[ Chapter Three ]

Nobody Makes Me Laugh Like You Do

Documents and paperwork were going to be Kate's downfall. Viper had her help with the stack of papers on the desk while everyone else started to test their flight abilities. She yearned to be up in the skies with them. But, Viper promised she'd be up there the next day, legally.

She was sat in the office next to Viper's. Kate narrowed her eyes when she saw Pete and Nick standing outside Viper's office. As soon as they went in, Kate snuck out of the one where she was placed with Charlotte and into the hallway. "What are you doing?" Charlotte questioned in a hushed tone.

Kate waved her off. "That's classified." She responded. Charlotte shot her look, then let out a scoff.

"Captain Maxwell, you should be in here too." Jester said.

"I didn't do it." Kate defended herself as she stepped into the office. She held her hands behind her back, awaiting a reply.

"Gentlemen, you had a hell of a first day. The hard deck for this hop was 10,000 feet. You knew it, you broke it. You followed Commander Heatherly below after he lost sight of you and called no joy. Why?" Viper addressed Pete and Nick.

Kate would get these random thoughts that would try to make her impulsively laugh. She had learned to hold it back, as many saw it as rude. She still didn't know why she was there.

"Sir. I had Commander Heatherly in my sights. He saw me move in for the kill. He then proceeded below the hard deck. We weren't below 10,000 for more than a few seconds. I had the shot, there was no danger, so I took it." Pete answered Viper.

Kate looked from Pete and Nick to Viper.

"You took it. And broke a major rule of engagement. Then you broke another one with that circus-stunt flyby. One of which I'm sure Captain Maxwell will be proud of." Viper took a pause, looking through the blinds. "Lieutenant Mitchell, TOPGUN rules of engagement exist for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them or you're history. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed. Captain, stay for a minute." Viper told them.

Pete looked at Kate before hesitantly walking out, followed by Nick. Kate looked at the floor as she fiddled with her hands in front of her.

"I told you to keep an eye on him." Viper reminded.

Kate looked at him. "Sir, I was working on paperwork. I was not assisting, training, hell, even outside. I couldn't have known his plans or what he was even doing." She reasoned.

Viper sighed with slight disappointment, causing Kate to look down once again. "Captain, is the paperwork finished?" He asked, changing the subject rather quickly.

"Yes, sir." Kate answered.

"Dismissed." He told her.

Kate walked out of the room to see Nick with his hands on his face in a stressed manner. Pete turned to look at her. She had a look on her face that just wreaked trouble.

Nick looked at her with a slightly worried expression. The expression she had on her face was one similar to Pete's, which worried him a bit. "I don't personally like that look, Maxwell." He told her.

Kate lightly scoffed, "it's the only one I got."

"Where are you going?" Pete asked as she started to walk away. Kate turned around, a small smile on her face.

"That's classified." She responded.

Pete looked at her, his infamous smirk on his face. "You're picking up what I say... admit it, you like me, at least a little bit."

Kate tilted her head. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you created the word 'classified'." She crossed her arms. Nick watched the interaction with a grin.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She said, walking away. Kate missed the look Nick gave his friend. She also missed the look in his eyes whenever he looked at her.

—

Orange, violet and pink took over the blue skies, and it became slightly colder. The sun started to go down.

Kate sat on the edge of the truck's box with her legs dangling off the edge.

"I know you said 'see you tomorrow', but I didn't exactly want to wait... so, here I am." The sudden voice caused Kate to kick Pete in the chest lightly.

"Oh, shit. Um, sorry 'bout that... I thought you were a murderer or something." She apologised.

Pete gestured to the spot beside her. She nodded her head, to which he smiled. He sat beside her. While the fighter jet in front of them took off, a smile appeared on Kate's features. The mere sight of her being happy or content made him feel the same. He didn't really know why, but it did.

"I heard your conversation with Kazansky... when he asked who was the better pilot, me or him. You said you didn't want to ruin the possibility of a nice moment— you think I'm the better pilot."

Kate shrugged. "You know, you're not as much of a troublemaker as you or everyone else thinks you are." He told her.

She looked to her left to see him. "And you're not as badass as you think you are." Kate responded, a smirk forming on her face.

"Viper wasn't wrong, you know... when he said I'd be proud of the circus-stunt you pulled. Heard what you did. Very low key, almost stealth-like." She joked.

Pete laughed with her. "Really, you should be a secret agent or something." Kate suggested, clear sarcasm laced in her tone.

Despite her full knowledge of Pete looking at her, she looked ahead of her. She watched the fighter jets take off. It was satisfying to her. There was something inside of her that just purely loved anything to do with aircrafts, like a spark that would ignite.

"Did you walk around to find me or..."

"Goose just kinda dropped me off and left, apparently." Pete said, noticing Nick had left.

"Well, I have to go." Pete looked at her with a curious glance when she said that.

"You have a meeting?"

"No— my internal clock is telling me it's time to drink alcohol at home. Or maybe not. Who knows, I just wanna go home. Well, technically I don't really live here. I don't know why I'm talking a lot."

Pete smirked, "people usually get nervous around me-"

"I'm not nervous. I'm just talking a lot." She explained.

"You know, my charms usually work right away."

"I'm sure they do." Kate retorted. She hated that he could unknowingly see right through her. He knew that she didn't hate him.

And he could never hate her. The moment he had first heard of Captain Kate Maxwell, he took a liking to her. Then he met her. As soon as he caught a glance of her at the bar when he got to Miramar, he instantly fell. Literally. Nick had to help him reposition himself. I personally think that we should all appreciate Captain Kate 'Kerosene' MaxwellKate >>Okay, bye!

I personally think that we should all appreciate Captain Kate 'Kerosene' Maxwell

Kate >>

Okay, bye!