Dakota sighed as she stumbled through the door of the beach house, the small night light in the corner of her living room illuminating the area, a warm glow spreading, emitting itself into her pores, soft honey hues seemingly taken place as her skin, goddess-like. She took off her jacket almost immediately when she stepped foot in her house, lazily shrugging off her button up uniform quickly following, leaving her in a white tank top and her pressed khaki colored pants.

To her, as honored and proud of herself she was for graduating from Top Gun, especially as a female in a male dominated position, she wished she didn't have to go to the ceremony itself; that decade long ceremony, she thought to herself.

As she made her way through the short hallway to her bedroom, she heard a car pull up and a door slam. She inhaled sharply, that calming lavender scent not helping in calming her. Dakota loathed herself on how her body was already reacting to him, her senses going into hyper focus, heart beat accelerating, golden skin becoming much more sensitive, it killed her.

He didn't have to knock, after months of fucking each other, both of them grew tired of waiting for an invitation. She heard his footsteps grow louder, along with the blood flowing in her head. Her back was towards the doorway to her bedroom, placing her jewelry on her vanity, almost preparing herself mentally to see him.

Dakota also hated how her mind reacted around him. How she had to convince herself that his lingering touches meant nothing, how his words meant absolutely nothing: 'You're so beautiful,' 'God I can't live without you,' It meant absolutely nothing, she'd have to repeat to herself. A mantra if you will.

The California moonlight shined through her sheer curtains, the crashing waves making their way known with the open window, a cool breeze, in contrast with her hot skin as large calloused hands found their way to her waist from behind, and pink lips hovering above her shoulder, daring to connect to her skin, wanting to feel her reactions under. At this point Dakota was certain that he could hear her heart, the blood flowing in her veins, her breathing become more erratic. ironic.

A chaste kiss was placed on her collar bone, causing a pleasurable sigh to escape her lips at the sheer feeling. His grip around her waist became firmer. "I'm guessing this is our graduation presents to each other?" She remarked, laying her head against his broad chest, feeling him nudge her neck with his nose, a deep chuckle, "Mhm," Bradley started, moving his hands down to rest in her hips, giving them a squeeze causing her to gasp. "I figured, as a congratulations on not killing each other," she smiled at him through the mirror on her vanity, as they made eye contact with one another, butterflies erupting in her stomach, her heart rate increasing.

He trailed kisses from her shoulder, to her neck, being sure to leave a known mark, making her quietly whine, to her jawline, cheek, and finally her lips. low moans emitting from the two pilots.

She turned around in his arms, connecting hers around his neck, pulling him flush against her body, running her fingers through his honey hair, tugging slightly, causing him to groan into her mouth oh so quietly. she would never get tired of the noises he makes.

Dakota backed them up until he hit the edge of her bed, his hands trailing over her ass and thighs as she straddled his hips. Her hands cradled his face, tilting it up towards her. She bit his bottom lip, giggling as he let out another groan at her actions. "God, you drive me crazy, Mustang," his raspy baritone voice made her body react, skin almost bursting into flames, goosebumps traveling up her spine, "I hope I'm the only one who makes you feel this good Brad," she said in a whisper, their eyes locking. She nudged their noses together, "I hope I'm the o my one who touches you like this, sees you like this," A slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Dakota leaned in, capturing his lips with hers, his bottom lip in between hers, her top lip in between his, it was pure bliss.

The blaring and obnoxious sound of her cell ringing interrupted the two sexually frustrated Top Gun graduates, making them throw their heads back with irritated groans coming from both of them.

"This is Mustang," she answered, still straddling Bradley's hips, trying to ignore the soft kisses he was trailing down her throat with his swollen, red lips. Her eyebrows contorted, at the information she was receiving from her Admiral. She tried to avoid his lips, finally just deciding to get off of him and walk towards the open window in her room, cooling her burning hot skin. "With all do respect Admiral, not that I'm not honored to have been chosen for this mission but-"

Bradley laid down on her bed with a heavy sigh, running his hands down his face, trying to patiently wait for Mustang to get done with her call. His heart beat still not steady, his brain foggy, god what she did to him.

He looked up towards her as she sat next to him, "Was that Admiral?" the tanned girl nodded. "What did he want?" a beat. "They're sending me to the Atlantic," she breathed deeply, "Apparently there's an illegal petroleum refinery, bandits guarding it, they need fighter pilots," His hands were laced in his lap as he got up from the bed, anger becoming more apparent through his body language. "And let met guess," His forceful tone surprised her, causing her to snap her head up to look at him, he was fuming. "You took the position, with no hesitation whatsoever? With no thought?"

A scoff left the female's lips, she stood up to look him in the eyes the best she could, given that his were darting everywhere except where she needed them. "Are you seriously pissed at me? For accepting a mission, something I, WE have TRAINED for?" She felt like smoke could come out of her ears at any point, he rolled his eyes, "Are you fucking kidding me, you have no right to be pissed at me," It was his turn to scoff now, "And how do I have no right?" he hummed. "I've known you for years and you're just gonna leave? Just like that?"

Dakota pinched the bridge of her nose, and sighed, annoyance once again becoming the main emotion she felt toward him. "I don't even understand why you're upset, it's not even like you LIKED me, and vice versa." She said forcefully, quite frankly being done with is bullshit, reminding her on why she hated him in the first place. And why she would stop her brain from going off the rails every time they were alone together.

"God you are unimaginably arrogant, you piece of shit!" He raised his voice slightly.

His words struck her by surprise, yet they didn't hurt her, they only filed her hatred for the pilot in front of her. She clenched her teeth while crossing her arms across her chest, "Get, the fuck, out." she sternly stated. A beat. "NOW! YOU PRETENTIOUS ASSHOLE!"

He just stood there, holding eye contact, his jaw clenched, running his tongue through his cheek.

And then he left. Without another word to the female.

When Dakota heard the door to her house close and the engine to his car start, she let out a breath she didn't know she was hold. A quivering breath. It's not like the two of them weren't exclusive. It's not like she cared at whether or not he was mad at her or not.

She sat down on the edge of her bed, and hung her, what felt like two thousand pound head in her hands,

goodbye bradley bradshaw.

-

The bass could be heard from outside the small shack, sounds of people laughing, cheating; the waves crashing in the distance, a soft breeze flowing.

Dakota went home and showered after going out on the tarmac to help out Mav, quickly throwing on her uniform and putting her unruly curly hair in a surprisingly neat bun. She inhaled deeply before stepping foot in the Hard Deck, she didn't know why her heart felt like it was going to explode out of her chest, why her breath got shallow, hands sweaty.

She saw Maverick talking to the bar owner Penny Benjamin, someone who she has grown close to over the years. A tight lipped smile at the view, she walked over and sat beside him when Penny turned her back. "Hey I just wanna thank you, from the bottom of my heart for abandoning me back there. I had to persuade Phoenix that I was indeed not there alone at some point," A small chuckle erupted from him, "I thought you heard me leave, you know, loud engine and everything,"

A playful scoff "Yo Penny," the older woman turned around, a playful smile threatened to show as Dakota motioned to his phone on the bar top. As she handed the female pilot a beer, "You better go say 'Hi' over there," She motioned behind her with her head, "Hangman has already taken two shots a Phoenix." Dakota let her eyes skim over the pool table that was behind the bar, no sight of Rooster, making then tension from her shoulders visibly drop. A now relieved smile plastering on her face, "I'm so sorry to leave you elderly alone but, I have some important business to attend to," she added a sarcastic emphasis on the word.

She confidently strolled towards the pool table, stopping behind Phoenix as she kissed her cheek, letting her know she was there.

Hangman looked up from the table, arrogantly smiling once he spotted her, "Well if it isn't the one named after a car," He walked towards her, looking down at her, "Oh wow at least hit me with something original," Hangman rolled his eyes, looking back at Coyote, "That one was just plain sad to watch you execute," Phoenix added, making all of her former classmates chuckle.

"And why are you talking hmm? Mr. Bagman, is it?" a cocky scoff, "It's Hangman-" "Yeah because all you do is leave people hanging, not something to be proud of," He continued to bite the toothpick that was in his mouth, a smile finally pulling at his lips, "It's good to see you Mustang, haven't see you since graduation," a grimace from Dakota at the mention of that night. "Likewise," a beat, "Now hand me a stick so I can kick your ass, Hangman. 20 dollars on first game?"

As the pool game continued, watching the two pilots compete, Phoenix stood up, a beer lazily between her finger tips, from where she sat with Bob, which she learned to be her new backseat. "Hey so are none of us going to question exactly why we were called back?"  Hangman got up from the table, finished taking a shot in the game, "Yeah, we're the best of the best, so who'd they bring in to teach us?" Dakota kept her head down, leaning on her stick as she smirked, looking at Maverick out of the side of her eye over at the bar.

The two went back to playing their game, Phoenix chatting with Bob as Payback, Coyote, and Fanboy chatter while leaning against the window sills. A feeling similar to pure and utter happiness spread throughout her chest. God she missed this, memories of their time in Top Gun together, laughing, everyone slightly tipsy. The air inside the bar, the smell of alcohol and old cigars being apparent in the atmosphere.

Dakota sat on a barstool close to the pool table, talking with Phoenix about their predictions for the upcoming mission. Their backs being to the door, the freckled female took a swig of her beer when the bell to the door obnoxiously rang throughout the bar, "Bradshaw!" she heard Payback yell. Her entire body went into hyperdrive, eyes blown despite the alcohol in her system, mouth dry, her stomach dropping to her feet. Phoenix looked over at her friend, a playful smirk, "And you said he wasn't gonna get called," Dakota elbowed her in the ribs, causing a small groan to fall from her lips.

PAIGE SPEAKS
CHAPTER TWO IS DONEEE over 2000 words so kinda thriving and living for this one!!

what'd you guys think about that flashback at the beginning🫣GIRL i was so scared writing it but my toes were curling and i was giggling and shit. POSSIBLE INTERACTION NEXT CHAP? hoped you guys liked it🤭