#goosmav

Mav was awoken from his sleep, much to his disappointment. He always dread this day. His birthday. And while he does have Goose now he didn't know how today was going to be any different given they weren't really in a place they could celebrate.

Still as he turned to look at Goose's face which was currently beaming ear to ear he couldn't be too mad at him.

After stretching and yawning, Maverick rubbed his eyes, “Morning buddy.”

Goose's beaming smile was downgraded to a tired smile for a brief moment before Maverick could see that Goose was now putting on a more forced smile. Still it seemed his friend was going to press on.

“Not just any morning, Mav.” Goose said, taking a step away from the bunk to pick something up from the ground. It was a rather large but somewhat flat box, frankly Maverick had no idea how he hid a box that size from him for that long.

“That wouldn't happen to be a birthday present for me would it?” Maverick smirked but he was too tired and it didn't feel like it came out right. Still that didn't seem to dampen Goose's enthusiasm.

“Damn right it is!” Goose reached up and ruffled Maverick's hair, “Now open it.”

“It's not wrapped.” Maverick raised an eyebrow but he couldn't help but smile. He didn't really care, but it is fun to tease him.

Goose huffed and his cheeks were turning pink, “When you see the amount of work I put into it, you will see why I didn't have the time!”

“If you say-” But Maverick's words came to a screeching halt as he laid eyes on his gift. It was a brown leather jacket with a light brown fur collar and… it was covered in patches. All sewn on. Maverick blinked trying to ignore the fact tears were starting to form in his eyes.

But how could he not, when there was so much care and attention put into this gift. He ran his hand over every patch he could see. But especially on the Dallas Texas one.

“Picked that up at home.” Goose said, pride in his voice very evident, “You can tell it is the first one I sewed on because it is shit.”

“...Had you done any sewing before?” Maverick had picked up the jacket now, it was a bit bigger than he expected but it was probably better if it wasn't too small on him.

“Ah. No. I learned just to do this.”

That makes sense after all- Again any momentum Maverick had finished in a flash. This Far East Cruise, it was one his father went on. That much he remembered was this his-

Goose, ever the mind reader, answered his question, “I uhhh asked around and found out the tours your dad went on. That one was the first one I found actually; why got the jacket in the first place.”

“Ah, got it.” He turned the jacket back over, “That's why some of these are marine patches.”

“Damn, I was hoping you wouldn't notice.” Goose chuckled as Maverick snorted.

“Of course I noticed. It's me. But I can see why you did. The colors work well with the rest.”

“Glad you think so.”

It was then that Maverick looked at Goose's hand, which now was obvious had pricks on his fingertips. He wasn't kidding, he did this all himself.

“... Hey Goose?”

“Yeah Mav?”

Maverick set the jacket down and moved his legs over the guard rail of his bunk and jumped down to the floor. It hurt a bit but he was just going to ignore it. Instead he threw his arms around Goose, hugging him tightly, burying his head into him as much as he could.

And now the tears came but for once they weren't sad tears they were happy tears. Relief. Relief from years of sadness and loneliness. Replaced now with love. That's what this was.

“Thank you, Goose.”

Goose was hugging him back, “Hey anything for you.”

Maverick pulled back slightly to look up at Goose. And it hits him, he means it. He would do anything for him. A soft smile forms on his face as he gently takes Goose's hand to kiss the marks on his hand. Signs of love. “You… you are incredible.”

There was a moment of silence between the two before Goose moved his hand, but not in retreat. No, instead he moved his to rest under Maverick's chin to tilt it slightly more upwards and then cup his cheek. And planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Maverick wished it could've gone on longer but his stomach began to rumble. Goose chuckled, “I think you need a birthday breakfast before we do any more of that.”

Honesty Maverick didn't even mind, “Yeah that… that sounds good.”