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SUPERNOVA
top gun: maverick
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noun (astronomy):
❝a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.❞

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CELESTE STERLING couldn't reach for the stars, so instead she skimmed the atmosphere.

An elite TOPGUN graduate, Celeste has paved her way to become one of the most skilled WSOs in the United States Navy, paired in brilliance with her twin brother Quincy as pilot. A decision that started out as Plan B for her de-railed dream of flying in space, it's still never quite enough for her personal standards. Celeste knows she belongs in the skies — all she needs to do is to prove it... but to who? Her family? Her commanders? Herself? She may never know.

Instead, Celeste pushes herself to be perfect in every way; except when it comes to him...

BRADLEY BRADSHAW had the rug pulled out from underneath his feet.

When Maverick pulled his papers for the navy academy, the betrayal scathed him like boiling water. How could he? The man he thought of as an uncle, maybe even a father. "Rooster" is left on edge, cautious — like the nickname, always waiting for the right moment that never comes. It only adds onto the wariness that comes with flying under the ghostly Bradshaw name, from the 'accident' in 1986 that took his father away. His habit seeps into his life outside aviation too, never quite confident enough to take a plunge when it matters most.

Bradley knows he does it, and he hates it; especially when it comes to her...

WHEN TOPGUN CALLS, the pilots flock, with no clue of the trials they are about to face. First and foremost, it brings old friends together, everyone from former TOPGUN classmates to childhood friends — the Sterling twins, the Bradshaw boy, Admiral Kazansky's son and the daughter of an air traffic controller all had each other's backs as kids. They come and go into each other's lives, and for Celeste and Bradley in particular, their connection runs deep. Still, the almost-lovers' paths never quite meet, always going parallel... until now.

     The deadly mission will test them all in a way no living pilot has known before. Like a supernova, the ones Celeste still looks to the skies and searches for, they may have to crash and burn before they can shine bright enough — the real question is, who will have the guts to fall first?

┊　 　┊　 　┊　 　┊
┊　 　 ┊　 　┊　 ✧･ﾟ
┊　 　┊　 　 ✧･ﾟ
┊　 ✧･ﾟ
✧･ﾟ

C A S T

KiKi Layne as
LT. CELESTE STERLING
❛ COSMO ❜

❝if i can't even do this, then what was it all for?❞

Miles Teller as
LT. BRADLEY BRADSHAW
❛ ROOSTER ❜

❝it's what my dad would have done.❞

John Boyega as
LT. QUINCY STERLING
❛ BULLSEYE ❜

❝should've worn my lucky socks!❞

Evan Roderick as
LT. RYAN KAZANSKY
❛ LYNX ❜

❝people who fly like that are dangerous.❞

Adria Arjona as
LT. LUISA ROMERO
❛ ATHENA ❜

❝don't change. it's a good way to be.❞

Tom Cruise as
LT. PETE MITCHELL
❛ MAVERICK ❜

❝show me what you're made of.❞

w i t h

MANNY "GATOR" STERLING — courtney b. vance
WENDY STERLING — shari headley
LOGAN KAZANSKY — jack kilmer
SABRINA KAZANSKY — sydney sweeney
KIERAN "TINTIN" MAHER — bryan dechart
MARNIE ABRAMS-GARCIA — zoey deutch

&& the rest of the TOP GUN: MAVERICK cast:

ROBERT "BOB" FLOYD — lewis pullman
NATASHA "PHOENIX" TRACE — monica barbaro
JAKE "HANGMAN" SERESIN — glen powell
MICKEY "FANBOY" GARCIA — danny ramirez
REUBEN "PAYBACK" FITCH — jay ellis
JAVY "COYOTE" MACHADO — greg tarzan davis
TOM "ICEMAN" KAZANSKY — val kilmer
PENNY BENJAMIN — jennifer connelly
REST OF TOP GUN CAST — themselves

❝IT'S NOT THE PLANE...

... IT'S THE PILOT.❞

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DISCLAIMER
I do not own the characters or plot of Top Gun: Maverick (and Top Gun), I only own my original characters and their respective plots/subplots weaved into the story. This is a work of fan-fiction.

WARNINGS
This book will contain themes and depictions of PTSD, some violence, grief, death, some coarse language and mild sexual references. If there are chapters where I think the themes are particularly heavy, I'll try and include a warning at the start.

DEDICATIONS
illisius · wishfuIthinking · Iydiamartin · heartofhugs ·
stilestastic · bIumenthaIs · bananapopsicIes · ROGUEANDOR ·
renegaderecord · llxcifers · silentwishing · neplutos ·
& any Top Gun fans out there!!

FOREWORD
Welcome to a Top Gun: Maverick fanfiction, written by yours truly — a person who knows nothing about aviation.

Okay, but on a serious note, I'm really excited/nervous to share this! Both of the Top Gun movies really exceeded my expectations, and Top Gun: Maverick in particular has become a big comfort movie and escapism for me. I eventually caved in to the urge to write a story, particularly for Rooster (who single-handedly revived my old Miles Teller crush from my Divergent days). Although the romance is of course a big part, it is not the main part, as I always like fleshing out my OCs a little more independently... however, Rooster isn't the only love interest in this! So stay tuned *wink wonk*

My biggest fear going into this is writing the flying scenes, because I know nothing about the terminology. Same goes for military terms. I've tried to do some research but it might still turn out awful. So, to any aviators or hardcore Top Gun fans who might be reading this, I apologise in advance... I'm trying, I promise. You might have to suspend reality a little bit. I just hope I can do it all some justice.

Anyway, with that out of the way, happy reading!

— starryeyedturtle

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started: september 2nd, 2022
published: december 28th, 2022
ended: september 1st, 2023