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Petey has always found comfort in music. When he was little, his mom would play her ukulele for him, and sing him lullabies when he couldn’t sleep. He still had her ukulele, and having learned to play years ago, it was muscle memory at this point.
Since moving in with Dog Man, Petey soon discovered the canine cop had a similar affinity to music, and he had been learning piano, as he could now play it with his human hands. He had mentioned to Petey once that Knight used to play, and that he felt connected to his memory when he played, which Petey understood entirely. He felt the same when he played his mom’s ukulele. Despite how stupid and sappy it sounded, it made her memory seem closer, and brought warmth and comfort.
Some days, when one or both played their instruments, Lil Petey would happily draw and color nearby, delighted to hear his dads make pretty music. Sometimes they would duet, and other times they’d play individually.
It was a stress reliever for the both of them as well, easing worries and anxieties, and even just quieting a busy mind. On days where Dog Man returns home from work in a mood, or if one of Petey’s inventions wasn’t working according to plan, they would play to blow off steam. There had been several times where Dog Man had caught Petey spiraling from unpleasant thoughts, and helped him out of it by placing the ukulele in his hands, watching expectantly. Petey would begin to play, annoyed at first, but eventually settling into the music once more.
In a way, music brought them peace, and brought their unique little family together.
Which led to the events of one particular night.
………………
Petey and Dog Man were fast asleep in their shared bed(that Petey had insisted upon since moving in) when the door to their bedroom opened quietly, a sliver of light infiltrating the cozy darkness. Petey is soon awakened by a nudge from the side opposite the sleeping canine beside him. Rubbing his eyes blearily, Petey focuses his vision to see…
Lil Petey, his son, pawing him awake.
“Ugh, what’s up kid? You should be asleep….” Petey mumbles, his voice thick with sleep. Lil Petey avoids his gaze, shifting from side to side, which concerns Petey. “Sorry Papa…” The kitten whispers. Heaving a sigh, Petey shifts so he is sitting fully on the side of the bed. “Are you okay? You needed me awake so bad, so there’s gotta be something.” Petey whispers back. “I… had a nightmare…” Lil Petey admits.
Oookay, usually Greg is better at handling these things, but I guess it’s my turn now… Petey thinks to himself. First things first, get the kiddo to bed. Petey stands slowly, carefully replacing the covers to not disturb Dog Man, and offers his hand to his son. “C’mon. Let’s get you back to bed.” Lil Petey nods with a yawn, following his papa obediently.
Petey has had his fair share of nightmares throughout his life, and Lil Petey was his clone, so hypothetically speaking, he should know what to do to help. Somehow. Hopefully. Bringing Lil Petey back to his bedroom, he helps the kitten back into his bed, settling him in. “So, uh, do you need to talk about it…?” Petey asks hesitantly. To Petey’s internal relief, Lil Petey shook his head clutching his blanket in his tiny paws. “Mmno, I don’t remember it very well now… it was just scary and I couldn’t find you or Dad in it… I tried to go back to sleep after, but I couldn’t… so I got you.” He explained. Petey nods. He feels sympathy for his son, almost guilty that dream him wasn’t there for the kitten like Petey now tried very hard to be.
“Well, is there any way I can help you now?” Lil Petey thought for a moment, then just reached out his little arms. “Can you just stay a little bit?” Petey sat beside him on the bed, letting Lil Petey hug his arm. “…Sure kid.”
It was quiet for a moment, the only sounds in the room being a fan, the breathing of the two tabbies, and a cricket outside the house. Petey felt at a loss. He wanted to do something else to help, but he didn’t know what. When he was Lil Petey’s age, his mother was the one who helped him through nightmares. She’d sit with him, wrap her arms around him as a protective barrier against his bad dream, and …sing to him.
Hmm.
It had been years since Petey had ever sung. He hadn’t had a reason to, not when his life was so full of darkness. But now, he had two shining beacons, a tiny one hugging his arm and another asleep in their bedroom. Petey has been allowing the light to trickle back into his life, gradually chasing off the shadows that plagued him. So maybe….
“Kid?” Petey began hesitantly. Lil Petey looked at him curiously. “Can you keep a secret?” The kitten’s eyes lit up at the mention of a secret. He nods eagerly. “You are sworn to silence?” “Yes! Pinky promise.” Lil Petey holds out his paw, pinky up, with an expression of solemn seriousness. Rolling his eyes, Petey humors him, interlocking their pinkies. He knows just how serious Lil Petey took pinky promises. One time he had made a pinky promise to Molly that was discovered nearly 4 months later. Accidentally . It would’ve gone under the radar for even longer if Flippy hadn’t stumbled into it.
Petey returns his focus to the task at hand, and his expectant kitten looking up at him. “So, when I was your age and had a nightmare, sometimes my mom would…. sing to me.” Lil Petey’s eyes widened as he gasped. “Oh!! Papa, can you sing?” Petey sighs. “I was thinking that, yes… Do you want-” “YES! I wanna hear Papa sing!!!” Lil Petey burst out, giggling. Petey hurriedly shushed him. “Quiet! You’ll wake up your dad.” Petey urgently insisted. Lil Petey’s mouth formed a silent ‘oh’ and he covered his mouth with his paws, whispering: “Sorry Papa!” Petey couldn’t stop an endearing smile from showing on his face at his adorable bundle of energy. “It’s okay bud. Now… what to sing…”
Petey thought to himself, trying to decide on something, when he remembered a song that had come on the radio one day in his lab that he had liked. It had reminded him of Lil Petey, so he had listened to it more since then. “Okay, I think I’ve got something… Now, it may be bad, I haven’t sung in…. a while.” Petey explained. “I don’t care. I think it will be—” A yawn interrupts the kitten’s words, and he closes his eyes, leaning against his papa. “- perfect.” Petey smiles fondly, and clearing his throat, begins to sing, for the first time in years.
Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster’s gone, he’s on the run
and your daddy’s here
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful boy
Petey sees his son beam happily, and feels his kitten nuzzle closer into his fur. The sight almost makes Petey cry as he goes on.
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day, in every way
It’s getting and better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful boy
That verse reminded Petey of his own life, how slowly, day by day, with his dear family how his life has changed, how he’s changed. How he could be good, and start to feel the goodness around him. He would forever be grateful for that.
Out on the ocean, sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we’ll both just have to be patient
Petey looked down at the kitten curled up beside him, his breathing slower and a quiet purr emanating from him. It was true, he couldn’t wait to see Lil Petey grown. He has so much light, so much goodness. He would grow up to be so much better than Petey ever was, and he was already so proud. He could only hope Lil Petey wouldn’t inherit his teenage temper. The thought made Petey chuckle.
‘Cause it’s a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it’s a long way to go
But in the meantime
Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you’re busy making other plans
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful boy
Lil Petey was fast asleep now, his face peaceful and happy. Petey takes a steadying breath, and finishes the last few lines of the song, quieter, tenderly.
Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day, in every way
It’s getting and better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling,
Darling boy
Petey carefully extricates his arm from the little one’s grip, taking care not to wake him from his peaceful slumber. He takes a quick moment to wipe away the tears that had trickled down his cheeks without his consent, and once he had, Petey leaned down, placing a soft kiss on Lil Petey’s forehead. “Night kiddo. Sleep well.” He pauses, then before getting up, adds: “…I love you.”
He stands, heading to the door, glancing one last time back at his kid with a sweet smile before leaving, carefully shutting the door as quietly as he could. What (or rather, who ) Petey sees standing directly in front of him in the hallway catches him off guard, nearly defeating his valiant attempts to stay quiet. “WHA- Greg?! What are you doing up?? I thought you were asleep!” Petey fiercely whispers, seeing his ex-adversary before him. Then he notices something that shifts his initial surprise into concern. “Wait, you’re crying, are you okay? What happened?” Petey raises his hand to Dog Man’s cheek, wiping away the tears that dampened his golden brown fur. The hybrid puts his hand over Petey’s on his face for a moment before lowering it and stepping back to sign. ‘I’m okay. That was beautiful.’
What? What did he mean by tha-
Oh.
Shit.
Petey’s face paled. “Wait, how much did you hear…?” Dog Man shifted guiltily. ‘…Since the pinky promise…’ He answered. “Since the-!? I can’t— …Ugh, I’m tired of whispering, …c’mon.” Petey impatiently, and even a bit anxiously, grabbed Dog Man’s hand, leading him back to their room. When they got there and shut the door behind them, the two sat on their respective sides of the bed, settling to talk.
“…I tried not to wake you.” Is all Petey can manage to say to begin with, but Dog Man responds quickly to reassure. ‘It’s okay, I just kinda slowly woke up when I felt you weren’t there.’ He admits, like it’s the most normal thing in the world, like the sweetness of the thought didn’t set Petey’s face ablaze and make him die a little. “O-Oh. Okay.” Petey awkwardly replies. There is a moment of quiet, then the canine cop places his hand on Petey’s knee to get his attention before signing. ‘You have a beautiful singing voice.’
Petey sits in shock. He… hadn’t been expecting that. Well, he hadn’t been expecting much at all, but to hear Greg liked his singing voice? That he hadn’t used in years…? Well. It was surprising, to say the least. Then of course, to make it even worse, he continues.
‘And I thought just listening to you talk was nice, but your singing voice is lovely.’ He at least had the decency to have a bit of a blush as he said so. It never ceased to confuse and awe Petey just how easy those affectionate admissions came to Dog Man, whereas Petey felt nauseous at the thought of revealing such genuine emotional parts of himself, laying his emotions bare for others to see. It was terrifying. But to Greg it was as simple as breathing, and Petey admittedly envied him slightly for it.
“…It’s nothing special really. I’m rusty too, haven’t sung in…. Uh, a while…” Petey deflects. ‘Well, it’s special to me. I think you sounded wonderful.’ Greg signs firmly, his hands moving in precise, assured fashion adding that certainty to what he said. Petey smiles slightly. “Thanks then.”
There is a pause, only slightly awkward, until Petey breaks the silence. “Why were you crying before…?” Greg is hesitant as he replies. ‘Well, it may sound silly.’ Petey frowned. “I’m sure it’s not. If it’s important to you, it’s important to me. Now spill it.” Greg chuckles. ‘Fine. I guess I was just thinking how lucky I was. To have you and Lil Petey in my life.’ He avoids eye contact as he said so, and Petey’s breath catches. ‘…I love the two of you a lot.’ Petey watches, his eyes wide and heart pounding in his ears. Unable to speak, he settles for placing his paws on either side of Greg’s face and leaning in and kissing him slowly. Greg melts into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Petey. When they both lean back, Petey laughs softly. “You’re such a sap… you know that?” Greg smirks. ‘Yes. But you love me.’ “Yes… I do.” Greg lifts his hand to caress Petey’s face lightly, watching him fondly, then lowers it to sign.
‘You’re such a good father to him.’
Petey sniffs, feeling tears threatening to break out. “…Stop that, you’re gonna make me cry.” Greg looks at him with a guilty smile. ‘Then you’re going to hate what I was planning to say next.’ Petey laughs, resigned. “Oh screw it, just say it, I’m already in this deep.” ‘…I think Grace would be so proud of you.’
Damn it. That broke Petey, and he leaned into Greg’s embrace, silent tears streaming down his face as the dog-headed cop wrapped his arms around him comfortingly, holding his pieces together as Petey finally let himself fall apart. They stayed in the sweet embrace for a while, until Petey sat back, taking a deep breath. “…Thank you.” Greg wipes away the orange cat’s tears with a sweet smile. Petey goes on. “I know you said you felt lucky, but I really think that I’m the lucky one. If it weren’t for you and Lil Petey… I don’t know where, or who I would be. You two changed me, and I’m really grateful…” Petey admits shyly, still a bit uncomfortable with being so open.
‘No, you chose change for yourself. You are so brave Petey, and we love you.’ Greg assured. “…I love you both. So much…” Greg beamed at him, and then licked his cheek. Petey flinched. “Ack, hey! Stop that!” ‘Salty…’ Greg signs, making a face. Petey can’t help but laugh. “Obviously, you sweet, dumb idiot.” The two lay back in bed, settling beneath the blankets.
Petey turns to face Dog Man, the tiredness settling in. He yawns, and slowly blinks his way. Knowing what it meant, Dog Man smiles fondly. He comes closer, nuzzling Petey’s cheek with his nose, and Petey hums sleepily, dodging the touch. “Mnn… cold…” Greg huffs a laugh at the cat, and pulls him into a hug anyway. Petey curls up beside him, and then does something Greg always found adorable.
Petey begins to purr.
His tail curls about their intertwined legs under the sheets as he cuddles close. Greg was sure if he still had his tail, it would be wagging uncontrollably.
The two held each other in loving comfort, both eventually drifting off to sleep. The peaceful silence settled over their home at last until the sun would rise the next morning, and another beautifully chaotic day would be unleashed.
Because with them?
Who knows what may happen.
⋆ ✮ ~♡~ ✮ ⋆