Summary: Katz will soon find out that Courage isn't quite the ordinary dog everyone assumed he was.
When Courage began purring in his sleep, Katz assumed it was a side effect of the body switch. If the dog's ears seemed a little sharper in the weeks following the incident, or his body a little leaner, the feline overlooked it. When the mutt's dark eyes began to linger on the cat when he walked around shirtless, Katz didn't bring it up.
Then he left on a week-long business trip, expecting to return, without incident, to the family he refused to verbally acknowledge as such. Only he ran into some trouble that left him with a limp (you should see the other guy), so he was quite pleased to finally be done with the whole mess. The little farm had never looked so good.
There was another cat in his chair. Katz stumbled closer, already planning a proper punishment for a certain pup if he'd let the pink-furred feline in. He let out a low hiss as his injured foot caught on the little carpet in front of the chairs.
Long, almost fox-like, ears perked up as the intruder woke from his nap. Golden eyes locked onto Kat's lithe form, taking in his upset gaze before focusing on his injured leg.
"You're hurt."
Katz arched an eyebrow as Courage's voice came from the pink feline's delicate throat. The other cat immediately leapt off the armchair, landing on all fours. The businessman resisted the urge to stroke the younger feline's head as he sat down, relieved to be taking the pressure off his aching leg.
"What did you get into this time, dear boy? Did you anger a witch, perhaps?" Katz narrowed his golden eyes on the sheepish-looking neko at his feet, before listening hard for the sound of his practically-adopted child.
"Kitty and Bunny are watching Precious tonight," Courage informed him. Crimson colored his cheeks as his head dropped down in an attempt to avoid the villain's intense gaze. "It's not a spell. I just… thought it would be nice to change form for a bit. I can change back if it makes you feel uncomfortable."
The businessman drummed his fingers on the arms of the chair, curious as to the mutt's sudden need for words. Normally he spoke only when necessary, preferring to behave more like a pet than a person. "It is different, but I am not offended. Tell me, how did you happen to change from a dog into a cat? You've stretched your body before, but never for so long."
"I'm not really sure how I can do it; I just know that I can." Courage reached out delicate pink paws, resting them on the crimson fur of the other cat's leg. Gently, he began to massage, eager to help Katz relax.
"I assume you never told Them," Katz stated. Shadows drew over Courage's eyes, yet his hands never stopped. The elder feline waited patiently for the pink creature to answer.
"They did find out, once. It was when I was a recently-adopted pup." A wistful smile crossed the former-dog's face at the memory. "Murielle always wanted children, but she and Eustace were never able to have any. I wanted to ease her pain, so I tried to become the son she always wanted."
Katz saw a tremor run down the younger feline's back, and finally gave in to the urge to lean forward. Placing a single paw on the neko's pink-furred head, Katz silently urged him to continue.
Courage leaned into the hand, but kept his eyes focused on his fingers as they continued to massage the slender leg in front of him. "Murielle caught me mid-morph, and nearly had a heart-attack. Eustace thought I was a monster, and chased me out of the house. They didn't realize the half-formed boy was me, because when I got up the nerve to return, in dog-form, Murielle accepted me with open arms. Her hair was completely white, and it seemed like she'd aged at least 10 years. So I knew better than to try to change form again.
"So you're not a dog, then?"
"I've been a dog as long as I can remember. I've just been able to change forms, as well." The neko's gaze trailed up the elder cat's body until their golden eyes met. "Do you like this form? I made it with you in mind."
"It isn't unpleasant to look upon," Katz admitted, pulling his hand away from the other feline's head. "Now stop playing games. What were you really planning with this?"
Courage had the decency to look guilty, even as he pulled away and sat back on the carpet. "When we switched bodies, the Cajun taught me how to play the cuddling game, but I'd rather play it with you."
"Cuddling game?" Katz was already imagining the kind of strange things the fox would have attempted to do while the dog was inhabiting his body. Cuddling didn't seem… too bad. "By all means, then. Show me what that backwoods Cajun taught you, dear boy."
Courage's bushy pink tail wagged behind him as he surged forward, only to pull back at the last moment. "I don't want to hurt your leg. Can you sit on the carpet?"
"Very well," Katz sighed, groaning a little as he folded his legs beneath him to sit across from the former-dog. Leaning back against the armchair, the villain didn't miss the way the pink feline bit his bottom lip, looking him over as if to figure out the best way to proceed.
"The Cajun sat behind me when we cuddled, but I suppose we could cuddle this way, too. I hope I don't mess this up," Courage mumbled under his breath, sliding forward until he was sitting on his knees before the taller feline.
"Do get on with it, dear boy. I would like to go to bed soon," Katz sighed, tapping his fingers on the carpet beneath him.
"Right, sorry." It occurred to Courage that the Cajun Fox hadn't really kissed him while they cuddled. Not on the lips, anyway. He'd certainly pressed kisses to his neck and shoulders, and even nibbled a bit toward the end, but he hadn't kissed Courage the way Katz had accidentally kissed him that same night. The former-dog very much wanted to kiss Katz again, and now was as good a time as any.
The villain was quickly losing his patience. Getting to his feet, he turned to make his way upstairs for a good night's rest. The pup could sleep on the floor if he was going to make him wait.
"Nooo!"
Pink arms wrapped around Katz's waist, pulling him against the slim body pressed to his back. Losing his balance, the businessman found himself falling into the other cat's lap as they landed in the armchair.
"Courage!"
The pink neko whimpered, but quickly silenced the villain by pressing their mouths together. Unable to think clearly, Katz allowed himself to simply lean back, his legs thrown over the arm of the chair as Courage held him close. When the former-pup finally pulled away, the villain thought he heard him murmur, "This is better for cuddling."
The shape-shifter's hands and tail were suddenly stroking him everywhere. His arms, his back, his sensitive neck. In fact, Courage seemed content nuzzle the villain's slender throat as his pink paws slid down the feline's crimson-furred chest. When they dipped lower, Katz stopped thinking altogether.
Purrrrrrrrr!
"Did you like it?"
"Yes," Katz admitted, eyeing the pink paw stroking his thigh. Normally he hated to make such a mess just to satisfy his more primal urges, but it was difficult to be upset with the pink feline rubbing his cheek against his arm. The former-dog was purring with contentment, and Katz wanted nothing more than to just cuddle up with him on the chair and forget about the mess until morning.
With a sigh, Katz slid off the other feline's lap, ignoring the way Courage's purr turned into a more canine-like whine. "Come now. Let's get cleaned up and go to bed… Courage."
Black ears perked up even as a pink paw reached out to take the villain's own. When Katz didn't pull away, Courage took it as permission to get to his feet and press even closer to the taller cat's side.
Katz looked away quickly, hoping the former-pup wouldn't see the smile making itself known on his lips. He really was going soft living in this house.
Eyeing the little dog curled next to him under the blankets, the villain couldn't help but wonder how different life would be now that Courage felt comfortable sharing his most treasured secret. Having a lover who could shape-shift into different forms would be quite the fantasy for most people, but Katz was more curious about the creature's true nature. Was he a mutant of some sort? Did he have alien blood in him?
He knew enough of the boy's past to know that he'd been abandoned as a pup, adopted by the Bagges soon after, and proceeded to live as their pet until their passing. To think he was harboring such a secret, and not one of the other villains knew about it. Curious. Katz wondered if he could truly get used to having a mate who shifted forms so easily.
That thought in his head, he closed his eyes and pulled the pup closer.
Having just found out Courage's secret the night before, Katz didn't feel he was quite ready to wake to the sight of a dog-sized pink arachnid sleeping on his chest. Still, he did make quite a pretty spider.
Bonus: Love Hate Relationship
The Cajun Fox was just putting the finishing touches on his special 'hiker' gumbo, when his phone rang. Odd. He wasn't expecting any calls. Pressing the phone to his ear, he kept stirring the pot with his free hand.
"You do realize I have to kill you now."
The fox smirked at the sound of the feline's smooth voice. "Whatever do you mean, pussycat? We haven't enjoyed each other's company for well over a month.
"Yes, I am now well aware of the fact that you enjoyed my company during that unfortunate body-switch incident."
The vulpine grin was quickly spreading over the Cajun's face as he answered, "The boy finally told you, did he?" The long pause from the feline's end of the line spoke volumes. "Or…" the fox mused aloud, "did he show you?"
There was an audible click as the other villain hung up the phone without another word, leaving the Cajun Fox to his thoughts. Of course, the only thought running through his mind now was that he'd have to drop by sometime – preferably with one of those newfangled video cameras he kept hearing about.
