A/N: So, I recently watched Top Gun Maverick and man did that put me on a new writing kick. Planning on making this a series if you all like it! First one of these for Top Gun, any feedback is much welcomed!
You had been called back to Top Gun, for what you had no idea. But the names on that list were the best of the best. Even though you were one of the newest graduates to come out of the academy, you very quickly made a name for yourself. Records had been broken and people found out the hard way that you were nearly impossible to shoot down. The call sign "Ghost" caught on and you hadn't looked back since. You had more talent than any pilot should have, but the cockiness others had was something you never seemed to master. Leaving a lot of room for your insecurities and second guessing, no one was harder on yourself than you. Or so you thought.
After getting in late last night, you chose not to head to the Hard Deck with all the other aviators missing the chance to mingle before the hard work started. It wasn't lost on you that there was only one other female in the group, making you stand out more than you wanted. A few looks were thrown your way, more curious than anything. But it was the tall blonde with the obnoxious smirk that caught your eye. "You didn't get the pleasure of meeting me last night, sweetheart."
Guys like this were what gave Top Gun pilots their reputation. Nothing could touch them, and no one could beat them. But this guy seemed to be the king of all douchebags. You managed to give him a pleasant smile and the reply, "Sounds like you missed out on showing off." And turned back to the front.
A few snickers could be heard and the female sitting in front of you turned to give you a handshake. "Phoenix."
You returned the gesture, "Ghost." Her eyebrows shot up at the name but didn't get to say anything as an older man walked through the hanger. He looked familiar, but you couldn't place him until the name "Maverick" was called out. Now this man was a walking legend and one you needed to get on the good side of. The speech started and you couldn't help but tune him out. It was always the same thing with these guys. We are the best, something crazy is going to happen, and if we don't stop it then the world will have a giant problem. Top Gun always had a flare for the dramatics. Your attention was pulled back when it was said that we would be dog fighting in pairs against the man himself. And that loser has to do 200 pushups, something you had zero intentions of doing.
A few of the pairs had gone up and were quickly back on the ground getting in a nice arm workout in. The issue with us is that we all have this drive to be the best and in situations like these, teamwork often gets thrown out the window. Something you learned when you went up with Hangman as your wingman.
"Hey Casper." You glanced over to the jet next to you, waiting for him to continue. "Is it true that they call you ghost because you disappear when things get a little tough?"
A scoff escaped your mouth, "Better than sending my teammates off in body bags, Bagman." You heard his laugh come through the headset and shook your head. Nothing seemed to phase this guy.
Maverick's jet flew in out of nowhere and it was only seconds after that you watched your wingman fly in the opposite direction. "Leaving your wing-man, there's a strategy I haven't seen in a while." You had to agree with Maverick and figured it was every man for themselves out here.
After somehow managing to evade his missile lock, Maverick changed strategies and went after Hangman. You took this opportunity to try and get your instructor in missile lock but decided to move a little slower than normal to give Hangman a reality check. It didn't take long for his voice to yell out for you. "Shit, Ghost, I can't see him, how close am I? Ghost?"
You tried to keep the smugness out of your voice, but it was a near impossible task. "Sorry Hangman. You bailed and didn't tell me where you were going. Looks like you're on your own." A few more choice words were said towards you, but a few minutes later he was in missile lock.
While Maverick was focused in on your now dead wingman, you creeped up underneath him, staying out of his sight. The second you saw Hangman peel off, you made your move and surprised everyone when you said, "You owe us 200 push-ups, sir."
The steady beeping of missile lock was music to your ears and your instructor whipped his head around to you. "Damn, kid. I never saw you." No higher praise could be given.
You made it back to the tarmac and a just when you thought you couldn't get any happier, you saw Hangman doing his 200 pushups. "Looks like your one-man team let you down, Bagman." Even after failing an exercise and being handed his ass, that stupid smirk never seemed to leave his face.
"Seems like I may have underestimated you, Casper. You won't be so lucky next time." Luck had nothing to do with it and he knew that. But he also knew that comment would get to you.
"Well, lucky for me that you decided to be a selfish asshole and distracted him for me. Maybe you do know what teamwork is after all." He full on smiled at your clap back to him and continued with his punishment. You started heading back in and glanced over your shoulder one last time at the infuriating blonde only to catch him looking at you. "I can take my shirt off and give you a real show, darlin'."
You threw his smirk back at him, "I just wanted one last look at the pilot who claimed he was the best." His smile faltered at that comment, and you knew you hit your mark.
Walking back inside to shower and change, you were met with many congratulations and thanks for knocking the resident douchebag down a peg. Phoenix threw an arm around your shoulder and laughed, "I think you and I are going to be good friends after what you put Hangman through today." Rooster walked by and clapped your shoulder, "First round is on me tonight." After feeling like the odd one out this morning, you felt like you could get along with these people. Like you belonged. The insecurities for once seemed to disappear and a genuine feeling of joy replaced them. Even with Hangman chalking up your win today as luck.
You rode with Phoenix and Bob to The Hard Deck, answering their questions as they fired them off one after another. "What did Hangman say when you walked past him? To be a fly on the wall would've been perfect."
You chuckled at Phoenix's statement and said, "He told me it was luck. I just told him I was lucky he decided to be a selfish asshole."
She turned around in her seat to look at me. "Don't believe him. He does anything he can to knock others down around him to make him look better."
I shrugged my shoulders at her and asked the question that had been bugging me since he opened his mouth this morning. "Has he always been like this?"
I glanced over at Bob nodding his head and Phoenix answered, "As long as I have known him, he has. Some of the guys think it's cool the way he holds himself and of course the girls go crazy for it. But when it comes down to others trusting him with their life, I don't think anyone is in his corner." It was sad to think that someone could be the best in the world at what they do but actually harm more people than save them.
It wasn't a far drive from base to the bar, so conversations were cut short. The atmosphere of the Hard Deck was welcoming and home like. Something that was hard to find in most places. You followed the pair in front of you over to a pool table and found the rest of the group there already playing a game and drinking. It didn't take long for Hangman to look up from his game and notice you. "If it isn't Casper the friendly ghost. How does it feel using your wingman to one up everyone."
You managed to keep a calm demeanor even though his words were starting to get to you. "I imagine you know the feeling well."
A few of the guys let out an "oooh", but just like always, it didn't bother him. "I've heard rumors about you. Number one in your class, can't seem to get caught. I know your call sign was given to you and I'm starting to think it's because you hide and use others to get the advantage. No one can be that good and work well with a team."
It wasn't true. You were always about the team and having others backs, but the way he talked about you, made you seem anything but that. You put in countless hours perfecting your skill and one day back at Top Gun had you feeling the best and the worst about them.
Rooster stepped in out of nowhere and put a hand on your shoulder showing his support. "Leave her alone. Just because you can't seem to grasp the idea of teamwork, doesn't mean you get to run her down. Not her fault you tried to show off and fail today."
Hangman stood up straight and his grasp on the pool stick tightened. "You're right. At least she can go fast enough to do something." He sent you a wink and at that moment you knew you needed to walk away before you did something you would regret. After grabbing a beer from the lovely bartender, that you later learned was Penny, you headed out to the beach and found a quiet spot to sit in the sand.
The first time at Top Gun, anytime you had a rough day, you always retreated to the beach. Something about the sound of the waves breaking on the sand had a soothing affect. Which is why you were so quick to leave the bar and the people behind you. It didn't take long before you heard the sand moving, letting you know someone was walking your way. "This seat taken?"
You were met with a Hawaiian shirt and a borderline obnoxious mustache. You motioned to the ground for him to sit and he did. Silence wrapped around us for a bit until he said, "it's peaceful out here."
You smiled a bit to yourself and nodded, "yeah. I used to head out here when the academy got to be too much. Looks like some things don't change."
It was another minute or two before he made his next statement. "Don't let him get to you. As soon as he knows what he says gets under your skin, he won't let up."
Easier said than done. There was just something about the blonde pilot that rubbed you the wrong way. You wanted so badly to prove to him that you can hang with the best, including him. But at the same time, you didn't want to give him a second thought. There seemed to be no middle ground between the two.
"I thought I would feel good after taking down Maverick. Leave it to Hangman to turn that around." You sighed and turned to face Rooster, "I wouldn't do what I did today if we were really out there. I value teamwork and want others to trust me if we get thrown together. Please don't take what I did today seriously."
He gave me a warm smile and a short chuckle, "what I saw today is someone that can survive on their own if their teammate abandons them. But also a pilot who won't take shit from anyone. We know it wasn't luck that you completed the exercise. And we know you are a damn good teammate. Like I said, don't let Hangman get to you. Most of the time he just likes to hear himself talk." He stood up and dusted off his legs. "I know something that will get you in the mood to have fun. Come on."
He held out a hand for you to grab and helped you off the sand. "Thanks, Rooster."
You both started walking in, but before you got to the door, he turned to you and said, "Friends call me Bradley." A genuine smile appeared on your face, and it stayed there as the two of you walked in.
Phoenix was quick to grab you and led you over to the other side of the room where a few of the others were standing. "You good?" She gave you a concerned look and all you could do was nod your head. "Most of us have been on the receiving end of Bagman. I think you beating him at his own game got to him and he's trying to I find anyway to break you down. But it will pass."
And lord you hoped it did. Training for a suicide mission from hell was bad enough without the added bullying of a fellow pilot. The sound of piano keys being played caught your attention and you looked up to see Bradley being the reason for it. It seemed like a switch was flipped as he started to sing "Great Balls of Fire" and the whole bar seemed entranced by his performance. Everyone joined in and made the song more eclectic than you could've imaged. He was right. This did get me back into the swing of things.
While you danced and sang with a few of the pilots you now considered friends, you didn't know a set of eyes were on you the hole time. Hangman might have been on the other side of the room, but he clocked every movement you made, wishing things had gone a bit different today.
A/N: Thoughts? Comment? At least one more chapter is planned for this if you all like it! Thank you so much for reading!
