Summary: (oneshot) In which Iago tries to teach Abu how to talk. (light slash undertones)
Disclaimer: I don't own Aladdin.
Warning: Light and semi-invisible slash undertones - the kind that could just as easily be friendship fluff.
It was unusually quiet in the palace that day. Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, and the Sultan were planning for the wedding - the one that seemed like it would never come - and so two animal sidekicks were left with little to do. Iago watched as Abu attempted to peel a strange fruit at least twice his size, with little success. The struggle was somewhat comical, but Iago wasn't amused. Other things being on his mind, he was paying little attention.
"Hey monkey?" Iago began. Abu looked over at the parrot, making inquisitive noises in his general direction. "Does it ever bother you?" Iago asked slowly. "I mean... Not being able to talk to the humans?" Abu chattered rapidly in reply, and Iago rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know Aladdin understands you, but... I've always humans understand all of what I'm saying, and I can't imagine it any other way." Abu tilted his head to one side, blinked, and made several chirping sounds.
"Why?" Iago repeated. "Well... I don't know, I thought - if you wanted - I could teach you how to talk," he admitted. Abu smiled and nodded, then went back to fighting his meal. A moment passed, and it almost seemed the monkey had forgotten Iago's proposal, much to the parrot's confusion. "So, uh, should we start?" he asked. Abu nodded without looking up, still busy with the stubborn fruit.
"Alright, then... We might as well start with your name, it's simple enough. Now repeat after me..." Iago instructed. "Abu."
Abu, who had finally given up on the fruit, repeated, "Ah-ooh."
"No, it's Abu."
"Ah-ooh."
"Abu."
"Ah-ooh."
"Gah! No, Abu!"
"Ah-ooh!" Abu screeched, then continued on angrily in monkey dialect.
"It is not what you're saying!" Iago snapped. "Your name is not 'Ah-ooh', it's 'A-bu'!" More screeching in reply, as Abu glared at Iago. The parrot sighed.
"Okay, okay, fine... Here, let's start over, okay?" Abu looked reluctant, but nodded. "So, one more... It's Abu."
Several hours later, and still all Abu had accomplished was 'Ah-ooh'.
"I give up!" Iago groaned. "This is impossible! You are impossible! We're never going to get anywhere - I quit!" He squawked, and in a huff flew up and landed on a ledge against the wall. Abu scowled, kicking at the air, and the two simply ignored each other's presence for a while. With a dejected sigh, Abu sat on the floor.
"Ah-ooh..." he muttered to himself. "Ah-rooh. Aru. Aru? Ahhh... booh. Ah-booh?! Abu! Abu!"
Iago glanced down over the ledge. "What are you chattering about now?"
"Abu!" The little monkey exclaimed, waving his arms wildly. "Abu!"
Iago blinked in disbelief. "Wha...What?"
"Abu, Abu, Abu!"
Iago swooped down from the ledge. "Hey, I guess I'm not that bad at this teaching thing after all!" He laughed. "Well then, shall I continue bettering you?" Abu rolled his eyes but smiled, happily chirping. Then, a mischievous glint in his eyes, he lurched forward and hugged his parrot friend.
"Woah, hey, easy there monkey! You're welcome an' all, but you can let go now. Really. Let go. Abu? Let go."
But Abu clearly had no intentions to do so.
-coughs- Okay, before I go onto anything else, I realize that in the series, there have been times when Abu's monkey language has sounded quite human - rare, from what I've seen, but still there. Also, though in my memory I only recall Aladdin and Iago being able to clearly comprehend what Abu is saying, I could be wrong. This story is mostly to give Abu a way to talk, as to make other stories possible. On that note, I wouldn't say this is my best piece of work - it's a bit under-par, but it's cute, and I think I've got Iago down pretty well. -shrugs- I dunno.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
