Christmas Time – Mistletoe And Crime – Love Is Beaming And Its Sharing Time
I originally planned to write this chapter before Christmas Day as you can imagine. But I've been really busy with prepping things for Christmas so I've barely had time to write it. But here we are! I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter! P.S I hope you guys got the Christmas song reference to the title? If you didn't then I'm sorry Hehe!
Christmas Day…RDJ Writes Another Letter To His Sister While He Speaks In The Background…
"Iris, my dearest sister. Apologies for not writing to you for quite some time now. But things are starting to get a little more hectic here in Mexico. A few hours before I had a huge heart stroke which put me into a paralysed state…Haaaa…Iris…I fear that I am running out of time on this earth. And my heart grows more in agony every day. Sister…Lila decided to divorce me for the time being…She doesn't know what she wants, and is confused by how she feels for me at this moment in time. Blu and Jewel came here with Martin, and we've met some new friends along the way to help us! But Iris…please…Beto…Fernando…they are no longer with us on this earth. And I want their memory to live on in our hearts forever. But Iris…please…I want you to do something for me…Haaaa…If I don't make it back…Please give Lila the letter…the one that I gave you in secret before flying out here…Because I think…I think now I know that the chances of me returning alive…are very slim indeed…
End Of Letter…6PM – On A Bridge Overlooking The Coast…
The sky was gloomy…grey and thunderous…rain was pouring down from the clouds at an alarming rate. Soaking many of the locals as they returned home from work, the market, or just a night out with some friends to celebrate the festive season.
But not everyone in the city was feeling particularly festive around this time of year. Especially a certain blue and gold macaw male…who was seen sat on the wall of a bridge which was over a stream which lead towards the coastline.
RDJ sat there sadly gazing down at a certain item in his wings. It was in fact his father's cape that he was staring at.
Tears were running fine his cheeks whilst he sat there silently in pain. Trying not to dwell too much on the fact that his wife was the one who got him this cape. And every time he stares at it, it makes him think of her. And sometimes that does upset him…but he can't help it…because he still loves her with all of his heart. Plus, he was finding it really difficult to cope, because all he wants is to be happy with her.
"Sniff…Oh god…Sniff…W-What is the fucking point?!" He mumbled sadly to himself whiner wiping away his many tears. Flicking the cape back over his shoulder as he gazed into the face of his reflection on the ocean surface. "Why did I let myself fall in love?! I should have just stuck with my motto! Never fall in love! Life was just…just…haaaa…lonely…"
RDJ didn't really have the emotion in him to be ranting about his marriage. Especially since he knows that he could have done more to keep the two of them together. Now that this had happened, there's a risk that once he gets home he may never see his children again. Which would break his heart even more.
"Okay…maybe I need to just…ughhh…I don't fucking know! Damnit!" RDJ threw a rock into the ocean. And buried his face in his wings again to sob silently about his current failed marriage.
As he was doing this…he had no idea that someone was standing only a few feet behind him…and it was an ally of his. So he was in no danger at all.
"Mentor?"
RDJ suddenly stopped his tears and wiped them away from his face to avoid anyone seeing him cry. He then put on a brave face and turned his head to see who was coming from behind him. And it was none other than Monifa. "Oh…Monifa? What are you…What are you doing here?"
"I figured…you may be here. I mean…you haven't exactly been very close with us after your stroke a few days ago?"
"Monifa…my heart is getting weaker every day with every heart beat. I fear that I may not have long left to make things right!"
"Make things right?" The grey macaw female asked as she cocked her head up the side in curiosity.
"Yes! With my…I mean…Lila…" The assassin realised what he was saying, and he lowered his head to his talons. Then he sat back down on top of the wall. "Ughhh…what's the use? There's no point talking about this! It's not exactly said for me to talk about this with you. It's not like you have any idea on what I'm going through…"
Just for a split second…as the atmosphere around them fell into a deep silence. Monifa soon began to sniffle herself, and she rubbed her nose that began to feel a tiny bit runny.
"Actually…Sniff…I do know…" Monifa sobbed a little as she walked up towards her mentor, then sat besides him on the walk. As she too decided to join in looking at her reflection. "You…haven't heard of…Linus…have you?"
The blue and gold male spun around to face her with a curious stare. Shaking his head from side to side as a no.
"Well…Linus, was one of the most famous birds in all of Cairo. He was the head trainer of the royal guards. He trained Keith and I when we were very young." Monifa explained as she edged a little closer to him. While trying to console him in the best possible way. "So anyway, I remember when I was training by myself one day, and he wanted to show me some new techniques."
"Is there a point to this story?" RDJ asked in a little boredom, causing her to get a little annoyed with him.
"Do you want me to tell everyone how you cried on this bridge?"
"Continue…"
"That's what I thought!" The grey female smirked, then carried on with her story. "Now where was I…oh yes! So, he decided to show me some hew techniques. So, one thing lead to another…and we ended up sleeping together."
"So you were lovers?" RDJ replied with a curious stare, as he rose his eyebrow.
Monifa nodded her head slowly and wiped away her tears. "Anyway, for years we tried to keep things professional, and keep our love affair a secret! I even ended up joining an assassins guild to further my training as I already told you! I was so happy! But…one day…someone from the assassins guild betrayed the assassins and the entire guild was wiped out!"
"Shit! But…how did you survive?" RDJ got more into the story and fully turned around to face her.
"He…S-S-Saved me…" Monifa suddenly burst into tears and placed her face in her wings. Causing her mentor to wrap a wing around her in comfort.
"I…I'm sorry…I didn't know you had such a…painful past…" He apologised calmly, trying not to hold back any more tears.
"Yeah…One day…The thugs came to a dig site in the centre of Cairo. And the assassins were there to regroup after the guild was destroyed. Linus…he lead the group to find a way to get away from the thugs. But unfortunately they captured him."
"So…then what happened?"
"After a while, they tortured him…beat him, ripped feathers off, shocked him. I can…I can still hear the screams in the night…But no matter what…He never gave me up! They asked him where the head of the royal guards were…and he said that she's dead. Then…just as I was watching from a nearby dumpster…He took one last look at me…A tear rolled down from my cheek…and then…he…he was…they chopped off his fucking head!" Monifa blurted the last part out in sadness and anger.
RDJ listened to every word that she said…even though the story was incredibly tragic. He now understands that she went through hell and back…and still managed to stay strong through all of it. "Wow…I'm…I'm sorry that you went through that…"
"Sniff…See…that's exactly what I am trying to tell you mentor! You can't give up what you have with Lila…You have to try everything in your power to make things right with her. Because if you don't? You'll never be able to forgive yourself." The grey African female smiled at her teacher, before patting him on the shoulder. "The mistake I made was that I always put work ahead of my relationship with him. And the one day that he wanted me to be with him…it was already too late. Don't let things be too late with you and your wife."
The head of the assassins gradually smiled back at his student and nodded his head in respect towards her. Then he stood up onto his talons and flicked the cape back over his shoulder.
"You know what? You are absolutely right! I have to go and make things right with Lila!" RDJ remarked as he got prepared for flight to find his ex wife. But, just before he left…he gave Monifa a hug and she widened her eyes in surprise.
"What was that for?" She asked with a giggle when they separated from the hug.
"For being a good friend. And besides, you can call me RDJ…mentor just makes me feel old." RDJ chuckled before turning around and flying off into the horizon in search for his wife. Leaving a smiling Monifa behind as she felt proud that she can call her master friend.
"You…You never told me that Linus was your lover?"
The grey female jumped at the sound of a new arrival behind her, and it was none other than Keith who came from around the corner. Leaning up against the wall with a curious look in his eyes.
"How much did you hear?" She asked him a little embarrassed. Because she wasn't quite ready to tell him about her past.
"I heard from the part about him being your lover. Why didn't you tell me?"
"You think I didn't want to? I spent days trying to figure out the best way to tell you, but I didn't know how to do it without sounding strange. I hope you can forgive me for such treachery?" She apologised to him in the most apologetic way possible.
The muscular barn owl chuckled and wrapped his wings around her in a warm embrace, and he lightly touched his beak on her forehead. "Don't worry my love. Your secret is kept safe with me."
"Mmmm…thank you mi amor! I love you Keith!"
"And I love you too Mon…I love you too…"
Now Let's See Where Lila Is At…
Our favourite blue macaw female Lila was currently sat on a stool in a bar that was only available for local birds in the city. Above where the salsa bar was that Fred had taken her to when they first arrived in Mexico.
"Hit me again…" Lila spoke to the female sparrow behind the bar, who nodded and poured her another glass of vodka. "In fact, just leave the bottle." She slapped what appeared to be a few shiny coins from her holster.
She nodded her head and left the bottle in front of her. Before going off to serve another customer.
Lila was very depressed this time of year…mainly because she remembered that Christmas was the day she was locked up in the jail cell in the Amazon. And she had to spend Christmas alone. But after the divorce with her husband, she has to spend another Christmas alone.
"Merry Christmas to me, I guess?" Lila spoke with a hint of sadness, as she gulped down another glass.
What she didn't realise, was that a certain someone was also in the very same bar. Having a drink by himself. But that was until he spotted the blue female from across the bar from him. So he thought he'd say hello. "Hey Lila!"
"Huh?" She heard a familiar voice from across the bar, and noticed Reece from the other side of the room. "Oh, hey Reece! What are you doing here?" She smiled at him warmly as he approached her and sat down on the stool besides her.
"I always come here when I feel like I need a drink. What are you doing here?"
"I just came here, to get away from it all you know? I just came here for a drink." Lila spoke as she gulped another glass of vodka. Reece obviously smirked a little.
"I can see that." He joked while grabbing the bottle and pouring himself a drink. "Do you mind?"
"Not at all. Help yourself."
"Thank you." Reece replied as he rosé his glass. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas!" She chimed with a smile as they clinked their glasses together and necked their drinks.
"Ahhhh…So, tell me…why are you here by yourself? When your husband…"
"Ex-Husband…" Lila emphasised whilst pouring another glass, but the grey macaw stopped her halfway.
"Easy, on the alcohol Lila! You don't want to drink yourself to death!" Reece warned her and pulled the bottle away. "Why are you here without him?"
"Because…We..We need some time apart you know?" The blue female sighed and turned away from him.
"Well…don't let me keep you from enjoying your evening. I'll just, leave you to it!" Reece got up from the stool and went to walk over to another part of the bar. But just as he walked away…he heard a silent sobbing from the blue female.
"Sniff…Sniff Snoff…Haaaaa…Sniff…" Lila cried into her soft blue wings, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks and drop onto get chest feathers.
"Haaaa…" The grey macaw male sighed and strolled back over to the bar where she was sat and returned to sit on the stool next to her. "Look…I'm gonna tell you a story. And I want you to really lay attention. Because it may teach you something important."
"Sniff…O-O-Okay." She stuttered sadly while she wiped her damp cheeks.
"Right…Now…twenty five years ago now. I remember when I was just a young man. About the age of Aiden and Allie at the time. And I was quite the lad back in those days. I was always the guy that a lot of girls would throw themselves at, even some would try to get me drunk. Just so that I would sleep with them. That sort of thing."
"What has this got to do with…"
"Anyway!" He cut her off her sentence and returned to his story. Just to stop her from asking any more unneeded questions. "I met a young military macaw female. Gosh you should have seen her! Bright green eyes which made you feel so lost in them, feathers that looked so shiny. And her beak…wow! She was absolutely gorgeous!" Reece beamed dreamily and leaned up against the bar.
"Was it love at first sight?" Lila got more into the story and slid her glass away slightly to pay more attention to his story.
"Oh yes indeed! She was the most incredible sight in the world. Anyway, after we met we started our own elite group to fight off the thugs and bring peace." Reece smiled whilst he felt a small tear roll down from his right cheek. "Her name was…Grace. Graceful Grace, I used to call her. Hmmm, I still remember when she told me she was pregnant. I was so…so happy!"
Suddenly, he felt a huge wave of sadness hit him all at once. And he lowered his head to the floor.
"But…When she delivered the eggs…she…she…"
"It's okay." She placed a wing on top of his, to stop him from telling her about what happened. Because she kind of gathered that she knew what he was going to say.
"No…I suppose I had to tell someone one day. I mean…Gabriel doesn't even know that her mother died in childbirth. I still don't know how to tell her!"
"Don't worry dad…I already knew…"
"AHHHHHH!" Reece jumped at the sound of his daughter's voice. He then began to sweat nervously while she just giggled in amusement.
"It's okay dad! Uncle Jonas told me when you were out at the bar every Christmas. When I asked him why you left me alone on Christmas Day during the evening, he told me the story. The whole story." Gabriel smiled at her father so lovingly, before walking away from him to talk to some of the locals.
Reece smiled so proudly at his daughter before turning back to face the blue female. "See, even the most painful of moments in our lives, can always turn into good ones." The grey macaw stood up from his seat and placed a wing on her shoulder in a friendly manner. "Trust me…just…talk to him. You may realise that you can't live without him…or he can't live without you."
He tapped her shoulder lightly and waltzed over to where his daughter was. And the duo began to talk to the other locals.
As for Lila, she continued to sit there in silence after the conversation she had with Reece. And she was in deep thought about it. Thinking about the possibility of making things right with her ex husband. "Haaaa…what am I going to do?"
Now Let's Head Back To RDJ…
The heavens had opened up and the sky began to flow with the horrifying waves of rain and thunder. Which filled the skies with doom and gloom on this magical time of year.
The head of the assassins made the decision to run along the streets of the city, as most of the crowds have gone into shelter to be dry away from the rain.
"Ughhhh…why did it have to rain now?! We are in the third or fourth hottest country I've been to, and now it continues to rain?! This is definitely a sign…" RDJ thought to himself, pushing past some of the local birds. "Out of my way!"
"Fuck you old man!" A parakeet yelled in frustration, picking themselves off of the ground from where he had knocked them down.
"Damn…typical how I am still getting called that!"
RDJ tried to find the bar that Monifa had told him about. But it was hard to find, because he never really paid any attention to the streets, and more on his enemies.
"Come on…where is this…loco coco bar?" RDJ spoke out loud when arriving outside of the very same salsa bar he saw when he first arrived here with Lila. "Ughhh…doesn't this bring back some shit memories!"
The rain was slowing down a little bit, which was better for the birds who wanted to travel by air. But it still came down like a monsoon.
"Hey, ummm…excuse me?!" RDJ called out to a young male yellow macaw with who could only be assumed as his girlfriend.
"Yes? May we help you?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Loco Coco's?"
"Ahhh, it's up there my friend! Don't worry, you're not the only one to miss out on the bar!" The female pointed her wing up at an open roof on top of the salsa bar. Making the older blue and gold macaw male smile.
"Thank you! Merry Christmas!" RDJ beamed in response, flapping his wings in excitement to reach the bar.
"Poor old timer. Losing his mind already." The male shook his head in disbelief, as they went on their way.
Just Inside Of The Bar…
Lila was still sat at the bar by herself, drinking away the vodka that she had paid for previously.
What she didn't realise was that RDJ came into the bar and had a look around the place to find his ex wife.
Once he spotted her sitting at the bar, he took a deep breath and nervously began to head towards her.
"Alright…you can do this…just…ummmm…just…oh fuck! I can't do this! You know what? I'll just have a whiskey, then I'll just talk to her!" RDJ finally made up his mind on what he was going to do.
Then he approached the bar with a lot of confidence in his soul. Then , just as he approached the gap that was besides her, she quickly turned her head. But then she instantly widened her eyes when seeing him be so close to her.
"R-R-RDJ?" She stuttered in surprise, blinking her eyes twice in confusion.
"H-H-Hi Lila…" RDJ anxiously replied and instantly regretted his decision. "Ummm…I can go elsewhere…"
"No! No no, you came here, I'll go…"
"But you were here first…"
"But I insist…"
"No I insist…"
Soon, both of them just laughed a little at how silly they were being. Before RDJ then leaned on the bar slightly. "Hehe…I see you still have your sweet giggle. I always loved the way you giggle…"
"Hehe…And you still have your crazy sense of humour. That's what I admired about you when we got married…" Lila replied with a dreamy smile. Gazing at him like they were meeting for the very first time.
The two of them once more fell into an awkward silence. Neither of them knew what to say to each other. Both of them felt so uncomfortable at this point, that they couldn't even think of anything to say.
"Look…I…I'll just go somewhere else okay? We can…talk later…" RDJ sadly broke the silence, and gradually turned away from her. Feeling a slight pain hit his heart.
"But…I…" The blue female mumbled softly as he walked away from her in this way. But…just as he was a few feet away from her…someone else decided to come over and talk to her.
"Hello there sugar tits…why are you alone this Christmas?" A blue throated macaw male came up from behind her and leaned on the bar. Winking at her in a playful manner.
"Sorry…I'm…I'm not interested…" Lila tried her best to get away from him, feeling really creeped out by the way he was behaving with her. Unfortunately for her though, he wasn't exactly being very…respectful of her boundaries.
"Your beak might say no…but your body says…mmmmm, yes!" He flexed one of his biceps to try and seduce her. But this just made her even more nervous.
"I'm…I'm married! Yes! I'm married!" Lila blurted out, shaking her wing away from him. Then she ran up to RDJ from behind and spun him around with her wings. Which did shock him at first, but as soon as his eyes laid upon the blue throated macaw, he narrowed his eyes a little.
"Say…do I know you from somewhere?" The blue and gold macaw asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion.
"Me? No! I'm just one of the locals! Now…how about you let me buy you a drink?" The male blue throated macaw asked as he tried to grab hold of Lila and pull her towards him. But RDJ slapped his wing away. "What's your problem dude? Can't you see I'm trying to get some cloaca here?"
"Don't…you…touch…her!" RDJ threatened him, as he tightened his wings into fists.
Lila was very touched that he would once again defend her honour in this very difficult situation. She felt so moved that she placed a wing on his lower back…something that he loved when they were married.
He smiled lovingly at her when she did this, and he felt so happy to feel her so close to him again. But…the annoyed blue throated macaw decided to really dig deep into his soul.
"I believe she is your…EX wife! Or have you forgotten the way she banged your older brother? R.D.J!" The blue throated macaw soon revealed to be Cameron, The Destroyer's right wing bird. He narrowed his eyes towards him and pulled out a machete. Pointing it towards the duo. "Haaaa…I'm sorry it has to be this way! If it were up to me, I'd let you live! But…I guess I'll just have to kill you and take the girl."
"Over my dead body!" RDJ growled as he threw a glass of whiskey at the blue throated male, making him whine a little as the glass shattered on his face. Then he pulled out a match and struck it, before throwing it at Cameron. Causing his face to set on fire briefly.
"AHHHHHHH! YOU LITTLE PRICK!" Cameron screamed as he poured water on his face to put out the fire. Then he ran into him and clashed his machete up against RDJ's hidden blade, causing sparks to fly.
"Miss me! Miss me! Now you gotta…KISS ME!" With that last sentence, be bashed him in the face with his fist. Knocking him into a table that a young couple were sat at. Who decided to now flee the bar with all of the other locals. As they decided to flee as soon as the fight broke out.
Lila hid behind a booth to keep herself safe from any harm, but she did keep close to RDJ. Just in case he needed her to jump in at any time.
Cameron jumped up from the ground and rammed straight into the head of the assassins, picking him up due to his upper core strength and threw him straight through the wall which lead into a kitchen. But the chefs inside have already made a run for it after hearing the commotion outside.
"Ahhhhh…fuck! My back! Ow! That hurt like a bitch!" RDJ remarked, closing his eyes tightly in pain as he made his way back onto his talons. But unfortunately for him…he didn't exactly have long to take a quick breath.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Cameron came steaming into the older male and swatted him straight into a table full of metal pots and pans. As he landed, he could have sworn a bone in his spine may have bruised.
"AHHHH! DAMNIT!" He groaned in agony, struggling to get back up to his feet.
"Hahahah…you are such a pussy!" The blue throated thug laughed like a maniac when he came into the kitchen. Swirling around the machete in his wing. "And I thought the great and powerful RDJ, would have put up more of a fight?"
"Ahhhhh…I'm not…done yet!" RDJ grumbled in irritation, pulling out a throwing knife. But unfortunately, Cameron was too fast for him.
He knocked it out of his wing and smashed him brutally in the face with one of the metal pans. Making RDJ spit out some blood on the floor.
"Ahhhhh…now what do we have here?" Cameron cockily asked rhetorically. Before approaching what appeared to be a meat grinder of some kind? It was turned off and pushed in the corner. "Now…this is the kind of machinery I like!"
RDJ showed no signs of weakness as he saw what he was doing. But…there was a small part of him that thought this wasn't going to be good for him.
Cameron switched on the machine by pulling down a lever. And as soon as he did so…a huge roar was heard along with sharp metal blades colliding amongst one another.
"Ahhhh…now…I'm going to enjoy doing this!" The blue throated macaw picked RDJ up with his stronger muscles and began to drag him towards the grinder quite brutally. "Hahaha! How do you like your meat RDJ?!"
The head of the assassins was struggling to get out of the grip that he was in. And he thought that he was too strong. "Ackkkk…Let…Me…Go!"
"Never!" Cameron chuckled in amusement, feeling himself getting closer and closer towards the grinder.
But…what he didn't see…was the fact that another macaw had entered the kitchen. And they had some chains in their wings…with a hook just on the end of it.
Cameron began to hold RDJ's face closer and closer towards the grinder…getting so close that the feathers on his cheeks could slice off upon impact.
"Any last words?! Before I reunite you with your father!" Cameron chuckled as he pushed his head closer towards the blades. "Perhaps…one of your clever one liners?!"
The assassin tried harder and harder to get away from him. But the more he tried to fight…the more energy he was wasting. And…just as he clenched his eyes shut…fearing the worst…
"I've got a sentence for you!" Lila cheekily spoke as she threw the loop over his head, and tightened the loop of chains around his neck. Causing him to widen his eyes in shock. "I like my meat…sliced, and diced!"
Suddenly, she grabbed the other side of the chains and threw them towards RDJ, who caught the chains in his right wing and threw them straight into the grinder. Causing Cameron to be dragged straight towards the machine. As he gasped for his own life.
"NO! Ackkkkk…PLEASE! I WAS…KIDDING! PLEASE!" He screamed in a loud and high pitched tone in a petrified manner.
Lila leaned over and extended her wing for him to take. "Need a wing?" She smiled at him warmly, as he chuckled and took her wing to pull himself up.
"How is it you always seem to have the joy of killing my enemies?" RDJ cheekily replied with a grin. As he remembered the day that Lila had done the very same thing the day they met. Apart from the fact that she used a grenade to kill Zenon.
"I don't know? Maybe I'm just better than you?" She giggled playfully…but the weird part for her was…she actually enjoyed it.
"I don't doubt that for a second…" RDJ softly spoke as he narrowed his eyes towards her. But just as the two of them were about to share a moment together.
"I'LL DO ANYTHING! ANYTHING! PLEASE!" Cameron screamed at the top of his lungs. Which caused them to turn their heads back to face the endangered macaw. Who was only seconds away from his own demise. "PLEASE! SAVE ME!"
"Sorry…but I don't think you will make the…cut!" RDJ spoke in a soft tone, as the duo walked out of the kitchen. As they didn't really want to stick around to find out what happens next.
Just as they were leaving…they continued to hear his many screams…until there was only silence that filled the room.
"NOOOOO! NOOOOOOO! NOOOOAHHHHHHCKKKKAASRRSSESSSDDDSAAAKKKKKKKAAaaaaaaa…"
Once the screaming had finally stopped, they could only assume that he had finally been run through the meat grinder. Killing the evil male, who was second in command of the thugs.
How will The Destroyer react to this? How indeed…