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Two weeks. There's less than two weeks before the Daggers had to do their perilous mission. They got Cyclone to replace their previous instructor. They have been training for less "dangerous" training to achieve the mission.
They are all afraid. Everyone knew anyone among them wouldn't make it for the fights with the latest jet plane generation. They know what they're doing. They understood what could happen to them.
Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw feels no different. He thought, Maverick was trained them too hard. But, it turns out could've been their nicest shot among any plan they could've think. Now that Maverick was dismissed as their instructor, nobody knows why, unless they have a higher position from Maverick, who's just a captain.
Usually, they would go to the bar, play things, singing things, talk things. Currently, they're just too tired for it. It just made them not interested. They went to their rooms instead. Busy with their own things.
Rooster... He decided to go outside of the base. It'll took him a long time to get there if it's not because the help of Phoenix.
He went for a cemetery. Not just a cemetery... It's a cemetery of someone close to him. Maybe not as close as he was to Maverick, but at least, he could feel he had an uncle after something happened between him to Maverick.
Rooster stopped even before he's close to the tomb. The tomb of Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky. There's someone else was there. Sitting, looking straight to the tombstone. He was drinking while mumbling something. Looks like he was talking with someone.
Bradley came closer, not intended to disturb the man. He's standing while leaning to the tree. Make himself unseen by the man.
"You know I wasn't trying to exploding the Darkstar, right, Ice--man...?"
It's Maverick. His father's best friend... or... was...
The wind brought up his already messed hair. He didn't even aware about Rooster's presence.
"No. He wouldn't know. You know I couldn't say that to him. I don't-- I've told you I don't want him to hate her..."
He took a long sip from the bottle then he poured what left to a glass that was intentionally left there. Looks like he's drunk.
"Shit. Tom. Why...? Why do you leave me, too?"
"Why did I have to make it after that blast?"
"I'm not ready. I can't let you go, too... I can't be ready."
Rooster waited. He's waiting until Maverick was done-- or leaving. And no, Maverick wasn't going anywhere. It became so quiet. Bradley take a peek just to find out that Maverick was-- sleeping. He could hear the snores.
He's thinking to just left Maverick there. Maybe Maverick was always drunk. Maybe his father was the one who would always saved him.
But-- there's no sign of him would be awake anytime.
Well... He tried. He tried to leave Maverick. But, he didn't know why he felt like there's a few people looking at him directly. Questioning all of his decision he doesn't know about.
"Fuck."
Rooster came back for Maverick. He carried the Captain on his back, doesn't care for any stares that people had for him.
———
Maverick's waking up, taking in the smell he's not used to but he recognized the other one. His own room. He went to the toilet to wash up. He remembers he went to Ice's grave and brought something to drink. He's probably drunk, he could feel the need to throw up a few moments ago, the moment when he got up.
The growling sounds came from his stomach just right on time to reminds him. He went to the kitchen. Still don't know yet what could he consume that morning.
Yet something stopped him right away. Someone is in his kitchen. He doesn't know what he should do. Not that he had to do something bad about it. Maverick knows him.
"Morning." Maverick decided.
"Morning." It's Rooster. He's enjoying a cup of hot coffee.
Well... Maverick doesn't know if Rooster likes coffee, neither if it's hot. But, in his defense, Maverick doesn't even remember what's in his kitchen, so he's kind of surprised that Bradley found something.
"'M made you tea. Hot."
Great. Bradley found a tea. Or he bought it?
"Thanks."
"No sugar. Don't know what's in your stomach."
"Fair enough."
They stayed silent for minutes. Enjoying their own drinks. Rooster got up to take another drink. Water, this time.
He leans on the kitchen island while looking at Maverick, and he knew Maverick was avoiding his eyes.
"You came alone." Rooster said.
"What?"
"You came alone. Admiral Kazansky."
"Always."
"And you brought drinks."
"Yeah."
"You were drunk."
"I--"
"Why...?"
"I just--"
"Why didn't you say anything about it?"
"After all this time?"
"Mav--"
"I get it that you hate me, Bradley. I deserved it."
"No, you don't-- No... I was never want it this way."
"It's my fault."
"Tell me. Tell me the truth. Her. What do you mean her?!"
"Rooster--"
"It's about my mom, isn't it? Just fucking answer me!"
"Bradley!" Maverick hit the table with his fist. Trying to not leaving Rooster alone. Again. He could hear Rooster whispering God damn it, Mav.
"Just tell me..."
Maverick got up, leaning to the table, closer to Rooster.
"She... I took away your papers, I promised her."
"Not to let me get into the army?"
"Bradley--"
"She just doesn't want something happened to him would happen to me, isn't it?"
"Bradley. You were still young. I thought you would have a thought to hate her if I told you about it."
"You're the closest person I had to be my family, Mav. What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"I'm sorry. I--"
"Do you even still think about it? About us?"
"Not a second I didn't think about it. I remember. All the time."
"And why didn't you stay?"
"Bradley... I always am thinking that you are my son. But, I don't want to let you go, too. I lost your father. I lost your mother. I don't want to lose you, too. It's better to make you hate me rather than I had to see yourself hating on your own mother."
"You never knew, Mav."
"I know that I would never knew anything about it. About you. About how you would feel about it."
"But, you're my uncle, Mav. I considered you to be my father figure. I know you even more than I know my own father, while you're the one who keep my memories of my parents. Reminds me when they're married. How they could together. How they keep you as you're also their kid. What the hell is stopping you to do that?"
"I tried, Bradley. Trust me. I tried."
"It's n-not enough trying i-if you didn't stay."
Pete could hear Bradley's vouce starts to cracked up. He's trying so hard not to cry. Pete knows it. He always knew anything about Bradley.
"I'm sorry." Maverick stood closer to Rooster. He took Bradley into his embrace. "You'll always be my son, Bradley." Maverick help Rooster to wiped out his tears. The flashback when Bradley fell, when they were playing Tag at a park. Rooster fell and all he need to make him forget about the pain is taking him to his embrace.
"And don't you fucking dare to go to Uncle Tom's grave all alone by yourself! Again! Even more if you want to drink there. I mean-- we could've make a picnic or something there, isn't it...?"
"Sounds like a great idea."