Part 18

The afternoon was calm, with a gentle breeze blowing through the streets of the city. Petey was at home, organizing a few things when his phone started ringing. Seeing who it was, he quickly answered.

–Hello, Flippy! –Petey said, hearing Flippy's friendly voice on the other end of the line.

–Hey, Petey! How's it going? –Flippy responded, his voice vibrant and upbeat.

–Good, good –Petey answered while rearranging some items on the table–. I was thinking maybe Lil' Petey could stay at Molly's house tonight. Would that be okay with you? I thought it would be a good opportunity for them to have a sleepover.

Flippy was silent for a moment, as if evaluating the proposal, and then responded.

–Sure, no problem, Petey. I don't mind him staying tonight. Molly would be thrilled to have him. Plus, you know it's always good for Lil' Petey to have some fun.

Petey smiled, grateful.

–Thanks, Flippy. I really appreciate it –he said. It wasn't easy finding someone trustworthy to leave his son with, and Flippy had always been kind and understanding.

–No problem, my friend –Flippy responded in his usual warm tone.

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Lil' Petey was in his room, excited for the sleepover, packing his backpack with what he thought was essential: his favorite pajamas, a small pillow, and some of his most treasured toys.

Petey watched his son with a smile on his face, feeling a bit nostalgic seeing him so happy. It had been a long journey for him as a father, and though there were always ups and downs, moments like this gave him a breather.

–Dad! Molly's waiting for me! –Lil' Petey shouted from his room while running toward the door, backpack in hand.

–I'm coming, champ! –Petey replied with a smile while making sure everything was ready.

They left the house together, and on the way to Flippy's house, Lil' Petey couldn't stop talking about the sleepover he was going to have with Molly, listing all the exciting things they planned to do, like telling stories and watching movies.

When they arrived at Flippy's house, Petey rang the doorbell, and Flippy greeted them with a smile.

–Hey, Petey! Lil' Petey! –Flippy greeted them with a big smile–. Great to see you! Ready for the sleepover?

Lil' Petey jumped up and down with excitement and ran toward the door, while Petey approached Flippy to hand him his son's backpack.

–Thanks again, Flippy. I know, Lil' Petey is really excited –Petey said as he handed the backpack to Flippy.

–It's nothing, Petey –Flippy responded, taking the backpack from Petey's hand and watching Lil' Petey run through the house–. We'll make sure he has a great time. Plus, you know Molly always enjoys having company.

Petey leaned down a bit to hug his son.

–Have fun, champ. Don't forget I love you, okay?

–Yes, Dad! –Lil' Petey shouted as he jumped toward Molly, who was already waiting for him inside the house.

Flippy gestured for Petey to leave, indicating he could go without worry. Petey turned to leave but paused for a moment and looked at Flippy, thankful.

–I really appreciate it, Flippy. Seriously –Petey said sincerely. It wasn't easy finding someone who could care for Lil' Petey the way he needed.

–Don't worry about it. It's a pleasure! –Flippy replied, giving him a pat on the shoulder–. See you later!

Petey smiled and turned around, heading back to the car. Even though he had left Lil' Petey in good hands, he couldn't help feeling a bit nostalgic. His son was growing up, and while he loved seeing him enjoy moments with his friends, he also felt time was passing too quickly.

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Petey knew he had made an important decision by accepting that he wanted to be with Dog Man. But he still struggled to fully understand how to do it right. Despite his experience as a villain and his ability to organize complicated plans, personal relationships had always left him confused. After all, he had never had a "good" relationship, not with his mother, not with other cats, and certainly not with someone like Dog Man.

But now that Dog Man was in his life, it felt like he had to do more than just accept the love that was offered to him. He wanted to do his part. He didn't just want to be the receiver of affection, but also learn to give it, to care for Dog Man as he had cared for him all this time. Even though he knew Dog Man already felt something for him, Petey wanted to make sure he loved him for what he could offer.

Petey decided that one of the simplest yet most meaningful ways to show his affection was through food. After all, cooking was one of the few places where Petey felt truly competent. He wasn't a high-level chef, but he knew enough to make dishes that could impress someone.

He decided to make homemade cookies, something simple but delicious. Oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips, the kind that could make even the most fearsome villains feel a little softer. He spent the whole morning in the kitchen, carefully choosing the ingredients, making sure the recipe turned out perfect.

When Dog Man came over after work, Petey greeted him with a tray of freshly baked cookies.

–Here you go, Dog Man, these are for you –Petey said, trying to sound casual, as if it wasn't a big deal.

Dog Man perked up his ears and sniffed the cookies with a big smile on his face.

–Wow! They smell amazing! –he said, grabbing a cookie and devouring it in one bite.

Petey watched nervously. The recipe had turned out perfect, but now he was waiting for a response. Something more than just "they're good." He wanted to know if Dog Man really appreciated them. But when he saw the expression of happiness on his face, his nervousness eased a little.

–Mmmm! These are delicious! –Dog Man exclaimed with a sincere smile, grabbing another cookie.

Petey couldn't help blushing a little, feeling a slight tingling of satisfaction as he saw Dog Man's happiness. But when Dog Man grabbed another cookie, then another, and then another, until the tray was empty, Petey raised an eyebrow.

–Did you eat all the cookies? –he asked, half disbelieving.

Dog Man looked at the empty tray with a guilty expression.

–Uh... yeah... they were so good I couldn't stop... Sorry, Petey!

Petey sighed but couldn't help smiling. Though it wasn't exactly what he had expected, seeing Dog Man so happy gave him a sense of satisfaction he had never experienced before. In some way, the cookies had not only been a gift but also a symbol of his desire to make Dog Man happy, and that was enough for Petey.

–Well, at least I know you liked them –Petey said, a little more relaxed.

–I really appreciate it, Petey! –Dog Man responded, hugging him in a natural and sincere way.

Petey tensed up a little, but Dog Man's hug was warm, and he couldn't help enjoying it. Despite his confusion, something inside him felt happy.

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Despite the success with the cookies, Petey knew he had to keep making efforts. After all, a cookie couldn't fully define their relationship. The next step was to give him a compliment, something Petey found particularly difficult. Not because he didn't appreciate Dog Man, but because he didn't know how to express his feelings in a way that didn't seem forced.

While they were walking through the park at night, Dog Man was talking about his latest patrol, and Petey was listening attentively. Suddenly, an idea came to him. It was the perfect moment to do something subtle, something that showed he truly valued Dog Man.

–Hey, Greg –Petey said, looking at the dog-man with a slight smile.

–Yeah? –Dog Man responded, looking at Petey with curiosity.

Petey thought for a moment, feeling like his words were about to come out awkwardly. But he did it.

–You have good... hair –Petey said, his tone somewhat forced.

Dog Man stopped for a second, clearly surprised, but his face lit up with a big smile.

—Thanks, Petey! You have great hair too! —he exclaimed enthusiastically.

Petey immediately felt uncomfortable. It wasn't exactly what he wanted to say, but at least he had made the attempt.

—Forget it —Petey said, lightly hitting his forehead with his hand.

Dog Man, however, didn't seem to understand Petey's discomfort. He just kept walking beside him, happy to be with him, unaware that his companion was somewhat embarrassed by what he had just said.

The next step, Petey thought, was to spend more time together, enjoying each other's company. So, he decided to invite Dog Man over to his house to watch a movie. It didn't need to be a big, elaborate date, just something calm, something that would allow them to be together without the pressures of the outside world.

—Hey, Greg, how about coming over to my place to watch a movie? —Petey said with a small smile, a bit nervous but also sincere in his voice.

Dog Man nodded quickly, with a calm smile.

—Sure, sounds good —Dog Man replied, his tail moving slightly as he looked at Petey with a calm but sincere expression.

Petey smiled faintly, relieved that Dog Man hadn't shown too much enthusiasm. He knew he didn't have to do anything impressive. Sometimes, the simplest things were the best. They both headed to Petey's house, where he prepared some snacks and they settled on the couch.

—What do you want to watch? —Petey asked, handing him the remote while sitting beside Dog Man.

Dog Man took the remote calmly, without hurry, and looked through the list of movies on the screen.

—How about a romantic movie? —Dog Man suggested softly. He knew Petey was sometimes more reserved, but didn't want to pressure him.

Petey, though a bit reluctant at first, nodded. He knew he didn't have to put on a big performance to enjoy the moment.

—Okay —he replied, not thinking too much about the type of movie. The important thing was being there with Dog Man, sharing the space.

The movie started, a romantic story that Petey barely followed at first. Although the plot was about a passionate kiss between the protagonists, something in the back of his mind made him feel strange. He thought about the movies he'd seen before, where couples always kissed when everything seemed right. "Well... when the protagonists kiss, the couples do too, right?" he thought, glancing at Dog Man sitting beside him, silently watching the screen. "Should I?"

A small knot began to form in his stomach, feeling like there was an expectation, even if no explicit words were said. He didn't want to feel pressured, but something inside urged him to take that step, to get closer. He felt like maybe that was what was expected of him on a date. A kiss. But he also felt a kind of nervousness, a fear of getting it wrong, of doing things too quickly.

Dog Man remained calm, not making any moves or pressuring him. His relaxed posture was a reminder that there was no rush. It didn't have to be perfect, Petey thought. The important thing was that I'm here, with him.

Just as the protagonists in the movie were about to kiss, Petey looked at Dog Man. Petey closed his eyes tightly. A natural impulse led him to move a little closer, his face near Dog Man's. He was about to do something he had never done, and when his face almost touched Dog Man's, something inside him made him stop. He opened his eyes, wanting to see Greg's face, perhaps seeking approval. Dog Man had already fallen asleep, his breathing calm and deep. He was curled up against the back of the couch, with a slight smile on his face, completely relaxed and unaware of anything else.

Petey felt an instant sense of relief. The pressure he felt vanished as if by magic. He smiled softly, watching Dog Man, and without saying a word, settled back on the couch. That feeling of pressure disappeared when he saw how calm Dog Man was. He didn't need to do anything in that moment.

Petey, feeling a mix of warmth and tenderness, gently shifted Dog Man to make him more comfortable. Then, with care, he pulled him closer, cuddling him against his chest. He felt the weight of Dog Man resting on him, and a soft smile formed on his face. Right there, in that moment, he didn't need anything else. It didn't matter if the kiss didn't happen that night; the important thing was that he was there, with Dog Man, sharing an authentic and peaceful moment. In that embrace, Petey felt more secure, more at ease than he had all day.

As he watched the movie continue, Petey adjusted a little more on the couch, holding Dog Man with affection. The movie no longer mattered. What really mattered was being with him, without pressure or expectations. In that moment, Petey realized that what he had been looking for wasn't a rushed kiss, but simply feeling loved and accepted. And that was what Dog Man gave him.

And as Petey rested there, cuddled up with Dog Man, he understood that love didn't always have to be grand or spectacular. Sometimes, it just had to be genuine. And that was enough.