#maverickrooster

[pilvimarja]

[bradleysimspon]

you're so soft I'm afraid you'll bruise {rooster x bob x hangman} {maverick/iceman}

angsty, hidden grave injury fic, family reconciliation

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Hitting the tarmac atop that aircraft carrier, Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw takes the most rewarding breath of relief. It tasted sweeter than sound of cheering surrounding the broken down, bag of ass F-14 they escaped with. But not as sweet as Maverick's arms around him, hugging him tightly like he used to do all those years ago.

But things turn sickeningly sour when Maverick collapses in his arms, injured and bleeding. Rushed into to the clinic, Rooster's left to wait in bitter guilt that it's cause of him Maverick is hurt, even if the others are too kind to point it out. All the years spent rebuffing the Captain, letting his anger stew against the man who's now fighting for his life, he'd give anything to make up for it. Anything.

So, hiding the sharp stitch in his side is the least Rooster can do, right?

[natashatrace]

post tgm mavdad drabble? or maybe mavdad throughout the years drabble from getting along to fighting to back again

The question is one that’s bounced around Maverick’s head for months now, but he doesn’t let it slip until six months after the mission.

He’s on the patio at the Hard Deck, stretched out in one of the chairs with Bradley seated next to him. Maverick isn’t sure how long they’ve been there, catching up and trading stories after Bradley’s latest deployment – just knows it’s long enough that his back is protesting against the wood of the chairs and his skin feels pleasantly warm from the setting sun and his rum-induced buzz.

Rooster’s talking about something that happened in college, hands moving as he laughs through the story, and Maverick can’t help but laugh along. It’s infectious, hearing Bradley’s laughter again after all of these years.

A little miraculous, too.

When Bradley finishes the story and settles back in his seat, he scratches absently at his cheek and Maverick’s gaze zeroes in on the thin lines there.

“What are the scars from?”

He realizes, about a beat after Bradley does, what he’s said. Immediately, he straightens in his seat a bit and tries to deflect, but Bradley’s already waving a hand.

“S’okay, Mav,” he assures him. “Car accident my senior year. Friend was driving. We both got a little scraped up, but we were okay. Not a big deal.”

Maverick swallows, forcing himself to keep his eyes trained on the ocean. “Not a big deal,” he repeats, snorting out a humorless laugh. “I never knew you were – Christ. What if something worse had happened, and I didn’t…”

“Mav. Stop.”

When Maverick looks over, Bradley’s shaking his head, staring out at the ocean the same way Maverick was moments before. Bradley takes a breath and then tips his head, smiling a little as he says, “Even if you had found out? If you’d shown up at my apartment to check in on me or whatever you’re thinkin’ right now? I’d have told you to leave. I wouldn’t have wanted you there. You know that.”

And Maverick does know that. They weren’t talking back then. Maverick did his best to keep tabs on how Bradley was doing, but he’s always felt like he could’ve done a better job. Like he should have done a better job. This just feels like added proof.

“Still,” Mav starts, jaw clicking when he pauses. “It’s just. I forget sometimes, y’know? I forget how long we went without talking. Doesn’t seem possible.”

“That’s because you’ve got a million lives,” Bradley says dryly, knocking his boot against Maverick’s, “so time doesn’t work the same for you.”

Maverick snorts, rolling his eyes. “Hilarious.”

Bradley laughs quietly. “We’re talking now, Mav. That’s the important thing.”

“Yeah,” Maverick agrees. “It is. You’re right.”

After a moment, Bradley sighs, “But you’re still gonna apologize to me.”

“Yep,” Maverick says immediately, nodding. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there, kid.”

“Apology not necessary, man. For the millionth time,” Bradley laughs. Then, his voice softer – “But thanks. For the millionth time.”

[natashatrace]

hey do y’all think maverick ever gets a text from rooster that’s something simple like —

see u tomorrow

— or even something dumb like —

bringing coffee. getting a frappe with no whipped cream on top is a sin, btw

— and mav spends entirely too long staring at his phone screen and breathing through the ache in his chest every single time bc he has his kid back. he has rooster back in his life and it doesn’t feel real but it is, it is, it is.

it’s been years of no contact, unanswered letters, missed phone calls, and now rooster’s texting him things at random, and mav’s just a big goober about it