Loving Maverick

Trying Something New

The engine barely sputtered to life when he cranked the car up. “Oh well.” He mumbled to himself as he popped the hood, propping it up as he watched the inner workings of the car begin to shake in a sad attempt to keep the engine going.

He had hoped that he could save what little life that was left of the engine, but his gut feeling told him that it was a goner well before he even looked at it.

“Not to worry, my love.” He muttered to the car. “Daddy’s gonna fix you up good.” He smiled.

He made his way over to the driver’s side of the car to turn it off and so began working on taking the engine out of the car.

By the time, he had completed his goal he noticed a few other things that needed to be taken care of on the way and could not resist looking at some of the quicker fixes on the way.

The eight hours that it took him to take it apart turned into twelve but he was alright with that. Maverick was always alright, as long as he was under the hood of a car.

“Good thing I started on you early.” He said as he pulled himself from underneath the 69’ Chevelle that he’d been working on. 

He dropped the parts that he had stripped from the car and, into a large crate of other old parts and wiped his stained hands on a grease covered rag before heading into the house to take a break.

It was around ten minutes past five when Maverick went into his kitchen to pop open a bottle of beer. 

He leaned contently against the island in his kitchen, his eyes distancing itself into his thoughts as he went over in his mind how the car he’d been working on when he was finally finished with it. A smile escaped him for a moment before the sound of an incessant knocking at his door interrupted his active imagination.

Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath, suddenly annoyed by the frustrating sound of whomever’s fist it was having at it with his front door.

Irritated, he made his way for the front door and looked through the peephole to see who it was that decided it was pertinent to interrupt his bliss.

“Of course.” He mumbled to himself when he recognized who it was.

He found himself, back against the door, his hands running through his tapered long fringed hair. Maverick knew that this day would come sooner or later. 

It had been well over a month and a half since Maverick had even really spoken to his father after his arrival home three months ago. 

Of course, he spoke to his mother a few times a week as she wouldn’t have it any other way. A few times she’d squeeze into the conversation how his father was concerned about him and that he thought that it was about time that they talk. It was in those short moments that Maverick would only entertain the subject for half-a second and then change into a completely different one.

He didn’t want to come off as one avoiding his father but at the end of the day, it was exactly what he was trying to do. He just wasn’t prepared for the conversation that he knew he had to have with him.

The incessant knocking continued, harder, this time around, interrupting his thoughts once again.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” He finally answered. He turned around taking down the remainder of his beer before unlocking and opening his front door.

There on the other side of his threshold stood his father, brow raised as he looked at his son. “About time.” He said. “Thought you’d never answer.” He walked passed him and into his house.

Maverick stood there, his gaze still locked on the spot where his father once stood before he said; “Well hello to you too, old man.” He mumbled before closing the door and following his father through the house and into the kitchen where he once stood. “Can I get you anything?”

“No, thank you.” Abhimanyu replied. “I know where my son’s fridge is.” He smirked before opening the door of the fridge and grabbing a cold beer for himself. After he popped it open, he took a long swig of it before turning his full attention on his son.

“So,” He started to say. “How have you been?” 

Maverick shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” He answered. “Not much to complain about, I guess.”

Abhu looked around his son’s home. “I would certainly think not, judging by the look of this place.” He commented. “You’ve done quite nice for yourself.” He complimented. “A little bare, but nothing a woman’s touch wouldn’t provide once you find one of your worth.” 

Maverick sighed. I’m going to need me something a little stronger if I’m going to have to continue to listen to this, he told himself.

Abhu wasn’t an uptight man and Mav knew that he didn’t mean anything by it as his father showed the utmost respect to women, but it still rubbed him the wrong way.

“Is that why you came here?” Maverick found himself asking in a teasing way. “To ask about my love life?” He knew that this wasn’t the reason at all. “You’re starting to sound like mom.”

Abhu simply chuckled. “No, I am not. Though, your mother does ask a valid question in those terms.” He took another sip of his beer before talking again. “So, how does it feel? Being home for good, this time?” He asked his son.

Maverick shrugged. “Different.” He shrugged.

“How do you mean?” Abhu asked.

Even though Maverick was well aware that his father’s inquiry was genuine, he still found himself having a hard time answering it to its entirety. He knew that whatever answer that he gave, his father would certainly not belittle it in any way...but still; how do you explain that you’re used to not knowing whether you’ll survive the day or not? Or sleeping on hard cots-sometimes not even that when on a mission? Having soldiers under your command...rapid fire….explosions….death?

It was all too deep-too much to go into and while he knew that he could talk to his father about this, he wasn’t sure that he was mentally ready to share such deep rooted and personal thoughts with his father-with anyone, yet.

“Just used to the uniform of things, I guess.” He decided on going with. In a way his answer summed up his thoughts in the vaguest way possible. Or at least that was how Maverick saw it.

“I can see that.” Abhu replied with a small and sympathetic smile; it was apparent through the way that Maverick kept his home. It was large and while it held the essential furnitures, there was still so much more to be potentially desired in the place. “Though, I’m sure it’s a little more to it than that.” His father said to his son.

Maverick was caught off guard by his father’s response to what he had said and suddenly his anxiety began to spike. What if he tried to approach the conversation further? What if he tried to go deeper? Maverick just couldn’t allow that to happen. Not right now. Don’t go there. Please don’t...go there. The thought kept playing over and over in his head as his dad approached him. He started to express himself in the most respective way possible when his father beat him to the punch of speaking first.

“I’m not asking you to spill your guts out to me, son.” He said. “I understand that it can’t be that easy and I will respect that. I just want you to know that, I do know that there are some complex things going on in your mind about being home after so many years of the military life. And that you can talk to me whenever you are ready.”

The relief that flooded Maverick after his father’s words was indescribable. He hadn’t even realized that he was holding his breath throughout that whole moment until he finally exhaled.

“Thanks dad.” He said. “Really.” 

Abhimanyu just smiled and patted his son’s shoulder before making his way back to where he stood, taking down the rest of his beer.

“So,” He said, placing his bottle on the island counter. “Now that that’s out of the way, I guess we should discuss the main reason for my visit, aside from checking on you to see how you’re faring.”

And here it comes, Maverick thought as his father continued on to the next subject in conversation. He turned around and looked at Maverick. 

“I know you’ve been avoiding us...well, me for over a month and a half now.” He said to his son. “And I know why.”

“Oh, do you now?” Maverick disinterestedly replied.

Abhimanyu caught the sarcasm in his son’s tone and so raised his brow in response as he scoffed. “It’s not just to get reacquainted with life as a civilian.” He added.

“I’ll never be a civilian.” Maverick muttered, somehow becoming offended at the mere thought of being considered one at this point.

“Look, the point that I’m trying to make is-” He started to say when Maverick grabbed his beer and headed out toward the side door and into the garage.

Abhimanyu followed Maverick. “Is that we made a deal.” He said. 

“A deal.” Maverick repeated as he placed his beer on the metal tool counter that was next to the car. He sat on his creeper and started to lie back. He almost thought to just slide underneath the car but he didn’t want to come off too disrespectful.

“Yes, a deal.” Abhu expressed. “And I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of what it was.”  Maverick didn’t respond to his father’s comment which only permissioned his father to continued in what seemed a more frustrated tone. “Look, we agreed nearly fifteen years ago that if this military thing didn’t work out-”

“Military thing?” He found his father’s choice of words offensive, though he knew he didn’t mean anything by it. He was only expressing his frustrations. He grimaced, his gaze turning to the ground in irritation. “It was way more to me than that-”

“I know. I know, son.” Abhu said squatting before him. “And you know that I did not mean it in the offensive way that it was perceived. I respect the military and the service that you and your comrades have given so-”

“I know-I know dad.” He intervened with a sigh. “You don’t have to explain.”

Abhu nodded in understanding. “I just-at least see where this goes. You’ve always had such a talent for the business Mav. And, well I would really like to pass Maverick Industries on to you when all is said and done. I want to know that it’s in good hands.”

Maverick understood where his father was coming from. “You want me to run the place that I was named after. I understand-”

“Mav,” Abhimanyu grabbed his son’s shoulder, baying him to look into his eyes. “You weren’t named after Maverick Industries.” He informed his son. Maverick looked at him, brow raised in curiosity. “Maverick is your name sake.” He said. “Maverick Industries was named after you.” He stood straight. “And I just want you to be the one to run it. I know it’s a big responsibility. I know that you are not-”

“It’s fine dad.” Maverick cut his father off. “I understand.” He looked up at his dad. “You’re right. We made a deal-” He scoffed. “One that I didn’t think I would ever had to think about again, I’ll admit.” He said under his breath. He then looked up again, amusement on both he and his father’s face. “And as my father raised me, I am a man of my word.”

When Abhu smiled at his son’s comment, Maverick was reminded of how much he admired and looked up to his father. He was reminded of how good it felt to be the one responsible for putting a smile on his face.

“Great!” Abhu said, probably louder than he initially meant.

“So when, does this thing start-

“Tomorrow around noon?”

“Alrighty.” Maverick replied. “Now can I get back to work please?” He said as he slid underneath the Chevelle.

Abhu chuckled. “I guess. Keep me updated on this heap. I’d like to see if you’re as good as you claim to be.”

Maverick chuckled at his father’s attempt to tease. “Whatever you say, dad.”