Chapter 11
Like a Feather

When the six weeks it took for his arm to heal were completed, Tots had formed a basic comprehension of rudimentary knowledge. During those days he'd noticed that Ra's focused mostly on science and physics with the rest of the subjects taught on the sidelines. Tots also found out that Ra's was an environmentalist. Their lessons often took them to the green house where Ra's taught the boy everything he knew about how to take care of plants and animals. Tot's found he actually liked the work. He liked being near the earth and knowing how to tend it.

"When you are a few years older and have master a few levels of airbending, I will take you on missions with me." Ra's said to Tots one afternoon when they were discussing the deterioration of rainforests.

"Missions? You mean like field trips?"

"No, I mean quests that have a purpose and a goal."

"Oh really? So am I going to be like a secret spy or agent or something like that?"

"Not exactly, but something of the sort I suppose."

He grinned. "Sweet."

When at last it was time for him to bend, Ra's stood with him in the courtyard.

"The one thing you should know about airbending," He said with his arms crossed, "is that it is dynamic." He saw the blank look on Tots' face with his words. "Lively, in other words. Benders are able to use air to enhance their abilities. With time, you'll be able to run faster, jump higher, and even fly."

"You can teach me how to fly?"

"And even more."

Tot's face nearly split in two with how wide his smile grew. Ra's continued, trying to bring him down to earth again. "I've studied much from other martial arts around the world and I've learned that Airbending resembles a form of Chinese fighting called Baguazhang."

"Bag-zinger?"

"Baguashang." Ra's corrected. "In Baguashang, movements employ the whole body with smooth coiling and uncoiling actions." He took a defensive stance to show him. Instinctively, Tots took the same stance. Ra's flung his arms out with his hands flat and open. Tots copied him. "By utilizing your body flow you create rapid-fire movements to draw energy from the center of the abdomen."

"So I guess most of this comes from breathing techniques huh?"

Ra's actually looked pleased by how quickly he'd been able to catch on. "Yes indeed."

At that moment he signaled for one of his servants to come over. "Normally, bending does not require a weapon, although I have seen benders enhance their abilities by applying their bending with tools." Ra's handed him a tall wooden staff. "This is an airbending staff. My people carved it especially for you to use. Treat it well."

Tots examined it. To him it didn't seem much different than a normal smoothed stick. But then his fingers traced over what felt to be a button. Curious, he pressed it. He jumped and dropped it to the ground when fans folded out and smacked him in the face.

"Yikes! What was that?"

"Those were the wings." Ra's said, picking it up carefully and handing it back to the boy. "Be more careful with it."

"Wings?" Tots repeated with confusion. Then his face lit up when he understood. "You mean I get to fly around with this?" Ra's nodded. "Cool!"

"By manipulating the air currents around you, you will be able to glide freely on your own."

"Awesome. So how do I do that exactly?"

"Try with a running start and then leapt and prop your feet up on the back wings."

Mercy came up at that moment, following closely along with their conversation on the sidelines. Normally she never interupted their lessons, but this felt a little unsafe to her. "Uh sir, are you sure this is the best way for him to learn airbending?"

Ra's smiled, "I'm glad you asked that. As a matter of fact, there is a better way."

Five minutes later they were gathered above the tallest tower in the palace. Tots gaped, staring down into the wide-open nothing below them. Ra's stood next to him with his arms behind his back, looking unquestionably cool as the chill air blew his hair back.

"Oh my gosh!" Tots murmured, looking down fearfully.

"Now you can sense the air a lot better from this altitude. This way, you'll really have to sense the currents if you want to fly." He turned back to the dark skinned girl behind them. "Thank you, Mercy."

"YEAH! Thanks Mercy!" Tots hissed glaring back at the girl. She smiled regretfully and rubbed her neck.

Ra's gestured to the empty air. "Go ahead, young one. Show us what you can do."

Tots stepped near the edge, clutching at his staff and looking down into the darkness. It looked so much deeper compared to when they were in the helicopter. "Um… you know, maybe I'm just the kind of airbender that doesn't fly after all. You know like those birds who can't fly or those fish that don't swim but just sort of crawl on the floor and stuff."

"Don't let your fear get the better of you." Ra's told him. "More than one airbender has felt scared their first time trying to fly."

Tots sputtered, puffing himself up and chuckling slightly. "Pfft ha, ha… scared? I'm not scared. I'm just a little uncomfortable with jumping off a building into a deep, dark pit of nothing with only a little stick. Did you even test this thing to make sure it works?"

"My people put every ounce of care that they could muster into fashioning that tool for you. It will serve you well."

Tots turned back to the edge. He took a deep breath, and before he could loose his nerve again he leapt into the nothing that would catch him. He felt the cold air rush passed him as he neared the ground. "AH!" He cried out with the surprise, and then his shriek turned into laughter as he felt the currents lift him up like a feather. Now he rose higher than the towers, guiding the glider around them effortlessly. "This is incredible." He shouted to Ra's and the others below. "But wait a minute," He began to panic when he realized a dilemma, "How do I land this—ACK, BLAH! BUG! ICK! I swallowed a bug! Ugh!"

Pixy spotted him from a tower and leapt to her feet when she saw the airborne little boy. "Tater Tots is flying! Flying! Fly! Like a butterfly! Hiiiiiii, Tater Tots!"

Tots maneuvered the glider to the courtyard Magnet and Rico were practicing in. They stopped momentarily to wave up at him. "Woo-hoo! Go Tots!"

He grinned happily down at them. His focus wasn't on the glider anymore, when he looked up at last, it was too late to correct his error. He crashed head first into an open window. Shrieks followed when he realized where he was. The women soldier's bathing rooms. And he'd landed on top of one of them!

"IMYGOSH! IAMSOSORRY!"

"Little rat." She cried as he sprung to his feet, embarrassed. She grabbed a towel and a bar of soap and threw it at him. Several others did the same. "Get out of here!"

"Sorry!" Tots cried out as he rushed back from where he crashed through, covering his head and dodging the flying missiles. He pounced on the windowsill and leapt into the air nearly forgetting to use his glider. By the time he'd opened it, the roof of the building below, collided with his skull and he blacked out.

"Tots? Tots?" he opened his eyes when his ears picked up the familiar voice. Mercy's big brown eyes stared down at him with concern. "Are you alright?"

He blinked, looking up into the faces of his friends surrounding him. He tried to recall the last thing he remembered. "What happened?"

"Tater Tots got a bonk on his ba-donki-donk." Pixy said beside him. She tenderly touched a bandaged area over his left eye. "Gotta bad scrapy right there."

Tots flinched and rubbed the place above his eye. His mind clicked on what had happened that moment and he sat up quickly, searching himself for other injuries. The moment he moved he wished he hadn't. The sudden movement ruptured the pain and he held his sides tenderly.

"The fall gave you some pretty nasty bruises." Mercy informed when she saw his distress. "You got pretty cut up too. I bandaged them up and Rina had to give you a few stitches." She patted the side of Tot's head that wasn't injured. "I'm so happy you're alright, Tots. I want to hug you but I know it would just make the pain worse."

"Thanks for resisting. Boy am I in a world of hurt right now." Tots said leaning up and holding his sides. "So how long was I out."

"Not too long. A day at least." Magnet told him.

"You need to eat something." Mercy suddenly jumped, up heading for the door. "Man, and the kitchens are all the way on the other side of the palace. Don't you dare let him out of bed, you hear me." She called to the others, as she rushed to find Tots some food.

Once she was gone they all turned back to the little boy

"You gave us a good scare there, buddy." Rico said beside Magnet.

"It must have been at least fifty feet. You landed on the armory roof."

"Mercy girl had steam coming out of her ears." Pixy informed leaning on the bed with her elbows propping her up.

Both the boys nodded in agreement with her statement. "I've never seen Mercy so angry before."

"She was angry?" Tots was surprised.

"She was yelling at Ra's when they carried you back here." Magnet added. "Said he didn't know how to take care of little kids and she wouldn't have her friend caught up in this nonsense. 'This is all your fault' she said. Man, I thought she was going to kill him, for what he'd done to you."

Tots nodded. That seemed like the sort of thing Mercy would do too. She'd always been protective of Tots. She'd always been responsible and kind that way. "When do you think I'll be able to start training again?"

They all exchanged glances. "Well Tots, I don't know if Mercy wants you to train anymore."

"But I have to." Tots stated. "This air stuff is part of me. I can't just shut it off. I have to learn more."

"Well she still isn't going to let you fly any time soon." Magnet chuckled.

"Why?" Tots demanded, folding his arms across his chest. "She's not my mom."

"Maybe not. But she cares about you." Rico said. "It's not like she's doing it to be mean or anything, she just doesn't want you to get hurt again."

Tots heard the truth in that. Even still, he hated being told what to do. But then again it had always been that way, ever since he joined the gang. Without realizing it, Tots had followed Mercy around like a lost puppy, doing whatever she said. It was easy to accept her as a surrogate big sister after all.

He shrugged but looked up with glee. "So did you see me flying? That was pretty cool huh?"

Everyone fell into immediate animation at the announcement.

"Oh man," Magnet said falling back and throwing his hands out with excitement. "Besides the fact that you totally crashed into the women's bathhouse, it was incredible."

"Totsy was all zoom, zoom through the air."

They all took turns on relaying what they thought about Tots' new ability. Mercy came in that moment bearing a tray of soup, crackers and juice. Their laughter stopped when she set it down on the bedside table. "You've really got to get some nutrients down after that."

Tots nodded.

Then he looked at the tray and he looked at his friends, and lastly he looked at Mercy. "Guys could you leave for a minute. I want to talk to Mercy."

They all exchanged glances but left with Pixy twirling in a ballet move behind the boys. Before leaving though, she winked at him from the doorway, waving a cheery goodbye to him.

Mercy went about fluffing his pillow while he stared at her. She was perfectly aware that he wished to discuss something important to her, yet he continued to delay while she tended to him. Finally he spoke.

"You shouldn't be so hard on him." Tots tried. He didn't have to explain whom he was talking about, she knew perfectly well. "He's nice."

She sighed leaning against her chair and wearing a weary expression. "I don't trust him, Tots. It was all just too easy. How did he know where to find us? And how did he know Yuki had been there at all? It's just too easy. Look," She said leaning in and putting her hand on his. "I know he's probably very smart. But I don't want you to put all your hopes into this man. I… have a feeling this guy is bad news okay."

"But he knows a lot and he can help me help Yuki."

She saw the look on Tots face and smiled comfortingly. "Don't worry. Yuki will be fine. Batman has her now. She's safe, so we don't have to worry too much about her. Lets just concentrate on taking care of ourselves for the moment. Kay?"

Tots played with his fingers uncertainly. Then he nodded. "Kay."

Lightning flashed across the sky, lighting the huge room in a terrifying glow. Tots sat straight in bed as the windows trembled threateningly. He wanted to be with the others, he missed those nights when he could curl up with his friends for comfort under such torrents. Storms terrified him beyond words and this one was even worse. The gigantic room didn't help either. Shadows loomed in the room, bowing over him and playing games on his young mind. He clutched at the covers in petrified terror. He looked up at the ceiling, watching a giant black claw reach out to grab him.

Lightning lit up the dark as the thunder shook the room like an earthquake. He leapt from his bed, tearing out the doorway without a second thought. He ran the whole long distance to his friends' rooms where he burst through Mercy and Pixy's room. The dark girl sat up in bed when she heard the door suddenly open. She looked terrified for a moment but breathed when her eyes adjusted to see whom it was. She sighed and scooted over to make room for him. Pixy was already curled up at the foot of it. Apparently thunderstorms frightened her too.

He snuggled close to the girl he knew as his big sister, feeling much safer instantly.

"Scary night. Now all we have to do is wait for the boys." She said, trying to sound humorous as more thunder shook the walls.

"They're not going to show up. Their too proud for that."

"I dunno, if my guess is correct they should be coming in… right… about… now."

Lightning flashed and the door opened where two boys burst through instantly.

Mercy smirked at Tots. "Told you so."

Without a word they all squeezed on the bed as best as they could fit. Sometime in the night they pulled the second mattress on the floor and pushed the two together to make more room for one another. When morning came, Ra's searched for Tots in his bedroom. The chamber was empty save fro the messy bed where he slept the night before. He had a feeling where he was already was. His hunch was proven correct when he found the boy huddled together on the floor of the girls' dormitory. The other children were huddled together in a tight mound of limbs, blankets and cushions.

Magnet had half his body falling off the bed and Rico was laying sideways with his legs propped up on Tots' stomach. Tots was lying on his back, snoring like a hog and was wedged between Mercy and Pixy with the smaller girl groping Tots like a teddy bear.

All in all, the scene was… rather amusing. He decided to let them sleep for a bit longer before their lessons began that day.