Spitfire | Top Gun: Maverick

chapter 5

"if it doesn't burn a little then what's the point of playing with fire?" - Bridgett Devoue

Chapter 5:  Doomsday predictions are coming to life

In classroom A1 at the Top Gun institute, five students sit huddled in silence around a communications radio, listening intently as their redheaded classmate, Spitfire, goes up against Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell, their legendary instructor.

"Holy shit – did Spitfire just beat Maverick?" Is the first thing Phoenix asks, a few minutes after they heard the commotion over the radio. "What the hell happened up there?" She turns to the rest of the pilots with a raised eyebrow and questioning look over her face.

To say she was shocked was an absolute understatement – Maverick was an amazing flyer and for one of them to beat him? Especially after everyone got their ass handed to them on a silver platter.

"I don't even know," Payback shrugs his shoulders, "but I sure as hell want to find out, ya'll joining me? I'm going to go wait for Spitfire or hell, even Maverick to land to find out what happened up there." He gestures for his three friends to follow him, leaving Hangman and Coyote the only ones in the classroom.

Rooster had left a while back after Spitfire had taken off, all he had said when they asked him was that he was going to speak to Admiral Bates about something. They tried to question him about what but the man wouldn't budge.

"You have to admit man, that girl's got some serious balls hanging between her legs. Speaking of, you still owe me about $30." Coyote smirks while turning to his friend, a sour look on Hangman's face as if he had just smelled something rotten.

"I'm not giving you shit – you set me up and we both know it." Hangman turns to him with a glare before shooting up from his seat."You knew exactly who she was and how things would go down."

"I thought you said you never lose bets, no matter how hard... I was just giving you what you want man – a challenge," Coyote raises his hands in defense. "Don't be blaming me for your failure... so cough up that $30, a bet is a bet."

Hangman sighs before he puts his hand into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. "Just for the record Coyote, I'm getting my money back one way or another."

Coyote grins and folds his arms after stuffing the money in his pocket, "just because you lost $30? Man come on, it's not even that much – you can't be winning all the time."

He stares at Hangman who has a faraway look on his face while staring out of the window that overlooks the runway. Hangman turns back to him and Coyote takes a step back, the look on his friend's face scaring him slightly.

"We both know it's not about the money, I've never lost a bet in my life Coyote," Hangman takes a step forward in Coyote's direction, "and I am not starting now. If I have to make her fall in love with me then so be it but I promise you right now, I will win this."

"What the hell man? It's just a stupid bet – there's no need to be that extreme over something so fucking childish." Coyote can't believe what he just heard – what is going on with Hangman?

"FOR FUCKS SAKE COYOTE It's not just some stupid bet – this is my reputation we're talking about. Now that you've run your little mouth, everything is on the line here for me." He stabs his index finger in Coyote's shoulder a few times, emphasizing his words with every stab.

"Not everything in life is about your reputation you asshole, this is a girl we're talking about, not some pawn in your game." Coyote shakes his head and steps back, turning his back on his friend before walking out – not looking back.

He walks out the room, only to see a figure of someone rushing around the corner – he shrugs it off, not thinking about it.

_____

Spitfire's F-18 breaks hard and high, rolling over onto its side with the wings perpendicular to the ground. She does another quarter of a turn making her fly inverted – passing the runway and doing a victory flyby, scaring most of the people on the ground when she passes them.

She looks out of her plane windows and sees the world pass by at 300 knots – all while being upside down. Maverick had already landed a few minutes ago but was still sitting in his plane, observing her actions.

"And what do you call that move?" Spitfire hears Maverick tease over the comms. She smirks before letting out a short laugh, "I call it the victory roll, it fits don't you think?" She didn't get a response back – unfortunately.

She flies by the control tower and completes the roll, turning upright before seeing that the observation window was level with her plane. She grins while waving excitedly at the tower, aware of all the eyes on her and knowing she'll be in trouble regardless so might as well have some fun while she's at it.

"Oh by the way Captain, enjoy those 200 pushups. I'm sure you'll love doing them as much as I'll love watching you do them."

Maverick had forgotten all about about that and was now regretting the interaction between him and Payback quite a bit. He groans before finally climbing out of his jet, heading towards where Hondo was smirking at him.

"Don't you dare say anything," Maverick says while pointing a finger at Hondo as he reaches him. Hondo lifts up his hands in mock surrender. "I didn't even say anything!"

"Yeah but you were thinking it," Maverick looks at him with a pointed glare before cracking a smile. "She did good up there, knows exactly what she's doing – reckless but a kind of calculated reckless."

Hondo nods while looking deep in thought, staring at Maverick. "You know, she reminds me of Charlie in a way – she's got the same attitude and spirit."

Maverick knew exactly who his friend was talking about – one of his teachers here at Top Gun and well, his lover. He had almost asked her to marry him before he was sent away on a mission, only to find out that she had left when he came back 9 months later.

He had been devastated at the time but after a while understood why she did it, he was gone on missions 90% of the time and wouldn't be home a lot – how anyone could start a family like that he never knew.

Maverick turns to look as Spitfire climbs out her jet, taking off her helmet while running her hand through her hair. He turns to Hondo, suddenly as white as a sheet – as if he had just seen a ghost, or realised something.

"Hondo do you have Spitfire's file available? I need to check something," Hondo looks at him with a pointed but questioning look on his face. "Like right now," Maverick states.

Hondo nods before indicating for Maverick to follow him, "you'll still have to do those pushups later old man – this isn't a get out of jail free card." He tries to joke but Pete doesn't respond making him frown in concern.

He stops suddenly before spinning around, looking his friend dead in the eye, "Maverick what the hell is going on? You look like you've just seen someone wreck your motorcycle. Talk to me my friend."

Maverick glances at his friend's concerned face before sighing, looking away – back to where Spitfire was standing, in an animated looking conversation between herself, Phoenix and Payback. Fanboy and Bob were nowhere to be seen for once, normally close to where their pilots are.

"I think-" he takes a deep breath before looking back at Hondo who had his arms now crossed over his chest, " I think she's Charlie's kid."

Hondo stares at him for a second before blinking, trying to process the information. They both turn to where the girl in question was now strolling over the runway with her friends in tow - staring at the way she walked like she owned the place.

Hondo starts laughing, rather loudly before turning back to his friend, "Well you're screwed my friend because I think you're right - the question now is how did she end up at Iceman's place and more importantly... who's her father?"

Author note:

A bit of a short one but there's a lot to process so I thought I'd keep it that way - thank you guys so much for the support on this book lately, love each one of ya'll <3

If you could choose, what would your callsign be?