#tho..it actually included ron being hit by a car so it's not too far

[aki-draws-things]

If, somehow, that happens before they go to top gun, while there Ice is worse than Goose back at the academy when he got his callsign.

Sure, Slider is constantly wrapped around his shoulders, never straying a step too far from him, and yes, mav is deadly sure he's more a protector than a RIO.

What's not seen, or actually, people fail to see, is the absolute protective streak following Ice. He checks, and double checks, for Ron. He makes sure he's alright. Safe. Hell, he makes sure he stop spending most of his night over review of flight plans to be sure they're flawless. (Because yes, Ice is one hell of a pilot, but he got am equation wrong one time and ron went all "and gentlemen, this is why I'm the RIO. Ice, honey, you follow through that shit you got there, we say hi to the mountain side from very close.". It was the only time, but for ron his safety was always before his own.) And eat. Because everyone who thinks slider is always eating can't be more wrong. He always has snacks hidden everywhere, sure, because Ice eats all the time. Ron would straight up forget sometimes.

But people don't notice the subtle ways.

Ron gets into one of his...uhm... usual trouble, at top gun too, if the way he sways on his feet and becomes pale after the afternoon playing beach volley means something. "I didn't not notice your boyfriend got heatstroke. I swear." Is the first thing he says to Chris over the phone, people would think he's calm, Ron and Chris know he's not. "You didn't not-- mh. Okay... I'll cross out heatstroke from our tab of shits that man got himself into to lead us to an early grave. Is he alright?" "Sleeping it off. He's better."

Mav learns, after hop 31, after top gun, after the Layton rescue, after getting together with Ice. Mav didn't really care for slider much before, him always being draped over ice made it also somewhat hard to have a moment alone with him. Not to mention the pet names. He honestly believed they were together, not realizing it was exactly the same way he always acted with Goose. But mav didn't exactly care, at first.

Until Ron bloody catches him when Mav slips from the ladder like an absolute rookie while trying to build a tree house for Bradley in their garden. It was the split decision, the way he didn't technically catch him, more like stopped his landing before Mav could crack himself open.

Ice is not sure how he feels, what he feels, when they walk back in the house, covered in dirt and a bit of blood.

"If you landed yourself another concussion I'm not gonna cover your ass with Chris. if you didn't land yourself one I swear, I'll make your head wish you did."

Mav learns that Ice is not actually angry, he's worried.

"Fine. Next time I'll let your idiot boyfriend fall all the way to the ground without trying." Muttered, like he doesn't really care. Ice knows him enough to know he would never. Mav's head is still wrapping around Ice's words.

"What you mean with another?!"

Mav learns.

And he learns it again, the hard way, when a car hits him, again.

But it's different this time, Ron learned, through a lot of threatening, he learned. But there was that kid who ran after his ball in the middle of the road. And there's a car coming up way too fast to stop in time.

The point is, mav learns that Ron is not just reckless like he had once thought, getting himself in various trouble, he's not like him. Most of the troubles have a reason that goes beyond Ron himself. And sometimes being reckless and selfless merge into a bit of a mess on the side of the road, with a kid wrapped securely in his arms, people screaming, mav running to him and ron trying to comfort the kid sniffling.

Mav learns, when he has to call Ice and Chris at home. From the fucking hospital. As his voice tremble as he tries to explain.

(Mav didn't care, he used not to care too much for him, all he knew was that he was a good enough RIO for Ice, and he could trust Ice's life in the air with him. But they all live together now, same roof, same rooms, living room, same days. And God, that fucking giant of a man will make him, them, go gray before they're even 30.)

@oh-surprise-its-me

Still a sketch, but a bit less messy, currently named "moments before disaster", just because.

Not sure what might have happened for sure, but sure enough Chris won't make it easy for Ron to be forgiven (for the scare). Nor will Ice the moment he finds out, and he will find out. He has a special sixth sense for his RIO. If they both found white hair on their heads, they know who to blame.

Might end up thinking of the angstiest idea for that. Or leave that to you, it's fine either way!!