In a mission against time
Maverick x afab!reader / Hangman x afab!reader
A/N: I just KNOW what you guys are gonna say “MAY WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN LOCA” all I can say to that is, my bad 🤞 no but seriously, sorry it took so long to post, just know I haven’t forgotten about you guys, thanks for still being here haha. ALSO i've been re-reading earlier chapters and auto correct had me in some words ngl, thanks for staying despite that.
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Chapter 12: Karma of birds
The next day it was business as usual back in the air but not really, after a good even if a little awkward day yesterday you and the crew were hit with the news that the mission had been moved up a week as to avoid contaminating the target valley with radiation. Great.
Warlock spoke at the front of the room and you knew moral was going to be low today
“Sir, no one here has successfully flown the low level course.”
You look at the coyote, he was right, the whole mission was going from bad to worse and the navy seemed to be asking the impossible from the team. It was really no wonder Maverick said that the mission would take two miracles.
Maverick pointed to the screen as the two aircraft moved towards the mountains into a steep dive. Even while still on the ground you could already hear your ears ringing.
“Teamwork” you heard Maverick speak up and your attention went to the man in front of the classroom “the precise coordination of these aircraft - is essential to both the mission’s success, and your survival.” Bradley, who was sitting next to you, turned slightly to look with an “y/n, we are so fucked” look, and he was right but thats what youre getting paid for and you both knew it.
Both of you looked back at the screen as Captain Mitchell explained “To maintain the lowest possible altitude, you’ll invert directly into a steep dive. Your target is an impact point less than three meters wide.”
You stared at the screen hard, the models made it all look easy but all of you knew the task was anything but.
“The two-seat aircraft will paint the target with a laser bullseye.The lead single seat will breach the reactor by dropping a laser-guided bomb through an exposed ventilation shaft on the surface.” maverick continued and you sighed “That’s miracle number one.”
He explains how the second plane would need to deliver the kill shot and that was the second miracle. Once things were explained teams were made and pilots were sent up in the air to what was most obviously a practice for almost certain death.
You and Bradley sat in the officers room with the rest of the pilots who were still grounded, the tension in the room could be felt and the triple seat couch you were both sitting on felt claustrophobic.
“This is insane,” Bradley muttered, you stayed quiet and felt the tense energy of the man next to you.
There was a beat so silence before you tried to say something to cheer your best friend up
“Insanely good for our careers” You put up your hand for a high five with a dumb smirk.
The stupid way you said it caught him so offguard that he snorted and covered his face with his hand, hiding an amused smile trying not to give you the satisfaction of a terrible joke “I hate you so much” he breathed.
A moment of silence spanned between the two of you as he was called up in the air with Halo and Omaha.
The day felt unproductive, all teams managed to miss the target, that including phoenix, bob and yourself, there was no one to blame except the extremity of the situation, it wasn’t that the crew was incompetent but that the task was simply inhuman.
You get out of your plane and in frustration take your helmet off, you can feel your teeth grinding against themselves, your sole focus on the ground beneath your feet as you walk.
You look at the familiar voice calling your name and find mavericks eyes meeting yours, he was all geared up and a feeling of dread pooled into your stomach, great, just what the exercise was missing.
“You going up there?” You nudged your head to the planes, you tried to control the annoyance in your voice but it was futile, Maverick only nodded.
“You’re kidding” you say unamused and huff as you walk towards him
“Enemy planes will be at the site of the mission, it would be naive not to train for it” he spoke firmly but not unkindly, more like just a matter of fact.
His words at the conference room still bounced in your head as you looked at him. “To survive this mission you’ll have to pull beyond that, even if it means bending your air frame.” You tsk and look away.
“Cant you give us a break? Try to complete the course first?” You look at Maverick again but before he can even answer you lift your hand to stop him “there’s no time, I know…” you lower your head with a sigh.
Maverick sighed too and just nodded “not nearly enough time, no” he managed to have a small smile tugging at his lips when you looked at him again and you frowned a little, wondering what in the conversation may have caused it.
You shook your head “I’m just glad there’s no pushups at stake” you start walking away and you hear Captain Mitchell’s voice
“y/n?” You turn around and you notice he had a subtly worried look in his eye
“You’ll get it eventually”
Nodding you turn around and leave for the officers room again. Interactions with Captain Mitchell… no, Maverick, seems to become easier by the minute. You were glad things weren’t awkward after the beach and bar but you just felt like there was something he was holding back, something he couldn’t help but want to let out, you didn’t know how you knew it, you just did.
Returning to the officers room you plopped down on the couch with a scowl, rooster nodded his head at you but you just shook yours, hangman turned to look at you but said nothing, he seemed to notice your frustration, suddenly another voice joined the comms next to phoenix, bobs and coyotes.
The room was quiet listening to the conversation between the pilots in the air, tense when they realized Maverick was on the air, hangman moved to stand next to the comms and leaned in, he was concentrated.
“Talk to me, Bob. Where is Maverick?” Coyote spoke through the comms
“I’m a little busy right now.” Bob sounded tense and you really understood why, not a beat after phonic tried to lighten things
Not moments after Captain Mitchell’s had a lock on them, he was ruthless, and you couldn’t blame him, if this were the enemy they would have no mercy… that’s why he can’t have it either.
It seemed like the room let out a collective sigh though the fight was not over, coyote was still on time and ready to finish the job.
“He’s not gonna make it” halo muttered from next to you and you tsk “he will”
You wanted to have faith, you did, but there was something bugging you, something was telling you he wouldn’t
The room was still tense when Captain Mitchell’s voice came through “What the?”
Coyote is still giving it his all when he seemed to respond to Maverick's previous statement without really meaning to. “ENGINE FAILURE, LEFT ENGINE IS OUT”
You stood up as fast as lightning and so did everyone else it seemed, all gathered around the comms like children around a campfire.
“What the hell is going on?” Harvard's face contorts into a worried frown and you instinctively look at Jake, color seemed to have drained out of his face.
“Bird strike” you look away and focus on Harvard, Bradley looked at you “gotta be”
“I’m on fire, Throttling back. Shutting off fuel. Extinguishing fire.”
Time seemed to slow down and you look back at the comms for a silver lining.
“Still spinning. I'm going to restart it.” Coyote's voice was tense and he was starting to panic, the slight curt cutting of his words gave it away
“Don’t restart! you can’t save it!” Mavericks' panicked voice came through “EJECT. EJECT.”
Jake grips the countertop hard, powerless. All he can do is listen.
All the people in the ground were clueless to what was happening, only hoping that their friend, YOUR friend was left with his life intact.
“Maverick to tower. We have a plane down. Send a halo.”
A soft smile seemed to leave his face when he saw you frustratedly get off your plane and grind your jaw hard enough to break all teeth, the situation was less than idea but he couldn’t help but to smile, sure, mission was shortened and he was about to make it ten times worse for all involved by going into the air himself but… there you were, grinding your teeth and almost stomping the asphalt down below your feet.
“Avalanche” he called out, he watched your head lift to see him and he schooled his expression, he knew that face, you were about to get pissed off by him.
“You going up there?” You nudged your head to the planes, and he just nodded
“You’re kidding” your unamused tone felt so familiar but so nostalgic at the same time, after all, it’s been a while since you’ve been annoyed at him.
“Enemy planes will be at the site of the mission, it would be naive not to train for it” he tried his hardest to not give you the goofiest grin, you weren’t venting to him this time, you really were annoyed if that hand twitch was anything to go by and to him there wasn’t anything sexier.
You tsk and look away, well, you weren’t really mad at him, but at the situation and maybe at him a little.
“Cant you give us a break? Try to complete the course first?” You look at him and he knows that you’ll answer your question yourself so he just stayed quiet, you lift your hand to stop him “there’s no time, I know…” you lower your head with a sigh. He took a moment to move his hand to his face and try to wipe the smirk.
He decided the most appropriate answer was just a sigh and a nodded “not nearly enough time, no” he couldn’t help it anymore and he couldn’t resist the small smile tugging at his lips, You looked at him again and you frowned a little. He had to bite his inner lip.
You shook your head “I’m just glad there’s no pushups at stake” he sees you start to walk away and he can’t help but want to comfort you, despite how much he missed all of you, even the annoyed parts he never wanted to see you in a bad mood… despite how hot he might think it is.
You turn around and he feels his face shift involuntarily to a soft frown, all he wanted to say was “I love you, I know you got it in the bag” he settled for a
“You’ll get it eventually”
In the air he felt lighter no matter how many gs he pulled, hunting down Phoenix he told himself this was for the better, what he had told you was the truth, the enemy would be on the offense and one mistake could make a pilot not come home… he was not going to allow that.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when a sudden thud hit the cockpit “What the?” Then another until he moved the plane, it was a bird strike.
Dread pooled in the pit of his stomach when he heard a startled coyote telling them his left engine was out. Accidents in training were not common and he knew that first hand.
“I’m on fire, Throttling back. Shutting off fuel. Extinguishing fire.”
A bird strike was bad enough but this was downright catastrophic, his only saving grace was that coyote was keeping calm.
“Still spinning. I'm going to restarting it.” Shit
He tailed coyote to a safe distance and noticed how the fire was not yet extinguished, if he restarted it there was no way the plane wouldn’t blow.
“Don’t restart, you can’t save it!” This was becoming all too familiar and he hated every moment of it, he felt his voice start to show some of his internal panic “EJECT. EJECT.”
Coyote grunted and pulled the lever, “Maverick to tower. We have a plane down, send a halo”
Watching the parachute fall was everything he didn't want to remember, the weight on his arms, the taste of salt water on his tongue and the subsequent pity looks he received when they finally hauled them into the rescue boat.
He saw the rescue team head to the place where Coyote's parachute had landed, at least that was taken care of. Heading back to base and landing was the only thing he was able to do at the moment. Taking off his helmet he saw hondo walking his way and just rubbed his face, he just wanted to see one face comforting him, you.
“Paramedics already got to him, he's fine, a few minor injuries but fine”
A breath he didn't know he was holding finally left him “Thank god” he got off the plane, his feet planted on the asphalt “How is everyone inside?”
Hondo looked at him with a sigh, "You're asking about them or him?”
“All of them..” the two of them, rooster and avalanche. That's what he really wanted to ask
“Hangman is the most shook up, he ran to the infirmary as soon as they picked coyote up, Avalanche went with him”
Maverick tensed up and frowned lightly.
Jake moved his hand away from the bar like it was scalding hot, your eyes turned to Bradley and he returned the worried look. Everyone's eyes seemed to land on the same person yet everyone was too afraid to say something that would break the tension of the hard current thrashing beneath the surface, his jaw was clenched and the frown on his face was undeniable.
Hondo came into the room "they're taking him to the medical wing for checkups”
There was a moment of silence and Jake's body moved in tight steps out the door, you look back at your best friend, he responded with a nod and you followed right behind Hangman, it was going to be rough, and despite how he may act sometimes you know he's just a man, a man scared to lose his best friend.
He felt your presence behind him and then walking by his side but he said nothing, too focused on the ground in front of him to actually acknowledge you or the situation. The walk to the medical wing at the base was not long but it felt like an eternity, the air felt stale and full of the scent of sterile equipment, there was no one there yet.
You look around and see a sitting area, gently you take Jake's hand and guide him to sit there, he didn't protest he just followed. The two of you sit side by side and your hand doesn't let go of his.
You knew he wouldn’t say, but his consciousness was starting to weigh on him, the mocking words he’d told rooster before by some twisted turn of fate turned into himself.
“Hell be fine” you spoke softly, as if trying not to spook him, instead of an answer you felt his grip in your hand tighten.
There was only silence for a while until paramedics finally came in, Coyote was on a stretcher as he was wheeled in, Jake was up in an instant and so were you. A doctor came up to the two of you.
“How is he?” Hangman asked, his voice firm but tight
The doctor sighed, "Lieutenants-"
“Please doctor” You put a hand on jakes shoulder “its his wingman”
The doctor's face softened and nodded. “He'll be fine, there was no internal bleeding as far as we can tell and no signs of concussions, only a few bruises but we'll transfer him to the hospital overnight for observation.”
You sighed in relief and felt jakes should sag as the tension left.
“Thanks doctor” Jake spoke up and the both of you went to sit back down, before you did you looked at him
“Do you want some water? Something to eat?”
He was quiet for a moment, looking down and you looked around for a water dispenser, you found it and went to it but before you moved too far away you felt a hand grab your wrist, holding you back. He was looking up at you with a soft look in his eyes.
A soft smile appeared on your face “It's ok… I got you” your words felt like a whisper and his hand gently moved from your wrist to your hand, your hand was warm and soft, that seemed to ground him.
“Hell make it, doctor said he was fine” your fingers intertwine with his
“What if something changes?” he looked at your intertwined hands
You sighed and tried to smile in a way that would reassure him “It wont, Javy will be as good as new before you even notice”
Steady footsteps made the two of you look towards the hallway.
Cyclone was walking your way. The two of you stood up and saluted, Cyclone just waved the two of you off and kept his path to what you assumed was coyotes room. You rubbed your face and then looked at hangman who was raking a hand through his hair.
“I think it's best if we head for the rooms, today was… busy” you smile at him, and to be honest a cold shower didn't sound so bad at the moment
A soft smile tugs on jakes face as he nods “Yeah, guess you're right”
He stands up next to you and both of you leave the medical wing.
Cyclone closed the door behind him as he entered Coyote's room, he's banged up, but alive, being tended to by MEDICS.
Maverick finally made his way to the medical wing, only to see the silhouette of two people walking away, he was told coyote would be fine but he needed to see him personally, he was going to walk into the room but a nurse stopped him “Admiral Cyclone is in there sir” he internally winced, this was not good.
“Sir” he looked up at cyclone
Cyclone nodded at him “How are you feeling lieutenant?"
“I imagine” Cyclone moved closer to the bed "Lieutenant, I'm sorry to disturb you right now but I need to know how this happened, as you know the mission is very important. In the course of training, have you felt Captain Mitchell was forcing you beyond your natural abilities?”
Coyote's face contorted into confusion “Sir?”
“Would you say that his training left you no margin for error?”
“With all due respect sir I suffered a double engine failure at low altitude. I had no choice but to eject.”
Cyclone didn't falter. “Would you say that his training left you no margin for error?”
Coyote stayed quiet as the nurses felt the tension in the room but kept doing their work
“I know what you want me to say. I’m not going to say it. I did what the mission called for. Captain Mitchell is not responsible for what happened out there.”
Maverick waits anxiously. Cyclone emerges from the infirmary and approaches. There is a long, uncomfortable pause as Cyclone ponders what to say. Just as he goes to say it
Maverick and Cyclone turn their heads to see Warlock and Hondo approaching. “At the request of Hondo here, I’ve just been down to inspect Captain Mitchell’s plane.”
Cyclone looks at Hondo: “Well?”
Hondo shrugged, “Bird strike, sir.”
Cyclone frowns and leans forward as if he hadn't heard what was just said “Come again?”
Hondo cleared his throat “There’s bird guts all down the starboard side of Mav- Of Captain Mitchell’s plane, sir. Cotoye was flying in tight formation with him. I’m guessing the wreckage’ll show he took a flock of birds head on.”
Cyclone looks at Maverick for another beat, then walks away. Warlock follows, leaving Maverick and Hondo to share a look.
“Thanks” Maverick sighed, Hondo just patted his shoulder and walked away. Pete looked at the room Coyote was in and decided to pass on the visit knowing who went before him. It would be best if Coyote just rested.
He walked out of the infirmary, training today had, for obvious reasons been cut short and what Hondo mentioned about you was still rattling around his mind, you had said there was nothing between you and Hangman but he was nervous that might change.
He kept walking, his feet dragging him around base as his mind kept rambling about the two silhouettes walking closely next to each other while leaving infirmary, it was only normal for you to want to support a friend in need, after all that's what he was to assume the relationship between you and Jake was… friendship.
“Maverick!” he looked up to your voice to see you jogging his way, had he made it all the way to the living quarters?
“You saw Coyote?” Your face was soft but a small frown lingered on your brow and it gave your worries away, at least to him.
He sighed and put his hands on his hips “No, didn't get to him, Cyclone got to him first”
Your frown became a bit more pronounced “Admiral Simpson? Why? Is a coyote really ok? I talked to the doctor and he said Javy was fine if only a little bruised”
He shook his head “Coyote is going to be alright, im just guessing Cyclone wanted to get a first hand report about what happened”
“About the bird strike? He wanted to have first hand testimony about the bird strike?" he saw you cross your arms and that small hand twitch that revealed you were peeved.
“I'm guessing it's more than the bird strike” he looked at you, simply trying to lose himself in your eyes.
“Dont tell me he wants to put the blame on you” you scoff “I mean, I always got the vibe the two of you didn't exactly get along but that's ridiculous” Your voice was becoming more exasperated.
Maverick ran his hand over his face and shrugged “It somehow feels like it is” his voice almost a defeated whisper, his rational side felt like he shouldn't be telling you this, not his worries or his guilt he was your instructor not your partner no matter how much he wanted that to change that, but on the other hand… it was you, the only person who ever knew how to take all his worries away and now that you were somehow standing in front of him after too long, how could he ever deny himself the comfort of you.
You take a few steps forward to him “what?”
He finally looks at you again “It's my fault” he said quietly, he saw you shake your head no with a frown.
“¿Estás pendejo?” You sounded frustrated (Are you an idiot?)
“It’s not your fault” You interrupted him before he could get another word out and he felt his throat get a bit tight, he thought he had left the guilt of that day with goose behind but today just brought back too many emotions “why would you say it is?” you continued “Do you control birds maverick?”
“Listen, I'm in charge of the training, as your instructor I should've-”
“No, nada, no quiero saber nada” (No, nothing, I don't want to hear about it) He looked away and he felt your hand on his arm
“Accidents can’t just happen like that anymore? Without reason?” he noticed the difference, how your voice changed from frustration to trying to be reassuring, he had to look back at you after a second silence was present. “Maverick there's no way you could've known and if a Cyclone needs someone to blame for the accident then that's stupid.”
A soft smile lingered in his features as he felt that knot on his throat lessen its hold, the warmth on your hand on his arms felt natural but something seemed to have broken the bubble that held the two of you.
He looked at where the noise came from… Bradley.
Consoling maverick felt normal, it felt right so you were a bit startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat. You turned around to see Bradley standing there with a slight frown on his face, you looked back at Maverick again and patted his arm before stepping back again.
“It's not your fault, ok?” your voice was kind as you left and walked in rooster's direction.
You noticed him looking back at where Maverick stood but you decided it was none of your business and kept walking, soon enough you felt a taller presence walking next to you.
After a bit you found yourself sitting next to rooster on the steps of the living quarters building, despite the most recent occurrence with Maverick the conversation you had with Jake was still fresh in your mind, the thought of losing someone you care for, you looked down at your hands and took a deep breath.
“Can… Can I tell you something?”
Rooster nodded with a calm expression that you wished mirrored yours.
“I know the mission is one week away and all but” you look up at Bradley who just gives you a comforting smile and puts his hand on your shoulder reassuringly.
“Hey, I know that look, we’ll be fine, we're the best around” his eyes were soft with understanding “besides, you can tell me whatever you want to tell me when we are both chosen and in the carrier ready for take off, not a moment before… ok?
You nod and try to suppress a smile “yeah. Ok”
The whole thing with coyote had shaken you up a little, sure, you were aware of the risks that came with the job and that was something that called to you in the first place but seeing it right before your eyes made you shiver.
A moment of silence extended between the two of you and you felt the need to ask
“You ok?” You nudge Bradly softly, if this whole thing left you shaky you could only imagine how he felt, the story was all too familiar now, a pilot injured in a training exercise. You wonder if the memories of his dad came up.
He nods and shrugged “I’m fine, just a little shaken up too” he looks down “I just kept thinking that it was unfair, now that the whole team was friendly with each other and now he was gone” he looked at you again “but he’s not, and I’m glad for it”
Absentmindedly he combed his mustache, “you talked to Hangman?”
You nod “I did, but if you want to know about how he’s feeling you should ask him yourself”
“I did, I just know he opens up more with you” rooster gave you a wiggle of his eyebrows trying to lighten the mood and you couldn’t help rolling your eyes at him.
You smile and look down again “he’s… shaken up, he didn’t say much but he looked really stressed, I tried to assure him that Javy was going to be fine but he was still stressed, and I get it, if it were you in machado’s place I-“ you make a face and shake your head gently “I don’t even want to think about it”
Bradley offered a soft smile “hey, you don’t have to, mission is gonna be fine and we’ll be heroes, doesn’t that sound great?”
You smile softly “yeah, it does. As a celebration I might take time off”
“A vacation does sound nice” rooster hummed and looked up at the darkening sky “we could stay in Miramar”
You snort “wouldn’t that be like work?”
He rolled his eyes “not like that, I mean like, we could rent a place and stay, no work included you know?”
You smirked “someone’s feeling nostalgic about Miramar”
Rooster huffed and smiled “yeah, I do have some good memories here, some… not so good but there’s always space for better ones”
You nod “I wonder if anyone else in the group is gonna take vacations after”
He nudged you with his elbow “are you thinking about someone with a southern accent?”
You tsk and push him “what are you even saying? it was a general question”
The rooster looked away and shrugged, “Maybe you’re thinking about someone older?”
A frown appears in your face and you tilt your head to the side “Maverick? Why would I?”
Bradley shrugged “you two seem to get along well lately”
An exasperated sigh left you “The man was saying that the whole accident with Coyote was his fault, i was just telling him it wasn't”
Bradly looked pensive for a little bit and just nodded quietly
“Listen I know this whole thing gave you a life experience or whatever but it’s- I’m not- … I’m not there yet, not quite”
CANON DIVERGENCYYYY, sooo I decided to give the bird strike part to coyote because, I wanted Jake to feel the stress and dread that comes with the very real possibility of losing someone you love, I wanted him to have a bit more perspective on why saying shit to Bradley about his dad was so fucked up in the first place, and also oooff what was that between you and him, is maverick losing ground? anyways see ya on the next one peeps love yaaa xoxo.
