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Mav glanced over at Iceman, biting back a scowl when the blond met his eyes, expression neutral save one eyebrow ticking up a fraction. Mav tried to match the indifferent look and saw Ice’s lip twitch before movement off to their left caught the other pilot’s attention. 

Mav spared Viper and whatever admiral he was currently talking to a glance before looking back at Ice, but then he froze. Ice’s gaze hadn’t moved off the pair of officers, entire stance rigid as he sat up straighter, his jaw now clenched, and Mav was almost certain he’d paled. Pete’s brow furrowed, and then he felt Goose bristle beside him.

Mav quickly looked to his RIO, automatically on guard, and found the older man’s gaze fixed on the visiting admiral.

Just like Ice’s.

Mav turned back to the pilot, and saw Slider also gaze down at him, concern immediately pinching his expression. He followed the blond’s stare and went entirely rigid. Dark brown eyes were now flaming with ire so extreme Mav was taken aback. The RIO’s arm, wrapped loosely around his pilot, tightened and his right hand moved from lying lax on Ice’s shoulder to fisting the collar of his flight suit in a white-knuckled grip.

Now Mav felt more confused than ever.

What in the world was going on?

Ice had turned back to their instructor, the hand that had been absently twirling a pen now flat on the table, pen forgotten under his fingertips. He was still pale, eyes appearing almost dead. Meanwhile, the rest of their class had picked up on the tension in the air originating from the Slider and Goose’s furious glares fixed unwaveringly on the admiral.

Confused glances were tossed around, and judging by his classmate’s expressions they were as lost as Maverick as to why the two RIOs were suddenly on guard.

He leaned over to Nick, eyeing the admiral again. The older man certainly didn’t seem like anything special. “What’s wrong?”

Goose’s gaze flicked to him, his staredown with the admiral briefly broken. His expression softened a little when he looked at his pilot, though it was only for a second. Then he was back to glowering at the admiral.

Nick’s words were said under his breath, so soft Pete barely caught them. But he did, and he hated the foreboding chill they carried.

“Nothing. I hope.”

oO0Oo

“You guys’ll never guess who that admiral is.” Chipper grinned as he entered the locker room, attracting the attention of nearly all its occupants.

Ice simply ignored him.

Mav shot a curious look at the blond, before gesturing at Chipper to elaborate. “Well? You gonna fill us in or keep us in the dark?”

Chipper’s grin turned smug as he crossed his arms, “Well, one of the gate guards is a friend of mine, and he said that the visiting brass is a certain Admiral Kazansky.”

Mav’s eyebrows rose in surprise and, like Wood, Wolf, and Sundown, his attention swiveled to the pilot in question. Ice continued to keep his back to them, movements sharp and a touch robotic. Mav could feel Goose bristle beside him and caught a glimpse of Slider’s murderous expression as the RIO shoved something in his locker a bit harder than necessary.

“You’re kidding! Ice, how come we didn’t know your dad’s an admiral?” Wolf asked with a playful grin, tone light and teasing. Ice didn’t respond and Wolf’s smile fell at a sharp look from Slider.

Wolf turned to the rest of the room beseechingly, expression a mix of puzzled, concerned, and slightly wounded.

Goose met his gaze and shook his head slightly, his warning softer than Slider’s but every bit as effective. 

Neither he nor Slider seemed open to sharing what the problem was, but their reactions spoke volumes. They openly hated this man and Ice seemed indifferent, if a bit tense, since seeing him earlier. Most people with high-ranking connections bragged about it, or at least mentioned it as a playful threat. But this was the first they were hearing of it.

Something was wrong, and Mav dreaded finding out what it was.

oO0Oo

“You have that Mitchell kid on base, don’t you, Commander?” Admiral Kazansky asked languidly from where he stood at Viper’s office window. 

The other officer’s eyes narrowed a touch, the age-old instinct to protect the Mitchell name swelling in his throat.

He stubbornly swallowed it down.

“Yes, Admiral. Lieutenant ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. He’s one of our best pilots.”

“He’s a traitor!” The Admiral roared, spinning to pin the younger man under an icy glare. For a brief moment the resemblance between father and son was clear…but Iceman’s gaze–from what Viper had seen–never held the cruelty so prevalent in the Admiral’s expression.

Viper steeled himself, bristling just a bit as he straightened, maintaining eye contact. The Navy wouldn’t let him save Duke, but Mike would do whatever he could to buffer for his godson.

“Lieutenant Mitchell is in no way a traitor, Sir. He’s a skilled pilot and a notable officer. A bit wild at times, yes, but that can be chalked up to his age. He is, after all, the youngest pilot ordered to Top Gun.”

That was the wrong thing to say, made clear by the slight narrowing of the graying man’s eyes. His expression remained neutral, but those eyes were calculating. 

Viper had heard of Admiral Kazansky, of course. The man had quite the reputation and it was far from good. Mike hadn’t connected him to Iceman until the Admiral was on base “requesting” (At the time Viper had the distinct feeling that it wasn’t a request. His suspicions were only confirmed as the day wore on.) some of his time. Much to Viper’s surprise, the man’s son had only been mentioned once when the Admiral inquired if Iceman was a good student. 

The man’s derisive huff given in answer to Viper’s affirmative made more sense the longer Viper was with him. Mike was starting to, as much as he tried to fight it, have some serious questions about “The Iceman.”

“You say that like we should be kissing his boots. A Mitchell, of all things, at Top Gun. The Navy shouldn’t be harboring traitors like him. It’s impossible for something like that to be loyal when it’s in his blood to be a double-crosser.”

See, now the Admiral was getting on his nerves talking about one of Viper’s kids like that. 

“Sir, there is absolutely nothing available to support these claims. I’ve flown with Lieutenant Mitchell and would trust him with my life in combat.” Viper grit his teeth at the condescending look that got him. “He’s an impressive pilot and a good student, near the top of his class. Respectfully, Sir, I don’t care for unfounded remarks being made about him.”

“Mind your place, Commander.” Was practically sneered back at him. It had been a long time since someone tried Mike’s patience this badly.

“I want him out.”

It took a second for the words to register, and when they did Viper could do nothing but blink dumbly at the older man. “Out, Sir?”

“Out of this class, out of a plane, out of the Navy. I want him gone, Commander. I don’t care that he’s your pet, he has no place here.” 

Viper took a second to pick which of the Admiral’s words to respond to, once again stamping down his rising anger. “Sir, we cannot simply discharge him. You have no cause–”

“He’s a traitor, isn’t he? The Navy doesn’t want traitors, Commander, and they especially don’t want them in their planes. He has to go before he destroys more property or kills somebody.”

“Sir–”

“That is final, Commander. If you don’t have the balls to do it, call him in so I can do it myself. Actually, that’s a good idea. I’ll be the one to discharge him. Seems I need to talk to that turncoat anyway.”

Viper fumed, silently, at a loss for what he could do in the few minutes it would take to find Maverick. He could pull a favor or two, but he needed time and the Admiral wasn’t giving it. Surely this wasn’t legal? There had to be a loophole to keep his son in the Navy and get the Admiral the hell off his base?

Outside the office door, Iceman slipped silently down the corridor.

oO0Oo

Maverick was confused, to say the least, when Viper caught him alone heading back to his and Goose’s dorm after hops. The Commander didn’t say much, just that he needed Mav for a minute to discuss something. By the angry wrinkles in the older man’s brow that “something” was nothing good, and Maverick spent the entire walk wracking his brain to figure out what he had done wrong. He and Goose hadn’t even buzzed the tower!

Upon entering Viper’s office Mav’s train of thought stuttered a little when he suddenly found himself face-to-face with the same admiral who’d been the talk of the locker room before and after hops.

Admiral Kazansky.

What could Ice’s old man want with him? Did the blond orchestrate this somehow?

“Sir.”

The Admiral’s lip twitched back just a bit, just enough to be a sneer and something familiar in Mav’s chest bristled. He braced himself for the inevitable tongue-lashing…whatever it was about.

It didn’t seem to take much with him.

“Mitchell.” Only years of cruel foster homes kept Pete from shuddering at the pure disgust when the Admiral said his name. Ice had never said or looked at him with this much malice, so Mav couldn’t imagine what had prompted it in the Admiral. 

The Admiral glared at him in silence for a long moment, a sardonic smirk twisting his lips, and Mav fought the growing urge to squirm.

“They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Mitchell, and that certainly seems to be the case with you.” It took everything in him to swallow the stinging words that wanted to rise up. “Everything you do is against orders, against regulations. You’re disobedient and undisciplined. You’re also done, Mitchell.”

While before he was brimming with hot anger, these words filled Mav with a cool dread. When the Admiral showed no sign of continuing, simply staring him down with that smug smirk, Mav ventured a careful, “Sir?”

The smirk widened into a grin that was all teeth and seeing it had Mav’s insides twisting uncomfortably. 

“You heard me, Mitchell. You’re done. Finished here and anywhere else in the Navy. Your dishonorable discharge is as good as filed.” 

The words hit him as hard as the news of his father’s death had all those years ago. 

No.

This wasn’t happening.

After all he’d done…All the years he’d worked…All the crap he’d put up with…

This wasn’t happening.

He glanced at Viper, waiting for his CO to butt in. To tell the Admiral that this was wrong, that he couldn’t do this (but of course he could, he was an admiral while Viper was a commander, rank meant everything in the military) but Viper wasn’t even looking at him. The older man was glaring daggers at the Admiral instead. It was an expression far more venomous than anything Mav had ever seen on him, and that more than any of the Admiral’s words or his derisive smirk sealed it for him.

This was really happening. 

The Admiral was actually going to do it.

“If I may ask, Sir, on what grounds? I may not be the most model officer, but there are worse than me in the Navy.”

The excited gleam in the Admiral’s eyes–a predator going in for the kill, Ice got the same look but it was never this cruel –darkened into fury. At being opposed, Maverick assumed (he knew this type of man well), but he wasn’t going down without some sort of fight. He was already being threatened with having the rest of his life ruined, as if being a Mitchell didn’t automatically do that anyways. What more could the Admiral do?

“Do not speak of your betters like that, Mitchell! They risk their lives for their country and ask nothing in return for their sacrifice. Meanwhile, you’re here waiting for your chance to show your true colors and remind everyone why a Mitchell is not to be trusted.”

Mav puffed up at the insults, but before he could say anything in return Viper's office door opened, startling all three of them. Ice stepped in, expression neutral save for the fire in his eyes. Mav chanced a quick glance at the Admiral and saw a hint of that same disgusted sneer that had previously been aimed at him, but it was gone as soon as it had appeared. Ice closed the door most of the way behind him, fully in the room and eyes only for his father.

“Sir.” 

Mav internally startled at the rigidity in Ice’s tone. The only time he heard the other pilot like that was in the cockpit. He saw Viper’s eyes narrow at the clear wariness.

“Thomas.” 

The name was said with the same disdain as Pete’s own and he nearly flinched out of sympathy. Memories rose, unbidden, of Slider and Goose calling the pilot an affectionate, “Tom,” on occasion. Mav wasn’t sure why, but the comparison–and knowing how he felt whenever Goose said his name with the same air–had protective instincts rising in his chest. 

“You’re not going to discharge Lieutenant Mitchell, dishonorably or otherwise.” Ice spoke with full confidence and Mav nearly did a double take. The blond tipped his head up in a way that Mav had seen directed at him many times before: it was a challenge.

The air in the room shifted and Mav stepped back to ensure that the Admiral wasn’t at his back. Memories of being cornered and locked up and beaten by men with that same look in their eyes flooded his mind. Of being helpless and vulnerable while he was torn apart until the pieces were too small to pick up. Pete hated the Admiral, all the pent up anger towards foster families that were supposed to care for him and failed in so many ways finding an outlet in Kazansky Senior.

“What?”  

The word was a low snarl and a small part of Mav wanted to shake at the tone. It was a tone that said that the speaker wasn’t ever defied, wasn’t ever fought. Was only ever subjected to. That one word told more about Ice’s upbringing than any of their interactions over the past weeks. 

Or maybe Mav had just been blind to the signs.

“You are not discharging Lieutenant Mitchell.” Ice repeated slowly, steel still present in his voice.

The Admiral chuckled, the sound foreboding enough to send a chill down Mav’s spine. “And how are you planning to stop me?” 

Mav hated that he recognized that undertone: the words held promise of punishment, of retribution.

“If you discharge Lieutenant Mitchell you may as well discharge me, too. If he leaves the Navy, so do I.” This time Mav wasn’t able to stop the way his head snapped to the other pilot, shock seeping in when he saw that the blond was dead serious.

Across from him Viper had a similar response, eyes widening as he turned to stare at Ice. 

The Admiral huffed scornfully, “Good riddance. You’ve wasted your time with this pilot crap, were never going to make it anywhere anyway. I thought the Navy could make a man out of you, but clearly I was wrong. At least if you had burned in you’d bring some honor to your name, dying for your country.”

While Ice remained seemingly unbothered, Mav bristled in his defense. No one should be talking to their kid like that. Especially not some stuffy admiral whose son was quite literally one of the best pilots the Navy had. But as Mav opened his mouth–without a clue about what he was going to say–Ice spoke again, eyebrows raising and expression melting a little. Just enough for a slight smirk to grace his lips and his eyes to glitter triumphantly.

“Of course you’re right, Sir. While news of Admiral Kazansky’s only son turning in his wings will bring some unwanted attention to you, it will eventually pass over.”

Ice reached over and opened the office door, and Mav was almost sure his jaw physically dropped when over half their class filed in to fill the room, each one looking furious.

Ice smirked, his RIO now at his shoulder. By the expression on Slider’s face this was far from his first run-in with the Admiral.

“But,” Ice continued his thought from earlier, as smug as he was each time he caught Jester, “if an entire Top Gun class revolted the unwarranted dismissal of one of the students? A revolt led by an admiral’s son, no less? That would catch attention and be in the headlines for weeks. And we all know how much the Navy loves gossip.”

Mav scraped his jaw off the floor to take in the Admiral, and was delighted to see that the man was fuming. An angry flush stole up his neck and covered his cheeks, and he looked like he wanted to break something. Scratch that, he looked like he wanted to break Ice, and Mav was barely able to shove down the instinct to step in front of the blond. He was subdued, somewhat, when he saw their classmates shift pointedly out of the corner of his eye. 

Looked like he wasn’t the only one not taking the Admiral’s crap.

Even Viper was glaring quite pointedly at the Admiral, lip twitched in a small, pleased smirk. 

“I believe,” The Commander intoned slowly, drawing the Admiral’s fiery gaze away from his son for a moment, “That answers your inquiry, Admiral? So if there’s nothing else, I have work to do and would appreciate it if you would get out of my office.”

The Admiral straightened like he was going to fight, then his gaze tracked back to Ice. The pilot stared him down confidently, expression still a bit smug and Mav came to the painful realization that this might be the first time the other man had been able to win against this monster.

Another beat of silence, then, “Of course, Commander.” The words were slow and aloof, but there was an underlying tension. This was the Admiral’s last chance to save face and he knew it. “Thank you for your time.”

Viper nodded, eyes not leaving the Admiral while the man moved to exit the office. Goose pulled Mav back by the shoulder, ensuring he didn’t get too close to the threat. Their classmates shuffled out of the way, all watching him warily, all expecting him to lash out one final time.

The Admiral’s expression was the picture of barely-restrained fury, eyes narrowing as he stopped in front of the now-open door, intense glare fixed once more on Ice and Slider.

“Kerner.” Oh there was definitely a story there. Had to be for the Admiral to not only know Slider by name but to say it with such undiluted hatred.

“Admiral.” Slider growled right back, shifting just a bit so he was positioned between his pilot and the Admiral. The implications of which were lost on no one.

The Admiral stared the RIO down a moment longer, before meeting his son’s eyes with that same dangerous, burning intensity. No words needed to be spoken for something to pass between the two, and then the Admiral was gone.

oO0Oo

Mav needed to talk to Ice. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say or do, but he needed to see the blond. Needed to ensure the pilot was alright after sticking his neck out for Mav’s sake. Goose hurried along beside him as they made their way to Ice and Slider’s housing, brow furrowed in concern. 

They had all dispersed at a gentle word from Viper earlier and Ice had been the first one out the door with Slider on his heels. None of them had seen him since and that had been a couple hours ago. They were all a little shocked by everything that went down at first, the adrenaline crash from standing up to an admiral like that hitting hard along with the relief and disbelief that they did it. There’d undoubtedly be celebratory drinks at the O Club tonight, but all Mav cared about right now was talking to Ice.

They picked up the pace when they got close…and nearly ran into Slider when the RIO barreled out the door looking infuriated.  

“Ron?!” Nick squawked, racing after the older man when Slider didn’t stop. “What–”

Slider shoved the crumpled paper he was fisting into Goose’s hands and Nick quickly opened it, smoothing it just enough to make out the words. Mav had to break into a trot to keep up with the two’s longer legs, gut churning at whatever had sparked this reaction.

“What?!” Goose hissed, expression immediately shifting into something incensed. “He didn’t?!” 

“Yup, his truck’s gone.” Slider growled tightly, approaching his own vehicle as he said it. “I left the idiot alone for a minute and he went to see that monster. When I get there I’m gonna kill them both.”

“I’m coming with you.” Goose declared, stuffing the note in his pocket. “If you go alone either he’ll have to drive back or we’ll have to go get his truck later. This way he can stay with you.”

Slider shot Goose a grateful look as he pulled the driver’s side door open. Mav stepped up closer, reaching for the back door.

“I’m going too.”

“What?” Slider turned to him in apparently genuine surprise, eyes narrowing a bit. The guard dog air the RIO carried made so much more sense now.

Mav met his eyes steadily. “He risked his neck for me. I owe him my career and probably my life. There’s no way I’m standing by while he takes on that sadist alone.”

Slider studied him for a long moment, gaze as sharp and calculating as his pilot’s typically was. Then, he softened with a slight, approving nod.

“I like you.”

Goose barked a laugh as he leapt into the passenger side, Mav scrambling for the back seat.

“Certainly took you long enough!”

oO0Oo

Mav whistled softly at the neighborhood they were in. Big, extravagant houses he’d only ever dreamed of seeing the front porch of, lined the street. Evidence of money was everywhere, from the trimmed hedges to the ridiculously priced vehicles. Everything just screamed wealth.

“There’s his truck.” Goose pointed, voice tight. Slider growled under his breath, pulling into the drive a bit more sharply than necessary. They practically threw themselves out, ready to storm the place, but before they had reached the porch Ice raced out, glaring daggers at his RIO even as relief threatened to engulf his expression. 

“Ron, what are you doing here?!” The blond snarled, not fighting when Slider and Goose got on either side of him and physically dragged him to the trucks. The need to get him away from that house was nearly frantic.

“What am I doing here?! Tom, what are you doing here, bud?! What were you thinking coming here?! Especially alone!”

“Ron, he told me to come–”

“He can’t control you anymore, Tom!”

“Ron.” Ice bit out, glancing subconsciously back at the house. A much-needed reminder that they weren’t safe yet. “Ron, you shouldn’t have come here–”

“Bull.” Mav announced. Under different circumstances he’d be amused at how the other pilot startled once he spoke. As it was, however, he was quick to send a sympathetic wince in apology.

Ice blinked in surprise, staring at him for a moment like he was seeing things. “Maverick? The hell are you doing here?”

“You risked your neck standing up to that monster for me. Literally, it looks like.” The last words were softer and horror-lined at the forming bruises branding the blond’s throat. 

Ice winced, a subconscious hand lifting to light upon the injury before Slider gently batted him away.

“C’mon.” The RIO growled, voice terse, a stark contrast to how softly he was holding his pilot’s shoulder. “Let’s get back to base.”

“Gimme your keys, Tommy.” Goose directed gently, stepping closer. “You’re riding back with Ron.”

Ice opened his mouth, likely to argue, but when Goose pinned him with a look Mav was all too familiar with the blond sighed, yielding silently. He dug his keys out of his pocket, dropping them in Goose’s waiting palm and moving to the passenger side of Ron’s truck without another word. The rest of them climbed in too–Mav and Goose in Ice’s truck and the other pilot-RIO pair in Slider’s–and Mav felt pure rage bubble up when he caught sight of the Admiral standing in front of a window, watching them passively. 

Mav grinned viciously when Slider threw the Admiral the bird as he peeled out of the driveway, and he and Goose rolled down their windows to follow suit. Each offered their own one-fingered salute as they escaped the Admiral’s place.

oO0Oo

“Why did he go there?” Mav questioned once they were on the road, tracking Slider’s truck ahead of them like a hawk. It wasn’t like there was cause to worry. Ice was safe from the Admiral, now, and Mav had the distinct feeling it would take physical force to steal him from his RIO’s protective watch.

Goose sighed, tapping the steering wheel anxiously. “It’s complicated, Petey.”

“How?! He knew he was going to get hurt. Everyone did when they saw how the Admiral looked at him earlier! But he still went! Ice is smarter than that! He knows better than to put himself in harm’s way, so how come he went?!” 

Frustration was mixing heatedly with rage, concern, and a dose of shock. A lot had happened in very little time and it was crashing into him now, even harder than right after the Admiral had left. 

Goose was quiet for a long few minutes, then, softly, he murmured, “Why did you obey Mr. Parker?”

Mav sucked in a sharp breath, nearly giving himself whiplash with how quickly his gaze snapped from Slider’s truck to Nick.

“What?” He breathed, betrayal tinging his tone. Goose, of course, caught it and reached over with one hand to reassuringly rub his shoulder.

Mr. Parker was the last foster father he had before Goose found him at fifteen and took him in. It had been a bit of a battle to gain custody of him, and once during that time Mr. Parker had come to drag Pete away, not wanting to lose the money meant to support Pete. All it had taken was a curt, snapped command and Pete had been skittering forward to heel like a dog. He’d known Nick and the Bradshaws were too good to be true. As such, when he inevitably returned to Mr. Parker’s care he hadn’t wanted to face more punishment than was already awaiting him.

“Why did you go with Mr. Parker, Pete, when you didn’t want to?” 

He hadn’t stayed long, of course. Not with the angry, protective Bradshaw family fighting for him.

“I…” For the life of him, Mav couldn’t give an answer that made sense. In hindsight it was so painfully obvious that he should’ve avoided the pain and stayed where it was safe, but he hadn’t realized that was an actual option.

Oh.

“You went with him because you were scared and you thought if you didn’t go you’d just be hurt more for it. You didn’t know you never had to see him again, so you went.” Goose gently explained what Mav had missed before. “Honey, Tom’s an only child and lost his mom when he was barely a teenager. He was completely raised by the Admiral. It took Ron weeks to get through to him. It was a little easier for me because at that point he trusted Ronny’s judgment, but it still took a while.” The pointed glance at Mav was unnecessary. Pete could see the similarities between them.

It had taken him a couple months to start really trusting Nick. 

“His father’s word was law growing up. He really hasn’t been away from home all that long, Pete. Not long enough for that to change, in any case. He’s only a year older than you, you know.”

Mav blinked in surprise, “Really?”

“Mhmm. Got into Academy at 17.” 

The more Pete learned about The Iceman, the less he liked what he was hearing. “You’re allowed in at 17?”

“Yup.” Goose intoned, popping the ‘p.’ The word was sad, though, and Mav tried to imagine getting into Academy that young. He’d been rejected when he tried, but if he’d actually made it in? Even without being branded as a Mitchell, being a shrimpy kid amongst giants was dangerous and terrifying. And to not trust anyone on top of that made for a miserable time.

oO0Oo

Goose parked beside Slider and Ice’s feet had barely touched the ground before the two RIOs were dragging him to his and Slider’s housing. Mav snorted under his breath, jogging to catch up.

Ice sighed as Mav came up on Goose’s other side. “Guys, I’m fine–”

“If you’re back’s a mess so help me–” Slider growled in return, dragging his pilot up the steps and through the door.

Mav’s gut churned at the implication. He knew all too well what that entailed.

“It’s not, Sli, relax.”

“I’ll relax after I see that you’re not hurt badly. Take off your shirt.”

“Ron–”

“Off.”

“Nick?” Ice changed tactics hopefully, but Mav could tell the blond knew he wasn’t getting any help. Sure enough, Goose gently shook his head, nodding at the blond’s torso.

“C’mon, Tommy. You know if you don’t take it off Ron’ll rip it off. You’re not getting out of this, kiddo.”

Ice sighed again, but obediently shucked his shirt. 

Mav hissed through his teeth and he was pretty sure Slider was vibrating with ire. Goose’s jaw was clenched so hard Mav was seriously concerned his RIO would break something. 

Ice had told the truth–there were no marks on his back. There was, however, a smattering of cigarette burns on his hip (low enough to be covered, though doing so would hurt). And the rope burns now clearly evident on his wrists had scraped skin off, leaving the areas raw. The worst of it, though, was around his neck. That he’d been choked was obvious, even if the bruises hadn’t darkened yet–they would by tonight–they still clearly wrapped around the blond’s neck, extending down a bit to his sternum.

The Admiral had been pressing down hard on his chest as well as his neck…Mav’s gut churned at the mental images. 

He tore his gaze from the other’s torso in time to see a drop of blood race down along the edge of Ice’s face. The pilot absently wiped at it with a scowl, and for the first time Mav noticed the three inch long cut just within the older man’s hairline. Another injury that could be easily covered.

Looked like the Admiral had a lot of practice. Choking his son had obviously been his main course of action, before he was thinking clearly. Mav shuddered at the thought of growing up his whole life with a man whose first instinct was to try to kill you when he was angry (he’d lived with that a time or two, but never more than a few months).

Slider sighed slowly, forcing the tension from his frame. “You, sit.” He pointed to the couch and, while looking mildly disgruntled, Ice did so. Once he was off his feet Slider nodded approvingly. “I’ll grab the first aid kit.” 

As the burly RIO disappeared Goose moved to sit on the coffee table before the pilot. “How about your legs, T? Any cuts we gotta clean?”

Ice sighed, finally sagging forward in the safety of his housing, the long day seeming to hit him all at once. “No, Nick, I’m alright. Just a few bruises.”

“Your ankles aren’t twisted or anything?” Nick pressed, carefully scanning the blond.

Ice’s gaze softened a little. Mav didn’t think he’d ever bear witness to the pilot looking at someone so fondly. “No, Nick. Like I said before, ‘m okay.” 

“You will be.” Slider offered, reappearing to set the first aid kit on the table beside Goose. He sat beside Ice on the couch, tipping his pilot’s head a bit to more closely examine his neck, then cursed softly. In one smooth motion he had an arm around the other’s shoulders and was pulling him gently against his chest.

Ice huffed, but allowed himself to be tugged into the embrace, ducking his head against Slider’s shoulder. Tremors that Mav hadn’t even seen start in the pilot slowly let up as he sank into his RIO. Mav shifted nervously, glancing away.

This all felt too personal, too private when he’d spent weeks bickering and competing with this man. 

“Mav,” Goose prompted gently, startling him. He spun back to his RIO like a spooked deer and was met with Nick’s reassuring smile. “Wouldja run to the bathroom and grab a towel, and something cold from the freezer?”

It took a moment for the words to register, but once they did Mav rapidly nodded. He sent Goose a grateful look and hurried away, glad to have a task. When he returned with the requested towel and a bag of frozen peas Ice was sitting up, grumbling at the RIOs. Slider was carefully rubbing a cream into the burns on his hip while Goose wrapped the pilot’s wrists.

“Nick, you know I can’t keep these wrapped, it’ll draw too much attention.”

“You can take them off tomorrow morning, Tom. But for tonight you’re keeping them wrapped. Gotta give the skin a chance to heal without rubbing against anything.”

Ice sighed through his nose, gaze flicking to Mav. That confusion from earlier sparked once more, but the blond didn’t seem angry he was there. Mav hoped that was a good sign, though it was completely possible the other pilot was just too tired to fight his presence at this point. 

Goose released Ice’s hands, and glanced with a smile at Mav. “Thanks, Pete.” Maverick handed over the supplies when Goose reached for them and watched while the older man wrapped the peas in the towel before gingerly pressing the cold compress to Ice’s neck. The man in question scowled a bit, jerking back instinctively before reaching up to take the pack from Goose’s hands. Pete saw Nick shoot the blond a pointed look, eyebrows raised, and Ice sighed again, turning once more to Maverick.

“Thanks, Mav.”

“No problem.” The words were awkward and a touch too quick, but before he could say anything else Slider interrupted him. 

“How’d you get this cut, Tommy?” It seemed the RIO had finished treating the other’s burns and was now gently framing Tom’s face, carefully inspecting the wound.

Ice hummed thoughtfully, tipping his head into Slider’s hands while he stared at the ceiling, hands lowering to his lap. “Was…corner of a cabinet? Or something? I think? Pretty sure it happened when he slammed me into the wall.” Gaze flicking back to his incensed RIO, he sighed. “It’s fine, Ron. ‘m not concussed, it’s just a cut.”

“No headache?” Goose carefully questioned.

“Nope.”

“Dizziness? Nausea? Light sensitivity?”

“No, Nick. Promise.” Then, more pointedly, “I have had a concussion before. I know what it’s like.” 

A surprised chuckle escaped Mav when both Goose and Slider rolled their eyes.

“We know, Tom.” Goose’s tone was fondly exasperated. “If you didn’t ignore your injuries like an idiot we wouldn’t have to check so closely.”

This time all three of them laughed at the insulted look that passed over Iceman’s face. The blond didn’t deny it, though, so it must have held some truth. With the tense spell broken Mav felt himself relax, and was finally able to work up the courage to say what he’d wanted to since Ice first stepped into Viper’s office.

“Why’d you defend me, today?” The words were a bit rushed and Ice glanced at him in bewilderment, not moving from where Slider was closing the cut on his head with butterfly strips.

“What do you mean?” Mav was surprised by the genuine confusion his question raised. He’d think it was obvious.

He opened his mouth, unsure how he was supposed to explain.

Just his luck he finally had his chance to talk to Ice and yet he couldn’t think of a single word.

“I…the Admiral. He was after me, not you. Yet you stuck your neck out for me anyway. You got hurt when it was me he was after.”

Ice huffed, shaking his head slowly now that Slider was finished. The RIO was monitoring the conversation carefully, but didn’t intervene.

“No, Mav, it wasn’t you he was after. It was me. But he couldn’t do anything to me without jeopardizing his reputation. He needed someone to take his anger out on and you happened to be convenient.” Ice sighed, looking worn. He dragged a hand through his hair then met Mav’s eyes once more. “I’m sorry he dragged you into this, Mav.”

The last thing Mav had been expecting was an apology and he felt whatever he wanted to say die in his throat. Goose’s hand on his back grounded him, but somehow he couldn’t stammer out his answer. 

He wasn’t sure how Ice interpreted the silence, but the blond barreled on regardless. “Why’d you come to get me? I expected Ron. And possibly Nick. But why are you here?”

There was some of the guardedness Mav was so used to and, unlike any time before, it hurt to see it given the day’s events.

“Why? Are you kidding? You threatened to turn in your wings for me, Ice! You don’t even like me! And you got most of the class to go along with you! I know they might’ve been bluffing, but you don’t bluff. You meant it in there. And even if it was just a way to get back at the Admiral and didn’t have anything to do with me, I’m still the one whose butt you saved.”

“You don’t owe me anything.” Ice growled, eyes narrowing. “I don’t need your pity. You were in trouble because of me.”

“I owe you my career.” Mav shot back. “And possibly my life. You know what happens to people who’re dishonorably discharged. You didn’t ask him to take me out of the running. You didn’t want him to go after me. So I fail to see how in the world you can consider yourself responsible for his actions.”

“Think that’s the smartest thing you’ve ever said, Mav.” Slider mused lightly, but he wasn’t looking at Pete, he was staring down Ice. Ice rolled his eyes, glaring right back.

Ah, this was an old argument, then. Mav knew the Admiral’s kind. It wouldn’t surprise him if Ice had spent his entire life taking the blame for every one of the Admiral’s mistakes. 

Slider gently clasped his pilot’s forearm before rising. “I’ll grab you a shirt.”

That got another eye roll from his pilot. “I can walk, Sli. I’m not actually hurt that badly.”

“Uh huh.”

Ice watched his RIO leave with a distinctly unimpressed look, raising the frozen peas back to his neck almost thoughtlessly. Goose chuckled, hand dropping from Mav’s back as he began cleaning up the first aid kit. Mav shifted uneasily, still unsure if his presence was welcome. He glanced around the living room. It was neat and clean, but still looked lived in. There were notes on the side table next to the armchair and a book on the kitchen table. Knick knacks that gave the sparse military housing a feeling of home were scattered here and there. All in all, it wasn’t all that dissimilar to his and Goose’s housing. Mav wasn’t sure why that came as any surprise to him. Maybe he had been so caught up in perceiving Iceman as a threat (at best) that he forgot that the blond was human, just like him.

Today had been a rather jarring reminder of that.

Ice reached up and caught the shirt thrown at his head without turning to see Slider re-enter the room. It was an attunement to his surroundings that surprised Pete, especially given how the other pilot was dragging. Goose disappeared down the hall to deposit the first aid kit in the bathroom while Slider moved over to lean against the couch back behind Ice.

“Jerk.” Ice muttered while pulling the shirt on. It immediately sagged on the blond’s frame. It took Mav a long couple seconds to work out why the sight seemed odd, but then he recognized the t-shirt: it was one of Slider’s. 

Slider affectionately ruffled his pilot’s hair with a grin, mindful of the cut near his temple. “You love me.” 

A grumble was given in response, but Ice didn’t deny it. Mav bit back a smirk, perking up when a knock on the door sounded at the same instant Goose returned to the living room.

“I got it.” Mav quickly volunteered, grateful for another chance to be useful. He hurried to the door, checking quickly before opening it in relief.

A part of him was terrified he’d be facing down the Admiral again. Once was enough for a lifetime, as far as he was concerned.

Wood and Wolf’s brows rose when he answered the door, the two straightening from the conversation they’d been having.

“Mav? This is Ice and Sli’s housing, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re in the right place.” Mav assured quickly, leaning back to call into the house, “It’s Wood and Wolf!”

He had no idea if Ice would want to see people, especially with how quickly he’d disappeared earlier. But he also sympathized with the pilot-RIO pair in front of him. They’d all been a bit worried when Ice ducked them.

“They can come in!” Slider called back and Mav stepped out of the way, tilting his head in invitation. They shot him confused looks as they moved into the house, but Mav just grimaced in answer.

They’d see soon enough.

Mav followed them into the living room and was only a little surprised when Wood bit out a sharp curse. Wolf hissed softly, approaching the pilot on the couch quickly. Slider was still where he’d been when Mav went to answer the door, and Goose was once more perched on the coffee table. The bag of frozen peas from earlier was now absent, explaining the sound of Goose’s trip to the kitchen while Mav was at the door.

“We’d hoped we weren’t too late.” Hollywood growled, also stepping closer but still hanging back at the end of the couch. Wolf took a knee on the couch cushions next to Ice, inspecting the rapidly-darkening bruising on his neck. Outrage was flashing in typically docile blue eyes. His gaze tracked down to Ice’s taped wrists, then up again to his neck and the cut on his head.

“Too late for what?” Ice questioned, glancing between the two with narrowed eyes. Mav wasn’t sure if it made him feel better or worse that he wasn’t the only person Ice was wary about right now. It seemed only Slider and Goose were accepted as ‘safe.’

“We wanted to come and make sure the Admiral wasn’t gonna try anything.” Wolf answered distractedly, still eyeing the hurt pilot. “Guess we were too late, huh?”

“Why?” The word was a bit sharp as Ice bristled. Mav wondered what he was waiting for. Them to turn on him? Mock him? Despise him for someone he has no control over? Hate him because of what the Admiral did?

Slider’s hand slipped down from the back of the couch to rest on his pilot’s shoulder, thumb smoothing circles against Ice’s collar bone and the blond leaned into it, relaxing marginally. 

Wolf had leaned back a little at the snap, hands raised placatingly while Wood’s expression darkened, but it wasn’t Ice his fury was directed at.

“We did some digging after the Admiral left. Learned a few things we wished we’d known when that sadist first showed up on base.” Wood answered. When Ice paled the older pilot winced, hurriedly continuing, “We figured he’d throw a fit after you stood up to him. Men get dangerous when their pride’s hurt and we thought you guys might need backup. He tried to toss Mav outta the Navy and he didn’t even do anything to the guy. Weren’t sure how he’d react to what you did.”

“Looks like he didn’t take it too well, huh?” Wolf murmured apologetically.

Ice glanced between them, slowly settling from defensive alert to cautious disbelief. 

“It’s not that bad.” 

It could have been worse. Is what they hear.

Wood grit his teeth, then sighed, turning towards the kitchen. “You have any meds yet?”

Ice blinked after him, dumbstruck. “What?”

“Not yet. He’s gotta eat something, anyways.” Slider answered, straightening up with a stretch.

“Don’t worry, we got that covered.” Wolf assured, shifting in place. His lip twitched at the four confused looks aimed at him, but before any interrogating could be done there was a knock on the door.

“Got it.” Goose jumped up. Mav huffed, following him. Nick checked who was there just like Mav had earlier, then swung the door open with a grin. 

Mav beamed when he saw Chipper and Sundown on the other side, loaded down with pizzas and a couple liters of soda. 

“We late for the party?” Chip chirped gleefully, though there was a concerned note in his gaze.

“Just in time.” Goose answered, stepping back so they could enter the house.

“Weren’t sure we had the right address when Goose and Mav answered.” Sunny chuckled, moving after Chipper towards the kitchen to deposit their goods.

“That’s what we thought too! Mav answered the door for us earlier. Man, can you imagine how sad that’d be if we actually got base housing confused after being here for weeks?” Wolf chattered. “You guys got any paper plates?” 

“There’s a bag in the pantry.” Slider answered, leaning against the doorframe with an amused look on his face. He slung an arm across his pilot when the blond carefully stepped closer, looking a bit lost at all the people suddenly in his house.

Both Chip and Sunny gave him a second glance, but neither said anything. Thankfully the two read the room, hands never faltering from where they were setting out the pizza boxes.

“Alrighty, boys. You guys ready to celebrate saving Mav’s career and defeating an admiral?!” Chipper whooped, though it was softer than usual. The domestic atmosphere quieting him to an indoor version of the boisterous pilot.

“I’ll drink to that! I see that dastard come ‘round here again there’ll be hell to pay!” Wood crowed in agreement. 

A startled laugh left Ice at that and the blond finally relaxed. Slider grinned, nodding to the boxes, “Sounds good to me. C’mon, would be a shame to let Chip and Sunny’s money go to waste.” 

They dug in at that, everyone loading plates and cups and migrating to the living room. The TV served as optional entertainment, but they were all more interested in regaling each other with other times they’d gotten on the wrong side of the Navy’s law.

“You’re kidding!”

“Swear it on my grandmother’s grave.” Goose intoned, lifting a hand.

Mav snorted his Coke (AN: I’m sorry, I had to). “Goose, both your grandmothers are still alive.”

“May God rest her soul.” The RIO ignored him, bowing his head with closed eyes.

There was another round of laughter and Sunny shook his head. 

“Still, that’s crazy. You shouldn’t’ve been able to make it back to the carrier.”

“But we did.” Mav stated, only a little smugly. 

Slider chuckled low. “Soundin’ pretty cocky there, Mav. We’ll have to really serve it to you tomorrow.” The words were a light tease just like most of Slider’s taunts, and now that Mav wasn’t perceiving the man as a threat he was able to grin back. That grin faltered, though, when Hollywood spoke up.

“Right. Hops tomorrow.” Wood offered awkwardly, exchanging glances with his RIO. Mav stilled, internally wincing. They were all thinking the same thing. Wood mulled his words for a long moment, then hesitantly asked, “You sure Viper’ll let you go up looking like that?”

Ice waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll look like normal tomorrow.”

A long pause.

“Really?” Chipper asked, slowly and dubiously. 

Ice raised a challenging eyebrow and Mav saw Slider roll his eyes playfully. Goose coughed a laugh into his fist.

Oh. Ice was enjoying how uncomfortable they were about this. Kinda dark humor, but Mav figured that was fair after the day they’d had. 

“Concealer, Piper. A guy’s best friend.”

The round of chuckles that prompted loosened their frames as they realized they weren’t overstepping.

“You a makeup artist in another life, Ice?” Wolf teased.

The pilot just shrugged, picking up his slice of pizza once more. He’d long swallowed the pills Wood shoved at him. “I practiced a lot in Academy. Ron was a deep sleeper.”

The chuckles turned into full-blown laughter at that. Slider snorted, drawing Ice into a light headlock that failed to so much as brush his bruised throat. Ice went willingly into his side, remaining under the RIO’s arm once Slider relaxed his grip.

“Yeah, yeah. Yuk it up. You watch it, Tommy. I’ve got stories ‘bout you, kid.”

Ice just smirked smugly. “Like going home for Thanksgiving break on I-95?”

Goose choked on a chip, leaning over to cough into his fist, tears leaking down his cheeks even as his shoulders shook in silent laughter. Mav pounded him on the back, exchanging bemused looks with the others.

When he glanced back over Ice was still looking smug while Slider glowered darkly at him. 

“You brat.” Then the RIO’s gaze lightened to something far more mischievous, something that had Ice’s eyes narrowing. “I was thinking more along the lines of the ice cream incident?”

Ice full on growled at that–which Mav had to assume hurt his throat–while Goose fell to giggling.

“Anyone else feel like they’re missing a whole lotta context?” Wood asked, giving a satisfied nod when four hands raised. “Alright. Just checking.”

Ice huffed, expression shifting from miffed to something that would look pouty on anyone else. “Don’t worry about it.”

Sunny rolled his eyes playfully. “Sure, Ice. Whatever you say.” But then he leaned over to stage-whisper to Slider, “You’ll tell me later, right?”

Slider winked back, ignoring the disgruntled look his pilot sent him. Goose’s eyebrows rose.

“You know, I have all the good dirt on both of them. If there’s anyone you should be going to, it's me.”

The deadpan looks Ice and Slider leveled at him were hilariously similar and Mav barked a laugh while the others chuckled. Wood perked up hopefully.

“Really, Goosey?! Ol’ buddy, ol’ pal?! You’d tell us a story?!”

“Is that why Ice calls you Mother Goose?” Wolf teased.

Nick barked a laugh at that and it was again Ice’s turn to roll his eyes.

“Nah, it was supposed to be an insult to get me to stop fighting the idiot’s suicidal tendencies.” Goose dismissed conspiratorially. He then met Ice’s eyes and grinned proudly. “But it didn’t work.”

Ice released a put-upon sigh, leaning into Slider’s side a bit more. “No, it didn’t. You weren’t supposed to like being called Mother Goose, Nick.”

Nick shrugged. “Better than going by ‘Slider.’”

Ice ducked away from his RIO before any of them had processed that the older man was moving. The blond smothered a smirk when Ron grabbed the nearest empty plate and frisbee’d it across the open space between him and Goose, smacking the other man square on the nose.

“Oi!” Goose yelped with a scowl, rubbing at his abused nose.

Ice settled like a content cat back under his RIO’s arm when Slider sat again whilst the others howled with laughter.

“Talk about targeting.” Chipper whistled appreciatively when he had the air, still giggling sporadically.

“See, this is why he switched over from pilot.” Sunny nodded approvingly. “People think he was dumb or somethin’. No. Sli just likes being good at everything.”

“Mmm, maybe that’s why he and Ice get along.” Nick cracked with a chuckle. His good humor recovered once he’d folded up the plate and smacked Slider in the shoulder with the projectile.

“Hey, yeah. I forget Goose said you were a pilot.” Mav perked up.

Slider hummed. “Yeah, planned on it for a while. But after trying it, felt I’d prefer a RIO’s position.” He shrugged, absently smoothing circles into Ice’s shoulder with the hand wrapped around his pilot. “Worked out well enough for me.”

Seeing the way Slider and Ice interacted, Mav got the feeling it went deeper than that. But then, who was he to push? Goose had gone to Academy just so Mav would have a buddy in the Navy and wouldn’t get, literally, ripped to shreds. 

Wolf yawned and that, naturally, had the rest of them yawning, too.

Wood groaned into his hands, “Dangit, Wolf.”

“Sorry, sorry.” The RIO chuckled, sending them an apologetic wince.

Goose hummed, glancing at his watch. “It is getting late.”

There were some noncommittal agreements, but none of them made a move to get up.

Ice sighed, bracing his elbows on his knees to rest his head in his hands, Slider’s arm still draped over his shoulders. He turned his head a bit to murmur something to his RIO, who chuckled low. His reply had Ice sighing again, then the blond straightened to his feet with a slight wince, rolling his shoulders. Mav was sure he was feeling all his aches and bruises now.

“There’s spare quilts and pillows in the hall closet. But you aren’t getting them unless you clean up.” Ice grumbled, heading for the kitchen before any of them could process the words. They looked to Slider for confirmation, who just huffed.

“You better mind him. Trust me when I say you do not wanna see Iceman in ‘Mom Mode.’”

“I don’t have a ‘Mom Mode!’” Ice called from the kitchen.

“Yes you do!” Both Goose and Slider hollered back. 

Goose snickered. “Big ol’ softy. He’s right, though. Let’s try not to leave this place looking worse than we found it.”

Chip groaned as he stood, already grabbing plates. “There’s two of them?”

“Ohhh yeah.” Slider answered. “And trust me you do not want both of them mothering you at the same time. That makes for a long night.”

“The voice of experience?” Mav asked with a grin.

Slider just sent him a dry look in return. “You smile now, but just wait ‘till it happens to you.”

“WwooOOooOhhHhhH.” Wolf theatrically cooed, waving his filled hands dramatically as he ducked into the kitchen.

“I don’t know, Wolf. Sounds like we better heed his warning.” Wood mused playfully. 

“He is a hypocrite.” Goose announced. “And he’s every bit as bad as we are, don’t let him fool you.”

“Academy must’ve been a blast with you guys.” Sunny chuckled. “Wish I’d known you guys then. Sounds like it would’ve been fun.”

“Fun’s one word for it.” Ice grumbled, downing a glass of water. “I’m turning in. Don’t break anything.”

“Ice, what do we have that they could break?” Slider chuckled, seemingly unsurprised when Ice stopped next to him for a moment on his way out of the kitchen. The blond allowed himself to be tugged once more into his place under Slider’s arm. It amazed Mav that he had once thought Ice didn’t like when Slider did that. Exhausted and in pain within the confines of his own house, though, he initiated the contact as often as not. 

Ice hummed tiredly, rubbing at his face before answering, “You never know what’s breakable until you have kids or animals around. Isn’t that what you said the first time I went to your place?”

“He’s got a point.” Goose vouched, leaning against the counter. “I never realized all that could be destroyed until I had a walking toddler.”

Mav snickered. “I remember the first time Carole called saying Bradley nearly took out the lamp.”

“Which reminds me, I should move the lamp in the living room to somewhere where it’ll be safe for the night.” Ice mused aloud, almost absently. His eyes were glittering, though, and his lip twitched when they called out in mock offense.

“Alright, alright.” Slider chuckled, waving a hand to quiet them. “You go on to bed, T. I’ll get the rowdies settled.”

“How are we rowdy?” Chipper exclaimed while Slider gently pushed his pilot out of the kitchen. The RIO then turned to raise an eyebrow at him.

“Really? You wanna go there with me, Piper? Cause I got a long list if you got time ta hear it.”

Chipper sighed with a grumbled, “No.” Pouting at the floor dejectedly. Then the pilot glanced up, checking down the hall before turning on Slider, voice significantly softer when he asked, “He alright?”

Slider sighed and they all perked up. Even Mav, who’d seen all the injuries firsthand.

“He’ll be fine. Gonna be sore tomorrow, but all in all this was pretty good.”

“His neck is nearly black with bruises and that’s ‘pretty good?’” Wood hissed.

“Yes.” Slider replied, the single word ensuring that his point hit home hard.

Being nearly choked to death was better than most times Ice saw the Admiral. 

There were some low curses, then Wolf murmured, “Why did the guy even come? There was no way he actually cared about Mav, right? Viper likes him, it’s not like he’s gonna report him up the ladder or anything.”

“Ice said the Admiral was after him.” Mav replied, glaring at the ground. “But he couldn’t ‘jeopardize’ his reputation so took his anger out on me instead. Means the Admiral must’ve missed his punching bag when Ice was on a carrier?” He met Slider’s gaze when he asked and found himself being analyzed. He wasn’t wrong, though, judging by the older man’s expression.

“He hasn’t seen Ice in nearly five years.” Slider answered slowly. “Made it quite clear that he didn’t want any more contact with him, which was certainly for the best.”

They digested that for a moment, then Sunny glanced at Slider. “He knows you, though?”

Slider grinned at that. “I had a little talk with the Admiral the last time he and Ice saw each other. He wasn’t exactly pleased he couldn’t destroy my career at the time, and he knows that if he tried now Ice would do something about it. Even if he was never sure what that something was. Today gave him an idea, I reckon.”

Goose cackled at that. “If today didn’t get the message across, nothing will.”

“Agreed.” Mav hummed. Then he grinned. “Did you see his face when you guys came in the door? I thought he was gonna blow a gasket.”

That got some light chuckles. 

“Even Viper was happy to see him so mad.” Wood grinned. “Admiral Kazansky is an extremely unlikable individual. Man, I never knew someone could be hated so much by so many.”

Mav did, he had lived his entire life like that. But unlike him, the Admiral brought it all on himself simply by being a terrible person.

This time Chipper was the one to yawn, starting yet another chain reaction. He ducked his head when they all groaned at him, grinning through his apology.

“Alright, alright. Living room and kitchen are cleaned up. I’ll drag some stuff out for you and you guys can fight over who sleeps where.” Slider murmured, turning down the hallway.

oO0Oo

Once Ron had changed into sweats and a tee and was sure the hooligans were settled for the night–ignoring the occasional kicking, swatting, and cursing–he moved quietly down the hall to Tom’s room. 

He found his pilot curled on his side on the bed, body relaxed, but breathing too fast for sleep.

“Mmhg…’on?” 

Slider chuckled softly, closing the door behind him. “Yeah, Tommy. Just me. You okay?”

“Mmm.” 

A soft huff left his lips as he approached the bed, smoothing a hand through ruffled blond strands.

“You hurtin’ any, Tom?”

“Nnmm.” Ron would take that as a ‘no.’

“Th’y ok’y?”

Slider smiled fondly, fixing the blankets. “Yeah, bud. Everyone’s okay. They’re settled down in the living room, so don’t step on anyone before you’ve had coffee tomorrow.”

“Hmm. Wha’ ‘bout after coffee?”

Slider sniggered. “After coffee they should be up. Anyone who’s not is fair game.”

He saw Ice’s lip twitch in the dim room before he was met with another sleepy hum. If only the pilot could spend the whole night this peacefully. Unfortunately, Slider knew his kid and he knew what happened any time Tom saw his sorry-excuse for a father.

He remained quietly next to Ice’s bed for a long couple minutes, brushing through the blond’s hair absently.

“Take it y’re stayin’?” Ice grumbled at him, startling Slider from his lull. He chuckled, caught.

“Yeah, kiddo. For tonight, at least.” 

Ice sighed…then butted against Slider’s hand.

“C’mon, then. We got class t’m’rrow.”

Slider huffed softly, finally moving to the other side of the bed. He rolled his eyes fondly when the pilot shifted a bit closer to him, throwing an arm over the kid and settling when Tom did.

“Night, Tom.”

“N’ght, Ron.” Was murmured back at him. A beat, then, “Thanks f’r comin’ f’r me.”

“Always, Tommy. Always.”