Well here it is chapter 3. Thank you all who have read and reviewed so far. It was never drafted like this, but then I realised Wildcat should be in the story, and it went it a whole different direction. Also, there is a moment where Wildcat's real name is mentioned. This is a total invention by me. And a bilingual bonus for anyone who speaks French. But if anyone out their wants to use it, please be my guest. Well here we go
Chapter 3
Kit ran as the ground beneath him seemed to slow down, his heart was racing as the events replayed in his mind. He had hit Baloo; he had hit the one person who had given him a home, a job and cared about him…and Kit had hit him!
Kit ran until his little legs could run no longer, eventually collapsing on the hill he had found himself, his breath ragged in his chest. Wiping the salty tears from the sleeve of his sweater, he stared out at the horizon, willing himself to calm down.
The slow movements of Cape Suzette bay, began to relax the tension that been building. However the look in Baloo's eyes was burned into his skull. How could he have hit him? Once again, his temper had screwed everything up.
Kit wondered if he was smart enough to go back and beg Baloo's forgiveness, tell him it was all an accident, but Kit wasn't sure if it was or it wasn't! Had he meant to hit Baloo? Had he meant to push him away?
Kit wondered if he could somehow sneak into the shack and retrieve the bag; he had been hiding all his worldly possessions. Then he remembered he had left his airfoil in the Sea Duck, could he get that back? He doubted it somehow.
He placed his head in his hands as every distraction only came back to the same point. He had hit Baloo! Kit had never known anyone like Baloo, sure he was gruff and lazy, he had little patience for Rebecca, stuck up people or idiots, but over the past few weeks he had always had time for Kit. Kit knew he was the biggest idiot of all time.
As the sun bore down on him, he realised his baseball cap, turned backwards like any good navigator was missing from his head, and his heart sank all over again. Somewhere it had fallen from his head; he looked around but knew it was lost, his first gift from Baloo and he had lost it.
Kit was so wrapped up in his own misery; he almost didn't notice Wildcat as he stroll down the hill heading towards Higher for Hire.
"Hello there Kit, what are you doing here?"
Even with his mind reliving moments, he would rather forget, Kit couldn't suppress a small smile in the mechanics direction. Wildcat was still a mystery to Kit, even though he had spent so long living with crazy air pirates, he still sometimes wondered about Wildcat.
When he had moved into Baloo's shack, he had come across an old black and white photograph of Baloo and Wildcat standing in an aircraft hangar, wearing aviation suits, both of them looking cocky and confident at the camera. The inscription stated "William (Wildcat) der Löwe, Pilot and Mechanic of the year."
Baloo had received second place, but didn't seem to mind his friend's glory. Kit had wondered what had happened; to turn this master of the skies to the childlike individual he was now. He had been tempted to ask Baloo, but the sad look in Baloo's eyes, when he had seen the picture in his hands convinced Kit otherwise.
"Hi Wildcat, how are you doing?" Kit asked the question, hesitantly.
"Ahhhh well, Baloo told me something's happened to the Overdrive, so I'm heading over there to see if I can fix it."
"Is that all Baloo said?" Kit asked, suddenly afraid of the answer. Wildcat couldn't lie, and all Kit needed was Wildcat to say to him "Yes, it's because you hit him, I'm going over there with a hammer so I can destroy your airfoil."
Wildcats face screwed up as he looked to the sky. "Naaaaa I don't think so, anyway I'd better go, heard the weather might turn bad, right now though my brains are frying from the heat, hope your brain doesn't fry Kit." Wildcat sang as he disappeared from down the hill.
Kit leaned back against the grass, so Baloo hadn't told Wildcat, perhaps he wouldn't tell anyone? Perhaps it would be there little secret, then he remembered Rebecca had seen everything. Oh man, Rebecca, what if she thought he was too violent to be around her? What if he thought he'd hurt Molly? The thought horrified him; Molly was so precious and innocent, and for some reason she trusted Kit.
Kit imagined the moment he walked back into the office, Rebecca slamming the door in his face, and calling the police. Kit put his face in his hands, lost himself within his own mind and didn't notice the skies around him darken, as the sun began to set, and as the first droplets of rain, fell on his head.
Baloo had spent hours watching the horizon hoping to see Kit, eventually he turning his attention to the Sea Duck and contacted Wildcat. As soon as the lion approached the dock, he affected the mannerism of a German doctor, about to operate on a very sick patient. Any other day, Baloo would have joined him as part of Wildcats fantasy world, but today.
As the mechanic went to work on the plane, Baloo kept his focus on what Wildcat was doing, his nose still stung from the memory of Kit's fist contacting with him, leaning against a pillar, he thought once more about Kit and sighed.
Baloo had no idea what he was doing, he wasn't Kit's father, he had no idea how to be a father, but somehow this kid had landed literally in his life, and Baloo had become responsible for him. As he watched Wildcat, it began to rain dramatically, which matched Baloo's mood perfectly. Quickly, he mounted a small canopy over Wildcat, not wanting to disturb the master at work.
After an hour of the sounds of Wildcat tinkering with the Sea Duck, he finally held his spanner in the air in triumph. Baloo joined him, as he held up the now fried overdrive. "The Sea Duck is fine Baloo, a few holes, but I can patch them up. But with this new plane, I can't install an overdrive again. The internal circuits are too weak." Baloo peered as the small piece of machinery, which could mean the life or death to a pilot. "Are you sure?" Wildcat gave Baloo a look, which reminded him of the old days, the look that could only be described as "Why are you even asking?"
Baloo was too tired to even question it further, even though he could count the times he had used the overdrive, the fact he had it was a comfort, his personal "get out of jail free card", against the Pirates.
"It still would have worked on the old Sea Duck." Chimed in Wildcat helpfully. All Baloo could do was look at him, even though he liked to pretend. This plane wasn't the plane he had loved for so long, fought in, worked in, and chilled in. This plane, at times served as a reminder of his failings to Rebecca and his life, yet because of that reminder he still stayed with the plane and Cape Suzette.
The sound of the rain was creating an echoing on the canopy, and Baloo knew Wildcat would have a few hours to go until the repairs were completed. Baloo went to make Wildcat a cup of hot chocolate, ignoring the fact, that the few metres walk to his shack from the plane, drenched his fur completely.
Passing the streaming beverage to the lion, he stepped into the Sea Duck and turned the radio on, turning the knob loudly in an attempt to drown the sound of the rain. The gentle sounds of Cape Suzette radio filled the air for a few minutes, before a sudden interruption brought a news update, which Baloo happily tuned out. "We interrupt this program to bring up an urgent bulletin. This sudden outburst of rain has brought landslides across several hills in Cape Suzette. So far no causalities have been reported. The ones more seriously affected are. The Gilbert Hill, Struthers Hill and Cummings Hill, please listen for more reports."
As the radio switched back to music, there was silence between the pair, until Wildcat said suddenly "You know I hope Kit's all right." Baloo nodded to himself, then realization hit him "What did you say Wildcat?"
"I saw Kit on Cummings Hill a few hours ago; he looked like he was thinking to himself." He replied casually, going back to work on the plane.
"You've seen Kit, and you didn't tell me." Baloo's concern was swiftly replaced, as the childlike look in Wildcat's eyes was too precious to suppress with anger.
"Well gee Baloo, you never told me you were looking for him."
He was right; Baloo hadn't told him anything, as Wildcat saw the good in everyone, and Baloo didn't want him to think badly of Kit. Baloo looked past the rain, and towards Cummings Hill, it wasn't far. Perhaps Kit was still there, then a very adult fear struck. There was a landslide Kit could be…
Not saying a word, Baloo raced to his home and grabbed his waterproofs; the sky was now pitch dark, and he quickly lit the lantern. As he ran out, Wildcat was now standing by the door, oblivious to the rain running off him.
"Did I do bad Baloo? Can I go with you?" Wildcat looked at Baloo his eyes in a childlike pleading and Baloo, willed himself to relax. "No Wildcat, you stay here and work on the Duck, don't work too late and I'll see you in the morning."
Baloo knew that if he brought Wildcat he would soon be distracted, and he needed to be focused. All his knew was his kid could be out there, as he ignored the pounding rain, adjusted the lamp and raced for the hill.
Well chapter 3 is finished; the next chapter is the moment it gets a lot darker
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