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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As Amy sorted through the supplies at the abandoned campsite, her hand brushed against something small and metallic. Curious, she pulled it out from under a pile of clothes. It was a battered old compass, its face scratched but still functional. She turned it over in her hands, noticing an inscription on the back: "Find your true north."
A smile spread across her face as she remembered Jake's enthusiasm for stargazing and navigation. Without hesitation, she pocketed the compass, planning to surprise him later.
As the day wore on, they decided to take advantage of their newfound resources and rest for a while. The constant stress and physical exertion of the past few days had taken its toll, and a break was sorely needed.
"I'm going to scout around a bit," Jake announced after they'd set up camp properly. "Make sure we're not missing anything useful in the area."
Amy nodded, settling back against a log. "Don't go too far. I'd prefer you not to have a reunion with that bear."
Jake flashed her a grin. "Aw, you worried about me, Mustang?"
She rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. "Just don't do anything stupid, Hangman."
As Jake disappeared into the trees, Amy pulled out the compass. She polished it with the edge of her shirt, trying to make it shine a bit more. When she was satisfied, she set it aside, eagerly anticipating Jake's reaction.
About an hour later, Jake returned, his hands behind his back and a suspiciously innocent look on his face.
"Find anything interesting?" Amy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You could say that," Jake replied, his cocky grin firmly in place. "Close your eyes and hold out your hands."
Amy hesitated, giving him a skeptical look. "If this is some kind of prank, Seresin... you better not give me a bug or some shit like that."
"Just trust me, okay?" There was a softness in his voice that made Amy relent.
She closed her eyes and held out her hands. A moment later, she felt something light and delicate being placed in them.
"Okay, open up."
Amy opened her eyes to find a small bouquet of wildflowers in her hands. The blossoms were a mix of white and pale purple, clearly chosen with care and woven together with long grass.
"I, uh, saw these on our way up," Jake explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thought you might like them. You know, since you got me that compass and all."
Amy's eyes widened. "How did you know about the compass?"
Jake's grin widened. "I didn't. But I saw you fiddling with something earlier and figured you had a surprise planned. Couldn't let you one-up me, could I?"
Despite his cocky words, there was a vulnerability in Jake's eyes that Amy had rarely seen before, until these last few days. Now it felt like she'd seen them every day. She loved that. And she found herself deeply touched by the gesture.
