It had been a long, tiring day. The aviators were, once again, put through the ringer to prepare for this mission. While they are getting better, it's still not enough. There are still jabs being thrown and rivalries getting in the way. 

All in all, this team wasn't being a team. 

But once again, something was about to happen that would shake up the dynamic once more. Only this time, it involved the one person no one expected. 

The guys were in the locker room, changing back into their normal clothes when a phone goes off. Hangman is quick to grab it, knowing exactly who it is. 

"Hey, what's up?" He answers. But his face quickly turns from a smile to a frown. And soon, it's worried. 

The others can't help but listen, not that they have much choice. 

"Woah, woah, woah. Slow down. What happened?" He continues, his leg now bouncing. Coyote looks at his best friend, the only person who knows who could possibly be on the other end of the phone. 

"How far are you? We just finished up." He waits for the answer. "Come to the base. I'll have Javy take the truck back to his place, we carpooled this morning." 

He throws Coyote his keys, the others now worried as well. They may not know who's on the phone, Hangman never let someone else drive his truck. This has to be serious. 

"See you in a few." Jake hangs up the phone before groaning. He quickly grabs the rest of his stuff before making a beeline to the doors. He almost runs right into Phoenix as she leaves the women's locker room. 

"Watch it, asshole," she yells out to him, not noticing anything wrong. She is quick to realize it is when Coyote comes out worried and rushing after Hangman. The others file out as she asks what she missed. 

By the time Phoenix is caught up, the group has reached the parking lot. And a car is pulling in they don't recognize. But Jake and Javy do. 

Jake is quick to set his bag down as a woman exits the vehicle. She shakes her head before going to the passenger side of the car. Opening the door, she appears to shake the other person who wakes up and evaluates where they are. 

The minute this person clocks Jake, they are out of the car and running for him. All anyone sees is a girl sprinting into Jake's arms and burying her face into his chest. 

Jake, for his part, doesn't even take a step back from the impact, absorbing it all without movement. But he is quick to hug the girl back, especially when he can feel both her shoulders shaking and the wet spots starting to appear on his shirt. 

He runs his hand over the girl's head to try and soothe her before noticing something different. Her hair is significantly shorter than the last time he saw her. And not at all even. In fact, it's incredibly choppy, like it was done in a hurry with blunt scissors. 

Jake looks up to the older woman walking towards the group in question, but she signals they will talk about it later. Aka, away from other people. 

Javy is the first to speak, since Jake is busy trying to calm down the crying girl in his arms. "Reyna, what's going on? Is everything okay?" 

The woman, Reyna, tries to give him a smile, but it clearly doesn't reach her eyes. "Shit when down Javy. I just needed to get Mari away for a few days." 

He nods in understanding, having known the woman for a while. Reyna makes eye contact with Jake before shrugging. 

"You know me. You touch my family, I fuck you up." She puts her hand on Mari's back. "Don't worry, I've got time off. And you were close for once. It's only a few hours drive." 

Jake shakes his head a bit before managing to get this 'Mari' to look at him. His hands are on her cheeks, forcing her to meet his eyes. All he sees is the little girl he's known since she was 10 in pain for something he can't help with. 

"Come on, let's get you back to my place. We can grab some food on the way" he speaks to the girl gently. No one had really heard him talk like that, shocked he could be so gentle. 

Javy nods at him. "I'll swing by in the morning for you," before he gives Reyna a quick squeeze and heads to Jake's truck. 

The two are quick to lead Mari to Reyna's car, although Reyna gets into the driver seat while Jake and Mari get into the back. Right now, Mari doesn't want to let go of Jake. He's her comfort person and no one could ever change that. 

As the car drove away, the group that remained just looked at each other. They had no idea what had just happened. Phoenix and Rooster are in disbelief that Hangman appears to have actual human emotion and apparently a strong connection with these two women. 

But clearly, something bad had happened. Something no one knew would have an effect on their own lives. 

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Bob had finally made it home after that incredibly strange experience. He walked through the front door, greeted by the dogs. 

Giving them scratches, he heads for the living room where Malina is sitting, editing some of her photos from the previous day. 

She doesn't even look up from her computer, but calls out to him anyway. "Hey baby, how was work?" 

Bob sighs before collapsing on the couch next to her. Risky is quick to come to his side, laying his head into Bob's lap. He absent-mindedly starts to give him some head scratches and pats as he tells his wife about the day. 

"But the weirdest part was after everything was over," Bob began to tell Malina of the last few minutes on base. "Hangman got a call, sounded worried, gave Coyote the keys to his truck and bolted." 

Malina has stopped her work, giving Bob her full attention. The last statement had her raising her eyebrows. "He doesn't seem like the type to let just anyone handle his truck." 

Bob shakes his head. "He's not, that's what surprised the rest of us. But anyway, but the time we got to the parking lot, a woman had pulled up to us and suddenly a teenage girl came sprinting out and into Hangman's arms." 

Malina is eating up the gossip, engrossed in the story. "Any idea who these two may be?" 

Bob shrugs. "Not a clue. But Coyote clearly knows them because he's the one who gave us a name. The woman's name is Reyna and the girl's name is Mari. My best guess is that Hangman actually managed to get someone to fall for him." 

"I'm not sure how, what with his winning personality and all," Mal counters back, both of them laughing slightly. 

But Bob remembers the somber mood the base was left on. "No, but seriously, something was clearly wrong. The girl was crying and wouldn't let go of Hangman. I just hope he can help." 

Malina sighs herself, giving Nala a quick rub on the head. 

"Well, regardless of our feelings towards the man, he is clearly someone they need. And that's truly all that matters." 

However, neither member of the couple knew just how influential these two newcomers would be in their lives. 

But it wouldn't be long before they found out. 

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Word count: 1,267

AAAHHH!!! Reyna and Maribel are here!!! This was just a quick intro to their characters, but you will be getting some more insight next chapter. 

Also!!!!! From this point on, there will be spoilers to Cobra Kai, specifically season 4. You have been warned. 

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I know it's not much to do with the actual TG:M storyline, but I'm expanding the Lore with my own characters. 

We will be diving back into Maverick storyline next chapter tho, promise!! 

Until then, see you next time! Bye guys!!