BRADLEY wasn't feeling well. An agonizing sensation gripped his wildly pounding chest. His shoulders were slumped, as if he'd been awake for days. First the fight with Nicky, then with Supernova, and again with Nicky... He felt emotionally drained. All he wanted was to be able to fall into his bed and sleep straight for a week.

He knew he needed to get his thoughts in order. Maverick was apparently the person who most managed to piss him off. Hangman irritated him, but he didn't even compare himself to the Captain. Every time he heard his name or saw him, Rooster felt such a tightness in his chest that it was as if he could have a heart attack at any moment.

He was too young to understand everything when his father died. Maverick was basically his only father figure left. Pete was once his idol, the man whose footsteps little Bradley wanted to follow, but that all changed when he tricked him and delayed his entry into the Naval Academy. He never understood why, not even as the years went by.

"What's wrong with you? You look depressed."

Phoenix's voice came from behind him. He'd been in the break room for an hour now. The sun was setting, and Rooster didn't seem to want to get up. His arms burned from the two hundred push-ups he'd had to do—he'd strangle Payback for that when he got the chance. At least Bradley had had the dignity to drag his sweaty, aching body to the showers, changing out of his attire for a clean uniform.

"Nothing much," he replied, but his voice caught him in the act.

"I understand you had an argument with the Supernova," she commented, sitting down next to him on the couch. "I think everyone already knew this. Coyote heard something like that, and, well, you can imagine what happened next."

Bradley rolled his eyes. He should have known that nothing that was considered gossip would go unnoticed on that base. He knew that Coyote was one of the biggest gossips he knew, but Hondo had the biggest reputation of all.

"Listen," she asked. "I've never had such a long conversation with her, but Damiana doesn't seem like a bad person. What was the reason?"

"Maverick invalidated my Naval Academy papers. It set me back four years," he explained grudgingly. "And all this time, Damiana had Admiral Kazansky on her side, but look what she did. She gave up and threw it all away.

"No one really knows what happened, Rooster, when she left Top Gun," Phoenix said, his voice distant and disappointed in him. "Literally, you judge a book by its cover."

He huffed, throwing his head back against the backrest and covering his eyes with his forearm. He already understood that what he'd done was wrong, he didn't need to be treated like a child by Phoenix and Swan. Really, Bradley understood why they were mad at him, and if he could go back in time, he never would have said those words.

"What do you suggest I do?" he asked, giving up.

"I'd start by apologizing," Phoenix said, standing up. "Let's go to the Hard Deck. I don't know if Damiana is going, but the invitation has been extended to her."

Apologizing wasn't something Bradley was used to, or something he could do easily, but for the mistake he'd made with Damiana, he would try.

◈

DAMIANA was not in the habit of drinking. On occasions, she went with her Pentagon colleagues to nearby restaurants and bars for a round of beer and snacks, but that drink wasn't one she really liked.

On the contrary, Dami didn't like alcoholic beverages in general. The idea of not having control of her own body was too frightening for her; it was a risk she didn't want to take. One of the main reasons was that she was always on alert and could be called back to base at any time. That wouldn't happen on that basis, but she didn't feel inclined to drink.

She didn't even know what had made her accept the invitation and accompany her colleagues to the Hard Deck, the bar the navy frequented there. Maybe she just wanted to unwind a little, stop mulling over the harsh, truthful words Rooster had told her. He was right, she shouldn't have come back.

Most of the Top Gun pilots were playing pool or at one of the tables, but Damiana was the only one sitting at the bar. She was dressed casually, tired of the uniform. She didn't even feel worthy of wearing it.

Penny had been kind enough to come up to her and ask if she was okay and if she wanted to talk. Dami said she didn't want to but was grateful for the concern. Penny just gave him a gentle smile and took the ice-cold water Dami had asked for.

As much as she had her cell phone in her hand, she was careful not to put it on the counter, because, by Penny's rules, she'd have to buy everyone in the house a round. She was flipping through the web pages, an airline ticket site open as she researched if she had any flights to Washington tomorrow night. Unfortunately, she wasn't having any luck.

"You don't look good," commented a male voice beside her.

"It's nothing, Bob. You don't have to worry about me," she assured him, watching him sit on the next stool. "Not a fan of billiards?"

"Not if Hangman is playing," he grumbled, making her give a small smile.

"Yeah, he's unbearably arrogant most of the time," she agreed, letting out a light laugh.

Bob had brought a beer with him, taking a small sip from it. He was surprised that Damiana wasn't drinking either, but he didn't comment. He couldn't stop her eyes from hitting the screen of her unlocked cell phone. When she realized he'd caught her in the act, Dami blocked the screen, tucking it into the pocket of the light coat she wore only to cut through the salty sea breeze.

"Flight ticket?" he hissed, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "What is your destiny?"

"Washington," she replied, without a second thought. "Preferably if I can get a flight for tomorrow."

"But the mission..." Bob hissed, slightly confused. "Are you leaving Top Gun?"

"Good night, Bob."

She didn't give him an answer, of course. Dami got up, grabbed his things and headed towards the door. Rooster, in front of her, had been watching them all this time. He'd only just stepped onto the hard deck when she noticed him.

Damiana walked past him to leave. This time they didn't bump into each other or argue. Rooster felt his chest tighten as she completely ignored him, barely even meeting his gaze or asking him to get out of the way. She simply walked around him, wanting distance between them.

When Rooster tried to reach her outside, it was too late. Damiana was nowhere to be seen. It was even as if she had disappeared with the wind. As soon as she met her colleagues, he knew the reason for the silence. The gossip ran wild over there—Damiana was buying a plane ticket back to Washington, and again she was giving up on Top Gun. However, doubt remained. Rooster wondered if she was leaving, this time, because of him.

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09.17.22

N O T E S

Donatumblr is having some technical problems with her Chapter 11 of Love Above The Clouds, so it might take a while, but please be patient!!!

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