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Bradley stared at his bruised knuckles before turning his attention resolutely to the floor. He really hadn’t meant to get in a fight with Jace Banks of all people. Usually, Bradley only got into fights he knew he could finish but this time he knew he bit off more than he could chew. The black eye and bruising ribs he was sporting proved that.
Jace’s parents had come in what felt like l hours ago to talk to the principal and go home. And from what Bradley could eavesdrop on he could tell Jace only got about three days worth of detention. Crap deal if they asked Bradley. They say he didn’t instigate the fight but Bradley knew better. Not that he intended to say any of that to Principal Hill if and when he ever got the chance. He vowed he’d never talk about it. Never use it and have people call it a crutch.
He’d only ever talk about his dad with Mav and he wasn’t even sure if he was going to mention this one.
Bradley was still there, sitting in the office because Maverick was his first and only contact at the school. But even though Mav was still only repairing planes for the Navy so that he can be there for Bradley, with him being barely 16, he still worked pretty far away. That’s why Bradley really did try his best to stay out of trouble. He didn’t want to make it hard on Mav because the man had done enough for him already.
Mav couldn’t drive forever though and the time finally came when he saw Maverick, his Uncle Pete, Mitchell walk in with his sunglasses, plain white T-shirt, jeans, and brown leather Naval aviator jacket. Bradley shifted in his seat only to let a grimace cross his face as his bruising ribs shifted uncomfortably. He just continued to stare at the floor. Bradley didn’t want to meet Mav’s eyes even though he could feel them like lasers in the back of his head. Then he heard Mav’s voice.
“Hi, I’m here to pick up Bradley Bradshaw. And apparently talk with the principal.” Bradley could tell Mav was staring at him as he said that last bit and grimaced again except this time not in physical pain. Maverick really hated when he got into fights and Bradley knew why.
All Bradley talked about nowadays was enlisting and being just like his dad but Maverick was adamant that the military took discipline. That meant he couldn’t be getting into fights every other week. Bradley wanted to make it as easy as he could for Mav but he guessed he couldn’t stop himself from being a teenage boy.
“Ah yes, Mr. Mitchell?” The receptionist, Miss. Price, asked.
“Yes,” he chuckled, “call me Maverick, please.”
“Alright.” Miss. Price answered, “Maverick, Mr. Bradshaw, right this way.” She said pointedly and smiled sweetly. Bradley resisted the urge to roll his eyes but got up and immediately walked past Maverick and into Mr. Hill’s office. Mav walked behind him and closed the door.
“Hello, please take a seat.” Principal Martin Hill started, “Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Bradshaw.”
“Please, call me Maverick.” His godfather said once again as he shook the man’s hand.
“Maverick.” He amended, “I presume you know why you’re here?”
“Only the basics.” He shot a glare at Bradley.
“Well, this time, Bradley got in a fight with Jace Banks and all eyewitnesses say he threw the first punch.”
“Is that true, B?” Mav turned to him.
“Yes.” Bradley answered quietly. Not here, he reminded himself.
“Well then, as I’m sure you’re aware by now we do not tolerate fighting at Westview. I’m issuing a week of detention, Bradley.”
“Right.” Bradley said disinterestedly, Mav eyed him again.
“Thank you, sir.” Maverick said it like a reminder to Bradley but he wasn’t really in the mood. His ribs and face ached.
“See you tomorrow, Principal Hill.” Bradley tried to compromise and Mav looked satisfied.
They walked side by side in the hallway as they walked out the doors of Westview High but still said nothing to each other. It was only when Maverick started walking out further into the parking lot and Bradley saw that Mav brought the old car they had been restoring together that he scoffed. Even though he was secretly relieved that he didn’t have to ride back on Mav’s motorcycle with how his ribs were burning.
“You’re not really in a good place to be scoffing, kid.” Maverick reminded him, “Get in.”
Bradley scowled but got in the car nonetheless. They started to drive and suddenly he wished they didn’t live so far away from the school. Bradley just wanted to avoid all this and lock himself in his room for a little while. But, in reality, they still had 20 minutes stuck in this car together.
“B,“ Mav started, “we’ve talked about this before.”
“I know.”
“Fighting can’t be your first resort.”
“I know.”
“Kids suck. I get that but you can’t just- go straight to violence. If you think that’s what the Navy’s about, you’re wrong.”
“Gosh Mav, this isn’t about the Navy! I know this won’t take there.” Bradley assured. He suddenly didn’t feel like talking about the real reason he had gotten in that fight. He didn’t feel like talking about Goose. About dad.
“Kid- you know that you are number one in my life. Have been for almost 12 years and you always will be… but- I can’t keep leaving work after I get a call that you’ve gotten in some fight or skipped some class.”
“I know.” Bradley said again, actual remorse filling his voice. Sure, he didn’t feel like talking about Goose but he really wasn’t trying to make Mav’s life that much harder.
Silence filled the majority of the ride home unless Mav remembered something to add to his dad rant. Bradley just tried to look forward to Natalie’s party next weekend as he walked into the house and he headed towards the stairs.
“Hey, B.” Mav called, Bradley turned around. “You are grounded. Two weeks.” He said simply.
“What?!” That came out of nowhere, “Why? Two weeks is longer than my actual detention!”
“Fighting is not ok, kid! I need you to know that these kinds of actions have consequences.” Mav said more sternly than Bradley knew he wanted to.
“This is bull!” Bradley yelled.
“Don’t care. You understand me?”
“This is all such crap!” Bradley protested before starting up the stairs again.
“That reminds me give me your phone too.” Mav pushed and Bradley stopped.
“Are you joking-“
“You really wanna keep talking?” Maverick said in his final warning tone. Bradley scowled but went to his room and shut the door. He cringed and held a hand to his ribs before sinking down on his bed and using his phone for the little time he had left.
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When Bradley saw it was nearing 6:30 he went down the stairs to find something to eat. He looked in the pantry but nothing piqued his interest. He was about to look in the fridge when Mav appeared beside him.
“There’s leftovers in the fridge. Shrimp and noodles. There might be bread left in the pantry and butter if you want some.” Maverick told him.
“Right.” Bradley opened the fridge and took out the tupperware container of food. Mav took it from him.
“I’ll heat some up and put it on a plate for you. Go get your phone please.” Mav said simply.
Bradley scowled but took the painful trek upstairs and retrieved his phone. Before descending again and handing it to Mav who took it and turned to open the microwave. He reached out to give Bradley the food but he didn’t take it.
“Let’s work on the plane tomorrow. What do you say, B?”
“You sure my grounding perimeters allow that?” Bradley asked bitterly before turning away and heading up the stairs swiftly. Leaving the food untouched.
“Bradley! Come on.” Mav sighed.
Bradley quickly made it to his room and shut the door harshly. Gosh, he couldn’t breathe. His vision was blacking out and became grainy as he sank to the floor, hyperventilating.
A minute passed and he was able to breathe again but he felt like he had run 13 miles when all he did was walk up the stairs. His ribs throbbed again and Bradley cringed. He coughed harshly a couple of times and grimaced as he continued to sit on the floor. Not having enough strength to make it to his bed.
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Bradley heard his alarm go off far too soon the next morning. He begrudgingly opened his eyes and noticed his alarm sounded much further away. That’s when the pain set in and he realized he fell asleep on the floor.
Bad move, Bradshaw. He thought to himself. He cursed as he tried to get up and stretch. His torso felt like it was on fire and he could feel the shiner on his face digging into his eye socket. He hit the off button on his alarm and reluctantly started to get ready for the day. His stomach growled painfully as he descended the stairs and he was happy to smell Mav’s cooking, no matter how mad he was at the man.
They didn’t say anything to each other as Bradley got food and walked out the door. He walked past the old car they were restoring, the car that Mav picked him up in yesterday, the car that was supposed to be Bradley’s one day. The bus was fine and less expensive for now though, Bradley reminded himself.
The school day went fine, save for all the people who stared at the bruising shiner on his face. When he made it home he noticed, oddly enough, Mav’s bike in the driveway. Bradley frowned. Maverick was never home this early. Bradley dropped his stuff off in the house and looked around. He couldn’t find Mav anywhere.
Hanger then, his brain supplied. Sure, he wasn’t happy with Mav right now but he was going to be stuck in this house for the next two weeks. Bradley figured he might as well spend time in the hanger while he could. Also, he couldn’t say he wasn’t excited to work on Mav’s plane either.
Bradley walked out and slid in between the two doors. He immediately saw Mav with his head stuck in the engine of his plane.
“You’re not usually home this early.” Bradley started.
“Yeah, I was serious last night. Wanna help?” Mav asked and he nodded.
They fell into a comfortable silence after that but Bradley could feel the blood pulsing under his bruised ribs. He tried to shift his weight and stretch but it only made it worse. He cringed in pain and looked at Maverick. He had his head under the plane.
“Hey B, come down here.” Mav said. Bradley kneeled down carefully and sat next to him. “See if you can get that bolt in.” Bradley took the wrench from Mav and got to work. The position was heck on his ribs but he got the bolt in quick enough. “Nice one, kiddo.” Mav smiled and stood up, reaching a hand out to Bradley. Bradley took it and Mav pulled him up. He fell to one knee though before he could make it to his feet.
The stabbing pain in his ribs was already pointed and trying to use his core when getting up made it 10x worse. He could feel the blood shifting a pulsing beneath his skin. It was unbearable.
“Bradley? Hey- hey- bud, what’s up?” Mav kneeled down next to him. Bradley held his ribs and fell down into a sitting position. Bradley couldn’t hide it anymore. It just hurt too much. Grudges be danged.
“My ribs.” Bradley breathed out, “They- I can’t, Mav.” He grimaced and tilted his head back.
“Alright, alright, it’s gonna be ok, kiddo, but I need you to lay down for me.” Maverick instructed and Bradley complied. “Ok, this might hurt a little bit but I gotta poke around and make sure nothing is broken, alright?” Bradley nodded curtly and Mav lifted Bradley’s shirt, “Holy-“ Maverick cursed, Bradley’s whole torso was swelling with deep black and blue bruises everywhere. Bradley squeezed his eyes shut as Mav began to poke around. After a minute Maverick finished and sat back.
“Alright buddy, good news is I don’t feel anything broken and I don’t think there’s anything fractured either.” Bradley sighed, “Bad news is that those are definitely third-degree bruises.” Mav sighed.
“What does that even mean?” Bradley ground out.
“It means- it means we gotta get back to the house so we can fix this.” Mav sighed, deciding not to grill the boy about what happened just yet.
Mav helped him up and put his arm around him as they made their way back to the house. Maverick sat Bradley down on the couch and headed into the kitchen to grab some ice. He came back with a semi-large bag and a towel.
“Ok, you- let’s get you up to your room alright?“ Maverick sighed and helped Bradley up again. They made it up the stairs and Bradley tried to lie down on his bed. “No, no, no, sit up.”
“What?” He asked.
“Sit up.” Maverick repeated, “Your chest needs to be above or level with your heart. Reduces blood flow, swelling, and heals bruising.” He explained and Bradley lifted himself up against his pillows. “Take off your shirt and hold this ice on your chest while I go get some ibuprofen…” Mav ordered, Bradley obeyed and took off his shirt before placing the ice carefully on his chest while Maverick walked back down the stairs and came back up with two pills and a glass of water.
“Here. Take these.” Mav said and Bradley complied, taking both pills with only one drink of water.
“I’ll get you a compression sleeve tomorrow so that you can go to school next week.” Mav sighed.
“Next week?” Bradley asked.
“Yeah, tomorrows Friday. I’ll call you out. You need to rest, B. Rest, ice, and compression are what’s going to help.” Maverick explained.
“I’m sorry, Mav.” Bradley said quietly.
“Well,” He sighed, “being that you are going to be stuck in the bed resting and then stuck in this house grounded-“
“Thanks for the reminder.”
“-you might as well tell me what the heck happened.” Mav sat next to his boy's bed.
“It’s a long story.” Bradley squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, “It happened in that fight with Jace, alright? I usually only pick fights I can finish but…” he paused, “I don’t know.”
“But what, B?” Mav asked
“He just- he made me so mad.” Bradley gritted his teeth.
“So this is about Goose.” Maverick said quietly and Bradley nodded solemnly.
“Jace’s dad used to be in the Navy. Wasn’t a pilot but it didn’t matter. Just the fact that it was the same branch made it hurt so much more. He was talking about some ‘legendary exploit’ from his dad’s time in and he just had to bring me into it. He started asking about my dad. I didn’t take the bait though. I tried, Mav. I really did. I tried to walk away.” Bradley sniffled, “He wouldn’t leave it alone though. Wouldn’t let me leave. That’s when he said it.”
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“Where you going, Bradshaw?” Jace taunted, “Oh- oh, I get it. Bradley here doesn’t want to talk!” He started yelling, “Because his old man didn’t even make it through Top Gun alive!” That’s when Bradley spun around and punched Jace in the nose.
When the boy turned around and wiped the blood from his nose. Bradley shook out his hand. He was just proud of himself that he made enough contact to draw blood. Jace came back hard though and he had the bruises to show it.
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“I tried so hard, Mav. I promise. I guess- I guess I just don’t know how to deal with it. How to let it go.”
“It’s ok, bud.” Maverick sighed, “I don’t know how to let it go either…”
“You’re mad?” Bradley asked.
“Not anymore. Not at you.” He paused, “At Jace Banks.” Mav stifled out a laugh. “I’m sorry, B. I’m sorry you have to deal with that crap.”
“It’s ok, Mav.” Bradley took a deep breath, “You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me about it.” Maverick looked at him incredulously, “I know you miss him. Probably more than I do. I don’t want you to think that you can’t talk to me about him… I guess what I’m trying to say is… you can talk to me. I mean- Mav, you’re all I‘ve got.”
“You’re all I have too, B. And thank you. I appreciate it.”
“I am sorry, Mav.” Bradley added
“No need, kid. I know you are and I know you’re trying. That’s all that matters.” Maverick assured.
“Can I take this off now?” Bradley gestured to his bruising torso which was now red from the cold of the ice.
“Yeah, I want you to do it again in an hour though. I’ll bring you the ice.” Bradley nodded. “I’ll be out in the hanger if you need me.” Mav stood up.
“Uh, Mav,” His kid started smartly.
“What?” Maverick turned around.
“I don’t have my phone.” Maverick scoffed and looked at the ceiling before leaving Bradley’s room and entering his own. He returned with Bradley’s phone.
“You are still grounded, Bradshaw.” Maverick reminded him and Bradley just smiled.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Rest, baby goose. I’ll be back in an hour.” Mav smiled and Bradley nodded.