𝐸𝓍𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃

Exhaustion

Again, Copper thought as his eyes glazed over Mike's current status. Stumbling. He offered a paw each time the brown cat was close to plummeting on his face. And he growled each time his paw was declined.

"Copper.. I'm fine!" Mike's eyes were glossed over with lethargy. He showed a gentle smile to the frowning bloodhound. "You don't need to be so worried over me. I'll just.." By now, Mike was on the brink of just sprawling onto the ground.

"That's it! I'm taking you back to your home!" The hound caught the brown cat with his two front paws. "Whether you like it or not." He added with a growl to his tone. With a struggle and a long time, he got Mike onto his back only barely. "C'mon, you.."

Awhile later, Copper quietly stepped into Mike's home, careful to not wake anyone. "Here you go, lil buddy." The brown dog slipped the cat off his back and into his bed. Copper knew he wasn't supposed to be in there. He needed to get out before he was seen. But he couldn't just leave. Mike could wake up, see him gone, and misunderstand the whole situation. With a grunt, he wrapped himself around Mike's tiny frame. He pushed his nose against Mike's as he listened to the gentle snores of Mike and others.

"Copper.." Mike's voice sounded while he slept. The mentioned looked up through closing eyes to the sleeping male. He smiled with warmth as he laid his head along Mike's back.

"Shh.." Copper's husky voice filled with lassitude replied to the sleeping word. He was beginning to feel the one known as Sleep come over him. He couldn't fight back so he gave in, feeling himself fall into a deep-sleep.

~One sleep later~

"Wake up, Copper!" A voice thick with enthusiasm hollered into Copper's droopy ears.
"You can't sleep all throughout the morning!" Copper awoke to a childish-looking Mike wagging his tail like if he were a dog. Mike's wings were flexing against the light breeze present in the scenario. Copper chuckled drowsily as his big paw pushed Mike away delicately, careful to not hurt him.

"I'm up, I'm up." The bloodhound's ears swung as he rose up to a seat. "Why do you have as much energy as a kitten or puppy?" He raised an eyebrow in question.

"Why can't I just be happy without reason?" Although Mike's words were worded in an.. ish.. way, the young cat's tone was purely ecstatic. "I just feel like running around! But I'll get yelled at by the others." He flattened his ears, but his eyes still shone with motivation.

"Mike, you'll be fine." Copper was about to stand up, but huffed when he felt the young cat jump onto his back.

"I remember what you said that one night. About how I should take it easy. Well, fuck that. When helping others, don't 'take it easy', do all you can to help!" His bright eyes were widening with each passing second.

Copper could only chuckle in response. "Of course, you're right once again, Mike." The light brown bloodhound gave out a half-smile as he hoisted up to his paws. "We should go take a walk. It's beautiful outside today." He smiled to the window showcasing the proof to his words.

  Mike only nodded vigorously and trotted out of the doggy door than was for some reason added. "C'mon then! Can't just sit there and expect your body to move on it's own!" His smile was only growing. Copper sighed contently and followed in suit of Mike. He watched as Mike's wings blew against the breeze of the morning. He watched in awe as Mike began to glide to he and Copper's special area. Once reaching there, Mike was settled down beside a tree. The tree was new. It hadn't been there last time.

"That's new." Copper muttered to Mike as he glanced up and down it.

"Yeah!" Mike's high-pitched voice (ha) retorted with a kind snort. "It's only a sapling, genius." He chuckled. Mike's wings fluttered against the baby tree, almost threatening to uproot due to the heavy wind from the flutters.

"Careful there, Mike! You seem to love the sapling, so don't do that!" Copper pulled him back. Mike nodded in understanding, snuggling up against Copper.

~Later~

Copper watched the sun while it was setting. Glancing at Mike at the same time. "It's beautiful." The bloodhound complimented the ombré sky. Mike muttered something in reply to Copper. The hound's ears swung as he turned to Mike with a tilt of his head.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything." The cat's eyes were downturned to the sapling, as were his ears.

"Mike, are you okay?" Copper was beginning to grow worried. "You never keep secrets. What's going on?"

The previous excitement from the tom had disappeared and was replaced with the current as the very moment right now. "Secret? I'm not keeping a 'secret'! I didn't say anything, Copper! Just drop it!" Copper turned away from Mike's harsh-toned words. He wrapped his tail against his flank as a sign of hurt.

Mike's eyes widened in realization. "Oh! I-I'm sorry, Copper!" The winged tom circled the hound with worry. "I don't know what came over me! I'm sorry!" Copper looked over with a smirk. Immediately, Mike understood what he meant. "Dick." He replied with an opposing smirk. "Don't make me feel bad if you didn't take offense from it!" His smirk dropped a little but remained intact.

Copper chuckled as he stood up. He yelped when he was pulled back down onto the ground. "Mike, don't do that!" Mike's smirk only grew.

"Wow, wonder where that came from." He stuck out his tongue, but buried into the hound further. "Can we stay like this?" The sun has set and was replaced by the brightly shining moon.

Copper nodded in agreement. The hound laid his head against Mike's. He fought his inner self to stop from falling asleep. The gentle glow of the moon was pleasantly shining against Mike. The dog was impressed. It was rare for something like the moon to gleam against someone easily. The moon was kinda bad at that. Copper closed his eyes, feeling himself lose against the battle of consciousness.

"H-Hey!" Mike yelped in surprise. He huffed in annoyance. The winged tom pulled himself out from under the sleeping bloodhound. He snorted, but curled up beside Copper nonetheless. "Night, dumbass." He grinned as the wave of sleep crashed against Mike.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{A/N}: Well, how was that? Might make a part two? Really depends on how I feel about the end result uwu

Word count: 1091