definitely run out of luck, because the curtain wasn’t a very sturdy or thought through construction either.

The material was brittle were it hung from the ceiling, ripping when your full weight bore down on it. Nonetheless your hands grabbed it, because there was nothing else you could hold onto anyway. Half exasperated and shocked you screamed out, “Aaaarggh NOOO…!” Then your body crashed down onto the floor, releasing another shriek, “FUCK… OWW!”

 

Unbeknownst to you, your scream had alarmed the occupant of the adjacent room.

Curtain wrapped around you, nearly strangling you as you tried to sit up. Your shoulder had cushioned most of your fall, throbbing. Before you could free yourself or sit up, there was a second much louder bursting sound. Lying on your back like a useless sushi-roll, the only thing you could do was gape at the arched doorway opening of the bathroom.

 

Seeing wooden splinters flying through the air, then a rough, deep rumble sounded, “You alright? I’ve heard your scream…and ”, before a half-naked, broad shouldered man ducked into the bathroom. Blue eyes flitting over your wrapped up form, at last lading on your face. He swallowed visibly, “Erm, and thought to check on ya.”

 

You wanted the bathroom floor to swallow you whole, preferably right now. Not only was this the most handsome rugged guy you’ve had the pleasure to ever encounter, but he was also strong as f*ck, having broken down the door like nothing.

Now standing over you, only a white towel hiding what lay between those heavily, thick thighs of his.

 

You didn’t know if you died and went to heaven or hell, either way, here you were still lying covered by the curtain and probably looking like a complete moron. Realising you hadn’t moved an inch since he’d entered, you tried sitting up once more, though unsuccessful. Furthering your embarrassment.

 

Thankfully he caught onto your predicament rather quickly, approaching you, repeating his previous question, “You alright down there?” All you managed was a weak nod.

Then he slowly kneeled down, eyes never leaving yours, as one big hand grabbed your shoulder and the other your waist, “On three.” You didn’t even have time to protest as he counted down, on three he swiftly lifted you to your feet as if you were light as a feather.

Gently leaning you against the wall. A whimper escaped your throat, at the sudden proximity. Shower curtain, the only barrier between his hairy chest and your breasts.

He mistook the whimper as something else though, dark brows furrowing concerned, “Where are you hurt, sweetheart?”

 

Finally able to find your voice, you whispered, “ ‘m not hurt.” Surveying you for a moment longer, he nodded, gaze on your lips for a split second, before his blown out pupils landed back on your eyes. Holding your breath, your racing heartbeat and the water splattering continuously onto the floor were the sole sounds your ears picked up on. A smirk pulled his lips upwards, then he moved away. Making you release the breath you were holding.

 

He had entered the shower, standing on his tip toes, growling when the cold water hit his back as he was trying and then succeeding in shutting off the shower. Your eyes raking over the muscles on his back, down to his peachy rump, when he turned, they landed on the considerable bulge upfront. Fuck. He was big. Mouth salivating at the thought of this monster stretching you.

 

A dark chuckle brought your attention back to sparkling blue eyes, “Like whatcha see, sweetheart?”

He couldn’t be serious? Who in their right mind wouldn’t like looking at him? You tried clearing your throat, but in naught, you didn’t know how to reply anyway. This amused him all the more it seemed, as he sauntered back to you. “Need help?”

 

Meekly you asked back, “With what?” That earned you a full on belly laugh from him, before he nodded down at your predicament. Shower curtain still tightly wrapped around your body, making your arms more or less immobile with the way he had you trapped against the wall.

 

You looked down as well and you really shouldn’t have.

The sheer curtain did not only hide absolutely nothing, it actually accentuated your nakedness. Your boobs where squished together and up, nipples so stiff from the freezing water they nearly poked through the fabric. It had you panicked immediately.

It hit you all over again that you were standing here completely naked, before a really handsome, half naked though strange man. Not to forget that you were both definitely aroused.

 

So your mind short-circuited, trying to free your arms by force, you leaned slightly forward, pulling them up. You succeeded in freeing them, though right then the curtain decided to loosen further, falling down, and you lost your balance. Again.

 

With a shocked squeal, you fell forward, against the behemoth in front of you. Strong arms enveloped you, warm hands stabilizing you by your hips. Shivers running up and down your spine, which had nothing to do with the temperature difference of your bodies.

 

You couldn’t fathom a more embarrassing situation to be in and still your traitorous pussy tingled with excitement, as his bulge poked your thigh. You didn’t dare look at his face. In fact you didn’t dare move, breathe or make any noise whatsoever.

Until his fingers suddenly spread out, tips now grazing your ass. Pressing you even more against him, he groaned, “You feel so fucking soft… But sugar there’s no need to jump me like that. Not gonna go anywhere.”

 

Inhaling sharply, you finally felt brave enough to meet his gaze, tilting your head up. What you found was pure, crazed lust written all over his bearded face. “I…you…I don’t normally…,” you stuttered.

 

He smiled gently, “I don’t normally do this either. But don’t feel pressured, sweetheart. Nothin’ has to happen, ya know. ”

That had you raise one of your brows in disbelieve. Such a fine specimen couldn’t possibly be a gentleman as well, right? His actions answered you, before your subconscious could, by reaching for another white towel lying by the sink and covering you with it.

“Thank you,… erm?” You noticed you didn’t even know his name.

 

“Syverson. But call me Sy.” You supplied him with your name as well, when you stepped back a bit, to fully appreciate his broad hairy chest. You wanted to bury your fingers in those fuzzy looking curls, so bad.

 

Not being able to hold back, your hands reached out without your permission and did exactly what your subconscious begged them to do, sinking your fingers into those delicious curls.

The prompt growl that escaped him, made you jump and retract your hands. Sy stopped you, covering your hands with his and holding them against his torso.

 

He stepped forward, cornering you once more as he pressed you back against the wall. You whimpered lightly when the exposed part of your back touched the cool tiles.

Sy took your hands and lifted them up, over your head, holding them there with just one of his. Next thing you felt, were his lips moving against yours. Kissing you hungrily, swallowing the little mewls that wanted to escape you. Slick started to gather between your legs. You separated slowly, but not before he nibbled on your lower lip, biting down and eliciting another moan from you.

 

“You taste just as sweet as you look. Bet you feel even better though, don’t ya think sugar?”

He deliberately waited for your timid nod, only then did he move his free hand to your chin. Stroking his fingertips down your neck, tickling over your skin, over your collarbone, down to the edge of the towel. Then he gingerly pulled at it until it fell down to the floor, exposing you to his greedy, lust filled eyes.

 

His other hand loosened and moved down, then he commanded, “Leave them there.” When he continued to look at you sternly you felt compelled to answer, “Yes.”

 

“Yes, what?”

Blanking and not knowing what he wanted to hear, you murmured the first thing that your mind supplied you with, “Y-Yes daddy.”

 

You saw his Adam’s apple bob and knew you had said the right thing, when he smirked, voice huskier than before, “That’s right, open them legs for daddy.”

 

Whimpering, you did as he asked and he immediately shoved his hand between your thighs, cupping your heat. Sy continued moving his fingers through your sopping folds, carefully pushing into you.

You whined, hand flying down to gab his forearm, when he responded with pulling back, you growled in frustration.

Glaring as he tutted, “Uh uh. Didn’t say you could move ‘em down.”

 

Trying to get him to continue his ministrations you complied and lifted your hand back up.

 

“Such a good girl.”

Then two of his thick fingers plunged in, right to the knuckles, making you moan loudly. You had to fight with yourself to stop your arms from lowering again, instead you squirmed around widely, until his left hand flattened over your belly, hindering further movement.

Sy stretched your walls around his fingers, thumb slowly rubbing over your clit when he started moving them in and out of your cunt. You responded with more and much louder moans. Closing your eyes at the pleasure cursing through your body, you squealed when his lips sucked one of your nipples into his mouth, beard delightfully scratching across your tit. “Pl-Please more…mmh yeah. Feels so good.”

 

You felt him smile into your skin, leaving your breast only to blow cold air over your wet nipple, making it tighten even more, “Greedy little thing, aren’t ya?”

He took his fingers out, leaving your pussy squeezing around nothing and making you feel terribly empty. Sy put his fingers in his mouth, sucking them clean of your juices, humming as he enjoyed the taste of you.

 

When his blown out orbs landed on yours, the sudden urge to see him. Really see him, overcame you, so you whispered, “Wanna see you. Please, daddy?”

 

Your eyes already fixed on your target, you saw his cock jump beneath the towel, “If you think you’re ready, go ahead sugar.”

Biting your lip, you let your fingertips roam over his pecks first, down his belly, to the happy trail leading under the cloth. Opening it and throwing the towel behind him. Sy moaned when his hard cock, slapped against his stomach, bouncing lightly.

 

You had been right he was huge. Thick from the base up to his tip. That had you fleetly wondering if you’d be even able to take that monster of a cock. But you certainly weren’t against trying.

He smugly asked, “Think, you can take me?”

 

Without missing a beat you replied teasingly and maybe a bit too sure of yourself, “Sure. Think you can keep up with me?”

 

Sy harshly grabbed your hips, hissing against your ear, “Jump.”

When you did, he pinned you between his body and the wall. Easily holding you upright with one hand that he’d slipped down to your ass, squeezing your supple flesh. You crossed your legs behind his back, arms around his sturdy neck, ensuring your upright position further.

 

“We shall see, who can’t keep up with who.”

With that, his other hand wrapped around his massive cock, coating it in your juices, before he positioned it against your dripping hole. Sy began pushing you down his fat length. Your insides trying to make room for him, slick smoothed the way, until you sank right onto his balls. You felt stuffed, fingernails digging into his shoulders to ground yourself. Huffing at the unbelievable fullness within. He groaned as well when he couldn’t push any further inside.

 

He couldn’t wait any longer, feeling your tight cavern pulsing around him. He stepped away from the wall, one hand still gripping your ass the other at your waist lifting you up, until just his tip remained inside. Then he let gravity do the work, dropping you back down, making his cock slide all the way back into your weeping pussy. That made you cry out, pulling moan after moan from you, as he continued to ram inside.

 

“Fuck, so tight for daddy’s cock.” You could only mewl in response, tightening around him, as he began thrusting up into your cunt without abandon.

His pace didn’t falter at all, as if you weight nothing he continued to fuck up into you. Each stroke expertly teasing your special spot. Walls clutching his fat cock.

 

Sy felt you quivering against him, so he decided to pick up his pace, to make you come. Wanting to hear more of your sweet, sweet cries of pleasure.

Already at the edge of your impending orgasm, you whimpered, “So, so close…Sy please…” You didn’t even know what you were begging for in that moment, all thoughts having left you the second he’d appeared in the bathroom as your knight in shining ‘white towel’.

“Yeah, gonna come for daddy?”

 

Nearly incoherent you cried out, “Yes! So fuu-… ‘ing deep daddy…”

 

You felt your core tighten, band snapping within. Sy roughly fucked you through your orgasm, as his cock began to pulse, thrusts getting more erratic, then he came, ropes of hot white filling you.

His lips sucked at your collarbone, teeth biting your flesh. He slowed his hips and then stopped his movement.

 

He sighed happily, slowly sipping out, but still holding you up when he captured your lips in another, this time, sweet and gentle kiss. When you pulled back, his blue eyes seemed to sparkle even more than before.

 

You hung rather bonelessly from his body, too fucked out to really hold onto him anymore.

Sy cooed at you, “Aww couldn’t keep up, sugar?”

You frowned, making him chuckle when you swatted his shoulder, “Alright, alright. You did keep up, pretty damn well, if I might say so myself.” Smiling at him as he added, “Fancy a bath, love? I’ve got a tub in my room.”

 

Nodding enthusiastically, he started to march back to his room with you still wrapped up in his arms.

 

 PART 2

 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑

Taglist:

If you're interested in being on my taglist, please let me know! And if you want to be taken off (my taglist), feel free to tell me!❤️✨

[compacflt]

okay so obviously the whole point of ESTD is that ice is unhappy because he cannot accept that he loves maverick because he must serve his country and at the end he realizes how stupid that is when maverick dies!! but…do you think that your ice and maverick could have ever been happy had maverick forced ice to talk about it earlier on? do you see any potential for them to live their lives not publicly but also not as a complete secret? a world where slider would have known ice was happy and seen what caused that (his love for maverick)?

maverick, venice Italy, 2002: um i 🥺👉🏻👈🏻 love you actually

ice: 😳🤯😗 ok! I love you too let’s make this work!

…

ice, 2002: ok i think we should follow caroles orders and pull Bradley’s papers from the academy and also i am leaving you to get my second star because my career still comes first sry

maverick: i know we literally just codified our relationship but uh you suck i am breaking up with you forever fuck you

(relationship ends .)

[artssslut2]

Pregnant With Patrick’s Baby: Head-cons

Patrick does not get enough fluff

- You and Patrick were pretty young when you got pregnant

- You weren’t on birth control because you didn’t like how it made you feel, usually Patrick used a condom. But this time was different.

- “Let’s not use it.”

- “Pat cmon”

- “No I mean it, let’s just see what happens. I love you.”

- “We’re young Patrick” you reminded him

- “There aren’t any rules my love. I want a baby with you I’m serious.” He told you. You didn’t know what came over you but you agreed. And low and behold a few weeks later you found out that you were pregnant.

- Patrick was over the moon. He had never loved anyone like he loved you, and now you had created another person together. You were nervous but just as happy as he was.

- Patrick wasn’t naturally a very caring person. This all changed when he saw you go through morning sickness. He was there every morning with you through it all.

- Patrick told everyone right away. You had never seen him so happy. He would bring it up every chance he got, in interviews, with friends, on social media. He wanted everyone to know.

- You had never seen Patrick as emotion as he was the day he saw the ultrasound for the first time.

- “Jesus what are you doing to me.” He cried into your arms from peer joy.

- “I never knew you were such a softie” you teased

- Patrick was on a winning streak since you became pregnant. He wanted to make his little family proud.

- Patrick would drop anything and everything the second you needed something. Even if it was something stupid like ice cream.

- He couldn’t take his hands off of your bump. He loved feeling his baby kick and squirm around inside of you. He would talk to it all the time too.

- If you couldn’t sleep he would stay up too. He would bring you your favorite foods and talk to the baby to get it to calm down.

- You both decided to wait and be surprised with the gender of the baby. Although you were both 99% sure it was a boy. Patrick even referred to the baby as a him. You told him not to just in case but he was positive.

- Patrick picked out the name “Sam” after his favorite tennis player Pete Sampras. With the middle name Arthur after his best friend. You agreed because you just couldn’t say no to this man.

- Patrick got so many baby tennis things, like a mini Racket and net. Little tennis shoes and a sweatband, it was adorable.

- It seemed like your baby was kicking nonstop. Patrick would always say “he’s just practicing his footwork”

- When the day finally came and you went into labor he was ready. He had the bag in the car for weeks now. He wasn’t panicked at all like you thought he’d be. Then again he never panicked about anything.

- This man was by your side through it all. Got you ice chips, walked around with you, let you crush his hands. The doctors made you bounce on a yoga ball to move things along. You did not want to, you were tired and felt stupid. Patrick asked them to bring another one in and bounced with you the whole time.

- The labor had taken a very long time, you told Patrick to try and get some sleep. He refused, he was going to stay up with you for as long as it took.

- When the baby was born, to everyone’s surprise it was a little girl. A tiny little girl with Patrick’s big round ears that seemed bigger than her. It was adorable.

- Patrick was in shock. He had a daughter and not a son. You tried getting his attention but he seemed to be in a trance. You were worried he was upset that it wasn’t a boy.

- “Babe? Are you upset?” You asked with a crying baby on your chest,

- “What? How could I be upset? We have a little girl.” He said with a tear coming from his eye. You sighed with relief as Patrick wrapped his arms carefully around you.

- Patrick didn’t want to ever let go of his baby girl. The sight of him doing skin on skin with the newborn was precious.

- “We could still name her Sam you know.” You told him while sitting next to him on the hospital bed. He looked down at her in his arms.

- “No, she should have a different one that’s just for her.” He decided kissing her tiny head.

- He still wanted to name her after a tennis player. So he suggested “Billie” after Billie Jean King. The name fit right away. It felt right when you looked at her and said “Billie”. you were in love with your little family

- And patrick definitely nailed the hot dad walk out of the hospital.

[shadowsndaisies]

athena; the preamble

WC: 3k

synopsis: athena at a glance basically

main masterlist

athena-verse master post

a/n: i know I should be working on cnng, but this idea has just fully taken root. the brain rot is real.... please come talk to me about it... please

Having Maverick for a dad is exactly what it sounds like.

He played fast and loose with the rules of the Navy, which made him a highly decorated captain, but at the end of the day, he had two loves in his life, the Navy and his daughter. Despite the risks he took and the chances he played with, you never doubted your dad's love. You did, however, have to learn to speak his language.

That meant early mornings in the hangar, learning how to fix up engines and motors of relics. It meant doing homework on base after school. It meant learning ranks and callsigns as a kid. And so you did. You did it all. You learned poker and swindled more than a few Navy men before you'd even hit puberty. You smiled pretty for every commanding officer your father's managed to piss off. It also meant developing a need for speed.

Having Maverick for a dad meant being on edge every time he got deployed. It meant spending his deployments with Uncle Ice and Aunt Sarah and your summers with Aunt Carole and Bradley.

Every deployment that fell during the school year was spent based out of the Kazansky house. You didn't mind too much. Uncle Ice and your dad always had each other's back, a bond forged in loss, that much you knew. Aunt Sarah acted like a mom; she cooked hot meals and taught you how to make some of your favorites. You spent time with their kids and went to school with them, too. It was fun spending time with Ryan and Elizabeth Kazansky. Ryan was about five years younger than you but a ball of energy, and little Lizzie was a planner and was often your partner in crime despite being eight years younger than you.

There were the odd in-betweens when your dad would have someone he trusted enough to watch you. That being said, you'd only ever spent a few deployments with someone not named Bradshaw or Kazansky; the exception was always one woman, Penny Benjamin.

You weren't an idiot.

Having Pete Mitchell for a dad meant wising up quick. Meant quick humor and a reckless streak that you had to work twice as hard to overcorrect and suppress because you both knew he'd never be the one to police you on it. It meant a semi-stable home life but so much love and too many role models. It also meant a fluctuating Penny.

Penny, who met your dad years before you were born. Penny, who you knew your dad loved and who loved your dad, even though they never seemed to get their timing right. Penny, who taught you how to sail, throw a proper punch, and French braid. Who showed you how to open a beer bottle without an opener in several different ways, using a belt buckle, a spoon, and your house keys? Penny, who was.. a mom. As much as you are reluctant to admit it publicly, Penny Benjamin was probably the closest thing you had to a mom because even though Aunt Sarah loved you and cared for you like she did with Elizabeth, she was always Aunt Sarah, never Mom. Even Aunt Carole, who was your godmother, could never truly fill the void of mother even though you know she tried her best to help you with the parts you missed out on. Penny was the only one who came close, at least when she was around she was.

Summers, though, were your favorite. Whether or not your dad was on deployment, you spent every summer in Virginia with the Bradshaws. You had a room that Carole always referred to as "little Miss Mitchell's room" and a best friend who taught you so much more about life.

Bradley.

Bradley, who taught you how to swing a bat and throw a football. Bradley, who gave you your first driving lesson when your dad got deployed before he could. Bradley, who you talked with weekly when you weren't living under the same roof. Bradley, who let you make fun of his name when you needed an easy out, Brad Brad, had been the running joke.

Bradley always had your back; he piggybacked you home when you skinned your knees during your skater girl summer. He took you out of the way to your favorite ice cream place whenever you had cramps and planted himself on the sofa with you to watch Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and I Dream of Jeanie when you refused to move. Bradley, who ate the things you cooked when you'd test out Aunt Sarah's recipes and forgave you while throwing up when you gave him food poisoning when you were thirteen, who still trusted what you put in front of him even after that (though he had gotten you a meat thermometer and written up a cheat sheet to ensure you knew when it was fully cooked).

And you had his.

When Aunt Carole died, you mourned for months. Navy royalty knocked on your dad's door to share their condolences with the teen for weeks. Bradley had been seventeen at the time, about to start his senior year of high school. He completed that year back in San Diego. He'd had friends and people who cared for him in Virginia, who'd offered their homes for his final year of high school, but when your dad offered, he clung to the familiarity that was Mav. That year, your dad had a few deployments, and all of them were short. Looking back, you wonder if Uncle Ice had pulled strings to ensure that. Either way, when Bradley went to his senior prom, Mav was there. He filmed the awkward getting-ready stage, caught on camera as you helped Bradley tie his tie, and you got a great moment of Mav doing the last inspection before Bradley left to pick up his date.

You spent all your free weekends that spring at every single one of Bradley's baseball games. Aunt Sarah would come to every home game, and little Lizzie and Ryan loved screaming and cheering for Brad's mama. Look at Brad Brad go!

Bradley grieved and cried, and he was so incredibly sad and heartbroken. But he was still Bradley. He was still your best friend. He intimidated any guy who got too close and was the only person outside your father who you could love one second and be planning his murder the next. Bradley was your best friend; he was until he wasn't.

Until papers were pulled and words were exchanged, Bradley stormed out one day and never came back.

You found him; of course you did. He was your best friend. And even though you coaxed him out of his hiding spot, words were said. Phrases hurled at you that targeted the softest of spots that only he knew about. You held together; you had to. You got him at Viper's and left him there. You went to Ice's. You didn't talk to your dad for months, and Bradley never spoke to him again.

He reached out to you during your senior year of high school in an email apologizing for how he lashed out at you. You never responded. A scabbed spot in your heart that used to belong to him, still too raw to touch. He kept emailing, though. Random updates, more apologies, congratulations, and happy birthdays. You read every email, but you never could bring yourself to respond. Then, four years had gone by.

Bradley's bi-weekly email arrived when you were in your second year of university. You read it, reread it, and then read it a third time. Aviation Officer Candidate School. You weren't surprised; you knew Bradley wouldn't abandon his dream. You never thought he would, but being faced with the reality of it weighed heavily. Bradley being selected for AOCS was proof of his dedication. OCS, in general, required sponsors within the Navy and was much more difficult to get into than the Naval Academy; they only took individuals with a bachelor's degree to start with. However, for Bradley to get into AOCS, specifically the aviation program, someone up the ladder had to have helped. The more you sat with it, the harder it became to figure out who. It could have been Viper, who had dealt with an Angry, Confused, and Isolated Bradley for the remainder of his senior year and the summer, probably every summer after that. Or maybe it was Ice, cleaning up the mess your dad had made, just as he always did.

Your dad had cost Bradley four years in the Navy, but this program might help him bridge it, at least to some degree.

For the first time since the day you dropped him at Viper's, you respond.

Congratulations, Bradley, I'm glad you're achieving your dream.

That was it.

You didn't tell your dad. But you heard about it when he found out. Ice, thankfully, had given you a heads-up. You played dumb; you knew better than to admit to the emails. Your dad was strong and stubborn, but you'd seen what his and Bradley's blowout had done to him. The hollowness that followed him, the pain in his eyes at every memento and reminder. The ache in his heart is located between the gaps titled Goose and Carole.

He hadn't told you why he'd pulled Bradley's papers. You'd made (somewhat) peace (begrudgingly) with that when you finally let your dad back into your life nearly two months after the Pulling of the Papers, and only because he almost died in a bird strike and you as his next of kin had been notified upon his hospitalization.

When he heard about AOCS, though, the secret came spilling out. Carole asked me, and she gave me one request. You'd known your dad had a private conversation with Carole Bradshaw on her deathbed. You and Bradley had been asked to stand outside her hospital room while they talked. When you were allowed back in, they both had tears in their eyes. You'd always assumed it had something to do with Goose, and to an extent, you were right. Carole Bradshaw was one of the strongest women you'd ever met, but it seemed even she was afraid of the price you pay to the Navy for the honor of serving your country.

You weren't sure what drove you to it.

It could have been Bradley's transition into AOCS.

The truth your dad had finally shared.

Or because you still felt like you had something to prove.

Maybe even that need for speed that had never been handled properly.

But you enrolled in your university's Navy ROTC program that same week.

The most surprising part of the change was how easily it came. Orders sounded like they did on the bases you grew up on. Your history, lineage, and contacts helped get you started and acted as an excuse for your late decision to join. You found some semblance of peace in ROTC as if the missing parts of the puzzle were starting to become visible.

You weren't sure how you managed to get through ROTC and into your first year as a Naval officer without your dad finding out, but you did. And by then, it was too late for him to do to you what he'd done to Bradley.

Bradley, to his credit, had a mellower response, only because he didn't have your phone number anymore and could only type an email in caps lock to convey his yelling. He did include it on the bottom, though; I wish I'd thought of ROTC. I could've sped the pipeline along more.

You hadn't responded to any emails since his admission into AOCS, and if you watched his college graduation and sent a gift to Ice to pass off to him, that was nobody's business but yours.

Your dad was… displeased.

But he kept calling. He didn't freeze you out, and you didn't have it in you to do it to him again. So you talked, told him how training was, and when he finally asked you why? In such a pained voice, you told him the truth. There was no tangible reason, just that you had to do it, that this was your path. Safe to say, it wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear.

Becoming an Aviator was difficult. Not only because of the requirements and the toll it takes. Not only because you were a woman. But because you faced accusations of nepotism at every turn. You were, however, your father's daughter, and his lack of movement within the Navy did not diminish his accomplishments. You learned. You learned from the best. From your teachers, from your peers, from your dad, and from the men you considered uncles. And you showed everyone what you were capable of. You were a Naval Aviator within a year of graduating from college and the ROTC program, achieving the rank quicker than almost anyone following the same pipeline. You made a name for yourself using your brain. Where people were quick to assume nepotism, you were quick to show them your dry wit, sharp tongue, and tactical thinking.

That's where the callsign came from. Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, daughter of Zeus, and king of the gods. It fit well.

You did two and a half years as a Naval Aviator Officer in training in Norfolk and another two in Japan as a Junior Officer before you got the call.

Top Gun.

Returning to San Diego was… nostalgic. Being on the Miramar base even more so. You faced criticism of nepotism from your peers here as well; never mind that only the top two percent of naval aviators are invited to Top Gun to begin with. But you worked hard and proved your calling had more to do with wisdom and war than whose daughter you were. You came out of it with two friends: a pilot named Brigham Lennox, callsign: Harvard, and his WSO Logan Lee, callsign: Yale. Both of whom were the only two to wise up within the first day and realize you are so much more than your name.

It's also why the three of you were at the top of your class.

Afterward, Yale and Harvard are sent to Oceana, off the East Coast, where you knew Bradley had been based on his emails. And you were kept in state and sent to Lemoore. You preferred that, not that you'd say so. But being in-state meant being able to visit with Ice, even when you knew he wasn't doing so well, and it meant you could continue to avoid Bradley in peace. At Lemoore, you got placed with the VFA-14, the Tophatters, also known as the oldest currently active aircraft squadron in the US Navy. There's a lot of history attached there, a legacy to make proud of, as Ice and Viper would like to remind you when you'd join them for a monthly poker game.

Being stationed with the Tophatters came with two significant perks: Natasha Trace, callsign: Phoenix, and Jake Seresin, callsign: Hangman. Stationed with the VFA-41 (Black Aces) and VFA-151 (Vigilantes) respectively. Despite the fact that the two of them could not stand each other, you formed friendships with them both. In Natasha, you found someone who understood the uphill battle for women in service, but more than that, you found someone who kept it honest, called it like she saw it, and loved you for who you were.

With Jake, it was different. His bravado and charm worked, but not on you. Where other pilots got fed up with his cocky bullshit, you were able to stay leveled and see through. A benefit you shared once after a few beers of being raised by the best of the best. There must have been a sharper edge to your reminisces than you remember because Jake never made a nepo baby joke after that. A casual one here or there, but none at the heart of it, none with genuine malice. Not like he had in the beginning.

Jake allowed you to be. Rough edges and jagged ends. He kept your feet on the ground when you spent most of your day in the skies. You like to think you balanced him out a bit, too. Able to keep him from getting too stuck in the clouds, too sure of himself. You were always happy to knock him down a peg or two; truthfully, sometimes, he needed you to do so.

You found happiness on Commander, Carrier Wing Nine in the Strike Fighter Wing Pacific. You excelled in your squad and gained recognition and honors, ribbons that decorated your lapel. You talked with your dad, mostly about random things, given the confidentiality of both his and your assignments, but you found time. Ice and Sarah checked in, and Viper, too. And every time your feet were on solid ground, they found time for a barbecue or a poker game, or both, usually both.

You still read Bradley's emails. Bi-weekly had turned to monthly, and even then, they didn't come every month, but they did come, always with a reason, just as they had been for the last decade and change. You never could figure out why he kept sending them. You'd thought about replying, now, years after the rage and pain and grief you'd held onto had been let go of, nothing productive ever came from holding on too tight, you'd learned. But Bradley sent the emails, sometimes signing his name as Bradley or Rooster, but on the nostalgic ones, he'd always put Brad Brad, an olive branch, you knew, but you never could get yourself to click send on the drafts you'd write out, dozens of them sitting in the drafts folder as it was.

You'd found your space; it wasn't perfect, but it was yours.

And then you got recalled.

And so did 'Nix.

And Jake.

Then the email came in, and they're calling me back to Top Gun for some detachment. Maybe I could find time to come to Lemoore?

And then your dad hit Mach 10 and was missing in action for over five hours, only to be found in some small-town diner in the middle of nowhere Idaho.

He was sent back to Miramar, too.

And you were left wondering what the fuck was happening now, flying down with Phoenix and Hangman on your wings, and why it seemed to be colliding all the fragments of your world.

...

everything tags: @butterfly-skinnylegend

[romcomxdd]

Pete and Bradley were the hotheads of the family, always at each others throat, and it pissed Tom off to no end. Most of the time he was there to diffuse the arguments before they got to the point of Bradley and Pete saying things that they couldn’t take back, but the one time he wasn’t, it didn’t go very well. At All.

Bradley was your typical angsty teenager, but the fact that Tom and Pete weren’t his biological parents added a whole new dimension. Him and Pete were always going at each other for the smallest things, though they almost always resolved just as fast as they blew up. The tension between them reached its peak when Bradley was around sixteen, seventeen.

One day after school, Pete and Bradley had an argument, a big one. Ice was at work late that night, so it was just the two of them. Pete said something that must have triggered Bradley and within seconds they were in the middle of a full out yelling match. They both said things that they didn’t mean, and regretted saying instantly. Things along the lines of ‘fuck i wish you’d just left when you had the chance’ and ‘well if i’m such a shit parent, maybe i should have left you for a foster family to fuck up instead.’, were shouted across the kitchen bench. (of course neither of them meant this, they just had trouble regulating their tempers sometimes).

By this point, Tom had just got home from working late, and as he opened the door, Bradley stormed out, car keys and wallet in hand.

A furious Pete was hot on his heels, and he almost nocked over poor Ice for a second time, but he caught his husband in time. ‘Bradley! Bradley i’m sorry! I did’t mean it- fuck- Bradley covet back here!’

A very frantic Pete watched as his son slammed the door of his car and slammed on the accelerator, probably stalling at least once. Tom was immediately by his husbands side, confusion evident on his face.

‘The fuck was that?’ He muttered as the pair watched Bradley drive off. Pete was distraught, he knew how dangerous it could be driving in the emotional state that Bradley was in. He’d done it himself more than a few times, and counted himself lucky that he was still here to tell the tale.

‘Fuck- I- Shit-‘ Was all he could get out, his hands constantly running through his hair. ‘I-i’m sorry- i’m so sorry- fuck’

Ice sighed and pulled the wide eyed man into his chest, his fingers slowly interlocking in Pete’s hair. ‘Shhhh- hey- it’s okay. Bradley’s a smart boy. He’ll be fine.’

Mav nodded, his face still buried in Ice’s shirt.

‘What the fuck did you say to him?’

‘I-‘ Pete straightened up, his eyes still downturned in shame. ‘I told him that we shouldn’t have adopted him- shoulda let someone else take him- it- it just slipped out in the moment and you know I don’t mean it-‘

Ice sighed ‘Oh Pete- Jesus you really didn’t think that through did you?’

Mav just shook his head in shame.

To make a long story short, Bradley spent the night tearing down highways, and probably should have died but somehow he came out of it unscathed. The next morning he woke up curled in the boot of his car with drool dripping down his chin. Once he had time to clear his mind a little he made the drive of shame back home.

Ice and Mav were both at work when he got back, Bradley set about making an apology dinner, as per the family’s tradition. If you fucked up, but couldn’t find the words to properly apologise, you would make dinner. And do the washing up. No need for words. Not until everyone was ready.

It was a rule Ice had instituted a few years back, and had worked wonders in keeping the family running.

Once the older two returned home, Bradley had made all but a feast, it was an impressive sight. The relief that shone in both their faces sent another wave of guilt through the teen, and he went to say something, to apologise, but Mav quickly shook his head.

‘After dinner. Okay?’

‘But-‘

‘You’re safe. That’s what matters.’