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The gravity pulled him hard toward the ground. Some noises, presumably the failed engine or the troublesome tinnitus from his inner ear trauma. Maybe both. It reminded him about a memory which remained locked for only God knew how long it'd been. The same wise words rang in his mind— Do not think and just do it! —it belonged to someone he knew very well. It had the same tone like how he remembered. He was just four or five that day but that voice was a fire that'd been gone. Like losing one. A father.
Roos —
Brad —
Bradley —
'Who?'
'Who calls me?'
It took about a few seconds before he finally growled in pain from jumping out of the plane. Or some strange unseen power did that to him. He felt that he might have been attached to the hard rocks below his back. The surrounding was too quiet, it was neither deadly nor was it his own burial. He recognized this place. The same zone where most of the Top Gun students would head to if everything felt too big to cope for their sanity. It's the back of their barrack and the usual flight zone.
Death might say hello to him now, giving a test if he's worthy to pass the judgement. Or so he thought.
The sky is a mix of orange and a tint of red. Rooster calculated whatever odds of possibility he just experienced. He saw some F-18—no, those were all F-14 jets—parked in a row, leaving one empty spot only. It started to get weirder after he ran to the same hangar where new students were usually briefed on their first day. He might get one or two clues to the state he was in. Not to mention that he actually might develop some spiritual phenomena from head concussion or yes, it's another zone for the dead before they were sent to the afterlife. No one was there, but the calendar showed a bizarre number.
'1986 ?'
'Wh—what? How?'
Rooster could hear his own heart beat, telling him the chance of him still alive was big. Yet, the chance of him dying was also big. That didn't help him to comprehend the sweat and turbulence from his body. It's too vivid like a lucid dream. He was sure a few minutes ago, he was shot by some advanced fighter jet and fell down. Hard.
Bradley Bradshaw was supposed to be unlived.
'Am I... dead?'
'Is this... where...where Dad... Dad...1986... no, no .'
The echo of grief and mourn were ringing in his head, causing tears rolled down his face. Rooster knew he's too old to cry but he couldn’t stop himself from crying as he held his hands near to his heart where his dog tag was still attached. Falling to his knees.
‘God, do you test me? Or this is how you punish me? Before I di—‘
"Goose? Is that you?"
A voice, in a very familiar and nostalgic tone.
"I thought you said you're going to take your day off earlier since tomorrow is Bradley's birthday! Anyway, I was thinking—you could laugh 'cuz I never think especially on board—but hey, what I'm saying is what if I take Bradley out after the birthday party so you and your wife could—you know—enjoy the night? It's not that I never listen to your brags about our day off but yes, you deserve it. I'll… I'll be here, like always, supporting you anytime you need. Like... a friend... a family. That's what we are, right?"
Rooster felt numb. He was not ready to greet the owner of the voice. Strangely, he noticed a glimpse of pain and loneliness at the end of the words. Just like the last time he confronted him that night, before the last training day.
Maverick.
1986.
"Hey, talk to me, Goose. What's with the silence?" A slight concern can be heard in Maverick's voice before he perked up at something, "oh, I got another thing to tell you! I plan to— ermm —to buy Bradley a nice F-14 toy. Look, I know it's too early for him but I found this toy store where we can customize the toy! I have some ideas in my mind and it's going to be very cool. So, what do you think?"
The warmth and smells. It's definitely Maverick’s. The same cologne. He never changed, a bit. Always felt like home.
"Goose? Are you okay?"
Maverick gave a soft pat on Roose's shoulder, not knowing it was not his wingman. Rooster gently turned his body to face the man behind him. Fighting his own fear.
"Hey, Pete."
It took several blinks for young Maverick to process the view. That seemed surreal but in a good way. Maverick’s sudden reflex slightly gave a red flag impression for Rooster. It’s normal, obviously. Meeting a man who’s not supposed to be anywhere inside this timeline. Rooster offered a weak smile at this peculiar Top Gun student, a sign that he's not a threat.
It's clear how Maverick noticed the difference in Rooster's outfit though it still looked similar to Maverick's uniform. However, the different era and age couldn't lie.
"Do... I know you, handsome?"
Hand — what?
"I'm—well, thanks for the compliment—but yes, you know me, sort of. Depends on how 'well' do you know me."
Maverick was taken aback with Rooster's answer, boldly confused. "Wait. From the stache and the golden hair, are you… a fan of Goose?"
Well, he was not wrong. "You could say that." Rooster answered with a chuckle.
"Hmm, which squad team are you from? I don't recall you from anywhere. Also, your uniform. That's a bit overstyled."
"Oh, do you think so?"
A glass of fresh water was offered by Maverick. It was never a question about how Maverick acted around new people he met. From the way he treated Rooster, not a single doubt, he’s always been a gentleman. A young version of Pete Mitchell, the so-so navy pilot across the generation, looked so friendly. Whatever life he lived during this time, the sparkling youth energy still blazed.
That attitude might be influenced by Goose's presence since he hadn't left the world yet. Before the tragedy changed him into the Maverick that Rooster recognized now.
He can see how deeply Goose's death affected both of them—especially Mav.
"Can I ask you a question?" asked Rooster straightforwardly.
"Well, I don't usually take questions from strangers but since you kind of remind me of somebody who's super important in my life, then I'll allow you. Hope it's not about the question of Goose' favorite underwear brand."
Both of them chuckled.
"No, I won't ask that." Rooster's smile widened at Maverick's playful sigh of relief. "Do you believe in second chances?"
"Ah, a very philosophical question. Hmm, since we're both pilots, so to make it sound less serious, then my answer will be yes. Through great observation, we eventually will get a way to overcome and fix the flaws and mistakes that we made."
Rooster continued, "Even if the mistakes you did cost a heavy toll?"
"For me, I do believe it's better to move forward and fix the fault rather than grieving for nothing. It also means we respect those people we lost. That's what I thought."
"How?"
There's a faint of sadness beyond Maverick's little chuckle. He stood back from his seat to close the long space between them. Something that old Maverick rarely did.
Now, Rooster had better vision of a pair of Maverick's emerald green eyes. They're beautiful. The youth that still lingers on his skin and the flame that lived strongly beyond this childish smugginess. Rooster hoped he could stay in this place forever—he also hoped Mav could stay like this forever.
A warm hand is placed on his cold cheek. He couldn't hide the surprised and longing look in his eyes. By instinct, Rooster held Maverick's hand on his cheek.
"By keeping their legacy. Keep doing what they would've done if they were still here."
"Well, you better keep those words to yourself, too, Mav."
A small stern wrinkle appeared between Maverick’s eyebrows. “I believe I haven’t told you my call sign yet. However—“ He grinned with naughty smirk, “—I kinda like the way you said it. This is crazy but it felt like—it felt like I have known you for a very long time. Giving me some nostalgic vibe or something.”
He mumbled quietly and gave Mav a small nod before he let go of Mav's warm hand and walked away from him.
“Yes. We do, Mav. ”
“Oh God, that sounds crazy.”
Rooster bit his lip. Holding the throbbing heartache. “I love you, Mav.”
It’s nearly a whisper or perhaps a prayer.
“Hm? Is there something troubling you, handsome?”
It tasted like salt that he accidentally gulped from falling into the deep sea. But, it was his own tears, unstoppably.
Both the arms were moved to stay linger around Rooster's neck. Mav tiptoed a little bit, "Be strong, stranger. Be a strong pilot. Let your woes fly off with your sorrow. But, I should mention this. Whenever you're asked to come back to the ground, then don't hesitate to do that, okay? Somebody may have waited for you."
Slowly, it faded away. The smell, warmth and smile. Even the world started to spin around. Before everything changed color to black and white, he watched the wingman from afar. They were walking together, moving forward. Yet, Rooster wanted to scream, to tell them to not get on the plane.
But whatever needs to happen then it shall happen.
'I love you, Maverick. Always do. ' Rooster muttered something he should've said under his breath before he felt like he's sucked back into reality—his reality.
Paradise was within your grasp, only if you were ready to let go of all of your fear.
“ Roos—“
“ Rooster—“
" Rooster! Rooster! "
“Bradley!”
'Am I dreaming again ? Is this another test for me ?' Rooster wondered to himself as he heard the same familiar voice of Maverick calling out his name.
But wait. He didn't tell the young Mav his name, didn't he?
He fought the drowsiness and the pain all over his body as much as he could while screaming out Mav's name, though in reality, Mav could only see Rooster's lips move without making any sound.
"Mav?”
Maverick startled as Rooster gasped out his name and looked at him with wide eyes. He could see fear and confusion in Rooster's hazel eyes. And so, he placed his hand on Rooster's cold cheek to calm him down, telling him he's safe now. He can't figure out what happened to the younger man but he knew all he needed was someone to reassure him that everything will be okay. They both will be okay now.
"It's okay, Rooster. It's okay. You—you—please, for God sake, please I beg you to not repeat the same stupid action like you did back then. If—if—"
“I’m alive, Mav. I’m alive.”
“You scared me to death! What did I tell you about—?”
The cold snow under his head now gave Rooster a slight cervical headache. Good thing he still could feel all parts of his extremities, meaning he’s okay. Yet, Maverick’s shout triggered the tinnitus back.
“But you told me not to think! And what would my father say to me if I met him on the other side while in reality I left you alone, be the lonely Maverick all over again! My pops would blame me for that, Mav.”
“Why?”
It took a few seconds for Rooster to analyze whatever emotion on Maverick’s tired face. It’s both a mix of relief and guilt.
“Because I love you, Mav. Do you get it? I love you.”
The silence was too heavy for both of them but it was Maverick who stood back, looking troubled. Rooster heard a small curse slip off from Maverick’s tiny lips. When Maverick finally got along with his own long thoughts, he offered a hand for Rooster.
“Those words that came out from your mouth need a long explanation, young man.”
And it went weird after that. Maverick seemed to create a huge gap with Rooster. He walked away, still with chaos inside his head.
Rooster shouted, “Have I ever appeared in your dream, Pete ?! With you, in your prime time?”
Somehow, it successfully made Maverick stop. He took the steps back toward Rooster. “I—yes. But—“
Rooster cut right away, “then it’s settled. I’ll explain that when we’re back home.” And he hugged Maverick, longingly. Whispering, “I’m back, Mav. I’m back.”
Maverick made a long exhale, at least for now. He might be too harsh for something new to him. So, he welcomed the affection back. Rooster could feel Mav was smiling to his ears while his hand brushing on Rooster's brunette hair. Such a loving and gentle touch that Mav didn't even know he still had.
“I love you, Mav.” He whispered in silence, heard by the snowflakes.
"I don't want to hurt another Bradshaw." was the answer he hoped he never heard from Maverick but he wasn't surprised by it.
"You told me to move on and keep doing what you love."
Mav pulled away from the hug and frowned at Rooster's words. "I never said that."
"You did."
"When?"
"1986."
"Where?"
"In my dream. Or, in other case, that'd be yours. I just snuck in."
Maverick scoffed a little and reached up to ruffle Rooster's hair, roaming his hand on the younger man's head as he thought Rooster must've hit his head on something.
"You're being delusional."
"Shut it, Mav. It's what you said to me before we went training... or something like that. I dismissed myself that day…"
The memory played in the back of his head. Back when they were about to take off for their first day of training. He asked Rooster to let go of their issues and focus on fixing things together.
Mav was about to say something but Rooster gripped his shoulder to stop his words before he even said it. The Lieutenant pulled him into a hug and leaned down to whisper in Maverick's ear
"I will embrace it now… only if you do the same for me."
Rooster, still bewildered by his surroundings, just focused his other olfactory senses to memorize the natural fragrance of Maverick's. The same cologne. He blinked a couple times to convince himself that he is safe now, in Maverick’s arms. Rooster tightened his hug as if he would never break it off and buried his face on Maverick’s shoulder for longer.
"I love you, too…" Mav whispered quietly into the cold air but it was loud enough for Rooster to hear it.
Once again, Rooster inhaled Mav's familiar scent and breathed calmly against his shoulder.
The conversation with 'young Maverick' in his unconscious state answered everything.
The answer for his question and the solution for his fear is love.
Rooster was blinded by his irrational grudge against something that Mav couldn't control for years when the man only wanted to keep him safe and prepared the best things for him. Yet there he is, wrapped up in Maverick's warm embrace welcoming him back home when Rooster thought he had lost everything—his life.
They can't be sure of what would happen when they're back in the base. But they knew that everything has changed to be better now.
Now that they both realized they've fallen in love with each other for years, until this time.
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This fic has a fanart now!