Part 11

The lab remained silent, broken only by Petey's heavy breathing. Dog Man was still looking at him with that unwavering calm, as if patiently waiting for something inside Petey to give in. And maybe it would. Maybe it already had, without him even realizing it.

Petey clenched his teeth and looked away, trying to regain his composure. But he felt that anything he said or did would only make things worse. Dog Man wasn't just still in love with him-he seemed more sure of his feelings than ever.

That didn't make sense.

Not after everything Petey had done. Not after how he had pushed him away, how he had tried to put a wall between them with sarcasm, with distance, with logic. Dog Man shouldn't still be looking at him like that. He shouldn't still be standing there, so determined, as if nothing Petey said could change his mind.

-You have to be lying -he muttered, his voice tense.

Dog Man tilted his head, his ears twitching slightly in confusion.

-Why would I lie?

Petey let out a bitter laugh, one with no humor, only disbelief.

-I don't know. Because you're an idiot. Because you don't think things through. Because... because this can't be true.

Dog Man frowned, but not in anger-he looked like he was genuinely trying to understand why Petey thought that way.

-But it is.

Petey stared at him in disbelief. Something inside him burned-a mix of frustration and fear. Dog Man was looking at him like this was the simplest thing in the world. Like he truly believed this was okay. That he was okay.

But he wasn't.

He hadn't been okay for a long time.

And Dog Man... Dog Man couldn't be real.

Clicking his tongue, he turned around abruptly, putting his back to him, stepping away from those intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through him. He walked to his work table and started rummaging through his tools, not looking for anything in particular. He just needed to do something with his hands. He needed a distraction, something physical, tangible-something he could control.

Because this? This was something he couldn't control.

Dog Man didn't move from his spot, but his voice reached him, soft yet firm, filled with something Petey didn't want to acknowledge.

-You don't have to be afraid.

Petey tensed.

Afraid?

Him?

He let out a mocking laugh, though it sounded more forced than he would have liked.

-What the hell would I be afraid of?

Dog Man didn't answer right away. Petey could feel his gaze on his back, analyzing every movement, every shaky breath. Finally, Dog Man took a step forward.

-That this is real.

The words hit Petey like a knife. A chill ran down his spine, and his grip on the tool in his hand tightened until his knuckles ached.

No.

No, no, no.

This wasn't real. It couldn't be.

This was just the stupid love ray's effect. No matter what Dog Man said, Petey knew it wasn't possible for someone to truly feel that way about him.

Not when his own life had shown him, over and over again, that love was a lie.

He took a deep breath and turned around, forcing himself to put on a smug attitude, even as his heart pounded in his chest, loud in his ears.

-Tell me, Dog Man, what are you going to do now? Are you just going to stand there, waiting for me to believe you? Because let me tell you something- -he leaned in slightly, his smile sharp, hiding the tremble in his voice- -I won't.

Dog Man blinked slowly, not looking away.

-That's okay.

Petey frowned.

-What?

-If you don't want to believe me, that's okay.

That answer threw him off. Dog Man was supposed to argue, to insist with more ridiculous reasons. But he didn't.

And that... that made it even worse.

Petey felt a lump in his throat. Something inside him was collapsing, like a wall about to crumble.

But he couldn't let that happen.

-Don't look at me like that -he growled, averting his eyes.

-Like what?

-Like... like you really think you're staying.

Dog Man gave him a small smile, and that expression was what finally made Petey falter.

-But I am staying.

Petey shut his eyes tightly. Stupid, stubborn dog.

He knew Dog Man wasn't lying. And that was the worst part. Because if Dog Man stayed... if Dog Man really cared about him... then Petey wouldn't have anyone to blame when everything went wrong.

And it would go wrong. It always did.

But then, Dog Man took another step, closing the distance between them. Petey could feel him closer than ever. He could feel his warmth, his steady breathing.

And then, before he could react, Dog Man lifted a paw and gently placed it on his head, between his ears, in a slow, careful gesture.

Petey froze.

The touch was warm, comforting. There was no rush, no pressure. Just... care.

And then, like a lightning strike, a memory crashed into his mind.

A different hand, smaller and fragile, gently patting his head in the same way.

"You're the smartest boy, Petey. You'll always be special."

His mother's sweet voice echoed in his memory, a voice he hadn't heard in so long that he had almost forgotten what it sounded like.

Petey felt his throat tighten. His eyes burned, and before he could stop it, a single tear rolled down his cheek.

He quickly wiped it away with his wrist, furious at himself. But Dog Man had already seen it.

The dog's eyes softened, and for the first time, Petey felt like someone really saw him.

-Petey...

Petey turned away immediately, as if that could erase what had just happened.

-Don't you dare -his voice wavered slightly-. Don't say anything.

Dog Man didn't say anything.

Instead, he stepped a little closer and, with the same tenderness he had just shown, leaned in and rested his forehead against Petey's.

The cat felt the warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of Dog Man's breath. And against all odds, he didn't feel the urge to pull away.

For the first time in a long time, he wasn't alone.

Dog Man slowly pulled back, just a little, and before Petey could react, he pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

It was brief, barely a touch. But Petey felt it like a shock straight to his chest.

He didn't know what to say. He didn't even know what to think.

All he knew was that, for the first time in a long time, the fear he always carried inside felt just a little smaller.

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Heyy, sorry for the short chapter and everything... today was a really busy day, and I don't think I'll be able to update tomorrow...

But hey, they kissed on the cheek! That's progress.