Chapter 7
Shock the Monkey
The stillness of the early morning had a very soothing effect on Tikaani. He lay on the furs, listening to the sound of the ship and breathing of Katara and Aang. He listened to sound of his own breathing and dwelt in the feeling of sleep-wake, that time in between being fully lucid and still dreaming. What did I dream about? Home? Or Thoughts-That-Are-Far-Away? I wish I could recall the smell of cooking fire and tanned leather, just for little bit. Everything feels so distant and untouchable. I guess this is homesickness, but at least I am not alone, and I will go back to Auntie. I just have to be a good boy. I want to be a good boy, but it's hard when you don't know how. Tikaani got up and discovered that he needed to pee, he found the pot behind the partition and empty himself unassisted by anyone. He was shirt-less and but felt no need to put a shirt on. Crawled back onto the furs and tried to find shapes in the knots under the desk.
Katara woke up first, and sighed in relief that Tikaani hadn't messed his bed. She tried to get up quietly, but found that he was already wake.
"C'mon, let's get some breakfast, OK?" She said, her voice still tired. She noticed that Tikaani was being unresponsive again. Still not fully awake, she tried to pull him out, but got a grunt and Tikaani moving away. Frustrated at him, she walked to the door and left, saying, "Fine, don't eat."
Tikaani looked over his shoulder and then laid back down. Aang was awake himself and he sighed, not wanting to get up. He looked over at Tikaani and finally pushed himself out of bed.
"Still mad at Katara? You know she did apologize last night? Well...maybe apologizing to you while you were asleep was probably not the best idea. Do you want something to eat?" Tikaani nodded, finally happy that it was question he understood, and not something that he couldn't translate. He got up and followed Aang down the hall; Toph was down in the galley, eating, along with Katara.
"Hey Spunky, park it here and have an apple." said Toph brightly, passing Tikaani a red apple as the boy sat down. Aang kissed Katara and sat next to her, nibbling on some bread. Katara looked at Tikaani, who was rocking and eating his apple.
"So he'll get out of bed for you and not me...I wonder what I did wrong now." She said irritably as she ate her porridge. Toph frowned and rested her hands behind her head.
"Despite what you might think, the world does not revolve around you, sugar queen." She said in equal irritation. Katara gave her a look,
"What the hell are you implying?" Toph raised an eyebrow, and picked her ear.
"Besides the obvious pity party? How about the fact that you seem to turn everything that deals with Tikaani to something about you. Really now, it's not always about you. Maybe he just wanted to wait for Aang." Toph said at Katara, who threw her spoon down and took off. "That's right, go run away. I am sure you'll feel better after your pity-cry." Aang looked angrily at Toph and got up.
"I don't appreciate you bullying Katara. You don't need to respond to her reactions like that. That was unnecessary; I expect you to apologize to her later." Toph gave a deep frown at Aang and narrowed her milky green eyes.
"Oh right, like I am going to apologize for saying what everyone is thinking. You are just pissed as I am, you just don't want her to withhold sex again." Aang growled and crossed his arms.
"First off, you need to stop taking out your own bitterness on how your parents treated you at Katara. She is not as self-absorbed as you think she is, she is trying to help Tikaani but she is frustrated, and, lastly, to be honest, your smugness is making you look like an all-important asshole and it's disgusting." Aang said, his tone firm, but not loud. He was even gentle when he was angry. Toph leaned back and sighed, now looking a bit more remorseful.
"OK, I was being an ass to Katara, I admit that. And it's not how she is treating Tikaani that is bugging me, or even how she is reacting to Tikaani behavior towards her. It's her arrogance. She thinks she knows what is best for him and the fact that now she realizes that she isn't the expert she thinks she is, and thinks that everything is her fault, when it has nothing to do with her. Yes, it reminds me of my parents and maybe I am channeling my anger at them at her. Or, maybe I know what it's like to carry a stigma and some old part of me is jealous that she doesn't know that pain. I'll apologize, but only because I want to set a good example for Spunky."
Toph got up and headed towards the door. "Make sure Tikaani has something to do this morning, teach him pai-sho or something." She walked out, leaving Aang with Tikaani, who was still body-rocking. Aang got back in his seat and watched him.
"Toph did have a point, Katara is being a little selfish, but Toph didn't need to be abrasive about it. Katara wants confirmation that you forgive her. I think once she has that, she will be a little more empathic." Tikaani started to chew on his hands and look out the window. Aang got up and headed towards the door. He took one of the Tikaani's hands and squeezed it. "Let's get a shirt on, OK?"
Katara knew that Toph had no tact, and like Tikaani, responded with a fierce reaction. But, she also knew that Toph was right. She had been stewing in her guilt and even after she apologized to Tikaani she couldn't seem to let go of it. She just clung onto it like a ratty blanket. Toph would probably apologize and then everything would be cool again, or, at least Katara hoped so.
She saw Toph walking up from below deck to the stern, where Katara was looking over the edge. Katara was going to say something, but Toph spoke first.
"Don't bother apologizing or whatever, I was being a brat. And I am sorry for upsetting you Katara. It's just..." Toph started to say something else, but Katara sighed and finished her tangent.
"It's OK...you were right anyway, I was making everything about me. Everything that Hanai was afraid of was right! She was afraid of us not being able to care for him or us hurting him and that's what I did. I hurt Tikaani and now he doesn't trust me." Katara lamented, looking out into the sea, the wind whipping at her hair. Toph scoffed and leaned on the barrier.
"Sugar-queen, he doesn't trust anyone...except for Aang and I, and it really it isn't your fault. He just doesn't understand a lot and he tries so hard to figure out everyone's intentions. If you want him to have a relationship with you, Katara, let go of your past mistakes with him, and try to see if you two have anything in common. Work with that, instead of finding ways to fix him." Toph placed her hands behind her head and took off, finishing,
"Just give Spunky some time; he'll eventually get used to you." Katara watched Toph leave, before sighing and wondering where her brother was.
Sokka was down the hall; thinking over last night's spying at the tavern and listening to the conversation. It had been confusing and he suddenly wished he could identify what the men were saying. But, at least Ba Sing Se was their next clue. He noticed Tikaani was in the hall and rocking back and forth and talking to himself. Sokka knelt and tried to get the boy's attention.
"Hey kid, what are you doing out here?" He asked, trying to help him up. Tikaani stood up and started down the hall. Sokka shrugged and tried to figure out where Iroh was.
When Tikaani sat down in the hall again, Sokka noticed he had scratches on his arms and face. Sokka got a better look at them and realized that they were self inflicted. Sighing, he got Tikaani up and took him to his room.
"I can't figure you out kid. You're more confusing than Aang some times. Why the hell are you hurting yourself?"
He sat Tikaani on the furs and closed the doors. Sokka grabbed the wash basin and sighed when Tikaani started to scratch at his chest. Sokka found Tikaani's shirt crumbled in a corner, so he pulled it out and shook off the dust. He kneeled, took a wet rag, and started to clean some of the scratches. Tikaani just hummed and rocked as Sokka worked on him.
"OK, I think we seriously need to trim those nails of yours." He said, inspecting Tikaani's hand and noticed that the boy's nails were almost as long as his sister's. Sokka gave the shirt to Tikaani, who slipped it on before laying back down. Sokka was going to leave, until he turned around and noticed how bored Tikaani was. He'll probably get into more trouble if he hangs around here. Sokka walked back over and got back on his knees.
"Hey you wanna hang out?" He asked Tikaani, who was still rocking. Tikaani didn't hear Sokka until he touched his knee. Tikaani looked up at Sokka, and then nodded. "C'mon kid, let's go play pai-sho or something."
Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh were in another part of the galley, also playing pai-sho. The conversation was limited because both were concentrating, but Zuko sighed and looked up from the board.
"I am sure it's redundant to say that I have missed you, Uncle." Zuko said, moving his lily tile. Iroh chuckled and took Zuko's tile as he moved his dragon tile.
"Redundant, but still appreciated; I've missed you too, Zuko. It's rather boring in Ba Sing Se without you." Zuko shook his head and tried to study the board before thinking.
"Yeah, right. Have you...um...have you and my mother..." Zuko trailed off, but Iroh finished the sentence.
"We live together, yes. She has been going under another alias, she won't be returning to the Fire Nation." Iroh said, taking another tile. Zuko looked frustrated, and leaned all the way back on his cushion.
"Figures. She is still bitter and afraid of being persecuted. She's probably happy in Ba Sing Se working at your tea shop, rather than being stuck in the capital. Not that I blame her. One of the reasons I am out on this mission with Aang is because I can't stand the capital anymore. It's all social games and mind-fucking. I am getting sick of it. Mai is fine with political stuff, but there is only so much of it I can take."
Zuko moved another tile and Iroh remained thoughtful. He connected another tile of his, making a chain, and smiled softly.
"Being a leader is a very tasking job, but its the job you are suited for. You'll have to grow into those robes of yours, Zuko. As for a change of topic, how are you and the Avatar getting along?"
Zuko sighed, thinking about how much Aang had matured. He smiled softly at the thought, and moved another tile, trapping one of Iroh's.
"We're fine. He's grown up a lot, but he can still be a goofy kid at times. There is something about him that just makes me...relax a little. I can always be myself around Aang-" Zuko stopped talking, noticing that Tikaani wandered into the room, looking a bit lost. Iroh motioned for Tikaani to join him.
"Zuko, would you like to teach Tikaani how to play?" Iroh asked as Tikaani sat beside Zuko, rocking and looking outside at the now downpour that was going on. Zuko was hesitant, as he still didn't know how to talk to Tikaani. He gave a pleading look at Iroh as the older man got up and grabbed his cup of tea.
"I've got to talk to the captain, you teach Tikaani how to play." Iroh left Zuko, and he felt that his uncle had just thrown him to the wolves.
"Oh...boy."
Aang was on deck with Katara as Sokka tried to explain that losing Tikaani wasn't his fault.
"I swear, I turned my head for a second and he just took off. He's still on board. He's probably with Toph or Iroh. He can't have gone far." Katara was aggravated at this, but sighed in irritation and threw up her arms.
"Oh, whatever, Sokka, just look in the obvious places he might be alright?" Sokka was about to continue to look for Tikaani, when Hawky arrived and landed on Sokka's shoulder.
"Oh great! We got mail...hmm…it's from the North Pole, maybe they figured out who did it!"
Sokka handed the letter to Aang. "It's addressed to you though." Aang opened the scroll and read the letter, his face turning from nonplussed to somber. He blinked and rubbed his eyes and gave the letter to Katara.
"You have to read this...it's...important." Katara took the parchment and read the calligraphy. He face carried the same look of sadness.
"Dear Avatar Aang,
My name is Liluyue, I am Tikaani's elder sister. I am writing to inform you of some terrible news: two nights ago, my aunt, and Tikaani's caregiver, Hanai was attacked again while she was alone. She is critically wounded and in the healing huts.
We're assuming that it's related to Tikaani being the witness to Arnook's murder. We are still looking for the perpetrator. If Hanai lives she would be too weak to properly care for Tikaani, and Maka and Amana cannot care for both him and Hanai. I regret to say this, but they have forfeited legal custody of my little brother.
If Tikaani returns to the North Pole, he will be the ward of the tribe, and most likely sent to an institution in the Earth Kingdom, or given to another family member. However, my cousin Qaniit has no interest in Tikaani, as she is a widow and cannot legally have custody over him. Elang doesn't have the money or the means to raise Tikaani with his daughters, and Rahmet is moving to the South Pole. I cannot receive custody either, as I am engaged but not wed, and my fiancée dislikes the idea of raising Tikaani.
I beseech you Avatar, and his consort Katara, please, please find someone to care for him. After this is over, he will be thrown into some sort of prison and I can't bear the thought of my little brother being treated like a criminal, all because he born disabled. I hope you find a solution to both of these puzzles.
With hope and admiration,
Lilu, daughter of Tigtuk.
The three looked as though they were all at the point of tears. Sokka had grave expression on his face and Katara actually started to cry. Aang took the letter and rolled it back up, his face firm and determined.
"We need to tell Tikaani." he said flatly. Sokka nodded at this, but Katara shook her head.
"We can't! He'll have a fit or regress; it's not fair to burden him with this. He won't-" She stopped as Aang's frown deepened. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose again.
"He will. He has no choice. His family that raised him can't care for him when he returns. Tikaani is essentially an orphan. His parents can't take custody since they forfeited years ago, and Hanai can't keep up with a teenager. Everything's pretty much gone to shit now. There was always the option of taking Tikaani home and having us travel on Appa, now that is gone. I don't want to see him in an institution. That is unfair and unjust." Sokka, on the other hand, went from grave to blank and shrugged.
"You know, an institution isn't that bad. They would have the means to care for him, not the best choice but..." Aang gave Sokka a smoldering look.
"I've been in one as a visitor. It's not a pretty place. It's the last place Tikaani needs to go." Aang's voice was dark as he recalled the day he visited Azula. The stench of vomit, urine and excrement permeated most of the halls, residents were treated like non-beings, and most of their human rights were discarded. Even the once proud princess of the Fire Nation was seen as little more than a broken rag doll. He no longer hated Azula, he just pitied her, and thought of Tikaani being treated like livestock made him shiver. Aang looked over the barrier and into the endless blue of the ocean, the sea wind whipping at his robes as all three were still.
"So we have another pickle to deal with. Do you want me to find Tikaani now?"
Katara, Aang and Sokka's heads turned to see Toph,who joined them on deck. "We can't hide this from him...we need to tell him. It's going to be difficult, but him finding out the hard way is gonna be worse." Aang nodded solemnly at Toph's statement and sighed.
"So, where is he?"
Zuko blinked. Did Tikaani just...win? He looked over the tiles and noticed that Tikaani had blocked all off Zuko's tiles. Tikaani had won the game. Again.
Zuko was impressed, Tikaani managed to beat him, not once, but twice, and he seemed to be constantly improving. Tikaani set up the board again and rocked back and forth, eagerly waiting for Zuko to make a move.
"Uncle will be impressed with you..." Zuko said, moving his rose tile. Tikaani countered by moving his lily tile. Zuko looked up to see a serious-looking Avatar entering the room.
"We've been looking for you, Tikaani. You need to come with us into the galley." Zuko saw the dark and serious faces on Sokka, Katara, and Toph as they waited for Tikaani to stand.
"I'm playing. Wait." Tikaani said, expecting Zuko to move. Zuko shook his head and tried to get Tikaani up.
"No, I think this is really important. You need to follow everyone. Don't worry; I don't think you're in trouble." Tikaani reluctantly got up and followed Aang into the dining room. Zuko looked confused as Iroh was waiting on a cushion, drinking some lemon balm tea.
"Oh good, I just asked the cook to make lunch early. We got some-Avatar you look distraught, what's got you flustered?"
Aang sat down and handed the letter to Zuko and Iroh. They both read it silently. Iroh shook his head and took a drink of his tea.
"I see. This is unexpected news." Iroh said, turning his gaze on Tikaani, who was still endlessly body rocking and now chewing on his hands.
Aang rolled the scroll up and looked at Tikaani before realizing that telling him this in front of everyone would probably be more traumatic for the boy. Aang looked at Katara, before getting up and grabbing the bag of candy ginger.
"Iroh I want you discuss the current matter with everyone, I am going to talk to Tikaani in private." Aang smiled softly at Tikaani. "C'mon Tikaani, lets watch the dolphin-turtles together." Tikaani took his hand and headed back on deck with him, the idea of watching the dolphin-turtles sounded better than having everyone watch him like he had grown a tail.
The brisk smell of salt and the wild wind breezing by felt reminiscent of flying. Appa was still in the hold, and Aang wanted to get him on deck for a while. Being trapped below deck was making Appa grumpy.
Aang was quiet as Tikaani made clicking noises, mimicking the sounds of the dolphin-turtles. Aang took Tikaani's hand and squeezed it.
"I can't explain things well at all, and I hate confrontation. I don't know if you can hear me or if you are lost in your own thoughts, but...I am sorry Tikaani but something happened to Hanai." Tikaani was rocking, looking at the rushing wake below. At the mention of his aunt he lifted his head at Aang, flapping his hands.
"Auntie?" Tikaani questioned, curious at what Aang was trying to communicate. Aang squeezed Tikaani's hand again; plodding forward, feeling his resolve slip away. He handed piece of ginger candy to Tikaani to keep him engaged. Tikaani dropped it, frowning. "Auntie? Where is Auntie? I'm going home?" Aang shook his head and took Tikaani's hand again.
"No. I am sorry Tikaani, I really don't know how to say this. Not like it matters, but, Auntie was hurt bad. Very bad, she is sick Tikaani. She can't take care of you anymore. Nobody can. I am sorry, but you can't go back home." Aang wondered how he could even speak the words without choking on them. They felt thick and clay-like.
He tried to read Tikaani's face: Was there disbelief, sorrow, anger?" Tikaani was expressionless for a moment, his deep blue eyes seeming to have nothing in them. But then, Aang watched Tikaani's face change from blank to distressed. He was panting and he pulled away. Aang watched him fall to his knees and cover his face with his arms.
"Liar! You're mean, you're lying!" Tikaani shouted, muffled by his arms. Aang got to his knees and tried to get eye contact from him.
"Tikaani, I am not lying. You can't go home. I am really sorry, but it's honestly out of my hands right now. But you're not homeless. I'll find someone to take care of you. Tikaani...Tikaani please, understand we won't abandon you."
Tikaani screamed and pushed Aang away and took off running.
"YOU'RE ALL LIARS!"
Tikaani's voice carried all the frustration and confusion that Aang had been trying to avoid. Aang knew that following him was a bad idea. He walked back to the galley and tried to discuss what was going on. He just hoped that Tikaani would find some sanctuary some place.
The conversation was half argument and half debate by the time the young Avatar reached the group. Aang cleared his throat and sat between Katara and Zuko. All eyes were on the Avatar. Katara looked at the angry and hurt expression that Aang wore.
"I see it didn't go well." she inferred. Aang gave her a glance and laid his head on the table.
"No, it blew. Tikaani called me a liar and ran off. My job really sucks sometimes." Toph looked sympathetically at Aang, and raised her arms over her head.
"Do you think it would have gone better with me or Katara there with you?" she asked Aang, who gave a shrug.
"No, I think he would just lash out at either one of you. I can't say I blame his anger or denial; I was the same when I heard the elders were going to send me to the Eastern Air Temple. If someone told me that I couldn't go home, I would have thrown a fit too. Right now, we need to focus on the current problem. Who killed Arnook, and why?"
Everyone was quiet at the thought of who and why. Sokka relayed what had happened last night.
"Our leader is going to Ba Sing Se. We know what he looks like, but we have no idea why he is going to Ba Sing Se. We overheard their conversation with...Fire Dog, the leader of the Bo Feng pirates. However, it was all in an old Water Tribe language." Sokka said, still disappointed that he couldn't understand it. Zuko looked puzzled, but grinned a little.
"Pretty smart of them, to use a language that is uncommon. Does Fire Dog ring a bell, Uncle? Do you know anyone with that name?" Iroh shook his head.
"I am afraid my knowledge on the local pirate gangs is rather limited. Though, the Bo Fengs I do know, but I don't know anyone named 'Fire Dog'." Zuko sighed and leaned back in his seat.
"Great. So, more or less, we're flying blind. We don't even have names." Zuko voice was frustrated. Suddenly, Toph looked like she had an idea, but then, just as quickly, she snuffed it.
"Damn. It might work, but not right now."
Katara was curious.
"What won't work?" Katara asked Toph. The blind bender sat up straight.
"Tikaani has amazing recall: he can recite conversations. That night he had a meltdown in the thunderstorm, I've been giving some thought to it. He might have overhead something, causing the regression." Katara's eyes widened, remembering finding the echoes of a discussion as she was probing Tikaani's mind.
"He did overhear something. We need to coax him to tell us what he heard. It could give us more definition as to who we are looking for."
Aang agreed with this, but talking to Tikaani, who probably didn't want anything to do with either of them, was going to be a chore. Just as Zuko was going to say something, a guard barged in.
"Avatar! The Water Tribe boy just jumped overboard!"
Aang's heart almost stopped.
AN: Hey everyone, chapter 8 is in review right now. I had fun writing this chapter out, I would really appreciate some reviews!