Chapter Text
“Mav, you done yet?”
“Nope,” Maverick grumbled, head in the engine of his jet. “You?”
“I’d like to say yes but honestly, I don’t even know what I’m looking at here.” Ice admitted from his place on the wing of his jet.
In front of him, Ice stared at a board of wires and screws that made little to no sense to the man much to his dismay. Ice liked being in control and being able to analyze whatever was in front of him. Clearly, there were some limits that he had yet to overcome if Maverick's busy tinkering compared to his silent brooding was anything to go by. Hearing Maverick click his tongue from somewhere below him, Ice shook his head annoyed.
“It’s the inside of the control panel obviously,” Maverick called up in a tone that suggested it was obvious.
“Well yeah. I got that when you pulled it apart and handed it to me.” Ice agreed exasperated. “That doesn’t mean I know what all these wires mean. I don’t exactly have a degree in mechanical engineering like someone else I know.”
“Details, details.” Maverick waves off his wingman and grunts as he pulls at another section of the jet. “I’ll be up in a minute. Just let me finish with this quickly.”
“I still don’t understand why you couldn’t just leave this to the actual maintenance crew in the first place.” Ice sighed and rubbed at his temple, feeling an incoming headache from what his wingman was constantly putting him through. He swore following Maverick around was more stressful than facing Migs sometimes.
“I like working on my vehicles.”
“…A multimillion-dollar vehicle belonging to the government?”
“Exactly.”
“Rational.”
“Quiet, I’m qualified anyway. I have permission.”
“How you managed that will forever stun me with your record of obeying orders.”
“Weren’t you meant to meet with Slider?” Mavericks grumbles, clearly trying to change the subject. “He’s going back to visit his parents this afternoon, isn’t he?”
“Not until 11:30.” Ice shrugged, leaning back against the body of the jet. “But yeah, he’s catching a flight at 1630.”
“…Uh, Ice?” Maverick laughs nervously and slams the panel of his jet shut again.
“Yeah Mav?”
“It’s almost one,” Maverick admits and comes into view to look up at his wingman sheepishly.
“What!?”
Pushing his body off the body of the jet, Ice stares down at his watch in horror as he realizes his wingman was indeed telling the truth and not fucking with him. Shit, Slider was going to kill him. Stepping forward, without even thinking about where he was currently standing, Ice realizes his mistake one second too late as he suddenly finds himself weightless as he drops from the wing of the plane, crashing down in a heap on the floor.
“ICE!”
Suppressing a scream, Ice lay on his stomach with clenched fists as he felt and heard something snap in his ankle. The pain was excruciating when he stayed still, he didn’t want to imagine how bad it’d be when he would inevitably have to move. Gritting his teeth to stop another scream from escaping from his lips, Ice remains frozen as Maverick slides onto his knees beside him to assess the damage.
“Ok, ok, you’re okay.” Maverick tried to assure while attempting not to freak out himself. “What hurts?”
“A-ankle.” Ice gritted out.
“Okay, hold still.”
Seeing his wingman glare up at him at the words, Maverick raises his hands up in surrender as he turns his attention to the man's right leg. Gently moving the pant leg out of the way, Maverick curses when he sees swelling around the man's ankle along with purple bruising that was already stretching upwards on his leg. Hesitating for only a moment, Maverick gently places his hands on the man's ankle and foot and carefully feels around for the bone.
“Mmfh!" Ice gasps. "M-mav.”
“I know, I know.” Maverick hushes quietly. “I’m trying to be gentle Ice, I promise. Just give me a sec.”
Hating the sound of his wingman’s suppressed grunts of pain, Maverick quickens his assessment before finally feeling confident that the bone is still attached together at least which meant that he could move Ice without too much worry of harming the bone much more unless he knocked it. Nodding to himself as he double-checked to see no other injuries from the trembling man, Maverick moves closer to Ice’s head and gently lifts his face up to see his eyes. Concerned when he’s met with wet, scrunched-up eyes instead, Maverick takes a deep breath to try and compose himself for what he was about to do. Ice was always the strong one that never faulted or needed special help. The man was known as cool and collected in the most stressful of situations. Maverick wasn’t used to seeing a vulnerable Ice, especially an Ice that was trying not to cry at the pain he was feeling. Now though, Ice needed help, and help was what he was going to get…As soon as he figured out how to do this at least.
“Ice?” Maverick gently called, trying to gain his attention “Can you open your eyes for me?”
“…Mav…hurts…”
“I know, I know, but I need to know you’re understanding what I’m about to do,” Maverick explained, rubbing a hand through the man's gelled hair. “I don’t want to be punched in the face.”
'Sliders going to do that later anyway.'
Grumbling under his breath for a moment, Ice eventually does open his eyes that shook weakly up at Maverick as he tried to ignore the pain in his leg. Ice had been through a lot, sure, but still, he literally just snapped his ankle from falling from a rather considerable height that Maverick couldn’t help grimacing at the more he thought about it.
“I need to move you.” Maverick sighed, sympathizing when Ice’s face pales in horror. “You need to get to medical Ice, and the only way…”
“…Do what…you need to do.” Ice grits out.
“Ok, uh…” Contemplating for a second on how to move the man who didn’t look like he’d even be able to stand, an idea pops into his head that he almost dreads executing. Almost. “You’re going to have to trust me here.”
“Maverick.” Ice glares with a look that could pierce steel.
“Do you trust me?”
“…always.”
“Ok…help me out here.” Maverick smiles, feeling warm at the admission despite the circumstances “You’re going to need to sit up.”
“Right.”
Taking a deep breath, Ice quickly sits himself up and allows Maverick to lean him back carefully while maneuvering his feet in front of him. Though clearly struggling, Ice simply bites his lip and stays silent as Maverick accesses the situation and tries to adapt to Ice’s circumstances.
“It’d be easier if I could get you standing…” Maverick mumbles more to himself than to Ice.
Rubbing his temple in frustration, Ice considers his options for a moment before lifting his arms out to Maverick and gesturing for him to help him up. Though surprised, Maverick nods solemnly and assists Ice in standing up on his one good leg. Injured foot hitting the ground as he stands, Ice lets out a short shout which is quickly suppressed when Maverick brings his head to his neck in a comforting embrace while rubbing his back.
“It’s okay, breathe Ice. Breathe.” Maverick soothes. "I've got you. Breathe."
Listening to the younger man that was literally his only support right now, Ice takes a moment to simply breathe through the pain and regain his composure. It must have been nearly 5 minutes later when Ice finally willed himself to lean back slightly and wait for whatever crazy scheme Maverick had planned for him.
"Alright." He sighs, resigned. "Lets hear it."
“Hands over my shoulders Ice,” Maverick instructs with a reassuring grin. “Tightly.”
Nodding, Ice does as he’s told and barely contains a yelp of surprise and pain as Maverick suddenly grabs under his thighs and hoists him into his arms. Scrambling to hold onto the shorter man, Ice looks down dumbfounded for a moment, momentarily forgetting his pain, before groaning loudly and once more hiding his face in Maverick's neck.
“Kill me now.”
“No can do.” Maverick laughs and starts a slow pace to medical, trying not to jostle Ice’s leg too much. “Hold on and keep your good leg around my waist. You’re not too heavy but I don’t want my grip to slip and you to fall again.”
“One falls enough for one day.” Ice grumbles but obeys. “Sliders never going to let me live this down.”
“Nope.” Maverick agrees, turning into the building where medical resides. “I’ll give him a call while you’re getting checked out. I’m sure he’s worried.”
“That I have no doubt.” Ice pouts, nuzzling his nose against Maverick's neck. “Think you can leave the falling off a plane part out?”
“Hell no.” Maverick cackles. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Maverick.”
“Iceman.”
“…I want Ice-cream after this.” Ice eventually concedes, trying to ignore the looks that most definitely are coming their way from the hall outside the medical room.
“Then Ice-cream you shall receive.” Maverick laughs gently and nuzzles back at his wingman’s hair. “Transporter Mav to the rescue.”
“Oh ha ha.” Ice grins. “My hero.”
“You know it.”