Chapter Text
Pete sighed as he entered the Miramar building for the first time...in 20 years give or take. He had been called here for some reason. If Chester Cain had been making any sense. He was here to teach, not a Top Gun class, but the Elite of the Elite, past Top Gun winners coming back.
For what? He wasn’t sure exactly, getting distracted by the photo on the wall. Legendary in nature. He and his best friend Iceman shaking hands after their successful mission. When their bond had sealed for good. A friendship unbreakable over 30 years.
Before Pete can move on. He feels a tug on the leg. Turning to find the most adorable little pup he’s probably ever met. She was beautiful. Her blond hair was brushed up into two pigtails, ladybug hair ties keeping the hair in place. Big brown eyes stare at him critically as her little nose sniffs the air. Wearing overalls and a long-sleeved shirt underneath. Tiny green chuck taylors covering her feet. She couldn’t be older than 6.
“Mr can you help me?” She asks. Her accent thick with southern twang.
“Hmm. With what?” He asks. Trying to bat his omega instincts away with a 2 by 4. Now was not the time.
“I can’t find my Daddies. They said if I ever got lost, find one of their friends or..an omega!” She explains.
“Well, Sweetheart. Have your Daddies got names?”
She scratches her cheek as she thinks it over.
“Hangman...and Rooster.” She says eventually. Before proceeding to make a chicken noise.
Pete has to catch himself before he audibly coos.
“Alright. And do you have a name?”
“Swan...Daddy said I can’t tell you my actual name. But if you call Swan they’ll understand” She explains. Rocking back and forth on her feet.
Pete nodded, reaching out a hand for her to take so they could find someone to help out. Knowing he's going to be late to meet Admiral Simpson and Bates but they can wait. A lost Pup was a little more important.
Pete even held up the girl as he walked past. Mouthing he’ll be back later.
“Mitchell! Where are you going?” Admiral Simpson growls poking his head out the door. Truly living up to his call sign already.
“She’s lost. I’ll be back in a minute!” Pete explains.
“What the fu...”
“No bad language around the pup” Pete scolds him, causing Swan to giggle.
He makes it all the way down to the office when he hears two pairs of footsteps bolting at them from behind.
Pete automatically picks up Swan to keep her safe from whatever hooligans are running through this place.
“Piper! Oh, thank god!” A southern voice says.
“DADDIES!” Swan...or Piper says.
Pete putting her down. Turning to watch her run at the two men.
Surprise goes through him when he recognises one of the men.
“Maverick...thank you. We’ve been looking everywhere for her. This is the last time I get Harvard to look after her” Bradley Bradshaw grumbles.
Forgetting for a minute that he hates Maverick’s guts. Just glad to have his pup safe. Relief flooded through both Bradley and his Mate. Pete's nose tingled with the twinge of Alpha.
“It’s fine. I’m just glad she’s safe” Pete promises.
Bradley kisses Piper’s hair. Taking another sigh. His Mate, holding her tight and close. Looking almost identical to the Pup. Same blond hair, same brown eyes. He was looking at her like she was his entire world.
“You made your uncle Havard cry. We told you we’d be back soon sweetheart” Bradley grumbles.
“I’m sorry...I just missed you” She mumbles.
“It’s ok Bug. But you have to tell him next time. Please” The Mate murmurs.
Pete making his leave. Needing to get back to the admirals.
“Thank you, Mr!” Piper calls after him.
Pete gave her a wave and a grin before heading back to the meeting room.
“Sorry about that Sirs. I didn’t want to leave her waiting. She’s with her dads now.” Pete mumbles.
Feeling nervous.
Admiral Simpson grumbles and Warlock nods understanding.
“So um? Why am I here?”
“To teach our best of the best to be even better. We want to keep flying. We need to prove to those who are seeking to throw us all out of a job that we can outdo a drone any day of the week” Warlock explains.
Pete nods.
“Drones are very capable don’t get us wrong, but we’d also prefer to keep our jobs. You’ve been assigned here by Fleet Commander Kazansky. He rated you very highly. I on the other hand. Am not impressed. You are highly dangerous, highly unpredictable and I never want you near one of my planes” Cyclone sniffs.
“Well...I wouldn’t want to heighten expectations, sir”
“What Cyclone means to say is, we need you to use that unpredictability to teach our students that they can’t be outdone by a hunk of metal. You have 6 months to teach them before a show event that will dictate just how capable we are compared to some of the best drone pilots” Warlock murmurs, rolling his eyes at Cyclone.
“Sir, what can I teach them that they don’t already know?” He asks sincerely. Confused.
“Instinct. They fly by the rules. They fly how they were taught to fly. They never think outside of the box. Honestly...we wonder how half of them even came close to winning Top Gun. Let alone those who actually did win it. We want you to teach them all those out-of-the-box moves that earned you your accolades”
“Sir...I say this politely...Instinct isn’t something you can teach. You either have it...or you don’t” Pete not wanting to step on any toes but needing them to understand. What he had wasn’t teachable.
It had always just been there. Something he had always understood. The second they had let him in a jet. As soon as he had touched the controls. It was like his brain took a back seat and he flew like he had sprouted wings.
“That’s on you to figure out. See who and who isn’t Elite worthy. 6 months, 12 students. All of them need to be in Top shape by the time Cain’s stupid games roll around. Am I clear?” Cyclone asks standing.
“Yes Sir”
That is all Pete can say.
After that. He swiftly needs a drink. Heading straight to the first place a lieutenant tells him to. The Hard Deck.
Cheesy name but he rolls with it. It was partially empty but only full of service men...and one familiar-looking child.
“DADDY do it again!” Piper cheers when the blond man from before lands a bullseye on the target. A large black man blocked his vision with a hand in his face.
“That’s not fair Coyote”
“You still got a bullseye, didn’t you? Where’s Rooster anyways?”
“Going to get changed. You know he hates wearing Khakis out. He’s a freak of nature that man. That and get this one her bag...that I forgot” What must then be Hangman explains. Grinning. Bouncing Piper on his hip a little. Making her laugh.
Pete can’t help the smile on his face as he heads over to the bar. Sitting down.
The bartender comes up to him and it takes his tired brain a little longer than he should to recognise her.
“Penny?”
“And here I thought I found the one place you’d never come back to” Penny grins.
“Come on Pen. You know we always end up in the same place” Pete teases.
“I was hoping they had sent you to Uzbekistan” She replies. Completely at ease. Her scent is warm and open as she moves around behind the bar. Grabbing a glass and starting to fill it.
“No such luck. I’m here to teach. What about you? What are you doing here of all places?” Pete smiles in return. Thanking her for the beer she hands him.
“Fresh start. We needed it after Hank left...about 3 years ago” Penny explains.
Pete can only nod along glad that out of this entire hell hole. He has one old familiar face. Sure Hondo had come with him but Hondo was a new friend. He didn’t understand all of Pete’s ins and outs. He was an amazing person. Really.
But...Penny knew Pete. Understood what made him tick. Behind Carole and Goose. She understood him to his bones. Not just the parts that he chose to show.
They had tried dating in the past before. Of course. But they didn’t work out and then Hank had gone for the first time and they didn’t work out then either. In the end, they had just decided to remain friends. Pete knew he could call Penny any time day or night she’d pick up. Just like she could him. They might disappear from each lives but they'd always find a way back.
“I’ve missed you, Pete,” She says softly.
“I’ve missed you too” He replies.
Happy to be there. Enjoying the atmosphere, watching as the place fills up surprisingly quickly. Hangman is playing pool with another lieutenant who had walked in. Her grin was loose and easy. Another Alpha.
Both of them joking. An Omega had entered with the girl playing with Piper.
Pete checking his phone when it dings.
Are you there safe? It was as always Ice texting him.
Of course. Why here? He texts back.
Cause those kids need you to teach them and I thought it was about time you met Piper.
Pete rolled his eyes. Of course, Ice knew about Piper before he did. Ice seemed to know everything.
I’ll get you back for this. He types out.
Hmm...you've only been trying for 30 years.
Pete stuck his tongue at his phone. Putting it away.
“Daddy!” Piper squeals catching Pete's attention. Pete looking up to see her running into Bradley's arms. Pete gets whiplash. There standing before him was Goose. Just for 5 seconds. He was seeing Goose running to hug Carole and Bradley when they arrived at Top Gun. Bradley’s little squeal. Carole’s pure excitement at seeing her mate. The pure love on their faces as they stared at each other.
Bradley was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and looked completely at ease. Even caring a tiny blue dog backpack. Catching Piper when she runs for him.
“Hey, Swany. You been a good girl?”
“Of course!” She cheers.
Pete’s heart aches at the sight. But he doesn’t intrude. He just watches as Bradley and his mate make comments at each other. Heavy undertones. Both smirking at each other.
Pete decides to make his move. Knowing he should get home. Tired and not needing to dwell. Needing to look after the giant paperwork envelope Warlock had handed him on the way out.
As he makes his leave he watches Bradley carry Piper over to the piano. Sitting her on top of it. She claps her hands as he pulls the Jukebox cable out. Cutting off the loud music. Hangman moves to stand behind him as he sits in front of the piano.
Pete goes to head towards his bike but a familiar tune has him stopping. Turning to look through the open door at what could be a perfect recreation of his past. Bradley’s voice was beautiful compared to Goose’s high-pitched squeal but that didn’t make a difference. He's still brought back in time.
The day before everything went wrong. One more blissful day before his world went into a tailspin he still never been able to get out. See the plane going down in his head. Hearing that crack. Holding his friend as he watches Bradley with his friends.
Hangman dances with his daughter a little. Singing into his beer bottle.
God, he loved flying with you Maverick.
Those words haunt him and he can’t even hear the music anymore as he bolts for his bike. Needing to get out of there before he does something stupid. Before he considers walking into the ocean and never coming back.
Why did Ice have to bring him back here? He wasn’t built to handle this. Not again.