Spitfire | Top Gun: Maverick

chapter 11

"We have to retreat into our own cocoons and come face-to-face with who we are. For only by abandoning its attachments and facing the darkness does the caterpillar's body begin to spread out and its light, beautiful wings begin to form." - Julia Hill

Chapter 11: Trying to escape a future that has already been written in the past

"HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME ICE?" Maverick's voice rings through the office as he paces a literal path in the carpet, his friend glancing at him with a calm expression on his face - aggravating Maverick even more.

"Why? Tom why didn't you tell me as soon as she was dropped off at your doorstep?" Maverick runs a shaky hand through his already messy hair while a frown is permanently etched onto his face. He turns to his lifelong friend and shakes his head, "I missed 27 years of her life Ice... I can't make up for that now. She already hates me as it is."

Iceman hovers his fingers lightly over the keyboard, thinking about how to phrase this in the best way possible. His fingers start moving slowly, pressing the necessary keys to show exactly what he wants to say.

I couldn't. Charlie made me swear that I wouldn't mention it to you. Ever. Don't ask me the reason as to why Mav because it puzzles me as well.

He pauses slightly to glance at Maverick's expression. The only telltale signs of emotion was the clench of a jaw and the closing of a fist.

I couldn't go against the wishes of a dying woman.

Iceman finishes off before sitting back against his chair, trying to gauge a reaction before letting out a violent cough - grabbing the desk in front of him for support. Maverick rushes forward but with the wave of a hand from Tom, stops in his tracks - feeling helpless at not being able to help his friend.

Iceman recovers quickly before gesturing for his friend to sit down next to him, which Maverick does after a slight hesitation. The sick man moves his fingers over the keyboard again, typing out the last sentence.

Whatever happened in the past cannot be changed. But the future can. All you can do now is be the best father that you are capable of being. In the end, she needs you.

A question plagued Maverick's mind however, why didn't Charlie want him to know about their child?

______

After calming down from the talk she had with Maverick, the girl decided to face the music and go home to talk to her adopted father.

After Maverick's reaction she had a pretty good idea on who her biological father was but decided to deny ever thinking something like that. Ignore your problems until they go away - or just until they confront you.

It was shit advice but it was a thing she and Apollo would say all the time if something went wrong in their life - which happened quite frequently. It seems like now that he was no longer here, she had taken both his and her problems simultaneously.

However before she starts the trip back home, she needs to get some advice from the two people that she knew would never judge her.

Christine and Steve Haslet.

Knocking on the front door to the house where Spitfire was sure they were residing, she was unbeknownst holding her own breath in nervousness.

She didn't actually know why she was this nervous but perhaps it was the fact that she was still coming down from the high of emotions after learning about her father and being confronted by Maverick.

Without missing a beat the door swings open with a bang and Spitfire breathes out as the warm, radiant face of Christine meets her own semi emotionless one. "Honey! I didn't know you were in town!"