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topguncortez · 2 years

Note

Whoops! I accidentally put in a submission instead of an ask. My bad. But I love Hangman and shyxreader, but what do you think of Ice and shy!reader?

I like this idea:)

Iceman was a private person. He didn't like everyone knowing every single detail about him. It was part of that ice cold persona that he kept up so well. The only real people who knew who Iceman was outside of the khaki uniform and frosted tips, was Slider, his RIO, and Y/N, his girlfriend.

Y/N was opposite of Iceman; quiet, nice, and shy. While Tom liked being the center of attention, Y/N prefer to sit off to the side and watch. Y/N was his rock, his salvation, his calmness after hectic mission. She was what he looked forward to seeing after long days trying not to punch Maverick in the face,

Tom had flown Y/N out for visiting weekend, and he was terrified. He knew that Y/N hated flying, which was funny that she chose to fall in love with a man who loved the sky (but not nearly as much as her). He stood against his car in the parking lot of the airport, and waited. He would've gone in, but he saw Maverick and Goose go inside the airport, and Tom wanted to avoid them as much as possible outside of TOPGUN. Tom also knew that Y/N wouldn't want all the questions they were bound to ask, knowing the only way she made it across country was by downing a bottle of melatonin.

"Tommy!" His blues eyes looked over to see her shiny hair, and her big eyes. He broke out in a smile and ran to her, picking her up in his arms. She let out a squeal as he twirled her around, before setting her back down and kissing her passionately.

"Oh, doll, I missed you," Tom said, caressing her cheek with his knuckle. She blushed and bit her lip, "Don't do that." He said, taking her lip out between her teeth. She turned an even deeper red at his words and gesture.

"I missed you too, Tommy," She said, and Tom kissed her again. He picked up her bags, and she gripped onto his bicep as he walked to his car.

Tom's blue eyes were on her the whole time as he drove with the windows down. Her hair was blown back from the salty warm air, and the smile on her face was one that he'd love to take a picture of. She sang loudly to Billy Joel's 'Uptown Girl' as Tom drove them to his tiny on base dorm. Tom had cleaned for about three hours that morning making sure everything was spotless, not like it wasn't already.

"Well. . .welcome home," Tom smiled as he put the car in park outside of his building, "It's not as spectacular as the house back in Virginia, but it's something."

"It's perfect, Tommy," Y/N said, and opened her door, which Tom reached across and closed, "What are you-"

"A lady never opens her own doors, doll," Tom said, and winked at her before getting out of the driver's side and running around to open her door. She giggled as she took his hand and got out of the car. Tom carried her bags into the building, as she took in the sight of the base. It was a lot different from their location in Virginia, and she was quietly counting down the days until she could go back. She loved Tom, but was not a fan of the California heat.

The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on what they missed in each other's lives. Tom laid his head in her lap, and she ran her fingers through the frosted tips on his head. Y/N didn't like to talk much about herself, which was ironically perfect for Tom, who never liked to shut up about himself. Iceman filled her in on what him and Slider had been learning, and then all about the pain in his ass who was named Maverick.

"He's just so fucking-"

"Language."

"Sorry baby," Iceman said, kissing her hand, "He's just so annoying, and cocky. He's got this flyboy danger attitude that's going to get him or someone else killed one of these days."

"Oh Tommy," Y/N said shaking her head, "You know he's not one of your young sailors back home right?"

"What are you saying?" Tom said, turning his head slightly.

"I can see it in your eyes. . . that, what is it they call it? Papa Ice look?"

Tom scoffed and shook his head, "I am not being 'Papa Ice' to him."

"Kinda," Y/N giggled, "But enough about work stuff, what else have you been up too?"

"Nothing but work," Tom sighed, "What about you? How's the garden?"

"Oh! It's great! I brought pictures of the roses and the sunflowers, cause I know you would want to see them. And the vegetables look amazing this year! Ruth is checking in and watering while I'm gone," Y/N said and Tom swore he fell even more in love with her.

Y/N loved gardening and when they got a house on base, Tom made sure it had a backyard so that she could have her own garden. He had promised her that when he gets his promotion, he's buying her a house with a big yard and enough land to have a garden as big as she wanted.

"Yo! Iceman-" Slider said, opening the door to the apartment. Y/N quickly pushed Ice away, making him frown slightly, but knew she was probably slightly embarrassed by Slider catching them cuddling on the couch, "Oh, look what the cat dragged in? Missus Iceman."

"Ron," Y/N smiled, and got up from the couch and hugged him, "Staying out of trouble?"

"You know how I am, Y/N, a child of god."

"Bullshit," Ice said and tried covering it up with a cough. Slider glared at him and Ice held his hands up in defense as he got up and pulled Y/N back into his arms, "Can we help you, Slider? Kinda wanted to spend the day with my girl."

"Well, bring her with," Slider said, "Beach volleyball game. You and Me, versus Mitchell and Mother Goose."

"Mother Goose?" Y/N asked, looking up at her boyfriend.

"Nick Bradshaw. You remember him? Loud, too talkative, stupid mustache," Ice said describing his friend from the academy, "He's Maverick's RIO."

"Oh, I think I remember," Y/N said, "He was the one who tried asking me out before you showed up."

"Yeah, that's the one," Tom said, "We'll be there. Give us like twenty minutes." Slider nodded and left the apartment, "Brought a swim suit?"

"Yes, it was on the packing list you sent," Y/N said, and walked over to her suitcase, which Tom quickly took from her and lead her down to his room. She rolled her eyes and followed behind him.

--- --- ---

The beach wasn't as packed as Y/N expected it to be, and she was thankful. She wore her swimsuit underneath a tank top and jean shorts. Tom assured her she was fine just wearing her swimsuit top and shorts, but she was worried she was showing too much skin. Y/N was beautiful, and Tom made sure she knew it. Even though he told her every day, she still didn't believe him.

Y/N sat down aways from where Tom and Slider were. It always made Tom frown how she put space in between them when they walked anywhere. He knew it was because she didn't want the eyes and stares from people wondering how the hell she ended up with Iceman, but he also wanted the whole world to know she was his.

She was also oblivious to the wondering green eyes of Maverick Mitchell. He had caught sight of her when she walked up and sat down. Her glowing skin and smile had him wanting to get to know her. Maverick had decided to take his white t-shirt off when she sat down, and he tried a little harder to flex the muscles of his abs. Every movement Maverick made was a little drawn out in hopes of impressing her. When Goose called water break, Maverick was half tempted to run over and talk to her, but his wingman called him over to rethink game strategies.

"What do you think?" Slider asked Tom as they walked over to get their waters.

"I think. . . Mitchell is about to go talk to my girlfriend," Tom said, and pushed his water bottle into Slider's chest, seeing the short pilot walk over to Y/N. Slider chuckled as he turned around and saw the sight playing out in front of him.

"Oooo! Mitchell, you done it now!" Slider laughed, "Mother Goose! Better go get your duckling!"

"What?" Goose said, turning around and seeing Maverick talking to Y/N, "Oh shit. . . Mav!"

"I'm just saying a pretty girl like you shouldn't be-"

"Doll," Iceman said, cutting off Maverick's speech. Y/N looked up at Tom, and a wave of relief washed over her eyes, "You're making my girlfriend uncomfortable. Leave." Iceman said, coldly to Maverick.

"You're girlfriend?" Maverick asked.

"Tommy," Y/N said, and Tom held his hand out for her to take. He knew she hated when people would just come up and talk to her. It had happened several times at military balls back in Virginia. Tom was never too far away from her, but there were times were she had to fend for herself.

"I got you, doll," Tom said, and pulled her into his sweaty chest.

"I didn't-"

"Yeah, I fucking know," Tom said cutting Maverick off.

"Tommy, language," Y/N said, scolding him softly, "It's all okay, Maverick." Lucky for the three of them, Goose had run up to gather his wingman from making an even bigger fool and enemy out of himself. Goose said apologies to both Y/N and Iceman as they walked away.

"God Mav, you need to learn to think with the other head," Goose said, and hit the back of his pilot's head.

"I was!" Maverick exclaimed.

Tom was still staring daggers at Maverick as he walked away. Y/N put her hand on his cheek and redirected his attention down to her. His blue eyes softened at the sight of her, and he looked leaned down to kiss her.

"You okay? We can leave, if you're not comfortable," Tom said, and Y/N shook her head.

"I'm okay. He just caught me off guard," Y/N said, "Not used to people coming up to me telling me I'm pretty."

"It's cause you are, Doll," Tom said, and cupped her face in his hands, "The prettiest doll I've ever seen," She blushed and Tom leaned down to kiss her cheek, "This is the last game. Then, it's you, me, candlelight dinner by the ocean."

"I love you, Tommy," Y/N said.

"I love you too, Doll."

And that was how everyone found out that Iceman's heart wasn't entirely made of ice.

#top gun #top gun imagine #top gun blurb #top gun fan fic #top gun fan fiction #iceman #iceman imagine #iceman blurb #iceman fan fic #iceman fan fiction #iceman x reader #tom kazansky #tom kazansky imagine #tom kazansky fan fic #tom kazansky fan fiction #tom kazansky blurb #tom kazansky x reader

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floydsglasses · 3 months

Text

𝙓-𝙈𝙚𝙣 𝙈𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨-DAGGER EDITION

{All Daggers+Iceman, Maverick, Goose and Slider included}

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘆 "𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿" 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄- 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁/𝗪𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘊𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘎𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺."

𝗝𝗮𝗸𝗲 "𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗻" 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗻-𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀/𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗽𝘀

"𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥… 𝘟-𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘔𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴… 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱… 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺."

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 "𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘅" 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲- 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝘆

"𝘖𝘩, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭."

𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 "𝗕𝗼𝗯" 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗱-𝗕𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲/𝗜𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻

"𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥?"

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 "𝗙𝗮𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘆" 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮- 𝗞𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿/𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗿

"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯, 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘣𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯… 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵."

𝗥𝘂𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗻 "𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸" 𝗙𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵-𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗼𝘆/𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁

"𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯."

𝗝𝗮𝘃𝘆 "𝗖𝗼𝘆𝗼𝘁𝗲" 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼- 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 ||| /𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹

"𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳… 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳… 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯… 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 -- 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 -- 𝘐 𝘢𝘮. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵."

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲 "𝗠𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸" 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹- 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗫𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿/𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗫

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘈𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘖𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘖𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘴 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨."

𝗧𝗼𝗺 "𝗜𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻" 𝗞𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗸𝘆- 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗸 𝗟𝗲𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿/𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗼

"𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐𝘵 𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥."

𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗸 "𝗚𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲" 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄-𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗳𝗳/𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿

"𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰."

𝗥𝗼𝗻 "𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿" 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿- 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱/𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵

"𝘚𝘰'𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘮𝘦 -- 𝘪𝘴 𝘵'𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦!"

ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ

SO after my crappy week im gifting you all this gift! This was fun and kind of hard but what do you all think! HOW ABOUT A POSSIBLE PART 2 @icezansky told you not to give me ideas 🤭

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topgun-imagines · 8 months

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🌹From @tomcruiseishot

“Good morning.” Ice began, clapping his hands together as he stepped up to the podium. Your eyes snapped up to his, listening intently as he rattled off details, instructions, tips, and tricks. Mav found himself focusing more on you than on the material he was supposed to be teaching. So much so, that he didn’t even notice when it was his turn to speak. The elbow in his side was what brought him out of his daydream. The pilot fought a blush at the realization that he had been staring at you.

Clearing his throat, he glanced between his notes and a random student as he spoke. A few of the cocky pilots in the audience snickered. They were silenced with one harsh glare from the blond instructor.

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callmemana · 1 year

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For You, I’d Do Anything

Summary: On her way home from the base after a hard day in the air, Dragon gets into a car crash that leads her to be rushed to the local hospital with a persistent head wound and many more injuries, Tom races against everything to make sure he can be there for her through this life-changing disaster. When Tom calms down enough, he makes a call to the couples’ best friends and found family, the Kerner’s.

Thomas ‘Iceman’ Kazansky x Rachael ‘Dragon’ Kazansky {OC} ( @dragon-kazansky )

Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner x Jade ‘Whiskey’ Kerner {OC} ( @mrsjaderogers )

Rick ‘Hollywood’ Neven x Baylie ‘Duckie’ Pruitt {OC} ( @bayisdying )

Leonard ‘Wolfman’ Wolfe x Amanda ‘Cricket’ Pruitt {OC}

📫(This is a one shot from Whiskey Bottles & Wildflowers series and Duckie & Cricket are mentioned once for a brief moment)📫

A/N📋: dividers by @firefly-graphics , cover by me ( @callmemana ).

A/N📋: make sure to checkout these amazing & talented women! They write fantastic Top Gun/ Top Gun Maverick fanfics! Check out this fic from @bayisdying on who’s Bradley’s fav 1896 pilot! Also Goose LIVES bc I want him too, so suck it.

🚨warning: inaccurate medical terms/jargon, blood, and seizing. (I got my info from Grey’s Anatomy so I’m sorry if it’s incorrect! Season 1 ep. 1 if your curious) and Navy inaccuracy!

When Tom got the initial call from the San Diego Hospital, he panicked. Had something happened to Rachael? Was she hurt? How hurt? His voice wavered as he pressed the green button, “Hell…Hello?” “Hello, is this Thomas Kazansky?”

“This is he. May I ask what this is about?” “I am very sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. Kazansky, but your wife has been in an accident. If you could please come to the hospital as soon as possible that’d be great.” “Of…of course. I’ll be there soon!”

Tom had at least broken ten traffic violations as he drove as fast as he could to the hospital. Once there, he tapped on the front desk, impatient and nervous about what is exactly Rachael’s condition. The nurse smiled, knowing he was scared, “Hello Sir, how can I help you today?”

“Um… ah… my wife, she was in a car accident earlier tonight and I’m here to see h…her.” “And the patient’s name?” “Rachael Kazansky.” He blurted, worry in his voice. “Ah, yes. She’s in room 81422. If she’s not in there, she’s either getting an X-ray or scan done, but your more than welcome to wait in the room while she’s gone.” “Thank you,” Tom uttered under his breath as he ran passed the desk and to the elevators.

In…out…in…out. Tom had so many visions of how badly she’d been hurt, but shook his head, he couldn’t think about that anymore. He clumsily reached for his phone in his pocket, found his number and pressed the call button. It only ran twice before he heard the other man’s voice on the other line, “Hey Ice! What’s up man? You never call this late?”

Tom tried to keep the tremble out of his voice, “It’s…it’s Rachael, Ron. She was in a car accident and she’s in the hospital. Your like family to us, so…” “WHAT? We’re on our way now, you know we’ll always be here for you Tom,” before the line dropped, he could hear Ron tell Jade the news.

He spun the phone in his hand and tightened his grip, taking his frustration out on it. How could he not be there for her? He knew it was impossible for this to be his fault, but put the blame on himself anyway.

Tom sat in the waiting room, head in hands as Ron & Jade rushed through the doors, startling the other occupants. “Where is she? Have you seen her yet? Did they have to take her to surgery?” Tom opened his arms, knowing that Jade would want to hug him. “I know her room number, I just can’t make myself walk in and see her all bruised and beaten.”

Jade smacked the back of Tom’s bleached blond head, “Grow a pair! She’s in there scared to death, waiting for her husband to calm her down and comfort her! Tom, I say this with love. You know I do, but seriously, go be with your wife!” Tom nodded, a little ashamed about his behavior. This isn’t about him, it’s about Rachael, his amazingly strong and confident wife.

He knocked softly on the open door, trying not to startle Rachael as she slept. “Hey Baby, how are you feeling?” Rachael gave a half-asses loopy smile, “I feel like I was hit by a bus.” “Plea…please don’t joke about that. You had me so afraid and nervous when I got the call about you being in a car crash.”

“Tom, babe, I’m fine. The only thing that’s badly hurt is my car. I just got some scraps and bruises, a broken leg, and maybe a concussion. That’s still waiting to be analyzed sense they carted me straight to the X-ray for the leg.” “I’m just glad your ok. I called Ron & Jade too, they’re in the waiting room. Want me to send them in?”

Rachael made grabby hands at her husband, wanting a hug and to be close as possible. “When the truck hit me, I swear I saw my life flash across my eyes. It happened so fast, I was so scared that I’d never see you again.” She whimpered.

“Shh, you’re ok. I’ll always be there for you Rach. I have no choice, remember our vows?” Rachael sniffled a little before a small laugh escaped her, “For better or for worst, through sickness or through health. I’ll always be by your side.”

“Exactly. Do you wanna see Ron & Jade yet?” “Yeah, Jade’s probably throwing a tantrum about not seeing me right now.” “She’s an adult, she wouldn’t.” “If she’s not able to see her chaotic best friend that’s hurt and in the hospital, she would and we both know it.” “Yeah, ok. I’ll go get them. I’ll be right back gorgeous.” He missed her forehead tenderly, before leaving the room.

As Tom entered the waiting room, he saw Ron & Jade holding hands and talking in quiet voices. “Hey, she’s ok. A little busted up, but she’s alive. Rach wants to see you both.” Jade pushed both men out of the way and b-lined it to Rachael’s room.

“Oh my god Rach! You’re ok! I was so worried for you! Tom, that shithead, didn’t tell us anything but that you were in a car accident!” Jade started to cry at the thought of her best friend, the other half of the chaos crew, was hurt. “Oh Jade, don’t cry! I’m ok, really!” “I know, I know! It’s just hard to hear!”

The two women hugged, attached to each other like glue as the men waited right outside the door. “You know that Jade and I are here for you guys right?” “Yea, of course. Rachael and I would be there for you guys too. We’re a family, Ron, thats what they do.”

“Have you called the others? The rest of the squadron would want to know, they care about you guys too.” Tom nodded, “I will tomorrow morning. It’s too late, they need to sleep, I also don’t want to overwhelm Rach with more visitors.”

“Understandable. They can be a lot.” A noise from one of the machines Rachael was connected to grabbed the attention of the nurses nearby, making them rush over.

Jade’s voice sounded above the yelling and beeping, “Help! Please help! I…I don’t know what’s happening!” “Ma’am, please, step aside so we can help her!” That grabbed the men’s attention at the scream of Jade and booked it to the room.

Nurses and doctors crowded the small space and pushed Tom, and their friends out, before the nurses helped the doctors. “Eyes not responding, push 10 milligrams of Diazepam I.M. And get her tested, order a MRI too!” “Anything specific?” “No, all of the test, now!” “Yes sir!” “Right away!”

They wheeled her away to another floor, her friends huddled together and tears running down their faces. Jade grabbed Tom’s hand and squeezed before being pulled back into Ron’s arms. “She’ll be alright, she has to be. She was smiling and talking be…before she started seizing,” muttered Jade.

It’s hours later before the scans and test come back, the doctor on her case comes over to them, “It seems as if she’s got an acute brain bleed. She’ll need surgery, and a few weeks of rest afterwards. I’ll see you after.” The doctor bid goodbye and walked off to what they assumed the operating floor to scrub in.

It’s even more time spent in the waiting room, eating cheap vending machine snacks, horribly burnt coffee from the cafeteria, and tears burning their eyes.

Tom and the couple had to call into base and let them know what had happened to Rachael and they had a family emergency and needed a few days off, which the Commanding Officer easily granted.

As the night slowly turned into daytime, Ron made calls to the squadron members to let them know about Rachael’s condition and comforted his wife and best friend. It was hard on all of them, they all formed a tight bond over the weeks of Top Gun.

Once Rachael was put in an Post-Operation room on another floor, and the anesthesia wore off, the others were able to see her. Tom sat on a nearby chair, which he drug up to the side of her bed so he could hold her hand.

Ron stayed back, and rested on the farthest wall, Jade sat on the other side of her best friend’s bed in another very uncomfortable seat she found in the hall that she carried in.

Tom felt a squeeze to his hand, he lifted up his head and saw Rachael’s dazed eyes looking around, “What the hell? Why do you have sad faces, I told you I was fine.” “Rach! Oh my god, baby! I was so worried!” Tom shouted as he kissed her hand and then her forehead softly.

Jade gingerly hugged Rachael as tight as she dared, careful not to hurt her best friend more. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to wipe them away before Rachael could see. No such luck, “Jade, I said I was fine. See! No worst for wear!”

“You just had surgery! You can’t say that!” “I would have never guessed that I was just out of surgery. I couldn’t tell by my headache, or new room.” “Please don’t use sarcasm in a time like this.” “Sarcasm is how I cope. I’m in pain and it brings me serotonin.”

Soft laughter could be heard from around the group, it would be Dragon who can make them laugh in a time like this. “So, I’m guessing that the others know too and plan on visiting soon?”

Tom missed her hand again before starting, “Yeah, round six or seven. Goose said that Bradley wants to see his favorite pilot.” “Aw, and I wanna see my lil man too! I miss him, I have seen him in so long!”

“Two days isn’t that long.” “To you maybe, but for me? It’s an eternity,” Rachael pouted. The men rolled their eyes lovingly as Jade laughed.

Six-thirty on the dot, there was a small knock on the door before a blonde woman holding a small human came in, “Auntie Dragon!” Yelled the boy as Carole looked sheepish, “Sorry, he heard this morning that Rachael was hurt and couldn’t stop begging to see you. Goose wanted to wait until later for us to visit so you could recuperate.”

“Oh it’s fine! I’m always happy to see my favorite future pilot!” Bradley was let down from his mother’s arms before running as fast as his four-year-old legs would let him to his Uncle Ice, who picked him up and sat him down on Dragon’s bed as she scooted over to make room.

“I’m glad to hear that your ok, you had us all worried when Tom called earlier and said you needed brain surgery.” “I’d say, nothing got done in the air today, all worried sick about your health. Mav was so outta his head, he almost took a nose dive more than once!” Announced Goose as he entered the room, backed by most of the squad.

“Oh, so he’s more dangerous than usual when people he cares about is hurt?” “I am dangerous, Ice.” Smirked Mav as the others laughed at the memory. “Yeah, yeah.” “How’s the best of the best doin?” “Pretty good, I got my lil buddy to help keep my mind off of the pain.” “When do you come back?”

“Um, I’m not sure. I didn’t even know I had brain surgery until afterwards.” “Nice shaved head, by the way.” Smiled Hollywood, with his arm wrapped around Duckie, his girlfriend. “Thanks, I think it looks badass.” “It definitely does,” stated Cricket, Leonard’s girlfriend and Duckie’s sister.

“Hi girlies! I haven’t seen you in a hot minute! Hugs are in order!” Said Rachael as she leaned up and waited with open arms as the two midwestern sisters made their way to the bed.

The girls smiled and gently hugged her back. “Before you take our girls away, can we get hugs too?” Dragon pretended to think before smirking and opening her arms again. Each of the men took turns getting a tight and loving hug from Rachael.

The others stayed and socialized until it was lights out for the floor and said their goodbyes before leaving. Unfortunately, this included Ron and Jade too. It started out as one of the worst days of Tom’s life, but it ended better than he expected.

“When we get home, could you stop by Wendy’s? I am craving fast food after being forced to eat this disgusting hospital food.” Tom laughed, loud and hard, before kissing the crown of her head, “For you, I’d do anything love.”

Forever 🏷️ list: @bayisdying @mrsjaderogers @dragon-kazansky @gracespicybradshaw @switchbladedreamz @sweetlittlegingy

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whiskeyswriting · 11 months

Text

Sisters: Always There

⚠️TW: Mentions of cancer, infertility, death.

📝A/N: Divider by @firefly-graphics

Delilah and Rachael Connelly were inseparable during childhood. They remained like that into adulthood. Nobody could bother one sister without the other one coming to her defense.

One would fall. The other would pick her up.

One would cry over a breakup. The other would comfort her.

One would get grounded. The other would do something to get grounded, unless she was breaking her out of the house.

The biggest and most loving moment was when Rachael volunteered to be Delilah’s surrogate. Delilah had been young when she had to undergo chemotherapy and later a hysterectomy before she could even have a baby.

Rachael always knew that being a mom had been a lifelong dream for Delilah. She talked with Tom to both be on the same page. They both knew that the decision would bring along challenges but they knew it was the best one they could make.

The appointments were made and the procedure went smoothly. It took a few weeks to know for sure if a pregnancy would truly result from the procedure. Sure enough, the embryo stuck and was growing healthily.

As the months passed and the baby kept growing, Rachael and Delilah would talk every day about the plans for their baby. Their favorite and happiest day was the day they found out it was going to be a girl.

“Rach! Did you know that William claims to say it’s his baby too!?” Delilah said laughing one day.

Rachael gasps dramatically. “Just because he’s your husband biologically the dad… who gave him the right to say it’s his baby? She’s ours!”

The sisters just giggled more and continued to shop for baby clothes, toys, and room decor.

The day finally arrives. Baby Baylie Harper Steele was born. Delilah and William had never been as happy as the moment they held her in their arms.

From that day on, they slept very little. Not because Baylie wouldn’t let them sleep. No. They were just so in love and happy with their little miracle that they never wanted to spend time apart from her.

As she was growing, Baylie also became obsessed with her aunt Rachael. This just meant so much to the Steele’s because, if it wasn’t for Rachael, they wouldn’t have Baylie.

Baylie became the daughter Rachael and Tom never had. They were also there for many of her firsts: first steps, first tooth, first word (it was orsey), first haircut.

One night after Baylie’s 3rd birthday, the Steele’s informed their friends that their wish was that the Kazanksy’s would adopt Baylie and the Kerner’s would be her godparents should anything happen to them. The couples all agreed and laughed at how one tiny little beautiful girl could have so many parents.

But because life is not fair, Rachael and Tom were also there for Baylie’s first funeral, the week after she turned 4. It had been a drunk driver the police told them. The driver had T-boned the Steele’s car. William died on impact. Delilah died en route to the hospital.

One day Jade arrived at Rachael’s house with tears in her eyes. She just handed her an envelope that said “For Baylie Steele-Kazansky’s New Mom”.

Rachael broke out in sobs and Jade wrapped her arms around her best friend. “She gave it to me to save in case anything happened to them… I never thought I’d actually give you this letter Rach…”

The friends sat and read the letter and cry some more. Baylie hears them and cries too, still not fully understanding why she can’t see her mommy and daddy.

In the months following the funeral, Rachael and Tom would spend hours in and out of doctors and lawyers offices as they legally adopted Baylie.

From there, they became the first ones to experience many more of Baylie’s first: her first fight in school, her first time helping on the farm, her first broken bone, her first heartbreak. Now that Baylie is back home in Mount Deston, they still will continue to experience more of Baylie’s firsts.

Whiskey's Barrel: @askmarinaandothers @bayisdying @breadsquash @callmemana @callsignscupcake @cycbaby @dragon-kazansky @gracespicybradshaw @hisredheadedgoddess28 @ladylanera @starlit-epiphany @genius2050

Whiskey's Pilots: @novagreen04 @luckyladycreator2 @mischief-siriusly-managed @callsignthirsty @stargazing15

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A/N: To be added to this (or other tag lists), please fill out the form located in this post.

#mrsjaderogerswrites #top gun cowboy au #The 1% - A Top Gun AU #top gun #top gun fan fiction #the chaos squad #top gun maverick #top gun au #top gun maverick au #Top Gun Cowboy AU #Dragon is the best sister #Baylie has the best moms #tom iceman kazansky #rachael dragon kazansky #dragon x iceman #tom iceman kazansky x oc

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derpinathebrave · 1 year

Text

Finders Keepers - IceMav SpyAu Part 4 - Loving

READ ON AO3

These chapters come out faster on AO3 just as an FYI. Sometimes it takes me a few days to get to post to Tumblr. Also This is now 40k in my writing doc. I will have to make a Masterpost I think. I'll put that on my to-do list...

SUMMARY: “Don’t get attached, Mitchell,” Ice said, mumbling soft enough that the kid wouldn’t hear but the words were piped through the earpiece to Mav.

Maverick gave him a look of mild disinterest before returning his attention to the kid. Just because Ice was a cold-hearted bastard, didn’t mean Maverick had to be. There was nothing wrong with being kind to a child that they had rescued from a house of traffickers. It wasn’t like he was about to adopt it…

TAGS: Tom “Iceman” Kazansky/Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, OC Child Character, Ron “Slider” Kerner, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, Bill “Cougar” Cortell, Mike “Viper” Metcalf, Rick “Jester” Heatherly, Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood, Penny Benjamin, Rick "Hollywood Neven, Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe, Fluff, Family Fluff, Literally found family, MavDad, IcePops, SpyAU, Very Mild Violence, Spycraft innacuracies, Mild mentions of human trafficking, Selective Mutism, No Beta we die like goose.

WORDS: 7,069

PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4

Mav had endured the reaming Jester had given him. It was an impressive forty minute tirade of why this was the stupidest choice he could possibly make and how he was throwing away his career. Mav stood at attention through the whole thing, mentally listing what needed to be done for Emma in his house.

They would need to head back to the safehouse, collect all her new clothes and the food from the fridge. It would be a pain in the ass seeing as he only had his bike here and there was no way Viper was going to let him have a company car again.

Maybe he could convince Ice to bring her in his car. Maybe he could convince Ice that Emma needed him to stay. Maybe he could convince Ice to hold him again. Maybe, if he really tried, he could convince Ice to kiss him soft and slow—

“Are you even listening to me, Maverick?” Jester interrupted his thoughts.

“Yes, sir. Irresponsible, career-wasting, talent-wasting choices, sir.”

Jester sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes. “You’ve already made your decision then?”

“Yes, sir,” Mav couldn’t smother his smile in time.

“Then get out of my sight.” He turned back to his desk.

Mav never needed to be told twice. He headed for the door, pausing when Jester spoke again.

“Mitchell,” his voice was quieter now. “I get it. But I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t try and talk you out of it.”

With a truer smile this time, Mav turned back to face him. “I know, Jester. Thanks.”

“Keep me abreast of that… extracurricular you and the boys are cooking up, OK?” He gave Maverick a stern look.

How he had already heard about it, Mav wasn’t too sure. He gave Jester a solemn nod and headed out. As he rode the elevator down to his floor, Mav added “sweep office for bugs” to his to-do list.

It was after dark when they finally finished all their work. Goose had headed off an hour ago, promising that he would keep Carole from bringing baked goods to Mav’s house for at least 48 hours. Slider had headed out on his recon job, ruffling Emma’s hair as he took the kit from his bench where she was tinkering with cut pieces of wire. Ice worked steadily through along with Maverick. They only stopped because Emma asked them to go home.

She put a miniature wire sculpture of Ice’s Ruger on his desk along with an encoded note. He skimmed the numbers a few times before picking up a pen and working the code out on a pad before decoding the actual message.

Can we go home soon?

Ice smiled at her and stretched his arms overhead. His spine gave a sigh of relief.

“Sure, Squeak,” Ice said easily, his mouth working before his brain had a chance to catch up.

He mentally cursed. There was no home. There was no we.

“Hmm?” Mav asked, eyes distracted as he carried on working at his desk.

“Emma wants to go home,” Ice said, trying to put all his thoughts into his tone of voice.

“Sure, baby, give me one more second.”

Ice wanted to smack him. Instead he stood and glanced down at Emma. She was watching Ice closely, eyes slightly narrowed and a kink in her brow. He wanted to smack himself. She was the smartest kid he’d ever met, of course she would pick up on his subtext with ease.

He gave a short sigh and knelt down to level with her.

“Emma,” Ice started. A fresh, slicing pain cut through his heart. He didn’t want to do it.

“All done!” Mav interrupted and gave a clap of his hands. “Let’s go! I’m starving.”

It felt like a life-preserver. Ice knew he should refuse it and forge on telling Emma he wasn’t coming with them. But he clung on anyway, letting Mav drag him back in again.

She walked on her own. The later hour of the day meaning the halls were emptier of people. Mav held her hand as they rode the elevator and after a moment, Emma slid her fingers into Ice’s hand as well. He smiled down at her.

“Ice, you’re going to have to drive Emma,” Mav said, voice a little too easy. “I only have my bike and she has no gear.”

Ice turned his upper body, staring at Mav openly. The other man avoided looking back until the elevator gave its ding and they had to get out.

Blinking, head half tilted in confusion, Ice released Emma’s hand and followed along behind them through the garage. That had felt suspiciously like Maverick was trying to get him to stay. There couldn’t be a chance he actually wanted to keep Ice around, could there?

The memory of Mav’s thigh pressed against his in the cafeteria rose and fell. Maybe Maverick did want him around? Maybe Maverick liked having someone to help out with Emma. Maybe Emma was the real reason Mav was asking.

That had to be it.

As crushing as it was to his ego, Ice could accept hanging around because it helped Emma. He cared about her. He wanted to see her happy and was willing to push his own happiness aside to do so.

Mav slowed them to a stop by his neon green Kawasaki. He moved to the wall lockers and pulled his helmet and jacket out. Emma was staring, eyes wide and hungry, at the bike.

“You can’t ride with me today, kiddo,” Mav said, shrugging the jacket on. “Not until we get you some leathers and a helmet.”

“Not at all,” Ice cut in. The idea of her on the motorcycle sent his heart into palpitations.

Emma turned to him, scowling with her bottom lip in a huge pout.

“C’mon, Ice,” Mav wheedled. “I’m a very safe rider. I’ve been riding bikes for decades now. She’ll be OK as long as we have the proper gear.”

“We can talk about it later,” Ice said, deflecting the impossible task of saying ‘no’ when Emma looked so desperate. “Until then, you’re with me, Squeak. I’m a few rows down.”

She gazed longingly at the bike until Ice took her hand and physically towed her away.

“Look, I might not ride a bike, but we’ll have fun, I promise,” Ice said, flashing a smile at her.

Her expression was dubious as Ice clicked his car to unlock. Sure, it looked like an innocuous hatchback in a boring steel-grey, but it wasn’t about looks.

The engine of Mav’s bike echoed through the garage and Emma looked back for it.

“You want to ride up front?” Ice asked her, pulling the front passenger door open.

Mav pulled up at the back bumper, the visor of his helmet flipped up. “Nice car,” he called, voice muffled. “We’ll meet at the safe house.”

“Sure,” Ice nodded. “Don’t wreck yourself on that thing.”

“Worry wort!” Mav revved the engine with a laugh and zipped off toward the exit.

Ice bundled Emma into the front seat with her backpack at her feet and rounded the car to his side. He checked for her seatbelt and found she was still frowning a little. He chuckled.

The i30N growled to life, giving snaps and crackles as Ice backed out of the park and followed Mav’s path for the exit. As they passed through the boomgate, Ice glanced at Emma once more.

“Ready?” He grinned.

She gave him a confused look.

He stomped on the accelerator. The engine roared and the force of it pushed them back into their seats. Emma let out a giggle. Ice laughing along with her as he wove the car through the scant traffic and breezed through a very late yellow light.

“See,” Ice said, unable to stop smiling as they burned through the city in record time. “I told you we’d have fun.”

She was beaming from ear to ear, watching the scenery slip by out the window. Ice took a few corners with more pace than strictly necessary, inflicting the inertia on Emma and making her laugh again.

As they cruised along an arterial road, Maverick’s neon bike came into view. Ice, an overwhelming sensation of smugness filling his chest, pulled into the lane beside Mav’s idling bike at the next red light.

He revved the engine to get Mav’s attention and rolled his window down.

The pair of them laughed as Mav did a double take. He flipped his visor up once more, eyes shocked.

“Jesus, Kazansky, and you think I’m reckless!” He yelled over the noise of their engines.

“I had it all under control. We got a run of greens!” Ice called back with a smug grin.

“Just be careful!”

“You be careful!” Ice laughed and shot off as the light changed.

Within seconds Mav’s bike peeled past and cut into the lane ahead of them. Emma and Ice laughed again.

“He’s got us for acceleration, Squeak,” Ice said with mock-sorrow. “But we’d keep up even if he wasn’t driving like a grandma.”

She gave him a toothy grin that didn’t shift the rest of the drive to the safehouse.

With the practice of two people that had bugged out more than once, Ice and Mav had the safehouse back to the way they had found it within an hour. They had all of Emma’s new things and all of the perishable food loaded into Ice’s car.

Emma was still and silent through the whole thing, watching with haunted eyes. Ice wanted to pause and comfort her, but he figured the best comfort would be getting her to Mav’s house where she could actually settle for a long while.

“What’s the address?” Ice asked as he helped Emma back into the car again.

Mav rattled it off as he locked the door and picked up his bike helmet once more.

Ice blinked, blindsided for the second time that evening. “That’s in the middle of suburbia,” Ice scoffed.

“So?” Mav laughed a little, clearly knowing that it subverted all expectations. “Where else would I live?”

“I don’t know,” Ice said. “In an abandoned warehouse or a beat up trailer somewhere.”

Maverick gave a cackling laugh and shook his head. “You’re a real charmer, Ice. Thanks.”

“I’m just being honest,” Ice raised his hands in surrender, laughing a little himself.

“I’ll meet you two there.” Mav pulled his helmet on. “Try not to speed this time.”

“I will if you will.”

Ice folded himself into the car, still huffing with quiet laughter.

As he drove, he couldn’t help but realise that Mav made him happy. Their banter lately was much less antagonistic posturing and much more teasing fun. He hoped that even after he left him and Emma, they could carry on with this energy to their relationship. He didn’t want to go back to the prickly treatment of the last few years.

Mav’s house was in a quiet street off a main road. It was a single storey with the garage jutting out from the house and a small covered porch. A garden of low-maintenance shrubs, that had gone slightly wild, lined the porch but the lawn was trimmed and everything looked perfectly suburban. It sent a jagged sense of jealousy through Ice. Compared to his loft this was right out of a House and Garden magazine.

The garage door ground open as Mav turned into the driveway and ducked under the door on his bike with movement that was clearly second-nature. Ice pulled in behind him and turned the engine off.

“We’re here,” Ice said with a forced smile. “Let’s get you unpacked.”

Emma gave him a slightly dubious look but climbed out of the car.

Mav was hanging his jacket as they strolled into the open garage. Suddenly Ice understood why Mav lived in suburbia with a double garage. There was another bike already parked there, it was more laid back than the sport bike he usually saw Mav on, not quite a cruiser but something like it. Beside it was a vintage car. It was mostly blue with some large gaps in the paint and the hood open. The engine was in pieces across a drop cloth on the floor nearby.

As Ice was taking it all in, Emma was hovering at his elbow, eyes continually returning to the dismantled engine. Mav stepped over and ruffled her hair.

“Maybe tomorrow, kiddo,” he said. “Right now we have to get your stuff inside and get some dinner.”

She gave a soft sigh of disappointment.

“C’mon, I’ll give you a tour of the house.” Mav chuckled and waved them both in.

The door from the garage led into a tight hall. Ice couldn’t help but immediately begin a tactical analysis of the house. This was good so far, a choke point for the entry, it was narrow enough to keep insurgents coming in one at a time.

Mav tapped the tall cupboard doors in the western wall as they passed. “That’s the laundry,” he said.

The hall opened a little into a right angle. He gestured to the door immediately to the east in the wall.

“This will be your room, kiddo,” Mav said and pushed the door open.

It was a mess. Ice supposed under the absolute mountain of stuff crammed in the room, there was probably a bed. He didn’t like the look of the large bay window in the far wall of her room. It was incredibly exposed and easy to breach. He made a mental note as they carried on straight down the hall.

“Linen cupboard,” Mav knocked on a single door. “This one is my room.” He gestured to the half-open door at the end of the hall.

With a glance at Emma, Mav carried on into the room. Ice, an awkward reluctance biting at him, followed them in.

It was reasonably clean. A few discarded clothes here and there. What appeared to be a technical manual resting open on its pages on the floor by the bed and two coffee cups on the bedside table. The bed was a tangled mess of blankets, sheets and pillows. Ice pressed his lips together to suppress his smile. It was exactly what he expected Mav’s room to be.

“I also have a bathroom and wardrobe in here,” Mav said. “You can peek if you want, nothing to hide.”

Emma walked a slow circle around the room, opening the cupboards that lined the eastern wall, peering out the dark windows and glass door on the north wall. Ice assumed they overlooked the backyard. She ducked into the en suite and wardrobe on her own. Ice turned his eyes to Mav, both of them were unashamedly proud of her progress.

From Mav’s room he led them back down the hall and down the other arm of the right angle. There was a bathroom, a dining room with a four-seater table and a cabinet cluttered with stuff. The kitchen and living area opened off the hall. It was nicer than Ice expected. He once more thought of his own studio and winced internally. He liked to say it was minimalist, but now looking at Mav’s place he knew it was just stark.

Everything was a riot of colours. The armchairs and lounge didn’t match at all but it ended up cohesive anyway. His rugs were a mix of old and oriental with abstract and modern. None of it should be working but the chaos overflowed onto everything and made it all fit perfectly.

The fridge was papered with documents, invoices, ‘drawings’ made of colourful scribble with Bradley printed in the corner. The bench was cluttered with clean dishes waiting to be put away and a slowcooker was plugged in on the island that bisected the corner from the rest of the room.

It was cozy and homey and Ice couldn’t have chosen a better place for Emma to be.

Mav ground his teeth thinking of the nightmare his spare room was as they toted all of Emma’s things inside. He instructed them to set them down in the dining room for now. He hadn’t been expecting a guest. In fact he had resigned that room to be his Stuff room forever.

Now it would have to be emptied and he would probably have to cull his Stuff to fit Emma into his life. It might have been exasperating to someone else, but Mav couldn’t help but relish the idea. It was so worth it. The thing that irked him was making her feel unwelcome or, worse, like a burden to him.

She was still gazing around at his house, picking up on every little detail. As much as he loved how switched on she was, a deep seeded hope that this could be a place where she didn’t feel she had to be alert at all times sprouted within him. He wanted to give her comfort.

“Dinner,” Mav said and headed for the kitchen. “You staying, Ice? For dinner I mean.”

“Uh,” Ice sounded unsure. It was odd enough that Mav glanced back at him with raised eyebrows. Mr Iceman, unsure? He wasn’t aware it could even happen.

Emma abandoned her inspection of Mav’s trophy cabinet and crossed to where Ice stood in the doorway. She reached up in an obvious bid to be picked up. He complied without even thinking about it.

Mav smiled to himself and carried on to the kitchen without them. It was getting too late to cook anything elaborate. Mav settled for frying some chicken and chucking together a salad while Ice and Emma resumed staring into the cabinet in the dining room.

It was yet another place that needed a cull. Mav could admit he was a pack-rat. He liked to collect things, he liked to keep things ‘just in case’, he liked looking around his home and seeing things. He had spent the majority of his life owning nothing and living in temporary places. It was comforting to see his own things everywhere.

“Is this a vintage Colt?” Ice called.

Mav ducked his head around the door to look. Ice was pointing at the gun half hidden behind a box of nuts and bolts that probably shouldn't have been there. He gave a nod, smug delight filling him at the impressed look on Ice’s face.

“Does it fire?” Ice’s voice carried through the door again.

“Last I tried it did,” Mav called back, rapidly chopping vegetables. “It’s been a few years though.”

“And a Derringer?” There was awe clear in Ice’s voice now. “What the hell, Mitchell? How do you have these?”

Mav laughed a little. “I wanted them. I bought them.” He flipped the frying chicken and wandered back to lean on the door to the dining room. “What else am I supposed to use all that money for?”

Ice gave a bark of laughter and shook his head. Emma was tapping his shoulder insistently, pointing at something else in the cabinet.

“A bayonet?” Ice spluttered. “A 1940s bayonet?” He turned back to Mav.

“It was a surplus. Pretty cheap really.” Mav shrugged and wandered off to check on the food. “I have the rifle it attaches to too. They don’t fit in the cabinet together so it’s down near the bottom shelf.”

He couldn’t help humming under his breath as he finished cooking. The happiness in his entire being needed to get out somehow. It felt good to have people in his home. Especially people that got it.

Mav ferried all the food in to the dining room. He nudged the pile of papers and detritus that was scattered across the surface of the table down to one end and laid everything out. The other two, with slow reluctance, came and took their seats to eat.

“Thanks,” Ice said with his gorgeous smile lighting up his blue eyes.

“No problem.” Mav had to grip his fist against his thigh to stop himself from reaching out and linking it with Ice’s instead.

Emma looked from one to the other, a small smile curling at her lips.

After dinner, Ice insisted on washing dishes while Mav began the arduous task of emptying his spare room. He and Emma carried everything out into the living room, making a large island of Stuff in the middle of a rug. Ice finished just as they brought the last bag (full of car magazines from the early 90s) into the room and placed them at the edge of the pile.

Emma immediately climbed into the pile and dragged out a small but heavy looking box. Mav looked up from the bag he was hunting in to see what she was doing.

“You found my carburettor kit,” Mav said, catching her attention. “I’ve been looking for that.”

“You ever think of keeping it in the garage?” Ice said, voice dry. “Y’know, with the rest of the car?”

He was leaning on the side of the bench with his hip, arms folded loosely over his chest and an amused expression on his face. Mav couldn’t help but get a little lost looking at him. He looked perfect. He looked like he belonged in the house with all of Mav’s other loved things.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ice. Why would I do something like that?” Mav gave him a toothy smile and headed off to make the bed in Emma’s room.

Emma let out an irritated squeak and leapt up to follow him.

“Well I gotta make your bed, kid,” Mav called back to her. “Otherwise you’re gonna be on the couch.”

Ice appeared a moment after Emma, face politely mild.

The three of them made the bed, pulling down all the spare bedding Mav owned but coming up short of a quilt cover.

“Sorry, Em, you’ll just have to live with boring white until we get back to the shops.” Mav gave her a squeeze, pulling her into his hip. “Now, shower, teeth and bed.”

She gave a whiney noise of complaint and flung her arms around his body.

“No, no,” Mav shook his head. “Don’t argue with me about it. It’s been a huge day for you. It’s bed time.”

She tipped her head back, giving him wide brown pleading eyes.

“You can have fifteen minutes.” He compromised. “No more. And shower first.”

Emma’s lips pressed tight together. She gave a single nod.

“Good,” Mav carded his fingers through her hair. “Come shower in my bathroom, there’s nothing in the other one and Ice and I can sit in the bedroom while you do. OK?”

She gave another nod, a smile sneaking out this time.

“Let’s go,” Mav released her. She tightened her arms quickly and raced off for the dining room where her things were.

He probably should have been a little embarrassed about the state of his bedroom. But Mav found himself not even thinking about it as he and Ice on the edge of the bed while Emma showered in the en suite. Mav teased Ice over driving his Hyundai on a factory engine with no tuning. Ice teased him right back for owning two bikes and one ass. The two of them chattering away so Emma knew they were there.

They were side by side, about a foot of space between them. Mav longed to close the distance, to slot himself into the space beneath Ice’s arm that he proved to fit into perfectly that day. He could still feel the ghost of Ice’s arm around his shoulders. Sure, it had been to comfort Emma, but that didn’t mean Mav wasn’t allowed to savour the memory.

It had felt so right. It felt like clicking two jigsaw pieces together. It felt like slotting needle bearings together; all the pieces holding the other pieces in place and creating perfectly smooth unity.

Mav was laughing on the outside but his heart was dragging at him. He wanted Ice to stay. He had already manipulated him into coming home with them. He should probably feel guilty about it, but as Ice leaned back on his palms on the bed and talked engines with him, Mav didn’t fucking care. This was where they were supposed to be.

Emma emerged from the bathroom, the unicorn-kitty pyjamas almost as bright as her eyes. She made a beeline for them, climbing onto Ice’s lap.

“Hey, Squeak,” he said and pressed a kiss to her damp hair. “What do you want to do for your fifteen minutes?”

“Don’t know,” she said with a shrug.

Their smiles softened and Ice gave her another kiss on the head.

“You talk a bit more when you’re with Ice,” Mav observed, tilting his head in thought.

She shrugged again.

“Does he make you feel safe, kiddo?” Mav asked, reaching out and taking her hand.

“Yes,” her voice was quieter this time but still there. “You too.”

Mav smiled wide enough to reveal his teeth. Warm happiness seeped through his blood like golden wine. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I know I do, baby,” he told her. “Thank you for saying it though.”

She leaned her head into Ice’s shoulder, eyes still on Mav. His heart picked up speed. He still had so much to tell her. He had to break the news about her parents. He had to let her know he was going to hold on to her and never let her go.

“Do you want to stay here forever, Emma?” His pulse hammered as though he was mid-firefight. Minsk hadn’t been as terrifying as this. His fingers might actually be going a little numb.

“Yes.” It was a whisper.

His heart stumbled, leaving him feeling like he had missed a step on the stairs. Mav let out a breath of relief.

“You can stay, Emma,” Mav said, voice soft. “You can stay forever, OK?”

She gave a solemn nod. Her brown eyes were searching him, a sadness standing in them. His chest ached. His throat burned. He knew that sadness. He knew that look having seen it on his own face as a kid.

“I want to ask you a hard question,” Mav said. He knelt down on the floor in front of them, letting her be taller than him, letting her be snuggled in her safe-space that was Ice’s arms.

She gave another slow nod.

“Did your parents give you up?” The words were like jagged glass in his throat but he forced them out.

A flinch of profound pain crossed over her, spasming her whole body. She turned away, burying her face in Ice’s shoulder and giving a sob.

Mav closed his eyes and pressed his anger back. He knew it. He hadn’t wanted to believe it. But deep down he had known it. She never once asked about them. She never made any sort of attempt to get back to them.

A large hand came down on his shoulder, making him startle. He looked up into Ice’s eyes. The deep, pervading fury he felt was mirrored there. They stared at one another for a suspended second. An understanding passed between them and Mav took a slow, calming breath in. He held it. Closed his eyes. And let it out once more.

“I’m sorry, Emma,” Mav said when he could trust his voice to be calm. “They shouldn’t have done that to you. And I promise you, I will never let that happen again.”

He laid his hand on her back, making soothing circles as she shuddered and shook against Ice.

Her fifteen minutes came and went, none of them moved. At the half hour mark, Mav stood and settled onto the mattress beside Ice, bumping up against Emma lightly to let her know he was there.

It was another fifteen minutes beyond that when the shudders faded and she fell still.

“She’s asleep,” Ice whispered, looking over her head at Mav. They were nose to nose with her between them once again. Mav couldn’t help but give a small, sad smile.

“We’d better take her to bed.” He stood before he did something stupid, like kiss Ice’s perfect lips.

They padded down to Emma’s room, sliding her into the bed without waking her. Mav covered her with the coverless quilt as Ice dropped a light kiss to her forehead.

“I need to get a nightlight for the hall,” Mav mumbled as they headed back to the living area.

“She needs a stuffed toy too,” Ice replied, equally soft. “I can’t believe you forgot one the other day.”

Mav moved to the kitchen and filled the kettle. “She didn’t choose one,” he said.

“Kids don’t choose their own plushies, Mav,” Ice’s voice was a mixture of amused and surprised.

“What would I know about it.” Maverick shrugged and set the kettle to boil. “You want some tea?”

“Thanks,” Ice said.

There was silence between them. Mav set about getting the tea ready as the kettle boiled. When he turned to ask how Ice liked it, he stopped. The other man was frowning, brows low over his eyes and lips almost twisted. He noticed Mav watching him and the expression smoothed.

“What?” Mav huffed, half laughing.

“You really grew up rough,” Ice said.

Maverick stilled, searching the tone and words for pity. When he found none he gave a cavalier shrug. “My dad was KIA when I was pretty young. My mum went not long after. I went into the system younger than Emma is now,” Mav said and brought the tea mugs over to the island where Ice was sinking onto a stool. “It’s different. Some places are rough. Some kids are rough. I don’t know. I don’t really have anything to compare it to.”

“You’re so much better with her than me,” Ice’s frown returned, his voice laden with sadness.

Mav chuckled. He shook his head and flicked Ice’s ear lightly.

“Ow!”

“I’m not better with her than you are,” Mav said, holding Ice’s eyes with his own. “Sure, I get her on the orphan level. But you’re something else for her.”

“Like what?” Ice asked. Hope that Mav didn’t quite understand was flittering through Ice’s eyes.

“I don’t know,” he hummed. The kettle whistled and Mav whipped it off the stove before it could wake their sleeping girl. “I think you’re steady,” he said as he poured the tea.

Ice was staring expectantly.

His heart thumped. A new, yet unsurprising, realisation hit Mav. Another piece of the puzzle of Maverick’s affection slotted into place. Emma wasn’t the only one that desired something level headed and stable. Mav had always loved Ice’s cool, calm energy; he just showed affection by being an annoying shit. Until now.

“You just have this… steadiness about you,” Mav tried again. He nodded them over to the couches. “I think its the ice-cold thing. You’re… unshakeable. Its reassuring.”

The corners of Ice’s lips lifted and he stared into his tea.

“When everything is shifting; houses, parents, schools, all that shit that should be stable but isn’t. That’s when steady is the best thing in the world.” Mav gave a yawn and slumped back into the couch. “I think that’s why you can get her to talk so much. Stability.”

Ice settled into his end of the couch and let out a long exhale. A yawn followed it. “I hope so,” Ice said, voice oddly soft.

The urge to reassure Ice was almost overwhleming. Maverick clamped his tongue between his teeth and settled for a longing stare instead. Ice appeared to be lost in thought, eyes staring down into his mug.

“What was your childhood like?” Mav asked. He hesitated a beat before lifting his feet up onto the couch and stretching out properly. His toes brushed Ice’s legs.

“Normal, I guess,” Ice shrugged. He crossed his legs into a tailor seat, letting Mav’s feet press into his thigh. “Mum’s a dietitian, dad’s an aeronautical engineer. I have a sister, she’s a fashion designer.”

“How very nuclear of you,” Mav teased to cover the sting of jealousy in his throat. “You get along with them?”

Ice gave a mirthless chuckle and sipped his tea. “Not particularly. Sarah is OK. My parents… not so much.”

There were huge neon signs in Ice’s voice that told Mav to drop it, so he did. He sipped his own tea and wriggled his toes against Ice’s leg.

Just like that, the tense line in Ice’s shoulders fell away and he smiled again. Mav smiled back, triumphant.

They sat in a companionable silence, sipping their tea and enjoying the calm. Mav knew they would have to talk logistics soon. They would have to tell Emma just what had happened with her parents. They would have to break into a police station and alter files. They would have to probably bribe Kit, the HR employee, to turn a blind eye. They would have to make sure Emma didn’t have any other family tied to gangs—

Mav’s busy thoughts were interrupted as Ice set his empty mug down on the coffee table and stood. He blinked up at him from the couch, intensely confused for a few seconds until he remembered Ice didn’t live there.

“What are you doing?” Mav said, heart flailing and brain not much better.

Ice gave him a perplexed look. “Going home,” he checked his watch, “it’s 10pm.”

Maverick scrambled to his feet and clonked his mug onto the coffee table. “Stay,” he said before he chickened out. He stood straight and looked Ice in the eyes properly. “Stay,” he repeated.

A guarded look slid over Ice. “Why?”

“What if she wakes?” Mav cursed his cowardice.

Ice gave a single, slow blink. “She’s going to have to get used to being here with just you, may as well start now.”

There was a coldness to his tone that Maverick hadn’t heard in days. It burned like ice against his heart.

“After two panic attacks in one day?” Mav knew it was a low-blow, but he didn’t care. He wanted Ice to stay. His intuition was screaming that if he let Ice leave now, he would never come back. Not like they were now. Not to this place of quiet intimacy and trust. This place of mutual respect and understanding.

There was a noisy sigh. Ice ran a hand through his hair and turned toward the door.

“She has to learn,” Ice said, voice miserable.

Mav’s heart leapt into his mouth. It felt like it was trying to fight it’s way out. He took two steps toward Ice before he even knew what he was doing.

“Ice,” Mav said, body hammering as his pulse raced.

Ice turned to face him, expression unreadable but his blue eyes burning.

“Stay.”

“For Emma?” It was tinged with acid.

“For me.” Mav pressed his lips tight and took a deep breath. “Stay with me.”

He was probably supposed to be doing something.

His legs were stuck, locked in place as the words sunk in properly.

“Stay with me.”

Ice blinked. His chest burned, his heart crushing against his sternum as though it was trying to reach for Maverick. He swallowed, trying to snuff the feeling. It failed.

“What?” He said. He regretted it immediately.

Maverick’s green eyes, pleading a moment ago, shuttered over.

“No, Mav, wait,” Ice turned, forcing his legs to move until he was standing right there in front of Maverick. “Wait, not like that. You caught me by surprise,” Ice said, softening his voice as he did when Emma needed comfort.

“No, Kazansky, don’t— don’t worry about it. Forget it.” Mav tried to wave him away. His shoulders squared and the work persona that had been absent for days appeared again.

Ice winced. “I…” Ice bit his tongue hard, the pain shocking his brain back to rights. “I didn’t think you’d want me. I didn’t think you’d need me around.” He pushed the words out.

Maverick wasn’t looking at him any more, gaze fixed to something in the kitchen to Ice’s left.

“You have Emma,” Ice carried on. It felt like pulling his own tooth from his jaw, the pain excruciating. “You don’t need me. You two… get each other.”

He was sure his mouth was filling with blood. He wanted to be sick.

“Look,” Mav sighed. “Don’t force yourself. I can handle a rejection.”

“Rejection?” Ice said, voice pitching up with confusion.

Maverick glared up at him.

The air was too thick to breathe but Ice tried anyway. With one last effort, he forced himself to finish the thing properly.

“I want to stay,” he said. “I want to stay.”

Neither of them moved. Mav’s glare faded into confusion.

“I want to be here,” Ice gripped his fists and lifted them, desperate to push them into his own face until it hurt. Instead he released them and let his hands drop again. “I want to belong here. With Emma. And with you.”

“You do.” It was a whisper. Mav was frowning at him now, half a smile pulling at his lips. That damn indomitable smile. “You fucking idiot, you do belong with us.”

“Don’t call me a fucking idiot, you asshole,” Ice puffed with laughter.

Mav’s hand wrapped into the front of Ice’s shirt and he gave a gentle tug. He was smiling properly now, eyes twinkling again.

Ice stepped closer, closing the small distance between them until they were chest to chest. The hand in his shirt released, sliding up and over his shoulder instead. Heat, giddy and frothy, filled him. He wound his arms around Mav’s waist, securing them together. He had never noticed before the way Mav smelt like cloves, engine oil and something a little sweet.

Mav leaned up, still half-smiling. Ice, a small smile of his own, leaned down. They kissed, a soft press of their lips together.

“Stay,” Mav whispered as they parted a bare instant before Ice leaned in once more and took another kiss.

“OK,” he spoke the words against his lips.

“Forever. Stay forever.”

The arms around his neck tightened. Ice’s own arms tightened in response, pulling Mav closer.

“OK.” Ice nodded as much as their persistent kisses allowed.

Mav’s hands combed through his hair, tingling a path across Ice’s scalp as he did. Ice couldn’t help but feel like they fit together perfectly. The soft, pillowy feel of Mav’s lips against his was as though they had been made just for him.

When they could finally bare to stop for more than a moment, Mav leaned back with his usual smile. Ice smiled right back.

“I’m tired,” Mav said. “Let’s go to bed.”

A thrill of happiness hit him and Ice stole another kiss.

“How lewd,” Ice mumbled, smirking.

“To sleep,” Mav giggled a little. “At least until Emma is sleeping through the night.”

Ice softened at the mention of her. He nosed at Mav’s cheek a little and pressed a kiss there too.

“Of course. Let’s go. I promise not to jump you in your sleep,” Ice said.

“I make no such promise.” Mav grinned and kissed Ice long and languid.

When they broke apart once more, both of them were breathing a little harder and holding on a little tighter.

“Tease,” Ice grumbled and extracted himself from Maverick’s arms. His body complained, yearning to stay tucked in tight against the other man. “Come to bed.”

Mav’s nose twitched as he beamed and let Ice lead the way down to the bedroom.

Mav was sitting against the headboard, looking down at Ice. The other man was reclined on his side, head propped up on an elbow. The warm yellow light of the bedside lamp caught on Ice’s tanned skin, making him almost glow golden. Now and then Mav found himself staring at the play of light across Ice’s defined shoulders and down to his biceps.

They had snuck past Emma’s door and into Mav’s room before Ice had realised he needed something other than cargopants and a knit shirt to sleep in. He had quickly snuck back out to his car for his bug-out bag. Now they were both comfortable in tanktops and boxers, mumbling away to one another about past jobs.

Ice was staring at him, eyes sparkling, as Mav detailed what life in an anarchist group was like. He could almost feel the physical pressure of Ice’s gaze. It made his tongue catch on some words and a blush rise and fall over his cheeks now and then.

“You were in the Navy, you said?” Mav asked when he couldn’t stomach talking about himself any more.

“I was.” Ice nodded, a sad sort of look coming over him. “I was on the teams.”

“Figures,” Mav rolled his eyes and wriggled down to lay facing Ice in the same position.

“What does that mean?” Ice’s tone was sabotaged by his broad smile.

“You’ve got swimmers shoulders,” he said, eyes sliding over them once more. “And you’re too… good at your job to be anything except a SEAL.”

“What was that pause?” Ice chuckled, keeping his voice low so they didn’t wake Emma.

“What pause?” Mav played innocent.

“You paused. What were you really going to say?”

“Nothing.” Mav stifled a laugh as Ice glared at him without any real heat to it.

They both turned as the door pushed open. Emma padded to the bed, rubbing at her eyes and frowning.

“Hey, kiddo,” Mav said, heart softening at the sight of her. “Bad dreams again?”

She climbed straight onto the mattress, crawling over to wedge herself into the small space between them. Mav rubbed her shoulder gently and pressed a kiss to her messy hair.

“You wanna talk about it?” Ice asked her as she burrowed into his chest.

Silence was the answer.

“OK, honey,” Mav said and rolled to turn the lamp off. “Go back to sleep. You’re safe.”

He settled down into the mattress properly with a soft sigh. Emma was curled into a small C, her feet pressed against the side of his knee. Her toes gripped and released his skin a few times and Mav gave a breathy laugh.

“I’m right here, kiddo,” he mumbled to her.

Ice’s large, warm hand settled onto his waist and Mav closed his eyes with a smile. It took almost no time at all for them to drop off to sleep, the sheer contentment was soporific.

#icemav #topgun #tom iceman kazansky #pete maverick mitchel #an oc child character #mavdad #icepops #spy au #found family #fluff #fan fiction

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callsign-mongoose · 6 months

Text

Take Good Care Of My Baby

In Every Time Ch. 1

Song: Take Good Care Of My Baby -Bobby Vee

Pairing: WWII! Tom Kazansky x OC! Annika Jensen

Characters: Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Bill "Cougar" Cortell

Warnings: Minors DNI!, World War II themes, brief talk of Nazi's, thoughts of death, a couple swear words. Please let me know if I missed anything.

Word Count: ~3.3k

Summary: What if it was Tom's last night state side before shipping off overseas to fight in the war? What if he met the girl of his dreams before he left? Will their paths ever cross again?

A/N: So, this was an idea I had a while ago, and finally wrote it. I tried to keep it shorter but I have plenty of ideas! Please let me know in the comments if I should make this part of a series! Enjoy!

A/N: This story was not proofread by a second pair of eyes so please excuse any errors, if it becomes a series I will go back through and edit this one.

“Would you still love me if I was a worm?”

Ana trailed after Tom down the hallway of their apartment. Her PJ pants brushing the floor because they were simply a little big but tied well around her waist. The smell of Chinese food permeated the walls of the kitchen from their night in after Tom’s long day at work. He had canceled dinner plans because there was an incident on base he had to take care of.

Ever the amazing boyfriend, he picked up takeout on the way home and you two enjoyed it while talking idly on the couch for a couple hours. “If I say yes will it stop your essay of questions?” He groaned throwing open the door to their room, pealing off his muscle tank he had worn home, it was the only thing he had in his locker that day. His clothes somehow made it into the hamper before he climbed into bed, refusing to let the room be messy, it was Tom after all.

“I’m not answering that question until you answer mine.”

“Fine, yes Annie, I’d still love you if you were a worm. You happy now?”

Ana couldn’t help but grin in triumph as she crawled into bed next to her boyfriend. “Yes I’m ecstatic, thank you.” Placing her head on his chest she wiggled around to get comfortable, a calm silence washing over the couple.

The only thing Tom could hear was the quiet sound of music coming from their neighbors apartment and the sound of two breaths becoming one. He loved the silence, it was such a complete 180 from his every day life, work was always loud, at home, with ana, he got to just enjoy quiet.

“Tom?”

“Yes dear?”

“Do you think… that if we didn’t meet how we did… if we didn’t meet in this time, we would have ever found each other?” Ana half expected to hear a groan because of her silly questions, but was surprised to be greeted with silence, followed by Tom moving under her, sitting up on one elbow.

“I’m not sure… you mean like, if we would have met in a different time?”

“Yeah, like 1944… do you think we would have gotten together?”

After another long moment of silence Tom pursed his lips, something Anna could barely see through the dark. “I’d like to think so, I think that no matter the year, place, or circumstances I would always fall for those beautiful green eyes.” He gently placed his hand under her chin lifting her lips to kiss her, “Now, shall we get some sleep? Mav got on my last nerve today and I would like to drift off to sleep with my beautiful girlfriend before I spend any more brainpower on his idiocy.”

Laying back into the pillow with Ana on his chest there wasn’t much time before Tom was out cold. Annika on the other hand, laid in complete darkness, staring at the shapes of picture frames in the dark wondering… What If.

“I swear I’ve never wanted anything more in my life Erik. Give me another chance.” Ana stared dead on, serious as a heart attack. She’d never get another chance like this, never be this close again.

“Absolutely not! Your gonna spend our budget to get home if you keep trying. I’m not convincing the milk man to give us a ride again, that was fucking embarrassing Annika.” A rather tall man stood next to her, they looked almost identical aside from his stronger bone structure and lack of freckles.

Both had rather piercing eyes and unruly brunette almost jet black hair, Ana at least was able to pull it back into an updo as her hair was long, Erik was only able to work with what he had, a brush and water. The lack of gel paired with his goofy grin and inability to choose a good outfit for the life of him, he looked like a news boy on the side of the road hawking headlines, maybe the newsboy hat would do his hair some good.

In reality though Erik wasn’t the one hawking the headlines, he was writing them. Just starting to at least. Stuck reviewing vaudeville shows for just enough money to keep him and Ana fed and get his name in the Byline.

“Come on Erik! Once more, that’s all and I’ll never ask for anything ever again.” She finally broke the intense thousand yard stare to look at her brother.

“Ana what even is that thing? Is it worth it? Is it worth having to walk all the way home?” Was it? Probably not, but Ana was determined to prove to her brother that she could do it. She nodded, taking the coin from his hand holding it out for the man behind the table.

“I was starting to think you weren’t gonna make a choice.” The man murmured handing her 3 rings. “Have at it little lady.”

Ana glanced from her brother to the nondescript animal plush hanging on the tent. “Your coming home with me…” She murmured reassuring herself before tossing the first ring, it bounced off the top of the coke bottles before ending up wedged between two of them. “Damn”

Throwing the second one significantly harder out of frustration, the ring hit a bottle then the back wall and flew back towards them, smacking Erik in the shoulder before falling to the floor.

“Ouch!” he complained quietly, watching as the barker got distracted flirting with some blonde bimbo, bending over Erik snatched the ring from the ground passing it back to Ana. “Take another shot, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Her brother winked, a lopsided half playful grin was on his face, it met his eyes, that’s what told Ana it was genuine. She had learned to read her brother like a book after years of watching him lie, and laugh, and play around.

Tossing the ring again it bounced passed the playing bottles and instead miraculously landed on the barkers actual bottle of coke. Perhaps it was because it was an actual size to fit in the ring. “I did it!” Annika squealed jumping up and down in excitement, the barker turned around and looked at the two.

“That doesn’t count, its filled with coke and it’s mine, it isn’t an in play bottle.” Looking for any reason to contest the man’s rule Ana slouched quietly thinking.

“It’s still a bottle aint it? Just give her the damn… whatever the hell that thing is and we will get out of your way.” Erik reasoned standing up straight, Erik wasn’t tall by any means, only resting at about 5’ 11. He was broad though, their uncle owned a moving business and Erik was always in there helping move inventory. In school, he was apart of the rugby team which helped build muscle, it was his favorite thing to do at school besides anything to do with writing.

“Fine, I don’t wanna see you two again though.” He murmured pulling what was now a badly designed teddy bear of the hook handing it to Ana who immediately clutched it to her body and gave him a stern nod turning away taking Erik’s arm to leave before she broke out into laughs.

“I can’t believe that worked.”

“It worked but not without burning the bridge of playing that game again… Come on Ana, I’m starving I want to get food.”

“Are you kidding me Tommy? You can’t seriously tell me that you haven’t used the uniform to get at least one girl. I haven’t been able to keep the girls off me.” Bill walked through the crowd his hand firmly placed on Tom’s shoulder.

“Well not all of us joined up with the intension of getting laid as many times as possible before shipping off Coug.” The blonde adjusted the uniformed hat as it sat on top of his head. People all had their reasons for joining up, some it was for the glory, some it was to fight the Nazi’s, for Tom, it was none of the above. He just wanted to be apart of something bigger, he wanted to serve for a purpose, to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. Getting recognition and women had nothing to do with it.

“I’m simply indulging myself before I go fight with a good chance of death… Fine fine, so doing a pickup game with me tonight is off the table?”

“Bill, it was never even on the menu.” Tom murmured as they made their way through the crowded pier, they were getting stares, that much Tom knew for sure. “We came here with the intension of getting to go to Coney island one last time before we left, I’m not wasting it on trying to get someone to hookup with you. You’re a lost case Billy.”

It didn’t take more than 5 minuets for two girls to walk over. “Are you two boys in the army?” They were giggling as if flirting was something one dared the other to do.

“Close, Navy, You almost had it little lady, name is Sargent Bill Cortell, it is such an honor to serve and protect when I know you pretty ladies back here are who I’m protecting.” He reached out taking one girls hand in each of his kissing their knuckles. Cougar, who had affectionately been named that by their platoon, was quite the flirt. He had a record of hitting on anything wearing a skirt, and he had the skills to as well. It was rare Bill didn’t have a girl on his arm outside of work.

Tom rolled his eyes at Bills antics. Both the girls squealed as he spoke, “I can’t imagine how brave you must be.”

“Only for you ma’am. How about you two pretty ladies and I go get some photos taken in the photo booth over there to commemorate tonight and give me something to admire while I’m over seas.” The girls swooned as Bill led them both off to the photo booth leaving Tom alone standing by as his best friend got some action.

Not that tom had any interest in getting any “Action” before he left, they would have plenty of action over seas to keep him busy and not thinking about some random girl from home.

“I thought I told you not to stick around! Get out of here!” A rather lanky barker was leaving his booth shaking a stick at a young woman who was quickly hurrying away. Ana had started to pick up her pace beyond just a brisk walk, starting to jog as the barker chased after her.

Erik's gonna be so pissed at me.

Taking a turn between two tents Ana thought she was safe, hiding from view of many prying eyes. “I thought I had told you to scram from my game. And where’s that big spender of a-“

“Darling, I turn around for 20 seconds and your gone! You can’t go running off like that. I thought we were going to get some popcorn?” Tom leisurely strolled down the small alley the tents had formed, one hand in his uniform pocket, getting in-between the barker and Ana. “Is there a problem?” He asked the man once making sure that he was between the two bodies glancing back and forth between them.

“Your with her? But I could have sworn she was with a brunette-“

“Well I would certinaly hope not, especially not on my last night state side.” Tom shifted his gaze to Ana and shot her a Roll with it look.

“Of course not, Why would I want to spend my night with anyone else.” She moved up linking an arm in Tom’s, “Now if you’ll Excuse me sir… we have a night to enjoy.” Tugging Tom out of the tight spot there was nothing but a shocked look on the barkers face, he looked dumbfounded.

Once out of ear shot she kept her voice low but leaned up to talk to the man as they walked. “I thought I was done for… thanks.”

“No problem, he seemed like a jerk.”

For the first time Ana lifted her gaze to properly take a look at the man who had come to her rescue even if it was an unorthodox rescue. He looked like every poster for the military, perfectly pressed uniform and a charismatic smile, even if the smile looked strained. “My name is Sargent Tom Kazansky, 22nd Naval Regimend, at your service.” Tom dragged a smile onto his face trying to mimic Cougars flirting, wanting to at least be able to tell Coug that he tried.

Perhaps it was his uniform, or his effortless good looks or a strained smile, but Ana was staring much more than she had originally intended. “You got a problem soldier? Loosen up, you look like you’ve been through somethin’ awful.”

Toms once strained smile turned rather goofy as he heard her accent, somewhere between a Brooklyn slang and a nondescript European dialect, it was certainly rather interesting. “Your right your right, formalities certainly aren’t needed considering that we are already dating.” He teased wiggling his eyebrows glancing down at where her arms were hooked on his elbow.

Ana tilted her head back and laughed keeping her hands on his arm, “Well if we are dating I think we need to go get one of those couples milkshakes over by the rides, those looked real good.”

Tom seemed to agree to the idea turning them towards the rides wanting to both take her farther away from the angry barker and to get the milkshake. “So, is it fair of me to ask my girlfriends name?”

“Oh, you mean you can’t tell? Can’t see it in my eyes?” Leaning up towards top she fluttered her eyelashes gently “I’m kidding, my name is Annika, it’s a pleasure to date you Sarg.” She gave a little salute with her free hand as they walked down the crowded wooden walkway.

Annika, a pretty name, certainly didn’t fit her. Well it did! Just not… it didn’t fit the side he was seeing of her. She was wreckless and rolled with the punches, this girl looked like hell on wheels but hidden in a rather messy blanket of personality and beauty. “The pleasure is all mine Annika.”

“Was what you said true? Is tonight your last night stateside?”

“Oh- uh, well yeah it is. My best friend Bill and I were planning on spending tonight enjoying our last night of freedom but hes found himself rather occupied with some ladies and left me to rot.” His laugh wasn’t good at hiding the way he was feeling, clear he wished that Cougar had prioritized their fun together, but he couldn’t control Cougars dick. “It’s not too bad though, I was able to help you out and now were at least enjoying ourselves together right?”

As they made their way to the ordering window of the booth Tom looked to Ana for a moment nodding as if telling her to make the choice of their order. “Oh uh, your good with anything?” She whispered leaning into comment, only to be responded to with a nod, “Can I just get a strawberry shake with two straws please?”

She fumbled for her coin purse to pay but Tom had beat her to it. “Please, let me, it’s not like this money’s gonna do me any good overseas.” His grin was enough to make her heart race and she hadn’t known him for more than 10 minuets. The milkshake was brought to forward to the window and Tom grabbed it leading Ana towards one of the empty benches which were few and far between on the busy boardwalk.

“So, what about you, I can assume you spend your free time aggravating carnival barkers to the point of chasing you?” He took a sip of the shake and let it cool down his throat when he swallowed, a little bit of the pink resting on his lip before he swiped it away with his tongue.

“No no, as much as I wish I could say it was my full time job I can’t. I’m a secretary for the telegraph company, I’m only part time though, but I help my brother, he’s a writer for the New York Sun, just has terrible grammar.” She smiled imaging the rough drafts laying on Erik’s desk covered in red pen marks that she had left.

Stealing the cup from Tom’s hand Ana took a long sip before handing it back, stealing the cherry off the top. “Well your brother is lucky to have an in house editor. I wish I could say that my writing was good but despite my fathers constant efforts to improve my writing skills my spelling is horrid and my hand writing is illegible.” It was half a joke, his father was always trying to force him to write so it would get better but he never had anyone he cared to write to or about.

“Annika Jenson!”

Anas back immediately straightened up and she became ridged closing her eyes “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.” She whispered before shooting Tom an apologetic look. “My brother.”

Standing up she tuned around, plaid skirt flaring out slightly, a tight smile pressed onto her face. “Erik, hey, sorry I kinda ran off, I wasn’t really interested in getting hotdogs and you were taking so long in the bathroom. I wandered off and noticed my bear had a tare already so I went back to get him replaced and the ass actually chased me. Can you believe that? He had the gall to try to chase me down for asking for a different prize! Anyway Tommy here swooped in and helped me out of a tight spot.”

Erik looked like he was having none of it, absolutely fuming, he had been searching for his sister for going on 20 minuets and she was off hiding with some random guy? “Tommy huh?” He pivoted to stand infront of Tom, who stood up to greet him came to about 6 foot standing up straight, Erik was broader, more stalky, while Tom was more lean, muscular, fit. He had been through training already and was prepared for war even if he was going into the air infantry.

“You must be the writer… it’s nice to meet you.” Tom held out his hand to shake but Erik seemed like he was still rather mad. “Sorry if I don’t shake hands with the guy who kidnapped my sister.”

“ERIK.” Ana slapped Erik’s shoulder violently “I’m sorry Tom I don’t know where his manners went, mama raised us right I promise.” She shot a stink eye at Erik before pulling the note book from his pocket that she knew he always had with him. Writing something down in the notebook she ripped out the page folding it a few times before shoving the notebook back to Erik who shook his head turning to walk away expecting Ana to follow.

“We should really go though… it’s quite late and we live on the other side of town so we should really be leaving but, I hope you can find your friend, and that, you find what your looking for overseas.” Moving forward she stood up onto her tiptoes and placed a hand on his chest slipping the note into his breast pocket of his uniform before kissing his cheek. “Good luck out there Tom.”

She turned to follow her brother, and Tom wasted no time pulling the note from his pocket trying not to damage it. His cheeks flushed pink as the notes words rang in his head. Well he finally had something to look forward to.

‘I hope that when you get to where your goin’ you don’t hesitate to practice your writing skills with me. My address, send a letter when you get to your station.’

Apartment number 214

1379 7th Ave

Brooklyn, Newyork

#top gun fandom #top gun 1986 #top gun #tom iceman kazansky #iceman x oc #WWII x topgun #wwii au #Iceman fan fiction #In every Time #Chapter fanfiction #Bill “Cougar” Cortell #Defiantly not based off Captian America First Avenger #Rogers Coded #I want this to be a series #please comment

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thestarwarslesbian · 1 year

Link

You asked. I delivered.

Chapters: 3/?

Fandom: Top Gun (Movies)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Penny Benjamin/Original Character, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw/Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky/Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Characters: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Robert "Bob" Floyd, Original Characters, Original Non-Binary Character, Javy "Coyote" Machado, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Penny Benjamin, Callie "Halo" Bassett, Reuben "Payback" Fitch, Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia, Natasha "Phoenix" Trace, Beau "Cyclone" Simpson

Additional Tags: Soft Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Bottom Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Trans Jake "Hangman" Seresin, nonbinary jake "hangman" Seresin, Protective Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Married Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw/Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Secret Relationship, Gay Jake "Hangman" Seresin, Pansexual Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Omnisexual Robert "Bob" Floyd, Pansexual Character, Pansexual Penny Benjamin, Lesbian Original Character, Lesbian Character, Bisexual Male Character, Bisexual Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Gay Character, Gay Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell bashing, Past Tom "Iceman" Kazansky/Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Jake "Hangman" Seresin has ADHD, Smut

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Summary:

Where Hangman and Rooster meet in the academy and started dating. Not letting anyone know. It was the day before the mission that they got married, after Bradley proposed during their last time on leave.

Follow the two pilots as they prepare themselves for this mission as well as meeting people from pasts they wish to forget.

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Chapter 1: The wedding.

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Chapter 2: Best Night Of Your Life.

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Chapter 3: 25.

#hangster #sereshaw #top gun maverick #jake hangman seresin #bradley bradshaw #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #icemav #fan fiction #my fanfiction #chapter titles named after olly murs songs #I orignaly wrote this after finding out I got tickets to see Olly Murs #I started again on the way back from the concert

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dakotakazansky · 1 year

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Cast / Playlist

Lt. Dakota 'Kota' "Ghost" Kazansky Sofia Carson

Lt. Jake "Hangman" Seresin Glen Powell

Lt. Tatum 'Tate' "Villain" Thatcher Florence Pugh

The rest of the top gun Maverick Cast as their respective characters

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Top Gun: Maverick or the Characters, i only own the idea/characters of both Kota Kanzasky and Tatum Thatcher.

Playlist:

If you want to listen to songs that have inspired me in some way shape or form for this story, you can follow the link to my Ghost playlist on Spotify or use the Spotify code to get there.

Ghost Spotify Playlist

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blazingstar29 · 1 year

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I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane FINAL CHAPTER

Here it is, the final chapter. I'd like to extend a thank you to every single one of you for following on this fever dream I wrote in the final days of my course. A particular thank you to @saengak (i really hope i'm tagging the right acc haha) for primary inspiration and such supportive comments. And @destinedtobeloved (again, i hope this is the right account!), your comments have been so sweet i'm truly grateful to them.

It will always, always hold a special place in my heart. Top Gun has, and this sounds ridiculous, but it has had a great effect on my life. I experience Top Gun winter when everyone else experienced Top Gun summer but it has helped me plan my summer to be full of simple things that bring me great joy and personal growth.

Thank you, I will see you in the next one (christmas fic? 🤫)

#top gun fic #top gun 1986 #I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane fanfic #blazingstar 29 fanfic #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky #icemav #iceman x maverick #fan fiction

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topguncortez · 8 months

Note

Ice comforting gooses sister after his death. Maybe with a touch of people blaming him for the accident

- @topgun-imagines

When We Were Young | | T. Kazansky

Masterlist | Iceman Masterlist

synopsis: Tom Kazansky isn't a man who lives with many regrets. . . but this has to be one of them, and sadly, you get wrapped up right in it.

word count: 2.1k

warnings: character death, tears, depression, angst, probably grammar and spelling errors.

note: maybe possible blurb night?? I don't have to work tonight and I actually feel inspiration:) i also did just hit 5.3k:)))

Ice felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

He knew what he did. He knew that he should’ve gotten out of there when Maverick told him. He knew that he didn’t have that shot lined up, but there was just something about Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell that got into his head and made him act reckless. And because of that, Iceman had to hold you up from crashing to the ground as you got the phone call from Carole that your brother was dead.

Ice knew that the two of you had an unbreakable bond. Your mother had passed when she gave birth to you, and your dad was in no shape to take care of you. So, it all fell onto Goose, who was just eight years old at the time. I’ve had always wished to have the type of brother-sister bond that you and Goose had. I’ve hated his siblings and wanted nothing to do with them.

Ice knew the moment that he watched Goose’s early ejection that he gone, but he didn’t have the heart to tell you. He wasn’t even sure if it would’ve been easier to hear it from him or not. Your knees had gone weak and sobs racked your body as you begged Carole to tell you that it wasn’t true. That somehow, someway the Navy had gotten it wrong. That they called and told the wrong Carole Bradshaw that the wrong Nicholas ‘Goose’ Bradshaw was dead.

When Ice decided he had enough of you sobbing uncontrollably on the kitchen he floor, he walked over to you, and gently put a hand on your shoulder.

“Baby, you need to breathe,” Ice said, as he gently pulled the receiver from your hand. Carole had long since hung up and the dial tone “C’mon, let’s get you to bed.”

He picked you up like you were nothing, carrying you with ease to your shared bed room for the time being. He changed you out of the clothes you were wearing, and slid on one of his Navy PT shirts, that was more of a dress than a shirt on you. He held you tightly against his chest, feeling the wetness from your eyes hit his skin. Ice ran circles up your back until the sobs faded to quiet whimpers.

--- --- ---

“They said it was quick.” Carole’s voice was barely above a whisper as you sat next to her in the day room of the barracks.

It hadn't even been twenty-four hours yet, and she had invited you to come with her to gather Goose's things. Carole wasn't sure that she could keep up a brave face in front of Bradley by herself, but you weren't sure if you were going to be much help either. It had only been about three hours since you had your last cry sesh, and you were feeling that all too familiar burning sensation in your chest again.

"I guess that's good," You muttered, looking over at Bradley who was flipping through the pages of some magazine which you weren't all too sure wasn't a Playboy.

"He was gone before he hit the water," Carole scoffed, "You know he always had a fear of the ocean ever since that trip to-"

"I know."

You didn't mean to cut Carole off, but you couldn't sit here and tell happy stories while your brother's best friend was collecting all of his things to give to his widow.

Hell, it didn't even feel right to call Carole a widow. The woman had barely turned 30.

It was silent for a moment, before Carole spoke up, "How was Ice last night?"

The sound of your boyfriend's callsign from her lips caught your attention, as you looked up from Bradley.

"Why do you ask?"

"He was in the air with Mav and Goose when. . . when it happened."

Now this was news to you.

But then you realized, you hadn't even bothered to see how this was affecting your boyfriend. Goose was the one who introduced the two of you back when he was at the academy. He tried doing the whole "older brother, stay away from my little sister" bit, but it was no use against Tom Kazansky's killer smile and your soft baby cow like brown eyes. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky was smitten from the moment he laid eyes on you and it had been history ever since.

"Did he say something to you?" You quietly asked Carole.

"I. . ." Carole started, and then sighed, "Maverick said something when he came and saw us. He said it was a mistake, that it was a stupid error. That he should've known-"

It was as if he knew they were discussing him, Iceman pulled the door to the day room open, standing in the doorway. He was dressed in his service khakis, ribbon rack and gold plating all perfectly shined. But you weren't looking at his perfectly done dress uniform, no, you were looking at the sad look in his baby blue eyes.

"Tom," Carole greeted, standing up from her chair. If there was one thing about Carole Bradshaw, it was that she was a hugger. It didn't matter if she was literally going through hell, she was going to hug you either way.

"Hi Carole," Ice greeted the woman, giving her a quick squeeze, before releasing her, "You guys been here long?" He was looking right at you, but you weren't sure what to even say to him. It had been a game of Tom Talks and you just look at him for the past couple days.

Carole looked between the two of you, before clearing her throat, "No, not long. Maverick is just gathering Goose's things," She turned to look at Ice again, "You should wait with us," She said softly to him.

Iceman nodded and walked over to where you were sitting with Bradley. The little boy smiled and reached for the man he considered another uncle. Usually, the sight of Iceman and Bradley made your heart do jumping jacks, but right now, it was as if a boa constrictor had found its way around it.

The four of you waited in painful silence, you staring at the silent movie playing on TV, until the door opened again, and Maverick stepped inside. Carole had managed to keep her tears at bay until she saw her husband's best friend.

Maverick, for lack of better words, looked like utter hell. His green eyes were full of sadness and guilt. He looked as though he hadn't slept a wink in days, and was about to collapse on the spot. In his hand, he held a simple copy paper box that had been filled with the rest of Goose's stuff. A Naval Officer had come by the day before and took all the things that rightfully belonged to the Department of the Navy.

"God, he loved flying with you, Maverick," Carole said, her voice cracking. You and Ice stood up, as Carole got out of her chair to greet him. She wrapped her arms around him, giving him a tight hug. You couldn't help the pang in your chest as he handed Carole the box.

"But he would've done it anyway... without you," Carole sighed, "He'd have hated it, but he would've done it." Maverick nodded. Carole gave him one more hug and a kiss on the cheek, before turning around and holding her hand out to Bradley, who ran to his mother in an instant. Her blues eyes looked up at you, and she gave you a sad smile, "We'll wait for you."

All you could do was nod. Leave it to Carole Bradshaw to know that you needed the truth more than anyone in this room. Once the door was shut and Carole was out of earshot, you looked at the two men standing in the room.

"What happened?" You asked.

"Baby, I already told-"

"No," You cut Tom off, and looked over at Maverick, "What happened?"

The brunette man gulped, looking quickly at Ice, before looking at you, "Ice was trying to take a shot on a boogey, but he was taking too long to get missile lock on it. I had the perfect shot lined up, but Ice needed to move out. I kept telling him to take the shot or move, but he wouldn't. And when he finally did, it was too late. We were in his jet wash. I lost control, went into a flat spin. . ." Maverick shook his head and looked at his shoes, "The ejection failed. Goose hit his head on the canopy. Killed him instantly."

Your brown eyes were filled with tears as you turned to look at Tom, whose jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes filled with regret and guilt.

"It was an accident-"

"If that's what you choose to believe," Maverick spat, "I think you were trying to teach me something and you got my best friend killed."

"I had the shot!"

"No you didn't!"

"Maybe, if you hadn't been flying so god damn close and not trying to swoop in and-"

"Oh piss off, Kazansky, you've been waiting for your moment to-

"Enough!" You yelled. Both men looked at you shocked that you had raised your voice. Compared to Goose, you were always the quiet one, sticking to stay in the corner while Goose liked to bet he center of attention.

"Baby, let's go-" Tom reached out to you, but you pushed away from him, "Y/N. . ."

You couldn't say it out loud, you were afraid of your heart would break in your chest. Instead, you shook your head and turned to Maverick.

"Take me home?"

The brown haired pilot nodded, putting his arm around your shoulders and ushered you out of the room.

Ice couldn't help the burning sensation of tears that welled up in his throat. He had heard the whispers of his fellow classmates for the past couple days. He knew what they were thinking, but to hear it said out loud, in front of the one person he didn't want knowing about what had happened that fateful day in the air, broke him. Tom knew he was already branded as ice cold, and now he was sure that he would never escape it.

Ice stood in the silent room for a moment, before turning on his heel and going back to work.

taglist form

taglist: @phoenix1388 @desert-fern @mygyn @yanna-banana @seitmai @topgun-imagines @bradleybeachbabe @na-ta-sh-aa @startrekfangirl2233 @xoxabs88xox @bradswolfe @fandom-princess-forevermore @angelbabyange @lovelywiseprincess @pono-pura-vida @krismdavis @dakotakazansky @callsignartemis @starberryhorse @gspenc @poppyalice2001 @els-marvelvsp @nyx2021 @t0kyoreveng3rs @spencvrr @kmc1989 @toobouquet @malindacath

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topgun-imagines · 8 months

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#bradley 'rooster' bradshaw #top gun #top gun fanfiction #top gun x female reader #top gun x reader #top gun fluff #top gun maverick #tom iceman kazansky #jake hangman seresin #top gun 1986 #top gun movie #top gun imagine #top gun hangman #top gun fic #top gun fanart #iceman top gun #top gun 86 #top gun fan fiction

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broketraveler87 · 2 years

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You Made a Rebel Out of a Careless Man’s Careful Daughter: Chapter 6

ALL THE DADDY ISSUES

#writer talks #fan fiction #top gun maverick #bradley rooster bradshaw #pete maverick mitchell #tom iceman kazansky

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whiskeyswriting · 11 months

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Delilah’s Letter

Hi Sis!

I’m only a few words in and I’m already crying. My goodness Rachael! How did you survive pregnancy with all those hormones? Speaking of, Rachael… My love. My rock. My best friend. Sis, words will never be sufficient for me to thank you for being my surrogate. I knew sisters loved so much but you always show me you go above and beyond the call of duty of a sister.

To be honest, I hope this letter is never read by you. Not because I don’t love you or because I don’twant to thank you for being my surrogate. But if you ever do read this letter, it’s because I’m not around anymore.

I don’t know what it will be that claims my life, but know that I went out fighting. I fought to stay with Baylie. My heart and love increased the day we heard her heartbeat. Please tell her about me. Help her remember me. I never want her to think I wanted to leave her.

William and I decided that should anything happen to us… We want you to adopt Baylie. You and Tom are basically already her second parents so I know she’ll be loved and cared for. We also decided that Jade and Ron would be her second legal guardians and godparents should anything happen to you also.

A copy of our will and testament are in our safe as well as in your home office. I also left a copy with Jade.

I’m sorry I can’t be there anymore sis. I love you. Forever and always.

Sincerely,

Your forever biggest fan and baby sister

PS: I knew Jade would be the one to bring you the letter. I made sure to leave her one too.

PPS: Don’t worry! Every now and then I’ll haunt Tom so we can still a laugh.

Whiskey's Pilots: @novagreen04 @luckyladycreator2 @mischief-siriusly-managed @callsignthirsty @stargazing15

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A/N: To be added to this (or other tag lists), please fill out the form located in this post.

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derpinathebrave · 1 year

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Finders Keepers - IceMav SpyAu Part 5 - Caring

READ ON AO3

These chapters come out faster on AO3 just as an FYI. This took me a week to put up here. I'm sorry guys formatting a tumblr post is such a pain. Check the Masterpost pinned on my blog to read the other chapters too! (and other fics tbh)

SUMMARY: “Don’t get attached, Mitchell,” Ice said, mumbling soft enough that the kid wouldn’t hear but the words were piped through the earpiece to Mav.

TAGS: Tom “Iceman” Kazansky/Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, OC Child Character, Ron “Slider” Kerner, Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, Bill “Cougar” Cortell, Mike “Viper” Metcalf, Rick “Jester” Heatherly, Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, Penny Benjamin, Rick “Hollywood Neven, Leonard "Wolfman” Wolfe, Fluff, Family Fluff, Literally found family, MavDad, IcePops, SpyAU, Very Mild Violence, Spycraft innacuracies, Mild mentions of human trafficking, Selective Mutism, No Beta we die like goose.

WORDS: 8,574

PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3 - PART 4 - PART 5

Large, brown eyes were inches from his own. Ice startled, still half-asleep and giving a sharp exhale. He blinked, groaning with lingering sleep and scowling at Emma. She was smirking.

“Good morning,” he said through another exhale. “Can I help you?”

“No,” she said.

“Is there a reason you woke me?” He grumbled and rubbed his eyes with one hand.

“No.” She snickered.

Ice hummed and rolled onto his back. After a moment he dragged Emma over with him, trapping her in his arms as she wriggled and laughed.

“Then why did you wake me?” Ice said, mock-irritation in his tone. He poked at her ribs, making her squirm and squeak.

“I didn’t,” she protested through her laughter.

“You did.” Ice chuckled. “If you didn’t wake me, why am I awake?”

He softened his arms, giving her space to get away if she chose to.

“You just woke up,” she said, the giggles still rolling through her.

“That doesn’t sound like me.”

She giggled again, snuggling into a comfortable place on his chest. Her small hands clutched at his top and she gave a heavy sigh.

“You OK?” Ice asked, trying to smooth her wild hair out of his nose.

“I didn’t think you’d be here,” she whispered.

Ice stilled, his breath escaping in a rush. He nodded slowly before giving her a tight squeeze.

“I didn’t think I would either,” he admitted. “But Mav asked me to stay last night. And when I thought about leaving you two...” Ice heaved a sigh, lifting her as his chest rose and fell. For anyone else, Ice wasn’t sure he would have been able to get the words out. “I don’t wanna leave,” he said softly.

She nodded against him.

“If you two wake me up every morning I might leave,” Mav’s voice grumbled from the other side of the mattress. He was rolled away from them and half sprawled on his chest.

Emma made a noise of distress, thrashing to look at Mav.

Ice had been lucky for days. His luck had run out. Her bony little knee landed directly between his legs, pain surging through his stomach as he gave a strangled noise.

“Fuck.” He restrained the urge to flip her off him altogether.

Mav was there in seconds, looking alert and ready for anything. He pulled Emma away from Ice easily.

As Ice’s vision cleared a little, he found Mav was working hard to stifle laughter. Ice let out his own weak laugh around the rolling nausea-pain. Maverick’s hair was standing straight up, defying gravity, but only on one half of his head.

“You alright?” Mav asked, voice choked with laughter.

“Peachy,” Ice sighed. He looked at Emma.

Her eyes were wide with fear and guilt.

“You’re alright,” Ice said. “I know it was an accident.”

Her expression didn’t shift. Ice reached out and patted her hand.

“Did you get a fright, Em?” Mav asked, encircling her with his arms.

She nodded. Her eyes shifted from Ice to look up at Mav. They filled with tears.

“Woh,” Mav pulled her into his chest. “It’s OK. You’re OK.”

She gave a hiccoughing sob, clinging to Mav tightly.

A heavy air settled into the room. Ice’s heart weighed down against his stomach. This was how it would be for a while. The bright, fun energy of their morning soured in an instant. He hated that this was her life. She deserved so much more.

“D��“ The sound snuck out between sobs.

Mav stilled, turning his head to hear her better.

“Don’t leave,” she sobbed against him.

“Oh, fuck,” Mav’s face scrunched tight. “Fuck, Emma, I’m so sorry. I’m not leaving. That was a stupid joke.”

Ice sighed. He added to a running list in his mind of what had the potential to set Emma off. So far it consisted of crowds, closets, and the mention of leaving.

She was quicker to calm this time. The sobs fading after only ten minutes. Maverick held her the entire time, mumbling apologies and reassurances. The three of them were suspended in silence, sadness hanging over all of them. Ice sat up with a sigh. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the back of the head. After a moment, he turned and took a kiss from Mav’s distracted lips too.

It startled a laugh out of Mav, his smile returning at last. Ice smiled back and took another kiss.

“I have to get ready for work,” he said.

When he shifted away, he found Emma was watching with wide eyes again. There was still some fear swimming beneath the surface but he could see wonder creeping in. He gave her a wink.

Ice dragged himself out of bed, incredibly reluctant to go to work. He stretched, feeling the other two watching him.

“What?” He said with a grin. “Someone in this family has to make money.”

They made matching strangled noises at his words. Ice simply smiled at them and headed for the door. Their tender expressions of hope painted into his heart.

Pain snapped against his skin. Mav blinked a little as he released the pinching hold he had on his own inner arm. He couldn’t quite believe it was real yet. Ice had stayed. Ice had said wonderful, loving things to him. Ice, no, Tom. Tom had laughed and played with Emma in bed before getting up, using the F-word and then going to make him coffee.

He pinched his arm again.

Emma was sitting at the bench eating cereal and watching as Tom downed the last of his coffee. Pete was leaning across from her, doing the exact same thing.

Ice looked at them both, laughing a little and setting his coffee mug down.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he huffed. “You’re making me feel like the bad guy.”

Mav and Emma exchanged the pleading look they were wearing before turning it back on Ice.

“I have to go to work.” Ice laughed again. He dragged Mav into his arms and held him tight. “I’ll come back this evening.” He turned to look at Emma and then the mess of Stuff in the living room. “Besides, you two have plenty to do here today.”

“Yeah, but you could help,” Mav said, leaning back a little but not far enough to break Ice’s hold.

“Clean up your own mess, Mitchell,” Ice teased, eyes dancing.

Mav felt his entire face heat and redden, this might take a little getting used to. Not only the idea that Tom was so eager to touch him and hold him, but honestly, that anyone was. Pete was beginning to realise he was touch starved. It was so natural to him to hold Emma in comfort, now he understood why. He craved it just as much as he expected she did.

Rather than fight against the current of warm affection and dig up a sassy reply; Pete leaned up and stole a kiss. Ice hummed, taking another for himself and then releasing Mav.

He moved around the bench, kissed Emma’s hair and gave her a little squeeze.

Emma immediately abandoned her cereal to stand on the stool and wrap her arms around Ice. He chuckled and lifted her into his arms. Mav watched closely. Yeah, they couldn’t get enough of Tom holding them.

“I’ll see you later, Squeak. I promise,” he said.

She looked into his eyes for a long moment. “OK.”

“Have a fun day with Mav,” Ice beamed at her. “Don’t let him burn the house down.”

“Hey!” Mav protested.

They laughed at him and Pete let his grin break through as well.

“OK. I’m going now,” Tom placed her back on the stool, kissing her head again. He crossed to Mav, kissed him as well and headed for the front door.

The pair of them sighed as the door snapped closed.

Mav sipped his coffee and skirted around the bench to lean against Emma a little. “Right,” he said, “let’s get this place all cleaned up for you to live here. OK?”

A small, reluctant smile curled at her lips.

It was a strange drive to work for Ice. For one, it took longer than he expected. Mav lived out in suburbia, while Ice’s loft was tucked away on the edge of the CBD. The longer drive gave him more time to think about everything.

And he tried to think about everything. He did. He would start with a breakdown of how he ended up there and what he was doing, but it devolved into just picturing Mav and Emma giving him pleading looks to stay. It seemed to replay the adorable way they had both gone blank when he called them a family. He couldn’t stop himself from reveling in the way Emma had giggled like a real kid when he tickled her.

By the time he made it to work, his cheeks were sore from smiling but he couldn’t stop. It wasn’t until he was in the elevator that Ice managed to get his face under control. He might have had the best twelve hours ever, but that didn’t mean he could undermine his Iceman persona. He had a reputation to uphold.

A persona that lasted the distance it took him to walk from the elevator to his shared office. Once the door was closed again, Goose and Slider took one look and gave him identical smug grins of satisfaction. Ice’s blank expression lasted about three seconds before he gave them an equally smug smile in reply.

Slider laughed. He pulled a pack down from the racks and crossed the room to Ice.

“We have a surveillance detail today,” Sli said, passing the pack to Ice and grabbing an empty one. “Chipper and Sundown will relieve us after lunch.”

Ice’s good mood took a nosedive.

Slider gave another laugh and dragged him back out of the office. After a short struggle, Ice doubled back and poked his head in through the door.

“Goose,” he said.

Goose turned, eyebrows up in a question.

“You got time later to talk about that other job?”

The hacker’s face turned shrewd and he gave a nod. “Sure. Let me know when, yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“Good hunting,” Goose said before turning back to his computers.

“Hack the planet.” Ice snapped the office door shut, grinning at the muffled groan from Goose.

After a quick stop in the cafeteria to get a supply of snacks and water, Ice and Slider headed out to their assignment. Ice drove while Slider read the job report. They were off to watch another gang house, another connection to the trafficking ring they had been working against. Once enough information had been gathered on the numbers of members and their comings and goings, another team would be tasked to head in and clear it out.

Surveillance was, in Ice’s professional and personal opinion, one of the worst jobs. Sitting in a hot car, playfully arguing with Slider over anything they could think of to pass the time, and staring at a building in the middle distance. Ice would rather have helped Mav and Emma clear out the Stuff in the living room. This was probably why they didn’t get orders until they were already clocked in for work.

He pulled up to the curb and sighed. This was somehow worse and better than usual. The house was on the corner of an intersection. Ice and Slider were parked out the front of a sad looking strip mall, two of five spaces empty and papered over with newspapers. The other three were a bodega, a dingy looking real estate office and a massage parlour with blacked out windows. Across from the strip mall was a diner, it was markedly less dingy and seemed to be turning a relatively good trade.

“I think we should move down to the next street,” Slider said, eyes narrowed behind his dark glasses. “It’s too conspicuous to be sitting in a car outside a diner.”

Ice nodded, he looked at the strip mall for another moment. Something was tickling his intuition.

“Sli,” he said slowly, “what’s your read on that?”

He tilted his head toward the real estate office. Slider turned. A fresh frown appeared on his face as he looked from one end to the other.

“Mm.” It was not a positive noise. “Let’s get into position and we can check it out later.”

Ice gave a nod.

With the pair of them dressed for the day, Mav and Emma sat down in the lounge and started to sort through the piles of Stuff. She was enthusiastic, hunting through the bags and boxes and bringing what she deemed most interesting to Mav first.

Beyond the carburettor kit, she found a set of attachments for his pneumatic wrench, a missing set of socket wrenches he had since replaced and a book of paint samples for the Valiant.

“You into cars, kiddo?” Mav asked as she pulled over the bag of old car magazines.

She gave him a shrug but her face was burning with interest.

“No one ever teach you this stuff?” He guessed and leafed through the magazine on top. He stopped on a page with a shining blue Plymouth Valiant. “This is what is in the garage.” He showed her.

She leaned over his shoulder, standing behind him and resting most of her weight on his shoulders.

“You can help me fix it, if you want,” Mav said, turning to smile up at her. “I think you’ll help me stay on track.”

She gave a cheeky grin.

“But first, we gotta finish all this. So let’s take the air gun stuff, the carb kit and the socket set to the garage. You can have the magazines if you want ‘em.”

His heart swelled as she gave him a tight hug and grabbed the bag of magazines from his lap. They were spirited away to her room without a second glance. Mav took the other things into the garage, a slight spring in his step.

Their day passed easily. As they sorted through stuff, Emma eventually losing interest and pulling out a magazine to browse on a nearby armchair, Mav nattered away at her. He told her the story of most of the things he unearthed. He told her the most child-friendly stories he could about working with Ice.

He didn’t mention her parents again. Maverick knew that the conversation had to happen. It would be the hardest conversation of both their lives when it did. So he delayed.

He told himself that Emma would do better if Ice was there when he broke the news. He told himself that dead was dead and it didn’t matter when she found out. He told himself that the stupid bastards had given her up anyway and their memory deserved no honour.

They were all smoke-screens for his real reason though. He didn’t want to. He wanted her to have one day of being happy and just a kid. He wanted to pretend that he was her dad and nothing bad had ever happened to either of them.

If only.

“I fucking hate surveillance,” Slider sighed, taking a long drink from a water bottle. They had been there for two hours, watching absolutely nothing happen.

“I know.” Ice shot him a look of exasperated affection. “I know because you tell me every time we do this.”

“I’m just keeping you informed, Ice,” Slider said with a grin. “How was the kid last night? She deal with you leaving OK?”

Ice gave a reflexive sniff and focused extra hard on watching the house, willing someone to come or go so he could change the subject. Slider’s eyes burned into the side of his head.

“What is that?” Slider said, voice almost cautious. “Why are you avoiding answering me?”

It wasn’t that Ice didn’t want to tell Slider what had happened, he just wasn’t sure he was ready for the reaction it was going to elicit. He rubbed at the back of his neck, clearing his throat.

“No,” Slider gave a dark chuckle. “Oh, you stayed didn’t you? You’re completely gone for this kid too, aren’t you?”

“Well,” Ice cracked a smile. “You met her. She’s cute.”

“Yeah, she’s cute I guess.” He gave a shrug. “How are you going with having to see Maverick all the time?”

Ice jutted his chin out, lips pushing out as he fought against a smile. He lost, giving a wide grin and turning to see Slider’s reaction.

“Damn,” Slider huffed, somewhat amused but with a note of irritation. “I bet Goose it would take longer than that.”

“What?” He frowned.

“Wait, did you kiss him?” Slider clarified.

Ice’s grin returned full force.

“Shit,” Slider laughed. “I mean, good for you. But you cost me a twenty.”

“Why the fuck are you two betting on my love life?” Ice shook his head and returned to watching the house.

“Because we’ve been watching the two of you circle each other for, oh, about eighteen months now.” Slider shifted in his seat and took another long drink. “Goose said it would be within the week. I said you’re both so fuckin stupid it would still take at least two.”

Ice opened his mouth to give an argument but found he didn’t have one. He snapped his jaw shut once more. Slider gave a low laugh.

“I’m going to head back up to that real estate place,” Ice changed the subject quickly. “You good here?”

Slider laughed harder. “Sure, man, I’m good.”

Ice climbed out of the car, gave Slider the finger, and headed off back up the street toward the strip mall.

He tried to prod the small ember of irritation into an actual emotion but it didn’t work. Sure, it was annoying that his best friend had bet he would be too stupid to kiss his co-worker, but kissing said co-worker really made up for that. The same irrepressible happiness welled up inside him once more.

The real estate office was even more rundown now that Ice was close to it. He wandered past the windows, pretending to stop and look at their listings. More and more ticks of suspicion fired off in his brain.

The listings were all faded, as though they hadn’t been shifted from the window in weeks. There was a thick coat of dust on the fake plant he could see by the front desk. The receptionist watched him, her head down but eyes flicking up to him as though she were trying to hide it.

Ice sauntered on by, the picture of someone that hadn’t seen anything that caught his eye in the window and was merely a bored shopper. He headed for the bodega without looking back. It was mostly just to cover his behaviour but as Ice stepped into the store, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

There was a display of stuffed animals by the counter. Near the top, about the size of a toddler, was a pink and blue monkey. He had it in his hands and at the register before he could stop himself. With that and a pack of gum, he headed back down to the car and Slider.

Mav and Emma finished sorting through the Stuff shortly after lunch. There was a new pile of things in the garage to be dropped off a charity shop. Maverick planned to con Ice into doing it for him. What he really wanted to do was convince Ice to let him drive his i30 but he also tried to be a little realistic in life.

With that done, Mav cleaned out the display cabinet in the dining room. Emma sat at the table working away at one of her puzzle books as he showed her each trinket and explained them. She watched with fascination, handling each thing he passed her with reverence and care.

“You know, Em,” Mav said after he finished placing the vintage 303 rifle back on the bottom shelf having detached the bayonet once more. “I was thinking about your room.”

She looked at him with her “I’m listening” face.

“We should paint it, don’t you think?” Mav leaned onto the back of a chair and looked down at her. “I always wanted to be able to paint my room. But I never had a room that was mine. So let’s paint yours.”

“Why?” She said, her head tilted a little and the marker in her hand poised above the page.

“Why…” Mav replayed his own words back hunting for where she had got hung up. “Why didn’t I have a room that was mine?” He tested.

She gave a sharp nod.

Shit. Mav licked his lips and gave a short sigh. He walked right into that one.

Maverick pulled the chair he was leaning on out from the table and sat down. Emma was watching him warily. He set his elbows on the table and shifted toward her a little.

“When I was 3, my dad died,” Mav started.

Her face pinched. He took her hand in his.

“It’s OK. I’m OK, honey.”

Emma’s expression didn’t change. Mav forged on, knowing she wanted to hear it. He would have in her position.

“He flew planes for the Navy. He died fighting in a stupid war. Not long after that, maybe a year, my mum died too.” Pete braced himself, watching as Emma’s eyes grew wet but tears didn’t fall. “I didn’t have anyone else that could take care of me. So I was put into foster care.”

She stood and rounded the table, climbing into his lap and holding him tight around the middle. It was a sad sweetness. Mav wrapped his arms around her and set his chin on her hair.

“I grew up in things called group homes, which a lot of people call orphanages,” he continued softly. “I shared a room my whole life. And I didn’t ever really have somewhere that was just for me.”

They sat in silence for a while. Old memories were buzzing around Mav’s head like beetles, noisy but too quick to catch.

“It’s important to me that you have somewhere that is just yours,” he said. “I want you to have somewhere that you belong.”

“I belong with you,” Emma said, voice thick.

“You do, Em.” Mav kissed her head. “You always will, OK?”

The afternoon ticked by as they sat together. Mav felt something between them had shifted. There was now a tether between their hearts. No matter what happened, they would always have this. It was a heady thing, so be so firmly rooted with another soul after a lifetime spent adrift. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, but they didn’t fall. He simply sat and held her, and she held him.

All the snacks were gone. They were on their last bottle of water. The heat of the day had passed over to their relief. Slider was taking a short nap in his seat, his bulky frame scrunched up on the reclined car seat as best he could.

Ice watched.

It was exhausting to sit and do nothing but concentrate on all the nothing happening. If he could have passed the time with something other than staring at a house no one had gone in or out of all day, he wouldn’t feel so tired. Forcing his brain to carry on beyond the initial “there’s nothing there” message it sent him was tough.

The monkey toy sat on the backseat, watching with him. Ice had gone through a roller-coaster of emotions over it. He loved it, Emma needed a stuffed toy. He thought it was the stupidest thing he had ever done, she was ten what if she hated it? He decided it was the thought that counted and he couldn’t imagine her being ungrateful. He wondered if it was too much or too soon. He wondered if her parents had ever done something like that for her.

Ice sighed. He knew the address of her old house. He had memorised it instantly. He doubted he would ever forget it. It was in a poor neighbourhood, in the rough part to boot. He had been through there a few months ago, near the beginning of this trafficking case. An excellently horrible idea struck him.

Slider’s phone rang, startling him into movement. Ice snorted a laugh as Slider’s knees crashed into the dashboard. He grumbled and pulled his phone from his pocket.

“Hello?” He answered, still frowning. “You’re a real prick, Chip.”

Ice laughed again, his eyes ranged up and down the street until he found the other pair in their Agency car. Sundown gave him a friendly wave and Ice raised a hand in greeting back. He started the car as Slider debriefed Chipper over the phone. They were finished for the day.

Back at the Agency they debriefed quickly. Ice hammered out his report, adding the suspicious real estate place with a request to have it further investigated in the future. Slider unpacked their bags and wrote his own report out, laboriously tapping the keys.

Goose was long gone. They had no idea where he would be, the man ran his own hours a lot of the time. Ice stared at his empty desk and felt a pang of jealousy. Goose often ducked out to watch one of Bradley’s baseball games or some event his school was putting on.

One day soon they would have to discuss school with Emma. They would have to find a place that was both secure and friendly. What grade was a 10 year old in anyway? He was going to have to do some research.

As he turned back to his own computer to do just that, his eyes slid over Mav’s empty desk. All his belongings were still there, he hadn’t cleaned it out or anything, but it felt weirdly empty. Ice realised there was a trickling sadness in his chest. It was going to be so weird not having him here all the time.

“Finished!” Slider crowed and clapped his hands together.

“Finally, I swear you’re the slowest typist I’ve ever met.” Ice stood.

Slider gave him a perplexed frown. “Uh, touched that you stayed with me through that trial, Ice, but, what are you still here for?”

“We’re going to The Flats,” Ice said. He could have framed it as a favour. He could have made it a request. But this was Slider, they were old friends, old veterans. Slider had been a green beret. Ice had been a SEAL. They had met on a mission that technically never happened in a place that they definitely never were.

It had been serendipity that Ice had been recruited into the Agency the same year that Slider was losing his passion for the special forces. They had met for a beer and catch up and on the following Monday morning Slider had been brought into the Agency alongside Ice.

“The Flats?” Slider frowned harder as he stood. “That’s all the way across town.”

“I know, so we should get there just after dark,” Ice said, twirling his keys around his fingers.

“You’re buying me dinner,” Slider said, voice resigned as he grabbed his own stuff and headed for the door.

“Alright, but I’m not going to fuck you after.” Ice smirked as they headed into the hall.

“How about some inappropriate touching?” Slider carried on the joke.

“Not even a goodnight kiss,” Ice said, barely holding down his laughter.

“Bit frigid, aren’t ya?”

“Well, they don’t call me Iceman for no reason.”

After pouring over the book of car paint samples for hours, Emma had selected a metallic green the colour of new growth. Mav approved heartily, hoping they could get something at the hardware store that was metallic.

Watching her decide had been very informative to Mav as well. He, himself, would have just flipped pages and picked whatever stood out to him the most, maybe flipping back and forth to be sure. Emma took a pad of paper and a pencil, meticulously writing out the name and page number of each of her potentials to be compared and culled down to a list of final colours. From there, he watched with amusement as she took the book into the bedroom and held each colour against each wall. He could see her brain working. He could suddenly understand how the codes he’d given her had pulled out of her shell so quickly.

While Mav was making dinner, he realised they would have to find her something to stimulate that part of her. He wondered if there was a program he could put her into. He would have to do some research.

Emma gave a squawk as Mav stepped back onto her toes. She had been hovering around him in the kitchen, holding onto his shirt hem as he worked.

“Sorry, kiddo,” he sighed. “If you give me some space, I won’t step on you so much.”

She gave him a powerful frown and held tighter.

“Right.” He sighed again. “Well, let’s try this then.”

He took her hand and set it on his waist instead of clinging to his shirt. Her little fingers curled into him.

“Now,” he leaned toward her and then away. “You can feel where I’m going and you can move with me.”

She smiled and stepped in to press herself against him, still holding his middle. Mav chuckled and pressed against her in reply.

“Where’s Ice?” She asked, her voice small but clear enough.

“I’m not sure, baby,” Mav sighed. He glanced at the clock. “He shouldn’t be too much longer. But.” Mav set his spatula down and crouched down to talk to her properly. “Ice isn’t very used to us yet, he might have forgotten to let us know he won’t be here for dinner. He might have gotten called away to do something for work. But, Em, that doesn’t mean he isn’t coming back. And it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be here, OK?”

Her expressions shifted like a kaleidoscope. Anger, fear, hope, fear, sadness, mistrust, fear, doubt, and finally sadness again.

She opened her mouth to speak and nothing emerged. It only darkened her expression further.

“Get your pad,” Mav encouraged her. “I’ll come with you if you lead me.”

The two of them crossed to the coffee table where she had left her notes on wall colours. Emma deigned to let them back in the kitchen as she scratched away at a code for Mav to decipher. He was serving them both when she tore the page off and held it out.

It took him a little while. She had randomised a number square again. They sat side by side and Mav pulled the message out of the number-jumble.

What if Ice doesn’t come home? What if I did something that made him not come back? I hurt him this morning. I woke him up.

Mav abandoned his untouched food entirely in favour of pulling Emma into his lap and cuddling her. Clutching at his shirt, she hid her face in his chest beneath his chin.

“Ice wasn’t upset with you about that stuff.” Mav rocked them gently side to side. “He’s not the type of person to be upset about stuff like that. He’ll come back. He promised, remember. Ice doesn’t break his promises.”

She shuddered a little but no sobs arrived.

“Besides,” Mav brightened a little. “Let’s call him and see where he is. He’s definitely finished at the Agency now.”

Mav juggled his hold on her until he could lift her and fetch his phone from the other end of the bench. When he sat back down, her face had appeared once more and she was looking with interest at his phone.

Mav made a mental note to change his passcode more regularly these days.

The sun was well below the horizon by the time Ice and Slider rolled through The Flats. Even without the dark the place would have been ominous. There were no lawns only wild tangles of weeds. Almost every house had a boarded up window in the front. A cluster of young men in baggy clothing stood in a cluster out the front of an unpainted building, they watched in silence as they drove by.

“I think I might keep the engine running while you go inside,” Slider observed in a mild voice.

Ice turned into Emma’s old street, his teeth gritted as he made a noise in agreement. They had come in his i30N, and while he had shifted the settings to be quieter, it was still a sports car in a ghetto. He had no choice, this was impossible to justify to Viper and therefore Ice wasn’t going to be given an Agency car.

“I won’t be too long,” Ice said. He parked a few houses down from the address and sat for a moment. Slider’s eyes were searching the dark as well. There were almost no streetlights left shining, only the residual light of the distant city and the moon let them see anything at all.

“Have fun,” Slider grinned in a predatory way.

Ice leaned over and pulled his thigh holster, and the Walther he kept in it, out of the glovebox. With it strapped on, the weapon loaded and secured in an obvious place, Ice got of of the car.

It was a warm evening, no hint of a breeze. Somewhere in the distance throbbing bass was playing. Ice walked to the house. It was in a state of mild dilapidation. Compared to the one three doors down that appeared to have had an entire wall removed and covered with plyboard, it wasn’t too bad. The porch was missing a step, there was a duct taped hole in the front window and the paint was probably as old as the house. Yellow police tape had been tacked onto the door but there was no sign of any actual law enforcement.

He pushed in through the gate in the picket fence, nose twitching in irritation as it squealed loud in the dark. Resisting the innate urge to glance around and check behind him, Ice hopped up onto the porch.

After checking the doorknob, he crouched down into the shadow and picked the lock. It was disturbingly slack. Ice suspected it had been picked more than once. Barely a breath later he was ducking under the police tape and stepping through the door. It was a mess but surprisingly homey.

He was standing in a living room, a saggy moth-eaten couch taking most of the space. A blanket was rucked up on one end and a rickety-looking end table had an empty soda can and a battered romance novel on it. The television was so huge it probably cost more than the rest of the furniture in the room. Ice walked through the space slowly, eyes taking in the details. There was a painting of flowers in a vase over the couch but no family pictures to be seen. There was a grisly stain on the bare floorboards by the door to the kitchen. He stepped over it.

The kitchen was homey again, a vase in the middle of a small, battered table held the remnants of flowers. The cabinets were painted a bright colour that Ice suspected was a yellow or green. He stopped, staring at the scribbly drawings on the fridge. They had loved her once. They had loved her enough to take her creations and display them. His heart began a slow burning ache. It was so much easier when he thought they were neglectful.

He moved through to the hall, stepping over another bloodstain as he exited the kitchen. The first room was obviously Emma’s parents’. He glanced in long enough to see an unmade bed, a mess of clothes spilling from a chest of drawers and a closet that had clearly been emptied by the detectives.

The next room was the one he had been looking for. Emma’s space was smaller but neater too. A chest of drawers with scratch marks down one side was pushed against a wall. She had a stack of books on her bedside table, a slightly stained bedspread with stars and moons across it, and a threadbare rug on the floor. There was a low bookshelf with an assortment of picture books, toys and small novels. The walls were decorated with scribbles that progressed to actual drawing the higher they got.

Ice bent to examine one a little closer, doing his best to ignore the embering pain in his chest. It was a fish, inked straight onto the drywall, simplistic but obvious. Beside it was a stick figure holding a rod with a line and hook. He crossed to the bedside table, picking up the pile of books. The Hobbit, Black Beauty, The Light in the Window; A Nellie Mason Mystery, and The Floating Admiral. Ice couldn’t help but smile. All of the books were battered, clearly either second-hand or well loved. He set them back down. There was no sign of any stuffed toy that could be loved. Ice even went so far as to draw the covers back on the bed and check beneath the pillow.

The last thing he did was check the chest of drawers. He paused to grin at the collection of nicknacks she had scattered across the top; a broken seashell, a rock with googly eyes, what appeared to be a tarot card, a tin brooch with the setting missing. Her clothes had been folded away neatly, each in a little pile. Ice wasn’t too sure what he was looking for as he opened each level. He just felt like he needed to know where she came from, that she had existed outside of the depressing little room she had been shackled in.

He pushed the drawers closed again and took another long look around the room. The drawings made him smile a little. That was a habit she would have to break, there was no way he and Mav were going to let her draw on the walls.

Ice collected the stack of books from the bedside table and headed for the door. He was lost in the idea of bringing the books back to Emma when he stepped back into the living room and propped.

Three of the men from the street corner appeared to be waiting for him, their expressions unfriendly. Ice stifled a sigh. The books were piled into his right hand, like a rookie.

“Boys,” Ice said, tone mocking.

“The fuck are you?” The one near the front, his hair as blond as Ice’s and likely more natural.

“Just the local librarian.” Ice shifted his feet to a better position.

“The fuck are you doing in here?” This one was short, broader and wearing a cap backward. Ice would have laughed at him except that three against one wasn’t a laughing matter.

“Look, I’m not here for trouble. I came to collect something. I’m leaving,” Ice said, he gripped the stack of books tighter with his hand, gesturing with them at the men. His left, he dropped to his side.

“You aren’t going anywhere.” They shifted in too-coordinated movements to block the door fully. “Either you’re part of Nile Street, and we’re going to fuck you up. Or your stealing from Oz’s house, and we’re going to fuck you up.”

Ice grimaced internally. He didn’t particularly feel like killing and maiming three men in an active crime scene. For one, he didn’t want to risk getting blood on Emma’s books. For another, they were pests, not really worth his time and skills. He took a slow breath in, tilted his head and looked from one to the other slowly.

“Can I have a third option?” He asked.

“What?”

Before they had the word out properly, Ice was already dashing back through the kitchen and down the hall.

Shouts and curses followed him.

He wasn’t above running away. Especially when the alternative was needless violence.

There was no back door, Ice was already aware of that fact, but the window in Emma’s room was probably big enough for him to get through in one go. He shoved into the room. Scooping up the rock with googly eyes, he hurled it through the window.

Ice dove on through after it. Luck was at least a little on his side as he managed to avoid cutting himself on the glass at all.

Luck quickly abandoned him as a gunshot sounded.

He ducked reflexively. With a muttered, “fucking hell” Ice bolted for the street. The low picket fence cut it off.

Another gunshot sounded. Woodchips exploded off the corner of the house.

Ice flinched away. The books slipped in his hand. He lost his footing a moment. He tucked the books against his chest, breathing hard in relief. Stumbling a few steps before recovering his pace again, Ice hurtled down across the front lawn.

Ice vaulted the fence, whipping his legs up and over without losing stride.

A cluster of gangers were waiting by the gate. A more shouts went up. Ice was already sprinting down the dark road, lungs working hard.

Gunfire followed him.

“For fucks sake!” Ice cried, astounded at their enthusiasm to shoot him.

His beloved car appeared, screeching out of the side-street Slider had found and pulling to a quick stop. Ice hopped the hood as the driver’s window rolled down. Slider let off a few warning shots with his pistol.

Heart hammering and lungs burning, Ice threw himself into the passenger seat.

“Go,” he said in the same instant that Slider stomped on the accelerator.

The engine growled and they tore off down the street. A few more gunshots followed them. Ice’s wing mirror caught a lucky shot and shattered.

“Son of a bitch,” he groaned between gasping breaths. “That’s going to be such a pain the ass to fix.”

Slider gave a laugh and shook his head. He looked at Ice and gave a deep frown.

“You’re bleeding on the upholstry,” he said.

“What?” Now that Slider had mentioned it, a stinging pain was throbbing in his head with each beat of his heart. Ice flipped the visor down, examining himself in the mirror. His face was a bloody mess. “Ah, dammit.”

With a handful of tissues from the console, Ice tried to clean up the mess. There was a inch long graze at the edge of his hairline above the temple. He examined the books as he waited for the bleeding to stop. Of all of them, he managed to only bleed on The Floating Admiral, and it was only a single spot near the corner of the front cover. He set the books on the backseat with the toy monkey. A heavy sigh punched out of him.

As Slider opened his mouth to speak, Ice’s phone rang. With a frown, Ice pulled it from his pocket.

His stomach dropped. His heart picked up speed like he was still running.

Maverick was calling.

“Hello?” Ice’s voice came through the phone and Emma leaned toward it.

"Hey,” Mav said, stroking her back a little. “We were just wondering how you’re going. You are coming back tonight, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course,” Ice sounded almost breathless. Mav couldn’t pick if it was relief but he suspected it was. Ice had made dumb comments about not belonging with them before.

“Good.” Mav looked at their bowls of food growing steadily cold on the bench. “Should we wait to eat with you?”

“Uh.” There was a rumble in the background that sounded like Slider.

Maverick frowned again. His intuition twanging.

“You mind if Slider comes for dinner?” Ice said.

Yeah, Ice had some explaining to do.

With a look of confirmation at Emma and her curt nod in reply, Mav gave a short sigh. “Sure, there’s enough for him too.” He shook his head and smiled. “How far away are you?”

There was another mumble of Slider’s voice. This time they heard Ice reply with “Just this once,” before speaking to them once more, “About 40 minutes?”

“OK. 40 minutes,” Mav repeated, bemused.

“OK. See you soon.”

The call cut.

Emma and Pete sat staring at the phone for a prolonged moment. He looked down at her again, finding her wearing the same frown he could feel on his own face.

“That was weird, right?” He mused.

“Weird,” Emma said, voice a whisper.

He gave her a squeeze. “You OK with Slider coming here, kiddo?”

She nodded slowly. Her mouth opened and after a second her voice pushed out. “He’s nice.”

Mav grinned a wicked grin. “He’s OK.”

She looked up at him, concerned. Mav winked.

“OK, let’s put this food in the oven and see what we can get up to for 40 minutes before they get here.” Mav set her back on her feet. To his great surprise, she let him go. He pressed a kiss to her head anyway.

Their 40 minutes was spent in the garage. Emma had towed Mav out there as soon as he had finished putting the dinner on to warm. He let her climb on his bikes, holding them steady as she clambered up. He explained all the switches and levers for her, her eyes bright with excitement as he did.

“I’ll work on Ice, kiddo,” Mav smiled as she scooted half onto the fuel tank to grip the handlebars of the vintage Bonneville. “You’re old enough to ride with me. As long as we get you a helmet and jacket.”

“Can I learn how to ride?” She asked, hope ringing in her voice.

His breath caught, his chest constricting with a sudden wave of affection for her. Mav cleared his throat, smiling through the flooding emotion.

“Of course,” he said. “We just need to get you something smaller to start on. Something you can touch the ground on.” He nodded to where here feet were dangling by the engine, a good distance from the floor.

“Can we go get gear tomorrow?” Emma pushed and pulled the handlebars, barely turning the wheel.

“You want to go out to shop tomorrow?” Mav said, surprise thick in his tone.

She gave a shrug, suddenly unsure. Maverick wanted to punch himself. He pressed that obvious lesson into his brain for next time.

“Aw, kiddo, I didn’t mean it like that.” He swung himself onto the bike behind her with the intent of comfort. It was pure reflex to place his hands over hers on the grips and set his heel on the kickstart. “We can go and get gear tomorrow,” he said.

After a beat, Mav shrugged a little. As she watched, half-turned from her perch on the fuel tank, he went through the motions to start the bike. The engine rumbled to life. Emma let out a peal of giggles.

A week ago, if you had asked, he would have listed his favourite sound to be the engine of his 1975 Triumph Bonneville. Two days ago that had been surpassed by Emma’s pure giggle. Listening to Emma giggle with glee as he revved the engine, Mav decided he had found Nirvana.

Mav clicked the garage door to open, letting some fresh air wash in to the space. Emma looked up at him hopeful.

“No,” Mav said, shaking his head with a laugh. “Ice is going to be here any second, if he catches me with you on this bike anywhere but right here, he’s going to murder me. And then you’d only have him, and he can’t ride.”

“Please, please, please can we get a helmet tomorrow?” She pleaded.

“Yes, honey, I promise.”

As though they had summoned him, Ice’s car rolled down the street and pulled into the drive. Emma gave an excited bounce and waved.

With a quiet chuckle, Mav turned the bike off and helped Emma down to the ground. She raced over to the car.

Her shrill scream stabbed into Maverick’s gut.

He was by her side in a moment, heart pounding as he searched for the danger.

Ice climbed out of the car with a grimace. His face was a bloody mess.

Any emotion that Pete felt about seeing Tom with one half of his face smeared with dried blood was swamped by his concern for Emma.

She was sobbing, backing into Mav’s legs and scrabbling at him frantically. He lifted her, holding her tight as she looked from Ice to pressing her face into Mav and then back again.

“Shh, I got you,” Mav soothed. He could understand her reaction perfectly. He couldn’t stop glaring at Ice and the poorly cleaned bloodstains on his face.

“Em,” Ice said, voice calm and clear as it always was. “Emma, I’m OK. It looks worse than it is, honey.”

She dared to look at him again, gave a wailing sob and hid her face back in Mav’s neck.

Tom grimaced. He approached them, moving slow and careful.

“I’m OK. It’s just a little graze,” he said, eyes flicking from Mav to Emma rapidly.

Vaguely, Mav realised Slider was leaning against the car watching them. But his eyes wouldn’t shift from Ice.

“What happened?” Mav asked, closing the distance between them. He couldn’t help it, he needed to make sure Tom was real and whole. “You’re late, you’re covered in blood and Slider was driving your car.”

Slider gave a chuckle but stayed quiet otherwise.

“We made a little detour on the way home.” Ice gave a beleaguered sigh. “I encountered some people that… were a little enthusiastic about self-defence.”

His eyes screamed at Pete to let it go. With his own eyes narrowed in accusation, he dropped it. Emma was still sobbing into his neck quietly.

“I’m OK, Squeak,” Ice said, voice soft now. “Truly. Look at me.”

She shook her head.

“Emma, look at me.” This time it was a command.

Her face turned, staying pressed into Mav’s chest but moving enough to see Ice a little. He stepped around into her line of sight. She flinched.

“Look at me, Em. I know, it looks scary. I look hurt. But just take a deep breath, and look.” Tom turned his head this way and that. He poked at his own face, smiling a little. He tilted his head down so she could see the cut was relatively small. “I’m really OK. I would have stopped to get cleaned up but I was already late to see you.”

Emma shook her head but the fits of sobbing had stopped. She turned to hide again.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Ice sighed. He kissed the back of her head. “Let’s go in so I can make myself presentable and we can finally eat.”

Tom started to move but Pete captured him with a hand. He was given a questioning expression before Pete leaned in and kissed him lightly on the lips, staying away from the small smear of blood on the left side.

There was a quiet “oh” as Tom realised and kissed Pete back, firmer.

“Now we can go in,” Pete said. “Come on, Sli, come and have some food.”

“Fucking finally,” Slider groaned and pushed off the car. “Nice place, Mitchell. Didn’t pick you for a suburbia dad. Thought you probably lived under a bridge, like a troll.”

“You’re a fucking troll,” Maverick laughed. “Get inside before I change my mind.”

#icemav #top gun #tom iceman kazansky #pete maverick mitchel #an oc child character #mavdad #icepops #spy au #found family #fluff #fan fiction

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