Blondie- A Jake 'Hangman' Seresin fanfiction

Chapter 1

"May I speak frankly, sir?" Maverick requested.

"Do you ever do anything else, Captain?" Warlock pointed out. It was a Monday afternoon, his office was hot, and he was ready to finish this meeting.

"Well sir, I think that if you are going to keep sending me on these difficult missions and asking me to assemble a team of pilots, it might be easier for you to just- create a new squadron. Let me select the pilots, and they can be the default team."

"You know what? You're right. Tell me who you want, and I'll send their orders today. Anything to get you out of my office." Warlock rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing. "How many of them are already stationed here at Top Gun?"

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"You have been chosen as members of a new elite squadron of Top Gun graduates, designated the Dagger squadron, with Captain Mitchell as your commanding officer," Warlock explained. "Other pilots are on their way and will be arriving within the next 36 hours, but the majority of you were already here, following your recent mission to destroy the uranium enrichment plant. You will be stationed here at Top Gun to hone your abilities in between taking on the most difficult and dangerous missions the navy has to offer. Your training will recommence once the remaining pilots have arrived."

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"So, who do you reckon they've picked to join us? By the looks of things, we should be getting about six more." Given time off whilst waiting for the rest of the squad, the pilots had decamped to the Hard Deck, and Payback scanned the room, counting how many of them were already in there.

"It's hard to know," Coyote pondered. "Merlin, maybe? Zeus?"

Before anyone else could make any suggestions, Hangman's phone buzzed and he picked it up, staring blankly for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"Blondie?" Coyote guessed, and Hangman nodded.

"Yep, she just got orders, she'll be here tomorrow."

"Who's that?" Fanboy asked.

"Hangman's girlfriend," Coyote smirked.

"You know who she is," Payback nudged Fanboy, "she was in our graduating class at the academy. Highest score on the flight tactics simulator."

"Georgiana Haines?"

"Yep."

"Hangman, how did you pull the hottest chick in the navy?" Fanboy laughed.

"Have you seen me?" Hangman smirked in reply. "We were in the same class at Top Gun. The deal was, if I beat her, she went on a date with me. She came second."

"It was close, mind," Coyote broke in. "For a while, it looked like she might have him."

That week's rankings had just been posted on the board, and everyone had crowded round to look.

To Hangman's surprise, he'd been knocked off the top spot by none other than the girl he'd spent the last nine weeks checking out. Even more surprisingly, he wasn't even mad.

"Hanging on in there, Hangman?" she grinned from next to him.

"I reckon I can still beat you," he smirked. "In fact, how about we put some skin in the game?"

"What've you got in mind?"

"If I beat you, I get to take you to dinner."

For many women, that would be the point at which they turned and walked away, but the sight of her smile reassured him that he'd made the right move.

"You're on."

The next day, since they were still off duty, Rooster had suggested a game of volleyball at the beach. Despite appearances, Hangman was secretly eager to mend his relationship with the other pilot, and so he agreed. They, along with Phoenix, Bob, Coyote, Payback, and Fanboy, spent most of the day hanging out on the beach, alternating between volleyball, and drinking beer from the Hard Deck.

The beach was quiet, and so they all noticed when a blonde woman in a tan navy uniform appeared, making her way across the sand towards them.

"Working hard, I see," she called out to them when she was within hearing distance.

The other pilots watched as she approached Hangman, who tossed the volleyball he'd been holding to Coyote before picking her up, spinning her around and pressing a firm kiss to her lips.

She looked up at him, covered in sweat and shirtless, squinting slightly in the afternoon sun, and then around to the others, similarly attired.

"What is this, US Navy's next top model?" she grinned, raising her eyebrows at the abundance of muscles on show.

"Who's your pick?" Coyote called out.

"Phoenix," she shot back without much thought, and the aforementioned pilot laughed, jogging over to hug her.

"California looks good on you," Blondie observed.

"I know, right?" Phoenix replied. "I haven't been this tanned since- well, probably last time I was at Top Gun."

"Anyway, I'll let you guys get back to your game- I'd join you but I'm not exactly in exercise clothing," Blondie smiled politely to the other pilots.

"It's okay, we were just about to pack up anyway- come in and see Penny." Hangman slid an arm around her waist and led her in the direction of the bar.

"Uh, Hangman, aren't you gonna help us with this net?" Rooster called out as he walked away.

"Nope!" he replied without slowing.