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Phoenix lays on her bunker, staring at her phone for a while now. She finally got Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's contact and she couldn't help but smile. She looks up at him. Especially after the mission, she wanted to create more bonding between him and her. But she gets shy and uses the group chat instead as an opportunity to be able to communicate with Maverick.
Phoenix: Guys, let’s add Maverick to the group chat!
H_NGM_N: For what reasons exactly, ‘nix?
Phoenix: I just think it would be nice.
Cock: Yeah, we should. He’s definitely lonely.
Cock: …
Cock: You’re dead once I get my hands around your neck, Seresin.
Cock: Count your fucking days.
Phoenix added Pete “Maverick” Mitchell
Phoenix: Hi, Mav!
Phoenix changed Pete “Maverick” Mitchell’s nickname to Maverick
Maverick: Oh Hi Phoenix. What is this?
Phoenix: It’s the group chat for the team, sir
Maverick: I see.
Nobody replies after that, awkward as it is, Hangman is the only one that can bring up a topic and make it lively.
And that’s exactly what happens.
H_NGM_N: Guys, I’m feeling generous. A round on me at the hard deck. And to celebrate Maverick’s addition to the group.
Cock: I like free drinks, I’ll join.
Cock: …
Cock : Why is my nickname still like this? @/ Phoenix, help a boy out?
Phoenix: Got it. Also, I’ll be there with Bob. He’s offering to drive everyone who is getting hammered tonight. Including you, Hangman.
Phoenix changed Cock’s nickname to Rooster
H_NGM_N: Aww, Bob, my baby! I love you so much!
Baby on Board: If you love me so much, change my nickname.
Rooster: ‘Nix, why did you give Hangman Admin rights?
Phoenix: Well, he took my phone and made himself an Admin.
H_NGM_N: It’s what I deserve, Roo~
Phoenix changed Baby on Board’s nickname to BOB
BOB: Thanks Phoenix.
Rooster : I disagree @/ H_NGM_N, but you’re treating everyone so I’ll let it slide.
H_NGM_N: 😘
H_NGM_N : Oh, @/ Maverick, you’re invited too. This is a party for you, after all.
Maverick: I am? Well, I don’t turn down free drinks so, I’ll go.
H_NGM_N: Like father, like surrogate son.
Rooster: Learned from the best 😉
Maverick: Second round’s on me :)
Fanboy sent an Audio: *Audio is him, Coyote, Payback, BOB and Phoenix yelling*
Phoenix: Thanks Mav!
BOB: You the best Teacher, Mav!
Coyote: *Hollering*
Payback and Fanboy: We love free drinks and We love you, Mav!
Maverick: See you at the pub, Everyone.
Hangman arrives at the hard deck with Rooster at tow. He immediately spots the group huddled around one of the pool tables. They reserved the table because everyone knows Jake’s love for *destroying* them at billiards.
Hangman saunters over to the table, taking the cue that Natasha is handing him.
“Well, aren’t you all eager?” He sing-songs, his grin contagious. Some of the other guns already ordered their beverages. Natasha with her bottled cider, Robert with his glass of coca cola, and the others with their mugs of beer. “You didn’t even wait for me.”
“We have the pool for you~” Coyote presents the table for Jake, Bradley going to Penny to ask for two bottles of beer. “And, Maverick is beating their ass on darts, if you want that as well?”
Jake’s gaze pans over to Payback and Fanboy groaning as Maverick shoots the third needle’s bullseye. He grins, holding his beer bottle in his left hand and his right rested on his hips. “Pay up, that’s 10 bucks each of you.” Fanboy and Payback with their heads down, reaching into their pockets to give Maverick his money. Jake remembers their first meeting. On that day, Coyote challenged him the same. And he got it all in, even with his hands over Jake’s eyes.
Jake lets out a breath, smiling. Quickly turned sour when he felt something cold on his neck. It’s Rooster with their drinks.
For the rest of the night, the guns have fun at the Hard Deck, Maverick and Hangman actually getting competitive against each other at darts. Bets going around on who is winning. And so far, it’s Maverick. It tips from one winner to another that it feels like it’s a metronome just going back and forth. In the end, Maverick stands to be the victor, his winning he ends up using to treat the group for more drinks. And well, Maverick is having a great time, he ends up treating them to a third round.
They all go home with Bob as the designated driver. Him having to come back for the rest of them.
H_NGM_N: Maverick, not only did you take my heart, but also my money.
Maverick: You’re good, kid, I’ll give you that. Almost made me run for my money.
H_NGM_N: You took mine though 😭
Maverick: You paid for the third round at the hard deck, so technically, everyone did.
H_NGM_N: You’re ruthless pops!
Rooster: You finally found your match, Seresin?
Phoenix : You should try fighting for team leader position, @/ H_NGM_N and @/ Maverick
Maverick: Oh no, thanks, Phoenix. I’m already retired. I won’t be flying in fighter jets anymore.
Rooster: …
H_NGM_N: …
Phoenix: …
BOB: ...
Coyote: …
Maverick: Hah, You don’t expect me to fly until I’m an old man, do you?
H_NGM_N: It’s just surprising how you just told us now.
Maverick: Yeah, the uranium bombing was my last post.
Rooster: You didn’t tell us.
Maverick: There was no need to say it.
Phoenix: I still wanna fly with you, Maverick.
BOB: I think everyone does, Maverick.
Maverick: Oh, haha. Thank you everyone, but I think that’s it.
Payback: Well, now that you’re retired; is it cool we call you Uncle Maverick?
Fanboy: I definitely want to call you Uncle Mav.
Rooster: Sucks to be you, guys. But I’ve been calling him Uncle Mav since I learned how to talk.
Maverick: Your first words were “Mav” and your mom was mad at me for five months.
H_NGMAN: Well, it’s not fair that only Rooster here gets to call you Uncle Mav.
Maverick, Well, Hangman, you’re already calling me “pops”, what more do you want?
H_NGM_N: To actually be your wingman.
Maverick: We’ll see if I get called back to fly for TOP GUN.
Sometimes, when Phoenix is on duty, she would text Maverick and updates about her life. Like when she’s going home and when she’s headed for North Island again.
Phoenix: Do you remember teaching TOP GUN before the mission?
Maverick: I uh… There was one time where I lasted for two months and then got kicked out to Bosnia for pissing off an admiral.
Phoenix: Then I guess you don’t really remember me.
Phoenix: It’s a surprise you didn’t recognize me when we had that briefing before the dogfight training.
Maverick: I… I don’t.
Phoenix: It’s okay, Mav. I remember you. You were very kind to me.
Phoenix: You helped me back then. When all my competition were all men and they underestimated me.
Phoenix: But you didn’t.
Phoenix: And believed in me till the end.
Phoenix: I was crying in the cockpit and you found me. You pulled me out of the plane and hugged me.
Maverick: I’m sorry. I really don’t remember.
Phoenix: That’s okay. Cause even if you don’t, I do. And that I was so young back then, didn’t know what to do. And that I was so lost. And you showed me the way.
Phoenix: No
Phoenix: You showed me that I could pave my own way. And that I can do it.
Phoenix: In the end, I graduated top of my class, but you were already gone before I could celebrate with you.
Maverick: Oh Natasha…
Phoenix: Thanks a lot, Mav. You were the dad I didn’t have.
Phoenix: Truly, Thank you.
Maverick: You’re welcome, Natasha.
Maverick: May I ask, what class you were in?
Phoenix: Class of 2016, Mav.
Maverick: Oh that was you? Oh my god. Look how far you’ve gotten.
Maverick is sighing as he reads the messages. Now glimpses of the past are coming back to him. His eyes tear up. He nods.
Maverick: I’m so proud of you, Kid. I really am.
Every year, when on their vacations, they all come back to North Island for a reunion. Everyone was headed towards the Hard Deck, Penny and Maverick already waiting for them. Hangman was the first one to arrive. He’s got on white shirt, denim jeans with his aviator bomber jacket, complete with all his patches. Even the back is highly decorated. He’s matching with Maverick. He gasps and grins, flaunting his clothes, side to side, he looks like a younger and cockier Maverick.
“You’re the first one to arrive, Hangman.” Maverick greets him, a hug and a pat on the bag, Seresin greets back mutually. “10 minutes earlier than planned.”
“No harm in being ahead of schedule~, Uncle Mav” Jake's go-to-quote whenever someone tells him he’s early. He laughs reaching for Penny’s hand, kissing the back of her hand. Penny smiles, shaking her head and replaces her hand with a bottled beer. “Thank you, Penny, my dear.”
Next one is Rooster with a blue shirt that really looks like his dad’s. It might even be his dad’s considering the fade in the colors and the wear and tear on the fabric. He takes off his aviator shades, walking in, nodding to Hangman, Maverick and Penny.
“Bradshaw, as I live and breathe.” Jake comments, without his teasing tone. He nods towards Bradley.
“Mav, Hangman…” He pauses and sees that they’re matching. He looks down and feels slightly offended that he’s not in on the event, but shakes the feeling off, thanking Penny for the bottled beer. “You both look good.”
Maverick and Hangman share a look and simultaneously goes “Well, we are good, Rooster.” Maverick Pats Hangman’s back and Jake leans on Maverick’s arm around his neck. “We are very good.” The three stare with each other quietly, sharing a giddy smile with one another.
“Now, now, lads, don’t leave me out.” Phoenix enters the Bar, hair put up neatly like she does when she’s in service, and she’s got on her flight suit; the top wrapped around her waist, Aviator shades hanging on her t-shirt’s neck. Bob follows along; also flight suit donned.
It’s getting livelier by the second as more and more of the young guns appear and fill up the space. Hangman, Phoenix, Bob and Rooster are all catching up with each other near the piano. Fanboy, Coyote and Payback are playing darts with some locals.
Maverick finishes his drink and smiles at Penny, thanking her. Maverick leaves the bar and exits through the back, going towards the beach. He watches as the sun slowly sinks down the Horizon.
“Beautiful view, ain’t it, Mav?” Phoenix appears out of nowhere, she chugs down the last of her beer bottle and places it on the table near them.
“Not the best, but the nostalgia is what makes it amazing.” Maverick replies, their voice barely being heard over the sunset waves.
“Yeah, memories of good and bad.” Phoenix sits down on the sand, patting the area near her, urging Maverick to sit down with her. “I’ve been promoted to captain, Mav.”
Maverick gasps and looks at her, pride in his eyes. Maverick instinctively reaches out, enveloping her in a hug. She hugs back, happy to be celebrated. “I’m so proud of you, kid. I really am.” He sighs and kisses the side of Natasha’s head, and Nat tightens her hug around him.
“Thanks Mav. You pushed me through my limits and that’s how I got this far.”
“What do we have here?” Hangman can be heard from the exit of the Hard Deck all the way to the noisy beach. “Hugging without me?”
Hangman realizes the unshed tears from their eyes and stops in his tracks, worry and confusion in his face. “What is going on here?”
Maverick and Phoenix let go of each other, wiping their eyes dry, smiling. They share a look, beckoning one of them to break the news to Hangman. The others follow suit behind them.
“It’s your news to Tell, Phoenix.” Maverick gestures to Hangman, who comes closer, reaching a glass of water for each of them. He sides near Maverick, arms around his neck and Maverick’s arms around Jake’s waist.
“News?” Rooster arrives, finishing his beer and putting it down near Natasha’s emptied bottle.
“Woohoo, Captain Natasha Trace!” Bob is slurring his words now, being carried by the shoulder by Fanboy and Payback. “Congratulations! I see you told Maverick finally!”
“Captain?” Rooster, Hangman, Coyote; all said in unison.
“That’s right fellas, I’m your superior now” She says, no insult in her voice, just plain happiness. Rooster immediately picks her up in a hug and spins around.
“Captain!!!” Everyone joins the cheering, Phoenix sitting on Rooster’s shoulder, triumphantly showing her biceps under her shirt. Hangman watching the group huddle along with Maverick.
“Go over there, Jake Seresin.” Maverick orders him, and Jake raises his brows. “Go celebrate with them.”
“Sir, yes sir” He salutes and runs over to the group who have taken off most of their clothes and changed into something less strict, some playing drunk dogfight football, and some swimming in the calm ocean.
Maverick stares at them with great fondness as he sits down and lets them be his kids by heart.
Maverick: Guess who’s going to teach at top gun this year?
H_NGM_N: You’re back, pops?
Maverick: Well, I am in no shape to fly again, but I will be teaching, and Phoenix will be flying for me.
Rooster: Seems this class is lucky this year to have the best of the bests as their mentor.
H_NGM_N: Can’t say I’m not jealous.
Phoenix: You’re always welcome to come teach at Top Gun, Jake.
H_NGM_N: Pops knows that I’m just like him. I just want to fly 😜
Maverick shakes his head as he pockets his phone, walking towards the hangar with Phoenix, ready to greet their students.