Half-crazy, half-lazy

Just a girlie with peculiar fixations and weird AU ideas and plot bunnies

[meowmikakuti]

Some random thoughts on the "Pete Maverick Mitchell and Ethan Hunt are brothers" AU:

1. Firstly, S tier AU idea. Amazing one.

2. Some possible hcs I have on them (slight context - TG86 and MI1 take place around the same time)

- Ethan is a better team player than Pete, in that he'll probably cooperate just for the work of it. But hes also just as distrusting because of the events of MI1.

- He'd probably have issues trusting Viper and Jester at first because of what Phelps and Claire did to him. And here's where his similarity to Pete would surface.

- He's a lot more comfortable with his name than Mav is with him, mostly coz he got recruited into the IMF where most people didn't seem to give a flying shit about what you were before because they prolly weren't too better. But around Navy people his hackles rise because hes also suffered with Pete in foster care.

- He and Pete were in foster care till they were 17 but got separated and didn't reunite till TG86/MI1.

- Hunt was their mothers last name, which Ethan adopted (I usually hc her name as Laura, but in the crossover one id take it as Margaret since Ethans mom is actually named Margaret).

- He'd probably avoid Goose at first because he reminds him of Jack too much.

- He might end up knocking the sense into Pete about consequences and teamwork and Pete begrudgingly agrees to cooperate with Ice and the others.

- I imagine that their reunion happens because the events of the first act of MI1 cause an internation ruckus and the description of Ethan was really bad but enough to match Pete, so on the day of Hop 31 before the hop the Navy police arrests Pete very suddenly and it's a chaotic day, and then they just as suddenly acquit him after some not so professional interrogation, but they find some "evidence" found from Ethan containing a word that only Pete knows and then he races to his quarters before anyone can stop him. And the guys reach to find him in a siblings fight with Ethan Ala Natasha and Yelena in Black Widow.

👇👇 in case anyone's confused -

- He'd probably weaponise the shit out of the fact that no one really knows what happened to Duke either.

- Luther and Goose would bond so hard over the respective feral raccoon, Jerry-esque smart dumbos they chose as their friends.

Edit on 20/07/26: the guys would be so confused at the beginning because WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE A TWIN BROTHER?! AS IF ONE LUNATIC SHITHEAD WASN'T ENOUGH!?

Then they'd probably be impressed by Ethans more....teamworky nature, confused by his seemingly random bursts of wariness and probably confused even more by what the hecky is his actual job. Sure, his brother is also a lunatic, but atleast you can describe his job in public, a pilot.

Also, Ethan probably calls Ice "Popsicle" at some point.

Also I imagine that Pete wouldn't be too surprised by his brothers profession, going from "what?!" to "ykw, not that surprising" to "how the heck did you end up with them" to "ffs E"

Yeah I hc Pete calling Ethan "E" and Ethan calling Pete "Petey Bittey". Also, Pete's older by 5 minutes

That's......it for now

Thank you for reading my ramblings

[meowmikakuti]

I have 14 followers

Yay!

[meowmikakuti]

GUYS DO Y'ALL THINK THAT "IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING" BY JP SAXES AND JILIA MICHAELS CAN APPLY TO ANY AND ALL MAVERICK SHIPS?!

This is the song

[meowmikakuti]

Rewatching Top Gun today for fic research purposes and DAMN MAVERICK, YOU BABY FACED CHAOS GREMLIN!

[meowmikakuti]

HEYO TOP GUN PEEPS! BEEN A WHILE

While I was figuring out where to start my mumbo jumbo AU from, I had another plot bunny!

PennyMav college rivalry AU, their rivalry being on who can be the more notorious prankster on campus and get away with it

[lukaslmao]

This was a fun doodle on procreate!! I’ve been trying out the program and it’s been pretty fun!!

Mr Miyagi and the kid he adopted from Newark

[meowmikakuti]

In some weird universe, Miles Teller and Jack Quaid are brothers

Iykwim

[meowmikakuti]

For a weird change, a Top Gun AU idea that's not focused on either Mav or Goose

But instead features Iceman as the uptight, rule following, already engaged younger and older prince of a royal family that's super uptight and Sarah as the fun loving but extremely capable physiotherapist who's hired to take care of Sr. Kazansky.

(For anyone who's interested, there's this Bollywood film I really like, named Khoobsurat, the 2014 one, and that's where I've taken the basic plot from. And for anyone whos seen the film, Ice is basically Vikram and Sarah is Mili)

[meowmikakuti]

Another older post but.....

I genuinely think that had Maverick had bio kids of his own, they'd grown up kinda differently than Bradley is implied to have in canon. Not because Maverick would suddenly love Bradley less or he'd be a shitty dad, but other factors (might be unpopular, but I think that despite the emotional mess he is, Maverick could have been a decent dad, if not a good one had he embraced that role earlier.)

[towering-book-piles]

Adding in my two bits, cause I love this take and its a thought I have also had before.

Mav would be a dad. If he'd be a overly involved or even a good dad is up for debate, especially considering his past. But he would be a present dad. In a world where Pete has his own kids, I think op is very correct in that they would not be treated like Braley was, and for alot of reasons.

Firstly and most importantly. Bradley isn't Mavs kid. They are very important to each other and no one loves a good Bradson and mavdad fic or hc more than me. But that doesn't change the fact tha Bradley woll always be Nick and Caroles son before he was Mavs. And while Mav will not love Braldey any less for the genetic connection, how he treats and raises Bradley will differ. He will always defer to Caroles wishes and wants for her child, what she and Nick thought was best for Bradley. Maverick will always be third best. And when Carole dies and Nick has been long dead, third best, and second guessing will not be enough.

It also wouldn't happen with his own kids. Whether a mother was in the picture or not, dependent on the hc or who the mother was, but that's not relevant to this hc. Pete would be present in all ways he could for his kids. This is a man raised in a broken Foster system who has never had whole family in living memory to call his own. He is absolutely scared and traumatised, but he's gonna raise those kids as his own, no question. I think deep down, he more of a family man than most would think, he just never had the chance.

There is also ofc, the factor of Pete being older. He was about 19-21 at most when Bradley was born. Nick and Carole were married and older than him, and took on having a child too. Now, the timeline for Mav having his own kids could vary ofc, but if in keeping with canon, it would probably be after Top Gun, and Mav would be about 24 at the youngest, probably closer to his late twenties really. He's older, more mature, and wiser. He already seen and made mistakes with Bradley and is determined not to do thay with his kids, much less how he was treated as a kid.

Another factor that would massively impact his decision for kids and being involved is threat of foster system. If, in some hc or fics, his kids didn't have a family or livable placement,he woudl absolutely step up and take them in to keep them from the foster system. His own trauma would 100% be driving that decision, and have its own ramifications.

All in all, Bradley would absolutely not be raised the same by Mav as Mavs own bio kids and there alot of different reasons for that. It doesn't mean Mav would love Bradley any less, but it would change his attitude and approach to raising the children, which would have alot of impact I think.

[caystar13star]

As someone raised by a man who was adopted and had no genetic connection to anyone in his life until I was born I can concur that Mav’s own biological children would “feel” different in his mind. He would latch onto that connection (child) and do everything he could to give them the best life.

Where he might let Bradley get away with being disrespectful, a little hesitant to discipline (because Bradley has absolutely thrown the “you’re not my dad” line at him before), he’s going to have more of a backbone with his own kid. This is his kid and it’s his responsibility to teach them everything a parent is supposed to.

He’s also going to be very affectionate. His kid is not going to be touch-starved like he was. Every time little arms reach up to him he’s instantly scooping up that baby, kid, teenager who is still taller than him and cuddling them all they want.

[meowmikakuti]

Thank you so much for your perspective. I also think he'd be like that

[meowmikakuti]

thank you for tagging me @topgaysbestpilots :))

Last song: don't let me down by daya and everybody wants to rule the world by tears for fear

Currently watching: honestly nothing special, planning on watching Kpop Demon Hunters tho, and both TG86 and TGM for fic research purposes

Currently reading: miscellaneous Top Gun fics here and there, also "The Bending of the Bonsai Branch" by @dr-doomsduck, its really fun to read

Current obsession: bunch of things really

Currently working on: the mammoth plot bunny, followed by less burning but equally chaotic AU ideas. I genuinely dont know what bizarre obsession my brains got with dissecting the undisputed MVP of the Top Gun franchise aka Nick Goose Bradshaw and his friendship with one Pete Maverick Mitchell, but well. Gotta get it all outta my system to operate properly :')

Tagging (if you're up to it) - @bearsinpotatosacks and @towering-book-piles :)

[meowmikakuti]

A thought I have had for a while something I had mentioned in a comment on one of the posts by @bearsinpotatosacks

The fandom wide headcannon is that Ice grew up at best with an emotionally constipated dad or at worst, with an abusive one. So he'd probably know better than anyone, what's it like to be molded into an image he doesn't really want.

And we all can infer that the molding of Bradley into Gooses image was guilt on Mavs part, wish to connect with the dad he never got to know on Bradleys part, and probably somewhat the same on Caroles part though maybe she also tried to ensure that he'd be able to be his own man.

But on the part of Ice and the other guys from the 1986 July class, what if it was overcompensation? Because they never knew Goose that well to begin with.

It feels weird since the movie implies that Gooses known most of them longer than Mav, and stated outright with Ice and Slider, but there's a difference between being genuinely close to someone and being chill with them. Similarly, there's a difference between being friendly with people and being friends with them.

So while the other guys were friendly and chill with Goose, they probably weren't that good of friends with him, not like Mav was. And they didn't bother actively because they didn't expect him to die. Maybe Maverick, but not him. Maybe particularly with Ice and Slider. And they probably felt the need to overcompensate with whatever they did know about Goose to Bradley.

Because otherwise I find it a little weird that everyone in Mavs life seemed okay with him not being able to separate Bradley from Goose.

[meowmikakuti]

Another older post but.....

I genuinely think that had Maverick had bio kids of his own, they'd grown up kinda differently than Bradley is implied to have in canon. Not because Maverick would suddenly love Bradley less or he'd be a shitty dad, but other factors (might be unpopular, but I think that despite the emotional mess he is, Maverick could have been a decent dad, if not a good one had he embraced that role earlier.)

[towering-book-piles]

Adding in my two bits, cause I love this take and its a thought I have also had before.

Mav would be a dad. If he'd be a overly involved or even a good dad is up for debate, especially considering his past. But he would be a present dad. In a world where Pete has his own kids, I think op is very correct in that they would not be treated like Braley was, and for alot of reasons.

Firstly and most importantly. Bradley isn't Mavs kid. They are very important to each other and no one loves a good Bradson and mavdad fic or hc more than me. But that doesn't change the fact tha Bradley woll always be Nick and Caroles son before he was Mavs. And while Mav will not love Braldey any less for the genetic connection, how he treats and raises Bradley will differ. He will always defer to Caroles wishes and wants for her child, what she and Nick thought was best for Bradley. Maverick will always be third best. And when Carole dies and Nick has been long dead, third best, and second guessing will not be enough.

It also wouldn't happen with his own kids. Whether a mother was in the picture or not, dependent on the hc or who the mother was, but that's not relevant to this hc. Pete would be present in all ways he could for his kids. This is a man raised in a broken Foster system who has never had whole family in living memory to call his own. He is absolutely scared and traumatised, but he's gonna raise those kids as his own, no question. I think deep down, he more of a family man than most would think, he just never had the chance.

There is also ofc, the factor of Pete being older. He was about 19-21 at most when Bradley was born. Nick and Carole were married and older than him, and took on having a child too. Now, the timeline for Mav having his own kids could vary ofc, but if in keeping with canon, it would probably be after Top Gun, and Mav would be about 24 at the youngest, probably closer to his late twenties really. He's older, more mature, and wiser. He already seen and made mistakes with Bradley and is determined not to do thay with his kids, much less how he was treated as a kid.

Another factor that would massively impact his decision for kids and being involved is threat of foster system. If, in some hc or fics, his kids didn't have a family or livable placement,he woudl absolutely step up and take them in to keep them from the foster system. His own trauma would 100% be driving that decision, and have its own ramifications.

All in all, Bradley would absolutely not be raised the same by Mav as Mavs own bio kids and there alot of different reasons for that. It doesn't mean Mav would love Bradley any less, but it would change his attitude and approach to raising the children, which would have alot of impact I think.

[meowmikakuti]

All great points dear Books.

Also adding some of my additional points to yours, because you've expressed them in a way similar to how I wanted to but wasn't really able to:

Bradley is first and foremost a Bradshaw and even Amelia is first a Benjamin. And I do think that that distinction would've made a lot of difference as well -

1. Because while I do think Mav wouldve been a good dad, I also think that he'd try his hardest to raise them to not be like him. And his solution for that? Overprepare them. Teach them basic survival skills, how to survive talking to adults, how to get themselves to any adult if he isn't there, how to take care of themselves. His reasoning probably being that he wasnt ready for his dad to not come home, despite Duke being a brilliant man, and he hadnt been ready for him mom to not be ready for the fallout and die due to the grief. So he'd probably raise them to be very prepared for the dad he might not come home despite how hard he would try to, because hes been there and he refuses to let his kids end up like him. And his solution for that is to prepare them. And adding to your point about foster system, absolutely. And this preparation would also be there in case anyone is unable to reach them in time.

But also in the process, they might also end up being a lot like him.

2. Bradley was always going to be a Bradshaw and Amelia a Benjamin. So let alone Amelia, who grew up protected by Penny who's clearly a good mother, but even Bradley, I think, grew up somewhat insulated from the harsher parts of the profession despite losing his dad to said side, and I think that whenever he was seen with Mav, he would've had an air of pity around him for "being left with the man who killed his dad" (not true in a way, but well scuttlebutt).

Those kids, wouldve been Mitchells first. And not just any Mitchell, but Pete Maverick Mitchells kids, and Duke Mitchells grandkids, in an environment thats hated their name since 1965. So while I do think that Mav would initially try to shield them from the rumours and the scuttlebutt, a hard awakening would happen sometimes when they're toddlers and he'd let them in on a very diluted version of why the people look at their dad with a weird look. But even after that, I do think that they'd still grow up in an environment where they'd probably see their dad get treated like shit at times for no good reasons. And idk why, I hc that they'd be initially rather polite and respectful to everyone, and in turn would get to hear comments such as ones wondering how are they Mavericks kids instead of being like well maybe he's not so bad after all, condescending pity that "such good kids" end up with a "loose canon like Mitchell" or even cracks at the idea of him being KIA and leaving them behind and probably indirect cracks at the trust others put in Maverick (Cyclone sure did at the start of TGM, and that guys more sensible than most). So I think that'd also harden them in a different way and make them more similar to him, coz they're like, we are being good then our dad gets shit on we're weirdos then he'd get shit on, we might as well do what we want to do. I can imagine them being exasperated with him clearly believing those rumours while he raised them to know 98% of them are bullshit but also maybe protective over him due to the same. And while they might not have the burning need to show that he isn't a coward or even their granddad, they'd probably still have the need to show that they're his kids.

3. Most in canon are frustrated with Mavericks inability to stay, not his actual ability to care. I can imagine his bio kids, growing up different but clearly loved and protected, just continuously face palming at their dad and his eventual spiel of "ruining whatever he touches" and them being the exceptions because he thinks they aren't like him and them being like, dad be fr you can love and forgive like it's no ones business but then act like only you can do that? Also we are way more like you than you imagine.

Because with Mav being a dad, there's a lot he'd try to avoid which would be front and center, which he probably won't think beyond the cursory "I ruin everything I touch" with Amelia and Bradley in canon - there's the ghost of his dad, the trauma from his mom just giving up and dying in her grief, his scars from the foster system, the stigma he's seen attach itself to anyone who sticks by him from Goose to Ice, and his overall reputation.

I don't have anything against Mavdad fics, I love them, they're my comfort read, but this is also a thought that I've had a bunch of times.

[meowmikakuti]

Another older post but.....

I genuinely think that had Maverick had bio kids of his own, they'd grown up kinda differently than Bradley is implied to have in canon. Not because Maverick would suddenly love Bradley less or he'd be a shitty dad, but other factors (might be unpopular, but I think that despite the emotional mess he is, Maverick could have been a decent dad, if not a good one had he embraced that role earlier.)

[meowmikakuti]

Another random Nick "Goose" Bradshaw headcannon - He's probably seen Maverick set his own broken nose after a scuffle. And it horrified and fascinated him in equal measures.

[meowmikakuti]

Random ass Nick "Goose" Bradshaw headcannon - Goose has really loud sneeze and snores. LIKE REALLY LOUD.

[meowmikakuti]

Another older post but

Maverick and Iceman are each others Tom and Jerry, Mav being the Jerry and Ice being the Tom, complete with Mavs slightly tan look and short height and Ices cooler look and taller stature (he's even named Tom for crying out loud!). Can't live with each other (atleast in the first movie), but would crash and burn without each other (yes, even Ice without Mav. Every good friendship or relationship is two ways).

Though I wonder, where does that put Slider, Goose and everyone else?

[meowmikakuti]

My brain randomly at 1am even though I'm yet to even begin my fic (also can have vvvveeerrryyy vague spoilers)

Awww the kiddie characters are so cute - Wait KAKUTI FOCUS ON THE PLOT

THE OCS MAY BE MINOR OR MAJOR BUT WE FLESH THEM OUT ALL EQUALLY. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

Mav is actually being a good dad what is happening am I going too OOC WHAT THE HELL -

Languages! Wait that doesn't add anythi- LANGUAGES!!

UNCLE GOOSE UNCLE GOOSE, WE NEED MORE UNCLE GOOSE!!!!

One side of brain - Wait. Goose won't act like that, the other side - coz we didn't see him do that dumbass, let him be a character, the one side - FINE.

"Talk to me Goose". "Where are you Mav?"

WHY ARE YOU SO KEEN ON DISSECTING THE PUREST FRIENDSHIP IN THE FRANCHISE KAKUTI REALLY -

THE AU IS GETTING OUT OF MY HANDS I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF RANDOM OCS I CAN'T HELP IT HELP - oh wait, I organized them. Heh. Sorry