#jinti

He and Jǐngtì stared at each other for a long moment. Mao Mao stood on the porch, his mouth gaping open like a fish, wondering if the world stopped spinning or was it just him. First, Jǐngtì raised his eyebrows in confusion, then he grit his teeth in anger. He didn’t hesitate to slam the door in his father’s face. Mao Mao was too stunned to stop it. It probably would have slammed if Badgerclops didn’t catch it.

“Don’t do that. The hinges don’t fit- oh,” his words dropped off when he noticed Mao Mao. “Hey, can you stir the pot, so the food doesn’t burn?”

Jǐngtì looked up to Badgerclops then to Mao Mao before turning around with a sneer. Mao Mao watched him disappear into the kitchen. What was he doing here? Jǐngtì held too much spite to make an innocent visit. Another thing Jǐngtì got from his father.

“Mao Mao.”

“Huh?”

“Are you going to come inside,” Badgerclops asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

Mao Mao took the first step. His paw hit the ground, but it didn’t hold any weight. He would’ve smashed his nose against the ground if Badgerclops hadn’t caught him. Even then, it was still a second before Mao Mao realized he wasn’t standing upright.

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m just… sinkhole stuff, you know?”

“No.”

“Oh. I guess you had to be there to get it.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, but I’m fine.”

Badgerclops gave an unconvinced nod as he followed Mao Mao inside. Mao Mao immediately went about making sure everything was okay. There wasn’t a net hidden in the rafters, no pressure plate waiting on the floor, no tripwires tied to the walls. Just the smell of spices wafting from the kitchen. Was that a ploy to cover up the smell of something else? He slowly peeked over the couch to find Adorabat watching cartoons. The cartoon wasn’t even something odd, it was just normal. As normal as a talking crab running on a treadmill could be.

“Hey Mao Mao,” she said,” what are you doing?”

“Oh, just, making sure everything’s fine.”

“Everything’s not fine.”

Mao Mao leaped over the couch. “What’s wrong?”

“The remote’s batteries are dead.”

Mao Mao sighed and moved his hand away from Geraldine. “Hey, Badgerclops, you got any spare batteries?”

“Hold on. They're around here somewhere.”

Badgerclops went away to sift through the new shelf he made, leaving Mao Mao and Adorabat at the couch. Mao Mao knew she could get pretty engrossed in cartoons, but Adorabat had been unusually quiet. She was looking at the TV, but she fidgeted and he could hear mumbles slip out.

“Are you okay,” he asked.

“Oh, it's just… I mean he’s here… you can get kinda…”

Mao Mao was about to tell her to use her words until he realized two things. One: she did use words, albeit poorly. Two: this wasn’t the time to be patronizing. She kicked her feet and twiddled her wings. What was bothering her? She said ‘he’s here’ so what did she mean? Badgerclops the only other guy here, and his relationship with Mao Mao was complicated, but fine. Unless she was referring to...

Mao Mao rolled his eyes at himself for not realizing it sooner. He sighed and sat down next to Adorabat, putting a reassuring arm over her shoulder. “I know that Jǐngtì and I fight sometimes, but things will be fine.”

“But-,” she started before Mao Mao stopped her.

He calmly held her wing. “Everything will be fine, trust me.”

Adorabat still seemed unsure, but it was enough to make her give Mao Mao a hug before she went back to cartoons. The gears in Mao Mao’s head were turning once again. The elusive answer was just inches away. Badgerclops and Adorabat listened to him because

“I found the batteries.”

Like that the answer was gone. And he’d been so close to it too!

 “Thank you, Badgerclops,” he said, taking the batteries, slapping them into the remote and handing it to Adorabat.

“You're welcome,” Badgerclops said.

Did he not get the sarcasm?

“Hey,” Jǐngtì called from the kitchen,” can I stop stirring this now?”

“Oh dear,” Badgerclops said as he headed into the kitchen with Mao Mao on his heels.

The kitchen looked a little different thanks to Badgerclops redecorating. A new utensil rack, new dishwasher, and a new stove that Jǐngtì was only able to reach thanks to Mao Mao’s step stool. He stirred the pot with a large wooden spoon. Mao Mao could tell from the tomato smell that they were having garden soup tonight.

“When do I stop stirring,” Jǐngtì asked.

“When it looks done,” Badgerclops answered.

“And when is that?”

Badgerclops stopped chopping vegetables and went over to him. “You never learned how to cook?”

“Prison, remember. Food was given, not made.”

Badgerclops eyebrows creased uncomfortably, but Jǐngtì didn’t notice. He kept speaking with casual indifference.

“They’d always just put a bowl of something. Once a day, every day.”

“They only fed you once a day?”

“Yeah. I still eat once a day, still.  Eating three meals a day seems kind of excessive  to me, I mean-”

He finally stopped when Badgerclops put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Badgerclops, unable to see a problem.

“You can stop stirring it's done now,” Badgerclops sighed.

“I’ll get the bowls then.”

* * *

Despite Badgerclops’ expectations, it wasn’t a quiet dinner. The soup was a little thin, but it was good. It was late so there was an entire day to talk about. Everyone spoke their fair share. Although, there was one issue: Jǐngtì refused to talk to his father. No matter how enthusiastic Jǐngtì was in the conversation, no matter how much Jǐngtì twiddled his thumbs, he would never speak to Mao Mao. He’d direct no comments or answer any questions.

By the time everyone had finished their food he still had yet to say a word.

“So Orangusnake is two people,” Badgerclops asked.

Mao Mao nodded.

“And they’re dating?”

Mao Mao nodded again.

“Were they were fused in, like, some sort of freak accident.”

“Nope. Coby just sits on Tanner’s shoulders.”

Badgerclops leaned back in his chair, processing the information before he let out a bemused “huh”.  “Did you know Orangusnake was two people?”

Jǐngtì made a so-so gesture. “I guessed, but I wasn’t sure. I do my best to ignore them all when I’m in the junkyard. I still can’t tell you the giraffe’s name. “

“It’s Ramaraffe,” Adorabat yawned.

Mao Mao scratched her behind the ears before picking her up. “That’s enough. Time to go to bed for you.”

Mao Mao headed off with Adorbat in his arm, leaving Jǐngtì and Badgerclops alone. Jǐngtì usual expression softened when his father left. The straight line that was a blend of contempt and apathy fell apart to something softer. There Beeps! and Boops! as Jǐngtì started to play on with the Ducky-Gatchi.

“You really like that don’t you,” Badgerclops said.

“Eh, it's alright. It gives me something to do. Would be better if I didn’t have to pick up from someone else’s save.”

“That’s Mao Mao’s. He spent all morning playing on it.”

“I thought this was Adorabat’s.”

“It is, but Mao Mao got into it. Did you know he’s a fan of Lucky Ducky? He actually bought the Ducky-Gatchi that's boxed over there.”

“I was wondering what that was for.”

“Your father’s a really big fan. He spent a grand to get the thing.”

Jǐngtì grimaced. “He’ll spend 1K for that, and nothing for me,” he mumbled.

Badgerclops kicked himself for being too careless. Things fell into an awkward silence. The only sound other than the Ducky-Gatchi was Badgerclops drumming his fingers on the table.The awkwardness wouldn’t go away until they loosened up and Badgerclops had just the thing in mind. He got up from his chair and went into the kitchen. He searched through the fridge until he found the 6-pack of beers. Badgerclops pulled out on for himself, one for Jǐngtì, he hesitated, but figured it’d be okay, and pulled one for Mao Mao.

He went back to the table to find that Mao Mao was back. Jǐngtì scowled at his father, who stood over his chair unsure. “How’s Adorabat,” Badgerclops asked.

“Hm, oh she’s asleep,” he said.

“Good. Here.”

Badgerclops placed the can of beer in front of Mao Mao and slid the other can to Jǐngtì. Badgerclops had turned his hand into a can opener and was about to drink when he noticed Mao Mao and Jǐngtì raising their eyebrows at him.

“What?”

“Did you just give me beer,” Jǐngtì asked.

“Yeah?”

“You know I’m underage, right?”

“Nah, the drinking age in the Valley is 18.”

“Do- do you know how old I am?”

“Like 18, right?” Badgerclops said.

“Mao Mao was 18 when I was born. He’s 31 now. How old am I?”

Badgerclops knew the answer immediately. It was simple subtraction, yet he still set the beer down to count on his fingers. He did the math once, and then did it again. He pulled up the calculator app and did the math there. HE got the right answer, but it couldn’t be right.

“There’s no way you’re 13.”

“But I am.”

“But you’re voice is deep and you’re almost as tall as Mao Mao.”

“I’m just tall I guess, and my voice is… another thing.”

“Is he 13,” Badgerclops asked Mao Mao.

Mao Mao slowly nodded.

“Holy-fucking-shit,  you’re 13,” he said quietly, stumbling from the realization.

The pieces of the puzzle fit together to form a horrifying picture. Everything made sense. Why Tanya was so mad. Why Mao Mao never talked about it. Why Jǐngtì was so aloof. He was a kid. He still is a kid! He was an emotionally stunted kid! Ths shock gave way to something much worse with the next realization. He and Tanya split up after Jǐngtì went to jail. That was 5 years ago.  Mao Mao abandoned his 8-year-old kid.  No wonder Tanya despised Mao Mao, Badgerclops was beginning to despise him too.

“Are you okay,” Mao Mao asked.

Badgerclops felt the inclination to turn it back to him and ask Are you okay! but set it aside. He couldn’t set it aside completely. He must have been wearing his anger on his face. Mao Mao stared at the ground unable to look Badgerclops in the eye. It was very convenient that the phone began to ring. Badgerclops had nothing to say to that man.

* * *

Despite what you may expect Mao Mao believed in a God. There had to be some sort of higher power in control of everything. How else could happiness be snatched away from his so quickly?  Mao Mao was sure that there was a higher power; He was even more sure that it hated him.  Mao Mao slowly walked into the office. The ringing grew thunderously loud as he approached. Mao Mao knew it was all in his head. He just didn’t want to answer it. Why would he? There isn’t a single person in this world who wants to talk to him. No family, no friends. If he had either of those things anymore.

Mao Mao shook his head. He was stalling. The phone had already rung four times. It’d only be three, maybe four more, until it went voicemail. He wouldn’t have to do anything. Just stand here. Against his better judgment, he picked it up anyway.

“Hello,” he asked.

“Mao Mao?”

It was Tanya.

Oh shit. He felt woozy and queasy. Was he having another stroke? He firmly planted his feet, but the ground didn’t come rushing at him. God couldn’t even give him a stroke when he needed one.

“Mao Mao,” she asked again.

“Yeah, how was-”

“I can’t find Jǐngtì.”

“You can’t find-?”

“I’ve looked everywhere. He’s not at any of old hideouts putland didn’t capture him, I can’t find-”

“I know where he is.”

There was a pause. He could hear Bao Bao bark on the other end. He couldn’t even muster the energy to be mad.

“Where is he?”

“Here’s here.”

“He ‘s still in the valley?”

“No, I mean he’s literally in the other room.”

There was another pause.

“Put him on the phone,” she said

Mao Mao wanted to say he was fine or something like that, but he couldn’t find the words to argue. No point in telling a transparent lie. “Hold on.”

Mao Mao set the phone on the desk. He took a shaky breath. What was his problem? It's just a mother wanting to talk to her son. So why was he so terrified? He trudged his way to the kitchen. Jǐngtì and Badgerclops were still sitting there, but it was obvious neither had said a word. Badgerclops spared him a glance; Jǐngtì didn’t even do that.

“Your mother’s on the phone,” he said.

That got Jǐngtì’s head to turn. “What,” he asked.

“Your mother’s on the phone,” he repeated.

Jǐngtì kept staring at him. He seemed stuck.

“You should talk to her,” Badgerclops chimed in.

Jǐngtì considered this before getting out of his chair. He didn’t say anything. He just followed Mao Mao to the office. He picked up the phone, but his eyes lingered on him.

Mao Mao left at his silent behest. He sat just outside the door with his back to the wall. The torrent of emotions raged inside him. He could feel overwhelming sadness, chilling fear, burning anger, and deepest regret.

“Hi mom,” Jǐngtì croaked.

It felt like all the wind had been knocked out of him. No matter how much he strained his ears he could only make out bits and pieces of what Jǐngtì said, let alone anything on the other line. He could make out a few things like “Yeah”, “Okay” and - ”fine”. What Mao Mao wouldn’t give to hear the rest.

Mao Mao was so lost in thought he didn’t know Jǐngtì was done until he was walking past him. Mao Mao jumped to his feet. Jǐngtì’s eyes looked red and puffy. He didn't even have the usual look on his face. Instead, it was something sullen and dejected.

Mao Mao knew he should have said something, but he second-guessed. He’d just make things worse like always.

Jǐngtì walked right back into the kitchen with Mao Mao on his heels.

Bagderclops from his beer. “What’d she say?”

“She said she’s picking me up next week.”

“Oh.. you can stay here for the time being.”

Jǐngtì shook his head. “I’ll… figure something out.”

Badgerclops got out of his chair. “Are you sure? Do you have a place to stay? Food to eat?”

“Why are you suddenly treating me like a child?”

“You are a child.”

Mao Mao stood off to the side, watching Badgerclops parent his kid. What was he supposed to do? The only thing he was good at was fighting monsters, and he wasn’t even particularly good at that. He needed something to do but had nothing to do, so instinct took over. He grabbed Geraldine and headed to the dojo for mindless training when he realized he didn’t even want to do that. He found himself heading to the door.

“Where are you going,” Badgerclops asked.