croA/N: I will admit taking two weeks to write the next chapter is quite rude and I apologize! I let life get ahead of me. I didn’t think the bar scene fit well into this chapter but expect it in part 4! All the spears to me for the tardiness and crappy quality of this one.
Pairing: Tom “ICEMAN” Kazansky x Y/N
Music: The Greatest Show – Greatest Showman
Summary: Two volleyball matches, a new callsign and a cute moment between a Gosling and his auntie.
“Goose?”
“Yes Sprite?”
“I fucking hate sand. Remind me to tell Mr. Sandman that he needs to keep it in line.”
“……Sprite I don’t think that’s how it works.” Goose tried to keep a straight face as he gazed down at his sister-in-law. The aforementioned woman was glaring at the hot terrain, a pout causing her lower lip to jut out and her hands were crossed stubbornly over her chest.
“Well today is the fucking day. I swear to God he has it out for me since I said Pitch Black was cooler than him.” Y/N tossed her hands up to the sky and stomped her foot once before turning to meet the gaze of two amused but confused pilots. “Don’t ask. Best two out of three Popsicle Man.”
“It’s Iceman.”
“Does it look like I care? You remind me of a L’Oréal commercial so deal with being called Popsicle Man before I call you Vogue or something.”
Goose couldn’t help the snort that escaped him nor the shaking of his shoulders as he hid his face in his hands. Slider was also attempting to not meet the gaze of his pilot, staring off into the distance before offhandedly remarking, “She isn’t exactly wrong.”
“Shut up Ron.”
“Shutting up.”
A volleyball sailing past their face caused the two to turn their attention back to Goose and Y/N. The short woman tried and failed to keep an innocent look upon her face as she questioned, “Are you guys going to play or are you afraid that you’ll be chanting the Air Force song by the end of the night?”
“Hey Mother Goose? Don’t kill Iceman for taking your sister-in-law on a date. We need someone to keep Maverick from killing the rest of us and that Top Gun trophy won’t be near as fun to win if your best competition is six feet under.” Slider shared a long look with his fellow RIO as both teams got back into position. The first game had ended in their favor, but it had been a close one before Y/N decided she could no longer play nicely with Mr. Sandman.
“Moneys on Ice,” Hollywood nudged Wolfman and received a grin in return. “Easy money. Y/N looks like she is about to kill Slider.”
Y/N grimaced as she dived to return a ball and felt her side spasm in pain. The first set hadn’t bothered her at first but as time went on, her scar was starting to give her problems. Each jump sent fire down her leg and caused her teeth to clench involuntarily. Sweat gathered at her temples and her body trembled with both exhaustion and pain. It was only her sheer desire to win and prove herself that kept her standing. Y/N ignored the concerned looks that Goose sent her way, knowing that if she gave him an opening that he would try to end the game before she was ready to toss in the towel.
Across the net, Iceman’s gaze was switching between Goose and Y/N. He picked up the tension in his classmate’s face and the way Y/N was clearly favoring her right hip. He could make out the puckered skin of fresh scar tissue and it caused questions to bubble inside his head. What had caused that? Is she prideful enough to keep playing even though she is clearly struggling? Iceman almost snorted. Of course, she would. She was Maverick’s friend.
Casting a glance at his RIO, Iceman nodded once in Y/N’s direction before leaping up and setting up the ball for Slider to snag the game winning point. Y/N and Goose moved to intercept but just barely missed the ball before it slammed into the hot sand. “And that’s game. Seems like we won 2 out of 3, Y/N.” Ice couldn’t help the cocky tone that entered his voice or the automatic puff of his chest as he gazed at the woman who had snagged his attention.
Y/N could only shake her head in disbelief but also felt the initial stirring of admiration. So, Iceman was more than just a pretty face and cocky attitude of a pilot.
“So, you did, Popsicle Man. Guess I will be seeing you boys later at the Hard Deck. Don’t worry – I won’t take forever in front of the mirror AND I’ll be nice and get you something stronger than the fruity drinks I know you boys so enjoy and love.”
Iceman quirked a brow before shaking his head with a laugh, “Don’t forget that your day tomorrow is mine. Let’s see if you’re more than all bark, Tweety.”
“What did you just call me?” Y/N took a step forward, her face taking on a rosy hue and her hands clenching and unclenching as she imagined tackling the infuriating pilot. How had she admired him only a second ago?
“Tweety, short for Tweety Bird. You seem all sweet and innocent, but we all know you’re not. You’ll grow to like it. Well, as much as you can grow.” Laughter came from the gathered people and even Goose chuckled at the now dubbed ‘Tweety.’
“Vogue. You’re going to die. Not today, not tomorrow but sometime in the near future. Goose, shut up before I tell Carole you bullied me today and she doesn’t ask you to take her to bed.” A few “Ooos!” came from Hollywood and Wolfman as Y/N turned and tried to stomp away from the gathered men. She made it a few steps before her leg started to buckle and she had to grab Goose for support. As she steadied herself, she met first Goose then Iceman’s eyes before turning away stubbornly. She didn’t want to see the questions or the pity in their eyes. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”
“Honey! Come tell Sprite to stop being stubborn for once and accept some help.” Goose called out to his wife as he watched his sister-in-law stubbornly limp upon the stairs to the house he had been provided by the Navy.
There was a sound of scampering feet before a small head of blonde hair poked around the glass door and the eyes of the gosling locked onto his aunt. “Auntie! Are you huwrt? Did Dad push you down the stairs again? OOOOoooo you’re in trouble Da. Momma is gunna wash your mouth out with soap! And then she won’t give you any of the chocolate chip cookies and I will get more and and....”
Y/N laughed as she scooped up her nephew and hugged him tightly to her chest. “Yeah Goose. No cookies for you AND an extra helping of dawn.” y/n mocked and widened her eyes dramatically. Goose was tempted to stick his tongue out at his sister, eyes narrowed dangerously but his face cleared instantly when Carole Bradshaw appeared in the doorway.
“Did I hear Gosling say you pushed y/n/n down the stairs? With her bad hip? Nick Bradshaw! I know your ma taught you better than that!” With laughter in her voice and eyes, Carole tried to appear stern as she held one hand to her hip and the other wagging a finger at her husband.
“Daddy’s in big trwouble.”
“Yes, yes he is. Let’s make a run for it. I heard something about cookies...” Y/N whispered conspirately as she and Bradley made an escape for the kitchen and away from the scene of the crime. “Y/N: 124. Goose: 1.”
Y/N and Bradley had managed to eat four cookies apiece before a mussed Carole and Goose made their way into the kitchen. Her sister was quick to narrow her eyes at the two cookie thieves as they tried to appear innocent, crumbs littering clothes and chocolate staining Bradley’s cheek. “Did Goose get dish soap in the mouth?” y/n smirked, which prompted an eyeroll from Goose.
“He sure did. Remember that Gosling - boys who are mean to girls will get dish soap in their mouth and a good scolding!”
“Yes mama. If I be good, I get cookies. If I be bad like daddy, I get yucky soap.”
“Hey! I’m not that bad! I swear it was all Sprite this time! She bet against Iceman and lost. You know how your auntie gets when she loses.”
At this, Gosling and Carole both nodded their heads. Y/N was a horrible sore loser. Her competitiveness knew no bounds - even against poor Gosling which earned her quite the ribbing from Maverick and Goose alike.
“What did you bet against this time y/n?” Carole asked as she begin to pull out the lasagna she had been heating in the oven. Y/N was quick to narrow her eyes at Goose as she started to say “Well, I have to buy everyone a drink at the ba-” before she was interrupted.
“She has a date. Tomorrow. With Maverick and I’s sworn enemy! The betrayal. The horror! The poor fool.”
“It is not a date! I just have to hang around for a few hours, finagle some food and then run away the first moment he looks away.”
“A date?! You actually agreed to a bet with a date on the line?! Nick, tell me all about him. Y/N hasn’t been on a date in years. What does he look like? What’s his favorite color? How tall is he? Will y/n walk all over him? Does he sing? You know the Bradshaw tradition!” As Carole got more and more excited, y/n sank lower into the seat she had next to Gosling. Fucking Goose.
As Goose attempted to answer all the questions rapid fired his way, Bradley couldn’t resist putting a sticky finger to his aunt’s cheek. “Is ok Auntie. You win next time. And then we can go get ice cream and fly in Daddy’s jet.”
The way the wraith was able to steal his breath away was almost criminal, Brann being caught in this limbo of wanting to speak but also silence himself. He really did hang on to every word he’d murmur to him, just a whisper of a whine hanging on his lips as he got almost entirely too close to him.
Cairo, we have a problem! 200,000 tonne container ship Ever Given ran aground in the Suez canal near Ma'diyah north of Port Taofik yesterday. With tugs in the canal and excavators on shore it is hoped they can drag her free before considering unloading her. #suezcanal #evergiven #blockage #aground #ohdear (at Suez Canal) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMy9PM8rJnw/?igshid=1iwsnj1h2q0ak
#project hail mary
#lana del rey
