I read As Lions at the start of May and most of my fic reading since then has been Top Gun, so I figured I'd share the stories I really liked. These are all Maverick/Iceman.
Now, first of all, it goes without saying that I recommend As Lions -- time travel and Mav from the second movie dealing with the events of the first movie, showing us how the character has matured but is still essentially the same guy. It's a great, satisfying read that dragged me into a new-to-me fandom.
I'm going to separate these by time setting. So, during Top Gun training:
if you lead, i will follow by qin_ling (7,551 words): Let's start with Goose being a great wingman. Someone who knows Mav well enough to spot the tension between him and Ice might not be about flying. This is fun and upbeat.
The Wingman by alby_mangroves (4,200 words): One of the best parts of fandom is getting different views of these characters. Yes, I like the idea of one or both of them being repressed and awkward as hell about it, but I also like this option: closeted and cocky as hell. The idea of them screwing throughout the first movie has a definite appeal.
Directly after Top Gun and the first film (which frequently features the idea of them both teaching at Top Gun together for a few years):
Gravity by qin_ling (2,959 words): I really love this. It's sparse and it's so deftly written. It captures so much of them and the pacing is lovely. Ice and Maverick after the first movie, a friendship shifting into more.
the heart it beats by susiecarter (2,926 words): Again, this is a short, deftly written piece. On paper, it's a simple idea: Maverick after the first movie, deciding he's not suited to teaching at Top Gun, and how wanting a transfer impacts his new relationship with Ice. But the author uses the frame of five things Maverick loves to reveal what's really going on, and does a great job of capturing this awkward stage of a relationship, trying to figure out where you stand (between two guys who are not good at talking about this stuff. They would much rather be flying than have to talk about emotions). It's short, but it stayed with me.
Kings of the Air by FabulaRasa (24,903 words): Sometimes, you have to judge a story by how often you find yourself muttering to the characters in your phone, telling them that this is going to end badly. And this is absolutely one of those stories where I heard myself muttering, "Oh, Mav, no, bad idea," out loud. Mav is charming but he's headstrong and impulsive, and doesn't think through the consequence, and I have a soft spot for repression fic done well. For Mav being someone who doesn't know how to approach another man for sex, certainly doesn't have the maturity or self-reflection to approach it in a reasonable, adult way -- and yet, they somehow figure it out.
Moving In Slow Motion by boasamishipper (7,516 words): There was only one bed is a trope for a really good reason. There is something so satisfying about that awkward intimacy, being so close to what you want and not being able to have it. Yearning and stolen embraces, people, I'm here for it.
Later in their careers/up to and past the second movie:
vantage by pepistle (32,340 words): Outsider POV on working for Admiral Iceman Kazansky. I really love reading about Ice working his way up. I like a smart, ambitious, controlled character, especially one who is professionally competent and intimidating. (No one who knows my taste in fictional characters will be surprised by this.) And I like this view of Ice from the outside, of slowly getting to see glimpses behind the professional facade.
The Importance of Personal Connections by DancingDisaster (32,246 words): "There are few things more universally feared in the Navy than owing Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky a favor." This is, techincally, the fourth in a series. The previous story, Time and Tide is a good take on them getting together and breaking up before Top Gun, and working their way back to each other, but I prefer this. I love seeing Ice rise through the ranks, seeing what he learns from the senior officers before him and how he treats his subordinates. I also love how clear it is that he loves Mav, but that doesn't stop him from being very irritated by Mav at times.
When We Get Around to Talking About It by COMPACFLT (97,722 words): Another story where we get to follow Ice for the thirty years from the first movie to the second. The first and last chapter are from outside POV, but the rest of this story is solidly told from Ice's perspective and there are two things this story does that I love. Firstly, Ice and Mav never really come to grips with sexuality or even terms for it: it's not something either of them are comfortable talking about or even thinking about head-on, and there's something fascinating about a character who has such a sideways approach to their own happiness. There's no doubt that they want each other, but there are always rationalisations and not looking at it too closely, avoiding having to deal with what that might mean. (Honestly, what it means is they're both bi and fell hard for each other.) The other thing I love is pulling Rooster's application, how grief and fear can make you do stupid things, how love for someone can make you go along with something you know is wrong. And sometimes you make mistakes in life and you just have to live with them.
A Good Landing by adiduck (book_people) (51,152 words): This is set after the second movie, with Ice healing from pneumonia and Mav healing from a fair number of fractures from ejecting. As someone who fractured her foot at 39 and walked on it for a week and a half (and then got stuck in a moonboot for three months as it healed), I have a definite sympathy for Maverick here. Suddenly being helpless sucks, but Ice insists on Mav staying with him until they're both healed. I love that we have these 60 y.o. guys who know each other so well, who are both healing and adapting, and sometimes friends-to-lovers is just the best.
AUs - I usually love AUs but I honestly haven't read many in this fandom:
just to see each other (feel it all) by susiecarter (35,125 words): I love a good Pacific Rim fusion, and this delivers. Maverick losing Goose is such a strong narrative beat and it works perfectly here, all within the world of Pacific Rim and drifting. (And this fic comes with three lovely illustrations)
Mr. Swipe Right by ReformedTsundere (18,062 words): it's a cute little dating-by-app AU, a good excuse for smut and connection. But it's fun and an easy read.
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