Untamed Flame || R. Floyd

9

Finley walks into Admiral Simpson's office. At least, that's where Bates texted her to meet.

She stands upright in her Navy uniform, her legs equally spread apart, square with her shoulders. She cranes her neck holding her hands behind her back.

"You asked for me, sir?"

The admiral rises to step beside his partner. "Yes, at ease, Captain."

She relaxes folding her hands as if to pray. "Is there something I can do for you?" The two men glance at each other worriedly. She understands the meaning of this. "This is about yesterday, isn't it?"

"Yes. This a very precise and delicate mission, Captain. I need to know you can handle this."

She chews the inside of her cheek a little ticked with the tone of Simpson's voice. Fin lets out a short breath. "I won't deny that I didn't want to come back. I wasn't prepared and I wasn't ready. My... incident destroyed me, it's why I haven't flown in years."

"Are you capable of finishing out the training, Captain?"

Admiral Bates was kinder when he spoke. She nods. "Yes. I've been assured since I came here that I'd get help from those who are there for me." She thinks back to the conversation Bob, Bradley, and Nat had with Finley after she explained her story. They promised to always be there, through thick and thin.

"Can you explain what happened out there yesterday?"

"A flashback, sir," she doesn't hesitate to answer Simpson. "I'm sure you're aware of my history."

"We are."

She adjusts her boulders not liking the conversation. "Respectfully gentlemen, then you should know what my head was thinking."

"Your wingman."

"He was going to be arrested for attempted murder, but you told the military not to. Why is that? I've heard many things about him yet you didn't make that move."

She shrugs taking a seat in one of the chairs. She props her arm up stuffing her fist into her cheek. "Trials aren't my thing. I wanted to get back to what I loved, I didn't want to prolong my return. I think he got what he deserved in the end."

"Dishonorably discharged."

"Yup," she says popping the p. "I'm sorry, but there's training happening, is this all you need me for?"

Simpson bows his head. "Yes, that is all. However, you have the rest of the day off. After the events of yesterday, Maverick will be concluding today's training. I expect you back tomorrow."

Bates heads to open the door for her as she nods. "Babysitting my bio dad, got it."

He stops in his tracks slowly spinning around to face her. "Excuse me?"

"Oh right, you probably don't know as his name isn't on my birth certificate. Maverick is my biological father."

Simpson gawks. "There's two of you?"

"Three actually. I'm a twin."

"How is it we didn't know this information?"

She sucks on her lips holding back her tragic life story. "Well, if I could put it in simplest words... man and woman fuck then boom! Nine months later twins arrive."

Simpson deadpans at her. "This is not a joke."

She hums, "so you wanna hear about how after a one night stand my alcoholic and drug-addicted mother neglected me and my twin until the age of four not notifying Maverick of us and then going to prison to which Iceman found out, told Maverick where he decided our best interests were with Ice so he signed his parental rights over to him and Ice adopted us?"

The two stare emotionless as she clasps her hands together with a beaming smile. She sighs realizing they aren't going to respond. "If it makes you feel any better I learned he was my father when I was real young, but I hated him until now, and found out this morning he signed over his parental rights when we were little this morning."

"It doesn't."

"Oh, that's a shame. I was expecting something different."

"Floyd."

She raises a brow at the harsh pronunciation of her last name. "Yes, sir?"

"Get out of my office."

She smiles, "gladly. It's been a pleasure, Admiral." She stands straight heading out the door.

Later on, she is sitting on her couch waiting for her husband to come home. The second he did she stood up. He has creases on his forehead and his face is flushed red.

"What happened?"

He huffs, "Rooster is a dumbass."

She steps up to him taking his jacket from him. She bites her lip running a hand through his hair. He moans softly at her touch. He always loved when she did that. It soothes him, and makes him less tense.

"You're not stating anything new, sugar bear. What did he do this time?"

"Hangman, Rooster, and Maverick were in the air. Maverick inverted, from what I was told, over Rooster. They ended up doing the cobra maneuver setting them below the hard deck." She gasps widening her eyes. "They're fine but it could have got them all killed."

"So much for babysitting," she mutters looking away from him.

"What was that?"

"Don't worry about it. Regarding the whole going against orders things, I'll talk to dingus one and dingus two."

He chuckles at her adjusting his glasses. "How did it go seeing your dad this morning? I missed you."

She frowns holding back a smile. "Aw! I missed you too."

"Babe..."

"What?"

"You're deflecting the question."

She pouts like a child hugging her body. "Aw, why can't you let me be annoying and cute before jumping into all the depressing shit?"

He furrows his brows pulling his wife to the couch. "What's depressing?"

She sighs letting out a rough laugh. "I um — I found out that Mav signed over his parental rights to my dad to protect us from growing up feeling the pain we felt with our bio mom."

"If it was in your best interests then why is it depressing? Isn't that good news? It's like getting closure, you can move on now."

"Iceman," she begins to choke up, "he's sick again, Robbie."

"He's the strongest man we know, babe. He'll push through this."

She shakes her head. "Mom says that medications aren't working anymore. She said he's done fighting it."

He pales, his skin turning white. "How long?"

"A week... maybe two."

She sniffles as he pulls her into him. She places her head against his heart listening to his steady heartbeat. She clings to him as if her life depends on it.

"Nobody knows."

He doesn't say anything and just holds her tighter. She's almost grateful for the silence. His presence is enough for her.