Work Text:
A bomb. Why did it have to be another bomb?
“ Chief, you can’t be serious. This has to be one of Petey’s tricks. ” Dog Man signed with stiff movements. A deep scowl lined his face, and a small growl rumbling from the back of his throat. Disdain glistened in his dark brown eyes. His body was stiff, and you could practically see the smoke coming from his ears. Dog Man was not a happy camper, no, not at all.
Dog Man was called into Chief’s office mere minutes ago to discuss an urgent tip the station had received: an anonymous tip regarding a certain orange feline’s next scheme. Dog Man initially rolled his eyes at this. It had to be a fake tip. Petey never revealed his evil schemes to anyone ahead of time. He revealed his scheme when committing said scheme and not a second earlier. But then Chief read the tip to him.
The tip stated that a bomb would be planted and detonate tomorrow night at City Hall: the night of the masquerade ball. For five years, the city has hosted this party as a way to bring the community together. And it’s a smashing success every year. It’s talked about for weeks before and days after the event. Major casualties and damage would occur if this tip were true and succeeded.
“Look, I know you’ve been avoiding everything regarding the ball, but this could be your chance to take down Petey once and for all!” Chief declared. And this was true. Ever since the announcement date, Dog Man had done his best to ignore anything regarding the ball. He tuned out his co-workers' discussions, turned off the news when it was brought up, and looked away from the posters that now littered nearly every inch of the city. He just wanted to forget the party even existed. Now, don’t get it twisted, Dog Man loves a good community get-together. If he could find the time, he’d go more! But this ball… Knight had yearned to attend.
Dog Man remembers the endless streams of daydreaming, ranting, and planning that Knight did regarding this ball. He only vaguely understood the concept at the time, but was happy to listen to his best friend chatter on. Now it was just another reminder that he was gone forever and would never get to experience this opportunity. And hearing and seeing all the excitement around it drove Dog Man nuts!
“ Again, I propose that this is just one of Petey’s tricks. ” A soft sigh escaped Chief.
“I get how hard this is for you; believe me, I do. I remember how badly Knight wanted to attend this party. He wouldn’t shut up about it. But I have to believe that this tip is real. I wouldn’t be asking this of you if I couldn’t.” Dog Man let out a displeased whine. “And I’ll be there the whole time. If you need me to handle the arrest or anything else, I will do it. Better yet, I’m willing to give you more days off from work than we discussed! But I need you there. You are the best at catching Petey, and who knows what will happen if you aren’t there! Please, Dog Man.”
Silence lingered in the air. A battle raged within the hybrid’s mind. His emotions told him to say no. This isn’t worth the emotional turmoil and heartache attending the ball would bring. But his sense of duty swung hard and heavy. It’s his job to protect the city and its citizens, no matter the circumstances he may face. After a few minutes, Dog Man let out a heavy sigh. He had no choice but to attend the masquerade ball.
“ Fine, I’ll go, ” He quickly signed.
“Oh, thank you, Dog Man. I’ll sign you off for as many days off as you need. And I promise we’ll get through this in one piece.” Chief said softly, reaching over to give the hybrid a small pat on the head. Dog Man leaned into it, his phantom tail wagging softly, and a small smile formed on his lips from the action. “I’ll send you all the details later. For now,” Chief took a look at the clock. “It's time to clock out. I’ll see you tomorrow night, buddy.”
Dog Man gave a small salute before leaving the office, closing the door softly behind him. He walked to his desk to collect his things before making his way to clock out. The whole time, his mind was an endless stream of thoughts. Why did he do this to himself? What was he going to wear? What would the party be like? Why would Petey do this in the first place? His mind raced a million miles a minute with no signs of stopping.
Another sigh escaped him as he exited the precinct and began the journey home. He hoped he wouldn’t regret this. But that was future Dog Man’s problem. For now, he needed a suit and mask.
“Haw haw haw! Those fools have no idea what they’re about to face! Let’s just hope Dog Man got my little message.” Petey smugly said to himself as he added the final touches to his bomb. Yes, he sent the anonymous tip to the station. Why? Simple: Petey had to make sure Dog Man would be at the ball.
While studying the layout of the city hall and the party, he noticed that a severe lack of protection was planned. Only two or three measly officers! Did these people seriously think no one would target such a prominent gathering? They were more stupid than Petey thought. But that also meant there was no guarantee that Dog Man would be present, as his name was not listed. And if that was the case, what was the point of pulling off the scheme in the first place? So he did the most logical thing and sent in the tip.
He kept it simple, of course; he couldn’t make it too easy for the doggy cop to take him down. But it would ensure that Dog Man would be present. His sense of duty would never allow him to ignore such a blatant message. Then, once he spotted him, he could take control of the party and finally take over the world. It’s foolproof! “And there! All finished.” Petey stood up to admire his work.
Unlike the bomb he used on Greg and Knight, this one was not the typical countdown, then kaboom. No, this one is smaller, about the size of a cell phone with the wires inside the device. The detonator is a small handheld push button. As long as Petey is in range when he pushes said button, the bomb will go off. There was also a small cover over the button, just to make sure no accidents happened. Wouldn’t want it to go off too early and ruin the plan.
“Oh, Dog Man, just you wait. There’s no way you can thwart this plan. Not with all those people laughing, talking, and dancing. You’ll have no choice but to give in to my demands. Then this world will finally be mine! Haw haw haw!” Petey ranted off to himself. Dramatic poses and hand moves accompanied his words. As the high of his monologue came down, he started to think more about the party. He never cared for the idea of masquerades. But his mother, Grace, loved them.
He remembers how fondly she would talk about the two she went to. The dresses and suits, the masks, the lights, the decorations, the music, the dancing. She always had a smile on her face when reminiscing about these parties. Even when she was sick, those memories always brought her joy and peace. Petey, as a young kitten, never understood what was so special about these parties. But he always listened when she talked about them, especially when she got sick. She always said one day she would take Petey to one and share the magic with him. That never happened.
Now, whenever he reads them in books, sees them on TV, or hears others talk about them, it’s a sour reminder that she’s gone. Honestly, Petey only chose this party because of its prominence in the community. The moment he heard about it, his eyes rolled so hard they could’ve popped out. It’s such a ridiculous type of party to have in this city! But Petey quickly learned about its value to the community. So he figured if it’s so important, then Dog Man would likely be there for protection. And what better way to finally accomplish world domination than crashing one of the city’s most prominent get-togethers? So he began this scheme.
If it wasn’t for that, he never would’ve given this party the time of day. Especially when all it did was remind him of his poor mother.
‘Ugh! Get out of your head! Now’s not the time to focus on that. The bomb is finished, and everything's going swimmingly. Focus on your victory!’ He scolded himself, shaking away the painful memories of his mom. He didn’t need to worry about that right now! He needed to focus on the plan in front of him. For tomorrow, this city and the world will bow down to Petey The Cat. And no one can stop him!
‘Wow… Is that really me?’ Looking into the mirror, Dog Man stood there frozen in shock and awe at his reflection. In front of him was a version of himself he never could’ve imagined he’d ever see.
Replacing his normal police uniform was a wine red suit jacket and matching dress pants. Shimmering gold accents and patterns adorned the jacket’s exterior. Underneath, he wore a simple white button-up with an accompanying black tie. On his feet were a pair of freshly polished black leather dress shoes. Brand new, never been worn. The fur on his head was clean and brushed, the stitches aligning his neck mostly covered by the shirt and tie. He looked like a completely different Dog Man.
“Hey, Dog Man! Are you ready to go?” Chief called from downstairs. The hybrid shook his head, finally snapping out of his trance.
“Coming!” He barked out from his attic. Dog Man took one last look at himself before descending downstairs. There stood Chief, wearing a white suit jacket with black lapels, matching white pants, a white button-up, a black tie, and black dress shoes. In his hands were two masks; one a simple white with black details, the other a red one with gold details. The red one was Dog Man, specially made to fit the contours of his face; a hard and expensive creation, but a worthwhile one. Chief looked at Dog Man, a huge smile spreading across his face.
“Look at you! See, I told you you’d look good in that suit.” The hybrid smiled back, his phantom tail wagging at the praise. It felt weird, but he liked how he looked and how it made him feel warm inside. Despite having to take a shower, which was a whole uncomfortable emotional rollercoaster, looking and feeling this nice was something he could get used to. Maybe he’d start wearing more than his police uniform. “Here’s your mask. Remember, you have to keep it on for the whole duration of the party.” Chief said firmly, handing the special mask to the hybrid.
Dog Man took the mask and inspected it before putting it on. In every sense of the word, it was perfect. The colors matched his suit, the curves rounded with his face, the eyeholes were big enough to see out of, and it barely felt like he was wearing anything. He let out a happy bark, his phantom tail wagging harder.
“ Where did you get this mask? It’s perfect! ” Dog Man signed.
“I was able to find a guy yesterday who specializes in mask-making. Now come on, we’ll be late.” Chief said, his mask now on his face, walking to the front door. Dog Man followed closely behind, his mind buzzing with the happiness he was feeling. The two exited Dog Man’s house and walked to Chief’s car, the hybrid taking the passenger seat. “You remember all the details I sent you?” He saw a nod from the corner of his eye. “Good, let’s do this thing!” The car roared to life and began the journey to City Hall.
As they drove, Dog Man’s happiness gradually turned sour, thinking about the excitement Knight would’ve felt in this moment. It should be him in this car seat, feeling this bubbling happiness, finally seeing his dream come true. Not Dog Man. Why was he getting to experience this but not Knight? In what world was this fair? He shouldn’t even exist in this fashion; this body wasn’t his to control, none of this was right! He… he wasn’t meant to experience something like this. It’s just not fair.
“And we’re here! Ready to do this, Dog Man? Dog Man?” Chief asked, placing a gentle hand on the hybrid’s now tense shoulder. Dog Man flinched slightly at the touch, shaking his head before looking at the man next to him. He hadn’t noticed how tense he had gotten. “Hey, it’s going to be okay, Dog Man. I promise, once Petey is caught, I’ll take you straight home. And if things are getting too much for you, give me the signal and I’ll handle everything. I’m here for you, buddy. All the way.” A small bit of the tension melted from Dog Man’s body. He knew he could count on Chief, and as long as he had that, he could get through this painful experience. The hybrid nodded.
“ Thank you. Let’s get this over with. ” With that, they both exited the car and made their way into the party.
Two hours. They’d been there for two whole hours with no Petey in sight. At this point, Dog Man was beyond frustrated. He tried so hard to have a good time while he searched, but found himself overwhelmed and overstimulated. Yes, there were lots of people he recognized, the appetizers were yummy, beautiful music played, and the chandelier was marvelous. But there were just too many people, it was overly warm, and worst of all, his suspicion that the tip was a trick seemed to ring true.
Chief insisted they do one more sweep of the building, just in case they missed either Petey or the bomb. So once again, Dog Man began another walk around the dance area while Chief tried to locate the bomb. Though he wanted to speed through it, he knew that would be wrong. Despite everything, there was a chance that Petey was there, so he needed to do this last sweep correctly. He just hoped all of this would be over soon.
Meanwhile, Petey stood on the catwalk that overlooked the dance area. Some other people were up there too, but they didn’t notice the orange feline, too enraptured in their conversations. The cat, who normally wore nothing, wore a royal blue suit jacket with gold accents and patterns. Underneath was a white collared shirt and a black tie. On his face sat his mask, matching his suit in color with gold details. He stood in front of the railing, his unsheathed claws tapping against the scarred wood. Petey already had a low patience bar, and it was running dangerously close to the line.
‘Where the hell is that stupid mutt!? Did he seriously not come despite my message? Did the city shoo away his concerns? Did he leave early? What is going on!?’ Petey’s mind screamed in frustration. He had arrived at the party about two hours in, wanting to make Dog Man sweat a bit before the fun started. Plus, he had already placed the bomb while final preparations were being done, so he didn’t need to be there any earlier. But when he got there, there was no Dog Man to be spotted! Sure, he wasn’t expecting them to put him at the front door, but he was sure they would’ve had him in a place others could see him. There’s no way Dog Man ignored his message, right?
A soft groan escaped Petey’s lips as he scanned the crowd, seeing the sea of people in their outfits and masks. If there was one thing that came from this situation, he could finally see why his mom loved these parties so much, at least from the perspective of the costuming and atmosphere. From the moment he entered, he felt like he’d been transported straight into a fairy tale. The books, movies, and side conversations didn’t do justice to what it was like in real life. If it weren’t so crowded and loud, he would never want to leave.
Suddenly, his eyes landed on a familiar figure. Petey leaned over the railing and squinted to get a better look. The figure backed out of a small crowd of people and turned around, finally giving the cat a good view of who he was looking at.
Dog Man continued his sweep, continuously getting trapped in small pockets of people. A low growl came from his throat as he once again got trapped. If this kept up, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep his cool. Seeing an escape pocket, Dog Man took the opportunity to get out. On the way, however, he accidentally bumped into someone, causing him to turn around. He made a small apologetic gesture before backing out of the small crowd and turning around. He looked up and caught a figure looking at him from the catwalk.
At that moment, Dog Man’s and Petey’s eyes locked. Both their eyes widened as they stood there in shock, staring at each other.
‘Holy crap, he’s actually here…’ Dog Man thought to himself, still frozen in place. His mind screamed at him to move, but his body refused to obey.
‘He’s here as a guest!? I thought they’d use him as a guard!’ Petey’s mind screamed, his paws now gripping the railing. His claws dug into the wood, leaving permanent indents behind. The enemies continued to stare at each other, the world around them melting away. The shock of his presence as a guest wore off as he began to examine the outfit Dog Man wore. The red complemented his dark brown eyes, and the gold brought them out further. The mask fit him wonderfully, bringing out the shape of his snout and head. Petey had never seen the hybrid so clean and dressed up, used to his normal police uniform. It was different. He… liked it.
Dog Man finally noticed the suit jacket Petey wore. The colors matched well with his fur and eyes. Even with his color blindness, he could tell they went well together. The jacket brought out the shape of the cat’s body, something the hybrid never took notice of. He wasn’t used to Petey wearing clothes. The feline was always naked; his striped fur acting as his clothing. Seeing him dressed caused a flutter in the hybrid’s stomach that he couldn’t describe. It was new. He… liked it.
Petey was the first to snap out of his trance, his mind screaming at him to remember the plan. He makes his way down the left side of the catwalk, being deliberately slow and graceful. His movements snapped Dog Man back to reality, and he quickly followed the cat. Due to the crowd, Petey made it to the stairs first, descending them the same way he walked. Once he reached the bottom, he felt a hand grab his wrist. He looked to see Dog Man standing in front of him, a scowl splayed across his face. The cat smirked at the reaction.
“Ah, ah, Dog Man, you don’t want to disturb everyone’s good time, do you?” Petey asked in a low whisper. His voice was laced in a faux sugary sweetness that sent chills up the canine’s spine. Dog Man growled softly, his grip on the cat’s wrist tightening.
“Enough games, Petey. Where’s the bomb?” He vocalized in a whisper tone.
“Come on now, doggy, I just got here. Let’s have a little fun. You aren’t that much of a wet blanket, are you?” Petey used his free paw to run his pointer under the hybrid’s chin. “Besides, who knows when I’ll get to see you like this next? All dressed up and clean. It suits you, this look. You should do it more often.” Dog Man paused a bit at his words. Petey… liked how he was dressed? He thought the cat would mock him, tell him he looked stupid, or something else along those lines. Also, he just got here? What the hell took him so long to get here?
Petey’s demeanor shifted at seeing the hybrid pause. What, had no one else told him he looks good when he actually tries to clean up? That he looks better when he’s showered and dressed in clothes that suit him rather than smelling like wet dog and wearing the same uniform every day? “Don’t tell me no one else has complimented your outfit.”
“N-no, they have. I… I just wasn’t expecting it from you.” Dog Man answered. Before he could question what those words meant, Petey’s mind once again yelled at him to focus. Clearing his throat softly, he went back to villain mode.
“Yeah, well, maybe if you’re a good boy and give me what I want, I’ll compliment you more.” Petey purred out softly, leaning down slightly towards the hybrid’s face. This snapped Dog Man out of his pause, and a deeper but still quiet growl vibrated through his throat. In a swift, undetectable motion of strength and fluidity, the taller tabby was lifted off his feet and dipped down. The grip on his wrist tightened to the max while the other arm wrapped around Petey’s back, securing him in place. A small yelp came from the cat at the action before hissing at the tight grip on his wrist and back.
“What the hell are you-” Petey began before he looked into Dog Man’s eyes, causing him to freeze. He was pissed. This wasn’t the typical anger and contempt he saw during their normal scuffles. No, this was far beyond that. Pain and tiredness lined his dark eyes, and his body was so tense his muscles could snap like rubber bands. His stare was ice-cold, devoid of the joy that normally resided there. It was terrifying. Petey’s fur bristled at the sight.
“I’m done, Petey; no more games, no more ‘good guy, bad guy’, nothing. Tell me where the bomb is and how to defuse it. Now.” Dog Man growled out. Petey’s mind started racing. The cat didn’t like this side of the hybrid; it scared him. It reminded him of his father and his childhood. He felt helpless, weak, and small. He hated it. Before Petey could respond, the music shifted to a slow waltzy song. People around them began to partner up.
‘Quick, this is your chance to gain back control!’ The cat’s mind screamed. Shaking his head, Petey looked into Dog Man’s eyes with evil mischief.
“Fine, if that’s what you want, then dance with me. One little dance and I’ll reveal everything.” The cat whispered. Dog Man’s brow rose in confusion, though his expression remained the same.
“Do you expect me to fall for this?”
“Do you have any choice?” Dog Man looked away from Petey, his expression shifting to confliction. This had to be a trick. But he had no other plan, no way to contact Chief, and no way to keep everyone safe. A deep sigh escaped the hybrid, and after a small pause, he released Petey. The cat quickly straightened up, rubbing his wrist and brushing off his suit jacket. Dog Man stood there, the weight of his actions crashing down on him hard. Why did he react so violently to Petey’s words? He could’ve started a panic if Petey decided to fight back. He could’ve broken the cat’s wrist. God, why did he react like that?
The sight of Petey’s left paw held out in front of him brought him out of his thoughts. Dog Man looked at the paw before looking up at Petey’s face. A smug smirk splayed across the cat’s face.
“May I have this dance, Dog Man?” Petey purred out in that faux sweetness. Dog Man looked away, an embarrassed blush spreading across his face as he nodded and placed his right hand in the offered paw. Petey’s grin widened as he led Dog Man to the dance floor. Once he found a good spot for them, Petey gently pulled the hybrid closer to him, framing up. Dog Man reluctantly allowed the motion and framed himself comfortably. The music swelled, and everyone began dancing, including the enemies.
On Dog Man’s end, it was tenitive, tense, and stiff. He had never danced like this before. Sure, Chief taught him how to waltz because the hybrid wanted to learn it, but he never applied it in a scenario like this. He was also embarrassed by the situation at hand. How could he let things get to this point? How could he allow his emotions to take control so easily? He wouldn’t be in this position if he had just stayed calm and not grabbed Petey like that. Shame lined his being, thinking about it. He hoped this would be over soon.
For Petey, he was thriving. He was relaxed, fluid, and poised. He loved dancing, though he’d never admit it to anyone. Whenever he got the chance, he would go out dancing to have some fun. He also loved seeing Dog Man’s reaction to the situation. Seeing the poor dog in such a flustered state over such a simple request made his stomach flutter. But then he thought back on his actions from earlier. He had never seen the hybrid react like that before. Why was he so aggressive? So cold, so… hateful. It made no sense.
“Petey, I… I’m sorry about earlier. It wasn’t right of me to grab you like that. I should’ve kept my emotions in check. I don’t expect forgiveness, I only want you to know it wasn’t my intention to hurt you like that.” Dog Man woofed softly, looking at Petey as he did, and looking away at the end. The villain blinked in surprise at the apology.
“W-well, I guess I can accept your apology,” Petey replied, trying to keep up his villainous persona. “But what made you react so strongly?” A whine came from Dog Man before he answered.
“K-Knight dreamed of coming to this party. I guess… I’m just on edge because I’m here and he’s not.” Petey’s eyes widened at the confession, his grip on Dog Man’s back tightening slightly. To be honest, he hadn’t thought much about Knight and the incident that led to Dog Man’s creation. Sure, he was mad his plan failed, but then his focus shifted to defeating Dog Man. A small pit formed in Petey’s stomach, and a wave of nausea ran through him. A feeling he’s felt before, but not in a long time, and certainly not about this.
“T-they didn’t ask you to guard?” Dog Man shook his head.
“Even if they had, I wouldn’t have accepted. I tried so hard to ignore everything regarding this. I never wanted to be here. ” The pit in Petey’s stomach grew at Dog Man’s words. The hybrid looked up at his nemesis, his dark brown eyes looking into the cat’s emerald green ones. “ But duty called. So… I came.” Petey swallowed at the lump forming in his throat. His rhythm started to falter. He hadn’t noticed until Dog Man gently guided him back into the rhythm. He blinked a couple of times as he realized what had happened. He gave Dog Man a soft glare.
“Hey, I’m leading here.” Petey hissed out, holding the hybrid closer. A small smirk formed on Dog Man’s lips, and a soft, huffy chuckle escaped him.
“Then stop getting so distracted. That’s my job, remember? ” The hybrid teased, poking fun at his own distracted tendencies. Petey perked a bit at Dog Man’s teasing. Since when did he have a sense of humor? And would he ever show more of it? As the two's rhythm synced up again, Dog Man noticed just how good of a dancer Petey was. The precision in his movements, the framing of his arms and legs, his posture, and the relaxed yet firm state of his body all pointed towards a skilled dancer. ‘Focus, Greg! The bomb, remember the bomb!’ Dog Man’s mind screamed, pulling him back into the task at hand. “ Ok, I’m dancing with you. Where is the bomb?”
“Ah, ah, we have to finish the dance first. I wouldn’t want you to leave me in the middle of our dance. Not when we’re having so much fun.” Petey answered, leaning into Dog Man’s ear at his last sentence. The hybrid huffed softly but nodded in response. He should’ve figured it wouldn’t be that simple.
“Should’ve seen that coming. ” Dog Man woofed as Petey lifted his head. “ You’re a great dancer. Do you dance often?” The cat’s eyes widened in surprise at the question, but quickly gained composure.
“Why, thank you, Dog Man. It's just one of my many talents. Inventing isn’t all I'm good for, you know.” Petey answered smugly. Dog Man rolled his eyes at his nemesis’ reply. “But no, sadly, I don’t dance often anymore. Too busy with my evil plans to take over the world to get out much.” Petey sighed dramatically, pulling the hybrid closer. The two are now only an inch apart. “If only my plans would succeed. Maybe then I could get out more and dance to my heart’s content.”
“S-Sorry, but that's… never going to happen. Not as long as I-I'm around.” Dog Man answered, doing his best to ignore how close they were. Petey, noticing the stammering, snickered lightly.
“What's the matter, mutt? I thought you loved being close to others.”
“This is different! Stop talking to me in circles!” Dog Man barked out.
“Oh, this is different, hm? And here I thought we were finally getting along.” Petey quipped back, feigning hurt feelings.
“Alright then, tell me why you chose this party for your attack. You could’ve waited until tomorrow or even attacked yesterday. So, why did you pick here and now?” Petey’s body stiffened at the clap back. Wow, he really is on edge, isn’t he? So, to keep his composure, Petey scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“You think I wanted to be here either? Hell no! I only chose this party because the community fawned over it. That’s it! I never would’ve given this party the time of day otherwise. Not when these parties remind me of-” Petey cut himself off, looking down at the floor.
“Of?” Dog Man urged.
“M-my mother… She loved these types of balls. She loved dancing. She’s the one who taught me how to dance. And she used to tell me stories of her times attending masquerade balls. She… always told me she’d take me to one… But that never happened.” Dog Man’s eyes widened in shock at the revelation, but slowly morphed into sympathy as his words sank in. He’d never really thought about Petey beyond the black and white villain and hero dynamic they shared. But seeing and hearing this side of him… maybe he’d need to.
“You didn’t have to force yourself here just for an evil scheme. You would’ve found another great opportunity sometime. You always do.” Dog Man barked out. Petey looked at the hybrid, shocked by his response. He cleared his throat before he spoke again:
“W-well, it’s not all bad! I see why my mom liked these parties. And besides, it’s been fun to tease you.” Petey whispered the last part into Dog Man’s ear. A blush spread across the hybrid’s face, and a shiver ran down his spine.
“I-I guess you’re right. Tonight hasn’t been all bad. And at least when I win, it won’t be after a giant battle.” Petey gasped at this.
“When you win? I think you mean when I win!” Petey protested. Dog Man let out a huffy chuckle.
“I’m pretty confident I’ll be the one winning this one tonight, Mr. TheCat.” Dog Man woofed teasingly. A flame ignited inside Petey, causing him to pull Dog Man into him. Their bodies touched as they looked into each other’s eyes. And without a word, the two finished the dance. The entire time, their eyes never left each other, and slowly, smiles formed on both their faces. It felt so freeing to be in this position. To be more than just the hero and the villain. To just be two beings enjoying life. To enjoy… one another.
Petey spun Dog Man around twice before dipping him down. And for a moment, they stayed there, just staring into each other's eyes. Soft blushes spread across their faces as they stared. The world melted away once again as Petey slowly let Dog Man up. Their heartbeats increased as they slowly leaned in, their eyes beginning to close. They could feel each other's breath, and just as their lips brushed against one another:
The sound of clapping and cheering pulled them back, and they frantically looked around. The music had concluded, and the couples were clapping and bowing or curtsying to each other. The dance was over. The two looked at each other before slowly breaking the frame, both bowing. A heavy tension lingered in the air, so thick it was suffocating. After a moment, Dog Man broke the silence.
“ So, are you going to keep your promise? ” He signed, his brain too foggy to bark. Petey cleared his throat and looked away. Was he really going to give up on his master plan like this? But a soft brush against his paw brought his attention back to Dog Man. “ Look, I won’t arrest you if you just tell me where the bomb is and how to defuse it. I promise, you’re free to go. ” Petey blinked rapidly at this. Dog Man couldn’t be serious, could he?
‘ That doesn’t matter! You’re the one who dragged him out here for your own selfish reasons! The least you can do is accept defeat… ’ A voice within told him. Petey signed softly to himself. The voice was right. The feline stepped closer, reaching into the pocket of his suit jacket, and handed Dog Man the detonator.
“Here, this is the detonator that sets the bomb off. It won’t go off as long as no one presses it. The bomb is in the leftmost corner of the storage closet in the East Wing. It can be defused by flipping the switch on the left side of the device. You can take me to Cat Jail whenever you’re ready.” Petey explained, giving Dog Man his wrists in defeat. The hybrid’s eyes widened at this, looking between the detonator and Petey’s wrists. “And before you say anything, no, this isn’t a trick. I’m being serious. You win.” Dog Man looked at Petey, his face softening at his words. He placed the detonator safely in his pocket before grabbing Petey’s paw gently, not having his cuffs on him, and leading the cat out of the dance area.
The drive back to Dog Man’s house felt painfully slow. Even though it was close approaching, it seemed like hours had gone by. Chief and Dog Man successfully defused and packed up the bomb, and Petey was once again in Cat Jail. Chief was ecstatic and extremely proud of Dog Man. He knew this whole night was terribly difficult on the hybrid, and the fact that he’d been able to keep his cool and bring Petey to justice made his heart swell.
For Dog Man, however, all he could think about was his dance with Petey. And well, Petey in general. He couldn’t stop thinking about how they held each other. The way the dance progressed so naturally. The confessions they made to each other. How close they got to each other. How they almost kissed… A blush spread across Dog Man’s face at the thought. God, he really almost kissed Petey… A small war raged in his mind, and confliction hit him like a train.
One part of him is disgusted by the fact that any of that happened. He’s the enemy, for God's sake! And he’s the reason Dog Man even exists. If he had never set off that bomb, Knight would still be here, and they wouldn’t be this freak of nature. The other part of him desperately wanted to see Petey again. To hold him close and tight and never let him go. To whisper sweet nothings into his ear and run tender fingers through his striped fur. To count the whiskers on his face. To kiss him until their both out of breath, sweaty messes.
“Well, we’re here! Great job tonight, Dog Man! I’m so proud of your strength!” Chief exclaimed, looking over at the hybrid. He paused when he saw Dog Man was spaced out. “Dog Man?” He asked gently, placing a hand on the hybrid’s shoulder. Dog Man snapped back to reality at this and looked over at Chief.
“H-huh?” Dog Man barked in confusion.
“You’re home now, buddy. You doing okay? I know tonight was a lot for you.” Dog Man blinked rapidly and shook his head as his brain began to work again.
“Y-yeah, I’m okay. I’m just tired, is all.” Dog Man barked out.
“I get it. Tell you what? Because of all your hard work, I’ll give you the entire week off from work! How does that sound?” Chief offered excitedly. Dog Man fliched at the offer. An entire week? He’d never had that much time off before!
“ Are you sure? I’ve never been off for that long before. ” Dog Man signed.
“Positive! Look, you’ve been through a lot and you’ve been put under a lot of pressure. To be honest, you should get a whole month off, but a week is the most I can give right now. Besides, this gives me a chance to get the rest of the officers into shape. They can handle a little more case work. Please, take this time, Dog Man.” Dog Man’s phantom tail wagged vigorously, and he hugged Chief, showering his face in doggy kisses. Chief laughed as the onslaught occurred.
“O-okay, Dog Man! That’s enough now!” Chief called out, gently pushing the hybrid away. A happy bark escaped Dog Man, and his tongue lopped out of his mouth as he panted softly. Chief chuckled at this. “Alright, now go on and get some rest. I’ll see you next Monday, buddy.” And with that, Dog Man unbuckled his seat belt and exited Chief’s car. He waved as he closed the passenger door. Chief waved back before backing away from Dog Man’s house and driving off.
Dog Man entered the tiny home and made his way upstairs. The stairs creaked under the weight of the hybrid’s steps. As Dog Man entered the attic, he felt the cool air brush against his body, releasing a pleased sigh from his throat. He took a look around the area, and everything was the way he left it. Then, he made eye contact with his reflection in the body mirror. He walked over to it, once again soaking in how he looked. He then removed the mask from his face and looked at it, his thumb stroking across it gently.
His mind once again wandered to Petey and their dance. He wondered if Petey was thinking about it too, or if he was content to forget and move on. His heart hurt at that thought. He was still conflicted by these newfound feelings, sure, but he hoped Petey wouldn’t be so cruel as to just throw out this experience like trash.
‘Don’t think about that right now, Greg. Let’s just get some rest. We have a whole week to ponder things.’ He thought to himself. And he knew he was right. It was time to rest. He took one last look in the mirror before walking over to his dresser. He set the mask on top of it next to a picture of him and Knight before opening the drawers and pulling out his nightly attire. Pushing the drawers closed, he walked over to his closet and got ready for bed.
In his jail cell, Petey lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His hands rested under his head. It was almost lights out, though Petey knew he wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight. Not when all his brain could think about was Dog Man. He didn’t even try to fight off the feelings and thoughts; there was no point. So he let them run wild in his head.
“Lights out!” A guard called out, and the lights began to shut off. A soft sigh escaped Petey as this happened. His head then turned to look at the moon that shone through the barred window of his cell. With the moonlight shining in his eyes, he only muttered one thing before looking back at the ceiling:
“Good night, Dog Man.”
Meanwhile, back at Dog Man’s house, the hybrid, now in his nightwear, lay in his doggy bed, looking out the window of his attic. His eyes became heavy, and a soft yawn escaped him. For the first time in forever, his mind was clear as he went to sleep. Well… except for one thing. Before he allowed sleep to take him, with the stars shining in his tired eyes, he barked out softly:
“Good night, Petey.” A soft smile formed on his lips as he drifted to sleep. Tonight wasn’t such a nightmare after all.