Iceman knows whenever Maverick wants something from him, when he's not in the air, the man has the subtlety of a hand grenade.
He'll saunter up, hands on his hips and list off the last nice thing he did from memory or subject Ice to a spiel about just how much he loves him, then he'll ask for it like he thinks he's being sly. It did not work in the 1980s; it does not work in the 2020s.
Tom doesn't ask when he wants something big; he just makes it happen and awaits the reaction.
Tom pointedly does not poke his head out from the kitchen to see his husband and their new house guest in the hall, which gives him the upper hand. There's no guilt if there's no reaction at all.
Unfortunately, being in a relationship with someone for years means they learn your tricks, and suddenly, he's face-to-face, or at least face-to-forehead with said husband.
Pete's face is stuck in that endearing spot between bewildered and thrilled, like the day he first found out the cool, cold Iceman is partial to a mojito. It does dangerous things to Tom's heart.
There is a cat. A ginger bastard, named Tomcat, with a penchant for knocking Tom's glasses off tables whenever he sets them down and licking his socks. He still claims it's learned behaviour, that's Maverick's cat. He simply lives in the house with it.
"I'm aware, we've had him for years."
Pete raises his 'calling bullshit' eyebrow in response and jabs a thumb into his chest. Tom briefly wonders if his rank will allow him to demote the other man for spousal annoyance. Enough people owe him favours.
"No, sweetheart. There's another cat, as in a 'wasn't here when I left last week' cat. A new cat. A 'we're not getting another animal, Pete' cat."
Perhaps alongside the ginger beast, there may also be a smaller, blondish-looking ragdoll who is very polite and likes to headbutt his chin for kisses.
"You said we couldn't get a dog."
Pete doesn't even voice a complaint at his, 'I think you're being stupid' hum of acknowledgement. It speaks to the childlike giddiness the other man is experiencing that Tom only ever sees around jets or animals.
"And no more animals. But now we have a new cat."
"I don't remember that conversation."
Tom rarely utilises such a horrible period in their lives, but he's the petty bitch that he's spent years being accused of, and he argues to win.
"Sometimes cancer makes the mind hazy."
The slight hurt that crosses Pete's face almost makes him feel guilty, until the man shakes his head and flicks Tom's nose. If Tom wanted to go in for the kill, his tone would've been scathing. Instead, he went for ditzy blonde, something Maverick always seems to enjoy.
"Firstly, you've been in remission for two years. Secondly, you fight dirty, baby."
The Iceman persona, crafted over the years, is the key to keeping a straight face when Pete laughs and his nose scrunches as he flashes his pearly whites.
"You let Slider name our fucking cat?"
"How did you know it was Ron?"
"Who else would call it Icicle? You're arrogant, but you aren't a narcissist."
Ron had been the one to suggest getting another cat at all after he saw a listing online and decided to make it Ice's problem, but Tom has been letting his backseater's idiocy guide them since the academy, and he has no intention of stopping now. Minor codependence aside, Slider's brand of stupid ideas is always entertaining in the long run.
"He happened to be the one to pick her up, and he claimed naming rights. She's partial to ear scratches."
For the sake of being a good husband, Tom decides to let Pete think that was ever up for discussion.
