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Petey was cooking in the kitchen, still wondering why on earth Dogman forgave him and let him stay in his house, even if his little version (whom he refused to accept he saw as his son) was the one who got along with him. Lost in his thoughts, he remembered the first time they had met.
It had been years since then, when Officer Knight was still around, they made an odd team, Dogman's intelligence was the only thing keeping that police officer alive, Petey thought to himself and laughed. The cat served the food on the table and called for the other two, who were playing outside, they both appeared muddy, with dirt all over them.
-What the-!? —Petey said, and pointed at them, angry— Don't you even think about touching the table or the chairs! Go take a shower this instant! —He screamed at them
-But papa! —Lil Petey tried to argue back
-No buts, go! —He ordered— You too! How can you be even dirtier than a kid!
-Woof... —Dogman replied, a sad woof
-Okay... —Lil Petey also agreed, both going to wash up
While Petey was waiting, he realized something, he definitely shouldn't be there, definitely, certainly, obviously. What he did to Dogman and his owner, how officer Dogman came to be, it was straight out of a nightmare. The head of a dog and the body of its own owner? How could he even look at Petey in the eyes, and not show any single bit of anger towards him.
When the other two came back and sat down, Lil Petey started eating immediately, but Dogman noticed that the cat seemed off, he hadn't touched his food and was staring at the table with a blank stare. Dogman called him and Petey jumped in his chair, scaring both of them, he apologized, ate a little, and left. He went outside and looked up at the sky, it wasn't dark yet, but the sun was already setting, he stared at the small group of stars already visible, and closed his eyes. He didn't want to accept it, he didn't want to know about it, he definitely didn't want to acknowledge the fact that it was true. But he did, and tears fell from his eyes.
Dogman went outside and touched his shoulder, Petey quickly wiped his face and his tears, looking back at the dog. He just patted his shoulder and back.
-What —The cat asked coldly— Is he already in bed?
-Hum —Dogman nodded in return— Are you okay? —He asked, only Petey knew he could talk
-Why —He asked, clenching his teeth, Dogman looked at him, confused— Why don't you hate me... Why don't you resent me, even a little? After what I did to you? —Tears ran down his chin, Dogman hugged him
-Why would I? —Petey closed his eyes, and more tears fell down Dogman's shoulder— It happened two years ago, it's all in the past
-But it isn't fair! —He grabbed both of Dogman's arms, burying his face in his shoulder while still crying— I took him away from you! And now you have to bear seeing his body every day! Can't you just hate me!? I don't deserve your kindness and compassion!
-Petey —His voice calmed the cat a little— I already said it, it's all in the past —He pulled back from the hug and cupped the other's face with his hands— You're trying to change, and you've made lots of progress, you genuinely try to be a better cat... I couldn't hate you
-Greg... —His tears were caught in Dogman's hands— I'm sorry... Sometimes I think about this, I should've said something sooner...
-It's fine, dork —He nuzzled Petey's nose with his— Let's go inside, Lil P. wants us to read him a bedtime story
-You only make dog noises around the others, I'll be the one reading the story —Petey smiled, grabbing Dogman's hand
-Some day I'll talk to him! —Dogman also smiled
They both went upstairs, surprising Lil Petey, reading him an old book Dogman had around, half an hour later, just when Petey was done reading, the little cat fell asleep. Both went outside and Dogman grabbed Petey's hand tightly, smiling at him, and they went to sleep.