Work Text:
Petey and his mom, Grace, were driving back to his house from his school. As they were driving to the house, Petey looked out the windows of their small, rundown car. He watched everything speed by and then slow down to a stop as they pulled into the driveway. His mom helped him gather up what little he had and climb out of the car. They walked to the door and entered the house. He called it a house because it was never a home. As soon as she got inside, Grace got started working on dinner. She knew what her husband's reaction would be if he didn't eat in time. "Hurry up with the food, you stupid woman!" he called from the next room. She sighed, unable to get out of the situation she had trapped herself in.
They ate in silence at the dinner table. Petey wanted to scream, to yell, to do anything to hurt the monster that was his father. But he stayed silent, not wanting to get another beating while his mom couldn't do anything to help him. After dinner, he sat on the living room floor, playing with his blocks. Unfortunately for Petey, his dad just so happened to accidentally step on one of his toys. "Clean this mess up now you dumb kid!" he cried, anger and malice oozing out of every word. "Shut up, you old meanie!" he blurted. Oh no. Grace was running over to try to help him, but his dad was already getting the loose brick from the chimney.
"This'll teach you not to talk back, boy!" he said, stretching out the poor kid's tail. "No! Don't hurt him!" his mom cried desperately. His father punched her in the stomach, not even looking as she fell to the floor. With that, he slammed the brick down on the end of Petey's tail.
Petey shot up in his bed, tears streaming down his face. He clutched his chest, desperately trying to regulate his breathing and calm himself down. He clearly wasn't quiet enough though, because he accidentally woke up Dogman. The supa cop took one look at Petey, who looked like he had just seen his mom die again, and immediately pulled him into a hug. The former villain hugged back, clinging on to Dogman like a lifeline. Dogman rubbed his back in reassurance, silently communicating that he was here for him. Once Petey had finally stopped crying, he pulled away from the hug. Dogman held his hands as Petey got his breathing under control.
"Are you okay?" Dogman signed with his hands. "Y-Yeah, I think so. . . " Petey replied quietly. "I love you," he signed, looking up at Petey with not a trace of anger, malice, or hatred in his eyes. "I love you too," the cat whispered, grateful that he was so lucky to have the most caring person in the world as his partner. Dogman gently tickled Petey's ribs. "Whahahat are yohou doihihing?" he asked tiredly. Dogman stopped after a few more seconds. "I wanted to see your pretty smile again," he signed. Petey blushed slightly, appreciating the care his husband had for him.
They both fell asleep soon after, listening to the gentle rustle of the leaves in the wind as the world slept.