Chapter Text
It was supposed to be a normal exercise.
Well, to be fair, it was a normal exercise. They got their asses kicked by their instructor, who Hangman (oh so conveniently) dragged out of the Hard Deck the day before being introduced, as they prepared for their new mission that brought “the best of the best” back to Top Gun.
Only the aftermath changed everything he ever thought about Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw.
Hangman was the last off the tarmac from today’s exercise. He doesn’t dwell on if anyone stayed to walk out with him. Everyone probably just wanted to get out off base to hang at the Hard Deck or get some rest.
He danced another toothpick in his mouth on his way to the shower as he thought about what possibly the squadron needed to change before the eventual mission. With no one being able to touch Maverick during their dog fight exercises, Hangman knew things were about to get harder in the weeks ahead.
As he turned another corner, the lower half of his body collided with a figure which let out a small grunt.
Stopping in his tracks, Hangman’s toothpick twisted as he looked down to see chocolate brown eyes staring up at him.
Probably not more than ten years old, the soft brown hair curled to frame the young girl’s face who wore a lace olive green dress. There was a small sparkle of innocence in her eyes as Hangman tried his best to reason how this girl could have possibly gotten here. For once, he was speechless.
“Hello!” the girl put her hand up with a smile on her face, “My name is Lillian and you are going to help me find my dad.”
His eyebrow raised as the toothpick in his mouth twisted once again. Hangman lowered to his knees to match Lillian’s height. The girl kept eye contact with him as he smiled.
“The name’s Hangman-“ his hand extending to meet hers.
“And your real name?” She took his hand but didn’t shake it.
“Jeez,” Hangman laughed as a small smirk went to the younger’s face. There was something so familiar about the way her eyes lit up and lips quirked. “I can’t wait to figure out who your father is.”
“Will you tell me your real name then?”
“How about I do that-,” He probably wasn’t going to see this child after he found her guardian. “Once we find your dad and he is cool with me,” Hangman stood up slowly, keeping their hands connected. “Let’s head here,” he twirled the girl around, facing the direction he was going. She let out a small giggle before looking directly up to meet his eyes.
“But, I just came from there!”
“Yeah, but the offices are in that direction,” The lockers too, Hangman added in his head. It was also the most likely place Lillian’s father would be.
Lillian nodded as she took a big sniff of the air before letting go of his hand.
“So sweaty and smelly,” Lillian’s nose scrunched as Hangman tried his best to hide a laugh.
He had to admit that the combination of jet fuel and sweat was not a pleasant one. Hangman gained no tolerance for the hideous smell and couldn’t imagine what Lillian would be thinking.
Lillian skipped ahead of the pilot who shook his head. He could easily keep up with her as she turned right toward the shower and locker rooms.
“You need a shower before I find my dad,” Lillian pointed toward the door to the showers and Hangman couldn’t resist the laugh.
“And leave you out here?” Hangman watched her nod as she leaned against the wall opposite the door.
Right when Hangman reached for the doorknob, it swung open to reveal-
“Dad!” Lillian shoved Hangman over to jump into Rooster’s arms, surprisingly already open to lifting her up.
Rooster was fresh out of the shower and changed into his version of civilian clothing. His green Hawaiian shirt surprisingly coordinated with the girl in his arms. Aviators previously on his eyes were pushed up to his forehead for Lillian to see her father.
“Hey there, little chick.” Softness poured out of Rooster’s voice as Lillian smiled brightly.
What the fuck?
The dots slowly started to connect from how Lillian took Rooster’s hair and eyes. The constant teasing and stubbornness really made the whole thing make a bit more sense.
Only a bit as-
“Bradshaw, you got a kid?” Hangman crossed his arms with a smirk on his face, hating to hide any longer. Rooster’s eyes laced with protectiveness at the person his daughter brought. A brief glance at his daughter who was starting to tickle his mustache, made the older man grab the girl and start dangling above the ground.
“No, I adopted this alien from outer space-“
“I wanna meet an alien!” Lillian burst out before Rooster could finish his retort. She swatted her arms at Rooster who pulled her back up. “Are you an alien?” She pointed at Hangman. “Because I don’t wanna meet one if they smell that bad.”
A small glance between the two pilots almost caused both of them to laugh. Hangman decided to step toward the girl who fruitlessly kicked him in the chest.
“Would an alien help you find your dad?” Hangman coughed out as he stepped away, hands up in surrender.
“You barely helped,” Lillian retorted as Rooster’s face could barely hold back a smile for his daughter’s retort.
Oh, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“If you say that,” Hangman looked away, deciding to play the teasing game with the young girl, “I guess I’m not telling you my real name.”
“Booo, you loserman! You’re just petty over the fact I found my dad without you.”
Rooster couldn’t contain himself any longer and laughed wholeheartedly. Hangman took the toothpick out of his mouth and flashed a small smile of amusement.
“That’s a great nickname!” The two high fiving as Hangman shook his head.
“Well, I’m gonna take a shower since someone told me to,” a small glare at the girl in the green dress only made her laugh. “See ya around, Rooster.” As the two rivals nodded at each other, it dawned on Hangman that this was the first time they had been civil since arriving for the mission. Huh… “And a pleasure to meet your little alien.”
“Bye, loserman.” Rooster moved out of the doorway to let Hangman into the shower room.
“Bye-bye!” Lillian waved so hard that she smacked Rooster in the face. He couldn’t see Rooster’s reaction as the door was closing on his face.
Boy, that was an image that Hangman wasn’t going to forget.