Lt. Wren 'Atlas' Donahue is returning to Top Gun to train for an elite mission. Rivalries from her time at the academy and a certain distracting pilot are sure to make the mission more interesting. (Bradley Bradshaw x oc) -Completed
The next morning, Atlas, Hangman, Rooster, and Fritz were all in the air. The planes were flying next to each other so Wren could see Rooster looking over towards her as they chatted over the comms before the exercise started.
"You're telling me you're not a Jerry Lee Lewis fan? That's criminal." Rooster sounded deeply offended.
"I never said I wasn't a fan. Just that your lovely rendition at the bar the other day is really the only time I've heard his music. Elvis was king in my house growing up." Hangman seemed to be getting annoyed at the pair because he quickly cut into the conversation.
"Rooster, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"
"Would it matter if I did?" It didn't seem to because Hangman continued anyways.
"So what's the story with you and Maverick. It seems to me that he has you rattled."
"That's none of your business," Rooster said. "Now where is he?"
Just then Maverick's plane came up from beneath Rooster's and began to fly inverted directly overtop of him.
"I've been here the whole time. Come on, let's get this over with."
Hangman quickly broke left in the plane as Rooster and Maverick started to dive, stuck spiralling around each other. Wren watched as they got closer and closer to the ground as they argued with each other over the comms. The words blurred together but the anger and intensity was clear.
"You're going to have to pull up," Maverick said to Rooster as they approached 2000 feet.
"You first," Rooster spit back.
Wren watched, heart pounding as the alarms could be heard from their planes over the comms, instructing them to pull up. Maverick was the first to break, putting Rooster in an almost perfect position to shoot him down.
"Come on Rooster, come on," Wren encouraged.
"Drop down and shoot him Rooster, you've got the shot." Even Hangman sounded excited as he inched their plane closer so that they had a clear view of the action below. The moment passed and Maverick positioned himself behind Rooster and Fritz. The dreaded tone could be heard over the comms indicating that Maverick had made his shot.
"You're out boys, head back for your push-ups everyone."
As they flew back Hangman couldn't help but take a did at the discouraged pilot.
"Classic Rooster, doesn't have the balls to finish what he started."
No one else spoke, choosing to sit in the silence instead.
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Wren approached Rooster who was alone on the tarmac breathing heavily as he pushed his body to continue the push up, even as Hondo stood there telling him to stop. Hondo walked away as Wren approached, seeing that he wasn't getting through to Rooster. Wren stood a few feet away, not saying anything but not moving from her spot as Rooster spit from exertion, straightening his arms one final time before sitting up and resting his forearms on his knees bent up in front of him.
"Don't," he said after a moment.
"Don't what?"
"Don't look at me like that."
"Like what."
"Like I'm a lost puppy that you've come to save. Just leave it alone."
Wren stepped forward and crouched down so that she could make eye contact with him.
"I'm just here to check in on my friend. I just wanted to make sure you were doing ok."
"I'm fine," he said turning his head so he was no longer looking at Wren.
"You don't sound fine, Rooster. And almost crashing yourself and our captain into the desert doesn't seem fine either."
"He pulled my papers." Wren was confused for a second, not fully comprehending what Rooster had said. "He pulled my application to the Naval academy. He set me back 4 years in my career."
"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"I don't think I can keep this up."
"You didn't come this far to give up now Rooster. Show him he was wrong. Besides I'm counting on you to be our wingman on this mission. Don't let me down now."
Wren stood up and stretched her arm out, offering her hand to Rooster. He looked up at her, squinting a little from the setting sun shining in his eyes. He huffed quietly before accepting her hand, allowing her to pull him up from the ground. They walked back towards the main building side by side, but Wren couldn't help but look at Rooster out of the corner of her eye. He still looked upset and she wished there was something she could do. When he finally noticed her gaze she quickly looked away causing him to laugh.
"Go take a shower, you stink," she said, trying to ignore the heat travelling up her neck to her cheeks.
"Care to join me?" he asked waggling his eyebrows, suddenly in a more chipper mood. Wren shoved his torso slightly and continued on.
