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Chapter Text

The late afternoon breeze carried with it a soft freshness and peace. Petey took a deep breath, soaking in the calmness of the moment. He was relaxing after a late picnic with his son and Greg. Lil’ Petey played with a ball further down the hill while he sat nearby with the canine. Greg was catching his breath after chasing the hyperactive kitten around.

The last rays of the sun gently kissed the fur of the usually grumpy cat, making his orange coat stand out against the grass that swayed softly in the wind as if dancing to a secret tune. It was rare to see him so carefree. His usual scowl had vanished, replaced by a warm gaze fixed on his son. This was a secret sight reserved for a lucky few. Its rarity gave Petey a certain mystery and value, a value Greg was very aware of. That awareness bubbled in his stomach and made his heart race. A warm flush spread across the dog’s face, and he quickly looked away, embarrassed at the thought of being caught and scolded by the prickly cat. He focused on the grass instead, which suddenly seemed very interesting.

Among the pasture, he spotted a small white detail that pulled at old memories—a humble little white flower. Greg picked it up, twirling it between his fingers for a moment before mustering the courage to approach Petey and gently tuck the flower behind his ear.

Petey blinked, startled, and turned to look at him with a puzzled expression. His warm fur did a decent job of hiding the heat rising to his cheeks. The flower suited him surprisingly well, softening his features and matching his nervous smile.

“What’s gotten into you now?” Petey asked, pointing at the flower.

“I just thought it’d look nice on you,” Greg said, surprised that Petey hadn’t yanked it off immediately.

Petey smirked smugly. “Everything looks good on me. I’m fabulous,” he replied with a wink.

Greg rolled his eyes, a smile still lingering on his lips. The last thing Petey needed was someone feeding his already massive ego. Still, it was one of those little habits of the cat that Greg had somehow grown fond of. Petey took the flower and examined it closely, his expression shifting into something unreadably serious.

“You know, daisies are my favorite flower,” Greg said, snapping the cat out of his thoughts.

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” Petey asked.

“There was this huge daisy field where I was born. So wide it felt endless. I used to run through it with the other pups before we got adopted,” Greg explained. He could still remember the smell of the flowers and the sensation of dashing through them.

“Always thought you were a city dog,” Petey replied.

“I was born on a farm on Ohkay outskirts. My mom was a sheepdog, and my dad guarded the place from foxes. Knight used to visit his grandparents there during the summer. That’s how we met.” Even after all these years, Greg remembered the exact moment Knight chose him from the litter. With no hesitation, Knight picked him up and declared him his best friend, as if it had always been meant to be.

“Oh...” The somber thoughts that had briefly drifted away from Petey now came flooding back, heavier than before.

“What about you? Got a favorite flower?” Greg asked.

“Nope,” Petey replied quickly. “I hate flowers. They’re just nature’s nonsense.” As he spoke, he shredded the daisy between his fingers. “They only bring bad luck.”

Greg laughed nervously. “Don’t be like that. I thought you were over your whole villain thing. You know destroying public park property is technically a crime, right?”

“Ha ha ha,” Petey snorted sarcastically. “Did you know being stupid is punishable by me? You were the one who picked the flower in the first place!”

There he was again, classic grumpy Petey.

Greg stuck out his tongue. Honestly, dealing with an angry Petey was easier than dealing with a sad one. “It doesn’t count. I’m a cop.”

“How would that not count, you mutt?” Petey grabbed him by the collar and gave him a good shake. Greg just kept grinning like an idiot, knowing the cat wouldn’t actually hurt him.

Being part of this silly routine was one of those sweet little joys Greg had gained with his new family. Sometimes, he wondered what his past self would think, seeing him go from hard-nosed officer to part of a dynamic Saturday morning cartoon duo.

“Daaaaaad!” Lil’ Petey shouted from afar, running toward them. “Don’t fight!”

“I already told you this is how we play! Now grab your ball it’s getting late, and you need to sleep!” Petey hollered back.

꧁꧂

Later that night, after a fun-filled day, everyone at Dogman’s house was getting ready for a well-earned rest. Petey had bathed and dressed his son for bed, though the little one still resisted.

“I don’t...” Lil’ Petey yawned “I’m not sleepy!...” he complained after a long family weekend.

“Yes, you are,” Petey said, holding him in his arms. The kitten could barely keep his eyes open.

“No no nonono...” Lil’ Petey kept muttering, even with his eyes shut.

“Yes yes yes yes yes, my little one,” Petey replied gently, hugging him tightly and nuzzling their cheeks together like cats often do. A soft, tiny purr came from the kitten as his father carried him to bed.

Greg couldn’t help but smile and sigh at the tender moment. Not long ago, he would’ve never imagined Petey acting this way. But the more time they spent together, the more often these little scenes unfolded. Once again, Greg felt that same stir of emotion in his stomach. He wondered what it’d feel like to be in Lil’ Petey’s place, to feel Petey’s warm fur pressed gently against his skin.

“What’s gotten into you?” Petey asked, catching the dog touching his cheek and staring off into space. “Come on, let’s head to the room. I’ve still got some work to do before bed.”

“Me too,” Greg signed, following him, still a little flustered by his thoughts.

Both of them got ready for bed. They just sat beside each other on the bed to read. Greg was going through some official reports Chief had asked him to review, while Petey was absorbed in some articles for his next big invention.

But it was getting late, and the tiny print in Chief’s notes wasn’t helping. With a sigh, Greg opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out a little aid.

“Pfft!” Petey snorted, trying to hide behind his book.

“Woof!” Greg barked in mock offense, turning to face him wearing enormous reading glasses that looked like something straight out of Petey’s grandma's getup.

“Nothin’, nothin’,” Petey said, hiding his mischievous grin behind the pages.

Greg tried to keep reading, but the peace didn’t last.

“Psssff,” Petey giggled again.

Greg let out a small, wounded whine, taking off his glasses and covering his face.

“Oh, c’mon. It’s not that bad,” Petey tried to comfort him, though his teasing grin never left. “It’s not like you gotta wear ’em all day.”

“I let you sleep in the bed with me, and this is how you thank me?” Greg signed dramatically, like a tragic theater actor.

Petey rolled his eyes. “You know I don’t mind the couch.”

“Sure doesn’t seem like it when you complain over breakfast,” Greg replied instantly.

Petey gasped in mock offense. “Are you calling me a liar?!”

Greg just gave him a loo, the kind you'd shoot a camera if you were in a sitcom.

Petey got the message. “Well, yeah... but no. Ugh. I’m going to bed. You suck!” he huffed, flopping under the covers with a dramatic flair.

“I like you too, Petey,” Greg signed with a smirk, knowing the cat couldn’t see him under the blanket.

“Shut up!” Petey muttered, feeling the dog still moving around to make more signs.

Chapter Text

Greg knew Petey wasn’t a morning cat, but that had never stopped him from trying to wake him up as soon as the first rays of sunlight slipped through the window. It was a beautiful day, and it was best to make the most of it early. He had learned the hard way, though, that waking Petey up with a slobbery lick on the face was not a good idea. Greg gently cupped his face, feeling the softness of his fur between his hands, his mind wandering back to the night before.  

Petey, who had always been a light sleeper, had woken up when the canine left the bed a while ago. But instead of getting up, he had waited under the sheets for him to leave the room so he could doze a little longer. When he felt the warmth of Greg’s hands on his cheeks, a new warmth spread through his body. 

Although living together had brought a countless list of problems at first, and arguments still popped up now and then, they had slowly gotten used to each other’s presence. That closeness had become something Petey never would’ve predicted. And unfortunately, it seemed today would be the day those feelings would reach their peak in the soft form of a particular sound. 

Petey knew it was all over the moment that sound returned to his life. It had been so long since he’d heard it that he had forgotten how it felt to let it out. It started deep in his throat, vibrating through his entire body until it rumbled in his chest as Greg kept petting him, delighted to hear the cat purring for the first time. 

Petey even shut his eyes tighter, praying for the bed to open and swallow him whole. But his body betrayed him, nudging his head into Greg’s hand just like he had done the day before with Lil’Petey. The dog was overjoyed. His heart skipped a beat, and in an instant, reason left his mind, letting his heart take the reins once again. Greg leaned in to lick Petey’s face. 

Petey felt the dog’s breath getting dangerously close. “Don’t you dare,” he snapped. 

“Roo?” Greg let out, surprised that the cat was awake, feeling his face heat up. 

“Not a single word about this,” Petey was blushing too, though it was easier to lose it in the orange of his fur. He frowned and covered his face with the  blanket.“I still don’t like you.” He said underneath.  

Greg smiled at the cat’s usual grumpiness and signed * I like you too, Petey *  

꧁꧂ 

It had been days, and yet Petey kept thinking about that moment. His cheeks flushed every time he remembered the warmth of Greg’s hand on his face. Against his will, his heart would race, and his thoughts would spiral into fantasies that only embarrassed him. He clicked his tongue in frustration. Moments like these made him wish he could manually control his heart muscles and force them to calm down. 

“Tsk,” he grumbled, walking alongside Lil’Petey on their way to buy groceries. 

“Knock knock!” chirped Lil’Petey, snapping him out of it. 

“No,” Petey shut him down before he could begin. 

“That’s not how you play, Papa! You have to say ‘Who’s there?’” Lil’Petey corrected. 

Petey sighed, already annoyed. “I know that. I’m just not gonna answer to hear that something pooped on me or something about diarrhea.” 

“But Daaad!” Lil’Petey pleaded. “I promise it’s not that!” Though both of them knew that wasn’t exactly true. 

Petey wasn’t surprised. “That’s what you said last time.” 

“Nuh-uh!” Lil’Petey protested. 

“Uh-huh!” Petey snapped back, starting a back-and-forth. 

“Nuh-uh!” 

“Uh-huh!” 

“Nuh-uh!” 

“Uh-huh!” 

But then something in the crowd caught Lil’Petey’s attention. “Look! There’s Dogman! And he’s with a lady friend! ” 

That last part made Petey turn to look. Greg had his back to them and was chatting with a blonde woman. But something about the way they talked didn’t sit right with him. Greg was about to turn in their direction when, on impulse, Petey grabbed Lil’Petey and ducked behind the corner of a building. 

Once Greg turned back to the woman, Petey peeked out, still holding Lil’Petey and covering his mouth — only for the kitten to lick his palm and distract him. 

“Ewww! Gross, Lil’Petey!” Petey hissed. 

“Why are you whispering?” Lil’Petey asked, way louder than Petey would’ve liked. 

“Shhh!” Petey silenced him, scrambling for an excuse. “Umm… We’re playing! Yeah! It’s a spy game with Dogman. He can’t catch us!” 

Lil’Petey’s eyes sparkled. “We haven’t played since we had the lab house!” he remembered, back when he’d spy on Dogman while Petey worked on inventions. 

“Yeah…” Petey cringed at the memory of that phase of his life. “Well, the point is… he can’t see us.” 

Lil’Petey, thrilled, jumped from Petey’s arms and dashed toward their target, hiding behind a trash can. 

“Lil’Petey! No!” Petey whispered harshly, crawling after him. Thanks to their former villain lives, they were pretty good at being sneaky. 

Now closer, Petey noticed Greg wasn’t acting like his usual self. He seemed nervous, weird for the usually upbeat dog. He was listening to the blonde intently, fidgeting with his hands and a pen he used for communicating with people who didn’t know sign language. Petey watched as he tried writing something, crossed it out multiple times, and then finally showed her the notebook. 

“She’s really pretty,” Lil’Petey commented, staring at the woman. She was dressed up: big golden hoop earrings, trendy sunglasses, a lemon-printed summer dress, and shiny red lipstick that made her smile pop. 

“I guess,” Petey muttered, annoyed. That comment only made the uneasiness in his chest worse. 

Then the woman laughed after reading what Greg wrote. It was a carefree, bubbly laugh. Petey could tell it was contagious, and apparently, Greg thought so too because he let out cheerful barks and smiled brighter than usual. 

After that, they said goodbye. Greg opened his arms for a hug, but the woman quickly stepped away. That made the officer visibly sad before he resumed his patrol. 

A painful tightness squeezed Petey’s chest. “Alright… let’s go,” he said. He had seen enough. 

“But we just started the game!” Lil’Petey protested. 

“Let’s play something else at home,” Petey replied, a little down, lifting his son and heading home. 

Lil’Petey noticed and stopped struggling. “Okay, Papa,” he said with a small smile, hugging him tightly. 

꧁꧂ 

Later, after Dogman came home from work, the three of them had dinner together. Petey had made a homemade lasagna—even the cheese and pasta were made from scratch. He had a habit of tackling complicated tasks when something was bothering him. His old lab, packed with over-the-top experiments, could testify to that. 

“So what did you do today, Dogman?!” Lil’Petey asked after detailing everything he and his Papa had done. 

Petey, still lost in thought about the blonde woman and who she was to Greg, had barely heard a word. 

*Now that you mention it, something interesting happened today* Dogman began signing, still with some sauce on his uniform. * I met with someone who used to be very special to me.*  

“Really? Who was it, Dogman?” Lil’Petey asked innocently. 

*An old friend. Her name’s Alice. She’s very sweet, kind, and loving.* After so long, Dogman had reunited with the former girlfriend of his late owner. * But I think… she’s a little scared of me.* His smile faded into a small, sad whimper. 

Lil’Petey gasped dramatically. “Why would anyone be scared of you ?!” 

Dogman didn’t have the heart to explain how seeing his dog's head on her ex-boyfriend’s body might be… disturbing. So he kept it simple. * It’s complicated.* That only made Petey more uneasy. * But I’ll do whatever it takes to make her feel comfortable and close again. She means a lot to me, and I’d love to be around her more. We’re going out for lunch on Saturday!*  

Petey had tried to keep his frustration to himself, but his growing anger started to show. “But I thought we were going to the comic convention with Lil’Petey!” 

Greg flinched a little and replied, * I’m really sorry. But this is important to me. Alice is an extraordinary person, and we have so much to talk about ... things you wouldn’t understand.* He added, * We can go to the convention Sunday instead. I’ll even buy you something there as an apology.*  

That cheered up Lil’Petey. “I want a new Supercat comic!” 

But Petey was still fuming. He slammed his hands on the table before excusing himself. Petey had never been good at getting ahold of his own emotions, especially those that were confusing and new to him. Although he was familiar with the hate, he felt towards this new woman a deeper sensation was quickly developing in his chest.  

꧁꧂ 

Later in bed, Dogman and Petey were reading again. But Petey couldn’t focus. He kept biting a pen and mumbling things Dogman couldn’t quite make out, even with his dog ears. 

Petey kept wondering who that girl was, someone important enough to be chosen over Lil’Petey and him. The way Greg had talked about her was vague, and that only made Petey’s mind wander more. What could she offer Greg that they didn’t already? 

He gave him a child, a clean home, home-cooked meals, adventures, weekends together, sunset walks, great friends, deep conversations, married-couple bickering… Petey flushed just thinking about it, but it was true. They basically were a family. Lil’Petey the perfect son, Dogman the hardworking dad, and Petey the mo— Petey shook his head furiously, even more embarrassed. 

Then the truth hit him like cold water: she could give Greg what he never could. A real partner. 

She could be his new love interest. With a fiery red dress and golden hair soft and sensual, no man could resist. Someone beautiful and kind who could understand things Petey never would, just as Greg had mentioned. Alice was probably capable and gentle and had never hurt him, not like Petey had.  

He couldn’t help but let his mind wander into a different situation. This time he would be the one to provoke that dumb smile on the dog, he would flutter his eyes and have Greg just for him. Greg would grab confidently his waist and hold him close to his body, making sure Petey knew he was his as well. Petey bit his lips savoring the moment, he would gently grab the dog’s muzzle and lift his face towards his. Finally, they would... 

But then a chill ran down his spine as he realized how much he was enjoying such imagination.  He hadn’t noticed how badly he had wished that kind of attention to himself. 

 Petey wasn’t dumb, he knew there was just one explanation for his thoughts. His face shifted to fear. 

“Ruff!” Greg barked, snapping Petey out of his spiral. *I’ve been talking to you for five minutes. Are you okay, Petey? *  

“Yeah, it’s nothing,” Petey said weakly, cold sweat on his neck and a forced smile on his lips. 

But Dogman knew that face. * If it’s about Alice, I promise I’ll make it up to you and Lil’Petey. I know I’d promised weeks ago, but this is a chance I can’t pass up.*  

A spark of anger made Petey blurt out, “What’s so special about her, anyway?” before he could stop himself. 

Greg hesitated. He didn’t want to mix Alice and Petey. Alice was barely tolerating Dogman himself, she would probably try to claw his face off. Plus he didn’t want to make Petey feel worse about the Knight incident. * Having her back in my life would bring me peace.*  

‘Peace I could never give him’  Petey thought. 

*If we were together again, I’d finally feel complete* Greg signed, referring to closing the chapter of his past with Knight. 

Petey remembered all he had done to Greg, all the ways he didn’t deserve him. 

*I treasure her deeply. She’s part of my past. I hope one day you can understand that* Greg said, genuinely wishing for the day Alice, Petey, and Lil’Petey could all meet, so they would become one big happy family. 

Something cracked inside Petey at that moment. He could feel his heart squeeze, his breath left his lungs. Greg couldn’t have made it clearer: that new girl was the one of his dreams. And even then, he still wished Petey happiness too. It was such a sweet, classic Dogman thing to say… and it hurt all the more because of it. 

“…Alright… good night,” Petey said quietly, turning away from the dog without another word. 

꧁꧂ 

Chapter Text

The rest of the week went by without much trouble, aside from Petey’s mind developing a new obsession without his permission: imagining silly scenarios with the hybrid he shared custody of his son with. He had lost count of how many times he caught himself staring into the distance, picturing himself and Greg together in some distant future.  

And every single time, he had to manually stop those thoughts and scold himself, reminding his heart that it was never going to happen, not now that Greg had a new partner. Instead, he tried to picture this mysterious woman taking his place as the three of them went on with their lives.  

His heart felt heavy, and not even his usual projects could distract him the same way anymore.  

The week passed until Saturday arrived, and Greg left for his date with Alice. Petey, on the other hand, had had enough of being cooped up in the house, so he decided to take Lil’ Petey to a nearby park. Maybe some fresh air and a change of scenery would be enough to clear his head. But it seemed the universe had other plans.  

“Why are there so many couples here?!” Petey complained as he walked with Lil’ Petey toward the playground.  

“Papa, it’s February!” said Lil’ Petey, excited. “It’s the month of love!”  

“No way…” Petey groaned, realizing his son was absolutely right. “They should all just get a room and stop with the visual pollution!”  

“It doesn’t bother me! I think it’s cute! Everyone looks so happy,” Lil’ Petey said, his little eyes sparkling at all the love and joy around them.  

“Well, I’m not happy!” Petey snapped. Seeing all the couples just stirred up more jealousy inside him. “It’s repulsive! Everyone gets all mushy and weird. It's honestly disgusting!”  

“Molly says only lonely people hate February,” Lil’ Petey said innocently. “But Papa, you have me! And Dogman!”  

“It’s Greg and me,” Petey corrected his grammar. Then he paused and muttered, “And that doesn’t count... It’s different…”  

“Why?” Lil’ Petey asked, still curious.  

Petey hesitated before finally answering with a sigh. “Because what they’re celebrating isn’t just love in general. It’s romantic love.” His face couldn’t hide the sadness.  

“Romantic?” Lil’ Petey tilted his head in confusion.  

Petey sighed even harder, not wanting to salt his own wounds any further. “Yeah, like in those dumb movies you make me watch! Where the couples kiss, get married, and ride into the sunset on a white horse.”  

Lil’ Petey quickly thought up a solution to make his Papa feel better, so he could be as happy as the couples around them. “Then all we need is a horse and to call Dogman! That way you can celebrate February too and not be sad anymore!”  

Even though Petey was suffering inside, he was still too proud to let his son read him so easily. “I’m not sad!”  

“But you look sad! You look like this!” the kitten replied, putting on an exaggerated, tragic expression worthy of any soap opera. That only irritated his father more.  

A laugh sounded behind them, and both turned to see Petey’s former employee. She was dressed casually, standing nonchalantly as she sipped from a large soda.  

“He’s right. You do look pathetic,” the ex-butler commented.  

“What are you doing here?” Petey barked, both angry and worried about how much she might have overheard.  

“Being bored. Until you showed up,” the girl said, taking a long sip before continuing with a smug smile. “You must be down bad if you look worse living with Dogman than you did fighting him.”  

Her mocking smile only made Petey angrier. The last thing he needed was more people prying into his life. “And why would you care?!”  

Her grin only widened. Getting a rise out of her ex-boss had always been the most entertaining part of that underpaid job. “Not much. I came to say hi to the little guy.” She ruffled Lil’ Petey’s fur affectionately. “Hey, Lil’ P! How’s life going?”  

The kitten giggled. “Hi, Miss Butler! All good! Dogman’s taking me to the comic con tomorrow!”  

Though often sarcastic, she genuinely felt happy for the kitten, and even for her ex-boss. “Cool! Let me give you some advice. Don’t take any comic book recs from this grumpy old man. He’s got awful taste!”  

Both turned to Petey, expecting his usual fiery response. But instead, they found him strangely quiet, staring off into the distance. His scowl had melted into something more vulnerable, hurt, and afraid.  

He was watching Dogman and Alice walking together on their date, both smiling as they headed toward their next destination. His heart twisted in his chest. He wondered what they were talking about, and if Greg had ever once thought about how he might feel.  

A tickle rose in his throat, making him cough.  

“Mr. P?” the ex-butler asked, confused, turning to see what Petey had been staring at. In the distance, Dogman and a blonde woman walked away chatting happily.  

“Papa?” Lil’ Petey said, hugging his leg.  

The girl immediately understood Petey’s reaction. “Looks like the dog’s eating better out than at home,” she joked.  

“What did you just say?!” Petey snapped back into his usual self.  

“Heh, you're so easy to read, Mr. P. If you care that much, why don’t you go after him? You never hesitated in getting into Dogman before.” Though she already knew the answer, she couldn’t resist teasing him.  

Petey lost his words, looking away. He searched for a response, but his mind was a whirlwind. “...It’s not the same… I…” he shyly said, before hiding his face, unable to go on.  

Now she was genuinely concerned. She had never seen the cranky cat so conflicted. She, like the whole city, had watched him change, but Petey still managed to surprise her. Who would’ve thought there was a hopeless romantic hidden under all those claws?  

Petey cleared his throat to clear away the sudden itch. “Let’s just go, Lil’ Petey. The playground’s going to fill up,” he said quickly, eager to escape the girl’s judging gaze.  

꧁꧂  

Meanwhile, Dogman’s day was going perfectly so far. Not only had Petey been calm that morning, though unusually quiet, which Greg took as a good sign (after all, if something was bothering Petey, the whole house would know). Lil’ Petey was as cheerful and energetic as ever, and Alice seemed to be enjoying herself.  

After some initial awkwardness, the conversation began to flow naturally. Alice was amazed at how observant Greg was about their life with Knight. He noticed so many little details and shared stories she never imagined she’d hear from the dog’s perspective. As they chatted, the differences between Greg and Knight became even clearer  

Until Greg started talking about his life after the incident. Greg tried to keep things brief; there was so much to catch up on, but the closer he got to describing his current life and new family, the more he couldn’t help but share the little things and fun anecdotes.  

Those differences Alice had noticed were quickly being overshadowed by the way Greg talked about his new family. That goofy but sincere and even charming smile, the way his hands moved faster as the voice on his text-to-speech app said something exciting, and especially his dreamy sighs when he mentioned the father of the kid he lived with. Greg was a little nervous about bringing the cat into the conversation, so he did his best to avoid saying his name, calling him anything else he could think of.  

“I swear he’s got the sweetest laugh when he laughs for real. Usually, it’s just sarcastic, but when he’s with the kid, it’s completely different. Everyone at the station thinks I’m crazy when I say that, but if they knew him the way I do, they wouldn’t doubt it for a second.” Greg said, gesturing along with the voice from his phone.  

Alice physically shrank into her seat when Greg placed his hands over his heart while describing the cat he lived with. She’d seen Knight do the same thing when talking about her back when they used to date, especially in those first few weeks. Greg had picked up some habits from his old owner without realizing it.  

“He sounds sweet,” Alice replied politely. Her smile was still perfect, no matter how uncomfortable she was beginning to feel. Customer service had trained her well. “I bet he’s just as happy to have you. How long have you two been dating?”  

Dogman grew nervous and took a moment before answering. “He’s just my roommate. We’re not dating or anything. I just help him take care of his son. I really care about the kid. But he and me are in a complicated place… but it’s nice having him around. Even if he’s a bit grumpy, I think he cares about me. He always reminds me to eat at work and waits up when I get home late.”  

A wave of nostalgia washed over Alice as Greg described his day-to-day with this new companion. “You sound just like him. You know, none of my new boyfriends ever sounded like that... like when Knight talked about me... Or the way you talk about him. ” Her smile remained, but her words were tinged with melancholy. “We both were... You seem so in love, anyone could see the hearts in your eyes.”  

Greg bit his tongue. He knew he had feelings for the cat, but it felt strange to hear someone else say it, especially so plainly. He fidgeted with his hands as he tried to think of what to say. It would be a lie if he said he didn't think of it, but he was too afraid of Petey’s reaction to leave the comfort zone they had created so far.  

“You’ve got that same look… You know, maybe you should do something about him. You never know how little time you have until it’s too late,” Alice said, remembering her bittersweet love with Knight and his sudden disappearance. Her smile had almost faded, and it was getting harder to hide her sadness. “Why don’t you tell me more about how things are going at the station, instead?”  

Greg didn’t hesitate to follow her lead and change the subject for the rest of their date. Maybe they’d both need time to think before bringing it up again.  

꧁꧂  

After a couple of hours, Alice and Greg said their goodbyes. They agreed to meet again during the week to continue talking. Greg headed to the park where Petey had mentioned they would wait for him until his date ended. Alice’s words about Petey still echoed in his head. When he used to live alone, every day felt endless, and every moment outside of work was torture. But ever since he and Petey had started living together, his days were not only filled with joy, but days flew by in the blink of an eye.  

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his photo gallery, which was full of pictures of his favorite cats. The list seemed nearly endless. Eventually, he stopped at one particular photo of the three of them having breakfast together. Petey looked disheveled and grumpy, clearly unable to sleep the night before, yet both he and Lil’Petey were smiling brightly. That had been the first breakfast they shared after Greg convinced Petey to live together. Not only had Petey been in a bad mood, but he also hadn’t managed to get a wink of sleep that night, thanks to his lab being just destroyed, which explained his pitiful appearance.  

Greg was surprised, he hadn’t realized nearly two years had passed since then. He quickly scrolled back up through his gallery. Gradually, Petey’s expressions changed over time, from grumpy to relaxed, and in the latest ones, Greg had even managed to catch him smiling in a few candid shots. But still, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was mistaken, Petey’s kinder attitude for something else. Petey caring for his son and him didn’t mean he shared these romantic emotions Greg had just discovered within himself.  

At last, he spotted him in the distance. His orange color stood out among the grass where he lay. Lil’Petey was fast asleep with his head resting on his father’s stomach, while Petey closed his eyes. His tail flickered, showing that even if his face seemed relaxed, his mind was restless. Greg walked over to them. Petey had his eyes closed, so Greg quietly lay down next to him, resting his head on his companion’s shoulder.  

Petey sighed in defeat. He had come to know Greg’s footsteps, his scent, the feeling of his fur. He didn’t need to open his eyes to confirm it was him.  

“Took you long enough,” Petey whispered, careful not to wake the child.  

“Roo?” Greg answered softly.  

“Lil’Petey wanted to wait for you till the very last second, but as you can see, he couldn’t hold out,” Petey said while gently stroking his son’s soft fur. “You know he loves you to bits, right?”  

Petey could feel Greg’s fur brushing lightly against his own as the dog nodded. That tight knot in Greg’s chest—the one formed from overthinking all afternoon—weighed heavier now.  

“I get that feeling,” Petey said in a faint voice. Even though he wished he could pour out the ocean of emotions inside him, the thick walls he had built around himself only allowed a few drops to trickle through.  

Greg looked at him in surprise. As if the cat had read his thoughts, he had given a subtle response, just like he always did. Butterflies fluttered in Greg’s chest as he imagined what Petey might become in the future, and what it might be like if he returned his feelings. Sweetly, he stood up and scooped Lil’Petey into his arms, the little one still fast asleep. Then, he knelt on one knee and extended a hand toward Petey.  

Petey opened his eyes after feeling the weight of his son lifted off him. His eyelids fluttered from the intensity of the sun, but after adjusting to the light, he saw Greg reaching out to him. His heart skipped a beat. Hesitantly, he extended his hand to join him.  

That’s when a sudden cough struck, and Petey pulled his hand away to cover his mouth.  

*Are you okay?* Greg asked, concerned.  

“I’m fine, just allergies,” Petey replied.  

Chapter Text

The next day, Petey had gotten up early. However, Greg was still fast asleep beside him. It was rare for him to be the first one awake, especially on weekends, but his mind had turned against him, waking him up to continue what had begun the day before. Seeing Dogman with Alice again had ignited his thoughts like a rocket shooting into the sky, splitting off in hundreds of directions, disturbing the peace of his night with blinding light and deafening noise.  

Part of him thought it was karma from the universe for everything he had done. Another part wanted to take charge possessively, to impose himself on Greg as if it were his right to be the only one to rule over his heart. Another couldn’t stop thinking about Lil’Petey and how he would react to the news. He also thought about how the rest of the world would respond. And then, there was a small voice that kept whispering he might have a chance with him if he pitied him enough if he just waited long enough.  

Caught between logic and the affection he felt for the dog, he began molding his thoughts into one simpler idea, something easier to follow. A single star on the horizon to guide him through the darkness of his night, instead of all the little sparks the rocket had left behind. He would have to step aside and let Greg live his life as he chose. Greg not only deserved more than what Petey could offer, he deserved the best. Something as good and sincere as what he had given him by opening the wings of his home and companionship.  

In the mean time, Petey would have to survive on the small fragments of affection still left as he mended his own heart. It wasn’t the first time life had set out to shatter his fragile heart, and surely it wouldn’t be the last. If he had learned something with the years is that there wasn’t a machine that couldn't be fixed with enough time and effort. Petey encouraged himself as he set a new goal to work toward, just like the plans he used to fabricate before having Lil’Petey: letting Greg follow his own path without ever realizing how Petey felt.  

Petey found some comfort in that thought, he had always loved plans, they were simple to follow and came with instructions unlike the rest of his thoughts at the moment.  

Petey got up from their shared bed, instantly missing the warmth of the sheets and the dog beside him. But he slipped on his slippers and left the room quickly, without looking back.  

꧁꧂  

The rest of the morning passed quickly, while making breakfast, getting his son ready and fixing the house he extinguished his though the best he could. He remained focused on getting through the day as normally as he could muster in front of Dogman. He hoped the book and comic convection that Lil 'Petey had insisted so much in going to would bring enough distraction from both him and Greg.   

Finally, they had arrived at the convention center where the event was being held, there were endless stands full of books and all sorts of other gadgets. Petey drowned his thoughts in the murmurs of the crowd, hopefully Greg would find somebody else to talk to among all the people. Once they reached the comic stand that Lil ’Petey seek they stopped walking.  

*Well, a promise is a promise,* Greg said as soon as they arrived. *You two can pick any book your little heart's desire.* He signed as he ruffed the kitten’s fur.  

Lil’Petey was about to run towards the stand until his Papa stopped him. “Don’t pick anything too fancy. We still got to eat at home, kiddo” Petey reminded him.  

“Yeah yeah I know! Let me go now!” Lil’Petey said as he tried to escape his grasp.  

“Okay, okay. Remember, it’s only one comic.” Petey said before setting the kitten free.  

Lil’Petey immediately darted toward the biggest and most colorful comic book stand he could find and dove into searching for the perfect comic. Petey and Greg had to run to keep up with him, the little cat had energy to spare, something that reminded Greg of himself. But he also had an incredibly keen eye for detail, methodically analyzing each comic one by one, a trait he had clearly inherited from Petey. It was obvious the little guy was going to take a while to make his choice.  

Both glanced over their son for a while until Greg tapped on Petey’s shoulder.  

*You can pick one too* Greg reminded Petey sincerely. He hoped the cat would enjoy himself too.  

The distraction would be useful anyway, so Petey didn’t think much before accepting the offer. “In that case, you’d better be ready.”   

Petey quickly left his side to for an interesting book. Greg stayed a bit longer watching over their son, he played with his fingers as his mind danced around the word Alice has mentioned on their last encounter. He was sure of his feeling for the feline for some time and couldn’t fathom a future without his sarcastic comments and worriedly nature. Although he was hesitant on what to do first. Although he had got better in reading Petey he was mostly still a mystery to him. Petey keep a lot to himself, and thought of everything a lot more than himself. He wished he had some manual to help him around the cat. He wished his luck would help him once more and present him with an opportunity to impress the cat.  

He took one last glance at Lil’ Petey, who was busy scanning the comic shelves, before approaching Petey, if he wanted the universe to grand him such opportunity, he would have to close to Petey. Greg was sure the cat wouldn’t mind the company, too much  

Petey let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding the moment he turned away from Greg to look for a book. A distraction was exactly what he needed to regain his composure. He grabbed the first book on circuits and began to flip through it, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed someone approaching him. Soon, Greg peeked over to see what he was reading.  

The surprise almost made Petey drop the book and let out an embarrassing meow. “Greg! What are you doing here?!”  

Greg shrugged. * I was curious what you were looking at,* he said honestly.  

Petey rolled his eyes and showed him the book. “I don’t think you’d be into this stuff. Maybe Lil’ Petey’s comics are more your thing.” Honestly, he was just hoping for a few moments of peace. He hated how his shoulders relaxed so easily when the dog was near, bothering him.  

Greg, who was just as delighted to keep the conversation going, played along to impress the intense feline. * No, no! This is super interesting too! I love… *He looked at the book Petey was holding, it was full of blueprints in tiny print and diagrams that looked like ancient hieroglyphs to him. * …that.*  

Petey smirked smugly, seizing the moment to flaunt his superior intellect. “Circuit models for industrial robotics integration?”  

*Yeah, that.* Greg brushed off Petey’s ego-feeding moment, he had his own qualities to show off if he wanted to win the cat over. * And for your information, I have refined taste, too.*  

“I wouldn’t call circuits refined… unless I’m the one designing them, of course,” Petey added with diva flair. “But alright, you’ve piqued my curiosity. Why don’t you show me just how ‘refined’ you can be, Greg.” His tail swayed side to side, ready to play with his prey.  

Greg quickly looked around and grabbed the first book that caught his eye to show Petey. * How about this one?*  

Petey couldn’t help but let out a small mocking laugh as he read the title. “Squirrels and Other Small Mammals. Seriously, Greg?”  

The dog grinned proudly while the cat’s laughter softened into a modest smile. * Nature can be very refined,* Greg replied with mock offense.  

Petey stuck out his tongue before complaining, “Not if you’re barking at it while I’m trying to sleep.”  

Greg quickly grabbed another book and handed it over with a cocky grin that rivaled the cat’s own.  

This time, Petey looked genuinely surprised and intrigued as he examined the book: a photo collection of kittens in costumes. “Kittens? This is your definition of refined?”  

*Are you really gonna say you don’t consider yourself refined?* Greg shot back, full of confidence and clearly trying to charm him.  

Petey felt his intense gaze on him, making his heart beat faster. The itch in his throat returned, making him cough again. “You’re such a dork. Why don’t you try something different?” Petey said, handing him a book on table manners.  

Greg rolled his eyes but was still smiling, touched by the cat’s familiar teasing. He glanced at Petey, noting how his tail swayed slightly as he focused on his book. For someone so private about his emotions, his body was pretty expressive. Petey also glanced at Greg, then quickly hid his face in his book again, hoping he could finally read in peace.  

Then a book cover caught his attention: a simple illustration of a cat outlined in gold. The title read “How to Speak Feline: The Key to a Cat’s Heart.” Without much thought, he opened it and landed on a chapter that immediately turned his cheeks a soft pink. Written in delicate curly lettering, the chapter title was “Courting,” followed by instructions on how to start with small gifts, with a long list of suggestions based on the type of cat. Greg beamed, the universe in fact, was on his side.  

‘... It needs to be clear to understand, and meaningful. If the cat is pragmatic something useful and thoughtful would be a good start. You could also....’ Greg continued reading to himself.  

Petey, meanwhile, tried to concentrate on his schematics, but couldn’t. The pounding of his own heart and that persistent itch made it impossible to forget the dog in front of him. He wanted to slam the book shut and hit himself in the head until he came back to his senses.  

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Greg reading a book intently. His usually relaxed brow was furrowed in concentration, and his face, unusually serious, was tinged with a faint blush. Petey’s thoughts screeched to a halt, then trailed down to what the dog was reading.  

“Put that down!” Petey yelled louder than necessary.  

Now it was Greg’s turn to yelp in surprise and drop the book. Everyone turned to look, he was hard to miss, and whispers began to spread among the judging stares. Petey grew nervous under their disapproving gaze, people were just trying to enjoy the convention in peace.  

“Argh! Woof!” Greg quickly barked, drawing attention away from Petey. He grabbed both the fallen book and Petey’s. Then he motioned to the vendor. * We’ll take them both!*  

After paying, he grabbed Petey and led him away from the booth. One hand on the cat’s back, the other holding a bag with the books. Only minutes had passed since the incident, but for Petey, everything felt like it was happening in slow motion. A lump formed in his throat, making it hard to get any words out.  

*Sorry for the scare. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful* Greg said, assuming he’d upset Petey with his book choice.  

“I…” Petey tried to respond, but a fit of coughing cut him off. The itch in his throat kept getting worse. It wasn’t painful or alarming, but it was still incredibly annoying, like he’d inhaled a big puff of dust.  

Greg let out a worried bark and led him to a nearby bench to sit down.  

“It’s nothing. Must be an allergy. Too much dust and people around,” Petey grumbled, his voice a bit hoarse.  

Greg could easily sympathize with an itchy throat. He spent weeks wanting to bury his hand on his throat and scratch it from inside while he was recovering. Until Lady Nurse had given him a sweet temporary aid. *Wait here a sec* Greg said and headed off.  

He scanned the nearby booths until he spotted a small dessert table. He rushed over, looking for any hard candy. There were all kinds, bright colors, different shapes and sizes. Among them, he found a handcrafted heart-shaped lollipop wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a pink ribbon. It looked like blown glass, perfect and bubble-free. The ribbon even had a tiny gem in the center and a golden thread holding a label with the flavor. It thanked the universe once again; it was the perfect gift both clear a useful as the book had mentioned!  

Meanwhile Petey buried his burning face on his paw.“This can’t be happening!” Petey groaned in frustration, rubbing his face. “I can’t do anything right!” He was still beating himself up, embarrassed about the scene and how Greg had to step in. His chest and throat seemed to pulse in sync every time the dog was near.  

Greg soon returned, offering him the shiniest lollipop Petey had ever seen. The cat took it, admiring the shape and ribbon. He rarely gets gifts mostly from his son and late mother, but this was different, the big-hearted shape was too notorious for him not to think it was romantic. He looked around, noticing the Valentine’s decorations, then stared down at the bright red heart in his hand, and the dog who gave it to him. Petey held his breath to suppress the returning cough.  

*Hard candy helped with the scratchy throat after the incident* Greg explained, a bit nervous since Petey was taking so long to respond.  

Petey was now sure the dog only meant to help his coughing and nothing more.  

“s SUure,” Petey said oddly, still holding back the cough. Some irrational part of him didn’t want to ruin the moment. Petey couldn’t help but get his hopes up. He cleared his throat and added, “To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of cherry.” Hopefully this would be enough to push aside his thought and Greg.  

When he looked up, Greg had already walked away. He instantly regretted his words, but at the same time he understood it was necessary. He sat there feeling dumb, holding the lollipop, his mind spinning over what just a polite gesture from the dog.  

Before letting disappointment set in, Greg rushed back, he had bought one of each available flavor: peach, strawberry, blackberry, watermelon, and blueberry. When he returned holding them all, Petey’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest, thinking it was a bouquet.  

*One of these has to be your favorite, right?* Greg asked shyly.  

Petey was speechless. He took the lollipop bouquet and nodded timidly. He still felt like a fool, but now he was a fool with an entire bouquet of candy hearts. He took the bouquet of lollipops and nodded shyly. Even though he still felt like a fool, now, with a whole bunch of heart-shaped lollipops instead of just one, he felt happy. Maybe that tiny voice was right and he did have a chance.  

"Thank you, Greg. That’s very thoughtful," Petey said softly. His sweet and timid smile stole the canine’s breath away.  

*I love seeing you happy,* Greg said with a goofy smile on his face.  

Petey sighed. "You love seeing everyone happy." And that, therefore, didn’t make him special.  

Greg quickly corrected himself. * I like making you happy, Petey.*  

Petey had to turn around quickly to avoid reacting in front of the dog. He hid his face among the lollipops before a coughing fit interrupted the moment. Concerned, Greg tried to approach, but Petey stopped him while suppressing the last of the cough.  

"We should go back to see the kid," Petey said nervously.  

Greg, a bit disappointed, nodded before following him. They were walking back to the booth when Greg spotted blonde hair and hoop earrings among the crowd. From afar, he could see Alice talking to Chief. Greg was about to ignore it when he saw Alice recognize him and wave, starting to walk towards him. Greg immediately panicked; he didn’t want to cause a scene, especially not at the fair, so he decided to quickly go greet Alice to avoid her seeing Petey.  

You go with Lil' Petey. I need to check on something, Greg signaled quickly before disappearing into the crowd.  

Petey tried to see where he was going, but the people blocked his view. His heart started to grow uneasy, but he still headed toward where he had left the little one. On the way, he unwrapped the peach lollipop and keep the rest on the bag with the books; it really helped calm the itch for a moment. Eventually, he reached Lil' Petey, who immediately ran up to him.  

"Papa! I found it! It's perfect! It's a space volume of Supercat in the multiverse! I need it! Where’s Dogman?" the little one said rapidly before noticing the absence of the canine.  

"He went to check something across the booths," Petey replied.  

"Let’s go find him! The lady’s keeping my comic safe, but I wanna read it now!" Lil' Petey said, trying to push and pull his father to go look for Dogman.  

Petey laughed at the little one's excitement. "Okay, okay, we’re going."  

They walked for a while until they found Dogman talking to Chief and that friend Petey found so annoying. Subconsciously, Petey started biting harder into his lollipop.  

"Look, it's the friend from the other day!" Lil' Petey said happily. "And there’s Dogman!"  

"Wonderful," Petey muttered through gritted teeth, full of hatred.  

"Hi Dogman! Hi Chief!" Lil' Petey shouted through the crowd.  

From afar, Greg spotted them and made eye contact with Petey. The cat smiled nervously at him. But instead of returning the usual smile, Greg looked somewhat alarmed before turning to Chief, who returned his confused gaze and said something. Greg gave them a small wave before starting to walk away with Alice.  

Petey couldn't believe his eyes. He froze again while watching them walk away. Not only did he feel stupid for everything he had felt before, but he also couldn’t believe the dog was embarrassed by him too.  

"Papa! Dogman’s walking away, we have to follow him!" Lil' Petey complained.  

"Not so fast!" Chief stopped the little one, catching his breath after running. Petey was too distracted to notice how Chief had come closer to them.  

"Dogman will be back in a moment, he’s just walking Alice to the exit," Chief explained. "Meanwhile, he sent me to go with you to buy whatever Lil' Petey picked out. It’s just that way, opposite to the exit."  

"Okay! Let’s go! I want my special comic!" said Lil' Petey excitedly.  

"Let’s go, kiddo!" Chief said as he picked Lil' Petey up onto his shoulders. "We’ll get there faster this way."  

"Yay!" Lil' Petey cheered happily.  

"That’s Alice, right? Dogman talks about her at lunch," the little one mentioned as they made their way to the booth.  

"Oh, he talks about her?" Chief said, a little awkward.  

"Just that she gets scared easily. Can you believe she was afraid of Dogman? Impossible!" Lil' Petey said indignantly.  

Chief sighed. "It’s kind of complicated to explain, and honestly, it’s not really my place."  

Petey, who was biting his lollipop aggressively, snapped back. "Great! So now she’s too special to even talk about?"  

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! No need to get mad, Petey," Chief said, stepping away a bit, knowing how badly things could escalate if Petey lost his temper. "Look, I know it’s not ideal, but I understand Dogman’s reasons. Alice has a strong personality, and you.... trust me, you don’t want to see her angry."  

That only fueled the feline’s anger. "Why would I care?! I don't even know her," Petey said, raising his voice.  

"And maybe it’s better that way," Chief said seriously. "Look, really, it’s not my place to explain. You’ll have to talk to Dogman if you want details. But let me tell you, if he hasn’t introduced you yet, there’s a very good reason. Just give him time. Greg is a good boy, he only wants the best for everyone."  

"Dogman always protects us!" Lil' Petey exclaimed, agreeing with Chief’s words.  

Chief nodded before stopping and lowering the little one from his shoulders. "We’re here! Go get your comic, champ!"  

"Yay!" Lil' Petey cheered before running toward the lady at the booth.  

Chief sighed heavily, searching for the right words that wouldn’t upset the cat even more. "Greg told me about Alice as soon as he reconnected with her. And believe me, this is something really important to him."  

"I know," Petey replied quickly, surprising Chief. The cat looked around nervously, trying to organize his thoughts. "It’s just... Forget it. You’re just Greg’s friend anyway," he said finally, resigned.  

Chief, though nervous and unsure about getting closer to the cat, said, "Petey... I know we’ve had our disagreements before..."  

"Save it. I don’t need it," Petey interrupted sharply. "And you don’t need to force yourself to talk to me just because Greg asked you to. I can handle my own business. You don’t need to get involved in my personal life with Greg," he said severely.  

Chief nodded slightly, still worried. "Just... don’t ruin this for Greg," he said sincerely. "If Alice walked away again, he’d never forgive himself."  

Petey grew even angrier at himself for having raised his hopes so stupidly. His tail kept lashing back and forth aggressively, and he sank his fangs into the lollipop until he snapped it completely, letting half of it fall to the ground.  

"Papa, your heart broke!" Lil' Petey said innocently, followed by the lady keeping the comic stand.  

"Yeah, I noticed," Petey replied coldly, pulling out his wallet and paying for the comic, refusing Chief’s offer to pay as Greg had instructed. Then he grabbed the little one’s hand. "Let’s go home. Greg can catch up with us later. “  

Then he turned to Chief, surprisingly Petey voice was serious, but he could notice it was sincere.  Although the hint of sadness within it caught Chief off-guard.  “You can let Greg know, he can all the time he wants. I meant it. If that’s what he needs that’ll give him. I wouldn’t hurt him, and I trust his judgement. I’m just taken aback that’s all... I’ll pass soon enough."  

After saying that he left with Lil’petey, the heart-shaped lollipop long forgotten on the stand’s floor.  

Chapter Text

Greg took Petey at his word, because it took him about an hour before he caught up with them at home, enough time for Petey to calm his heart and start making dinner. With a fake smile, he resumed his plan to be a good friend and not bother the canine anymore as he got together with Alice. He just hoped Chief would keep his mouth shut and not mention his little outburst at the convention. Luckily, that seemed to be the case because Greg never brought up the convention again. As for Petey, he stuck to his routine, keeping busy around the house and tinkering with his inventions.  

During the week, thanks to work and having to take care of Lil'Petey, they didn’t have much time to spend together. Greg would come home to rest, and Petey would excuse himself to his lab, claiming that his projects were very complicated. Although mysteriously, he would come out every time the canine left the house. Petey felt comfortable thinking that if things stayed this way, he could survive.  

He nor his son needed the dog to be happy, he kept stubbornly saying to himself. Just the thought of the canine’s smile made his throat itch as if it was another form of a racing heart. That was another problem, all week long, he had been feeling a continuous discomfort in his throat. He had tried some home remedies and tea to ease it, but in the end, he decided to silently endure it, hoping it would eventually go away. Because he was avoiding Greg, the canine hadn’t noticed anything, but with Lil'Petey, it was a different story.  

"And then the princ—" Petey couldn't continue reading the story because a sudden, stronger coughing fit than the ones he'd had the previous week took his voice away for several minutes.  

"That's not fair!" Little Petey exclaimed, a bit upset. "Whenever I get sick, you make me go to the doctor and take that horrible cherry medicine!"  

Petey couldn’t answer until his coughing subsided. "... that’s so you get better quickly."  

"Then why don't you go to the doctor and take the ugly medicine? You won't stop coughing! You sound awful!" Little Petey worriedly protested.  

"It's nothing. I'm an adult. Adults sometimes get better on their own if they wait a little because we're big and strong. Little kitties like you need more help to recover. That's why we take you to the doctor right away," Petey explained.  

The little one thought for a moment before responding, "And how long do you have to wait?"  

"Umm... a week. In a week, I'll be as good as new. Then I’ll be able to read you all the stories you want," Petey answered quickly.  

Lil'Petey made a face, he wasn’t entirely convinced by his father's words. However, he decided to trust him. "...Okay."  

꧁꧂  

Meanwhile, at the police station, Greg was with Chief. It was a quiet day after some hectic weeks, and they were spending time in their office while waiting for any emergency call during their patrol shift. Chief was reviewing some old reports on his computer while Greg was on the other side reading a book intently. Chief hated paperwork days like this. He hadn’t joined the academy for this, he wanted to be in the action even if he was exhausted. He sighed with boredom and left the computer to see what his partner was doing.  

'In some archaic traditions, collars and necklaces are exchange as a symbol of blossoming partnership. Medals and crystals were customized to the partner’s liking...' Greg was reading to himself from the book.  

"The Key to a Cat's Heart," Chief said aloud, reading the title of the book Greg was holding. Then he let out a small chuckle "Don't tell me you’re interested in Petey, kid."  

Greg, surprised by the comment, almost dropped the book, juggling it awkwardly before catching it. Then he looked at Chief nervously, unintentionally confirming his boss’s suspicions.  

"I guess that would explain why Petey was so upset at the convention," Chief quickly connected the dots. It wasn't hard to see that Petey and Greg might be something more, considering how much time they spent together and how Greg would light up whenever he talked about the cat. Chief could easily relate to the ups and downs of having a partner. "Lady Nurse also gets upset whenever I have to interrupt our dates for work."  

"Petey's not upset. When I got home, everything was fine. He understood and just went ahead and started making dinner as always. Besides, it wasn’t even a date. It was a family outing." Greg tried to justify nervously.  

Chief grinned mischievously, amused by the dog's nervousness. "Sure? Because your face and that book say otherwise. You're not the first officer I’ve seen fall in love. Tell me something: that lollipop Petey had, how did he get it?"  

Greg rolled his eyes. He had been caught red-handed. "Well, I gave it to him. But still, it wasn’t a date."  

"Bet you wished it was," Chief teased. Still, he had no intention of letting his best officer suffer in silence. "What's holding you back, kid? Don't tell me you don’t know where to start."  

Greg hesitated a little before answering. "Something like that. It’s complicated."  

Chief dropped his jaw in shock. After Greg had helped him win over his wife, he couldn’t believe that Dog Man, of all officers, was having romance troubles. "Well, well, who would've thought! The day has finally come when I can repay my debt. I can't let my best officer walk around with a broken heart. I'll get the band, Milly will make the poster, and you get the flowers. Then we’ll go to the mall so everyone can see. We're going to pull off the best proposal in history!" he said excitedly, already pulling out his phone to make some calls.  

Alarmed, Greg shook his head. He was sure Petey would burn be furious if he dared to embarrass him in public.  

"No? Okay, okay. My girl’s not a fan of big spectacles either. Just seeing her makes me freeze with how beautiful she is," Chief said dramatically. Then he sighed nostalgically. "You know, you remind me a little of Knight."  

"Aroo?" Greg asked, tilting his head slightly.  

"Now that Alice is back, I can't help thinking more about him..." Chief began to ramble. In these slow daya Chief had plenty of time to get lost in his memories. "He was way better at this stuff than I was. Alice was always happy around him. He was a hopeless romantic. That's why he was always showering her with gifts. That lollipop reminded me of him. It's definitely something he would’ve chosen for Alice."  

"I hadn’t noticed," Greg answered honestly. Alice had even mentioned something similar before.  

"How could you not notice?" Chief said in surprise. "You were always glued to him! I figured with so much time around Knight, you'd be an expert in romance! That’s why you helped me so much with Lady Nurse so easily."  

Greg had probably internalized more of Knight’s behavior than he had realized. Although it made him feel closer to his late friend, it also made him feel a little uneasy if he thought too hard about it.  

"I know you're smart, but you’re a little clueless, buddy," Chief kept encouraging him while looking thoughtful. "Pay a little more attention to the details. You know that cat is slippery, but if anyone can catch him, it’s you!"  

This cheered Greg up a bit, making him smile. Seeing the reaction, Chief kept encouraging him. "Who's a good boy? Who's the best?"  

"Woof! Woof!" Greg barked before jumping on his boss and licking his face.  

"Hahaha! Okay, that's enough!" Chief said, laughing as he pushed him off. "Now go out there and get something nice for that sneaky cat! Show him what you're made of, champ!"  

Greg didn’t need to hear it twice. He grabbed his stuff and left the station as fast as he could. He remembered the sweet smile the feline had when he received the lollipop bouquet. With a little more time and practice, he could make it work with Petey.  

"Rats!" Chief grumbled back at the station after realizing he had let Greg leave work early, leaving him alone and bored.  

꧁꧂  

Petey tried to keep himself busy as usual, sorting through old documents rescued from his previous lab. His father had fortunately kept what he considered sentimental items no one would buy. A thick-ring binder bursting with papers caught his attention ,his mother's name was scrawled across the cover in thick marker. Petey picked it up, it felt even heavier than he remembered.  

The weight of it quickly overwhelmed him, so he set it back in the box, covering it with old childhood drawings. He even placed another box on top to hide it. Thanks to his rushed movement, something slipped out through a hole at the bottom of a box, a golden ring rolled across the floor mockingly before landing with a loud clink .  

Petey froze. It took him a few minutes to move and pick up the ring. It was thin and a little dirty, but still beautiful. Instead of a single large diamond, it was surrounded by a row of small gemstones. Inside, the words "For my Grace" were engraved in delicate cursive.  

It was one of the few valuable possessions his mother had managed to leave him. She had entrusted it to him, asking him to pawn it if he ever needed help once she was gone. Grace had never had the heart to sell it herself, and Petey hadn’t had the heart to sell it either, even after she was gone.  

Every time he saw that ring, he remembered how it used to gleam on his mother's finger while she cooked or tucked him in. Whenever she caught him staring at it, she would happily tell the story of how his father had given it to her. It was a rainy day at a bus station. She had been about to leave, but he chased the bus down, made it stop, and convinced her to come back to him as his wife. She always made it sound so romantic, like a knight rescuing a princess. As a child, Petey had listened with wide-eyed wonder, believing every word.  

But now that he was older, he could see the day for what it truly was — a tragedy. The ring’s faint glimmer seemed to mock him, reminding him that if he wasn’t careful, he would end up like his mother: forgotten and alone with a child to raise.  

"Rats! This can't be happening!" Petey exclaimed in a burst of anger, throwing the ring onto the floor, where it bounced and got lost among the boxes.  

Even though he was fully aware he had fallen for Greg, it still frustrated him. Not only had he let his guard down, but he had also foolishly allowed hope to grow over something as simple as candy. But... How could he not fall for his goofy smile, his heroism, his kindness, and his practically endless patience? Greg didn’t just understand him, he showed him through actions that he cared about both his and Lil’Petey’s happiness.  

Once Alice and Dog Man officially got back together, all that happiness would surely vanish as if it had never existed. Tears slid down Petey’s face as he searched for his mother’s ring.  

While moving the boxes, Petey allowed himself to fantasize. He imagined them flirting, dating, telling the world, being happy with Lil’Petey, getting married, growing old together, the life his mother never got to have. Eventually, he found the ring and held it in his hand. It was incredible how such a small object could inspire such big dreams.  

As a child, Petey had always wondered how his mother could still defend the man who had caused so much of her misery, even on her deathbed. She had never said a single ill word about him.  

But as he looked at the ring in his hand now, Petey saw everything under a new light.  

And for a moment, he understood his mother.  

꧁꧂  

Petey kept smiling and acting as normal as he could in front of his family. Pretending had always been something he was good at, especially in tough situations. After all, he had plenty of practice thanks to his childhood. However, his mind was sinking into memories of the past and fears of the present, which he was hiding in the chicken and vegetable casserole that would be that night’s dinner.  

"Smells delicious!" exclaimed Lil' Petey, coming from the living room just to compliment his papa.  

"Of course, little one. I made it myself," said Petey with a tired smile before clearing his throat.  

"Are you okay?" the little one asked, concerned.  

"Of course, it’s nothing. I was busy today cleaning the garage; it was covered in dust," Petey explained calmly as he continued preparing the side dishes for dinner. "I was thinking maybe I could use it as a temporary room."  

This immediately alarmed the kitten. It had taken months for both of his guardians to learn to live together, and now they would separate again? "But what about our sleepovers? What's wrong with Dogman's room?" Lil' Petey said, alarmed.  

"Nothing, it’s just that I thought it might be nice to give him a little more space. Plus, this way I can work more on my projects at night," Petey explained carefully, expecting the little one to object. But it would be better to make the change gradual before Alice arrived. "That way, when the three of us sleep together, it’ll feel even more special, don’t you think? A birthday cake wouldn’t be special if you had it every day."  

"I would never get tired of it!" Lil' Petey protested. "Besides, Dogman will be sad!"  

Petey chuckled to himself. "You’ll see he’ll be jumping for joy once he knows. But while I clear out the garage, please don’t tell him anything. Promise me."  

Petey bent down to his son's height, holding out his pinky so Lil' Petey could make the promise.  

The little one looked at his father, who, despite being tired, was smiling gently. "Okay," he said, hooking his tiny claw around his father’s finger.  

"Now go set the table, Greg will be back any minute," Petey said, standing up.  

Right on time, the front door opened, letting Greg in. He placed his hat and keys on a holder by the door and hurried to the kitchen where Petey was, leaving a white box wrapped with a red ribbon on the table. He moved in to greet Petey as usual, but the cat held out his hand to keep him from licking his face.  

"I'm serving food! Go wash up and eat already!" Petey said, slightly annoyed.  

Instead of getting upset, Greg smiled softly; he knew that hidden in the scolding was genuine concern for his and the boy’s well-being. He gave Petey a quick hug from behind, surprising the feline, then let go before Petey could start complaining again and went to wash his hands.  

"Papa! Dogman brought something!" exclaimed Lil' Petey, pointing at the box on the table.  

*That's a surprise for later!* said Greg cheerfully. He planned to give him the box in private later. * Don't open it yet! Surprises shouldn't be opened without permission. *  

"See? No one likes a ruined surprise," Petey added, referring to the recent promise.  

"Okay..." the little one replied to a bit uncertainly; something still didn’t feel quite right about his papa.  

"Why don't you tell Greg how your day at school went?" Petey suggested instead.  

"Sure! Molly and I did tons of things today!" Lil' Petey brightened up again, eagerly launching into a detailed account of his morning.  

After that, dinner went by without any problems. The food was delicious, and the hyperactive little cat did most of the talking. Later, after tucking in the little one and cleaning the kitchen, everyone headed off to bed. Greg brought the box with him again and waited for Petey to come back to bed to give it to him.  

"Woof!" barked Greg once he saw him return. He was slightly damp from his shower, and his ruffled fur made him look quite charming.  

"Something happened?" Petey asked flatly as he sat on the bed.  

*I got off work a bit early, so I wanted to buy you a little something,* Greg said quickly, visibly nervous. His face was slightly flushed, but he pressed on. *We've been living together for a while now, and just your presence brightens my days. I'd love for this bliss to never end.*  

Petey felt his heart speed up again as he received the box. The same tingling happiness he had felt back at the convention returned, making him feel a déjà vu that quickly pulled his mind down from the clouds. He couldn’t let his hopes rise again so easily. No matter Greg’s expectant look or the tag full of hearts and delicate details.  

Petey took his time opening the box, carefully untying the ribbon without damaging it. Both the ribbon and the box felt like they were of good quality. Inside, the box was lined with burgundy velvet, and in the center were a pair of leather collars, one royal blue and the other orange. Underneath them were some interchangeable golden tags, one with a "D" and one with a "P".  

*I saw them in a shop window while I was walking. Look, it even matches your fur color perfectly!* Greg said, pointing excitedly at the orange collar. * They're matching so you can wear one and I’ll wear the other.*  

Petey blushed, remembering back when he was still in school and how lovey-dovey couples used to wear matching accessories to show they were together. It was an antique tradition that had faded into a silly and old trend now and then. Surely Greg wasn’t even aware of that. Even if it seemed childish to him, Petey had to admit the sentiment was quite endearing. "And I guess this blue one is the color of your uniform," he said, examining the blue collar.  

The collar, when closed, formed a ring, which reminded him of the ring from his mother he had found not too long ago, making his heart harden even more. "You know only high school kids wear stuff like this, right?" Petey said, sounding frustrated. The collar was symbol of belonging but also remined of possession. The reminded of his mother’s tragic marriage only made him angrier. "It's kind of ridiculous. It reminds me of prison shackles."  

Greg flinched, feeling guilty for not considering that possibility. Instead of the tender smile he had expected Petey was pouting once again, sinking this heart which was happily pounding just seconds ago.  

“Look I know you aren’t aware of a lot of stuff. But this is for couples, they aren’t some kind of friendship bracelet to just give around. People will definitely get the wrong idea if we’re seen in public wearing these.” Petey continued explaining, his anger dissipating into resignation.   

*I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.* Greg apologized, he probably should have asked for a second opinion first.  

“...You shouldn’t gift stuff like this if you don't mean it.” Petey mumbled.  

Still, he was determined to let the cat understand his feelings. “But I meant what I said before. You're a star in the darkness of my life.”  

Petey bitterly chuckled. “Quite dramatic, isn’t it?”  

“Like you’re the one to say that.” Greg said with an honest smile. “Besides, my refined taste includes a bit of poetry.”  

Petey chuckled remembering their brief conversation at the convention. He could he how Greg still fidgeted with his finger once he stopped signing, he must be upset that he didn't receive the gift. To be honest, he was quite touched by the sentiment, but it would be unfair to let Greg misunderstand the significance of it.  

Petey mustered the best smile he could to tranquilize the dog’s heart. He had to follow through his plan and support him to get Alice instead of focusing in himself.  “Maybe you could change it for something that Alice would like instead.” He advised instead with a fake smile. “I’m sure she’d be delighted.”  

Greg was taken aback by his odd suggestion and the equally odd smile that came with it. But Petey was indeed smiling so Greg was too shy to contradict the cat who had such good sentiment after he had messed up.  

He nodded as he picked the box and left it besides their nightstand.   

“It’ll the best that way! You’ll soon see.” Petey continued saying with that bright smile of his that disarmed Greg’s last defenses.  

Soon they turned off the lights and went to sleep. That day Petey thankfully had a dreamless night but the same couldn’t be said about Greg.  

Chapter Text

On Monday, Greg was working at the police station. As usual, everyone had shown up exhausted and unmotivated, still recovering from the sweet pleasures of the weekend. To lift their spirits, Chief decided to treat everyone to some donuts during break, so all available officers gathered in the break room to enjoy their pastries. 

Looking for a topic of conversation, Chief quickly remembered the talk he’d had with his best officer the previous shift. “So... did you finally ask Petey out?” Chief asked casually as he took a bite of his strawberry donut. 

All the other officers stopped eating and turned to Greg with wide eyes. Greg let out a nervous laugh under the weight of their intense stares. 

“It’s happening already?!” Patty said excitedly. “No way! Why didn’t anyone tell us?” 

“Wait, it’s official? Greg actually asked him?” Ralph added, pulling out his wallet. “Dang it, now I owe Millie.” 

“I told you Greg would be the first,” Millie said proudly, collecting her winnings. “Never doubted that boy for a second.” 

But amid all the chatter, Dogman seemed deflated, which worried Chief. “Greg? You alright, champ?” 

*AWWOOO!* Dogman howled sadly in response. Not only had Petey rejected his gift, he’d gotten upset with him too. 

Petey had looked incredibly uncomfortable the day before, and Greg was unsure if Petey had understood much he meant for him. Petey could be especially difficult when it came to emotions. 

“I’m guessing that’s a no, folks,” Chief said with a sigh, patting Dogman on the back. 

The mood dropped with him; even Millie handed Ralph his money back. They all sighed in unison. Maybe Greg had underestimated how invested they were in his love life. 

“But what happened?” Ralph asked, just before Millie smacked him on the head. “Ouch!” 

“Don’t be insensitive!” Millie scolded. “Can’t you see Dogman’s feeling down?” 

“But I also wanted to know...” Patty pouted. “Even Buster’s curious,” she said, pointing to their shy coworker quietly munching his chocolate donut in the corner. 

Buster nodded solemnly in agreement. 

“Well, Dogman, we can’t force you to say anything,” Chief said gently, “but we also can’t help if we don’t know what’s going on.” 

“Yeah!” the others chimed in, followed by a chorus of supportive cheers and kind words. 

Greg was a bit reluctant to share what had happened, but eventually gave in under the friendly pressure of his coworkers. Maybe, if he was lucky, they could give him the second opinion he clearly wasn’t going to find in any book. Maybe what he needed was that human touch to sort out his thoughts. 

As soon as he brought up the situation, the room's energy shifted. The entire police force was now hanging on every word of what had happened between the dog and the cat. Greg didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or worried by this sudden interest in his love life. 

“It’s alright, kid. How could you have known something like that would happen?” Millie comforted him, giving him a few reassuring pats on the back. “Anyone could make that kind of mistake. But still! You should’ve done more research! Everything needs evidence and verification!” 

“But Petey didn’t have to be so rude! He could’ve at least accepted the gift out of courtesy! Greg went through a lot of trouble!” said an officer named Ralph, clearly annoyed. “Also, what did you expect from him? You should see how Petey acts after chasing him for so long!” 

“Maybe he wanted something more dramatic and romantic! I’ve got an uncle who sells white horses!” Patty chimed in excitedly. 

The room quickly filled with a flood of opinions, critiques, and strategies on how to win over the cat. The chorus of overlapping voices was beginning to give Greg a headache when Chief stepped in to save him. 

“Order! Order! Silence!” Chief barked authoritatively. “Enough! I think we all agree that our dear Greg will eventually move forward in his relationship with Petey, the no-longer world’s most evil cat.” 

Everyone went quiet and nodded in agreement. Greg wished the ground would swallow him whole. Was his life interesting enough to have all the department focused on him? 

“As coworkers, our duty isn’t to mock our friend. You should all be ashamed, talking like a bunch of high schoolers!” Chief scolded them. 

Greg smiled, thankful for his boss’s compassionate and sensible intervention.  

“Instead, you should be helping him! Not getting in the way! So whoever has an idea, raise your hand and speak. Millie, write everything on the board! Whoever has the best idea gets to pick dinner next time we celebrate!” Chief continued, crushing any hope Greg had of enjoying a peaceful lunch. 

*Seriously, it’s not necessary* Greg signed nervously. 

“No need to thank us! You’re our friend! We’re going to help you at any cost!” Millie said, already wiping the board clean to write down what she now considered a far more important topic. 

“Chief is right! We all have to band together to help!” Patty added, nearly in tears from how touching the moment was. 

“Yes! Let’s do it!” everyone cheered in unison. Chief wiped a tear from his eye, it was beautiful to see such brotherhood among the police force.  

“I’ll go first!” Patty said, raising her hand. Chief nodded for her to speak. “Okay, so first, we get Greg a job at a café. Then, we set up a flower shop right across the street for Petey to work in. That way, they see each other every day.” 

“But they already see each other every day, dummy,” Ralph pointed out. 

“You don’t get it! It must be a café and a flower shop! Otherwise, it doesn’t work!” Patty was nearly desperate. “There have to be big windows, and Greg has to join him during his breaks. We should work at the café too, so we add some social pressure!” 

Chief nodded and applauded. “I like the enthusiasm! We need that kind of energy! Write it down, Millie!”  

“On it, sir!” Millie said, scribbling quickly on the board. 

“Let’s not overcomplicate this,” Ralph said, raising his hand. Chief nodded for him to speak. “We get them to a hotel. There must be rain, no! A storm that traps them inside! When they ask for a room... there’s only one bed.” 

Greg tilted his head in confusion. He already slept next to Petey every night. How was this different? But before he could ask, he was interrupted. 

“Just that?! And where’s my slow burn?! The romance? The comedic moments?!” Patty cried out loud. Any decent romance story should follow the structure that her novels described. 

“They’ll have plenty of time at home! I’m trying to get the job done at once! We’ve had to watch these two make goo-goo eyes at each other for nearly a year with zero progress. I know I’m not the only one who’s seen the tension whenever they’re in the same room! It’s unbearable! They should fuc—” 

“Order!” Chief barked before Ralph could finish his suggestive suggestion. 

Timidly, from the back of the room, another officer named Buster raised his hand. Chief nodded to let him speak. “I read that in ancient times, cats were worshipped by Egyptians. What if we dress Petey as a pharaoh and Greg as his royal guard? Then we send them on an expedition together. Petey would look amazing in this outfit.” Buster conveniently pulled out a glittering two-piece Egyptian costume adorned with blue and gold jewels. 

Greg blushed furiously, imagining Petey in that outfit, and buried his face in his hands. His coworkers immediately noticed his reaction. 

“See?! Proves my point about the bed!” Ralph laughed, pointing at the flustered Greg. 

“What if we send them back to high school, where they’re rivals who slowly fall in love in secret until the whole school finds out?” Patty suggested excitedly. “They could be in rival clubs! Or maybe one is a good boy and the other is a troublemaker, but it’s a softie inside! 

“No one wants to hear about your internet novels!” Ralph snapped at Patty. 

“They’re popular for a reason!” Patty defended herself. 

“What if they go undercover on a mission and we get Petey to wear this red dress, blonde wig, and heels?” Buster said, already pulling out the mentioned items, making Greg let out another strangled squeak. 

Patty continued dreaming about a romantic saga worthy of at least five seasons on television. “Let’s make Greg the CEO of a billion-dollar company and Petey a struggling single papa in need. They met in a job meeting setting, and Greg took a liking to Petey. Also, Greg secretly is a mob boss.” 

“If you don’t like the hotel, we can use a closet!” Ralph offered. “Seven minutes in heaven after a night of drinks, so Petey speaks more easily!” 

“What if we make Petey the secretary and say this miniskirt and fishnet stockings are the uniform, but Petey thinks Greg doesn’t know, even though he totally does?” Buster reached for the outfit until Millie subtly stopped him, to prevent Greg from passing out. 

“Just shove them in a giant sweater until they confess!” Ralph suggested, growing more desperate. ”It doesn’t have to be a sweater! We could just tie them together with tape!” 

“I still say the serenade and sign at the mall were enough.” Chief offered calmly. 

“Make them mortal enemies, but after a specific chain of events, the bad one ends up with a kid. So they have to raise the child together and slowly fall in love until they can’t deny it anymore,” Patty proposed. 

“We already did that one!” everyone shouted. 

“What if Greg’s the one in the dress?” Buster asked, trying to decide which color would make Greg’s eyes pop. Blue, definitely blue with a fierce red wig. 

“Alright, enough! Order! ORDER!” Chief called again, though it was no use. 

Everyone started yelling their ideas at once again, arguing over which scenario would guarantee the best result. Greg didn’t know where to look in the chaos, his eyes darting in every direction. Until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Millie gave him a soft, compassionate smile. 

“You know, sweetie, I’d start with a letter. If it’s hard to say what you need face-to-face, maybe writing it down would help,” she said sincerely. “It doesn’t have to be long. It just needs to be honest and from your heart.” 

Greg smiled back, appreciating her kindness. Writing a note didn’t seem like such a bad idea. In fact, it was probably the most reasonable thing he’d heard all day. 

*Thank you, Millie.* Dogman signed, once again full of motivation. 

Suddenly, the door opened and Sarah walked in carrying boxes that gave off an incredible smell, one that easily overshadowed Chief’s earlier donuts offering. 

“Snacks are here!” Sarah announced, making her entrance with two large boxes of hot tuna empanadas. “Brought a little something for my favorite police department!” 

“You mean the one that gives you the most stories,” Chief said, opening the box and taking a bite. “Damn it, Sarah! You’re making my donuts look bad!” 

The scent quickly filled the room, drawing everyone to grab an empanada. The flaky crust and hot filling were exquisite. 

*These are amazing!* Greg signed, impressed. * Where’d you get them?*  

“Well, as a journalist. I’ve got my contacts, I’ll send you the number,” Sarah said. “Hey Chief! Now that I’ve got your attention, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about…” 

And with that, break time came to an end. Everyone scattered to their posts, successfully dissolving the chaotic brainstorm. Amid the laughter and lingering jokes, the rest of the shift passed quickly. As time went on, Greg started to feel more at ease with this new, possibly romantic chapter in his life. 

꧁꧂ 

Late at night, Greg came home from work. As soon as he opened the door, a delicious aroma and a well-kept home greeted him. The two orange cats had turned what used to be a lonely house into a real home. Petey was finishing setting the dinner plates on the table, while Lil’Petey was already seated, impatiently waiting for his food to be served. 

“Dogman!” he exclaimed excitedly the moment their eyes met, rushing forward to give him a big hug. 

“You’re late, Greg!” Petey scolded him, even though the canine had arrived right on time. Greg smiled at his barely-concealed concern. “Hurry up and clean up, come eat before the food gets cold.” 

Greg gave him his usual quick face lick in greeting and dodged away before Petey could complain, heading toward the bathroom. On the table, he left a small box, much more modest than the previous one, with a short note on top. Petey picked up the note, immediately recognizing Greg’s loose, simple handwriting. The police dog’s writing was as carefree and sincere as he was, almost flowing into a single, cursive-like line. 

‘To my sunset, 
Whose rusty rays touch the farthest corners of my soul with quiet grace, 
And whose fierce gaze sparks wildfires in the chambers of my heart. 
I can only dream of your light beside me, 
guiding me gently through the days to come. 

–Always yours, 
Greg’ 

Petey heart quickened with each word he read. The air left his lungs, and his face was set on fire as he re-read each word. He wasn't aware that Greg was capable of writing so beautifully, but there it was in front of him, written in his unmistakable handwriting and placed just in front of him seconds ago. He placed the note where he had found it, feeling the sudden dread of someone trespassing on forbidden limits. If he hadn't known such a side of Greg was for a reason, it surely wasn't meant for him. Probably, the box under it was the necklace he had advised Greg to exchange last night.  

As the cold bucket of reality Petey had imposed upon himself drenched his body. His lungs reacted to a freezing sensation or rejection. 

“Papa!” Lil’Petey cried out, worried as he heard his father break into a harsh coughing fit. 

Petey had to grab the back of the chair to keep himself from stumbling and falling. As he coughed, he could feel something dislodging in his throat, making each breathy hack sound strained and jagged. Once the fit subsided slightly, he grabbed a glass of water to soothe his aching throat. 

“Don’t worry, it’s just a bit of a cough…” Petey said hoarsely to calm his worried son. 

*That doesn’t sound good, Petey. Maybe you really should get it checked out*, Dogman pointed out. 

“Yeah, Papa! It’s been a week! You promised you’d go if you didn’t get better in a week!” Lil’Petey reminded him. 

*It’s been so long already?!* Dogman exclaimed. He hadn’t realized just how bad Petey looked. He had known the cat was a bit under the weather, but the coughing attack he just witnessed was far from minor. 

Greg looked at him more closely. Making Petey go into another coughing fit just as strong as the last one. Greg touched his forehead, checking if he didn't get a fever. *Why didn´t you tell me? * 

“Yeah! I told you —” Lil’Petey began to explain, but was cut off. 

“Shhh... Nothing to worry about. I’ll go get some syrup from the pharmacy, I’ll be good as new,” Petey tried to reassure them, though his raspy voice only worried them more. 

*I’ll go. You should rest* Greg insisted. 

That only stirred up Petey’s emotions more, making the tickle in his throat worse and threatening another coughing fit. “It’s nothing. I’ll go. You’re tired from work,” Petey said, wanting to get out of the house as quickly as possible. 

*It’s the least I can do. I’m worried about you* Greg insisted again, a warm, sincere smile spreading across his face. 

“Well, it sure doesn’t seem like it, with how much you irritate me!” Petey snapped, frustrated by what that smile did to his poor heart. 

*I’m serious. You and Lil’Petey mean everything to me* Greg said, grabbing his keys and heading out before Petey could stop him. * In fact, I’m leaving right now.*  

While Greg was gone, Petey finished clearing the dinner table and made sure Lil’Petey got ready for bed. The kitten didn’t want to cause his papa any more trouble, so he didn’t put up a fight. 

Not long after, Greg returned with a bag full of medications and sprays of all kinds. He wasn’t good at this sort of thing, so he bought everything that looked remotely useful, regardless of price or size. 

Petey felt a pang of guilt at the sight of all the things Greg had bought. It must have cost a fortune. “This is too much…” 

*You tend to be very picky* Greg replied shyly. He had hoped to satisfy the meticulous cat. 

That only softened Petey’s heart, though he didn’t show it. “Tsk... Just give it to me.” 

*Woof!* Greg barked dramatically, wounded. * Not even a thank you?*  

“I despise you,” Petey replied angrily as he headed to the bathroom. 

* I like you too, Petey* Greg called after him, even though Petey didn’t see. 

Petey could feel his cough getting worse. He locked himself in the bathroom, not wanting to have another attack in front of Greg, he was worried enough already. His throat itched terribly, making swallowing and speaking a hassle. He started coughing again, trying to scratch away the irritation. 

Then he tasted something fresh, like grass… and felt something solid in his mouth. He spat all the remains he could into the sink. 

“No…” Petey whispered in terror as he examined strange objects. 

In his hands was the misfortune he had dreaded: a couple of white flower petals, sticky with saliva, were plastered into the porcelain. 

Though worried, Petey wasn’t surprised. Part of him had expected this. Finding his mother’s old medical file a few days earlier in the garage had been nothing but a bad omen. The cat finished spitting out as many petals as he could and flushed them down the drain, making sure not a single one remained. 

At least now that he knew the cause of his illness, it would be easier to find something to ease the symptoms. Petey shivered as he chose the medications that might help, the same ones he had bought so many times for his mother. He made a quick mixture of syrups and swallowed some pills. He washed his face and fixed himself not to worry Greg or his son, he could feel dread deep in his soul. But the exhaustion was far stronger. 

Petey returned to the bedroom, avoiding the canine as much as he could. He couldn’t look him in the eyes. He hid under the covers and fell into a deep sleep. Tomorrow, he would figure out how to deal with this new problem. 

Chapter Text

The next day, Petey got out of bed with a heavy heart. Greg had already taken Lil’Petey to school, letting him sleep in. The first thing he noticed was his dry, aching throat; it was annoying, but at least that meant that the medication had done its job perfectly. His dreamless slumber had been enough to replenish his energy. Once the sunlight grew too strong to ignore, Petey made his way downstairs. A light breakfast was waiting for him on the table: 

‘Get well soon, Papa! We love you! 

-Lil’Petey and Greg”  

The first part was written clumsily with a red crayon across a bright yellow Post-it, but the past name was written with a blue pen with more dexterity. Petey recognized the simple and casual handwriting immediately, reminding him vividly of everything that had happened last night, making his throat sting again. The medicine’s effects were beginning to wear off. 

“Fuck!” Petey exclaimed as he returned to the bathroom and coughed once again, spitting more petals. “No no no no! “He kept saying as he reached for the medicines to create a new dose of the concoction that had helped him last night. 

“Why me?!  Why now?!” Petey exclaimed as he slammed his hand against the sink. He opened the faucet to let the water carry all those petals out of his sight. Just when his life seemed to get in order, this new problem had to appear. He had worked hard to redeem himself, clean his name, and be a better cat for his son. Lil’petey not only motivated him to redeem himself, but he had also become the purpose of this new chapter in his life.  

Every pit of self-loathing he had to climb out of, every disdainful glance he had to pretend not to see, every slobbery kiss he endured, and every ounce of pride he had to swallow just to accept someone else’s help — it was all for Lil’Petey. So that he would never have to live the kind of life Petey did. So that he could grow up safe, whole, and free. Free from hunger, from grief, from the ache of abandonment. 

But these tiny petals were about to end with all his hard work.  

“Over my dead body!” Petey clenched his hands with sudden determination. He wasn’t the weak kitten he once was when his mother fell ill. He was not only older and wiser he had something else to his advantage. 

He returned to the garage he had been cleaning before. The place was nearly ready to be lived in, he just needed a bed to sleep on. He searched through the boxes he had moved earlier until he reached the back, where a thick binder with his mother’s name written in marker waited. 

He opened it to the first page and looked with disdain at the cause of his current suffering, written just beneath his mother’s photograph: 

“Hanahaki Syndrome 
A cluster of symptoms of unknown origin, believed to be genetic, characterized by the growth of floral sprouts within the patient’s respiratory system. These growths seem to be directly related to feelings of unrequited romantic affection felt by the patient...” 

Petey skimmed through the definition before continuing through the pages. Inside was everything he had collected during that exhausting year when they finally diagnosed his mother and documented her eventual passing. In hopes of helping his mother, Petey had saved every test result, prescription, and medical article they’d received. At the time, the syndrome back then was rarer than it is now; to reach a specialist was not only extremely hard but also expensive. 

He noticed where he had highlighted the medications that had done the best job of easing her symptoms. Back then, he remembered underlining them, determined to bring his mother back to health. Although his old notes lacked any proper technical terms, they were extremely detailed, it hopefully was enough to help him find a solution.  

Petey kept flipping through the pages slowly, watching in painful detail how the illness had progressed in his mother’s body. Each blood test showed her growing weaker, and in every X-ray, the mass in her lungs and throat grew larger. 

“As the condition progresses, the patient, Grace, exhibits increasing signs of malnutrition and respiratory distress due to the continued expansion of tumorous growths. Following a thorough evaluation of risks and potential outcomes, an aggressive treatment protocol will be initiated. This approach involves the administration of cytotoxic agents containing pesticide compounds...” 

Petey couldn’t read any further. He closed the folder and looked away. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, but his hands were trembling as he tried to process what might soon be his fate. 

He got up and searched through his desk, pulling out a blank white folder and a thick black marker. He took a deep breath, as if preparing to dive into a river, even though he’d long been swept away by its current, dragged along by a certain police dog and his cursed genetics. Slowly, he wrote his name on the empty binder. Then, using his mother’s folder for reference, he began copying the list of medical tests he would need to assess his own condition. 

꧁꧂ 

Meanwhile, Greg was on his break, sitting with Alice. He had promised to take her out for dinner that day, but he was too worried about Petey to leave him for longer than necessary, so instead, he arranged this brief, casual meet-up at a nearby burger place. 

Greg looked deep in thought. In the two years they had lived together, this was the first time he had seen Petey sick. The cat usually kept himself in good health so he could be there for his little one. In contrast, Greg was the one who got injured more frequently, thanks to his job as a police officer. His big heart made his body move faster than these thoughts, reminding him of the scolding he would receive at home. He never wanted to worry the feline, so he did his best to hide it, but Petey, perceptive as he was, always figured it out immediately. Greg was far too honest for his own good, and to Petey, he was like an open book. 

“Tsk. You’re hopeless, Greg,” he remembered him saying in annoyance, the tone at odds with the gentle and careful way he cleaned and bandaged Greg’s wounds. “Don’t you know you have to keep yourself in one piece for Lil’Petey?” Petey’d scolded in those memories, tightening the bandages to ensure they stayed in place overnight, firmly, yet without causing the dog pain. His eyes focused on Greg’s scarred body. Unlike his own, Greg didn’t have fur to cover his injuries, so each mark remained exposed on his skin. As Petey’s green eyes danced on his skin, Greg did his best to ignore the fluttering beat of his heart. Petey would try to speak, opening his mouth only to close it again a moment later, the words always dying in his throat. Greg waited patiently, knowing how hard it was for him to speak sincerely. 

“Don’t do it again,” Petey had softly said at last. It had meant to be a firm order, but his word had come out as a soft plea instead. His paws lingered over his arm scars, tracing them. Each touch ignited fire onto Greg’s skin, burning into his memory. 

“…Greg... Greg... DOGMAN!” Alice’s voice pulled him abruptly from his memories. “Dogman! I’ve been talking to you for hours, and you just keep staring at nothing! You’re worrying me!”  

*Sorry! It’s just... some things are going on at home*, Greg signed nervously, feeling bad for upsetting Alice. 

“What are you watching anyway?” Alice turned to see the TV behind her playing a re-run of the last interview Petey had given long ago. The interview with Sarah, in which he talked about his origins and journey toward redemption. 

“Tsk!” Alice clicked her tongue. “I still can’t believe they let that cat walk free so easily! It’s ridiculous! An injustice!” she started ranting loudly, drawing the attention of nearby diners. 

*He’s been pardoned by the government—legally, he’s allowed to live like the rest of us* Greg immediately explained, defending his beloved friend. 

“Being pardoned doesn’t erase the fact that he’s a villain!” Alice snapped while munching on her fries dipped in ketchup. “He had destroyed dozens of buildings and stolen millions during his villain days! Not to mention what he did to Knight!” Alice was speaking so loudly, the entire place could hear her. 

*He’s shown true remorse! And he’s helped countless official operations, both with his inventions and direct collaboration! He served his punishment as the law stated! * Greg argued angrily, letting out a faint growl as he signed rapidly. * You have no idea what he had gone through! Everyone deserves a second chance—especially when he has worked hard to earn it!  

“That still doesn’t make it right or safe for him to be free! That’s why I left Ohkay in the first place! I ran as soon as I found out what happened to Knight!” Alice even stood up to continue yelling, and a few people in the diner began to murmur in agreement. “I didn’t want to hear anything about it! No news, no articles, no photos. Even to this day! I’m only here temporarily and strictly for business! As soon as I’m done, I’m getting the heck out of this crazy city!” 

Just then, a waitress approached them, clearing her throat. “Either you calm down, or we’ll have to escort you out,” she said in a shrill voice, hands on her hips and tapping her foot rapidly. 

Alice immediately flushed with embarrassment and sat down, grabbing a nearby menu to cover her face. “Sorry...” 

Greg also looked regretful. The two sat in silence for a couple of minutes until the waitress walked away and Alice lowered the menu. 

*Are you leaving?* Greg asked, his anger changed to sadness in an instant. 

“I... I really need this job, and I had no choice. I was promised to be paid handsomely afterwards...” Alice awkwardly explained, she expected Greg to be sad, but by his look, he seemed utterly defeated. ” I’ll be leaving in two months. So let’s make them count! Let’s see each other as much as possible! 

“Sure,” Greg responded with only half a smile. 

“We can keep in touch through the internet. And you’re always welcome back in my house!” Alice tried to lighten the mood. Then she waited for the dog to answer, but he remained silent. He was deep into his thoughts. 

The silence bothered Alice, so she continued talking to fill the void. “Sorry, I lost my cool. It’s just... remembering what that cat did to you makes me furious like you have no idea!” Alice apologized, but there was frustration in her voice as she reminded Greg once more. “Some people just don’t deserve forgiveness... No matter how much I told Knight, he never listened... And I guess you’re just like him...” she trailed off. 

Alice looked at Greg again, who still couldn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he stared at the metal napkin dispenser, watching the reflection of the TV screen still showing Petey’s face. This time, his expression was unreadable. 

“Alright, let’s forget it,” Alice said awkwardly, trying to change the subject. “The last thing I want is to fight with you now. What were you saying happened at home?” 

Greg barely met her eyes as he answered. *Nothing. Don’t worry about it...* Greg said flatly. *What’s your new job? *

꧁꧂ 

The hospital’s air conditioning was at full blast. No matter how many sweaters he wore, the cold still pierced through his fur and sank deep into Petey’s bones. It was that very pain that jolted him awake from an unplanned nap. His head had been resting against the edge of the hospital bed, and his neck ached from the awkward position he’d been in. 

Yet all of that faded into the background when he looked up and saw his mother clutching her neck with a pained expression. Terror seized him instantly, so overwhelming that he couldn’t even hear her voice, even as her lips moved. 

“Mom! A doctor! Someone get a doctor, please!” Petey cried out desperately, clutching the hospital sheets tightly with his small claws. His voice cracked toward the end, not just from panic but from the uneven pitch of adolescence. 

Before he could run to find help, a nurse arrived, followed closely by a doctor. They quickly moved in to assist Grace, gently pushing Petey aside. “Let us work, son,” one of them said hurriedly. 

“Mom! Mom, don’t leave me!” he kept shouting, even as a firm pair of hands pulled him back and dragged him away from the room. 

“Stay calm, Petey. Everything will be alright,” came a deep but soft voice behind him. Despite the kindness in the words, they only stirred more anger inside him. He turned, ready to lash out at the speaker—but no one was there. 

“Mr. Petey… Mr. Petey… Petey!” A new voice called out, waking him from his brief sleep. 

Petey was in the waiting room. A feline nurse stood in front of him, calling his name repeatedly. “You may enter now, sir,” she said, slightly annoyed at having to wake him. 

Petey stood up, feeling his body protest in pain. He wasn’t as young as he once was, and just a few minutes of rest in a twisted position were enough to make his back ache. He followed the nurse silently, glancing at the other animals still waiting in line. 

꧁꧂ 

A few hours later, Petey had gone to pick up his son. Lil’Petey ran toward him, joyfully throwing himself into his comforting arms. Petey held him tightly, his heart breaking as he imagined what would happen if he didn’t recover. Lil’Petey was still so little, even younger than he had been when he lost his mother. He lacked all those years of experience that Petey had gained through hardships and failures. 

“Papa! I thought Dogman was picking me up! Are you feeling better? Did you see my note?”  Petey genuinely smiled at the kitten’s enthusiasm.  

“I’m feeling great! The medicine worked, and I already feel much better.” Petey grabbed his son’s backpack and the two walked home together.  

“Can you tell me bedtime stories again?” Lil’Petey asked with eager eyes.  

Petey smiled gently. Lil’Petey was still just his sweet little boy. “As many as you want,” he replied, with a faint but warm smile.  

“Papa, what’s that on your arm?” Lil’Petey asked, pointing to a small white band stuck to his fur.  

It was a tiny piece of tape used to hold some cotton soaked in alcohol against his fur after he had taken his blood exams. “Nothing,” he said, quickly peeling it off.  

After that, they returned home. Lil’Petey was thrilled to see his father looking better. Not only did he seem more rested, but he was also smiling again. It wasn’t the forced, stiff smile he’d worn the last few days. It was a soft, caring smile. His papa’s smile wasn’t as big as his, but it didn’t seem out of place either, so Lil’Petey took it as a good sign.  

As they arrived, they saw a delivery truck parked outside the house, with two men about to knock on the door. “Mr. Duckhat?” one of the deliverymen asked. “We’ve got a bed delivery for you.”  

Petey immediately smiled. “Of course! Let me open the door so you can bring it in.”  

“Papa!” Lil’Petey whined. “You can't change rooms! We need to take care of you! You’re sick!”  

“I’ve explained this already. It’s better to do it now. What if I end up infecting Greg? I’m sure he wouldn’t want to go to work sick. The city needs him! The whole police department would be in shambles without him!” Petey explained as he watched the deliverymen install the bed.  

“But…” Lil’Petey began to protest. Maybe now that his papa seemed happier, he could change his mind.  

“Look, kid,” Petey interrupted gently, sensing another protest on the way. The kid was sweet, but sometimes he could be a real pain. Lil’Petey still had so much ahead of him to face, to learn, to carry. “There are moments when you just have to be strong, alright? You keep moving forward, even when it hurts, even when it makes no sense… until things get better.” 
He didn’t mention how often they don’t get better. But that belief, that fragile, stubborn belief, was the only thing that had ever kept him going on darker times. 

“But I am strong!” Lil’Petey argued proudly. “I can even lift an elephant!” 

“You mean your robot can lift the elephant,” Petey corrected with a dry chuckle. He loved that about the kid, his endless energy and his faith in the impossible. “There’s… stuff you just can’t lift like that.” How could he explain the kind of weight that never leaves your chest? 

“That’s okay!” Lil’Petey grinned. “If I can’t lift it, I’ll just ask you and Dogman to help!” 

Petey fell silent. He couldn’t even look the kid in the eyes. 

“Oh! And guess what? There’s gonna be a school event!” Lil’Petey exclaimed, suddenly remembering. He dug through his backpack and handed Petey a colorful poster. A cheerful family played ball beneath the bold letters, inviting all parents to a sports tournament next week. 

“Isn’t that awesome?” Petey stared at the poster. His smile came slowly and bitterly. “Yeah,” he said quietly. Just his luck.  

꧁꧂   

After returning from his shift, Greg put on his best smile as usual, even though moving every muscle felt like a chore. He worked as hard and fast as he could to get home and check on Petey. That day, when he arrived, Petey had waited for him with a stew full of spices and dried chiles. Not only was the aroma strong and penetrating, but the taste was exquisite. 

Petey looked much better than he had the day before. Greg hadn’t seen him cough even once. His usual sarcasm and typical scolding were back in full force, which reassured the canine greatly. Still, his earlier conversation with Alice lingered in the back of his mind. 

“Aren’t you going to finish that after all the time I spent making it?” Petey scolded, seeing how Greg had drifted off mid-meal. Something was bothering him enough to make him get lost in thought. 

*Of course! It’s delicious!* Greg said, embarrassed to have upset the cat more than he already had. He quickly dove into his meal, leaving no trace on the plate and splattering bits of stew everywhere. *Thanks for the food,* he signed as soon as he was done. 

“If you liked it that much, maybe you should slow down and taste it,” Petey muttered, grabbing some napkins from the table. 

*Sorry* Greg signed, though an apology wouldn’t wipe away all the stains on his uniform and his face. 

“Papa! That’s how Dogman enjoys his food!” Lil’Petey jumped in to defend him. 

“It’s just… such a shame he makes such a mess,” Petey said as he gently held Greg’s chin, making the dog look him in the eye. Greg immediately got lost in the cat’s intense green gaze. Then, like he often did with his son, Petey began wiping Greg’s face with a napkin. Petey’s stare was distant, his mind elsewhere. 

Greg’s, however, was very present. The earlier thoughts of Alice vanished as Petey’s warm, careful hand moved his chin from side to side, checking for leftover food on his golden fur. Finally, Petey wiped off the last spot with his thumb… and licked it off. “You waste too much food,” he muttered, still holding Greg’s gaze. 

Greg sat frozen, still feeling the warmth of Petey’s fingers on his face. He couldn’t look away from the cat. Petey, realizing what he’d done out of sheer habit, began to blush. 

“Well! It’s getting late! Time for bed!” Petey said abruptly, scooping up Lil’Petey and leaving the room. He was grateful he’d taken his medicine before Greg came home. 

After tucking the kitten in, Petey returned to the room. He took a deep breath before gripping the doorknob, mentally preparing himself to tell Greg they couldn’t sleep together anymore. Lil’Petey had already shown his disapproval of the arrangement, and convincing Greg would be even harder. 

He opened the door slowly and saw Greg sitting with his back to him, staring out the window, lost in thought. He remembered the warmth of Petey’s touch, holding onto the vivid memory. He was so distracted hadn’t even noticed Petey entering. The cat approached quietly, concerned. As hard as it was for him to show, seeing Greg so pensive like that made him uneasy. 

“Hey… how’s it going, Greg? Weather’s something, huh?” Petey said awkwardly, trying to break the ice. 

Greg immediately stood to face him. *I didn’t see you! Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Do you need me to go to the doctor with you tomorrow?* he signed so quickly that Petey struggled to keep up. 

“I’m fine! I feel great!” Petey assured him. “How about you?” 

*Yeah, it’s just… work stuff* Greg replied awkwardly. His nervous hands and shifty gaze gave away the lie. 

“Uh-huh, work,” Petey said sarcastically, not buying it for a second. 

*Yeah! Work* Greg repeated, praying Petey wouldn’t press further. 

“Well, let’s pretend I believe you,” Petey said bluntly. “Even though we both know I don’t.” 

Greg slumped down onto the bed and covered his face. There was no point hiding anything from Petey. 

“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, Greg. But no matter what, Lil’Petey and I are here for you.” Petey bit his tongue, he sounded just like Lil’Petey a few moments ago. “You mean a lot to both of us, Greg.” 

*Thanks* Greg signed softly, relieved by the support from his new little family. *So, what did you want to tell me?*  

“Nothing important. You look tired, it can wait until tomorrow,” Petey said quickly, just as nervously as Greg had earlier. 

“Well, let’s pretend I believe you,” Greg replied, echoing him with a cheeky grin. “Even though we both know I don’t.”  

Petey flushed and laughed dryly. “Haha.” Then he added, “Lil’Petey’s got a school event in a few weeks. It’s a family day thing, and, well… you’re better at that stuff than I am.” He was hoping Greg would volunteer to handle it. 

Greg obviously wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to spend time with his two favorite cats. *And let you miss all the fun? No way!*  

“That’s what I was afraid of,” Petey muttered. 

*That’s it?* Greg asked. 

Seeing that Greg seemed better, Petey decided to just rip off the band-aid. “Well, while we’re at it… I finished cleaning the garage. It was a mess. And since you said I could use the space however I wanted… I bought a bed.” 

*What?* Greg looked genuinely surprised. 

“Well, the couch is uncomfortable, and Lil’Petey’s bed is too small. So I figured I’d get another bed. You need your space, and I need mine. Besides, who knows if I can infect you with whatever I have! Better safe than sorry.” 

*But you look fine!* Greg protested, just like Petey knew he would. *And my bed is big enough for both of us!* 

“People will start thinking things about us that aren’t true,” Petey said, irritated. “Lil’Petey already has ideas about us that aren’t real.” 

*Let him think what he wants! He’s happy believing it!* Greg pleaded. 

“What about the others? Chief? Sarah? Yolay… Alice?” Petey shot back, even more serious. A pain on his chest grew just by mentioning Greg’s lady friend. “They won’t be so understanding. And I need my space, Greg. You need yours.” 

*But—* Greg tried to argue, but Petey saw it coming. 

“No buts! I’m moving downstairs, not to another state! It doesn’t mean anything!” Petey snapped, trying to end the conversation quickly. 

Greg looked at him sadly.*... Alright,* he finally gave in. The last thing he wanted was to upset Petey further. 

Petey suddenly felt guilty. But with the worsening issue in his throat, he had to start taking precautions. He looked once more at Greg’s dejected face as the dog lay in the middle of the bed, watching him sadly. Petey sighed before saying, “Okay… just for tonight, alright? One last night, and that’s it.” 

That brought a small smile to Greg’s face as he shifted aside to make room on his usual side of the bed. Petey lay down next to him, and Greg immediately snuggled up, resting his head near Petey’s chest, earning a flustered scolding from the cat. 

“Alright, flea-bag, time to sleep,” Petey muttered before switching off the light. 

Chapter Text

The little kitten wandered through the quiet house. For days now, his papa had been immersed in this new, important project. Petey had locked himself in his lab, working day and night on his new and mysterious invention, which had sparked the little one's curiosity. But no matter how much Lil’Petey asked about it, his papa kept refusing to tell him anything. The secrecy only made him more curious. Lil’Petey wasn’t like other kids. Not only was he a clone, but he was also a genius, born with an innate understanding of mechanics. 

“More circuits, more samples, more components, less time…” Petey muttered hurriedly as he finished scribbling in his notebook and grabbed his keys. “I’m leaving! Don’t touch anything! And don’t even think about going into my room!” Petey yelled before slamming the door and rushing out with everything he needed. 

Lil’Petey rushed out as soon as he heard his papa’s voice, hoping to say goodbye. But by the time he got to the living room, it was already empty. 

“Rats!” Lil’Petey huffed, mimicking his papa’s signature frustration. Then he giggled to himself and was about to head back to his room to continue drawing when a faint breeze caught his attention. 

He turned around to see the door to the garage, usually locked tight when his papa wasn’t home, slightly ajar. “No way…” Lil’Petey whispered, eyes wide as he approached the door. He knew he wasn’t supposed to, but his curiosity was eating him alive. Eventually, his childish impulses won out, and he timidly stepped inside. 

The garage was even more packed than before, machines of all kinds piled on top of one another. Lil’Petey knew his papa’s machines well, from giant robots to laser beams, supercomputers, clone-makers, and more. But these machines… these weren’t like any of the others. They were smaller, more modest. On the desk were blueprints of these strange devices. 

“Laboratory Incubator 2000,” Lil’Petey read aloud. “Incubates samples 200% faster. Automatic Blood Centrifuge 5000, Portable Scanner 3000, Enhanced Imaging Machine 6000 

Biology and medicine had never been fields his papa showed interest in before. Unlike the predictability of his beloved mechanics, organic material came with too many unknowns. That’s why Petey had always taken refuge in the logical repetition of classical engineering, a trait Lil’Petey shared. He kept flipping through the many sketches and prototypes his papa had designed in just a few days. No wonder he was so exhausted. 

“Maybe Papa wants to build a hospital,” Lil’Petey thought as he studied the drawings. Then he kept exploring. His papa’s bed was a mess, which made him giggle, and beneath it were stacks of white medicine boxes of all sizes. They looked like a little city made of pristine white skyscrapers. Maybe they were mini hospitals full of talking pills with magical abilities. His imagination took off with this idea, quickly turning it into a story he could make into a comic. 

Excited, Lil’Petey jumped to his feet and ran to his room to illustrate his new idea, leaving his papa’s room behind. 

꧁꧂ 

Inside a cozy café, Dogman and Alice were sipping coffee. They had agreed to spend all of Alice’s lunch breaks together from now on. Not far from the station, they had found a quiet little spot where they could talk without interruptions. 

Greg let out a sad, dramatic whimper and slumped over the table. 

Alice rolled her eyes, amused by the dog’s theatrical mood. “If it bothers you that much, maybe you should just be direct. Stop being subtle. Just tell him you don’t like seeing him all stressed out.” She took a sip of her latte. 

*So what, I drag him out by force and make him sleep?* Though Greg meant it as a joke, he was seriously considering it. 

It had been days since Petey started his new project. He stayed locked in his room nearly all day, only coming out at night to spend time with Lil’Petey and have dinner. It wasn’t the first time this had happened. Lil’Petey even said it used to be worse back when they lived in the lab, but that didn’t mean Greg liked it. Petey looked exhausted, his fur had lost its shine, and the dark circles under his eyes were only growing. 

Alice laughed out loud. “Working a few nights isn’t a crime. Don’t even think about arresting him. Locking him in a cell won’t make him a prisoner of your kisses.” She blew him a teasing kiss in the air. 

*Alice!* Greg barked, scandalized, covering his face in embarrassment and sinking into his seat. 

Alice only laughed harder, tears forming in her eyes and her cheeks aching. “You’re so adorable, Greg. I’m sure everything will be fine if you just talk to him.” She ruffled his head fur as if he were her little brother. 

*Not if he’s in a bad mood,* Greg replied immediately. Petey wasn’t exactly known for his calm temper. * I need to get him to rest and de-stress first. Otherwise, he’ll just blow me off.*  

“Maybe your cuddles are all he needs to melt the stress away,” Alice said with a mischievous grin, exaggerating her gestures to tease him even more. 

*Alice!* Greg barked again, just as scandalized as before. 

Alice laughed until she had to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes and sighed wistfully. “I say it from experience.” She gazed out the window, her grin softening into a nostalgic smile. “Trust me, I've got a lot of practice. I miss those nights. They were my favorite. I remember when he…” 

“Arf!” Greg barked to interrupt her. As much as he appreciated Knight and Alice, he didn’t need the details of their private life. He’d already seen too much when they first moved in together. 

Alice just enjoyed messing with Greg. The poor guy never knew where to hide when she teased him, and it was simply too entertaining. “I’m just saying, if he ever offers, I’ve got a few other kinds of tips I could give you.” 

Greg rolled his eyes and kept eating his lunch. Alice kept smiling for the rest of their break, content with how close she’d become to Greg. He was like a stranger she’d known her whole life, a shadow who had always been there silently, and hearing his voice now was like rediscovering a piece of her past. Everything Greg said fascinated her. He had so many opinions, so many stories she never imagined. Watching her old pet live his own life, and even argue with her, it was something Alice never thought possible. 

꧁꧂ 

A few days later, Lil’Petey was more bored than ever. His papa hadn’t come out of his room in ages. It had been so long since they’d gone out together that he was starting to forget what the park looked like. Even on weekends, Petey made excuses and locked himself up to keep working. Not only was it impossible to stop him, but he was also in a pretty bad mood. 

*It’s just temporary,* Greg had told him before leaving, trying to cheer him up. But it didn’t do much to lift his spirits. Lil’Petey knew how his papa got when he was deep into a new project, but that didn’t mean he liked it. 

He went downstairs for some water. The only sounds in the house were the welding tools from his papa’s lab and the soft spring breeze. The little one searched for a snack, but nothing he liked was within reach. He decided to try the lab door. He tugged at it, but it was locked. Then he heard his papa’s chair move, and just before the door opened, he heard coughing and some pained groans. 

“Something wrong, sweetie?” Petey asked, opening the door and wiping his mouth with his lab coat sleeve. 

“I’m hungry,” the little one said. “I want popcorn!” 

“Sure,” Petey replied, clearly tired. “But not too much. You still have dinner.” 

“Yay!” Lil’Petey cheered, following his papa into the kitchen. 

Petey calmly took out a pot with a lid and grabbed the popcorn jar from the counter. He stared out the window while waiting for the kernels to pop. “It’s a beautiful day,” he said, sounding worn out and disheartened. 

“Yeah! Let’s go to the park!” Lil’Petey shouted excitedly. “Please! I wanna go now!” 

Petey let out a heavy sigh. “Sorry, champ, but I’m still not done with my work,” he said solemnly, hoping the little one could be patient just a bit longer. If only he could fix his personal problem, Lil’Petey would have all the time in the world with him. 

“But papaaa. You’ve taken so long! And you need fresh air!” Lil’Petey protested, tugging on his papa’s leg. “You keep coughing in your room!” 

Petey blushed, though he covered it up quickly. “I told you! It’s just the dust from drilling.” 

“Exactly!” Lil’Petey jumped on the opportunity. “That’s why you need to go out! Let’s go to the park!” 

Petey let out a frustrated huff. “What we need is better soundproofing,” he muttered, already feeling another headache coming on along with more worries about being discovered. “Let’s go buy some. Quickly.” 

“And the park?” Lil’Petey tried pleading again. 

Petey paused before answering, unable to look him in the eye. “Maybe tomorrow.” But he already knew he likely couldn’t keep that promise. There was still too much to do , study machines, prototypes, research, all on his own. 

Lil’Petey frowned. He could tell his papa wasn’t being entirely honest. He let go of his leg and crossed his arms, wearing a pout that clashed with his usual cheerfulness. 

Petey finally sighed and tried a different tactic. “How about I get you a donut while we’re out? Sounds good?” 

“Thanks, papa!” Lil’Petey cheered immediately, seemingly forgetting everything that had happened just minutes before. 

꧁꧂ 

"He sounds like a real treasure," Alice commented before taking a sip of her latte. 

*And you won’t believe what he did after finally kicking out that abusive doctor he used to build machines for. He got on a plane and flew straight to rescue us. He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met. I didn’t even know he could fly a plane! It was amazing! * Dogman finished excitedly. *Sadly, his house couldn’t be saved after such a disaster.*  

"He does sound like someone spectacular. And I suppose letting him stay with you wasn’t exactly a bother, huh?" Alice added with a playful wink. "Will I ever have the pleasure of meeting the mysterious man who’s got you so smitten? Or that little rascal you’ve got hidden away?" 

Greg immediately tensed up. He hated covering for Petey like this, but he didn’t have much of a choice. * Well, like I mentioned, he’s very busy with work and the kid. Plus, he’s extremely shy. He’d hate to be put on the spot.* The ever-righteous police pup had become quite the shameless liar. 

"With all the chaos he’s helped you through, he sounds anything but shy. But fine, I’ll drop it... only because things aren’t official yet." Alice gave him a teasing look. Greg looked completely pathetic. She chuckled to herself, deciding to be merciful, for today, and not torment Dogman too much. "Still, I’m dying of curiosity. With everything you gush about him, he sounds like a Swiss Army knife." 

*And it’s all true! He can fix anything, builds machines, plays the ukulele, cooks like a pro, he’s an amazing father, makes the most convincing costumes, and...* 
Greg started listing everything off rapidly, his hands flailing in an endless series of animated gestures. 

"Whoa, easy there. I’m still learning sign language," Alice said. "Keep that up and your hands are gonna fall off." 

*Well, you talk nonstop and your tongue still hasn’t fallen out,* Greg retorted in the same childish tone. 

Alice stuck her tongue out at him playfully, earning a laugh from both of them. After that, they continued enjoying their lunch before returning to their respective jobs. 

꧁꧂ 

A couple of nights later, Greg was coming back from a particularly long patrol. Unlike his usual routine, he returned to a cold, empty house. The lights were off, and Lil’ Petey was already asleep in his room. The couch where Petey usually waited for him, nose buried in one of his books, was untouched, and the book itself wasn’t anywhere in sight. Greg let out a heavy sigh. It felt like going back to the early days after he’d first moved in, when all he had was his own company. 

But Greg wasn’t the kind of person to spiral into gloom for too long. He headed to the bedroom, hoping maybe Petey had fallen asleep waiting for him instead. His spiritual tail wagged ever so slightly as he pushed open the door, only to find the bed empty. That brief hope vanished in an instant, of course, Petey was still holed up in the garage. 

Greg went downstairs and tried to open the garage door. Locked. He rattled it softly, unwilling to give up, and just as he was about to try again, the door creaked open. 

Petey stood there, disheveled, dusty, his lab coat stained and his eyes sunken behind heavy dark circles. His fur looked dull under the hallway light. Greg’s ears drooped at the sight. 

“Hey, Greg,” Petey mumbled mid-yawn. “I left food in the microwave, just heat it up. I’ll be working a little longer before bed.” 

Before Petey could slip away and disappear into his project again, Greg gently caught his hand. *Please come with me,* he signed, pleading. 

Petey met didn’t his gaze; he knew Greg must’ve been giving him those soft, heartbreaking eyes again. “I don’t have time, Greg. I’m sure you can manage dinner on your own.” 

Greg exhaled and stepped closer, gently taking Petey’s face in his hands to make sure he was truly looking at him, truly listening. Despite the grime, the exhaustion, and the stubborn frown, the night light softened his sharp features. He still looked... beautiful. 

*Petey, please. You look awful. Just rest with me tonight,* Greg begged, his hands moving slowly, then reaching again for Petey’s hands, trying to guide him toward the bedroom. 

Petey flinched and yanked his hands away like he’d touched fire. “I’m not a kid who needs his papa to fall asleep,” he snapped. “I can take care of myself.” 

But Greg didn’t back down. He stood firm, signing with newfound resolve. *But I’m worried about you. I haven’t even seen your face in days. You’re locked in here every hour of the day. You’re going to work yourself to death. Whatever it is you’re building...   it can wait. Just for one night.* 

And there it was, the warmth in his chest, the flush rising to his face, the sting in his throat that had haunted him for weeks. Petey hated it. “You don’t need to worry about my work. You’ve been coming home late too, and I’m not lecturing you about it.” 

*It’s not the same, Petey* Greg sighed, clearly frustrated. *I don’t look like I got hit by a truck. Your dark circles are about to hit the floor. Even your fur looks duller than usual. You’re starting to look like you did when you worked for that mad doctor.*  

That hit deeper than Greg probably intended. Petey’s smile turned bitter, then quickly morphed into something smug and sharp, a mask. “It’s not the same at all, champ. Even after all these sleepless nights, I still look way better than you,” he said with a smirk, one claw lightly pressing into Greg’s chest and popping a button from his shirt in a gesture he meant to be threatening. 

Greg froze, his brain struggling to catch up with Petey’s sudden shift from anger to sarcasm to... flirtation? 

“What, cat got your tongue?” Petey taunted, with that dangerous glint Greg hadn’t seen since the old villain days. 

And then, in an act Greg wasn’t sure was genius or pure idiocy, he pulled out his handcuffs and clasped them swiftly around Petey’s wrists. 

“What the...?” Petey was clearly trying not to explode. 

*You can come to bed the easy way or the hard way*, Greg signed with a straight face. *Your choice.*  

“How nostalgic,” Petey muttered, sarcasm dripping. “But seriously, not necessary.” 

Greg wordlessly unlocked the cuffs, trusting him. But even then, he kept Petey’s hands in his own, unwilling to give him an escape route. 

The taste of grass lingered in Petey’s mouth, bitter and growing. He swallowed it back and forced down a cough. “What a charmer,” he grumbled as Greg gently tugged him toward the bedroom. 

On any other night, Petey might’ve let himself melt into the familiar comfort of Greg’s bed, his scent in the sheets, the steady rhythm of his breath. But tonight, there was no sleep, only irritation in his throat and an ache in his chest that no warm blanket could chase away. 

He lay beside Greg, silent, counting each breath until it softened, until Greg slipped into dreams. That was his signal. 

Petey quietly slipped out from under the covers, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway. He returned to his own room and locked the door behind him. The moment the latch clicked, his body crumbled. 

A violent cough overtook him, petals spilling from his lips, scattering across the floor like the first drops of a summer storm. 

꧁꧂ 

“Awoooooo!” Greg howled in the middle of the restaurant, earning a few confused glances from people in the cafeteria. The memory of waking up to an empty bed once again had shattered his soft heart. 

“It’s gonna be okay,” Alice tried to cheer him up, giving him a few gentle pats on the back. “I’m sure your roommate is just stressed. Trust me, I know what it’s like to get totally caught up in a new project. Didn’t you say he’s done this kind of thing before?” 

*That doesn’t mean it’s not bad for him. I don’t even know what he’s doing in there—if he’s sleeping, working, or doing something else. He’s always full of surprises, and not always the good kind,* Greg said, sounding both desperate and frustrated. 

“Just give it time. I remember when I first started doing nails, I got obsessed with this layered, sculpted design that was insane. I went three full days without sleep trying to get it done before the deadline! But it was totally worth it in the end. It’s just part of life,” Alice tried to reason with Greg, even though, deep down, she felt more in tune with Greg’s mysterious roommate than with Greg himself. 

Greg gave a small smile, reminisced about simpler times. * How could I forget? Knight almost cried trying to convince you to go to sleep.*  

Alice laughed, “Not even the president could’ve forced me to sleep. When inspiration hits, it hits ,” she said dramatically, waving her hands in the air. “Between inspiration and the adrenaline of a deadline, it’s like a full-on hyper fixation! It’s almost spiritual!” 

Greg rolled his eyes.* I wouldn’t exactly call your sleep-deprived face ‘spiritual’.*  

“You’ll see. Once the project’s over, he’ll snap out of it,” Alice said, brimming with confidence. 

But Greg wasn’t convinced. He sighed heavily.* I hope so.*  

꧁꧂ 

Petey sat alone in his room, his face buried in both hands, frustrated. Days had gone by with no real progress, and according to his homemade diagnostics, the mass in his body just kept growing. No matter how many tests he ran, he couldn’t pinpoint the cause or figure out how the mysterious illness even worked. None of it made any sense. 

He had multiple petri dishes filled with the petals he’d extracted, along with tiny branches and sprouts, all forming a miniature greenhouse the size of a shoebox. He had tried to develop something that would kill the growths without damaging his own tissue, but nothing worked. The sprouts and his flesh were so intertwined that under a microscope, they were indistinguishable. 

Every pesticide strong enough to kill the plants would destroy his lungs as well. Every weaker one just let the sprouts keep growing. The only thing he had managed was to temporarily ease the symptoms by synthesizing stronger active compounds, but that only muffled a plague that was quietly taking over his body from the inside. 

He stood and went to the bathroom to freshen up, taking advantage of the empty house to expel everything from inside without being discovered. That way it would be easier to hold it in once the kid came back. The petals clung to the porcelain, sticking to the sides before finally being flushed away by the water. 

After washing his hands, Petey stared at his reflection. He looked more worn out every day. He couldn’t let that happen. 

He returned to the garage, rummaging through his things until he found a small purple case with a handle and a desk mirror. The box had several compartments filled with makeup, jewelry, and accessories for his old disguises. Petey searched through the colorful containers until he found a black compact with a powder nearly identical to his usual vibrant orange fur. 

“This’ll have to do for now,” he muttered to himself, applying the makeup with practiced precision. Then he grabbed a few concealers to subtly mask the deep circles under his eyes and paused to examine the result. 

He didn’t look like a model, or like someone else entirely. He just looked... more refreshed. As if he’d only been working for two or three days, instead of almost a week. With a spritz of setting spray, he locked the powder in place so it wouldn’t rub off. 

But it was just a finger trying to block out the sun. Petey knew ideas were starting to run dry sooner than expected. Maybe he had trusted science and himself, too much. Or maybe he had underestimated the nature of the illness altogether. 

He closed his research folder and locked it away in a small safe hidden at the back of his desk, making sure to secure it with both a key and a code. Then he headed to bed, planning to catch a short nap before continuing. On his way, he picked up a marker and crossed off another day on the calendar, just then noticing that this weekend was Lil’ Petey’s family event. 

“Ugh,” he groaned, letting his body collapse onto the mattress. That would be Friday-night-Petey’s problem. Today’s Petey was too discouraged and exhausted to even think straight. 

Soon his eyes closed, swallowed by the silence of his new room, surrounded by false hopes and efforts that seemed more futile by the hour. The inventor cat let himself sink into a heavy, dreamless rest, one that drained his energy instead of restoring it. In a few hours, he would wake up and continue a search that was starting to feel like trying to mop up the sea. 

Chapter Text

This wasn’t Petey’s lucky day. Then again, with his illness, no day ever really felt lucky at all. After waking up unusually early thanks to his insomnia, he’d spent the morning reviewing his notes and progress, though there wasn’t much progress to speak of. Everything was still stuck, stalled, stagnant. No matter how many times he ran the experiments, no matter how he altered the components, he just couldn’t get the results he wanted. Just thinking about it made him want to flip the table over and set the garage on fire. 

But fire alone wouldn’t be enough to burn away the root of all his problems. 

“Maybe if I go over it again…” Petey muttered to himself as he reached into his coat pocket, pulled out the small key, and unlocked the box that held both his and his mother’s medical records. “Maybe I missed something.”  

Petey combed through the file with meticulous focus. By now, he’d grown numb to the content, he could read it without having to look away. But that didn’t mean reliving it had gotten any easier, he would still flinch on the last pages. Desperately, he sifted through every technical term and every medical chart, hoping to find something his sleepless nights had somehow overlooked. But there was nothing he hadn’t already seen. Nothing new. Nothing helpful. 

Before he realized it, he’d reached the end of the file. A single sheet lay there, marking the final stop in the trail. 

Petey stared at the official document, filled out in unfamiliar handwriting and sealed by the hospital. The letters were far messier and sloppier than his methodically bold and angular handwriting. He tried to remember the day it was written and how it had gotten into the folder in the first place, but the pain and chaos that had followed his mother’s passing had blurred everything. Unlike the vivid memories he carried of their time together in the hospital, everything that came after felt foggy… 

He shook his head, forcing himself not to wander too deep into that misery. If everything went according to plan, he’d have plenty of time to overthink later. He was just about to close the folder when a thought he'd been avoiding came crashing back into his mind with surprising force: 

“What if it doesn’t go well?”  

Hesitantly, he opened the folder again and looked down at the grim paper once more, this time, seeing it for what it truly was, a reminder of his journey coming to an end

No matter how smart or talented he was, there were things he could never accomplish. He couldn’t move the planet. He couldn’t drink the ocean. He couldn’t make his son eat broccoli of his own free will. He couldn’t defy death.

Petey slammed the folder shut harder than necessary and locked it away again. There was no point in staring at paperwork that held no answers. After all, there was no one else who knew what had happened after. Only he had lived through it, the exhausting string of moves from one house to another, the crushing medical debts his father had left behind, the risky nighttime scavenges just to get what he needed to survive, and the unbearable weight of his loneliness.  

His mind started to spiral. 

“I need some air,” Petey muttered, grabbing the house keys and bag with some emergency supplies. He had to get away from the garage, away from the failed attempts, away from the memories pressing in from all sides. 

꧁꧂ 

Chief was giving Dogman very specific instructions on what to tell the guards at Cat Jail and how to deliver that “very important” supply package. Even though it wasn’t a life-or-death mission, he knew how scatterbrained the canine had been lately due to a certain redeemed cat, and he wasn’t willing to take any chances. 

“Don’t even think about setting foot back in the station until you’ve made that delivery,” Chief told him sternly. “Once you’ve dropped it off, you can go get lunch early,” he added in a more casual tone. 

“Woof!” Dogman barked with a little military salute before picking up the box and hopping into the patrol car. 

As he drove, he sighed. The streets looked a little duller than usual, and his heart felt heavy. His sharp canine instincts kept telling him that something was really wrong with Petey, something worse than he could pin down. He just couldn’t make sense of the cat’s recent behavior, and the thought was eating him away. 

He was waiting at a stoplight when a flash of orange dashed past his car. A dashing smile once he recognized his dark string and his focused green eyes. The sight jolted him out of his thoughts, and he honked loudly to call the cat that was invading his thoughts seconds ago.

“Ahhhh!” Petey yelped, startled by the noise, before instinctively bolting away from the patrol car. Once he reached the sidewalk, his mind caught up, reminding him he no longer had a reason to run away from the police. He signed, relieved, and turned to see what was happening, just to see Greg eagerly waving at him. “Fuck!” Petey cursed, that foolish dog had his signature smile, the one that had won not only all the city’s heart but his as well. 

Greg quickly pulled the car closer and rolled down the window, barking to get the skittish feline’s attention. “Arf! Woof!”  

“Of course. Just my luck...” Petey muttered under his breath. “Heeey, Greg…” he greeted awkwardly, speeding up to put some distance between them. “Nice seeing you! Catch you at home!” 

But he wouldn’t escape the patrol car that easily. Greg gently accelerated to keep up and barked louder this time. “Ruff! Arf! Woof!”  

To Petey’s dismay, Greg wouldn't give up easily, whether this was due to genuine worry or his regular denseness was something the cat didn't want to find out. This filled his will to escape the dog, but his body didn't seem to agree. Petey didn’t just feel the usual tightness in his chest; this time, after only a short jog, he ran out of breath completely and had to stop to recover. 

That gave Greg just enough time to pull over and park right in front of him. 

*Are you okay?* Greg asked, worried, stepping out and offering Petey a hand. 

“I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s just the heat,” Petey quickly brushed off his concern, clutching his bag, waving his hand, and forcing a small smile. “Nothing to worry about, Greg.” 

*Come on, hop in. Lil’ Petey’s almost out of school. I’ll drop you both off at home so you don’t have to walk anymore.* Greg signed  

“Haha,” Petey laughed nervously, backing away a bit. “Don’t worry about me. I’m sure you’ve got way more important stuff to do. I’ll just—” 

Greg stepped in front of him, blocking his path and making Petey bump right into him. He gently grabbed Petey’s hands to steady him and stop the excuses. 

*Nothing is more important than you two,* Greg said with conviction. He kept hold of one of the cat’s paws to keep him from walking away. 

They locked eyes. Petey was nervous and uneasy, wanting to flee. Greg held his gaze with calm firmness and quiet patience. After a tense beat, Petey sighed in defeat. “Fine, but stop looking at me like that,” he grumbled, averting his eyes as he climbed into the passenger seat. 

Greg hopped in as well and started the car. * I just need to make one quick stop before we pick up Lil’ Petey.*  

Petey frowned. “Don’t use me as an excuse to ditch your work. I don't need more reason for the police to hate me.” 

*The kid won’t be out for a while yet. It won’t take long,”* Greg reassured him as they pulled away. *I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun!*  

Peter rolled his eyes as the car started to move. 

Greg felt calmer with the cat beside him, knowing Petey was safe as long as he was within his reach. He sighed, finally letting some tension leave his body. But as he did, a new scent caught his attention. It wasn’t Petey’s usual scent of motor oil, vanilla, and toast. His trained nose twitched as he examined the strange scent emanating from the cat. He smelled like freshly cut plants… plus a mysterious aroma he couldn’t pinpoint. 

Meanwhile, Petey remained silently, enjoying the cool air and watching the streets roll by outside the window. The gentle motion was making him drowsy, until suddenly the houses and roads outside started to look disturbingly familiar. 

“Of course it had to be this place,” Petey growled when he realized where the patrol car was stopping. 

Cat Jail had been his twisted second home for years. Petey would never forget the place where he’d spent so many nights locked up. Its silent walls filled with lonely memories and the halls were witness of his evilest plans. Greg parked and turned off the engine. 

Now that he wasn't driving, he was free to further explore the mysterious smell, his nose twitched as he sniffed again following the trace towards the cat, confirming he hadn’t imagined the new scent. He leaned closer to Petey, curious. 

“Back off, flea bag!” Petey hissed, pulling away from his shoulders, but this only made the police dog more intrigued. 

*You smell different,* Greg noted, gently nudging Petey’s hands aside and sniffing more intently. * You smell like flowers… and grass.* He took another sniff, eyes closed to focus. * And something else...*  

“It’s nothing! Just a new soap I’m trying,” Petey said quickly, embarrassed by Greg’s closeness after being so long secluded in his room.

Greg wasn’t accusing him, he didn’t seem upset at all. Just intrigued. Not a trace of Petey’s original scent remained. He had never encountered a perfume strong enough to hide someone’s natural scent from him, not even Petey, with all his advanced technology, had been able to hide from his sensitive nose. He leaned in closer, desperately seeking the scent he had grown to call home, and he leaned close enough to nuzzle the cat’s neck fur and inhale deeply.  

He closed his eyes, wandering through his memories to recall the peculiar smell. ”You smell like rust.* He finally said, against Petey’s thin fur.. 

The warm breath on his neck made Petey shiver. His heart skipped a beat, and his lungs forgot how to breathe. “Greg…” he nervously warned the dog, but the dog didn’t move away. His inquisitive expression was a rare view for the orange cat, Petey could swear, he saw smoke coming out from his ears from the efforts his brain was making. But his smile was quickly torn away when Greg moved his nose closer to his face, making him snap. “Back off, Greg!” he yelled, shoving him away. 

Greg quickly pulled back, yelping as the cat’s claws dug into his human skin.. * Sorry! I promise it won’t happen again!* He apologized as he whined.

“Tch. I’ve heard that before,” Petey muttered with his arms crossed. “Let’s just go.” 

Greg grabbed the package and headed toward the entrance, Petey fuming behind him. he hadn’t been in Cat Jail since his crimes were pardoned. The place had always been a constant in his days of excessive villainy, bad food, worse ventilation, and rusted-out cells. But this wasn’t the jail he remembered. 

Everything was redone. The gray walls were painted a soft blue. The cells looked clean. There was even a vase of flowers on the front desk. 

“Hey, Dogman! We’ve been expecting you, buddy!” One of the guards greeted him cheerfully. “Haven’t seen you around here in a while. Ever since you guys stopped locking up that idiot Petey every week—” 

“Ahem.” Petey cleared his throat loudly, stopping the guard mid-sentence. 

“H-Hey!” the guard squeaked. Petey’s reputation still held weight in the jail, even after all this time. His name still struck fear in the hearts of those who truly knew what he was capable of. “Long time no see, Petey.” 

“Charmed,” Petey said with a sinister grin, making sure every single fang was clearly visible. 

The guard laughed nervously, glancing at his nonexistent watch. “Welp, would you look at the time? Let’s go, Dogman. Bye, Petey. I’m sure a lot of people will be thrilled to see you again.” But not me, he thought as he dragged Dogman toward the main office. 

Petey wandered around the front desk while waiting for Dogman to finish up. Everything looked so different. The bulletin board was full of community flyers, and the chairs no longer looked like medieval torture devices. His throat tickled again, and he wondered if the bathrooms were finally usable by actual people. 

Then he heard a familiar gasp behind him. “No way!” 

He turned and saw the mustached guard who had once been in charge of watching him for years, rushing toward him. 

“Petey?! Is it really you? Have my prayers been answered? Is it really you standing there? Or am I dreaming once more?” the guard sang theatrically, spinning and twirling closer to the angry orange cat. “You look different. Your eyes look tired. Your frame is lighter. Your smile, torn.”

Petey couldn’t believe this idiot still worked here. Worse, he was still obsessed with him. As the guard knelt dramatically, preparing to belt out the last verse, Petey bolted down the hallway and vanished between the corridors. 

The guard had closed his eyes for extra drama and knelt right where Petey had been seconds before. “Is it really you, my love?!” he sang, throwing open his uniform to reveal a shirt with Petey’s face inside a pink heart. But when he opened his eyes, the reception was empty. 

“Nooooo!” he screamed, pounding the floor with his fist. 

Petey kept sneaking around, he admired the renovations as he wandered. He made sure no one saw him until he eventually reached the visitation room. At this time of day, it was empty. It was perfect for waiting out Greg’s errand. He thanked her once again for the new mayor's renovations as he slumped into a chair and stared up at the ceiling. He got lost in the white ceiling, its tone identical to all those papers he stared at nonstop for hours. His mind made its way to the end of the binder, where the last gloomy document was filled with the mysterious childish handwriting. Its content was a dreadful reminder of time’s passage… He closed his eyes, trying to bring clarity to his fuzzy memories, but nothing came from them.

“Petey?” said a familiar voice as the door creaked open. “It’s been forever , buddy!” Big Jim entered from behind and scooped him up into a bear hug before he could escape. 

The sudden oppressive sensation was oddly familiar to the sick cat. Jim’s obnoxious interruptions were a daily bread back in his prisoner days.  But still, the crushing weight of Big Jim’s hug was not something Petey was ever thrilled about. “Jim! I… can’t… breathe!” Petey gasped out. 

“Oops!” Jim let go suddenly, dropping Petey onto the floor. “It’s just… I’m so happy so see you! You’ve changed so much!” His ever smiling face looked healthier, his cheeks were full and he was brimming with pure joy.

Instead of his usual anger, Petey felt nostalgic.  “And you… haven’t,” Petey muttered, dusting himself off. “What are you doing here?” 

“Haha! I work here now!” Big Jim beamed, spinning around to show off his uniform. The shirt barely fitted and his pants were dusty but the shiny police badge was placed perfectly on his chest, highlighting the childish glint on his dark eyes.

Not even all those years imprisoned beside him had taken down Jim’s stubborn positivity. Maybe in the past, Petey would have yelled at him and tricked him to escape their cell. But that cat was long gone, so he could appreciate the purple cat under a different light. “Oh yeah, I heard about that on the news. Congrats.” Petey simply smiled, without malice or pride. He gifted him with a casual, sincere smile.

Back when Big Jim had first met Petey, the small orange cat that wore a bandage on his tail already had a frown on his face. He was mad at their new small foster home and sad toward his missing father, but back then, in rare moments, Jim could see him smile. His mother always knew how to make him smile, with a few simple words and her old ukulele, she could turn the darkest of moments into the brightest and illuminate them with her beautiful smile.

Petey used to have that same smile. 

Jim hadn’t seen Petey smile like that in years. Back in prison, his sarcastic grins always hid second intentions. But the one he witnessed today was effortlessly serene, the kind of smile he thought he’d lost forever. Overwhelmed with emotion, the big purple cat grabbed him into another hug. 

“Jim! My back!” Petey groaned as he was dropped again. 

“Sorry! I just…” Big Jim’s voice cracked as he knelt to help him up. “It means everything to see you like this again. It’s been so long since you’ve looked at me with anything but anger. I missed you, my brother.” 

“Don’t call me that,” Petey muttered, the movement shaking something loose in his lungs. He coughed hard and to his horror, a handful of delicate petals spilled from his mouth. He clasped both hands over his face, trembling. 

“One day,” Big Jim whispered softly, lost in his bliss. “One day, you’ll mean it.” His voice was full of fragile hope. He didn’t care how long it took. Petey was changing. Petey had let him in for a second. That was more than he’d ever expected. 

But then, Big Jim paused. Something felt wrong, it made his smile fade away.  Big Jim looked him over more carefully, Petey's fur was thin, dull in the light. His eyes were glassy with exhaustion. His limbs seemed too frail for someone who used to carry rage like a second skin. “Your fur… your eyes… Petey, you’re...you're wasting away.” 

Petey’s voice was barely a whisper. “Do you have a handkerchief?” he asked

"Of course!" Big Jim didn’t hesitate to hand it over.  

Petey turned his back to him, wiping his face with trembling fingers, but the purple cat wasn’t examining Petey’s actions; he was focused on something else entirely. Big Jim inhaled deeply, his nose twitching; the fresh, metallic scent coming from Petey was oddly familiar. His face and his smile were disturbingly bringing memories from the depths of his mind with the speed of a racing horse. Big Jim remembered that excruciatingly small communitary hospital room and the rigid sheets on her foster mother's body.

“…Petey,” he breathed, his voice quivering. “You… you smell like her.” 

"... What?" Petey’s pleasant thoughts came to a screeching halt. His voice was brittle, breaking apart in the middle. He turned back to look at Big Jim. The guard’s cheerful expression had collapsed in an instant. 

Big Jim stared at him, haunted. The smile he’d worn moments ago had completely shattered. “Petey… you look like her. Please.“ His eyes flickered, searching for another answer. “No… don’t tell me that—!” 

Petey staggered back, as if struck. A terrible chill raced through him, and his heart seemed to stop in his chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t know who you mean!” he shouted in despair, covering his ears to block out what he feared most.  

As he pressed his hands to his ears, the handkerchief fell freely to the floor as it floated towards the ground. The bloodstained silk revealed a cascade of ghostly white petals. 

Big Jim fell to his knees, the weight of recognition crushing him.  "Oh no... Not you, Petey." Tears poured freely from the prison guard’s eyes as he knelt in front of the inevitable. "Petey! It can’t be!" Big Jim crouched in front of the petals, his tears flowing effortlessly. 

"Jim, Stop!" Petey choked, grabbing his shoulders, trying to pull him up without success. Jim continued sobbing, and Petey’s fading strength only made him sob harder. In mere seconds, Jim was spilling everything Petey had tried so desperately to keep hidden. Petey’s green eyes began to fill with tears. "Get up! Jim..." Everything Petey had chosen to bear alone came pouring out through Jim’s tears. Soon his own walls, built so high and thick, cracked wide open. 

Big Jim wrapped his arms around him, but this time, there was no crushing force, only a fragile, trembling embrace, as though Petey might fall apart if held any tighter. Petey didn’t fight it. He couldn’t. There was nothing left in him to push away the tenderness. All the fight, all the walls, all the sharp edges had dulled down. He sank into the hug, limp and exhausted, allowing himself to be held, not out of weakness, but out of surrender. And in that stillness, in the quiet ache of shared sorrow, something shifted. Petey, who had always driven Jim away, now clung desperately to the purple cat’s chest, burying his face in the warmth of another soul who understood, who had seen the same kind of darkness and still stayed. It wasn’t strength that kept him going anymore. It was the unbearable gentleness of being known and not pushed away.

“How long have you known, Petey?” Jim whispered. Petey was so close, he barely had to speak to be heard.

Petey took a shaky breath and wiped his tears with his hands before replying. “A month…” 

Big Jim felt a pang in his chest and forcefully closed his eyes as if he had received a punch straight to his heart. Petey looked far more worn down. “Petey, you…” 

“It’s getting me faster than her,” Petey said with frustration. He needed to get everything off his chest now that he had a willing ear.“I don’t know what to do! I’ve tried everything.” 

“You should get help,” Jim offered, though he didn’t sound convinced by his own words. 

“What for? So they can lock me in a room until I die like they did with her?” Petey cried out, desperation rising in his voice. “I’ve researched everything, re-run tests, looked for rituals, and prayed to every angel and every devil. It’s all the same! There’s no cure!” 

“But there must be something to do!” Jim tried to encourage him, even though his tears wouldn’t stop flowing. 

“Jim…” Petey stopped shouting, though he kept rubbing his eyes to stop more tears from falling. “I don’t know what else to do...”

Jim’s gentle demeanor changed briefly and turned into something firmer, more determined. “Who is it?” He asked.

“What?” Petey asked, startled by the shift in his voice. 

“Who is it, Petey? Whatever Mo-Grace had... your father caused it. And if you have the same thing, someone’s responsible,” the guard said firmly. “They need to take responsibility.” 

“Who do you think? That dumb dog I live with has no idea. And even if he did, it wouldn’t change anything. He already has someone else,” Petey snapped, frustrated. “The only recorded cure is for the feelings to be sincerely reciprocated….  that’s not going to happen.” 

“Dogman? You mean Dogman?” Jim’s voice lost its firmness and was replaced by confusion. “He wouldn’t do something like that… There has to be another way.” 

“Forcing it won’t change anything. With my luck, rejection will just kill me faster!” Petey shouted again.

꧁꧂ 

Greg had finished his assignment Chief had given him a while ago. He’d said goodbye to the guard and the others, heading back to the front desk, but the tired orange cat was nowhere to be found. Only the receptionist and a crying guard with a mustache remained. He tried asking around, but no one had seen Petey, so he had no choice but to wander through the confusing hallways of the prison, trusting his nose to lead him. 

He closed his eyes and focused on Petey’s scent, the fresh-cut-grass smell stood out against the prison stench, and it soon led him to the visiting area, across from where Big Jim and Petey were talking. The thick glass that separated inmates from visitors also muffled sound.  

Petey was sitting on the floor with his back to the glass as Big Jim approached him. His face was clearly disheveled, and his eyes clearly red, his odd pained expression seemed off on the usually cheerful purple cat’s face. Greg wasn't close to Petey’s ex-inmate but still recognized him from all those visits to imprison Petey in the past and those few times they had fought together. 

Dogman crouched down; he had clearly entered into a private conversation. A single phone hung from one of the booths, inviting him to eavesdrop on their conversation, the phone on the other side was laying on the table, already witnessing the conversation. Nonetheless, his conscience kept him from reaching it. He was aware of how much Petey valued his privacy, remembering all those scratches he had gained by invading his space. The most recent one still stung under his uniform.

“That dumb blonde will be my doom!” Petey shouted too loudly for the dog not to hear even across the thick crystal.“I hate her!” 

“Who?” Jim asked.

“His stupid lady friend… Alice.“ Petey muttered her name, ashamed of his selfishness. “I can’t do anything. It would be unfair. I’ve taken so much from him already, and he’s been nothing but good to me. He gave me a warm place to stay and protected my boy when I couldn’t. His goofy smile haunts me, and his noble heart would never recover if he ever discovered what he had done to me.”

Greg could see Jim’s panicked expression as Petey talked, but the crystal muffled Petey’s muttering. Against his best judgement, curiosity took the better of him. Greg took advantage of their immersion in the conversation to reach the hanging phone and crouched not to be seen across the crystal so easily.

“Are you sure there’s no other option, Petey?” Jim asked.

Petey slowly shook his head, burying his head further on his knees.

The purple feline approached where Petey sat curled up. He knelt beside him, took his hand, and gave back the handkerchief. “We can’t control the wind, but we can control our sails,” he said, wrapping Petey’s hand with his own in a quiet gesture of unconditional support. 

The nostalgic words seemed to calm Petey’s pounding heart. “Thanks, Jim,” he said, standing up and giving him a hug, startling the dog watching from the other room. Greg´s pride ached deeper with every second the embrace dragged on. Greg had always taken pride in being the only one Petey ever allowed to be vulnerable around. He had worked so hard to understand him, to give him space, to be patient. He had waited, hoping that one day Petey would let him in again. But all of it felt meaningless now. In just a matter of minutes, Jim had achieved what Greg had been desperately trying to do ever since Petey isolated himself.

Jim returned the hug, careful not to squeeze too hard, then shifted back into his usual cheerful demeanor. “Of course! How can I help?” 

“Don’t worry, Jim. I can handle it on my own,” Petey tried to brush him off, the shame from earlier starting to creep back in after his emotional breakdown. 

“Petey, I was there with her, too. I know what you went through, and there’s no way I’m letting you go through this alone,” Jim said, resting a hand on his shoulder. “I visited her. I cared for her. I helped you with everything when you couldn’t handle it. Maybe you’ve forgotten about me, but that doesn’t erase what happened. No matter how hard you have tried to forget.” 

Petey looked at the nametag on Big Jim’s chest, the one written in thick black marker. His childish and sloppy handwriting hadn’t changed after all these years—it was the same as the one on the report that morning. “I guess you’re right... I’ll need someone once I hav to leave.” 

“Don’t say that. Hh-hope remains until the very end.” Big Jim pleaded, his voice quivering. Petay may have had weeks to process his situation, but Jim had just heard minutes ago.

“Okay, okay. Just promise one more thing, don’t you dare say a word about what you heard today, got it? I won’t forgive you if you do!” Petey warned him sternly.

“Of course! When have I ever let you down?” Big Jim replied with his usual cheer. 

Petey could think of at least 5 occasions when Jim did fail him when had tried to escape, but quickly pushed those thoughts away.“I need you to swear on the most sacred thing in your life,” Petey said, still wary of the distracted purple cat. “I need you to swear on every cupcake in this world—you can’t tell anyone, especially not Dogman.” 

Big Jim gasped, but solemnly raised a hand as he made his promise: “I swear! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” 

“Okay... there’s something else. I need you to look after Lil Petey.” Petey tried to go on, but his throat made it difficult. He had to cough harshly a few times before continuing. “We’ll talk about the details. These flare-ups are unbearable! Is there a bathroom nearby?” he groaned aloud. 

Big Jim answered, visibly worried. “Yeah! There’s one at the end of the hall.” 

“Thanks, see you around,” Petey said as he turned to leave. He glanced back at the room one last time. Greg hid, but still caught a glimpse of his beloved’s face, his fur damp and messy, eyes red, and the path of his tears drying in the cold prison air. 

Big Jim let out a sigh of sadness once the orange cat was gone, then left the room to get back to work, leaving a very preoccupied Dogman standing alone behind the glass. 

The overheard conversation left Greg deeply unsettled. Certain phrases echoed in his mind again and again, stirring wave after wave of sorrow in his chest, each one sweeping back and forth with growing strength until his heart was completely engulfed by a storm of emotion.

“I’ll need someone when I have to leave.”

“You can’t tell anyone, especially not Dogman.”

“I need you to look after Lil’ Petey.”

 

Greg took his time returning to the front desk, he needed a moment to gather the scattered pieces of his thoughts. With every step, confusion and worry weighed heavier on him. What could have pushed Petey to act this way? What had drained his strength and stolen his peace so suddenly?

 Why was he trying so hard to keep it from him?

The sense of closeness they had built together, block by careful block, now seemed to crumble without reason. And even as Greg tried to piece the logic together, his heart reacted first, splintering under the quiet grief of losing a family that was still right there beside him.

Petey was already at the reception desk when he arrived. His fur looked more vibrant, his face rested, as if everything Greg had witnessed earlier had only been some terrible dream. But the dark circles under his eyes were still there, and that strong metallic-grass scent dragged Greg harshly back into reality.

He looked as charming as ever, waiting impatiently, glaring at the clock while tapping his foot rapidly against the floor. Unlike the stifling concern that now consumed Greg, Petey’s worry still radiated that same poorly-disguised tenderness.

“Greg! Where were you? Lil’ Petey’s already out and we’re running late!” the cat demanded, hurrying toward the exit. “What will the teacher think of us?” he added, though in truth, he only cared about what their boy would think.

Greg matched his pace silently and followed him to the car to pick up the little one. He didn’t say a word the entire ride. The quiet, which Petey had always welcomed, now tortured Greg. Fortunately, Lil’ Petey filled the silence with cheerful excitement over tomorrow’s family sports festival.

Soon, laughter and chatter made their way back into the car, and both felines arrived home safe and sound. Father and son headed inside, leaving Dogman alone in the patrol car, driving off in silence to return to work. He had a long shift ahead of him.

Chapter Text

When Dogman arrived back from leaving Petey and Lil’Petey at home, he barely greeted his coworkers before heading straight to his desk and continuing to sort through his overdue paperwork. While his hands moved mechanically, his mind remained immersed in sorrow, carrying a quiet melancholy as he went through his usual evening routine. It didn’t take long for his coworkers to start whispering among themselves about how down he looked after his lunch break. Soon, these whispers reached the Chief’s ears, who came over to check for himself.

“Dogman! Dogman! DOGMAN!” Chief called, increasing his volume every time he called his name, due to Dogman’s lack of response.

Startled by the shout, Dogman dropped his papers, scattering them all over the office. Once he snapped out of his stupor, he noticed the concerned faces surrounding him. He had been so lost in thought that he probably missed the announcement of a new case or problem he needed to  handle.* Sorry . Where’s the problem?* he asked worriedly.

“To my office, now . We need to talk,” Chief said sternly before walking back to his desk, expecting the canine to follow. Greg gulped, sensing he had done something wrong without noticing again.

“Kid, are you okay?” Millie asked, getting up to help gather the scattered papers. “You look awful! You’re worrying us.”

Everyone in the office nodded in agreement except one police officer. “Oooh, someone’s in trouble,” Ralph said mockingly.

“Shut up, idiot!” Patty smacked the insensitive officer. No one was in the mood for his jokes. “Sorry, Dogman. Just remember we’re all here for you!”

Buster nodded enthusiastically from his desk in a gesture of support before timidly ducking behind his paperwork stack.

Greg gave a faint smile, touched by his coworker’s concern. * Thanks, guys,* he signed, though his expression remained melancholic.

Millie’s heart softened at the sight of the downcast canine. She stepped forward and gave him a quick hug before Greg headed to Chief’s office. “Everything will be alright, sweetie.”

Greg let himself be held for a moment, resting his thoughts briefly in the embrace. But it was short, and Millie soon let go so he could go answer the Chief’s call. His feet felt heavy as he walked toward the office. He wasn’t in the mood for lectures or extra work; he just wanted to return to bed and bury himself in his sheets for the rest of the day. Before opening the door, he looked back at his coworkers one last time. They smiled at him with gestures of support. Greg smiled weakly back before opening the door and stepping inside.

“Close the door properly and pull down the blinds,” Chief instructed from his desk, knowing how much his employees loved to gossip, he was sure they'd try to eavesdrop.

Greg followed the instructions without question, nervous about his boss’s serious tone.

“Sit down, son.” Chief gestured. Once Dogman sat, he placed a donut and a warm cup of tea in front of him. Greg slowly reached for the donut, drawn in by the aroma. The moment he took a bite, the flavor hit his tongue a ravenous hunger made him devour it in just a single gulp. He had completely forgotten to eat lunch after everything that had happened.

*Thank you so much,* Dogman said, licking the last crumbs of the exquisite treat.

“Don’t thank me, Dogman.” Chief looked at him with concern. Now that they were in the privacy of his office, he allowed more of his worry to show as he searched for the right words to speak to his best officer. “You know that before being your boss… I’m your friend, right?”

Greg nodded faintly, puzzled by the introduction.

“And as your friend, I care about you a lot, which is why I hate seeing you like this. So I’ll just get straight to the point.” Chief took a deep breath before asking, “What happened? What did they do to you? Who are we arresting?”

*No one! Nothing happened!* Greg quickly explained, embarrassed to have caused so much concern. There was no need for all this fuss over his personal issues. * I just went to deliver the papers to the cat jail as you asked, and I gave Petey and Lil’Petey a ride home.*

“Ohhhh.” Just hearing the cat’s name was enough for Chief to understand where this was going. “That damn orange cat always brings trouble,” Chief said jokingly, hoping for a usual canine reaction.

But this time, Greg didn’t leap to correct him, didn’t even nod or shake his head. He simply picked up the desk mug, gently swirling its contents, watching the liquid move back and forth before taking a sip and setting it down again.

Chief looked at him, puzzled by his lack of response. “No passionate defense today?” he teased, then narrowed his eyes, realizing this might be something deeper than usual. “So he did do something!”

*No! Well… Maybe? I don’t know?* Greg tried to respond, though he wasn’t even sure himself. * Something like that… It's complicated.*

Chief gave a slow nod, a knowing look on his face, the kind of expression that only comes with years of experience."Look, I’m not one to force you to talk. Just like we have the freedom to share, we also have the right to remain silent. But if all this mess is because Petey keeps shutting you out, then staying quiet is just doing the same thing back to yourself." Chief watched as the young officer sank deeper into his seat, clearly struggling with the discomfort of being called out. “Dogman, is what really happened that awful?”

*Well, it’s more like…* Greg was about to deny it out of habit, but stopped himself. He remembered the coldness of the house and the unease in his heart, something he had tried so hard to hide from the others. He felt foolish for doing so. * Maybe I should just explain.*

Greg needed a few tries to figure out how to begin telling what had happened earlier. He hesitated a bit before admitting he had been invading Petey’s privacy, but he managed to tell the story as he had experienced it. Chief listened carefully, nodding as Greg laid it all out.

Once he finished, Chief stayed quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He didn’t know the cat as well as Greg did, to make any real conclusions, but as a cop, he could pick out several red flags in the story adding to the previous stories Greg had told him about the prickly feline before. “Whew, well, I didn’t see that coming,” Chief chuckled nervously. Truth be told, curiosity was eating at him, but that wasn’t the point of this conversation. Chief was Dogman’s friend first; everything else came second. “So, how are you feeling, kid?”

Greg still had all that confusion and bitterness bubbling inside. Telling the story hadn’t helped; it had only scraped his heart raw. “Awooooo!” Dogman howled loudly, startling even the eavesdropping coworkers outside, who had been listening with the help of some plastic cups being held against the wall. “ What did I do?! I must have done something if Petey has to hide things from me! And not just that! He’ll leave and take the kid! What’s going on?! I don’t get it!” Dogman was overtaken by emotion, jumping up and shaking Chief by the collar of his shirt.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that! I’m not a mind reader, and neither are you! I’m not the one you should be asking these questions,” Chief replied, freeing himself from the grip.

*I didn’t get the chance! I had to come back to the station!* Greg protested, collapsing back into his chair and crossing his arms like a sulky teenager, overwhelmed by feelings he didn’t want to deal with.

“Hey!” Chief snapped. “Don’t blame the honorable police department. You had plenty of time to confront him.”

Greg sighed heavily, rubbing his face in frustration before speaking again. * I just wanted to give him space. I thought that if I waited long enough, if I was patient and understanding, he’d eventually trust me enough to open up.* Back then, that had worked. With time and patience, he had built a home with Petey—something he was proud of. * Petey’s like that. Change is hard for him. He redeemed himself slowly, one day at a time.*

Chief nodded. He couldn’t really fault the kid for trying. “Look, I won’t say you’re wrong.” But Greg was narrowing his perspective, ignoring other possibilities. “But he didn’t do it alone. He had you, the kid, Flippy, Sarah, all of us. He had time, but he also needed a push to guide him on.”

Dogman had to admit that even he needed more than a nudge to accept Petey in the first place. Back then, it was Lil’Petey who had pushed them both in the right direction; maybe it was time for him to take the initiative instead.

“Dogman, maybe Petey just needs another push. A clearer one. No subtleties, no dancing around the point,” Chief said firmly, rising from his chair and stepping toward his officer. “I know you hate upsetting him. Especially when he lashes out. But this might be the kind of damage you have to risk in the name of a greater good. Some things can’t be fixed without breaking a little.”

Chief rested a hand on Dogman’s shoulder, silently transmitting all the support and confidence he had in him. Dogman looked up and gave his friend a grateful smile, the fog in his mind beginning to lift.

Chief genuinely hoped Dogman would be okay. He knew his boy could handle anything. He was smart and determined, even if his instincts and emotions sometimes got the best of him. “You know I’d give you the afternoon off, but I need you to cover your hours if you want to take that day off you asked for.”

*No worries, I understand,* Greg replied, his eyes regaining some of their usual brightness, easing Chief’s concern. * Thanks anyway! You have no idea how much I appreciate it.*

Before Chief knew it, Dogman hugged him, lifting him several inches off the ground, silently expressing how much that conversation had eased his heart.

Chief gave him a few seconds before patting his back briskly. “Alright, alright—get outta here, kid!” he said, smiling as he sent Dogman off.  

꧁꧂ 

Petey and Lil’Petey were enjoying the quiet of their home after Greg had returned to work, having dropped them off earlier. They’d both eaten some leftover chicken from the day before, along with some vegetables, though only Petey had finished his share.

Lil’Petey was painting on the floor of the living room, passing the time while his papa cleaned up the kitchen. The silence was filled with the soft sound of the radio playing those catchy tunes the little one loved, and the rhythmic clinking of dishes being carefully washed.

“Dogman was acting weird,” Lil’Petey said, his small voice breaking through the music.

“Greg’s always weird. Just like you,” Petey answered automatically, brushing off the comment as he kept scrubbing a plate.

But that wasn’t the kind of answer Lil’Petey had been hoping for. “But he was extra weird! Like you !”

“Of course I’m weird. That’s why we all live together,” Petey replied quickly, with the kind of clever logic only a parent could get away with. “You’ll have to be more specific than that, Lil’Petey.”

“But—Arrgh! I don’t know how to explain it!” Lil’Petey groaned, scribbling angry lines across one of his papers. “It was weird-weird. Not funny-weird… suspicious -weird.”

Petey stopped scrubbing the dishes and dried his hands, watching his son struggle to find the right words. These weren’t the kinds of worries a kid like him should be having. “If you keep thinking that hard, you’ll fry your brain and smoke up my curtains,” Petey teased, tapping his son’s big forehead with his finger.

“ But papa! ” Lil’Petey whined, covering his forehead and furrowing his brow in concentration.

“Mmmm...” Petey didn’t like seeing him like that. He should be laughing and playing like any kid his age. He glanced around the room for something to distract him—and that’s when he noticed the open window and the beautiful weather outside. He remembered a request Lil’Petey had made long ago, one he’d brushed off.

“How about we go to the park?” Petey asked instead.

“ Really?! ” The suggestion instantly lit up the boy’s face, but the concern in his heart was still there. “But weren’t you busy?”

Petey looked at him, tired. The truth was, he was sick of fighting against the relentless wind of life. He’d much rather just set sail with his little first mate and enjoy what sea remained.

“Just between you and me,” he whispered, like he was about to share a big secret.

Lil’Petey leaned in right away, his big, innocent eyes sparkling with curious mischief.

“The thing is... I’ve been feeling kinda weird too.” Petey whispered, and then scooped the little guy up and started tickling him until his cheeks turned red and tears of laughter spilled down his face. “So, do you wanna go to the park or not?”

“Yes, I do! Yes, I do!” Lil’Petey squealed, still laughing.

“Okay, okay. But no running! ” Petey warned playfully, smiling.

Father and son headed to the park to enjoy the sunshine and the fresh air. They spent the whole afternoon together, staying well into the evening. Lil’Petey was overjoyed and couldn’t wait for Dogman to come home so he could tell him everything he and his papa had done.

But as the hours passed... Dogman didn’t return.

Lil’Petey tried his hardest to stay awake, hoping to see Greg walk through the door—but his little body couldn’t hold out. Eventually, he dozed off.

Petey, too, didn’t want to give up. But he couldn’t fight off the exhaustion either. He ended up falling asleep beside his son, collapsed like a ragdoll in one corner of the bed.

Still, that night, Petey slept soundly and deeply, better than he had in days, his little boy curled up on his chest, softly purring in his sleep.

꧁꧂ 

The house was already cloaked in darkness when Dogman returned from work. In the quiet of the night, only the wind and his melancholic sighs could be heard, echoing memories of more stable times. Those sweet days when the feline would be waiting for him in bed, usually still awake, though occasionally even his caffeine-addicted companion would succumb to sleep. Greg smiled as he remembered how Petey would get grumpy every time he woke him, denying it all with fervent energy before drifting off again.

The memory only made his steps feel heavier as he moved through the house. As usual, Greg was checking that everything was in order before resting. That’s when a warm glow in the shadows caught his eye; it was soft and comforting, just like the lamp beside which he remembered Petey reading. Greg opened the door and was met with a lovely surprise: his little one was sound asleep on top of his father. Both were sprawled out on the bed. Petey still had a storybook in one hand, and Lil’Petey clutched a crumpled drawing in his tiny paws.

Greg couldn’t help but smile tenderly. The two felines looked so exhausted that it was no wonder they’d collapsed into such an odd sleeping pose. He walked over to tuck them in and leaned down to gently take the book and drawing from their hands. But first, he paused to admire them up close. From here, you could see how much they looked alike—same little nose, same silly expression when sleeping, and even the same soft purring. The gentle rumble of their breathing blended into a sweet harmony that filled the room.

The warm feeling the scene stirred in him helped to finally clear some of the fog that clouded Greg’s heart. His family was right here in front of him, and he still had a chance to take control and fix everything. It was a shame the bigger cat was asleep—Greg would’ve loved to talk it all out with him then and there. Instead, he would have to endure one more night alone with his thoughts.

Once he made sure all of Petey’s limbs were properly on the bed and both orange cats were tucked under Lil’Petey’s favorite rocket-printed blanket, Greg left the room with the storybook and the little drawing in hand. As he made his way to the kitchen to warm up dinner, he looked at the child’s drawing. On one side, there was a scribbled image of himself with an arrow pointing at it. The shaky but clear letters first read “funny,” but it was crossed out, followed by “annoying,” “sad,” “busy”, all crossed out too, each one more aggressively than the last. Finally, at the top, was the word “weird,” left untouched.

On the back side, Petey was drawn, surrounded by green. An arrow pointed to him, saying, “I feel weird,” with silly faces doodled all around. That made Greg uneasy. Sometimes he forgot how perceptive the little kitten was. Just one more thing to add to his growing list of worries.

In the kitchen, he warmed up his dinner. Unlike Lil’Petey, he did eat his vegetables, savoring every bite of Petey’s home-cooked food—even if it was just leftovers. With a full stomach and a little more peace of mind, he found himself going back over the words he’d overheard in jail, playing the conversation back in his mind. The more he thought about it, the less sense it made that Petey would just decide to leave for no reason.

"Don’t worry, Jim. I can handle it on my own," he remembered Petey saying. A totally expected answer from his stubborn companion.

Then Jim’s voice, firm but gentle: "Petey, I was there with her too. I know what you went through. I visited her. I cared for her. I helped you with everything when you couldn’t handle it."

"I guess you’re right... I’ll need someone once I’ve to leave," Petey had finally admitted.

Greg tried to stop thinking about it. Best to talk about it directly. He got ready for bed, tossing and turning in a thousand different positions trying to rest, but his mind wouldn’t let him. Frustrated, he got up and searched his nightstand for something to distract himself. The first thing his fingers found was a book. He grabbed it without thinking. The golden letters on the cover mocked him.

"How to Speak Feline: The Key to a Cat’s Heart."

Greg had grown tired of the book after his last experience with it, but he found himself flipping through it anyway, desperate for distraction. He skipped the pink cursive chapters on love, wandering toward more mundane topics like grooming and hunting.

"As sickness progresses in cats, their behavior can change significantly, often including decreased activity, changes in sleeping patterns, shortness of breath, and altered vocalizations. Some cats may become withdrawn and seek solitude, while others might display increased clinginess."

Another passage caught his eye:

"A dull or lackluster coat can also be a warning sign, possibly indicating a more severe underlying condition."

A choked sound escaped Greg’s throat. Everything he read sounded uncomfortably similar to what he had been noticing in the stubborn feline. Not just similar, it made the events of the last few days make more sense . Petey hadn’t been talking about wanting to leave. He’d been talking about being forced to.

"I helped you with everything… when you couldn’t handle it."

On impulse, Greg snapped the book shut and lightly bonked his head with it. How could he have been so blind? The signs were all there, almost line for line. The sudden isolation in the garage, his refusal to rest, the anxious, obsessive behavior, his lack of appetite…

"I’ll need someone once I’ve to leave."

A shiver ran down his spine and spread through his body. Without thinking, he ran to the bedroom where Petey was sleeping. He knelt beside him, ready to wake him, then stopped himself. It had been so long since he’d seen Petey sleeping so deeply. He used to force him to rest, sometimes even threatening to handcuff him just to get him to bed. But tonight, he was sleeping peacefully on his own. Greg sat at the edge of the bed where there was a small gap. He didn’t have the heart to wake him… but he didn’t have the peace of mind to leave either.

"Dogman?" A sweet, sleepy voice pulled him out of his spiral. Lil’Petey had woken up when Greg sat down and disturbed the mattress. "Sleep with us,"   the kitten mumbled drowsily.

Greg didn’t hesitate. He carefully made room for himself on the narrow bed. The warmth of the cats and the softness of their fur helped him unwind. Drawn by Greg’s body heat, Petey subconsciously scooted closer, curling into his side. Half-awake, Lil’Petey climbed on top of them both, turning in circles before settling down, just like Dogman had taught him. He began to knead Greg’s chest gently, just as his papa had shown him.

As he got comfortable, the kitten began to purr again, a sound quickly joined by his father sleeping beneath him. The steady vibration and the soothing rhythm finally lulled Greg into sleep at last.