I write fics for both Top Gun & Top Gun : Maverick
English isn't my first language, so pardon me for any grammar mistakes or mispellings, nevertheless, I try to make the fics I write enjoyable by every reader :)
P.S if there’s a trigger you would like me to tag please tell me!
In honour of reaching 800 followers, I have decided to create fics from this prompt list by your requests !! I will definitely put your requests in along with other fic requests for a better outcome....
So, please please please send in your prompt request !! I'll build up an idea and develop a fic from there :)
One more thing, when you are requesting, don't forget to include whether the prompt list number is from the fluff or angst section !! So for example : ( 1,2 Angst Iceman x reader )
Apologies for not writing for a while...Not that i have nothing in mind, my requests are full of amazing ideas...( I might close them for a while ) it's just that I've been really busy learning German to study there, attending courses, homework, tests, etc. So I might only be able to write during weekends :(
I have started writing Part 3 of The Miscalculation Series so expect the new part out this weekend
Warnings : Top Gun Maverick Spoilers, Character death, heavy angst, hurt no comfort, unrequited love, PTSD
Synopsis : Instead of Hangman saving both Maverick and Rooster, it was her. But at what cost ?
Reader's Callsign : 'Ghost' (She likes going so fast that she could vanish from radar, making her one of the best stealth & combat pilot) <@americaarse & @mercury-mae >>
Reader's Lastname : Jones
Rooster quickly stepped away from the room as he saw Warlock dismissing her.
He wondered, how she was able to act like nothing had happened.
He wondered, how she able to smile after losing 5 of her friends.
Yet he knew, there must've been a reason why she didn't want her name to be revealed to the public.
He thought of an obvious one.
She didn't want people to lay her off for a mission because of what happened.
She didn't want people to be "Oh are you okay ? After last time-" and look down on her.
Lieutenant Bradshaw pursed his lips while leaning on a wall, hiding from her. He could hear a heavy sigh come out from her mouth.
"Things would've been easier if I died with you guys."
He wanted her to know that he was there for her. Bradley wanted her to know that he knows that she's the only survivor
But he understood her.
She didn't want anyone to figure out, he hate to expose her, so he'll keep it that way. He'll keep her secret.
The flight training with Maverick and the others was somewhat harder for her.
She had done this before, it shouldn't be this hard but it was tougher, the turns, the climb.
All because she had a bad experience with uranium facility missions.
Two nights before the mission, she had went alone to the hard deck to drink her heart out. Facing the fact that she was going to another mission, exactly similar to the one that has caused too much fatality two years back.
"Long day? Now I know why people call you Ghost, cause you look like one" Penny patted her shoulders
"I hope your mission isn't tomorrow"
"It's the day after..." Her eyes laid still on the table, not looking up.
"I'll head on outside to clear my head, I'll come back to pay, Penny"
"hey, don't worry about it, tell you what- this one's on the house, you go and get a good rest"
Ghost weakly smiled at the bar owner, "Thank you, Penny"
Her steps took her outside the Hard Deck, at the beach, covered in darkness.
The beach at night feels completely different from the beach during the daytime. It is the same place, yet the atmosphere is changed. Gone are the daytime crowds of naval aviators playing football.
The darkness of the beach at night envelops with a sense of peace; the absence of the crowds illuminates other aspects of the beach not noticed during the day, it gives a feeling of loneliness and melancholy.
A tear unknowingly fell to her cheeks
Slowly beginning to move toward the sound of the water, her boot stepped through the dry sand, she hugged her arms, hearing a familiar voice speaking to her.
"Sulking alone, Jones ?"
She didn't need to turn around and face the person, she knew who it was.
Lieutenant Jake "Hangman" Seresin
He took a few steps to stand beside her. Jake glanced at the female lieutenant in her brown uniform, her bun still neat, the thing he last expected was her tear stained face.
Her eyes glued onto the dim quivering lights reflecting the moon on the water.
He was going to regret his next words, he knew it. He shouldn't have said it. yet he did.
"Are you crying ? Or are you just afraid of not being picked as the foxtrot team for the mission ? Or are you afraid of failing- no dying ?"
His smug face had her enough
"Am I not pretty enough ?" Her tone was sharp, as if it was demanding for an answer.
"Am I not skilled enough, smart enough, good enough for you that make me less of a woman ?" She had finally looked at the blue eyed man in his eyes.
Her bloodshot eyes that were so easy to be noticed by everyone around her wasn't the main thing that made his heart ache.
Yet he looked at her with both of his eyebrows raised
"I do like you, yea, but were you....disgusted on the idea of me loving you ? I don't get it, really...."
"The part where you unfriended me, treat me like the bubonic plague, insult me then look down on me just because I love you ?"
"Y/n"
She loves him ?
"You've said enough, Jake. It's MY turn to speak."
"You've never treated me like all the other woman you met, what did I do wrong ? What do I have to do to get noticed by you ? To have our friendship back ?"
"We can never have our friendship back, I can't be friends with someone like you, I can't have you as my lover." He answered her, still lying to himself.
He had his chance to confess, he was alone with her, no one would see how less of a man he could be. No one was there to make fun of him, he could say what he was feeling to her, that the feeling was mutual.
But he didn't.
"It's so unfair, you know..."
"I really wanted it to be with you, even after everything, it never made me love you any less. I'm disgusted at my feelings. Because somehow, in a very twisted and unknown way, even if you didn't love me back, It made me happy, I was able to love you"
A tear cascaded from her eyes, chewing her lower lip looking at him
"I really wanted it to be you, until I finally understood that I had no chance, until I understood that you didn't want me and so-"
There was a pause in between her words, she let out a heavy sigh before continuing
"I have to let you go"
It hit him.
He can never make her hate him, it was hurting him.
The fact that she was able to love him even after what he did, how he treated her.
"After this mission, If I survive, no, If we survive, I'm letting you go, Jake."
"That's what you wanted right ? To be free of me, to unknow me, to be strangers and get rid of me....to lose me?" His heart was crunched, like someone was squeezing it with their palms.
This wasn't what he wanted, he never wanted any of this.
His lips weren't able to say no, he was screaming no internally, but no words were spoken out.
"Maybe I was destined to fall in love with people I can't have..." She wiped her tears with the palm of her hands, looking back at the stars twinkling above the sky.
"You think you'll die during the mission ?" Was the only thing he could respond
"I want to die."
This earned a frown on his face, why would someone want to die ? Why did she, out of all person wanted to die ?
He felt like a part of the y/n he knew had already died. The girl he knew was bright and cheerful, she wasn't all dark and gloomy.
Hangman had thought it was partly his fault for making her turn out like this. He thought that her suffering was the result of his actions, the guilt slowly reached his head, however he did not know the full story.
He didn't know that she was the sole survivor of the miscalculation tragedy.
She walked away from him for the very first time after she finished speaking.
The look on her face that night lingered his mind even during the mission, how she was able to give Rooster a tight hug after he was named wingman for the mission.
"Good luck, Bradley, come back safe" she caressed his broad back.
"You be safe too, Y/n" his arms placed on her waist, lifting her up into the air with his embrace.
Hangman eyed the two figure hugging, questioning her shift of personality, acting like nothing had happened between them the previous night.
Nothing did happen.
She just told him that he'll finally be free of her after the mission.
And as they sat on their jets, waiting for orders to be sent as backup, she could hear how Maverick's plane has been shot down, along with Rooster's jet.
She eyed the sky from her seat, her heart pumping faster, Maverick and Rooster had no backup, they were going to die if they had no backup.
"Requesting to fly for backup to dagger one and two"
"Negative, Ghost, take off unauthorized"
The feeling that she experience two years ago came back bit by bit, how she begged for backup but no one came.
The carrier had lots of backup plane, yet none were sent off to help her team with the enemy.
The answer was firm. No
Ghost found her fingers switching her engine on, the sound of distant rolling thunder kept going until a higher pitch of noise
She could hear their yells,
"What the hell is she doing ?"
"Y/n..."
"Lieutenant Jones, this is an order ! Turn your engine off, get back to your station immediately or else-" Cyclone raised his voice.
She was ready for take off, ignoring all the scolding and threats that were coming into her ear, she pushed the lever, increasing her speed for take off.
Jake eyed her jet as the plane sped through him, releasing itself from the carrier ship, away to help Rooster and Maverick. He can't help but worry. He was concerned that something might happen to her.
This was it. It made up his mind. He can't let her go to anyone else, he won't let anyone have her. She won't take no for an answer, he won't give up on her too.
He promised himself he would confess how he feels to her after the mission.
"Give'em hell, Ghost" He mumbled under his breath, releasing a small smile.
Ghost scanned the sky with her eyes, looking back at her radar to see where the F14's position was at.
"Bingo" She eyed the fifth gen enemy jet, immediately missile locking it, blowing it up to pieces.
"Ghost !" Rooster breathed, eyeing the female pilot who had just saved their lives
"Are you all good ?" She asked Maverick and Rooster
"We're terrific" Maverick answered
She was relieved, like a huge weight had just been lift off from her back, she was relieved, she was able to save them. She didn't have to lose anyone else that was close to her.
Yet she could hear a rapid beeping sound, her eyes widened, realising that another enemy plane had just shot her jet
"Shit !" She cursed
"Y/n !" Rooster called out
"Shit, you guys go ahead, I'll be right behind you-"
"but-"
"This isn't a debate ! You have no self defence weaponry, I'll hold them off, you go now !"
"She's right, Bradley, She isn't called Ghost for no reason"
"If I don't come back in 5 minutes...."
"You will, you must come back." Rooster interjected
Maverick increased the speed of the F-14 Jet, speeding through the clouds, successfully landing on the carrier ship.
Ghost tried to avoid the other missile that was fired to her, however her hand was losing control over the machine. The jet was not working together with her.
She fled to a snowy mountain, back near where the enemy base was at, she couldn't eject on top of the ocean, it would get her killed.
Hence after the engine of the plane had given up and the tail had caught on fire, she pushed the eject button, flying her up onto the sky.
With her parachute landing her onto the snowy surface, the distant barks of dogs were audible, footsteps of people running were coming closer, she unclasped her harness attaching herself to the parachute
She felt her whole body working; her leg muscles running warm, fresh chilly air entered her lungs and blood flowed into all her limbs. Facing forward, she began to sprint as quick as she could.
Her boots pounded heavily onto across the ground causing snow to stain her pants. Her eyes were stuck on the track ahead that she had not seen a log in front of her.
Her chest tightened, breath speeding, as she gasped while managing to force her eyes shut, bracing for impact. She was powerless versus gravity; falling.
Thud.
She stayed still for a second or two, her chest was hurting, her head was aching from the impact of the fall. He face half covered with fresh snow along with more snow landing on her skin.
She palmed the ground, letting out a groan, standing up on her feet before she pumped her legs again, gaining momentum with every push.
Her hair blown by the wind, covering her face. Using her palms, she quickly placed her hair away to clear her sight.
Then it all went away.
She couldn't remember why she was running. The small flakes of snow above the freezing air continued to fall as she took every step she could to run for her life.
She darted past multiple trees, even when she was in an area she didn't recognize. Her legs took her to wherever was far enough.
Stealing a few glances on her back to check whether there were still people and german shepherds on the run for her, their voices were already inaudible.
Ghost went to the nearest tree to catch her breath, releasing heavy pants with her palms on her knees. She looked at her surrounding.
She was in a forest covered with snow.
Yet Her mind lingered at the man who she was willing to let go after this day.
She had no problem if she died here. The navy would have already presumed her dead by now, no one had to mourn for her, her body could freeze here and no one would discover it, besides the enemy.
No.
She scolded herself.
No.
There are people waiting for her. Rooster, Phoenix, Maverick, Payback, Fanboy, Bob, the others...
She eyed at the enemy's base nearby, that must be the base that Maverick and Rooster stole the F-14 from.
The base that was on fire, surrounded by hordes of people attempting to kill the flame. She grabbed a small telescope from her pocket, eyeing for any plane left.
There was one F-18.
Her eyebrows rose, why didn't Maverick and Rooster took the F-18 instead of the museum piece plane.
Y/n released a deep breath, shaking her whole body before she head down towards the hill and steal a plane.
"Come on, give me strength guys..."
She wore her helmet, with her callsign decorated on it, glancing at the base, her breath quickened, running once again.
She stopped at the nearest tree to the base, waiting for the soldiers to pass.
A loud bark had her attention, the people that were chasing her was close.
"Stop !" She could hear a yell as well as a gunshot firing at her
This caused her to bolt towards the building. Focusing to where she was going, she sprinted a bit quicker.
Another few shot was fired.
Her body jolted forward, earning a gasp from her, yet adrenaline surged through her veins, blocking everything she was feeling. It was like a shield for her.
A thin layer of sweat covered the nape of her neck, keeping her breath steady, she noticed that the jet was getting closer.
She pulled every plug, immediately climbing up onto the jet, starting the engine.
Her eyes were glued onto the runway, ignoring the gunshots that were fired at the jet she was in.
180 mph.
It was enough for her to take off, pushing the lever as hard as she could, she felt her body lift from the air along with her plane as they were above the ground.
Increasing the speed more and more, she flew fast enough to turn on her location.
"Uh, sir ? We have a signal coming from Ghost but it says here she's..."
"She's what?" Warlock asked
"She's supersonic on an F-18?"
"That's impossible- her plane was shot-" Cyclone stopped his sentence
"That kid stole a plane like they did..." He answered himself.
"She's going too fast, sir"
"They don't call her ghost for no reason..." Warlock scoffed, smiling under his breath
"You know she has to face the consequences for insubordination right ?" Cyclone spoke
"Let the kid land, Cyclone"
Meanwhile Maverick, Rooster, Hangman, Phoenix and the others eyed on the speeding F18, about to land.
Jake's heart beat faster. The moment that he had heard she was coming back behind and that her plane got shot down, it worried him to hell.
"Where is she ?" He questioned frantically at Maverick
"She said she was just behind us, she'll be here in 5, she has to" Rooster answered back
Yet 5 minutes had past and there were no signs of her. Ghost's location had been off the radar, causing them to worry.
The speeding F18 towards them was a relief.
Ghost eyed the carrier ship in front of her, preparing to land. It was a rough landing for her, only being able to drive the jet with one hand.
She felt a sharp pain as she landed the plane.
Cheers were heard from every direction as she exited the plane, her right hand on her left abdomen.
She let out a smile, towards Rooster, immediately spotting him from the crowd, as she climbed down the stairs, she wanted to meet Rooster, she wanted to tease him about how she managed to go back safe.
But her actions were prevented from two strong arms wrapping itself around her. Lieutenant Jake "Hangman" Seresin had sprinted to see her first, immediately placing his arms around her, releasing a few sighs of relief.
This took her by surprise, his hug was warm, a hug that said he was so scared of losing her, a hug that he won't let go.
The pain came back from when she landed the pain. It was on her left abdomen.
Jake felt his uniform wet, looking down at her figure, his eyes widened at the sight of it.
Her hands were covered in blood, her fighter suit was stained dark red, he immediately looked at her eyes.
It's as if everything was happening in slow motion, his heart raced, frightened of what was going to happen next. She flashed him a thin smile, letting out a breath, shifting her vision to her bloody hand.
Hangman breathe heavily, looking at the woman he loves in front of him. His hands felt warmth from her for the first time.
Her alluring eyes that never failed to make his heart twitch was slowly losing its light. She had a weak smile on her face. Maintaining the eye contact, he knew her heart was deeply hurt after everything.
His action, his words, he knew it tore her apart. Her expression says it all.
She hid all her pain beneath a smile but behind it, he was finally able to see all of her emotions by just looking into her eyes that moment.
"Jake..." She weakly exhaled, feeling her energy draining every second.
It must've been the adrenaline. The adrenaline that worked as a shield for her was blocking the pain. However, it was all gone now and all she could feel was pain.
Her knees became weak as she finally gave up. Feeling herself being pulled downed by gravity.
Jake Seresin was swift enough to catch her before her figure made impact with the cold ground. He didn't know what to do other than protecting her head with his other hand before she touched the ground.
His vision still glued on her eyes, the warmth of life slowly being stolen away by the cold embrace of death. He looked onto her wound, the blood wasn't stoping anytime soon.
He sees it real and true in front of him.
"You're gonna be okay...." He told her
"You listen to me..."
"Keep your eyes open"
"don't you dare close them" She tugged onto his sleeves, her eyes got heavier, slowing down her blinking. He eyed at the entry wound from her suit, frowning
"Jesus Christ, There's at least two bullets here, I need a gurney here ! FAST ! She needs help !"
People rushed back and forth to help her,
"N-Not treating me like a d-disease, Jake ?" She weakly breathed
"Y/n..." He looked at the amount of blood gushing out of her.
"You're finally getting rid of me-"
"I-" He couldn't form words to reply her. A sob rose in his throat as he cried in a low moan. His eyes were prickling with tears, unable to hold it anymore, he freed them.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm so sorry" the words came out like a whisper. He couldn't do anything but feel all the regret building up.
She gently stroked his palms which tried to stop the blood gushing out from her abdomen. Using a small energy to give him a weak smile.
"I forgive you~" she weakly whispered. and it was at that moment that she truly forgave him.
She was a forgiver. Her heart was too large, that she managed to forgive the man who broke her heart. The man who took her for granted and looked down on her. She managed to forgive the man who had hurt her ever so deeply.
He looked at his palms which was pressing onto her wound,
"Didn't I tell you, I wanted to die.." She said lowly
"Y/n...please" He begged
"It's not supposed to be like this, I'm supposed to tell you how I actually feel..."
"That the feeling is mutual, that I like you too and I thought you deserved someone better than me-" He manage to let out.
"That's- good to know..."
"No, No, No, That's not supposed to be your answer ! Stay with me !"
"Don't die too soon, Jake..."
Her body went limp.
Lieutenant Seresin froze, a terrifying shiver running through his spine as his face crumpled in pain and his soul drowned in grief and guilt at the sight of her so not moving.
"Y/n," he murmurs.
"Ghost," He taps her cheek - thumb smearing through the red, he hoped for her eyes blink open - just enough to glance up at him.
He checked her pulse on the side of neck
Silence
Like his most cruel and horrifying nightmare getting played right in front of him, her body was limp, a line of blood going out of her mouth and falling to the side of her cheeks.
He's never seen her like this before. He's never seen her torn down and he fondled her body with his fingers. He hoped for the slightest flinch, his eyes avoiding the blood dribbling down on his hands and arms and wets his pants and makes patterns all over the floor.
Jake Seresin was in denial, he didn't want to believe it.
He can't.
He didn't remember what it was like to lose someone, what it's like to be broken.
He felt like his heart had been ripped out. A state of misery that he couldn't see the end of the tunnel. A terrible weight fell onto his shoulders as she lay still on the concrete. It was as though a giant boulder landed on him and he couldn't straighten out.
He should've never said those words.
He should've never reacted that way.
He should've told her sooner.
"Jesus Fucking Christ," he says again like it'll mean something - like it's actually a request or a beg and he hasn't been to church since he was a young boy.
"Please," he begs to no one. "Please."
"Please wake up"
"It wasn't supposed to be like this" he choked, trying to blink away his tears which fell nonetheless.
"anyone but you...."
Ghost was never a silent girl – he always heard her before he saw her. Her voice never failing to make a smile grow on his face every time she ranted and cooed at him for whatever mundane things happened in her life that she dramatised enough to make it seem like it was the end of the world.
That was before he unfriended her.
It was just one of those things he loved about her.
But this time she was silent.
Unmoving.
lifeless.
"Y/n !"
It makes his world fall apart.
He held her tight in his arms, his eyes never left her as he let the tears flow.
"Please--I can't do this alone, not without you"
"come back to me"
No response.
Her eyes were shut, he could feel a searing pain in his heart. As more tears came, more thought whirled through his head.
"I wish I could turn back time, this is all my fault"
Y/n "Ghost" Jones is dead
and he was a minute too late.
A/N: Please don't hate me for this :) I thought of killing her because of the guilt and pain she had been feeling for two years and I thought it would be better if she just rests in peace... Sorry for not updating, I've been away overseas and I'm back now so yea ! And here you go @mermaidxatxheart and @darth-vaders-bitch !! Part 2 for 'Miscalculation' is here !! I hope you enjoyed the angst :)
hii just wanted to tell you your idea behind the Gucci call sign is genius!!! I love it so much!! So creative and personal ❤️❤️❤️
Awww, Thanks anon, I appreciate the love...
Gucci was a callsign I fell in love with and it just sounds so....classy and unique. Also, I recalled during Glen Powell's interview with a late night show saying you could get callsigns from anything, I thought of a character that was always hanging around with her Gucci purse, everywhere and when, she would always have her purse with her, earning her callsign, Gucci :)
Hey Anon ! Although I'm intrigued by this idea, sorry to say that I'm not open to write nsfw fics currently :( Check out my request rules before requesting <3 Cheers !
Warnings : Top Gun Maverick spoilers, character deaths, angst, unrequited love, PTSD
Synopsis : Instead of Hangman saving both Maverick and Rooster, it was her. But at what cost ?
Reader's Callsign : 'Ghost' ( She likes going so fast that she could vanish from radar, making her one of the best stealth & combat pilot ) << Thanks @americaarse & @mercury-mae >>
Reader's Lastname : Jones
Part 2 : "A Minute Too Late"
Italics are flashback scenes !
She couldn't remember why she was running.
The small flakes of snow above the freezing air continued to fall as she took every step she could to run for her life.
With the speed she was running, the fresh, airy, cold wind blew her hair stronger. Her hair was normally in a tight and neat bun, regularly pulled back from her face, twisted and wrapped in a circular coil around itself. Yet in her current state, her hair was all over the place, especially after tripping on a log in attempt of escaping enemy territory.
Her breath came in short gasps, forming clouds in the air as her calves burn, her boots pounded heavily into the layers of snow on the ground.
She darted past multiple trees, even when she was in an area she didn't recognize. Her legs took her to wherever was far enough.
Stealing a few glances on her back to check whether there were still people and german shepherds on the run for her, their voices were already inaudible.
Ghost went to the nearest tree to catch her breath, releasing heavy pants with her palms on her knees. She looked at her surrounding.
She was in a forest covered with snow.
The navy must've presumed her as KIA (Killed in Action) by now. The fighter pilot scoffed, releasing another breath, thinking what would people's reaction be when they get the news that she's dead.
The navy must've presumed her as KIA (Killed in Action) by now. The fighter pilot scoffed, releasing another breath, thinking what would people's reaction be when they get the news that she's dead.
She blinked twice, eyeing her decorated helmet. Her thoughts were right, there was no one else to fight for.
'This is it' she thought to herself. but How is it that on the few moments before her death, one person popped up onto her mind, the one person who made her fall in love when she knew she can't have him.
How was it possible that the man who didn't love her back and treated her poorly on her head ?
Why was Jake "Hangman" Seresin on her head ?
Y/n recalled the tragic incident that fell on her a few years back during a similar mission.
Ghost and her mission leader, Apollo were amongst the elite Top Gun fresh graduates sent to strike a uranium enrichment facility that caused danger.
The mission was a success.
The facility was bombed by the two foxtrot teams along with Apollo and Ghost herself. The enemy base were annihilated by the bombs as well, so there was no way a fighter jet could've still been able to fly.
The naval aviators hung their head high, proud of the mission they have conducted, all they had to do was fly home and celebrate.
"How 'bout this, dinner's on me tonight" Apollo said, giving a thumbs up to his wingman flying beside him, Ghost.
"Nah, let me treat y'all, have dinner at my place tonight, it's my son's birthday today" The curly brown haired man with hazel eyes, often known as Tree replied to his mission leader.
Cheers and Woos were heard from her helmet.
"Happiest birthday to little Ryan" Ghost chuckled, eyes focused on the clouds.
"How old is he turning, man ?" One of the two foxtrot team's backseater, Phantom asked
"He's turning one"
"Congratulations, Taylor !" Berlin, one of the other pilots called his first name.
"I can't wait to eat Mrs Taylor's cooking, especially her roast beef" Coma complimented with his southern accent
"Goddamit, Coma, some of us hadn't eaten our lunch yet" Apollo laughed.
All of them were so focused with their conversation, it was too late when a rapid beeping sound was heard from Apollo's jet.
Someone had a missile lock on him.
Too late to think, his jet was blown into pieces right in front of the whole squad.
No parachutes, the mission leader was dead instantly.
"Shit ! Hostile ahead ! Thunder 1 is down, I repeat, Thunder 1 is down !" Ghost exclaimed frantically to the carrier ship.
Her eyes shot open, her mouth hung open loosely, processing what had just happened to her mission leader.
From the black ashes of Apollo's jet, the enemy appeared in fifth generation fighter jets, two more appeared on their left and another two on their right.
"Thunder 2, do you have vision on the enemy ?" An officer from the carrier spoke
"We have 2 hostiles on our right, 2 more on our left and the leader right in front ! We're surrounded !" she replied, raising her voice, filling it with panic.
Where the hell did they come from ? They destroyed all fighter jets at the enemy base.
Shit.
This was a miscalculation by them. A miscalculation that would cost them their lives.
"Thunder 2,3 and 4, immediately retreat to the carrier ship immediately"
"Negative, they're all over the place, It's a dogfight alright." Tree replied, breaking left, destroying their formation with two of the enemy jets following him, enabling a missile lock on him and Phantom.
"Shit dude, Apollo's dead" Berlin said
The two foxtrot teams along with Ghost broke their formation, spreading themselves away from each other. Ghost pulled her lever as hard as possible, in attempt of going above the fighter jet that shot down Apollo's plane.
The beeping sound on her plane was easily recognisable by her, meaning that she had been missile locked, punching the flare buttons, while immediately breaking right, escaping the missile and the jet for a short while.
The corners of her eye caught Tree and Phantom being chased by two fighter jets, they were trying their best to shake them off, she took this opportunity by increasing her flight speed, placing a missile lock on one of the jets from behind, Ghost successfully shot one down.
"Smoke in the air ! Release flares !" She could hear the voices of Phantom, eyeing the yellow lights that were flying to smash the missile that was fired by the surviving enemy jet.
"Tree ! Fly above, play high ! let them be in front of you !" She yelled, before hearing Coma's southern accent, warning her.
"Ghost, you've got company on your back !"
"I see it" The jet that was previously chasing her came back.
Berlin and Coma fired a missile in attempt to help Ghost, only for the fifth generation jet spinning around, completely evading it. They had managed to shook of the jets who were chasing them.
"You guys save your missiles, save yourselves ! I'll be okay !" Ghost pulled her lever to the left, taking a sharp turn to the direction away from her friends.
With her fast speed, she was able to fly a circle fast enough to get behind the jet.
"Gotcha" The missile from her plane blew up her enemy's jet almost immediately.
"They have a missile lock on us, releasing flares" Berlin yelled
"Shit ! We're out of flares, Coma, We're out of-"
An intense yellow and orange color mixed with a low and deep noise was all visible to her the moment she gasped.
Not them, not them.
She lost her fellow pilots in front of her again.
Her breath became rapid while her heart beat faster, her eyes widened, immediately breaking the news to the carrier ship
"Thunder 3 is down, Their jets have been d-destroyed completely, z-zero survivors in sight !" She could hear Phantom's voice that were shaky but firm.
Releasing a missile on the enemy for revenge, Tree and Phantom managed to blow it up.
"Ghost ! You get out of here !" Phantom yelled
"Are you mental ? Do you think I can leave you two like that !" She yelled, angry.
"You're the only one fast enough to escape them, we'll grab their attention and you make a run for it !"
"What are you talking about ? Hell no ! I'm not leaving until all enemy jets are destroyed !"
"Ghost, if you don't go now, none of us are going to survive"
"No, you will survive. You go ! You two !" She eyed the jet Tree and Phantom were in.
"You guys go and I'll stay here." she proposed
"Thunder 2, you are ordered to retreat immediately." A voice on their ear spoke, they knew who and where it came from.
Even the carrier knew that the chances of the three of them surviving were really low. But her alone, with her speed of flying ? Her chance of surviving was 90%
Y/n "Ghost" Jones was one of the elite. Best of the best, and the navy couldn't afford to lose her.
"No ! I'm not leaving them to die !"
"Y/n, this isn't a debate !" Tree raised his voice
"We all know that you're the only one who can escape"
"Uh no ? For shit's sake Taylor, you have a kid who just turned one !"
"He has a mother who's gonna take care of him" His voice softened, tears beginning to blur her vision, she shook her head vigorously.
"Y/n...go" Phantom's voice ordered her
"Lieutenant Jones, you are ordered to return to the carrier ship immediately !" Her superior ordered, raising his voice
"you have backup, send backup..."
"Please..." a tear escaped her eyes, her voice cracked and shaky, her voice was practically begging to them that they would let her stay.
"Lieutenant Jones !"
Y/n let out a scream of agony, shutting her eyes close, breaking left sharply, maxing up her speed, flying as fast as the wind back as she was ordered to.
"Hey Jones ? Tell my family I love t-"
She could hear it again. The same explosion that blew up the other two jets of her friends. However, this time, it was louder.
She was already flying far away from where the enemy shot them down but the sound, the flashes of yellow, it would haunt her for the rest of her life.
"Thunder 4 is down.....I repeat," Her tone was like a whisper, whimpering with tears cascading her eyes.
She stopped for a while, a sob escaped her, covering her face with a shaking hand.
"Thunder 4 is down...."
Her jet sped through the clouds, Ghost disappeared from the enemy's radar just as expected, but her tears won't stop spilling.
She landed her plane safely, but what happened after that was, vague.
She rung the doorbell of Taylor's house that day, a smile plastered across his wife's face, expecting Ghost to be Mrs Taylor's husband.
They were waiting for his arrival, the interior of the house decorated beautifully with banners, the table was set for a family dinner, celebrating their son who had just turn one that day.
Yet it had to be her to break the tragic news to his wife, explaining, Lieutenant Jonathan "Tree" Taylor isn't coming back - ever.
A single drop of grief welled up from the corner of her eye as soon as she eyed Taylor's one year old son who wore a blue party hat with a cake in front of him, topped with a candle numbered '1'.
Her bottom lip quivered, and her shoulders dropped, her vision was blurry; it was difficult for her to see clearly. As more tears came, more thought whirled through her head, the guilt consuming her.
"I'm sorry"
No amount of apologies could bring him back.
Rosario Taylor fell to the floor in a disheveled heap as her grief poured out in uncontrollable tears.
The young lieutenant faced her friend's son, wanting to take her eyes off him so bad, it was hurting her even more.
The thought of it - losing a father on his first birthday, his son has to grow up without a father.
She blamed herself constantly, convincing herself that she was part of the reason why he died.
How she wished to die that very moment and every moment afterwards.
She couldn't remember what had happen after that, In a blink, she stood in front of five black caskets with no bodies in it.
The somber atmosphere surrounded her, she placed her palms onto each of their casket, guilt came after her again.
She constantly thought that it was better for her to die with them. It should've been her. Not them. If she did fight that day, she would've died and it would be fine for her.
Her parents were deceased and she has no family left. She was supposed to die, not him.
Not the people who left behind their family.
Her black navy uniform was stained with tears again, she had wiped her eyes so much they were red and swollen. The place was dark where the coffins were placed before the funeral.
She stood amongst her other comrades, giving a salute with her tear stained cheeks, as their caskets were lowered.
Five people were dead.
No, they weren't just 'people'.
Five of her friends died, leaving her alone in this cruel world.
The memories they spent together during Top Gun came back to her, how they spent their time together almost everyday, creating an unreplacable bond between them.
She remembered being in Top Gun with her other friends, Bradley, Jake, Natasha, Robert and others.
She was particularly close to Natasha, remembering the first time she laid eyes on Jake Seresin while Natasha instantly figured out that she liked him.
The time they had in Top Gun reminded her how hard they had to train to be there. Yet, when she thought she was a great pilot, five people died.
They could see the tears she was holding back, people said how she literally looked like her callsign.
Ghost.
But not everyone knew she was the only survivor of the mission. To their eyes, she was only close to the victims.
She made a formal request after the funeral, keep her name as classified so no one would know that she was the only survivor that day.
She did not want people to look down on her and pity her.
Still, the stories of their mission was soon spread amongst the navy. They later called the mission as "The Miscalculation Tragedy". The information of who was the only survivor of The Miscalculation Tragedy was classified.
Ghost carried on with life, conducting missions as ordered. She acted like nothing happened, not wanting her secret to get out. The tragedy scarred her for life, her guilt consuming everyday.
Yet, she put her flawless public facade, masking her true state.
Successfully fooling everyone.
2 years had past when she got called back to Top Gun for a special detachment mission.
"Here she comes ! The woman, the legend, Ghost"
"Great to see you again, Coyote" She smiled, taking the beer coyote had offered. Her eyes lingered to the blonde haired man who was bending his body, aiming to shoot the 8 ball.
She could admire him all night, how he was so perfect in her eyes, how his ego makes him hotter.
She would always look for his face in every random crowd, but he wouldn't even look for hers if she was standing right in front of him.
"Hangman," She smiled, he looked at her for a second, ignoring her. Then eyeing back to his game of pool.
It was sad, really.
How he would treat ladies like a woman, but he would treat her like dirt, like she meant nothing to him.
She knew she was pathetic, how she would always try again and again but have herself ignored by him and her dignity ripped apart.
She couldn't explain how she felt, each time he walked over to a lady and flirt with her. She felt worse than pathetic, wanting to be flirted so bad.
Their friendship has gone to the drain the moment he found out she liked him. Every moment since, he treated her like a plague.
She should hate him, really, but she couldn't
"Still him ?"
Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw caressed her back, looking at the way she looked at him. The look of someone who was in love
"You deserve someone way better than him, Ghost."
She took a sip from her beer, looking at the brown eyes man who had just came into the bar.
"won't say anything to keep my dignity, Bradshaw" She chuckled, giving her best friend a hug
"It's good to see you again, Brad"
His heart skipped a beat, the way she called him by his nickname made his stomach filled with butterflies.
Hangman saw her through his peripheral vision, annoyed at the fact that she was hugging Rooster and not him.
But whose fault was it to neglect her feelings ?
He acted like he hated her the moment he found out that she liked him when he was in fact, the one who fell first.
He knows, she deserves someone better than him. He thought he wasn't good enough for her.
He wanted her the be treated by someone who's capable of loving her passionately. Jake Seresin was afraid of failing, so he made a plan. He needed her to hate him.
Something was different with her the moment she stepped in the bar, he was the one to sense it first.
Something was wrong with her, her smile didn't seem as genuine as it was two years ago.
Hangman kept quiet, he didn't have any right to straight up and ask her what was wrong. He lost that right ever since he saw her nothing more than a virus.
"Your mission will be destroying a uranium facility that's set to operate in three weeks time." Her mouth hung open when she heard that there was another uranium facility.
She's been called back for this ?
She's been called back to endure the same mission that killed her entire squad 2 years ago ?
"Now, I understand that 2 years ago, there was a similar uranium facility that has been destroyed by the naval aviator's strike team"
"Yeah, killing everyone but one" Hangman let out a low chuckle.
"But the mission was a success" Rooster defended
She felt her grip on her pen tighten, trying to keep a calm and professional expression.
She can't.
She can't face another mission like this.
"Which is why we do things differently now, We'll fly from below to avoid the SAMs that were placed, and we will anticipate the jets that are going to intercept our way out"
She blanked out, only for her to be left alone after class, Rooster tapping her shoulders after looking at the tear that escaped her eyes.
"Y/n ?"
"Huh ?" She wiped the tear that unknowingly trickled down
"You're crying, are you okay"
"I'm fine Bradley, I just have a lot in mind"
"Do you want to talk about it ?" He kneeled down to face her
"It's not something I like to talk about-"
"Lieutenant Jones ? A word please ?" Warlock called her, making her face him.
"I'll see you later, Rooster"
When she walked into Warlock's office, she didn't know that he was following her.
"You have been briefed, we completely understand if you would like to sit this one out, you know... after what happened last time with your squad, what were their callsigns again ?" Warlock was one of the people who knew about the miscalculation tragedy. Being one of the people inside the main carrier ship that day.
"Apollo, Phantom, Coma, Berlin and who's the other one who had a kid-"
"Tree, sir"
He nodded.
"Anyways, there will be no penalty if you decide that you're backing-"
"I would like to stay and conduct this mission, sir"
"Are you sure, even after-"
"Yes, sir"
Rooster eavesdropped their conversation, his brows knitted together, the callsigns he had just heard were the people who died during the miscalculation tragedy.
He began to put the pieces of puzzle together. There was only one person who survived, and they kept that information away from anyone. By the looks of it and Warlock's words, it could only mean one thing.
Y/n "Ghost" Jones was the only survivor to The Miscalculation Tragedy.
A/N : Hey @sicily1922 and anon ! Thanks for the request, I hope you like it ! There's not much angst and romance here, but I promise, the second part will be much more painful than this one ;) Reply on what you guys think on a second part. Cheers !
Warnings : Top Gun Maverick spoilers, heavy angst, unrequited love, PTSD, fluff ending
Synopsis : Instead of Hangman saving both Maverick and Rooster, it was her. But at what cost ?
Reader's Callsign : 'Ghost' ( She likes going so fast that she could vanish from radar, making her one of the best stealth & combat pilot ) << Thanks @americaarse & @mercury-mae >>
Reader's Lastname : Jones
Thanks anon & @sicily1922 for the request !!
She couldn't remember why she was running.
The small flakes of snow above the freezing air continued to fall as she took every step she could to run for her life.
With the speed she was running, the fresh, airy, cold wind blew her hair stronger. Her hair was normally in a tight and neat bun, regularly pulled back from her face, twisted and wrapped in a circular coil around itself. Yet in her current state, her hair was all over the place, especially after tripping on a log in attempt of escaping enemy territory.
Her breath came in short gasps, forming clouds in the air as her calves burn, her boots pounded heavily into the layers of snow on the ground.
She darted past multiple trees, even when she was in an area she didn't recognize. Her legs took her to wherever was far enough.
Stealing a few glances on her back to check whether there were still people and german shepherds on the run for her, their voices were already inaudible.
Ghost went to the nearest tree to catch her breath, releasing heavy pants with her palms on her knees. She looked at her surrounding.
She was in a forest covered with snow.
Within that few minutes she had to catch her breath, she traced back a few steps back, searching for a reason on why she should stay alive.
None.
The navy must've presumed her as KIA (Killed in Action) by now. The fighter pilot scoffed, releasing another breath, thinking what would people's reaction be when they get the news that she's dead.
She blinked twice, eyeing her decorated helmet. Her thoughts were right, there was no one else to fight for.
'This is it' she thought to herself. but How is it that on the few moments before her death, one person popped up onto her mind, the one person who made her fall in love when she knew she can't have him.
How was it possible that the man who didn't love her back and treated her poorly on her head ?
Why was Jake "Hangman" Seresin on her head ?
COMING SOON
Hey guys, sooo sorry for not posting this last few days, I'm really focusing on this new angsty hangman fic which is really long and writing this made me feel so much emotions from what my character is feeling throughout this fic.
I cried writing this fic during one part where she has to make a hard decision, won't spoil it too much, I hope you're pumped up for the fic by this preview <3
I have a dilemma....So, I'm currently writing a rlly angsty fic where reader is a fellow pilot experiencing an unrequited love. Should I write a Young Iceman fic or Hangman fic first ?
Warnings : Top Gun Maverick Spoilers, angst, fluff
Synopsis : Pete's daughter is as wild as him, she's also as passionate as him. However, an incident during high school drove them apart until they were called back to Top Gun. The uranium mission too, took them from each other, leaving her helpless as she couldn't do anything to make the situation better and save the people she loves.
Reader's call sign : Lynx ( a bright person and the life of the party until you piss her off / get on her bad side ) << Thanks @ashewontcare >>
Present day.
"You should apologise to her" Maverick told his RIO's son.
"What ? who ?" he answered, passing him the telescope to observe enemy territory after their plane was shot down.
"Come on Bradley, you know she did nothing wrong, it was entirely my fault that I took your papers, she knew nothing of it and-"
Bradley's head has never turned so quickly to face someone
"What do you mean by 'she knew nothing' ?"
"She didn't know I pulled your papers, here's the thing-"
"She didn't know ?" Rooster blurted out
"She didn't know it was you who pulled out my papers ?" He repeated, earning a nod from his instructor
"Yeah, she didn't know your papers were pulled either, she was angry at me for sometime, demanding an answer why your application was gone. Hell, she even went to iceman, angry at him for not being able to put you up into the navy"
He closed his eyes, frowning, the heat that was running into his heart was a pain that he had never felt in so long.
"Shit"
"Shit shit shit shit" he cursed repeatedly
"What ?" Maverick questioned, before tilting his head, connecting the dots
"Rooster, what did you do ?"
"Shit" he repeated again, realising that he may have lost her for good this time.
"Bradshaw, what have you done to her ?"
------ Flashback -------
She was always fond of Bradley Bradshaw ever since they met. He was like her knight in shining armour when he came Into her life, protecting each other from time to time and being the best of friends.
A particular event she remembered during high school was when he stepped in front of her after she was pushed into the pile of mud while Bradley took a punch from her bully, Jessica Bowen.
Y/n Mitchell was drenched in mud, hands and legs covered with the brown slimey substance that she fell in, a few parts of her face caught the mud.
Her eyes shot open the moment she saw Bradley took the hit on his stomach.
She could spot the pain on his expression when he fell down into the mud beside her.
Rage fuelled her next actions, clenching her jaw while quickly getting up, she used her left hand to wipe the mud away from her face hastily.
She hated the fact that he was hurt. She hated it.
"Hey Jessica !" She called.
The blonde haired girl and her two other friends turned around, facing the figure who was covered with mud who was wearing a snarky smile on her face.
Y/n used her other hand, containing a fistful of mud, forcefully sending the thick gluey onto their face. This caused the brunette boy to widen his eyes, laughing at the girls' embarrassment.
The three girls whose clothes were stained brown were now yelling, running away as Y/n threw more mud at them angrily.
"Mitchell, You're such a freak !"
"What ? I thought you weren't scared of anything, you bitch !" She spat
"Y/N" He called out her name. One word that was enough to make her turn around and face him. She eyed him from head to toe, his whole body was covered in brown.
"are you okay ?" she stepped closer to him, wiping his shoulders off from the grey substance.
"I should be asking you that" He rubbed the bits of mud that were left on her forehead, paying attention to her features, especially her concerned eyes.
"I'm sorry, Brad" She held his shoulders
"For what ?"
"You got punched because of me, your mom's gonna be so mad at us"
"Yeah but your dad'll get us out of trouble....right ?" He tilted his head
"Uh- I hope so, w-we should get out of here," she took her bag along with his from the bench nearby.
The two friends walked away from the garden near their school towards her home. Bradley made it a habit for him to walk her home since their house wasn't too far away.
"I should be thanking you, y/n"
"Huh ?"
"It was fun seeing them get what they deserve, not everyone has the balls to take them on to a... mud fight" Bradley chuckled, looking at his best friend who replied with a laugh.
"Well, what can I say ? Pushing someone to the mud at high school is really childish" Y/n raised her brows, unknowingly arriving to her house, Bradley helped her take the keys from her bag, unlocking the door for her. She insisted that she could but she was too covered in mud for her to stain anything else.
As she waved him goodbye, she smiled to herself after a day of spending time with Bradley, her crush.
She was always imagining that the two of them would end up together and sign up to the navy hand in hand. She thought that he would like her back eventually, she just needed more time to spend with him.
Unfortunately, her dreams were crushed when she entered school the next day, seeing Jessica apologised only to Bradley. To her surprise, he accepted the apology.
Jessica looked so different in front of Bradley, it was almost as if she likes him. They were paired up together for a project that made Jessica manipulate him in God knows what way, but Y/n could feel like their time together was slowly robbed by Jessica.
She held her pride high, expecting Bradley to take her as his date to the high school prom with him, there was no way he was going to the prom with someone else.
She knew he wouldn't do it to her, they've been so close for years, so what would make him pick Jessica over her ?
Yet her worst nightmares came true, there was one day she would never forget what he said to her.
"She seems like a nice person, I think we misunderstood her" Bradley came up to y/n with a smile on his face. She could sense her blood boiling, knitting her brows together, she scoffed.
"Misunderstood ?"
"Y-yeah, and I think- I like her, Y/n"
"you-"
"All I'm saying is that I'm taking her to the prom with me"
Everything else that came into her ears were inedible after his last words to her, she could hear her heart drop to the ground. Her face lost colours almost immediately, it looked like that she had her life sucked out of her.
"Y/n ?" He called her after noticing that she had zoned out completely
"You're taking Jessica Bowen to prom ?"
He nudged his head with a weak smile,
"What do you think ? I think she's a nice person, you should really apologise and make amends-"
Apologise ?
She had enough.
"You want me to apologise ?"
Her eyes shot cold glares at him as she stared at Bradley. She couldn't believe what he just said.
"You want me to apologise to the girl who sabotaged my entire high school life ?"
"You want me to apologise to the girl who called me motherless for years ? who punched YOU ?"
"It was an accident, the punch was meant for you-" Y/n's mouth fell wide open in disbelief. He was taking her side ?
Pete Mitchell's daughter let out a scoff
"an accident - So you're saying that it's fine for her to punch me ?" Raising her voice, she ragingly eyed him as her nostrils flare up, it was sickening.
Everything made her sick. Bradley taking up her bully's side.
"Y/n, listen to me-"
"Hell no, Bradshaw, you listen to me." She pointed at him, eyes hardening and narrowing them into slits.
"Are you hearing all this came out of you ? Are you even hearing yourself right now ? Did Jessica put a love potion on your drink ? You're crazy to think that I would make amends with the girl who ruined my reputation in high school, who ruined my chance into having a normal life in school just because my mother is absent from my life."
There was a pause
"She never brought up your father's death did she ?"
"Y/N-" he warned
"Don't you y/n me, answer." Her voice was harsh, demanding for him to answer her question, although it sounded weak on the last few words that she uttered.
He could see the brim of her eyes, collecting the tears that were trying so hard not to trickle down. He had never expected that he would be the cause of her tears.
"No" He whispered
"Exactly..." Y/n stepped back from her crush, heartbroken, angry, sad.
"There are hundreds of girls here,"
"and you had to pick her....out of all people ? Her ? The person that took my life away ?" She shouted, her breathing was faster than normal as a tears escaped her reddened eyes.
Bradley's heart ached seeing the tears that raced down her cheeks, his heart beaten faster, he didn't want to lose his best friend for a girl he likes.
But that's all that he'll ever see her as.
A friend.
He needed her to see that Jessica was a great person but she wasn't having any of it.
"We've been friends for more than ten years, Bradshaw"
The usage of his last name shot pain to him.
"I think that time is enough."
Her last few words felt like a house had been dropped in front of him, was she ending their friendship like this ? In bad terms ?
Y/n turned around to walk away from him, with her head hung low, her cried only became heavier but silently while walking away from him, she couldn't describe the feelings she was experiencing.
All mixed up into one, she hated it so much.
Bradshaw and Mitchell never spoke again after Y/n' s big meltdown in front of him, she was always seen alone, eating lunch alone. His heart would send him a pang whenever he glanced at her.
Her bright smile was gone, she was alone.
He never did approach her after what happened too, he thought that she hated him for what he did. He continued his relationship with Jessica, climbing up the social stairs, getting known for the "guy who had a well respected navy as a father before he died" person.
Until prom, where Y/n surprisingly became Jake Seresin's date.
Bradley Bradshaw's blood boiled, seeing her with Jake. He got her to go with him. While she was dressed so beautiful that made her unrecognisable to the public. The black glittery dress that touched the ground, wrapping her curves at the right places, the slit of her dress gave her beautiful thighs a beautiful sight for people to see.
Jake's hand were around her waist, his joke made her smile. It was a long time since she had not given out a smile like that. He was angry and jealous at how Jake was able to be so close to her, to make her smile.
It was supposed to be him.
But again he remembered, he chose Jessica Bowen over Y/N Mitchell.
'Dumbass' he murmured below his breath.
Jessica was nothing compared to Y/n. He might've lost her forever.
"He's looking again..."
"Is he now ?" Y/n took a sip from he cocktail as Jake whispered into her ears
"Tell me why we agreed on this again..."
"You want to piss off Bradshaw," He spoke while giving her another glass of drink
"and you- want to piss off Bowen"
"On a scale of one to ten, how cliche do you think this is ?" she asked
"Oh, this is a 'every high school prom' movie cliche" he answered, making her laugh that didn't go unnoticed by Bradley
"look, he's looking again, I think our plan is working"
"Dude, I think she's pissed off too." She eyed an angry Jessica who was glaring at her boyfriend for keeping his eyes on y/n.
"So, I heard you're applying for the navy huh ?" She changed the topic
"Yes ma'am I am." Jake gave her a wink, sipping his cocktail.
"That makes the two of us then"
"Three, actually" Jake Seresin corrected her
"Three ?"
"Heard Bradshaw's applying as well"
Right, she forgot about that. She was going to meet him again in the navy.
She wanted to escape from this feeling that she hated so much.
Y/n wanted to escape from love. She couldn't give anyone a good reason on why she still likes him. She felt pathetic, doing this for getting back at him.
It was an obvious success, but again, they didn't have any contact even after graduation. It was only during the navy application that she expected them to meet again and start over.
The news that he broke up with Jessica had spread over like wildfire, everyone had seen it coming, they were even taken by surprise to see that Bradley could stand to be around with someone like her.
Y/n expected him to talk to her during the application, but as Mitchell sat beside Jake, only a few greetings were exchanged. She shrugged it off, thinking that it's not gonna hurt waiting for him to interact with her during the navy training.
However that moment never came.
He went forward to her, stepping with so much rage that his face was boiling red.
"I know you hate me but you didn't have to go this far" He spat at her
"Bradley- what are you-" she was immediately taken aback by his actions.
"Don't you play dumb with me, Y/n. You know I've always wanted to join the navy. I didn't know you were this cruel" He squinted his eyes at her.
"What the hell are you talking about Bradley ?"
He tilted his head, anger increasing on his veins
"You're always like this, it suits you really, with your dumb personality, no wonder people didn't want to be with you during high school. No wonder Jessica ruined your life, it was the right thing to do."
She blinked twice, not believing the words that had just came out from his mouth. She wasn't aware that Bradley had summed up so many grudges against her. She had thought that it was her who was mad, she was confused why he was like this.
There was no reason at all for him to spew out those words to her. She didn't know he could be that harsh to her.
She could feel her heart getting torn, by mentioning Jessica again and high school.
Jake Seresin heard the whole conversation and immediately went in between them.
"That's enough, Bradshaw."
"Yeah, go run along with your little boyfriend, you Mitchells are always the same, using your significant others to solve problems, I guess the apple doesn't fall far away from the tree"
The next thing Bradshaw knew was a stinging pain on his left cheek, a hand mark slowly forming there, a result from her slap.
"I don't know what the hell is going on with you, but for you to bring my father's name into this is far out of the line, Bradshaw"
He was recollecting the words that he had just said to her. He felt like he was being too harsh but it was probably her who convinced Pete Mitchell to pull out his papers from the naval academy.
That was the last time Y/n and Bradley had seen each other before Top Gun, little did he knew that she had gone crazy at her father and Iceman because of Bradley's application.
When they met again, they didn't speak to each other during their basic manueuvre flight training. Even when she made all the efforts, he would avoid her like a virus.
"Lynx" and "Rooster" were never known to be friends in Top Gun. Hangman was always protective of her, he didn't want her friend to get hurt again. That was the reason why he despised Rooster so much.
Y/n and Jake had been friends ever since they went to the navy together, nothing romantic, they were each other's person.
But there was something in her that triggered a surge of emotion hearing the radio from her standby plane on the carrier.
"Dagger 1 and 2 has been hit, I repeat, dagger 1 and 2 is hit" Phoenix voice got to her ears.
Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest, fast and hot, her breathing quickened. She felt like she was on fire and she might spontaneously combust at any moment, like someone had set a slow and steady match beneath her center, deep in the pit of her stomach.
She can't lose her father and him at the same time ?
She can't.
The 30 minutes of the no contact between her dad and Rooster made the blood rushes to the tips of her fingers, the pulse coming in hot waves that cause everything else to pulse.
She was helpless, she couldn't do anything. Hangman and her weren't given any permission to fly and engage with the enemy. She looked at her surroundings before looking at her own reflection on the cockpit of her plane.
"Lynx"
The callsign she earned for her wild spirit.
What does that mean to be in the navy if there wasn't someone left to fight for ?
What if her dad was indeed dead ? What if Rooster died without reconciling with her ?
Her hands gripped on the yoke of the jet. Are they really dead ?
No.
They received a signal from Rooster indicating his location and that they're supersonic in an F-14. There wasn't anyone else who could fly the plane, other than the legend himself.
Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
Relief.
The feeling of relief washed her like waves.
"Dagger standby requesting to back up dagger one and two" Hangman immediately said
"Affirmative, Dagger standby one and two request to backup granted, prepare for immediate take off"
"Let's get them home, Lynx"
"Let's get them home, Hangman"
They arrived there in time, with the enemy's jet successfully avoiding Hangman's missile lock, she gave the enemy a surprise, missile locking them while speeding in front of the jet, immediately blowing up the plane.
Hangman teased them, giving them a message that was similar to a commercial plane announcement during landing. The three planes flew side by side, Y/n refusing to glance at the two men, being afraid that it'll affect her emotionally.
After landing the plane, it wasn't her that searched for him. It was him.
He spotted her with her helmet off, calling her name amidst the crowd.
"Lynx !" He yelled
"Lynx !" Rooster repeated
"Lieutenant Mitchell !" He attempted in calling her, yet her back is facing him, refusing to look at him, even when she knew that he was back safely.
She didn't want to embarrass her in front of him, even after he saw her crying a few times.
"Y/n !" He finally said, making her face look at him.
Her eyes red, a single tear that trickled down her face was enough to explain how she felt. She halted her steps, he looked at her from afar, softening his eyes once he saw how puffy her eyes were.
She gave him no smile, no frowns, no laughs. It was just her eyes that spoke every word that needed to be said.
"Y/n" He said again
There was this thing that he felt every time he saw her cry, it made him feel things he had never felt before and he doesn't like the feeling.
The guilt all these years, the words that he had said to her, she still remembered it all.
So he started running, before she disappeared from his sight, probably forever. He started to run, chasing the woman he had buried his feelings for so long. He started to run towards her, immediately taking her into a hug
"I'm sorry-"
There were no words spoken by her.
"I'm so sorry, Y/n"
"I'm sorry too, Bradley..." a tear fell, staining his fighter pilot suit, burying her head into his neck, her arms squeezed around his back, the feeling of safe and comfort greeting her.
His hug took her by surprise,
"No, I was being a dick, I said those words to you without knowing anything. You should never have heard those words from anyone"
He tightened his hug around her
"I thought I lost you, Rooster"
"I thought I lost you too, Lynx"
Being hugged by Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw felt as though the world didn't matter anymore, it was like a warm blanket where the two were welded as one entity.
Being hugged by Bradley is being hugged strong. Not strong enough to destroy her, but strong enough to let her know that nobody else will ever hurt her if I am around either. It was a promise that he will never break her again.
Bradley squeezes, not strong enough to physically break her, just strong enough so that every ounce of her is aware that every ounce of his body and emotion is dedicated to the task at hand. Strong enough for her to feel invincible and strong enough to make her feel grounded and loved by the universe for a few seconds of her life.
After everything she has been through, the hug was like everything they needed in life.
"I love you"
The words he let out was so out of the blue that she replied it with the same words,
"Rooster-"
"I love you, Lynx" He repeated
"I can't imagine my world without you in it."
"I love you, Rooster"
She said what she had been keeping to herself for years. She glances at his lips, before he tenderly cupped her cheeks, fondling it tenderly, the eye contact exchanged was as if there were only the two of them in the world.
So they closed the space between them. His lips warm and soft, he could taste the saltiness from her tears that cascaded her cheeks. He could feel the soft tickle of her breath beneath his nose, fingers carding through his hair as they breathed each other in.
Sparks igniting as their lips brushed together, tentatively, for the first time. The smell of her perfume, lingering, butterflies dancing in her stomach. But warmth consumed her as she leaned into the kiss, her lips impossibly soft against her own.
They pulled away, cheeks burning, relief that they got the chance to tell each other how they felt,
"I don't know what'd I'd do if I lost you," She pecked his lips again, this went noticed by her father
"This isn't what I mean of apologising to her you know"
"You hurt her again, I'll kill you in your sleep, Bradshaw"
She immediately went into her father's arms, his arms were welcoming, squeezing and caressing her back gently.
"I thought you were dead..."
"You didn't" He spoke while they were still hugging.
"Uncle Goose would've been so proud of you, dad."
"Uncle Goose would've been so proud of the two of you"
A/N : Hello @sadpetalsstuff and anonymous ! Thanks for the request, I hope you like this one <3
