Left Behind: Bonus
Stumbling and Kisses (A bonus scene that was supposed to fit between chapter 7 and 8, but then Rachael came along. I love the idea of Red already associating Leonard with 'mate' in his mind, but also trying his best not to get his hopes up. He's not used to having things go his way, after all)
Carpets seemed to hate Red. The little bird yelped as one of his talons hooked into the fabric, sending him stumbling into Leonard's arms.
"Whoa there," Leonard exclaimed, his hooves hooking under the bird's wings to hold him up. "Are you falling for me already?" the king joked.
One of the avian's impressive eyebrows raised at the pig's words. "You wish," Red commented, but he didn't make a move to pull away. Without realizing it, they were inching closer together.
They stopped when they were snout to beak, uncertain of how to proceed. Red angled his head to the side, and his lover followed suit, which didn't make any sense at all. Sighing, Red pulled back, and made another attempt, finally able to press his beak against his taller lover's cheek for a quick nuzzle kiss.
"Mommy and daddy are kissing!"
Red pulled back quickly. "No, we're not!"
"Yes, you were," the triplets argued.
"Out!" Red shouted, his face aflame under his feathers.
"Awwww," the hatchling grumbled, bouncing out of the room.
"You know… I think you DID just kiss me," Leonard purred, wrapping Red in a hug.
"Don't make a big deal out of it," the avian grumbled, breathing in a calming scent of his mate… no, lover, not mate. NOT mate.
"Normally pigs just press their snouts together, but I can see why birds kiss differently," the king chuckled, nuzzling Red's cheek.
Red squeaked at the avian kiss, his heart pounding madly in his chest. Not mate, not mate, he kept telling himself. In a moment of weakness, he let his wings wrap around his lover's waist, embracing him in return. Not mate, even if he desperately wished Leonard wanted more than just a casual love affair. Not that he'd admit it aloud. After all, Red was far too proud to beg.