FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

"You said it was a bloody free sample!" Shouted Lenny, a middle aged rat, as he was getting forced out of a restaurant. A small falcon woman was forcing the homeless rat out as she was armed with a broom.

"Free?! You ate almost all the damn cookies!" She screamed back.

"Oh come on?! It's free! Maybe you should learn the bloody king's English and not make promises ya can't keep."

The falcon was appalled and started hitting the rat violently with the broom.

"Out!" She yelled.

"Ah! Alright, alright I'm going! Sheesh." Lenny answered back.

The rat did as he was told and started walking down the street. Paying no attention to the yelling falcon behind him. He continued on his walk down the street with his hands buried in the pockets of his ragged coat. Still, this was no new occurrence for Lenny. The rat has been without a decent bed to sleep on for years now. Stealing food, or what he calls borrowing, was just a regular routine now. Although, as he went on his usual walk, a soft noise caught his attention. He quickly looked around the street but found nothing out of the ordinary. He proceeded to follow the sound and it led him into a small ally. He soon found out that the sound he was hearing was crying. He continued to follow the somber sound until he saw a figure lying on the dirty ground. It was a white cat covered in a filthy navy blue blanket laying down on his side. Lenny's first thoughts were to keep walking, but something in the back of his head was telling him to try to do something to help the feline. So, he decided to walk over to him and nudge him with his foot. The cat continued crying. Lenny just sighed and continued nudging him, harder this time.

"Come on kid." He said with indifference. "Enough already, stop the crying."

The cat then stopped crying. There was a short moment of silence, then he sat up and laid upon the wall. Lenny took a moment to study him. His fur was white, but it looked liked it hadn't been washed in months, maybe even years. His clothes didn't look any better. Still, he had these nice, innocent looking eyes that could make any heart melt. Lenny then started the conversation as the cat looked up at him.

"What are you doing laying about, crying your eyes out?" He said. "It's not gonna solve anything, you know?"

The cat was quiet and kept his stare on Lenny. Lenny took in another deep breath. He thought that was maybe too harsh, so he started over.

"What's your name kid?" He said.

The cat wiped his eyes and said.

"Michael."

Lenny then sat down next to him and said.

"Well, Michael, You can call me Lenny. Alright?"

".....Okay"

"So, how old are you?"

Michael sat there quiet again.

"Come on kid, I don't bite." Said Lenny.

"12" Said Michael

"12? Huh, still pretty young....where ya parents then? You ran away? Did they leave ya hear? Are they...

"Dead" Michael interrupted.

Lenny was quiet for a moment, then he said.

"Yea...same here kid." Michael's ears twitched in intriguement. Lenny kept talking. "They fought hard though....Until their last breathes....but...you know how cancer is."

The two then took another moment of silence together.

"So how long have you been homeless?"

"....Two years."

"Well Michael, you're looking at a filthy rat who has never seen a clean bed in ten years...but look at my handsome self now."

Lenny then made a crooked smile that was meant to be a joke. Michael smiled at him and Lenny smiled back.

"Listen kid." He said. "Today is your lucky day, cause if ya stick with me I'll show ya how to stay alive....and have some fun with it to?"

He then put out his paw for a handshake. Michael took a quick moment to look into Lenny's eyes, then he immediately smiled even more. He shook the rats hand and said.

"Okay."

"Alright." Lenny said as he got back up. "Now, I'm hungry. So why don't we hop over to Annabelle's and see what those stuck up customers haven't finished yet. Sound good?"

Michael just nodded his head. The two then walked off together. Lenny leading the way and Michael following right behind him. At first, Lenny was a bit shocked that a random young kitten would be so willing to follow him. He could've robbed the defenseless cat blind, but Michael didn't really seem to have much worth taking. Even still, it did seem strange.

The weeks went by and the two seemed very fond of eachother. Lenny was starting to find Michael very useful. A cute and innocent kitten seems to get more hand outs than a rat in a raggedy old coat. The two ate real good for many days. In return, Michael learned a lot from Lenny too. Lenny taught him how to beg for money, how to make a bed out of almost anything, and how to find "free food". The two became very close and Michael seemed to find a sort father-figure in Lenny. Although, Michael still had his own problems. Most of which involved his mother. He tried to keep it secret from Lenny, but he slowly learned more and more about his condition. What he knew for sure was that he could read others thoughts with ease. All he had to do was look into their eyes. Still, there was the question of how he was able to still see his mother. After the many nights of dreams, the casual appearances she had in Michael's life, and the constant whispers in his head, Michael had no answer.

"Are you a ghost?" He would ask. "Are you even real?.....why can I only see you?"

"I am whatever you want me to be sweetheart." She would answer. "I promised that I would always be with you, no matter what."

There were times when Michael just thought he was going crazy, but then there was Lenny. Lenny became the only thing in Michael's life that he knew was real. He was always by his side. He never wanted to lose him and because of that he never told Lenny about his condition. Until one night.

One night, Lenny had to make another "secret meeting" as he liked to call it. All he told Michael is that sometimes, there are some people out in the world that need a certain type of medicine that they can't get from the store. So, Lenny was nice enough to "supply" the medicine, as he would say. Michael didn't seem to care though. Lenny would always just tell Michael to wait inside a building as the meeting was happening and this meeting was no different. Michael waited in an old abandon building and would occasionally look through a broken window to see if Lenny was okay. He could see Lenny waiting in the alley, pacing back and forth as he waited for his customer. Michael just kept watching through the window.

"Honey, please stay away from that window." His mother said.

"I'm fine mom. I promise." Said Michael.

"I just...I don't want you to cut yourself."

"I want to make sure that Lenny's okay."

"I'm sure he is fine Michael. Now please.."

"Shhh, there he comes."

Michael watched carefully as a black cat walked towards Lenny. This was Mr. Rodgers. He was a normal customer for Lenny and he paid the rat very handsomely every time for the medicine. Although, something seemed different about Mr. Rodgers this time. Michael looked closely at his face. He was looking a bit more nervous than usual.

"Something is strange here." Michael whispered to himself. He then could hear his mother walk closer behind him. She looked through the window as well.

"Hello there Mr. Rodgers!" Lenny said happily. "Lovely night tonight, ain't it?"

"Uh....sure." Mr. Rodgers answered, unable to look Lenny in the eye.

Lenny's smile stayed, but his voice was slowed and suspicious.

"Everything alright there?" He asked.

"I'm good. I'm good. Just tired you know....it's a...been a long day."

"Well that's alright my friend. I got the stuff right here. Make all your trouble disappear."

Michael was still watching Mr. Rodgers. His movements were very careful and he seemed extremely nervous. Michael took no changes. He quickly looked deep into the cat's eyes and concentrated on his thoughts.

"It's going to be okay, it's going to be okay, it's going to be okay."

"Why does he keep repeating that?" He heard his mother say.

"He's planning something." Said Michael. He listened some more.

"Okay...I just have to take the drugs and run......get the gun ready."

Michael and his mother both had the same scared look on his face.

"Did he say gun?" His mother said.

"He's gonna shoot Lenny." Michael said.

Lenny then walked closer to Mr. Rodgers. The black cat was still trembling where he stood.

"I have to do something." Said Michael.

"Wait...Michael it's too dangerous." Warned his mother.

"I have to do something. He's gonna shoot Lenny."

Michael still stood there petrified. He wanted to do something to help, but what could he do?

Lenny was about to do the handoff. He thinks he is going to get his payment, but Mr. Rodgers had his hand on the gun in his pocket. Ready to fire. Lenny walked closer. Mr. Rodgers seemed ready to pull out his weapon. Michael panicked. He ran out of the building behind Lenny and yelled.

"Lenny! Look out!" He screamed.

The two stopped what they were doing. Lenny turned around to look at Michael. Mr. Rodgers just stood there quietly.

"Boy! What the bloody hell did I say?!" Yelled Lenny. "I told you to stay...."

"He has a gun!" Michael interrupted. "He was going to shoot you!"

Lenny paused for a moment. He then slowly turned around to look at the frightened Black cat. Mr. Rodgers was practically shaking where he stood. Lenny was starting to catch on. He then quickly looked at Mr. Rodgers' pocket.

"What's in the pocket, huh?" Asked Lenny.

Mr. Rodgers was silent. Michael and Lenny continued to stare him down.

"Well?!" Lenny said, this time more threatening. "What is it?!"

Mr. Rodgers seemed even more scared. He was trembling now and both Lenny and Michael could see it. Lenny walked closer to Mr. Rodgers. He couldn't hide it anymore. He quickly pulled out the gun from his pocket and immediately aimed it at Lenny's head, but the rat was just as fast. Lenny grabbed Mr. Rodgers' wrist and made him point the gun in a different direction. Then, in his other hand, Lenny held a battle knife right on the black cat's neck. Everything happened so fast. Michael could barely understand what happened, but he still stood there in awe as Lenny was inches away from cutting Mr. Rodgers' neck. The two stood there for a minute. Mr. Rodgers was breathing fast. He was petrified.

"After all I did for you." Lenny began. "This is the bloody thanks I get huh?!"

There was silence. The only sounds that came from Mr. Rodgers was his shaky breath.

"You thought you could just kill me here huh?! Leave me on the street to just die huh?! Ooooo, you think you're a cold hearted bastard, don't you?!" Lenny continued.

Then Mr. Rodgers dropped the gun on the ground.

"You listen to me. Nice and clear, alright? You're gonna run away and ya not gonna come back here. You can kiss your freakin' stash goodbye cause I'm not your supplier anymore." Lenny then leaned closer to him to the point where the knife was touching his fur. "And if I see your face again...or even hear your name....or your voice....I will slice your neck open and let you bleed out on my feet."

Lenny then pushed Mr. Rodgers on the floor. The cat didn't hesitate to get on his feet and start running away. The two watched as Mr. Rodgers slowly disappeared in the darkness. There was silence for a while, but Michael was feeling happy. He saved Lenny's life, but the silence was still unsettling. He looked at Lenny as he still stood at the same place, staring at the direction Mr. Rodgers fled to. Michael soon felt worried.

"Lenny?" He said.

Lenny quickly turned around and glared at Michael with an unsettling stare. Michael was frightened.

"Boy." He said. "How did you know he had a gun?"

Michael didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell the truth, but he thought Lenny wouldn't believe him. He just stood there in silence. Lenny then approached him, showing his battle knife right in front of Michael's face.

"I swear, if you are a spy or a cop I will gut you." He threatened.

"No, I'm not. I swear!" Michael pleaded.

"Then how did you know he had a gun, huh?!"

"Um...."

"I want the truth and I want it right freakin' now!"

Michael then looked down at his feet. He felt ashamed. Then finally, he looked up at Lenny and spoke.

"I can read minds."

Lenny was confused for a second.

"What?!" He said.

"I can read minds. I can tell what people are thinking and....he was thinking about shooting you."

"Out of all the bloody lies! Really kid?!"

"It's true. I swear."

Lenny was still not convinced. He then grabbed Michael's arm tight and held the knife to the young cat's face. Michael seemed unphased by this. He knew that Lenny was only threatening him.

"Alright, alright. Fine." Lenny said. "Then....what number am I thinking of?! Huh?! Answere that!"

"....12."

Lenny then looked very surprised. Michael was right. He tried again.

"Okay....what about now?"

"...9"

"Now?"

"...52"

"......Uh.....now?"

"...127"

"How the...."

Lenny was at a lost now. He was almost convinced, but he still wanted more proof. He thought of something that only he would know.

"What were my parents names?" He asked.

"Lincoln and Abigail." Michael said. "They used to love to tell you jokes....and teach you magic tricks.....but you never really knew how to do them....."

Lenny immediately let go of Michael and backed away.

"Holy shit.....you can freakin' read minds." He said.

"Yea..." Michael said, now feeling sad about what he has done.

Although, Lenny was starting to act unexpectedly...happy.

"That's amazing kid!" He shouted. His yelling nearly scared Michael, but the young kitten soon felt happy again.

"You're....you're not mad?" He asked Lenny.

"Mad?" Lenny answered with a laugh. "I couldn't be more happy.......I got big plans for us kid....big plans."

He then hugged Michael tight. Over the years, after his father died, no one has ever hugged him like this before. Michael felt happy. He hugged back believing that things were finally going to change, that his life was going to be much better now.