Courtship Season
(This story has many mature moments. Due to guidelines, I will not be posting those parts here. Read this story on Archive of our Own or Wattpad for the full 6 chapters)
Chapter 1: House Guest
Setting: The story starts during the movie when Red is painting.
"What's going on here? Are you explorers or are you staying? Cause if you're explorers, then why are more of you coming?" Red pointed at the piggy ship approaching the first one.
Leonard didn't even flinch as the new ship rammed into the first one, pushing it against the bird's ugly little house.
"Not my house again. That's my home!" the mouthy bird groaned, staring dejectedly at the scene on the beach. "And you know what, if you are staying, why don't you just say so? And why did you leave your home? How do we know you're not fugitives of the law?"
It was amazing how quick the little bird could change his focus. Little did he know that, as king, Leonard WAS the law on Piggy Island. Still, Red was the only bird that actually seemed suspicious of them, and he wasn't about to have his plans spoiled so easily. Making eye contact with the judge, Leonard gestured to the red bird who was still spouting his ideas to the crowd. In mere seconds, the judge was leaning over the petite avian, grabbing him roughly by the wing.
"You are making our guests feel unwelcome," Peckinpah snapped, yanking his young charge close.
"And you're not asking basic questions," Red shot back.
"Enough! Your inability to connect with people is a reoccurring issue, Mr. Red. You've had numerous opportunities to become an upstanding member of society, but you continue to let your anger get the best of you. I cannot continue to overlook this suspicious treatment of our honored guests on the basis that you are a lost and found hatchling," the judge stated roughly.
"This has nothing to do with that," Red protested.
"You are a young adult, Red, and less than a year away from being considered a full-fledged adult in our community. Clearly, there are still lessons you need to learn before you reach that stage. And I believe Mr. Leonard, despite not being a bird, would be an excellent teacher. You could learn a great deal from him."
Well, this was an unexpected turn of events. Leonard gazed at the shocked look on the little crimson bird's face, and wondered just where the judge was planning to go with this news.
"As you well know, we are in the midst of our courtship season. Birds of your age group often exhibit difficulty controlling their anger and aggression without a friend or companion to help ease their tensions," Peckinpah began to spout, releasing the younger avian from his grasp.
"I don't NEED someone else. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my own needs. He doesn't even have the right equipment. And you can't order me to accept HIM as a heat partner," Red argued furiously.
"You are correct about the last part. Such things should be consensual between both parties. But I CAN order you to allow Mr. Leonard to live with you during the remainder of his stay. With all his cousins and friends on the ships, he could surely use a quiet place to rest. What do you say, Mr. Leonard?" the judge asked, turning to the obvious leader of the pigs.
Leonard took a moment to gather his thoughts — all that talk of courtship and partners in the bedroom was certainly was a lot to spring on a newcomer they'd only met a few days before. Still, he could use this opportunity to get more information about the eggs, and take the little red squirt down a peg or two. "Well, I'm game. It seems I have a lot to learn about you birds, and I'm sure Red and I will get along swimmingly."
"If I don't drown you first," the crimson bird mumbled under his breath.
"Red…" The judge glared down at the young adult at his feet.
"I don't even have an extra nest," Red whined.
"Yet another reason why I'm having Mr. Leonard stay with you. You need to learn to make friends, and having a spare nest to help another bird — or pig, in this case, is part of being a mindful citizen. And stop complaining about the pigs breaking your home. I'm sure they're very upset about it, and you should be willing to accept an apology for the accidental damage," Peckinpah stated, gesturing to their guests.
"He hasn't apologized!" the crimson avian yelled, waving angrily at the pig in question.
"Well then, I'll do that now. I'm sorry for the damage our ship caused to your, cough-ugly-cough, house. And I look forward to sharing your gracious hospitality for the rest of my stay," Leonard commented with an insincere smile. Holding out a hoof, he waited for the petite bird to respond.
"Oh, just shake his hoof, Red," Matilda said, her eyes narrowing at her student.
Red snarled under his breath, but reached out a wing to give the pig's hoof the tiniest of shakes.
Leonard couldn't help but smirk when the other birds refocused their gazes on his little 'friend.' Golden eyes widened, then narrowed at him again. The mouthy little bird is so delightfully easy to upset, the king thought to himself. This is going to be fun.
"Now, Red, make sure you answer all of Mr. Leonard's questions to the best of your ability. I'll even give you the week off of anger management classes to get settled in," the judge stated, before giving Leonard a wave, and wandering off.
"Sooooo, I should get back to our painting session. I'll have one of the boys drop your paintings off at your house later, Red," Matilda said, making her escape as quickly as she was able to.
I guess it's just you and me," Leonard announced, stepping closer to his new guide.
"I hate you," Red swore under his breath.
"I assure you, the feeling is mutual. I'm just better at hiding it," the pig insisted, throwing the avian a wink.
(later that night)
"What a quaint little house. It's certainly more primitive than the houses in town, isn't it," Leonard exclaimed aloud, throwing a side glance at his avian companion.
"Hey! I built this house with my own two wings. It may not be as intricate as some of the houses you've seen, but it took me five years to build — on my own!" Red argued, glaring back at him.
"Don't worry, I have no desire to take it from you. This hole in the wall is going to cause a draft though." Leonard stroked his beard as he pondered the damage.
"You're the one who made the hole!" the avian yelled, stomping his little foot in anger. Surprisingly, his little tantrum was followed by a deep breath, as he clearly struggled to calm down. "Look, why don't we just agree to pretend to follow the judge's orders. You don't want to stay here, and I don't want you here."
The king leaned down, his voice low as he stated, "And miss the chance to agitate that fragile ego of yours? Hardly. I'll have my men start on repairs first thing tomorrow morning – for my comfort, of course. I do hate being drafty."
"So you're staying in your ship tonight." Red actually smiled in relief, but the expression was quickly wiped off his face at the pig's next words.
"We're staying in my ship. I'll show you what luxury truly is, little bird," Leonard announced, throwing an arm around his new companion's shoulders.
"This thing you sleep on is very uncomfortable," Red grumbled, readjusting himself for the tenth time.
"It's called a bed. And it's quite soft compared to your rough little nest. That reminds me, I will have to have Ross set up a spare bed in your house. I can't possibly ruin my delicate skin sleeping on straw," Leonard commented. Turning on his side, he smirked at the bird who glared at him from the other side of the king-sized bed. "Now that we're all cozy and tucked in… why don't you tell me all about this courtship season of yours. I was expecting to see more eggs around."
"Why me?" the crimson bird groaned, his eyes rolling up to the ceiling. "Fine. If it will get you off my back so that I can sleep, I'll answer your stupidly obvious questions. Once a bird is considered an adult, they are able to begin proper courtship. Males will court females during the spring, and they will start raising a family together. Most birds choose to mate for life."
"Interesting," Leonard said. "Go on."
"Birds have certain needs during the spring and summer months, and usually seek out same-gendered friends to ensure there are no unwanted fertilized eggs. Females, of course, lay clutches several times a year, and the unfertilized ones are left outside the door to be picked up in the early morning hours by the street cleaners," Red stated.
"Why would they leave those precious eggs outside and unguarded?" the pig asked, raising an eyebrow in alarm.
"Why would we need to protect empty eggs? If they sit around too long, they start to rot. The street cleaners haul them out of town to Barren Beach, where they are rolled into the water," the avian said, shrugging his shoulders.
Leonard gasped aloud. They did WHAT with all those delicious eggs!
"Seriously, I don't know why this is bothering you so much. They're baby-less eggs. It's not like they're lost and found hatchlings," Red said, grumbling the last part of the sentence.
"Yes, the judge mentioned that earlier. In regards to you, in particular," Leonard recalled, his attention drawn away from the eggs.
The avian's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly turned away, focusing his attention on the wall. "If the judge wasn't ordering me to be here, I'd be back in my house right now," he mumbled, pulling the blankets up to his chest.
"Touchy subject, I see," Leonard said, scratching his chin. "Well, let me take a guess. Back on Piggy Island, we have buildings called Orphanages. Little piglets without mommies or daddies will be taken there, to be raised in a group by the pigs running the orphanage. They have beds, food, shelter, and several guardians who live there to care for them."
"That… sounds a lot nicer than what we have here," Red reluctantly admitted. Maybe pig society wasn't as bad as he thought — they were still up to something though!
"Soooo, you were about to tell me about lost and found hatchlings," the pig said, drumming his hooftips on the bed.
"I don't want to talk about this tonight," the avian said, his voice coming out as a low mumble.
I suppose this conversation is hitting close to home, the pig thought to himself. I'll be nice, just this once. "Alright, I'll leave you alone — for tonight. I'll have Ross and the guys start fixing your place first thing in the morning. Why don't we just get some rest," Leonard suggested, pulling the green blankets up to his chin.
Red rolled onto his back, eyeing him from the side, before grumbling, "You'd better not try anything while I'm asleep, or I will kick your butt."
"I don't force my lovers to be with me. They naturally gravitate toward my charm and good looks," the pig chuckled, his eyes drifting closed.
"Yeah, right. Well, that isn't happening with me," Red snarked back.
Leonard felt a smile spread over his lips as he listened to the bird grumble under his breath for a moment longer, before settling down to try to sleep. The rest of their time on Bird Island was certainly going to be interesting.