Iceman pulls Maverick into a tight hug, made slightly uncomfortable by their flight gear still on and between them, and says, "I love you, Mav."
Like a brother, Maverick hears, As a best friend, as family. All the ways you're supposed to love the person who you just asked to be your best man.
"I love you, too, Ice," Maverick says back, returning the hug, and he means it. As his best friend, Maverick means. As more, Maverick tries not to mean, tries not to mean it in all the ways that you're definitely not supposed to love the person whose best man you've just agreed to be.
The ways that could lose him his best friend, his job, and everything else he's ever cared about. The ways that he can't seem to stop feeling, no matter how hard he tries to quash them down, tries to be happy that Iceman has found someone that makes him happy in the way that their country says Maverick can't.
They separate, Iceman grinning wide at another piece of his wedding planning slotting neatly into place, and Maverick smiles back, hoping that Iceman won't be able to see the dangerous truth hidden behind.
