Part 2: Bonding

In the weeks that followed, Matt had become a frequent fixture in Ripslinger's life. He didn't hesitate with calling, and more often than not it was because he needed to get out of the orphanage for awhile…

Or he really needed a place to duck at for a few hours while the older kids hunted down belongings hidden as forms of revenge.

He was a good kid, but he had his crazy streak down. There was one question that no one answered yet since it hadn't been asked.

Matt was watching Ripslinger practice, when he took a break looking at the kid curiously.

"Question kid…. You a mechanid? Been meaning to ask."

He nodded quickly, a grin quickly finding itself on his face. "Yep! I'm a plane mechanid!" But the grin fell as he looked down feeling embarrassed. "But… I can't fly…"

"Can't fly huh? Bad engine? Or never learned?"

"Never learned. Most of the caretakers are car mechanids or huminids. No one showed me how…" Matt pouted. "I can float when I run really REALLY fast, like that day when I ran into you, but that's it."

Ripslinger frowned leaning back on the park bench, closing his eyes as he soaked in this information. He was around Matt's age when he had started to learn, but he had someone to show him how.

Hm… Well… The kid seems pretty smart for his age… He could be pretty good if he had the right teacher…

But was he the right choice?

I mean… I've been getting better about my ego…

"... I could teach you." He said, finally opening his eyes, looking at the nine year old.

Matt's eyes got wide as his mouth fell open. He was stunned. His favorite racer showing him how to fly?

"Y-You mean it?" He asked quietly.

Ripslinger nodded ruffling his hair. "Yeah, a plane's gotta develop properly."

"Oh thank you!" Matt hugged him tightly, the racer bringing an arm around him.

"Anytime kiddo."

The boy smiled up at him. "You're the best Rip…"

"Heh… Thanks Matt…"

"Welcome… When do we start?"

"Right now."

The next few hours were spent working on Matt getting off the ground, by the time the sun was starting to set both the racer and the boy were exhausted and flopped on the ground tired.

"That… was the longest day of my life." Matt said yawning a little.

"It's getting late…" Ripslinger pulled out his phone to check the time. "Better start walking you back… It's around dinner time over there ain't it?"

"Can I eat at your place? Please?"

"I don't know… You picky?"

Matt rolled over, pushing himself up a bit. "No… Not really."

"Alright then… Let me just call first and see if it's okay."

One phone call later Ripslinger took Matt back to his apartment.

"Just a heads up, you're not gonna find much junk food here, so don't bother looking for it."

"I'm not." He said looking around the apartment. "Whoa…" He ran over to a case that contained the collection of trophies Ripslinger had won over the years. "Your Wings Around the Globe trophies! That's so cool"

"Thanks… Pretty proud of 'em…" Ripslinger frowned a bit looking at the one in the center, it was the last one he had obtained and he felt a pang looking at it. It reminded him of how he lost the last race. I deserved it… The loss… Not the win…

That Farm Boy played fair…

"Hmph… Wish you won the last race instead of that dumb crop dus-"

"Don't even finish that sentence kid." Ripslinger said taking off his jacket and hanging it up. "I didn't deserve to win, he did, and he deserves the wins he's getting now."

Matthew frowned a little. "Sorry…"

"What'd I say about the ego?"

"Not to let it get to my head?"

"Good." He sighed, looking through his fridge. "Before I start making anything, what do you like to eat in particular?"

"I can actually pick?"

"Well you get a say in it."

Matt hummed in thought. "... I want sliders… Do you have stuff to make 'em?"

"You're in luck, got ground beef, onions, and some small rolls." Ripslinger grinned. "But doesn't mean you get out of helping."

"I can help too!?"

"Well your nine, old enough to at least help form them. Roll up your sleeves and wash up."

"Okay!"

After, Matt was tired. He rubbed his eyes, trying to stay awake. Ripslinger looked over to him from where he was putting leftovers away. "Tired?"

"No… I'm-" He paused to yawn. "Totally awake…"

"Mm-hm… Sure, keep telling yourself that kiddo."

The boy folded his arms on the kitchen table resting his head on them. He was always tired right after dinner. He yawned again, closing his eyes. "I'm just… gonna rest my eyes…"

The racer finished what he was doing looking over to him. He chuckled a bit. "That's not good for your neck kid…" He murmured lifting him up and carrying him over to the couch.

Matt yawned curling up as Ripslinger laid him down. "Night.."

"Night buddy… Get some rest…" Ripslinger murmured turning down the lights.

I'm going soft… and this kid's the reason…

Kelly stood off to the side as she watched Ripslinger play with Matt. The two were as close as ever. Some days she forgot that Matt wasn't actually his little brother. She had gotten used to seeing him trailing behind Ripslinger whenever possible.

"RAH!" Ripslinger scooped the boy up into his arms messing up his hair. "Gotcha!"

Matt laughed squealing a little. "RIP NO! That tickles!"

"I know it does!" He grinned, as he kept doing it.

"Nooo!" The boy squirmed.

Kelly laughed shaking her head. "Careful there."

"I am." Ripslinger laughed before sitting down, letting Matt go. "There, happy?"

Matt grinned before hugging him tightly. "Very."

Ripslinger smiled, bringing an arm around him. "Heh…" He got an idea and took off his shades, plopping them on the nine year old's head. "There we go." He crossed his arms with a grin. "Try that."

Matt grinned back before adjusting them a bit as he got up. "RiiipSLINGA!" He exclaimed, mimicking the racer, striking a pose.

"A new racer in the making." The young man commented, getting up and dusting off his clothes.

"The new Green Tornado!" Matt cheered running around him.

Ripslinger hummed in thought. "No… More like…" He grinned. "The Green Cyclone."

Matt's eyes got wide as he nodded quickly. "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

Kelly laughed. "With how your teaching him, he'll be ready to enter a race as soon as he's of age." She said walking over and patting Matt's head a little. "He really does remind me of you."

"Hee…" Matt smiled innocently, giving Ripslinger back his shades.

"Yeah… He does, doesn't he?" He said quietly. "So what brings you here?"

"Sorry to cut all the fun short but you got an interview with Air Sports Illustrated, managed to finally convince them to interview you." She grinned. "You're welcome~"

"Seriously?" Ripslinger grinned. "That's great! When is it?"

"In about an hour actually."

"Wait… What!? An hour!?" Ripslinger exclaimed already sliding down his shades ready to take off. "Why didn't you tell me sooner!?"

"You were having fun… I haven't seen you that happy in awhile."

He grinned sheepishly. "Heh…"

Matt pouted before turning away from the two. "I guess I'll start headin' back to the home… Have fun…"

"Matt wait-"

"Don't… I'm fine…" He looked over his shoulder smiling, but it wasn't his usual one. "Go have fun. Show 'em all you're the hero I know you are"

"Thanks kid… I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, bye…" Matt ran off, making it back to the orphanage. He was tired, and he hated to admit it but a little jealous. He had been looking forward to learning more tricks today and now that was cut short.

Wasn't on purpose though… Kelly didn't know…