The next morning Sophia was woken to the sound of her 6am alarm. Sitting up and turning the horrid noise, she threw her phone back down and stretched out her muscles. She got up and hopped in the shower, washing her hair and body letting the hot water sooth over body. Once she finished she got out, brushed her hair and towel drying it off, she moisturised and put on a black sports bra, a black tank top and a black pair of spandex shorts ready for her flight suite to go over the top. She roughly blow dried her hair before putting it up in the military required bun along with some very light make up to make her look alive. She tugged her flight suite on up to her waist letting the arms hang as she made her way downstairs.
She had just made a cup of coffee when she heard a knock on the door, she made her way over unlocking it and opening the door revealing Rooster on the other side.
"Hey, what are you doing here at..6:30am" she said looking at her phone.
Rooster stepped into the house as Sophia stood aside and made his way over to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Well I'm not sure if you remember but I bought you home yesterday so you don't have a car, so I am here to take you to work" Rooster looked at Sophia who had realisation on her face.
"Oh..yeah I completely forgot about that" Sophia finished her coffee puling her flight suite up and zipping it up, she then grabbed her boots and put them on. Rooster finished his coffee watching Sophia intently as she finished getting herself ready. Once they were both done, they headed outside, Sophia locked the front door before jumping into Roosters Ford Bronco. Even though the drive to the base was only short they both had a great time blasting music.
They pulled up and Rooster parked next to Sophia's abandoned truck. Both made their way inside and saw that most of the pilots were already there, they all took their seats, Sophia sat in front of Rooster and across from Hangman whilst Maverick went on about the training they would do that day.
All the pilots made there way out onto the tarmac doing there pre flight checks for the day. One of the first groups up that day was Rooster, Hangman and Sophia.
All 3 of them were hovering waiting for Mav to make his appearance.
"Say Rooster, mind if I ask you a personal question?" Hangman asked.
"Would it matter if I did" Rooster already had his comn strapped onto his helmet and kept his moving eyes in every direction, looking out for Maverick.
Hangman glanced at Sophia smirking knowing she couldn't do anything to him up in the air.
"So what's the story with Maverick? Seems like he's got you a little rattled"
"Mind your own business Hangman" Sophia growled through the comn.
Rooster glared at Hangman from his plane.
"But there is a story with him" Hangman chuckled.
"Back off Seresin" Sophia said more firmly.
"Speaking of, where the hell is he" Rooster asked.
Out of nowhere Maverick's voice came over the conms.
"Been here the whole time "Maverick turned sideways and floated up between Rooster and Sophia until he was inverted.
Once Sophia was positive that he could see her she flipped him off, he chucked before drifting directly over Rooster.
"You see me now" Maverick gritted out. "Come on lets get this over with"
Roosters breathing was coming out hard, staring up at Maverick "Fights on"
And then the two of them were suddenly spiralling downwards.
"What is it with these two" Hangman yelled moving his jet to the right to get a better view.
"Fucking male ego's" Sophia fumed as she flipped her plane around so she could go down with them.
"Alright Rooster, you out us here, how are you gunna get us out?" Maverick asked.
"You can bail out anytime" Rooster snapped back.
"How low do you wanna go?"
" I can go as low as you sir" Rooster spits out "And that's saying something"
"Guys I hate to break this up and I would love nothing more right now for Mav to go straight into the ground but uhh the hard decks 5000ft and your both about 2000ft from breaking it.
"Stay the hell out of this Vegas" Maverick gritted out. Sophia let out a small gasp, she had never heard her dad call her by her call sign, choosing to always call her Sophia or Soph.
"Umm excuse me but this isn't the best place to deal with your issues" She barked back.
"What's past is past…For ALL of us." Maverick stated.
"You'd like to believe that wouldn't you, that we would both just forgive you just like that" Rooster snapped.
"Reminder hard deck is 5000ft fellas, your running out of room" Hangman screamed into his conms.
The system in their jets started to repeat "Altitude, Altitude, Altitude."
"Your strategy to fix this is going to run you into the ground Brad" Sophia called out.
Nobody spoke, their breathing the only sound to be heard. Sophia watched Rooster, he kept glancing at the altitude and then at Maverick as if deciding if it was worth it.
"500ft!" Hangman screamed to the pair.
"Jesus Christ someone pull up!" Sophia screamed. Breaking the hard deck herself to follow the two men down.
"You first"
Maverick pulled up first, Rooster followed levelling out. Rooster and Sophia stared at each other as they hovered for a few seconds.
"Always have to be better, don't you?" he sneered before pulling up and shooting after Maverick.
Sophia broke left to follow. She entered a ravine, Rooster was about 5o yards ahead of her.
"You have him Rooster!" Hangman was above them. "Drop down and take the damn shot"
"Its too low" Rooster told him, pulling up.
"You had your chance" Maverick said as he moved to take the kill shot on Rooster
Sophia heard him yank the controls back. When beeping filled all their ears.
"Your out Mav." Sophia popped out of nowhere with her hands on the kill button.
"Damn it" Rooster banged his hand against the canopy.
"Everyone back to base" Maverick ordered. "Rooster go see Hondo about your push ups."
They all landed and got out of their planes; Hondo had walked over to Rooster as he took his helmet off to start his push ups. Sophia was fuming, she got out of her plane and rushed over to Maverick who was just next to Rooster.
"I killed you; he hasn't got to do shit." Sophia shouted looking between Maverick and Rooster.
Maverick turned towards Sophia whilst Hondo and Rooster looked on at them.
"I'll tell you what Vegas how about 5 laps of the airfield" Sophia scoffed looking at her father.
"You cannot be serious" Sophia snapped back.
"Do I look like I'm joking" Maverick span around and got in her face. Rooster went to step forward not liking where this was going before Hondo put an arm out to stop him "Let them go" Rooster stopped not taking his eyes of them both.
"Whether you like it or not young lady I am your superior and you WILL do as I say. Now 5 laps of the airfield"
Sophia could feel herself getting angrier towards her father. "Fine but can I at least get changed first"
Maverick turned to walk away "No do it in your flight suite"
Sophia couldn't believe it; 5 laps of the airfield was like doing 5 laps of 4 football fields. The temperature was currently 30 degrees C, she was going to die.
She turned around looking towards Rooster who was looking straight at her, he dropped down to do his push ups as she turned and took off starting to do her laps.
She was 4 laps down when she saw Rooster running over to her, she slowed for a second as he got to her. She was absolutely sweltering, she had taken her flight suite down to her waist wrapping the arms around her waist, her feet were hurting from having to run in big heavy combat boots, sweat was dripping down her back and she was so out of breath.
"Hey, stop for a second, here" Rooster gave her a bottle of water which she took willingly.
"Thanks, don't stay too long you'll get into trouble." Sophia breathed as she gulped down her water.
"I don't care, this heat, you running and no water is going to end with you in the medical bay passed out "Rooster looked at her as she bent over trying to catch her breath.
"I've never seen him that angry with me" Sophia huffed out
"Yeah, well it's my fault I shouldn't have got into a pissing contest with him" Rooster replied, Sophia nodded her head in agreement as she leaned against him completely exhausted. "Come on, he's left already, he won't see you not do the last lap."
Sophia was about to protest but she just didn't have it in her, she wanted a shower and bed.
They made their way to the locker rooms so they could put their stuff away. "Are you showering here or at home?" Rooster asked as they got to the locker room doors.
"Home, I don't have it in me to stay here much longer tonight" Sophia replied "I won't be a minuet"
Sophia went inside putting her helmet in her locker and grabbed her bag with her phone and purse, leaving her work out clothes in there for another day. She left the locker room meeting Rooster outside, they both walked out towards their cars, Sophia's legs had started to hurt so she fell behind slightly, Rooster noticed.
"Hey, you, ok?" Rooster asked stopping to see she had stopped.
Sophia winced "Yeah just give me a sec" She bent over putting her hands on her knees taking a deep breath. Rooster walked back "Legs starting to hurt already?"
"Yep, they literally feel like they are going to fall off" Sophia smiled slightly
Rooster grabbed her bag throwing it over his shoulder, before Sophia could say a word Bradley had dipped down and picked her up bridal style walking towards their cars.
"Hey, put me down, I can walk you know" Sophia protested.
Bradley let out a laugh "Yeah uh from what I just witnessed no you can't"
Sophia laughed as they reached their cars, Sophia got her keys out and gently eased herself into her truck.
"Are you sure you can drive; you know I can take you home, right?" Rooster asked leaning on the door of her truck.
"I cant leave my car here again, and besides I only need this foot ever so slightly to push the gas pedal" Sophia replied showing Rooster that she could do just that.
"Ok fine, are we having dinner together?" Rooster asked.
"Yeah, I want to have a shower first I ache all over" Sophia replied.
"No problem, I'll go pick dinner up, run to mine shower and change and then come over, sound good?" Rooster walked round to get into the driver's side of his Bronco.
"Sounds good" Sophia started the engine, them both driving off.