The Rooster and The Wolf | Bradley 'ROOSTER' Bradshaw

Prologue

"Dad? Can I uh, can I talk to you?" 

You approached your father, who was busy reading up on some papers that Iceman had sent him.

It had been two weeks since Bradley left. 

Two weeks of few words shared, two weeks of practical silence. 

This meant you had yet to tell Maverick of your acceptance to the Naval Academy, and you feared how he may take it in the wake of Bradley's abrupt departure.

"Sure, sweetheart, come here." Maverick said, patting the seat next to him on the couch. 

You walked over hesitantly, and sat next to him.

"I have something to tell you." you said, pulling out your phone and opening the email. 

Maverick urged you to go on, but you just handed him the phone. A few minutes went by as he read each word, and then he placed the phone down on the coffee table.

"What the hell is this?" he spoke, unnaturally calm, and it made you anxious.

"It's my acceptance letter. I got in to the Naval Academy, I start in their fall intake."

"No, no, no. Absolutely not."

Maverick stood, shaking his head as he looked at you, before marching out of the room, back towards his office.

"Dad please-"

"No! Not happening." Maverick raised his voice. 

"Seriously? You won't even hear me out?" you followed, equally frustrated.

"No, baby, I won't. You're not doing this. Don't you think the Navy has cost us enough? It took my own father, my best friend, and my godson away from me. I'll be damned if I let it take my daughter too."

"But it's what I want! I went to college, I got my degree, just like you wanted. This...this is what I want, daddy."

"No. That's final. I won't hear any more." He turned away from you, and you felt a glimpse of the anger Bradley must have, now that he was standing in the way of your career too. 

"I'm doing this, with or without you." You spoke lowly, head held high.

"Like hell you are!"

"What are you gonna do? Pull my papers like you did Bradley's?"

"Do not throw that it my face, (Y/N). I'm well aware of how much I screwed up there. You didn't even tell me you wanted to apply!"

"Because I knew you'd react like this! I'm 23, Dad, I'm not a baby anymore. I want to be a pilot." you spoke, your voice shaking as you stood up to your father. 

This was the first fight you'd ever had, and it set your anxiety in a downward spiral.

"How did you even get this past me?" he said, looking at you.

You sighed, hanging your head a little in shame, "Ice-"

"Iceman, of course." Maverick interrupted, shaking his head, "You went over my head to Iceman?"

"He knows I can do this, he believes in me! Why can't you?"

"I do believe in you, (Y/N). But you're my baby...my little girl. I can't lose you, ever."

"Daddy...how will you lose me? I know everything there is to know about being a fighter pilot, and I know because of you, because of Iceman, because of Goose. I'm gonna be good, you know that."

He walked over, pulling you to his chest as he placed a soft kiss to the top of your head.

"I know, sweetheart, I know." He sighed, "You're truly a Mitchell, guess I only have myself to blame for your stubbornness."