Chapter XXI
Giddy Guards and Rabid Fans
After a twenty minute flight Iorik pointed to a forest near a small town, and dove downward toward the trees. The others followed after him. He landed softly among the pines and retracted his wings.
"Wufu, pack your wings in and hide your ears in your hat. Arrow, pack your wings too." he said quietly. Wufu slid off his coat and put it back on, looking like a tiny hunchback. He got out a pointed fur hat and pulled it over his ears. He now appeared to be a deformed human child. Arrow pulled off his coat and packed his wings in tightly. Kivuli hid in Arrow's furs. Ioforr hid in Iorik's coat. Iorik walked out of the woods and up to the town gate. He greeted the guard in Mandarin and conversed with him for a while before gesturing for Arrow to come over. "He needs to see your passport." Iorik said as he reached into his own pocket. Arrow grabbed his wallet for his passport card. The guard's eyes lit up as he looked at Iorik's passport and he began to chatter excitedly in Mandarin. He was so excited he opened the gate and called to the other guards, who rushed over. Some of them ran to the barracks and came back with pictures of Iorik in a tuxedo singing into a microphone. One of them had a poster. Iorik laughed and signed all of them. The guards gave them an escort to the train station and thanked Iorik profusely as the train pulled away. They never checked Arrow's passport. Arrow chuckled and put his passport away following after Iorik. He stayed near Wufu. Iorik winked at him as the waiter came over. He had the same reaction the guard had, and Iorik turned to Arrow. "There's a show going on in the fine dining car that they want us to watch. They'll give us free meals for each performance. What do you say?"
"Sure." He smiled. "sounds like fun."
"Do you want to get Kivuli from the restroom so he can come with us?" Iorik said with a wink.
"Yeah." He said, going off to get the child. Iorik told the waiter, who nodded.
Kivuli came running out. Iorik swept him up in a hug.
"You wanna go see a show, buddy?"
"Yeah!" He smiled. The waiter led them to a separate car into a room with individual showers, then left.
"I asked if we could shower and change first. There's a suit for you in here, love." Iorik said, handing Arrow a suit bag. "Here, Kivuli. This one's for you." Iorik said to the boy, handing him a similar, smaller suit bag. Arrow smiled and hung the bag and started to strip so he could shower. He didn't bother hiding, seeing as they were all male. Kivuli did the same. Haku came out too. Wufu had a tuft of fur on his tiny chest. He walked into a shower and began to wash his fur with shampoo, squeaking a song in a strange language. He came back out and got dressed in a black tuxedo jacket and pants, a white wingtip shirt, and a black silk vest embroidered with black bats. He tied on a bow tie that matched. The vest on Arrow's tuxedo was patterned with layers of music notes in varying shades of red. Kivuli's vest had oriental dragons embroidered on either side in red thread. Iorik came out wearing a custom fit black silk tuxedo. The jacket sparkled, and the lapels were silk sheet music from Carmina Burana, specifically the score of O, Fortuna. On the left flap pocket a silver treble clef was embroidered. A bass clef was on the right. He stuck a red carnation in his lapel. "Ready, loves?" Kivuli smiled.
"Yeah." Haku turned into a dragon and changed his colors to black. He flew around Arrow's neck Iorik rang the buzzer for the waiter, who came back in and escorted them to a fancy dining car that resembled a five star restaurant. There were murmurs among the other patrons as Iorik entered. The show was an old Chinese Shadowplay about a warrior and a princess. It was completely in Mandarin, but the base idea was still understandable. Arrow and the kids watched the show content with not understanding it. Haku moved to sit on the edge of the table so he could watch the show better. Iorik clapped with the others as a waiter rushed over to take their order. He saw Iorik and his eyes widened. Iorik ordered for everyone in Mandarin and the waiter rushed away as the lights dimmed. The band on the stage began to play soft music, and the car was now mainly lit by candlelight. Arrow wondered what Iorik ordered everyone but was content with waiting.
The waiter came back with a series of roasted meats, fried noodles, steamed rice, cooked vegetables and a platter of dumplings. He murmured something to Iorik, who responded in a similar tone. They conversed briefly, then the waiter ran off to talk to a man near the stage in an Ivory coloured tuxedo jacket, black pants, a white shirt, and a black bowtie. The man jumped up on stage and the band stopped. He began to speak excitedly, and finished with a gesture to Iorik.
"Giovanni Valtieri!" As he was announced, a spotlight appeared on Iorik. He stood with a smile and walked toward the stage, shaking several hands as he crossed the car. The M.C. handed him a microphone and Iorik shook his head and said something inaudible to the audience. The audience began to protest, but then a piano was wheeled on and they cheered. Iorik sat at the piano and began to sing in French as he played.
"Oooh, La mer, Qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs..." the crowd began to sway as he continued, and gave him a standing ovation as he finished. Arrow slowly began to eat and watched as Iorik got on stage and started to perform. He listened to him trying to figure out what he was saying but of course failing. He took the microphone and began to speak in Mandarin. The last thing he said was "Arrow Loan." and gestured toward his fiancé. A spotlight appeared on Arrow, and the crowd clapped and whistled. Iorik beckoned him toward the stage. When he heard his name Arrow blushed and stood, moving toward the stage. He got on stage and looked at Iorik wondering what the man was going to have him do. A stagehand brought on a double bass and offered it to Arrow. Iorik smiled at him.
"I'm going to sing 'La fleur que tu m'avais jetée' and I need accompaniment." he said sweetly. Arrow smiled and happily took the instrument.
"Such a smooth talker." he said as he started to play. Iorik sang the song in perfect pitch, his voice resonating through the car. Wufu swayed to the music in his seat with a smile on his face. He and Haku both had their eyes closed as they listened. Iorik finished singing and the crowd cheered. He bowed and offered Arrow his hand so they could return to their table together. Arrow smiled and took his hand and went back to the table. A little boy came up to Arrow with a poster from a Gotham Philharmonic Poster and a silver sharpie. He looked nervous.
"M-Mr. Loan?" Arrow smiled and took the poster and Sharpie. He set them on the table and put the kid in his lap. "What's your name little one?"
"Charlie." the child responded shyly. Arrow wrote
To Charlie, I hope you keep watching and listening.
- Arrow Loan
He smiled and let the kid down and gently rolled up the poster and used the sharpie clip to keep it closed. "There you go Charlie." Charlie was smiling from ear to ear as he went back to his table.
"Intoxicating, isn't it?" Iorik said with a smile.
"It's interesting. Most people don't even notice." He was smiling like Charlie. Iorik laughed as a group of children and several adults came over with the same poster, all holding silver sharpies. Arrow laughed nervously. Anyone could tell he wasn't used to it.
"Please, Mr. Loan? I play bass, too." one of the older children asked with puppy dog eyes, offering his poster and sharpie.
"Yeah, sure." He smiled and took a sharpie. He happily signed all of the posters. Iorik smiled and sipped at his tea, then munched on one of the dumplings. Wufu was happily eating a dumpling, holding it with both hands and looking kind of like a squirrel. Arrow finished and started eating a dumpling himself. Kivuli was holding two dumplings munching. Arrow looked at Iorik. "The Philharmonic doesn't sell individual posters of us." he said curiously.
"Not in Gotham. Individual posters for almost any musician can be found at any music shop in Beijing. I'll show you when we arrive." Iorik said, checking his watch. ""Which should be in about twenty minutes."
"Oh, okay. That makes sense." Arrow smiled, stuffing a dumpling in his mouth.
"What did you think happened?" Iorik asked him, serving himself some shrimp.
"You're what I think happened." he smiled. Iorik smiled slyly.
"Well, I may have seen the kid with the poster earlier..." Arrow chuckled. Iorik shrugged.
"He wanted to know if I knew you. I told him I was marrying you in a few days. He asked if I could get you to autograph his poster, and I told him we would be in the fine dining car and that he should ask you himself."
"I love you." He smiled. Iorik leaned over kissed him across the table, causing several cameras to go off and the crowd to 'awwwww'. Iorik chuckled as the train began to slow down. "Pretty sure we'll be on the midday paper, love. Should I pick up a copy? The New York Times will probably have the news in time for their evening edition..."
"Ohhhh my mom is going to kill me." He laughed. "I never actually called her. Oops." Iorik pulled a thin phone out of his pocket and spun it on his palm before offering it to Arrow.
"Oh no. My mom is the one with sound powers. I won't need it." He smiled. "Besides, using music is more fun. Ask someone if I can put on a performance again." Iorik smiled slyly.
"What's your house number?" Arrow sighed and took the phone and punched in the number to the house. Iorik snaked the phone from his hand with lightning speed and held it up to his ear, grinning playfully at Arrow. He just chuckled and shook his head. After a couple rings a woman picked up the phone.
"Hellooo?"
"Hello. This is Giovanni Valtieri. Am I speaking with Mrs. Loan?" Iorik said smoothly.
"Yes. You are. Why would you be calling my house?"
"Well, you see, your son Arrow and I are just pulling into Beijing via train. We have a flight to Austin in an hour and then we will be driving to see you and get married in Habitual. I thought you would like to know." He said it all in a perfectly casual tone. Alex started to speak at the phone in a series of clicks and tones reminiscent of the language of the bushmen of Africa. Plus a piano. Arrow could hear it and started laughing.
"She's so angry and confused and happy." He said, explaining.
"If it helps, your daughter Axel is marrying my sister, though I don't know if they have set a date for that yet." Iorik said into the receiver. Her tones were higher.
"I'm so happy for all of you put my son on the phone please." Iorik offered the phone to Arrow. Arrow took the phone and listened to her before going on to respond in the same musical language. Wufu looked between the engaged couple curiously. He turned to Kivuli.
"Who daddy talking to and what about?" Kivuli smiled.
"He talking to Grandma, They talking about where everyone sleep when we get there." Wufu turned to Arrow.
"Daddy, tell Gramma Wufu say hi!" He smiled and started talking to her saying that all the children say Hi. Iorik looked around as the train pulled to a halt.
"It's time to get off the train, love." he said as Kori returned from the restroom. She sat next to Arrow and listened to the conversation before speaking.
"Is that Alex?" Arrow looked at Kori. "Yeah..."
"Tell her Lotus says hi." she said, before serving herself some shrimp to go. Arrow relayed the message.
"How do you know her?" Lotus asked as they all stood and began to leave the train. Iorik was carrying Wufu with one arm and holding Kivuli's hand with his free hand.
"She's my mom." He said, severely confused. Lotus stared at him.
"You're Altair's little brother, aren't you?" He nodded, staring back at her. She facepalmed. "Oh, gods, I'm fucking my uncle." she groaned. Iorik clamped his mouth shut to keep from laughing as a bagman brought their luggage over. Arrow just stared at Kori unable to say anything. Iorik turned red and began to shake, almost ready to explode from holding his laughter in. Arrow looked at him. Iorik began to laugh very, very loudly, drawing stares from several other people. He seemed to be trying to say something, but couldn't for lack of air. Arrow just continued to stare. Iorik finally pulled himself together.
"I am so going to kill your brother." he said in a high pitched, breathless voice as he wiped a tear from his eye, a smile on his face. Arrow just shook his head. He still had no words. Iorik grabbed their luggage and checked his watch. "We have enough time to stop by a music store on the way to the airport if you like, love." he said with a broad smile.
"Sounds nice." Iorik hailed a cab. He spoke to the driver in Mandarin, then motioned for the others to get in while he loaded the luggage into the trunk. Kori sat in the back with Wufu on her lap. Arrow got in and sat with Kivuli on his lap. Iorik got into the front seat, causing the cab to lower. The driver looked at him. He said something in Mandarin and the driver punched the gas, weaving through traffic with a recklessness that made Iorik's driving look overly cautious. They skidded to a halt in front of a music store. Near the store was a newspaper stand that seemed to be doing very good business. On the front page of the paper, in full colour, was a picture of Iorik and Arrow kissing on the train. Iorik grinned at his fiancé as they got out.
"Want a copy?" he asked, nodding toward the news stand.
"Yeah, I'll take a copy." Iorik went and bought one, the vendor looking at him funny. He put the paper in his coat and opened the door to the music shop for Arrow. Arrow walked into the shop. The owner looked up from his copy of the paper and froze, staring at the lovers with a slack jaw. Arrow just smiled at the man. Iorik led his fiancé to the back wall where there were filing cabinets full of posters. He went to the Philharmonic cabinet, Gotham drawer, and opened it. As he had said, there were individual posters of each of the members of the orchestra. Arrow's folder was empty.
"Wow, people must love me here."
"As soon as the afternoon edition came out they stormed every store that had a poster of you and bought it. Be careful. There is an army of music fans looking for you." the shopkeeper said.
"I will." He smiled. "How did these people even get that picture of me?" The owner shrugged.
Ask the man who sells them to us."
"I'll have someone look into it." Iorik said to Arrow quietly.
"Thank you." he smiled and turned to leave. Outside was a huge crowd, all peering in at him. Every single person had a poster of him. Arrow stared at them all. Iorik put a hand on his shoulder.
"I am going to carry you to the car. You are going to make eye contact with no one. You are not to speak to them. Ready?" His tone was one of great severity. nodded and almost immediately spaced out. Iorik picked him up. He carried his lover out, and they were almost to the car when his path was blocked by a crying woman. "How dare you!" she screamed at Iorik. "I wanted you! If I can't have you, no one can!" She lunged forward and Iorik grunted as she rammed a knife between his ribs. His foot shot out, kicking her into the other fans who began to beat her as a group. As she disappeared behind the flurry of fists and feet, Iorik got into the cab and set Arrow next to him. He pulled the knife from his ribs and began to cough up blood as the hole sealed up. When they were in the car Arrow looked at Iorik.
"You okay?" Iorik nodded, coughing up more blood. Wufu looked worried. "You sure?" He asked. Haku showed up.
"Okay daddy, I did it." Iorik nodded again. He had coughed up about a cup of blood before he stopped and wiped his mouth with a white handkerchief. He had managed not to get any on his clothes.
"What did you do, Haku?" he asked, swigging from a water bottle, swishing, and spitting it out the window as they sped toward the airport.
"All the posters were signed by daddy and they dun know." Iorik smiled at Arrow, his teeth now clean.
"I love you."
"Did I do good?" Arrow asked. Iorik leaned in and kissed him.
"Yes." Arrow cheered.