#roosterbradshaw

Rooster, Hangman, and Maverick were all up in their F-18 doing a training exercise. Mav was trying to train us all for a new mission that called the best of the Top Gun graduates back to North Island. I stood next to the radio listening as Hangman and Rooster talked up in their jets. In the room, I was joined by Bob and Pheonix who stood on either side of me listening contently. 

“So Rooster, you mind if I ask you a personal question?” Hangman asked over the intercoms. “Would it matter if I did?” Rooster asked, I could already hear the annoyance in his voice. He and Hangman never really got along, and I understood why of course. Rooster was so sweet, and he cared about everyone. Hangman, well… I’m sure he has his moments. 

“What’s the deal with you and Mav? He seems to have you all worked up.” Jake was trying to get under Rooster’s skin. Even now, when they were meant to be focused on their training. I rolled my eyes as I continued to listen. “None of your business,” Rooster answered before changing the subject. “Where is he anyway?” 

“Been here the whole time,” Mav’s voice finally came through. 

“Holy Shit,” I heard Hangman say under his breath. I couldn’t see what was going on, but I had a feeling whatever happened, it bothered Rooster. “See me now?” Mav asked in a sarcastic tone. “Come on, let’s get it over with.” 

Rooster’s breathing got more heavy and I could practically see his face from here. “FIGHTS ON!” He yelled and I heard him grunt as he moved his jet. “What is it with these two?” I heard Hangman ask calmly. 

Mav and Rooster talked back and forth, and I could tell whatever situation they were in wasn’t good. But I felt my heart drop when Hangman started to sound worried, “You are running out of room! Pull up!” I must have been breathing heavily, because I felt Bob and Pheonix both put their hands on my back trying to calm me down. “He’s gonna be fine,” Phoenix tried. 

“PULL UP YOU’RE OUT OF TIME!” Hangman yelled, and I could hear the anxiety in his voice as I moved my hands to cover my mouth, trying to muffle any sounds I might let out. I must have blacked out after that because the last thing I heard was Mav telling Rooster to go see Hondo for his pushups. 

I ran out of the room and make my way down to the flight deck where Hondo would be waiting for Bradley. Once I got there, Hondo had left, and Rooster was sitting on the ground breathing heavily. “What the hell were you thinking?” I asked walking over to him. I was angry with him, but I was also more worried about him basically trying to get himself and Maverick killed. “Don’t worry about it,” he said looking down at the ground. That struck a nerve in me. 

“Don’t worry about it? Bradley are you kidding me?” I never called Rooster by his real name unless I was really upset with him, and he knew that. As soon as his name left my mouth, he was looking up at me with his puppy dog eyes. “Baby I-” he tried but I cut him off. “NO! Look I don’t know what it is with you and Mav. But whatever it is, you need to figure it out. I am going on this mission. But if you get kicked out, or worse, if you get yourself killed during a training exercise, you leave me flying with Hangman.” I took a deep breath shaking my head looking around at all the other jets. “Talk to me. What the hell was all that about?” I looked back down at him, managing a softer tone this time. 

“He pulled my papers. He set me back four years.” He stood up and put his hand on my arm at the side of my body trying to calm me down. “Why would he do that?” I asked looking up at him. He shook his head, “I’ll explain all that. Later. I’m sorry.. I know it was stupid.” I felt a tear fall down my face, I hadn’t even realized I had been crying. He moved his hand from my arm to cup my face and wipe away the tear. “I could have lost you.” 

“You can’t get rid of me that easily honey. It won’t happen again. I promise,” He pulled me into a hug before he kissed the top of my head. “It better not. I can’t lose you.” I sighed breathing in his cologne.