maybe maverick and goose pre top gun? how they became friends or how they got their callsigns? i LOVE the one you did where ice gets his callsign on the ski trip
Ahhh thank you so much for the ask and I'm glad you like the ski trip fic! Gosh that whole thing is just a whump fest lol.
Okay! So this kind of ran away from me and maybe wasn't what you were thinking of but it is Mav and Goose pre-top gun and kind of how they became friends to that counts for something lol! I hope you like it Anon!! Maybe one day I'll write a Mav + Goose whump fic to go along with the Slider + Ice one, but we'll see. Anyways, enjoy!!
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Maverick watched his new RIO from across the room, a slip of paper resting on the table below his hand. His last RIO had lasted him a matter of days—a new personal record for him. Maverick hadn’t been counting, but his CO had snapped the words in his face when Maverick had reported to him after the pilot had left the flight deck in a huff. As soon as they’d landed he’d jumped from the Tomcat like it had burned him, raging at Maverick for risking his life and being the most dangerous pilot he’d ever met. He’d made so much of a scene the flight deck crew had actually come over to check on Maverick as soon as he left. Unfortunately, their concern hadn’t been enough to save him from his CO’s anger, hot on the heels of his RIO’s outburst.
Maverick had known Champ had a stick up his ass from day one, it really had only been a matter of time. This new RIO, however, seemed to be more laid back.
Nick Bradshaw. Callsign “Goose.”
He was in the center of the mess hall, tucked into the center of a group of pilots and RIOs. Normally, Maverick would’ve placed himself on the group's periphery, finding a seat at the end of the table and maybe offering a few words here and there if the group looked open to speaking to him, but Champ had wedged himself into the group, and he’d been seething at Maverick since the minute they’d landed on their last hop together a day ago. Rather than invite another screaming match, Maverick had decided to take a table to himself at the edge of the mess.
It gave him a good vantage point to people-watch. He’d been with this particular squadron for only a few weeks now. Champ had been his RIO for half of one of those weeks, another sticking with him for two and a half before he’d decided Maverick’s flying was too much for him. At least he hadn’t screamed at him when he’d made the decision, unlike Champ. Goose was another new addition to the unit, though it was clear he’d met most of the men before, likely running into them during other postings or deployments. He’d joined the unit a few days after Maverick had, after his previous pilot had opted for a career change to give his family life some stability. Goose didn’t look torn up about it, and he’d been flitting around the unit’s unassigned pilots for the past few weeks, filling in vacancies when RIOs got sick or helping out from the carrier. He hadn’t flown with Maverick yet, but it was clear everyone liked him.
He stabbed a blueberry with his fork and rolled it in maple syrup, left on his plate from the pancakes he’d devoured minutes earlier. The mess hall was surprisingly lively for breakfast, the aviators at the center talking eagerly over hot food and steaming coffee. Even from across the room, Maverick could see a bright grin lighting Bradshaw’s face. He cracked a joke Maverick didn’t hear, and one of the pilots rolled his eyes. Another punched him lightly in the arm, but the reactions didn’t dampen his smile.
Maybe he was corny, Maverick guessed. He didn’t mind a few bad jokes, and if Goose turned out to be the one RIO willing to put up with his flying, then Maverick certainly wouldn’t be looking for reasons to refuse him. Still, a hint of worry kerneled in Maverick’s stomach. Even when he’d told his joke, the smiles the other aviators threw at Goose were all fond. Amused sometimes, but generally relaxed and open. He couldn’t spot one person at the table ever giving the man a side-eye. There were a few that seemed relatively indifferent, but no one disliked him, which was much more than Maverick could say about himself. He was liked well enough on the ground, and the more daring members of the squadron liked him in the air, too, but there were some that took one look at him, his hot head and his flashiness and hated him on sight. Maverick couldn’t help but make enemies, and if he screwed up with Goose, he had an uncomfortable suspicion that he’d make quite a few more.
He was pulled from his thoughts by a burst of laughter from the aviators clustered at the table, a honking laugh carrying over the others. After a moment, he realized it was coming from Bradshaw himself, and he glanced down at the paper below his fingers, the official assignment that had Maverick paired with the RIO for their hop later that day.
He felt a wry smile creep onto his lips. “Huh.” He murmured to himself, listening as the honking laugh quieted and Bradshaw pressed his face into the shoulder of the man beside him. He looked down at the callsign printed on the paper. “Goose.”
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Bradshaw’s laugh, as it turned out, was not the reason for his callsign. Maverick found out the real reason about a week and a half later, hunched over a toilet in the bathroom attached to the locker room, losing his lunch fifteen minutes before he was scheduled to go on a hop.
The door creaked open somewhere behind him, footsteps sounding on the metal floors.
“Hey, Mav, you in here?” Goose called, his voice echoing through the room. “We’re supposed to be doing preflight right about now.”
“Yeah,” Maverick called back, his voice gravelly from heaving. He hoped Goose didn’t notice. “Just give me a minute.”
“Hey man, you sound–” Goose had followed his voice into the bathrooms and he pushed open the stall door Maverick was hidden behind, his face contorting with worry. “You don’t look too good.”
Maverick shook his head, and the movement was enough to send nausea swimming through him. He dropped his head back down to the toilet and he could feel Goose’s eyes on him in tense anticipation, his body jerking as his stomach heaved, but he’d emptied the contents of his stomach minutes ago. There was nothing left in him now.
“I’ll be okay.” He mumbled, though he couldn’t lift his head, and when he opened his eyes to slits, the sight of the vomit in the toilet below him was nearly enough to send him gagging again. “I’ve got a bottle of Pepto in my locker. Maybe they can send Jinx up before us.”
He lifted his head when Goose didn’t speak, and he saw a hard look on the man’s face.
“No way, Mav. You can’t fly like this.” He told him, “I’ll be right back. Wait here.”
“Goose, wait.” He croaked, fighting to lift his head but the other man was already gone, pushing his way out of the locker room. Maverick let his head fall back down to the toilet seat, and he focused on breathing deep as he waited for Goose to come back.
His whole body felt clammy, covered in sweat. He could feel his hands trembling, his arms shaking all the way up to his shoulders, his core still locked tight with tension. Vomiting had helped his nausea slightly, but the adrenaline that had raged through his body left him feeling ravaged, his whole body thrown off kilter without food in his system to pull him back towards some kind of equilibrium. Maybe Goose had been right about him not flying.
Maverick could only remember sitting out one flight in his life, when his father had booked an aero club plane to take him up as a little kid. It hadn’t been the first time he’d taken Maverick flying, but as a kid, Pete had jumped at every opportunity to go. He’d woken up in the middle of the night before sick to his stomach from something he ate and he’d spent the rest of the night in the bathroom. His mother had found him in the morning and had gently told him he’d better stay home, despite his sobbing protests. Both she and his father had promised him there would be other times, that he’d get another chance to fly with his father. Little did they know, his father wouldn’t return from his next deployment a few months later.
He forced in a deep breath, pushing the thoughts from his mind. There were already tears in his eyes, forced out when he’d gagged earlier, and he wiped them away with a trembling hand. There was no way in hell he was going to cry in front of the RIO he’d been flying with for hardly more than a week.
“Hey, Mav?” The door creaked open again just as he was getting a handle on his breathing, Goose’s voice echoing through the empty locker room again. “Still here?”
“Still here.” He confirmed glumly, his cheek still resting on the toilet seat. If he wasn’t so sick already, he’d be disgusted, but it was cool against his clammy skin, and he found he didn’t have the energy to care. Goose had definitely made the right call.
“I told Buck you were throwing up. They’re going to have to shift the schedule around but they’re giving you the rest of the day off.” He’d made it back to Maverick’s side, and Maverick slowly lifted his head as Goose stopped in the doorway of the stall. He watched the other man crouch down, reaching out a hand to set it on his shoulder, nevermind that his shirt was damp with sweat. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Much to Maverick’s astonishment, Goose didn’t just leave Maverick to fend for himself after he’d delivered his news. Rather, he heaved Maverick upright to stand, wrapping an arm around him when he wobbled, his vision clouding with dark spots for a moment. Goose flushed the toilet and helped him back to the locker room, helping Maverick down onto one of the benches. Thankfully, he didn’t go so far as to undress him, but he told Maverick he needed to take a shower and waited with a stony expression on his face until Maverick started to comply. Goose tucked Maverick's clothes away in his locker, handed him his towel and helped Maverick to the shower, an arm out like he was worried he’d fall.
“I’m fine, man. I promise.” Maverick told him, though in reality he felt woozy and more than a little sick despite the distinct lack of anything in his stomach, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Goose.
“You look like you’re going to pass out.” Goose told him, casting him a wary glance. He backed off when Maverick tugged the towel from his waist and tossed it haphazardly onto a hook, starting the shower in front of him. The water came out blessedly cool, and after he got over the shock of it hitting his bare skin, he nearly groaned in relief.
“I’ll be fine.” He promised, dropping his head to let the water wash over his hair. He knew Goose was still standing behind him, watching him with that wary, concerned look of his, but he didn’t care. He’d never been one for modesty even when he was younger, and the Navy had properly whipped any tendency towards it out of him.
“You don’t sound too convincing.” Goose told him. Still, Maverick could make out the sound of his boots on the tiles and when he looked back, Goose was laying back on one of the benches across from the showers, his hands folded behind his head, his eyes on the ceiling. Maverick couldn’t help but stare at him, the sound of the water slapping on the tiles the only sound in the room.
“You don’t have to stay.” Maverick told him, turning back to face the wall again in case Goose looked back over at him. “I’m sure there’s somewhere else you’d rather be than looking after my ass. You don’t have to take care of me just because we’re flying together.”
Any of the other guys would’ve left already. The most they’d do was spread the word that he wouldn’t be flying and let him know he was off the hook, then they’d worry about themselves. Champ probably would’ve cheered if he found Maverick sick to his stomach, and he certainly wouldn’t have stuck around to help him. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had tried to take care of him, or had been more than the slightest bit concerned about his well being.
“I know.” Goose promised. Maverick felt eyes on his back, and when he dared a glance over his shoulder, the RIO gave him a soft smile. “I’m right where I want to be.”
He stayed on the bench while Maverick showered, following behind him when he headed back for his locker and handing him clean clothes from his locker while he sat on the bench in front of it. Once he was dressed, Goose walked him back through the carrier halls to his bunk and pointed Maverick to it as soon as they were in the room. Protesting would be a losing battle, so he went without complaint.
Still, Goose didn’t leave. He took Maverick’s boots and flight suit once he’d tossed them off and returned the suit to his locker, setting the boots neatly nearby so Maverick could reach them if he needed them in a hurry. He brought Maverick a plastic bag—in case, y’know, Goose had told him—a water bottle, and a little sleeve of crackers, though he couldn’t even begin to guess where he’d gotten them.
Maverick took all the items with confusion, setting them atop the blanket as he dragged himself beneath the sheet. He watched with astonishment when Goose ducked from the room and came back with a book in hand. He still wasn't leaving.
“Why do they call you Goose?” He asked, blinking as the RIO flicked off the overhead light, plunging the room into darkness. “Where did it come from?”
Goose settled himself on the bunk across from Maverick’s, flicking on the little reading light in the bunk. When he looked towards Maverick, shrouded in darkness while the light shone on Goose’s face, there was a hint of color in his cheeks.
“It’s short for Mother Goose.” The man confessed, he gave Maverick a smile, “partly because of how I laugh, and because I like to tell stories, but I guess I have a tendency to dote on people. In flight school it was my whole thing.”
Maverick rolled over onto his side, burrowing a little deeper into his bed, but he gave Goose a little hum of acknowledgement.
“I’ve been told I can be a little much. I didn’t mean to–”
“It’s not too much.” Maverick promised. He felt his eyes already drifting shut, Goose’s attention lulling him into a peaceful calm. “Most people don’t give a shit about me. Everyone who flies with me is gone in a month or less, and they all say I’m dangerous, that I shouldn’t have been given a license, that I shouldn’t even be in the Navy. I’m used to looking after myself.”
“Well, your flying is definitely something, but I don’t think you're dangerous.” The words made him open his eyes, and he found Goose watching him through the darkness. He met Maverick’s gaze and held it. “I’m not gonna quit on you, Mav. You don’t have to be on your own anymore.”
Maverick felt himself draw in a breath. He’d had RIOs tell him they’d stay before, only to leave once they realized they couldn’t take it, they couldn’t take him. He didn’t want Goose to be one of those. He didn’t want to deal with any more promises broken.
“Goose–”
“You don’t have to say anything, Mav.” Goose told him gently. “I’m sticking around. I mean it.”
There was a seriousness in his eyes, something that told him Goose was seeing him, actually seeing him for everything he was. Duke Mitchell’s kid, a hothead, dangerous, arrogant, a maverick, but loyal, committed, smart, good. Goose didn’t look away.
“Get some sleep, Mav. I’ll be here.”
Maverick watched him for a long moment, and he felt himself nod, settling back into the bed. Goose turned his attention to his book and Maverick drifted off to the hum of the ship, and the occasional brush of turning pages. When he woke, it was to one of the other pilots throwing a fit at the sight of Goose lounging on his bed, but he was still there, just like he said he’d be.
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What would a "Super Princess Peach" scenario look like with your version of Mareach? That is- Mario (and maybe Luigi) gets captured and Peach has to go rescue him.
Hello there!! Thank you for the ask!
I actually have Super Princess Peach but I've never finished it, maybe I should go to that next chance I get 😆 But I adore the concept, I don't have any projects like it atm but I'd love to work out some thoughts on it!!
I can't get enough of mutual pining/confession scenarios, so it would probably be something like that. And probably a whump story 😳 Bowser must be really motivated to get under Peach's skin and hurt her, and as much as it pains him, it seems like she really cares about the stupid little plumber man so it makes sense to create a plan to capture him.
And, though he would never lay a claw on Peach while under his jurisdiction, he doesn't have the same inclinations toward Mario so why not play around and torment the guy? After all, he's foiled his plans how many times by now? He doesn't have enough claws to count. So he gets a bit of a kick out of giving Mario a taste of what he's been put through. Also, Mario is furious about this, but he's not gonna let Bowser see a hint of pain. So he tries not to react, just so he wouldn't get any satisfaction. Unfortunately, this only makes Bowser angry and has him double down on his efforts to hurt him.
But Mario is powerless in this scenario, as Bowser has found some kind of weakness of his. There wouldn't be any point in threatening Peach as Mario knows Bowser wouldn't hurt her already, but maybe he threatens to do worse to Luigi. Maybe he finds some sort of neutralizer to Mario's Firebrand, and finds creative(painful) ways to keep him awake and hungry so that he begins to lose his strength.
And the whole time, Mario is fretting because he knows Peach. He knows that she's so kind and wonderful and she'll probably arrange to rescue him. But despite knowing her strength, he hates this because he doesn't want her to have to go through everything he does to get to the Dark Kingdom. All those enemies, all those tough conditions. He can't protect her while he's chained down in the dungeon. And this is really what's killing him, despite Bowser trying to break his will. All he wants is for the Princess to be safe, and kidnapping him makes him unable to serve her that way. This man would happily lay down his life for her, but instead he's useless and trapped in a deep dark cell without sunlight or consistent sustenance or rest. All his effort and pain is meaningless here.
He starts to think a lot about his feelings. About how sweet and perfect and beautiful the Princess is. He loves her, he's suspected that he has for a long time. But he would never dare to speak up and say as much to her. He thinks he is not worth her time, that he is beneath her in every way. He is content living out a life of service to her because that alone is a privilege enough. But now even that outcome is up in the air. Doubts of his ability to escape cloud his mind.
Meanwhile, Peach is losing her mind. She did not hesitate to mobilize, storming her way to Bowser's castle. Initially, she was nervous for the journey. But she was so furious that Bowser would do this, so enraged and terrified for Mario's wellbeing, that she did not even think for a second of turning back.
Mario had rescued her so many times. It was about time she returned the favor, no matter how much he insisted she would never need to. That sweet man, always so willing to stand by her side, to defend her, to fight for her. He literally traveled across the world and to the center of the universe for her.
Oh. She recognized sensations in herself that she had only read about. The way her heart pounded, the way his pain was her pain, the way his smile sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. The warmth of his touch, that cute little bashful face he made whenever she kissed him on the cheek. He always stood at a respectful distance, but she wanted nothing more than to be close to him.
And now he was hurt. Now he was in trouble, and she was going to rescue him if it killed her.
The last thing Mario wants is for her to have to fight Bowser. Actually, that's the last thing Bowser wants, too. He doesn't actually want to battle her, considering he'd like to marry her in one piece and also he knows she is more than capable of hurting him. But the Princess that storms his castle is ready for war and nothing is going to stop her.
She fights, and being at the sidelines is more painful than Mario can say. All of his instincts compelled him to go to her side, to fight for her, but he was powerless. There was nothing he could do but watch and worry and cry out if she got hit. The terror that seized him, watching her battle for his freedom, was cold and unforgiving.
She comes out victorious in the end, because Bowser just cannot triumph over her sheer will and power. And here I think my version of this story would focus a lot on the aftermath 😫
What if Mario collapses as soon as the battle is over, because he was just able to hold on until it was over? Bowser never got the satisfaction of seeing him beat, but he's beaten anyway. Peach rushes to his side, in near tears. She'd gotten so far, done all this by herself, and she can't lose him now. She doesn't know the extent of what Bowser had done to him. But she is safe, the danger is over, and Mario's body finally shuts down after everything.
She flies to him and wrenches open the cell. He is free, but at what cost? She drops to her knees and eases him up to rest upon her, hands shaking.
Their reunion is electric. She can't even think about escaping the castle with him in this state. She can't think about anything.
"I'm okay," he promises her, his voice barely there. He is bruised and bloodied, but his eyes shine with a faint hint of relief. He was so scared for her, but she did it. She made it to him and he's so proud.
Peach just holds him, her voice shaking as she wraps her arm around him. "You're not," she says. Her eyes darken, her voice clouds with more anger. She is stronger now, bolder after her journey. "What did he do to you?"
Mario doesn't have the capacity to describe it to her, and he begins to go limp. His eyes slide closed. "You did...You did so good. I am so...I am pr-proud..." he fades off. He's not dying, he's just extremely weak.
She seizes him all the same and presses her lips to his in a last ditch effort to rescue and restore his strength.
They kiss. Even as her healing magic takes effect, she continues to kiss him, desperate and relieved all at once for his safety. His wounds begin to heal, and he starts to shift beneath her. His hand raises up to cup her cheek and he kisses her back. It was nothing like their chaste touches before, or like any kiss she'd ever given to him or anyone else. Mario sighs with his newfound strength and murmurs that he loves her.
Peach gives a delighted, teary laugh and throws her arms around him as she confesses that she loves him, too.
...
Or maybe something like that 😅
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