two rival aviators make it their mission to set up their top gun instructor and his old flame in hopes of them falling in love again. they didn't exactly plan to fall in love either.
set it up au x top gun maverick
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𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐑, 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓. Harper landed, feeling the jolt as she stopped. The sun blinded her as her canopy was lifted up. She hopped out of her plane and rushed to see Mav and Rooster land on the carrier.
Cheering surrounded the plane as Mav and Rooster's canopy was lifted. Everyone ran to surround the aircraft. Smiles and laughter were heard, happiness filling the air once more. Maverick and Rooster leapt down, receiving hugs and high fives.
Harper made her way over to Maverick, smiling brightly.
"How'd you know?" She raised her voice over the sound of laughter and cheering. A smile identical to hers made its way to his face.
"One of life's mysterys. But between you and me, I might need some help next time setting up the wedding." Mav chuckled. Harper contained her excitement on the deck, but on the inside she was freaking out. She smiled and gave him a hug.
Harper patted Mav's shoulder and turned away with a smile when she met eyes with Hangman. He had just finished talking to Rooster and Phoenix, his blond hair ruffled from the helmet and a sheen of sweat on his face. She made her way over.
Harper enveloped Phoenix in a hug, giving her a squeeze. "Glad to see you both in one piece." She turned to Rooster, giving him a hug. He smiled brightly. Payback and Bob whooped and high-fived each other beside them, their happiness contagious. Phoenix and Rooster turned away to receive hugs from the others in the Dagger squad.
Harper turned to Hangman. "You just had to call us saviors huh?" Her unimpressed tone contradicted the bright smile on her face.
"It's the truth isn't it Sunny?" Hangman smirked, earning a head shake from Harper.
"You know, I think Operation Set It Up is still a go." Harper smiled, earning a confused look from Hangman. "Might have a wedding to plan."
"Oh my god, stop saying Operation Set It Up." Hangman groaned, but he smiled and rushed towards her. He wrapped her up in a hug that lifted her off the ground. She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck as he spun her. His arms wrapped around her waist, face buried in her neck. She squeezed him and let him go, her feet back on the ground.
They smiled, looking into each other's eyes and hesitating. The competitive gleam in their eyes that had characterized high school and before had been replaced with a warm look.
The moment is interrupted by the Dagger squad coming over, cheering and whooping. Coyote tackled Hangman in a hug, causing a spur of laughter in everyone.
Harper gazed at the sunny day captured in a photograph, framed at the Hard Deck. She checked her phone, rereading the text from Mav.
"Need a quick favor. Mind stopping by the Hard Deck? Should be outside by the ocean." Penny took the day off and was spending time with Maverick after the mission, making him unable to do whatever this favor entailed.
Harper walked outside, the doors to the Hard Deck swinging open. It was dark as she made her way down to the water, the smell of the ocean carried by the wind. The sound of waves filled the night, faint laughter and chatter leaking from the doors.
Harper turned her gaze away from the Dagger squad playing pool, laughing with eachother, to the ocean. She scanned the horizon, confused.
Harper's phone buzzed in her hand, a new text from the old timer.
"Behind you." Harper's brows furrowed as she turned to look behind her.
Her eyes caught on a figure making their way towards her, illuminated by the moonlight. Jake.
Hangman wore the same surprised look on his face, checking his phone and making his way to her.
"Hi." Harper smiled.
"Hey." Hangman offered her a small smile. He was wearing a white shirt and jeans, blond hair ruffled and aviators hanging on the neck of his shirt.
"What are you doing here?" Harper asked, the slight breeze ruffling the bottom of her sundress.
"Penny asked me here for a favor," Hangman's brows furrowed. "What are you doing here?"
The realization slowly sunk in between the two.
"Oh my god," Harper muttered. "Mav and Penny Cyrano'd us." Harper glanced away at Hangman to her phone, shaking her head.
"I googled it, so I know what it means now." Hangman smirked. Harper hesitated, filling the night with only the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
"Oh my god, you're such a douche." Harper sighed, fighting a smile on her face. Hangman smirked.
"I don't think your romantic personality has changed since I've met you in eleventh grade." Harper chuckled.
"You're way too happy, like all the time." Hangman grinned. Harper tried her hardest to hide it but she couldn't stop smiling. "And you always took Spirit Week too seriously."
"And yet..." Harper smiled softly.
Hangman leaned in, arms sliding around her waist. Harper wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing into his eyes. She could feel his breath against her lips. Harper hesitated and leaned in, nose brushing his. Harper's eyes fluttered shut as Hangman closed the gap, pressing his lips against her.
They held each other close, putting all their emotions into the kiss. When the two pulled away, foreheads pressed together, they were smiling. Years of history, of rivalry and of love, are put into the one moment that would last for infinity.
The moment is broken by whoops and cheers from the Hard Deck. Hangman and Harper turned their gaze to see the Dagger Squad rushing towards them, the Hard Deck doors swinging open outside. Harper groaned and buried her face in embarrassment in the crook of Hangman's neck.
His arms tightened around her as the Dagger squad pulled them back into the Hard Deck. Everyone reluctantly passed their money to Phoenix. At Harper's amused look, Phoenix winked and gave her a thumbs up as they played pool.
Hangman's arm remained around Harper's waist for the rest of the night, the two sharing cheeky smiles. "Just so you know, you're going down." Harper smirked at Hangman, grabbing a pool stick.
"That a promise darling?" Hangman chuckled. Harper turned away to her pool team to strategize, hiding the flush on her face. The mushy love was replaced by a determination to win from the two. Good to see the rivalry hadn't gone away.
Outside the Hard Deck, Penny and Mav sat on Mav's bike, having watched the whole thing.
"You ever get your car part back from Harper?" Mav smirked, turning to look back at Penny.
"Yeah, she somehow managed to put it back." Penny shook her head fondly, turning to look at the Dagger squad smiling and laughing through the bar window.
Her eyes caught on the couple, Hangman and Harper in the middle of bickering as they played pool, that competitiveness in their eyes shining through.
Mav and Penny smiled, watching the two. "I'd say our Operation Set It Up was a success."
