Curate, connect, and discover
With all the stuff that Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick put us through, a narrator would be nice.đ«đđđ
everyone: he's gone, rooster. mav's gone
narrator: mav was, in fact, not gone
maverick knows his pilots miss him because of the little things they share. the texts he gets and the pictures. always at random, sporadic and unprompted.
things like â
fanboy telling him they nailed a test run for a new mission because of the way mav taught them to fly.
you two wouldâve done that all on your own. proud of you.
phoenix telling him sheâs up for promotion and hoping he can make it to the ceremony since itâs his fault sheâs gotten even better in the air.
you were always going to soar, phoenix. iâll be there.
coyote telling him, not for the first time, how grateful he is that maverick knows the importance of getting everyone home alive.
nothing wrong with a little hope, right?
just. small things that make mavâs chest ache every time with something proud and fond and soft because he may not be flying for the navy anymore, but these kids are absolutely making sure he still feels like he is.
I just wanna say.. Bob âSentryâ Reynolds and Joaquin Torres and Lt. Robert âBobâ Floyd and Lt. Mickey âFanboyâ Garcia. Theyâre the same dude Iâm ngl. Okay not the exact same. But theyâre awful similar. Kinda fucks ngl
dagger version of this post!! olympic au!!đ„
tried to match their characters/body types to appropriate sports <33
rooster as a fencer, hangman as an equestrian, coyote and hondo as track&field (sprinter and shot put), phoenix and bob as shooters, fanboy as a skateboarder, and payback as a judoka!
Anyway here's just an idea i had about the dagger ducklings and mavdad/Icepops. I feel like Ice prefers Christmas Eve to Christmas day. (I really really like the idea of Ice being Jewish and celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas). Christmas Eve is when all of the ducklings (And flyboys) come over for a Christmas eve dinner. Ice cooks (obviously), and Mav gets in the way (again, obviously), and nobody would have it any other way. They always watch Charlie Brown Christmas, and Mav keeps trying to get them to watch Die Hard (because "Iceeeee it takes place during Christmas how is it not a Christmas movie). This has been a years-long debate in the Mitchell-Kazansky House. (For the record, Mav, Bradley, Pheonix, Fanboy, and Omaha are staunchly on the side arguing that is it, Everyone else does not agree).
They also exchange presents, because not all of the daggers will stay for Christmas day. (Mav gives the most elaborate presents)
Mav goes ALL OUT for Christmas. YK those houses that have so many lights on them that you can't really see the house? All you can see are lights and moving blowups and animatronics? Yeah that's how Mav and Ice's house looks, courtesy of Mav and some of the dagger ducklings (Especially Bradly, who remembers putting everything up with Mav as a kid, and kind of considers it tradition) (I also think that Phoenix and Fanboy would go feral as well) (The rest of them sit with Ice on the porch, drinking Mulled Wine, or Hot chocolate in Bobs case, and watching the chaos unfold).
introducing the garcĂa-torres twins. yes they exist in the same universe bc i have free will
â IS THAT X-MEN?
you have the best first and last date with a mysterious sailor
pairing: Mickey âFanboyâ Garcia x fem!reader
wc: 2.2k
authors note: Hi sorry for not posting a fic in a hot minuteâŠfinals took all the motivation out of me đ„đ„ Not gonna lie, I had no idea where I was going with thisâŠI had like a slight idea and ran with it đ€·đ»ââïž I was supposed to post this on Monday but I also started to write it on Monday (and it was Memorial Day and I was at a bbq like most of the day) so then I was like âIâll js post it the last day of fleet weekâ which was Tuesday but I never did so here it is now!! My plan for next year is to post for a different dagger each day of fleet week đââïž I love the daggers and I love writing about them so if yâall have any requests on any of them, js leave it in my inbox!! ENJOY!!
The soft patters of the rain falling silenced your brain as you admired the art panels on the flimsy page of the comic. You studied the artistry and the bright of the colors but were pulled out of your trance when you heard the bells of the front door ringing followed by hurried squeaks. You tore your eyes off the page and were stunned by the sight before you. A lost looking man with the most beautiful eyes youâd ever seen was hunched over with his hands of his knees while taking big breaths. It looked as if he was trying to suck all the air out of the room. Five huffs later he straightened his posture and rested his hands on his hips and started to look around. His eyes couldâve lit up the entire city by the look he gave when he saw his surroundings. He turned around slowly looking at each and every comic cover and he resembled a child in a candy store. You felt yourself grin at his reaction but quickly dropped it when he faced your direction. You focused back on the panel before you hoping he hadnât seen you staring at him.
You heard his shoes squeal beneath him and started to internally curse yourself for being such a gawker. He finally stops in front of you and takes a moment to analyze before speaking. âIs that X-men?â You look up from the panel and immediately catch his big brown eyes.
ââŠuh yeah! Uncanny X-men vol.5!â You said in a bit too enthusiastic tone.
âI love this series! Is this your first time reading it?â You couldâve melted the way he smiled so widely at you.
âNo I read it a few years ago, I like to re-read comics when Iâm bored.â
âMe too! I carry some in my bag whenever I have to travel far for work.â Itâs only then you take in his clothes. A tan khaki shirt with a name pin reading âGarciaâ above one pocket and a row of colors that has a pin of wings over the other paired with khaki uniform pants. They had dark brown dots scattered over them so it was obvious he was in the rain for a bit. Itâs almost that he sensed the gears shifting in your head when he followed up his sentence. âIâm in the Navyâ he chuckles as he rubs the back of his neck.
âWow thatâs cool, whatâs your job?â
âUh weapon system officer, I basically sit in the back seat of the plane and manage the weapon systems, hence the name.â
ââŠWhatâd you mean by the back seat? Isnât there like a bunch of seats on a plane?â
âWell not those types of planes. I mean like an F-18! You know, a fighter jet?â
âWhat! Thatâs sick!â
And just like that you both got engrossed in conversations about comics and fighter jets alike. Heâd told you about the different types of aircrafts the Navy flies and even went into intricate detail about the F-18 Super Hornet. Heâd spent maybe fifteen minutes geeking out over fighter jets and you felt yourself getting butterflies in your stomach at the passion oozing off each word he spoke about his job. Somehow while he was talking about fighter jets he transitioned the conversation over to Marvel and now it was your turn to geek out. You explained the lore of Wolverine so well that Mickey could feel his knees weaken at your excitement for it. Somewhere along your tangent youâd mentioned Star Trek and his reaction could only be described as a person getting electrocuted seeing the way he lit up in joy.
Youâd spent who knows how long talking about your favorite characters and comics that you hadnât even realized the rain stop and the Sun hiding under the horizon. It was only when Assad, the store manager, cleared his throat from behind Mickey that you realized how late it had gotten. You peeked over Mickeys shoulder, out the window, and saw the bright artificial lights illuminate the sidewalks of twenty-first street. You looked back up at Mickeyâwho was hardcore staring at youâand speak up. âHey if youâre not busy, wanna grab a bite right now?â
âSure! Where do you suggest we go? Iâm not really from around here.â He responds while walking next to you as the both of you make your way out the door.
Mickeyâbeing the gentleman that he isâholds the door open for you and bows his head âAfter you mâlady.â You giggle as you give him a small curtsy and walk out of the store.
He follows suit and his frame slightly towers over you. You walk a few paces in silence before you finally break the silence. âI never caught your name.â You look up at him.
âOh yeah! Iâm Mickey!â He extends his hand to you.
You respond with your name and shake his hand with a light chuckle.
Your hands linger together as you both stare into each otherâs eyes and it seems that New York City falls silent for the first time. The chill of the air that was nipping away at your arms numbs away when his chestnut brown eyes with his widely dilated pupils find yours. You can feel heat creep up your cheeks and you notice the visible bright pink tint that adorns his cheeks the longer your hands stay intertwined. You reluctantly dropped your hands as you looked at the slightly busy sidewalk ahead of you. His head was still facing you and his gaze was analyzing all of your features. His eyes traced over your eyes, taking note of how deep they are and how they shine even under the streetlights. His eyes then looked over your nose and cheeksâholding back the urge to kiss themâand they finally fall onto your lips. They looked so kissable, they had a slight shine to them and they fit your face so perfectly. He licked his lips at the thought of getting a taste of them.
âYou know I can feel you staring right?â You spoke while still looking ahead.
He immediately turns his head the same direction as yours in embarrassment and you can see his ears go bright red out of the corner of your eye. You chuckle at his reaction and wrap your arms around his left arm before speaking, âYouâre so easy to fluster.â And you look up at him again.
Mickeys heart skips a beat at your sudden action and you can feel his muscles tense beneath your fingers.
âWell itâs difficult to keep my composure when Iâve got such a gorgeous lady wrapped around my arm.â
âMmm I can imagine.â You say with a smug expression.
He turns his head to face youâprobably for the umpteenth timeâand his eyes flicker down to your lips. âSo where you taking me?â
âThis gyro stand, Iâve been going there since I was a teenager. I swear itâs the best gyro Iâve ever tasted!â
âIâll hold you up to that.â He smiled at you.
It only takes five more minutes of exchanging details about yourselves before you finally reach the familiar face of the vendor, Sammy, and his stand. Sammy exclaimed happily as the two of you inched closer. âThereâs my favorite customer!â
âThereâs my favorite vendor!â
You both basically synchronized when you laughed at the same time. You leaned forward and gave Sammy a small hug over the low counter. Itâs only when you pull back that he acknowledges Mickey. âWhoâs your friend here?â
âAh this is Mickey, we met down at Assadâs!â You say as you gesture behind yourself.
âOh how is he?â
âSame old same old. Anyways, I will have two of my usual order please.â
âOokay my darling that is fourteen dollars and twenty four cents.â Sammy says while he taps away on his little screen.
You get your wallet out of your pocket but you halt your action when you see Mickey dig through his wallet. âWhat are you doing?â
He looks up at you and waits a beat before responding. âPaying?â
âYouâre not payingâ you say as you nudge your card towards Sammy.
âYes I amâ Micky pushes his card closer to him.
âNo I suggested we come here, itâs my responsibility to pay, move over sailor.â
âWell Iâm the man so youâre not paying on my watch.â
Sammy smiles widely as he taps away on the payment screen.
âNeither of you are paying, this oneâs on the house, lovebirds.â You and Mickey both stop in your antics and look at Sammy.
He was already busy assembling your orders with a wide smile on his face so there was no point in arguing. You and Mickey scoot closer to the pickup window and watch Sammy diligently work. âSo how long are you gonna be in New York?â You ask.
âOne more day, but I have an air show tomorrow and Iâll have to practice all day.â
âOhâŠâ
âYeahâŠâ
âLetâs make tonight worthwhile then.â You face him
âIs it not already?â He asks.
âIt is, but, I donât wanna ever forget tonight and I donât ever want you to forget tonight.â
âOh trust me, itâs already been pretty incredible.â
âAhem if you guys are done now, hereâs your food.â Sammy stood awkwardly while holding two gyros in foil wrapping.
You give Sammy a sarcastic eye roll as you take the wraps from him. As you turn to leave you shout âTHANKSâ and give him a smile as you take a big bite. Mickey was already on his third bite as you were just starting and you laughed at that. Mickeys âWhat?â comes out muffled as his mouth is full of food.
âYou look like a squirrel!â You escape out through heavy laughs.
Mickeyâs look of disbelief turns into a smileâor the best one he can giveâand he starts to laugh too. He swallows the food remaining in his mouth and his laughter fills your ears. Your eyes squint and the skin around them crinkle and he swears thereâs an angel before him. Heâs more staring at you than laughing but thereâs still soft giggles escaping him. You take another bite of your wrap and swallow before speaking. âWanna go to my place? I have the best view of the fireworks from my window.â
âHow far is it? I have to return to the boat soon.â Mickey says while checking the time on his watch.
âAbout a thirty minute walk, you donât have to if you donât want to! Itâs totally cool if not we can do something else!â You say while rocking on the heels of your feet.
Mickey smiles in endearment âLead the way, mâlady.â He offers you his arm once more and you accept it happily.
âYou donât have like a secret wife, girlfriend, or family do you?â
He chuckles at your question âI can promise you with my whole heart, I do not have a secret wife, girlfriend, OR family.â
You give him a soft smile and walk slightly ahead of him.
As your trek back to your apartment continues, you hear loud popping sounds from the sky behind you. You feel Mickey halt and turn around to see him staring up at the sky. You look up too and see the bright colorful lights blush the sky. A bright smile is plastered on your face and there is a glittery shine in your eyes. All the people around you seem to freeze too, to stare at the fireworks, all but one. Mickey was trying to look at the sky, really. Instead, he could only focus on you. The look you had on your face made his world stop and his knees buckle. Heâd gotten so engrossed that he hadnât even felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
âI think your phones ringing.â You snapped him out of your trance.
âHuh?â His head snaps away from you and his hands hurry to his pocket.
He fishes out his phone from his right pocket and sees Reubens name and photo illuminate his screen. He excuses himself and steps right out of earshot. You see him worriedly speak into his phone and an angry expression his hung on his face. He huffs out a heavy breath before hanging up the phone and reproaching you.
âIâm so sorry, thereâs an emergency and my friends need me.â
Your heart twinges in disappointment but you push it aside.
âOhâŠâ
He pushes his phone your way before speaking again. âHere. Please put your number in it. I had a really really great time tonight. I really like you, I really donât want to leave.â He basically begs.
You take the phone and type your number in and save your name. You take a quick selfie and save it to your contact on his phone. He takes the phone back and smiles at his screen before he turns back. âIâll call as soon as itâs over, promise youâll pick up?â
âPromise.â You give him a simple wave and he gave you an excited one in return.
âIâLL BE WAITING!!â Is the last thing you shout to him before he disappears from your line of view, you hear a faint âOKAYâ coming from his voice and grin to yourself.
You couldnât wait for his call.
Roosterâs tapping out ceremony
Bradley already had a bad feeling in his stomach before the ceremony had begun. He was graduating, stepping into his dadâs shoes. Heâd looked forward to this day his entire life. Now, when it was actually happening, he couldnât feel anything but emptiness. Heâd lost his dad at five, his mom at sixteen, and heâd basically lost Mav the same day he lost his dad. Thatâs why, when he was standing in formation with his back pin straight and his hands behind his back, he knew not to get excited. He knew no one was coming to tap him out so what was the point?
Everyone he was graduating with was way younger than him. Ever since Mav pulled his papers, heâd held a deeper resentment for him. He didnât understand, he was an excellent pilot, why did he pull his papers? Why did Mav keep ruining his life? First his dad and now his career?
Through his peripheral vision, he saw soldiers getting bouquets and little gifts and he felt more bitterness than he did annoyance. Their mothers tearing up at the sight of their kids and calling them sweet names like their âlittle soldierâ. He felt a too familiar twist in his stomach at the nickname. His mother would always call him her little soldier anytime heâd do anything thatâd remind her of his dad. The soldier in front of him was the son of a pilot, like him. His stomach twisted more when he saw the man give his son a bear hug. It was more of a tackle than a hug from his perspective.
Heâd been so focused on whatâs in front of him that he didnât even see who was approaching him from his four oâclock. He felt a rough hand land of his shoulder and it took him a minute to break from the attention stance. He turned his to the left and saw Mav donning a somber smile.
âWhat are you doing here?â Bradley spoke with venom in his tone.
âWhat does it look like, kid?â
Bradley fully turns his body to face Pete with a stern face. The more he looks at Peteâs face, the more his face softens. He didnât know how to feel, Pete was the whole reason he was behind on his career, why was he so happy to see him? Without even realizing it, Bradley hugged Pete with urgency that he didnât even realize was holding him back. Pete stumbled back from the sudden force of the hug but returned the hug.
As he Bradley slowly peeled off him, he speaks again.
âEven though youâre the last person I want to see, Iâm glad youâre here Mav.â The last part of Bradleyâs sentence was more of a mumble but Pete still heard him loud and clear. That was the voice heâd so missed for so many years. Bradley let his head slightly hang trying to avoid eye contact.
Pete gave him a few taps on his shoulder before he spoke again. âThatâsâŠthatâs understandable. Do you wanna grab a beer in celebrationâŠ?â
All of the softness and endearment left Bradleyâs body at Peteâs request.
âI wouldnât hold my breath.â Bradley inched away from Pete and left him standing by himself awkwardly.
He was so closer by the day to reconcile with the only family he had left, Pete could feel it.
Hangmanâs tapping out ceremony
warning: bad parents
Jake stood tall under the blazing California Sun with his back as straight as can be. He could feel the beads of sweat fall down his forehead and back as he waited to be tapped out. His head was held high and he was so excited. Not only was he graduating from the Naval Academy, his dad had promised to be there. His relationship with his dad was far from perfect but it seemed to be getting better as time went on. When Jake was younger, heâd always wake up before Jake and get home after he was tucked into bed, the only time Jake did see him was during holidays.
He kept his eyes staring right ahead but the urge to shift them around to search the face heâd yearned to see for so long was clawing away at him. He saw the person in front of him get tapped out. They had what seemed like their parents, grandparents, and siblings there. He saw as the presumed father gave the soldier the biggest and tightest hug and how the soldier melted into his fatherâs arms. Jake couldnât wait until his father came and did the same thing. He wondered, would his sisters and mother cry at the sight of him? Would his dad give him a hug that loving?
He watched as more and more soldiers walked away with their families and friends. There were only and handful of people left and he could see more families approaching from the corner of his eyes. He listened as the soldiers next to him reconnected with their families. The sobs of their mothers and the encouragement of their fathers.
It was when the only people that left were ones tens of feet away from him did he realize that his family was not coming. He felt the tears well up in his eyes and he desperately tried to blink them away. Through his tears, he saw one more family approach and tap out a soldier ten feet ahead of him. His tears flowed down his face as he choked back his sobs. It wasnât anything new for his father to not show up but not even his sisters? He tried to make excuses for them in his mind but the thought of them only made the tears flow faster. Thatâs when he saw a familiar face. Was thatâŠJavy?
He watched as Javy and his family walked his direction and he opened his arms wide to Jake. Finally, he felt a big and tight hug. As embarrassed as he was to do so, Jake sobbed into Javys arms. He basically turned into a puddle feeling a hug. He felt a pair of arms wrap around his back, a softer and smaller pair. He could only assume it was either Javyâs mom or sister.
âThank youâ Jake forced out through his sobs.
âAnytime man. Welcome to the Machado family.â