Don't Even Ask

[Cash Hunter]

                        

| Tagged: Ezra Cooper |

Crap.

Of all the ways to spend an evening, searching for a missing tortoise was not on the top of Cash Hunter's list that day. However, despite what he wanted or rather not wanted, the boy was on the look out for a lost tortoise.

Shit.

He was at the park with the lady's many other pets. A cat, a dog and two tortoises. Well now, just one. He turned his back for just a moment to chat up a girl and the little devil managed to slip pass him.

Unbelievable.

At the park there were other pets with their owners. And maybe strays. Cash just hoped none of them had eaten the little creature. As he searched, with the other tortoise in his hand, he cursed himself for putting him in this situation. With no much luck, he turned to the closest person he could catch. "Hey, man, have you seen a tortoise around here?"

[Ezra Cooper]

With Alex still recuperating at home, Ezra was hesitant to leave the house but his stored up energy needed the release and it wasn't being helped by being cooped up at the house. So after making sure that Alex had everything she needed, he went out in his running gear and ran.

His run had him ending up at the park where so many people were out with their pets. He recognised a few of the pet owners and ended up playing with their dog for a few hours and still he had so much energy left.

He decided to continue with his run when he was stopped by someone who was asking about a tortoise. "What? A tortoise?" Ezra laughed before he saw the one in the guy's hand. "Uh...you're holding one."

[Cash Hunter]

                        

Laughter. The other boy had laughed when Cash had asked about the missing tortoise. Yeah, he could see how that was funny. Especially coming from someone like him. Never a second in his life did he ever think he would ask what he just did.

As the boy pointed out, Cash faltered for a minute digesting the information. "What? Oh!" He laughed as he stared at the little creature in hand. "No, I meant another one. Another tortoise. Possibly even this little fella's twin," said the nineteen year as he gestured to the tortoise.

Just then, he realized the absence of the other pets. "Hey have you seen a dog and a cat around? Without an owner..." He remembered to be specific this time as he glanced around looking for it.

[Ezra Cooper]

In all honesty, Ezra didn't mean to laugh. But who would even bring a cold-blooded reptile out in the Montana weather in January? And such a small one at that? Well, they were notorious for being slow but it was still small. Hardly detectable once on the ground.

And then the other man brought to Ezra's attention other pets he apparently lost.

"Oh...uh..." Ezra looked around the sea of pets scattered in the park. "Uh...colour? Breed?"

[Cash Hunter]

                        

Searching, searching, searching. That was what his blue eyes were doing as they scanned the park looking for the dog and the cat. Damn it. All he did was turn his back to chat up a pretty lady and now these pets were making him pay for ignoring them. Curses.

For some reason, the other boy was helping him look for the pets Cash lost misplaced. He gave him a look of gratitute before a blank expression came up as he tried to remember the animals. "Err... The dog's a great dane. Greyish in color and the cat is...black. Just black. I swear I'm not a bad pet owner. Just a bad pet sitter." In his defense, this was his first time with the pets so still not a good excuse but whatever.

[Ezra Cooper]

The hesitance and doubt in the other young man's face caused Ezra to pause and look at him with a pitied look. It was one thing to lose one pet, but three?

"They weren't leashed?" Ezra asked as he looked around for the animals. Great Danes weren't hard to miss so hopefully they would catch that one soon.

"I'm Ezra by the way. Might as well get to know one another." He grinned, reaching a hand out.

[Cash Hunter]

                        

Leashed? The nineteen year old boy's eyes widened as he remembered. "Cash Hunter," he introduced as he shook the other boy's hand.

When he left the Green's residence, the cat and dog were leashed but when they reached the park, he let them run free because he was informed that they were not the kind to run off and the fact that he was instructed to do so. On the other hand, the tortoises were in a small box.

Obviously, he should not have listened to the old lady who might not be all that right in the head. Cash chuckled as he told Ezra about it.

"You got any pets of your own?" He asked whilst still scanning the park for any of the pets. Come out, come out wherever you are...

[Ezra Cooper]

What an interesting name. Cash Hunter. Once the greetings were finished, Ezra continued looking around for the animals Cash lost. The question had Ezra shaking his head before shrugging. "We want to have one. Well, I do. My girlfriend and I love animals but we can't yet."

Money was tight, he knew that. Even with Anna and Abby's help, it was still going to put a significant dent on their finances if they added a pet into the mix. But he did want one. If only to keep Alex company on the days he had to work extra shifts. Even though Alex's sisters were in town, he did want Alex to occupy herself in other ways.

"How long have you been pet sitting?"

[Cash Hunter]

                        

He nodded his head in understanding. Ezra did not have to voice his concerns out loud for the boy to understand why. He got the gist of it; taking care of a pet was hard work and time as well as money consuming. The nineteen year old did not have any of his own but after befriending a few pet owners, he knew a thing or two about it.

"Eer not that long really," he admitted, laughing and shaking his head. "I mean I'm not really a pet sitter. I just met this old lady this morning buying groceries and she asked for a favor to walk her pets since she was going out of town for the day. And the pay is good," he said, shrugging.

"Although I can't imagine how grateful she'd be knowing I lost--" Just that moment he saw the Great Dane chasing after something. "Hey!" With his speed, he dashed over to the mutt and tackled it to the ground, dropping the tortoise in hand along the way. Oh boy.

[Ezra Cooper]

Ezra chuckled as Cash explained his situation. He was just being a good guy. Good for him. God knows they needed more of him.

As soon as Cash ran off to grab the dog, Ezra tracked his movement and saw him drop the tortoise. Well. Good guy or not, this kid needed a little bit of attention to detail. Or just plain attention.

The heat manipulator chased after the wrestling duo and crouched down a little to pick the tortoise up only to find the jarringly obvious black cat skulking behind a tree. He slowly made his way over to the tree and scooped the cat up in his free arm.

"Yeah...your tortoise friend isn't going to be found. Not like this." Ezra chuckled.

[Cash Hunter]

                        

It was unusual for the young man to be unaware of his surroundings or at least what was right in his hand but that particular day, the animals had a way of bringing out this unexpected side of him.

Knowing he may have lost one of the pets was a little worrying so finding one brought a huge wave of relief. But little did Cash know, as he chased after the dog, he may have lost another. Thank god Ezra was there.

In the other boy's hand, he had the cat and the tortoise. The nineteen year old gave him a look that conveyed gratitude as he tried to get a hold of the Great Dane. Following the dog's gaze, he eyed a squirrel up ahead. "What is it with you and them?" Cash muttered. Finally he got hold of its leash and held it firmly.

"I'm seriously thinking about just getting another tortoise to make up for it," he said jokingly. But then it did not sound like such a ridiculous idea. "Hey do you know where's the nearest pet store or something?"

[Ezra Cooper]

When Cash spoke to the dog, Ezra couldn't help but laugh. He didn't know what was up with that but he did find it adorable. He grinned when Cash finally leashed the Great Dane up before laughing out loud when the man spoke of his idea.

"Come on, we've got time to find the other one. Where were you last when you lost it?"

[Cash Hunter]

                        

The nineteen year old scratched the back of his head as he pointed to a bench not far from where he had stopped Ezra earlier. "I was sitting there and I placed the box on the ground with the tortoises in it. But then this chick came up and...yeah. Next thing I know, only one was in it."

So he was distracted for a moment. But Cash seriously thought how unlikely it was for him to lose a tortoise. Honestly, when did that kind of thing even happen to someone. Using his super speed, the boy ran to get the box from the bench before returning back beside the Great Dane -- all in a blink of an eye. "See, nada. Dolce is not here. Or Gabana, I can't tell the difference. Anyway, out of curiosity, how much would adopting a tortoise even cost?"

Ah, Cash was still not completely dismissing the idea.

[Ezra Cooper]

Cash's retelling of how he lost the tortoise had Ezra shaking his head in amusement. Alex would get a kick out of this when he got home. When the young man disappeared, Ezra blinked in surprise. He almost fell backwards when Cash came back. "It's a tortoise, it couldn't have gone far. We'll just have to go back to where you put the box down and start from there."

Ezra shook his head and patted Cash on the shoulder.

"Seriously, buddy. Old ladies know their pets. Take it from me. Let's just find it, aite?"

[Cash Hunter]

                        

The younger man rolled his eyes playfully because he knew Ezra was right. Although he thought the old lady might not be all that right in the head, he sure should not be underestimating the bond between the pet and its owner. Poppy and Coca Cola were a good example.

He tugged harder on the leash when he felt the dog tugging on it, no doubt to chase that darn squirrel. "Hey, work with me doggie." Eyeing the cat and the tortoise with the other boy, Cash was thankful they were not running off.

Then it looked like his luck was turning up. A few distance away, he saw the tortoise. In the hands of a little girl, caressing it. This cannot be easy. He pointed there. "Found it. Don't think there's other tortoises around here. How are you with taking candy from a baby?"