pretty boy • bradley bradshaw

03

"Pushing time aren't ya, Kazansky." Hangman teased from his seat, smiling around the toothpick in his mouth.

Luke's ears grew hot in embarrassment, noticing he was the last to arrive. He quickly took the nearest desk, which was behind Hangman but thankfully in front of Rooster.

Admiral Bates entered the hangar to which everyone immediately stood up.

"Morning," He spoke up, moving to stand at the podium. "Welcome to your special training detachment. Be seated."

"You're all Top Gun graduates." He began, eyeing everyone in the room. "The elite. The best of the best. That was yesterday."

Luke watched as Fanboy's smile quickly dropped.

"The enemy's new fifth generation fighter, has leveled the playing field. Details are few but you can be sure that we no longer possess the technological advantage. Success, now more than ever, comes down to the man or woman in the box."

Hangman turned to smirk at Phoenix, to which she gestured back with a subtle middle finger.

"Half of you will make the cut." Bates began again, voice stern. "One of you will be named mission leader. The other half will remain in reserve."

Again, Hangman turned around, this time, looking right through Luke and catching Rooster's eyes with a taunting smile.

"Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master. His exploits are legendary. He is considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced. What he has to teach you may very well make the difference between life and death. I give you Captain Pete Mitchell." Luke turned to the sound ofboots making their way down the aisle of desks to eye the newcomer.
"Call sign, Maverick." Bates finished, stepping away from the podium to make room for the instructor.

Luke's brows immediately furrowed, turning around to meet eyes with Bradley who's main emotion seemed to be more pissed off than taken aback.

"Good morning," Pete greeted the room immediately with a smile, his eyes traveling around the room to meet a few individual's, Luke's included. Luke matched the smile easily, nodding at the man.

Maverick's shoulders eased slightly before he raised an arm that held a large manual in hand.
"The F-18 NATOPS," He smiled, raising his other hand to pat at the cover. He moved to set it down on the podium. "Contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft. I'm assuming you know the book, inside and out."

"Damn right!" Payback spoke up from the front of the room, while Hangman quickly followed suit. "Damn straight," He murmured while another voice shouts out "You got it!"

Maverick's eyes danced around the room at the students that filled it before dropping the book into the trash can beside him.

"So does your enemy." He began as everyone exchanged glances that he paid no mind to.

"But what the enemy doesn't know, is your limits. And I intend to find them, test them, push beyond. So today we'll start with what you only think you know." He nodded his head toward the group. "Show me what your made of."

-

Luke eyed the black and blue helmet in his hand as he moved to walk alongside Bradley down the runway. He peered to his left, hoping to catch his eye but the other paid no mind to him.

"Rooster," Maverick called from behind them, causing Luke's steps to falter for a moment. He looked to Rooster but the man showed no sign of recognition.

"Bradley," Maverick tried again.

Luke stayed in step with Rooster, eyes narrowing at him before craning his neck to look back at their instructor.

"Lieutenant Bradshaw!" Maverick called out, to which Bradley acquiesced and reluctantly turned around to face him. Luke stopped but hesitantly took a step toward his jet after looking at Bradley's angered expression.

"Yes, sir?" Rooster's stare was indecipherable, as his aviators hid all the emotion his eyes held.

"Luke," Maverick greeted with a nod, attempting to repair the awkward atmosphere.

"Hey, Pete." He murmured back with a grimace-like smile.

"You go on ahead." Maverick jerked his head to the side, to which Luke immediately followed, jogging toward his jet.

He eyed the two when he made it to the jet's the landing gear, Rooster's tense stature towering over Maverick's own. The conversation lasted only a few moments though it easily felt like lifetime to Luke, who watched the entire exchange with a narrowed gaze. When it ended, Rooster turned to look down the runway, catching the other pilot off guard. Luke's face turned red in shame at being caught as he quickly turned around to begin the climb into his jet.

The game of tag via aircraft was interesting and it was one that Luke lost all to early. He was teamed up with Phoenix and Bob who stuck it out longer than he did. He left the runway with a frustrated huff but was easily distracted when it was Rooster and Hangman's turn up against their instructor.

After Rooster and Maverick went below the hard deck, he moved away from the group huddled around the radio in a nearby building and toward the runway. He and Phoenix eyed from the sidelines as Hondo supervised Rooster's two hundred push-ups before making their way over once he finished.

"Breaking the hard deck, insubordination, are you trying to get kicked out?" She questioned once they made it to Rooster's sitting form. Luke held distaste for the way she voiced her concern but spoke no argument.

"Don't worry about it." Bradley murmured, resting his arms on his knees, gaze to the cement ground.

"Look, I'm going on this mission," She spoke, squatting down to attempt to look him in the eye. "But if you get kicked out you leave us flying with Hangman. Talk to me. What the hell was that?"

"He pulled my papers." Rooster said, looking up to meet eyes with Luke's still standing form.

"What? Who?" Phoenix muttered, confused.

"Maverick. He pulled my application to the Naval Academy. Set me back four years." Bradshaw eyed a jet leaving a nearby strip before looking back at her.

"Why would he do that?" She questioned, brows furrowed.

Luke stiffened, immediately growing uncomfortable. He shook his head minutely when he locked eyes with Rooster before turning to leave.