𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 • bradley bradshaw

𝐭𝐰𝐨: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬

it was the first day of training and bolter was in her gear sitting next to hangman.

"attention on deck!"

all of the lieutenants stood up with their arms behind their backs.

one of the admirals came walking up to the podium in front of them.

"morning. welcome to your special training detachment. be seated." he began.

bolter and hangman sat back down, the others following suit.

"i'm admiral bates, NAW DC commander. you're all top gun graduates. the elite. the best of the best. that was yesterday. the enemy's new fifth-generation fighter has leveled the playing field. details are few, but you can be sure we no longer possess the technological advantage. success, now more than ever, comes down to the man or woman in the box." admiral bates continued.

hangman turned to look at bolter who shoved him lightly, then over to pheonix who flipped him off.

"half of you will make the cut. one of you will be named mission leader. the other half will remain in reserve."

hangman winked at bolter, then turned to look at rooster who just stared at him.

"your instructor is a top gun graduate with real-world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master."

bolter then heard footsteps behind them, so she turned around to see who it was and her jaw dropped.

maverick

or, his real name, pete mitchell.

maverick flew with rooster's dad, goose, who had died in battle alongside maverick, who, of course, survived.

rooster and maverick have bad blood, mostly due to rooster's hatred for maverick, but maverick still cared about rooster despite his hatred.

but he didn't hate maverick because he blames him for goose's death, no. it was because he pulled rooster's papers from the navel academy, setting him back.

rooster told bolter all about it and bolter was heartbroken for him. that was one of the only times she's ever been heartbroken. and it was for a man.

she shuddered at the thought.

but she felt bad for rooster. this might affect how he did in training and even the entire mission.

bolter look at rooster with sad eyes and he glared at her before glaring at maverick then looking away.

"i give you captain pete mitchell. call sign: maverick." admiral bates introduced.

he then stepped off the podium and maverick stepped up.

bolter squinted at him, then looked back to rooster who had a scowl on his face.

yet, it didn't look like an angry scowl, it looked like a sad one.

bolter frowned and turned back around.

why was she so upset for this guy? he was just a guy, a guy she ran away from and is on bad terms with.

but she loves him.