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There's a chill in the air, the temperature dropping as night falls on the desert. Ice has never spent much time out here—his and Mav's usual routine involved Maverick making the drive into San Diego.
In the time since he first started working out here, they haven’t been able to see each other as much. It was hard, being apart from his husband for so long, but they're both accustomed to the way of things in this line of work. Ice has been so busy since making Admiral, and Maverick's work is top secret, even from Ice himself.
Tonight, Ice has a night off. He'll have to make the drive back into the city first thing tomorrow—but for now, they have all the time in the world. It had been Maverick's idea for Ice to meet him out here. They're wrapped up warm on a picnic blanket, some ways off from the hangar itself.
The last of the light fades as they hold each other and, as the sky darkens, more and more stars appear. Before long, the sky becomes a glittering array—everywhere he looks, they're all he can see. Ice can't help the gasp of awe that escapes him when he sees the milky way, thinking back to the first time he did. It was years ago now, out at sea. He'd grown up in cities, never ventured much further until he joined the navy. Even then, he rarely got chance to be away from everything enough to just look.
That first time, he remembers how Maverick's hand had found his, intertwining their fingers. He remembers so clearly still how he'd looked over and seen that spark in Maverick's eyes, just as bright and beautiful as any star. They'd kissed under that night sky, like something out of a fairytale.
Back then, Ice never could have known he'd be here, three decades spent with the man beside him, the man who will always be at his side. Maverick had saved his life that day, and they'd spent every day since building one together.
Nearly ten years ago, just as soon as they were able, they'd made a promise to each other. In sickness or in health, they'd vowed. Maverick has been the star that guided him home so many times, the light in the darkness of his illness, the flicker of hope when all seemed lost.
That same light never went out—Ice looks over now and sees it, that flame still burning behind his eyes after everything they've been through. Maverick turns to face him, his features softer in the fading light. The grey that adorns his temples is a reminder how lucky they are to have had so many years together.
Maverick lays back as even more stars appear, and Ice follows suit. He feels himself be pulled closer, resting his head on his husband's chest. He lets himself relax with the steady rhythm of Maverick's heartbeat.
A shooting star blazes its path across the indigo sky, but Ice doesn't care to make a wish. He already has everything he could ever need.