Chapter 1
The Daggers were still on their downtime post mission. In fact currently they were in a heated pool game at the Hard Deck. Maverick had just been observing so far.
“MAVERICK, YOU OWE ME YOUR SPERM! I AM HERE TO COLLECT!”
It was a scene from a movie with everyone in the bar doing a spit take. The Daggers all tried to spot who ever yelled such a ridiculous statement but they didn’t need to try to hard as she was walking directly towards Maverick who looked like he saw a ghost.
“Avenger? But you’re dead. You’ve been dead since ‘89!” Maverick’s head whipped around to make sure everyone was seeing what he was seeing.
“I really should get a shirt that says the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
“Maverick, you should get one of those,” piped up Hangman. “You too Rooster.”
Carol raised an eyebrow at the cocky pilot before looking towards the one he called Rooster. The color draining from her face. “G-Goose? But how?”
“Avenger, do you really have the nerve to ask that now?” Maverick was nothing if not one to roll with punches. Maybe even lean into them sometimes.
Bradley Rooster Bradshaw stared at the woman who didn’t look like she had aged a day since he last saw her decades ago. “Aunt C?”
The color returned even if there was obvious pain in Carol’s eyes now as the pieces clicked into place who she was really looking at.
“Look at you, Bradley, you grew up and betrayed me. The Navy really? You couldn’t follow in my much better footsteps?” Before she yanked him into a hug.
“Danvers, I’m telling your boyfriend that you are putting the moves on a much younger man.”
“Holy fuck, that’s Captain America!” Shrieked Fanboy living up to his name. Sam did a double take for a minute before remembering Torres said he had a cousin in the Navy. Guess Sam just found him.
“First off, rude Wilson. I changed his diapers for fuck’s sake. This is Baby Bird all grown up. I showed you the Halloween picture with the fake mustache since he was going as Magnum PI.”
Sam glanced at the clearly embarrassed man whose team mates who grinning with every word they were learning in. “At least you grew a decent one as an adult.” He shrugged before giving Maverick a hug. “Sorry Mav, I heard about the Admiral. I’m sure he is busy cursing up a storm watching whatever the latest shit you pulled was.”
The Daggers were all looking at each other totally baffled that their Mav knew Captain America. This might one the weirdest days yet for them and it was clearly only starting.
“So are you really here for Maverick’s sperm?” questioned Phoenix since nobody else was.
“You said what, Danvers?” Sam was so done with this week.
“Nah, that ship has sailed. But it got his attention.”
“That fact you are alive, Avenger, is enough to get my attention,” replied Maverick his tone drier than any desert.
“Actually, go by Captain Marvel these days. Got a bit of an upgrade.”
Bob heard the name and another spit take was had. And now everyone was looking at him curiously. “My Uncles might have mentioned that name when talking about about their cat,” Bob paused for a moment before realizing who the cat was named after. “Their cat, Goose.”
“Which Uncle?” asked Phoenix, always wanting to know more about Bob.
“Uncle Phil who is Mom’s brother and Uncle Nick, his best friend.”
“Your Uncle is the Director of SHIELD?” asked a surprised Sam.
Carol moved closer to Mav hugging him almost tight enough to hurt. “I know Sam said it but I’m sorry, Mav. I wish I could have got here in time to say goodbye. He was a great one.”
Mav just gripped her tightly trying to not fall apart in the middle of the bar. He pushed away quickly refusing to give in to the grief that felt like it would overtake him any moment. Carol watched him closely before nodding.
“Did you just come here to see Mav for a visit or are we interrupting saving the world?” asked Hangman who was hoping they were sticking around for just a casual visit. He really wanted to see pictures of baby Rooster. To humiliate of course. No other reason. He doesn’t care what Phoenix claims. He’s not still hung up on his almost something.
“Business and pleasure, Cowboy.” Carol was very amused by the glances he kept giving Baby Bradshaw. “Some of you will be getting new orders on Monday. But I wanted to catch up, Mav.” She smirked at him. “Guess who will be here in a couple hours? She wanted me to wait but nah this was more fun.”
“Carol, I thought you were dead until just a minute ago. It could be anyone apparently.”
“Funny. It is…”
Just then a body came flying through the window smashing into the wall next to Maverick. Pained groans from the figure concerned them.
“Step back please. I am in the process of taking him into custody.”
“PHOTON!”
“Oh, hey Rooster.” Monica Photon Rambeau stepped into the crater before slapping a device on the unconscious figure. “So which one of the very attractive people is your man?”
The Daggers heads kept swiveling around trying to make sense of yet another brand new piece of juice gossip.
“Well, gee, thanks so much Monica. I hadn’t actually had a chance to say anything yet. I was waiting until after tonight.”
“Oh. Sorry, dude. But come on you have gone about him for years. ‘Oh, Monica, I can’t stop watching that damn distracting toothpick of his.’” She smirked at Bradley while picking up the unconscious figure. She knew exactly what she’d done but seriously it had been years. She was tired of hearing about the stupid crush.
“OW, fuck!” yelped Hangman who had snapped his toothpick jamming it into his gums. Monica’s eyes were on him instantly. She gave him a hard look over before glancing over at Carol who smirked. “Yeah, you’ll do. Break his heart and they won’t find the pieces.” Turning she flashed Maverick a smile. “Hey, let Penny know to send me the bill for the repair and I’ll pass it on to Stark. I’ll be back as soon as the paperwork is done.” With that the woman known as Photon flew away carrying the unconscious figure.
“So I was going to say Monica will be here tonight.”
Sam sighed looking at the chaos around him. Rooster/Bradley was whimpering into his hands. Hangman was trying to regain his composure. Bob looked like he was dreading his Uncles reactions to this. Carol and Mav both looked highly amused while clearly still trying to hide their grief. Sam sighed again worried about the mission they were all supposed to work together on.
“Babe, I’m getting hungry. Are we going to eat anytime soon?” Bucky peaked his head in the new entrance.
“We had breakfast not even two hours ago!” snapped Sam in annoyance.
“Captain America is gay!?!” gasped Fanboy.
“Torres, what the fuck are you talking about? You were the one who told me to ‘shoot my shot’ whatever the hell that means,” growled Bucky entering the bar fully.
Coyote had the urge to hide his friend behind him for some reason.
“That’s not Torres, James. That must the cousin he mentioned.”
Before he could blink he had a former assassin staring an inch from his face.
“Huh, you really look like your cousin, kid.” The former Winter Soldier stepped back moving closer to Sam. “But yeah, Captain America is queer. Your cousin helped set up the first date.”
“Wow, I mean I knew Joaquin asked for some suggestions about a coworkers situation but he didn’t give out names. Nice to know it worked. Don’t worry this group can keep a secret I swear.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, don’t worry about it. We don’t keep it secret but we aren’t making a big announcement either. I think the Pentagon mentioned they have a press release ready whenever it does break into the new cycle,” shrugged Bucky. Therapy can be helpful when you find the right one to help get over internal conflicts on sexuality. “So which one is the one with a need for speed that Rhodes complains about any time the Navy is mentioned?”
Everyone points to Maverick who just shrugs.
“Yeah, I can see why he never wanted you to meet Stark Jr.”
“He hates when you call him that.”
“It is only a matter of time before Stark adopts the kid.”
Carol cleared her throat trying restrain from laughing. “Might not be the best time to get into this boys.”
To drive home that point Penny and Amelia just showed up staring in shock at the bar’s missing wall.
Sam quickly leapt over. “I’m sorry about the damage, Penny. The repairs will be covered and quickly on Stark’s dime.”
Penny shook of the shock to smack Sam in the shoulder. “I have insurance so I’m not worried. Gimme a hug Wilson. It has been far…” Her voice trailed off when she caught sight of Carol.
“Hey Little Penny!”
Penny’s eyes rolled back as she fainted but Bucky managed to catch her before she could hit the ground.
“Well crap.”
“Sensible reaction to a long dead woman showing up in her bar, Danvers.”
“Fuck you, Mav.”
“Been there, done that, not interested again.”
“I repeat. Fuck you, Mav. And shut up, Barnes.”
“I didn’t say anything!”
“You were going too,” said Sam with amusement.
“But I didn’t!”