Chapter Text
Hearing low giggling come from the living room, Maverick pauses on his way to the kitchen and redirects himself to the amused sounds coming from his son and future son-in-law huddled together on the couch. Wiping his grease-stained hands with a rag, Maverick comes up behind the two boys to look at the phone in Rooster's hand that was showing a video from an app that he recognized to be something called TikTok if memory served him right. Hearing another snort from Hangman which was soon followed by a low cackle from Rooster, Maverick couldn’t help but let out a chuckle of his own that instantly startled the two boys into dropping the phone and whipping their heads around.
“Evening boys.” Maverick greets with his signature smirk. “Found something interesting on TikTok I see?”
“Hey Dad.” Rooster smiles gently and leans over to get his hair rubbed. “Finished on the bike yet?”
“Just did sweetheart.”
“Gave me a heart attack pops.” Hangman grumbles good-naturedly and accepts a similar head rub. “I’m surprised you even know what TikTok is.”
“A few lieutenants were showing me some videos and…memes? The other day.” Maverick shrugged and moved around the couch to sit between them. “What were you watching that was so amusing anyway?”
“Ah, it's videos of couples pranking each other with these random pranks every now and then,” Hangman explains. “Pranks are jokes if you didn’t know.”
“I know what a prank is Jake.” Maverick rolls his eyes. “I’m not that old.”
“Sure, Dad.” Rooster grins. "You're still in your prime."
“Oh, hush you.” Maverick fake pouts at the snorts that follow. “Going to show me some entertainment or what.”
“As you wish.” Hangman smirks and dramatically presents the phone to his father-in-law.
Shaking his head in amusement, Maverick leans back and watches a couple of the videos with growing interest. Sure some of the ideas and pranks were a little cheesy and obviously set up, but the reactions from the opposite partner were quite interesting, to say the least. Some pranks were simple with bad-tasting food, filling a car with the wrong oil, or pretending to get flowers from a stranger while others were more intense like pretending to get beat up, moving out, or simply breaking up. As he gradually got more engrossed, his two mischievous sons looked over his head and grinned.
“Hey Mav?” Rooster questioned after a while.
“Yeah?”
“How would you feel about pulling a prank on Uncle Ice?”
“Ice?” Maverick stopped watching the video and looked up surprised.
“Why not Pops?” Hangman chimed in. “Aren’t you curious how he would react?”
“…I won't say that I’m not.” Maverick shrugged. “The problem is that the Iceman himself is able to see through most of my bullshit on the best of days.”
“Ah, that is true.” Hangman hummed. “Not much passes his eyes.”
“Surely you can do some Maverick magic and get him with something.” Rooster whines. “He can’t be all invincible.”
“I mean…I can try.” Maverick takes a moment to think before agreeing. “I am curious about how he would react. I do a lot of shit to annoy him but not usually this deliberate.”
“Then it’s agreed then, operation prank the iceman so hard he questions his existence ago?” Hangman grins.
“What my lovey fiancé here means is confuse the Iceman so much that he won't know what hit him.” Rooster rolls his eyes and redefines the mission. “Jeez, don’t give Mav too much encouragement.
“Oi.” Maverick fake pouts before grinning. “But I guess so.”
“Which one are you going to do?” Rooster questions.
“I’m not sure.” Maverick shrugs. “Any suggestions?”
Looking at each other for a moment, Rooster and Hangman seem to have a silent conversation with each other for a moment before apparently coming to a decision and placing the phone in Maverick's hand.
“Scroll really fast and stop randomly on a video.” Hangman supplies. “Whatever you land on, you do. No takebacks.”
“That’s fair.” Maverick nods and does just that. “Hopefully it's nothing too bad. Fake dying won't go over too well with him.”
“That’s true.” They shudder. “I think he might just kill you himself.”
“That I have no doubt.” Maverick agrees then stops on a video.
Leaning over Maverick's shoulders, the three look down at the video and watch quietly for a moment before grinning. The video itself was simple but effective to the point that even Maverick could pull it off if he tried. Perfect for the resident menace who usually couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“An ignoring your partner for 24 hours prank?” Hangman snorted. “This is going to be good.”
“I feel like he’s going to need an actual reason though.” Rooster groaned. “Otherwise he’s just going to see right through this if Maverick just ignores him for no reason.”
“Ah that’s true.” Hangman sighed and looked genuinely troubled much to the other two's amusement.
“Lucky that I have a legitimate reason then.” Maverick grinned wickedly.
“No way? Really?”
“What’d he do pops?”
“He forgot about our date tonight.” Maverick grinned. “He was meant to finish early and be home by 1600 for an 1830 dinner reservation.”
“It’s almost 2130 though?”
“Exactly.” Maverick grinned. “I mean, usually, I don’t really mind because it happens that often but…if we need a good reason, we got one.”
“Shit pops, but are you okay with him missing your dates like this?”
“Yeah Dad, you seem awfully used to it.” Rooster looked genuinely upset for him which instantly warmed Maverick's heart.
“I'm used to it.” Maverick waved off and got up. “He tries his best, but it's happened more often than not for the last 20 years. I don’t really mind because I have a habit of being deployed on anniversaries and birthdays anyway. Call it even you could say.”
“Yeah but…” Rooster started then paused for a moment. “You don’t really have a choice. You’re across the ocean, he’s…”
“In a meeting with important people.” Maverick finished and brings over a beer for each of the concerned-looking men.
“You’re important too Pops.” Hangman huffed and wrapped an arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "More important."
“Thank you, Jake.” Maverick hummed and leaned his head on his shoulder. “Maybe this prank with kickstart his ass a little huh?”
“You bet it will,” Rooster grumbled, clearly annoyed with his other father figure. “I have a few extra ideas we can add to this plan as well. When’s he coming back?”
“Uh, from his last text, seems like he might be coming back early morning.”
“Did he mention anything about the date?” Hangman questioned.
“Nah, he just said to eat and go to bed without him.”
“Oh great,” Hangman grumbled. "He doesn't even have a clue. Let alone remorse."
“He forgot." Maverick huffed amused. "So what ideas do you have baby Goose?”
“Yeah, let's hear it Roo.” Hangman agreed with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Apparently, Hangman here wasn't all too impressed with the Iceman himself at the moment either. Maverick meant a lot to him and the rest of the dagger squad. Jake especially. Jake had grown up with a father that didn't exactly care for existence beyond the occasional beating or lecture. Maverick on the other hand was the father figure he always dreamed of. He was kind, understanding, willing to teach him, and willing to be patient with him even when Jake was being difficult. He actually gave a shit about Jake and led him in a better direction when he was on the road to destroying any possible relationship he could have with the other daggers. In fact, Maverick played a large part in bringing him and Rooster together. Encouraging them both to get their heads out of their asses and address the sexual tension in the room whenever they got in each other face. Point was, Jake owed a lot to the old man. No way in hell was he going to let his newfound father figure be let down like this. A glance at Rooster's expression let him know that his fiance wasn't going to let his godfather take this lying down either. Good, after this was done, they'll also have a talk with the Iceman to make sure there isn't a repeat. No one hurts Maverick, intentional or not, and gets away with it under their watch.
“How about instead of just ignoring him, you give him the cold look that he likes to give,” Rooster suggested. “Let's make it that you’re really angry. Add in not accepting hugs, kisses, or attention, that’ll get the idea across. No offense Mav, but you’re an overly affectionate person so if you don’t do any of that…”
“None taken, he’d definitely get the hint.” Maverick snorted in amusement. “What else you got? Jake?”
“How about not sleeping in the same bed tomorrow either?” Hangman suggested. “Like, avoid him. Don’t eat with him, don’t stay around him, don’t greet or say goodbye to him for work. You need to be angry here Mav.”
“Mm, that’s true.” Maverick nods. “What if he realizes his mistake halfway through?"
“…why not look disappointed and say something that will hit where it hurts?”
“Hit where it hurts? I don’t want to be too mean.” Maverick immediately denied. “I am a little annoyed, I'll admit that, but I understand how he could have forgotten. He’s a busy and important man who has thousands of people relying on him at any given hour. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Relax pops.” Hangman instantly reassured. “It’s just 24 hours. We’re trying to get him to understand his mistake here.”
“I make mistakes all the time.” Mavericks huffs. “Most of which he fixes for me. He never gets back at me though.”
“Yeah, well.” Rooster laughs. “He sort of signed up for that when he married you Mav. He knew what he was getting into. You on the other hand…”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What I’m saying is, why not spice things up a little.” Rooster takes another swig and suggests. “He’s used to your wild actions and crazy situations you get stuck in. What he’s not used to is a genuinely angry husband who's disappointed in him.”
“But I’m…”
“Not disappointed, I know, but he doesn’t need to know that.”
“It’ll be fun to see his reaction, yeah?” Hangman pushes against his shoulder lightly to try and get him to see the bigger picture here.
“I guess.” Maverick thinks for a moment before coming to a decision. “Fine, but you guys can't be here.”
“Why not?”
“One of you will crack, I know it.” Maverick grins. “Jake, I’m pretty sure he’ll see right through you first. Roo, you won’t be far behind. He practically helped raise you. He knows you too well.”
“…You know what? I won’t deny that.” Hangman laughed carelessly and leaned back into a comfier position. “That man can see through anything and anyone, I’m not going to be here for the repercussions either.”
“That’s true.” Rooster sighed. “He'll definitely notice. We’ll go back to our apartment for the next two days then.”
“Two days?”
“Try to last until midday after tomorrow at least.”
“Why?”
“Freak him out a little dad.” Rooster turns serious for a moment. “I want him to understand he can't keep blowing you off like this.”
“Roo-”
“I agree with Bradley, Pops.” Hangman interrupts and stares straight into Maverick's eyes. “You shouldn’t be used to something like this. Intentional or not.”
“…Okay fine.”
“Don’t crack Dad.” Rooster grins, back to his carefree self. “I mean it, don’t give into his begging and apologies.”
“What makes you think he’ll beg?”
“He loves you too much.” Rooster shrugs. “As soon as he realizes that he’s at fault…”
“Ah.” Maverick snicked. “How the tables have turned.”
“You got this Pops.” Hangman encouraged. “Don’t choke.”
“Wow thanks.”
“No problem.”