Part 14

It was the morning after a night full of thoughts.

Petey got up with heaviness, feeling his eyelids swollen and his body tense from lack of sleep. He hadn't rested well, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like his mind had reached a clear conclusion.

With a sigh, he headed to the bathroom and washed his face with cold water, letting the chill clear his head a little. He looked at himself in the mirror for a few seconds. He was still the same, but something in his expression was different.

Today, he was going to change.

He couldn't keep running. He couldn't keep pushing away the people who cared about him.

He couldn't keep being his father.

He left the bathroom with firm steps and went straight to the kitchen. He wasn't hungry, but he had a purpose.

Lil' Petey was still asleep, and what better way to surprise him than by making a good breakfast.

Cooking had always been one of the few things he really enjoyed doing. He was methodical, precise, and, in a way, relaxing. Also, though he'd never admit it aloud, cooking was one of the ways he showed affection without having to be so obvious about it.

He rolled up his sleeves a bit, took out the ingredients, and began working with the ease of someone who did it naturally. He mixed the batter with quick movements, making sure it had the perfect consistency.

The sound of butter sizzling in the pan was the first indication that everything was going as it should. He poured the first portion of batter skillfully, forming a perfect pancake.

It didn't take long before the sweet aroma began to fill the house, enveloping the air in a warm awakening.

As he cooked, he thought of Lil' Petey and how he always received food with a bright smile. How his expression would light up with pure and sincere happiness.

He thought of Dog Man and how he always devoured whatever was served, wagging his tail uncontrollably.

He thought about how cooking for them made him feel something strange in his chest, a sensation he would have wanted to ignore before, but now he tried to accept.

Maybe, if he couldn't express his love with words just yet, he could do it with small gestures.

Maybe, if he didn't know how to be a good father with hugs and sweet words, he could show it with something as simple as a carefully made breakfast.

And maybe, just maybe, letting himself be loved wasn't as bad as he had always believed.

.

.

Petey continued cooking calmly, focusing on each movement. Pouring the batter into the pan, waiting for bubbles to form on the surface, flipping the pancake at the exact moment to make it perfectly golden. It was a process he knew well, almost automatic, but this time, there was something different.

This time, he was doing it with a purpose.

Just as he was placing another pancake on the plate, a sleepy voice interrupted him.

—Dad...? What are you doing...? It's early, you always sleep in... —Lil' Petey mumbled, rubbing an eye with his little hand, still trying to fully wake up.

Petey turned slightly, seeing his son appear in the kitchen doorway, fur messy and eyes half-closed from sleep.

—Ah. I thought you were going to sleep a bit more, —he replied, with a softer tone than usual—. I'm making breakfast.

He returned his attention to the pan, moving the pancake so it wouldn't stick, keeping the cooking rhythm with precision.

Lil' Petey blinked a couple of times before sniffing the air.

—Mmm... smells good, as always, —he said with a lazy smile. His little feet shuffled across the floor until he reached Petey and, without warning, hugged his leg tightly.

The gesture caught Petey by surprise.

He felt the warmth of the little body clinging to him, felt the way Lil' Petey hid his face against his pants, wrapping his little arms around him.

It was a sudden hug, with no apparent reason.

But maybe, that was what made it so genuine.

Petey swallowed dryly, looking at the boy for a moment, before letting out a small sigh and reaching out to gently ruffle his fur.

—Always so clingy early on... —he murmured, but this time, there was no mockery in his voice.

Lil' Petey giggled, not letting go.

—I like hugs... —he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Petey didn't respond immediately.

He just felt the warmth surrounding him, the sweet aroma of breakfast filling the kitchen, the softness of Lil' Petey's little ear under his fingers.

Before, he might have found an excuse to push him away. To make some sarcastic comment.

But today...

Today, he decided that it wasn't so bad to receive a little affection.

So, he let the little one hug him for a few more seconds before giving him a light tap on the head.

—Go set the table, kid, —he said, with a lighter tone—. Breakfast will be ready in a minute.

The little one nodded energetically and ran off to carry out the task.

Lil' Petey sat at the table, swinging his legs energetically as he waited for breakfast. As usual, it didn't take long for him to fill the silence with his animated voice.

—Did you know people are more creative in the shower? When we shower with hot water, we experience a greater flow of dopamine that makes us more creative... I don't know, just being in the shower makes me want to sing—

Petey, who was in the process of pouring honey over the pancake tower, just raised an eyebrow.

—Yeah, yeah, super impressive... —he murmured, pretending to be uninterested, though deep down, he couldn't help but find his son's enthusiasm entertaining.

—Ah! And I started watching a new series last night, it's about a detective cat who solves crimes in the city! —Lil' Petey continued—. It's called 'Sherlock Meows.' It's amazing! He has a trench coat and a cool hat, and he always catches the bad guys with his great sense of smell and intelligence.

—A detective cat? —Petey snorted with amusement—. How come I didn't think of that idea first?

Lil' Petey laughed, resting his elbows on the table as he impatiently watched his father finish arranging the pancakes.

Finally, Petey brought the plate to the center of the table and placed it with a satisfied gesture.

It was a tower of perfectly golden, steaming pancakes, drenched in a generous amount of honey and decorated with fresh fruit.

Lil' Petey was immediately fascinated, his little eyes shining with pure admiration.

But something struck him as strange.

—Dad... why did you make so many? —he asked, tilting his head with curiosity.

Petey fell silent for a moment, feeling a slight chill as he realized he didn't have a prepared answer.

—Oh... um... you know... —he murmured, diverting his gaze a little.

He couldn't say it openly.

He couldn't say that after the night before, after everything he had thought and felt, he had gotten up with the strange need to do something good.

Something small.

Something that showed, even subtly, that he was trying to change.

So, he just shrugged and, without looking at him, said:

—Greg always eats that disgusting canned food. I thought we could share a few pancakes with him.

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt his cheeks immediately warm up.

Lil' Petey blinked several times before a big smile lit up his face.

—Really?! That's awesome, Dad! Dog Man is going to be super happy! —he exclaimed, wiggling in his seat from excitement—. I bet he's never eaten pancakes as delicious as yours!

Petey snorted, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand while trying to ignore the way his son looked at him, with a mix of awe and tenderness.

—Bah, it's no big deal... —he muttered, but his voice sounded less harsh than usual.

Lil' Petey didn't say anything else, but his smile stayed, and for some reason, Petey felt that the warmth in his chest had nothing to do with the hot food on the table.

.

.

Petey stood in front of Dog Man's house and raised his hand to knock.

Knock, knock.

Barely a couple of seconds passed before a loud crash echoed from inside.

Something heavy falling. A thud. A muffled groan.

And then:

—Ugh... my back...

Petey blinked.

Lil' Petey cupped both hands to his mouth to stifle a laugh.

—He fell again!

—That sounded worse than falling off a bed. —Petey murmured, raising an eyebrow.

The door swung open suddenly, and there stood Dog Man.

Disheveled, his fur completely ruffled, and, to Petey's surprise, without a shirt. He was only wearing loose shorts and it looked like he had gotten up so quickly that he still had the pillow mark on his cheek.

—Ugh... good morning. —Dog Man mumbled, rubbing his head with a grimace of pain.

Petey took a second to process what he was seeing.

Not because it was something impressive.

Not because he cared.

Of course not.

But...

It wasn't like he was used to seeing him like this.

He shook his head and clicked his tongue.

—For heaven's sake... what the heck were you doing?

Dog Man let out a tired sigh.

—Going down the stairs.

—And what, did you roll down instead of walking like a normal person?

Dog Man gave him an annoyed look.

—I was excited, okay?

Lil' Petey laughed.

—You should be more careful, Dog Man!

—Yeah, yeah... —Dog Man straightened up and gave them a sleepy smile—. So, what brings you here at this hour of the morning?

Petey crossed his arms and looked at him with feigned indifference.

—Look, listen closely because I'll only say this once, —he said, tightening the bag on his shoulder—. We're going to an amusement park, and... I thought you could come.

Dog Man blinked.

His tail stopped moving for a moment.

And then, suddenly, it started wagging so fast that it almost looked like a fan.

—REALLY?!

Lil' Petey jumped with excitement.

—Yes! It's going to be so much fun!

Dog Man grinned from ear to ear and, without warning, threw himself onto Petey in a crushing hug.

—Thank you, Petey! It's going to be great!

—Hey! Let go of me, you idiot! —Petey growled, trying to push him away.

But Dog Man didn't let go.

Lil' Petey laughed.

And although Petey growled, snorted, and tried to pull away, his face felt warm.

And the worst part... was that it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would.

.

.

Petey and Lil' Petey entered the house, following Dog Man into the dining room.

Dog Man was already sitting at the table, the tower of pancakes in front of him, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

—They look delicious! —he exclaimed, grabbing the fork eagerly.

Lil' Petey quickly sat down in one of the chairs, wagging his tail impatiently. Petey, on the other hand, did so more calmly, crossing his arms while glancing sideways at how Dog Man took the first bite.

The dog brought a piece of pancake to his mouth, and instantly, his ears perked up in happiness.

—Mmmh! This is amazing!

Without waiting any longer, Dog Man started devouring the pancakes with almost ridiculous enthusiasm, not caring about manners or the fact that Petey was looking at him with an eyebrow raised.

Lil' Petey laughed.

—Dog Man, you eat like you haven't had anything good in weeks!

Dog Man swallowed and grinned from ear to ear.

—Because it's true!

Petey snorted and looked away, but couldn't help but let a small smile form at the corner of his lips.

Seeing Dog Man enjoy his food like that gave him a strange warmth in his chest, a feeling of quiet satisfaction.

After all, cooking was one of the few things he truly enjoyed doing... and knowing that his food could make someone else happy gave him a pleasure he wasn't willing to admit out loud.

When Dog Man finished, he leaned back in his chair, letting out a satisfied sigh.

—Petey, you should open a restaurant! It would be the most popular in the city!

Petey crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

—Yeah, sure. I'd totally get rich selling you pancakes every day.

Dog Man laughed, scratching his neck.

—That wouldn't be a bad idea...

—Tch... just go shower so we can leave. —Petey muttered, looking away.

—Yes, sir! —Dog Man jumped to his feet and headed for the second floor, his tail wagging with excitement.

Lil' Petey followed him with his eyes until he disappeared down the hallway, and then, without hesitation, ran to the couch and turned on the TV.

Petey, on the other hand, took a moment to move.

Finally, he dropped onto the couch next to Lil' Petey, crossing his arms and trying to focus on the screen.

But he couldn't.

His attention wasn't on the show his son had put on.

No... it was on the house itself.

For some reason, he felt the need to look around more attentively, as if trying to capture every detail he had previously ignored.

There were photographs on the wall. Pictures of Dog Man with his friends, with Lil' Petey... even some of the three of them together, in moments Petey didn't remember anyone capturing.

On a shelf, there were some police commendations and medals, and also a couple of chewed-up toys that he had probably had since he was a puppy.

But what caught his attention the most were the smallest details.

A half-empty coffee cup on the coffee table.

A book with a bent cover from wear.

And right next to it, a handmade beaded bracelet.

Petey recognized it immediately.

It was one of the ones Lil' Petey had made a few months ago.

Dog Man had left it there, in a visible place.

Petey didn't know why, but it made him feel strange.

He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a sigh.

.

.

After about fifteen minutes, Dog Man came down the stairs, now dressed in casual clothes: a simple t-shirt and comfortable pants. His fur was still a bit damp from the shower, but that didn't seem to bother him.

—I'm ready! —he announced with a big smile, wagging his tail with excitement.

Lil' Petey immediately turned off the TV and jumped to his feet.

—Yes! Let's go, let's go, let's go! —he exclaimed excitedly, running toward the door.

Petey got up more calmly, adjusting his scarf around his neck while taking a final glance at the living room. Then, without saying anything more, he followed them outside.

The cool morning air greeted them as they stepped onto the street, and Lil' Petey, full of energy, immediately clung to Dog Man's and Petey's hands.

—Pick me up, pick me up! —he asked with a big smile.

Dog Man and Petey exchanged a look, and without saying a word, both lifted him into the air while he let out a happy giggle.

—Higher! —the kitten requested, kicking his legs in the air.

—Hey, don't get too excited or we'll launch you into space, —Petey joked, though his grip was firm and careful.

Dog Man laughed and, in a playful impulse, lifted him a little higher before bringing him back down.

—I'm a rocket! —Lil' Petey exclaimed, enjoying the game as they walked down the street.

Petey couldn't help but roll his eyes with a smile.

The walk to the amusement park felt surprisingly short, maybe because Lil' Petey didn't stop talking the entire way.

When they arrived, the park entrance was decorated with bright lights and colorful banners. The sound of music and children's laughter filled the air, and the sweet scent of cotton candy and popcorn floated in the breeze.

Petey bought the tickets while Dog Man held Lil' Petey, who was jumping with excitement at the sight of the rides.

—We're going on everything! —declared the little one, clenching his fists with determination.

—Eh... not everything, —Petey corrected, raising an eyebrow—. You're not tall enough for some rides.

Lil' Petey puffed out his cheeks, clearly frustrated by the idea that he couldn't go on the big rides.

—But there are still plenty of cool rides for you! —Dog Man chimed in, his tone upbeat—. Let's go find them!

And so they did.

They toured the park searching for rides suitable for Lil' Petey's height, and although the kitten was still upset about not being able to ride the roller coasters at first, he quickly forgot his frustration when he discovered the rides for little kids.

His excitement peaked when he saw the carousel in the distance.

—Look, look! A carousel!

Without waiting for a response, Lil' Petey grabbed Dog Man's hand and pulled him with all his strength.

—Come on, Dog Man, let's go!

Dog Man barely had time to react before being dragged by the little one.

Petey, instead of following them, stayed a few steps behind, watching them with an expression hard to decipher.

Lil' Petey climbed onto one of the carousel horses with a big smile, while Dog Man made sure he was safely strapped in.

From where he stood, Petey could see how Dog Man took care of him, attentive to every little movement of the child.

He saw him hold the reins firmly to make sure Lil' Petey didn't slip.

He saw him lean a bit to talk to him, probably saying something that made him laugh.

He saw him...

He saw him being Dog Man.

Always patient. Always affectionate. Always willing to protect Lil' Petey without thinking twice.

And Petey...

Petey felt something warm deep inside.

Something soft.

Something that, for the first time in a long time, didn't hurt.

Without realizing it, a smile appeared on his face.

Not one of those sarcastic smiles he used to hide what he really felt.

Not a forced or awkward smile.

It was a genuine smile.

Sweet.

Sincere.

Dog Man, who at that moment turned his head in his direction, immediately noticed.

And without hesitation, he returned the smile.

Petey felt a slight warmth on his cheeks, but for some reason, he didn't look away.

He simply stayed there, hands in his pockets and the wind brushing his face, watching Dog Man and Lil' Petey on the carousel.

And at that moment, he knew.

He had made the right choice by coming today.