Chapter Text
The ships were impossibly big up close, and all the more fascinating. Some were large monstrosities of unpainted steel, decks closely packed with boxes, while others wore cheery colours, and sported large wheels on their sides. With only a bit of eavesdropping, they had found their way to the docks servicing ships bound for the United Republic.
"We found the ships!" Tarrlok said, sliding of Iqniq. "See? Wasn't so hard!"
"That's great and all," Noatak said, somewhat acidic, "but how the hell are we going to get on one? Even if we'd taken some money back home, it wouldn't be near enough for tickets!"
Tarrlok considered the teeming masses, lip pooched out in a pout. Then he smiled slightly. "Leave it to me," he said to his brother.
Before Noatak could protest, Tarrlok had slipped into the crowd, sharp eyes missing nothing. It was a dull human drama, only on a scale that a provincial boy like Tarrlok had never seen before. Tired parents corralling in their children, a gibbering man in a wheelchair with a tight-faced nurse pushing him, a young couple off on their honeymoon surrounded by well-wishers, and another young couple who, from their shifty looks, were probably eloping to escape disapproving parents.
He was on the verge of giving up and finding a way to take matters into his own hands when he saw the perfect opportunity.
An old woman, a widow by the look of her tightly braided bun, waiting to board. She still wore her betrothal necklace, carved - as far as Tarrlok could see - of white jade, and her fur coat was smooth and brushed to a silky sheen. She was trailed by an impressive entourage of not-as-rich but still finely dressed men, and several embroidered bags of luggage. And if none of that would have done for Tarrlok's sharp mind, the officer smarming at her, assuring her of a quick boarding, certainly convinced him of her wealth.
And right there, while the lady and her following were distracted by the smartly dressed officer, a weaselsnake-faced man was dipping into one of those fine bags as if his hand belonged there.
Tarrlok absently wondered if spirits could be that helpful. He donned his best dolefully earnest expression, the one that had convinced Dad, at least for a while, that Tarrlok really was that hopeless at bending, and rushed through the crowd.
"Excuse me!" he called, his voice high and honest. "Excuse me, ma'am! Behind you!" The old lady glanced at him, and the officer seemed on the verge to shoo him away, so with a last burst of speed, Tarrlok knocked into the would-be thief, pushing him away from the bag and sending a bracelet flying through the air, the stones on it catching the cold winter sun in a barrage of sparkles.
The lady near choked before crying, "Thief! Grab him, don't just stand there!"
A wall of uniforms suddenly appeared, or so it seemed to Tarrlok anyway who was less than pleased to know how many there really were, and grabbed the man before he could even regain his balance. Tarrlok swooped down on the bracelet, brushing it off fastidiously before presenting it to the old woman. "Sorry," he said with just the right touch of embarrassment. "I didn't mean for it to get dirty."
"There's no need to apologise, young man," she said, accepting the bracelet. The colour slowly returned to her cheeks, and she smiled down at him. "Thank you. You've managed what none of the people I've hired could do, apparently!"
There was an awkward amount of shuffling as several people tried very hard to look like she meant everyone but them. Tarrlok beamed sweetly up at her.
She looked him over, and he knew exactly what she saw, like looking at himself through her eyes. Hollowed cheeks, not much but enough; a dirty and threadbare parka, boots that were falling apart at the soles and ragged fur lining with a few clumps missing. And somehow Tarrlok knew what to respond even before she'd talked again.
"Your parents should be proud of raising such an honest, young man," she said, a hint of prodding in her tone.
"Oh," Tarrlok said, letting his face fall, "we're orphans. It's just me and my brother."
He saw the look on her face, it almost seemed, before she made it, the way she nodded as his words confirmed her suspicions. A ragged street-child who, despite his hard lot in life, was honest and helpful and clung to what family he had. Pity stirred in her eyes as he knew it would.
"Here, let me give you a bit of money for your good deed, then," she started saying, and Tarrlok was already shaking his head, eyes wide and mouth pursed.
"I couldn't!" he insisted. "Not for doing the right thing! You don't need to give me anything, ma'am! Except, maybe..." Her brows rose slightly, and the beginning of suspicion crossed her face, so Tarrlok forged ahead, bright-eyed, "Do you know where we could get some cheap tickets for the two of us? We want to go to Republic City, you see, 'cause we have an aunt there. We've got 75 yuan!" Tarrlok beamed, well aware that that couldn't buy room for luggage, but letting none of it show.
The suspicion waned and once again pity came to the fore. "Oh, dear," she said, "oh, little one, that's not nearly enough for even one ticket, I'm sorry."
"Oh," Tarrlok said and glanced towards the beggars lines up against the wall. He caught Noatak's eye; his brother was, with sharp gestures and dark looks, asking what the hell he thought he was up to. Tarrlok turned back to the lady, head hanging. "Oh," he said again, voice broken and disappointed.
A wizened hand rested on his shoulder, but when he looked up, the old lady was turned to the officer. "I don't suppose you have cabin boys on board," she said imperiously.
The man looked slightly ashen under his tan - now that Tarrlok took a closer look at him, the fellow was obviously Earth Kingdom - and shook his head. "Certainly not, madam! Cabin boys are an old custom, and it was always more of a Fire Nation tradition than-"
"Malarkey!" she cut him off. "I think I should like a pair of cabin boys, someone a little fresher faced, and certainly sharper, than what I already have. Tell me, boy, are you and your brother both good workers?"
If Tarrlok hadn't lived twelve cruel years under Yakone's tyranny, he would have jumped for joy. As it was, he nodded, wide-eyed. "Oh, yes, ma'am! We're very bright and- and we're waterbenders too!" Noatak would be angry at that, but Tarrlok could read the old woman like a book, and that innate Watertribal awe of those blessed by Yue shone for a moment in her eyes.
"Excellent," she said. "You'll be coming with me, then. Now, make no mistake, young man, you'll be earning your keep." She looked very pleased at the way Tarrlok was nodding. "What's your name then, lad?"
"Tartok," said Tarrlok without hesitation. It was the name of the one friend he'd made before Dad had intervened, sprung from the way their names rhymed. More importantly, it was easy to remember. Then, after a moment of quick thinking, "My brother's name is Noatakmiut. I just call him Noa."
"I should think so," she laughed. "Some name for a little boy!" She patted his head, stroked back a few locks come loose from his tails. "I am Kirima; you may call me Madam."
Once she had taken to Tarrlok, Noatak barely had to do more than smile and greet her politely to slide in smoothly alongside his brother in Madam Kirima's affections. So much so that she barely blinked when they brought up the third member of the party, and she was quick to arrange for Iqniq to find a place among the cargo.
By the time they had been shown to her cabin - a damn suite, all decked out in furs and carved bone - and installed where, usually, a few of her scurrying minions would reside, Noatak was beginning to look somewhat gobsmacked. When they were alone for a moment, he turned on his brother, staring at Tarrlok as if he was something alien. "How did you do that?!"
Tarrlok just grinned and shrugged, mostly because he wasn't even sure himself, and his uncanny understanding of Madam's mind almost spooked him. "It worked, didn't it?"
"Well, yes," Noatak admitted, "but why?"
"Dunno," Tarrlok said and tested the bunk bed he'd claimed. "But at least we'll get to Republic City in style."
The older brother looked around their cozy little niche, with its bunk beds and shelves and carpeted floor, and looked as if he feared the whole thing would vanish before his eyes.
"Relax, Noa," said Tarrlok. "Let's just enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts."