Work Text:
Rooster POV
Rooster eyed his instructor carefully. Something was wrong. Sure, he hadn't spoken to him in a good ten/fifteen years, but he could still tell when something was wrong.
Mav had a very readable face when his guard was down. "Are you sure you're ok? You seem off," Rooster broached. Mav side-eyed him and gestured to the war zone ahead. "Maybe it's because I was shot down?" Rooster nodded to himself. Stupid question really. "Maybe you sprained something," He continued. Maverick rolled his eyes. "Come on,"
"Or broke a bone,"
"Rooster. Leave it,"
"Or a concussion,"
"Rooster!"
He finally left it alone. Maverick stumbled a few times, but Rooster put it down to shock. Being shot down was very clearly a traumatic thing. Especially if you didn't eject in enough time. They were in the sky blending in when Rooster saw the sweat dripping. He forced himself to stay quiet. No use in questioning or panicking now, they were over a hundred feet above the ocean in enemy territory.
Had Hangman not come in when he did, Rooster would be having very different thoughts. He could almost see his dad rolling his eyes. You know how he is. Get yourselves to medical before I slap you upside the head.
Rooster smiled to himself. That was very much something his dad would say. "Hey, Mav? We should head to medical when we land," He said. Maverick made a noise over the comms. "Nah, we're fine," Rooster rolled his eyes. "First off, I wasn't asking. Second, we ejected ourselves and were shot at. I think we need to get checked," He said. Maverick sighed. "If I go, will you leave me alone?" Rooster smirked. "Maybe,"
They landed smoothly. Credit where credit's due, Rooster thought. Maverick's a damn good flyer. Rooster smiled at the pats on the back from his teammates, smiling when Maverick grumbled through it as well. He stood to attention when Admiral Simpson walked out to greet them. "Well done you two. Despite ignoring an order, Rooster..." He wilted under the glare. "You saved your pilot. Well done,"
It was then, Maverick fell forwards to the ground.
~
"Mav!" Rooster shouted, dropping to his knees. "Get medical over here! We have an injured pilot,"
Rooster turned his instructor over, undoing his flight suit. Bob helped (probably because Rooster's hands were shaking too much to be of any major use) and they got it undone quickly. There, just under Maverick's rib cage, was a blooming red patch. "Shit, Admiral! He's been shot," Rooster shouted.
The medical team finally arrived, taking over quickly. Rooster allowed himself to get pulled away as the team shouted medical terms to one another. "Come on Rooster. Let's get you checked out as well," Pheonix smiled gently at him. Rooster nodded numbly and allowed himself to be led away.
He passed his check-over with just a bruised ankle and a small concussion, but nothing of concern. And after a gruelling three hours, Maverick was out of surgery. Rooster was at his side, unwavering, for the whole twelve hours he slept. The others came in for a while, chatting to him about the mission's success and the medals they would receive, but Rooster didn't really listen.
He was too busy watching the heart monitor. It was unlikely Mav would die, as he'd survived the night by that point, and that usually meant a good thing. But the bullet had nicked some organs. Alongside the broken and bruised ribs, it was a major surgery he'd gone through. The main concern was his stitches didn't burst. Once that worry was gone, he'd be ok.
But that'd take a few days to know. Despite promising to his dad that he'd stay awake until he saw personally that Maverick was ok, he still fell asleep. He woke up, god knows how many hours later, to the room bright and a camera in his face. "You know your dad used to drool too," Rooster rolled his eyes, but couldn't help the grin. "I'm glad you're ok, Mav." He smiled. The older man chuckled with a small hiss and wince. "For the most part," He added.
Maverick rolled his eyes. "How are you, you weren't injured were you?" He asked. Rooster, despite being assured otherwise, was still worried about the paleness of Maverick's face. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," He said. The older man nodded as his eyes began to shut. Rooster grinned. "Don't worry princess, sleep tight,"
He laughed when Maverick stuck his finger up.
"Don't push it, kid,"