Permission To Fly: A Hangman Fanfiction

chapter 3: changes

I wake up and head to the locker room as fast as I can, I need to find Phoenix. Thankfully she's in there and I thank my lucky stars.

"Nat, I need help." I say and she turns to me, smiling.

"What can I do for ya, Di?"

I quickly explain what happened yesterday, up to the point where I told Hangman to call me by my first name. She looks shocked at the end of it, "And the worst part is, I'm pretty sure I dreamed of him last night. I don't dream about men, I dream about flying."

"Well what happened in the dream?" Nat asks and I shake my head.

"He was my WSO," I state and we both start laughing.

"That's definitely what his ego needs. But honestly, I think he likes you," Natasha says and I say.

"Bradshaw said the same thing the other night, and honestly, I'm starting to believe it," I groan and she nods, making her way towards the door.

"And I think you like him too," she adds before walking out. I sit there for a minute and run that through my mind. You like him too. There's no way. But I asked him to call me by my first name, that meant something. The only people I let call me Delilah is my family, Maverick, Rooster, and Phoenix.

I leave not long after her, going to my jet. Today was different, we were following a complicated course and then engaging in a dogfight. The difference being Maverick, Cyclone, Warlock, and my dad were going to be the ones we had to take down. All of them flying solo without an WSO. I didn't think my dad would be joining us again, but I have a feeling this was Maverick's suggestion. I'm excited to fly with all of them, they're pilots I admire, but mostly my dad. It's the first time we've flown together like this.

I run into Rooster on my way out and he asks to talk.

"You knew Maverick was coming, didn't you?"

I sigh and shake my head no. "I only found out the other night at the bar. I went to get your drink and Maverick showed up. I thought I would see him for Christmas like normal, but I found out later when I went to see my dad that Maverick would be teaching us." I admit and Bradley looks hurt.

"Delilah, you know how I feel about him, about what he did." Bradley says, I can see him breaking inside which hurts me, and I shake my head.

"I know, but I also know Uncle Pete, he wouldn't do it without a reason. He was family to you too, and you're still family to him. He was your dad's best friend. He helped your mom after Goose's death as much as he could, we both know that. He still blames himself even though it was an accident. It's time to forgive him, Bradley." I say and he just shakes his head.

"You weren't born yet Delilah, you weren't there for the accident. I don't blame him for my dad's death, but he pulled my papers from the academy. It added four more years to my path here, and he never said why." Bradley says and I sigh. I know it's useless and I don't want to get involved in their drama. I can't pick a side.

"Did you ever ask him why? Bradley, you're like my older brother, I really don't want to get involved in whatever you and Maverick have. I don't want to pick a side, I love you both too much. Like I said, it's time to forgive him, I think your mom would want you to." I give him a quick hug and keep walking to my jet. I get in after completing my check and notice two notes on my seat, one from my dad and the other from Hangman. Deciding the one from Hangman can wait, I read the one from my dad.

It reads, "Delilah, kick some ass today, we won't be going easy on any of you. Show them what it means to be Iceman's daughter. Love, Dad." I smile and put it into my pocket, feeling a surge of adrenaline. I have a feeling that this note will be with me for a while.