Part 17

—Today I want coffee... —exclaimed Lil' Petey, staring intently at his dad's coffee cup.

From the living room couch, Petey frowned and got up with reluctance. He knew exactly what his son wanted, but he wasn't willing to let him have coffee. In a kind but firm voice, he said:

—Lil' Petey, you can't drink coffee. You're still too young.

The little one made a face of displeasure and retorted:

—But Dog Man drinks coffee! Why can't I?

Before Petey could respond, Dog Man, already at the door, appeared with a bag of donuts in hand. With a casual tone and a subtle smile, he said:

—Kid, coffee is for the grown-ups. You still have to wait. But look, I brought donuts.

Lil' Petey smiled widely and held a donut in front of Dog Man, who just shrugged and smiled back. Petey, although happy to see his son's joy, knew there were more important matters to attend to that morning.

Just then, Lil' Petey remembered something:

—Dad, it's time! I have to go to Molly's house; we're going to play. Hurry, hurry!

Petey nodded and, without wasting any time, stood up. With one last glance at the bag of donuts in Dog Man's hands, he said:

—Alright, come with me to drop him off. Then we can do something together, sound good?

Dog Man responded kindly, maintaining his usual natural demeanor:

—Of course, Petey. Let's go.

Petey and Dog Man walked down the sidewalk toward the car, while Lil' Petey excitedly rambled on about his playdate with Molly.

—Molly's waiting for me to play house! —exclaimed Lil' Petey, unable to contain his excitement.

Petey smiled at how happy his son was. Dog Man, with his attentive attitude, gave Lil' Petey a few gentle pats on the head without saying much, more focused on making sure everything was in order. When they reached the car, Dog Man opened the back door and carefully placed Lil' Petey in his car seat.

—Here you go, little one —said Dog Man, making sure he was comfortable and securely strapped in before gently closing the door.

Petey watched the scene, feeling a mixture of gratitude and something else he didn't dare name.

—Thanks for helping with that, Greg —said Petey, noticing how Dog Man did it naturally, without seeking recognition but always attentive.

—No problem —Dog Man replied, downplaying the gesture. But the way he made an effort to be respectful to both Petey and his son showed he cared more than he let on.

Petey smiled faintly, and with a small sigh, climbed into the car and took the wheel. As he started the car, Lil' Petey kept talking.

—Come on, dad, let's go! —he said while looking out the window, eager to reach Molly's house.

—Yes, champ, we're almost there —Petey responded, his smile full of pride.

The drive was short, and upon arrival, Lil' Petey dashed toward Molly's house. Petey stopped for a moment on the sidewalk, watching his son have fun. However, the calm of the moment didn't last long as Dog Man approached him with a slight smile.

—Now what? —asked Dog Man casually, not pushing.

Petey looked at Dog Man with a flat smile.

—Now, if you don't mind, let's go to the park. It could be a good time to relax a bit more before the day gets busier. —Petey glanced at him a little longer, his tone relaxed but sincere—. If you're interested.

Dog Man smiled sincerely, without hesitation.

—Sure, Petey. I'd love to. —He responded warmly, as they both started walking toward the car.

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Petey and Dog Man headed silently toward the car. The afternoon was starting to feel calmer after the hustle and bustle of the morning, and both enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. Petey, sitting in the driver's seat, glanced at Dog Man, who seemed more relaxed than usual. Maybe he was enjoying the little break as much as he was.

—I didn't know you liked donuts so much —Petey said without looking at Dog Man, trying to keep the conversation light.

Dog Man shrugged, a shy smile appearing on his face.

—Whenever I don't have work at the station, they send me to buy them —he replied, looking out the window. Then, without realizing it, he made a flirty gesture while taking a donut from the bag—. But I always eat them, of course. They're delicious!

Petey let out a small laugh, even surprising himself. Dog Man had that way about him, where even though he wasn't aware of it, he made everything feel much lighter.

—I guess something good had to come out of those errands —Petey said, still smiling slightly.

As they drove through the quiet streets of the city, Petey couldn't help but feel grateful for those small moments of peace. It was rare for him to disconnect from the daily stress, but he was starting to realize that sharing time with Dog Man didn't feel so bad. There was something comforting about that closeness, even if he didn't dare admit it openly.

Arriving at a quieter area, Petey stopped the car, parking beside a peaceful park. He stared at the horizon for a few seconds before turning to Dog Man.

—Does this spot work for you? —he asked, looking for a way to make the moment even more comfortable.

Dog Man nodded, though he didn't say anything at first. He stretched in the seat, letting out a relaxed sigh. Then, with a genuine smile, he turned to Petey.

—Yeah, this is perfect. It's always peaceful here, isn't it?

Petey didn't speak for a few seconds, looking at Dog Man with a slight discomfort. However, deep down, he felt a warm relief knowing there were no expectations beyond that simple moment. No one was pressuring him.

—Sometimes, yeah —he finally replied, relaxing a little more. Then, without knowing why, he added—: It's... nice, just being like this, in silence, right?

Dog Man looked at him with a subtle smile and nodded.

—It's nice, yeah. Not everything has to be loud or complicated. Sometimes, all you need is someone to just be with.

Petey stayed quiet for a moment, feeling a strange mixture of emotions. He wasn't used to talking so openly with anyone, but there was something about the way Dog Man spoke that made everything easier.

—Yeah... —he whispered, almost to himself. Then, looking out the window, he tried to change the subject, but something made him hesitate. He glanced at Dog Man again, noticing the way he looked at him. Dog Man's gaze wasn't one of expectation, but one of someone who simply wanted to share that space.

Without thinking too much, Petey leaned toward him just as Dog Man was also leaning in to say something. It was a small movement, an almost imperceptible gesture. But in that moment, their eyes met.

Dog Man blushed slightly and, although he tried to hide it with a smile, Petey could notice the warmth in his expression.

—What? —Petey asked, still watching him, slightly uncomfortable but curious at the same time.

—Nothing —Dog Man replied quickly, a bit embarrassed by Petey's reaction. Then, as if trying to lighten the mood, he added—: I just... wanted to say that, well, if you ever need to talk or anything, you know you can count on me.

Petey looked at him, more serious than before. Something in his words made his heart beat a little faster, but he wasn't ready to confront what he truly felt.

—I know —he said, with a soft smile. Then he leaned back in his seat, feeling there was something in the air, but not entirely sure what it was.

They both stayed silent for a while, enjoying each other's company as the hours passed without hurry. No one said anything for a good while. The afternoon moved slowly, but the sense of calm was still there, enveloping everything around them.

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Petey reclined on the park bench, watching as the sun began to set, painting the sky in orange and pink hues. The cool afternoon air brushed against his face, and for a moment, he felt at peace. Beside him, Dog Man was still quietly observing the horizon, saying nothing but with that constant presence that made him feel less alone, less uncertain.

Petey couldn't stop thinking about what had been happening lately. How, without meaning to, he had been giving a piece of himself to Dog Man. He hadn't planned it, hadn't expected it, but Dog Man's affection had surrounded him with a warmth he had never experienced.

It was true, he knew that Dog Man liked him. That was no longer a secret, not for him nor for Dog Man. They had spent so much time together, sharing small but meaningful moments, that it was clear there was something more between them. But Petey didn't want to stay there. He didn't just want to be on the other side, waiting for things to happen. He wanted to make them happen. For the first time, he wanted to be the one to take the step.

The thought made him feel a knot in his stomach, but also a certain determination. "I'm going to win him over," he thought. "I'm going to be the one to make this work." It wasn't just about receiving Dog Man's love, knowing he liked him. Petey was ready to give that love, without barriers, without fear. But as that idea settled in his mind, he remembered his mother.

He remembered all the times, as a child, that she had told him how important it was to be happy, not to hold onto what didn't serve him, to learn to give love. Although his relationship with her hadn't been easy, his mother had always wanted the best for him. And now, with everything he had lived, Petey thought that if she were here, she would tell him to let go of his fears, not to hide behind them.

"She would want me to be happy," Petey thought, "and to allow myself to give that love I have inside, even if it scares me."

The trauma of his past, his history with loneliness, the distrust he had cultivated over time, all of that was still there, but now Petey saw it from a new perspective. He didn't want to be the one who just waited to be loved anymore.

He wanted to be the one who loved, the one who fought for what he truly felt. And at that moment, he felt that if he didn't try now, he never would.

He looked at Dog Man again, who was still lost in his thoughts, unaware of the internal storm happening in Petey's mind. Petey took a deep breath, making the final decision.

He wasn't going to wait anymore. It wouldn't be about staying in the shadow of doubt. "I'm going to take the step, I'm going to take the risk, because what I feel for him deserves to be shared."

—Greg... —He looked at him, searching for the right way to say what he felt—. I've been thinking a lot about us... about what I want. And... I want to tell you that what I feel for you is real.

Dog Man looked at him, as if trying to process his words. Petey felt his heart pounding, but he didn't stop.

—I know that... that you feel something for me too, and I know I'm not the kind of cat who usually takes the first step, but I want to try. I want this to be something more, something real. —Petey looked away for a moment, feeling the weight of his own feelings—. I don't want to just stay waiting for things to happen. I want to make them happen, I want to give you my love, because you make me feel something I've never felt before.

Dog Man looked at him in silence for a few moments, his expression soft but full of emotion. Petey could see how his eyes shone with something more than just surprise. Then, Dog Man smiled, a genuine and warm smile that lit up his face.

—Petey... —he said in a soft voice, a little nervous but with the same tenderness he always showed—. I feel the same. You know that I care about you a lot. I don't know exactly when it started, but... you make me feel really happy, more than I thought I could feel. You don't have to be afraid to take that step, I... I've already taken it with you, in my own way.

Petey felt an immediate relief upon hearing those words. Dog Man was willing to move forward, to accept what they were building together, without pressure or fear.

—It's not easy for me, Petey, but I want to try too. I want things to work. Not just because I like you... but because I feel that what we have is special.

Petey's heart skipped a beat, a warm feeling spread in his chest. For the first time, he felt sure of what he was doing, of what he wanted. It was no longer about receiving Dog Man's love. Now, it was about giving him what he had in his heart, about building something real and sincere between them.

—So... —Petey smiled, a little nervous but confident—, can we start from here? Together, for real?

Dog Man nodded, his smile bigger than ever. Without saying another word, he moved closer to Petey and, with a natural tenderness, touched his shoulder gently.

—Yes, Petey. Together. Let's do it.

Petey and Dog Man stayed silent for a moment, watching the landscape in front of them. The sun was still high, but the heat of the day was starting to dissipate, giving way to a soft breeze that caressed their faces. The lights in the park were softly glowing, but the sky still held its warm hue, with the orange of the sunset slowly fading into pink and gold tones.

Dog Man, with his calm and serene gaze, extended his hand toward Petey without saying anything. Petey, without thinking, accepted his gesture, taking his hand. The contact was soft but firm, and for a moment, Petey felt that everything clicked, as if that was the answer he had been searching for.

Without hesitation, Petey lightly rested his head on Dog Man's shoulder, enjoying the closeness and warmth that emanated from him. The gentle movement of his breath and the beat of his heart conveyed a calm that Petey had been seeking for so long.

Dog Man said nothing, but gently squeezed Petey's hand, as if wanting to make sure everything was okay, that this shared moment meant as much to him as it did to Petey.

The landscape was still beautiful, with the park and the lights beginning to shine more brightly as the afternoon went on, but what truly mattered was that they were there, together, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. And as Petey rested his head on Dog Man's shoulder, he felt that, at last, things were right. No more doubts, no more fears. Just the two of them, hand in hand, looking at the world around them, with the certainty that the future held something special.

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AHH FINALLY!! AFTER... 17 chapters, oh my god.

I hope you liked the chapter, yay!