Cirque du La Terre

Chapter II

"Wake UP!" Suki yelled into Longshot's ear for the fourth time, rapping her knuckles on his forehead. "You've got to get up and help get everything ready for tonight!" Longshot, groaned, rolling over. Suki huffed, slamming a pillow over Longshot's head.

"OW! What was that for?" Longshot yelled, rubbing the back of his head. He sat up, glaring at Suki, who was standing over him with her hands on her hips. She gave him a "get-the-hell-up-before-I-sick-my-tigers-on-you" look. Her makeup was already on, and it gave her a more dangerous look than the face she was giving. He swore, standing up. He stretched, reaching his arms over his head. He heard a satisfying 'crack' before lowering his arms to his sides. He ran a hand through his mess of hair, groaning when his fingers became stuck in tangles.

"Iroh wants you out there in ten minutes," Suki said. "He's said that there's going to be a big crowd tonight, so be prepared. He's got you on food today." She laughed when Longshot made a face of disgust. "I know how much that sucks. You want me to help?" Longshot rolled his shoulders, shaking his head when they popped into place.

"Nah, I got this. But thanks for the offer Suki. It almost makes me want to forgive you for such a rude awakening."

"Be glad it wasn't Katara," Suki said, eyes glinting. "She would have sung you awake, and we all know what happened last time." Longshot smacked his forehead. That wasn't a very pleasurable experience. Suki bid him farewell and wished him luck and left the tent. The late morning sunshine streamed through the opening of the tent, alighting dust particles as they drifted through the air. Longshot dressed himself, shrugging on his blue and red vest. Today was going to be a very long day.

He hated working with food.

"Mommy! I wanted blue cotton candy!" a small boy in a bright neon yellow Pokémon shirt whined. Longshot was stuck selling sweets this night, and oh how he loathed it. The little boy glared at his pink cotton candy. Longshot looked at the boy's mother.

"I'm sorry ma'am," he said, trying not to lose his cool. "We're out of the blue sugar, but I assure you that the pink taste just the same." He gave her an apologetic look, trying to avoid a tantrum.

"But pink is a girly color!" the boy said angrily. "I'm not a girl!"

"C'mon, honey," said the mother, tugging her little boy along before Longshot blew a fuse. There were a lot of people at the Cirque du La Terre tonight, all hoping to catch the show before the circus rolled out of town in the morning. So far he had three children claim that he handled their food with dirty fingers, one claim that he had licked his caramel apple before handing it to him, and two throw their lollipops back into his face. One had glued itself to his hair and he had to take a pair of scissors and cut it off, much to his dismay. His hair was going to look awful for weeks.

It was just about time for the show in the big top to start, so Longshot started pulling everything back into the cart he was stationed in. He closed the panel before stepping out, breathing a sigh of relief. He quietly tip-toed into the back entrance of the tent. Iroh was already introducing the first act, Jet and Toph on the trapeze. Longshot walked around, asking if anyone needed any help. After helping lace up a costume or two, and after zipping Ty Lee up and seeing enough boob to last him a lifetime, he sat in a fold out chair in the back, listening to the 'oo's and 'ahh's of the crowd as Jet slung Toph up into the air, only to have her fall right back into his arms as they swung overhead an ogling crowd.

Longshot watched as each act walked in and out to the crowd. Their faces were lit up with excitement and the thrill of performance. He could feel the energy, almost like electricity, radiating through the air. He could almost get high off of it, basking in the glory of his friends. As the acts dwindled down, he got up, beginning the routine of cleaning up the back. He put costumes back into boxes, props in containers. He helped the girls remove their makeup after the show was over, unsticking facial jewels and false eyelashes. He helped the guys sort all of their equipment for the long journey to their next destination.

He didn't know what it was. Maybe it was because he had been in the circus for so long, but it seemed so boring, doing the same thing performance after performance. He wished he could go out there and perform with everyone else, but he didn't have a talent like the others. He could shoot a bow and arrow, but that didn't help him with the big top acts much.

As Longshot walked past the entrance from back stage to the ring, he heard Iroh's voice speaking with a lower, softer voice. Longshot stopped in his tracks, peering through the entrance. He knew Iroh's tone of voice anywhere. It was the tone that meant business. The one Longshot always heard before someone new joined their family.

Speaking to Iroh was a slender boy with messed up brown hair that covered some of his face. His skin was pale, like the moon looked on most nights. Longshot was entranced by him. The boy spoke softly and swiftly, speaking to Iroh feverishly, like he was begging him for something. Iroh laughed, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder. He gestured towards the giant, blue silk hanging from the ceiling. The boy gazed at the silk with determined eyes. He took his shoes off and strode towards the silk with a grace like a pro. Longshot watched with inquisitive eyes as the boy gripped the silk in both of his hands, wrapping the silk around one of his feet before hoisting himself upwards with a strength Longshot didn't think the boy possessed.

The boy hoisted himself into the air, climbing up the silk with expertise that outshined even Jet. He climbed halfway up the silk before running his slender fingers through the middle, dividing it. Locking the leg with the foot tangled in the silk, he bent backwards, back arching gracefully and he swept his arm out in a graceful motion. He leaned forward again, grabbing the other side of the silk and wrapping it around his other foot. Slowly, he gripped the silks on either side, before sliding into a split in midair, suspended by his feet. Longshot's eyes bugged out of his head. The boy was flexible. Really flexible.

The boy continued to impress both Longshot and Iroh, taking on various positions on the silk, moving gracefully like a swan or a dancer, defying gravity with many of his moves. Iroh seemed to be enjoying himself, a wide grin plastered to his face. The boy's face was unreadable, it was the most serene, angelic face Longshot had ever seen, but the boy's eyes held a fire that was intense and burning. Longshot knew he shouldn't be staring at the boy like he was, but he couldn't look away.

The boy began to wrap the silk around his waist, winding it around over and over. He let out and audible breath before releasing his hold on the silk, unwinding himself from the fabric. Longshot almost cried out as the boy untwisted rapidly from the silk, falling to the ground. At the last possible second he grasped the blue material, inches from the mat on the floor. Iroh laughed a loud, surprised laugh and clapped as the boy lowered himself down, untangling himself from the silk. Iroh strode over towards him, his face alight with excitement.

"That was amazing!" he said, very loudly I might add, hands on his hips. The boy stood, stoic, watching Iroh with apprehensive eyes. "We definitely need you in our show! We only have one male aerialist. You'd be a great addition!" Iroh extended his hand. The boy stared at it for a moment, surprised, before taking Iroh's hand in his, grinning from ear to ear. Iroh laughed and wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulders. The boy frowned as something Iroh said set in and Longshot couldn't tell what he had said but whatever it was, it shocked Iroh.

"Just bring your things in the morning! I'm sure you're gonna like it here," he said. He led the boy out of Longshot's sight, walking towards the main exit of the tent. Longshot craned his neck, trying to catch one last look at the boy before they both disappeared outside.

"Spying are we?" a voice from behind said. Longshot jumped, breath catching in his throat. He whipped around to see Suki, who was cackling with laughter behind him. She grinned at him most of her makeup off, crossing her arms.

"Looks like we have a new addition to our little family. Did you see his performance?" Longshot's eyes glazed over, remembering the moment like he would for forever. The delicate and yet powerful movements of that boy, it was mesmerizing.

"It was amazing!" Longshot exclaimed. "Wait, how did you watch it?" Suki gestured to the main entrance.

"Same as you, except I was watching from there," she explained. "Looks like Jet have some competition coming his way. I can't wait to get to get to know that boy." Longshot grinned. Just then he realized, he didn't know the boy's name.

"Uh, Suki," he started, "Did you happen to catch his name?" Suki looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking her head.

"Nope, sorry." She smirked. "But we'll find out tomorrow won't we?" She walked out of the tent, leaving Longshot with his thoughts. He sighed, plopping back down in his chair. He was excited about the boy joining the circus, but he was nervous. What if they didn't get along? What if the boy treated him more like the 'help' instead of part of the performance family? It's never happened before, but he was always afraid that someone would come along and hold him at a lower spot on the totem pole because he wasn't a performer. Longshot put his head in his hands. So this was who the little brown monkey symbolized. He hoped that he could befriend this graceful boy. Cinnamon was right, he needed more guy friends.

Longshot stretched his arms before standing up; taking one more glance around the back to make sure everything was in its place before stepping out of the tent and into the night.