Sphere of Influence
Epilogue
Disclaimer; Nothing is Mine, all is Disney's. Hopefully they've figured this out by now. I take no money, no credit and no responsibility for the behavior of their characters. That is all.
AN; Thank you to Greg, Alissa and everyone else whose support has been phenomenal. Thank you so much.
December 14, 1947
Louie's Christmas lights seemed to get better, more extravagant, every year. Now, the palm trees sparkled and the bustling laughter of a holiday party (like they needed an excuse) was in full swing.
There had been additions to the Cape Suzette group. Two reddish-blonde toddling orangutans were crawling over the walls, tiki masks, etc., pursued by a good-natured by harassed Waldo.
Bess and Louie were both crooning a bluesy carol, their arms around each other. Wildcat was tinkering, as usual, in a corner, blissfully content to stay the way he was, the most permanent fixture in the group.
There was also a serious young bear cub who had been invited, and who only had eyes for Molly. That young bearess, now a full-fledged teenager, was prettier than ever.
She just giggled at her friend's behavior, enjoying the attention, still too young for a serious relationship from one date. She was, however, still a little bit hopeful of something, though it was more of a crush than anything else.
The years were changing her and the young pilot she'd loved for so long. She didn't know where they would end up but their friendship would always be strong.
Maybe he would always be the babysitter who fed peppered ice cream to a squid and clunked his head on household furniture.
Still, she had more sympathy for her mom's dilemma.
Rebecca had aged gracefully, Baloo...less so. But they were still themselves, still parents for their children.
They had built a life together, it was just that last step that was so hard to take.
Postcards from Europa, Louvais, even a solitary one from Anglia hung on Louie's wall, a reminder of the war they'd all lived through and the threat that was always present, as though they needed to be reminded of it.
Rebecca and Baloo were holding hands, reading the latest letter from Kit Cloudkicker. Kit had been an inspirational pilot for those working to bring relief to a blocked off city.
He had had the courage to return to that terrible place. This time he knew it was for the best and no matter how it ended, he could face it. So could Rebecca and Baloo. They had to let him go, again, to face that danger all over again.
It was Kit's way, to want to help others and they never, ever wanted to change him.
Cape Suzette was a city prospering, no longer living in the shadow of conflict and poverty. Decades of struggle had molded it as well.
Thousands of miles away, as Kit landed safely and his shift ended far from Thembrian controlled territory, he held a vigil. He lit one candle, representing past, present and future. He thought of home but also of others, of a girl he'd lost, one he'd never found after the carnage had ended and one that was waiting for him. He clutched his old air-foil, still cherished after all of these years and remembered.
Another fly-boy, nearly done with life's troubles, did the same that night, lighting his own candle to his life. It lasted the night. Now, finally, was his time to let go.
The Beginning
Kit tossed and turned in his bunk on board the Sea Duck. His emotions were as turbulent as the ocean beneath him. He knew he had to leave soon, that he didn't have a place here with these people.
He was Kit, ex-pirate, vagabond, trouble-maker. There were few constants in his life and a roof over his head wasn't one of them. He tapped his scuffed airfoil underneath his sweater, there was one, and the other was his dream of flying. That was all.
But, for tonight, he could dream and it was very sweet. That businesslady was nice, and she sang well, even if she was a bit uptight and bossy.
He wondered what it was like for a mother to sing you a lullaby like that every night, to sing it just for you.
He wondered if a father, a real one, would have acted like Baloo had when Karnage had held him prisoner in that jungle.
He'd acted like he cared. He had even sacrificed his beloved plane for him. Kit squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the waves of pain inside his heart.
He hadn't asked Baloo to do that, he still didn't understand why he had.
Kit listened to the pilot's soft snores underneath him and wondered what Baloo saw in him that had made him, like, him at all.
Kit finally fell into an uneasy sleep.
Unfortunately, it was short-lived as he was rudely awakened by the rough seas outside. It must have been very late, or very early, since the only sound was the harbor bell and a mild storm outside.
He tried to disentangle himself from his covers and lost his balance, yelping once as he fell. Before he could even draw another breath, however, an arm shot out and grabbed him.
Kit let his instincts take over, kicking and fighting whoever had him before a familiar voice broke through his panicked haze.
"Ea-sy kiddo, that was some tumble. You're safe now. You're safe, I've got ya."
Kit blinked and quickly pushed Baloo away angrily. He didn't look at the large bear when he grumpily climbed into his bunk again.
He heard a weary sigh and told himself that he didn't care, that he didn't need anyone and it was better that the pilot found out about him now rather than later.
He didn't fall back asleep that night.
In the bunk underneath him, Baloo was wondering at himself and that odd kid who he already felt way too attached to. It was ridiculous, someone like him and a kid like that.
But, in his heart, he knew that the boy needed someone, and..maybe he needed Kit too. Yet, the boy wasn't ready. No matter, he could wait.
"Goodnight, L'il Britches." He said to the darkness. Before he drifted off, he heard a soft, "Goodnight..Papa Bear."
Fin
Epilogue
Disclaimer; Nothing is Mine, all is Disney's. Hopefully they've figured this out by now. I take no money, no credit and no responsibility for the behavior of their characters. That is all.
AN; Thank you to Greg, Alissa and everyone else whose support has been phenomenal. Thank you so much.
December 14, 1947
Louie's Christmas lights seemed to get better, more extravagant, every year. Now, the palm trees sparkled and the bustling laughter of a holiday party (like they needed an excuse) was in full swing.
There had been additions to the Cape Suzette group. Two reddish-blonde toddling orangutans were crawling over the walls, tiki masks, etc., pursued by a good-natured by harassed Waldo.
Bess and Louie were both crooning a bluesy carol, their arms around each other. Wildcat was tinkering, as usual, in a corner, blissfully content to stay the way he was, the most permanent fixture in the group.
There was also a serious young bear cub who had been invited, and who only had eyes for Molly. That young bearess, now a full-fledged teenager, was prettier than ever.
She just giggled at her friend's behavior, enjoying the attention, still too young for a serious relationship from one date. She was, however, still a little bit hopeful of something, though it was more of a crush than anything else.
The years were changing her and the young pilot she'd loved for so long. She didn't know where they would end up but their friendship would always be strong.
Maybe he would always be the babysitter who fed peppered ice cream to a squid and clunked his head on household furniture.
Still, she had more sympathy for her mom's dilemma.
Rebecca had aged gracefully, Baloo...less so. But they were still themselves, still parents for their children.
They had built a life together, it was just that last step that was so hard to take.
Postcards from Europa, Louvais, even a solitary one from Anglia hung on Louie's wall, a reminder of the war they'd all lived through and the threat that was always present, as though they needed to be reminded of it.
Rebecca and Baloo were holding hands, reading the latest letter from Kit Cloudkicker. Kit had been an inspirational pilot for those working to bring relief to a blocked off city.
He had had the courage to return to that terrible place. This time he knew it was for the best and no matter how it ended, he could face it. So could Rebecca and Baloo. They had to let him go, again, to face that danger all over again.
It was Kit's way, to want to help others and they never, ever wanted to change him.
Cape Suzette was a city prospering, no longer living in the shadow of conflict and poverty. Decades of struggle had molded it as well.
Thousands of miles away, as Kit landed safely and his shift ended far from Thembrian controlled territory, he held a vigil. He lit one candle, representing past, present and future. He thought of home but also of others, of a girl he'd lost, one he'd never found after the carnage had ended and one that was waiting for him. He clutched his old air-foil, still cherished after all of these years and remembered.
Another fly-boy, nearly done with life's troubles, did the same that night, lighting his own candle to his life. It lasted the night. Now, finally, was his time to let go.
The Beginning
Kit tossed and turned in his bunk on board the Sea Duck. His emotions were as turbulent as the ocean beneath him. He knew he had to leave soon, that he didn't have a place here with these people.
He was Kit, ex-pirate, vagabond, trouble-maker. There were few constants in his life and a roof over his head wasn't one of them. He tapped his scuffed airfoil underneath his sweater, there was one, and the other was his dream of flying. That was all.
But, for tonight, he could dream and it was very sweet. That businesslady was nice, and she sang well, even if she was a bit uptight and bossy.
He wondered what it was like for a mother to sing you a lullaby like that every night, to sing it just for you.
He wondered if a father, a real one, would have acted like Baloo had when Karnage had held him prisoner in that jungle.
He'd acted like he cared. He had even sacrificed his beloved plane for him. Kit squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the waves of pain inside his heart.
He hadn't asked Baloo to do that, he still didn't understand why he had.
Kit listened to the pilot's soft snores underneath him and wondered what Baloo saw in him that had made him, like, him at all.
Kit finally fell into an uneasy sleep.
Unfortunately, it was short-lived as he was rudely awakened by the rough seas outside. It must have been very late, or very early, since the only sound was the harbor bell and a mild storm outside.
He tried to disentangle himself from his covers and lost his balance, yelping once as he fell. Before he could even draw another breath, however, an arm shot out and grabbed him.
Kit let his instincts take over, kicking and fighting whoever had him before a familiar voice broke through his panicked haze.
"Ea-sy kiddo, that was some tumble. You're safe now. You're safe, I've got ya."
Kit blinked and quickly pushed Baloo away angrily. He didn't look at the large bear when he grumpily climbed into his bunk again.
He heard a weary sigh and told himself that he didn't care, that he didn't need anyone and it was better that the pilot found out about him now rather than later.
He didn't fall back asleep that night.
In the bunk underneath him, Baloo was wondering at himself and that odd kid who he already felt way too attached to. It was ridiculous, someone like him and a kid like that.
But, in his heart, he knew that the boy needed someone, and..maybe he needed Kit too. Yet, the boy wasn't ready. No matter, he could wait.
"Goodnight, L'il Britches." He said to the darkness. Before he drifted off, he heard a soft, "Goodnight..Papa Bear."
Fin
