Danger Zone - Rooster and Hangman

3

"Are you sure it's okay?" Flynn asked the older man as they arrived at the Top Gun base where training was being held at. 

"Of course! Anything to help out an old friend. I'm looking forward to having an assistant!" Pete smiled at the girl, "I've got to go speak to Vice so go on through and find a seat and get ready to take some notes" 

"Gotcha. Thank you again for this Mav, I really appreciate it" 

"No problem" 

Flynn then headed to where everyone else was sitting. She didn't know why she was surprised but she was when her eyes had landed on Hangman sat at the front. Then she soon realised the aviators she had met the previous day at the Hard Deck, were all sat facing the front. Every row of seats had someone sat on them which made her slightly panic over where she was going to sit. However, that was quickly dismissed when Hangman turned his head and saw her walking towards them.  

"Flynn?" he questioned, everyone now turning their heads to look at her which made her very uncomfortable. 

Flynn was never one to enjoy being the centre of attention. Especially when that attention was being contributed by her sisters ex boyfriend. 

"Come to watch me become team leader sweetheart?" he asked with his infamous smirk, making the others scoff. 

"Something like that," she giggled slightly. 

"Miss, can you please take a seat?" an admiral asked. 

In a quick panic, not wanting to piss off anyone that might kick her out of this work experience, she sat on the closest seat to her, which much to her dismay happened to be the seat next to Rooster. As soon as she realised who she was sat next to, Flynn suddenly felt extremely small. She could feel him looking at her, and it was hard not to look back but she was determined not to. 

"I thought you'd be smart enough to not fall into Hangman's trap," Rooster said lowly into her ear, catching her off guard and making her jump. 

Flynn finally turned to look at him, and was just about to say something until the Admiral began to talk. 

"Good morning," he began, "Welcome to your special training detachment. You're all Top Gun graduates, the best of the best. That was yesterday. The enemies new fifth generation fighter has levelled 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" 

Hangman turned his head to look at Phoenix who stuck her middle finger up at him which made Flynn giggle to herself. 

"Half of you will make the cut. One of you will be names mission leader. The other half will remain is reserve" 

Hangman then turned the other way to smirk at Rooster who had a displeased look on his face. But when he saw Flynn looking at him, he couldn't help but wink at her before turning back to face the front, making Rooster roll his eyes. 

"Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master. His exploits are legendary and he is considered to be one of the finest pilots the programme has ever produced. What he has to teach you, may very well be the difference between life and death. I give you captain Pete Mitchell, callsign... Maverick" 

Everyones heads turned to see Maverick walking down the middle of the aviators. As soon as Rooster saw him, he immediately became tense, even Flynn could see that. She had heard of the dispute between Rooster and Maverick after her sister had tried to calm him down after something happened between the two but she never knew what happened fully. 

"Good morning," Maverick smiled, although no one answered, he earned a few nods. 

He glanced at Rooster who immediately looked away. 

"The F-18 manual, contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft, I'm assuming you know the book, inside and out" 

"Damn right!" Payback exclaimed. 

"That's right," Hangman added. 

Maverick then shocked everyone by dropping the manual into the trash. 

"So does your enemy. But what the enemy doesn't know, is your limits and I intend to find them. Test them. Push beyond. Today we'll start with what you only think you know. Show me what you're made of. If you have any questions or problems, report them to Flynn over there," he said whilst gesturing to where she was, "And I will take a look over them afterwards" 

Everyone was then dismissed to get ready to get into their jets but Rooster couldn't help but direct something towards the young girl once again. 

"And I also thought you'd be smart enough to not work with someone like him," Rooster said in disgust at thought of even mentioning Maverick. 

Flynn didn't have time to respond, he was already walking far away from her. 

"Ready to watch me kick some ass?" Flynn heard Hangman ask making her chuckle. 

"Sure thing Hangman"

"Just you wait and see," he winked before leaving with the others. 

"I didn't know you knew Rooster" 

Flynn turned to see Maverick approaching her. 

"I do a little. I haven't seen him in years, he used to date my older sister" 

"Ah I see" 

"I got the impression that he doesn't like you very much" 

"You got the right impression," the older man sighed, "So long as it doesn't affect his flying, that's what he is here to do. I've got to go. I'll see you later on" 

Flynn offered him a smile before he began walking away. 

"Mav?" 

He turned back at the sound if his name. 

"Yes?" 

"I don't know what went on between the two of you but I've got a feeling that it would only be right to fix it" 

"Maybe you're right about that" 

Maverick smiled at her once more before leaving her by herself. 

- 

"I thought you normally went for women more your age Bradshaw," Hangman sniggered as they were the only ones left in the changing rooms to suit up. 

"What the hell are you talking about?" 

"I saw you chatting to my girl" 

"Oh your girl? Wow I've got to say just about 24 hours of being interested in the same girl must be a record for you," Rooster retaliated which only made the smug look on his face grow. 

"Watch yourself Bradshaw, wouldn't want history to repeat itself now would we?" he smirked before leaving Rooster alone in the changing rooms.