Top Gun - 1986

He's the new hotshot recruit at the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School and unbeknown to him, she's his new instructor (you know how this goes). Lines from the movie in italics (because I'm no aeroplane expert).

Take My Breath Away

Sunday 20:45: Raised By Wolves Cocktail Bar, San Diego, CA

"I start my new job tomorrow, Kat," she insisted. "I should be home in bed preparing."

"You do that every night, roomie," she shot back by way of response. "And drinking wine and watching the Notebook for the millionth time doesn't count as an activity."

Caroline was an Astrophysicist and had been working in DC for the past ten years. She'd recently moved cross country to take a contract position at the Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego and had reunited with her best friend Katherine who was a Professor at the University of California in La Jolla.

It made sense for them to move in together, but Caroline was realizing that Katherine was one of the nosiest roommates ever.

"This is a completely new role for me," she argued. "I need to be on my game, these officers are some of the best in the Navy, Kat. They don't call it Top Gun for nothing."

"I'm jealous that you get to work with gorgeous men in uniform and I have to lecture children."

"I never understood that. What is it with everyone's obsession with men in uniform?"

"Well, maybe you just haven't seen one in the flesh yet?" His crisp but attractive English accent wasn't enough to stop the rolling of her eyes.

"And I suppose you're going to remedy that situation," she drawled, turning in her chair and meeting his dark blue eyes for the first time.

She wanted to deny it but she couldn't. This guy was hot, with or without the white, naval uniform. Sexy stubble, sinful, crimson lips and dirty, blonde hair that curled teasingly over his ears was only the beginning, he had a pair of rogue dimples that she swore had superpowers they were that disarming.

"Alright, love?" Caroline felt Katherine nudge her subtly in the ribs. She needed to retain what composure she still had.

"I think you got the wrong location, the fancy dress party is on campus," Caroline teased.

"Cute," he shot back, licking his lips teasingly. She should have been repelled but this guy had the opposite effect and Caroline knew it had nothing to do with the uniform.

"I need to apologize for my friend," a fellow officer, also in head-to-toe white offered. "He can't help himself, he was dropped on his head as a baby."

"Oh, I know what this is," Kat realized. "This is your little, two-man act to try and pick up poor, unsuspecting patrons."

"Gee, tough crowd," he murmured in his friend's ear, although they could still hear him. Officer Number One's gaze hadn't wavered, it was still firmly trained on Caroline.

"I'm Lieutenant Klaus Mikaelson, this is Enzo St John," he offered by way of introduction, his eyes slipping lower and perusing the low-cut, black top Katherine insisted she wear. Caroline could feel an unmistakable blush forming in that region and hoped he wouldn't notice. He was an arrogant ass for sure but her body obviously didn't care about that.

"Lieutenant?" She asked, wondering if this cocky guy was one of her students because if so this was going to be really awkward come morning.

"We're Naval Aviators," he said it slow like she couldn't understand the concept. "At Top Gun."

"Impressive," Katherine cooed, her voice laced with sarcasm, not that Officer Number Two noticed.

"I go by Lucifer though," he shared, they both looked at Enzo curiously.

"Did your mother not like you?" Kat asked, mouth agape. Unlike her friend, she hadn't been around the Naval culture Caroline had.

"It's his call sign, like a nickname," Klaus explained, again slowly. Caroline had to stop herself from telling him where he could shove his mansplaining.

"My surname is Saint, get it?" The girls just looked at each other thinking that was just weird logic.

"And what is your, call sign is it?" Caroline bluffed.

"The Original," he smirked, knowingly, tipping his hat in her direction.

"The Original what?" She asked, unable to help herself.

"Well, how about we get to know each other and I'll tell you all about it, love."

"Wow," she muttered, Caroline was surprised there was any oxygen left in the bar his ego was that inflated. "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pass. In fact, we were just leaving, right Kat?"

She picked up her purse and grabbed Katherine's hand. She might have wanted to be there but Caroline had no interest in staying any longer.

Monday 05:45: "The Strand" Pacific Beach, San Diego CA

"Tully! Tully, come back here, girl!" He heard a melodic voice before he saw her.

Running along Pacific Beach was his rare downtime these days. Flight school was intense, not that Klaus minded. He was a fighter pilot first and foremost and he was living his dream.

He liked to think he was confident, most people considered him arrogant but Klaus could practically fly in his sleep it was that deeply ingrained in his life, so too the Navy.

The first time he'd faltered since arriving was the previous night. Klaus considered himself good with women but his performance at the bar was woeful. If he wasn't aware, Enzo had been reminding him ever since. He'd never had a woman literally leave a place because she didn't want to talk to him.

Klaus knew he'd acted stupid, peddling those tired lines but he had a habit of doing that when he liked someone. And he liked this girl, that much was clear given he'd been thinking about her ever since. Not that he'd probably ever see her again.

The golden retriever bounded over to him, rubbing against his bare legs and almost tripping him in the process. Klaus stopped to lean down and give her a pat. "Hey, girl."

He looked up into the familiar, blue eyes of the woman from last night. Dressed casually in form-fitting jeans and a white-t-shirt, those blonde waves hanging loose over her shoulders, Klaus didn't think she could look any better than the previous night but he was wrong.

"Lose something?" He asked, noting just how adorable she looked flustered, her creamy cheeks tinged pink from the exercise.

"You again?" she asked, obviously only just realising who he was. "I didn't recognise you without your costume."

"There's that sarcastic wit I've missed," he chuckled. "I take it this is a friend of yours." Caroline eyed the dog in frustration as she rubbed up against him lovingly.

"Traitor," she muttered. "Tully is my friend's dog and as I've discovered this morning has a mind of her own and enjoys flirting with strange men."

"I'm not a stranger," he drawled. "You know my name but I never caught yours, love."

"That's not my name," she shot back. Klaus felt his muscles going cold so started stretching on the spot, his shorts riding up even higher. He could see her checking him out like she had last night. He still had it.

"Well, if you told me then I wouldn't have to call you that," he grinned.

"I better get going, don't want to be late," she replied, hooking the leash to Tully's collar.

"Late for what? Or is that just another excuse to get away from me?"

"I start a new job today, I need to be on time."

"Well good luck, love," he offered. She didn't bother to argue about his endearment and just shook her head. Everything in Klaus wanted to ask her out again but knew it would probably be pointless.

Monday 09:45: Miramar Naval Air Station, San Diego CA

"Civilian specialists are here because they are our very best source on enemy aircraft. One of our very best is Caroline Forbes. She has a PHD in astrophysics and is a civilian contractor so you do not salute her. But you better listen to her because the Pentagon listens to her."

"Good morning," she greeted them. Klaus was seated in the front row with Enzo not quite believing what he was seeing.

Turns out her new job just happened to be him. He was torn over whether it was a good development or a bad one. Hooking up with your boss was obviously frowned upon but at least this way he knew where to find her.

The way she looked in that fitted, black, skirt suit with her wavy hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her creamy neck was messing with his composure and looking around the room he could see his fellow students thought the same thing.

A ripple of jealousy came over him and Klaus didn't like it one bit.

Somehow he'd managed to lose track of what she was saying, something about F5 and MIG 28 Aircraft but he'd been too busy to really take much notice.

"However, the MIG 28 does have a problem with its inverted flight tanks. It won't do a negative G pushover," she explained.

Enzo nudged Klaus. Only a few weeks ago they'd seen a MIG 28 do exactly that during a training exercise which had attracted enemy aircraft and nearly killed them for their trouble. They continued to discuss it between them.

"The latest intelligence tells us the most it will do is one negative.." she paused mid-sentence."Excuse me, Lieutenant, is there something wrong?"

"Yes ma'am, the data on the MIG is inaccurate," Klaus replied, noting her adorable but puzzled look.

"How's that, Lieutenant?"

"Well, I just happened to see a MIG 28 do a..."

"We," Enzo interrupted.

"Uh, sorry, Lucifer. 'We' happened to see a MIG 28 do a 4g negative dive."

She cocked her left eyebrow, almost like she was trying to work out whether he was telling the truth or just messing with her.

"Where did you see this?"

"Uh, that's classified."

"It's what?"

"It's classified. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

He sent her his very best smirk and given her less than impressed expression, Klaus knew he was going to have to do a lot more work to win her over.

But he was more than willing to try.

10:45

"Ma'am? Excuse me!" He called out. She continued walking towards her car, choosing to ignore him not interested in a discussion right now, it was already extremely awkward enough. "Caroline!"

She finally turned, realizing he was going to continue to make a scene until she acknowledged him. Of course, she'd expected him but what transpired after she hadn't. Caroline was trying to work out if it was all arrogant bluster or something entirely different.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" She answered officially, trying to ignore just how good his khaki uniform brought out his Californian tan. He came closer, and even though he wore Aviators she could tell his eyes were trained on her with that same intensity she remembered from the previous night.

"You tricked me."

"I did no such thing."

"You knew I was at Top Gun, you knew I was your student but yet you didn't feel the need to tell me, why is that exactly?"

"I felt that it was inappropriate to disclose my identity at that time."

"But yet it's okay to just show up in class like that? What if I'd said something in front of everyone."

"I knew you wouldn't," she murmured. "You want to be here just as much as I do because we love what we do and this, whatever this is, doesn't factor into that."

"This? You rejected me last time I checked," he replied. "Twice."

"Is that why you did that before in class? Was it some form of petty payback?"

"It wasn't petty," she gave him a look which clearly said she didn't believe him. "Okay maybe a little bit petty but it did actually happen, Enzo has this great polaroid you'd love."

"But apparently it's classified though right?"

"How about we go out for a drink and I'll tell you the redacted version?"

"I am not going out with you, I don't know how many times I have to say it."

"Why not?"

"I'm your teacher, you're my student. This can't happen because it is all kinds of wrong, Lieutenant ."

"I don't like to take no for an answer and, just so you know, I don't give up easily, love."

"Is that so?" He sent her his best smile and finally removed his sunglasses, those blue eyes roaming over her body before eventually landing on her face. Caroline was trying to pretend he had no effect on her whatsoever but she could feel her resolve fading fast.

"I'll see you in class tomorrow, ma'am." He walked away, the spicy scent of his aftershave hovering in his wake.

Caroline had no idea what she'd gotten herself into but at the same time, it excited her too. It had nothing to do with men in uniform, just one man in particular.