4 years later...
A lot has happened since Top Gun.
Physically, my hair's longer, and I'm a lot tanner than I used to be. I've grown up. Mentally, I'm still just as cold and ruthless as my call sign suggests.
I was sent straight to Florida after graduation for a deployment.
My dad beat his throat cancer.
Phoenix and I stayed in touch, and even Rooster reached out every once in a while.
And Hangman... I haven't seen him since graduation.
But none of that mattered.
Because I was getting called back to Top Gun.
Most graduates would never come back after graduating Top Gun, or even use their skills in the real world.
The top 0.01% would come back and teach.
So why was I called back anyhow?
A mission, and all other details were classified.
I asked my dad to tell me, but he simply said that I'd find out along with the others.
Others?
Sometimes there were perks to being an Admiral's daughter, but other times, he was just as strict with me as anybody else. If not, more.
But I liked that. It meant the expectations for me were high, and I never disappointed.
Interrupting my inner thoughts, my father, Admiral Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky, asked me, "Zoe, are you excited to see anyone?"
"What do you mean, Dad?" I asked, putting the last of my bags in my car. I wiped my hands on my jeans, and then leaned against my car.
"Well, you're going back to Top Gun after four years, there must be someone you're excited to see."
I felt like there was more to what he had been saying, but I wasn't going to admit anything if he was prying. He motioned me to follow him inside, and I followed.
"I dunno. I think Phoenix is coming back too, it'll be nice to see her." I say, walking through the living room to the kitchen.
"Is that the girl that visited last summer?" Iceman asked.
"Yeah that's Tasha," I opened the fridge and grabbed a water to drink.
"Is there there anybody else you want to see? Like a guy?"
I did tell my mother about Hangman, after she saw me kiss his cheek at graduation. I rolled my eyes, "Did mom tell you about it?"
My father was never open with his emotions, but after his cancer and my deployment, we got closer. And it got better when I got nieces and nephews from my sister, Stephanie. "I knew it Zoe! You told her and not me?" He practically pouts.
I glared at him. "This is why I don't tell you these things. You want to know everything about my love life, or lack thereof. If you found out I had a crush on a guy, you'd do a background check on him, and maybe have somebody tail him! Do you not remember that time when—"
"I just wanted to make sure you're safe. You never talk to me about your love life, or anything new happening. You're practically 30, maybe it's time to—"
"Yeah, it's not exactly something you really talk to your dad about. And I'm 27, not 30, I have time. Besides, you didn't get married until you were 28. And it all worked out."
"Only thanks to your mother." He admits.
I looked down at my watch, checking the time. "I think I'm almost ready to head out Dad."
"Too bad you're missing Stephanie, she's coming next week."
"Dad, I don't think it's the best thing if we saw each other now."
"Zoe, it break my heart to see you two still don't get along."
"I know, but she... I don't know what went wrong between us. We've just never got along," I shrug.
"There's time." He says optimistically.
We were closer once, when we thought Dad was going to die because of his cancer. But when he beat it, we just drifted apart back to the way we were.
"Yeah... hopefully. I've got to head, bye Dad." I hugged him and he hugged me tightly.
"Go say goodbye to your mother."
"Okay I will."
What I didn't register, was the faint sound of my father coughing.
❅
Phoenix had messaged me to meet her and a couple of our buddies at The Hard Deck.
We've all had some good times here.
I opened the door, and the nostalgia came back to me in waves. I crossed the floor where I dance with Hangman, to find Phoenix playing Coyote in pool.
"Phoenix." I tapped on her shoulder.
She turns around, a smile on her face because she recognizes the voice. "Avalanche, babe! You're back!"
"Of course I am. How've you been?" I asked her.
"Alaska was cold, I'm glad to be here." She says, stretching one arm.
"I bet. Hey Coyote! Is that Payback and Fanboy?"
"Yep." Fanboy said, clinking his beer to Payback's.
I laughed and said, "Looks like it's a class reunion."
"Jinx and Rooster are coming too. I think everyone else is from another graduating Top Gun class." Coyote explains.
"Sweet." I said, as Natasha positioned her pool stick, about to hit the another ball into its hole.
She pulls back, hits it, and then turns to high five me in celebration.
Phoenix takes a long sip of her beer, "Fellas, this here's Bagman."
"Hangman." He says without skipping a beat.
Wait no, that's my heart that skipped a beat.
I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't Jake. I hadn't thought about him in years.
"Payback, Fanboy." He tips his head in greeting. He claps Coyote on the back. "Hey Avalanche." Hangman finally says.
"Hangman." I said formally.
Phoenix wipes her mouth after ripping back her beer. "We're looking at the only naval aviator on active duty with a confirmed air to air craft." She says, pointing at Hangman.
I didn't know that.
"But the other guy was in a museum piece from the Korean War." Fanboy says, clapping Payback on the back.
"Cold War." Hangman, or Jake corrects.
Payback explains, "Different war, same century."
"Not this one." Coyote adds.
I look to my right, just barely noticing the guy sitting down in the chair. He was quiet and observant, and I wouldn't pick him to run along in this crowd.
Apparently, I wasn't the only one.
"When did you get in?" Coyote asks the clueless looking pilot.
"I've been here the entire time."
"He's a stealth pilot." Hangman jokes, and I can't help but laugh.
"I'm actually a weapons system officer." He corrects.
"Are you the one flying with Phoenix?" I asked.
He nods. Phoenix is going to have a blast out of this one.
"What's your name?" I ask him, realizing we've gone through this entire conversation without it.
"Bob."
"No, your call sign?" Coyote asks.
"Bob." He just replies.
The conversation is carried, but my focus is on my beer.
"You look pretty." Hangman dipped and whispered in my ear.
"How many beers have you had? Didn't know you were a lightweight, Jake." I said loudly.
Everyone laughs.
"That's not what I remember when we were at Top Gun." He says, and I think back to the time I practically got black out drunk, and Jake took care of me.
"And?" I asked. "Imma grab another drink."I snaked my way to the bar, away from Hangman's heated stare.
Rooster enters the barn and Phoenix accidentally hits 'Rooster' in the gut with her pool stick.
I try not to eavesdrop, but Hangman and Rooster are going at it.
How many enemies did Hangman need to make?
On another note, it reminds me of my father.
"Hangman, you look good." Bradley greets him.
"Well Rooster. I am good." Hangman pauses, "I am very good."
I came back with a beer in my hands.
"You too Kazansky." Rooster adds, although I think he actually means it.
"Thanks. It's been a while, last October?" I recalled.
"Yep." Rooster confirmed.
Bradshaw and I had known each other since we were young, and so he stopped by my family's house when he passed through town.
Cutting the tension before it gets worse, Phoenix asks, "Does anybody know what the special detachment is about?"
"A mission's a mission. I wanna know who'll be team leader, and which one of you has what it takes to follow me." Hangman says, and the pilots all groan at him.
I roll my eyes. It seems since Top Gun, Hangman has managed to inflate his ego more than humanely possible.
Until Rooster challenges Hangman's ego with his own. "The only place you'll lead anyone is an early grave."
I groaned, this could get ugly.
Before Hangman can let the argument get fully turned on him, he says to Rooster, "Anyone who follows you will run out of fuel. That's just you man. You're waiting for the right moment— that just never comes."
Rooster only scoffed at his words, and shrugged, acting like it didn't hurt so it wouldn't be made into a big deal.
Luckily, the bell at the bar is rung, and we all cheer for our free drinks.
I see Hangman, Payback, and a few others come to Penny's rescue, and someone is thrown out of the bar.
It's Maverick. I haven't seen him in a couple of years.
I slip out of the door, "Hey Mav."
He looks up from dusting the sand off of his jeans.
"Zoe, it's good to see you."
I'd bet my wingman that he would be our instructor for our mission, so I know that the boys would be regretting their decision soon.
"Good to see you too. What are you doing—"
"Avalanche!" Hangman calls me.
I turn around to look at him. "What?"
"Leave the old man alone, and get in here. Rooster's going to play in a minute!"
"Coming! Gotta go Mav. Bye!" I wave over my shoulder, heading back to the bar.
"Why we're you talking to him?" Hangman asked.
"He's an old family friend of my fathers."
He nods, and the jukebox is unplugged, and all the old men groan from the lack of music.
Bradley sits at the piano, and begins playing a song we all love and recognize. Hangman slings his arm around my shoulders and we start singing along.
"YOU SHAKE MY NERVES AND YOU RATTLE MY BRAIN! TOO MUCH LOVE DRIVES A MAN INSANE! YOU BROKE MY WILL, BUT WHAT A THRILL— GOODNESS GRACIOUS, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!"
We all laugh and sing along.
It feels like we've been transported back to Top Gun, before we all graduated.
Deciding to turn in early, I say goodbye to her and Phoenix. I walk out of the bar door and I find Hangman staring right at me.
How long had he been outside for?
Jake smirks at me, "Going home, sweetheart?"
I counter, "I have a name, and it's not sweetheart."
"Really, coulda fooled me. Need a ride?" He offers, and I get deja vu from the last time we were in this position.
"Not this time." I shook my car keys in the air. "Goodnight Hangman," I practically sang.
"Goodnight Zoe." He answers back.
❅