Chapter Text
Maverick and Ice are walking on the beach, footprints weaving lazily through the damp sand. The sun is a blazing semi circle over the waves, and cool breeze runs a comforting hand over Maverick’s cheek. Curling it’s fingers and almost beckoning him forward.
They keep their pace.
Maverick thinks he would stay in San Diego forever, if he wasn’t set on reaching for the clouds.
He’d stay here as long as he could still fly. Maybe.
Ice’s dog tags shine against his chest as he walks, dangling over a crisp white t-shirt. He looks so much more open when he’s not in uniform, pride bubbles up in Maverick’s chest, most don’t get to see the strict pilot like this.
He’s a solid force in the air and on the ground.
Even so, Maverick still prefers the flight suit.
“Do you like it here?” Ice asks.
“Yes.” Maverick says. He likes most places.
They wander closer to the surf, Maverick kicks at waves beneath his feet.
“Do you?” Ice asks, turning his back on the ocean and placing a tentative hand on Maverick’s shoulder. His thumb seeks the junction of his neck and Maverick feels lost.
“Yes.”
Ice’s grip tightens. Maverick’s knees wobble. Ice leans in suddenly and whispers a broken plea into Maverick’s ear.
“Then stay.”
Maverick’s heart pounds. Something important is happening right now, he can feel it.
“If this is going to work.” Ice whispers, “One of us has to stay.”
“Ice-” Maverick starts, breathing in flowers. His body relaxes even though his head screams at him to pay attention. Pay attention. He grips Ice’s shirt, right over his heart.
“Maverick.” The hand that Ice isn’t using to clamp over his scent gland comes up to cradle his face. They’re so close that Maverick can’t see his face. He stares at the tags around Ice’s neck instead.
“I need you.” Ice says. And Maverick pants, instantly his whole body is on fire.
He turns his head so his neck is exposed and Ice’s breath coasts over his skin for a split second before his teeth are sinking into the spot right next to Maverick’s scent gland.
Maverick’s mouth parts in a silent cry. He wobbles.
His neck burns underneath Ice’s hand, which pushes hard into his skin. He’s covering the scent gland on purpose.
Maverick chokes down a moan.
Ice’s body bows around him pressing in. When their hips connect, Maverick almost rips Ice’s shirt where he’s holding it.
“On the ground.” Ice growls into his neck.
Maverick’s on his knees a second later, sinking into the sand. Breath ripping through his lungs as his legs are covered by the tide.
Then suddenly they aren’t on the beach. They’re on the tarmac. Ice fully decorated in dress whites and standing above him, face unreadable. Blood turns his lips cherry red.
Maverick’s still covered in salt water.
“Stay on the ground.” Ice’s tone makes Maverick shudder and clench his teeth. His body is burning, but his mind is spinning.
Stay on the ground.
Maverick opens his eyes.
Stares at Ice’s bedroom ceiling for a second before wrenching himself out of the bed. He’s sweating, body still filled with heat. His chest feels like a sucking vacuum of space.
“Mav?” Ice asks wearily from where he’s splayed across the covers like a sculpture.
“Um.” Maverick chokes out.
“Mav.” Ice sits up suddenly. Rumpled and soft but fully aware. “What is it.” He rubs at his own chest frowning.
“A dream.” Maverick sighs. “The bond-”
Ice lifts a hand to reach for Maverick, but aborts the motion halfway. Maverick’s eyebrows crease at the motion.
“Tell me.”
“How’s this gonna work?” Maverick asks. “Flying.” His voice sounds raw.
Ice frowns.
“We’re-” Maverick gestures widely between them. He hopes Ice understands because he continues frantically. “And, we’re pilots, but we have to stay close and- I want to fly, you can’t keep me…”
Maverick would have phrased that better if it weren’t 3AM. But it is 3AM so he just gestures again.
Ice stares like he’s grown two heads.
“We’re in different squadrons.” Maverick adds. “The bond isn’t stable-”
“Yet.” Ice tacks on, understanding flooding his expression so abruptly that it makes Maverick’s knees wobble. “It’s not stable yet.”
“I need to fly.”
“You won’t be kept on the ground Maverick.” Ice says with so much conviction that Maverick really does believe it. Even though Ice technically has no official say. “You won’t.” He repeats, eyes bright.
Ice watches Maverick’s shoulders relax and once they finally do, he melts like liquid back onto the bed. Closing his eyes.
Maverick stands there pulse still pounding beneath his skin, the Lilac cloud in the room does nothing to clear his head.
“The Navy wouldn’t ground you because of a bond Maverick.” Ice says, “Maybe for one of your crazy stunts, but there's nothing any sane person could do to make you stop pulling that bullshit. Go back to sleep.”
Maverick huffs, he feels drained. “You pretending you're sane Ice?” Maverick’s chest finally relaxes where it’d felt like his ribs were crushing his heart. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Ice’s eyes don’t open where he’s back to starfishing on the bed, but his mouth tilts up at the corner.
Maverick still doesn’t move, his mind flashing back to the rest of it. The hand covering his neck, pushing him down. Ice barely missing his scent gland when he’d bitten him. The way Maverick had folded into a pile of limbs in a split second at his order.
Ice’s breath hitches almost inaudibly. “You gonna tell me about the rest of it?” he breathes into the twilight of the room. His lashes flutter gently but his eyes stay closed. His fingers relax and unfurl in Maverick’s direction, beckoning.
Maverick’s body shakes and yearns fall into the sheets, saturated with rainfall, vanilla, and flowers. Sharp painful heat tugging at his gut insistently, begging him to give in. It would be so easy to fold into the affection they’ve so easily been giving each other.
Easy in a way Maverick has never felt before, always the untethered one, the starved. The reckless one who would do anything to fly.
It would be so simple.
Something makes him hesitate though, he can’t name it yet. The fearless Maverick frozen in the dark, on the precipice of some unknown cliff.
“Maybe.” He replies. Not asking how Ice knew there was more. The connection between them has been growing, especially now that Maverick pretty much lives in Ice’s quarters. It’s been a week since their meeting with the Dr.
‘Soulmate’ still rings in his head when he lets it.
He slips into the bathroom before he falls, and steps into a freezing cold shower. Water pours over his head, down his chest, soothing the ache.
He wonders if it would be that easy for Ice, squashes the hope that it might.
Water pools in his mouth as he tilts his head up to the spray before he lets it fall, tilting his head down again. His chest tugs.
Maybe it would be hard for Ice, just because it would be Maverick.
When Maverick makes his way back into the bedroom, Ice is in the same position. One of his eyes peeking open and spearing Maverick with blue as soon as he gets a knee on the mattress. He reaches up and pulls Maverick the rest of the way, almost like he’d been waiting.
When he wakes up the next morning he wants to laugh. They’re draped over each other and It looks like they’ve been competing to see who can take up the most space on the bed all night.
As usual, Ice grumbles through his morning routine. Maverick’s panic from the night before feels more and more distant. He tries to breathe.
The instructors at Topgun have started the transition to primarily flying and reviewing in the control room since they’ve completed most of the lectures on the flight manual. This means their days have gotten a little shorter.
This also explains why Goose is bouncing off the walls, because families are now permitted to visit the base and housing.
He waves a polaroid in Maverick’s face in the locker room, almost smacking his cheek with it. He hasn’t been able to stop grinning all morning and to be fair, Maverick hasn’t either.
The polaroid is one Maverick’s seen many times.
It’s a freezeframe of Carole spinning two year old Bradly in a circle. Both of them are laughing. It’s probably one of the cutest pictures Maverick’s ever seen, second only to the one he took right after that: a shot of Goose and Carole each kissing one of Bradley’s cheeks. The two year old’s face stretched in a smile.
Goose keeps that one in the jet with him when they fly.
“Can you believe it Mav,” Goose says, “Bradley’s four now.” He puts a hand on his head in disbelief, squinting at the photo. “Four.” He says in awe.
“Seems like only yesterday he was spitting up all over your shirt.” Maverick leans against the locker wistfully.
“Yeah.” Goose sighs.
“Your kid?” Slider asks, coming around the corner. “Lemme see.”
Goose shoves the photo in his face. “Isn’t he the cutest thing?” Slider grabs the picture.
“Sure is,” He spins, dodging Goose as he tries to snatch it back. “Little bugger already looks like you, man.”
“You think he’ll grow a mustache too?” Maverick asks, laughing as Slider slips the photo to Ice behind his back.
“Hey!” Goose yells as Ice holds the photo up above his head for inspection.
“Probably,” Ice says. “Four? Doesn’t that mean he’ll be starting school soon?”
Slider blocks Goose again, chuckling.
“Next year,” Maverick says.
Goose makes one last lunge around Slider towards Ice and finally succeeds in retrieving the polaroid. He pretends to dust off his suit, sticking the picture back in his breast pocket.
“You guys are coming to meet my family too right?” Goose asks, looking at Ice and Slider.
“Duh man.” Slider says, slinging an arm around Ice’s neck. Ice nods.
“You guys got someone visiting today?” Sundown asks, a split second after barging through the door, a common entrance for him. Wolf and Wood always follow, only, quietly.
“My incredible wife and son!” Goose yells, dragging Maverick forward too.
“Hell yeah man!” Sundown responds, reaching out for a high five. He claps hands with both Goose and Maverick enthusiastically.
“What about you guys?” Maverick asks.
“My girl’s visiting.” Wolf says, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Dang Wolfy, you sound nervous.” Slider laughs over the rest of the noise.
Red spreads down Wolfman’s neck in response, and Wood claps him on the shoulder.
“My sister is coming.” Sundown says.
“She single?” Hollywood asks, smirking.
“Fight me Neven.” Sundown says, pointing at him.
“But you’re so tiny.”
“You-”
“Ladies.” Rings Ice’s voice over the crowd. Confident and swaggering, “bout time we head to the jets don’t you think?”
Ah yes. Punctuality rears its beautiful blonde head.
Grumbling follows this declaration as everyone disperses, grabbing their things. A smirk remains on Ice’s face.
“Ever the commander huh.” Slider shakes his head.
“They listen.” Ice shrugs, “Let’s go.”
“God,” Slider puts a dramatic hand to his head. “Can’t we be late for once.”
“Move your ass Kerner.” Is all Ice says, walking towards the door. Brushing past Maverick in a way that maximizes the contact between them. Hand trailing along his lower back until the last second. Pleasant lilac in his wake.
Maverick’s head is fuzzy for a while after Ice moves away. Goose has to guide him to the tarmac. He fills Mavericks silence, chatting pleasantly about Carole and Bradley the whole way.
After an exhilarating flight, some more maneuvers to mess with Ice, and a bone melting shower, the four of them stand on the tarmac.
This one unfortunately doesn’t contain F-14 jets, but it makes up for it by housing the plane that Carole and Bradley are currently on.
It’s a hot afternoon, and all the waiting pilots look unified in their civilian clothes, everyone wearing matching aviators. Maverick resists the urge to wipe his palms on his pants.
For years Carole has been like a sister to him, he can’t wait to see her and Bradley. But he wonders what she’ll think of Ice. Maverick knows his first impression of Ice wasn’t entirely positive and that both he and Carole are hotheads so it might go similar. He also doesn’t know how Ice is with kids.
Anticipation pounds through his chest as the ladder lowers and the door opens. Then Carole is careening down the steps, Bradley balanced on her hip, golden hair flying in the wind, shouting hello.
Goose looks like his own ray of sunshine as Carole throws herself into his arms. His bright Hawaiian shirt whips around him in her wake, and he smiles like Christmas came early, bumping their foreheads together.
Bradleys head peaks over Goose’s shoulder and Maverick laughs when his nose scrunches up with joy as Goose greets him by planting a kiss on his head.
He makes grabby hands over Goose’s shoulder at Maverick when he notices him. Maverick could swear he feels his heart melting as he steps forward to say hello.
“Uncle Mav!” Bradley’s squeaky voice calls.
“Hey little Goose,” Maverick says softly, ruffling the boy's hair.
“Lift! Lift!” He demands. Carole’s arm falls away from Bradley as Maverick lifts him up by the armpits and swings him around over his head laughing. Bradley shrieks, holding his arms out like he’s a plane.
“Dad!” He yells as Maverick swings him back down and into the open arms of Goose.
A split second later he’s tackled from the side by Carole.
“Maverick.” She whispers into his ear, she smells like orange peels and freshwater. “We missed you.” He holds her tightly, the smell full of nostalgia and warmth, holidays, and the late nights he’d crashed on their couch.
“I missed you too.” he says into her hair, before Goose is grabbing them both in a side hug and swinging them to face Ice and Slider, Bradley under his other arm, giddy.
“This is Carole, the most amazing mate in the whole world.” Goose starts, joy filling his words. Both Ice and Slider reach out a hand, but Carole just darts forward and ecompasses them both in a hug, throwing her arms around their shoulders.
Maverick grins and bites the inside of his cheek to hide a laugh. It looks like they don’t know what to do with themselves. It takes both pilots a second to unfreeze, and wrap their still outstretched arms around her back.
Maverick’s touchy with those he’s close to, but when Carole had first met him, she’d engulfed him in a hug when he’d been reaching for a handshake. Maverick had been rattled to his core, and since then Carole’s hugs, though not lacking in frequency, had become a treasured possession.
Maverick had been so caught up in everything lately he’d forgotten the ache of missing family he usually keeps buried so close to his heart.
He doesn’t know how she manages to overflow onto people like that. Slider and Ice both tower over her, but she’s managed to topple them with her endless affection.
Goose nods at Maverick, catching his eye for a second with laughter before he’s drawn back into Carole like the tide.
Bradley, still cradled under Goose's arm, feet kicking half heartedly at the air, looks on quietly. Unlike both his parents, he’s reserved when meeting new people. He doesn’t like to talk to strangers.
Maverick almost wants to take a photo. Bradley’s hair is still sticking up from where he ruffled it earlier and there's a tiny almost imperceptible frown on his face.
“And this.” Says Goose, as Carole drags Ice and Slider closer, grinning ear to ear. “Is my son, Bradley.” He swings him around until Bradley is sitting upright against Goose’s chest.
Bradley still pouts.
“Hey buddy,” Slider says gently. Waving. He doesn’t get a response.
Carole runs a hand through Bradley’s hair, straightening it out and comforting him at the same time. She pats his cheek.
Maverick watches Ice as he steps forward, rigid, like he’s at attention, one arm behind his back. The other he reaches toward Bradley, stopping in the air a respectful distance away offering a handshake.
Maverick’s eyes widen at the hilarity, but he stays quiet. Carole brings a hand up to cover her mouth.
“Tom Kazansky,” he says, “I’m a pilot.” A pause. “You can call me Ice.”
Caroles shoulders convulse in silent laughter, Maverick’s right along with her. Then Bradley gets this really serious look on his face, and to the surprise of everyone, reaches out his own hand.
“My names Bradley.” He sits a little straighter, his eyes shine. “I’m gonna be a pilot too.” Ice nods, they shake hands.
Slider's mouth falls open in shock. Carole leans on Goose’s shoulder as her laughter finally becomes audible and Maverick wants to pull Ice into him and never let go.
Of course Ice got the most stubborn kid in the world to speak to him, and shake his hand, first try. Goose shakes his head.
“Man.” he says.
“You smell like…” Bradley starts and everyone turns their rapt attention to him again. “Like…Uncle Mav.”
Ice raises his eyebrows. Maverick swallows.
Bradley reaches out a hand in Maverick’s direction. Maverick reaches back immediately as he tilts forward in Goose’s arms. As soon as he’s balanced on Maverick’s hip he buries his nose in Mavericks chest.
When Bradley’s head pops up a moment later, Ice looks like he’s holding his breath. Carole is patting his hand.
“Uncle Mav?”
“Yeah bud?”
“You don’t smell lonely anymore.”
Maverick blinks hard and he has to swallow a few times before he can speak. Goose and Carole are watching him with mushy expressions on their faces.
Slider wacks Ice on the head, saying “you guys…” before trailing off. Ice elbows him back in revenge.
“Strong nose you got there little Goose.” Maverick says softly. And Bradley grips Maverick’s T-shirt in suddenly frantic fists.
“Will that make me a good pilot!”
“Of course!” Goose laughs from where he’s wrapped Carole in a hug from behind, “My boy is gonna be the best pilot in the Navy!”
Maverick Meets Ice’s eyes over Bradley’s head. He's smiling, wide, halfway through fake-punching Slider and Maverick thinks he can feel his world splitting in two. If Ice was a painting he’d stare for hours.
If this whole scene were a portrait, everything important to him captured in acrylic, hung in a gilded frame: not a soul alive could drag him out of that museum.
“Uncle Mav.” Bradley tugs on his shirt, whispering. “Is the Ice guy a good pilot?”
Maverick’s body fills with the buzz of mischief.
Maverick makes a show of thinking, before shrugging. “He’s pretty good.” Bradley’s eyes light up. But before he can turn to Ice and start spewing questions (once your in, your IN with Bradley), Maverick says: “But he’s not as good as me obviously.”
Maverick can practically feel Ice roll his eyes but Bradley nods sagely, making Mavericks heart squeeze.
“I’m gonna be a pilot like Uncle Mav!” Bradley shouts. It’s not the first time he’s heard that, but it always feels like the floor is being swept out from beneath him when he does.
“You’re gonna be better kiddo.”
“Really?”
“Of course.” Maverick says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Bradley beams.
“Icey!” Bradley yells. Eying Slider wearily before continuing. “What plane do you fly?”
Here come the questions, Maverick thinks, watching Ice perk up from a few yards away fondly.
Carole usher’s them out of the sun while Bradley goes on. He talks the whole way to the bar, Maverick shoulder to shoulder with Ice, breathing him in and listening. Right before they walk through the door he gets this zoned off sleepy look and Goose scoops him up again so he can doze.
Even though the hard deck is a bar, it’s also a family centered establishment, especially at 4PM in the afternoon. They squeeze into a booth. Maverick and Ice hip to hip. His heart rate increases, and he can feel Ice’s do the same as Carole examines them.
“So,” Carole says, pushing her feathered hair out of her face and moving Goose’s arm to her hip when he tries to put it around her shoulders with a look. “What have I missed?”