Chapter 14: Morning Shenanigans
The cane came down again against the metal bars and the sound reverberated the small space. I flinched back, covering my ears.
"You little idiot!" Manito barked at me and I eyed him warily as he leaned closer. "You'll get nothing to eat tonight for that stunt!"
I bared my teeth and he sneered. "Little jinx. You think I'm scared of you?"
I jumped up from my crouched spot and grabbed his tunic, jerking him forward and his face slammed into the bars. Cursing he flopped to the ground, rubbing his sore head.
"Why you little runt! I'll ring your scrawny little neck!"
I wasn't quick enough to dodge the other cane he had that curved at the end as he thrust it into the cage. Pain erupted in my neck from the hook and he dragged me forward. This time I felt the bars of the cage slamming into the side of my face and my forehead. Dazed I couldn't stop or move away from the onslaught of the beatings he was raining down on me with the silver handled end of the cane. I could feel bruises and cuts making themselves known. Blood trickled down my back and face and eventually I stopped fighting to get away.
Satisfied with my submission, Manito stepped back, breathing heavily, his slicked back hair now wild. Brushing it back, he glared down at me.
"That'll teach you, little runt."
I jerked upright in bed, sweat covering my brow and I glanced around the room. All was quiet and I could just barely make out the sun pinkening the dark sky. It was barely morning. Groaning, I flopped back down on my pillow. It was way too early to wake Al and I didn't really want too. Something brushed my arm and I looked over at Carpet with a smile.
"I'm okay. Just another nightmare." I muttered to him and he patted my head. "Sorry if I woke you." He shrugged and then pointed at the bed. I laughed. "Okay. I'll try to sleep some more." I told him and laid back down. To my amusement he covered me with the blanket again and then pointed to the other side of the room. Genie's lamp was snoring. While he was no longer bound to it, he said he kept it because it had been his home for the last ten thousand years. Now that his magic wasn't limited by a master making wishes he could make it bigger and roomier on the inside and he just preferred to sleep there.
"No. I don't want to wake him either."
Carpet tilted and I sighed. "He just got home from his trip, Carpet. I don't want to bother him with it. My nightmares will go away in a few days. I'll be okay." He didn't seem convinced and laid down across me as if to keep me in the bed. As much as I tried, I couldn't go back to sleep and watched the sunlight spread across my ceiling still feeling uneasy from my nightmare.
I heard footsteps and glanced up from my sketch book to see Al shuffling by the lounging room, stretching as he walked. He felt my eyes on him and turned, arching an eyebrow before his face softened.
"Morning." I waved at him and he came into the room.
"You didn't sleep well again." He commented, peering closely at me.
I nodded. "Yeah...I was too tired to wake you this time. And I couldn't exactly fall back asleep either." I turned my paper around so he could see. "So, I watched the sun rise." Al shook his head.
"You still amaze me, Rick. How do you do that so quick?"
I shrugged and he laughed.
"Fine keep your secrets." He teased and sat next to me. "Alaric..." I turned to him and he frowned. "What was it this time?"
"Just memories." I muttered, glancing back down at my drawing. "That's all it ever is."
Genie popped in, stretching his arms. "Morning, Al. Short stuff." He nodded at us and I smiled.
"Morning, Genie." I said and he ruffled my hair. I was getting really used to that I was glad to notice.
The blue being took the sketch pad from me as I turned back to Al.
"Have you eaten?" Al asked and I shook my head.
"No. No one was up yet."
Genie handed the pad back to me with a flabbergasted look.
"This is good, shorty. You really have a talent."
Al snickered at my heated face and I kicked at him.
"Shut up, Al."
Genie smiled. "Come on then, boys. I'm sure everyone's up now."
And they were. Jasmine and the Sultan were already there conversing quietly when we came in and I made myself smile at them, testing the waters. Jasmine smiled back and I almost sighed aloud with relief.
"I was just telling father about the lovely painting you did for me." She said and stood up to hug me. I felt heat in my face again and almost ducked out from under her hug. "Thank you."
I rubbed the back of my neck and shifted my feet. "You're welcome...And I am sorry about last night."
"I know and I shouldn't have gotten so upset with you." She shook her head at me. "You thought you were doing the right thing." She kissed my cheek, and all felt right in the world.
I looked around and frowned. "Is Iago still asleep?"
Al snorted. "Probably. He said something about living the life of luxury last night."
"Well, he has to eat something." I said. "I'm sure he's not had a lot of food being trapped in a lamp with ole what's his face." Genie snickered and Al rolled his eyes.
The Sultan smiled at me. "Then perhaps you should invite him to eat with us."
Beaming at the permission, I bounded out of the room to find the wayward parrot ignoring Abu's grumbling.
I knocked on the door and then opened it. Iago was sitting on a pillow, staring off into space.
"Hey." I said softly, knocking in the door again. I didn't want to startle him.
He glanced at me. "Huh?" I surprised it wasn't a hostile response. He seemed distracted though.
"It's breakfast time. Are you hungry?"
He perked up instantly. "What do you think? I'm starving!" He exclaimed loudly and I laughed.
"Well come on then!" I waved a hand and turned to go.
"Uh, hey, wait a second, kid." He said hesitantly and I turned around. He was still on the pillow. The parrot seemed almost nervous and hesitant which piqued my curiosity having never seen that look on his face before.
"Yeah?"
He shifted uncomfortably and I went over to sit across from him sensing something was up.
"What's the matter?" I asked and tilted my head. "You can tell me. Honest. Whatever it is, I won't tell anyone else."
Iago eyed me seriously, looking me right in the eyes for several seconds before glancing away. "You really mean that, don't you?" There was silence for a moment before I sighed. I had to be more open. From experience I knew that you give what you get. If I talked to Iago, he'd talk to me back.
"Yeah...I do. Because I know you don't trust me, and I don't expect you to right now because I know how it feels to have someone be nice to you and it not be a trick." I was babbling, but Iago had to know that I understood his hesitance.
"Kid-"
I shook my head, smiling. "No, really it's okay. I get it. I was like that with Al at some point, even Abu."
Iago tilted his head, his body untensing. I think he realized I wasn't playing around.
"Jasmine and the Sultan? And the jinni too?"
I ran a hand through my hair and nodded. "Yep, them too. And it's still kind of that way." I shrugged. "It's hard to get past your past, you know?" He nodded slowly. "We should probably go eat before Abu eats it all."
"Look, eh," He paused and I turned back around. "I was just thinking that, since the Sultan is mad at you and your brother that maybe...I don't know you could take him away from the palace a bit?"
I mulled it over then nodded. "That's a great idea, Iago." I grinned. "You can casually mention it to Al after breakfast if you want. I think it'll really help if it came from you."
He nodded too and then coughed. "Well let's go I'm starving!"
"Focus, focus." Genie chanted for the umpteenth time. Abu rolled his eyes and Carpet tapped the table impatiently as a human would with their fingers. I snickered at them from my corner of the room sitting on what Genie called a bean-bag chair. Whatever it was, it was comfy. I had my sketchpad stretched across my knees again. Trying to think of something else to draw.
Iago had been cautious when I brought him to breakfast and he was jittery, but he got over it quick enough to stuff his face.
An idea formed in my head at the thought of that loud parrot and I set to work drawing. Genie's chants made me look up again.
"Focus, focus…aiming and…SHOOT!" He finally aimed the pool stick and thrust it forward. However, when he hit the ball, he had angled it down too far and the thrust ripped a place in the table, catapulting the shiny white ball across the room. Iago unfortunately decided to come in at that time. The projectile hit him before he could move, and I winced as he toppled out off the air. Carpet caught him as I stood and brought him over to the pool table.
"Oh, no." I said as I saw the damage. The ball was lodged in his beak. Muffled insults and screeches aimed at all of us came from little angry parrot.
Genie grinned sheepishly. "Oh, sorry little feathered friend. I'll get that out." He said catching him in the palm of his hand as Carpet dumped him. Genie grabbed the ball and tugged but it stuck. "Oh, stuck good. Cue-ballectomy." He lay Iago onto the pool table.
"Nurse!" He shouted as he appeared in a doctor's outfit. He pointed a finger at Abu and the little monkey was now wearing a white dress, fake eyelashes, lipstick and a little white hat with a red cross on it. I clutched my sides in laughter and Abu scowled in my direction. He tossed his hat away angrily.
"Abu!" Genie scolded and the monkey glared at him as he attempted to jerk the eyelashes off. "Iago here is our friend now." As he spoke, Iago tried to crawl off the table and he gripped the parrot's tail to keep him still. "We can trust him. Right short man?" Abu looked me, Iago too.
Without hesitating and I nodded. "Of course." I said with a grin and Iago looked at me for a second longer before looking back at Genie to see what he'd do.
"Now let's get that ball out of his mouth, what do you say?" Genie prompted and I pleaded with Abu.
"Please Abu?"
The monkey couldn't take my pleading look. 'Weeelll…Okay!' He decided and backed up before taking a flying leap towards Iago. He landed onto the parrot's stomach with an 'oomph!' and the ball went up into the air.
"Brilliant, Nurse Heimlich!" Genie praised.
I pulled Iago out of the way as the ball made its descent back down, landing where his head had been moments ago. Iago coughed in my arms and looked over at Abu.
"Thanks…Bobo." That sent me into another fit of laughter.
"It's Abu." Genie and I said at the same time.
"Whatever." Iago waved it off and I grinned. Abu was scowling at the bird.
"That's the spirit!" Genie tugged us into his arms and squeezing. "We're all one big happy family!"
"Hey!" I laughed, trying to wiggle away, Abu was muttering angrily from next to me.
"Heh heh right. Family." Iago muttered from under Genie's arm and I laughed.
"It still takes me a while to get used to hugs too." I whispered to him and he gave me a small smile.
"Yeah well...I'm going to go find Al." He stated pushing away from Genie's grip.
"He's in Jasmine's room. See ya later, Iago, and good luck!" I called to him.
"Eh, thanks, kid. See you." He gave me another glance before leaving. I wasn't sure what that look was for though or what he was looking for exactly.
Genie continued to hug us until Carpet got his attention. With a smirk he put us down and leaned against the pool stick smugly.
"Pool's a man's game." He said. Obviously, he thought he had Carpet. "So being a rug, you'll be at a dis..ad…vant-" He trailed off as Carpet shot the ball into the others and with only that one shot knocked all the balls into the holes. "Ah, pool's a dumb game anyway."
I tried to stifle my laughter, but Genie heard and eyed me.
"Oho, you think you can beat me, funny guy?"
"No?" I grinned.
"Ah, scared, are you?" He challenged.
Snorting I held my hand out for Carpet's pool stick. "No, way! I can beat you. Right Carpet?" The rug gave me a thumbs up. "See?"
Genie smirked. "We'll just see, shorty."
"I'm sorry." I said again and helped pick up the scrolls that had spilt. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
"Well, I'll say." Dabir sneered at me and snatched the scroll from my hand. "It's bad enough we have one street rat in the palace, but two? Especially an impudent little street urchin like you."
I scowled. "Hey, I said I was sorry. You don't have to be rude." I snapped at him and bent to pick up the fruit I had dropped.
Before I could react, he shoved me against the wall, one of the scrolls pinning me there with a painful dig into my ribs.
"You listen here," He hissed at me. "-You think your clever, don't you? Well I can see right through you, just like everyone else around here." The scroll dug in harder and I winced as the metal on the end jabbed my skin. "You're just a project the Sultan has taken in and he'll tire of you soon enough."
"That's not true." I scowled, trying to convince myself more than him. I didn't think the Sultan was like that, but I really didn't know him that well.
"Isn't it? Most of the staff around here can't stand doing things for you." Dabir continued and eyed the fruits in the floor. "And stealing food?"
I frowned and pushed at him. "No, I picked these, thanks. Now get off me."
"The Sultan may be tolerant of you for now and may be paying us to wait on you, but your "brother" is going to marry the princess." By "us" I knew he meant the servants. They were nice to me at least to my face, but I was still wary about leaving a mess for them to find. "We don't have to cater to you. Stay out of my way, boy, or I'll send you packing for good." He pulled away and stomped off, leaving me to stare after him.
I bent to get the fruits again, scowling at the floor.
I almost jumped when something landed near by hand. It was Iago.
"Hey, did you talk to Al?" I asked and grabbed up the rest of the runaway apples. When he didn't respond, I glanced up to see him studying me. I knew then that he had heard. "Did you talk to Aladdin?" I asked again.
He nodded, finally stopping his staring. "Yeah. Thought it was a great idea."
"Good...Wanna an apple?" I offered him one awkwardly and he shook his head.
"You okay kid?"
I nodded, now knowing that he had definitely heard some or all of the conversation. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Who was that guy?"
I snorted. "Dabir. He's a hired tutor for Al and, well, me too, I guess. He's a pain."
Iago raised an eyebrow. "Not very friendly towards you."
I shrugged. "It happens. And I don't expect him to be."
The parrot regarded me again, like he was trying to figure me out.
He probably wanted more of an explanation. "Look, I may have showed off in his class and he didn't like me telling him answers." I shrugged again. "I wasn't trying to show off, but he thought I was. He just doesn't like me. Most people don't."
Iago landed on my shoulder as I walked down the hall. "But you live here too, kid. He shouldn't treat you like that. None of them should."
"Most of them don't." I admitted softly and climbed the stairs to my room. "But I'm not like them or Al even. I'm not preparing to marry into royalty and I'm not royalty. I'm just me."
"You're Al's brother and the Sultan is letting you live here too. That makes you part of the family so go with it." Iago said with a "duh" attitude.
"It's not that simple." I muttered and he looked at me to continue. "I'm a street rat, Iago. I can take care of myself. They don't have to do it for me."
"You don't trust them." The parrot guessed.
I frowned a little. "Well that's part of the reason. I semi-trust them, but they don't trust me, I think. Al and I have apologized for pretending to be princes and they seem to like us. But I guess I'm still feeling guilty about them having to do stuff for me. I'll always be a street rat and I'm fine with that, but that doesn't exactly mean much."
"Hey, Rick!"
I turned to see Aladdin waving at me from down the hallway and came up to him.
"Hey, Al. Iago told me about the carpet ride idea."
"Yeah, so Jasmine had the cook pack a picnic lunch to take. You ready to go?"
"Me?" I frowned and Iago looked from me to my brother, eyes wide.
"Yeah, I thought you'd like to go. Talk to the Sultan...only if you want too." He gave me a meaningful look and I hesitated. "It's okay if you don't."
"No, I-" I sighed heavily. It was probably for the best to get it all out. "Okay, yeah."
Al smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be there the whole time."
Iago looked at us curiously, but I didn't look at him.
"Sure, I'll go, as long as there are plenty of sandwiches."
Al laughed and Iago rolled his eyes.
We waited out in the garden, while Jasmine got her father. He didn't look too happy to be coming along and I think it was because of the parrot perched on my shoulder.
Jasmine whispered to him and he only nodded.
"After you, your Highness." My brother said elegantly, bowing to the ruler as Carpet bent his body to resemble a staircase. As he neared, Sultan eyed Iago as he approached and then sat on the magic carpet stiffly. That is, until Carpet made him laugh by bouncing him and flying him around.
I heard Jasmine and Al behind me and pretended I couldn't hear them talking. Iago, was sitting still so I think he was listening too.
"Alaric's going too?"
"Yeah, I think he and your father need to talk. I wouldn't go, but Rick needs the support. I think it'll be good for him and then maybe he can tell you and Genie. The important people in his life."
"What about him?" I knew she was talking about Iago.
"Well, Rick's become attached to him. And I've never seen Iago sit on someone for as long as he does Alaric. Maybe it'll get him talking too, because Genie mentioned last night before I went to bed that they are sort of similar."
"I hope you're right, Aladdin. I want Alaric to be more comfortable around us."
"He will be, you'll see. He warmed up to me and Abu quick enough and this time there isn't any running away."
"He goes to the Marketplace." She pointed out.
"Well, I don't he'll get out of that habit anytime soon." Al sighed and then laughed. "Come to think of it, I'm frequently there myself." Jasmine giggled too.
Carpet came back down and I moved to get on. The Sultan looked at me in surprise.
"You're coming along?"
"Yes, sir! If that's all right."
He smiled at me. "Of course, my boy."
Al jumped aboard and Carpet rose up.
"Have a good time!" Jasmine called and I waved at her.
"Bye Jasmine!"
With that Carpet sped off, Iago pointing the directions out.
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