Work Text:
Bob smiled as he watched Phoenix play pool against him. The first time, Hangman had interrupted, but this time, he intended to try to win, however unlikely. Now that their mission was over, they had been granted several months of rest. To celebrate, they all met at the bar where some of them had first met. Penny had granted them this, closing the bar to everyone but them for one evening. Closer than ever after the suicide mission, they had become a close-knit team. Hangman had become more pleasant, much to everyone's delight.
"Why are you smiling like that?" asked Natasha, who was also smiling.
"I'm just glad it's over." He pulled himself together and repositioned his glasses on his nose. "Well, I mean, over in a good way. I couldn't bear to lose any of them.”
The brunette nodded.
"I know what you mean. We were all really scared, but all's well that ends well, right?" She said, putting her hand on her navigator's shoulder.
Jake came up beside them, beer in hand.
"By the way, where are Rooster and Maverick?" the blonde asked before taking a sip of his drink.
"Brad said he'd be back soon." Phoenix replied, checking her phone again for any new messages she might have missed.
"This guy wants to show off by coming in last, as usual." Hangman added without a hint of malice. "What's next? Is he going to take off his sunglasses and play the piano for us?"
"That's exactly what I'm going to do Bagman." said a voice behind him.
"Hey, we said this nickname was out of da..."
Jake stopped in his tracks when he saw that Bradley wasn't alone. In fact, everyone in the bar was silent.
Next to Rooster was Maverick, accompanied by a gray-haired man with a scarf around his neck and a neutral face, analyzing the group around him.
But this wasn't just any man. He was none other than Admiral Tom Kazansky, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Callsign: Iceman.
“Hi, guys. Sorry we're late. We had to pick someone up on the way.”
“By "someone," do you mean Admiral Kazansky? —the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet? That someone?" Phoenix asked, speechless.
Iceman couldn't help but smile at their faces.
"Could be," Bradley replied, laughing.
"And in what world do you even know him?" Coyote asked, unable to believe his eyes.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir!" Fanboy cut him off as the commotion returned to the room. Everyone was trying to greet him.
"Nice to see you kiddos anyway," Maverick said. They all fell silent again when they realized that no one had greeted him yet. "I'm sure you'd like some context.”
"Of course we do!" Payback replied as they sat down.
The two men sat side by side, their knees touching under the table.
"Tom and I flew together with Bradley's father in 1986. After he lost both his parents, I took him into my home, as any good godfather would do. He grew up with me and the other aviators in our year.”
Silence returned as everyone digested the information.
"Godfather? Is he serious?" Phoenix quietly asked Rooster, who could only nod.
"That's why Brad knows Ice, and that's why we brought him here. We thought it would be nice to get to know you. Any questions?" Pete finished, as Bob handed them both a glass of water. Ice smiled, and Mav thanked him.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" Yale asked.
"For several years, Mav and I had been...let's say, on the outs. I saw him again the day he became our instructor. Things were always tense, and I didn't want to talk about it. During the mission and afterward, we talked a lot, and now things are better. We're talking to you today. You're my team, after all.”
Phoenix knew part of the story: the one where Mav had his papers withdrawn from the academy, causing his friend to lose four years. Now she understands all the reactions he's had in her presence in the past.
"Rooster's got feelings—who'd have thought?"
"Shut up, Seresin," Bradley immediately retorted.
"Oh, Bradshaw, you're so hurtful. I thought we were a ‘team!’"
Jake placed a hand on his heart and pulled a hurt expression. As the conversation resumed, Bob approached Ice and Mav.
"Excuse me, Admiral. I've just noticed that you haven't said a word since the beginning. Is there a reason for that? I hope we haven't made you feel uncomfortable."
Ice raised a hand as if to reassure him before taking Maverick's hand and moving it toward Robert.
"Ice is in remission from throat cancer," Pete replied, his voice slightly shaken with emotion. "Talking was painful for a long time, and it still is, but he's gradually getting his voice back. He can speak, but for now, he prefers to rest his voice."
"Oh, excuse me, Admiral."
Bob was flushed with shame.
Tom put a hand on his shoulder.
"Tom or Ice." Pete translated for him. "Let's have a party and forget about ranks tonight, okay? Don't worry; you couldn't have known.”
"Okay, do you need anything?"
"We'll manage. Now, go win that game against Phoenix."
The younger man smiled at them before returning to the pool table. After that, the two men looked tenderly into each other's eyes.
"I'm glad you came. I couldn't wait for you to meet them. They're good kids."
Iceman took the liberty of answering in sign language, a skill both men had learned late in his battle with cancer. Now that they had mastered it, it was much easier for them.
"He seems very nice. Bob, is it?" the admiral asked with his hands.
Pete nodded.
"Did you tell them about...?"
He pointed at them both.
"No, I don't even know why." I trust them, but I guess I was afraid to do it without you," confessed the dark-haired man, lowering his head.
Under the table, their hands met.
"I've been so used to hiding it that saying it openly like this still seems strange, even though I've already done it with Slider, Hollywood, Wolf, Jester, and the others."
Maverick then leaned into Iceman's ear.
"But I'll never be tired of calling you my husband," he said.
Tom couldn't help but smile at his words.
"Take your time. Don't force yourself. Call me if you need help. Now, go see the others. You've earned it." Ice signed before squeezing his husband's hand again.
Maverick stood up after one last smile and approached the lieutenants.
"Mav! You absolutely must try playing darts with your eyes closed. I need to know if you can beat me at it!" Hangman exclaimed, leaving his instructor little choice.
What followed was a dart fight, a game of pool won by Phoenix, and lots of drinks and laughter. The room exuded happiness. But, as always, Maverick's eyes searched for the man he loved. He saw him a little further on, chatting with Bob in sign language. This made the dark-haired man raise an eyebrow in astonishment. This kid was full of surprises. Still, he could see the questions in the other aviators' eyes. Maverick simply explained to them what he had explained to Bob earlier. Of course, Rooster already knew, but he hadn't dared to tell them—he didn't want to do so against Iceman's wishes.
Phoenix immediately showed them the few signs she knew. Hangman only knew how to say his name. Omaha explained that he had a deaf sister and had been used to signing from an early age. Harvard could only say insults. Halo knew a few basics, as did Natasha. Soon, Iceman and Bob were included in the conversation, and everyone was talking to each other and signing what someone else said. Maverick figured this was the perfect time to tell them. This mutual support and camaraderie was everything he'd been looking for at Top Gun all these years, and he'd finally found it. It was loud and warm.
It was perfect.
Maverick moved closer to his husband, who understood immediately. He put his arm around the dark-haired man's shoulders and the smaller man put his arm around his waist.
"By the way, kids, there's something I haven't told you.
"What, that you're old?" "We already knew that, Pops." Hangman retorted immediately, causing the captain to roll his eyes.
"Shut up, Hangman. Let him talk," replied Rooster, who had guessed what the captain was talking about.
"Can't we laugh now?" Jake continued before turning serious again. "We're listening, Pops."
Pete took a deep breath. He could feel Tom's body beside him—alive, breathing, squeezing his shoulder. It was all the motivation he needed.
Years ago, when it all began, when Mav cried every night wondering if loving a boy was normal, when he dreamed of kissing Iceman—his former enemy who cried his eyes out when Mav finally kissed him—he could never have imagined being able to marry the man he loved. They had to hide it for years, each living in their own house even though they lived together. They had to make do with public glances and a few physical touches—those few things that meant everything.
The loss of Tom's voice didn't stop them because they had already communicated every emotion through gestures and glances over the years.
Their closest friends knew. Carole Bradshaw had been the first to know, and she took that secret to her grave. As he grew up, Bradley had understood. Soon, the whole team knew and were ready to protect them in case of danger: Slider, Merlin, Jester, Stinger, Sundown, Wolfman, Chipper, Hollywood. They still do today, even if things have changed.
“Tom and I are married. For over 30 years now.” He said this while pulling out a chain from under his shirt that held a ring. In turn, Ice showed his left hand, on which a discreet ring resided. "I hope this doesn't make any difference to you. You're important to me, so I wanted to talk to you about it."
The younger aviators were clearly not expecting this. Rooster sent his godfather a proud smile, but Maverick was waiting for their reaction. They needed time to process the information. Just imagining their instructor married to the Admiral for over 30 years, while considering how complicated it was in their time, was overwhelming.
The silence persisted, but someone finally broke it.
"Half this group is gay, Mav. Do you really think that's going to bother me?" Hangman announced with a laugh.
Maverick couldn't help but laugh back. Iceman hugged him tighter.
"Hey! Don't speak for everyone!"
“You're just fooling yourself, Coyote! Look, there's…”
They were off again, and there was no stopping them.
"I'm very happy for you," says Bob, his eyes shining with emotion. He was happy for his instructor. “Thank you for trusting us to talk about it. I know how hard it can be to be who you really want to be in a bad environment."
Pete hugged him briefly and thanked him. Phoenix took his turn.
"It doesn't change the way we see you, Mav. Just be yourself; that's what makes us happy."
The others spoke to them for a few moments, each saying comforting and encouraging words. Some, like Bob, were almost in tears. Finally, Rooster approached and took them both in his arms.
"I love you both." he whispered in their ears.
The two men whispered the same back, hugging him even tighter. Bradley couldn't have been happier after not seeing them for years. They were the ones who had raised him for most of his life.
His parents.
After that, the music got louder, and some people started dancing and singing along to familiar songs. Finally able to act like the loving husband he was, Iceman stood behind Mav with his arms around his waist, gently kissing his neck. Pete pulled his face back against Tom's. He melted under his touch, as he always did after all these years.
"Thank you for sending me on this mission with him. You really are my guardian angel. I love you, Ice.”
"I love you, too. You can be my wingman anytime." Tom told him in his new voice.
Maverick had never realized how important it was to him to feel his husband's vocal cords move. Before, just talking had become a luxury.
"Bullshit, you can be mine !" Mav exclaimed, turning to face him.
The two men repeated the first words that had united them after this mission the first time. When their lips met for a kiss, he couldn't help but smile.