{"sf1_id":323267,"sf2_id":"pnGjwl6m","title":"Getting into Trouble","author":"Revresbo","words":564,"posted_at":"2012-01-05T10:39:00.000Z","tags":["Brothers","Cougar","German Shepherd","Sad"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/323267-getting-into-trouble","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/pnGjwl6m","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/0c/51/0c516bc7-5089-4e4b-b6c5-a156d7719ed0","description":"","content":"The cougar rested a paw on the small dog's shoulder.\u0026nbsp; It had taken a long while for the canine to fall asleep.\u0026nbsp; The cat had heard him sniffling from his own room, and his heart went out to the poor German Shepherd.\u0026nbsp; Even now, he could see the lines of matted fur where the tears had been flowing.\u0026nbsp; The cougar stayed sitting on the edge of the bed, paw on the younger dog's shoulder, just staring at the unfortunate pup.\n\nHe, too, had heard the argument.\u0026nbsp; His parents hadn't exactly been quiet.\u0026nbsp; He was old enough not to succumb to tears, but young enough to want to.\u0026nbsp; Still, he wanted to be strong for the pup.\n\nHe hadn't known the Shepherd for long.\u0026nbsp; Only about three months, actually.\u0026nbsp; Still, he cared for the canine.\u0026nbsp; Everyone else called him Trouble with varying degrees of affection and annoyance, but the teenage cougar called him Niko.\u0026nbsp; He wasn't even sure if anyone else knew the dog's real name: Nikolaos.\u0026nbsp; Niko seemed almost resigned to his sometimes not-so-affectionate nickname, but the feline felt it was important for him to remember he had another name.\n\nNiko let a small whimper in his sleep and curled up reflexively.\u0026nbsp; The cougar rubbed Niko's arm.\u0026nbsp; \"Shh.\"\n\nA tear finally slipped from the cougar's eye--not for his parents, but for the young pup sleeping in front of him.\u0026nbsp; The pup really didn't deserve his nickname.\u0026nbsp; He wasn't trying to be trouble.\u0026nbsp; He simply had never had a chance to learn.\u0026nbsp; He had been through a few foster homes, the feline knew.\u0026nbsp; He also knew it wouldn't take many more before Niko gave up entirely.\u0026nbsp; Niko didn't really try to live up to expectations because he didn't think he ever could.\u0026nbsp; Getting a smile out of the pup was a difficult task.\u0026nbsp; The cougar did his best, and Niko seemed to be warming to him.\u0026nbsp; Now, though, the feline wasn't sure what would happen.\n\nIt sounded like this was it.\u0026nbsp; His parents were finally fed up.\u0026nbsp; It didn't bother him as much as it should have.\u0026nbsp; They had fought a lot, though, and he had never been to close to them.\u0026nbsp; He thought he remembered them being better when he was younger, but it was so long ago that it blurred in his mind.\u0026nbsp; Niko was taking it hard, though, and the teen wasn't sure what would happen to him.\n\nHis name had come up a few times in the argument: Roger was supposedly better off with both of them over the other.\u0026nbsp; Niko's name hadn't come up once.\u0026nbsp; Not even his nickname.\u0026nbsp; The antique china cabinet had caused more debate than Niko.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Roger absentmindedly rubbed his brother's shoulder.\u0026nbsp; At least, that was how Niko felt to him: a brother.\u0026nbsp; He was really opening up around Roger, and he was actually a decent kid.\u0026nbsp; He also made Roger feel a lot less lonely around home.\u0026nbsp; If things kept up like this, though, Niko might end up somewhere else.\u0026nbsp; Maybe the next home would be better, but the last few hadn't, it seemed, and Roger really cared about the dog.\n\nNiko whimpered again, clinging to his blanket.\u0026nbsp; Roger sighed and laid down behind Niko, sliding under the covers.\u0026nbsp; He wrapped his arms around the pup and closed his eyes.\u0026nbsp; There was no telling what would happen tomorrow, but he could at least comfort Niko tonight.\n\n  \n  \n\n"}