Meajirase - you're absolutely infailable! Thank you for giving it a try. I just finished it. I know I should be working on other stuff but... I just had to do it.. It has little over 16K and I made it in record time...

CHAPTER 3

Fightertown, Miramar, April 1985

It was a Sunday. It meant no classes and no flights - a day off.

After sleeping in most of pilots and other personnel equipped with grills and beer stormed out to the beach. The day was hot and lazy. From his window Maverick could see others packing their cars with tons of useless crap, loud music and laughter making him want to join in. He groaned. It was too hot to run around chasing a ball but…. It looked like fun.

Still, he promised to meet up with Charlie to talk about the MiG… He wasn't sure if he should go. He was hitting on her at the bar the other night only because he thought they would never see each other again. When she turned out to be his teacher he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

Then she actually started to like him and Maverick didn't know how to play it right from this point. She was obviously interested in him in a way he wasn't ready for. He was alright with a possible one night stand but she was inviting him to her house and she was looking at him in that way that made him want to run. She said it was about the MiG but he knew better. She flirted with him even during classes.

He saw, and more importantly heard, Goose calling some mildly offensive things to Slider. Where was Slider there was Iceman. Maverick walked closer to the window and saw Tom with a baby blue surfing board in his hands… Goose was trying to talk to Kazansky but Tom didn't even spare him one glance. He just scanned the surrounding area, looking for something or someone, and not finding it he busied himself with securing the board on the roof of a Land Rover.

Suddenly Mitchell thought it wasn't really that hot, and that maybe he should go and see what Goose was up to. He didn't have much time so he put on some blue jeans, white Tee and grabbed his jacket. He would have to go straight to Charlie's place later...

He abruptly stopped himself at the door.

What was he doing? He had a date with a hot chick. Why would he even think about guys on the beach? He left and went straight to Charlie's place. They had a nice dinner with wine, good food and a lot of talking. It wasn't bad but he couldn't concentrate. It wasn't her fault. It was his. Though she DID ask some questions she shouldn't have…. He felt trapped. He needed to get out.

But she wasn't that easy to ditch, so they went to the beach together, and after leaving the bike near the road they took a walk along the shore. If he purposefully directed their steps to his friends' fun spot he at least wouldn't admit it.

BEACH LA JOLLA, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

After chasing sunsets, one of life's simple joys is playing with the boys… It had to be Wolfman's choice in music.

Safely hidden behind his Aviator shades his eyes quickly found Tom. Ice was watching him probably since he heard the roar of his Ninja because they locked their gazes almost immediately. Mav walked up to his RIO.

"So what's up, Goose?"

"I just bet six bucks that we'll beat the other team."

"And who's the other team?" He had his eyes still locked with Iceman's. The blond caught the volley ball, not disrupting their eye lock. Impressive, Maverick would give him that…

Ice was bouncing the ball staring at him with a small smirk forming on his lips. Goose followed his friend's line of vision and raised an eyebrow.

"Weird. He said he wouldn't play…"

Pete chuckled. "Then I guess he changed his mind. Alright, let's play!"

Mitchell quickly took off his shoes, jacket and shirt. Tom was also shirtless, dressed only in black sweats that rode low on his hips. His tan was a nice shade of olive and it covered evenly his whole skin. Maverick envied him. He could already feel some red spots forming on his own pale shoulders. They rotated to forward positions directly opposite each other across the net.

Other revelers turned to watch the game creating one overenthusiastic crowd growing bigger very quickly. Somehow they both moved forward, to the net and to each other, their noses brushing over the strings slightly, but not against each other. Maverick threaded his fingers through the weave just to hold onto something, to keep his hands busy…

Tom didn't waste this chance and grabbed Maverick's hands squeezing them tighter over the net. The shorter man frowned and unsuccessfully tring to pull his hands away. He was already getting red with anger.

"Why so nervous, Mitchell?"

"I'm not nervous, you freak. Let go of my hands." Tom moved his face even closer to Peter's holding his angry gaze.

"Uuuu…. Touchy." And suddenly Maverick was in the sand and on his ass.

"Fucker!" Stupid bastard just pushed him! He was provoking Pete again and the hot headed youth was already boiling with vengeful desire. Fine! He would show them all who's the best!

And so the killer volleyball game begun.

Goose served, and Tom immediately spiked the ball. Pete dived in to save it but ended up with his face buried in the hot sand. Fuck, that means war! Others just watched as it rapidly degenerated to something more than just a game. It was fierce and it was obvious that both teams treated it as seriously as their flying competitions, but there was so much more in there.

Maverick and Ice sent each other more and more teasing smirks and triumphant smiles. They were showing off, but it wasn't in that typical I'm-better-than-you manner. It was more like Look-how-cool-I-am. Wolfman was throwing catcalls and whistles and it kind of caught Maverick's attention for a moment but there was no time to wonder what was it all about. Wolfman had a one track mind and it was always about cock one way or another.

Maverick glanced at Charlie. She seemed uncomfortable, but at this point he was irrevocably drawn into the confrontation. He couldn't stop and he didn't want to! She said nothing even though her attitude was apparent.

Slider and Goose were concentrated more on trying to spike the ball in each other's faces than on showing off or even final point – ball flew up over the middle and of course both Maverick and Ice went up. Maverick mashed and Ice blocked, but the ball sailed away, off his forearm.

"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaah!" For the first time ever, Maverick beat him and fuck if anything could ever feel better than this! Ice acted as cool as ever and came up to shake Maverick's hand. He was smiling. He probably thought that Pete's manifestations of pure joy were ridiculous….

"Don't be so smug, Mitchell. It was a pure luck."

His words lacked their usual edge. For once Ice seemed relaxed and content, smiling at Pete like they were friends.

Ok, so Ice acted all mature about his failure, but it didn't mean that Maverick would do the same. He had won and he was going to show it to the whole world! He finally beat the Iceman! It was almost better than flying! Better than…

He looked over at Charlie. She was staring out to the sea. She looked back at him and suddenly something changed. The moment wasn't so perfect anymore. She was looking at him, like he did something wrong. They called for another game, but Maverick turned away and walked up to her. She asked to drive her home, so he did. She refused to say anything more.

Ice followed them with his gaze, sincerely regretting that there would be no return game. He couldn't remember when was the last time he enjoyed something so stupid but, damn, it was pure fun. He was having such good time that he didn't even mind loosing. Maybe he was even kind of glad that because Maverick's joy was contagious enough. Also seeing him loose again would be no fun at all. He would be angry and undoubtedly throw a temper tantrum. This was better. Then he spotted Charlie and felt sick. Was Maverick showing off to impress her? Ice thought that the game was only their moment and their fun. Sharing it felt wrong.

He felt cheated.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar - April, 1985

Gosse's family arrived at weekend and Maverick spend some of his free time with them having fun.

Charlie was avoiding him. She didn't answer his calls and stopped flirting with him completely. He wanted to know why but he didn't even have a chance to ask. She was treating him like some stranger. He didn't get it…

On late Monday afternoon guys called him to play basketball. The field was beside their airstrip, so they had a wonderful view of starting and landing machines on the gorgeous background of the setting sun. Maverick liked that place. It was perfect to just sit there alone and clear his mind of any problems.

Iceman tagged along, though not without showing everyone that it was a waste of his precious time. Only when he spotted Maverick his enthusiasm risen a bit. It was just another chance to cut Mitchell down to size and show him who's better! Or at the least to pay him back for the volleyball game.

But, to their unhidden dismay, the field was already taken by some other group of soldiers. Slider unceremoniously asked them to leave and after few exchanged words it looked like a fist fight was coming, so Wolfman and Goose took over the conversation and established that the two teams would play against each other. Pete and Tom exchanged weird looks. They were going to be in the same team. It didn't make any sense…

Unsurprisingly Ice and Mav immediately took over the game earning points with every shot, trying to prove one another who can get more balls in. But, the other team was just as good. At the end the situation became difficult. Ice was close to the basket while Maverick had the ball.

"Pass it to me, Mitchell!" It would be the winning points. How could he let Ice to take it. Maverick frowned and threw the ball straight at the basket. It bumped the rim and bounced off. Luckily Iceman caught it and got the final points.

"SHIT!" While others from his team were cheering Maverick was crushed. Ice had stolen his final ! He turned around to hit the fence with his fist, but someone caught his forearm and pushed him. His forehead hit the wall. He wanted to move back, but Tom's hands were unrelenting.

"What the fuck were you thinking, Mitchell? Don't you fucking get it yet? We are on the same team, you fucktard, on the same side!"

"You stole my shot!" Maverick hissed through his teeth , turning his face to the side.

"Do you really have shit for brains?" Iceman was fisting Peter's hair, turning his head to face him and unwittingly pulling it closer. He tilted his own head to look into the man's eyes, to clearly see his anger or, hopefully, some regret for what he had done. But he saw none of that. What shone in Maverick eyes almost made his knees give up under him. Dark eyes were shining dangerously but It wasn't anger. It was something else completely and Iceman's minty breath hitched momentary at the thought of what it could be. In confusion he lessened his grip and Maverick used it to turn around. Though he didn't hit Ice. He didn't push him away either. No, he grabbed his collar and pulled him closer.

Before any of them did or say anything else Tom felt hands on his shoulders, pulling him away from Mitchell. He struggled. He didn't want this confrontation to be over, not yet. He wanted to know, what it was! But Slider was holding him tight, pulling him further and further away from the smaller body of his rival, that radiated heat in angry waves in a weirdly enticing, and almost seductive manner... This was bad. Maverick straightened up and was still looking Tom in the eyes. When Goose walked up to check if he had hurt his forehead Pete pushed his hands away and started to walk off. While passing the still dumbfounded Ice he mumbled:

"Stupid fucker…" and got onto his bike.

Next day they were analyzing one of Pete's crazier maneuvers during classes. Charlie was looking him saying things that made him want to hit something. He was on edge since the last evening and he wasn't up for more shit. He had enough to deal with.

He didn't see how behind him Tom leaned over the rail to study his face with a satisfied smirk. The room was dark but Tom was close enough to see Pete's profile, his frown and gritted teeth. Tom put his face on his folded forearms practically laying on the rail and staring at his rival, not even realizing what he was doing.

Charlie's words were really harsh. "That's the last thing you should do. The MiG is right on your tail."

She pointed to the screen, but never stopped looking at Mitchell.

"What were you thinking?"

Maverick squeezed the pencil he was holding. He couldn't snap at her now, around Jester and Viper. What the fuck did she mean?

"You don't have time to think up there. You think – you're dead."

"That's a big gamble with a 30 million dollar plane, Lieutenant."

Iceman's smile grew wider. It seemed that Mitchell got dumped! That was… satisfying. Seeing him with Charlie on the beach the other day made his blood boil but only after what had happened after the basketball game he realized why… Before that he was only vaguely aware of the fact that he found Maverick attractive. He stubbornly refused to give it a thought because that lunatic was driving him crazy! He was stubborn, reckless and stupid and Iceman didn't want to work with such a delinquent. It was unsafe, risky, dangerous…. Interesting, tempting...

He wanted to change Maverick, but the more he tried the more Maverick resisted. And the more resistance Ice encountered the more he wanted to push even further. He was used to fighting for what he wanted. It was never easy but he never gave up. He took Maverick as just another challenge and suddenly he found himself trapped. Maverick was pulling him like a magnet. Tom recognized the danger but miscalculated its source. He thought the danger came with Maverick's flying but it wasn't that… He wanted Mitchell THAT way. And he wanted him bad… From the very first God damn day! And he didn't even notice! Even though he thought about the little twerp 24/7; even in his sleep! And now he had a crush on Pete Mitchell.

"Unfortunately your gamble worked." It looked like it physically hurt Charlie to admit that.

"The MiG never got a clean shot. Maverick makes an aggressive vertical move here, comes over the top, and defeats the bandit with a missile shot." She looked at him pointedly.

"We accounted it as a victory but I think we should show it as an example of what NOT to do."

Pete's jaw clenched with hardly contained anger and frustration. He did the right thing! It worked! If she was angry at him for something he did to her THIS was not the time or place to punish him for that! It wasn't fair. He would take any shit but NOT badmouthing his flying, especially his greatest moves!

"The gutsiest move I ever saw, man…." Hollywood whispered to him from behind, making Maverick smile.

Good. At least some people saw it for what it was. Then Charlie started to analyze Iceman's strategy, as a perfect example of a text book move. It doubled his anger and he couldn't even listen anymore. After the classes he stormed out of the building ignoring Charile's calls. He didn't care if she wanted to apologize or defend her opinion.

He just wanted to get away, feel wind in hair and catch another sunset.

TBC