──────── ᯓ★ ────────

𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕖 𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕧𝕖

──────── ᯓ★ ────────

✈︎

"That was fun." Hangman chuckles, appearing behind me. He followed me.

I exhale through my nose before turning around, humming in acknowledgement. "That's one way of putting it." I catch a glimpse over Hangman's shoulder of Rooster heading our way. Phoenix, staying put behind him, makes eye contact with me, her brows knitting together with her worried-confused 'what the fuck are you doing' look.

"So, since we'll be seeing a lot more of each other why don't you say we continue this fun of ours and I take you out one night?" Hangman asks me, drawing me back in to the Colgate smile in front of me. Oh, Lennox you know you shouldn't. He's a total prick, but hot easy on the eyes nonetheless.... And you know who this will piss off... I internally scream and scold that my mind went there.

"Is... that a yes?" Hangman breaks me from my thoughts, noticing the calculating smirk that has made its way onto my lips. Oh— what the hell?

I click my tongue. "Sure is."

"Great. We'll talk more." He winks, raising his brows as he lifts his beer to his lips and walks away, revealing Rooster waiting behind him.

I scoff. "Can I help you?" My eyes squint at the audacity presenting itself to me.

"What was that about?" He questions strainedly , stepping closer since as it only grows louder in here, the bar quickly becoming more packed minute by minute.

"Oh, you heard that did you?" I tilt my head innocently.

His jaw visible ticks as frown settles on his face. "Are you really going on a date with him?"

"Hmmm. I don't believe that's any of your business, is it?" My shoulders raise lightly.

"So what, you're going on a date with him just to spite me?" He inches closer.

I choke out a noise of his fucking audacity. "Believe it or not, Rooster," I take a step forward. "Not everything's about you." My blazing gaze meets his.

"What are we, twelve?" He asks, unamused.

"One of us is." I pat his check with a tight lipped grin before forcefully brushing past him, my hands shooting up to my temples as I do.

A hand wraps around my wrist. "It's the music, isn't it?" Rooster's voice grates against my ears. What is he going on about now?

I sigh, blinking longly. "Huh?"

"You don't like this kind of music because it—"

"Gives me headaches," I finish at the same time he says, "Gives you headaches."

I look back at him as his brown eyes bore into mine. And my throat tightens, as if it's closing up entirely.

"Can we please ta—" I rip out of his grasp before he can finish as if he's suddenly on fire, or I am. I stumble back, trying to make my way back to Phoenix as more uniforms show up. I recognize Fritz and Omaha and my face sours immediately, both are such dicks, when suddenly the music abruptly shuts off and everyone starts hollering in complaint. But not a second later the piano starts playing softly...

You've got to fucking be kidding me.

Screw this, I'm done. I'll just text Phoenix I slipped out, I'm out of here. I pull out my phone as the bell rings and everyone starts shouting "overboard!" I glance over to see Hangman, Payback, and another pilot I don't recognize carrying someone out. Hmm. Must be the one who was buying for everybody, I think to myself before looking back down to my phone when instantaneously singing starts.

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain." I freeze. "Too much love drives a man insane." The rooms rapidly seem to come to a spinning halt. I jerk my head up, scanning the room I land over at the piano immediately. He looks up at me. My nostrils flare as my eyes start to burn from lack of blinking.

Fuck. This.

I quickly spin on my heel, shoving my way past anyone stupid enough to remain in my path, desperate to find an exit.

I can't breathe.

"You broke my will, but what a thrill..."

I can't breathe.

I panickingly snap my head up. The side door is the closest. I throw it open without a second thought the cool, salty evening air strikes my face as my lungs ache for oxygen. Flashes of tortured memories dance through my mind as I hunch over, gripping my knees.

"Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"

Laughing, singing, hands wrapping around my waist as they pull me into the lap sitting in front of the piano. Singing into my ear, kisses from the cheek down to the collarbone.

I can't breathe. I need to breathe. I can't feel—

"Hey, are you okay?" A man's voice rips me out of my own personal hell of nightmare.

I gasp, oxygen ripping through my body and finally reaching my lungs as I jump a little, not expecting to have company. I glance up, looking to find the last, okayyy— second to last, person I wanted to see here.

Oh, God.

He looks older than his picture, but still just as handsome, wearing his green military jacket. This is my own personal hell today, isn't it?

"Uh-um, what?" I manage to get out.

"Are you alright?" He asks again. His features look worn with sorrow, face pale like he'd just seen a ghost.

Join the club.

"Are you?" The two words tumble out before I can stop them. He turns, peering back inside.

"Yeah..." He answers after a moment, not very convincingly. I nod slowly as he continues staring through the glass. When he finally turns back to me, opening his mouth to say something I idiotically make a dash for my car.

I cannot believe I just talked to Maverick. After thirty-four years of... nothing. No contact, no speaking, hell, or even letting writing.

I can't believe I just spoke to my dad.

My breathing picks up once again. Wait— that has to mean he's here for the mission too...

Right?

My knuckles whiten as the grip my steering wheel. Yep, I was right, coffee was definitely not enough for whatever the hell just happened here.

✈︎ ✈︎ ✈︎

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

(originalish author's note) Ahhhh, okay wow, so much EVEN MORE happened in this chapter omg!!! A little Hangman flirting in there of course ;)

What did y'all think of Lennox and Rooster's interactionnn?!!! Not to mention Lennox just met her dad... for the first time!!!!  Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter, I think it's gonna be one of my favorites <3

Um, hi from 2025, yeah wowww... this chapter wasss goldddd!!! WHEW, I forgot how fucking tenseee this chapter got omfg, I was eating it uppp lmaooo. I'm so happy to be going through these to remind myself of everything but also refine & add to my writing!!! And I'm extremely happy with my decision to split this chapter into two parts, so this is the second half of what WAS chapter 2 lmao. Wow, yeah, hope y'all enjoyed, damn imma need to hear some thoughts, questions, & reactions after that heavy shit, holyyy...