"You knew" Swan sighed at Rooster's confirmation "Since when?"

"Last night"

"Did you know about Schneider too?" she didn't have a chance to answer "Of course you knew. You always know everything"

"Brad...."

"Rooster" Maverick's voice cut her off. Looking back she saw him a few meters behind them "Bradley"

"Try not to pick a fight with him inside the base" She begged quietly.

"Lieutenant Bradshaw" Rooster stopped walking and turned towards Maverick.

Swan also stopped worried that something would get out of hand. She remembered the anger Rooster felt when he found out Maverick had invalidated his papers for the naval academy. It was the biggest fight the two had ever had.  After that day, Rooster cut off all contact with Maverick.  Four years later he managed to get into the academy with her.

"Yes, sir?"

"Let's not act like this" he asked

"Will you eject me from the program?"

"It will depend on you. Not me"

"So, dismissed?"

"Bradley, please" Maverick tried to insist, taking another step forward "I want to set things right"

"To set things right?" Rooster growled also taking a step  "You delayed my life. I lost four years because of you"

Afraid of the worst, Swan squeezed herself between them pushing their chest.

"This is not the place for you to do that"  she faced Rooster giving him one more push "Go to your plane. Go!" Doing what she said, he left huffing.  After a second, she turned to the man facing her "And you, Captain Mitchell, here you are our instructor. Don't want to mix your problems with your work"

"Nicky....."

"It's Swan. Or Lieutenant Lewis" she said not raising her voice realizing that some pilots were watching them. She thought they'd gotten enough attention "You'd better prepare yourself too. Captain"

His jaw muscle jumped as he looked at her from behind his sunglasses. Reluctantly and without showing much of his dissatisfaction, he turned his back and walked away.

Swan closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She didn't want things to be this way. To her, they were all that was left of her family. It was difficult and painful to have them fighting and distancing themselves.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me" Rooster growled pulling her to him as she passed in front of him. Her jet next to his "How can you talk to him after what he's done?"

"Cause I know his reason"  Rooster took off his glasses, staring at her gapingly. One more thing he didn't know because she hid it.

"And won't you tell me?"

"It's not mine to say. You have to hear it from him"

"And do you think I didn't get tired of asking that day? I asked a million times. He never answered"

"Maybe now it's different.  I talk with him.."

"No! You will not speak to him unless it is extremely necessary and formal. Do you understand?"  Not wanting to answer, Swan looked away at the tail of the plane "Nicky, do you understand?"

To end that discussion, she gave in and nodded.

"You could have told me yesterday" He murmured, calmer this time.

"It was our first night together again after so long. I wanted to enjoy your company without you being angry like you are now"

His expression softened and he pulled her face up to kiss her cheek before hugging her.

"Sorry" He whispered

"I need to do my checking" She said letting go of his body.  But he kept squeezing her for a few more seconds.

Finally free, Swan went to her airship doing what she had to do. When she bent down to look at the landing gear, she saw Hangman staring at her stiffly with crossed arms.

She couldn't deny it, he looked good with that frown. Of course she would never tell him.

..........................

"Good morning, aviators. This is your captain speaking" I hear Maverick say over the radio. Him, Rooster, Coyote, Payback and Fanboy took off a few minutes ago. The rest of us were in a room listening to everything "Welcome to basic fighter maneuvers. As briefed, today's exercise is dog fighting. Guns only, no missiles. We do not go below the hard deck of 5000 feet. Working as a team, you have to shoot me down, or else.... "

"Or else what, sir?" Payback asked

As Phoenix turns up the volume, I stand behind Jake watching him play with a miniature F-18.  I lean over the head of the couch he was sitting on.  He looked at me sideways and snorted leaving me not understanding.

"Or else I shoot back" Maverick added  "If I shoot either one of you down, you both lose"

"This guy needs an ego check" Hangman hissed.

I can't help but give him a flick in the ear. With a not-so-loud cry, he turned to face me with red face. I just don't know if it's out of anger or shame for everyone looking at him.

"Why did you do that?" he asked me indignantly.

I ignore and continue to listen to the conversation of those who were flying.

"Sir, should we put some skin in the game?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Whoever gets shot down first has to do 200 push-ups"

"Guys" Rooster complained, finally saying something

"That's a lot of push-ups" Maverick commented. I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Well uh, they don't call it an exercise for nothing sir" Fanboy laughed

"Got yourself a deal gentlemen. Lights on" he said  "Let' s turn and burn"

"Nervous to fly with him?" I ask, not listening to what is happening on the radio anymore. I already knew how the ending would be.

"Not even a little.  I'm one of the best, remember?"

"You're the one who needs an ego check, Jake" I muttered
"You don't know Maverick. Don't know what he's capable of up there"

"But you know don't you?" he hissed leaning back without looking at me. A second later his eyes widened slightly and they gleamed in my direction "That's what you were doing outside yesterday. Went to talk to the old man"

"Don't you get tired of getting involved in matters that are none of your business?"

"Don't you get tired of getting into your boyfriend's fights?"

"What I'm tired of is having to keep repeating that he's not my boyfriend and that he never will be" I growl, bending down to get closer to his face "And I'm even more tired of YOU acting like an asshole"

His jaw clenched and something crossed his eyes. It was fast and I couldn't identify it in time. His irises were a greenish gray that seemed to get lighter or darker according to his emotions. I knew he wasn't an asshole. Well, not completely. I've seen sides of him that the other pilots were sure he couldn't have. Sides that made him an amazing guy.  For some reason he refused to show it.

"And to think that when I saw you yesterday, I had a little hope that our time together here would be different from the last time. That it would be better" I didn't bother to hide the disappointment I was feeling.

This time, I saw sadness on his face and had to pull away so it wouldn't make me soften even more for him.

One night long ago, he told me with conviction that he would do anything to have a chance. That he could be good for me.  If he still wants me to believe it, he's going to have to prove it to me. And I intend to test and push him to the limit.

Turning back to the radio, I hear that Rooster has been shot down and would have to do the 200 push-ups. I sigh looking at the blue sky.

It's going to be a long day.

♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧♧

hiiii  how are you guys?  Quick message, if you're not reading SUPERNOVA by mackiavelick, take a look especially at today's chapter.  There will be a scene that I loved.  Hangman's thoughts on Swan.  I got all silly.  And also because her story is wonderful.  So go there.

See you next Saturday. 27.08.22
Don't forget to vote and comment♡.
(Updates on Saturdays)