┌────❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚────┐

𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪'𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟

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I storm outside, only able to see red now. I'm a fucking backseater? I'm the best damn pilot here, how am I supposed to show what I'm made of if I can't even fly?! And I'm his backseater?! 

OUT OF EVERYBODY HERE?!

"Am I dismissed?" I hear Bradley snap as I approach him and Maverick. He glances at me, letting out a quiet scoff as he walks away. Bitch boy.

Ignore him, Lennox, I remind myself, wrestling out a sigh.

"Captain Mitchell?" I speak up.

He turns around. "Oh, uh-" He clears his throat. "Yes, Blackwood, what can I do for you?"

I can tell by the tense expression on his face the conversation with Bradley bothered him.

I attempt a strained smile on my face. "I wasn't aware I was assigned to be a backseater. Bradshaw's backseater."

"Oh, yes. Your squadron said you haven't flown in combat since your surgery, is that correct?" He asks gently, not wanting to overstep any boundaries. Of course they did.

"Yes." I grit my teeth.

He smiles. "I believe TOPGUN has assigned you the backseat position as a safety precaution. But rest assured, your skills will still be tested and taken into account." He gives me a reassuring nod, but not enough to ease my anger, only simmer it. For now.

"I just don't understand how I'll be able to prove my flying skills if I don't get to fly. Sir." I bite back. Remain calm.

Maverick frowns in thought. "Yes. Well, it's a shame. I was looking forward to seeing what you were capable of up there."

"So was I." I say dryly, looking off to find Phoenix and Hangman staring, as they did when Bradley was standing here.

I can't believe I get this big opportunity and they pull this shit. I might as well be grounded. Bradley's not gonna listen to me as his backseater. I'd put all the money in the world on it.

"So, Blackwood, huh?" Maverick's voice draws me back. I shift my eyes back to him.

"What?" I ask, not catching what he said.

"Your mother is Charlotte Blackwood?"

I feel my shoulders tense. "Oh, uhm, yes. She is." Shit. I was hoping to avoid this conversation topic.

A fond smile appears on his face. "How is she doing?"

Oh. My. God. He doesn't know. Lord, strike me down with lightning now. This officially has to be the worst day ever.

I plaster my fakest smile to ever shine on my face. "She's doing great, staying busy." I answer quickly, as minimal as possible. "May I be dismissed?" I rush out, asking much nicer than Bradley did. "Don't want to keep everyone waiting..." I trail off, sweat trickling down my back.

"Of course. Sorry about that." Maverick scans my face for a moment before I walk away, making a b-line for my— our plane. Bradley is kicking his boot against the asphalt as I hastily approach, finally feeling some air rush back into my lungs.

"What was that about?" He grumbles.

I squint my eyes at him through my sunglasses. "You first."

"Whatever." He mumbles. "Should you even be in the air with your... you know..." He does a full 180. His mood swings are giving me whiplash.

I scoff. The nerve of him. "I've had surgery. Thanks for the concern though." He opens his mouth but nothing comes out so I brush— shove past him and climb up the ladder to my spot. He stays stunned in place for a moment.

"We don't have all day." I snap, my fingernails digging into my legs.

✈︎ ✈︎ ✈︎

"Good morning, aviators. This is your captain speaking." Maverick begins once we're in the air. "Welcome to basic fighter maneuvers. As briefed, today's exercise is dogfighting. Guns only, no missiles." I rub my hands together, the anticipation buzzing throughout my body as my irritation from moments ago slowly melts away. "We do not go below the hard deck of 5,000 feet." He continues. "Working as a team, you have to shoot me down, or else." Sounds fun. Would be more fun if I actually got to shoot though, but that's not happening, is it? Guess this will have to do.

"Or else what, sir?" Payback pipes up.

"Or else I shoot back." Maverick says. I purse my lips into a grin. "If I shoot either one of you down, you both lose." Not gonna happen.

"So, what do you say we put some skin in the game?" Payback challenges. I raise a brow.

"What do you have in mind?" Maverick responds, seeming all ears.

"Better not suck." I mutter.

"Whoever gets shot down first has to do 200 push-ups." Payback says confidently, him and Fanboy cracking up.

Ugh, of course. At least it's not burpee's... I try to do push-ups, sit-ups, and squats every night before bed so I guess that's not too bad, though push-ups are my least favorite of the three. Doesn't matter. We are not losing.

"Guys, that's a lot of push-ups." Maverick warns.

"Well, they don't call it an exercise for nothing, sir." Fanboy happily chirps. I enjoy walking, even lifting weights. But that many push-ups... I'm either gonna end up killing someone, or myself. Whichever comes first.

"You got yourself a deal, gentleman. Fights on. Lets turn and burn." Maverick ends, flying off.

✈︎ 

We wait a few minutes, looking for any sign of Maverick.

"Fanboy, you see him." Bradley asks. I roll my eyes. Uhh, hello?

"Nothing on the radar up ahead." He answers. "He must be somewhere behind us."

I clear my throat rather loudly. "I bet he's below us, off the radar."

Not even a second later Maverick's plane bursts in between us and the wonder twins, knocking both planes off balance. I grunt, quickly straightening up. Son of a—

"Damn it!" Bradley yells.

"What the hell!" Fanboy squeaks, letting out a yelp.

"Hmm, what do you know?" I jeer. Look who was right.

"Oh shit!" Payback shouts.

"Tally, tally, tally!" Fanboy yells. "Maverick's coming in! Break left!"

"Rooster, pull back then break left." I order so we can help Payback and Fanboy from a good angle.

"Breaking left!" Payback repeats.

"Rooster!" I raise my voice. He's not fucking listening to me, of course!

"Payback, where's your wingman and wingwoman?" Maverick questions.

"Rooster, Lightning, where are you?" Payback strains.

"I got your back. We're coming." Bradley responds, taking an annoyingly long route when my way was better. Oh, we?! "Hang in there. Hang in there."

"Hurry up, man. Hurry up!" Payback hollers back.

"Payback, pull up and—" I start, seeing Maverick line up perfectly to take his shot, and I'm quickly intercepted, "Payback, break right!" I switch on the fly.

"Breaking right!"

"Rooster just saved your life, fellas. But it's gonna cost him." Maverick says. "Should've gone with Lightning's way." I huff, shifting to get a better look.

"Not this time, old man." Bradley spits out, glaring as he turns his head back for a moment.

"Rooster, break right and swing out!" I shout at him. He breaks right slightly before nosing diving.

"What the hell!" I throw my hands up.

"Rooster, you're too low! Pull up! You're hitting the hard deck!" Payback hollers.

"Altitude. Altitude." The system's voice warns.

"Oh shit!" Rooster hurries out, pulling up.

I gasp for air as we climb our way back up.

"That's a kill." Maverick says as the tone goes off. I groan, throwing my head back in frustration. 

That couldn't have gone worse!

✈︎ ✈︎ ✈︎

"Down! 109!" Hondo' booms out the counts as Bradley and I do our push-ups. I glare at him through the dripping sweat in the eyes.

"I'm gonna kill you." I bitterly bite out.

"Down! 110."

"Can we not do this right now." His voice shakes as he breathes heavily.

"Oh, I'm sorry—"

"Down! 111."

"—would you rather do it when we're flying and you're not fucking listening to a word I say!" I rage at him.

"Whoo!"

"Wow!"

Oh, great! Kill me now.

Harvard, Yale, and Fritz waltz over us.

"Hey, hold that tarmac down til we get back, brother, alright? Got that sweetheart?" Yale smarts off as they hoop and holler.

"Hey, get in here boys." Harvard says, pulling out his phone and the three stooges bend down to take a selfie in front of us. "Let me know when your through with Hangman and I get a turn, Blackwood." Harvard shoots me a smug smile and the three of them take off laughing.

I narrow my eyes as Rooster jumps up.

"Don't bother." I grumble, glancing up at him. "They'll get their turn." A sly smile graces my lips as I picture them suffering through push-ups next.

✈︎ ✈︎ ✈︎

Author's Note: I'm ngl, I've always thought that was Hangman taking the selfie... and I've literally watched this movie like a dozen times lmao. Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed hahaha.

Also, today is a very special day!! The idea for this character was already planned butttt this the day Lennox was truly born. I remember sitting at my Nini's house 1 year ago today, waiting for us to start fireworks, searching endlessly for a face claim when I came across Ashely Greene. then Then name Lennox popped into my head and everything else fell into place and it was perfect.

She is now my #1 fav oc and I'm so happy to have created a badass character that is unapologetically herself. Thank you all so much for continuing to read Lennox and her story!!

Anddd tomorrow marks 1 year since I decided on the book title which I also tried super hard to find the perfect match and when I came across Aviothic I just knew it was the one!! Mwauh, hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July!! This is now not only the weekend before the 4th but also the weekend of Lennox and Aviothic<3