There is no such thing as Slider's property.
There is Iceman's property, and then there's communal property. Maverick notices it unintentionally, he's trying to get a feel for the men when he starts to pick up on the behaviour.
Iceman has his cigarettes, Slider has his cigarettes that he smokes rarely and often ends up handing over to Iceman.
Iceman has his gum that he refuses to share no matter how much Wolfman begs him for it, Slider has weird cinnamon gum that he tosses to Iceman at least once a day.
Maverick watches once, as Slider snacks on a cereal bar and Iceman takes it out of his hand, bites off half, and then hands it back. Not a word is exchanged.
Of course, as a man who is as nosey as Goose is tall, Maverick has to ask his RIO, "What's their deal?"
Nick sighs, the sigh of a man who has been putting up with Pete's bullshit for a very long time and only gets repaid with babysitting.
"It's a trust thing, they've been like that for years. What's it matter to you?"
Pete ignores his hypocrisy and takes a handful of the chips Nick is eating, barbecue flavoured, not his favourite but still a worthy snack.
"Doesn't seem very mutual is all, Slider's the only one giving out anything. Iceman just seems to take."
Pete recognises the look on Nick's face, it's his 'not my place to tell but I'll tell regardless because privacy is non existent' look. Pete likes to think of it as the Mav Special.
"Ice helped pay for Slider's car when he first got it. He drove for two days to get to Sli when his dad died and he didn't know who else to call. He's not much of a sharer but he cares, he just shows it differently."
It's surprising, the frigid Iceman is capable of such things but despite the reputation, he's as much a man as any. It warms him up to the other pilot, and with great reluctance, to Slider.
It does not help the attraction to the blonde that is burdening him, however.
