DAMIANA was finding the sensation of the pilot's suit against her skin strange. It was strange to feel it again after not using it for so long. She had almost forgotten how heavy it could be due to the utensils attached to it.

Her helmet was hanging in her hand. It was light blue as ice, with a few white rays scattered around the edges, and its codename "Supernova" on the front, written with what appeared to be tiny wings of smoke from aircraft at the extreme ends.

On the other hand, was a bag of tools in case an emergency happened while he was in the air. She cracked her neck, realizing how tense she was. She felt the slight nausea creep in as her anxiety level rose, working on her breathing to calm down.

It had been months since she'd last flown, and returning to Top Gun with the best pilots was a bit daunting. Dami was part of the elite, but it was all because of Ice, so she couldn't shake the thought that she was only there for him. She would do her best to show that she was one of the best fighter pilots in her own right.

Dami's anguish was replaced by another feeling as he passed Rooster and Swan walking towards the F-18s. She heard Maverick's voice farther back, calling out to him:

"Rooster!" he yelled, but the pilot kept walking without giving a damn. "Bradley!"

Dami crossed paths with him, Rooster's Ray Ban-covered eyes landing on her as she stopped walking. The scent of her sweet perfume hit him full-on, almost distracting him from Pete's calls.

"Lieutenant Bradshaw!" he exclaimed, finally making him turn around.

"Yes sir," he replied, disinterested.

By then, Dami was already heading towards one of the aircraft. Swan's presence did not go unnoticed, intruding on Rooter and Maverick's conversation that was in a tone impossible to hear from afar. After all, who was that girl? And why did she seem to follow Rooster every step he took?

Dami snorted, tossing the bag into the compartment and checking to make sure everything was in order. She wanted to know what they were talking about, especially with the rigid posture Rooster had acquired.

"You're spitting," said a voice beside her. "It looks like he wants to kill them with his eyes."

She rolled her eyes, pulling the pair of sunglasses off her head and putting them on. Hangman, standing beside her, was leaning against the F-18, looking in the same direction as she was staring deeply.

"What's up with them?" she asked, not understanding. "With Maverick?"

"I just wanted to know," she commented, searching Dami's pale eyes. "It looks like it's something old.

"And the other two?" She grumbled, seeing their interaction. "Shouldn't there be some law where relationships between pilots on the same base are prohibited?"

"You're being ironic, aren't you?"

Damiana's seriousness was an answer enough for Hangman. He wasn't blind. He'd be lying if he said she wasn't pretty, that she had a fantastic body—but in his eyes, Supernova didn't compare to Swan in any way.

"Do you think they're together?" he suggested, also glaring at them blatantly. "Swan must be suffering from a serious mental illness if he thinks Rooster is attractive."

"You're also staring at him like you want to kill him," she snarled at him, poking him lightly in the ribs. "Are you afraid of the competition?"

"Really?" He repeated, huffing. "Have you ever looked at me?"

Dami lowered his sunglasses a little, one eyebrow raised as she stared at him. Hangman smirked, his white teeth gleaming in the rays of the sun hitting them. She had to admit, Hangman looked like a soap opera heartthrob, but his cocky, mocking personality completely spoiled him.

At that same instant, both pilots grimaced as they saw Rooster leaning over to kiss Swan's cheek, then wrap his arms around her. Dami lifted his glasses higher, wishing they were darker so she hadn't seen that scene of disgusting affection.

"What do you think she sees in him?" he asked, slightly annoyed by Dami's comment.

"Well, they call him Rooster, don't they?" He shrugged. "There must be some reason."

Hangman grimaced as he understood what Damian meant.

◈

THE F-18s were already in the air. Two pairs had taken off, in addition to Maverick, who was flying over some regions nearby. All the pilots who had not yet taken off were in the base's rest and games room, listening to what the radio connected to the communicators of the pilots who had ascended was transmitting.

Damiana was slouched on a sofa next to the radio, some magazines in hand to distract her. She was still nervous and knew she would be the next to be called to fly with her navigators and ALA.

Hangman was also sitting in an armchair across from her, looking bored. Phoenix was close to the radio, listening to Maverick's every word. Bob was beside her, acting shyly.

"Good morning, aviators. This is your captain," he said. "Welcome to basic combat maneuvers. As previously stated, today's exercise is a dogfight. Weapons only, no missiles. Do not descend below the switchgear, 5,000 feet."

Phoenix turned up the volume, leaning over the radio table.

"As a team, you better take me down, or else."

"Or what, sir?" asked Payback.

"Or I'll take you down" he added. "If I take one of you down, you both lose."

"The old man needs to get the ball down," hissed Hangman, a miniature F-18 in his hand.

Two pilots in the room clapped their hands together, saying that would be a no-brainer. Dami rolled her eyes, knowing that the same pair would be taken down the instant Maverick went after them. Iceman always told her what the Captain was like. She already knew the details so well that she could almost feel that she had already flown with him.

"All right, sir," he agreed. "But what's it worth?"

"Did you think of something?"

"Whoever gets knocked down first will have to do two hundred push-ups."

"Guys," Rooster hissed, speaking for the first time.

"That's a lot of bending," Maverick commented.

"They don't call it exercise for nothing, sir," chuckled Fanboy.

"It's a deal, gentlemen," he said. "The fight has begun! Let's detonate!"

Unfortunately, they had no vision of what was happening up there, but from the comments made by Rooster, Fanboy, and Payback, Maverick was already behind him, piloting the F-18 with all his might. Rooster looked like he was angry, fighting Maverick while protecting his wingman.

Damiana felt the place beside her sink. She turned to face the aviator who had seated himself, taking in the Asian features and the tuft of black hair. He had a smile on his lips, looking her up and down.

"Are you my navigator, Fritz?" Dami said, smiling back.

"Like old times," she retorted, laughing.

Fritz was already familiar with her, having already been asked for some operations with her. Seeing a familiar face among so many different ones was a great relief for both of them. The exercise continued as they talked about how their lives were going.

Damiana did not need to say that Rooster's temper was what made him lose. As he descends with the F-18, she couldn't help but think about how challenging it would be to fly the aircraft again after months away.

However, seeing Rooster have to pay for the two hundred push-ups was priceless. Not just because she saw the defined muscles of his arms flexing, but because she saw him lose, and maybe so teach him that he wasn't the best of them all.

"Now you know more about Rooster," hissed Phoenix. That was for Fanboy and Payback, but she was staring at Damiana the whole time.

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