Ch 2: NC 17 smut. Not posted here
Ch 3: What's in a Name?
"That's an apple store, a barber shop, and a schoolhouse, obviously," Red drawled, waving a wing at the school's open window.
Leonard leaned closer, his eyes riveted to the eggs that were just sitting there in little nests, while the teacher told them a story. "So many eggs…"
"Too many, if you ask me," Red grumbled, his wings crossed over his chest.
"Excuse me, little ones," the teacher suddenly said, leaving the book on his chair as he approached the window. "Hello. You're one of our new guests. It's a pleasure to have you visit my little schoolhouse."
"Hey there! My name is Leonard. Red is showing me around the island today, and we just happened upon your quaint, egg-filled school," the pig announced, reaching in the window to shake the teacher's wing.
"Red? Oh, Red," the teacher exclaimed, catching sight of the suddenly-nervous bird attempting to stay out of sight behind the pig. "It's been a while since you've come round. How is young adult life treating you these days?"
Red opened his mouth to respond, but the other bird's attention was instantly back on his piggy companion.
"You know, Red was one of my students. He was a lost and found hatchling, so the judge gave him to me… since the lost and found he was left at is closest to my school," the teacher explained, with an almost forced chuckle. "He used to have this cute little second-hand nest in the corner of the classroom. He was always fast asleep when I arrived in the morning. He wasn't very good at waking up with the sun, like most birds do."
"Wait…" Leonard's eyes darted to his moody companion, before refocusing on the teacher. "You were his guardian, but he slept at the school?"
"Of course. I'm sure he's told you all about lost and found hatchlings, Mr. Leonard. I couldn't take him in; it wouldn't be proper. I had hatchlings of my own to raise. Now these eggs," the teacher said, gesturing to nests. "Well, they belong to proper parents. Parents that will pick them up at the end of their work day, and spend quality time with them. Red's egg was abandoned. It's tragic, really, when the parents feel that there is something wrong with their child, and are forced to abandon it. Most lost and found eggs never hatch. But our little Eyebrows… I mean, Red, survived against all odds. And look at him now, he's… er…" The teacher threw his former charge a clearly forced grin. "Such an upstanding member of society. Look at the time! I have to put the little ones down for a nap. Have a wonderful day!"
Leonard took a step back, gaping in amazement as the teacher threw down the blinds. "So… that was enlightening," the pig snorted, scratching his beard.
"Mr. Greensleeves isn't really that interesting. Trust me. The moment my house was built enough to live in, I was out of this school," Red grumbled, even as he stomped away from the school.
Leonard shook his head, casting the little building one last glance, before sprinting to catch up with his guide. For such a petite creature, Red could move quickly when he wanted to. "So… eyebrows?" the pig asked, once they had returned to a more leisurely pace.
The bird's golden eyes widened, before he threw back his head with an exasperated groan. "Don't call me that. I didn't have parents to give me a name, so the kids just started calling me the first thing they thought of. Luckily, the Judge has the final say when it comes to… to people like me, so I convinced him to call me something else. Red is fine. It's not really a name, but I've gotten used to it."
"I suppose," the king mused. A single question had been lingering in his mind all morning, so he might as well just get on with it. "Why did you have them build your house on the beach, anyway?"
Red shot him an irritated look. "I built my own house. I designed it on my own, I bought the materials from the money I made working random jobs, and I spent 5 years building it until it was finally finished. It was wonderful. I was finally able to have some peace and quiet, and then SOMEONE came along and broke it," the bird growled, glaring at him.
"I see. Well, that does make me feel like a ham," Leonard sighed. Silence stretched between them long enough for the pig to add, "It seems like bird society isn't as happy as everyone on this island seems to think it is."
Red snorted. "You try being happy all the time. It's practically a rule that you can't ever be unhappy. We even have a Museum of Happiness!"
Leonard blinked in amazement as the bird flung his wings into the air for emphasis, before curling his wings around himself again. Is he sulking? The king couldn't help but find that utterly adorable. "A Museum of Happiness, huh? That sounds like fun. Let's go!"
"What?" the bird eyed him like he'd magically grown a second head.
"You're supposed to be showing me around, remember? Let's go check out this museum you loath so much," Leonard insisted, looping an arm around his avian's shoulders. "It'll be fun."
"You're doing this to torment me, aren't you?" Red grumbled, glaring up at him.
The smile on the pig's face grew even larger. "Of course, I am. Lead the way!"
Leonard chuckled as he examined the wooded picture they'd gotten at the photo booth. He was smiling cheerfully, and Red was sitting next to him, glaring at the artist. So cute! The king glanced down at his frowning companion, only to realize that even the petite bird's grouchy mood was oddly fetching. Calm it down, Leonard. You were only together for one night, he told himself. Then his brilliant mind returned to the plan to ignore the little red bird, even if they were going to be sharing a bedroom. I've got earplugs, and Ross is making me my own bed, so I won't be bothered by his hormones tonight. Yes, that's the perfect plan.
Note: Good luck, Leonard. You're going to need it. I hope these two banter more in the upcoming movie. And it seems like Red MIGHT have some competition when Zeta gets involved. She is going to play them both like a fiddle. Although in my fangirl mind, she might just turn out to be a matchmaking genius.
