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“Good morning, aviators. This is your captain speaking.” Maverick begins, watching the planes above him. “Welcome to basic fighting maneuvers. As briefed, today’s exercise is dogfighting. Guns only, no missiles. We do not go below the hard deck of 5,000 feet. Working as a team, you have to shoot me down. Or else.”
“Or else what, Sir?” Payback smirks.
Mav grinned into the headset. “Or else I shoot back. If I shoot either one of you down, you both lose.”
“Sir, let's say you put some skin in the game.”
Mav bit back his amusement. “What do you have in mind?”
“Whoever gets shot down first has to do 200 push-ups.”
“Guys,” Rooster murmurs in warning. His wingman ignores him.
“That’s a lot of push-ups.” Mav remarks airily.
“Well they don’t call it an exercise for nothing. Sir.” Fanboy chirped, as cocky as his pilot.
“You got yourself a deal, gentlemen. Fight's on, let’s turn and burn.” And suddenly, Maverick’s silent.
“Fanboy, you see him?” Rooster called, scanning diligently for the older man’s plane.
“Nothing on the radar up ahead. He must be somewhere behind us.” Fanboy murmured in reply.
The three flyers yelled out curses when Mav’s plane tore between them, redirecting the two planes as the pilots struggled to regain control.
Maverick watched, allowing them a moment to prepare as he came back around, murmuring to himself, “Listen, Maverick, let’s try not to get fired on the first day.”
There’s a low chuckle on the line. “That’d be a feat in and of itself.”
Maverick blinks in surprise, then grins. He should’ve known Ice would want to see the potential flyers for this mission in action.
“Who’s that!” Payback yelped, momentarily distracted.
“That,” Maverick answered with a smirk, “is my wingman.”
Fanboy cursed. “He’s coming around!”
“Rooster, I need some help!”
“On my way!”
Mav was on Payback’s tail now, nearly close enough to get tone.
“Payback, break right!”
The pilot did, cursing when Maverick’s wingman hit him.
“That’s a kill,” Ice’s voice floated over the line.
“Rooster nearly saved your life, boys. But it’s gonna cost him.” Mav, now unworried about getting hit by Payback, easily followed Rooster, gaining tone after another few seconds.
“That’s a kill.”
There’s sharp cursing on the line as Rooster turns to follow Payback back to the base.
oO0Oo
“ WHO IS THAT?! ” Cyclone thundered, leaping to his feet as they heard an unknown pilot’s voice over the radio.
Warlock glanced at him, brow furrowed in concern. “You don’t know?”
“No! It was only supposed to be Maverick and two students in the air at any given time. I didn’t authorize anyone else. I didn’t even receive any messages saying another pilot went up.”
Warlock hummed thoughtfully, considering the new information.
“Well, he obviously knows what he’s doing and Maverick knows who he is. Maverick would’ve asked to stop the exercise if he was worried.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
Warlock rolled his eyes. “He’s not that reckless, he wouldn’t endanger his students by flying with someone who can’t be trusted.”
Cyclone huffed, spinning on his heel to exit the room. “Regardless, I’m going to find out who he is and how he got in the air without me being notified.”
“Have fun.”
oO0Oo
“Down! One-ten!”
Rooster’s mind was whirring as he did the assigned push-ups, Payback and Fanboy to his left. He knew that voice. Maverick’s wingman.
“Down! One-eleven!”
He was positive he’d heard it before. But where? It wasn’t exactly a secret that people didn’t want to fly with Maverick, despite his skills.
“Down! One-twelve!”
Rooster blinked as realization hit him. His uncles did. They were all skilled enough and trusted Mav enough to fly with him, but who?
“Down! One-thirteen!”
Who from the class of ‘86 was here?
oO0Oo
“Hey, Rooster!”
He turned to see Payback and Fanboy, who both shot him grateful looks.
“Thanks for the save from Maverick.”
Rooster huffed.
“It wasn’t very effective.”
Payback shrugged, slinging an arm across his shoulders as they headed for the break room where the others were listening to the flyers’ radios.
“Still, we appreciate it. You didn’t have to risk your neck for us.”
“Man, Maverick’s wingman came outta nowhere. Literally. I don’t even think Maverick knew he was gonna be in the air.” Fanboy grinned, rolling his shoulders as they approached the room.
“I wonder who it is.” Payback murmured.
Rooster wondered the same thing.
oO0Oo
“Who is that?!” Cyclone growled as he rejoined Warlock, who was still listening to the pilots’ radios.
Warlock calmly glanced up at him, cocking an eyebrow. “You couldn’t find out?”
“No! It’s like he’s a ghost who just magically appeared in the air! No one has any idea who he is, when he arrived on base, when he got in the air, how he got in the air–nothing!”
Warlock chuckled as Maverick and his wingman took out another one of their pilots.
“He can certainly handle himself in the air, I’ll say that for him. He and Maverick don’t seem to be having any trouble gaining tone on our pilots.”
Cyclone huffed an annoyed breath, glaring at him. “Do you have any idea how smug Maverick’s gonna be after this? He’ll never let it go. He’s only a captain , he shouldn’t be allowed to be as cocky as he is!”
Warlock barked a laugh at that, half an ear on the easy banter currently going on between Maverick and his wingman as they waited for the next set of pilots to get airborne.
“Maverick’s earned the right to be cocky. You’ve seen his file, he’s one of the best pilots the Navy ever produced.”
Cyclone waved a dismissive hand, pacing the length of the room as he thought.
“He’s old news. He shouldn’t even be in the air at his age, he’s likely to kill himself.”
“I think that’s the way he’d prefer to go, honestly.”
“You’re not exactly helping.”
“I’m not exactly trying.”
Warlock smirked at the cold glare the other admiral shot him.
“ I noticed. ”
Chuckling, Warlock turned back to the radio. “I’m sure we’ll find out who he is soon enough. Maverick obviously knows him–”
“Which is reason enough not to trust him–”
“–and he’s helping Maverick teach our pilots a little respect. You know as well as I do that they were too cocky. They need some humility if they’re going to allow themselves to learn how to fly this mission.”
Cyclone sighs, running an aggravated hand through his hair.
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“I know.”
oO0Oo
“Hey how’s about we tell everybody ‘Bob’ stands for something. Other than ‘Robert,’ I meant.” Hangman starts casually, glancing back at the other plane.
Bob smiles, and moves to say something before he’s interrupted by Phoenix.
“Don’t take the bait, Bob. Wanna know why we call him ‘Hangman?’”
“W-w-wait, I got it. Baby on board.” Hangman cackles at his own joke, before cursing as Maverick comes in fast from 1200, zipping between him and Phoenix. They both turn to watch him go past, trying to track his movement.
“Greetings, aviators. Fight's on.” Is all Maverick says as he starts to come around.
Distracted now, Hangman turns to follow Maverick. “Alright, Phoenix, let’s take this guy out. Bob, be on the lookout for that wingman the old man’s got.”
Hangman watches Maverick’s movements, then shouts, “Break right!”
“Breaking right!” Is Phoenix’s reply as her plane moves.
“Where’s he going?!” Bob cries as Hangman leaves them.
“ That’s why we call him ‘Hangman,’ he’ll always hang you out to dry.” Phoenix doesn’t sound surprised by the move, just annoyed.
“Leaving your wingman. That’s a strategy I haven’t seen in awhile.” Maverick says as he watches. He gets why some of his Top Gun classmates were annoyed at the act way back in ‘86.
“Now why does that seem so familiar?” Ice murmurs over the line.
There’s grumbling from Maverick, though no distinct words are heard.
“He called you a man, Phoenix. You gonna take that?” Hangman mocks.
“So long as he doesn’t call you a man.” Is Phoenix’s snapped reply as she tries to stay alive against two, admittedly good, pilots while her wingman deserts her.
“Talk to me, Bob. Where’s Maverick?”
“His nose is already coming around!”
“Get him off me, Hangman!”
“For all you folks at home, this is how you bury a fossil.” Hangman smirks as he gets on Mav’s tail.
Phoenix curses as she hears tone.
“You’re out, Phoenix. Mav, you think you can handle Hangman?” Ice teases, moving to come around in case his wingman needs backup.
There’s a bark of laughter from the brunet as he looks behind him at the younger pilot. “Watch me.”
Hangman scoffs at the two, eyes narrowing as he goes in for the kill. “Let’s go Mav, let's see what you’ve got!”
“Come get me.” Is Maverick’s growled response as he yanks hard on the joystick, breaking right.
“Evil begone, Hangman’s comin’.”
“Yup, you’re good, I’ll give you that.”
Ice watches Phoenix head back to base as Hangman chases Maverick. He’s impressed with the younger pilot’s skills, even if he doesn’t like his attitude. He sighs. Lucky them, they got a mini-Maverick. Ice stays nearby, but doesn’t try for Hangman, he’ll leave him alone unless Mav asks for backup. The easiest way to teach the kid a little respect for Mav is if the other man takes him out on his own.
Ice smirks when Mav pulls up, heading for the sun, Hangman hot on his tail.
“Phoenix! I can’t see him, how close am I?” When she doesn’t answer, Hangman repeats with more urgency, “Phoenix!”
“I’m dead.” Phoenix scoffs into her headset.
“See you in the afterlife, Bagman.” Bob adds, Phoenix’s huffed laugh drifting over the line.
“Where is he, where is he?” Hangman murmurs to himself, struggling on his own against Maverick.
Ice chuckles as he sees Mav, who’d dipped down again while Hangman was distracted and blinded, come up behind the younger man and hears the familiar sound of tone over the comms, along with Hangman’s gasp.
“That’s a kill.”
oO0Oo
Rooster watched from afar as the older pilots’ planes were refueled. He knew he could walk up to them and see for himself who Mav was flying with, but like the rest of his team he was wary about doing so. It would be disrespectful to their superior officers, after all. Not to mention, Rooster didn’t want to talk to Maverick any more than he had to.
The man had his back to Rooster, but he was taller than Maverick. Of course, that didn’t really limit Rooster’s options. All of his uncles were taller than his dad Maverick, the guy was tiny. But this man wasn’t nearly as tall as Uncle Slider. His hair was gray, but that didn’t help much either. As far as he knew, Mav was the only one of the flyboys whose hair hadn’t changed with their age.
Rooster puffed out a frustrated breath as he turned to listen to more of his teammates get schooled by the duo.
oO0Oo
“I asked Hondo to gather the kids in the classroom. Do the whole, ‘this is how you can improve,’ schtick.” Mav said as he changed out of his flight suit, Ice doing likewise across the room from him. His gaze softened for a brief moment. If this didn’t hit him with nostalgia.
Ice chuckled as he pulled on his uniform, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, I’ll hang back for now. See if they can take some constructive criticism.”
Mav threw his head back and laughed. “Did we, back in the day?”
Ice shoots him a look. “ I did, yes. You , however, were a bit too much like Hangman to take any critique on your flying.”
Mav sighs, turning to face Ice. “Was I really that bad?”
“Yup.”
Maverick groans. “Thanks.”
“Were you expecting me to say no?”
Mav just huffs at him, straightening his uniform. He glances back at the COMPACFLT, studying the stars on his shoulders a moment before, “You’re gonna give those kids a heart attack when they see you.”
Ice just smirked. “That’s the plan. Some of those kids need a serious ego check.”
Maverick cackles, turning to leave with his wingman.
“I’ll have to head to Simpson’s office once you yell at the kids, but after that you’re welcome over for dinner.”
Maverick paused, Ice stopping next to him. The older man raised a confused eyebrow at Mav’s incredulous look.
“Did you tell Cyclone that you were going up today?”
Ice grins, shark-like. “No, I had it okayed and told anyone who knew that mum’s the word for now. I’ll explain it to Simpson, then we can head out.”
Maverick shook his head as they started once more for the classroom.
“And people say I’m the dramatic one.”
oO0Oo
“Coleman is gathering Maverick’s students in the classroom. You gonna watch?”
“Yeah,” Cyclone murmured, standing to follow his second in command. “I need to talk to Captain Mitchell anyways. Besides, his secret wingman may be there.”
Warlock chuckled beside him. “You can’t really get Maverick in trouble for this. I don’t think he knew his wingman was gonna be in the air, so your mystery man is the only one you have a right to yell at.”
Cyclone grumbles as they approach, seeing most of the students already there.
“Maverick should have informed me of the change of plans regardless. He had all day.”
Warlock hums in a way Cyclone has learned to mean that he doesn’t agree, but he’s not going to argue the point. He sighs, watching as Maverick crosses in front of them to stand at the front of the room.
“This oughta be good.” He can’t help but mutter under his breath.
oO0Oo
“Good evening, thank you all for joining me.” Not like they had a choice, but still, socially acceptable behavior and whatnot. “Now, this won’t take long, I just want to go over–”
“Sir?” Hangman asked, raising a hand slightly, as polite as he could make himself act. They were all brimming with curiosity, and Maverick bit back a smirk as he glanced at the blond.
“Yes?”
“Who was your wingman, today? ‘Cause they weren’t half bad.” Hangman admits with a small smirk, hoping the show of humility will earn him an answer.
Everyone in the room perks up, including Cyclone and Warlock. The admirals were waiting off to the side of the classroom, and if Maverick was reading the annoyed expression on Simpson’s face right, they were waiting to ask him the exact same question.
Hondo was the only one not on the edge of his seat. Mav would bet his wings he’d even helped get Ice in the air with minimal people knowing about it. Including Maverick. Traitor.
It takes a herculean effort, but Maverick doesn’t allow his gaze to go over to his wingman, whose entry had gone unnoticed by everyone there. Ice stood at the back of the room, smirking as he waited with the rest of them for Maverick’s response. Smug schemer.
Maverick sighed, forcing a put-upon expression on his face, as he casually resumed, “ As I was saying , I want to go over some things that Admiral Kazansky and I noticed about your flying–”
It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. As Ice’s name rang out, every single person present straightened. Aside from that, though, the reactions were interestingly varied.
Rooster’s jaw clenched and he squeezed his eyes tightly shut for a moment, expression obviously showing that he was annoyed with himself for not figuring out who Mav had been flying with.
Hangman had gone pale at the name, freezing in place while beside him Coyote looked between Maverick and Jake, as if searching for the punchline.
Phoenix’s mouth opened in a small ‘o’ as she stared at Mav, while Bob silently mouthed the name beside her, running an anxious hand through his hair.
Off to the side, Cyclone’s head had snapped to Maverick, jaw dropping as he apparently struggled for words. Warlock blinked once, before his lip twitched as he watched the younger aviator’s reactions, surprised, but not so much so that he couldn't enjoy the other’s shock.
Mav’s gaze flicked to Hondo, who had bit his lip to smother his smile, head down, which was probably for the best. Mav knew that if their eyes met, at least one of them would laugh, and that seemed unnecessarily cruel after blindsiding everyone.
Finally, Mav’s eyes moved to meet Ice’s. His wingman was undeniably amused, a satisfied smirk on his face as he witnessed the different reactions across the room.
“Admiral Kazansky?” Cyclone’s voice brought his attention back to the others. “Captain Mitchell, are you telling me that today you flew with the COMPACFLT ?!” Cyclone asked, obviously struggling to keep his voice even.
There was a low, frustratingly familiar-sounding chuckle from the back of the room, and in a synchrony that would be downright scary under most circumstances, every single person’s head snapped around to find the source.
Ice, still smirking, addressed Cyclone while simultaneously moving between the students to join Maverick at the front of the room, ignoring the stunned looks on their faces as they watched him pass.
“Of course. I’m always willing to fly with Maverick–”
“Because I’m the better pilot and he seeks to learn from me…” Mav cuts him off cheekily. He knows that he should bite his tongue, but he really can’t help it this one time.
Well, maybe not ‘one’ time—
“I think it’s the other way around.” Ice answers as he comes to stand next to his wingman, looking out at the sea of astonished faces. He continues before Mav gets a chance to answer.
“Besides, I wished to survey the pilots I was potentially sending on this mission.”
The pilots in question were staring up at the COMPACFLT in a mixture of awe and terror. The sublime atmosphere felt like it was crushing all of them, and suddenly even Hangman couldn’t think of one thing to say to the living legend.
Well, the other living legend, because Maverick had made quite a name for himself as well, he just didn’t have the rank to back it up.
Speaking of Maverick, he currently looked like the cat that got the cream, smirking mercilessly as he watched them struggle.
“Sir,” Cyclone began, breaking the tense silence that had fallen. Sharp blue eyes flickered over to him, and the younger man hesitated at the burning intensity before barreling on, “I wasn’t aware that you were going in the air today…”
Ice smiled wolfishly, Maverick resisted the urge to roll his eyes, biting back a grin as the older man replied, “I apologize, Admiral. It was a last-minute change. Even Maverick wasn’t aware I’d be flying with him until I was in the air.”
Maverick would not roll his eyes because Ice was his superior and it would be disorderly conduct and unbecoming an officer and he had to set an example for these kids.
He decided to glare at Ice instead.
Ice just smirked at him, looking far too proud of himself. He gestured casually at the students.
“Captain Mitchell, I believe you had something you wished to say?”
Mav nodded, clearing his throat as he remembered that there was actually a reason they were all here.
“Yes, thank you, Sir.” Turning back to the young aviators, he began for the third time, “Now, Admiral Kazansky and I noticed…”
oO0Oo
Cyclone was in a daze as he made his way back to his office, Warlock at his right.
Still in a daze, he walked over to his desk and sat down. Warlock took the seat in front of him.
Silence.
“Maverick flew with the Commander of the Pacific Fleet.”
Warlock nodded patiently. “He did.”
“ Maverick flew with the Commander of the Pacific Fleet .”
“Yes.”
“ Maverick Mitchell , the most annoying, suicidal, disobedient pilot in the entire Navy , spent the entire day flying with the COMPACFLT as his wingman!”
“Yup.”
Cyclone stared at his second in command in disbelief. “Is this somehow not astonishing to you?!”
Warlock just shrugged with a small smile. “We knew they were friends. There’s literally a giant picture of them shaking hands in this building’s lobby.”
“Yeah, but–”
Cyclone was cut off by a sharp rap on his door.
“Come in.”
He stood immediately, Warlock quickly following suit, when Iceman himself entered.
“At ease, gentlemen.”
They slowly relaxed, and Cyclone licked his lips, chancing a glance at Warlock.
The other man was smirking. Smirking.
It was clear he was going to be absolutely no help.
Beau turned back to Admiral Kazansky.
“What can I do for you, Admiral?”
The older man was watching him carefully with a faintly amused glint in his blue eyes.
Iceman’s lip twitched up, ever so slightly, before he began, “I simply wanted to stop by and make sure there were no problems because I decided to fly today.”
“Problems, Sir?” Cyclone asked, slightly breathless.
Iceman’s gaze remained unwavering as he stared him down. “Yes, Admiral. I can understand any annoyance on your part, since you weren’t aware I’d be in the air. I just wanted to ensure there would be no disciplinary actions taken for not notifying you, as I ordered for my presence to remain a secret. Even Maverick didn’t know I’d be flying with him.”
Cyclone found himself nodding as he raced to wrap his head around the current situation. Admiral Kazansky himself, the Commander of the entire Pacific Fleet, was talking to him. Him.
And he was staring at the older man like an idiot.
“I-I appreciate that, Sir.” What was he doing stammering?! He hadn’t been this nervous since his first flight decades ago. “I assure you I had no intentions of any disciplinary actions once I knew who you were, Sir. I was simply concerned for the pilots’ safety upon realizing that we were unaware who exactly was in the air.”
Iceman nodded, gaze cutting into the younger man. “That is understandable, Admiral. Now, I won’t take up any more of your time, I simply wanted to clarify the situation.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Iceman stared Cyclone down a moment longer, before a presence at the door had him turning. He cocked an amused eyebrow at the brunette leaning casually in the doorway. Cyclone realized numbly that they were off the clock, though for a captain to have that amount of nonchalance when faced with a room full of admirals was still maddening.
“Ready to head out, Mav?”
Maverick straightened with a grin. “Whenever you are.”
Cyclone kept himself from glaring at Maverick, but it was a near thing. He could feel the pilot’s smugness from all the way across the room. He caught Warlock smothering a smile.
Terrible human beings, both of them.
“Good day, gentlemen.” Iceman offered the two admirals, and Cyclone could only watch wordlessly as the COMPACFLT turned on his heel and strode out using the same ease he’d entered the room with. Mav stepped back, unbothered when The Iceman threw a casual arm over his shoulders, leading the younger man away.
Cyclone stood there for a long moment, unsure what to do with himself. Then he swallowed hard, easing down into his chair and pressing his palms into his eyes, hard.
“Are you alright?” Terrible, terrible person. Cyclone could hear the smirk in Warlock’s voice.
Traitor.
“Of course I’m alright, why wouldn’t I be?” Cyclone could tell his voice had taken on a slightly hysterical edge, but didn’t care. It was just Warlock, and at this point he could tell the other man was expecting it.
That was probably the only reason Warlock was still here, honestly. To see him freak out.
He was glad he could provide some entertainment.
“I just got done talking to the Commander of the Pacific Fleet. No big deal. Who is, apparently, best friends with Maverick, who is never going to let this go!”
Warlock finally broke, grinning down at him. “Probably not, but you were kinda asking for it.”
Cyclone glowered at him. “Thank you so much.”
Warlock just shrugged, unrepentant. “Buy you a drink?”
Cyclone sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. Forget a drink, he needed a whole bar– “Alright.”
–Bonus–
“And no one knew you went up?”
“Nope.” Ice shrugged, absently gazing out the window. It was the next morning, and Slider had decided to call him. Which was probably due to the text Ice sent last night, which read: “Went flying with Mav today. Though he didn’t know I was up there until he heard me over the radio.” He almost hadn’t bothered, but he knew that if he didn’t tell his best friend about it Mav would, and the scrawny brunette had a habit of exaggerating that would’ve blown the whole thing out of proportion.
“Not even the air boss?”
“I told him at the end of the day.”
Slider barked a laugh. “Was he mad?”
Ice smirked at that. “A little, I think. Especially judging by the glare he was sending Mav before they found out it was me. Not like he could do anything, though.”
“You need to send me the footage of your entrance. According to Maverick you might as well have had an explosion going off behind you.”
Ice sighed. “He’s already talked to you?” So much for that plan.
“Oooh, yeah. He talked to me, alright. I heard all about it last night. Stinkin’ middle of the night and the pipsqueak’s callin’ me on his drive home to tell me all about it.”
Ice snorted. “It wasn’t the middle of the night–”
“At our age? It was the middle of the night, Ice.”
“And we told him he could steal the guest room, but you know how he is.”
“Uh huh. I know all too well. Listen, I gotta finish some stuff up down here, but I think after a few more meetings I’ll be able to come up and see how this suicide mission of yours plays out.”
“Door’s always open, Sli. Talk to you later.”
“Bye, Tom. Don’t let the idiot do anything stupid, especially with Baby Goose there.”
Ice felt his throat close up, just a bit, and he sighed. “I know, and I’ll try.”
“It’ll all work out, Tom. Just gotta get ‘em through this mission. If anybody can do it, it’s Mav.”
And he did.