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Finding Sal’s Bar had been the greatest night of Tom Kazansky’s life. Discreet, welcoming and above all, safe. Sal herself, the well-built no-nonsense woman who owned the place, made sure that everyone who passed through her doors understood the importance of all the secrecy. “What goes on at Sal’s stays at Sal’s” she’d say, “we don’t exist out there like we do in here, especially not in a military town.”
She’d clocked Ice as navy right away, smirking as she casually leaned on the bar whilst poring a drink with one hand. “So don’t be bringing any of your buddies, unless you’re sure.”
Ice agreed readily. He’d never felt free in the way he did here and he didn’t want to risk sharing this part of himself with anyone from work. Amongst all the jostling bravado of young pilots, he knew he was different, that they wouldn’t understand.
But then he’d met Maverick.
Cocky little Maverick with his overconfident swagger and infuriating smile. Ice fell for him instantly.
It had been laughably quick. Maverick seemed as magnetically drawn to Ice as Ice was to him and it wasn’t long before their flirtatious bickering became something more. Maverick, ever the risk taker, had been the one to make the first move, one day pulling Ice into a broom cupboard to kiss him.
Not long after that Ice had introduced Maverick to Sal’s Bar. Mav understood the need for secrecy, of course he did and so, for a while, their life together was perfect. Well, as perfect as it can be when you’re both in the Navy.
The night was young. Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell had his arms around the boy of his dreams and no one around them gave a damn.
Sal smiled at him from the bar at the edge of the dancefloor and Mav smiled back. Oh the grilling that she’d given him the first night Tom had brought him here. Sal looked out for her boys like that and now, seeing her smiling, Mav was sure that he’d passed some sort of test. He looked up into Ice’s piercing blue eyes, soft at the edges as he smiled down from on high. Tom was a different person in here, away from his Iceman persona. He was carefree, and joyous and so full of love that it threatened to spill out of him with every step. His laugher floated across the dancefloor turning heads in its wake. Here Iceman had friends, not just groupies and hangers on. Here he didn’t have to impress anyone, and yet Mav thought he was the most impressive guy here. And he was his.
Mav stretched up onto his toes and pressed a kiss to Ice’s lips. The taller man responded in kind, running his hands though Maverick’s hair as he deepened the kiss. Neither of them had said those three words to each other, but Mav felt it. In every kiss and touch he knew it, Ice loved him.
Ice broke the kiss and smiled that winning smile that went straight to Mav’s heart.
“Shall we get another drink?”
Mav nodded. “Sure, let me just run to the bathroom real quick.”
Ice released him from their embrace.
“Fine, but you’re getting the next round.”
Mav chuckled as he wormed his way towards the toilets. Ice had been teasing him recently that he’d do anything to get out of paying for drinks and Mav was playing it up for laughs. Truth be told he probably could’ve waited to pee but why wait when he could get a free round and perhaps a playful pout out of it.
Just as he was finishing up, a man came crashing into the bathroom in a panic. Mav knew him vaguely as Eddie, a semi-regular patron who’d once flirted with Ice until Mav had glared at him and scared him away.
“It’s a raid!” Eddie hissed urgently, breathless and eyes wide with fear. “Hide.”
He pushed his way into a toilet stall and bolted the door.
Mav’s blood ran cold. Raids happened occasionally, they all knew it was a danger, but it had never happened whilst they’d actually been here. And Ice was upstairs!
Mav rushed forward, out of the bathroom and up the stairs back towards the bar. He and Ice had discussed it, of course, and had agreed; no heroics, no interfering, no noble sacrifices. But Mav had to know, had to see for himself if Ice was alright! He crept forward, more cautious now that he could hear the sounds of a commotion, and peered around the corner.
Six men in the polished dark uniform of the US Military Police Corps stood alone in the middle of the room as fearful patrons hid their faces and ducked for cover in shadowy corners. Only Ice wasn’t cowering in fear. He was standing tall, defiant, proudly almost, as his slender white wrists were captured behind him. Only the Iceman could make military issue handcuffs look like an elegant fashion accessory.
Sal had come out from behind the bar and was facing down the MPO’s with her arms folded and a thunderous expression on her face. But there was nothing she could do, and Mav knew it. Nothing he could do either except give himself up and get court martialled too, and Ice would never forgive him for that.
Mav retreated back down the stairs silently as Ice was escorted from the building and into a waiting car. He needed to get back to the base as fast as possible to establish an alibi. Mav pushed open the emergency exit door a crack and, seeing the coast was clear, slipped out into the night. He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans as he checked around each corner before moving on, his heart in his throat. He felt like a mouse trapped in a maze, but made it back to his motorcycle without encountering any obstacles.
He pulled the helmet on and flicked the visor down over his face, grateful for once that their precautions had prioritised anonymity, and kicked the engine into gear. Mav took every shortcut he knew to get back to the base, ducking down pedestrian alleyways and cutting corners. Better to be arrested for speeding than caught near the club, and he knew that the car in which they’d taken Ice would have to follow the larger roads and wouldn’t speed whilst on duty. Mav roared into the base in record time and ran full pelt towards Goose’s billet.
“Mav? What the hell are you doing?” Goose leapt up from his bunk as Maverick crashed in, out of breath and panicked.
“I’ve been here the whole time.”
Maverick grabbed some standard fatigues from Goose’s locker and started stripping out of his civilian clothes.
“Hey! What? What’s wrong?”
“I need you to cover for me man,” Maverick was breathless, “there was a raid. I need you to say I was here.”
Goose nodded seriously as Maverick chucked his civilian clothes into the dark void under Goose’s bunk.
“Are you alright? What about-?”
Shouting erupted from the corridor, followed by sounds of a scuffle. Goose ran to the door, Maverick close on his heels.
“What the fuck is this? He’s the best pilot in the fleet for fucks sake!” Slider was spitting with rage, and was being held back by Wolfman and Hollywood. “He flies my plane!”
Maverick looked round to the source of Slider’s tirade and his heart skipped a beat.
Ice was being escorted up the corridor by a gaggle of grim faced MPO’s, his stylish light blue jacket and white, wide collar shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows in sharp contrast against their crisp, dark uniforms. His head was held high, face expressionless and he walked with a calm dignity, despite the cuffs on his wrists. He was every inch the Iceman. Cool, collected and calm in a crisis. But he didn’t meet Slider’s gaze, just kept looking straight ahead as though none of them were there. That was, until, the group drew level and Mav stepped out from behind Goose. Ice looked at him then, his face impassive, but relief shone in his eyes. They didn’t nod to one another, they didn’t need to, but they both understood. Mav was safe, he was here now and Goose would cover for him and Ice would never, ever betray him.
And then Ice was gone. Whisked away up the corridor, the sounds of Slider’s irate shouting echoing after him.
=\TG/=
News always travelled fast on a base like this. By breakfast time the next morning everyone seemed to know that the great Kazansky, pride of the Navy, had been arrested in a raid on a gay bar. And it was all that anybody could talk about.
Maverick tried to keep as out of the conversation as he safely could, but with a smile on his face and the occasional laugh at a joke whenever was appropriate. Goose more than made up for it, joining in with things enough to largely keep talk just the right side of nasty. Maverick had confided in Goose long ago and the man had proved invaluable over the years in his role as lookout and distraction maker, and most importantly he hadn’t judged. It was at times like this, Mav thought as he listened to the opinions and jokes of people that weren’t so open minded, that he really appreciated how lucky he was to have had Goose by his side.
It broke Mav’s heart, having to listen to people who’d once idolised Ice so much suddenly turn on him and so he excused himself before too long. Goose followed him out into the corridor, jogging to keep up.
“I need to see him Goose.”
“You sure that’s a good idea bud?”
Maverick stopped and turned to his friend.
“I have to, Goose, please help me?”
Goose relented immediately and punched him playfully on the shoulder.
“Aww shucks you know I can’t resist that face.”
“You don’t want to be joking like that right now Goose. Especially not with me.” Maverick heard his voice crack with emotion and swallowed around the fear that had seemed to have solidified in his throat.
“That’s where you’re wrong my friend.” Goose replied lightly, “You forget Carole. She’s my bullet proof shield. No, I’m just funny old Goose, laughing and joking the way he always has, nothing to see here.”
Mav smiled at his old friend.
“Yeah you’re right. But I still need to see him.”
“Right, well then you and me had better get our thinking caps on.”
Goose swung a carefree arm around Maverick’s shoulders and guided him away towards the barracks. Ironic, that so straight a man as Goose could get away with such displays of affection and in such plain sight. It made Mav ache with longing to be the same way with Ice, but he knew it could never be.
=\TG/=
Within only a few hours, although that was plenty enough time to have Maverick bouncing off the walls, he found himself outside the base’s single cell detention suite as he waited for the MPO on duty to just hurry up and unlock the door. Goose had really been the brains behind the operation, regaling the officer on duty with exciting stories of dogfights and emergency landings as he sweet talked him into letting Mav through.
“Just five minutes.” The guard warned again, as though Maverick hadn’t already agreed to that three times already.
“He knows man.”
Goose’s voice was ever present behind him, as it always would be, as dependable as day turning to night and back again.
The key clicked in the lock and the door opened. Mav darted in before the guard could change his mind, and it clanged shut behind him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Ice’s eyes were wide in fear. He looked as though he hadn’t slept, although he was back in crisply ironed fatigues, and he’d obviously been sitting forward with his head in his hands until Maverick had interrupted his reverie.
“I had to see you Tom.”
Ice shook his head, almost desperately as though Maverick were some sort of illusion.
“Tell me you haven’t done something stupid. How the hell did you get in here?”
“Ice, everyone on the base thinks we’re rivals. They think I’ve come to gloat about your downfall. Goose is out there now keeping the guards busy so they don’t listen in. We’re safe for a few minutes.”
Ice looked like he couldn’t decide either to be scandalised or impressed. He eventually settled on disappointed and shook his head.
“You can’t be here Pete, it’s too dangerous.”
Maverick sat down next to him.
“I just couldn’t bear the thought of you in here all alone. You belong in the sky Ice.”
“I’ll be lucky to avoid prison Pete. Two years in a military prison followed by dishonourable discharge. I’ll never fly again.”
Ice clawed at his face with his hands and Maverick had a sudden vision of the man crumbling away, going mad locked away in some god-forsaken place.
“They can’t put you in prison Tom.”
“They can, and they probably will.” Ice sobbed as much as spoke. “Make an example of me.”
“But you weren’t even doing anything-!” Maverick caught himself before his tone angered too much. He couldn’t yell, not in here when Ice was feeling so vulnerable. He bumped his shoulder against Ice’s in what he hoped would be a comforting manner. “I’d come visit you. In prison.”
Ice snorted. “No you won’t. Not a military prison. It’s too dangerous.”
Maverick shrugged, “Fine. Then I’ll wait, till you get out. I’ll find you.”
“You could be stationed anywhere by then... and who knows where I’ll end up.”
Maverick reached out to cradle Ice’s head in his hands and gently turned his face to look at him. Cool blue eyes flicked up to meet his gaze.
“Tom Kazansky. I will find you.” Maverick spoke slowly and seriously. “This will not be the last time you see me. I will find you, and we will be together. I promise.”
Ice scoffed a little, but he looked touched by Maverick’s words. Mav stroked across the razor-sharp cheekbone tenderly with his thumb. For a moment they were lost in each other, faces only inches from one another, staring deep into each other’s eyes.
Then suddenly a crashing sound echoed through the door followed by Goose’s muffled but very audible apology. They sprang apart and so, when the door suddenly opened, Maverick was able to be standing, ready to go. He left without a glance back, not trusting himself not to cry and ruin it all whilst Goose thanked the guards, sharing a final, carefree joke as though they had been friends since birth.
Maverick felt heavy as he and Goose wandered silently back past the offices into the main part of the complex. Seeing Ice like that had made him seem so fragile, not the strong, confident Iceman who seemed to have everybody eating out of his hand. He shuddered to think how he’d cope should their positions be reversed but was soon knocked from his contemplations by the sound shouting.
“Who is the goddamn fool responsible for this?”
A thunderous voice boomed out from up ahead where there seemed to be some sort of commotion going on outside the instructor’s offices.
“Oh my god,” Goose pulled Mav back so they were out of sight and they darted into an empty room before they could be seen. “That’s Admiral Kazansky. That’s Iceman’s dad!”
They pressed their ears to the door.
“-you bring him out here right now. Do you have any goddamn idea who I am?”
The voices receded as the Admiral was hastily ushered into Viper’s office. Maverick looked at Goose in shock.
“Tom was always petrified of his dad finding out.”
“We really shouldn’t be here Mav, if the coast is clear we should make a run for it.”
Goose checked around room and Maverick was fairly certain that he was checking to see whether or not they could scarper out of a window. He slapped him lightly on the arm.
“Are you kidding? They’re gonna bring Ice out here. I need to find out what’s going on.”
“You can’t go around listening in on private conversations with Admirals Mav, that’s just asking for trouble!”
Goose seemed genuinely frightened, as he twisted his hands together nervously. Maverick hissed his reply.
“Then you go Goose. I’m staying here.”
“Like hell am I leaving you here on your own.”
Maverick pulled back from the door, “Thanks Goose you’re a real pal.”
Goose opened his mouth to reply but Maverick shushed him and pressed his eye to the keyhole.
Before long the squeaking of rubber soled boots on polished floor signalled movement before the Captain of the Military Police detachment rushed into view, dragging Ice with him with a face like thunder. Ice didn’t look nearly so collected now as he staggered along, with his hands cuffed in front of him, trying to keep up with the fast pace and the strong grip on his arm.
Maverick pivoted to keep them in view through the narrow keyhole as they continued up the corridor before disappearing into Viper’s office.
“Take those ruddy things off him!” Admiral Kazansky’s voice echoed back down the corridor before the office door slammed shut. Maverick scrambled to his feet and launched himself out of the empty room.
“Mav!” Goose pleaded as quietly as he could, hot on his heals, “This is such a bad idea.”
Maverick shushed him and dropped low as he approached Viper’s door. Even through the door the muffled voices of those beyond carried through.
“…ridiculous charges. I won’t stand for it.”
The voice belonging to the rage-faced Captain was terse and exasperated.
“But Sir, with respect, we caught him at a known homosexual establishment. Protocol dictates-”
“Do not recite protocol to me Captain, I am more than aware of US Naval Regulations.”
“Homosexuals cannot legally serve in th-”
“The Kazansky family have a long and highly respected relationship with this service. To even suggest that a Kazansky would be…”
Maverick scooted forward and pressed his eye to the keyhole as the Admiral’s voice faded away and Viper took a turn to speak. His voice was much quieter and Maverick struggled to catch the individual words.
Ice was standing to attention next to the Military Police Captain, who seemed a little ruffled find himself in the firing line of an irate Admiral. The young pilot was no longer cuffed, but tension thrummed through every inch of him. Maverick wished he could see Ice’s face.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Admiral Kazansky’s voice boomed again suddenly, rounding on his son who flinched involuntarily. Maverick backed away from the door but stayed close enough to listen.
“I was at a bar Sir. I didn’t know what kind of bar it was. I only went in for a drink. Sir.”
“There you are,” Admiral Kazansky’s voice changed direction as he rounded once more on the Captain, “a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
“But Admiral-”
“Are you calling my son a liar!?”
“Sir just him being there is-”
“Look, Captain. My son is not a pervert. If he was, I’d beat it out of him myself. This arrest was made in error. Do you understand me?”
There was a long pause. Maverick held his breath. Behind him he could hear Goose fidgeting nervously.
“Sir, yes sir.” The Captain sighed. “If you’re excuse me I’ll go and… amend the paperwork.”
“Dismissed.”
Maverick leapt up in a panic, pulling Goose with him as far away from the office door as possible before it opened. He set his face into a grin and started laughing, adopting an ease as though he and Goose had merely been walking past whilst sharing a joke.
Mercifully, the wrath of the Admiral had clearly filled the Captain with a great desire to be as far away as possible and he marched past them without so much as a glance. The moment he disappeared from view Maverick turned and scurried back to the door where the Admiral was still in full flow.
“Now you listen to me boy. If we were at home you could best believe you’d be feeling the sting of my belt for this. I have never been so humiliated. Having to come all the way out here to be told that my son is some kind of faggot. It will never happen again, or so help me God.”
Maverick pressed his eye to the keyhole again. Everything about Tom was cowed. His shoulders had slumped in and his head was bowed in shame in the face of his father’s onslaught. There was no trace of the Iceman here. Viper was standing behind his desk, a thinly veiled look of pity on his face whilst the Admiral stalked around like a lion trapped in a cage.
“You need to consider your position in this family. You owe it to your mother, a good reputation is a luxury not afforded to many Tom.”
The Admiral came to a stop and gripped his son firmly on the back of the neck in a way that somehow managed to make the Iceman look small.
“You’re a Kazansky. Remember that.”
Maverick saw Tom nod in response before he moved back from the door. He gestured silently that they should move out to Goose who looked incredibly relieved as they crept past the door, rounded a corner and headed off towards the pilot’s lounge.
“Is it just me,” Goose whispered urgently as they walked, “or did Admiral Kazansky just admit in front of everyone that he beats his children?”
“Drop it Goose will ya?” Maverick’s head was spinning. The image of the man he loved looking so small and ashamed was burned into his memory and he wanted nothing more than to run to his side and protect him from anyone who might cause him pain.
“Do you think they’ll let him go now?”
“Sure sounded like it.” Goose answered as Maverick stopped and turned on the spot, a hand in his hair, at a loss for what to do next.
“Mav. Hey.” Goose gripped his shoulders, forcing Maverick to look directly in to his calm, concerned eyes. “Hey. Breathe, okay man? Look we’ll go over to the barracks, that’s where I’d go if I were him. We can keep an eye out.”
Maverick nodded and allowed himself to be steered this way and that as his trusted RIO navigated them through the corridors. In what felt like no time at all they made it back to Goose’s billet and he found himself collapsing down onto the edge of the bed as a glass of water was shoved into his hand.
“Drink that. Breathe. You need to get yourself together if you’re gonna be any use to Iceman.”
Goose settled himself on the floor by the door, keeping it open a crack with his foot so he had a clear view over to Ice’s door. Maverick downed the water and blinked slowly. Goose was right, he needed to stay strong, now more than ever. The minutes ticked by silently, both of them lost in thought about what they’d overheard in Viper’s office.
Then suddenly Goose froze.
“He’s here.” He whispered, urgently. Maverick was on his feet in a heartbeat. “He’s gone into his room.” Goose continued, jumping up and wrenching the door open. He poked his head out, checking both ways before allowing Maverick past. “Coast is clear.”
Maverick flew over to Ice’s door and knocked urgently but as quietly as he could manage. “Ice it’s Mav, let me in.”
There was a torturous beat before the door clicked open and there he was. Maverick pushed his way into the room and wrapped his arms around Ice tightly.
Silently Goose pulled the door shut behind them, leaving them alone to their reunion. Maverick trusted that he’d be watching the door, ready to cover for them should anyone come.
“Oh my god, Tom are you alright?”
Ice didn’t reply, but buried his face in Maverick’s neck and clung to him desperately. Maverick could feel a wetness seeping into his collar and realised with horror that the Iceman was crying. He brought a hand up and stroked the wilted blond strands comfortingly.
Neither man said anything for a while, the silence punctuated only by Ice’s muffled sobs and Maverick’s soothing nonsense noises. Eventually Ice’s breathing evened out and he pulled back tentatively from their embrace.
His face was blotchy and his eyes puffy with moisture but Maverick didn’t hesitate to lean in for a kiss. Ice responded hungrily as though he were drowning and Maverick was the oxygen he needed to live.
The kiss left Maverick feeling weak at the knees, let alone Ice, and so he broke away regretfully before guiding the taller man down to sit on the edge of the bed, just as Goose had done for him earlier. He plonked himself down as well, close enough that their bodies were touching all down one side, and pulled Ice’s head down to rest on his shoulder. Ice went willingly, and Maverick could see silent tears still running down his face. He reached over and grasped Ice’s hand in one of his own.
“My father turned up and got them to drop the charges.”
Ice’s voice sounded hollow. Maverick rubbed his back and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“I know. I was listening at the keyhole.”
Suddenly Ice shot up, turning to look at Maverick with horror.
“You what!”
Maverick tightened his grip on Ice’s hand, imploring him to understand.
“I had to know that you were alright, it’s okay, nobody saw us!”
“Us?”
“Goose kept lookout.”
Ice blinked a couple of times and then burst out laughing.
“The world isn’t ready for you Pete Mitchell. You are so dangerous.”
Maverick laughed too. “You wouldn’t have me any other way.”
Ice’s face grew serious again and he brought his hand up to stroke Maverick’s cheek.
“Frankly I’m just lucky to have you at all.” Ice blue eyes met emerald green ones. “I nearly lost you this time Pete.”
“I’m right here.” Maverick leaned in for a kiss before continuing, “I’ll always find you Tom, I promise. I love you.”
Ice’s breath hitched and then he grinned. “I love you too Pete.”
They kissed again, longer and slower this time although Maverick’s heart was racing. I was one thing to know, on some level, that Ice loved him but to hear it out loud… it was something else entirely.
“You are going to have to get a girlfriend again though.” Maverick sighed as he pointed out the obvious, hating it every bit as much as he knew Ice did.
“I know.” Ice’s eyes fell, “I just hate it so much, leading them on like that. It’s not fair on them, it’s not fair on you.”
“Iceman the heartbreaker.” Mav said with a sad smile, “I know it’s not fair, but it keeps us safe and I’d take anything just so long as you’re safe.”
“Perhaps you’d better be seen climbing out of a few windows again soon then.” Ice chuckled, “Maverick has a much worse reputation with women that you’ve got to work to keep up.”
Maverick punched him playfully on the shoulder.
“You wish you had half my charm.” He grinned, “Hey, I guess you could always ask Sal. I bet some of the women there are probably as much in need of a fake boyfriend as you are a girlfriend. Could be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Ice looked thoughtful, although not particularly happy. Maverick threw an arm around his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his temple.
“Don’t worry about it now.” He kept his voice soft as he once again drew Ice down to rest his head on his shoulder. “Let’s just enjoy being together for the moment.”
“I don’t deserve you Pete.” Ice said quietly, his voice thick with emotion.
“Bullshit.” Mav buried his face into Ice’s hair and inhaled deeply, “You deserve the world. One day things will be better for us, I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Ice murmured and Mav could almost feel him pouting against his shoulder. “Although I suppose you do have a reputation for achieving the impossible.”
Maverick chuckled, “Bet on it.” He tightened his hold, revelling in the solidity of the man in his arms. “The future’s gonna be good for us Tom, you wait and see.”
Tom and Pete were much more cautious in the wake of what Tom privately referred to as ‘the incident’. They’d stayed clear of Sal’s bar, although Tom had sent a wadge of cash through the mail by way of apology. It cheered him to think of his father’s money being put to some good.
And then Goose had died. Training accident.
Ice had held Maverick as he cried, mourning his best friend and the only other man in the world who’d known them as a couple. It was this, more than anything, that made Ice grateful about the outcome of the incident. How would Pete have coped had he not been there to comfort him? Ice had vowed then that he’d do anything in his power to keep the two of them together, and safe, until such a time as Maverick’s promise of a better future came to pass.
But, after they’d both graduated, they’d been deployed separately, keeping in touch over the phone when they could and sharing weekends here and there. Ice had come top of the class in the end, although that was unsurprising given Maverick’s depression following the loss of his friend, and Mav had elected to stay on at Top Gun as an instructor. He’d felt closer to Goose there.
And somehow, the years passed and the two of them managed to muddle through. Ice had been promoted, and promoted again and suddenly he was important enough to step in and save Maverick’s career whenever the man did anything stupid, which was infuriatingly often. Their careers brought them together, then separated them again but they loved each other through it all until one day the unthinkable happened.
Maverick had asked Ice to marry him the very day it became legal and Ice had said yes with tears in his eyes. Their wedding had been small. Ice’s father, by then an old and frail man, had refused to attend but Ice’s mother had been there which had meant the world to him. Maverick had gloated during his vows, incredibly, about how he’d achieved the impossible and Ice had rolled his eyes, too wrapped up in love to care that he was marrying the cockiest little shit on the planet.
Maverick had been right, the future had been good to them. Tom Kazanky sealed his marriage to Pete Mitchell with a kiss, a grin, and a renewed promise that they would be together forever.