Maverick's Prodigy (completed)

Confessions from a hillbilly redneck

A/N: the fan edit isn't working, so I'll add it here. Also fun fact, everything I have on this story is apparently 280 pages! That and my 35 other stories could be what's taking up so much room in my storage lol

https://youtube.com/shorts/0hQq649_wAo?si=aauzIYAsvDLiHR_R

A/N: Takes place right after Fight Night ft Elmo and Rocko

Satisfied with his previous fight, Jake chills in a random room on base. Unbeknownst to him, Parker is on a warpath and sees Coyote coming out of the room Jake was lounging in.

"Oh sh- "

"Save it," she snaps. Where is he, Machado?" It is rare to see Parker anything but levelheaded or slightly bemused. Of course, fearing for his life, Coyote wordlessly snitches on his friend, salutes, and flees like a bat out of hell. One warning to everyone, and that wing of the base is evacuated immediately.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?"

Effectively hiding his, rightfully, terrified reaction, Jake greets his furious captain and friend. "Good afternoon to you too Breaker, what a lovely surprise."

"Save it. What the hell was that, I thought you wanted to be mission leader?" She paces in front of him, before turning to him impatiently waiting for an excuse.

Jake checks for dirt under his nails as he responds, assuming coming here wasn't her first choice. "Aren't you supposed to be comforting Bradshaw or your Dad right now? What are they all busy and you came to me as a last resort?"

Parker sighs, knowing that no matter how many times she tries to convince him, her friend always seems him second to her family. "Jake I came to see you, no one else. I don't know where Brad or Mav is and right now, I couldn't care less."

"Well-"he starts but is caught off guard. Resettling in his chair, it's almost like a switch is flipped. He isn't jokingly flirting, gloating, or acting like a jerk. Jake becomes like he is during missions; serious and sober.

"What do you mean mission leader Parker?"

"So the big talk you had at the Hard Deck was for show?" As Jake got serious, she got emotional, with some of her deepest thoughts spilling out.

"Well no, "he quickly turns sour at the coming thought. "that was before I realized the family reunion going on and I knew I wasn't going to be picked."

At this point Parker is beyond exasperated. "Oh my gosh do I need to spell it out for you?"

Jake's mental gears start turning a mile a minute in the wrong direction. Though he isn't wrong. "Wait is this a confession? I can't say yes, it'll get us both kicked out for not following protocol. I knew you were flirting but- "

She slams her hand on the table, effectively interrupting him. "No! I want you to be mission leader!"

All previous coherent thoughts in his mind freeze. "Say what now?"

Because of his brain not being able to process the fact that anyone other than aggressive military commanders actually want him to lead them, to trust him with their life, Parker easily pulls Jake from his chair. "Jake Seresin you are one of the best pilots I've had the honor of flying with."

He shakes his head, finding that idea impossible and moves to take her hands off his shoulders but is stopped by her shaking him instead.

"I've flown with my dad, I've flown with Iceman, I've flown with some of the best pilots in the eyes of the navy and you're still at the top of my list. Hell, I've even flown with the best pilots from other countries, and they don't amount to half of the man you are."

Jake's unable to say anything, surprise evident on his face. She doesn't ease up, battering him with compliments to the amazing man he is.

"I've flown with you on missions before where you were picked as team leader and I know for an absolute fact that when it's game time, you make sure every one in your squad goes home. You've risked your life time and time again but when it isn't a mission you can't take it seriously. The act you give during training hasn't effected your stance as leader in the past but it will if you don't take it seriously and stop! I want you up there with me because there isn't a pilot I trust more with my life but my word isn't enough to Mav or Cyclone! We have a meeting every week to decide mission leader and every week I advocate for you. We all agree you're an amazing pilot but they can't see past your ego! You need to start taking this seriously and act like this is a mission before Bradley learns to ignore the book and trust his instincts."

His face changes more and more as her words resonate with him.

"Start taking this seriously before it's too late. I want you at my side ok?"

She sighs, releasing his shoulders and drops the meal she was going to bring him before the fight happened. "I'll head out so you can think about what I said. See ya Jake."

He still hasn't said a word but nods as she walks out. Finally noticing his gift, he unwraps it to find some homemade chili and cornbread, touched at her remembering his comfort food.

The next week everyone begins to notice a change in Hangman as he isn't his normal egotistical self. There's obviously something on his mind and it's starting to show in his flying as his flying becomes almost robotic. Coyote tries to get him to say something but they get hums and single worded answers filled with distraction.

As the days pass Jake starts to get back to himself as Rooster starts flying a little more off the book, Parker knew she said her piece too late.

Minutes after the mission when he catches her alone, he strides in the small room she's in and heads towards her with the most serious expression she's seen on him yet.

"Hey Jake what's u-"

She stops as he pulls her into the biggest hug and breaks down.

As she hugs him back just as hard she hears him whisper "I thought I lost you. You were about to die and there was nothing I could do."

She knows no words would make up for the near death experience, so she comforts him as best she could.

Once the tears slow, he lifts his head from her shoulders and steels himself. "There's something I have to say. Allow me to say everything on my mind before you respond."

She nods as he calms himself and confesses. "Before today, I never really knew why I lost interest in the girls we'd find in the bars during shore leave. Ever since meeting this dream of a woman who saw past my act. Who saw me for me, who kept me in check, who'd be down to dogfight any time, who could hold their liquor better than and out drink anyone she meets, who's sarcastic, sweet, utterly gorgeous, the kindest, most compassionate person I know she's all I could think about. And I was too dumb to realize what it meant before I nearly lost her. I didn't realize I feel in love with her till she and her father decided to take a missile for her brother. And I wanted to give her one thing that maybe in time could begin to come close to the countless things she's given me.

And with that, he moves his hand that was cupping and stroking her cheek during his confession to bring her head towards his, slowly, before stopping a few inches away.

"Can I kiss the angel who stole my heart?" She nods and circles her arms around his shoulders for a sweet kiss.

He takes a step back and waits for her reaction. With a snort that grew into a giggle, that rose till she burst out laughing. "If I knew yelling at you and risking my life was all it took to get here I woulda done it a lot sooner."

He chuckled at her own version of a confession and knew he picked the right woman. "You know," he said between laughing, "my Ma always said I needed a woman who'd smack the stupid out of me. Who knew I was so bad it needed to be a missile!"

A/N: I'll probably go back to edit the story a little so it wasn't just close friends the entire time bc this is too cute to not be canon