"Gosh, he's just the worst."
"For however many more times you say that tonight, that's how many beers I'm going to drink."
"Yeah, that's smart." She retorted.
"Why?"
"It's just such a brilliant plan," Phoenix smiled. "Get drunk the same night after your first day at Top Gun and fail everything after that. No more flying for you."
Rooster shrugged with a grin. "Only problem I'd have is having to listen to your complaints with me not being there."
She nudged his shoulder. "Right. Because you wouldn't be a baby about not being able to fly again."
He didn't have anything else to say after that.
The bar was packed to it's fullest tonight. The chatter was loud all the way through, not a quiet spot in sight. Not even outside or in the restrooms. The kitchen was probably clambering away, too. The jukebox was on, customers and tourists were talking away, glasses were being clinked. It was a nice night and a busy time, even though there wasn't a special occasion going on.
The two looked around the crowd of people that walked by. "You think we're gonna make it here?" Phoenix asked.
Rooster turned to her, raising a brow. "Who are you and what have you done with Natasha Trace?"
She understood why he asked that. It was laughable hearing words like that come out of her mouth. She even chuckled a bit.
"I'm serious."
"I am too."
"I don't mean it like that. I just mean... I don't know. The competition, maybe? Top one percent. Wow."
He snorted. "Mhm."
She sighed.
"Don't worry. We'll be just fine." He said, then added, "The only competition you have to worry about here is dealing with me."
That got her going. Rooster could've sworn her laughter was louder than the swarm of voices in the bar. He thought he saw a couple people look over to them, too.
"Alright, alright." He said, patting her shoulder, moving away her beer so she didn't somehow knock it over with the snickering.
She smiled, dragging a finger under her eye. "Ohhh, you're too much, Rooster."
"Yeah, that's a great joke, I should be a comedian." The tone was sarcastic but she wondered if he really meant it.
She pulled her beer bottle back to her, wrapping her hands around the base of it.
"Honestly, the only thing we'll have to worry about it Jake."
"Hey, can I get another beer?" He waved his hand around.
Phoenix yanked his arm, and he brought his hand down to the table, laughing.
"You'd be a terrible comedian."
"I beg to differ considering your act. That's already one lady that likes it."
That one earned a hit.
Needless to say he didn't joke anymore that night. He decided to save them for tomorrow night.
Or, maybe he'd need them at work tomorrow.
>>>
It seemed that everyone had a way of keeping themselves calm and content in the room. Hearing the jets roll by as they sat at desks in tan uniforms seemed nerve-racking. Even for these calm-under-pressure officers.
But they had their secrets.
And it showed.
Rooster couldn't help but tap the end of his pencil eraser on the table a couple of times. Sometimes he'd drum his fingers softly on the edge of the table. It was thankfully just quiet and executed well enough to not bother anyone.
Guy and Yale listened to music as they worked.
Harvard was quite jealous because they got to do so. He was allowed, but if he were to put headphones on his ears, he'd never finish his work.
Coyote was so focused on reading the papers, he didn't have any trouble. He enjoyed it. However, there were a couple times he'd look at the corner of the page and want to doodle a line or two.
Phoenix was doing well until the guy next to her started rocking back and forth in his chair.
She got up and moved seats, sitting behind him, next to Rooster.
Their little habits helped out a lot when taking the tests.
There wasn't anyone above them in the classroom as they worked. He had just taken his time away, stepping out of the room to go take care of something real quick.
With that, the infuriating blond took the chance to do what he does best.
He had stopped leaning back in the chair as soon as Phoenix moved, of course. But now his next move on the game board was getting underneath a pilot's skin.
"Y'know, Rooster over here is actually a really good pilot." He started.
Bradley didn't bother looking up. He was unfazed. The trick was right there in his words. He wasn't falling for it.
Hangman moved around the paper plane. He tilted it, looking at it. He had made it a while ago, when the teacher was talking to them about one of their dogfights. He made that to help invision it. But really it only made him seem like a golden student. Figures.
"He's pretty good when it comes to being careful. That's not necessarily a bad thing to be doing when in the air,"
Phoenix shook her head, hoping Rooster wouldn't lose it.
Second day at Top Gun and he'd be getting kicked out.
Jake moved the piece of paper in the air, like it was going up and down hills. "But then he'll just crash and burn."
Phoenix shook her head again.
"He's too careful. Sure, it might be good. But he can't take risks. I know that without even having to see him fly. I mean, he's a chicken."
Coyote wanted to throw a piece of paper at his head in hopes that it would shut him up.
That's a losing battle, though. He knew that.
Phoenix looked up from her paper, "Listen here, Hangman-"
"Hangman?" He turned around to look at her, one arm resting on the back of his chair.
"Yeah. That's your callsign from now on."
He smiled, furrowing his brows slightly. "Who came up with that one?"
"I did. After you were being an ass with our flying yesterday, I thought it was perfect." Phoenix said.
"Ms. Trace, there's no need to be calling me names." He smiled.
"She isn't. That's your official callsign. Says so on your new helmet." Rooster smiled.
He knew what Jake had meant when he said names, but still told him off innocently. Phoenix smiled.
"Well, I think that's just dandy."
Phoenix dropped her lips to a frown. She blinked, shaking her head to the side in disbelief. "You're kidding."
"What?"
"You actually like your callsign? No one likes their callsign!" She cried.
He smiled. "Well, I do." He said proudly. She couldn't tell if he was playing it off, or being serious.
She wondered if once they walked out of the room, he'd flop down and cry, but that was just wishful thinking.
"Whatever. Anyways, you're welcome. You were so upset the day we met when you were telling me you didn't have a callsign, so there you go. I gave you a great one to go with your great flying."
"Well thank you, Phoenix." He winked.
"Can you just shove your arrogance somewhere else-"
"Lieutenant Trace. I suggest you get back to work. Now."
Phoenix turned her head away from Jake, looking to the instructor who had came back into the room.
A couple guys snickered, and Hangman was very amused.
But Phoenix only smirked and stood up from her chair, gathering her papers.
"Actually, sir, I'm finished. I was just waiting for you to get back." She smiled.
Jake gave a look, astonished and non-believed.
Rooster smiled as he looked back down to his work, listening to the clearing of throats as the others went back to their business.
"Alright then. The rest of you stop lollygagging around. This is important. You know that." He said, walking down the aisle.
Hangman looked down, picking up his pencil, but still mouthed off quietly.
The teacher didn't bother looking at him, neither did he stop walking, but he did seamlessly hit him upside the head with a file he had in his hand.
Everyone laughed, and the instructor smiled softly as he looked ahead to the back wall.
But for once, Hangman was not amused.