Part Two

After playing with Dogman for a while, Petey started to get increasingly frustrated. He wasn't used to a dog constantly jumping on him and licking his face every chance it got. At first, he tried to stay calm, thinking it would be fine, but soon he realized he'd had enough.

Each time Dogman pounced on him or licked his face, Petey's patience wore thinner. He had tried to relax, but the dog just wouldn't stop. It was clear that Dogman wasn't getting the message.

Feeling completely drained, Petey came up with an idea to distract the dog. "Maybe I can get him to focus on something else," he thought to himself. His eyes flicked toward Dogman, and then to Li'l Petey. Li'l Petey was at home, but just the thought of him gave Petey an idea.

"Hey... Dogman, you know who would love to play fetch with you? Li'l Petey!" Petey said, forcing a big smile on his face, trying to sound excited, even though he was exhausted. He figured if he could get Dogman to focus on Li'l Petey, he might get a moment to relax.

With that, he began walking toward Dogman's house, trying his best to hide his frustration. As he moved, his face went from the exaggerated, forced smile to one of sheer exhaustion and annoyance.

"Let's go see," Petey muttered, trying to sound upbeat, but inwardly, he wondered if this plan would actually work. Maybe, just maybe, he could get a break from the never-ending dog affection, if only for a little while.

On their way to Dogman's house, Dogman couldn't help but keep glancing over at Petey, who walked beside him. Each time he looked at the cat, he felt a strange flutter in his chest, a feeling he couldn't explain. His gaze lingered a little longer than usual, as if something inside him was drawn to Petey. His heart seemed to race every time Petey moved, every time their eyes met. It was almost like... admiration? No, it was something stronger, something deeper.

Dogman didn't understand it. He wasn't sure what this feeling was, but it made him feel vulnerable. The ray of love 2000 Petey had hit him with had worked, and now he couldn't stop feeling this way. He wasn't sure what it was, but he needed to be near Petey. It was uncomfortable, yet at the same time, he felt an overwhelming sense of happiness when he was around him. His tail wagged uncontrollably as he thought about spending time with his new favorite person—well, favorite cat—and the whole situation was making his heart skip beats.

When they arrived at Dogman's house, he fumbled for the key in his pocket, his hands shaking just slightly. He finally opened the door, allowing Petey to walk in first. They entered together, and they found Li'l Petey lounging on the couch in the living room, completely relaxed. The little one was watching TV, happily eating ice cream, looking like he had no care in the world.

"Dad!! You're here!" Li'l Petey called, then, noticing the two of them together, asked in confusion, "But why are you two coming together? I thought I was supposed to spend the weekend with Dogman... not... this."

Petey raised an eyebrow and glanced at Dogman, who was standing a little too close for comfort. "Uh... well, some things happened, and we ended up spending time together," Petey explained, trying to sound nonchalant, though he was definitely aware of Dogman's intense gaze.

But before Petey could say more, his voice rose in surprise. "WAIT! YOU CALL THIS DOG 'DAD'?" Petey asked, somewhat offended by the idea that Dogman had become just as important to Li'l Petey as he was.

Li'l Petey turned to him, unfazed. "Yeah, he's my dad too, just like you are! He looks after me, just like you do!" Li'l Petey said with a playful grin.

Dogman, his heart pounding in his chest, gazed at Li'l Petey with such tenderness that it almost made Petey uncomfortable. But then, Dogman's eyes drifted back to Petey, and the feelings surged inside him once again. It was like he couldn't help himself—this strange, overwhelming affection for the cat made him feel a mixture of joy and nervousness. His tail wagged in a wild, uncontrollable motion, his heart leaping in his chest.

Petey could see it—he could see Dogman's deep affection, the way the dog's eyes softened whenever they met his. It wasn't just admiration anymore. Dogman was in love with him. The ray of love 2000 had worked all too well, and now Dogman's feelings were crystal clear.

Petey's stomach did a flip. He wasn't sure what to make of it. He had intended to make the dog feel vulnerable, but now, with Dogman clearly infatuated, it was a lot to process. The situation was awkward, but at the same time, Petey couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride in knowing that his plan had worked.

Still, it was hard to ignore how intense Dogman's gaze had become, how he seemed to be completely caught up in the feelings the ray had triggered. It was almost too much to handle, but there was no denying it: things were changing, and Petey wasn't quite sure where it would lead.

"I think it's about time for dinner. I'll serve something for everyone," Dogman said, using sign language to communicate.

Petey raised an eyebrow, curious. "What are you going to serve?" he asked, intrigued by what the dog might prepare.

Dogman pointed to a can of food on the counter, the familiar metal container that had become his go-to meal.

Petey's expression shifted slightly, his curiosity turning into mild surprise. "You don't know how to cook real food?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment. "Let me prepare something instead. I want my son to eat well, not just canned food."

With that, the older cat turned toward the kitchen, his tail flicking in the air as he moved with a sense of purpose. He didn't even look back, as his mind was already on the task at hand. He wanted to make sure Li'l Petey had a proper, nutritious meal, something homemade and fresh, not something out of a tin.

Dogman watched him go, a bit deflated. It stung a little that Petey had rejected his canned food, something he'd always relied on. He had tried his best, but the cat's reaction made him feel somewhat inadequate. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what Petey would make instead. He had never seen the cat cook before, and the thought of a home-cooked meal made his stomach grumble in anticipation.

Feeling a bit down, Dogman sat on the couch next to Li'l Petey, who was still absorbed in his ice cream and TV show. Li'l Petey glanced over at Dogman and noticed his downcast expression.

"Hey, what's wrong, Dogman?" Li'l Petey asked innocently, sensing that something wasn't quite right.

Dogman smiled softly, his tail wagging slowly. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking about dinner," he replied, trying to shake off the sadness. He didn't want to make a big deal of it, especially in front of Li'l Petey. "I'll just wait and see what your dad makes."

Li'l Petey nodded, not fully understanding, but giving Dogman a reassuring pat on the arm. "Don't worry, I'm sure it'll be awesome. Dad's a great cook," he said, his little voice full of confidence.

Dogman smiled at the young cat's enthusiasm, feeling a bit better. He looked toward the kitchen, where Petey was already busy preparing something. His mind wandered back to what Petey had said about wanting his son to eat well. Dogman felt a surge of warmth in his chest. Maybe he didn't understand all the finer details of parenting, but he did know that Petey clearly cared deeply for Li'l Petey. That thought made his heart swell with affection.

As they sat together in silence, waiting for dinner to be ready, Dogman tried his best to focus on the moment. He knew he could never truly replace the older cat, but he also knew that, in his own way, he was doing his best. His heart was in the right place, even if it wasn't always perfect. And for now, that was enough.

As the scent of something cooking began to fill the air, Dogman felt a renewed sense of anticipation. He may not have known how to cook like Petey, but he was eager to see how this new family dynamic would continue to unfold. After all, things were changing, and maybe, just maybe, they were headed toward something even better than he could have imagined.