Lieutenant Amy "Mustang" Stetson storms into TOPGUN like she's got a score to settle with gravity itself. She's hauling more emotional baggage than a 747, all tied up with a bow of "I've got something to prove." Enter Lieutenant Jake "Hangman" Seres...
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Amy and Jake reached their new campsite. They moved with a newfound synchronicity, Jake's leg finally healed enough to keep pace.
"This spot looks good," Amy said, surveying the small clearing.
Jake nodded, already setting down his pack. "I'll get the shelter up. You want to handle the fire?"
"On it," Amy replied, gathering kindling.
They worked in comfortable silence, each focused on their tasks. Jake's hands moved efficiently, setting up the lean-to with practiced ease. Amy had the fire crackling in no time, the warmth a welcome relief as the evening chill set in.
"Not bad, HM," Amy said, admiring the shelter. "You've gotten pretty good at that."
“HM, huh?” Jake grinned, a hint of his old cockiness returning. "What can I say? I'm a quick learner."
As Amy prepared their meager dinner, Jake pulled out the fish he'd caught earlier. "Hope you like trout," he said, setting about cleaning them.
"At this point, I'd eat just about anything," Amy chuckled.
The fish sizzled over the fire, the smell making both their stomachs growl. When it was ready, they sat close to the fire, savoring each bite.
"You know," Jake said between mouthfuls, "this almost feels like an extended camping trip. If you ignore the whole crashed and stranded part."
Amy laughed, shaking her head. "Oh yeah, just a casual vacation in the wilderness. No big deal."
As they finished eating, a comfortable silence fell between them. Jake leaned back, studying Amy's profile in the firelight.
"Hey," he said suddenly, " this is kind of stupid, but… want to play a game?"
Amy raised an eyebrow. "A game? Out here?"
"Hear me out," Jake replied with a grin. "We make assumptions. We guess things about each other. Might be fun to see how well we really know each other by now."
Amy considered for a moment, then shrugged. "Why not? What else do we have to do. You start."
Jake rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, let's see... I'm guessing you were a straight-A student, goody two shoes. Never missed a day of school.”
Amy snorted. "Close. I did get straight A's, but I definitely played hooky once or twice."
"No way," Jake's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Rebel Mustang, who would've thought?"
"Okay," Amy said, ignoring his teasing. "I bet you were the class clown.”
Jake laughed. "Guilty as charged. Got sent to the principal's office more times than I can count."
They went back and forth, each guess revealing a little more about their past.
"Okay, here's one," Jake said, leaning forward. "With a name like Stetson, you've got to be from the South or Midwest. I'm thinking... Oklahoma?"
